Two weekends ago my sweet friend Maristela and I took some time and went down to Knoxville for a visit. It was a great time! We talked, we laughed! We were total girls!
It was the first time I had been back to Knoxville since I moved to Louisville in 2008. I was able to reconnect with sweet friends like Julia, Lisa, Barb and Luan. We visited some of my old haunts and enjoy some of my favorite places. We even went out dancing (shocking!). It was a blast.
One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to CAK (Christian Academy of Knoxville). I worked there for almost 3 years. My co-workers as well as the families who have students at CAK have had a profound impact on my life. CAK blessed me beyond words. It gave me direction, a sense of purpose, a sense of family and connection.
As I walked the familiar halls and saw all the growth and the changes I was so proud. And sad too. I no longer wanted to go to England. I wanted to stay here. And I realized something, something very special. When asked, "where are you from," I've always answered, "I'm from Brazil, but my parents are from Baton Rouge, Louisiana." Mostly because I did not feel there was a place here in the U.S. that I had lived long enough or that I had enough connections to really call "home." That is not true, after all. Knoxville is home for me here in the U.S. That is because of CAK and the special, special people God brought together there.
Thank you CAK staff, faculty, parents and students for being such a special chapter in my life. I love you SO, SO much. I am closing this post with a song - a song by Andrew Peterson. I was listening to it on my ipod the other day and it reminded me of CAK and what happens on that campus every single day.
Friday, April 9, 2010
A Very Special Easter
So, this past week and a half has been a whirlwind! Bentley had a birthday. He is now 8 years old! I admit that while I am happy and grateful, that happiness is tinged with a little fear in knowing that the average lifespan of a boxer is only 10 years. I know I need to live in the present and enjoy every day with my sweet boy, lest my days be tarnished by worrying over tomorrow. Most of the time I can, but more and more I find myself faced with the fact that my beloved Bentley, the one person (for he is endowed with more personhood - at least in my eyes - than many people, say.... people like those occupying the White House at the moment, for instance) who has been a constant in my life for 8 years. Goodness gracious Bentley has been my longest relationship!!! Ever!!! He truly has been my life's companion and I love him beyond what I am capable of expressing.
Of course, now I also have a new companion for my life and a new love, Joshua. He does not replace Bentley or minimize the love I have for Bentley. Joshua has his own place in my life and in my affections. I have been thinking a lot lately about my relationship with Joshua and our marriage. It's natural, I suppose as very soon (6 weeks!) we will celebrate our 1 year anniversary. We started out kinda rough. That first month was H-A-R-D! But every month after has just gotten better and better.
I think every relationship has its breakthrough moments, though. Those moments when you finally break through all that has gone before, all the imperfections in yourself and your partner and the relationship and you just accept each other and love each other unconditionally. That is where the real "one-flesh" development starts to happen I think. For us that breakthrough moment happened this past Sunday - Easter Sunday - at church. We had a slightly stressful Saturday and, even before Saturday I had (off and on) been plagued by doubts as to Joshua’s feelings for me. I have had those doubts ever since the day we married actually.
Sunday sitting in church right after Pastor Ryan finished preaching is when it happened. It was a very powerful sermon (although some of it was a little beyond my grasp, I confess) and made a huge impact on Joshua. He sat silent, in prayer I suppose, for several moments while others went down for the Lord’s Supper. Finally, with tears in his eyes, he turned to me and apologized for some things and confessed some guilt he had been feeling about some feelings he had been having. He told me he really loved me and was ashamed of how he had been feeling lately. I started crying too and immediately forgave him.
We have grown closer and our bond stronger since Sunday. There is more trust and more openness between us. I hope this will continue to grow and develop and that we will always remember Easter 2010 as a very special day. Easter…. Resurrection Day… a day of rebirth and new beginnings. Lord thank you for ours and thank you for sending Your Son!
Of course, now I also have a new companion for my life and a new love, Joshua. He does not replace Bentley or minimize the love I have for Bentley. Joshua has his own place in my life and in my affections. I have been thinking a lot lately about my relationship with Joshua and our marriage. It's natural, I suppose as very soon (6 weeks!) we will celebrate our 1 year anniversary. We started out kinda rough. That first month was H-A-R-D! But every month after has just gotten better and better.
I think every relationship has its breakthrough moments, though. Those moments when you finally break through all that has gone before, all the imperfections in yourself and your partner and the relationship and you just accept each other and love each other unconditionally. That is where the real "one-flesh" development starts to happen I think. For us that breakthrough moment happened this past Sunday - Easter Sunday - at church. We had a slightly stressful Saturday and, even before Saturday I had (off and on) been plagued by doubts as to Joshua’s feelings for me. I have had those doubts ever since the day we married actually.
Sunday sitting in church right after Pastor Ryan finished preaching is when it happened. It was a very powerful sermon (although some of it was a little beyond my grasp, I confess) and made a huge impact on Joshua. He sat silent, in prayer I suppose, for several moments while others went down for the Lord’s Supper. Finally, with tears in his eyes, he turned to me and apologized for some things and confessed some guilt he had been feeling about some feelings he had been having. He told me he really loved me and was ashamed of how he had been feeling lately. I started crying too and immediately forgave him.
We have grown closer and our bond stronger since Sunday. There is more trust and more openness between us. I hope this will continue to grow and develop and that we will always remember Easter 2010 as a very special day. Easter…. Resurrection Day… a day of rebirth and new beginnings. Lord thank you for ours and thank you for sending Your Son!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Movies, Maple Syrup and Tomahawk Throwing
I'm falling behind again! Agh!!! Well, just to update you. We had a blast watching "Alice in Wonderland." For those of you expecting a live version of the Disney animated movie just be aware that it doesn't follow the story exactly. Rather, it draws heavily from the obscure and often over-looked poems and songs with which Lewis Carroll peppered his fantastical tale. The Mad Hatter, who was only one of a myriad of fanciful characters in the original story, is now the hero of the tale - or anti-hero may be a better description.
We had a great group with us there to watch the movie: Daniel and Maristela Spiegel, Ben Montoya, Toby Jennings, Aaron Murphy, Beverly and Frank Lozano and Joshua and I. Much fun was had by all.
That same weekend Joshua and I accompanied our care group to the annual Maple Syrup festival in Indiana. It was a blast! We learned how maple syrup is made and even got to try some. Yummy! Joshua also challenged Robert Nettles to a game of tomahawk throwing. Here is how it works: each person gets three tries at throwing a tomahawk at the pieces of wood. The objective is to get your tomahawks to stick to the piece of wood. Both Robert and Joshua struck out. I wanted to give it a shot and, voilá, I succeeded on my very first throw!
Maristela and I having fun with our 3-D glasses.
If you really like Alice in Wonderland and can't get enough of the story I would also recommend to you the Sci-Fi Channel's "Alice." It contained many of the more traditional elements of the story - but with a Sci-Fi twist. I thought it was very insightful and thought-provoking. More so than the Tim Burton version, it hit on some of the topics Carroll's masterpiece seeks to address such as the tyranny of government, the willingness of the people to be led so long as they get what they want, the fickleness of society and their love of fads and fashions. Somehow it seems so fitting, so appropriate to the times in which we live.
That same weekend Joshua and I accompanied our care group to the annual Maple Syrup festival in Indiana. It was a blast! We learned how maple syrup is made and even got to try some. Yummy! Joshua also challenged Robert Nettles to a game of tomahawk throwing. Here is how it works: each person gets three tries at throwing a tomahawk at the pieces of wood. The objective is to get your tomahawks to stick to the piece of wood. Both Robert and Joshua struck out. I wanted to give it a shot and, voilá, I succeeded on my very first throw!
Off with their heads!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wonderland, In-laws and Tea Parties
Well, as you may have guessed from the new look of my little home on the web I am very, trés, muito, beaucoup excited about this weekend's premier of Alice in Wonderland. In fact, if you live in Louisville consider yourself invited to join us this Saturday night as we check it out in IMAX 3-D!!!!!!
Another really neat thing going on this weekend is a last-minute, semi-surprise visit from Joshua's mom, Mrs. Beverly, and her husband Frank. They will be arriving sometime tomorrow night. That means that tonight I will get chez Joshua, Jenna and Bentley in order. But never fear - I will get a little down-time too. I have to, you see, because I received from Netflix this week a Disney film which Mr. Farris refuses to watch with me: Princess Protection Program. So, as he is teaching tonight, Bentley and I will watch it. We will watch it, and thoroughly enjoy its family-friendly, Disney fun-ness (yes, fun-ness is a word).
I am still working on my knitting projects and hope to complete them soon so I will have some pictures to show you. Other than that I have a slight headache and a scratchy throat. I hope I am not getting sick! Joshua complains that I always get sick just in time for the weekends. I think I will have some tea tonight while I clean and relax. Tea and cake.... uhm... very appropriate.... just the thing to get me in the mood for this weekend.
Another really neat thing going on this weekend is a last-minute, semi-surprise visit from Joshua's mom, Mrs. Beverly, and her husband Frank. They will be arriving sometime tomorrow night. That means that tonight I will get chez Joshua, Jenna and Bentley in order. But never fear - I will get a little down-time too. I have to, you see, because I received from Netflix this week a Disney film which Mr. Farris refuses to watch with me: Princess Protection Program. So, as he is teaching tonight, Bentley and I will watch it. We will watch it, and thoroughly enjoy its family-friendly, Disney fun-ness (yes, fun-ness is a word).
I am still working on my knitting projects and hope to complete them soon so I will have some pictures to show you. Other than that I have a slight headache and a scratchy throat. I hope I am not getting sick! Joshua complains that I always get sick just in time for the weekends. I think I will have some tea tonight while I clean and relax. Tea and cake.... uhm... very appropriate.... just the thing to get me in the mood for this weekend.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Playing Catch Up
Oh my goodness! I can't believe I am so far behind. Well, I have a lot of catching up to do.
December was a whirlwind. It started with my sweet Joshua graduating from Southern Seminary with his M.Div. I have a few pictures to document the event.
December was a whirlwind. It started with my sweet Joshua graduating from Southern Seminary with his M.Div. I have a few pictures to document the event.
Jenna, Joshua, Mrs. Beverly and Mr. Frank
Jenna, Joshua, Maristela and the always adorable Sophia
Aw! The cute couple!
Joshua and Dr. Mohler
We had a wonderful time with our families at Christmas. It was a whirlwind, though! Even Bentley got into the act opening presents...
I have been busy knitting a new project which I will update you on next time. But I will leave you with a family picture (or two).
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