Icing

Happy Saturday, friends!! I’m just going to write a few words….currently sitting on the floor at home, drinking my afternoon coffee(fifth cup of the day? Not bad for a Saturday!), snacking on pineapple and watching some Capitals/Islanders hockey playoff action(go Caps!!). Woke up a little earlier than normal, so have to confess I’m feeling a little sleepy now. Me and Ernie got breakfast and then went up to the Woodlands to check out the programs offered by Dallas Theological Seminary(they were having a special event there today). I may or may not be considering taking a few classes there in the fall…praying for wisdom on that, believe me. I sometimes feel it may be too much, trying to work full-time and take extra classes, but I would truly love to be in a place where I can be learning even more about our glorious God. So! We shall see where the Lord leads, and now it just comforts me to know that my future is in the hands of my God. I’ve been talking with an old friend that I haven’t spoken to in many many years, and she shared a verse that’s encouraged me deeply:

“For My thoughts are
not your thoughts,
nor are your ways
My ways,”
declares the LORD.
“For as the heavens
are higher
than the earth,
so are My ways
higher than your ways
and My thoughts
than your thoughts.

For as the rain and
the snow come down
from heaven,
and do not return there
without watering
the earth and
making it bear and sprout,
and furnishing seed to the sower
and bread to the eater;
so will My word be
which goes forth
from My mouth;
it will not return to Me empty,
without accomplishing what I desire,
and without succeeding
in the matter for which
I sent it.”

-Isaiah 55:8-11

Amen. And Amen. Have a most wonderful Saturday evening, dear friends!!!

Stradivari

Good morning, friends!! I’m about to head out for coffee times with Natalie, but thought I’d say hi, since it’s been a little while! And apparently I was trying to write a short story last time I was online – found the below excerpt saved as a draft. Really not much to it, but thought I’d leave it here for posterity(and in case it jump-starts my muse!).

I’ve had a delightful morning thus far…got to sleep in(to 7:30!!), then had my breakfast of coffee and toast while getting some solid reading done. Haggai is a very fascinating OT book, one that looks with grief into the past…and with bright hope for the future. Love it. Can’t wait for the day where the whole of the heavens and the earth acknowledge the name and glory of the Lord our God. Amen and Amen!! Next will be Zechariah. Almost done with Old Testament…so sad. Except not really, because that just means I get to start in Genesis again! Anyways, now I’m on my second cup of coffee, taking care of some online errands and listening to Itzhak Perlman playing Beethoven(on the big TV screen with good speakers!). Probably time to head out now though and…enjoy some more coffee with my dear friend Natalie. Peace, friends!! And enjoy below extremely random snippet.


The rain poured down, straining to be heard over the blare of the neon lights.

Rick risked a quick glance upward and was rewarded for his trouble with a splatter of water in his face from the inn’s overhang. He shook his head in annoyance and ducked back into the lobby. As he closed the door firmly, he heard the electronic chime from the front desk. The security officer masquerading as the receptionist raised her eyebrow at him in silent question. He shook his head in response. No sign yet.

As Rick walked back over the well-worn linoleum of the hotel’s foyer, he scanned the room, looking for anything out of place…

Agora

Happy Saturday y’all!! I’m sitting here in Agora coffeehouse in Houston enjoying a beautiful day…and I really have been trying to write something semi-creative, but alas – my muse has fled me(at least for the time being). Anyways, I’ve successfully gotten some other tasks done and so I thought I’d write a quick post here. I woke up a bit later than normal today, but I have a good reason for that…yesterday didn’t get to bed until past one o’clock! That was totally my fault though. Got home about midnight, and then instead of smartly going to bed, I read for an hour. Ah well. My book(current one – Worthing Saga by O.S. Card. Classic) was worth it and I still got enough sleep. Oh and I forgot to explain why I was up so late last night! Me and Daniel went to the movies – met up with a bunch of other people(Matias, Jonathan, et. al…) and then had a time of awesomeness watching Furious 7.

So – I must confess – I’ve never seen any of the previous “Fast and Furious” movies, so I’m a novice to this world, as it were. And it didn’t matter. I much enjoyed!! Was the movie moderately ridiculous, full of physically impossible and logistically ridiculous stunts? Yes. A thousand times yes. Was the movie exhilarating and awesome and just really super fun? A million times yes. Watch the trailer and you’ll get a sense of how ridiculous(ly awesome) this movie is. The characters were all well played, by actors that seem to have a lot of fun just hanging out together. The movie was very well shot, in that all the action and stunt scenes, I could actually follow every bit of it, never being confused by what was on screen. Classic lines of dialogue and great combat scenes and…a lot of heart. That was what maybe surprised me the most. One of the main actors(Paul Walker) died last year in an unrelated car accident, and so this movie is is his final film. And truly, it was a tribute to him in a lot of ways. Movingly so. I actually got close to tears at the end, as they had a scene with Walker’s character and family playing on the beach as the rest of the cast looked on. It was beautiful. So as much as this movie was full of fast cars and big muscles and sweet hand-to-hand combat…it was really a movie about family. And that your truest friends are truly family. And you can’t ever let that go. Good film.

And after – we all just hang out for a while outside the cinema and acted goofy and chatted and enjoyed the beauty of the night. (Actually…there were a ridiculous amount of people there, so it wasn’t that quiet or beautiful. So. Many. People. All there to see F7 too, apparently!!) Eventually it started raining so me and Daniel headed home. But that’s why I didn’t get home ’til midnight. I say it’s a good reason. Don’t dispute me on that.

Now Hotel California is playing in here…it’s really hard not to sing along. Really hard. I have to say, this place is awesome. This has to be the first ever coffeeshop I’ve been in…with a jukebox!! I’m now going to attempt to write a little more…if no piece of poetry shows up here later, you’ll know my muse is indeed hiding well. Peace y’all, have a day of awesomeness.

Into Space

Evening!! Just thought I’d post a few words here as I wait for my tea to steep(earl grey, if you’re keen to know!). Chilling here at the house with Daniel, watching a little classic Numb3rs and enjoying a peaceful Sunday evening. Last night, went to see the Houston Chamber Choir perform Handel’s Messiah, my all-time favorite piece of music. I haven’t seen it live since…I think 2011(obviously far too long!). As always, hearing it live was simply magnificent – beautiful music lifted up to our God on high. I wish I could write more words, but alas – my feeble prose is not enough to sing the song of my heart. So now, I will be quiet and go get my tea(which should be properly steeped by now!). Have a happy Sunday, all!!

First Chair

Hello friends!!! It’s a lovely Friday night and the fan slowly spins and the light soft fades. I soon will get up to make my delicious burrito dinner(and by make, I mean – very skillfully press the defrost button on the microwave). And as always – delicious tomato and avocado salad to go with!! I’m honestly not even sure why I’m posting right now, but I realise it’s been a little while, so thought it’d be nice to pop in and say hi. Last night was a wonderful night at the symphony(Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 and Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2…oh beautiful!! I know I’m a bit odd, but I really do enjoy getting dressed up and going downtown and enjoying gorgeous music. Love it so). And my weekend will be fairly busy too…so tonight is a night of rest. Be well, my friends. Always. Stars shine e’er bright and wind dances through the meadows fair. And piercing sweet the music rises.

400 Lux

Evening my friends!! Just about finished watching a classic episode of Numb3rs – wow it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. Still awesome. Once this episode is finished, going to eat my salad(lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, olives and radishes…that composes a proper dinner, right? Right??). Anyways, I’m really posting in anticipation of my grand Virginia/Washington trip that begins tomorrow!! Laura Garrow is getting married(it was only what…five years ago I met her sophomore year?) And now she’s about to be married…and it’s going to be so grand!! Meeting up with Katheryn and she’s going to drive us to Charlottesville for the wedding. After awesome times celebrating the wedding(we get to see Dream and David and Gloria and Peter too!!), going to be headed back to DC area where I’ll be spending another few days with Aunt Linda and Aunt Bev and assorted families! I’m not going to into too much detail now, mostly because I’m really hungry and want my salad. Just know that this upcoming five days full of seeing wonderful people…is going to be simply amazing. Have a beautiful Thursday night, my friends – peace!!

Last Blast

Before I start work this fine morning…I’m greatly enjoying my steaming hot peppermint mocha. Cold hands wrapped around warm cup. Bliss. And no, I’m not complaining about the cold. I doubt we’ll get another 34-degree morning in Houston for quite some time, so this morning I am sitting here warm and cosy in my flannel shirt and thanking God for all that He has given me.

Hotel Chocolat

Attention. This is a brief pre-work entry, courtesy of the beautifully hot mug of coffee that is sitting in front of me. It is a delightfully cold morning here in Houston…thirty four degrees when I woke up. I definitely wanted to stay in bed where I was nice and warm, but alas I did the responsible thing and woke up and got ready for work. Now I’ve had my breakfast and I’m about to start work proper, but just wanted to say how much I’m loving this cold weather. Long may it continue. (Also – major plus: I get to wear turtlenecks and sweaters pretty much every day…this pleases me greatly)

So as I wrap my hands around my steaming cup of coffee and ponder the beginning of my work day – be well, my friends.

Chamomile

Evening, friends! This will be a very short entry..I simply wanted to post something because it’s been far too long. It’s been a long day. It’s been a long week. And I am now emotionally and physically drained. But tonight is a night of quiet and rest(the roommates are all out somewhere or other!) I’m about to make my avocado and tomato salsa and then have a yummy burrito dinner as I watch the Wizards/Cavs game… And following that…maybe some tea and reading? It will be wonderful. Peace my friends. Peace and love – always.

Inner Sanctuary

Just had a lovely evening…which I shall summarize briefly before I drift off to sleep. It has been a long wearying week – full of stressful work and trying to push through my aggravating sickness – but now it’s Friday night and I’ve been able to rest. And all is well with my soul. I got some quality time hanging out with Daniel before he had to leave…then I enjoyed my burrito dinner while watching some bball(first Raptors/Clippers, then Spurs/Heat…wasn’t really invested in any of the games…but wow, do the Spurs know how to ball). And then I finished off my evening by drinking coffee and reading…a perfect cap to this wonderful night. And now after talking to Dad for a few minutes in far off Florida..it is bed time. Good night, my friends.