Archive for the ‘The Friends’ Category

up and down.

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2005

Up: Vikalin’s Coffeehouse might be getting wireless Internet.

Up: Daniel bought me a cute arm-band for my iPod.

Up: A new design for Aelki is almost ready.

Down: Hypoglycemia.

Up: An impromptu trip to Maryland on Friday afternoon.

Down: Falling on a flight of brick stairs. While carrying a glass bowl of cantaloupe.

Up: Try-outs with the local theatre.

Up: I knew who the Half-Prince would be.

Down: Being sick.

Down: The air has been out at work.

Up: The construction site work is going well. We are hoping to be in the building in about 8 months.

Up: Kerry & Ben got married. It was an amazingly beautiful wedding.

freshly married

(view more here)

Up: Posing for newspaper ads.

Down: Having to pose for newspaper ads while sick.

Up: A new hairstyle.

Down: I didn’t go the gym at all last week.

Up: Three of those days, there was no air at the gym. So the guilt didn’t last.

Up: Cable Internet is almost ready for The Valley.

ben and kerry.

Saturday, July 16th, 2005

in all things.

Wednesday, July 6th, 2005

Lately, His fingerprints have once again been all over the place. And in the midst of the learning (which has included Very Low Lows and Gloriously High Mountaintops), I’ve realized four things: His promise to give wisdom when asked is ever true, the little moments of decision are often the most important, the sweet peace after the darkest storm is such a healing balm and He really, truly makes all things new.

About the time that I began realizing that all the corners of my heart hadn’t been completely given to the Lord, unmistakable fingerprints appeared. The more preeminence I gave Him, the more I was in awe.

A friendship that had been dead and buried (yet the mourning had yet to cease) suddenly awoke. In a weird, déjà vu moment, I sat at Gate B and waited to see a soul mate I had thought long gone. I still don’t understand the healing, much less the grace. But I’m ever grateful at a second chance.

We discovered that we could still play and sing that funky little version of “This Little Light of Mine.” We watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, enjoyed Zaxby’s chicken, met with the Heart Strings Society, played Apples to Apples with Jon and Daniel, relished in a late-night music party at my parent’s house (all the kids from church came bearing instruments), toured The Bank, applied Vintage contact paper to my front door and listened to the delicious music of: The Critics, The Afters and Matthew & Liz Bailey.

In other news, it’s 1 ½ weeks until Ben & Kerry’s wedding, Tim and Craig spent Saturday night and Sunday morning with us after a trip to orientation at Trevecca University, it’s 199 days until Daniel and I get married, I’ve made a darling new friend named Jerica, the ground breaking for the New Building has finally happened, I might be getting a puppy in 6 weeks (the litter was born on July 4), and it’s just about a week until Daniel’s family will be visiting in The Valley (I miss them).

So, fingerprints everywhere. Overwhelmed, yet excited.

wedding bells in the hills of pa.

Tuesday, May 17th, 2005

Sam & Janali were married on Saturday afternoon, under amazingly beautiful trees, a bit of drizzling rain, and tons of family and friends. It was certainly one of the quaintest ceremonies I’ve ever seen.

Of course, Sam and Daniel couldn’t help but goof around a bit. Boys will be boys.

Oddly enough, the reception turned out to be some sort of Bloggers Meet & Greet. I met Doug & Tiffany, Guy & Robin, and Heather & Chris.

[More flickr pictures of Sam & Janali’s wedding are here]

thirsty heart.

Sunday, November 21st, 2004

In between slicing bananas (to eat with peanut butter), and listening to my dad shoot a large possum on my deck, I talked with an old friend tonight. Well, talked a bit. But I mostly listened.

This person has seen a side of Christianity that would make your skin crawl. He’s been down roads that would make you blush. Been hurt in such a way that the “family of God” has become a laughing matter to him instead of a comfort. Perhaps some of you would be too uncomfortable to hear his rants. To listen to his stories.

But there is something wild and gravely familiar in his voice. Our stories are unbelievably close. We compare notes and I groan at the realization that someone else will be facing the Reaping Days. And tonight, he seemed restless. Moved. Hungry. Aching for the God he knows is real. And yet frustrated with so much.

I wish with all of my heart that I could tell him to fling everything away and that if he throws himself upon the Arms that all of his pains, fears, and troubles will disappear. But he knows better. And so do I. All I know to do is to whisper that God is real. That God is Love. The real kind. Unlike the type that promises a Great Night and Glory Upon Glory. That finding rest will require dying to self. That it all takes time.

A. W. Tozer once said, “Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them.”

Sometimes finding yourself with a thirsty heart is the best place to be.