dani-hermit-be-gone

2007-05-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hi again. For some reason the goofy post below keeps cutting off my last words! They were a request for those inclined to please pray for us as we desperately need it knowing our complete dependency on our Jesus. Thanks for reading this beloved..

farewell for now..

2007-05-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Well friends, it's time to say goodbye here for a bit. We are leaving for the Philippines tomorrow and I will now be posting on our blog for Shofar missions center. We'll keep everyone updated on our goings-on and suppy ample photos. I don't know how long til there will be an actual post, as word has it that some major electrical/technical difficulties may be coming our way there. We need to set up a transformer on the mountain, not a light task I'd imagine! So, since my own technical skills are non-existent, please look to my "shofar" link to the right to get to the site if you wish. Anywhays, as I wrote over on the site itself, if any of you feel so inclined, my husband and I and the whole team could desperately use your prayers as we are more than aware of our weaknesses and complete dependency on our Jesus. Thanks for reading this and take care all!

2007-05-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

A Privilege

2007-04-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! I recently received a request from two sweet ladies, bluemountainmama and Beverly, to do a post about the Philippines trip we are about to embark on. The question was whether this was a mission trip and yes indeed it is. I can't believe I haven't posted about this yet! It's only been the most exciting and incredible thing I've been looking forward to for 3 years now!! We are three weeks away from leaving and will be gone for 3 months. My husband is in the school of ministry at our church and is required to complete a long term trip before graduation. We are going with another couple for the full term, and our pastor, his wife, and one other couple will join us for the first 3 weeks to help us get adjusted and do ministry with us. Our purpose is not only to reach the lost with the gospel and give disciples there the means to teach themselves, but mostly to learn from them! They have so much to teach us and we get the opportunity to grow in tremendous ways as a ministry couple. We see this as the highest privilege and an honor greater than my dreams have ever imagined. If you could have known me or perhaps read what I might have posted about some 4 years back in the B.C. days, you'd be just as astonished as I am that someone like me gets to do something this incredible. My husband and I are just a wee little part in this, as our church as a whole has made this all happen. The photos above show the mission center our little fellowship built on the top of a mountain! We get to live there! It's called Shofar, and in one of them you can see the little blue truck they built for us from scratch that will get us around. We are on Cebu island and way out in the out there. In the most beautiful and only-God-could-pull-this-off way, we have built a radio station on top of the mission center (4th photo is the radio room to be). We get to flip the switch in 3 weeks! We're talking a 200 ft. tower with a 1000 watt range!! We have a 100 watt station at our church here at home and a talented and dedicated radio staff of servants that have been busting their chops to get this thing ready to fly when we go. We all can't believe what God lets us do! Other stuff we get to be a part of while there: teaching regular discipleship classes, touring with a local band for a few weekends (this started out as a gig in a bandshell park and is now happening at their civic center!), handing out radios locked into our new station, teaching the Bible to children in mountain village schools (little to no english spoken), taking on a project to help locals in some way (last year the crew built sturdy walls around the little house of a family of 10 or so), and whatever else comes our way. It will be a challenge to all my comforts and normalities and much hard work, but no complaining here! I'm looking forward to that, stretching and growing and seeing what God has for us there. We by no means deserve any of this, but He is such a good Father and loves to give good gifts to His kids! The two joyfuls in the photo with the goat are our pastor and his wife. Aren't they so adorable with that little guy? Well, I suppose that's all as this is a once again record-breaking marathon post. Thanks for asking about the trip ladies! It's a real honor to share what God is doing in my life. So long for now..

wise fellows

2007-04-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

I was on break at work last night and found this old jewel while reading:

"There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;

the rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags;

the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks;

the spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings' palaces."

Proverbs 30:24-28

I got all dreamy and so far away when I read this!!! I had it all circled and starred and underlined but sometimes I just forget ya know? Guess that's why it's a book to read for a whole lifetime.. I used to be quite obsessed with fantasy reading before I was a Christian. I couldn't get enough of celtic fairy lore, fairytales in general, and so on. I loved the imagery and the magic; fauns, faeiries, gnomes, elves, little people... Now I know that all the magic I can handle is graced on the pages of the Bible. There's enough real wonder visible with the human eye that I don't need to dream of a beyond here on earth. I never knew this kind of stuff was in the Bible! My only impression in childhood was dry liturgical repetition I heard in church and I wanted nothing to do with it. How marvelous to discover the actual Word for myself and what treasures it held for me! So, the pictures above: leafcutter ants are simply brilliant creatures. My husband is an endless vat of random and amazing facts. He said leafcutters put the leaves in their nest to grow fungus on that they eat. Little farmers! He saw them in Belize long ago and thought the leaves were all walking around in the jungle. Then he told me about the garden spider. Apparently these little guys have a number of different webs they make for different purposes, and one they can cast into the air and ride like a hang-glider for thousands of miles! Can you even deal with that? I used pictures of webs instead of the spider itself in case Carrie sees this... Anyhow, I could go on and on about exciting facts about these lil' fellows o' wisdom, but alas, i'm trying to battle the urge to marathon post. I found some pretty deep spiritual analogies that go with each of these examples, but i'll leave that to your own discovery.

a tribute

2007-04-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hey friends! Just wanted to recommend one of my favorites to you all. Odon Soterias is so wonderful and such magic that my words could never do justice. They were introduced to me a few years ago by my dear sister that you all know as the lizard princess. She got to meet them at the Rainbow Gathering and they put on a show for the Jesus Kitchen crew! Incredible people indeed who love their God and sing to the world about Him. Lots of their verses are straight up Bible tale-tellin' and the fella, Hippydan, plays the dudlesack, which is some kind of special bagpipes his wife got him for a wedding gift. Anyways, I stole the pictures from their site so I could give them props here. Unfortunately, I lack the techy skills to do an official link, but they can be found at MySpace music under Odon Soterias. I'll also quit telling their story as they do a much better job of it themselves. You should check them out! They are a discovery to behold, that's for certain. We played their album for the start of our wedding ceremony, it was a great honor. Enjoy!

ps. the female part of Odon posts some of the most hilarious stuff on their blog-link that i have ever read, she's a gem.

Unabashed Fever...

2007-03-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know me personally, you may be aware of a bit of a pre-occupation of mine these days... I HAVE BABY FEVER LIKE A DESPERATE MAN SEARCHING FOR WATER IN THE DESERT!!!!! No shame in that here. So many folks today react as if you are talking about the plague or something when you share the mad joy and desire of becoming a mother. I refuse to succumb. I've heard, "Your making a fairytale out of it; it's the hardest thing ever and.." I agree about the truth of it being the most ultimate challenge and big deal ever, never to be recanted, requiring your basic everything, a forever decision, indeed I grasp these things. But to only speak of such a beautiful gift with guarded stoical anxiety, NO WAY!!! (stoical=showing indifference to joy, grief pain, etc.; impassive) I'll shout it from the hilltops that if God wants us to be parents, YEEEEE HOOOOOOO!!!!! I feel it in mee bones... Anyhow, if God says no someday, He knows the best plan for everything and I trust Him. We shall see...
So, you perhaps may be wondering what Igor has to do with the fever.. A favorite pastime of my husband and I's of late, just so happens to be baby name dreaming. Somehow, in the endless debate of a boy's name (a girl name is settled), "Igor was inadvertently mentioned. We giggled, then looked at each other seriously, then mused over it for some time. Brady just so happens to love it (imagine that..) It has a strange hold on me as well, in an unexplainable way. Imagine you'd never seen Frankenstein, any version, and heard the name for the first time. I guess it's all the rage in Russia and the like. You should venture an image search on yahoo for "Igor", you wouldn't believe what's out there: pitbulls, children, strange men in the furry Boris hat, etc... It's nothing serious, we have quite a few more realistic options in the running, but I'm curious to know what you think. For reals hombres; would he be punk rock? Would the lassies dig it? Would he be destined to a bizarre future like our friend pictured above? What say you? Perhaps you could care less and that's alright too since we were both sleep deprived and ridiculous when Igor took over our thoughts... Oh ya, and the baby foot in belly photo..ISN'T IT SO WONDERFUL?!!! Someone in the house (ahem..) doesn't quite agree and finds it horribly disturbing. I on the other hand cried when I first saw that picture. I think to deny joy over possible mommyhood because birth hurts and times will be rough is comparible to denying joy over being saved by Jesus because we know we'll still have trials and suffering. Maybe I'm just a raving babyhound, who knows. One things for sure; if I get to be a mommy, and the technology is still available, I want my little one to look back on this post and see just how anticipated and loved they have always been...

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

sowing seeds

2007-03-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:5-6

What a perfect verse for this new springtime splendor! What a reminder of what i am to be busy about doing. He lets me come to know so many who are hurting, lost. He gives me the heart to break and the tears to weep for them and I am so greatful..

treehouses & earthships

2007-03-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Meee hee hee hoooooooo!!!! Dwellings of dreams eh? When i was in sixth grade i was hauled off to Disney World by my tae kwon do instructor to babysit his boys for him on this trip i'd never fathom to take myself. Sooo, in the first few hours of immersion into this strange and eery world of "fun", i found myself lost in the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse... i got so caught up in wandering and loitering through the thing that i lost the boys i was supposed to be looking after! Needless to say, i have an affinity for treehouses, that's for certain. And so, during our massive snow dump of late, Mama and Vern showed up to kindly commence snowblowing our sidewalk, and Mama shared with me that Vern had researched some treehouses on the internet and i wouldn't believe what's out there. She was so right!!!!! This post was inspired by them, thanks compadres! And then these earthships.. i think it was back when i lived in New Mexico when i first heard of them (bunch of hippies with nothing to do but sit around and dream of such things, no mystery), and i always wanted to check them out. So here i am 10 years later checking them out...

Well, i got to thinking that if these are my dwellings of choice beyond comprehension here on earth, created by sons of men, imagine what John 14:2-4 could possibly mean... Jesus said, "In my Father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also, and where I go you know, and the way you know." Since he made the men who built those amazing casas posted above, and put the dream of their designs into their beautiful imaginations, imagine what He Himself is preparing for us!!! Is it a physical stucture?! Is it carved out of a tree itself or a mountain or down in some earth or under the waters?!!!!!! Couldn't you just meditate forever on it?!! As if just being by His side won't be enough, then He goes and promises a "place" for us... Whatever that means, i know He'll astound me. He knows me perfectly, and every little girl dream that is inside me. I'm sure He's got something in mind that I can't see with earthly eyes...

an enchanting discovery..

2007-03-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

Such loveliness my friends!!! At the Bible study last night, we covered verses that i forgot existed. They sent me into a frenzy of wonderful imaginations and longings to see what's in store on the other side... The following verse just got me:

"I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white." Zechariah 1:8

It's a vision of prophecy that Zechariah had and man, what haunting words of beauty. I just am constantly amazed at the incredible language and writing style in the Word. So, of course I had to go and look up myrtle trees, as I have never heard of them before. Lo and behold I found these lovely photos posted above.. Aren't they so majestic? Helps me picture the scene even more. I couldn't even concentrate after we read it! Anyways, I've been in the Psalms lately, and what comforts lie in those pages.. I had this verse on my wrist for the last two days to help battle strange waves of melancholy:

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul." Psalm 94:19

Also on the top of my hand: "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." Psalm 100:3

I love Him...

tagged by the Mama

2007-02-23T05:20:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Mama tagged me to do a "6 wierd things about me" post. But MOO HA!! I changed it to 20 because this is just way too much fun for 6. Here it is:

1. I lived in New Mexico twice, both in communal type situations. Both were strange "out there" desert towns. During this time I experienced donating plasma for survival, eating at a mission center where people got stabbed over seconds, panhandling for my dog's surgery, camping out in the mountains during a windstorm so strong it blew the tent right off of us, crossing into Mexico for a night of eeriness, meeting a naked family on burros out in the wild, driving 100mph or so it seemed in the rain with an indian named Gabriel, living on a wildlife reserve, hanging out with locals in the trailer park who had stories such as their wife being found hacked to pieces in the desert, working at a Dairy Queen where I had to holler into the dumpster to make sure I didn't throw garbage on a local, and being introduced to psychedelic drugs, of which I am not proud. In no way do I endorse any of this. In fact, the "wierd" part about this one, is that I thought for the longest time that we had found utopia down there when in fact, this was the saddest darkness..

2. I was responsible for accidentally gouging a nearly 100 year old woman's leg open to the point of fat globules being visible. This was in the nursing home I worked at, and machine malfunction was the culprit. She was my favorite Gertrude and forgave me because she made me promise to take out my nose ring and I did. On this note, another wierd thing I suppose would be that I am horribly obsessed with the elderly and find them more precious than gold.

3. I first talked with my husband 10 years after I met him. He was the dishboy, I was a hostess, and he was so gorgeous, but so scary then... Plus our age difference was a bit more awkward when I was 15 and he 19. It's a long and beautiful story of God bringing together two He appointed from the beginning of time..

4. I once barfed up a barbie head that I was chewing on. Her hair dangled down my throat and gagged me. Pool of 7-layer dinner with a barbie head floating in the middle, mmm..

5. I have the name Mike carved on the inside of my ankle and a cross carved on the top of my wrist. Apparently I felt real serious about God and Mike during my dark gothic days.. Mike dumped me because I wouldn't sleep with him when I was 15, and God is my best friend now who would never want me to hurt myself to show Him my love.

6. I like to jump into ice cold mountain rivers.

7. A large Norwegian man named Turbo broke my pinky toe when we were sparring in tae-kwon-do when I was ten. It's the only broken bone I've had. Earlier this week I dropped a can of frozen orange juice on my bare big toe and found myself in the fetal position on the floor crying and yet laughing because I was alone and it was ridiculous.

8. I had an unusual amount of head injuries as a child including: doing a slide move while dancing face first into a potted tree, deciding it would be a good idea to just walk off the end of the couch, taking my walkie for a stroll down the basement stairs head first, and having my brother pull me off the basinette twice as an infant, just to name a few.

9. I have an elastic belly that I can blow out to look about 8 months pregnant (although doing the classic Far Side "o" lips along with it is necessary).

10. I used to go off to the woods with my dog and just sleep anywhere. I'd always wake up to her heaving pink belly just above my face as she stood guard over me.

11. I very frequently have "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Grieg going through my head. It was my childhood theme song.

12. I like to pick my husband's back pimples and groom him like a gorilla.

13. I lived out west in my van for 3 months once. I stayed with a conspiracy theorist in Montana who lived between a canyon. My first night there I took a bath in an old-fashioned washtub with water heated over the fire under the stars while listening to mountain sheep make tiny avalanches.

14. When I was a kid I killed a mockingbird with a slingshot and cried all day about it. I buried him on top of a stump.

15. I snot all year round and keep a box of kleenex in every room of the house.

16. I once made my earthly father my god, but now I know the real God and have figured out that my dad's not perfect.

17. I once nearly died in the back of a cave from asphyxiation from our fire..

18. I love Mallo Cups and am secretly collecting the point cards that are inside to one day find out if an old Mallo Cup warehouse exists out there with just the right little prize for me.

19. I constantly see things in other things. Like the giant smokestack in town isn't a smokestack but a large angry worm with beady red eyes. And this press at work turns into Darth Vader when the little helmet comes down to seal the part.. I don't know if it's the past drugs or just the huge imagination I never let go of, but I enjoy it and so does my husband.

20. I used to think my parents were insane lunatics that needed help for being Christians and I hated them for praying for me. Now I pray for my lost friends...

the horror...

2007-02-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law never fails to send me the most terrifying pictures the mind could ever hope to endure. Most recently, "painted kitties"... These two are particularly devastating to me. I loathe clowns and really don't care for the feline species due to severe allergies (with the exception of Tommy of course, being part dog and all). Therefore, these dreadful pictures... Also, I can't imagine a creature alive that would go for a painting around the "rectal area".. Poor thing. Was there squirming involved? Was he/she motionless in utter shame? (One can only hope that this is some computer special effect).
This week has been full of rejoicing in the little stuff. God gave me this crazy $75 car that starts like a hero and gets me around every day! I actually missed having a junker and I just appreciate this one so much. Would be a chilly walk to work without it, that's for sure. It's even got the quintessential musty gorilla odor, mmm. We dubbed it "Leper", for it's amazing salt-licked paint job (much more humane than the cat's). Hey, I've never wondered about the word "humane" before. My husband is sitting here explaining it's roots to me. Apparently, it comes from human or something? Like humans have some sort of moral or ethical standard so impressive that we derive a word for their likeness that means merciful? I'm sorry but I beg to differ. Humans with God's beauty and Spirit in their hearts, now that's a whole different story.. But left to themselves, read a newspaper! WE GOT OUR PLANE TICKETS!!!!! The Philippines is becoming very very real nowadays. This is no longer a year away and it makes the heart pound. Tim was on the site when the airline opened the seat selections. He had the entire plane to choose from! We got two by two seats in the back, hence, no poor stranger having to be a third next to the married couple. Very exciting. Isn't it frustrating when the names you think of for a possible future child have the same first letter as the first letter of your last name? We both keep coming up with C's or K's! Brady was all about Clive the other day. No way... He just brought home the most delicious grocery store freezer pizza: Bellatoria's ultra thin crust, Margherita style. Roma tomotoes, mozz and asiago cheese, creamy garlic alfredo sauce, sun dried tomatoes, spices, YUMMMMM! It tasted organic and gourmet! I highly recommend, for those of you with as little spare time as us and appreciate a good throw in the oven 15 minute deal every now and then. Anyways, man I get long winded. It's bedtime for this creature of the night.

Reminders...

2007-02-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hmmmmm. I wonder if I'll ever stop the strange old hermit habits... Here's the struggle: the selfish flesh-monster in me rears up and I want to run for the hills, literally! Seriously get in the car and just keep going (I know I'm the only one that ever thinks this right?).. So, I was overwhelmed with these ridiculous thoughts when lo and behold, here's what I found in my devotions. I happened to be in Psalm 55 where David says, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest."

So I was all, hey AMEN David! And wow, he had the same wild escape thoughts that I have sometimes. EXCEEEEEEEEPT, his "storm" he was trying to escape was people that wanted to kill him! My "storm" is myself!!! Storm is such a good word to describe it too. Temper flares, stubborn outbursts, a whirlwind of selfishness! Anyways, what would I escape? The amazing man that God gave me to marry? The loving and beautiful church family I am privileged to know and be a part of? My ministry that is EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS?... I write this with all joy. God gave me a fresh and wonderful reminder these last few days of just how much I have. I'll never get tired of Tim's marriage counsel, try to always think "what if they died tomorrow and this was your last day with them..." How would you want to have treated them? What would you wish you had said? And make this your every day. Best advice I have ever received. I carry that close in my heart and think of it often. I'm so glad Jesus lets me see through His eyes of peace. I'm so intolerant and just plain rude on my own. At the root of me without God is a crotchity old hermit and that's just plain ugly... Oh ya, the posted pics are to emphasize my point here. Do I really want to be the lonely lady of the woods like the one, or be in constant praise for the wife I get to be in the other? Hmm. Also, I will keep sabotaging this blog with springtime green wooded photos whenever possible as we hunker down in the sub-zero dead season.. There's a beauty in winter for sure, but I've had my fill. It's time for swimming in rivers and pitching tents in the woods and having campfires under the stars! Bring on the thaw God!

p.s. if Ashley reads this, Hello sweetie!

Nightmare Hippy Girl Barbie (inspired by Robocarp)

2007-02-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Yes indeed. Nightmare Hippy Girl Barbie is a hard one to find. A sold-out treasure in Missoula, Montana, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Weed, California, she's a fast travelin' lady for sure. NHG Barbie comes with 3 sets of homemade patchwork clothes, and only three-that's all she's got. Don't look for any shoes, this girl is barefoot for a reason. Hair dreading instructions included, or braiding if you prefer. She has her own djembe drum (although she's never learned to play) and crazy loads of hemp jewelry for sale. You won't find any bunk "stash" on this girl, designer goods only man.. Her platform she uses for tree sit-ins is sold separately, along with a "crash" couch that you can move along to and from friends' houses. A collector's set of her favorite reads is available for a limited time, including: Anarchist's Cookbook, The Monkeywrench Gang, Vegetarian Cookbook, Grateful Dead Family Album, and loads of her own poetry. Wind up the dial on her back, and she'll sing "Bobby McGee" til the cows come home. In her pockets, you will find ambitious letters to various government agencies addressing all sorts of social woes, directions to the next Rainbow Gathering, and a hand-drawn "will work for food" sign for her long days of panhandling. Her japanese symbol for peace and fairy atop a mushroom tattoos can be found on her shoulder and lower back Hula hoop, tarot cards, incense, and sweet baby blue Chacos included. "I Was Born A Ramblin' Man" Ken, "Freebird" Ken, and or "Love The One You're With" Ken may or may not be found.

*Thought I'd include part of Beck's lyrics for "Nightmare Hippy Girl" as an ode to NHG Barbie and for those of you who haven't been blessed enough to have heard this song:

"she's a nightmare hippy girl, she's a whimsical, tragical beauty uptight and a little bit snooty ... oh, oh, oh ... she's a magical, sparklin' tease she's a rainbow chokin'' the breeze yo, she's bustin' out onto the scene with nightmare bogus poetry she's a melted avocado on the shelf she's the science of herself she's spazzing out on a cosmic level and she's meditating with the devil she's cooking salad for breakfast she's got tofu the size of Texas she's a witness to her own glory she's a never-ending story she's a frolicking depression she's a self-inflicted obsession she's got a thousand lonely husbands she's playin' footsie in another dimension she's a goddess milking her time for all that it's worth"...
-No offense intended towards anyone. I've been accused of being rather nightmare hippyish myself, although I deny it all, to the grave... Don't get me wrong, I love the woods and all in it, worthy music, good whole foods, original clothing and stuff, but I am definately not Webster's New World Dictionary's hippie:
hippie= (hip'e) n. [slang] a young person who, in his alienation from conventional society, has turned to mysticism, psychedelic drugs, communal living, etc.
Unfortunately this used to be me... NO MORE, Moo ha!

bible trees

2007-02-01T05:35:00.000-08:00

I've always been curious about some trees that are spoken of in the Bible, what they looked like and stuff. So I found some pictures. The conjoined tree is a fig, and the other is an acacia tree. This may be old hat information to ye all, but I was totally fascinated. The fig tree's title was "Married", because it's conjoined as you can see. It got me to thinking a whole lot about my marriage... This lady at work asked me out of the blue, "What's the #1 thing you love about your husband?" I told her, "that he loves Jesus." She immediately responded with, "well fine then, what's the second thing." As if loving Jesus wasn't worth mentioning and didn't satisfy as a real answer! It's quite impossible to explain to someone of the world how Jesus is everything in the relationship and that a man just can't be a husband without Him. Everything else seemed so silly to comment on because everything I love in Brady comes from Jesus anyways! So anyways...this "Marriage" fig tree. Reminds me of what a good marriage should have. Deep roots that take tiiiiiime, co-dependent for survival, happy to share space, stronger together than apart... I've been asking God to show me stuff about being a wife that I'd rather ignore these days. I want to recognize the unconscious fleshy things that I do that cause division in our little household. It's so easy to act as if I'm still single and forget that another of God's creations lives right there by my side, a precious gift. God is so good at answering those tough prayers... ug. I guess our roots are just starting. What an amazing "conjoining" I get to work on for as long as God decides to let us be sojourners together here on earth. Well, "Kapoy ko" (I'm tired). Glad tidings ye all..
p.s. I know there's a whole lot of types of acacia trees, but according to geographic reasoning, the one I pictured above is likely the kind used for the making of the Ark. Noah must have felled an entire forest er something!

hey...

2007-01-25T12:33:00.000-08:00

I say we all go to Mr. O'Gara's most "recent" post and make threatening comments, like mine, til he blogs. Later we can get the others, one by one... Eh? Oh, and here's a drunk sqirrel video I found. Laughed...so...hard... Don't worry, it's not transgression. It's an au natural innocent victim drunk. p.s. Anonymous "A", if you're out there, my Johnny Cash post below is dedicated to you..
POOR LITTLE FELLA

my hero

2007-01-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

I sure love Johnny.. Can't wait to spend time with him when I get home! I was raised on his music and he reminds me of everything safe and beautiful about childhood. I used to sit in the laundry basket in the landing of the basement stairs just to be near my dad while he was working down there. He would sing along to Johnny alot, and he never knew I was listening..
I think it's real cute how Johnny says "sorry" in the first video, and how scared to death he looks in the second one. He talks about his stagefright in his biography, so charming..

Ye Ol' Harni

2007-01-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

Hey bloggers of the remnant. You may already be well aware, but our young B. Harnisch lad has joined the ranks. I don't know how to make a clever underlined link right here in this paragraph, (although Josh, Jones, and Carrie have all showed me before) but you'll find a link on the side for "Ye Ol' Harni". That's him alright. Did you guys know that Brandon is particularly fond of the regal and demure orangutan? I thought this particular one had a strange resemblance so I included his photo in honor of our o-rang luvah. Hey, and last night's CSI fiesta was so well done and such a classic I can't even stand it. That's all.

The Bone Church & Barbie

2007-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, indeed, I'm back at my doobla themed postin' again. My thoughts just naturally blended the two. SO THIS BONE CHURCH!!! Although this may not be your groove, you've got to appreciate the awesomeness of this place. Skot from Leper told us about it back in October, and lo and behold, the rusty gears in de ol' pink in da head finally recalled to check it out. (Someone told me that the brain is pink, yes, but turns grey immediately upon contact with oxygen-er maybe vice versa, anyways, I found it upsetting). Soooooooo, this church. It's in the Czech Republic and what a story! Apparently, back in the way back, someone went to Jerusalem and gathered up some dirt from Calvary. They brought it back to this little church and sprinkled it there and chaos ensued. Everyone saw it as sacred ground and wanted to be buried there. Then the bubonic plague came along and there came about 30,000 corpses needing a home. So a half-blind monk decided to create an "ossuary" in the basement of this sacred ground church. Soon an artist was employed to get creative with da bones. Sorry if this bores you to anger, but it's so up my alley. I used to hang out in the graveyard alone quite often, and relish in death obsession. Why I ask? My only guess is I was looking for the elusive 3 (where did I come from, why am I here, where to when I perish?). I guess I wanted death to be the only thing that made any sense..(I was immediately wearing a long black gown and smoking and endless cigarette when I typed that last line). Graveyards are still cool but I'm not looking for any answers in them these days. Lately all I can do is scream inside "HUNDREDFOLD!!!!" God's promise of hundredfold blessings is endlessly on my mind of late. All the little things! What a marvel to be released from the fear of not knowing! I get into bed and can't sleep from the barrage of thoughts. He puts such crazy love in us and helps me see what I once missed. Thinking on it all is exhausting. Like a big bright slideshow; and some of it slips into dreams, and He tells us things in such beautiful ways. He knew what He was talking about when He told us to go into our room and shut the door to talk with Him. What a privilege...Just ranting away to Papa. And the Barbies...I was sitting here typing this post when my record-breaking split ends crawled into view. I couldn't take it. I got the hair chopping scissors and hacked them off. Only and inch er so, but a milestone for me. See, I think it's real neat, cuttin' hair. And once I start, I scare myself. I don't want to stop. I referenced the Barbie photos because of a bit of an incident in grade school. My friend had ultimate-Barbie-everything-universe in her basement and I hated this fact so one day I chopped all their hair..every Barbie in the joint. It was ugly and Angela was a not pleased with me. Mohawk Barbie was all the rage that day. JEEPERS this is long, farewell.

Darfur Sadness

2007-01-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

Recently, through many different ways, I've been confronted privately in my mind about my incredible lack of knowledge of what's going on "out there". I always care when I hear about the unimaginable, but I never take time to just do a little research on my own and take advantage of the wealth of input on the net. Sooooo, Darfur. Tim mentioned it and I wanted to know more. It was a devastating discovery and strange blessing all at once. I got some good history from general news coverage, but it was the personal stories...these women in Darfur. They are suffering more than anyone because their men are being killed and they are utterly alone. If their children survive the initial attacks, they are in grave danger with the poor conditions of the refugee camps. Anyways, I'm sure anyone reading this can find out on their own or probably already know. It's just those women...how haunting. All I know is peace. I've never been without abundance beyond. How absolutely impossible to comprehend in my surroundings what just one day of existence must be like for these poor girls right now. I think it's so good to cry with them and know their stories. Prayer ammo. I don't know. I feel so overwhelmed and yet I got up from reading the stories and went to make some food just like that and I just hope I'll remember to check out the news every now and then and stay afresh with this strange ugly world I live in. I'm so glad there's hope in Jesus..

new flickr site

2006-12-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

my flickr site

Tribute To My Old Man

2006-12-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

Well, my old fella just turned 33 Tuesday. Happy Birthday Nanook! Brady has been pondering the cursed 33...The age of death for many 60's icons, the age of Jesus when He was crucified...No winter motorcycle rides for the ol' pappy this year. We have this agreement that I'm going to die first, so I'm sure he'll make it to 34 just fine. We thought I could take up smoking cardboard and bathing in arsenic just to hedge the bet, but that could be a bit extreme..Soooooo, the cake. The "Stupid Cake". This is a little photo taken in remembrance of the first birthday cake I attempted to make for Brady the first year we met. I wasn't so hot of a baker back then and things didn't go so well. I also had a bit more furious of a temper in those days, thus, the butcher knife mid-cake. I abandoned the liquidy disaster in the downstairs kitchen of the church house, and went up for devotions. Bird busted me...So, we don't do cakes now. Although I have learned a few skills in the baking world from many a talented coffeehouse compadre, I still fear it. Like getting back on the horse that bucked you. We're trying to eat good too, so that ruled it out this year. Anyhow, cheers to my sweet old Husbandito!
p.s. His photo above was taken at Bird's 30th birthday party for those who weren't in attendance. Sara's brilliant plan of surprising Bird in our Depends with walkers and rumpled kleenex and eery elderly shuffle-dancing and such...

Violets and Catfarts

2006-11-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post some summery outdoor pics in celebration of pretending it's not winter...For real. I Was really enjoying the freakish end of the world November we've had so far. The violets in the one photo...Door County in May has this colossal explosion of violets..bursts of perriwinkle everywhere. There were painters set up with their easels, all surreal looking in the middle of some woods, trying to mimick God the Paintah. (I'm talking about green plants and warmth and summer, la la la....) The leathuh jacket picture is from when Brady and I first met. He took that on one of our motorcyle rides/stop and hike a bit trips. So I won't really talk about Thanksgiving too much. As most of you already know, I spent the day horfin' and poopin'... Although, I did find myself doing some giving of thanks. I was grateful that the result of all the down with da sickness time made me realize that I hadn't discussed anything with God all day and was flying solo all empty and foolish. I get WAY distracted when I have too much time off... I've been finding a lot of white hairs lately and they make me long for the wisdom of old age; when I have come to understand more fully what sorrow I escape when I make sure He is everything, all day. Hey maybe I should try for that right here and now... I get such crazy joy when I think about joining the ranks of the elderly! White pigtails and a breathe away from home, Yee hoo! (Dying tomorrow would be OK too though..)
Got my passport in the mail yesterday! Things are gittin' perty real now. I thought I'd share some vital Cebuano phrases I've recently discovered in our "Peace" Corp. language book: How irritating/annoying!=Makapungot; It's your fault=Sala nimo; What took you so long?=Nganong nadugay ka?; It's none of your business=Wa kay labot; How vulgar!=Bastos!; I told you so=Gi-ingnan ta ka; So there=Mao kana, etc.... I thought hey, people reading this may end up going over, better share...Oh, and under the "friendly bantering" section, there can be found translations for stupid/simpleton, shameless, lazybones, and braggart as well. So this is getting looooooooooooong huh? Tally ho.
p.s. at work, we were reminiscing about having to force medication down our dog's throats and how they just know when you hide it in meat and how dissapointed and mistrustful they are of you for the rest of the day.. then Jesse told me about how his cat likes to rise from a good rest in his lap, take careful aim, and fart horribly at him, and I thought, "Catfart", good band name.

My Favorite Dead Guys of Old

2006-11-16T06:08:00.000-08:00

DEAD MILKMEN

DEAD KENNEDYS

Ahhh. The slippery slope of YouTube...tis' sweet for a season. I'll post something from the soul sooner er later.

Aw yee-ah, a pair of classics...

2006-11-06T06:28:00.000-08:00

On your knees for the pioneers of electronica, ertza zee Kraftwerk! It's also a glimpse of me at Phillips at 4am... And you know you want to safety dance, you know it..

Old Siouxsie..

2006-11-06T06:25:00.000-08:00

She was my favorite moody songstress death wailer back in the day..

More Pixies!

2006-11-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

"Velouria"... Your computer isn't slow, this is just their slow-mo run down a hillside video.

My Other #1 Band...

2006-10-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

My favorite part is when holographic David Eugene Edwards ghost does a little ho-down at the end..quite beautiful. Oh ya, and I chose this and the Pixies post below cuz Carrie already took New Kids and Tom stole Slayer, so I had to resort to my two other favorite bands..

Pixies! My #1 Band Evah!

2006-10-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

Lit'l Kremlin Boy

2006-10-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

Well, here's some more goods for da Porkies fans. Check out the little Kremlin Boy fetching some water for us from the lake. Fun and all, yet so good to be home and with family. I used to feel like my whole world was crashing in when I'd return from some trip to the woods. Now my life is so beautiful that I can hardly wait to get back! God sure knows how to breathe into us complete peace and contentment.. I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THAT LITTLE CABIN AMIDST THE GIANTS!!!! So, I'd like to ask something of anyone reading this..could ya please be in prayer for Brady and I learnin' Cebuano? Fer crying out loud, that we could remember anything!! I know God can assist an old burnout but criminy,.. tis' daunting... Oh ya, and I got to stop in the church house for just a brief moment the yesterday and I'm telling you housies, you gots golden days right now folks, golden...

Enter the Fog...

2006-09-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

As you can see, a simple canoe ride that Brady and I had turned strange and forboding...We went out on the lake for a morning look-see and behold, around the corner, it came a-creepin'. Entahhhhh, the fog..the thickest, deepest fog I have ever encountered. It was instant vertigo mate! Krikey! So much fun and so eery all at the same time. It was the best play all sorts of deep sea pretend time I've had in a while! Oh ya, this all took place on our recent vacation to the Porkies in Michigan. We stayed on Mirror Lake, where the fog lurks.. There shall be more pictures to come from the trip. This was such a lovely getaway. Much appreciated. Such a glimpse of heaven out there. Looming old growth all around and lil' critters that lack the timidity of most. The boldest chipmunks I've ever seen, conspiring our demise I'm sure. We felt like kids and it was just the most refreshing thing to gather firewood, pump drinking water, have a hand in a bit of survival stuff! Hooray for places like the Porkies, existing in rarity amidst ever-sprawling urban takeover! Just a glimpse, the smallest fraction of a hint of what's to come...P.S. Don't I look like a freakshow-ferry-them-across-the-lake of the dead-character in the foggiest fog photo? Moooo Ha Haaaa!

God the Paintah

2006-09-15T23:47:00.000-07:00

So, I was trying to post a picture of someone blowing their big red swollen nose, but it didn't work. That was to show what I've been up to ALL DAY!!! Sick as a dog...(hey, what's up with that saying anyways? Is it the poop eating or "area" licking?...what?) Ernyhoo, I thought pictures of God's coolness would be far more pleasing. ISN'T OUR PAPA AMAZING? Some random questions to throw out there...Does the chaco breaking-in pain ever end? Where does all my endless snot come from? CRIKEY! A vertual river of misery today! How? From where? I suspect Josh may have some answers for me...I've recently discovered that one of my co-worker's biggest beefs with God is the tower of Babel. He thinks it's utterly ridiculous and unbelievable therefore the Bible is altogether in question. Thoughts? Cool tower o' Babel info.? Anyone? eh? By the way, at this very moment, 2:05 a.m. mid cold-med. delirio, a serious mouse beast can be heard having his way with my cupboard...I don't even care anymore! He wins! I can't take the dread terror of going over and having a look-see in this state of Sudafedheadia...Take the chocolate chips and granola and oven mitt lickin's you filthy ba**turd!!!!!

Does this guy look suspicious to you too?

2006-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

So, I get a call this morning from Brady on our new trac phone (yay! first semi-slightly-emergencyish glad we have that phone time). He tells me to come to the Walmart parking lot where he's stranded because his motorcycle won't start. Upon arrival, he informs me that a policeman stopped by to check on him because he had received a phone call about a "suspicious looking man" that was creepishly circling his motorcycle around in the parking lot (the circling was actually an attempt to jumpstart the bike). So anywhays, he told Brady why he was there and Brady said, "well, I don't find anything particulary suspicious about a guy broken down in a parking lot by a gas station, but I guess that's just me." The cop did the customary run of plates and left sheepishly, looking quite embarassed. When I came, a "suspicious" looking lady that seemed nervous like, drove away in her car that had been parked at the gas station since Brady arrived. Hmmm. I know I'd be hunting for victims at 8am on my broken down motorcycle at Walmart for sure... By the way, you can only begin to fathom the difficult task of picking suspicious looking photos of Brady from the seemingly endless options...

Confused and Scared...

2006-08-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

HEY! Someone's gotta show me how to move old postin's off to da side category der. (category, category, category, category...) Also, THERE WAS A FLIPPIN' BAT IN THE CAR AS BRADY AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I ALMOST DIED OF SCARED!!!!! He was all, "everything's cool man, i don't want to hurt anyone, just let me go, just let me go..." and I was all "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" And he was perched right on the button to open window and I couldn't touch and Brady reached over and opened and saved me and.................It was sheer terror to its fullest max, TERROR. Many of you already heard this story and now this has become an entry from my "random unpleasantries" list, telling someone a story you already told them. Yup. Awkward and uncomfortable, isn't it?

the fly-around-the-world-ers

2006-08-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Quick! Before we can't "miss" them anymore! (Notice Bird's HAND).

All sappy and stuff.

2006-08-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

"Silhoue..silhouettes, silhouett..silhouettes, silhouet...silouettes, Whaaaa oooooweeeeoooooo.... Two silhouettesssssss, on the shaaaaa-aaaaaade, two silhouettessssss, silhouettes." Ya, if yer not down with da doo-wop, than yer going, what the?... Also, you know how when you repeat a word too much it kind of disappears? Like hey, was that ever really a word or did I just make that up? Like tank tank tank tank tank tank tank..... If you are properly pronouncing your K's, than it'll seem as though you are saying ka-tank over and over, which is strange, like silhouette is now strange. Oh, and that's Husbandito and I on our honeymoon, smoochity smoochity.

am sad...

2006-08-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well, just got back from my family reunion. So sad... This is the side of the family with the darkest of dark past. I don't know if a single one of them has not been just torn apart by drugs and alcohol, beyond the average devastation. My cousin and I just magnetized to each other. I guess she's been asking about me for years, totally remembers when we used to play together and stuff. The problem with my past drug life is that it stole a huge chunk of my memory, so these things she brought up were so hazy. She told me about her and her sister and their recent trauma with meth. Man, these girls are lucky to be alive. I got to tell her that I'm a new girl now, no longer a slave to the drugs that were my weapon of choice. The last time she saw me I had just stumbled back from New Mexico and I was such a desperate wreck. I think God talk made her a bit uncomfortable as she is in the heat of the "life" right now. I just wanted to hold her, she broke my heart so bad. She was basically on her own from very young. Learned how to mirror mom and follow right in those footsteps. Man it's so daunting, the idea of being a mom. A holler out to you Jesus mommys that may read this. You give me such hope when I never imagined bringing a child into this world would be humane. The rains that came this afternoon perfectly fit the sadness of the mood there. Just surrounded by the walking dead, so many lost. They better watch out because now they've got a prayer monster on the prowl. I got lots of ammo today to give to God. It'll be neat to see what He'll do. I know He can reach anyone, even my family that I had basically given up on. How dare I surrender hope for His created. I'd probably die of shock if I had the slightest clue about how deeply He loves them and yearns for them. I'm glad His love is so big that it can't possibly be understood by our meager minds. I wish my cousin knew that, how very much she's loved. Her name is Tasha, and if you all could please pray for her, I'd be much obliged. She really wants to see me again, so we'll see...

these blueberries are kickin' in man...

2006-08-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

You just never know dudes, you just never know...

the secret is out

2006-08-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

We tried to hide it, but can hide it no more. Say hello to our new little one, Hagitha Gertrude Klatt.

Random Unpleasantries

2006-08-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

I thought as fellow sojourners, we may perhaps share an opinion about some of these random unpleasantries. Perhaps not, but in no way is this some rant of negativity, just some viddles. To prove my sincerity, I've included a lovely photo of an immaculate beaver palace we happened across in the Boundary Waters to counter the daunting warning sign...

these things, these things...

sun-bloated roadkill, eggshells, when someone has to poop while I'm in the shower, CDs that skip sometimes, round eleven of the snooze button, having a grundy in public and nowhere to pick it, when a baby crys only in my arms, when you tell someone a story that you've already told them, tight ponytail headache, the failure of foil-wrapped gum after a week in the purse, unspeakables I create in the fridge, throwing away unspeakables from the fridge when the garbage is only 1/8 full, when dogs get snooty about affections, the discomfort of the silence after something not so funny, week old nalgene water, the way our butts hang over the seat of a swing, the scent and imminent doom of an unlocated mouse carcass, the taste of blood after flossing gone wrong, where my mind goes upon entering a stifling hot car, chunky milk, touching a baby bird in childhood and then learning it's mother will now reject it, when careless words I uttered are still resonating in my head 5 hours later, bad breath REALCLOSE, the discovery of a woodtick well dug-in, unnecessarily harsh private property signs, when your socks slide off your heel in snowboots, high expectation movies that let down way down, leering stares from strangers, courtesy laughing, when your armpits turn their teeth on you and you're out and about with no deodorant, the guilt you feel when you steal someone's saying, when checkout lane people don't say hi or blink, when it suddenly dawns on me that I'm talking incredibly LOUD, a fan blowing hair in your face when your trying to sleep, old journal entries that remind you of just what a geek you are, childhood myths you fell for like fish eggs in peanut butter, the stump remains of a forest you once knew, wondering if their's a bat-booger in the cave of your nose mid-dialogue, being near a static-y radio you can't shut off, someone else's fart, knocking over a glass of something with an unnecessary exaggerated arm movement, when I'm numb to newspaper atrocities, getting too close to a swamp in socks and shoes, grabbing for a towel and discovering only a wet stinky in reach, when you just want to get through some woods and every branch has it out for you, Mt. Vesuvius on my forehead, Wolske Bay summer algae splendor, porta-potty discoveries in the night, hearing about how Tom told Brady that they used to "brand" each other in grade school with a tack on the end of a pencil, and stuff.............

Think of the beaver palace. Little beaver friends...

picture practice

2006-08-04T22:26:00.000-07:00

This was my practice taking picture from internet picture. Imagine if this was our backyard, everyday...

2006-08-04T21:48:00.000-07:00

So,
I had to stick this in here so I could make it my profile photo. Just perfect to emphasize my purpose o' blog-No more hermitness! Alone in the woods was all I knew BC. It's still cool, but now I get to be with the maker of those woods, and what a thing that is to finally understand. Oh yes, and this is a forest in Door County, all twisted and beautiful. This was taken on our honeymoon.

Sisters of the Dead

2006-08-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Hay family,

Finally joined, so excited. Here's the result although, of me trying to accomplish technology. Carrie helped, she paid dearly... I'm in Winona and it's fun and I love her and... There'll be more to come later, gotta set stuff up.