What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Yep- I'm a Floridian. This was a fun quiz to take try it. The red lines didn't come through for the bottom accents to indicate how much of these accents I possess. They are in order or the most like me to the least. A friend & WHM missy gave me the idea from her blog:
http://www.eurorebs.com/blog/2007/03/phillies.php

A friend recently asked me what kind of music I listen to. I always have a hard time with this question. Besides the fact that I have a hard time putting tunes with artists, I'm all over the map with my music. I like to say I'm well rounded. :-) My mood dictates the genre of music I'll listen to. My pattern is to listen to a few cd's at a time until I'm sick of them or until someone presents new music to me. I don't actively seek new music but am always open to suggestions. I welcome recommendations.

Currently in my ipod & computer at work:

• Keith Green
• Eva Cassidy
• Sarah McLachlan
• Little Women soundtrack
• Third Day
• The Temptations
• Beatles
• Postal Service
• Rigoletto soundtrack
• Gospel
• Allison Krause
• Jump 5
• Nickel Creek
• Casting Crowns
• Dixie Chicks
• Vivaldi- the Four Seasons
• Flaming Lips
• Sufjan Stevens
• Martina McBride
• Cold Play
• Abba

Peter Herron & Janet Talley got married last Saturday. The wedding was a wonderful reunion. What a blessing to see people I hadn't seen in so long. It was great to Dan & Shanna & their new little boy- Eli.
He's one cuddly baby.

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Florida. My little brother, Peter, is graduating from high school. Pray that I wake up in time to catch the train to the airport at 5:45AM. Yikes. Better not stay up too late.

Can't wait to put my toes in this sand.

Amy Claire (& her firstborn, Brighton)

We weren't friends in college- we ran in different circles but our paths now cross frequently in Philly. Her blog is one I check regularly. Her post on Mother's Day is one of my favorite. http://minismith.com/home/the-culprit
She's been working to put all her entries into categories so you can click on "family," "faith," "recipes" or other categories. No matter your gender or status in life you will be uplifted by her honesty and love for the Gospel.

I sold my car... finally!

Motivating words from my pastor's weekly update:

I think that's it for now, except to ask you to pray for one person by name, who you know is troubled or in conflict and needs God's peace. Would you share with that person what God is showing you these days about conflict and peace here at New Life, and invite him/her to come with you on Sunday? Don't keep it to yourself! It's too good not to share! People are dying for Good News, and by the grace of God you've got it! Turn it loose!

Please come "prayed up" and "looking up" in anticipation of what the Lord will do as He "shows up"...

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John

Spilling Open

by Sabrina Ward Harrison

My friend Tammy showed me this book. It's the journal of a 19 year old that she published at 25 years of age. It's a work of art. Amazing & inspiring.

I've only read a few entries but here's a taste of what she's written:

"I sat on the bench outside of class today and talked to Jon. I read to him from my journal, it was the part about the accordion player I was watching on the street last weekend. He said that an accordion is such a perfect metaphor for love, because you are always opening, and closing, shifting and getting air, and that's how the music happens. True."


Sabrina writes a lot about accepting and loving who you are. More treats:

"If we let ourselves be truly seen than we can be truly loved."

"I'm afraid to show you who I really am, because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it and that's all I've got."

"I want to stop sucking in- stop holding my breath- stop covering up. Let g0- it isn't worth it. I can't think of one good reason to keep up the act of being more (or less) than I need. If I can't love myself... then he certainly can't love me."

"Trying to change myself to fit some ideal seems to be an endless and dehydrating way to live."

Does this drawing of a woman look familiar? She did the art for one of the albums for Sixpence None the Richer.

Scoop

Just watched Scoop with a friend. Woody Allen is the director & writer. It was released in 2006. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457513/

Faxing the Vatican

Today I faxed the Vatican to set up a tour for a group of WHM people. Dan & Bob are taking a few potential missionaries to a few of our fields in the next two weeks. They will be visiting our team in Rome and hope to visit the Vatican while they’re there. One of my jobs as the MOB Administrator is to set up the tour for the six of them. The way the Vatican works is you have to fax your information to them and wait for their response. I just think it’s crazy that I can say, “well, I faxed the Vatican today.”

The group is going to take the tour that will allow them to see the Sistine Chapel. Taken from Wikipedia: "The Sistine Chapel (Italian: Cappella Sistina) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope, in the Vatican City. Its fame rests on its architecture, which evokes Solomon's Temple of the Old Testament, its decoration, frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo whose ceiling is legendary, and its purpose, as a site of papal religious and functionary activity, notably the conclave, at which a new Pope is selected." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistine_Chapel

The office is quiet today. The glaring florescent lights are off and Matthew and I have our living room, Ikea lights on. It's real nice.

Kimiko & Garrett
March 31, 2007


What a blessing to witness the marriage of Kimiko & Garrett. Instead of having a receiving line they returned to the sanctuary and dismissed each row. They were able to greet each guest this way. What a great idea!


We danced the night away. The bride and groom left around 11:30 and the last few of us left at midnight. Now that's a party!


Keren was beautiful in her bridesmaid dress. She also sang at the reception.


WHM friends


The day after the wedding the New City folk were at my church for Palm Sunday. This is Kimiko's home church. My worlds came together and Randy coined the phrase "Philla-nooga."

Jim & Joan played a song during worship

More wedding pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monicatulip/sets/72157600039448276/

Thanks for all the "Happy birthday's." Each one was special!!!!

The staff decorated my office.


Leah, Brae, Amy: some of the girls that came to the Melting Pot for my birthday dessert.

Nostalgia.
Chatty found me in Birmingham!

Clumpies opened a store in B'ham about a year ago. LB and I passed it on our walk and I made a mental note. My cousin, Jordan, is a freshman at Samford in B'ham. He and I went out for Thai and then Clumpies for desserJordan. French silk tasted the same in B'ham as it does in Chatty.


Interesting March flavors. I tasted Guinness... let's just say it's much better as a drink.

Weekend in Birmingham, AL

LB took me to this great little place for brunch after our long walk.



Laura Beth



The cups and saucers were handpainted.



Brunch



We sat outside but inside was set up like a taste of Europe.



Here comes the bride.



Mr. & Mrs. Powell



LBT & Me



Yang & Me



Her parents bought her this veil in France a few years ago before she had even met Chris. Absolutely stunning!!!



Off to Chatty for their first night.



I snapped this from LB's sunroof as we drove home after the wedding. I was on a high. It was 74 degrees and beautiful. The weekend away was refreshing to my soul. It was a treat to be in the South again. People who you don't know actually smile as you go by. Thanks for hosting me, LB. You're welcome in Philly anytime.

Marissa Sheaman

Marissa and I first met through World Harvest at LEAP 2005. (http://whm.org/go/vision-trips/london) She came through Assessment & Orientation (A&O) in December. She did her undergrad in art at Westmont and then got her masters at Boston University in fine art in studio teaching. Check out her artwork online. http://www.zhibit.org/msheaman Excellent drawings, Marisssa!

She came to A&O with these crazy cats.

You know how you can be reading your friend's blog and they a link to their friend's blog and suddenly you find yourself reading blogs of people you don't even know? This happened to be today as I was reading Amy Smith's blog. She had a link to her friend Natalee's blog. I have no idea who Natalee is but her entry titled "Aromatherapy" ministered to my heart and soul this afternoon. Enjoy- soak it in...

You know how you can be reading your friend's blog and they a link to their friend's blog and suddenly you find yourself reading blogs of people you don't even know? This happened to be today as I was reading Amy Smith's blog. She had a link to her friend Natalee's blog. I have no idea who Natalee is but her entry titled "Aromatherapy" ministered to my heart and soul this afternoon. Enjoy- soak it in...

Aromatherapy

"For we are to God the aroma of Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:15

It was like a shot of adrenaline to read this the other day. I've read it many times, but something different happened that day.

It sunk it. A light came on. The Spirit breathed life into it.

I can't believe that I don't have to go around "striving" to be the aroma of Christ. I am. I already am. That is what Jesus did on the cross. He took away my stench, my rot, and instead when the Father sees me, He smells...inhales Jesus....

Like lavender, or night jasmine or bbq or garlic in wine and butter...but better, so much better.

I'm nothing short of lovely. Perfect. Miraculous. That's what Jesus did. He made an exchange. Him for me. Who He is for who I am.

What would it look like if I actually started believing this? Living like this is true. Like I have nothing to prove. What if I started dealing in the reality that there is a God and His relationship with me is one of Father. Friend. Dare I say, confidant, even?

Maybe it would be ok to feel pain. To heal. To not go around providing for myself. Maybe I wouldn't care what my house looked like. Maybe I would tithe more. My money worries would begin to melt. Maybe I would start praying for the house that I can't afford downtown because He can do that. Maybe I wouldn't clean as often or feel the need to read parenting books. Or maybe at times I would clean more often. Maybe I would buy that lavender fabric softener that is a bit more expensive or maybe I'd wait because He'd give me something better because He made me to like lavender fabric softener and He cares about that. Maybe I would quit my Bible study. Maybe I would never darken the doors of Wal-mart again. Perhaps I would seek first His kingdom because I desperately want others to experience His extravagance. Or maybe I would stand up for all of us mothers who get handed mothering "to do" lists and only get challenged to be "mothers" and nothing else by some. Maybe I would love and engage those people who tell me that instead of being synical. Perhaps I would start wearing pointy toed shoes occasionally and care to be feminine and beautiful. I might start to paint. Or not feel guilty that I'm not painting. Maybe I'd get over myself and put Abe in short-alls because I'm in Greenville. Music would be better. I'd probably laugh more. Or be ok when I'm not laughing.

Overall, resting in this Jesus...is better. Much better. I was able to rest today. And if He can do that for me...an anxious, fearful, disbelieving, guilty ridden woman...

Never mind what I said in my previous post about the snow melting...

The snow started to fall this afternoon and isn't supposed to stop until tomorrow night. I took this picture at a city park I enjoy visiting. The snow is a wet snow so you can hear the snow as it hits the ground & roof of the house.

This is the same park in November


Kids playing Ring Around the Rosy in the park


My shoes playing in the snow

Melted snow in Philly

The snow in Philly has pretty much melted. It's always pretty the first few days but then it turns into dirty slush mixed with ice. Dangerous combination. This is a picture of our house.

This afternoon I am at my favorite coffee shop in Chestnut Hill working on my finances. I haven't done budget maintenance for a quite a while so I'm tackling in one afternoon.

Hope whoever is reading this has a good weekend.

New Running Shoes

Talitha and I went on our first run together this afternoon. I christened my new shoes. There is such a difference in running in new shoes. It's still light when I get off work so there is more motivation to fun. Plus the weather is warming up which helps as well.

Donivan, are you reading this post?

If I write about YOU on my blog I expect you to read my blog. :-) It was a blessing to catch up with you last night on the phone. Thanks for the words of encouragement, your honesty and for asking questions that didn't allow an easy answer.