photo op

I took myself out on a date yesterday... to go see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. You can laugh, but I wanted to see the movie that was filmed right in this picture below which is right where we were! It brought back some lovely memories.

Some laughter about the election...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxlwYP0HNdc&feature=related

I can't wait for the election to be done with. I'm sick of the poisonous propaganda... this video however, is charming.

Universal Restoration

Community time tonight proved to be healing, once again. We talked about universal restoration and what it looks like, whether it is a sudden thing or a gradual thing... how it can affect us now... if we can, by doing good, help to bring restoration now. Good stuff.

The girls and I had a little scare last night that left us not wanting to sleep in our house. So the first thing we did was call Greg and I shared with him our need for males in the house and almost without hesitation the three boys were on our front porch, sleeping bags in hands, ready to slumber with us.

That right there my friends, is family. We got some ice cream, curled up on the couch together, popped in Blank Check, remembered that it was better when we were kids, felt safe together, and just enjoyed being in each others presence.

Community

The community I am apart of is just one of a kind... and I am reminded of that daily.

Thursday at our gathering was deeply encouraging and the conversation was so organic that it left me thanking the Lord for bringing these sweet sweet people into my life.

Then today again, enjoying the sabbath with them. Being at street church with them, feeding hungry bellys with them, building relations with the street population of Columbus. And whats more... visiting the new freedom garden for the last time this season ... doing our laundry... riding our bikes to whole foods, then to the community market... making dinner thanks to gregs new debit card... laughing... dancing... and just being in their presence. It's refresing... and life saving really.

We have been documenting our lives via a polaroid camera and putting the pictures up on our living room wall in a tetris shape design but pictures hardly do these times justice... I sometimes just wish I could pause time and really soak up these moments... really soak up these people I'm around... its something I just don't know how to value more than I already do. Time is moving too quick. Way
way
too
quick.

dolla grilled cheese and lots ID's...

Monday served to be very enjoyable... not to mention a blast from the past.

We went to Bodega for Monday night dolla dolla grilled cheese, as usual, this time the company was a little bit different... and really great.

Em, Kelly, Jonny, Alan, JoeK, MattH, MattL, Jpo, Brad and Melissa, etc. It was so much fun that we decided the party should be continuted with pumpkin carving and front porch conversation. So Kelly and I picked up some pumpkins from the clintonville community market... (which is awesome) and headed back to the house to meet Robby, Andrew S, and Josh Scott to carve these awesome pumpkins. It was a huge success and the rewards are sitting on our front porch right now...

The beauty of being with old friends... breathing in the crisp fall air... and loving life is no small thing...

more wise thoughts from thich...

"wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, even the sensation of our breathing."

The presence of each other is a mighty thing. I'm here at Stauf's with Kelly and Em on the way. The sun is shining, the temperature outside is perfect, the pumpkin chai is delicious, the company is genuine, the world is busy, the Lord woke me up today, The Great Lake Swimmers are playing in my ears, and i feel peace... what not to smile about?


"if in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work."

the world is falling apart but i feel an ounce of hope... (thank you)

The ragamuffin lifestyle...

This weekend was quality. Since I don't have a camera anymore, I'm attempting to document more in writing so that I have something to remember these beautiful times with beautiful people that make me so thankful for the life I have.

Friday after work I had 8 of my nurse friends over to the new place for a fall dip party. We had some spiced rum apple cider which is better cold if you ever have the option. My lovely roommate Kelly hosted this little get together with me and dealt wonderfully with all the nurse talk. Everyone brought a different dip to share and it was a huge success. Everyone brought something different and it was all so good! We hung out for a bit then headed off to a haunted house. I got chased by the chain saw man which left me running out of the haunted house and through the parking lot. I don't think haunted houses are for me...

After the haunted house, Steph and I went back to my place and had an unplanned dance party with Kelly, Em, and Becky to an artist we wish not to relase to the general public. It is a total femi-fisting song which leaves you feeling proud to be a woman and shouting "girl power". It might have been one of the best dance parties I have ever experienced.

Saturday, bright and early, was Pumpkin Fest Bike Trip 08! Due to illness, bacheolor parties, and lovedrug concerts it ended up just being Greg, Jy, Josh, and I. We biked down to circleville to experience the famous pumpkin show and had a ton of fun. We ate lots of festival food and pumpking flavored everything, saw some good bands, ran into good friends, and spent some time with Jy's family. We finally headed back... it took over two hours due to tiredness, wind, and sore legs. It felt good to be done with that bike ride.

We went back to my house and enjoyed some leftover dip with Kelly, dropped josh off, and greg jy and i hit up oreillys to watch the Red Sox game. Then met up with Nicky G et all and I realized how much I miss him being around.

Now it's the sabbath and I had a great morning with Kelly doing dishes, making lunch together, and talking about life. It will never get old. Now I'm at my parents and should be spending time with them... so on that note... live free or die.

Heavy times...

"Life is both dreadful and wonderful."

Thich Nhat Hanh

That is exactly the way I feel after today. Greg, Jy, and I went to the Columbus Mennonite Church tonight to hear an Iraqi veteran and an American veteran speak about the current state of the war, their opinions, and the truth that we are never told about Iraq.

It's not only dreadful that we have the government that we do... but even more dreadful is the fact that our media isn't even truthful about the events that are occuring.

It was good to be with the boys and good to be made aware, even if in a minimal way.

We came home and fixed some dinner and watched the final presidential debate, and once again all I could do was turn my palms to the sky and ask our Father for an intervention. Some peace. Some truth. Anything, really. The debate was pretty digusting to say the least and I am ready for some freedom from all the lies that are being drilled into our heads.

Then we watched the 11pm news... 10 murders in Columbus in 10 days they said...

once again, palms up,
Father? Please? Quickly?

Dreadful... a lot. Wonderful... a lot.

What is truly wonderful is the feeling of safety from having two of your dearest friends at your side... all of us feeling the pain of our seperation from truth and peace... realizing our need to pray, pray, pray for this world.