A few more words of the non-creative variety. I wanted to mention that I am heartily enjoying the electro-swing that is the current music du jour here at Antidote. Also – I didn’t mention in my previous, but it is now a week since Mom was here in Houston staying with Dani and I. I will not spill all the ink discussing our various adventures here but simply wanted it to be in the chronicles. May it be known that it was a time of love and laughter and all the wonderful talks and smiles and prayers. How precious was it to show her a bit of our life here in Houston, the life that our God has given us this year of 2026. Sometimes one knows they are blessed and richly loved, but to then have the chance for someone (such as Mom!) to come and visit and see it all displayed, one’s breath catches and one is ever so thrilled all the more as that life shines forth in technicolor dazzling in all its glories. Praise to the Lord the Almighty!
Tag: family
Joyful
And now – I sit here awaiting my dinner to come to its completion. Spaghetti sauce(with onions, peppers, sausage…) merrily bubbling away on the stove and with the aroma wafting through the apartment…it’s feeling like dinnertime. Thought that while I wait for the sauce and sausage flavours to marry, I could write a few words here. Not much to say of note, really. Had a nice time at church this morning(Pastor Wayne finished up 2 Timothy – such a great book!) and then afterwards went out with friends for a BBQ lunch where I enjoyed a brisket sandwich with potato salad. Only in Texas.
This afternoon, got a bunch of random things done around the flat – yet still made time for my quiet time on the couch with my coffee, etc. Finally I decided to make dinner(even though still being a bit full from lunch!) to the lovely sounds of Beethoven on my TV(my favorite part of this TV I think – I can connect to youtube through it and play any kind of music I want for ambiance. My TV speakers are *far* superior to this old laptop’s speakers and it’s very nice hearing the music throughout my place).
With all that said, I do want to mention something briefly that I’m not sure I’ve said before – I’ve been planning my grand return to Europe for a while now…and so this week, on Thursday, I fly out! I’m going to first arrive in Budapest and pop up to Miskolc for the weekend…for Anna’s wedding. Yes, dear Anna is getting married – oh joy of joys! And so I’ll be there to celebrate with her and her family and friends. It will indeed be awesome to see her and her family again – been a while since I’ve seen any of them! Me and Noemi have been keeping in touch fairly well – and now we finally get to chat in person! (So much better, eh?) And of course..Steven will be at the wedding too. So – a true and most excellent reunion will be had. God is good. Always.
And of course, once I leave Hungary a week Monday, where will I end up? Aberdeen of course. A week in Scotland with my dearest friends awaits. I’m not going to detail my itinerary…but it will be most glorious. And I cannot wait. God is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting. Always. Always.
Now as Beethoven’s ninth comes to its climax, I think it is a good time for me to get my dinner. Peace, my friends – have a most lovely Sunday evening.
Valley Falls
Good evening, one and all!! Once again, I write on a Monday evening as my dinner bakes in the oven. And so once again, I don’t have long to write. But I thought I’d put down a few words, because a few are better than none, are they not? Not necessarily of course, because if the few words lack purpose, no words may actually be preferable. But now as I write myself into some sort of convoluted knot, it may be best if I stop prefacing my few words and actually write them. Ahem.
This evening I am quite tired, but it is that good kind of weariness. That weariness of flesh and bones that bespeak a good and wonderful past few days. Because these past few days, I spent in Florida with most dear friends! On July 4th, I flew in to Tampa. After renting a car and having a most awesome roast beef hash lunch with Dad, I drove up to Gainesville. Gainesville, where I spent four years of my life, yet so little time since. And so I had decided it was time for a proper time with people in Gainesville – and so it was. I stayed with Rob and Laurie – who else?! – and we had a time of excellence indeed. We talked and laughed and ate and talked and drank mugs of delicious coffee and talked and played some epic board games and talked yet some more. And of course, more awesome things took place than I can describe at the moment(awesome fun with Lebos! Lunch and sweetness with Maryanne!! Maryanne made her speciality lunch of fresh mozzarella/tomato/basil sandwiches. And we got to sit and eat and be together. And it was marvelous. Disc golf with Deanna! Reunions and worship at Creekside!! Perfect dinner of Ledo’s pizza with Mom and Dad!! And of course, little sleep was had this whole weekend. Yet, while I am now quite weary in my flesh, my spirit and my soul are refreshed. Just being with so many people who love me and love God. Being surrounded by those whom God has blessed me in this life. Being reminded of the goodness of my Lord. How can I ever doubt? Never. Never. And so now as I really must end this before I over-cook my dinner, I simply want to say one more thing. I have been given much. I have been given everything.
Now my friends – farewell! I love you all so – grace and peace.
Where is thy sting
Just a very few words, my friends!
I’m sitting here on my couch in Houston, just newly arrived back in town. A pizza is in the oven for a quite late(but needed!) dinner. And the battle of Helm’s Deep is raging on my TV screen. A perfect end to a perfect weekend. I’ve been in Tampa all weekend long(arrived home about midnight on Thursday!), but as is typical, no time for writing the whole weekend due to the many moments of awesomeness contained therein. Rays game! Watching Divergent with Maryanne and Laura! Best New York Pizza with Mom! Lunch with Dad! Apple pie and chocolate cake and lots of talking and lots of late-night-youtube-watching with Maryanne and Laura(A Very Potter Musical!!) Seeing dear Steve and Vickie and having at least a few minutes with them this afternoon! And of course, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ this morning at Hope Bible Church with the family. And this is really what I’d like to talk more about(if my dinner was not about to come out of the oven in two minutes), because truly – how good it was and is to be reminded that no matter what fun things there are in this world(and we should not be ashamed to enjoy them!), we should be having our greatest joy and highest hope in the love and salvation and glory and wonder of Jesus Christ. We should yearn to be with Christ above any other. We should long for Christ more than anything else on this earth. This night as I walked back to my apartment, I looked up and even through the haze of the city sky, I saw the stars. Yet even their beauty pales in comparison to the glories of Jesus our Lord. There is no more perfect beauty than to know and be known by Christ our God. And that, my friends, is all I have to say tonight.
Sleep well and be at peace.
I’ll Fly Away
A quick post this fine Saturday morning!
I’ve just finished my very quality lunch here at Beans(cabbage and bean soup, cantaloupe on the side. Delightful). Now, about to head off to get some errands done before heading home to do housework, but just thought I’d write a few words here now. This morning has been most productive, with much vacation planning! Booked a flight to Tampa for Easter weekend(huzzah!) and then booked a flight to Boston for summer holidays! Going to spend a long weekend there with Maryanne, Laura and Megan, plus Robbie who’s coming over from Isle of Man! Oh I can’t wait! Going to be simply epic.
Still planning a trip overseas as well, but that one isn’t quite booked yet, although I’ve done most of necessary reseach. Waiting for final confirmations from a few people before I press the button. Still. SO EXCITED. I miss people!!!
Also this morning, sent away a package to John(er, John…forget what you just read if you’re seeing this). Hopefully it reaches him in time for the NCAA tourney. Yes, that’s a hint. Speaking of NCAA basketball, UF just beat Kentucky today by 19 points. Undefeated in SEC play – conference record. Gator basketball!
Now, going to finish my cantaloupe and then roll out. Have a most awesome day, my friends!!
Jack
I fail at keeping this up-to-date, even when I’m on holiday and (supposedly) have plenty of time! Just now, I’m sitting here in the family room and thought I’d write a brief update on this day-after-Christmas(or as it’s called in other lands, Boxing Day!). This day was just lovely. A relaxing morning with coffee and family. Going out with Mom to Best NY Pizza for lunch…and of course the best part of that isn’t the yummy pizza(although that doesn’t hurt…), but just being with Mom and talking with her…which is always one of the highlights of my trip home. Always.
And then once we got home, I got to talk to Chris and Jo over Skype – truly, technology is a wonderful thing!! I got to see Lily as well!!! So so exciting chatting with the three of them for the first time since…well, since I left Aberdeen, three months ago. We talked about Christmas and Lily and Gilc and Buffy and Hobbit and I got to share some of what I’m going through in Houston…and well, I won’t be scandalous and chronicle my whole conversation! But it was just lovely chat. And I miss them so. And I am deeply thankful to God for giving me such friends and for blessing me by enabling us to stay in contact and get to have such sweet conversations. God is good, my friends.
And after I said farewell – what next? Well, Desolation of Smaug of course! Me and Maryanne and Laura and Mom went to see Hobbit II – hurrah!! I’d already seen it, of course, but no one else had. It was much enjoyed, with all the dwarves and Legolas(!!) and barrel-riding and dragony goodness. Oh and Kate from LOST(er, Evangeline Lilly) was the Mirkwood Elves’ Captain of the Guard! Fantastic role, I liked her a lot. Especially her conversations with Kili about starlight. Very non-canonical, but I don’t care, I loved it.
So yes, good times with everyone seeing that, I do declare!
Then we stopped at Blockbuster and grabbed a bunch of ’24’ episodes(Blockbuster going out of business…tragic, tragic) and had a sweet dinner of leftovers at home(because we’ve eaten too much good food this past week and have too much food in the fridge!!) and then me and Laura got to listen to some Tarja(my Christmas gift to her – I think she enjoys!) and me and Dad went for a walk in the cool evening air…and I have no idea how to end this sentence, so I shall just say – now we’re about to watch some ’24’ – classic Hogan Christmas tradition. Season Five, I think! Hopefully we get some ice cream too. Mint chocolate chip, I say.
Hope y’all don’t mind this rambling entry – I shall close as the family calls my name!
Buffalo Gals
So – I’ve really been meaning to write a proper Christmas entry, but I’ve been procrastinating dreadfully! Yes, it’s been a simply lovely and most fabulous day here with Dad and Mom and Maryanne and Laura. And yes, I really will write more at a later time(possibly tonight!). But now, it’s family time and we’re about to finish watching It’s a Wonderful Life. Good night, my friends!!
And – Merry Christmas!!!!
Hot Soup
Happy Monday, my friends! This entry shall be brief, but I thought I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write a bit, since Monday afternoon updates are so rare! And for good reason, since I’m usually at work, correct? Well, this day is a most wonderful day off, for which I am exceedingly grateful. I’ve enjoyed a nice morning of coffee and reading and random internet errands. Soon I shall go and do some real errands and then back to my apartment for a productive afternoon. It is cold and drearily wet outside, but that is no matter.
Now my hot soup has arrived, mm!! It looks to a be a delightful amalgamation of chicken and rice and celery and carrots and onions and good broth. Delicious. So just took about ten minutes to dig into my soup, and I’ve made good progress! But really, I should finish writing this while I wait for it to continue to cool down…what shall I write about? Ah – yesterday! It was a long day, but a most wonderful one. Met Will at IHOP for breakfast before church – yes!! I haven’t seen Will since over a year ago, so the catch-up was truly deserved. And as always…great times were had. Sadly we’re not at the same church anymore, but we decided that doesn’t mean we can’t still hang out!
And church – to be with my brothers and sisters and worshiping God. That is where it’s at, my friends.
The afternoon was spent Christmas-decorating and cleaning(my living room is finally free of boxes!! Not my bedroom though. Shush) And then Sunday night – Christmas pageant at church! We sang heaps of Christmas carols and heard God’s Word read and it was delightful. But after that, did the night have to end? Certainly not! Zach had a great idea – we needed to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And so we did! A few of us went over to Sarah’s apartment and spent the rest of the evening watching that movie(which some had not seen!). I haven’t seen it in a while myself. So much enjoyed. I’m not certain where it ranks in my pantheon, but it’s certainly up there. Finally made my way home late at night…but joys – it didn’t matter because Monday is no work day! Sadly, I have done some work today(emailing and such), but that’s alright.
This is much longer than I anticipated, and I want to get back to my soup! Just know that God is good. I’ve had some rough times lately, but in midst of it all, God has reminded me of all He has done for me. Simply thanking Him for all the things He’s given me…it does wonders for the soul. So be thankful to our God. Let your hearts abound with joy and praise and thanksgiving, my friends. No matter the wilderness we walk in or the darkness that plagues our souls – give thanks to our God and Father. And He is with us. Always. Always always.
And now, I’m away. To finish my soup!!
Refiner’s Fire
Good morning, my friends!! It’s a beautifully cold morning in Houston, what! I think it’s approximately forty degrees, which is…surprising. But hey, I’m not complaining. I feel like I’m back in Scotland, as I’m pretty much wearing exactly what I would be wearing in Aberdeen – scarf, coat, boots and all!. So I could almost feel like I walked down George St. to Books and Beans today and sat at my normal table. Alas, that is not true. I drove down Westheimer and am now at my (semi)normal table at Beans! Still enjoying my mocha. Some things never change. God is good. Always.
And because it’s almost Christmas and I feel like it – listening to the Messiah right now. Simply lovely. I don’t think I’m going to see it in person this year – there’s a surprising lack of people who want to see it, and I’m not quite desperate enough to go alone! Maybe next year. I can still enjoy it on my iTunes…yeah.
Anyways, you all may have to get used to more sporadic updates from now on, as I’ve still not got Internet in my flat yet. I may soon, but holding off as long as I can. So – coffeeshop updates for now! Today’s going to be a fun day – a very much Saturday kind of day. Once I meander home from here(which may be a while), I’m going to go to the store(i.e., Super-Target!) and get cookie-making ingredients and cleaning supplies. Then home-time to make Christmas cookies! Of course, I’ve already had a few of Mom’s when I was home over Thanksgiving. That whetted my appetite enough that I simply must make my own now. And Abby, Claire and Charlotte are throwing a Christmas party tonight, so I want to take my cookies there(speaking of, I need to find a tacky Christmas sweater for aforesaid party. Hm. Let’s hope Target can provide). Anyways, besides making cookies this afternoon, I’ll probably just be continuing to go through some of my boxes that I haven’t opened yet(all clothes I’ve not worn in three years..) and I also need to do some cleaning and some laundry. Typical. To make it all more fun, I figure I’ll throw on Star Wars to play in background.
And this is a very chatty post – my apologies if I’ve bored you to death!!
I think I’m going to enjoy the coffeeshop here a bit more(not time to go out in cold yet). I might even write a bit more later, we shall see. Peace and love, my friends!
Star Dream
Hello there!
I’m currently writing from Beans coffeeshop in Houston. Yes, back in Houston! I had a ridiculously early flight this morning(6:30AM flight, which means I was awake at 3:30…fun times…). For some reason, I decided to still go to church. Which was good, but I must confess I felt quite sleepy while there. I’m still sleepy now, but since I don’t have internet in the flat yet, figured I should come here so I could get some work done online. So I’ve had my lunch and now just need to get some shopping done(no food in apartment!) before I can go home and take a nap. A nap sounds simply delightful right now. Stef invited me and others to go see a movie this afternoon(Thor!) but I’m going to pass, as much as I’d like hanging out with people. I think falling asleep in the cinema is probably not the best plan.
Anyways, I did want to write a little bit here of Thanksgiving fun times. Not long though! I got in to Tampa on Wednesday night, and after enjoying a delicious chicken caesar salad dinner(plus cinnamon rolls!) with the fam, went to bed. Thursday – Thanksgiving day! And I still maintain Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite holidays. So much less pageantry surrounding it, compared to the other holidays. Just a time to be together with family and relax together and enjoy the many many blessings we have been given by our Lord. And so Thursday we enjoyed more cinnamon rolls and crunchy bacon and delicious coffee and then in the afternoon, we all went over to Steve and Vickie’s and had the most awesome afternoon with standard Thanksgiving fare. Oh lovely.
And you can tell I’m tired in that I’m really finding it difficult to find the words to describe these last few days! Anyways, on Friday and Saturday, the best parts of the time was just being with Dad and Mom and Maryanne and Laura…talking and laughing and loving and being together. You know. Friday night, had some sweet game night action(with Megan G – we got to play our homemade Star Wars game(which is pretty sweet if I say so myself) and Taboo! I was victorious all night long). Saturday, got to make a yummy lasagna for the fam(with Laura’s help!) and then last night we got to be together just a little more.
And now I’m back in Houston. And while I fear this entry has been all over the place – lack of sleep will do that! – I will let this stand. Now, time to log off and go shopping. Burritos tonight, I think. And then, prepare for the week ahead. Go forth and conquer, my friends.
Something Weird 