Tag: love

Cauldrons and Kernels

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Ingredients: Four cans tomato sauce. Two cans stewed tomatoes. Two baby cans tomato paste. 1 can water. Small amount of sugar. Copious amounts of: celery salt, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, ground black pepper. Chopped: two green peppers, 1 white onion.
Directions: Cook until done
Addendum: Delicious amounts of spicy italian sausage(cooked, please)
Further directions: Blend all until…smooth?

Result: Delicious concoction?

I don’t know if I would go that far, but it is more tasty than many things I have eaten, this is for sure.

It was fun seeing Julie today for the first time in…weeks? We had a most wonderful chat. Driving in much Houston traffic constrained by many flooded roads was not as nice.

I also was somewhat productive in mailing a nice fat letter off to far away lands of St. Louis.

Also – my phone decided to rebel as it apparently does not want to celebrate its fourth birthday this month!! After literally hours of research and trial and error and some fun phone hacking, I think I have stomped out the rebellion. For now.

This is a bit of an odd format for an entry – I know!! I am in a bit of a spacey and meditative mood just now, methinks.

Following the closure of this post, I will begin evening reading time. (I have just finished David Copperfield – marvelously overwritten and I care not – the characters were so beautifully drawn, I was pulled speedily through the story!) I have just now(as of last night) begun The Yearling. A long treasured book that I have not read since I was a boy. So far – wonderful.

Now I truly shall bid you all adieu. It has been a long and strange week here in the rain-sodden land of Houston. God is sovereign and God is good. Always.

Love and peace, dear friends.

Wind roars Over the Highlands now

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Hey all – happy Friday! I realise this is an odd time for me to post an update. But you won’t be surprised when I say where I’m writing this from…Starbucks! I’m meeting someone in about half an hour and this Starbucks is a very convenient place to wait at…so I simply couldn’t resist. Something else I just couldn’t resist was a hot chocolate. Even though it is approximately 90 degrees outside. I don’t care. It is creamy and chocolaty and delicious. And now it is mine.

In other news…I have been thinking about how I really am not a fan of the proliferation and prominence of social media these days. There are definitely some positive uses of online social spaces, but as I gaze into the void that is social networks(whether it be the facebook, the twitter, the tumblr, the instagram, the snapchat, the etc, etc, etc….), it seems the main goal and purpose is to project yourself into that void and indeed, to promote the idealized image of yourself. Of course I can understand the allure of presenting yourself in the most flattering of surreal light…indeed, I’m not always happy with my “real” self either, nay – may it never be! But too often, these online forums are used as mechanisms for propping oneself up atop the bones of all others. Our arrogance and pride is such that every action we take in the hyper-glare of the net is taken with the end goal of self love above all. And that self love comes in so many different forms…depending on the user’s preferred image to project to the audience…world-weary ideologue, earth-loving naturalist, quirky free-loving spirit, hyper attention-seeking adventurer, sarcastic filter-shunning individualist. There is a space for all and for all there is space. And each user feels self-righteously good about who they are…except for those who don’t. For there are those that drown in the maelstrom of lies and deceit, yet they too long to achieve a modicum of normalcy and so they too strive to be known – even if it is only as a depressed soul. And my time is quickly spinning away. I will write more at a later day. But for now, it is fascinating and not at all surprising – we all long to be known. And so these new media? That is what we use them for – to project the song of ourselves to the world. And we consume the songs of all others and out of these songs we revel and we despair and we are desperately, exceedingly envious. Are we now entertained? Oh so superficial. Oh humanity. We dance and sing in the marketplace, fearing to look to the sky.

Jack

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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!

Planetfall

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Good afternoon!! I am going to write a quick update while I’m here at Beans. Why not, right? I also still don’t have internet in the flat, so it behooves me to make use of my internet time here and write while I can! I actually did order internet and tried setting up the router yesterday but somehow it didn’t work? I’m going to try and trouble shoot and get it fixed this afternoon, but maybe I’m just not meant to have internet. We shall see.

Anyways – why am I not at work today? Well, just thought it’d be fabulous to have a day off during this Christmas season! And indeed it is. So I’ve spent the morning relaxing and catching up with people, and soon I’m about to go and do some shopping and then this afternoon will be cooking time! I’m having community group over at my place tomorrow night, so need to have dinner pre-cooked(since sadly I will be working tomorrow). Also, I’m feeling in a spaghetti-and-meatballs mood, so that’s probably going to be on for tonight. I need to vacuum as well. So – productive afternoon ahead!

I also really need to write Christmas cards, so maybe that will happen as well? It definitely needs to, seeing as it’s already December 16th and post does take a bit of time to travel to Scotland. Hm.

And now I’ve said I’ll not make this overlong, so brief recap of last few awesome days. Yesterday was filled with church and cookie-baking-fail and then time at Zach and Daniel and Chase’s house…cookies and Elf-watching. Fun times. Good friends.

Saturday! I spent it here(of course!) and had good times with reading and relaxing and introducing one of my dear friends to the delights of a Saturday-morning-coffeetime. It was a beautiful morning. And afternoon was spent navigating the treacherous shopper-filled highways and seeing The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Truly magnificent. I won’t write a review here now, but simply fantastic – filled with barrel-riding and elf-heroics and dragonfire and creepy spiders and Bilbo-being-awesome. And did I mention dragon? Dragon!! Smaug the magnificent, and oh did he live up to his name. SMAUG. Afterwards, dinner at Russo’s where Italian was consumed and much geekery was discussed. Delightful.

Friday! Besides work, went with the community group peoples(along with a few others) to Youth Reach on the east side of town. Hanging out with all the kids there, playing games, exchanging presents…pretty fantastic. The guy in charge(Troy) gets huge respect for me, just giving these boys(about 12 of them I think?) a place to live and be normal kids. God has blessed his work much, this I can clearly see. And I was blessed, just being there.

Thursday! This also had work in it, but I’ll skip that part. After work, drove straight downtown(stressy-times driving…I really really hate downtown rush-hour driving) and then met up with people to see performance of A Christmas Carol. A great performance(we were four rows from front!) and heart-touching story. Of course. But the real treat was just being there with my friends(Joe, Christina, Alex, Abby, Angela, Lauren, Stef…) and enjoying their company. Afterwards, me, Stef, Angela and Lauren got dessert and coffee across the street and talked and laughed and much sugar was consumed. And once again, I cannot but be overwhelmed by the blessings my Lord has given me and the friends he has allowed me to have. Truly, I am blessed. I am blessed.

And now, this long entry will be closed. So let it be written. So let it be done. Peace, y’all.

Peace and love.

Swift Sunrise

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A lilting laugh and fields of green,
and all the clouds dance triumphant –
morning light and friend so sweet,
how can we not praise the King?

Upon a mountain, flowers lush,
and grass bending gently under
the kiss of the wind and
only the song of the birds
touch the silence.

Once upon a time,
Once upon this earth,
there was a man
and he was called from
a far country,
and he looked to the heavens
and he let his gaze linger upon the stars.
And he walked on and ever on.
The road was long and rocky yes,
and it led him he knew not where,
but his heart was full of love endued
and his eyes glinted grey in joy.
The road led him he knew not where,
and he walked in weariness at times,
but he walked not alone.
Once upon a time,
Once on this dear earth,
there was a man
and he was called to
a far country,
and he looked up to heaven.
And his eyes reflected back the stars.

Love, Unbounded

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Hello my friends!!

This night, I am sleepy and thus cannot write as much as I would like. I’m also hungry and should probably make dinner at some point! Frozen pizza? Yes.

But a few words before I do turn the oven on. This weekend I’ve been having a most marvelous time in Northern Ireland! And would that I had all the time in the world to properly do it justice, but alas, the clock ticks ever on. And my heart is too full.

I really cannot chronicle this trip as it deserves. Maybe I’ll write more later, when my mind is less sleepy and my heart is ready to give up its song? Maybe. But now – just know that this weekend was beautiful. Seeing my dear friend Zara again and spending time with her and her family…climbing mountains and seeing the beauty of the earth laid before my feet and knowing how our God cares for each and everyone one of us as He looks out upon His earth…exploring the grand north coast and marveling at the beauty of the waves of the sea crashing against the cliffs jutting out into the ocean proud…eating lunch in the burning sunshine and luxuriating in the goodness of our God in giving us far more than we deserve…talking of the majesties of our God’s staggering creation and worshiping our God in word and prayer and song…and being with friends who remind me what a great God we serve, one who watches out for us and cares for us and holds us close to Himself. Always. And so.

I was right, I really can’t adequately write about this weekend, at least not tonight.

Maybe tomorrow. For now, simply think on the love of God. Think on Him who loved us when we were but sinners – and decided to save us from his terrible and righteous wrath. Think on Jesus – Him who made the universe – the glorious stars above and the swift seas and green fields below. Think on Him who made us His own. This is our God. Remember this, my friends.

Norn Iron

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Quickly I write!

About to go off to Rosemary and April’s flat for dinner(a surprise meal- I have no idea what’s brewing!), but I wanted to write a few words. Firstly, I need to say that I still maintain Halo soundtrack music is some of the best writing music there is. I still remember writing Finance discussion boards listening to this…and now, as I’ve struggled through my Bible study prep(this coming week! Elijah awesomeness!! Well, not really. More like Elijah despairing. But that doesn’t sound that fun..) – anyways, I’ve gotten my best writing done listening to Halo music. I don’t know why.

So yeah, been working on my Elijah study for the past few hours now. I really should have been working on it all day, but I’ve been procrastinating by drinking coffee and looking at pictures and talking to fam. Oops. But these past few hours have been productive – I now have a very serviceable draft(i.e., I’d be comfortable preaching off my current notes). Tomorrow afternoon, want to tighten it up a bit and work on structure and format, etc. Anyways, I’m sort of looking forward to Wednesday night. Key point – we are not alone. God our Father is with us. Always.

That’s enough of that though. You surely don’t want to hear all my study thoughts!!

Last night was bittersweet. Mostly sweet really! Ruth and Zara came over here for a delicious(if-I-say-so-myself) fettuccine alfredo dinner with me and John. Youtube videos were watched and cake was eaten and laughs were had and funny pictures were taken…and I realized yet again how much I love these guys. Why sad though? Well, Zara’s moving tomorrow(Northern Ireland – home – for a month, then Glasgow in August)…after I helped her move her stuff to her brother’s this morning, we said goodbye. Well, not goodbye. Not forever. But I don’t know when I’ll see her again. And as we hugged farewell, I just…couldn’t help but be a bit sorrowful. She’s been such a friend to me…indescribably so. And so, instead of wasting mean words now, I will simply say a prayer of thanks to my God for giving me a friend such as her. Peace, my friend.

And now, I must away. Dinner calls my name!

A Heart Full of Love

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And yes, my friends, I most certainly should not be writing this entry so late on a Sunday evening! But I cannot help but pen a few words. Whether they be worthwhile, I’ll leave you decide. But ever so briefly before I dive into a book and let myself slip into sleepiness…

Today was a beautiful Sunday, made all the more appreciated for the fact that I was working part of the day yesterday. Truly, a day of rest is needed and I cannot help but be thankful that today was indeed restful! Enjoyed a glorious morning at church before coming back to the flat with John and having lunch together. I cleaned my room a bit, but in the main I spent my afternoon on the sofa with my coffee and book! Lovely.

And then this evening, I skipped church for a very good reason…got to have an international skype call of awesomeness with Steven and Anna! The three of us hadn’t talked in…a long time. And yet we enjoyed a most amazing time of talking and laughing and reminiscing and praying and more laughing and..well, I can’t really say much more than that I have been greatly blessed with friends such as these. Hopefully we’ll get to actually reunite someday soon! Germany + Hungary + America forever!!

And once I tore myself away from skype, church was over, but I couldn’t let my Sunday evening go out with a whimper, so I made my way over to Andrew and Sarah’s to watch the BAFTAs(I could leave you ignorant, but for your education – British Academy of Film and Television Arts, basically the British version of the Oscars) with them – also joined by Ruth and Zara and Steph! I discovered several things – first of all, I have definitely not seen many movies this past year. Secondly, my aforementioned BAFTA-watching companions made for a most enjoyable and amusing viewing experience, especially as they were far more cinema-knowledgeable than I. Thirdly, movie stars appear to have very…interesting tastes in clothing. That is all.

I really want to see Lincoln now. I also want to see Les Mis again, but I should probably not see it a third time. Its music is now stuck in my head. Yet again.

Ah but a most lovely evening has been had. And now the clock ticks ever closer to midnight and I must bid you all adieu. I again just can’t say enough to express what gratitude overflows from my heart. Our God is good, my friends.

Grace and peace.

Naptime

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And yes, I really feel as if I could do with a nap just about now!! But it’s less than an hour until I leave for church, so maybe I should just try and stay awake…I thought writing a few words might help! Anyways, these past couple days have been packed full of awesome(although sleep may have been lacking!). Yesterday afternoon after Books and Beans, went over and met up with Chris and Jo for Hobbit goodness…and yes, it was glorious seeing it again, and especially with them! Afterwards we munched on burgers at Handmade Burger in the mall before Jo went off to meet people at Gilc for hot chocolate outreach. Me and Chris ended up going back to their place and chilling out for a while and talking and reading old stories he’d written and playing with Maple…and while I may not have gotten back to my place until late o’clock, I don’t regret a thing! Although – this morning, my body was a bit grumpy as I got up early to go over to Graham and Tineke’s for pre-church coffee(turned in to full breakfast! Bacon and eggs, mmm..) – it was so awesome seeing them again, since we haven’t talked since before Christmas. So again – oh so worth it. After that(still not church time yet!), me and Jackie had coffee at Pret, since she’s back in Aberdeen for the week – hurrah!! So we enjoyed talking and catching up…and then soon enough – church time! Worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ and basking in the love of our God and hearing the mighty Word of our Lord(2 Thess 1 today – I love that chapter!! And Dominic didn’t preach it half-bad either…)..I can’t describe properly how blessed I truly am. I really can’t.

And now I had planned on using this afternoon to clean the flat a bit and do some clothes-washing, etc…but of course, people had other plans! Went over to Zara and Ruth’s for a yummy lunch…and again, talking and laughing with them and Alec and Philippa and Morag and Charlotte and Amy…again – why do I have such good friends? I am deeply humbled and e’er blessed. Truly, y’all.

And yes – I finally took my leave and walked down to Sainsbury’s for a bit of shopping(running into Tineke doing hers as well!) and now I’m back in the flat and I’m sleepy and fading and slightly delirious from these sweet times I’ve been given… I really think I could lie down on the couch here and sleep deeply, but I think I may instead just continue to sip my Earl Grey and read a little bit of A Memory of Light…and continue to praise my Father for all these things he’s given me. Oh joy, oh love, oh bliss!!!

Wild Boar

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You know what it’s like to see a crystal-clear raging torrent of a river at your feet and diving in only to discover it’s a lot colder than it appeared in the warm springtime air…or to leap off a cliff and be taken aback by the length of the fall…or to look up at the stars and reach for the diamonds glittering in the velvet black of the night and though your hands graze but air, you are stunned by the way your heart song dips and falters so…

It’s been an interesting few days, and that is all I will say! But God, my God, my Father and Lord…blesses me so. Today although I was overwhelmed by work and heaps of paper, my boss decided to send me on an errand across town…so I was able to drive Deeside in the gorgeous summer morning…listening to my Lord of the Rings symphony, looking out upon hobbit-like landscapes…and revel in the beauty that my Father has granted me. Oh how I needed that! And now back in the office at lunchtime, but wanted to put a few words down while my heart burns hot…our God is good, y’all.

And now, off with Justin to enjoy lunch this gorgeous day that our Lord has made!