Sunday, April 29, 2012





The Lord knows everything about us, little and big. He knows all that we want for, all we need and desire. Dear ones, we are not strangers to God, so shall we not make Him a stranger in our lives. Get to know our heavenly father. Spend time with Him and learn how to live as He would have us live. Be forever confident in the enduring love He has for us. Trust that we will never ever move on the face of the earth alone. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Beatenberg love

And . . . this week I will be moving to lovely Cape Town, South Africa to meet these handsome gents. I hope you will fall in love with these tracks as much as I have.







Via: Miss Moss

Sunday, April 15, 2012

A Letter from Steinbeck to his son


Photo via: The thinking tank

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

Monday, April 9, 2012

Alles Gute



The passing of a dear friend and confidant, Mari Ellen, has brought such overwhelming sadness . . . a place where words seem so utterly insufficient. I have sought comfort in picturing her dancing in heaven with our Lord, no pain in her back or hip to speak of, just a gleaming smile and a laugh that warms the soul. Comfort does not always come, however. To think we laughed together at the thought of saying good bye at Christmas thinking with surety we would see one another again come summer. To think we mused about getting coffee together and working on curriculum in the sunshine. She counseled me through my senior year of high school and her presence in my life has been a constant (which is a novelty in itself) since then. Today I have been reading messages she sent me and recalling to heart the love she spoke into my life. A recent message from her reads:

Hi dear,

(Here she spoke of the weather and the pain she was experiencing, then she responded to what I had shared with her)

Yes, you are GROWING UP! With all the joy and challenge that involves. It's fun to watch you learning and maturing . . . write when you can.

Alles Gute,
Mari Ellen

How I wish I could write her and tell her my growth and maturity is a reflection of her words of wisdom and loving encouragement. Her listening ear, warm embrace, and heartfelt laughter . . . you will be painfully missed.

Alles Gute. All is indeed well, for you are dancing in heaven with our loving, sovereign Savior. 

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Icelandic melodies


Someday, I would very much like to visit Iceland. So much lovely creativity seems to stem from there. Best head straight to the source of such ingenuity and beauty and see for myself. The intrigue of Iceland was only further intensified for me upon learning about Icelandic musician, Ólafur Arnalds. His Living Room Songs were filmed in his Reykjavik apartment and I must admit to feeling quite charmed by his experimental, mellow compositions. The room is soft and light and everyone seems so . . . serene. . . yes, Iceland for me, please!

Monday, April 2, 2012

April baby

justinchungphotography:

Photographed in Pacifica, CA.
 
Photo via: The thinking tank

This is a special month, for it is in April that my best friend was born. Her hair may be a different color and she may have a louder voice and wider smile, but we are truly one in the same. Though we talk endlessly when we are together, words are never needed. My favorite conversations with her go something like this:

Me: "Cam, you know, he sounds exactly like . . . "
Cam: "Yeah! Believe me, I know!"
Me: "Remember how he . . . "
Cam: "Yep, soooo hilarious! "
Me: "Or remember that one time . . ."
Cam: "With that girl, the one with the shoes?"
Me: "Yes, exactly. At the place where we . . . "
Cam: "Right! That is my favorite memory from when we were there together."
Me: Sigh. "Me, too."

Slight pause . . .

Cam: "Should we order coffee?"
Me: "Okay. But first I want to . . . "
Cam: "Oh, go ahead. I will order for us."
Me: "Can you get me . . . "
Cam: "I know, now go on."

It may not seem so to you, but much has been communicated here, and neither one is ever at a loss for what the other is thinking . . . only my sister would know.

I love you, Cam.