Wednesday, April 23, 2014

.reminded, on the way home today.

"Everything is His.
The door, the door jamb.
The wood stacked near the door.
The leaves blown upon the path
that lead to the door...
the wind that is tripping them this way and that way,
the clouds that are high above them,
the stars that are sleeping now beyond the clouds

and, simply said, all the rest.

When I open the door I am so sure so sure
all this will be there, and it is.
I look around...
I turn and enter His house, and close His door."

                                                                                                         (Mary Oliver)





Monday, April 7, 2014

I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!!!


A semi-regular glance at this blog would suggest that it is about:
Jesus, poetry, family and friends, and reflections on a small, happy life.

It's not.

It's about what brings me joy.

And I wrestled with posting about this because I prefer to pretend
I only love everything above.

But:

I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

The Sci-fi show that ran from 2004-2008.

I am so deeply enamored, on so many levels
that I've been alternately embarrassed/concerned.

IS THIS NORMAL?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!

First of all,

it's a TV show.

I like relaxing to Grey's or Bones on Netflix like the next girl,
 but I've certainly never considered buying posters of my favorite shows' casts to hang in my house...
before now.

Second of all,

It's called BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
HELLO.

THIRD of all...

I am IN LOVE. ENAMORED.
(I started to write "obsessed", but that gives the wrong image. I've been obsessed with unpleasant things before. This is a happy and joyful obsession.)

Like, I've journaled about it IN MY PRAYER JOURNAL twice in the last ten days.
I brought it up as an example in class.
...I have on more than occasion had to catch myself before I started talking about it in response to the question "What's new".
Weird. Pathetic?
Right?!

I was reassured, however, during one of my many recent google searches about the show's history (are you seeing this?!), to discover that this is apparently a common phenomenon.

All of my (normal, thoughtful, engaged-in-life) friends who've seen it immediately validated my experience.
"Oh, of course you're obsessed. That's what happens."
"We lost months of our life to that show. It was great."
"So have you reached the Battlestar-evangelist phase yet?"
(at which point I pulled out my phone and showed them the multiple texts I'd sent to multiple friends that day begging them to start watching it.)

THIS SHOW IS MAGIC.

I'm in love! I'm in love! And I don't care who knows it!

So.
My spring-in-small-town-Oregon life...

is filled with lit candles, rising bread dough made with home-grown herbs,
sewing projects and walks past vineyards and small children doing crafts upstairs and friends over for dinner.

And in my home, right next to the fresh flowers in a vase on the windowsill and the twinkly lights strung all over...

you very well may soon see a giant poster of the Battlestar cast, hung up with pride.

(Do you think I should tattoo one of Kara Thrace's quotes on my body somewhere? Oh gosh I just love her.)






Thursday, April 3, 2014

.my small cup of life.

loving my sunny tiny home in the spring.
loving filling it with friends and flowers.

my girls came over on sunday to help me garden.
kim went to the farm store with me the night before to help me pick the best seeds for cutting bouquets.

everyone out and about in the warmer weather
means afternoons at the park
and more spontaneous drop-by visits
(9th grade boys knocked while I was melting old wax down; so they made candles too).

potted plants and watering new green,
vases full of color in every room,
lots of dates at the town bakery, dinners and baking and walks...

i am enjoying this season.


"[The wren] delivers such a cantering praise-
for what?

For the early morning, the taste of the spider,

for his small cup of life
that he drinks from every day, knowing it will refill.

All things are inventions of holiness...











window note by Avery across the street, age 7.


left in our shared laundry room by my next door neighbor.


a 10-year-old doing homework at my kitchen table
(requested no face in the picture. note the socks.)




Fawvers made new counters. It's way exciting. I "helped" (ate their food while they worked).











...every morning, there's my own cup of gladness."

-Mary Oliver




Human Needs Global Resources Covenant, 2009

As fellow travelers on this journey, we commit to this covenant before God. Lord, in Your mercy, hear these our prayers:

When confronted with scarcity, need, and inadequacy, may we be nourished by the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Abundance overflows from Your table, sustaining all who come in faith. Father, help us.

When monotony blurs our vision and dulls our senses, may we encounter others as Christ did, through intentional presence in daily life, submitting as clay to be formed into vessels filled with the Spirit. Christ, guide us.

When wounded by the fractured condition of Your people, may we be united by Your Lordship in faith, hope, and love; seeing, as through the facets of a diamond, the beautiful spectrum of Your light reflected onto Your holy Church joined in praise. Spirit, empower us.

When all Creation groans, afflicted by injustice and driven to despair, may the promise of redemption root us in the hope of Your Kingdom: "Behold, I am making all things new!"

Holy Trinity, send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve You with gladness and singleness of heart.

Amen.