Day 12 - A picture of someone you miss.

Dad and Momma :)

Taken in December 2009 at Pizza Hut in London :)

Day 11 - Another picture of you and your friends.

Cardiff Castle

Vali, myself, & Cee

New England foliage

I was able to visit some friends who live in New England.  The leaves were gorgeous.  I believe I made the trip at the perfect time.  Leaves only just started to fall this weekend, so most were still there to be admired.  I love the colours!  These pictures were taken near the town of Mystic, Connecticut.

Day 10 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

I'm blessed by people who have gotten me through a lot.  Community is very important to me and they are such a blessing.  I'm so thankful for my family.

A quick trip to the Farm

I had to make a quick trip down to the 'boro today.  I love watching these little guys skip around the pasture.  When I went over to their fence. they became rather curious.  Too cute :)

Day 08 - A picture of your favorite memory.

One of many great memories.  I took this from a boat on the Zambezi River in March 2007.

Day 07 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

I skipped Day 6.  I don't have a favorite superhero!  I actually don't really know superheroes....

Celtic Woman.  Amazing!  I love listening to them sing The First Noel, O Holy Night, & You Raise Me Up.

Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you’ve been

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands

Day 04 - A picture of a habit that you wish you didn’t have.

I love to read but I have developed a very bad habit of creating a stack of books to read that I never actually finish reading!

Day 03 - A picture of you and your friends.

Boston Common: August 2010

Day 02 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

I love Bones.  Temperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist.  It's the only crime solving show that I absolutely love to watch.

Day 01 - A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

1. I have no interest in medicine but would love to study human musculature.
2. I'd love to go on an archaeological dig, preferably in the Middle East.
3. I love Zumba!
4. I've been a vegetarian for almost six years.
5. I'm starting to love cooking but I have to be in the right mood!
6. Canoeing on the Zambezi River was one of my favorite family vacations.
7. I'm a licensed Minister in my denomination.
8. I spent Valentine's Day of 2007 in three different countries and, due to flying across the International Date Line, it was a 34 hour Valentine's Day.
9. My childhood home didn't have a telephone.
10. Dancing makes me feel alive.  I'm not the greatest, but it's so much fun!
11. Sweet Potatoes are an amazing meal.  Roasted over a fire, nothing added, and it's pure yumminess.
12. I love Lindt Chili and Chocolate.  
13. I have yet to read about a place I wouldn't want to visit if given the means.
14. I'd love to learn French while living in France.
15. I hate butter.  

Day.

I saw this on another blog and decided I'd try it :)  I'll change it a bit I'm sure, but I like that the list uses a lot of pictures :D  Look out for a few more posts than you are used to from me!  

Day 01 - A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
Day 02 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 03 - A picture of you and your friends.
Day 04 - A picture of a habit that you wish you didn’t have.
Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you’ve been to.
Day 06 - A picture of your favorite super hero and why.
Day 07 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 08 - A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 09 - A picture of something you’re proud of in the past few days.
Day 10 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 11 - Another picture of you and your friends.
Day 12 - A picture of someone you miss.
Day 13 - A picture of somewhere you’d love to travel.
Day 14 - A picture of Someone you admire.
Day 15 - A picture of a movie you can watch over and over again.
Day 16 - A picture of a hobby you once had.
Day 17 - A picture of something weird/different you do on a regular basis.
Day 18 - A picture of Plans/dreams/goals you have.
Day 19 - A picture of home.
Day 20 - A picture of something that calms you down.
Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 - A picture of what makes you different from everyone else.
Day 23 - A picture of your room.
Day 24 - A picture of your favorite book.
Day 25 - A picture of what I would find in your bag.
Day 26 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 27 - A picture of something you love.
Day 28 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 30 - Another picture of yourself

Encouragement

There have been so many twists and turns in my life in the last year.  God is faithful through it all, even though that doesn't mean it's always easy.  I got an email from a co-worker a while ago.  When I re-read it earlier today, I was reminded of the truth he wrote.

"I am finding perspective and strength from God through a hymn with a rock solid biblical worldview.  It is "Be Still, My Soul, " written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1752. She was a member of the Lutheran Church in Germany and was an outstanding leader in the Pietist spiritual revival.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side. 

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; 

leave to your God to order and provide; 

in every change God faithful will remain. 

Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend 

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake 
to guide the future, as in ages past. 
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; 
all now mysterious shall be bright at last. 
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know 
the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below. 
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on 
when we shall be forever with the Lord, 
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, 
sorrow for forgot, love's purest joys restored. 
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, 
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last. 

*   *   *   *

"In every change he faithful will remain" is the line that makes a strong impression on me."

I couldn't agree more with my friend.  When life seems a little crazy and out of control, in every change, He faithful will remain.  Another wise soul reminded me recently of the story of Peter walking on the waves of the Sea of Galilee to meet Jesus (Matthew 14:22-36).  

Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"  (vs. 29-30).  

Peter was doing fine.  He had his eyes fixed on Jesus.  Then he saw the obstacles.  Jesus was more powerful than the waves but when Peter focused on the waves, they seemed bigger than Jesus.  However, in his mercy, Jesus didn't let him sink in his doubt.

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"  (v. 31).  

To me, it's kind of like a solar eclipse.  

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999

If you focus on just the moon, it's so easy to forget the sun is so much bigger!  All of these thoughts and examples are connected by the thread at the beginning of this post.  He faithful will remain.  I often need the reminder not to focus so much on the sad, frustrating, confusing aspects of life, but instead, to be focused on God.  He faithful will remain.

Ma'loula

I've been studying the Lord's Prayer for a class I'm taking on the Synoptic Gospels.  As I've been reading and rereading the prayer, I remembered a story....I spent a semester in the Middle East.  For a day trip, we went to the town of Ma’loula.  Ma’loula is one of three towns in Syria where Aramaic is still spoken.  


One historical site in Ma'loula is the Convent of St. Taqla.  St. Taqla has an interesting story.  She was the daughter of a Selucid prince who is was believed to have studied under St. Paul.  Her father sent soldiers to capture her and force her to surrender her faith or execute her but she ran from them.  Taqla ended up trapped against a rock face of the mountains of Qallamoun.  Knowing the soldiers were not far behind, she prayed to God to be saved from them.  The rocks split, allowing her to escape to a small cave high in the mountains.  When approaching the convent, there is a narrow path split between the rocks to reach the top of the cliffs.  I've read that Ma'loula means "entrance" in Aramaic.  


The reason I mention this is because of a special memory from Ma’loula, which connects to my study of the Lord's Prayer. We arrived at the beautiful sanctuary on a freezing cold night in November and found our way into the sanctuary of the church.  I loved the rough stone walls, the slightly damp smell of earth, the silence, and the realization of being in a place where hundreds of believers have offered prayers across centuries.   As we stood there, we were able to listen to a Syrian Melkite (Christian) priest recite the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic. 
 Listen to a similar recitation here, thanks toYouTube