One of those days.. February 14, 2008
Stuff from Steph , add a commentI had a wonderful day despite feeling sick and having a pounding headache and loads of work. I woke up to chocolate, flowers and a prophecy on my desk. Went downstairs to a deluxe breakfast and lots of smiles and hugs from everyone and in my inbox was a poem someone wrote me for valentines. My little brother turned 17 today, Happy Birthday Nick, I love you so much and miss you and yeah basically had a great day. So thank you Jesus and thank you my wonderful home members, loved ones and friends for making it special.
This is one of those “I’m so quirky” posts! February 5, 2008
Foolishness , 16 comments by Agent Q, Chuck, Clara, Audioguru, Luca, Christy, Cec, Angel, Loxy, Sonialee, Marky, and Dan E.I think I’ve developed a hernia and it’s making me question everything.
Who am I?
I miss Clara’s little laugh.
Marky said he would marry me if I bought him this funny $4,000 guitar. It may or may not be worth it, I haven’t decided yet.
I am sometimes overwhelmed with an inflated sense of my own awesomeness.
I don’t know who to interview next.
What is up with you people that tell Angel she can sing? You’re giving her false hope.
Sometimes I just want to walk into the middle of a crowded room and shout “It’s so hard always being the strong one.”
I’ve realized that far too often I mistake hormones for battles.
I live in fear of an appendicitis attack.
I promise my next post will be dense with substance.
The best way to move on from a post you’re not proud of…. January 31, 2008
Imagery , 7 comments by Cec, Joy, Cel, ZERO, Sonialee, and Clara.Is to post photos! Big ones! Hurrah! Thank you for your prayers if you prayed because God hearkened and I am healed of my afflictions (I love that word, afflictions) and since we are instructed to take no heed of the darkness but instead face the light etc., my lamentations didn’t seem to go along that vein. Update of the week is that I’m working on my second digital painting that will - with prayer - be better then the last one but I’m laboring with the details and savoring the journey so until then here’s two passable-ish photos from my photography phase that I’ve taken of people who will make me a cooler person by association of having their faces on my blog - so thanks Steve and Ryan!
Plea of the afflicted January 24, 2008
The Latest , 3 comments by One, Anita, and Luca.Alone in the dark she crawls towards the castle
Her clothes are torn and shredded
Her eyes, once bright, now filled with shadows
The weight of her broken heart is almost too much to bear
No warmth, no light, just the merciless pelt of the rain
A glimmer of hope still lives however
The castle may hold one last moment of peace before death
Oh merciful death, closes in around her
Pitifully, painfully, she opens the door
What greets her within the castle is no more than shadows
The light has gone out forever
She weeps, she falls, she becomes as cold as the heartless stone beneath her
And she prays
Prays for death
Oh God, my God, deliver me from this stomach bug or take me Home!
I mean, wow! January 23, 2008
The Latest , add a commentScroll down, Robin’s answered the (get this) first question and WOW is about all I can say. Any account that includes “And we didn’t get Ebola, yay!” is worth the read. So read it!
Poor Jason! January 21, 2008
Foolishness , 3 comments by Anita, Dan E, and Luca.He’s spent all his life hurting on the inside!
My first digital painting January 20, 2008
Imagery , 12 comments by Nyx, Rachel, Anita, Sonialee, Hobbyns, Andy, Devin, Paula, Luca, and Vyoma.
I was following a tutorial on skin painting but the guy just ended up looking way too effeminate to be cool so I thinned out the neck and made it a girl. I made the mistake of starting out with way smaller resolution then I should have so I couldn’t do much detail on it. Now that it’s done I can do something way cooler (hopefully) with lots of detail.
About 7 hours with Photoshop CS3 and DigiPro tablet.
Ya know what? Lets just do this! January 13, 2008
Interview of the Month , 10 comments by Claire, Maria doehler, Anita, Shalimar Kelly, and Robin.So I’ve been hanging onto this Interview of the Month for about a month now because I’ve been trying to figure out a way to find out if el interviewee would even know that this blog existed and/or be interested in responding. Its been a nagging fear of mine since I started IOTM that I’m going to think up all these questions and get no response and for some reason it scared me - it may have something to do with my deeply rooted fear of rejection and it might even be related to the walls I’ve built up around my heart but I can’t really be sure. And while I sat here fearing, three months have gone by without an IOTM so tonight I said “Enough’s enough!” and I’m posting these questions anyway. I may not get a reply but we’ll never know either way unless I put myself out there; so this is me putting myself out there.
Written December 18, 2007
I have sat down, I have buckled down, and I have done it. I’ve started the first paragraph of IOTM, which should really count for something considering it’s Christmas. They say well begun is half done so we’ll see how that goes. Since I missed a month this interview is going to have to be extra special so no pressure, Robin (in the Uganda RadioActive Home) but you’re really going to have to deliver. Again, no pressure, but this has to be special. No pressure though…
I hope you read this and get a moment to answer, if not though, I’ll understand and assume you’re miles away from civilization delivering medical supplies and salvation to thousands of refugees, and chances are I probably wouldn’t be too far off my guess there. I guess this is as good a time to tell you as any that you are one of those people that make me damn proud to be in The Family. Interview guidelines found here.
Okay, first question. Describe what you and your Home have been up to during the month of December and spare no details.
The month got off to an exciting start with the annual Listeners’ Meeting. Simon gave an invitation on the radio for people to join us at the club downtown where we teach the 12FS and Bridge classes. Just like last year, we had about 120 come & it was a packed program with skits, stories, Bible quiz with prizes, a raffle with great prizes and the “Nativity” movie. Quite a few people came who we hadn’t yet met and many signed up for either the 12FS classes in the club on Wed Afternoon & evening, or for the on-line class. Others bought tools & we got all their e-mails to add to our 2000+ weekly feeding mailing list.
We had been invited to have our kids perform the puppet show they had put together at a few places. Shirley (12) and the kids had put together a great show on audio in the studio, with all the voices very clear, sound effects & all. Our puppets had been sent to us from a friend in the States—all were blacks—kids, grandparents, animals & all. They went first of all to the Goan community who are Catholics & they were so impressed by the show! We had a team the same day doing fundraising at the main hotel here then all came home for our 12FS Graduate’s dinner. It was good to sit with them one-one-one after the meal (& football game earlier) to talk about goals, where we’re headed the coming year, all the Lord has done the last year & all. Today Kath had a tool table all day which was good too.
A few days later, a team was going to minister to a lot of kids—over 100, when lo & behold, the big case of puppets was stolen from our roof rack while they were driving. The only thing they could figure was that it was taken from the roofrack by someone on a passing truck, as no-one definitely climbed up, the case is heavy & it couldn’t have been stolen. I was on freeday when they called me & let me know about them being stolen, so hopped on the Honda 250cc & traced their route to see if perhaps miraculously it’d fallen off & not been touched. Very unlikely since people are so desperate in this part of the world. I rode to the nearest police station to make a report, then down the road there was Simba FM so did an announcement on the radio, which they translated into Luganda. Hmm—Devil is really fighting our ministering because this show was extremely impactful! In fact, we are going to try to provision replacements as they are almost unheard of here & they’re a terrific way for our kids to minister as they all inherited a bit of the dramatic, have a zillion voices each like their dad & have a lot of fun ministering in this way. But I HATE THEFT!!!
How to Hug Jules and Chuck (by Chuck) January 8, 2008
Foolishness , 19 comments by Gabe, Andy, Amber, ZERO, Chuck, GeoMicPri, Kelsey Sibaquo, Maria, Anita, Luca, Angie, and Leila.You know, like “How to Be Happy Anyhow” except cooler and without the English accent. (what?)
So there’s a dilemma that people like myself and Jules face daily. Especially since we are in a “hug cult” (really that would be more truthful than “sex cult” seeing as…well…THERE IS NO SEX!!!!! WHERE IS ALL THE SEX???? in the name of all that is holy…..)
So saying that - we feel that what we have to say is vital to our being able to survive this said “Hug cult”
You see - we get hugged a lot. As most likely you do as well. Except. Well. You’re either a short female - or a male.
If you are a male - there is never any problem. Your chest area is clear of objects of desire which unwittingly get shoved in other peoples happy smiling faces.
If you are a short woman well - there should be no problem. Good on you.
So where were we.
Ah yes - the objects of desire. I mean - I don’t desire them. but I like to think they are DESIRED by OTHERS. *hint*
So here’s what usually happens.
You’re in a room. There might be people, there might not - it doesn’t matter. All that matters is you know at some point your eyes will lock with another’s and you will immediately see them start to flinch in a “do I need to hug them?” sort of flinch. You can tell when someone feels they need to do this to you, you can see their hug muscles starting to go into gear (as a bonifide “hug cult” member, I can spot this from miles). So you both start towards each other - knowing that you must engage in your Christian duty of the required frontal contact.
As a tall women, you know that this can only end in sorrow and you feel the devastation that is ahead. You feel sorry, mostly for the unwitting person that is pursuing their God given duty to hug.
They just don’t know what their getting into.
This scenario can only end in these following ways.
1. You are much shorter than us - so short in fact that the top of your head fits nicely under our breasts. This, while not TOO awful can be a little unnerving as the next time I see you across the room I’ll be thinking “ah - there goes my favorite boob shelf”. I don’t feel too bad about this, as mostly I giggle, but I hope you never find out.
oops.
2. You are short. Not boob shelf short but something much, much worse. You’re a boob nestler. Yes - thats right - my boobs become the pillow in which you NESTLE your furry little head. And while I actually don’t mind this happening (what else do I use them for anyway? See above for the “WHERE IS ALL THE SEX” part)- I know that for you it can be horribly awkward. The good news is - I have a way out for you, which I’ll explain later. (BTW, the banner of this blog has some excellent “boob nestler” shots for your reference)
3. You. well. Lets just say, that I know the top of your head, better than the back of my hand. I know what shampoo you use, and when you switch products. Why? Because you’re just about tall enough to fit right under my nose. Thats right - you’re a nose shelf. I’m still struggling with if this is better than the previously stated shelf. Let me know what you think.
4. You’re just my height. So much just my height in fact that we meet, with arms outspread, and never actually get to complete the hug stance because our arms clash in mid air. Which usually becomes the much desired arm flapping dance. First, I move my arms up - so do you - no go there, so one of us moves our arms down - so does the other one, once again we’re trapped. Back and forth we go until someone begins to go diagonal into the pretzel hug. This really, is our only hope. If you are anywhere near my height please approach me with your arms in this manner: “left arm” at 2:00 and “right arm” at 8:00. Please practice in the nearest mirror. This would mean a lot to me. I will know what your intentions towards me are if I see you approach in this stance and will respond with my matching yet polar opposite “10:00 and 4:00″ stance. Thank you. This will make the world a better place.
5. If you are taller than me…then well…you’re taller than me. In which case, if you are a male then please…
…MARRY ME AND HAVE LOTS OF SEX AND BABIES!! (with me)
As for the rest of you - it may feel that there is no hope. But do not despair. All we have to do is come to grips with our lot in life and instead of run from it we must embrace it! (pun intended)
I propose a secret code. If you approach me and tell me that I’m both compelling AND rich - then I’ll hug you with such pizzaz and fervor that all awkwardness over your height and my height will be shelved (heh, heh) We’ll know that there is no perfect hug, but it won’t matter because we are in a HUGGING CULT and we LOVE IT.
Amen?
Okay so I know this isn’t really a SOLUTION, but at least I will know that you know that I know that you know that we BOTH know - which means I’ll be able to sleep better at night.
Adios mi amigo December 21, 2007
The Latest , 8 comments by Chuck, Crystal, Dan E, Stephanie Paone, Luca, Kath, and Julie.
I’d like to ask everyone to pause for a moment, raise a (real or imagined, as the case may be) gourd of mate and salute our friend, who has joined the ranks of those lost forever to the Dark Farm.
Hasta que encontremos otra vez, Crystal!