Humble Pie

A cousin of pumpkin, less well known and definitely not as tasty. After a few weeks of dreaming and planning and yes, I admit, gloating...a little e mail made it's way into my inbox tonight.  Cancelled. 

The workshop I've been looking forward to for a few months now is no more.  Just like that. 

After the initial anger passed, and as I was lying in bed tonight still thinking about it all, the HS said in that way that he has...

Humility.

Alright, it's true.  There has been a good deal of pride wrapped up in this trip.  I've been enjoying telling people loud and proud that I am going to New York.  I am a BIG DEAL.  Just in case anyone was wondering.  And just like that, all my plans are gone with the wind.  (Living in the South makes these literary allusions much more cheesy.) 

Ecclesiastes said tonight:  7:8

⁸ The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
   and patience is better than pride.

So, I'm still going.  Not quite the way I planned.  To see the end of the matter. :) And I'm sorry that God has to do things like this to remind me of whose I am and in what state my heart should be.  And I'm thankful that he loves me enough to remind me.  So, the end of this chapter is:  I'm looking forward to the better part of all this and adventuring in NYC with Amber to make our own workshop. 

A Humble List of Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day friends! The older I get the more I appreciate the ability to set one day aside in the this rat race of life and breathe, and appreciate what we have been given. We are a selfish lot, really, and looking at all that we have been given is so amazing - to see just how much blessing is continually poured out over us. So with that in mind, here is my non comprehensive list of what I am thankful for today:


1. My husband. Ryan and I have been through hell and high water together and we are still standing thanks to the grace of God and a sense of humor. I love you babe.
2. I have a lot of sibs and each one of them is a special joy in my life. Also, even if we at times want to beat each other, and did when we were younger, at the end of the day we are a team.
3. My nieces and nephews. There are no words to express how much I love my JJ, Nathalie, Renner, Hudson, Cheyenne, Gabriel, Abby, and Karis. Being an auntie is the best!
4. My parents. The more years pass, the more I appreciate them and the more grateful I am to have them near us, and this year especially I appreciate all the work Mom puts into the turkey every year haha!
5. I have the best group of girl friends in the world. Period. No arguments. Thankful for all the laughter, advice, listening, crying, movies, praying, and traveling we do together. I <3 you guys and you know who you are.
6. This crazy, busy, creative, challenging job that I love. The freedom to pursue it. The joy of watching it grow. God is good.
7. A good book. I am thankful for stories that sweep me off to another place and time and keep me thinking about them long after the pages are closed.
8. My church. I was talking to a friend last night about having a church to call home for the first time in my life at Blue Ridge. It feels good to walk in the doors and feel right and feel at home. Thank God for a church devoted to Him.
9. Sparkly shoes. With tall heels.
10. Chocolate in almost any form.
11. Facebook
12. Good music. Which of course has to include the J Mraz concert this year. Highlight, yes.
13. A beautiful plethora of locations to go hiking in. Fall in Central VA = fantastic.
14. Big earrings that go just right with the outfit.
15. Nicaragua has been a revelation this year. It makes the list for all I learned and experienced over 3 trips.
16. New friends
17. A good rainstorm. Nothing like rain and music and work or tea and a book.
18. Kenyan tea. Yum-O.
19. Living in a town where I can smile at a stranger on the street and they will smile back.
20. Snuggies.
21. Bacon. Haha. Yes I am putting it on the list.
22. Hugs and kisses.
23. Dance in every format, and the health to indulge in it often.
24. Sunsets, especially the hot pink and gold ones.
25. A God that loves me and makes that known loudly and often in my life. A Hero that gives me a hope and a future. A Potter that works out the ugly edges in me. (I saved the best for last)

It's Over

This season of Dancing with the Stars, that is. ;)  And in true confessional fashion, I have to say that I was a Bristol fan allll the way.  No apologies, and dang it Mark is FINE.  Um, yeah, totally crushing. 

Of course, after each episode I dance my way through my house, doing spins and twists and imagining a sequined world.  I'll have to settle for City View on Friday night with the girls.  :)

Here's to moving through life with joy and a lil Latin rhythm...

How Very Blessed

This is the first time I've blogged from my iPhone. Technology is
Man's best friend. Sorry, pooches. I lie in a fluffy king sized bed while my sister brushes her teeth, thinking about tomorrows lovely and fun couple and the g-orgeous country club I get to shoot them at....
And my life is pretty darn great.

A Lil Vagabond

Has taken up residence on our front porch.  He's about a foot long, grey, and furry.  And loves to cuddle.  I'm really not a cat lover, but this one is sweet.  And homeless apparently.  Ryan is anti being a cat owner...but I think my heart is being stolen.  He might end up being the mascot at the new studio. 

the challenge of the blank, empty space

begging for color or line, definition

when skirts lift and swirl and bodies form poetry in motion

the fiercely scribbling pen and the passionate declaration

of story from stage

it's in that moment where artist and art join in perfect, fierce harmony

and we return, descend - dazed

and human again to find a masterpiece has been created

in and through our movement

our expression, our reflection

of the divine Creative

in a world that cannot hear or see

we are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. *

* (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

Sugar and Spice

I took pictures of the cutest little girlie this morning.  If God ever blesses me with children I hope at least one is a little girl.  I honestly could die over bows, and outfits, and pink and ruffles.  LOVE. 

Blog-mate? Soul-og? Virtual Pen Virtuoso?

There are very many people in the world.  Some of us are dreamers.  I try, mostly inarticulately, to express my dreams via this humble bloggity and in visual format.  Since the deep parts of dreams strike me dumb and stumbling when it comes time to wrestle them into communication. 

However, there are some people in the world who strike that cord.  That ah-hah!  I know your soul.  Even though we've never met.  We are kindred in dreams.  For such reasons I stalk JMraz, and let his lyrics glide through my day.  For such reasons Jane Kenyon's poetry makes me weep.  For such reasons I drench my soul in Clayton Austin's visual love stories. 

A most recent happy discovery has been the blog of Adam Young.  Formally known as Owl City.  I love his music.  And oh the joy! to discover that in prose he sings as well. 

Take some time to visit...you won't be sorry.

Beauty

I had a little idea the other day.  It was born of thoughts that simmered for awhile in my heart, as they often do.  The catalyst was a little you tube video sent to me by a friend.  It kicked some things on simmer into a high boil. 

All women struggle with self image.  Whether we admit it or not, every woman from Eve to Heidi Klum to the average me has some way we don't feel like we measure up.  Or a way we could be better physically.  Of course, our self image issues are nurtured by popular culture that feeds us pretty pictures of perfect physical specimans on every possible communication level.  Rarely are we given a look at beauty by any definition other than the physical. 

So...I am taking on a promise.  A journey.  A discovery of beauty defined by the soul.  52 weeks.  52 women.  All ages.  Many races.  Many life paths.  All of them have to have a beauty of the soul that defines them. 

Starting in January. 

Thank God for Martinis

Last night in the Beth Moore study we talked about rest.  How necessary it is.  How little we take.  How guilty we feel for taking it.  How much Jesus offers it to us.  Both physical and spiritual.  I've talked a little bit about how I've been running on empty for a while.  But God has been so gracious to me.  Inspirationally, I'm about to tackle a fantastic project this weekend.   Spiritually, He has been in constant communication with my heart.  Calling me to prayer and blessing me with direction and answers and just loving on me when I needed it. 

I don't know what I really want to say tonight, except that I'm thankful for rest.  I took tonight off from work and went to get dessert with a girlfriend downtown.  The waiter was pretty entertaining, he tried to get us to do shots.  And he recommended the best martini I've ever had, in my life.  Hands down.  So good. 

So thank you God for martinis.  And thank you for nights to go to bed early.