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:

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.

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.

Friends and Acquaintences, Part II

Reconnecting with friends you've lost touch with is a beautiful thing.