Current Read :: Feb 11, 2013

The Columbus Affair, Steve Berry
Another of Berry's thrillers. A good story and a nice break. Missed Cotton Malone though. It just wasn't the same without him. 

Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
I'm not sure how I've missed this one until now - it was written in 1989! - or even who recommended it but I'm sure glad I found it. I find myself deep into the depths of Arthurian legend, a story I truly do love, but from a whole new perspective. This is Arthur from the eyes of the women of his court: his mother, his half sister, his wife, his aunts. Queens, priestesses, mothers, sisters and friends.

Also interesting is the kingdom wide battle of "christian" vs "pagan," how each is portrayed, and the role played by both.

An Art of Observation

If you need a good laugh...

The bright side of being up before the sun.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the colors!

Just monkeying around.

Refreshed.

life and love.

a project finished.

a project to start.

coffee and a bit of time to enjoy it.

progress. walls make all the difference in the world!

finished laundry...for this round. feels like a small victory.

A Long Winter's Night

Maybe winter isn't all bad after all.

Snapshots

a new, fun for the whole family game, complete with angry birds and bad piggies.

Yup. Pigs DO fly.

I knew right where to find him. Love to share quiet moments like this with my man.

So much more peaceful without all those crazy people.

Shared a decadent favorite with a sweet girl on a day off. Check these guys out. SO GOOD!

Mango!

+ Strawberry

= yummy mango strawberry salsa. Extra delicious on Cobb's bread with cream cheese!

Hockey night in our house.

One of the things about the Lexicon Project that I've been loving is that I'm feeling more inspired to play with my camera. Truthfully, it's what I hoped for when I jumped on the band wagon - it's one of the things that I've wanted to get back to do as I seek to thrive -  and it's been that and more!  It's been a fun reminder that a photo is a moment and, much to my family's chagrin, I'm sure, has been the impetus for my camera to once again find it's home out on the kitchen counter...or the coffee table...or the couch...or the kitchen table...I think it was Ann Voskamp, either in her book or blog, that talks about putting her camera on the kitchen counter to bring it, and the photos it captures, into every day life.  And light captures life.

Quoted :: Christine Sine

“Prayer is not about finding the right words to say to God, it is about becoming alive to the loving presence of God in each and every moment. It is about waking up to the fact that the love of God shines through every act, every object and every conversation. The speaking of words can become rote and repetitive, even boring at times, the developing of relationship requires flexibility, creativity and constant willingness to change and to grow. Anything that connects us to the love of God, or expresses our love for God is an act of prayer. Sights, sounds, tastes, smells, textures can all be acts of prayer that draw us into deeper intimacy with God.”

Christine Sine, Return to Our Senses: Reimagining How we Pray

Lexicon Project :: Brood

Because all I know is that with this small brood, there is a LOT of laundry!

From the Interweb :: Feb 22, 2013

Sharing some of the winners from around the interweb over the last couple of weeks. I've been working on this post (and a few others to come shortly) over the last several weeks but have been having trouble posting. I'm not sure if it's an internet problem, a computer problem or a web host problem but it seems to have cleared itself up. Sorry for the barrage to follow!

Whatever you do, don't let them take your faith, Kathy Escobar. Seriously. I think this woman reads my mind. Or my heart. I've said it before, I know, but this is the best one yet. Listen to this: "i had given my life & my family & my heart & blood-and-sweat-and-tears to that place and in a flash i was on the outs. their world carried on like nothing had ever happened and i was left crawling on the floor in a big heap of anger & shame & grief." So good. So true. And by putting it out there, she makes it not so weird, so abnormal and so unmanageable. Thanks, Kathy.

Your Care Guide: 25 Point Manifesto for Sanity in 2013, Ann Voskamp. 'Cause who couldn't use a bit more sanity?

Hall Suspended Two Games for Kneeing Clutterbuck, TSN. That sucks. who's name is really Clutterbuck?

74 Simple Things You Can Do to Brighten Your Spouse's Day, Engaged Marriage. A good list. Pick one and see what happens.

How I'm Learning to Rise to a Better Story, Tina Francis @ She Loves Magazine It all started with some great photography that caught my eye but her words are eye (and heart) catching as well. And the quote she added (image above), might just happen to be one of my more often repeated sentiments. Oh, I feel a rant coming on....

Three Things about one word: church, Kathy Escobar. What my heart for church still says it could and should be. 

100 words: who are you, In the Name of Love. 100 words was enough to describe so beautifully who we are are. who we can be. who we should be.

World's Okayest Mom, Kristen @ We Are That Family. It just feels good to read those words sometimes.

Maternity Photography: Leah Cook. Great tips on shooting great photos...love the work she showcases in this article.

What 200 Calories Look like in Different Foods, Bored Panda. You just might be surprised by the piles of food on the plates!

Surreal Self-Portraits by 22-Year-Old Noell S. Oszvald, Bored Panda. I anticipate posts by these guys. There's always something cool or amazing or just plain weird. This one was no exception. These photos are incredible. Even more so when you realize they're SELF portraits! 

A Little Known Secret, Carey Nieuwhof @ Orange Parents. Spoiler alert: "your emotions will eventually catch up to your obedience." What if we applied that secret to all the 'i don't feel like it' moments of life?


My Journey from Extrovert to Introvert, Where my heart resides. I'm thrilled with people who can share their stories bravely. And I get the realization that maybe, maybe, you're not as extroverted as you thought. I'm really not.

And an added bonus for sticking with me...
Banana Nut Pancakes, The Happy Housewife. Get. In. My. Belly.

Lexicon Project Sneak Peak

Okay, if there's anyone out there willing to help, I need inspiration. This is the word for this week. Brood. Any ideas? My camera is poised and ready but my creative juices simply aren't flowing. The last couple weeks that this project has been going I have had no problem - except with posting on time! - but this time, wow, this one is hard!! Maybe I need to go for a visit to the zoo.

Lexicon Project :: Celebrate

I snapped a bunch of pictures this week but, for now, you get just this one.

A dozen for me and 6 for each of his little girls. I'm celebrating the love of a good man. Love you, Mr. Miller!

Seriously, could there have been a better word for this week? Celebrate. Now, at the risk of being totally cliche, I went for it with my project photo. Valentine's Day. I know there's a lot of folks out there who think it's a silly Hallmark money grab holiday. Or that we shouldn't need a special day to tell the special people in our lives that they are, well, special. But the truth is, I like it. Not the pink, red, commercialized with hearts and big expectations kind of celebration. I like it the way I like birthdays and anniversaries because, frankly, I think they're just a good excuse to stop and celebrate the people we care about it. Let's face it, life is busy. There's work and house cleaning and dinner to make and kids "stuff" to take care of and laundry (oh the laundry) and people to see and basements to finish and....oh, the lists just go on, don't they? Time flies and life is busy so why not take an excuse, any excuse to celebrate? To celebrate good things (and good people) in life.

Quoted :: Holly Grantham & Frederick Buechner

“For clenched fists can’t gather treasure and hearts that harbor greed leave no room for grace.”  - Holly Grantham


“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.”  ―Frederick Buechner

Hockey Day in Canada...is back in our house

It's Hockey Day in Canada, so they (the "fine" folks at CBC) say and, yes, the game is on. Not the game but hockey is indeed alive and well again at our house. Our Just Drop it pledge is complete. According to the pledge, I could have watched the Edmonton Detroit game this afternoon but missed it due to work. The Vancouver Calgary game is on right now. It's safe to say that I have a happy husband. Or maybe relieved is a better word.

So was it worth it? Does anyone notice or even care that we didn't watch the first 10 games of the season? I honestly couldn't tell you. Even though the Just Drop it crew grabbed significant media attention as the pledges added up, the truth is that I doubt it.

Without getting too philosophical about it, we learned a few things in this house.

• I'm a Canadian girl through and through. I enjoy the game. I enjoy (most) of the banter and chatter that goes with it. Even tonight, having it on more in the background while I finished a crochet project and wound a ball of yarn for my next project - don't judge me - I enjoyed the sounds of it. Skates on ice. Pucks against the boards. Players shouting. My husband cheering...and jeering. And the commentators.
• About the commentators. The break didn't help. They still say stupid things. My dad used to remind my siblings and I that we should think through what we say before we say it. Solid advice, Dad. Thanks. Perhaps the commentators should hear it too. I'm convinced my husband could do the job and do it well. He has LOTS of practice! 
• It's fun to watch successes and milestones. First NHL goals. 1000 games. Great saves and sniper shots. But, for the record Mr. Commentator, remarking on a player's 200th Saturday game is dumb. That's a stupid stat. No one cares. Now back to the kids lighting it up with their first (and now second) NHL goals. 
• We learned which one of us is more stubborn. I'm not sure whether I should be proud of the fact that I "helped" Colin stand by his pledge. Once I've made up my mind about something....
• It's hard to not follow hockey in this town. If I had been watching hockey and if I had been sharing freely my opinions about it over the last couple weeks, I certainly would have pointed out TSN's power ratings at least once because, boy, is that some satisfying stuff.  If you've missed it, let me recap some of the key ones for you: Edmonton (10), Vancouver (15), LA (21) and, oh, wait for it, Calgary (28). 28. Of 30. Just saying. 
• I think the argument that a cup won this season will mean less because it's a shorter season. No one says that season in the early years of the NHL that were only 45ish games "didn't count." As Jenae would say, "a hater's gonna hate." 
• It's fun for us to be fans together. Even more fun when it can be all four of us together. BUT, even though we are big fans of NHL teams, it doesn't have to be the NHL. We enjoyed a couple WHL games over the last couple months and, as we usually are, were impressed by the energy, drive and heart of the game. I still think it would be a wise idea for the NHL as a whole to remember that, remember where they came from and why they're there. Remember the love of the game and the passion of the fans. Big business indeed but it's a game that people love and invest a lot in. 

I was surprised to find that I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would. 10 games, now 11, came and went. I missed it but I didn't miss it.  I'll likely miss a few more this season but we're back. It's hockey night in Canada in our house again but at least, tonight, I feel like we have a little bit of control. Today we decided to watch because we wanted to, not because they, players and management alike, decided whether there would be game or not. 

I'm sadly outnumbered BUT can still appreciate that this is good for a daddy's heart.

P.S. 5-1 Vancouver over the fLames. It's a good night to be a hockey fan.

Lexicon Project: Linear

Since I spend so much time there, it's only appropriate that at least one of the photos for this project be from the pool.