A Song & Verses for This Evening

Hi friends. Sorry I haven't written in so long! Things have been very busy up here in the treetops. I will try to write more later. But for tonight, I'll leave you with a song and some verses.

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time...Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Tim 1:8-9, 12

Hallelujah!

I'm an award-winning nest-maker!

So, remember my post about my nests appearing in an exhibition? Well, the art show in which they debuted has won an award! Common Ground at Artes de la Rosa was voted Reader's Choice for the Best Gallery Art Show of the Last 12 Months in the FW Weekly's Best of 2010 Awards! See for yourself here! I am feeling like one proud bird.

Jam of the Day (Yesterday)

Matt & Kim's Cameras. Enjoy!

The prettiest things I've seen all day...

...Can be found right here. Swoon!

Last Night's Dream: An Apple, A Flood, A Supper...and A Nosebleed

So if you know me, or have just read the title of this post, you know that I have very strange dreams. But this one was especially strange, and especially vivid.

I dreamt that I was working in a school, and got a wicked nosebleed. (In real life I got them all the time as a kid, and now I still do occasionally.) I went to the school nurse, who, strangely enough, gave me a pill to take. I was concerned that it was an MAOI drug. (Really? Who dreams about this kind of stuff?) Would it interact with my prescriptions? I guess I wasn't that concerned, because I took it anyway.

The bleeding stopped, and I went back to class. I found that all the students had been taken to the gym, because there was a flood! I helped get them onto their buses to go home, and then boarded one myself. It was something between a bus and a big rig.

When I got on, I found it was filled with my family, friends, and co-workers from current and past jobs. They informed me that we were all going to my apartment for a dinner party! Initially, that made me excited. Then I thought, "Oh crap! My apartment is a mess!" As we rode through high, muddy water, I visualized a plan to run ahead of everyone, dash up the stairs, and at least tidy up the apartment.

We arrived, but everyone climbed the stairs right on my heels. Almost immediately, it seemed like people were having a fantastic time. Everyone sat at one long table, each guest placed next to others to produce great conversation and laughter. Pleased with the event, I rose from the table. I grabbed an apple from one of the edible centerpieces (?), taking a bite as I walked away. Then I choked on it! I stood with my back to the crowded table, trying to pull the pieces of fruit from my throat. All I could grab onto were tiny shreds of its peel.

That's when I woke up, coughing and gasping. Crazy, huh?!

So here's what dreammoods.com says about some of this dream's elements, some of which are pretty spot-on for me right now:

Choking

Choking dreams are often a fearful experience and it is not uncommon for dreamers to awaken from them. To dream that you are choking on an object, suggests that you may find some advice/remarks/situation hard to swallow or difficult to accept. Alternatively, you may feel that you are unable to completely express yourself in a situation. In particular, if you are choking on food, then it may be an expression of self-guilt and unnurtured feelings. If you are choking on smoke, then it indicates something you are unwilling to confront.

Flood

To dream that you are in a flood, represents your need to release some sexual desires. If the flood is raging, then it represents emotional issues and tensions. Your repressed emotions are overwhelming you. Consider where the flood is for clues as to where in your waking life is causing you stress and tension. Alternatively, the dream indicates that you are overwhelming others with your demands and strong opinion. Still another interpretation could be your desire to wipe everything clean and make a fresh new start.

To see a gentle flood in your dream, indicates that your worries over a certain matter will soon be swept away.

Nose

To dream that you have a bloody nose, means that your character is under attack. If your nose is stuffed up, then it suggests that you unable to freely and fully express yourself.

Party

To dream that you are at a party, suggests that you need to get out more and enjoy yourself. If the party is a bad one, then it indicates that you are unsure of your social skills. If you dream that you are at your own birthday party, then it represents appreciation of the life you have.

Beautiful

I happened to be in the car at times so that I heard this song (Mercyme's Beautiful) twice yesterday. Brought me to tears both times, so I figured I'd share it.

Haiku: To the Audible Breather Next to Me in Spin Class

I pedal so fast

But it is not fast enough

To shake your whistling

Moments

There were moments this weekend that seemed like jewels. They were so beautiful, but, being moments, they were fleeting. I think that makes them seem even more precious.

-Hanging out with a new friend, even though the movie we saw wasn't that great
-Joking, laughing, talking, snuggling, etc. with my sweetie
-The mellow, yummy feeling of a birthday brunch
-Riding in the car with my sweetie: windows down, sunroof open, Miles Davis on the stereo, and my head on his shoulder
-Coming home to a tidy treehouse stocked with groceries and clean laundry for the week
-Celebrating my church's 30th anniversary with great music and an inspiring sermon...and cakeballs!
-Catching up with a friend I haven't seen in a loooong time

I hope I can keep these in mind as my week gets underway. What are some of your weekend jewels?

One of My All-Time YouTube Favorites

A friendly reminder to enjoy the simple things in life, like this lil' guy:

To Trust

I am learning more and more lately what it means to trust God. This is a struggle for me, as I'm quite the control freak. Not only do I need to know when, where, and how things will happen, I also would prefer to have a role in deciding these factors.

I realize the ridiculousness in such a mindset, and yet it's proving very hard to break away from. However, as God is in the business of making believers more like Him, He's given me quite a few opportunities for growth in the past year or two:

-Unemployment: After I was laid off, I could no longer count on a job. It really was God who provided for me financially during that time (through my savings, unemployment benefits, and my generous parents). When I worried over money, there was always a solution.

-Anxiety: If you've ever had a panic/anxiety attack, you know that your thought process quickly turns into an irrational spiral of what-ifs, I-shoulds, etc. Things feel surreal and icky, to say the least. To know that there are times when I can't rely on my thoughts has brought me closer to the Lord. I have learned that at all times, I can rely on His word, and His promises for me. They are far more steadfast than my flawed mind and body.

-Any change: From a new workout routine to a new career, God has challenged my adaptability in matters small and large. Will I be flexible, or will I break? When I lean on Him, turn to Him, and seek the counsel of other believers, I can stretch much more easily.

For me, I've also noticed that trusting God becomes easier when I recall the countless times He's "come through" for those in the Bible, and for me in my own life. He is so faithful. It's part of His divine character!

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock Eternal. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Wow. I want to shoot for that.

Busy!

Whew! This week has really helped me relate to all those people I hear saying, "There just aren't enough hours in the day!"

Work has been busy, in a good way. Last month, I moved 6 loads. This week I've already done 5! I love all the little details that go into doing my job. I enjoy my boss and my co-workers so much. I love talking to the customers, the dispatchers, even the truckers! Yesterday I had a customer- a crusty Noo Yawker, no less- tell me "You did a good job" with a difficult load he had to move. I also had a trucker tell me to "put a gold star by [my] name" for giving him directions to a location. Everything happened according to plan. I even made enough in gross profit to earn a tiny commission, for the first time ever!

After work, it's exercise, dinner, a never-ending supply of dirty dishes, and a to-do list lacking the satisfaction of having everything crossed off. I try to make progress on a painting for my brother. I get out my stationery, determined to answer a letter from a sweet friend. I open my Bible, to prepare for my small group meeting this week. But- but- it's so late! And the morning comes so quickly. Dirty workout clothes litter my floor, tangled with my heels worn to work. My trash is full, so I smush it down to try to fit in just one more little thing....

And then the weekend arrives. I celebrate by making a frozen pizza and watching one of my favorite DVDs, Eagle vs. Shark. This morning, I ran 4 miles. Along the way, I found a cool old wooden crate someone had put out for the garbage! I washed my car, and filled up the gas tank. I cleaned my apartment. I did a little shopping. And tonight I'll get to hang out with a new friend! Tomorrow will be a day for laundry, family, church, and games. As for Labor Day, I don't know what I'll do...but I will definitely appreciate the extra day off to relax.

Christian Mental Mash-Up

Do you ever mix up 2 similar-sounding songs in your head? Today I realized I did that with these 2 songs: Nichole Nordeman's Holy, and Natalie Grant's I Will Not Be Moved. I love them both, but the melodies sound too alike for my brain to keep separate. Enjoy!

Mean Girl

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. -Romans 7:19

You're not nice, you're just quiet about it. -My mom

I know exactly how Paul the Apostle feels. And, my mom is right. I want to travel the globe and offer my love, aid, and faith to people, yet I avoid eye contact with the 7-11 clerk because I'm scared he'll hit on me... again. I want to be patient and compassionate, but those desires dissipate the minute I get behind the wheel. I implore God to help me with my habitual sins, but I am the harshest judge of those who share the same struggles.

I have come to the conclusion that I am a mean girl. I am a petty, selfish, bratty, know-it-all (who abhors other know-it-alls, BTW) who is stingy with her time and her affections. These shortcomings become all the more glaring when viewed in the perspective of the cross.

However, all is not lost! I have hope! This same cross has saved me from my awful human-ness:

God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were yet dead in our sins- it is by grace you have been saved -Ephesians 2:4b-5

My flaws make me all the more grateful that I have Christ in my life. Not so that I can rest in what He's done and just coast, but so that I can know that He is sanctifying me in this life. It is with Him I can aspire to better:

Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. -Hebrews 10:14

Happy Friday!

Whew, it's been a long week, my friends. Enjoy your weekend!

Movie Review: La Strada

After a discussion with friends, I was resolved on which Fellini movie to watch next. I liked La Dolce Vita, and I loved 8 1/2. They recommended La Strada. Thank you, Herb & Carol!

La Strada is enchanting, primarily because of the main character, Gelsomina. I couldn't figure out if she was supposed to be painfully shy, a little slow, naive, or any combination of those. It didn't really matter to me, though. She was so endearing that my spirit soared with her every smile, and my heart sunk with her every tear.

Gelsomina (played by Giulietta Masina, Fellini's wife), lives with her family in poverty. She is sold into labor by her mother, and joins Zampano, an ill-tempered traveling strongman. Their journey through Italy coincides with her own journey to understanding her purpose in life- even as Zampano (Anthony Quinn) is thoughtless and cruel to her. The ending, though not the happiest, is very fitting and satisfying.

Some of the reviews of La Strada I perused online classify it as surreal. I don't know that I agree with that. Everything was plausible; besides, don't we all have moments in our [real] lives when we think , "This is just surreal"??

So, if you have any interest in watching a black-and-white Italian movie (I can hear my mom now: "Bleeehhh!"), watch La Strada.

Dream a Little Dream

Inspired by another blogger's post on dreams, I'll share mine here. I consistently have strange dreams. People behave unpredictably, places are mash-ups of familiar locales and strange new ones, and I have varying degrees of control over what I do in them. Like last week, when I voluntarily woke myself from a long dream to find I'd overslept.

For the past couple weeks, in all the dreams I have had, it's been raining. It hasn't been a downpour, or anything. It's just there. In one dream, I was driving my brother somewhere. My car suddenly flipped over- onto its roof! Neither of us were hurt, so we climbed out, and walked home in the rain.

So check it out: according to The Curious Dreamer, rain can signify

A gift or assistance from God
Nourishment and replenishing (as rain nourished plants)
Spiritual presence
Cleansing, washing away the old, and starting new

Wow! Dream Moods has the following to say about rain in dreams

To see and hear rain falling, symbolizes forgiveness and grace. Falling rain is also a metaphor for tears, crying and sadness. Alternatively, rain symbolizes fertility and renewal. If you get wet from the rain, then it indicates cleaning from your troubles and problems.

To dream that you are watching the rain from a window, indicates that spiritual ideas and insights are being brought to your awareness. It may also symbolize fortune and love.

To hear rain tapping on the roof, denotes spiritual ideas coming to fruition in your mind.

Hmmm I'll take it. I don't really know how much weight/importance we can give dreams (Are they prophetic? Symbolic? A mixed-up buffet of the subconscious?), but mine are definitely a source of nightly entertainment.

Femininity

I remember reading once that the Orthodox Jewish man begins his day with a prayer that includes thanking God for not having made him a woman. At the time, I felt indignant. Snubbed. However, I can now say that I thank God for His having made me a woman. In fact, there are things I absolutely love about being female.

Before I detail them, I should clear something up. To say something about one's "sex" is biological, i.e. what anatomy you have. To say something about one's "gender" is sociological, i.e. what your culture defines each sex's role to be. I realize that this list is gender-based. Not only that, it's Treehouse-Dweller-based. I don't believe, or expect, these things to be true for all women. They're true of me, and that's all.

Ladies, comment with your favorite things about being female!

10. Blushing from receiving compliments

9. The skillful application of mascara: between the treacherous grounds of poking oneself in the eye and smearing black goo on one's face

8. Teetering about in high heels (yes, I know they are "bad for you," but they do something almost magical for my posture, and therefore, my confidence)

7. Lip gloss

6. Being faced each morning with the decision: "Which perfume will I wear today?"

5. Having doors held open, chairs pulled out, and heavy bags carried- to me, this isn't anti-feminist, it's chivalry

4. Feeling that it's perfectly acceptable for me to coo, swoon, squeal, giggle, and get misty-eyed over silly things

3. The catharsis of a good cry

2. Surprising others with grace and strength under pressure

1. Being zipped into a dress that fits like a glove

Mystery Followers

So, there are a few followers of this blog whom I don't know. Being a curious person, this drives me bananas.

If you're one of those individuals, please leave me a comment here. Tell me who you are, where you are, how you found my blog, and why you follow it. Thanks in advance for the elucidation...

Overslept

This morning I overslept... by nearly 2 hours. Fortunately, I was able to whittle down my getting-ready time, and I made it into the office 45 minutes late. This is not like me at all. I am the one who is early to everything, even my own birth (by a month!).

I am afraid of being late, of missing something good, something important. Plus, I hate to hurry. Rushing to do something or get somewhere feels to me too similar to anxiety for my comfort.

Did my alarm even go off this morning? If it did, I sure don't remember it. All I know is that I was in the middle of a long dream, and thought to myself, "Hmm, this is a long dream. Maybe I should wake up soon." So I did.

Apparently my body really needed the rest. So, I'm going to bed now. G'night!

Book Review: Playing With The Grown-Ups

This morning, I finished the final few pages of Sophie Dahl's novel, Playing With the Grown-Ups. The last chapter, providing the resolve for the story, scarcely fills one page. I had to read it two or three times, trying to squeeze the most I could from each word, phrase, and sentence. I was also sad that such a great read was coming to an end. Dahl is the granddaughter of Roald Dahl, one of my favorite authors growing up.

The book tells the story of Kitty Larsen, a girl growing up in England, then America, then England again... Her transient adolescence is due in no small part to her flighty mother's pursuit of men and happiness. Grown-Ups swings fluidly from Kitty's past to her present, and back again. It has a timeless quality that is lovely and refreshing. Save for a few British pop culture references, it could've taken place at almost any time.

Grown-Ups is as much about her mother as it is about Kitty. Marina is at once despicable and lovable (though by the end I had settled on the latter). A beautiful, bohemian, talented artist, she captures the fancy of many men- and vice versa. Eventually, she reveals the extent of her instability.

Kitty's preteen years reminded so much of my own that I couldn't help but love her. She wore large glasses, adored her mother, and practiced a careful skin-care regimen. She never quite felt she had the "right" clothes. She had a vivid imagination, and worried about strange, implausible events. She was intrigued by different cultures and faiths.

I loved this book. It is charming and poignant. Put this on your summer reading list!