Monday, June 27, 2011

No words.

I am speechless.

God has given me so many things I've asked for these last few months. Everything from little hopes, to great needs. And even a few things I never knew I wanted.

a pair of running shoes
a small, black travel backpack (yes, that specific)
several cups of coffee
a few free meals
a chance to meet my favorite activist
meeting one of my favorite designers
connecting with a world renowned author
a desk chair to die for
5 vintage luggage pieces
beads to last me 3 years
a free ride and ticket to my favorite summer event
a place to live
a chance to finish my degree for free
places to stay when I'm travelling
several jobs
and patience in waiting.

I know there are more, but I've had too many to remember. I never once stopped to asked twice for these things. They were mere flutters in my heart; things that, you know, might be nice. And they are nice. Oh, they are magnificent.

There is a romance in knowing that the creator knows my heart. The little things.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Making new jewels

This has been a fun week. There's been a whole lotta beading goin' on.



So many good things happening

I don't know where to start. Maybe that I am alive and well. God is faithful and everyday he has new presents for his children. I think the best present of all that daddy could have given us is the gift of family.

In just the last year or so I've begun to really learn about my family history and where I come from. My grandmother has been going crazy over there at the family tree - digging up things from the past that only the luckiest could ever get a chance to discover. I come from a long lineage of missionaries, intellectuals, and passionate blue-collar workmen. The most astounding would have to be one of my for-fathers on my mother's side, John Rogers. He may have been the first person to ever print a complete English Bible that was translated directly from the original Greek & Hebrew. Not only was he a translator, he went so far as to take his faith publicly leading him to become a martyr - even being written about in Foxe's Book of Martyrs. His line leads to other missionaries like Claire Rogers who rode on a horse and buggy right before the civil war broke out to preach the gospel to the native Americans in the south. I've read several handwritten letters from Claire to her family back north. She speaks of riding through the rivers in Knoxville and living off of just warm tomato soup and water. Unfortunately, sickness and war broke out leading her and the rest of the family back to safety. They never met the natives that day, but legend has it, my great great grandfather was Iroquois. Something in this blood of ours lead us to eventually be united.

On my fathers side, we talk little about a great uncle of mine and crazy outlaw, Claude Eatherly, who became a bank robber and ran from the law on several occasions after coming to terms with his past. He wanted so badly to make up for the wrong he did in Hiroshima, so he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Just like Robin Hood. He was a pilot on one of seven B-29s of the 393rd Bomb Squadron of the 509th Composite Group that took part in the Hiroshima mission. He wrote about his concerns with the mission and the institution as a whole,

    "I believe that we are rapidly approaching a situation in which we shall be compelled to reexamine our willingness to surrender responsibility for our thoughts and our actions to some social institution such as the political party, trade union, church or State. None of these institutions are adequately equipped to offer infallible advice on moral issues and their claim to offer such advice needs therefore to be challenged."

Though I don't agree with many of his actions he took on later in his life, I do respect that he was able to think for himself and wanted so much that the people of this nation would as well.

I hope I can continue this family tradition of brave souls and adventurous stories. I think I was able to give my dad the best father's day gift a daughter could give (well, except a child... but I don't think that will happen any time in the near future).


I was able to let my dad know he need not to worry about this girls' future. I'm going back to school to finish my degree and the great state of Tennessee is paying for it. Thank you Jesus for no income and independency :)

I know not everyone can be so blessed to call their earthly fathers great, but I do hope you get a glimpse at our Heavenly father and his wonderful masterpiece he is weaving together with our lives today. Though I must say, I'm a lucky girl, I think both of my dads are pretty amazing.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Friday, June 17, 2011

"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.

Lord, may I not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

- St. Francis

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

it's when the world stops.

your heart skips a beat.
your breath is taken away.
all because you know someone loves you.



I've been watching all kinds of kids the past two weeks. Some crazier than others including this mischievious one, Jackson. I think my nephew knows just how smart he is. He can always use his cuteness to get what he wants. He likes to carry purses and wear high-heels. I'm hoping he grows out of this. Turn on some music and he can't help but dance. I think that's why we get along so well.

I'm so thankful I get to be in his life again. He's one of three reasons why I had to come back to this bizarre world known as America.

I'm getting ready for the Wild Goose Festival coming up in two weeks.

    "The Wild Goose Festival seeks to be a place where people of faith and people who struggle with faith (which might be all of us?) can wrestle together with what it means to be people who live at the intersection of justice, creativity, and spirituality in the 21st century. This is a conversation our larger culture is having, involving artists, authors, blue collar workers, ministers, and more."


I have so much jewelry I still need to make and artwork to pack up. Oh, there even seems to be some hype about the book I helped design over at the blog :)

I'm becoming giddy about meeting my fellow artists at the festival including all the people at Compathos and not to mention Shane Claibourne!!!! Friends of Compathos are even sending another book my way for re-design. I'm too blessed to have all of these amazing opportunities.

You can order the book on Amazon! [my cover design]