Fall and Winter 2012

Hiking Ladyface overlooking Conejo Valley w/M

D prego at her shower

Me with the result of the previous

New Year's Eve!

Saying good-bye to S

Marveling at my close proximity  to the most accomplished animal noise mimic in California

The woman from Fill-where who disapproves of Hershey's and sports capricious curls?

“If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, 

or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, 

but ask me what I am living for, in detail; 

ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.” 

― Thomas Merton

I posted this quote last January and think it is timely to post again as we contemplate new hopes in the new year. Onslaught of questions imminently descending--

Would you discuss both of these questions with your friends? Your family? First date? Fifth date? Do you want to be identified by your passions? If not, what descriptors would you prefer? Does it bother you that Merton ends sentences with a preposition? Would you like to give him what for? Are you even still reading this gibberish? If so, are you thinking that watching the man whose voice is the equivalent of dark chocolate bust out an adorable self-parody would have been a better use of your time? For that one, I've got you covered. (Click the green print, Mom.)

Growth Gained

Around the turn of the year, it is customary to offer either year-end reflections or new year's hopes. Instead, I offer this summary of personal growth over the past two years, originally sent to a patient friend who still listens to my rabbiting rants. Admittedly, yours truly is a bombastic idealist with perfectionist tendencies, often neglecting to celebrate victories. Many days I am a fixer more than a learner or a lover and--surprise, surprise--am much too easily frustrated by hypocrisy, apathy, and indolence. This list is a testimony of God's faithfulness in spite of my perpetual distractions.

• More patient with people's failures (except for my parents--my progenitors should naturally have it all together, right?)
• Less exacting standards for myself and others
• More willing to let God change people and circumstances over time instead of immediately attempting to change them myself
• Deepened friendships
• More committed to self-care (exercise, rest, diet, Goodwill shopping therapy)
• Better boundaries in relationships
• Sharpened perception of how people unconsciously operate out of woundedness that only Christ can heal
• Clearer view of my own deficiencies and strengths
• Better able to identify with the betrayal felt by Christ not only during His time on earth but more importantly when I make Him huge promises and then quickly and callously ignore them (This is a big one!)
• Convinced that God is good even though it does not intellectually make sense
• More understanding of depression, despair, and grief
• Know that God is close during pain, even when you cannot feel Him
• Increased confidence in God's Word--observing that what I preached to my roommates, the nursing home residents, and strangers on airplanes held true through piercing disappointment and consistent exhaustion
• Mostly content in not knowing the future--releasing most plans
• Increased focus on simplicity of habit and possessions
• Less easily distracted by unimportant comments, items, pastimes, cultural norms and idiosyncrasies as I put my time and energy towards worthier pursuits (including rest!)

Source

Cautionary Ghost

xkcd

At Urbana

Exhibiting at Urbana. Check out Cause 4 Life's new YouTube promo series! Love. Heal. Defend.