Monday, December 31, 2007

a verse from Toya on New Years Eve...

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

St. Teresa of Avila

Saturday, December 29, 2007

i like birds...


Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

-emily dickenson-

Friday, December 28, 2007

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

betcha been wondering how it went...

culinary master.

yes I have apron envy.

the boys doing what they do best.

wondering if my mom was taking a picture of me.

my favorite aiya.

mimi holding vaida rose.

s'mores with the uncles

getting in touch with their inner caveman

beautiful cousin Lauren aka "luren"
(can you tell by the last 2 pictures that matt needs to pee?)

the newest duke

patiently waiting.

the view: beautiful
the cabin: lovely
the kids: woke up early
the food: yummy
the gifts: thoughtful
my family: means the world to me.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Vacation at last...

whoa what a year....2007 has been interesting to say the least, and now here we are just days till Christmas. we are with out a doubt extremely blessed.

we are hear near gatlinburg...taking in the sights and breathing some fresh air. Spending time with some of our dearest friends and today for the first time in years all the Dukes will be under the same roof.

i am grateful today for the miracles of this season.

who doesn't have a camera? i dont. maybe i'll swing by walmart.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

tiny tots with their eyes all a glow...

"take a picture so I can eat it..." -Abraham

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

What's Bono got to do with it?

o how I need some life coaching...

Ok so I'm slightly bothered...(don't read this part boys) yes I have PMS.
Last night at work a dear partner (we'll call her partner A) announced in front of me that "Christianity is a cult."
She was responding to another partner's question (we'll call him partner B) about if we have seen the documentary "Jesus camp"
(I have not but I'm sure it's wacky or they wouldn't make a documentary about it) and he said that they're making Christianity seem like a cult...to which partner A answered
"Christianity is a cult."

That really upset me...she knows I'm a Christian.
*disclaimer*
People have seen the works of radicals and crazies and I know that these unappointed representatives impact people's thoughts, also people have taken religion to extremes and started cults while still calling it Christianity.

But I felt like partner A insulted me...I know she never would on purpose but sadly the "pms offense clause" doesn't give a provision for things done "not on purpose."
Honestly I'm sad she feels that way about Christianity...I'm sad that so many are hurt by the mishandling of the gospel.

Bottom line...I have to realize she was insulting a RELIGION as she knows it and I'm sure some of it is probably warranted. And in my attempts to be Christ-like I forgive her.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


“I don’t see Jesus Christ as being part of any religion,”
“Religion to me is almost like when God leaves – and then people devise a set of rules to fill the space.”
-BONO

Friday, December 14, 2007

no words

to express how hilarious it can be when an outside force disturbs our world as we know it. As many of you know (whomever you may be who actually reads my blog) I work at Starbucks. Our store is really not very trendy or cool...we are in an upscale part of town in front of a hospital and offices where we serve mostly engineers and doctors and high society socialites with handbags the size of my minivan. It's been brought up in conversations with district managers and others high up in the Co. that our store is "robotic" and "not warm" but I say we do a good job of matching the mood/personality of our customers. Did that sound mean? I'm not trying to be, it's just somewhat serious in our store...and that's the way it's always been. So just imagine with me if you will...it's about an hour into our morning rush, there is a line to the door when all the sudden a gypsy-like family of carolers with medieval instruments walk in the door mid song. At first I thought it was a siren of some kind...and then maybe a mariachi band...it was loud and twangy and really very cool but totally unexpected. They walked straight in like they owned the place and continued playing their song seeming totally unaffected by the blank stare that our customers offered them. It was as if time was in slow motion...PAINFULLY awkward to continue ringing customers whilst the unabashed expression of holiday cheer droned on completely unacknowledged. I found myself blushing and almost embarrassed by the situation. I was disappointed and yet not surprised that no one was clapping, or smiling and no longer making eye contact with the cheerful strangers...being a compulsive talker I muttered out something like "shouldn't we be dancing?" and then I resorted to humor by saying "security" when a particularly unamused co-worker walked over to me. I wish my kids could have been there...Abraham would have cut a rug. They finished the song and yes people did clap thank goodness. Oh and I think they had business fliers or some kind of literature but sadly nobody took one. It really was funny...and it broke up the monotony for about 5 minutes. Just as quickly as they came in they were gone and life went back to normal. I don't think I'll forget them for a while though...the cheerful strangers who showed me just how strange it can be when life as we know it is interrupted.

*thanks Carlos for telling me how to spell medieval


Thursday, December 13, 2007

it's time...


I'm baking this weekend!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

simplicity...

is the word that keeps going around and around in my mind. I am ready to simplify my life! Especially during Christmas...when did I decide that I would be stressed out during my favorite time of the year?


Sunday, December 9, 2007

nano, nano...


yeah that's right folks my 10 yr old is officially cooler than me!

silly girl!

Saturday, December 8, 2007