so, i decided to take down the last post. mainly because, well, i'm not good at sharing certain parts of my life. so, it's best for me if i didn't share that part right now.

in other news, though, i'm so cold! my texas-raised skin is not prepared for the icy cold weather these past couple of weeks. c'mon sunshine ... i'm ready for you!

peace and love ...

grad school so far

i need a hug. and my mama. stat.

new school year, new theme song

Classes began yesterday. YIKES! Wait, let me say that again ... YIKES!!!

Theme song for the start of the new year:

Josh Ritter's Empty Hearts.

Check it out. It's quite lovely.

You can check his tunes out HERE, though I don't think Empty Hearts is available on this site.

Peace.

a neighborhood mural

Here are pictures from a local school's mural down the road:

a pleasant august evening

The District had a lovely summer evening. Though August, there’s been a cool breeze in the air for the past couple of days. It hasn’t felt like the intense August heat that I’m used to back in Texas. I’ve heard from a few folks that July is the “hot and humid” month around these parts. Hopefully they’re right, because the past couple of days have been pleasant summertime days.

Update: the tour of North/Central Texas has definitely been postponed. Sad day! I’m pretty bummed about it. I was so intent on hugging my mama and spending some quality time with beloved friends in beloved towns. And I was so freggin’ intent on purchasing a couple of cool t-shirts down South Congress-way. (Dangit!) And grabbing a beer on 6th St. to hear some cool tunes. (Dangit!) Oh well. I’m sure there’s a reason behind this and that I will see everyone at the right time.

Thankfully, I’m still headed to the West Texas Town of El Paso. And then up to the Land of Enchantment. Woo hoo! Get ready Gramma and Panchito (the cutest shih tzu around)!

So, I went to campus today and finally met the professor I’ll be TA-ing for this fall. It was SO SWEET to be on campus! Oh my goodness gracious … I am SO FREGGIN’ EXCITED to be a student again! Seriously, I don’t think I’ve been this excited about starting school. Ever. Seriously, ever. I’m pumped. Oh my goodness gracious!

In all seriousness, I am hopeful for this upcoming semester. Don’t worry folks - I’m conscious of the realities. I know it’s going to kick my ass. I know there will be tears, tears, and more tears. I know that there will be gnawing and gnashing of teeth. I know that I will want to pull my hair out in agony. And I know that I will be consistently questioning my intelligence and academic where-with-all. But, my goodness gracious, I am so thrilled about the challenge. And am so ready to experience graduate school and work toward the PhD-goal, especially now that I’m in a city that I dig living in. And now that I’ve grown-up a bit since four years ago. At least I hope I’ve grown-up a bit.

Woo hoo!

Peace.

good news & bad news

Good News:

Boston was really, really good. I went for an annual gathering of sociologists. It reminded me of the sweetness of sociology and how necessary it is to have a critical-eye.

A highlight was attending a session/salon honoring one of my former professors, the man who taught me “Introduction to Sociology” back in Texas. His lectures were a major reason why I chose to major in Sociology. So it was fitting that seven years later, as I’m about to embark on a new sociological adventure in a new land, I was able to watch this now revered professor receive accolades from his academic community.

What was particularly great about Boston was getting to surround myself with old friends and colleagues. Seven of us fit into a room, so, as you can imagine, craziness did in fact ensue. No drama, just silliness. Much needed silliness. It was special to be around these folks and to laugh and be myself with them while concurrently participating in the celebration and gathering of the profession we’ve chosen.

Though I didn’t get to see a lot of Boston, I did enjoy what I saw. We traveled by the T to Cambridge and strolled around Harvard for a bit. The area reminded me a lot of Berkeley - a university “village” in the midst of a sprawling city. The parts of Cambridge and Boston that I saw were well-kept (beautiful, fresh hanging-plants hanging from all of the street lights and in the median of all the roads), and you could smell and sense the oldness and history of the city.

Bad News:

On another note, I may not travel to Texas as originally planned. (Darn free tickets with block-out dates!) BUT, I’m still road-tripping with Gramma from West Texas to New Mexico. The tour of North/Central Texas may have to be postponed though. I’ll keep you updated.

Back to the Good News:

I didn’t take as many pictures of Boston as I would have liked, but here are a couple for fun.

Peace.


Gates Around Harvard


Harvard Street


Hanging Plants Everywhere

traveling rays & bouncing mercies

I wrote this entry this past weekend, so it’s being posted a bit late. Enjoy!
________

“I'm holding my heart out but clutching it too
Feeling this short of a love that we once knew
I'm calling this home when it's not even close
Playing the role with nerves left exposed”
- From Reasons Why by Nickel Creek (yes, Nickel Creek again!)

Last week was hard. If I’m honest, this past week was hard too.

So many good things have been happening. I’ve met folks around the neighborhood with similar hearts, and it’s neat to finally make connections. To have my soul fed by people whose life goals parallel my own. I hope that friendships continue to form … into whatever shape that is sweet and life-giving. And I hope that I develop a community in which to rest my soul.

My summer stint is nearly over. One more week actually. Four more days. 40 more hours.

I’m ready for it to end.

Though I’ve met some beautiful people, most of whom I hope for friendships to continue, my spirit is anxious for a new beginning. Trans-Mountain down. Mt. Everest to climb.

Back to why the past two weeks have been a bit difficult: I just haven’t been feeling like myself. Small reminders here and there have sustained me. Meeting people from Sojourners (not related to the title of this blog or the tattoo on my foot (hi Daddy!) – just a cool group of folks with a heart for justice). Meeting folks from the Servant Leadership School (a place where Henri Nouwen once stayed). And folks from Potter’s House (a progressive coffee shop/venue/church, etc.).

I’ve also had small reminders of who I am from consistently beautiful friends. Dear friends have spent tremendous amounts of cell phone minutes and gchat messages reminding me of who I am. They’ve provided me with wise words and encouraging book recommendations. They’ve devotedly returned S.O.S. phone messages and have put up with bellyaching on the other end. Even Abigail has endured a number of phone calls right before sweet Elly swept into this world (I had to get my Abigail-time in before little Elly took her away!). And, of course, my beautiful sister has hilariously persuaded me out of hormonal hysteria.

All that said … I suppose these kids aren’t really small reminders … rather HUGE mirrors within which to view my intricately textured past and present. Thank God for them! (And for the technology simulating their close proximity.)

But, I’m not sure where this subtly pervasive feeling of not completely being “me” has begun. I’m sure it’s all a matter of becoming familiarized with unfamiliar sidewalks and street corners and metro stops and faces and voices and personalities. Transition takes a while. As does the growth within and through the process.

I’m looking forward to returning to Texas and New Mexico for a few days after a Boston-detour. To plug into a community of family and friends who love me in spite of all they know of me. I’m ready for my Mama to hold me in her arms, make me laugh like a hyena, and let me whine to her as I have been doing successfully for the past 20-some-odd years. I’m ready to see my brother and his latest tattoo and have him remind me that I’m his little sis so he can pray for me as much as he wants, no matter how much I plead for him not to. I’m ready to see Mary Beth’s new house, have her remind me of where I came from, the good and the bad, and reminisce over childhood delinquency and escapades while we drink smoothies and watch Freaks and Geeks.

I’m ready for Austin-town. To drink some tea with matt graham, a beloved friend, so we can catch up on life … our failings and adventures. He’ll probably let me cry (yeah, literally cry) and he won’t judge me too bad. He’ll just give me a weird look of, “Holy shit, she’s crying. What do I do?!” And I’m ready for him to knock some sense into my puny brain and heart and spirit with his poetic frankness and his empathetic mercy. He’s good at that, he is.

I’m ready for B/CS. To randomly show up at Chris and Bill’s steps and beg them to take me in so I can overstay my welcome after a home-cooked meal. Because their home makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside like a comfy couch will sloppy, goose-feathered pillows to sink into and soothe my soul. And because I love their company. I miss Chris a lot. I miss random Blue Baker runs for soup in a bread bowl. And her random phone calls simultaneously filled with angst and joy and intellect. All three at once. And I’m ready to meet Lenny (her long-awaited labor-doodle!).

And I’m ready to hug and kiss my sweet and beautiful Gramma. Man, that woman is beautiful! I wish you could meet her. She’d lure you in with her frijoles con chorizo and never let you go after that! The two of us are taking a road-trip a la New Mexico. It should be a grand adventure, just the two of us. An abuelita and her nieta and the open road!

I transgress.

Anywho, that’s about it for now. Good days. Bad days. In-between days.

Days where God bounces beautiful rays around as reminders of eternal purposes … and I actually take notice.

Days where God bounces beautiful rays around as reminders of eternal purposes … and I don’t take notice at all.

To close, I’ll leave you with a funny yet poignant quote from Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. May you notice bouncing rays today. And may they fill you with blessings of peace and solace and reminders you who you are.

“It’s funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools – friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty – and said, Do the best you can with these, they will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they’re enough.”
- Traveling Mercies, Anne Lamott, page 103

Peace.

'today is the seed time'

Sorry if my previous blog entry was a bit scandalous. (I suppose that’s the intriguing part of having a blog, but also a negative in trying to emulate my thoughts and emotions at one point in time via the Internet). I received some feedback via email and definitely appreciate everything that folks said and how folks responded …

That blog entry was written immediately after I read a stimulating book entitled Inheriting the Trade: A Northern Family Confronts Its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in U.S. History. The book is written by Thomas DeWolf, a descendant of the DeWolf’s of Rhode Island. The DeWolf’s, during the height of the slave trade, capitalized significantly from the enslavement of Africans and the intertwined product trading. Also, aside from having deep set connections in political, economic, and social circles in America’s power elite, many of the DeWolf family were also Episcopalian ministers. This adds an interesting dynamic to Thomas DeWolf’s reflection.

Inheriting the Trade follows ten DeWolf descendants on a journey retracing the Triangle Trade, i.e., how their ancestors came into power, wealth, and prestige. They met in Rhode Island, traveled to West Africa’s “slave castles”, over to Cuban plantations once owned by their families, and then back to Rhode Island.

The journey’s inspiration and the resulting emotions/transformations/stagnations that occurred within and as a result of their journey can also be seen in a PBS documentary. The documentary is entitled Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North and was organized by one of the ten participating descendants, Katrina Browne.

I highly recommend this book and documentary to anyone interested in the contemporary racial relations and how they are directly tied to the historical foundation of our nation. I also highly recommend these materials to anyone interested in learning more about white privilege, racial reconciliation, and the profoundly established power that white folks gained from enslaving human beings. It’s also an easy read for history buffs and/or for people interested in “generational sin,” if you will, and/or for people interested in basic social justice.

Though more “radical” books exist, of course, this one is a great testimony from a white person’s perspective about coming to terms with systemic racism, and his personal racist tendencies, in a more pragmatic manner than I’ve seen/read in a while.

So, again, I apologize if my previous blog entry was harsh on the eyes. But that’s how it goes sometimes.

Peace and love.

“Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”
- W.E.B. DuBois

'the truth is a bitter friend': random thoughts that somehow relate to each other

A group of friends and I were discussing current events around the lunch-table recently. One of the topics discussed was the presidential election and the blatant racism that occurs at a horribly disgusting, yet predictable, rate. Our discussion focused, in particular, on white privilege, the white evangelical Christian community, and other things that even as I type, royally piss me off.

(Disclaimer: I have not had a lot of sleep recently, so excuse my rant … and the rant that is about to occur.)

One friend brilliantly posed this tongue-in-cheek rhetorical question: “So, if God allowed Hurricane Katrina to demolish New Orleans because of ‘homosexuals,’ ‘delinquent black people’, and ‘sexual promiscuity,’ thereby damning its residents, then why aren’t certain members of the Christian community talking about how God allowed the recent floods in the Midwest in order to damn all of the white evangelical Christian Republicans???”

Brilliant.
_______________________

I have had a hard time accepting the history of Christianity recently. A hard time accepting the historic use of missions to colonize countries, thereby devastating languages, cultures, art forms, et cetera. Tearing apart families. Killing people with diseases. And with weapons of mass destruction.

I have a hard time accepting the role of the Church in the slave trade and in the perpetuation of slavery in the U.S. for centuries. A hard time knowing that within the slave trade castles on the west coast of Africa (literally hell-on-earth vacuums where enslaved Africans were placed in shackles and in utterly inhumane conditions) “places of worship,” i.e. Christian churches, existed for white slave traders to attend service while the groans of human beings could be heard below. And these “places of worship” also existed to convert the “savages” to the one and only “true religion of white men,” therefore the “true religion of the world.”

I have a hard time accepting the role that many, if not the majority, of Christian church leaders had during American slavery – themselves owners of enslaved Africans and African Americans.

I have a hard time accepting the role of the Church in Jim Crow America. Christian men and women performed and celebrated the lynching of human beings. They participated in acts of terrorism toward people whom they deemed sub-human. They condoned unequal access to quality education and healthcare. They used blatantly evil words to describe a large segment of human beings they were instead called to love. I have a hard time knowing that these conditions are not only history. They exist today … it makes my stomach turn in disgust.

I have a hard time accepting the role of the Church in the Civil Rights Movement.

I have a hard time with card-carrying members of the Christian community voting against reforms to further create equality among the races, as many celebrated white Christian men voted against the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s.

I have a hard time accepting the current state of Christianity where celebrated white Christian leaders claim damnation in New Orleans and New York because of “immoral behavior,” but do not mention any sort of damnation in Midwest hotbeds of white evangelical Christianity. (I do not agree with the logic either way … I am just calling out the hypocrisy. The logic, to me, is bullshit.)
_______________________

That said, I want to make sure you readers (some in particular) know that I do not have doubts about the existence of God. A God of joy and peace and love. Not any more than my usual daily, weekly, etc. doubts anyways.

I do, however, have extreme doubts about the character of the faith in which I claim membership. And I have doubts as to whether or not that faith is indeed the most socially just.

I am ashamed at the hypocrisy of the evangelical community in warmly accepting and praising a white presidential nominee eight years ago who claimed the Christian faith while adamantly rejecting and/or critically questioning a contemporary black presidential nominee who has ostensibly lived out his personal Christian values based in the Biblical justice of peace and love (as opposed to the Biblical justice of violence).

That said I am ashamed that I, at times and without question, claim the faith I do while ignoring the blatant history of racism, sexism, violence, and paternalistic dogma that exists not only in the faith’s A.D. history but also in the actual scriptural history.

I am extremely shameful of the unjust history of the faith in which I claim membership. And I am ashamed at myself for participating in contemporary injustices that the faith in which I claim membership conducts.

I am ashamed at the thought of attending an all white affluent church in a predominately minority urban environment where poverty and homelessness literally exists on the footsteps of our National Mall.

I am ashamed that I hypocritically ignore, do not discuss and/or learn more about, and do not struggle against modern slavery. I am ashamed that I contribute to modern slavery by not doing anything about it, therefore participating in it.

I am ashamed at the haughtiness and incongruity of members of my faith, including myself at times, who completely reject beautiful aspects of other faiths while not questioning ugly injustices that occurs within our own.
_______________________

I can go on. But I won’t. I’m tired and now am depressed at the thought of all of this.

I know the arguments against everything I just wrote. And I know that Church members did have active, active roles in abolitionist movements, peace moments, the civil rights movements, and definitely now. And I am sure that Church members spoke against the injustice of the Crusades and other historic moments (… or large segments … or throughout the entire history of the faith) where Christianity was manipulated by individuals, leaders, nations, and people groups as a weapon of terror rather than blanket of peace.

But I cannot help but think that so many of us who claim social justice as a calling have lukewarm hearts rather than hearts truly aflame with love for our brothers, sisters, and God. Even more so, I cannot help but think that so many of us who are called to “spread the kingdom” in various ways (including but not limited to social justice) have lukewarm hearts toward the Justice of Love … not fully comprehending how it has been palpably abused in the past while also not fully comprehending how powerful it can be toward finally creating a beautiful just kingdom on earth. (And lukewarm ain’t so cool.)

And I cannot help but wonder what the ULTIMATE truth is. Is it our dreadfully convoluted interpretation of “heaven-inspired” words while we create cold shackles for our brothers and sisters? Or is it our dreadfully convoluted interpretation of a Son who calls for peace-on-earth while we accept the murder of innocents and non-innocents alike (within the Main Streets of Rhode Island and Alabama to the deserts of Darfur and Iraq) on a daily basis?

Or is there more than all of this??? Something absolute and beautiful and true and not permanently stained by the injustice of our own fucked-up interpretations???

Perhaps Nickel Creek is right … “the truth is a bitter friend” …
But despite tonight’s rant, I still believe in the God of peace and joy and love … with the usual doubts of course.

As always … Peace and Love to you. (And thanks for putting up with the rant.)
_______________________

doubting thomas by nickel creek
- you can hear it by clicking their myspace page (it’s the last song on the list)
- just an fyi – nickel creek IS NOT a Christian band … just a really cool indie band influenced by bluegrass
- and this is one of my favorite songs by them

“what will be left when i've drawn my last breath,
besides the folks i've met and the folks who know me,
will i discover a soul saving love,
or just the dirt above and below me,

i’m a doubting thomas,
i took a promise,
but i do not feel safe,
oh me of little faith,

sometimes i pray for a slap in the face,
then i beg to be spared 'cause i'm a coward,
if there's a master of death i'll bet he's holding his breath,
as i show the blind and tell the deaf about his power,
i'm a doubting thomas,
i can't keep my promises,
'cause i don't know what's safe,
oh me of little faith

can i be used to help others find truth,
when i'm scared i'll find proof that its a lie,
can i be lead down a trail dropping bread crumbs,
that prove i'm not ready to die,

please give me time to decipher the signs,
please forgive me for time that i've wasted,

i’m a doubting thomas,
i'll take your promise,
though I know nothin's safe,
oh me of little faith”

chuggachuggachugga: not-so-clear skies

I can't help but post this article from The Onion. It was in a recent issue, but apparently appeared in a previous issue as well. Enjoy!

I'm A Cloud Factory!

Peace.

Oh, and chuggachuggachugga ... you'll see what that means!

the killer b's

My friend Dan asked me to pet-/house-sit for him this past weekend as he went gallivanting home to Michigan. I immediately said yes as one of his dogs, Bobby, has a total human-crush on me and makes me feel like the most important human in his dog-world nearly every time I see him (though I'm sure he does that to all the girls!).

The three of them – Bobby and Brisco (the most adoring dogs ever) and Baxter (the most chill cat ever) – welcomed me into their home and treated me like a queen. I woke up both mornings with Bobby sleepin’ on the bed by my side, Baxter snoozin’ at my feet, and Brisco chillin’ out on the floor right next to the bed. I felt so loved!

So, here are some fun pics I took of the Bobby, Brisco, and Baxter … aka “The Killer B’s."

Peace.


Here is Baxter looking quite debonair as he relaxes from a long, hard cat-day.


Meet Brisco! He just finished sun-bathing for a bit.


This is Bobby posing for the camera. (He so totally posed ... it was funny!)

Now that I just finished writing this post, I think I need to get a dog!

a dual signature

I walked home backwards today. People driving past me on 13th thought I was nuts. But the occasional pedestrian understood what had my attention. It was one of those days where the sun was shining bright yet rain was steadily hitting the ground. And, in the distance toward a clear blue opening was a rainbow inside of another rainbow. A dual Signature to remind me. Of a lot.

I turned a year older this past weekend. It was the first day of summertime and the longest day of the year, as it is always. And it was a day casting down 30’s shadow. But it wasn’t Father’s Day as it was 20-something years ago. It reminded me of Father’s Day, though. Appropriately, in myriad of ways.

The weekend was spent decently … I went out on U-Street Friday night with some fellow interns looking for some sweet live tunes. We wound up with a few beers and cigarettes instead … not too shabby. Saturday was spent shopping for non-cancer-causing water containers and a trip to a somewhat familiar Whole Foods (though not the same experience as 6th and Lamar). (Oh the irony of a “yes” to cigarettes and a “no” to heated Nalgene water-bottles.)

I marked the rest of the day, and the end of its sunshine on this year’s longest day, by lounging on Thomas Jefferson’s steps watching the orange sky fade into the West and a lightning storm approach from across the Potomac. I’m not gonna lie – it was good.

The birthday weekend concluded with a hike in Maryland with some folks from work while the rest of the day I prayed for the weekend to grow longer. It decided not to, but was a decent package of joy in my new town.

I hope your Summer Solstice was beautifully spent! (Try to walk home backwards someday … especially when you see what I saw … People thought I was a fool until they looked up too!)

Peace.

(Here is a picture of a beautiful rainbow I happened-on while driving between Austin and B/CS this past Fall.)

green-leafed trees & big blue skies ...

I miss the blues and the greens. I don’t know if it’s because DC has been teasing me with Spring-like weather these past couple of days and/or if it’s just because I’m living in a city, with all of its sirens and smog. But I miss those blues and greens from the Academic Building’s lawn as I would lie looking up through the green leaves to the big blue sky, soaking energy from the Texas sunshine. And I miss Austin. The music. The vibe. The openness. Though I haven’t lived there in a year, that city has my heart … I miss it so.

BUT … DC has definitely become, and is becoming more and more every week, my new home! Woo hoo!

While I miss Austin and definitely the community of family and friends throughout Texas, I have felt so ALIVE from the diversity of the District. (I remember when my sister and I arrived in Berkeley moving her into San Francisco and were walking around that hip town. I paused to breathe in the atmosphere and asked her, “Can’t you just smell the diversity?!” That’s what it smells like here … it’s a beautiful smell.)

All-in-all the past 5 weeks (can you believe it’s already been 5 weeks?) has zoomed past me at record speed. It has been filled with plenty of socially awkward moments at work, long walks throughout the city streets, metro-riding randomness, and anywhere from 72-degree-breezy-days to 99-degree-humid-days. We’ve even had a couple of tornado scares at work (I thought I left Tornado Alley?!).

So, work. Interning is a pretty sweet deal. The internship program is well organized and I’m pretty much treated like a full-time regular employee with the perks to match. The folks in my branch are pretty chill and dig sweet tunes like me (they’ve provided me with some solid music-advice lately). I’m meeting a lot of UMD grad students/fellow summer interns (one of whom I’ll be TA-ing with in the Fall) and a couple of other interns as well. Also, I’ve clicked with a couple of girls already, so it’s nice to have the beginnings and/or potential of/for friendships so soon. We’ve all bonded over mid-20’s ambiguity/quarter-life crises, the hell of grad school, and constantly living in a state of risky transition. And we’ve bonded over the non-stop socially awkward encounters that occur daily at work (for being sociologists, we sure are a socially awkward group of folks!). But, work is a sweet deal so far, and I’m grateful for the opportunity and networks that is/are being established.

School. I’ve been up to UMD once since I moved out here. It’s such a beautiful campus! I’m registered for two classes already and just have to sign up for one more. One of my classes is with a prof I’ve idolized since I was an undergrad, so I’m particularly excited about taking her class this Fall! BUT – until then – I’m totally reveling in the summertime … the calm before the storm.

Neighborhood. Can I just say(?) I made the BEST neighborhood decision yet! (Other than Hyde Park and Pease Park in Austin-town). Oh my goodness … this is such a buzzing area and is in GREAT walking distance to so much of DC (the non-touristy-cool- stuff that is). The area is way diverse (which I love – SO SO SO different from B/CS (thank God!)) and is only going to keep growing. There’s a good mix of families, young couples, older folks, and 20/30-something hipsters to keep it all real. I walk nearly every day between Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan (names of neighborhoods) and recently joined a sports club down the road. Hey, I need to attract these hipster boys somehow, right?! (Tom Rich – you can put your joke in here now!).

That’s about it so far. Just learning and growing and keeping up with it all one day at a time.

I’m going to try to keep this blog updated as much as possible. I want to say a once-a-week update is my goal, but I’m hesitant to keep that promise (if you know me well, you know that I’m a true flake (but, for some reason, you love me anyway ;-) )). BUT, I think I’m finally going to splurge for a digital camera (it’s about time, don’t ‘ya think?), so I hope to be posting pictures, etc., of DC-adventures. Also, like with my old blog (which I’m going to take off the www soon), I’ll put up links to cool websites of news, organizations, friends’ blogs, and what-have-you. It’ll take a while to build, ONLY because I don’t want to stare at the computer when I’m not at work. So please have patience with me and stop by when you can! And please comment … I’d love to hear from you!

Also, I wanted to share this: The last thing I did before leaving B/CS was go to a very dear spot for a very dear friend and, as of 6-months ago this past week, for me too. There was a Bible in the room and it was open to Isaiah 55. Not knowing what else to do, I read the chapter and this is what a verse from it said:

“You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and the trees of the field
will clap their hands.”
-Isaiah 55:12

How appropriately life-giving for such a particularly transitional life-moment?!

So, that said, many blessings to you on today’s adventure(s) and may you go out in joy and be led forth in peace with nature beckoning you welcome.

Maybe now I’ll go find an ideal green-leafed tree to lie under and gaze into the District’s big blue sky!

Peace and Love.

Oh, and welcome to my blog!