What's the Happs?

So we've been busy lately to say the least. Two of my cousins are staying in the area from out of town, sometimes at our place. The upsides are that they like to help with the kids and we get to do cool things because they're here. Example, Disneyland. Now I'm not the biggest fan of the Crowdedest Place on Earth but we did have lots of fun. Aaron and I got to ride some big kid rides, too! Oh and fyi, the new Space Mountain is cool but I miss the old track. The babes liked all of the activity...Basil has been playing Captain Hook ever since the trip, and Juliana well, she's just cute :) Oh, and she's been taking steps!! She likes to surprise us, though. She'll act scared and resistant when we do the "walk to Mommy" thing but I've caught her several times treking across the living room on foot! Sneaky bean!

The pictures...leftward, my mom and J at disneyville; above, me and J (at least no one will doubt she's my daughter); what a blog post without a photo of Basil??!!

What else? It's hot. It's humid, you'd think we'd moved to Puerto Vallarta with the tropical rains at night and the warm, sweaty clouds. Nothing that a cold glass of water, a trip to the beach, a dip in a pool, or a sprinkler can't help, though.

My munkee (the bearded fool on the left) is heading across the continent later this week to visit some friends in New York and attend Beniy and Elizabeth's wedding (the bearded groom on the right). Pray for traveling mercies and a blessed marriage, if you think of it.

That's all for now...cheers!

A Lyrical Master, Poetic Genius, Iconic Wordsmith

Yes, none other than Bob Dylan. I have always loved his music and after viewing a PBS: American Masters documentary on a portion of his life, I feel like I kind of got to "know" the guy. The Plew family stereo has been known to emit many-a Dylan tune, especially during food preparation. I think this song is a good example of what we really like about him. Aaron sent these lyrics to me today, I thought they were worthy of a blog at least. Here you have it...

Every Grain of Sand

In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There's a dyin' voice within me reaching out somewhere,
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.

Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake,
Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break.
In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.

Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer.
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.

I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.

I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintry light,
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space,
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face.

I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.

Wisdom

But when the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of a person, He shows him all his inner poverty and weakness, and the corruption of his heart and soul, and his separation from God; and with all his virtues and righteousness.

He shows him his sins, his sloth and indifference regarding the salvation and good of people his self-seeking in his apparently most disinterested virtues, his coarse selfishness even where he does not suspect it. To be brief, the Holy Spirit shows him everything as it really is. Then a person begins to have true humility, begins to lose hope in his own powers and virtues, regards himself as the worst of men.

And when a person humbles himself before Jesus Christ Who alone is Holy in the glory of God the Father, he begins to repent truly, and resolves never again to sin but to live more carefully. And if he really has some virtues, then he sees clearly that he practiced and practices them only with the help of God, and therefore he begins to put his trust only in God.

St. Innocent of Irkutsk, Indication of the Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven

Summer, Summer, Summertime

Although summer still technically looms six days in the future, unofficially the hoses are a-flowin' and the babies are napping in nothing but diapers (well, undies for the big boy). They are really so sweet when they're sleeping.

Check out this baby my talented father gave us. We found it on craigslist for 100 bucks and my dad built out the platform above the slide into a nice sized playhouse area. There is a regular swing, a baby swing and a bar with hangy-down handles. I need to make a new canvas covering for it...the kids absolutely love it. Aaron and I want to put the plastic pool at the end of the slide...better do that while they're napping :) Oooh, I could go do it right now!

It's good to have a camera again.

Are You Smile Savvy?

Try this test to find out. Pretty interesting.

Surprisingly, I got 17 out of 20 correct.

Have a good weekend.

Thursday, Glorious Thursday

Well, most importantly today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of Christ in the Orthodox world.

When Thou didst fulfill the dispensation for our sake, and didst unite earth to heaven, Thou didst ascend in glory, 0 Christ our God, not being parted from those who love Thee, but remaining with them and crying: I am with you and no one will be against you! (Kontakion).

And as a close runner up, it's the one night a week I have to myself! A group of girls -- some moms, some single -- have started meeting on thursday nights to hang out, sip coffee, talk and read aloud. We recently started Sr. Magdalen's Children in the Church Today. It has been such a refreshing thing to look forward to each week...I can actually hold an entire conversation without interruptions!! Plus, Aaron and the kids seem to enjoy their time together. After thursdays, the weekend seems to slip into place.

Hopefully, I can get some projects done this weekend...sewing some gifts and a blanket for Basil's bed -- his light ones are finally too small for his sprouting body and his favorite heavy fleece one is just too hot. The garden also needs some tlc.

Well, I'm off...have a blessed Ascension and a warm weekend.