Pause and Reflect

I didn't think I had very much to say.  Nothing really noteworthy to share.  I have some photos but they aren't much different from previous photos on this blog.  A cutie Cordelia and an Eloise painting. Just life going as usual.

But I thought to myself, I need to post on the blog.  And that got me thinking and reflecting on the past couple of days.  As my friend smartly pointed out, I'm an introvert.  I don't process externally, instead I think in my head.  In fact, a word hardly escapes my mouth without being adequately considered in my mind first.  That's just the way I am.

The blog helps me reflect.

 

So here's my reflection.

Life as a pastor:  We returned home on Tuesday.  Walked in the door at 2pm.  Alex showered and was out the door at 3pm.  He had a funeral at 4pm.  He then did the burial the next morning and another funeral that afternoon.  His schedule is packed this weekend.  Alex hit the ground running.  So I hit the ground running too.  And it's okay because I'm not stressed out because we had an excellent escape to Texas and were spoiled rotten.  I'm refreshed and ready to go...I hope this lasts a while...  :-)

And I love nap time.  I didn't get it yesterday because we had a plumber here for 3 hours.  That's a long and noisy time.  No napping when the plumber is here.

Even though Eloise doesn't nap anymore, my arms and back need a break from our almost 14 month old.  Eloise can do her big girl things alone and I can do mine.  I get to blog and check Facebook and edit photos and recharge.

Vacation

Alex and I were talking about our favorite parts of vacation.  For him, it's all the things he can get out and do.  Like jogging, eating out, going to the movies (True Grit is amazing).  For me, it's all the things that I don't have to do.  Like keep the house tidy and cook every meal.

We both agree that vacation is great because we can have so much uninterrupted time together.

Like this afternoon when Eloise did a photo shoot for her incredible parents.  :-)  She would aim and we would lean to try to get in the frame.  It was silly, fun, totally unproductive, and completely perfect for vacation.

(edited version)

(unedited version)

I've been talking a lot about photography lately with lots of different folks.  One conversation turned towards editing.  How incredible editing can be.  I know it's true for most photographers and bloggers.  Every image you see is edited in some way.  The object of editing is to improve your original and not make it worse.    And that can be more difficult than you might think.

Eloise's favorite part of vacation is playing with her cousins and with other people's toys.

Cordelia's favorite part of vacation is all the love and attention she gets.  And Gigi and Grandad's carpeted staircase.  She can slide down fast on her tummy.

Our least favorite part is packing our bags to go back home.  And that's why I'm blogging now.  I'm procrastinating.  Not packing.  Just blogging.  Because I'm still on vacation.

Pretty Animals

The Dallas Zoo is so much cooler than I thought it was.  It's just further proof that everything is bigger and better in Texas.  (-:

I know you're out there rolling your eyes.

But give me a second and check this out.

This is the new Safari exhibit.  It rocked our world.  Elephants, ostriches, zebras, giraffes, and more shared this huge space.  It was very cool to see all the animals together.

Eloise fed a giraffe.  His tongue was AMAZING--strong, long, and blue.

This mandril was Eloise's favorite.  Because his nose is hot pink.

These lions were my favorite.  We got to eat lunch and watch these beautiful cats lounge.  Really neat.

We walked by and this gorilla was just sitting there.  Like right there, feet from us.  Eating and looking at us.

Cordelia also sat feet from us.  Eating her french fries.  She's cuter than the gorilla, though, don't you think?

A carousel located by the exit is a perfect way to pry your eager children away from the animals and get them to the car.  "After the animals, we'll ride the carousel and get a snack and get in the car.  Okay?"  "Okay Mom, you're so awesome."  "Thanks!"

Okay, no this dog wasn't at the zoo.  But he's so special, he should be!  This special animal is our 19 year old pup Ricky.  He's SO old and sweet and is tired all the time.  He even wears a St. Francis charm around his neck.

So, are you starting to agree that things in Texas are bigger and better?  Or, is all this Texas talk (the Bush books for my parents included) making you want to gag?

Never mind, don't answer that.  I know what what you'll say.  (-:

Christmas in Review, Part 2

And Christmas may officially be over now.

1.  Because Maggie, Alex's sister, and her husband Tim had their little baby!  On the 26th, little Max was born.  The perfect Christmas gift.  It sounds like everything went according to plan and little Max, Mom, and Dad are all well.  Resting at home.  The little Christmas miracle.

2.  The last of the celebrations ended yesterday with my family.  Cousin time, yummy food (Texas sheet cake and Irish coffee...yes please!), and of course, of course more presents.  Yee Haw.

3.  We are headed to the mall today to pick-up the clearance specials.  It's over, people.  And we hope to find lots of cute cheap things.

4.  Everyone is sick.  My sister has strep throat.  My niece has no voice.  The Large clan all have colds.  This always happens.  So much fun, so much exhaustion, so much sickness.

And we've got the photos to prove it.

The Imperfect #1

From the Wall Street Journal.  Monday, December 27, 2010.  Page B8.  The Sports Section.  Written by Jason Gay.

The top 10 sporting moments of the year.

1.  The Perfect Near Perfect Game.


Sure, it seems cuckoo to declare a midseason start by a Detroit Tiger pitcher who finished the season 4-9 the Sports Moment of 2010.  But Armando Galarraga's June 2 performance against Cleveland was exceptional not just for what he did- throwing 8 and 2/3 perfect innings until umpired Jim Joyce wrongly ruled that Mr. Galarraga failed to touch first and record the final out-but for his dignity and perspective in the aftermath.  As an emotional Mr. Joyce excoriated himself ("I just cost that kid a perfect game") the hurler declined to roast the umpire, transforming a potentially anarchic moment into the feel-good sport story of the year.  "Nobody's perfect," he said.


He's not kidding.  If 2010 taught us anything, it's that no one's even close to perfect.


Cheers to Armando Galarraga and his grace to Jim Joyce.  Because Galarraga is in touch with his imperfections, he is able to forgive someone else for their's.  And that's a remarkably difficult thing to do.

And cheers to Jason Gay for recognizing the beauty of this moment to mark it as #1.  It's so beautiful because it was such an unnatural move.  Jim Joyce recognized his fault.  And Galarraga forgave him.  No one would have blamed Galarraga for being angry or lashing out, but instead, we were all surprised to see his grace.

The grace is touching because it's undeserved.  And that's the kind of grace that changes people's lives.  I bet Jim Joyce's life will forever be blessed by the kindness shown to him.

Reading that made my Monday.  I hope you're having a surprisingly good Monda too.  Am I the only one still recovering from the holiday?

Christmas in Review

Elation was mixed with pure exhaustion and we enjoyed a wonderfully lazy day.

We started the day with sweet rolls from a can, bacon, and coffee.  Lunch was peanut butter sandwiches and dinner was frozen pizza with a chocolate birthday cake for Jesus.  Needless to say, I am finished with the kitchen.  We are on the outs.  Only leftovers or frozen, thank you very much.

We watched the snow and Swan Lake.

We talked with the family online.  4 Large families in 4 cities all talking in pajamas together.  I love technology.  Napoleon Dynomite, anyone?

We bundled up and scootered outside but didn't stay long.

We went to bed at 9pm.  Merry Christmas to me, right?

Today is Sunday so we are up and at 'em again.  Alex left the house hours ago.  Christmas on Saturday is killer for clergy.  Christmas on Wednesdays are the best!

It's been an abundant week.  And God's presence has been very real to us.  And for that, we are thankful.  

Merry Christmas!