Revivify

Born Into a Light

2011-06-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

This song sings to my soul...hope it will to yours also. xoxoFor everything that's wrong There is a worried man,There is a reason whyWe just don't understand, but will...You gotta keep the faith. Be patient oh the past is just a memory, and healHeal your vines,You'll heal inside eventuallyWe were born into a lightWe were born of lightWe were born into a lightFor everyone alone, I wish you faith

A beautiful reminder to be present where ever we are:You wonder why you wonder whenYou wonder how now and thenHow you became who you've becomeYou are here and yet you dream of being thereOf being where you think the good life has begunEvery darkened hallway, every fallen dreamEvery battle lost and every shadow in betweenWill bring you to your knees and closer to the reasonAnd there's no making

Twice as Good

2010-10-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Why do I still have this blog???

2010-10-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

Good question. I'm not really sure. So much in my life has changed since the day I decided to start this blog. One, my boyfriend moved to Portland, and has been here since (almost two years now!). Two, I decided to pursue a career in nursing and stopped pursing a career in landscape architecture. Three, I started nursing school. Four, Ben and I are engaged to be married! WOOO! Four, I've moved to

"Good" Friday

2010-04-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I find it difficult to "enter in" to the depth and richness of some of the most important events in the Christian faith. As a catechumen this year, I was encouraged to really enter into Holy Week, taking the time to feel and experience as much of what this part of the Christian story might have to teach/show me. I am still struggling to "enter in," most likely because my mind and

"Taos Floral" has arrived!

2010-02-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

I know my posts have been a little heavy lately (except the silly picture of the penguin being eaten by a fish ;) so I'm adding a little happy post here. Last June I visited my friend Elizabeth in New Mexico. We spent some time perusing the galleries in Old Town - and I was so inspired and engaged as we looked at all of the beautiful creations around us. It was wonderful. My mentor friend,

Why Christianity Must Change or Die

2010-02-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Friends,I am reading this profoundly thought-provoking (albeit poorly titled) book by John Shelby Spong, titled "Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers in Exile." The book was a Christmas present to Ben from his mom, who also found it to be very thought-provoking. I've posted the "12 Theses" below as a way to possibly start a conversation.The material he presents is

2010-01-22T14:56:00.001-08:00

Prayer for Haiti

2010-01-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

Gracious God,I lift my voice in prayer with all the people of the world.Surround Haiti and her peoplewith your loving embracethat they may be:supported by the world in the work of rescue and recovery;comforted as they grieve;strengthened as they bury their dead;healed as they tend their wounds;restored in faith and thehope of things unseen;and transformed through newness of life in Christ.Make me

Living the Questions

2010-01-04T09:42:00.001-08:00

Starting next Sunday I will be devoting two hours each week to what my church calls the Catechumenate, which is a spiritual journey of discovering what the Christian faith is, what is significant/meaningful about the Episcopal tradition specifically, and setting a trajectory for growing in faith.I'm both excited and apprehensive about this. Excited because I genuinely want to be a more

Great video on health care reform

2009-08-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Biology and Ben-Hur

2009-08-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

My first term of Anatomy & Physiology concluded about two weeks ago - and since then I've been relishing every moment of freedom I have. I am still in awe of how much information my brain absorbed during that 8-week period. We covered bones and muscles, tissues, and part of the nervous system. Even though I am ecstatic to be done, I am also excited for next term. We will be covering more of the

beautiful song...

2009-08-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

Why I don't have time to blog anymore...at least for now

2009-07-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

...Because I'm busy with work and taking Anatomy & Physiology! There is little time for much else. However, I've had some incredible weekends hiking with Ben. We've been hiking along the Columbia River gorge as much as possible while the weather here is so beautiful. We've discovered a website that describes virtually all of the hikes in the Portland area, what to expect, how difficult they are,

First time ever joining a church

2009-05-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's the time of year or what but it feels like everyone (including me) is sort of bored with and/or not interested in blogging. I've been absent in the blogosphere lately because 1) I've had so much going on; 2) I don't feel like I have anything all that thrilling to write about; and 3) I've become more wary of sharing personal things on this blog with the world. So, I'm working

Guitar Loving Cat

2009-04-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

I just can't get enough of this.

Biology 112 Here I Come

2009-03-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

I started the first of several pre-reqs for nursing last night at PCC. My instructor is fantastic. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz and has studied marine biology all over the world. Plus she is funny, does not take herself too seriously, yet has very high expectations and has been refreshingly clear and organized. And you get the feeling that she is genuinely rooting for all of her students to

Changes

2009-03-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

This life is a crazy one. The geology course I just finished blew my mind. When you start thinking about the world in increments of millions or tens of thousands of years, it puts everything in a different light. In some weird paradoxical way, I have even more respect for the creation, for this amazing, relentless life-giving universe we are all so blessed to participate in and experience after

Grace

2009-03-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

This morning I worshipped for the first time at an Episcopal church in NE Portland, and for the first time in a really long time, it truly felt like home. If Ben enjoys it as much as I did we may have found our church home. We shall see. It was so invigorating to feel good at church, instead of feeling like an awkward stranger. Church-going alone can be a lonely, scary task, particularly at

Since my last post...

2009-02-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

1. My boyfriend of almost 3 years moved here after about 18 months of living in California2. I've begun coursework in Soils and Plant Nutrition, and I love it3. I've begun coursework in Geology of the Pacific NW, and it is blowing my mind and is so far beyond my comprehension...but even so, my brain is enjoying the imaginitive trip through what our world may have been like billions and millions

Gratefulness

2008-12-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

Friends that actually read this, thank you for your positive thoughts and prayers. I heard from my ENT doctor at 7 pm the day before Thanksgiving (talk about a committed ENT doc!) and he said that after looking over the CT, it doesn't look very worrisome. (Again, we can't know for sure what's happening...but chances are it's just benign adenopathy that never went away after getting mono two years

Lymph update

2008-11-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your prayers, everyone. I've heard from my primary care doctor and she said that the scans look good! She said the neck scan shows some enlarged lymph nodes (obviously) but that they're "not that worrisome". The inguinal one does not exceed one cm in the short axis, which is the worrisome cut off for swollen lymph nodes...so, good news all around. I am still waiting to hear from my

Prayers for healing

2008-11-21T15:57:00.000-08:00

Ever since I contracted the Epstein-Barr virus (and therefore got mononucleosis) in December of 2006, the lymph nodes in my neck have been swollen. About a year ago I noticed enlarged inguinal (located in that lovely crease between your legs and your abdomen) nodes. About a month and a half ago I got an ultrasound of my neck, which showed a 1.9 cm node and others that weren't quite as big.

Alex MacLean

2008-11-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous, haunting aerial photography. With my past obsession with urban sprawl art I'm surprised I'm not more familiar with his work. A sight to behold.

From euphoria to reality to hope

2008-11-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Unlike most Americans who sat glued to their television on Tuesday night, I was installing concrete pavers for my landscape construction class. I guess there was a part of me that thought our instructors would let us out of class early so that we could witness an occasion so precious, so momentous, so spectacular...one of the most significant moments in our nation's history...but noooooooooo,

Barack the vote!

2008-11-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

Today I completed my last civic duty before the elections are over on Tuesday: 2 hours of canvassing in north Portland, talking to a few people, dropping off a lot of literature, and walking through the neighborhood with a really neat lady named Terri. It's hard to believe that all of my thoughts and passions the past several months surrounding this election will soon be put to rest. It felt

October Garden

2008-10-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

School has started again, and...that means less time to think/blog/wax ineloquent, etc. I don't know how others that have such full schedules can maintain an interesting blog day in and day out. Nonetheless, on Wednesdays I'll have a little bit of time in the evening to decompress...so that's what I'm attempting to do right now.Garden update:This picture is of some of the produce from my garden

praying for healing

2008-09-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Today I feel weighed down. Broken relationships...especially ones you feel absolutely powerless to do anything about...these are hard.I move on and forgive. I don't ask for forgiveness enough. I am weary of abuse and confusion of truth. I long for reconciliation but I also know that 'boundaries' are actually helpful in the healing process...for a time...or maybe forever? I don't know. All I know

What matters?

2008-09-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

As I remember the 2000 election...the closest call, I believe, in US Presidential election history, I try and prepare my heart and mind for what may happen this November. Even if Obama wins the popular vote, there are huge electoral counts in several key battleground states which could give McCain victory. I have another phone banking session scheduled tonight at the Obama HQs in NE Portland. I

phone calling for Obama

2008-09-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

This past Wednesday I had my very FIRST phone banking experience at the Obama headquarters in NE Portland. Yes, I was a political studies major. And although I've lobbied in Olympia one time before (again, in college), I have no experience working directly in a political campaign, go figure. I'd much rather think about doing things, rather than actually doing them :) I walked in a little timid,

Profound Button

2008-09-10T14:50:00.001-07:00

Love, Suffering, Christ

2008-09-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Frederic Buechner said that to suffer in love for another's suffering is to live life not only at its fullest, but at its holiest. It is in these places and times in my life that I have felt the most alive...where I've been in the midst of something truly sacred.I realize that to question whether or not Christianity would exist without suffering is like questioning what life would be like without

Favs from Art in the Pearl

2008-08-31T09:41:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I saw some spectacular artwork downtown. Kimmy and I walked slowly, almost to the point of falling over, for about an hour and a half, looking at all the stunning pieces of creativity. My favorite painter, if I had to choose one from our brief walk past them, would probably be Marla Baggetta. Her landscapes are where I want to spend my days. I also really liked Wendy Dunder's sculpted

Garden update

2008-08-30T21:09:00.001-07:00

It's been neat to watch my first veggie garden grow. Neat, but not without its frustrations. The tomato plants have all outgrown their cages...and although the plants themselves look very healthy, none of the tomatoes are turning red. At the farmer's market today, I overheard a few ladies saying they had the same problem this year w/ their tomatoes. And while at Powell's this afternoon, the

What this election means to me

2008-08-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

Last night as I watched Barack Obama's speech, I felt moved to tears several times. For the first time in a long, long time, I was truly proud to be a citizen of this country. Not because we are better than any other country. Not because God has 'blessed' us any more than any other country, or because we are entitled to anything. But because I've been proud of the values guiding this movement,

Autumn in the City of Roses

2008-08-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

I've discovered a new favorite website: http://www.travelportland.com. You specify what dates you are interested in, and it lists all of the wonderful events taking place here, from Art Festivals to Moon Viewing at the Chinese Garden and everything in between. This weekend, I am looking forward to "Art in the Pearl" - where over 125 regional art vendors come to the North Park Blocks to sell their

The Rhizome Collective

2008-08-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ben bought me a book while we were in Seattle called "Sustainable City Living - A Do-It-Ourselves Guide". As I began reading it yesterday, I learned that the book was written by two people who are part of a group in Austin, TX, called 'The Rhizome Collective'. My revelation gardening last week (when I thought of the metaphor of the Bermuda grass rhizome being like grassroots organizing and social

The things we do with our lives

2008-08-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

There are days I like my job - days where the people I cross paths with bring me joy. And then there are days like today. Days like today are the bane of my existence. I spend countless hours standing in front of a folding machine. The work itself doesn't actually bother me that much. Monotonous labor is a wonderful opportunity for deep, rich thinking. Rarely, however, do I pull my brain in that

Dorothy Day

2008-08-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I watched a movie called Entertaining Angels, about Dorothy Day. I don't know what else to say other than it is worth watching. I remember learning about Dorothy Day and the movement she founded - the Catholic Worker Movement - in high school - but only very briefly - and I remember wanting to learn more about her in college.The movie caused me to examine myself and the world in

The meaning behind mustard

2008-08-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

My last post was written w/ a pretty poor memory and no references. Not wanting to get caught in my own BS, I became curious as to what Jesus' parable about the mustard seed might actually mean - and to see if my comparison to Bermuda grass is at all relevant. The relevance of my reflections on social change being compared to these two 'weeds' depends on one's view of what Jesus was talking

Gleaning more from the word 'Grassroots'

2008-08-09T19:26:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I spent about an hour and a half pulling grass out of about a three-foot square corner of our already small veggie garden. It was no small task. After a visit to the Portland Nursery yesterday w/ sprigs of grass in my hand, I learned that there are basically two types of grass: the kind that have short root systems (which are most common on residential yards) and the kind that have

Watercolor inspirers

2008-07-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Some watercolor painters I've drawn inspiration from recently:Painting at the End of the Earth - http://mceown.artistsnetwork.com/. David McEown travels, literally, to the ends of the earth - Antarctica to Greenland to the Arctic- to paint watercolors. I grumble inwardly as I paint upstairs in our attic, complaining of the heat. Well, at least my paintbrushes aren't freezing on me. Gorgeous

Fruits of the season

2008-07-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

Part of my intention this summer in taking a break from evening classes was to 1) work in the yard and tend the veggie garden and 2) break out my paints and do some art. So far I've done a good bit of the former, but man, it is really tough to get back into something you used to do regularly, and sort of pride yourself in being somewhat decent in. Of course art is both a joy and a discipline. I

My Garden

2008-07-07T20:03:00.001-07:00

<---Before - This is the eastside yard - with veggie garden in center. you can see how everything is overgrown and the grass and weeds are taking over. Everything was a bit greener then, mind you, because the hot spell had not occured yet. Now, the grass is gettin' pretty brown. I'm slowly getting over it. This picture does not show the many holes in the turf where I've dug deep and pulled out

Healing Gardens

2008-06-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

My interest in pursuing landscape architecture coincides with my interest in addressing the needs of and caring for the baby boomer population as it ages. I have since begun looking into what role a garden can play in the well-being of a person - how it can both subtly and powerfully facilitate healing and wholeness in a person who is experiencing pain, loss, or uncertainty, particularly people

the good and the bad

2008-06-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

The Good News is that I will be moving into a house in approximately 2 weeks with my current roommate, Beth. I will be the house gardener/landscape maintenance person. Granted, it will be much weeding, but, I think overall it will be a very positive experience. I'm looking forward to having my hands in the dirt...and seeing (however small) the fruits of my labor.The other part of my good news is

Grad school apprehension...

2008-06-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

As I contemplate graduate school, this website and this website has me reconsidering. For a graduate degree in landscape architecture, it will take 10 quarters, at roughly $25K/year, which will amount to approximately $97,000 for the duration of the degree, after adjusting for inflation. This means that I will need to make $821 monthly payments for 20 years to pay back the loan. Now, mind you,

"Where I come from, the meal is the result of reflection and study."

2008-06-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

-or so says Hugh Jackman's character in one of my favorite (i'm sorry for all of you who cringe at this movie, but i love it!) movies of all time Kate and Leopold.For Dinner: The Farm Cafe - Awesome, locally sourced food, delicious, great ambiance, and versatile (i.e. you can bring your date or your parents here). Ben and I had a lovely New Year's Eve date at this locale :) Highly recommended.For

Where to go for recycled parts in Pdx

2008-06-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

As I slowly make my way around Portland, getting to know my favorite spots, I'd like to put them in writing so I don't easily forget about them. In this great city there are at least three places that I know of that carry old parts for re-sale:1. The ReBuilding Center is "...a popular destination for homeowners, do-it-yourselfers, contractors, artists, and enthusiasts interested in building with

It has begun...

2008-06-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

My very first blog entry. This is a venue for me to process out loud the things that consume my thoughts day in and day out. I imagine there will be much reflection, questioning, and wondering.I would like to focus on the little things, and especially the things that demonstrate a restoration of things otherwise discarded, forgotten, or neglected. Whether those 'things' are people, objects,