Well. It seems I am a semi-regular blogger. Oh well! Life is like that. The (old calendar) Feast of the Dormition ends today. Of course I do not know if this means I can have fast-free food tonight or if I have to wait until Thursday.
Regardless, I have gotten on sale a carton of French Vanilla Ice Cream, have some left over Chocolate and Mint Chocolate Chip cake and am looking forward to both!
My Cat never fasts, however and asks for Cat Milk (her version of ice cream) on a daily basis. Of course I always given in and give her some… : )
But Cleo is the Cutest Cat in Canada (though other Canadian Cat Owners have politely disagreed!) and who can resist a Cute Cat? Not me, apparently.
I started reading Quentin Bell’s biography on Virginia Woolf; I am interested in seeing how and why the English (or a lot of them) lost their faith in God and what replaced this faith. I know that Virginia Woolf’s time period, writing and circle of other writers influenced a lot of what we know of culture today. Thus I am interested; I also have always cared about this writer and admire her writing.
Of course this is a fairly large idea, understanding this, and I have not a lot of time. So it may take years, but it is satisfying nonetheless.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
many thoughts, not many words
well. it's been a while again since i wrote here.
so what to say? emmm... not much. i have discovered a new mystery series i like by Jeanne M Dams about a woman who moves to England and is from the Midwest of the States. i appreciate these books very much, as i have moved from the midwest of the States and live in Canada.
sometimes i feel like no one recognizes that this is actually a cultural shift, to do this. esp. as i grew up in the country and now live in a city. and i don't know anyone here who grew up in my same North American Dutch CRC culture. not that i do not have lots of cultures here to enjoy, esp as i am Orthodox. i just do not have the one culture that i am most familiar with, which i was born in, and lived and breathed until i was around 16 or so (long story how i eventually left home and this culture).
sometimes i want my mother's Dutch soup and that is ALL i want.
so i was happy to discover these books because it reminded me of how i can feel and also reminded me that many have been through these same things.
i was also reminded of how much i have been given by leaving ... now my church was NEVER a hell-fire and brimstone church, but when i was reading one of the mysteries, titled _Killing Cassidy_ there is this CRAZY should-be-looked-up preachers who said from his pulpit something to the effect of "hell is within you" and i immediately thought, NO, that is totally wrong, as Christ said "the kingdom of God is within you" - such a difference. this is the best way i can summarize the change from my understanding of human beings that i grew up with (not that everyone was this bad, but the misunderstanding of humans was very rampant) and the understanding of humans that the Orthodox Church has maintained for hundreds of years...
well there you go. typical of me - say i do not have much to say and then say it all anyway. Lord have mercy!
so what to say? emmm... not much. i have discovered a new mystery series i like by Jeanne M Dams about a woman who moves to England and is from the Midwest of the States. i appreciate these books very much, as i have moved from the midwest of the States and live in Canada.
sometimes i feel like no one recognizes that this is actually a cultural shift, to do this. esp. as i grew up in the country and now live in a city. and i don't know anyone here who grew up in my same North American Dutch CRC culture. not that i do not have lots of cultures here to enjoy, esp as i am Orthodox. i just do not have the one culture that i am most familiar with, which i was born in, and lived and breathed until i was around 16 or so (long story how i eventually left home and this culture).
sometimes i want my mother's Dutch soup and that is ALL i want.
so i was happy to discover these books because it reminded me of how i can feel and also reminded me that many have been through these same things.
i was also reminded of how much i have been given by leaving ... now my church was NEVER a hell-fire and brimstone church, but when i was reading one of the mysteries, titled _Killing Cassidy_ there is this CRAZY should-be-looked-up preachers who said from his pulpit something to the effect of "hell is within you" and i immediately thought, NO, that is totally wrong, as Christ said "the kingdom of God is within you" - such a difference. this is the best way i can summarize the change from my understanding of human beings that i grew up with (not that everyone was this bad, but the misunderstanding of humans was very rampant) and the understanding of humans that the Orthodox Church has maintained for hundreds of years...
well there you go. typical of me - say i do not have much to say and then say it all anyway. Lord have mercy!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
3 years ago
i was christmated 3 years ago today. so what do i have to say about this:
Glory to God for His long-suffering!
(and that i feel happy today)
Glory to God for His long-suffering!
(and that i feel happy today)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
anniversaries
August 5 was my dad's 55th birthday.
August 6 was the 20 year anniversary of my friend Timothy's falling asleep in the Lord. We were 10 - i had a panahieda for him, gave roses, white orchids and a soft white mum in a heavy cut glass to the Theotokos and sweet bread for the panahedia itself. This was a very important happening - something i had been waiting for i think for 20 years. it is such a blessing to be able to pray for the dead. i had prayed for Tim every night for months (he had leukemia) and i was a little protestant 10 year old and all a sudden he was gone, and i did not know i could keep praying for him. the loss was intense. i had and still do love him very much.
i did not invite many people to this (so if you go to my church and are reading this, do not be offended). some things are so important to me, that i do not talk much about it. i am thanking God for His grace. He has comforted me so much this year as the 20 year anniversary came - realizing that Tim feel asleep on the new calendar Feast of the Transfiguration, having the panaheida, giving the bread to some of my closest friends and doing the flowers were all very important. it is like God gave me some answers and comfort, even though i had to wait 20 years.
the Feast of Transfiguration is also my feast - i was christmated three years ago tomorrow on August 8th. a very kind man gave me the icon of this feast for my chrismation.
thank God for His grace and that the death of His saints is precious in His sight.
August 6 was the 20 year anniversary of my friend Timothy's falling asleep in the Lord. We were 10 - i had a panahieda for him, gave roses, white orchids and a soft white mum in a heavy cut glass to the Theotokos and sweet bread for the panahedia itself. This was a very important happening - something i had been waiting for i think for 20 years. it is such a blessing to be able to pray for the dead. i had prayed for Tim every night for months (he had leukemia) and i was a little protestant 10 year old and all a sudden he was gone, and i did not know i could keep praying for him. the loss was intense. i had and still do love him very much.
i did not invite many people to this (so if you go to my church and are reading this, do not be offended). some things are so important to me, that i do not talk much about it. i am thanking God for His grace. He has comforted me so much this year as the 20 year anniversary came - realizing that Tim feel asleep on the new calendar Feast of the Transfiguration, having the panaheida, giving the bread to some of my closest friends and doing the flowers were all very important. it is like God gave me some answers and comfort, even though i had to wait 20 years.
the Feast of Transfiguration is also my feast - i was christmated three years ago tomorrow on August 8th. a very kind man gave me the icon of this feast for my chrismation.
thank God for His grace and that the death of His saints is precious in His sight.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Yea vacation!
well. i vacationed all while staying in my city and apartment.
but my friend came (my Cat Cleo's first owner) and she and i had a wonderful time. We browsed through fun bookshops, fancy home stores with all one could dream of for a kitchen, went to IKEA, had high tea, and wonderful meals and times at church and with close friends. we walked by the Parliament buildings and talked.
i love the ordinary days, with sunshine, my church, and everything being normal.
my friend took me shopping, put up my curtains and i put up my lampada that another dear friend of mine had given me for Christmas.
it was so special for me to show her my life, many of the people i love here, my church, those who comprise of my family here, the places i go to and the apartment i live in.
my apartment is almost done! it has taken nearly ten months but i am really getting there! this is the first place i have lived in as a working adult (instead of being a undergraduate and then graduate student).
i am so thankful to God for the many things He has blessed me with!
but my friend came (my Cat Cleo's first owner) and she and i had a wonderful time. We browsed through fun bookshops, fancy home stores with all one could dream of for a kitchen, went to IKEA, had high tea, and wonderful meals and times at church and with close friends. we walked by the Parliament buildings and talked.
i love the ordinary days, with sunshine, my church, and everything being normal.
my friend took me shopping, put up my curtains and i put up my lampada that another dear friend of mine had given me for Christmas.
it was so special for me to show her my life, many of the people i love here, my church, those who comprise of my family here, the places i go to and the apartment i live in.
my apartment is almost done! it has taken nearly ten months but i am really getting there! this is the first place i have lived in as a working adult (instead of being a undergraduate and then graduate student).
i am so thankful to God for the many things He has blessed me with!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
putting off dishes
my friend is DV coming tomorrow!
one of my co-workers from my small group is leaving! we were shocked... change is always happening...
i bought books to learn French, including collins french grammar.
yep. nerd! :)
but i have to learn! i wanted to live in a bilingual city, so i have to seek to learn.
i joined orthodox circle - you know, i think it is really cool. i really appreciate that it seeks to be a family-friendly, Orthodox site, with specific guidelines.
even better is that i got a book on St. Seraphim of Sarov
will be reading this slowly - with thankfulness and with Lord Have Mercy prayers
i had a short dinner with a close friend, with my best veg. soup tonight and this weekend is DV to be full of things.
God has been so good to me, and i deserve none of it.
so i must learn to say thank you more every day...
one of my co-workers from my small group is leaving! we were shocked... change is always happening...
i bought books to learn French, including collins french grammar.
yep. nerd! :)
but i have to learn! i wanted to live in a bilingual city, so i have to seek to learn.
i joined orthodox circle - you know, i think it is really cool. i really appreciate that it seeks to be a family-friendly, Orthodox site, with specific guidelines.
even better is that i got a book on St. Seraphim of Sarov
will be reading this slowly - with thankfulness and with Lord Have Mercy prayers
i had a short dinner with a close friend, with my best veg. soup tonight and this weekend is DV to be full of things.
God has been so good to me, and i deserve none of it.
so i must learn to say thank you more every day...
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