Posts tagged ‘inspiration’

Dec 1

Movie Quote Monday – Christmas Vacation

Clark: Ellen! I want to have Christmas here in our house. It means a lot to me. All my life I’ve wanted to have a big family Christmas.
–Ellen: It’s just that I know how you build things up in your mind, Sparky. You set standards that no family event can ever live up to.
Clark: When have I ever done that?

One of the things I loved as a kid was big family Christmases. We had Christmas Eve with my Mom’s side at our house, and at my grandparent’s house, there was always a huge gathering of family from my Dad’s side the weekend before or after. At times I’ve really mourned the loss of those. But in each case, the nuclear family switched at some point, from grandma and grandpa with their kids and grandchildren, to the new families being made. The grandkids were grown and having kids of their own, with their own time constraints and needs. Their own traditions.

For me, as a single person without kids, it’s a little different. I don’t really have a family tradition anymore, because it’s just me. And that can be a little sad sometimes – and in part it’s that loss of tradition that I’ve grieved for. But then I’m kind of a hermit, so mostly it’s all good. I get to go somewhere else, watch some presents get opened, eat, and then go home to my blessed quiet. But I do miss the excitement of seeing my extended family on those big family Christmases. And in my heart, that’s the image I cling to of what Christmas should be.

If you’ve ever seen Christmas Vacation, then you know that Clark’s hopes and dreams of what the holiday should be, well, they don’t pan out. His plans all go wrong, burn down, and pile up, one on top of the other, like the growing heap of ruined stuff he has to keep tossing out to the curb. Poor Clark.

But don’t worry about him, because if he’s anything, it’s hopeful. Maybe it does all fall down around his head, but in the end, so what? Maybe it’s not about what we want to get, but what we do get. Making the most out of that. No, making the best out of that.

Believing the best. Even when Christmas doesn’t deliver what we dreamed it would.

If Clark taught me anything, that would be it.

Merry Christmas, Sparky.

♥

Nov 25

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A visit to Watermark Farm

You guys, I had such a lovely day yesterday.

I visited Watermark Farm to interview owner Carolyn Congelosi for the podcast, and it was a beautiful day. Like springtime. Warm sunshine and a warm breeze, just divine.

We are just covered in trees – not that I don’t like trees. I love trees. But I also love the softly rolling hills here in Virginia, and you can’t really see to enjoy them unless you’re somewhere with open land. Fields and pastures and farms.

And so as I drove through the gate and onto the farm, it all just made me feel so happy. The open spaces, the green grass, the wooden fences, the grazing horses, the pretty buildings, the whole atmosphere. I loved being there, it was so comfortable and calm. Inviting.

Honestly, I could have just sat on the porch all afternoon. Just looking and enjoying. You know what I mean? Not thinking even. Just being there.

Carolyn was so welcoming too, and I met two of her boarders – well, horse and owners, so that’s 4, haha – who were also super nice. And then I hung out and took some pictures. Ok, more than some. You know me!

And when I left, my spirit was rejuvenated, refreshed, uplifted.

It was a lovely day.

Here is my interview with Carolyn: Carolyn Congelosi: Horse Expert and Owner of Watermark Farm

And here are some pictures:

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Nov 2

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the Infinite Monkey speaks: on the Jesus standard

Random brilliance from across the internet…

Loving people is sometimes hard work. Because they don’t always look like us, they don’t always act like we want them to act…they aren’t always nice to us. Sometimes the people that we are called to love are actually our enemies. That’s what Jesus has called us to do as his people. So loving people is hard, but we know that that’s the standard. That’s the foundation for everything that we do as followers of Jesus.