I am absolutely flabbergasted that every day I am presented with someone in my life - friend, family, stranger - that is absolutely extraordinary in some way, shape, or form. Seriously. I am surrounded by the most amazing and interesting people. I may not realize it at the time, but reflection makes my eyes see what I may not have in the moment.
Let's all fine-tune our senses and find the extraordinary in others 'in the moment' so that we can reflect on how lucky we are to live this life.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wake up in the morning
So every morning I'm woken by the sounds of Christian radio (KSBJ) via my alarm clock. Some mornings I wake up early enough to catch Dr. James C. Dobson and his Focus on the Family talkshow. I don't always necessarily listen full-ear to the ground when it comes up (I just woke up!), but today I woke up to him reading something.
It wasn't his voice that made me perk up, but what he was reading. I just sat, completely wrapped up in the words that felt like they were flowing from the author herself - Dr. Dobson's mother. It was a letter, a love letter in fact, to her husband who had just passed at the time. The words were absolutely heart-wrenching and left me in an almost grief-stricken state as I sat and pondered what had happened. The short of it? I think one line I remember sums it up best - "we became me."
It wasn't the eloquence that made me rapt to listen, but the simplicity of her letter - not in the simplicity of the words, but the raw, basic emotions that they were written from. It's like a single string in a cacophony of sounds that becomes bold and strong, different from the others around it.
This was truly love in the greatest and simplest form and I hope that we all get a chance to experience it.
It wasn't his voice that made me perk up, but what he was reading. I just sat, completely wrapped up in the words that felt like they were flowing from the author herself - Dr. Dobson's mother. It was a letter, a love letter in fact, to her husband who had just passed at the time. The words were absolutely heart-wrenching and left me in an almost grief-stricken state as I sat and pondered what had happened. The short of it? I think one line I remember sums it up best - "we became me."
It wasn't the eloquence that made me rapt to listen, but the simplicity of her letter - not in the simplicity of the words, but the raw, basic emotions that they were written from. It's like a single string in a cacophony of sounds that becomes bold and strong, different from the others around it.
This was truly love in the greatest and simplest form and I hope that we all get a chance to experience it.
Monday, May 4, 2009
sorry for the reference
So I watch 'How I Met Your Mother' pretty religiously and today's episode struck a chord. I'll just post a short transcript:
"...The great moments of your life won't necessarily be the things you do, they'll also be the things that happen to you. Now I'm not saying you can't take action to affect the outcome of your life, you have to take action, and you will. But never forget, that on any day, you can step out the front door, and your whole life can change forever. You see the universe has a plan, kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings and it starts to rain. It's a scary thought, but it's also kind of wonderful; all these little parts of the machine, constantly working, making sure that you end up exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place, at the right time. "
maybe we all need to take a lesson sometimes
"...The great moments of your life won't necessarily be the things you do, they'll also be the things that happen to you. Now I'm not saying you can't take action to affect the outcome of your life, you have to take action, and you will. But never forget, that on any day, you can step out the front door, and your whole life can change forever. You see the universe has a plan, kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings and it starts to rain. It's a scary thought, but it's also kind of wonderful; all these little parts of the machine, constantly working, making sure that you end up exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place, at the right time. "
maybe we all need to take a lesson sometimes
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter and the rest of the Triduum
So I had a pretty darn good Triduum this year! This is I believe, one of the first years that I actually attended all three days of the Triduum, all really due to the fact that I sing in the choir at my local church.
I have to say, I don't remember being so moved in previous years, but each day had it's moment when I actually got a little choked up thinking about what we were doing and what was truly happening ...
Holy Thursday. As I sat there during mass, I remember thinking of all the other times that I had been in a mass and actually taken part in the washing of the feet. I actually do remember taking part in it back for a couple of years at the University Catohlic Center in Austin. I want to even say that I did it the first year I was there and we were still in the 'old' building. wow. That was a while back.
At this church though, they don't invite the whole congregation to take part, but ask a few folks who have truly given so much to the church in the past year to come up and not only get their own feet washed, but wash others'. as I have done for you...
This year, as I sang during this part, I sat and watched and lost myself from time to time in that simple act, somehow we linked back and it was as if the past and the present were all there in one action and my mind just raced thinking that this, this was what Jesus did, knowing that he would die. How many of us can give up ourselves in humility like that...
Good Friday. I decided not to go to the 3pm at my local church as I was dead tired after work and everything so I decided to join some of my good friends at St. Clare of Assisi's 7pm. What a beautiful ceremony! I DEFINITELY remember going to Good Friday masses in my college days. I remember vividly placing nails at the foot of the cross, bending my whole body down in veneration and just praying. I remember vividly placing rose petals, kissing the wood and just laying there. This year, I came up, knelt on both knees and tried my best to brush the bottom most part of the cross. I just didn't feel worthy enough to do much else.
Easter vigil. The big show. Here it came and I can't remember a more fun Easter mass that I had been to. We have a wonderful French Cajun priest at my local church who has no qualms letting the Holy Spirit come on out and keep things lively! The joy and the utter amazement in his words and actions are very apparent and it's fun to watch. period. After he blessed those newly inducted, he couldn't help himself and just burst forth, "I love doing that!" and I believed him!
The most poignant part though for me, was right before he asks each candidate, "do you wish to be baptized in the faith that you have just proclaimed?" It is SO different heard like this than when it's a child being baptized! do YOU wish it? Not, do you wish this child to, or anything else, it is YOU. It's a wholly personal decision that these people get to make in full knowing. how amazing! I can't lie, I was slightly jealous that they got to make that decision like that.
The congregation was so awesome too! After each person had been drenched in the waters, a great big 'AMEN' went through the crowd and then huge applause! These people were truly overjoyed to welcome their new brothers and sisters and it was SO good! And I remember the last gentleman, when the last pitcher of water was poured over his head, an older gentleman near me whom I can only believe was his father or father in law or something like that, bolt up straight out of his seat and clapped as if noone were watching. The pride in the simple, yet so joyous, act of deliberate, and knowing surrender was so evident in the father's actions, it was truly moving.
Easter morning. So I went to morning mass with my parents as I often do, but this year was ever more important as I cannot forget to spend time at church with the family on such an important day. Getting to take part in Easter mass with the 'rents is always joyful. What stuck out in my mind though, as I went to receive the cup, it was a familiar gentleman who offered it, and although it is a Korean church and he's white (and he offers the cup in Korean), he gave a welcoming smile as I came up, said in English, "The blood of Christ," as if saying to me, peace be with you, and it felt like going home again.
Then catch up with old friends and go home to spend lunch/dinner with the family. Good times for sure.
Hoping your Easter was as blessed and wonderful as my own.
I have to say, I don't remember being so moved in previous years, but each day had it's moment when I actually got a little choked up thinking about what we were doing and what was truly happening ...
Holy Thursday. As I sat there during mass, I remember thinking of all the other times that I had been in a mass and actually taken part in the washing of the feet. I actually do remember taking part in it back for a couple of years at the University Catohlic Center in Austin. I want to even say that I did it the first year I was there and we were still in the 'old' building. wow. That was a while back.
At this church though, they don't invite the whole congregation to take part, but ask a few folks who have truly given so much to the church in the past year to come up and not only get their own feet washed, but wash others'. as I have done for you...
This year, as I sang during this part, I sat and watched and lost myself from time to time in that simple act, somehow we linked back and it was as if the past and the present were all there in one action and my mind just raced thinking that this, this was what Jesus did, knowing that he would die. How many of us can give up ourselves in humility like that...
Good Friday. I decided not to go to the 3pm at my local church as I was dead tired after work and everything so I decided to join some of my good friends at St. Clare of Assisi's 7pm. What a beautiful ceremony! I DEFINITELY remember going to Good Friday masses in my college days. I remember vividly placing nails at the foot of the cross, bending my whole body down in veneration and just praying. I remember vividly placing rose petals, kissing the wood and just laying there. This year, I came up, knelt on both knees and tried my best to brush the bottom most part of the cross. I just didn't feel worthy enough to do much else.
Easter vigil. The big show. Here it came and I can't remember a more fun Easter mass that I had been to. We have a wonderful French Cajun priest at my local church who has no qualms letting the Holy Spirit come on out and keep things lively! The joy and the utter amazement in his words and actions are very apparent and it's fun to watch. period. After he blessed those newly inducted, he couldn't help himself and just burst forth, "I love doing that!" and I believed him!
The most poignant part though for me, was right before he asks each candidate, "do you wish to be baptized in the faith that you have just proclaimed?" It is SO different heard like this than when it's a child being baptized! do YOU wish it? Not, do you wish this child to, or anything else, it is YOU. It's a wholly personal decision that these people get to make in full knowing. how amazing! I can't lie, I was slightly jealous that they got to make that decision like that.
The congregation was so awesome too! After each person had been drenched in the waters, a great big 'AMEN' went through the crowd and then huge applause! These people were truly overjoyed to welcome their new brothers and sisters and it was SO good! And I remember the last gentleman, when the last pitcher of water was poured over his head, an older gentleman near me whom I can only believe was his father or father in law or something like that, bolt up straight out of his seat and clapped as if noone were watching. The pride in the simple, yet so joyous, act of deliberate, and knowing surrender was so evident in the father's actions, it was truly moving.
Easter morning. So I went to morning mass with my parents as I often do, but this year was ever more important as I cannot forget to spend time at church with the family on such an important day. Getting to take part in Easter mass with the 'rents is always joyful. What stuck out in my mind though, as I went to receive the cup, it was a familiar gentleman who offered it, and although it is a Korean church and he's white (and he offers the cup in Korean), he gave a welcoming smile as I came up, said in English, "The blood of Christ," as if saying to me, peace be with you, and it felt like going home again.
Then catch up with old friends and go home to spend lunch/dinner with the family. Good times for sure.
Hoping your Easter was as blessed and wonderful as my own.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Pictures
Not that there's a ton of you out there who read this, but I wanted to make sure I wrote it down so I can remember. In any case, new house and I need to start making it feel a little more homey, so I figured what better way than with pics of family and friends, right?
But I don't just want random pics, I guess that'd be ok for later, but I think I would really like to have pics of my family and friends either cooking or eating! How cool would that be to have a house full of pics of your friends and family doing what you love best, right?
So! If you happen to be reading this and have a pic of you, you and me, you and significant other, etc etc eating and/or cooking and you'd like to be in a frame in my house, let me know and send em my way!
But I don't just want random pics, I guess that'd be ok for later, but I think I would really like to have pics of my family and friends either cooking or eating! How cool would that be to have a house full of pics of your friends and family doing what you love best, right?
So! If you happen to be reading this and have a pic of you, you and me, you and significant other, etc etc eating and/or cooking and you'd like to be in a frame in my house, let me know and send em my way!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Backyard update
So instead of going to the Austin Rodeo BBQ competition and stuffing myself silly, I decided to stay home this weekend and take care of some more backyard stuff. I know I know, bad bad, but the saving grace is that there is some work going into a Texas Hill Country BBQ tour sometime in middle May =)
New Bublina Frutescens and river rock placed around the transformer finally!
close up, unfortunately, the two closest to the fence here got TRAMPLED by the stupid power company guys when they hopped my fence to install the new power lines for the new houses behind me. >(
More river rock and two new hibiscus plants put in, hibiscus was my grandmother's favorite flower...
two more hibiscus plants put down in the corner,
A couple of shots of the length of the back fence
New Bublina Frutescens and river rock placed around the transformer finally!
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| From Backyard_garden |
close up, unfortunately, the two closest to the fence here got TRAMPLED by the stupid power company guys when they hopped my fence to install the new power lines for the new houses behind me. >(
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| From Backyard_garden |
More river rock and two new hibiscus plants put in, hibiscus was my grandmother's favorite flower...
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| From Backyard_garden |
two more hibiscus plants put down in the corner,
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| From Backyard_garden |
A couple of shots of the length of the back fence
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| From Backyard_garden |
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| From Backyard_garden |
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Cooook (and some garden pics)
So it looks like the new flowers I put down have started blooming a bit more, it looks quite nice!
And I ended up doing a bit of cooking last night, just had been a while. Decided on some stuffed chicken breasts using my own homemade sourdough bread stuffing with roasted tomatoes and pan seared broccolini! btw, love broccolini, damn good stuff...
Oh, and I got suckered into a new pair of motorcycle boots, my old ones have been going downhill fast (pieces breaking off, etc), and one of my more favorite gear stores (newenough.com) had the new Sidi Vertigos on CLEARANCEEE, only catch was that I had to buy the white ones, but they look pretty darn good anyways!
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| From Backyard_garden |
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| From Backyard_garden |
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| From Backyard_garden |
And I ended up doing a bit of cooking last night, just had been a while. Decided on some stuffed chicken breasts using my own homemade sourdough bread stuffing with roasted tomatoes and pan seared broccolini! btw, love broccolini, damn good stuff...
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| From Food |
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| From Food |
Oh, and I got suckered into a new pair of motorcycle boots, my old ones have been going downhill fast (pieces breaking off, etc), and one of my more favorite gear stores (newenough.com) had the new Sidi Vertigos on CLEARANCEEE, only catch was that I had to buy the white ones, but they look pretty darn good anyways!
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| From Ducati bikes! |
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| From Ducati bikes! |
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