Out of the Ordinary

"Now here is a question: how many ills of our day stem simply from an abandonment of one's place, or from a refusal to acknowledge that one must occupy any place at all ?"
(touchstone magazine)

Did you know that the Greek word 'cosmos' doesn't simply mean the universe? It means 'a world wherein things are in their fitting, proper, or most becoming place'.

I would love to be extrodinary. But I am beginning to value the great worth of being ordinary. 99% of creation is ordinary. It's where the God of the cosmos finds them to be "most becoming".

A new friend reminded me recently how much there is to love about my ordinary life. (thanks Amy) Here is my (partial) list of what I love about my life, read it & then tell me some of your loves too.
Dreaming about attics, castles, adventures, Prince Edward Island, and exploring ruins, Daughters who share those dreams; thunderstorms, sleepy hidden villages, classic stories, dainty pink rosebuds, being loved by God, blowing the downy fluff of dandelions, being moved by music (esp. the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, the Celts, James Taylor, Nat King Cole, Lifehouse, Bebo Norman, Christmas, Louis Armstrong...), having a husband & son who make their own music, the sound of: rippling brooks, crashing waves, birdsong, chirrupping of crickets, whirring of hummingbird wings, creaky screen doors, our Cricket snoring, rain drops on my roof, Scottish accents, breezes in the Aspen grove, ice in a glass of green tea, bumbly buzz of bees, James saying my name, horses galloping across sod, pages turning... The feel of: being cuddled close, flannel sheets, crisp Autumn air, tingles of goosebumps, cashmere, anticipation, warm velvet, chenile bedspreads, walking through ferns, rocking a baby, takeoff in a plane, being right, a sleigh ride, being secure, going barefoot in clover, being obeyed, Cricket's kisses, being finished!, pussywillows, featherbeds, kissles, a good laugh... The taste of: Morrocan food, Peach and Pear Jelly Bellies, dry roasted peanuts, Sour Patch Kids, Banana popsicles, ceasar salad, cheesecake, sun ripened tomatoes, raspberries off the vine, honeysuckle... The scent of : Lilacs, wet dirt, leather, musty old cellars, peaches ripening in the sun, after the rain, wassail, pine/cedar, clean linens, kiddos fresh from the bath, saw dust, lavendar, sunscreen, cinnamin, old books, ginger... The sight of: Horefrost, the sunrise & set, new buds, mistletoe & holly, friends' faces, Christmas trees, fresh fallen snow, Monet's paintings, wrought iron gates, rock walls, cobblestone cottages, grandfather clocks, chickadees, bubbles, a roaring fire, our flag being carried by soldiers, swans, Maine, otters, smiles, James arriving home, Tasha Tudor's art, porch swings, maryjane shoes, clawfoot tubs, fresh scrubbed toes, Barbara Cooney's stories and art, skeleton keys, dew on a spiderweb, bunny tails, a Starbucks, white picket fences, my slippers at the end of the day, tree-canopied winding paths, windowboxes filled with flowers, fog, Lights on the water, arched doorways, babysbreath...
What about this ordinary life thrills you to your toes?

Get Away

Last weekend James and I went away... All by ourselves. It was the first time in 3 years (or more). We went to see our pastor/friend preach the first night. We had no idea where we were going. James asked if it would be sexy for him to stop and ask directions. he he he. We missed worship, but made it in time for the first point on his notes! I told James he was very sexy!
After the service, we went to Tomato Street for Chicken Marsala (recommend!) and some laughs before driving to a quaint town nearby.
We had a fun evening, slept in, and grabbed a Starbucks before heading out to see if our favorite used bookstore was still in business. It was. Lady Di greeted us. We spent 2 solid hours talking and reading. Isn't it peculiar how the scent of old books makes you feel wise and philosophical? Of course we bought books. Mitch Album, Flavors of Pacific Northwest, ... and more. We split a Taco salad for lunch at a forgettable location with an unforgettable 'Scotsman'. Then we drove to Circuit City to stoke the fires of James' gadget lust (& mine a tad too). New laptop and camera top the list of those we left behind but hold dear to our heart. Then we headed home. Our car conversations are always the best. (I know Peggy agrees with me here) It isn't because of the captive audience, contrary to popular belief, I think it is because of the solitude and absolute privacy with the open road stretching before you! James always does more talking than I do. I love it. I get to hear his heart, his passions, and his corny jokes and laugh with him. It's what I fell in love with 20 years ago. It's what I still love.

Aslan? Me?

As Aslan, you are brave, noble and have an astute awareness of morality. You may be quick to anger at times, but you have a heart of gold, and are respected greatly among your peers.

What Narnian are you?
click the banner to take the test.

HT:Athena

Around Our Yard

The Girls took these shots of Spring springing! They are all from our yard... Just thought I'd share.

When Nigglers niggle

"It is the nature of Desire not to be satisfied, and most human beings live only for the gratification of it." ~ Aristotle

I'm finding the above quote to be a niggler. I don't know if niggler is a family word or not, so let me explain. A niggler is anything that wriggles under your skin just enough to tickle/annoy you. Annoying + Wriggle = A Niggle. Got it?
Desire is something we long for. It haunts us. At the onset of it we enjoy its call, its song. We hope for it, dream about it, listen for its' music to come to us on whatever breeze is blowing by.
Aristotle's words pricked my conscience.
My mind began mulling. The Bible says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Yet Desire makes us hope. The Bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart. I felt that niggler again as I mulled.
When nigglers make you mull, understanding eventually dawns. (I could be the next Confucius, don't you think?)
Desire isn't meant to be pursued, God is. Delight yourself in Him and he will give you the desires of your heart. Hope for the desire, but hope in God.
It's elementary, I know, but what do you expect from somebody who mulls nigglers?

Decloaking Device

All you "Trekkies" out there will appreciate my analogy. I took this online test to decloak my personality - or as they put it - "Qualitative analysis of your type formula".
I am an iNfJ. 80% intuative, 10% judge & 5% of both introversion & emotions.
Also called an Idealist Mentor. I like that! Here is how they describe me.
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. They are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power. Earmarks - Being PHILOSOPHICAL in communicating and COOPERATIVE in implementing goals, can become highly skilled in DIPLOMATIC INTEGRATION. Their most practiced and developed intelligent operations are usually teaching and communicating (NFJ mentoring), or conferring and developing. The Idealist temperaments have an instinct for interpersonal integration, learn ethics with ever increasing zeal, and often speak interpretively and metaphorically of the abstract world of their imagination. "There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led astray. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
They are empathic in action, benevolent, and authentic. Idealist types search for their unique identity, hunger for deep and meaningful relationships, wish for a little romance each day, trust their intuitive feelings implicitly, aspire for profundity. Credulous about the future, mystical about the past, and their preferred time and place are the future and the pathway. INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately - but only when they choose.
Writing & counseling are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche. In their family interactions they strive for mutuality, provide spiritual intimacy for the mates, opportunity for fantasy for their children, and for themselves continuous self-renewal. Idealists do not abound, being 8% of the population.
What are you?

The Java and Me

I grew up in a home where coffee didn't exist. It wasn't that it was opposed, just disliked and so, forgotten. I married a man who didn't drink coffee. Neither of us ever felt the need to indulge even though we both were born and raised in the Pacific Northwest where Starbucks reigns over Bohemian and Yuppie alike. Then we were turned to the dark side. And by our pastor no less. It only took one well made latte to ensnare our tastebuds!
Now I love a steaming hot cup-o-joe in the mornings and sometimes with our Hobbity mid-afternoon snacks.
I found these stories and facts about this Arabian Brew and the company that has made it one of the greatest commodities on earth.
"Last week 20 million people bought a cup of coffee at a Starbucks. "
"A typical customer stops by 18 times a month. "
Starbucks logo, Melusine (or Melusina), is a figure of European legends and folklore, a feminine spirit of fresh waters in sacred springs and rivers.
She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish (much like a mermaid) from the waist down but with wings, two tails or both.

A sheep herder named Kaldi started it all in 850 AD. He wanted to know what could be responsible for the "queer antics of his flock." Fearing his sheep possessed, Kaldi paid close observation from high on the mountain and watched as his herd nibbled red berries from the branch of a strange tree.
Upon closer inspection he discovered the sheep eating berries from a new leaf. When he sampled the berry himself, he felt a surge of exhilaration and rushed to tell the local imam. That night the two shared a concoction made of the berries, pranced around, and generally got pretty tanked on caffeine. Sooner than you can say percolate, the Imam and his monastery became famous throughout Arabia for the spirited praying of its coffee-drinking brethren. Soon others in the old world were clamoring for the newly discovered bean.
Whatever its origins, the black broth is now ingested by over a third of the world's population and, centuries later, continues to promote odd antics.
Venetian fleets sailed the known world trading spices, silks, and perfumes with the East. It is believed that coffee came to Venice from Constantinople as part of this trade. There was only one problem. When the drink reached Rome the priest attacked it and forbid it consumption.
The priests believed that the coffee was the drink of the devil. That Satan had invented the drink for infidels. If a Christian drank this devil brew they would risk eternal damnation is how the argument went.
It wasn't until the late 1500's that Pope Clement VIII settled the dispute. He asked that the brew be brought before him. The Pope blessed the coffee, and baptized it on the spot. He reasoned that banishing this drink from the Christian world would be a larger sin. With the Pope's blessing, imports of coffee to Italy and the Western world came flooding in paving the way for the first western coffee houses.

The Gift Comes to Pass

What an incredible get-away. We have the memories of the love and laughter of our whole family. We can never say thank you enough, Mom & Dad. It was a Christmas gift worth waiting for!

A Breath of Fresh Air

Redwall analogy time again.
Every year at Redwall and each season within its walls are given a name. They have some beautiful ones - "Summer of the Endless Rose", "Year of Unfailing Friendship" ... In Redwall traditon I have decided to name my year just past as the "Year of Unanswered Questions". Not as pretty, but then, neither was my year.

Have you ever felt that God gave you a direction and as you began to faithfully walk in that, that you become hopelessly lost, or at least went stumbling in the dark, gashing your head on rocks as you trip along "the path"? That's me right now.

My questions, you ask? Why, if this Christian walk is all about God's grace and not earning or doing all the right things, do I feel the need to ask "What am I doing wrong here?" Like Job's friends I don't understand why a gracious and merciful Father would allow the things He has in my life if I am not living in sin; why He doesn't seem to live up to the promises of his Word? (Deu 28:12 The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 2Th 3:10 If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. Isa 65:22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. )
Some would say to me, "That is because there is no God, you believe in a myth." Life's struggles, however, have not made me blind to the blessings by the hand of God. They have made me numb to the joy of them. This is not where I long to be. I miss His heartbeat and His breath of life.
I have been singing a song lately... have you heard it?

So breathe in me, I need you now
I've never felt so dead within
So breathe in me, maybe somehow
You can bring new life to me again.
I used to be So sensitive
To the light that leads to where you are
Now I've aquired these callouses
With the darkness of a cold and jaded heart.
You breathe in me and I'm alive
With the power of your holiness
You breathe in me and you revive
Feelings in my soul I've laid to rest
Michael W. Smith

Where is Your Breath? "Aslan! A Wind! I beg of You!"(Voyage of the Dawn Treader - CS Lewis)
The Year of Unanswered Questions is named well.

Frivolous Fanciful Facts

March 13th is no ordinary day.
1781-Hershal discovers Uranus
1868-impeachment trial of andrew Johson
1877- Chester Greenwood patented the earmuff
1924-AA Milne publishes "When We Were Very Young"
1930- planet Pluto was discovered by scientist Clyde Tombaugh
1935-Three-thousand-year-old archives found in Jerusalem confirmed biblical history.
1954 - Bobby Thomson (Milwaukee Braves) broke his ankle sliding into a base during a spring training game. The Braves replaced him with a rookie named Hank Aaron.

1973 - Little known daughter of Scottish & Russian parents, Deea, is given her first Winnie-the-Pooh.
1993 - Deea passes her first Pooh on to her only son, Christopher.
1994- Kenny Loggins releases "Return to Pooh Corner" & whisks our hearts back to days that "disappeared all too soon".

Dream Team 2006

This is our group of 8 Highschool Ambassadors for the Exchange!

Missions Incredible

It's the Summer of 2005. I'm alone with 6 teenagers in South Korea. We are on a 12 day cultural and economic exchange. Prior to leaving America I had heard some astronomical statistics.
South Korea was:

• The fastest growing Christian population in the world
• A nation that had become over 50% Christian in the last 5 years
• The Largest Church in the world

As a Christian, it thrilled me to my very toes to think about being in that atmosphere. I was as excited to go as I was nervous to be so far from home.

This month, Christianity Today had a new statistic on it's cover... South Korea - Missions Incredible. They have now grown to be the largest sender on missionaries to the world - 13,000 with one missionary sent for every 4 churches. A New York Times article stated that with a 'low voice and wisdom', Koreans have had the greatest impact on converting the Muslim world to Christianity.

I was blessed. I didn't cheer, however, when I read either article. You want to know 'Why'? Because in my experience there was no 'low voice'. There was not even a whisper. If Christianity were defined soley as 'service until it hurts', then every person I met would have fully qualified. There was one heart that would have welcomed that whisper; it was starved and ravenous when it arrived back home. Maybe my expectations were too high.

Things have been different for me in two ways since my return. 1) I'm more anxious to serve people, to give until it hurts. 2) I whisper. To everyone who looks hungry... and even some who don't.

Opening Up...

"Mama was always cooking up nourishing broths and porridges for forgotten old men, pale young mothers, or those who wandered through her kitchen door."

"Mama's love had always been acted out with soup pot, & sewing basket. She loved the people she saw in the street, and beyond. Her love took her to the world as she prayed for and fed the ones who entered. And so I learned that Love is bigger than the walls that shut it in."
~Corrie TenBoom~ The Hiding Place

I was maybe eight years old when I read those words the first time. I had just given my life to God at church camp. They began a lifelong dream. I wanted to become a woman who loved people beyond the normal boundaries of family or friends. I wanted my door (both to my heart and to my kitchen) to always be open to anyone and everyone.

Every now and then something happens in life to remind me of that childhood dream and that God has not left it unattended, even though I wonder where it has gotten off too sometmes. This past weekend was one of those reminders. James called me Saturday from work to tell me one of his blogging buddies was going to be in town with his wife. Now, we live in the middle of nowhere, and if anyone is coming to our town it is usually on their way to somewhere. But not this time.
We had never met Justin and Nicole. Never seen them other than in pictures. Never heard their voices, or had any connection other than the periodic comment on eachothers' blogs ... and God. That was enough! We invited the two of them to stay overnight in our humble abode. To our thrill and surprise, they accepted!

I immediately tried to discount what we had to offer, but James hushed me. Then, in the hush, God began to draw out that eight-year-old heart ~ just give and let that be enough.

They were a blessing. Our oldest daughter stayed up and chatted with us for awhile after they arrived, the youngest was supposed to go to sleep. Instead she was the 'color commentator' from the back bedroom, interjecting her silly little nuggets of information. Nicole told us about growing up in our area, and about how she and Justin met. Justin told of his journey as a youth pastor, and moving west in his adorable, barely detectable Arkansas drawl. They still have such a journey ahead of them. And now that God has brought them into our lives, we get to watch their story unfold and maybe even continue to be a part of it in a small way. Thank you, Lord.

Justin & Nicole,
Our door is always open. I hope we see you walking through it again soon.

Sentiments

I feel like saying something. Not sure what. So, I'll just say:

Sun is rising. Light is dispelling the darkness in sherbet hughs.

Quiet reigns. Made cozy by Cricket's soft, rumbly snores.

Vanilla Coffee. Bittersweet morning comfort cradled in a cup.

So begins the day...

A Return

I'm going back. Never would I have thought even one year ago that I would be a chaperone of 6 American teens, trapsing across the globe, braving airports, and loving Korean food. (Mom would tell you that as a child I had a steady diet of grilled cheese sandwiches!!) I had never been out of the USA, and had only been out of the Pacific Northwest once.

Now our county has elected me to go again! There will be 2 chaperones this time! Up to 8 kids will get to go. We leave in July for 2 weeks with our friends in GunPo City, S. Korea. It's a time of fostering friendships, learning to appreciate other cultures and building community.

I'm SO excited! and Mom, I didn't order one single grilled cheese the entire time, and I ate all my vegetables!

Yoo Hoo! yoo hoo!

Come out, come out wherever you are!

"It is true. Because it has been ordained by someone with the graphical capabilities to make a button, you are now required by your conscience to delurk." - Kim

Stand Up and Testify!! :) I lurk. I admit it. "Hi, my name is Deeapaulitan, and I'm a blog lurker." (hi Deeapaulitan)... whoo, boy, did that feel good. Your turn!! C'mon, don't be shy... I promise not to put you on a mailing list, or sell your vital stats to the greasy guys at the local computer chop shop! It's just nice to know you're out there. That you stopped in for a laugh or to be challenged... that I'm not all alone in the vast blogosphere of life.

Jerry Maguire: If anybody else wants to come with me, this moment will be the ground floor of something real and fun and inspiring and true in this godforsaken business and we will do it together! Who's with me besides... "Flipper" here?

Finding Relevance in Relationship

For my 35th birthday my in-laws bought me a subscription to Sunset magazine. This months edition has an article on "The Wests' Best Places To Live". Based on what criteria did they choose these places?
*Sense of Community (interaction with and feeling responsible for...)
*Pedestrian Friendly (wide sidewalks, courtyards, and low traffic)
*Functionality Packed into a small area
*Ability to Form their own identity while respecting heritage
*Remaking/refurbishing space

I found this interesting, with the growing emphasis on being 'culturally relevant' within our family's hearts and the church in-general, that this periodical would list much of what we feel God speaking to us about relevancy as a way of building a neighborhood into a community! It still all boils down to 2 things ~ RELATIONSHIP and being intentional!

25 ways to make your neighborhood a community

by Amelia Ashton (abridged)

3. Organize regular wine-tasting parties. You’ll be surprised at all the local sommeliers.
4. Hold small music concerts on a common green. Encourage karaoke (responsibly).
5. Sponsor a holiday celebration such as an Easter egg hunt, a summer solstice party, a Fourth of July bike parade and party, Oktoberfest with grilled bratwurst, or a Halloween block party.
6. Start a regular “Mom’s night out.” Wine and dine, or catch a late-night mani/pedi.
Help each other

7. Create a new kind of Neighborhood Watch: Build a “care force” that helps out with dinners and errands when neighbors need a hand, and/or host an emergency preparedness night in which you get organized and learn about your neighbors’ special skills (CPR training, etc.).
8. Schedule an annual “barn raising,” at which a volunteer work crew helps neighbors with household projects, from fixing the pipes to mending a fence.
12. Host movie nights, using a garage door as the movie screen. Alternate which home gets to pick the rental, and don’t forget the popcorn.
13. Consider building a gate in fences between backyards to foster camaraderie and use for emergencies.
Develop community spaces
Communicate
18. Put up a community website and a Yahoo group site for public notices, referrals, ads, and event notices.
19. Got a swimming pool? Use a flag system to let neighbors know when their kids can join your kids for an adult-supervised swim. Green flag, come on in. No flag, don’t ask.
Create a community-friendly front yard

20. Plant a colorful perennial border between your sidewalk and the street, put a chair or bench in your front yard, then prepare to say hi to your neighbors when it becomes part of everyone’s stroller route.
21. Instead of tall, narrow walls or fences that close neighbors out, build half-walls wide enough to function as a seat.
22. Plant in front of as well as behind perimeter walls. “It’s like a gift to the neighborhood,” one homeowner said. It also inspires adjoining houses.
23. Build a firepit in front of your house. On cooler nights, throw down some beach blankets, share a glass of wine with the neighbors, and watch the kids play. Or just settle down out front in some folding chairs on a Friday or weekend afternoon, and invite the neighbors to join you.
24. Hang a swing from your porch to get you out front and socializing.

It's all about loving people and wanting to be a part of making their lives better. How cool is that? It would mean that, in my little microcausim of the universe, Jesus' vision for His world would find life!