Quote-ables.

This week's post is once again pertaining to music, so if you want to quote it then you will have to learn the song.

FORGIVEN, by Skillet, off their latest album, Awake.



As there is no official music video for this song, this scrolling lyrics video was the best that I could come up with off of YouTube (I try to spend as little time as possible on there).

I love this song. Not only because it is written by my favorite band/favorite singer (who conveniently is part of my favorite band...), but because it is a seriously good song! The music (Great little repeating piano part!) is very complex, but is still very pleasing. The lyrics, which are about the forgiveness and grace of God, are pretty much the best part; if you get by the cheesiness of the video you might find yourself liking them a lot...

If one was to get a hold of my ipod and scan through my most played songs, this one would find itself pretty close to the top of that list.

Side Effects of Eating Toothpaste...

Toothpaste for Dinner. Oddly humored, terribly drawn, messily written comics. Some of which are funny and this be one of them...

Or at least I, the pirate, think it is funny. If I had a hook hand I would keep my Etsy receipts on it...

(*DISCLAIMER.* You people have been lied to. Real pirates didn't have hook hands. Only the guy who liked to fight an immature boy in green tights and run from a large, ticking reptile. Silly fantasy pirates, they've ruined it for the rest of us rogues.)

Amigurumi Improvements....

Remember my new thing for amigurumi? Well, I made another and he is much better (and cuter) than the first.

Today was sister #2's 11th birthday. Happy Birthday, "T!"
Last week she was envious of my cat, Cummerbund, and begged to have him (not sure why she liked it so much....).

So, I made another, in orange, her favorite color, and I am actually quite pleased with how he came out. She named him James (again, not sure why...).
He is a cutey-pants. Only...he isn't wearing any. He only wears a tie. And it is massively adorable.


Unfortunately, now siblings 3- 7 want amigurumi animals and sister #7 actually just wants THAT very one, from the birthday girl. She yells "Jeemes! Jeeemessss!" ("James") repeatedly until 'T' hands it to her. I guess I'd better get busy...

Creativity; both curse and blessing. :)

Hopefully, I will be able to improve on this Japanese art form and get some up on Etsy/Artfire. Then you can get them for all the children in your lives!

Beside the Seaside.

I love the beach.

I love salt water. I'm a pirate, of course I love the ocean...
(I don't really like sand, but it is hard to avoid so...I put up with it. ) I love the hot sun, running around throwin' Frisbees, and sticking seaweed on people's heads. Jet skiis are pretty sweet too...

But alas, I live in New England. Beaching- no, not like a whale. Like the act of going to the beach- is something you must only engage in by a) finding a warmer state or b) waiting until summer comes around. Generally I end up going with option b.

Here at my house, the past week has been nothing but snowy and frigid. Temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Painful, painful, painful.

Like an unintentional tradition, every year, shortly after the first of January, all my mind wants to think about is the beach; the clear water, the sun, and the sand. So today I am posting an ode to summer. An ode to the beach, through various photographs, from various beach encounters. All places I wish I was at right now, enjoying the weather during which these pictures were captured.

Cove through a hole-y seashell.

Cape Cod.

Best friend with a horrendously smelly, very much so dead horseshoe crab.

Dusk in Miami, Florida.

Limon, Costa Rica. But be not fooled by the pretty picture, Limon was a port down and the water was actually disgusting.

More Cape Cod.



My dog Hunter.

Sunset reflecting on the waters of Cape Cod.

The Adventures of Emikel and Jro...

-CHAPTER 11-

September 19th, 2008. Meatball making; both a competitive sport (I think everything is a competitive sport...) and a helpful act as the meatballs were for a dinner at an upcoming retreat. Glorious irony of the situation is that I do not eat meat...

(And just by the way, we are dressed all piratey because it is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. And we just so happened to be making meatballs. No connection. We are just cool enough to do both at once.)

*this was my impression of the painting " The Scream" ...while dressed as a pirate...and holding balled meat................................... It made sense, at the time...?

"... GO MEAT!"

Quote-ables.

**Today's quotes are rather long, so don't bothering trying to quote them, unless of course you'd like to SING them.

Today's post is about my two favorite "hymns."

Before I start, you have to understand that I do not come from a background of hymns. My church (Church of the Living God) is what you would "technically" call (denominations are overrated in my opinion...) Charismatic Evangelical...

My church strives to create Biblical and vibrant worship and we sing mostly contemporary songs by artists such as Hillsong, United, and Jesus Culture. The names Reuben Morgan, Kim Walker, Brian and Jenn Johnson, Jonathan Stockstill, Chris Tomlin, and Misty Edwards frequent the bottom of our song charts. I, having grown up in the church and now being an active part of our worship team, am wholly accustomed to an electric guitar, a drum set, projection screen, and modern sound. Most of the hymns that I know have been introduced to me by other sources, as there are only a handful that we sing at CLG on a regular basis.

That is just the way that I have grown up.

But wait, before I dig myself into a hole, let me say that I am NOT implying that there is something wrong with hymns. I am also not saying that worship is a sound, a look, or a certain 'flavor' of music.

Worship isn't words in a song or chord progression. Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is a mindset. Worship is an expression of your heart toward God.

You could sing, all day long, the very best of Christian music, in the very best of churches, and still not be worshiping.

The Bible talks of God wanting worshipers to worship Him in spirit and in truth; with all their being. Not just with sound coming out of their lips, as they read some lyrics off of screen, or out of a hymnal. Just just singing because someone said they had to.

I have learned that worship cannot depend on a band. It cannot depend on the lighting. It cannot depend on the person next to you. It cannot depend on whether or not you like the song.
And seeing that changed things for me. I can worship alone. I worship with a mic in my hand. With a keyboard at my fingertips. I can worship sitting on the floor with nothing but me and a guitar. I can worship in front of 5,000 people, or seated behind the wheel of my car. I can worship with laser lights flashing or in quiet stillness. (...I can worship in a box, I can worship with a fox...? Okay. Sorry.)

As a kid I realized that worship wasn't a congregational game of 'Simon Says.' My life was changed.
Now, worship is my life.

Anyway, back on track...

I have experienced a lot outside of the walls of my own church. I have been to lots of churches, in lots of places, singing lots of things, and I have seen the diversity of the body of Christ. And I like it that way. Often people get caught up in dominations or titles and the body of Christ becomes dis-unified. I've learned that the body extends WAAAAAAYYYYYY beyond the walls of Church of the Living God. And while we worship well, not everyone has to do everything exactly like us in order for it to be "right".

In all of my experiences, I have come to the realization that I actually like hymns.
But there are two songs, written in the style of hymns, by a man named Stuart Townsend, which I particularly love.
As you read them, pay attention and think about the lyrics. Pretty powerful stuff.

----IN CHRIST ALONE -Stuart Townsend & Keith Getty, 2002 ----

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day, up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death; This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.



--HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US- Stuart Townsend, 2004 --

How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there, Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart; His wounds have paid my ransom

*and just by the way, an honorable mention goes out to "On Jordan's Stormy Banks", my third favorite hymn..."SONG NUMBER 94!"
And "Beautiful, Scandalous Night" comes in fourth. Sadly, no one ever seems to sing that one. Maybe they should have named it something different...?

A New Breed of Aviational Produce...

Shaun White. Ever heard of him? If you haven't yet, you SURE will once the Olympics kick off in about a month. Anyone who knows anything about snowboarding (or even skateboarding) has heard of Shaun - aka "THE FLYING TOMATO" (the boy has some crazzzzzzy red hair and man, he can fly.)

But this post isn't about Shaun. Or the Olympics. Or even tomatoes.

This post is about me. "THE FLYING BANANA."

Let me s'plain;
I like to snowboard. I like it a lot. I've been doing it for a couple years and while I am nothing compared to an Olympian and am fairly decent at staying upright and making my way down a snowy slope (but not of any diamond flavor...).

For the past couple years of my boarding I have rented, or borrowed from someone I know, but I have yet to have my own board. I have all the gear but never actually got to the point of having a board.

Snowboards are ex-pen-sive. Good ones, say a Burton, K2 or Lamar, cost something like $200- $500+. Last year a spent a lot of time looking around, trying to find one that was a good board, good price, good look and good height for me. Plus, I am really picky. I wanted something like red, black and flaming, without it looking satanic... sadly that board didn't exist. I almost settled for a totally different board later in the season, but I ended up talking myself out of it. Maybe next year...

Today I lucked out. I stopped into a store, called Savers, that a frequent that sells used stuff (like...everything.) and over in the used ski area something of a familiar shape caught my eye.

A yellowy/orange snowboard.

So I go over, just to check it out. I take it down. It is a 155 cm...more or less the right height for me (tad longer, but...). Kinda a vintage-y mustard-y random color of yellow. Stripey-type of design.
It is a light-weight, "flycore", very flexy board (a guy's build, but still light and narrow enough for a small chick like myself).

I'm looking at it. $49.99, says the sticker. Good price. The thing is used- you can tell- but it has working bindings and it is in decent condition for some one amateurish like me.

I am looking at it some more. The bindings (things you stick your boots in) say Burton. Burton as is the number 1 maker of boards, Burton.

I look closer. WHOA, the BOARD says Burton. I flip it over. The bottom, which is white, lime green and black, also says Burton.

I am standing there, holding a used Burton board, complete with bindings, that is 50 bucks.
I fiddled with the bindings a little more, gave it a good look over, called my dad, showed my sister (who said "it looks like a banana............................. YOU CAN BE THE FLYING BANANA!), and KNEW that board was coming home with me. And it did. I am extremely excited.

I have a board. I have a Burton board. Total package new approximately (with bindings) $500 or more.
The bindings need some tweaking to get them fit to my boots, but other than that I am all set to go. It is even set in the right stance! (a stance is the way you go down the mountain. Either Regular- left foot forward, or Goofy- right foot forward. I used to be goofy, but then started to go regular after some lessons.)

I am not sure what the model is called or anything; I tried googling it but couldn't find anything, but it is definitely a older make.

... but I like it. Normally I am not much of a yellow person, I actually don't own like...anything...yellow. But on the board it is cool. It a weird shade, almost 70's feeling, that I haven't ever seen before (current boards tend to go with a trend of neon obnoxiousness) and it even has stripes! And since it is a guy's board it isn't like hot pink and floral. I am very against such things.

I like it. I like it a lot a lot. So does my wallet. Happy New Year to ME!

Now I just need a mountain.