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April 30, 2007
Party for Grandmother!
A party, celebrating my Grandmother's B-day, retirement, and bon voyage (to France), took place today. Yay Grandmother!
Here are more pictures of my quirky family and me!
Posted by larawalk at 12:02 AM | Comments (2)
April 27, 2007
Some Amber for Ya
Take delight in the Lord
and he will give you your
heart's desires.
-Psalm 37:4
The earrings caught my eye: A triangle of silver with a piece of brown, honey amber. Perfect.
I passed the shop frequently to admire. The price, 38$ (or so) however, kept me from asking the attendant to unlock the glass case. Someday, I thought. A month or so passed and then last Saturday rolled around. Work brought ten tables and therefore a little extra money plus, I had time to kill and the store stood close by. For all these reasons, combined w/ a twist of compulsion (what does it matter if I spend money now or later?) the earrings beckoned stronger then usual and I moved towards the shop. This time round, I walked up to the register and asked the attendant to show me the earrings. I was now ready to look at them up close and personal. She did so and even rubbed disinfectant on the clasps incase I wanted to try them on. I did. Oh, disappointment. The earrings I'd dreamed of, well, something wasn't right. We didn't fit. The silver triangles, that was it, they were too much. Strange, I thought we were meant for each other. What about the long suffering and patience? The attendant nodded in agreement when I told her the dilemma: "Ya, sometimes the design of the earring distracts from the beauty of the jewel itself" she explained. Weird, I'd hoped she'd try and convince me otherwise, you know to gain commission or something. But the story ends well. Underneath the glass case, lay a "secret" box known only to staff members apparently. 15-20 pairs of amber earnings varying in size and shape rested there. The first pair she showed me had no silver whatsoever. Nice, but I realized I missed silver. A pair, with just a flicker of silver, caught my eye next, but it wasn't the right shape. On and on it went until she dipped into the bag and came out with something I'd been waiting for all along, I think. The silver was shaped like a long, white lily--the kind Diego River paints. Nestled in the lily's mouth, lay the jewel. This was it! Of course, this experience got me thinking about God's ways and timing...
Posted by larawalk at 03:30 PM
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Today, marked the 14th anniversary of Isabel's death. Isabel, was my sister Maggie's beloved guinea-pig, who inspired this blog's title. To pay her due homage, here's the journal entry I wrote (fourteen years ago) to mark that fatal day. I got a few chuckles out of it! Dear Diary, I know this sounds baybyish to tell you but you have to understand that she was like a real friend to me. I mean I told her my problems, I....well I better explane what I'm talking about. Today our guinea pig Isabell died today. It all hapened when Margaret came to my room in histarics and said that Isabell had died. It was really sad but I tried not to cry because I've made up my mind I'm not going to cry untill I'm in a big open field full of flowers and then I can just BURST in to tears. well heres a poem I wrote just for Isy... (the poem, sadly, is scratched out).
Posted by larawalk at 12:31 AM
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Remember the most painful time in your life Remember the time you betrayed a friend Remember the people w/ diseases that may not be cured:Aids, Cancers... Think aboutthe person I work w/ who has NO friends or family All of this here, this is what Calvary is about. Remember to walk there today. Even if it's only for a minute. Behold the Lord's broken body.
Posted by larawalk at 01:42 AM
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Often, with the approach of Holy Week, I’m filled with a longing to closely experience the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion: the dusty road to Jerusalem; the feel of a palm branch in my hand; the upstairs room set for a festive dinner; the garden of Gethsemane by night. Yesterday, I felt a nearness to these events, strange as it may sound, after reading a letter written by Steven Gill, a marine killed in the Iraq War. Just prior to the beginning of his tour in Iraq, Steven wrote these words as a final farewell, incase he never saw his family again. I some ways, I imagine, Steven went through some of the same things Jesus did, when He approached Jerusalem, just days before dying. Here is the letter Steven left behind. Note, you may want some peace and time to process this reading. Dear Mom, Dad, and James 3-29-05 If you are reading this, you will know that I am no longer here with ya’ll and that I’m at a better place than all of us. I have been brought up in a loving Christian family that I thank God for everyday. I was taught to fear and love God and to rejoice in the knowledge that his Son payed for all of my horrible sins that I have committed in my 24 years on this great planet. Up until this time I have led an adventurous life that hasn’t always been perfect. For the anger and fears that have been caused and shed on my behalf, I ask for all of your forgiveness. Know that I wish I could have done better but I’ve cherished all my time with you all. To my only Brother James-I love you James even if I showed it in a way that was sometimes hard to tell. I know that one day you will find a good, Godly girl to marry and tae care of. I wish I could’ve been there as your best man. Know that the Lord loves you James, and when you seek Him, you will find Him, and His Peace I know you are still searching James, but when you find that Peace, the answers that you still seek will fall into place. Go in that direction James, that is my Prayer. I love you Bro- All of my Love ( Leter Taken From Newsweek, April 2, 2007) Forsythia at its peak
Posted by larawalk at 09:09 PM
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April 19, 2007
Tribute to Isabel
4-19-93April 06, 2007
Good Friday
Think about the time you were rejected
Meditate on your biggest fear
What torments you, day after day?
Think about the shame you carry
Meditate on some sin from the past you can't speak about
What traps you and binds you, day, after day?
Meditate on the plight of the man who walks the Loop, out of his mind, rambling, a laughing stock...
April 01, 2007
Letter from a Soldier
To My Dad-What can I say, you are the Man I’ve always wanted to be and hopefully have become. You have given me a life that I could only have hoped to have given to a wife and kids. If you look deep in your heart Dad, all the good qualities that you see, know that you passed the on to me. If in the future someone asks you what your son was like, you tell’em “He was just like his Old Man” and I’ll smile down from Heaven and be proud. I Love you Dad
And finally to My Mom-a mother’s love cannot be described, it can only be felt. It is peace, it is security, it is the warmth of arms wrapped around you and the knowledge that no matter what, all will be right in the world as long as my Mom is holding me. I wish I could have felt that one more time. You are a Godly woman mom, a husband nor a son could have asked or received a better woman - An angel sent down from Heaven. I love you Mom.
Well that’s about it guys. As for the WAR, we’ve fought the good fight and I guess it was my time. If anyone should ask what happened you tell em’ that your son didn’t die doing what he loved, but doing what he thought was right. That America is the Land of the Free and the Home f the Brave, and that wasn’t going to change. Not on my watch. All I can ask now is that when I get to Heaven the Good Lord will greet me with there with open arms and say “Well done, good ad faithful servant.” Rest easy and be at peace for I will see all of you there in the future.
Your Son,
Steven
