Recovery

I have yet to find anything more therapeutic than an evening with friends.

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Hallelujah for the Weekend

This week, I spontaneously thought of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane. Lucky for me, Friday did not include a crucifixion.

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Escapism

(Friendly locals at the El Cid Marina Resort in Mazatlan)

You can't run away to Mexico every time you want to escape.

But you can remember the truths you learned there.

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Wordless Wednesday

(Reflections from the Capital Club in San Jose)

Let’s swing from the chandelier hanging from the sky.

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PS

I'm taking this brave enough to ask stuff seriously. I started writing out invitations last night. As in, "Dear (fill in the blank), you are cordially invited into my life."

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System Error

My hotmail account is down. My hipstamatic app is running really slow. Kind of sums up how I feel: run dwn and slow. Time for a reboot.

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Brave in Asking

The idea of inviting certain experiences into our lives seems equally wonderful and impossible.

Can we really have what we want by asking for it? I’ve struggled with this question for a long time, and I don’t know the answer.

The skeptic in me, the one busy shooting down wild ideas because she is too afraid to push past her own boundaries, can think of dozens of examples where this doesn’t work.

But my dreamer self has collected too many stories to ignore in which asking and daring meant the difference between life as we know it and a brand new reality.

The problem is as soon as I think I might be brave enough to test this theory for myself, I chicken out.

This morning before church I could hear my heart wanting to invite certain things into our life. But the skeptic shut it down.

And off to church I went.

At church, the priest read the gospel about asking and receiving, knocking and doors being opened.

I don't believe in coincidences.

I'm not saying we'll get everything we want because we ask. Lots of people don't even get everything they need. But it seems there might be some lesson to learn from being brave enough to ask.

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Running Away

I would love to know where you go (in the Bay Area) to get away from it all. I'm conducting serious research.

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Today's Truth

Something I know: Every person has a creative soul.

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Balancing Act

When does busy become too busy?
I say when someone asks you in July when your next free weekend is and your answer is October.

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Wordless Wednesday

Twinkle lights are dreamy.

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Today’s Motto

Other people are having a worse day than you.

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Reminding Myself

Open enough windows and happiness will find a way in.

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Disasters

“I think we’ve been ransacked,” John said as we walked through the door.
“No. I’m pretty sure that’s how we left it,” I replied.

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Hidden Strength

(Reshmi on her wedding day)

DaVinci's words are tattooed in Latin and written backwards down the inside of her right arm. They are a permanent reminder that "obstacles cannot crush me." 

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That Feeling Has A Name

The UP Experience from Brené Brown on Vimeo.

Honestly, I don't think I realized that the feeling Brené Brown describes has a name. I certainly wouldn't have called it Shame. I probably wouldn't have called it anything because, as she so wisely points out, these are the sorts of feelings we don't talk about. But maybe we should. John and I watched this video last night, and I've been thinking about it all day. If you take the time to watch it, I'd love to know what you think.

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Dandelions Not Required

Go ahead. Make a wish.

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Picture + Video Wednesday

(An after-sunset ocean view in Mazatlan)

Picture: It was our last night in Mazatlan, and the sun had already set. John always takes end-of-day wedding photos, and this is kind of like my end-of-vacation photo. The low light created the grainy feel, and the photo instantly became one of my favorites when John said it looked like a painting.

Video: I feel incredibly lucky to know so many amazing families. The video below (which I found today) is especially for all the awesome, rad, dedicated dads out there. You rock!

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

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Skipping It

(bulletin board above my desk)

I’m working on crossing things off my calendar. Canceling as many responsibilities as possible. But as soon as I remove one thing, something new pops up. Then I remember life will give me an endless amount of distractions. The trick is learning to focus.

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Playing Catch-Up

(A peaceful tree to combat catch-up feelings)

You know what probably doesn’t work? The mental game of Catch-Up. As in, “Oh, she’s older than me. Thank God! That gives me 5 years to write three books and have two kids.”

Yup. I’m pretty sure that game doesn’t work. In fact, that game might be the singular cause of adult acne and digestive disorders. Just an observation.

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Sisters

(Melinda & Melina)

I barely have any memories from age 7 to 14 that don't include Melinda and Melina. They are the same ages as me and my sister, and we grew up across the street from each other. The word inseparable comes to mind. While it's been many years since our lives were so tightly intertwined, it's a gift to see the face of someone who can remember who you were even before you really knew yourself.  

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When No One is Watching ...

(Gnomes in my sister's garden)

"It is better to play than do nothing." ~Confucius

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Dream Chasing

(Mondo Beyondo love note on my bookshelf)

Not all or nothing. Tiny steps. In the right direction.

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While I Was Sleeping

(One of my favorite bricks at Holy Spirit Church)

Last night, I dreamt about my to-do list. I dreamt I was getting things done. Yes, waking up was disappointing. But the purpose of life is not to look busy.  

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Grow Beauty

(Plants in my sister's garden)

What are we becoming if not more ourselves?

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Where Do You Find Inspiration?

(Window display at Francesca's Collections in Los Gatos)

I need to figure out how I can take a two-week vacation for every one week of work. My mind was much more inspired seven days ago before I got back into the swing of my actual life. Although, I can't imagine I would find being homeless very inspiring, and I'm pretty sure that is what I would be if I only worked a third of the year.

PS: John pointed out that this photo does not go with this post. I disagree. I found this window display inspiring, hence the words and picture are related. Not that they have to be, and not that I am making that a requirement for future word + picture combinations. xo!

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Help We All Need

(St. Nicholas Church in Los Altos)

"Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping."   ~St. Vincent De Paul

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Cause for Celebration

(Pretty flowers because I don't have a picture of fireworks.)

I have no idea how many babies were born today. But one of those tiny miracles belongs to my dear friend. Which means there's a whole new reason to celebrate the Fourth of July.

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This Is A Happy Day

(A flower arrangement at Chris & Mandy's wedding)

I like to hear what priests have to say at weddings. Being a bride is so much different than being a wife, and I benefit from the wisdom more now.

Today, a charming priest named Fr. Larry shared that every day of his childhood his mother said the same thing: "This is a happy day."

Can you imagine what our lives would like if we embraced each day with those five words? I would like to find out.

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Another Half-Year Thing

(My "running" shoes, which have never actually been used for running.)

As much as I love absurd, preposterous, laughable optimism and extreme, counter-cultural trust, I don't want just a change of perspective.

I want actual change. In other words, I have a lot of ground to cover between now and December 31.

As Erin says, here's to Getting It Done.

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Make It Sweet

(Cupcakes at Icing on the Cake, one of the sweetest spots in Los Gatos)

It's tradition around here to celebrate the half year. As in Happy Half New Year! I made two resolutions for 2010: Practice Ridiculous Optimism and Radical Trust. I dedicated the entire month of February to becoming hopeful to the point of deserving ridicule and so extremely confident in God that my life is absent fear. It's time to start again, and lucky for me, I've already written my own cheat sheet.

1. Mind your thinking.

2. Change your mood with music or movies or books.
3. Clear a path, and give or throw away anything in your way.
4. Be generous.
5. Be grateful.
6. Be silent.
7. Be brave.
8. Take action, big and small.
9. Start again when you fail and fall.
10. Do everything with enthusiasm.

Whatever you are dreaming of for the rest of 2010, don't forget to make it sweet.

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