a backyard adventure

-A last morning at home before heading back to Atlanta. Lured by the light streaming in the french doors from the backyard, I took my coffee and walked around. I loved the light coming through the trees, and the cool morning breeze.

-The smell of honeysuckle. There's nothing like it. I'll never be too old to gingerly pull out the stamens to trap a delicious drop of honey to eat.

-This is Zulu. I know, he looks pretty mean, but he's actually quite friendly. Zulu is an African guinea that my parents own (mostly so he can eat all of the garden pests). I had a great time building trust with Zulu, and getting him to come closer and closer as I fed him. His face takes some getting used to, but his intricate grey and white spots are mesmerizing.

strength in numbers

-The delicious taste of fruit crumble topped with vanilla ice cream. The cinnamony crunch, warm fruit and cool ice cream was delicious.

-There's something powerful about hanging out with my mom, sister and niece. Having three generations of women in one place is just comforting and empowering.

-Sitting on the beach, feeling the warm breeze and reading a book (for fun, not school) and looking out on the grey-teal ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.

she's gorgeous!

happy birth day!

I'm an Aunt! Natalie Sofia Patranella was born today, and I can't wait to meet her very soon. I am so thankful to God for such a gift of grace. This day will always be a reminder of God's grace in her.

hi honey

-Sitting outside with Katy and Will on a blanket and enjoying the spring weather. We also enjoyed red wine and crackers topped with asiago cheese and acacia honey. It was a messy, delicious and refreshing time.

-Breakfast with Song, where we both gushed about our dream futures and plans, and discussed how great it would be to both meet up in Korea at some point in our lives.

-Wearing my grandmother's earrings, and feeling somehow more connected with my family.

stretch, strong, sky

-A good stretch after a great night's sleep.

-Feeling really empowered.

-A pink and purple evening sky.

snickers, tea, scene

-Getting to hang out with my friend's dog Snickers for the weekend. My friends are out of town, so I'm watching there adorable dog. It's so great to have a dog around!

-A cuppa tea. I know I blog about tea a lot, but it's amazing how it just makes you feel so good.

-Participating in the Columbia talent show by doing a one-act play with a friend. I've never really acted before (other than being Juliet in fifth grade) and it was really fun. Everyone was so supportive afterwards, and all of the other acts were so funny.

sundae, scottish, support

-Since my pictures made many of you drool on your computers, I thought I would have another food-related glimpse: delicious Ben & Jerry's "Vermonty Python" ice cream (coffee liqueur ice cream with a cookie crumb swirl) to celebrate a day so warm I kept my windows open.

-Sharing a cuppa tea with the Scottish computer tech who came and fixed my laptop. He appreciated me recognizing his accent as Scottish and I appreciated getting to talk about Northern Ireland.

-Feeling really supported.

now we're cookin'

-Feeling really inspired to cook again. I was craving chicken enchiladas, and so I made them from scratch with fresh tomatillos, onion, tortillas, pepper jack cheese and chicken. I love tomatillos--they're like tomato's funky cousin. They're not at all as tame as tomatoes, but instead are tangy and green, and like little presents all wrapped up in their coverings. I believe I've finally succeeded in making enchiladas...they were muy deliciosa!

-Someone coming by right at the moment I was unsuccessfully trying to prop open the garbage bin lid while hoisting my trash bag into it. He held the lid open for me and made the entire process much easier.

-An adorably tiny daffodil plant to remind me of Ireland and spring.

thirsty, thoughtful & punchy

-Watching a little bird land right on a water dish, get a sip, and then fly off again.

-My Puerto Rican professor addressing a student from Peru named Richard as Ricardo. I could tell he appreciated being spoken to with his name pronounced correctly, and that little gesture made by my professor was very thoughtful.

-A night out to dinner with friends where everything was, for some reason, hilarious. We all just cracked jokes and laughed those really good, deep belly laughs. It was so fun.

weird, relaxing, free

-During the children's sermon on Easter, I read the resurrection story, but had the kids say "Allelujah" every time I said "Jesus." They went along with it, and even said some "Allelujahs" in the middle of my prayer. Once I said amen, the little boy next to me muttered to himself "that was weird." I laughed out loud. At least he'll remember the weirdness of his Easter.

-Being taken to lunch by Arch and Pat, and having a great view of Stone Mountain Park. It was delicious and really relaxing.

-Getting free pizza from Melissa's brother who works at a shop, and spending the afternoon munching on pizza while Melissa read me her seminary application essays. They were so good that I got a bit teary from a couple of them.

chat, look closely and clean

-A fun night at Thinking Man's with seminary friends. Conversation topics included a discussion of whether the Quran was allowed to be read in Arabic or not, random singing of church camp songs and the struggles and challenges in discerning a call. I think these kind of discussions only happen in seminary.

-Buying flowers for Easter and studying the detail, texture and colors closely, thinking I just may see God.

-Finally getting long overdue cleaning done and feeling the relaxation that comes with a tidy apartment.

sticking around, confiding, whooshing

-When I was finishing up schoolwork at my favorite coffee shop, they suddenly started playing really lovely Irish music. I decided to hang out a bit longer and enjoy it.

-Someone beginning a conversation with "I'm telling you this as my Pastor..."

-The whoosh sound of sugar being poured into my sugar bowl.

so generous! & oh the places you will go

-I went by Jessi's room and saw that she had some really lovely earrings on her dresser. She said that she made them (which she does really well) and that she got the glass beads in Mexico. Then, she gave them to me, saying she could easily make some more. So thoughtful!

-Getting an email from a great old friend, Andrea. She's from Germany, and we both worked in Northern Ireland at the same time. It was great to catch up and she even invited me to her wedding in September! So thoughtful! I hope I'm near there in September, and can make it.

-From my window I can see planes flying behind the trees like flashing, shooting stars. I love to dream about where they're going.

rock & egg

-While we were reading scripture aloud in church, the teenage girl sitting next to me gave me a rock sign at the part saying that Jesus appeared first to the women. After church, she told me that she thought this was Jesus' way of challenging patriarchy and valuing women. I agree!

-Watching a beloved movie and saying all the lines along with it.

-The enthusiasm of kids & youth hunting Easter eggs.

lent berries, craic, dance

-The way raindrops dress every plant in dazzling, clean, color-accentuating clothes. (An aside: you know you've been in seminary too long when you name a picture like this "Lent Berries." Haha!)

-Lots of good friend time...what N. Irish folks call "good craic." Maybe it's catching up after my trip, or the realization of only two months left here, or the procrastination of my midterm work, but I've spent a lot of time with great friends this week.

-Seeing Karen preach and then perform one of the most heartfelt and joyful liturgical dances I've seen. I found myself teary (but things seem to affect me emotionally more these days...children laughing, the strum of a guitar...I think I'm coming into a season of vulnerability and openness before God. It's wonderful.).

a great day

-Sitting outside and hanging out with a friend in the first warm evening of spring. We had a great time catching up, and even saw a shooting star. When discussing that this time of waiting feels for me like a very long Lent, she said, "no, Whitney, you're not in Lent. You're in Advent. You're waiting with hope."

-A day full of fun times with friends: Mexican food for lunch, smoothies in the afternoon and a 'Girls' Night' movie fest.

-Birds enthusiastically chirping.

a pilgrimage home to belfast

How do I even begin to describe all the ways I encountered God in Belfast? God was everywhere, and it's hard to even put most of these encounters into words, but I'll try.

Seeing the Botanic Gardens again. Melissa and I walked Goldie through the gardens, and were in complete shock that we were actually there again.

Having coffee and a cinnamon scone at Common Grounds once again. I used to go here all the time, and it tasted just the way it used to. It was such a centering, comforting experience.

The wonderfully giving and kind dog Goldie.

Meeting new friends and seeing old ones again.

Seeing Melissa, who I used to work at Mo Ranch with years ago. I haven't seen her in almost 5 years, and apparently Ireland was where we would meet again.

a pilgrimage home to belfast

-Getting a pennywhistle serenade from a little girl I used to work with.

-Gorgeous daffodils signaling an Irish spring is on its way.

-Seeing Lois and Peter again--three years older, lots taller--and just as hilarious.

-Hanging out with Roberta. She's such a great, funny friend.

-Belfast city centre looking lovely in oddly sunny weather.

a pilgrimage home to belfast

-Busking in the city centre of Belfast with Melissa and Jonee (and pretending to be like 'Once').

-Joanna and Richard.
-Singing songs on our last night and reveling in the joy and sadness of it.

-Having someone next to me on the plane who understood my sadness at leaving, and cried with me.
-Feeling really, really called to a place.

the road goes ever on and on...

-Warm sunshine on my face.

-My friend Marc's hilarious magic show. He puts them on for the seminary every so often, and he's a riot.

-A journey! I'm off to Belfast, Northern Ireland tomorrow morning for a week, and am so ready for my former and current life to converge. I can't wait to see familiar faces, drink a decent cuppa tea, have an Ulster fry for breakfast, pet my friend's dog Goldie, walk along my former paths, see that brilliant green again...

trusting the light

-Waking up with no power. We had a huge storm last night, and so I didn't have power for the the first part of the morning. There was something organic and whole-feeling about getting ready by candlelight and daylight. I felt somehow more earthy, and leaving my hair wet and wearing little makeup was refreshing.

-The tiny bubbles that form on the inside of my vase of flowers. Millions of tiny bubbles cling to the stems and clothe them in light-reflecting beauty.

-Getting my hair cut at a Korean place with my friend Sharon. She translated for me in the beginning, and I showed the woman cutting my hair a picture of what I wanted. As she cut my hair faster than I've ever seen (almost Edward Scissorhands-esque) I felt a moment of panic at the different way she was doing it. Then, I thought that I just had to trust her. There was no way I would even be able to communicate my anxiety to her, so I just sat and trusted. I left with one of the best haircuts I've ever had and a soothing complimentary cup of green tea. It seems God is teaching me a lot about trust lately.

talk, relax, feel

-A really engaging class discussion that connected ministry experience I've had with theology.

-A fun, relaxing night hanging out with friends.

-The feel of spring in the air.

chicken soup for the soul

-Closing an incredibly fun week of leading chapel at seminary. My group was fantastic, and our collective creativity gave me a new love of crafting worship.

-The way that homemade chicken noodle soup made by someone else always tastes better.

-Serving communion to Laura, my former pastor. It was so meaningful.

joy, warmth, beauty

-Having the Korean Hope Choir from Seoul on campus. There were about 20 people all together, and then came into the library for a tour and an impromptu (heartbreakingly beautiful) song. My friend Jae was hosting them, and he invited me over to meet them. I've learned a bit of Korean from Jae, and so I greeted them all by saying, "Ano ha sei oh." They all replied in suprise, "OH!!!" and said "Ano!" Everywhere I went on campus I kept running into them, and they would always say "ano ha sei oh whi-tu-nee!" They were the most joyful people I've met in a long time.

-Socks keeping my feet nice and warm.

-Dreaming of emerald green and royal blue oceans.

reconnecting and recharging

-This morning's chapel service. It's my chapel week, and we included a ritual of unbinding of a "Lazarus" figure (i.e. "Unbind him and let him go."). People in the pews participated, and it was so moving to engage in the ritual with a former pastor of mine who is in town.

-An unexpected 2 hours added to my day (class cancelled). I really needed that time.

-A letter from Belfast! Oh, the joy of a physical connection to a place I love. The stamp, the 'Royal Mail Northern Ireland' across the top and even the date listed day-month-year all give me joy. This time the letter's from my friend, Jonee. He's my poet friend, and even wrote me a little fun poem in the letter. In response to my letter saying we should have a pint when I'm there (10 days!!), he said, "definitely, I should be about the time you are over, and a pint would go down very nicely." I can't wait to hear the accent that matches such an interesting use of words.

great expectations

-A bright orange and red sky on Valentine's Day.

-My wonderful friend Elizabeth bringing me cold-relieving items: a copy of Elle magazine, Twinings Lady Grey tea, chicken noodle soup and kleenex (the fancy kind with lotion). Even the most independent of people (i.e. me) appreciate a little pampering from someone when they're sick.

-The way that being sick forces me to relax in the middle of a really busy time. Getting ridiculous amounts of sleep, watching dvds, letting the dishes pile up and walking around in pajamas are expected behavior. How nice.

loving the world all over again

-Sue's wonderful sign/coat rack/art by her door from the story people. It says: "Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me, but try waking up every morning & loving the world all over again. That's what takes a real hero."

-A stranger pulling foward in their parking spot to let me in behind them.

-Running into friends in the grocery store.

(oh--one more! Getting letters and emails from Belfast, which get me so ready to reconnect with those wonderful people in 16 days--not that I'm counting!)

whisper, relax, love.

-Pink blossoms whispering of spring.

-A really low-key and relaxing get-together, complete with tales of world travel and impromptu dancing.

-The sweet older man who, in lieu of the usual perfunctory handshake, gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek as he left church and thanked me for being the liturgist.

ease, gifts and joy

-Having coffee and yummy bakery bread at an early morning meeting, making it more comforting, relational and casual.

-Hearing a classmate who I had no idea could sing belt out "Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley." The wealth of gifts in this place is amazing.

-Dancing in my belly dancing class and realizing with joy that I kept smiling while doing it. I love it.

lenten the journey begin

-Helping lead the Ash Wednesday service (the beginning of Lent) and giving out the ashes to people saying, "remember you are from dust and to dust you shall return and God's love is yours forever." I wore a stole and felt for the first time very much like a minister of Word and Sacrament drawing crosses on foreheads and squeezing praying hands.

-Arch taking me robe shopping. I know that shopping for any sort of clothes is not at the top of most men's list, and so I appreciated the thoughtfulness, support and patience he showed me.

-Helping co-plan a sermon for youth Sunday with a young person, and being remarkably wowed by the movement of the Spirit in our planning and surprising energy at the end of a long day.

tell me all about myself

-In our first confirmation class, we had each youth tell five things about themselves to the group. When it was my turn, because they all know me pretty well, I had them tell me things about myself. I was amazed at all that they remembered: that my car is always too cold, that I love talking to strangers when travelling, that I'm from Texas, that I went to Texas A&M, that I lived in Northern Ireland and that I play guitar. They were all talking over each other excitedly to tell me about myself. It was really encouraging and centering.

-Sleeping amazingly soundly after a long, warm bath.

-The smell of chocolate brownies baking.

let it be

(I've been in Birminham for a couple of days visiting a good friend.)

-Constant and comfortable conversation as we cooked, ate and relaxed.

-Pierce praying for me before dinner and including prayer not only to bless our food, but also prayer for my call and future. The sincerity of her prayer made me feel so cared for.

-Waking up from sunlight--not an alarm--streaming into the room and gently letting me know morning had come.

-Stopping on the way home at the Irondale Whistlestop Cafe in Alabama. This is the site of the book and movie "Fried Green Tomatoes." I had them and, along with a coke in a glass bottle, they were delicious. Watching the train go by the window, I wondered how many people had done the exact same thing before me for decades.

-My mind racing with questions about the future, only to be silenced by the radio playing "Let it Be." Okay, God. I get the hint (remind me later, please?).