Monday, August 31, 2009

Doing the unexpected

As I pondered a dinner party that I will be hosting during the upcoming Halloween season, I became wrapped up in all I needed to buy or make in order to make the party the most fabulously Halloween-themed decorated event I've held. It's been the expectation of many of my friends that, being the "Halloween Queen" in years past," I will go overboard in the decor, especially since I did not decorate for the night last year. If left unchecked, I could easily spend upwards of $2500 purchasing new decor to replace the old stuff that was ruined two years ago from the fire ash that blanketed the county I live in. But, to what end? Scripture admonishes us: "Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare." (Isaiah 55:2).

So, I shall do the unexpected. If I decorate, it will be modestly, using what I already have, for I have more than I need.

I would rather my friends expect me to live modestly, in accordance to God's law, than to expect a spectacle.
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By the way, if you're interested in the ghosts of extravagant decorating past, click on the short clips below:





Thursday, August 13, 2009

A Father's Love

Whether we're facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, preparing to scale the "cliffs of insanity" or heading toward a dark tunnel where the end is unclear, God is ready to hold our tiny, child-like hand, if only we are willing to reach up and grab it.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

My dream...

In exploring what I really love to do (and I'm good at), I've discovered a way to put all my passions into one. What do I love? Well, here's the list, in no particular order:

Music
Baking
Cooking for a crowd
Taking pictures of serence places and landscapes
Any craft involving wire and beads
Stacks and stacks of books
Home decorating
Studying Holy Scripture

While my job as a cantor affords me the opportunity to combine two of my loves, I think I could put it all together in a little independent coffee shop or bed and breakfast. I envision a place where live Christian music could be offered on a very tiny stage, where I could serve up delectable items made from my home garden, decorating the place with photos I've taken and "happy thoughts" painted by the family and customers, offer a corner of the place for other artists to display and sell their work, make wired and bead decorated candle holders from recycled glass jars for the tables, have a Catholic Christian book lending library in a small room off the main where I could lead Bible studies and teach craft classes. The venue could be called "Martha and Mary's Place." And, it would be closed on Sundays.