Category Archives: love

5 Minute Friday: Grateful

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From The Gypsy Mama Blog
For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just writewithout worrying if it’s just right or not.

    1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
    2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
    3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!

Grateful
I am grateful for many tangible things on this earth. I have the best husband in the world, the sweetest most supportive family, and the kindest and steadfast friends a girl could hope for. Hugging their necks, holding their hands, sharing life over dinner, or grabbing a coffee together—these are the real ways I can love on these tangible people.
But I am grateful for intangibles, too. I am grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Godhead three-in-one, and the fellowship of believers.
I am also eternally grateful for music.
Where would I be without it? Very few things can change my mood as quickly and effectively as a song. Very few things can express the thoughts or yearnings of my heart the way a song can. Words can be so limiting—but words and melody can come together to compensate for the burden I sometimes feel stirring in my soul. 
Music is my muse. Music is my inspiration. Music makes ordinary things seem extraordinary—riding to school on the tube, doing the dishes, dinner with my sweetheart. Music can represent the best and worst of things simultaneously and still be beautiful. 

Music appeals to the dancer in me—the dancer that will exist long after the days of dancing, when I am stooped and arthritic. 
Music brings color to my world when circumstance threatens to bleed it dry, leaving only shades of gray.

                                 .
Music is incredible—its depth and its intricacies—and for it, I am grateful. 

Masquerade Pics

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I’m a little bit over facebook right now, so I’m posting stuff on here, 
rather that setting up new albums there. Enjoy!
Alex, Martin, and Shara
Dancing Divas 
{friends from church} 
Alex, Martin, Shara, and me 
{my mask was a big hit, but it looks ridiculous in most of these pics. Oh well.}
Alex, Martin, Shara
Dance floor 
{upstairs}
GG, GG’s friend, Charlie, and Me
{GG’s mask had feathers!!}
Katie and Me
{love}
Our table
{downstairs}
Shara and Me
{two americans in london. love her!}

Paris in Pictures

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We arrived at Gare du Nord station
Found a McDo and some freedom fries 😉
Walked over to Montmatre and Sacre Coeur
Stayed near la Tour Eiffel 
{and took a lift to the top!}
Le Metro

Toured the City of Lights at night on bike – amazing!
Best way to see the city

Look them up: Fat Tire Bike Tours
Academie francaise {home of the immortals}

Blurry, but the Eiffel Tower from the Boat Cruise we took. On the hour, la Tour Eiffel sparkles {magical}

Street Art – River Seine
lovely

The Pantheon

Jardins Luxembourg

Saint Sulpice

les cafes, un pain au chocolat, et un eclair

Notre Dame de Paris
We went to the vespers {a sung service… like evensong} on Sunday.
One of the most incredible and moving experiences – to understand so little of the language, but understand so much with the heart.
It’s beginning to {feel} a lot like Christmas
Saint Nick!
Departing for jolly ol’ England.

The Sweetest Thing

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Every once in a while, I’ll come into that twilight sleep/wake of morning to discover that at some point Grant’s hand has sought mine as we lie sleeping, and our fingers are still entwined.

This is becoming a trend (I first noticed it around our 3rd anniversary) and one I treasure.

Hillsong: Our Home away from Home

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{The other 1/2 of that previous post’s excerpt}

Hillsong London has been the other surprise.

We love it. I mean, we knew the reputation that precedes it: awesome worship, solid theology. What we did not know was THE PEOPLE. Oh my goodness, the people. I cannot explain to you the full extent of my gratitude for their welcoming openness.

We filled out the requisite “Welcome Card” thinking it would be weeks before either of us heard anything. Nope. People had called us and set up coffee for later that week! We have met more people and made new contacts in this otherwise overwhelmingly huge city. We’ve attended drinks (several times), dinner (twice), a Hillsong party (amazing. they rented out an entire bowling alley/ 2-story bar and maxed out its occupancy), a birthday party (South African braai!), and a clothes swap with tea and cakes (just the girls).

These people are completely open with their hearts, homes, experiences, contacts, and calendars. It makes me wonder why we tend to be so guarded in our relationships and friendships. It seems to me (looking back) that I would almost expect people to prove their worth–jump through a few hoops at least–then I would take the time to invest in them. Not these people. You want a look at first century church… it is here. And it is beautiful. And humbling. It will absolutely bring you to your knees when you witness giving, sharing, and generosity at someone else’s expense (making cupcakes from scratch just for you; going out of his way to include you in his birthday party; journeying across town to meet you just because you’re new and don’t know the area; making a special trip to the store to be sure they have enough — for you).

We find ourselves, in the still darkness of night, asking, “Why do they do it? Why do they give and give and give and then give some more? Have they never been burned? Do they not end up with crushed expectations? Is there ever a return on their investment?” {If I’m honest, I’m still trying to figure out how they do it without being constantly disappointed, constantly heart-broken over people and things that didn’t turn out the way they thought.} I know why they do it. I know it’s because the love of Jesus in them runs over into the lives of others.

Here’s another happy surprise: knowing that His love spills over and being the recipient of that love are two entirely different things. Wow. Blown away is an understatement.

We’re adjusting quite nicely and I have to admit, at least 95% of that has to be because some sweet, real, authentic, raw, un-churched church people decided to take us under their wing and share their world with a couple of strangers who, honestly, may not even be here a year from now… which makes their commitment to us all the more dear. How do they do it? I’m amazed {and am learning MUCH about myself and my motives and my heart}. London and God’s grace is treating us well. Thank God for Hillsong London. Seriously.

God has done great things for us and we are filled with joy! {Ps 126:3}