JUSTIN!! life + time-------> some really AWESOME fruit!

thanx for playing....

I keep coming across this notion of "throwing away" recently. Or ending, or moving on....everyone keeps saying that it's what life is all about: beginnings and endings. I just don't know why people are so end-happy sometimes. We can just end up with too much trash.

People have different functions, and I think that being whole and being healed in the soul has to do with being 'together.'

What a strange case regarding your friend. I'll post it up right now.

Thanks Mamaste! --Thanks for your comments. They always make me smile. I really enjoy putting these things together. When I first started on ele about three years ago each one took me a really long time, and getting them out was always stressfull, but I felt compelled,. I was a young stay at home mom, and I didn't watch television, so I would occupy my headspace with pics of our own life.

Now I've gotten better, and it doesn't take me long at all. It''s a visual process, so I don't need to be at the computer to dream it up. Mostly I just walk around doing my mommy chores and, as I'm standing over the sink (or something like that) it'll come to me what goes next, and then I just go to the computer and pop it in!

I like how you say "String"...

Thanks for stopping by and for being so supportive. And since you're into "mama" I was wondering if you ever saw this post I did: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/09/note-to-se... It was a letter I wrote to my friend about the "nitty-gritty" of impending mommyhood. It was definitely the longest string I ever did. And it was the first one where I decided to scan in all the text, too.

It's true Justin-- I think that the Unitarian Universalists must have a list or a website someplace this got posted on. This is my most viewed post 'ever.' I keep saying..I have never not worked so hard for views.

Also, traffic on Elephant is up because of Waylon's frontal nudity photoshoot--and also just because it keeps growing in general. Look! It's already up to 2581...

And, I just wanted you to know, thanks for all your comments. Sometimes I don't say something back when it seems like it's standing best on it's own. I don't want to water you down. You've had some great ones, you add to me perfectly, and I miss our conversations. Things are getting weird around here.

Working on a post about "Ecclesia.' It's kind of an 'emergent'-type church with lots of art. Not sure where we'll go next Sunday. I think I want something really spirit-filled this time. I just want to find a home. I'm already weary of traveling.

We'll get to the LDS one of these days....for sure!

Sorry Gale about the misnomer. That's awesome--Unitarian Universalist. I'll remember that!

Hi Dottie. I just wanted to clarify that Elephant Journal is the website, and this blog is just made up of images that I scan into the computer--not a template. I don't actually know what that is!

You could go ahead and post the link to your blog in the comments here if you want! Cheers!

It does take a lot of work, but it's really fun.

I wanted to just clarify, Elephant Journal is the 'site,' and this is my blog on it--I think a 'site' is something that doesn't change very often. This blog is like my scrapbook/journal and it's different every time. . .Thanks for commenting, Julianna! You're sweet.

Hey Bro~ I know that when you say "traditionalist" church what you must be talking about is the music. Of course, You are my favorite worship leader of all time, and I would love to be at your church, but You live in England. The songs you write...just PURE JOY.

Nathan and I started attending the Episcopal many years ago--you know, there are certain compromises you make when you get married. Music was something that I knew I can live without because I knew that music wouldn't be gone from my life altogether. I had gotten a bit disillusioned with the whole "Praise scene" in evangelical churches anyway: spotlights on the stage, worship leaders hot-rodding, too loud music so that you can't even hear the voice of the person next to you, big bands playing songs that sound like U2 or Coldplay rip-offs, (GIVE ME A CHURCH WHERE COLDPLAY IS THE WORSHIP BAND) ...and even though I *knew* that it was obvious emotional manipulation I would be on my knees weeping..Nathan had a very negative visceral reaction to this behavior on my part.

So, yeah, yeah we've been going to the Episcopal. I liked the liturgy, and there were some progressive ideas there, and I thought that the Episcopal Cathedral here would be a good place to start reviewing because of that. But this one for music is a 5/10...The choir was OK...Everything was just kind of ho-hum. I can appreciate old worship style as well as new, but this just wasn't.

PS.... I know that not all evangelical churches are like what I described, I can't wait till Sarah and I hit our first that really ROCKS!! Gospel, too... ready for that! I'm sure they've got some amazing praise churches here in HOUSTON!!

I received the gift while I was a summer counselor at a camp for the Foursquare Church. Everyone in the room just started speaking in tongues. I never had before that. It seemed a bit crazy in the moment, and I didn't know what to think about it for awhile, but then after camp when I went back home and would pray alone it would just come out of me.

And yes, it does just come up, not really in the Episcopal read-off prayers on Sunday, but usually, and most definitely when I am in a small group holding hands, and that's how I know it's real. I know that people might be scared by it, so I usually keep it under my breath, and it edifies my soul.... I should be more fearless, I know, but it's hard. You don't want people to judge you based on that only (something that makes them uncomfortable).

I have never known an "interpreter of tongues." I know that Paul says that...I think it must have to do with listening to the heart.

amen! ..I think I saw that Sarah's next knitting project was a little uterus for Congress. cute:)