Speak, Pictures...

This week, I saw...

...and if you can believe it, even more. These are some of the people who hold pieces of my heart. What a blessed life I have...

We soldier on

Life on earth is such an unpredictable affair. Who can know if a day will bring great joy or devastating sorrow, reconciliation or dischord, hope or despair? It is these times when I do feel exactly as though a wave tossed about the sea that I am so thankful I can cling to a God who is steady and unchanging, faithful and true, unmoving and gracious. My emotions have run the gamut these last couple of weeks as I've struggled with a strained relationship in my life. The morning brought the golden warmth of sunlight through the clouds...restoration, peace, forgiveness, hope. This same day I heard the news of two unexpected deaths that have left some I love so much grieving deeply. My own raging emotions seem so petty in the light of what others must face. My heart is both heavy and light today. Trusting and bewildered. Always such balance and paradox.

But I praise the Lord. One day we shall see clearly. And He is so good to gather us under His wing when our hearts cry out in pain.

Struggling to Fly

Psalm 27:2-4

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

My goal this autumn and winter is to read more books. Food for the mind and soul; nourishment of thought. At the top of my list? The Bible. It seems ridiculous to me how I have neglected this book as of late. I asked a friend this summer, "If you had to choose only one way to know the heart of God, which would it be: prayer or the Bible?" Without hesitation he said, "The Bible." Without hesitation I said, "Prayer." But then I was struck with the truth - we don't have to choose, because we have both. And I have been enjoying the riches of prayer while ignoring the potential riches of God's written word. Both together...joy, peace, love, comfort, mercy, can only multiply!!

Duh.

Tropical Storm Erin...

...is threatening the Gulf Coast. Watch out, Texas! Read about it here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/15/storms/

Refiner's Fire

Ephesians 1:16-19a

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:9

A summer of camp ministry drawing to a close, a new youth group year beginning in the fall, and my thoughts turn to the Lord's great faithfulness throughout the years and generations. My greatest desire is to know Him more and to pour out the infinite love of His heart on all that come in contact with me. I am so blessed by the friends who have journeyed with me thus far and cannot express in words what an encouragement you are as I attempt to march this long road with the sword of truth held high. His banner over me is love!

Gwyneth, is that really you??

I'm sorry, but I just have to re-post this little piece from my very favorite guilty-pleasure blog, http://www.gofugyourself.com (I know I am probably not doing the linking or credit properly, and for that I apologize - I'm still such a blog novice.)

I feel like I make an embarrassing revelation in this space about every three weeks. The whole Ghost Whisperer thing being the most embarrassing thus far. But here's another one: I like Gwyneth Paltrow. I know she's been accused of snobbery, pretentiousness, being an unbearable beeyotch, being annoyingly obsessed with macrobiotics, being the first major celeb to widely publicize the Brazilian and thus dooming legions of women to the agony of ripping out every hair they have with hot wax, etc, etc, etc and I don't doubt that all these things are true. But I think she's pretty, and I (used to) love her hair (would it kill her to get a trim?), and Apple was my most favorite celebrity child until Suri Cruise came along and bewitched me with her adorableness, and her outfits in The Talented Mr Ripley are AMAZING.
Which is why I was rather stunned to see her looking like this on the cover of W:

She is literally unrecognizable. I know her name is right there, splashed across her chest, but I am still not entirely sure that this is her. I feel like it might actually be a dude. A totally fierce dude, yes, but a dude just the same. And while I actually long for the day when a totally fierce dude lands on the cover of W, I really don't think Gwynnie wanted people to have to stare at her face for twenty minutes, reconfiguring it in their minds, so as to convince themselves that it was actually her. If this is the way she's gearing up for a comeback, as the cover promises, that comeback is going to crash and burn.

Um, seriously. Who is this woman?! We are no longer sisters, I fear. Oh Gwyneth. And yet still I will buy it for my collection. (Yes. I have a Gywneth Paltrow Magazine Cover Collection. Are you embarassed to know me yet?)

Light the fires

What a strange summer we've had, all a jumble of blue and grey skies, sunshine and rain, brilliance and fog, warmth and chilliness. These low grey clouds make me feel ready to prepare for hibernation: withdraw to a quieter social schedule, books, fires, poetry, melancholy music. I can never decide which I like best, summer or autumn. I think the truth is I love them both more because of each other. Summer is all heady experience and autumn is all remembrance. When the summer is closing I feel as though another year has passed...and what have I learned, how have I grown, what loves are richer? My heart feels full and prepares to sleep a bit while my mind (in the crispness of the air) takes over to process all that has happened...back to school, wool skirts, tights, fuzzy sweaters, intellectual stimulation, smoky days and early twilight. I love the line in "You've Got Mail" where Tom Hanks writes he'd buy Meg Ryan a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. I need to watch that again. It's one of the only "romantic comedies" that I truly like.

I took a course in Modern Poetry my first quarter at the UW and discovered my favorite poet, Denise Levertov. I recited this one in front of the class on a stormy January afternoon:

Ancient Airs and Dances

I

I knew too well

what had befallen me
when, one night, I put my lips to his wineglass

after he left -- an impulse I thought was locked away with a smile

into memory's museum.

When he took me to visit friends and the sea, he lay

asleep in the next room's dark where the fire

rustled all night; and I, from a warm bed, sleepless,

watched through the open door

that glowing hearth, and heard,

drumming the roof, the rain's

insistent heartbeat.

Greyhaired, I have not grown wiser,

unless to perceive absurdity

is wisdom. A powerless wisdom.

II

Shameless heart! Did you not vow to learn

stillness from the heron,

quiet from the mists of fall,

and from the mountain -- what was it?

Pride? Remoteness?

You have forgotten already!

And now you clamor again

like an obstinate child demanding attention,

interrupting study and contemplation.

You try my patience. Bound as we are

together for life, must you now,

so late in the day, go bounding sideways,

trying to drag me with you?

I crave a quieter life.

En Vogue

There's just about nothing I like more than sitting down with an issue of Vogue and a cup of Earl Grey Tea (or peach iced tea, per the weather).

With the weather currently this grey and drizzly, my thoughts are turning to fall fashion...

...Things I'd like to find for Fall '07:

1. An eye-popping berry lipstick (I'm feeling a shift toward the glamorous)
2. A plaid flannel shirt or jacket (mark my words, a return to "Seattle Grunge" - updated of course - is on the way. And I couldn't be happier.)
3. One or two more minidresses (with sleeves)
4. Flat brown riding boots (I've been looking for these - an affordable pair - for years)
5. It's time for the return of high heels!! (Sorry boys.)

I'm also hearing that grey is going to be the new black for fall, which is thrilling. I adore grey.

Finished.

Nox.

Mischief Managed

They're here, and we have them. 12:20am, 7/21/07.



Please excuse me for a day or two; I'm reading.

Squeee!

A Summer in Pictures

It would take far too long for me to write out everything I've been up to the last several weeks...so I'll have to let the pictures do the talking. This way I save tens of thousands of words.

Summer begins, 6/21/07

First trip to Lakeside of the summer...Mandy and I laughed so hard we cried. Ahhh, bliss!!

At the wedding of Sarah Jovich and Evan Beilke 6/29/07

You have such big, beautiful, blue eyes...(and marbles).


The bouquet sailed through the air and Lucy almost had it...I could see it coming straight for me and I instinctively put my hands up and closed my eyes...this was taken right before I started screaming, the flowers hit me square in the chest, and then slid to the floor amidst a mad scramble. "Erin, what are you doing?!" friends gasped through laughter. "I don't know," I replied. "All of a sudden, I just thought, 'I don't want it!!'"

Dancing queens...

We bid the happy couple adieu.

Birthday party for Scott Gullberg! 6/30/07

Chillin' in Bonney Lake (at the home of the Smiths.) Nicole Smith, Erin, Melissa Gullberg...

It was a beautiful day and the Bocce competition was as fierce as the afternoon sun. Kaylan Cloyd, Scott Gullberg, CJ Gambrel, Alicia Cloyd...

Happy Independence Day!! 7/4/07

The city dwellers invade the island...back to Lakeside once again!

Kelly & Nicole Smith

Melissa, Scott, & Logan Gustav Gullberg

Emily Van Oss (Van AWESOME), Mandy Sauerlender, and Erin.

Golden Girls
Friendship & Fireworks. Emily, Mandy, Erin & Amiliah Doherty.

A Bridal Shower in honor of the lovely Stefanie Louise Grosz! 7/8/07

At the Smiths' again...it's a fabulous part house and Nicole is always an amazing hostess. I can't wait until we are old and rich and philanthropic. Or actually, I'd rather be young and rich and philanthropic.

The bride-to-be

Lindsey, Terina, Stefanie, Nicole, Alli...




7/9/07
Extreme buddies decide to get their ears pierced! It's spontaneous, it's adventurous, it's painless, we love it.

HARRY POTTER V - THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX!! 7/11/07

In line and in great anticipation

Kind of a funny angle but we were soooo happy. Hot dogs and nachos and Coke. This is before the movie started and Bridget realized the idiots next to her were high or drunk or both and kept giggling loudly and inappropriately throughout the film. We had to hightail it out of there when the credits rolled so those girls wouldn't decide to start a fight. That really would have put a damper on possibly the best HP movie yet!

The trio does the trio:

Harry Potter face

Ron Weasley face

Pretty sure this is supposed to be Hermione Granger face...but...hmmm.

Adventures in Seattle 7/13/07

We go with Jamie and Lucy to see Paris Je'taime at the Uptown on Queen Anne...and sneak in some burgers, fries, & milkshakes from Dick's Drive-In.

The wedding of Lindsey Gresset and Joe Bergin 7/14/07

At the Gresset estate in Normandy Park...gorgeous!

Nicole and Melissa



Allison Williams, Sarah Beilke, Serrah Russell

Melissa Cramer & Nic Meyer (The future Mr. & Mrs. Meyer)

Mr. & Mrs. Evan Beilke

Serrah, Allison, Erin

Rainy Wednesdays are perfect for Langley and Lakeside (yes, again) 7/18/07

Lucy, Bridget, Finn, and I enjoyed paninis, lattes, a scone, and perfect atmosphere at my beloved Useless Bay Coffee Company in Langley before shopping a bit (Bridget bought the most amazing dragon and pheonix puppets and I got my dear friend Kellie Ingraham the PERFECT birthday present at our old haunt "The Cottage") and then heading to camp to visit beloved friends there. It was a blessed afternoon!

Whew...there you have it. Just bits and pieces of what I've been up to. Busy, sunny, whirlwindy, fabulous summer.

Should I have been sorted into Slytherin?

Spellbound by Shiny Silver Snakeskin Sandals...

Can't ssssstop sssssurmising they sssssshould be mine!

Even better than I'd hoped.

Harry in the Department of Mysteries...(Daniel Radcliffe has gotten so handsome and a better actor than ever...I guess Equus was good for something after all.)

Ron, Luna, Neville, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny face their foes...

Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Reducto!

MARVELOUS.

I think this might be my favorite one yet. (I have to see it another time or two to be sure.)

Crazy In Love

Fooled you.

BUT I am excited. Many of you know I am an advocate of the Harry Potter books and movies. (A few of you know that at times it actually borders more on obsession.) A Christian HP fan seems to be a bit of a rarity in this day and age...like a secret society. But all this is fodder for some other, deeper, more philosophical post.

Today, I'm just REALLY EXCITED that Bridget, Lucy, and I are going to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ON OPENING NIGHT!! (I was responsible for once and resisted the very strong urge to dress up and go at midnight last night.) My hair is wild, I'm wearing crimson and gold, and can't wait to see thestrals, Luna Lovegood, the DA in action, Umbridge (yikes!), The Department of Mysteries, the prophecy (double yikes!), and the Weasley twins' triumphant exit from Hogwarts.

Expect a review!

(And also, expect some pictures and details of life lately. I've got a lot of catching up to do.)