Las fotos

I do take occasional pictures during my travels. Check them out over here.

I'm learnin'

I've been blessed by female role models in my life. I pay homage to one below. Now I am trying to become one myself...a strong, independent, and godly woman who is an example to those younger than herself.
Oh, to find men who would do the same. That's what it would take for change.

ckhnat said...
Carmen, you know i'm all about *unique individualism*. You better not be turning into me!Although it is the most flattering thing in the world.You're welcome to try my clothes on ... but only until you figure out for yourself what it is you truly like. After that, go get your own wardrobe.(which I know you will ... i'm just teaching you what I have learned, young grasshopper. in the process you are developing your own philosophies in life and will surpass whatever your teacher has to offer you.)

I think I could fit into yours. I've grown a little more. And I just purged my closet. I'll be purchasing a new wardrobe as I travel the world this summer. I think I'll come visit you sometime. Standby tickets are the coolest...when's good for you this fall?

I'll definitely (and I have been) come into my own very soon. I am only grateful to have such a wonderful friend and role model to help me on my way.

They stole my name...

I heard today that the new Jolie-Pitt baby girl has an interesting name: Shiloh.
Now, I've liked that name since I was a really small girl. Nancy can vouch for me. I claimed that name for my eldest daughter a couple of years back. Now you can see I wasn't crazy. Angelina likes the name, too. They stole my name. Now I have to come up with another one. Maybe I'll steal their name and name my kid Jolie. Actually...hmm... that doesn't sound too bad...

La Iglesia

I've been thinking a lot lately about religion in Mexico. Probably because I'm IN mexico and i've been touring a lot of churches. It's really amazing how gory their depictions of the crucifiction are. I'm seeing more and more what i've always thought, and as Christine suggested, that they focus way too much on the death of Christ, and not on His resurrection and the life that He continually gives to us. It's true that the cross covers us, as my friend suggested. But I'm so glad that's not all of the story. If the story ended there, then I'd have nothing to believe in. I went to a different church today, and I expected another crucifix with a sad-looking, dead Christ. And yes, there was one near the front. But much larger, on the wall behing the pulpit, was a risen Christ with a glorious expression that beckoned all to share in His life that never ends. "Yes!" I thought. "That is my Christ".

OH, Mexico!

Cuernavaca, Mexico is a beautiful, ancient city. Today several of us walked downtown to see the cathedral. My, what a beautiful sight! The church complex was huge. It consisted of several chapels, and was made of solid stone. It took the Franciscans 60 years to build in the 1500s. Five hundred years ago--how could they do it? And mexico was merely a wild colony with minimal technology! Such devotion they must have had. Such a reverent, beautiful place. I have to cross myself, I cannot help it. Even the most rowdy renegade in our group has been transformed for a moment into a quiet admirer, with his hat crumpled in his hand.
Then we leave and cross the street. I must come back sometime, I think to myself. And I look up to see most of my group at the counter at the bar across from the cathedral with bottles of Dos Equis. I have to laugh. My, how the ambiance has shifted!

I do beg your pardon...

I do wholeheartedly apologize to Nancy and Christine. I did not realize I would be so sorely missed! You must understand, my mother forced me to pack all my things for mexico a couple of days ago...and the computer was included in those things. And then I went to the farm for a couple more days...but I did go to the mall in between and philosophize...yes, in the mall. I wondered over to the fish tank...and started wondering what the fish are thinking.
"Hey fish, I ate your brother yesterday."
"Great, I never really liked that little twerp anyway". Replied the fish...(at least in my mind)
Or perhaps he cries on the inside. I do too at times, little fish.
but the greatest thing is the tourists. With their disposable cameras.
"Oh, LOOK at those big fish!"
Great, all the tourists will go home and talk about is those great big fish they have in Savannah's bass pro shops.
"and this is the picture of the kids with that HUGE albino catfish..."
I can hear it now. A great coffee-table pic.
You have fun. I have a plane to catch.

Amen! I will survive!

A PRAYER FOR FINALS!!!
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not flunk;
He keepeth me from lying down when I should be studying.
He leadeth me beside the water cooler for a study break.
He restoreth my faith in study guides.
He leads me to better study habitsFor my grade's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of borderline grades,I will not have a nervous breakdown For Thou art with me.
My prayers and my friends, they comfort me.
Thou givest me answers in moments of blankness;
Thou anointest my head with understanding.
My test paper runneth over with questions I recognize.
Surely passing grades and flying colors shall follow me all the days of my examination,
And I shall not have to dwell in this university forever, AMEN!!!!!

Simple Blessings

Though I am often anxious to skip town, today I was captivated by the beautiful city I live in. I sat in the shade of a magnolia tree at Forsyth Park, pretending to do my homework. I watch people of all types...tourists, natives, students, dog-walkers...and i listen to Irish music emanate from some corner of the park. My Lord, what beauty you have created! Now i must return to my studies....but alas, I cannot! The beauty of the Father's radiance consumes me! And I am part of all this splendor, now how can that be? I watch the trolley full of tourists glide by on Drayton Street-they all stare and point-and I am part of the tour I see, a piece of the scenery. But besides from being amused, I am pleased to be a part of the magnificence I see today, only one small part. I rejoice in my lot! How thankful I am for life. How blessed and content my soul is.

Another midnight post for you to be proud of

The revelation occured to me only three weeks ago. I was downtown again, listening to a friend's band play at the Bean. I had brought some work with me, and I actually managed to finish some. As I put my books away, I began to listen more and observe my surroundings and all the interesting people that congregate at artsy coffee shops in the evening. A few tables in front of me sat a young couple...sitting rather close, but nothing innappropriate, very sweet, some would say. The man leaned forward and kissed his sweetheart's forehead, and she smiled with a slight blush. "Okay, that might have been rather sweet" I thought. "Lord, please allow me to....to..." but my thoughts stopped there! I was about to pray that one day I would have the same thing, the same romantic closeness that these two felt. But my heart and mind could not finish the prayer. I found myself not really desiring it at all...rather, i found myself completely content. All the loneliness I had felt recently was completely gone, the self-pity i had often felt at being young, lovely, and completely single turned instead to a mild form of pleasure. Before you judge and cry out that i need to be burned for heresy, do not yet condemn me for a heart of stone! I scarcely believe it myself! But it is true! I may still desire love, but is it wrong to say that right here, right now, i am content? That I ask for no more? That my cup runneth over? No, I think not! So free, but so very strange, methinks! Ah, I cannot help but smile. I know who I am and whose I am, and I am completely happy, with joy heretofore unknown. I believe I must revel in this! "Thank you God" I smiled, "You are all I need. This I have known. But now, for the first time, I can truly, honestly say that indeed, You are all I want!"

I suppose I could be mistaken for a large squirrel...

A few things have been on my mind lately, and though they have graced the pages of my beloved leather journal for a week or two already, I now find time to post them for all to see. I won't post them all at once, you'll have to keep checking back for more! But this restless soul also possesses a restless pen.
While sitting in Forsyth Park last weekend...
The poor, confused little grey-tail, what was he to do? He rushed toward me as if welcoming a long-lost brother. Imagine my surprise at being charged by a squirrel! As my wide eyes met his, he realized his mistake.
"A human!"
He whirled about and raced up a tree, leaving me with another excuse to take up pen and parchment to write of my strange, mundane adventures. Ah, the glory of a spring day at the park!

More to come, i promise you.