(don't forget!)

Celebrate 5 years of glimpsing grace with me:

Here are the details of how you can celebrate with me:

1. Record a glimpse of grace of your own, including a picture if you want. 
2. Email it to me at revwhit11@hotmail.com along with your first name andwhere you're from (please try to get it to me by Friday, October 14).
3. I'll post them all on Monday, October 17 and we'll have a birthday party worthy of Bilbo!

Thanks for being a part of my journey these past 5 years.  I look forward to celebrating with you!

Peace,
Whit

golden & delightful

-Golden sunlight pouring in the window.  I love this time of day.

-The smell of cookies baking.  Is there anything better?  (Okay, eating those fresh-baked cookies is better.)

-A precious little boy in the hospital who was genuinely delighted that I visited him and waved enthusiastically as I left.

shining moments

-Leading worship at Nicea Presbyterian (one of my absolute favorite congregations) and noticing the beautiful light of the stained glass window illuminating the floor with vibrant colors.

-The north star shining brightly in a velvety dark sky.

-Having a cup of rich coffee with my Grandmother.

Gigi's birthday!

It's my birthday, y'all.  I'll wear as many necklaces as I want to!

Today, we celebrated Gianna's second birthday.  From the second we knocked on the door and she shouted with glee from the window, we knew this gal was excited it was her birthday.  Though, excited is just part of Gigi...she gets pretty ecstatic about everything (cd cases, plastic necklaces, wearing shoes to bed etc).  It was so much fun, and of course, I had to take lots of pictures of all of the festivities.

 

Big sis Natalie celebrating.

Grandmother holding sweet Olivia (her Great-Granddaughter) for the first time.

The giant chocolate chip cookie I made for Gigi.  It's sort of a (sweet, decadent) family tradition. (Here's the recipe!)

Big cookie & big candles for a little girl.

Gigi blowing out her candles.

Mmm.

Now it's a party!

Present time!

Natalie got a wonderful present of a Tinkerbell costume (which she immediately put on).

Gigi looking at her colorful children's Bible paraphrased by Desmond Tutu and illustrated by people from around the world (you can guess which nerdy minister-type gave that to her...)

This train was a HIT! She had so much fun zooming around.

(Blurry 'cause I'm moving so fast!)

My fabulous Sista and me.

 Gigi and her new Abby doll cuddling.

Nonnie and Olivia cuddling.  (And a few more pics of that precious brand new angel...)

She's just perfect.  I love all that hair! 

Such a fun little family celebration of this independent, hilarious, boisterous, delightful niece of mine!

heavy as a feather

I have a heavy heart today because of the execution of Troy Davis.  I think a lot of us do.  But even (and especially) on days that are wearying, it's important to look for grace.  So here are my glimpses from today:

-A fluffy white feather gently resting on my car windshield until it whooshed off with the wind.

-Today's my wonderful friend Jessi's birthday.  She's such an important part of my life.  Happy birthday, Jessi!

-Finding myself preaching (to myself) whilst driving around running errands.  That was my cue it was time to put my sermon down on paper (er, laptop).  True enough, it all came in one rapidly inspired hour.

my circles

-The first breathtaking notes of The Mission soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, heard on vinyl from my record player.  I like the occasional crackle, making it more grounded and relatable.

-Pirouetting my way into the kitchen — just because I felt like it.

-A familiar voice on the phone.

You're Invited!

Monday, October 17 will be my Glimpses of Grace 5th birthday, and I want YOU to celebrate with me!  

Here's the deal: I'm inviting you to email me a glimpse of holiness/joy/whimsy/grace you experienced, with a picture if possible.  It can be from something in your past, or something in the next month.  Remember folks, there's nothing too random or small.  (I do believe I've glimpsed grace in an abandoned kazoo box.) No pressure, clearly.  I know that you blog buddies are from all over (Norn Iron, Ireland, Indonesia, Canada, England, Scotland, USA and other places).  Some of you are old friends and some of you I've never met but are part of my community here.  I want to include all of you!

Here are the details of how you can celebrate with me:

1. Record a glimpse of grace of your own, including a picture if you want.
2. Email it to me at revwhit11@hotmail.com along with your first name and where you're from (please try to get it to me by Friday, October 14).
3. I'll post them all on Monday, October 17 and we'll have a birthday party worthy of Bilbo!

Thanks for being a part of my journey these past 5 years.  I look forward to celebrating with you!

Peace,
Whit

beautiful dereliction

Glen Flora: what a remarkable ruin of a ghost town.  I've posted some pictures from Glen Flora before, but I had the chance to make a quick jaunt there on the way back from Houston and found my camera (and dog, who was enamored with every single grass burr to be found) to be very enthusiastic about the place.  In taking pictures I was trying to capture the mystery of the place: how dereliction that should be depressing has a beauty all its own, how the walls left standing seem to have personalities, and the air seems thick with a history lost but not entirely forgotten, at least by the dilapidated remnants remaining.  It's a whimsical place, where friendly folks stroll through antique stores and stop to pet your dog, and flowers valiantly bloom in the middle of cracking concrete and crumbling bricks.  So make yourself a wee cuppa tea and amble through the ruins with me, will ya?  And if you ever find yourself Inthemiddleofnowhere, Texas between Houston and Victoria, take the time to discover Glen Flora for yourself.

 This is a picture of the same doorway in the last picture, only with direct sunlight pouring into the camera.  I think it looks haunted, or underwater.

 The original Giving Tree, perhaps?

 There was something forlorn and slightly eerie about this fan moving wistfully with the wind.

Hayden made friends with a lovely lady in a necklace.  I think he was smitten, but I told him that only floozie dogs wear necklaces like that. :)

He made another (less polite) friend, whom we can call Clifford.

I wish I knew the story of Glen Flora.  Nature is just taking back over.  If those crumbling walls could talk...