break.

word of the day: break \ˈbrāk\ an interruption in continuity

Still loving break.  As I write this, Jake and I are sitting in our favorite coffee shop in the metro (shout out to Rich's Brew!).  Jake's school bag is on the ground behind his chair and he just announced to me that he would not be opening it until he finishes Catching Fire (the second of The Hunger Games series).  I continue to re-live the story vicariously through him and I think if I stop him to say, "What's happening now?" one more time he might have a conniption.

My school bag also sits untouched and while I have every intention of opening it at some point today, I'm relishing the fact that there's no urgency. I'll get to it when I get to it.  Until then, here's another taste of what we've been filling our time with...

Many a project on my to do list and I've made it through two of them.  I crackle painted my antique frames and made a doily print on the yellow canvas (thanks for letting me steal your idea, Laura!).  I'll get some more pictures once they're hung in their rightful places.

Above left: Nate working on his computer, Jake reading.  It seemed ironic enough to take a picture.  One of Jake's Spring Break to dos was to raise up our grill, so the smoker can fit under and we can both fit in chairs on the balcony.  It's a tight squeeze, but we can check that one off the list too. 

We also like to frequent Caribou as it is within walking distance from our apartment.  With the nice weather we've been having, Ginny joins us for the trek and then helps us make friends while we "stoop it" on their steps.  We got to spend a couple of hours with Carmen yesterday; she helped Jake vacuum, blew bubbles off our balcony, and solidified her standing as one of the cutest kids ever.  The guitar?  Spring Break is bringing about all sorts of hobbies that had long since been forgotten.

We went to Zombie Burger last night with Dave, Laura and their son Levi--great place if you've never been.  We realized that Dave and Jake turn each other to teenagers because after watching a movie with paper lanterns, they were convinced they could create their own.  Project: failed (unfortunately).  I think Dave's face on the right says it all.

Ginny let me snap this picture of her yesterday.  Seriously.  Cutest dog ever. 

It's hard to put into words how great this break is for Jake and me.  Not in a we-deserve-a-break kind of a way but in a we-needed-this-time-together kind of a way.  It simplifies things.  It leaves us with nothing else to do but be together and for that, I am very thankful. 

Now, Romeo and Juliet beckon, so into the school bag I dive.  Just a shallow dive, though.  No need to submerge myself completely...



imposter.

word of the day: imposter \im-ˈpäs-tər\ one that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception

As a child, I was terrified of anything in costume.  To be frank, I was terrified of most things, but people in large cartoonish outfits with painted on grins were towards the top of the chart.  My first grade birthday party was at Chuck E. Cheese's--I'm not sure whose idea that was.  Somehow Chuck himself managed to take a picture with me, but if my memory serves me correctly I didn't go into that one without a fight. 

Herky the Hawk also plays a prominent role in my memory.  I can remember my mom holding me up to his mouth so I could see the person's face on the inside; I can't remember if that helped or harmed her case.  I seem to have overcome my fear in the picture below; however, it's also possible that my mom pulled my thumb out of my mouth, stepped back, and snapped a picture before I knew what was happening. 

Mascots are just imposters aren't they?  People who assume the false identities for the purpose of deception?  Deception in this case, I suppose, with a different connotation than is generally assumed. 

I've been thinking a lot about imposters lately as it is an entire chapter of the book, Abba's Child, by Brennan Manning.** In chapter two, Manning argues that an imposter, or a false self, lives within each one of us.  It "plays its deceptive role, ostensibly protecting us--but doing so in a way that is programmed to keep us fearful of being abandoned, losing support, not being able to cope on our own, not being able to be alone" (30). 

"Imposters are preoccupied with acceptance and approval" (30). 

"It is the nature of the false self to save us from knowing the truth about our real selves, from penetrating the deeper causes of our unhappiness, from seeing ourselves as we really are--vulnerable, afraid, terrified, and unable to let our real selves emerge" (37). 

He goes on to say that the false self "must be called out of hiding, accepted, and embraced [as] he is an integral part of my total self.  Whatever is denied cannot be healed.  To acknowledge humbly that I often inhabit an unreal world, that I have trivialized my relationship with God, and that I am driven by vain ambition is the first blow in dismantling my glittering image" (40).

Embrace the false self?  I love that he goes on to say that "as we come to grips with our own selfishness and stupidity, we make friends with the imposter and accept that we are impoverished and broken and realize that, if we were not, we would be God" (41). 

Friends with the imposter.  As someone who thinks often about identity and also has an insatiable desire to be perfect in everything I do, this concept really resonates with me.  The imposter within me (I'm still thinking through what facade my false self assumes) isn't something to be fixed or to cause a sense of self-loathing.  It's something to remind me of my need for God.  It's a reminder of brokenness and vulnerability and the fact that apart from God, I am nothing.

You take that Herky costume off and walk down the street, and you're a person just like everyone else.  Herky has the ability to conceal any number of personal downfalls.  Without the costume though, you're left to deal with exactly who you are, and I'm realizing that that's the beauty of it all.

**If you haven't read anything by Brennan Manning, you're really missing out.  He is one of the most authentic writers I have ever read. 

Manning, Brennan. "Chapter Two." Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002. 29-45. Print.

break.

word of the day: break \ˈbrāk\ an interruption in continuity

Jake and I have been counting down the days to Spring Break for quite some time now.  The interruption to the daily grind is a welcome change and we have been soaking up all the opportunities to do absolutely nothing.  I read the following a few days before break and it really resonated with me:

“Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time” --Bertrand Russell

If you can believe it, it's hard for me to put off work that needs to be done without feeling some measure of guilt.  Well, I'm happy to say that my school bag remains untouched and the projects I brought home to grade are still sitting in the back seat of my car. 

Spring Break is bliss and we're enjoying every second of it...



We took a break today to take a walk.  It's Jake, Ginny, and my's third walk in two days.



One of the first glimpses of Spring (besides the 80 degree weather).



Loving our neighborhood even more in the warm weather.

When you see a sign that says, "Award Winning Ice Cream", you obviously have to check it out.  This place is a great drug store, soda fountain type shop.

Mocha chocolate chip.  Delicious.  Jake enjoyed his root beer float.  Ginny was jealous.  Obvi. 



My favorite pic so far.  I can't get Jake to put down The Hunger Games! 

Just a sample of what's to come!  Writing is time I enjoy wasting, and I'm hoping to do more than usual over the next week.

wordless.

word of the day: wordless \ˈwərd-ləs\ not expressed in or accompanied by words

Only a little excited about The Hunger Games.  Just trying to get the kids equally pumped!

 

Somehow I managed to repeat "Set your teeth on edge" and "Wear your heart on your sleeve".  For goodness sake, but what's done is done...

Ginny sits like a person sometimes.  It's very funny.