Light and Shadows and Reflection August 6, 2008
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Thought it was time for a new photo. :)
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I am often with ipod headphones.
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Happy beginning of August to you all.
Suz with ipod. August 4, 2008
Thankfulness - XII August 4, 2008
1000 Gifts Continued…
261. St Paul’s Hammersmith talks - London, UK
262. Holy Trinity Brompton talks - London, UK
263. Facebook connections with old friends
264. learning to rest
265. lowering sugar intake
266. water with vitamins and electrolytes
267. impromptu soft pretzel-making
268. live music in love’s warm café 24/7
269. frango mints
270. fabulous sale items
271. “The Last Detective” series
272. God’s grace as I seek to integrate the task-oriented me with the relational me.
273. Coldplay
274. the sheer joy of romance blooming
275. authenticity
276. the color bluuuuuuuuuuuue!
277. learning love languages of loved ones
278. embracing all of desire’s truth
279. letting go
280. endless thanksgivings
281. the necessary fertilizer of life
282. good humor
283. good, all-encompassing laughter
284. kiddie races
285. realizing the joy I’ve had all along
286. friends are very, very, very good.
287. helpful perspectives on decision-making
288. soulful, focused conversations
289. pictures that reallly do capture more than words
290. the smell of the air when it rains
291. the sweet, sweet pleasure of my walk from work at the end of the day
292. discovering the surprising treat of frozen custard - just plain vanilla
293. intentional friends
294. knowing and being known
295. realizing that it doesn’t all rest on me
296. The Ahn Trio’s “Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac” (new music I found and love!!!!!!)
297. NPR’s (National Public Radio) assistance in helping me “find” The Ahn Trio
298. Knowing that the Ravinia music festival exists even though I can’t be there this summer
299. professional organizations and associations that are truly helpful
300. good advice
Unspectacular Quirks August 3, 2008
Cathy tagged me for this meme. So, here are a handlful of unspectacular quirks/random facts about me!
1. I listen to country music for a spell of about a month every year and then it passes.
2. I like to imitate Chinese and Indian languages and practice mimicking them in my car occasionally.
3. I love etchings!! And, I like to pick up new ones when I travel.
4. I really hate it when people avoid goodbyes because they don’t know how to handle them. My theory is if you can’t say goodbye, you can’t really say hello either.
5. I watch movies again and again and again. People who say they’ve watched a movie once and won’t watch it again (even if they really liked it) baffle me.
6. I often daydream of communal living.
You are welcome to follow suit with this meme. Leave a comment if you do. :)
Perfect Imperfections August 2, 2008
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According to my sister, no matter whom you marry you will take on a set of imperfections. Everyone has imperfections, so choosing a spouse is a matter of deciding what imperfections you can live with! Certainly, there are less challenging roads to travel, but all roads will be bumpy and have unexpected curves.
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This is one of my favorite photos of my parents. Truth be told, they are not perfect! :) But I love them, and I think they are perfectly wonderful and good together. I love times like these, just relaxing and having fun.
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Mom and Dad, I love you both and am so thankful for these moments of joy! God is good!
More on their story.
The 5K August 2, 2008
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Well, this was the first 5K I’ve ever done (running or walking), and it was great fun!!
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This was the first time for this race as well, and it was estimated there would be about 150 people. Thinking optimistically, the organizers planned for 300. Over 400 people were there to participate, and some were not able to officially register because they had run out of materials! It was great!!
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I hope they raised a lot of money for the health clinic in Rwanda!!!
p.s. they raised over $16,000!
what does the Lord ask? July 31, 2008
This question was in my mind, and I thought of Micah 6:8. I ended up reading all of the book of Micah, which is really interesting to read. So many questions have been in my mind lately. And I have been trying to sort out what the Lord is saying to me, for this day, for this moment.
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
Amidst all the various concerns, how are these things faring in my life?
Acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly…
In the book of Micah, the prophet is speaking about being in a place that he does not want to be. But he says he will be patient. Can I thrive in what seems a desert place? Can I be a thing of beauty, a gorgeous palm tree, in a dry place?
What verses have you been meditating on lately?
God’s gifts… July 29, 2008
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
(Song of Solomon 2:11-12)
A Run for Rwanda! July 24, 2008
I will be participating in the “Run for Rwanda 5K” on Saturday, August 2nd, here in Colorado Springs! I am not going to sit on the sidelines! I’m going to run/walk and love every minute of this opportunity to raise funds for the community of Kibali, Rwanda.
There are a variety of sponsorship options at the link below, but I am excited about this opportunity to support the builidng of a much-needed health clinic with maternity ward in an area where infant mortality is high and the mortality of mothers during labor even higher.
http://runforrwanda.org has all the information you need to learn more about it.
This race will be run simultaneously with our sister church located in Kibali, Rwanda.
While we are running here, they will be running there as well!
If you decide to sponsor me, please let me know by email and then send the form and check (payable to “Run for Rwanda”) in the mail.
Please give only as you are inspired! :)
Rest July 22, 2008
It is interesting that, among all the things we need to learn in this world, we need to learn to rest. In American culture, we need to unlearn the patterns that choke out rest. Part of me resists saying this because there are implications and inevitable consequences to following through on this. Sure, sure, there should be balance…but, more often than not, I find myself defending busyness and striving as necessary evils to moving forward.
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And, there I’ve said it. The goal is not rest but moving forward.
This value is subtle and pervasive and never-ending.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Setting hope on anything other that God will end miserably.
Contentment and rest and rejoicing-in-this-day-that-the-Lord-has-made are all woven together.
