Thursday, July 30, 2009
the welcome wagon - rich man
my hopes to post this song in it's entirety seem to be thwarted today, but here's a link where you can groove to it. I do like the Jesus music like this. welcome to the Welcome Wagon!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
what a wonderful day.
it's been full of rest and togetherness with my husband, and I have literally felt my spirit slow down, breathe deep, and melt a little. sleeping late, breakfast brought to me in bed, doing chores with M, music and conversation in our house, reading together in the library, riding with him on a quick work errand, seafood dinner and idle bookstore browsing, a good meeting tonight. the components of this day have been a sweet sweet gift from God directly to my heart and I can do nothing but thank Him, especially for the husband who serves and teaches me so lovingly and thoughtfully.
there are "promises" mentioned in some 12-step literature, and they came to my mind today... this is how it reads:
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not.
They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
They will always materialize if we work for them.
A.A. p83-84
I don't think that programs of this sort promise a magic cure, just as the Christian life does not equate to prosperity or freedom from sin or trouble. I am, however, convinced of the paradigm that if one believes that God can accomplish all things and does, asks Him for help, steps out in faith, accepts the help and support of others, and attempts to walk in greater wisdom, the choices that result often bring with them blessings only dreamed of before. in my own life, it's clear now that many of the things I have chosen to let go of left unexpected spaces in which God could move in ways I couldn't see before, and given me new opportunities and new choices, new directions in which to take my thoughts and my life. the hardship - well, one of them, anyway - is that ANYTHING can fill these spaces, the good, the unhelpful, and the bad. how very Luke 11, right? ""When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." (v. 24-26) so true. sometimes I find myself in shallow water again, trying to get through the reeds and seaweed that entangles out to calmer, deeper water where the bigger things can happen, where I can allow myself to be further grown and changed. I feel I'm either preparing to or am in the process of turning a new page, and find myself yearning to be free of stagnant, muddy water.
this day was magical and healing for me, a sunlit love-note. a scene I could have only hazily, longingly dreamed about 6 years ago. I'm so very grateful.
there are "promises" mentioned in some 12-step literature, and they came to my mind today... this is how it reads:
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not.
They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
They will always materialize if we work for them.
A.A. p83-84
I don't think that programs of this sort promise a magic cure, just as the Christian life does not equate to prosperity or freedom from sin or trouble. I am, however, convinced of the paradigm that if one believes that God can accomplish all things and does, asks Him for help, steps out in faith, accepts the help and support of others, and attempts to walk in greater wisdom, the choices that result often bring with them blessings only dreamed of before. in my own life, it's clear now that many of the things I have chosen to let go of left unexpected spaces in which God could move in ways I couldn't see before, and given me new opportunities and new choices, new directions in which to take my thoughts and my life. the hardship - well, one of them, anyway - is that ANYTHING can fill these spaces, the good, the unhelpful, and the bad. how very Luke 11, right? ""When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." (v. 24-26) so true. sometimes I find myself in shallow water again, trying to get through the reeds and seaweed that entangles out to calmer, deeper water where the bigger things can happen, where I can allow myself to be further grown and changed. I feel I'm either preparing to or am in the process of turning a new page, and find myself yearning to be free of stagnant, muddy water.
this day was magical and healing for me, a sunlit love-note. a scene I could have only hazily, longingly dreamed about 6 years ago. I'm so very grateful.
Monday, July 20, 2009
attempting to whet your appetite....
I've spoken about how the husband and I are into Mad Men. the attention to detail in set and costume design, the brazen chain-smoking of the 60's, the blatant chauvinism, the interesting characters, the casting... all of these things make for a really great series. what makes for an even greater series is excellent writing. here's a link to a scene from season 1 that I loved, when Kodak is shopping agencies to market it's 'wheel'. in the world of the show, the face of advertising is changing and Sterling Cooper, where much of our story takes place, is trying to catch up and maintain it's foothold. if you choose to watch the clip, imagine that Don, the guy doing most of the talking, is a pretty complex dude - troubled, secretive past, one foot in the idyllic 'burbs with the perfect family, one bigger foot on Madison Avenue as a talented ad exec, coctailing his way through the day with the boyz and philandering in a quiet, maddening, absolutely self-destructive sort of way. oh, and that guy that tears up and leaves the room toward the end of the scene is separated from his wife.
saying goodbye to florida.
we didn't schedule anything on our travel day, so we all got up and had our usual coffee and prepared for the goodbyes. mo-mo had been into M's watch during the trip, playing with it and such. so, we'd gotten her a pink and white Minnie Mouse watch of her own:
after many hugs, K, L, Mo, and T took off for Epcot. mom, daddy, M and I packed our car and drove over to Le Coq Au Vin, a local, family-owned French restaurant we'd read about online. it was such a great experience... wonderful food, fantastic service, and the perfect way to round out our time in Florida.
we arrived back in Houston with no issues, having had such a special and good vacation but happy to be back in OUR hot humidity. :) LB picked us up and took us to her house, where our animals had been enjoying their own vacation. we're so grateful for the Bells... vacation is made all the nicer when you aren't worried about your pets.
and there it is, family vacation '09. thank you, Father, for the family, the fun times, the protection, and the funds to make it happen.
-m.y.
after many hugs, K, L, Mo, and T took off for Epcot. mom, daddy, M and I packed our car and drove over to Le Coq Au Vin, a local, family-owned French restaurant we'd read about online. it was such a great experience... wonderful food, fantastic service, and the perfect way to round out our time in Florida.
we arrived back in Houston with no issues, having had such a special and good vacation but happy to be back in OUR hot humidity. :) LB picked us up and took us to her house, where our animals had been enjoying their own vacation. we're so grateful for the Bells... vacation is made all the nicer when you aren't worried about your pets.
and there it is, family vacation '09. thank you, Father, for the family, the fun times, the protection, and the funds to make it happen.
-m.y.
the kingdom is, indeed, magic.
our last full day in Orlando was spent soaking up The Happiest Place on Earth... and it really is, in many ways. the castle still lights up the little girl in me and I was surprised by the nostalgia hits I got throughout the day. some of the things I enjoyed the most were the Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Mickey's PhilharMAGIC (AWESOME), the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Mad Hatter Tea Party, Peter Pan, the Electric Parade... it was all so much fun. I loved It's a Small World back in the day, and though I found the dolls to be a little creepy now Mo was totally into it. from Snow White to Aladdin, from the Carousel to the Jungle Cruise, I appreciated the time warp Disney afforded me, not to mention their attention to detail to give park-goers a wonderful time.
and for your Monday equilibrium challenge, enjoy this little video (courtesy of the Mad-Hatter and A.K.):
and for your Monday equilibrium challenge, enjoy this little video (courtesy of the Mad-Hatter and A.K.):
hollywood studios
I'll confess right now that HS wasn't my favorite park... I think I just prefer more rides, that's all. BUT, I still managed to have a good time with these people:
we ate at a really nice, wonderful steakhouse that night called Charley's. it was delicious... we got the special and for our appetizer we chose the beef tenderloin carpaccio, which came on a gigantically long plate and had the tastiest, tangiest salad to be eaten with it. I'd never really had carpaccio before, and it was one of my favorite things. this is M and I peering through the greenery and wine bottles on the table:
last stop: the mother lode, of course. Magic Kingdom, fools!
-m.y.
we ate at a really nice, wonderful steakhouse that night called Charley's. it was delicious... we got the special and for our appetizer we chose the beef tenderloin carpaccio, which came on a gigantically long plate and had the tastiest, tangiest salad to be eaten with it. I'd never really had carpaccio before, and it was one of my favorite things. this is M and I peering through the greenery and wine bottles on the table:
last stop: the mother lode, of course. Magic Kingdom, fools!
-m.y.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
cocoa beach
the day started with the essentials... resort-room family church (which was lovely, complete with matzah crackers and grape juice boxes), coffee, conversation, and coloring:
we eventually piled into the rental cars, made the sunscreen/ice chest pit stop at Publix, and headed toward Cocoa Beach, about an hour away from where we were staying. I love the beach. I'm a little afraid of going out too far, because I've been caught in a rip current before and it scared me half to death. (I also fear the 'under toad'... World According to Garp, anyone?) that and I have a thing with sharks. crazy, I know, but I still subscribe to the thought that if there are people out further than I, the shark will probably choose them and I'll have time to wildly flail to shore. all that aside, I really do love being near water. it calms me and reminds me of how small I am. one of my best remembrances of this trip will be walking along with momo, marmee, and others looking for sea shells for mo's green bucket. we must've walked along in the surf for a couple of hours... long enough for me to still feel the rhythm of the water on my feet hours later. I also tend to like the dirtiness of the beach, the grittiness... sort of how I enjoy the particular dirtiness of working outside in the yard. I know, sand can be a total pain. still, I like forgetting about what I look like for awhile and feeling windswept and salty in the space between the land and the wild ocean. and the shower later feels so good.
not that the day didn't have it's share of minor catastrophes... poor daddy went headlong into that ocean with his cell phone in his pocket, and the sea gods also chose to swipe his prescription sunglasses. he was really a trooper, though. it was mostly just a really lovely day. if I haven't mentioned it, or if you can't tell in the photos, mo really loves her marmee and pawpaw. oooh, and M found a live sand dollar!
we thought we'd get to pull over and see the shuttle lift-off on the way home, but it was cancelled about 10 minutes from take-off due to inclement weather. we drove a bit further and found a fantastic local seafood restaurant... they had delicacies called corn fritters that looked like hushpuppies but tasted like sweet and crispy corn beignets and between that, the fried alligator, and my delicious blackened fish, I ate until I was stuffed.
then there was a crazy long drive home, because of Florida toll roads. no joke, we thought there must be a wreck up ahead, and it just turned out to be people trying to get through toll booths. yikes. Houston seems downright zippy to me now.
we eventually piled into the rental cars, made the sunscreen/ice chest pit stop at Publix, and headed toward Cocoa Beach, about an hour away from where we were staying. I love the beach. I'm a little afraid of going out too far, because I've been caught in a rip current before and it scared me half to death. (I also fear the 'under toad'... World According to Garp, anyone?) that and I have a thing with sharks. crazy, I know, but I still subscribe to the thought that if there are people out further than I, the shark will probably choose them and I'll have time to wildly flail to shore. all that aside, I really do love being near water. it calms me and reminds me of how small I am. one of my best remembrances of this trip will be walking along with momo, marmee, and others looking for sea shells for mo's green bucket. we must've walked along in the surf for a couple of hours... long enough for me to still feel the rhythm of the water on my feet hours later. I also tend to like the dirtiness of the beach, the grittiness... sort of how I enjoy the particular dirtiness of working outside in the yard. I know, sand can be a total pain. still, I like forgetting about what I look like for awhile and feeling windswept and salty in the space between the land and the wild ocean. and the shower later feels so good.
not that the day didn't have it's share of minor catastrophes... poor daddy went headlong into that ocean with his cell phone in his pocket, and the sea gods also chose to swipe his prescription sunglasses. he was really a trooper, though. it was mostly just a really lovely day. if I haven't mentioned it, or if you can't tell in the photos, mo really loves her marmee and pawpaw. oooh, and M found a live sand dollar!
we thought we'd get to pull over and see the shuttle lift-off on the way home, but it was cancelled about 10 minutes from take-off due to inclement weather. we drove a bit further and found a fantastic local seafood restaurant... they had delicacies called corn fritters that looked like hushpuppies but tasted like sweet and crispy corn beignets and between that, the fried alligator, and my delicious blackened fish, I ate until I was stuffed.
then there was a crazy long drive home, because of Florida toll roads. no joke, we thought there must be a wreck up ahead, and it just turned out to be people trying to get through toll booths. yikes. Houston seems downright zippy to me now.
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