“In Flanders Fields”

A reminder of how this tradition came about.

Fernweh's Call

Apparently red poppies became the symbol for Memorial Day because of this 1915 poem. I share today with many thanks to the men and women who have served and sacrificed their lives in protection of our country.

BYJOHN MCCRAE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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TG’s Return!

It has been over THREE MONTHS but my housemate TG is finally returning from her three month stay in Oregon!

We are excited to have her back.

She has responded to our enthusiasm by going to her sister’s.

Reblog from Tori–Italy, Day 1: Duomo and Sleep Deprivation

If you don’t already follow her, may I bring to your attention my friend Tori and her recent posts about her trip to Italy? Her pictures are GORGEOUS!

I Say It Better In Writing

Alex and I went on a two week trip to ITALY! We somewhat impulsively bought tickets last August, and it’s been months of planning and getting ready. We got back on Saturday, and I want to do a major picture-dump and journal sketch so I can remember things later (and for anyone reading this if they’re interested). There’s a chance there’s some mistakes in here due to my jet-lagged brain (yay for my body still thinking it’s in Europe and waking up in the very early hours of the morning). But anyway unto the fun stuff.

Let’s skip over the technical day one of long flights, meh airport food, and getting maybe 2 hours of sleep on the plane, and get to the actual fun stuff. Italia

Man, even the train stations are breathtaking

So we land around noon in Milan, jet lagged but ready to hit the ground running…

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A Memorable Church

5 months later and today I became a member of this memorable church ❤ Thank you to everyone who walked with me through the last few years of searching for a place to call my spiritual home.

Fernweh's Call

Today I decided to visit a new church solo that I had heard some interesting things about. Somehow none of my co-workers attend this church (a remarkably difficult thing to find. This community isn’t that big.) The pastor greeted me after the service.

Pastor: *beaming* “And how did you hear about our church?”

Me: “At work. My co-workers talk a lot about this church.”

Pastor: *still beaming* “I’m delighted to hear someone is talking us up! Is it someone who attends here?”

Me: “Well, no….”

Pastor: *still beaming but starting to look confused*

Me: “You’re a liturgical, charismatic Anglican church. Pretty unique.”

Pastor: *with flair* “This is true!”

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Gluten Free Soft Pretzels

Today my housemates and I hosted our regularly scheduled game night and DJ made soft pretzels. She did a marvelous job. Most notably, she made them gluten free.

It was a long, dramatic baking experience almost worthy of the Great British Baking Show (okay, maybe not) and at one point when the dough wouldn’t rise, I’m convinced I heard her say: “Why am I doing this?”

But then TG (our newest housemate and the one with the most serious gluten allergy) came home and gaped at the amount of food spread out and ready for her. “Cookies? Tacos? Pretzels? I’ve never even had a soft pretzel!” she announced.

To which DJ looked shocked and announced: “THAT is why I do what I do.”

And hey, none of us are complaining.

You can find the recipe she used here.

6 AM Flight

I really, really need to stop booking 6 am flights.

What’s-His-Name

I attend the campus off-shoot of a large mega church in the greater DC area. The pastor is 43 but I think he could pass for a college kid. Because of this, when I started attending I nicknamed him “Bran” after one of my favorite characters in the Mercy Thompson series. Bran is a werewolf who leads all the North American werewolves but looks like a teenager. Don’t judge me too hard.

So when I said: “Oh, look! It is the pastor!” I meant this particular lead pastor.

And my friend looked surprised and said: “Which one?” All I could think of was…Bran.

So I told her: “Oh, you know, the head pastor.”

And she went: “Donny?”

And I knew that wasn’t it. But all I could think of was Bran, Bran, Bran.

But I wasn’t going to admit to her that I was thinking about werewolves so I said: “The one who talks most mornings.”

And she went: “Britton?”

But I knew that wasn’t it either. So I said: “The lead pastor.”

And she just stared at me blankly because WHO FORGETS THE NAME OF THE PASTOR WHO PREACHES EVERY SUNDAY MORNING?

Bran.

Me, apparently.

And that’s how I forgot David Platt’s name.

Fridge!

This is just a note to say OUR FRIDGE ARRIVED. (For context, see my earlier post.)

Yes, only a week after the old one died. Miraculous.

It is 4 inches deeper and very shiny. We definitely got the better end of this deal.

Maybe the bathtub needs to irreplaceably break…?

The Month-Long Move

“Aren’t you done moving yet?” ~ everyone who has seen me over the last week.

I’m still moving.

I pack things in boxes. I move them. Sometimes I unpack them. Rinse and repeat. I’m going to have amazing calves by the end of this.

It is a frustratingly slow process.

But my books are moved and all on shelves. Progress!

Conference Dress Code

“Some people dress up for the banquet at the end.”

10 words. It took 10 words to throw all my careful wardrobe planning into a spiral. Because when you are dressing business professional and are a man, “dressing up” for a banquet changes very little. Straighten your tie or something. But as a woman, professional dressed up and banquet dress up mean totally different outfits.

You see, my work hosts a conference each year. It is a big deal, quite fancy. And I can’t get a straight answer about the dress code.

The problem, I’m discovering, is not that women don’t attend the conference. They do. Even female staff do. It is just that they’ve never had a female attorney attend the conference in the particular capacity I am in. So, while other departments might send around a memo that the banquet at the end involves something a little more black tie, no one in legal thought to drop me a hint.

The joys of all male co-workers.

On the bright side, I work with homeschoolers. I could probably show up in a jean jumper and no one would blink an eye.