Dusk

We went for a walk through a marsh at dusk last night. It was beautiful. Birds were singing, the sun was setting over distant hills, and the honey-like scent of cottonwood and wild roses lingered in the air.

I've always felt so in awe of those magical moments in time that seem like incredible gifts coming directly from God. They're as if He's stretching out his hand, letting us peek in and gasp in amazement as this magnificent aura seeps out and overwhelms us with its beauty. The marsh last night was like this. Unfortunately my camera does not bode well in low light, so very few of the pictures taken are worth sharing...

May Musings

Life has been plodding along in a rather satisfactory and steady manner lately. Thankfully April didn't decide to live up to its name as far as weather goes - it has been quite lovely outside this past month. A little while ago I cleared out my closet, pulled out my Summer clothes, and have been enjoying being able to go outside with just a light summery dress on. 

READING

Just Send Me Word by Orlando Figgs.

A fascinating novel and true story about love and survival in the Russian Gulag.

PLAYING

A far bit of Domenico Scarlatti.

I am not too familiar with his music, but lately I've quite enjoyed sight-reading his sonatas.

THINKING

About what my summer will be like ... it will be quite the contrast from last year's summer since I will be working full time. 

I do hope I will have time to spend on art, though, something of which I've been neglecting lately.

COOKING

The most delicious red wine and garlic mushrooms sautèed in a pan. Recipe here.

GARDENING

My annual potted herbs that I harvest for tea. I love my little garden - I have four varieties of mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lavender, and a few more. I find gardening to be such a soothing hobby and it is so nice to have something to take care of and check up on every day.

DREAMING

About writing a novel. Dozens of ideas for a plot and characters have been popping into my head lately.

I've wanted to write a novel since I was a little girl, but it's just a matter of enough time to do it...

WALKING

Down to the beach almost every day. I hope I will always be able to live next to the ocean - it's basically been my back yard for as long as I can remember, and I just can't imagine it not being so.

Discoveries

I've had quite the year. It's been a journey into discovering myself on a deeper level than I have ever before. Ultimately, it's been in Him that I've been finding myself. With the help of His grace, my faith has been, slowly but surely, strengthening. I think that the moment I really started to understand this was when I came back from the Peru mission trip last August. It was a trip that I can only feebly attempt to describe in words. It was an experience that wove this rich fabric in my soul, filled with intricate designs, embroidered by His grace. My eyes opened to witness a world I had always known existed, but was afraid to enter into. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to touch the Peruvian people's lives, and in turn, have them touch my life in a way I never knew was possible. The people in Piura have little material things, and yet the love in their hearts - the love they uphold for their family and community - gave them so, so much.

On my flights coming home from the mission trip, I remember having this burning desire within me to stay in Piura, and to live amongst the poor there. I didn't want to come back home to North America - a lost, materialistic nation governed by narcissism and greed. But then, one day, I happened across some words of Blessed Mother Teresa's:

"Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone."

Find your own Calcutta. Upon reading these words, I knew, with a sudden urgentness, that I am called to stay right where I am. Perhaps, some day, I will again journey out to the third-world as a missionary, if He wills it. However, for now, I know that it is here that He wants me to spread the glory of His Word. Here, in a country starved of Love; or rather, a country that has starved itself of Love.