Looks like she’ll have pretty good weather. (via kurtli.com/weather) Safe travels, my friend. Go get ‘em. I know you will have fun no matter what.
Filed under: Interesting people//sites//places, Uncategorized , nyc, weather
January 23, 2010 • 7:08 pm 0
Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit – A Review and Thoughts
With our recent move, we haven’t yet gotten internet at our house, so we set up membership at our local library. (We probably would have done that anyway.) But the very day we did, we decided to go ahead and check out some books. As I stood browsing the biography shelves, I came across the biography of Audrey Hepburn written by her son, Sean Ferrer, title above. “Perfect,” I thought, simply because I needed something to jump start some needed research for the book I’m writing this year called The Definition of Beauty. (A little more detail in a couple of posts down or here.) Who better to read about when it comes to elegance, poise, and grace? These are rather all encompasing concepts of the beauty we most closely have defined in our culture today.
People the world over have adored Audrey Hepburn for her elegance, her seemingly unassuming vulnerability that everyone falls in love with when they watch one of her films. Her son explores these ideas of his mother from his point of view, retelling many personal stories and moments with her, and over all, expressing his very apparent love and devotion to her and her legacy.
A few things stick out in my mind: Sean Ferrer, being the son of Audrey and her first husband, Mel Ferrer, also an actor/director (AH and Mel starred in War and Peace together) wrote about one memory of how he used to rub her feet while she put on her makeup, sitting in the floor, just adoring her. How sweet! This prompted a desire within me for having sons. I have always wanted daughters, but now, I certainly want my son to feel about me the way Sean Ferrer did of his mother. It makes me realize the utmost importance of becoming that type of admirable lady before I ever become a mother.
Audrey and Mel with son Sean Ferrer
The story of her life will certainly affect you if you read it. Just as her fame has affected women all over. All women want to be elegant in the way they dress, walk, talk, seem to others. They want to be fashionable, but in a completely prideless way, as Audrey seemed to be. Ferrer talks about this type of beauty in his mother. He says,
She was basically a very insecure person whose very insecurity made everyone fall in love with her. Isn’t that the true definition of beauty, like a fawn caught drinking from a creek? He looks up and just is. He doesn’t know what he looks like, how svelte his body is, or how graceful his movements are; he is just a fawn, like all the others.
That was wonderful quote to have come across. I may actually have another perspective on that, as far as the definition of beauty goes, but…you’ll have to read my book once I write it completely and have it published.
One thing I learned about AH that I didn’t know before was that she was actually the same age as Anne Frank, and after Frank’s diary was published, was deeply moved by the fact that she had experienced a little of what Anne had. She had experienced World War II in Holland. They are more details in the book on how that experience in her late childhood, early teen years affected the rest of her life.
In the end, Sean Ferrer relays that Audrey Hepburn “believed in one thing above all: She believed that love could heal, fix, mend and make everything fine and good in the end…and it did.”
I am not sure if AH new the concept that Love covers a multitude of sins or if she knew that Love is God. I hope she did, after all I do know that she left a legacy that has influenced so many. The book is an inspiration to see that same destiny in myself. I hope you will choose to read it and also see that in yourself.
Filed under: Culture, The Arts , beauty, biography, book review
January 7, 2010 • 4:32 pm 6
French phrases
Yesterday, I wanted to post this topic. Work became super busy, and, even though I was able to get a bit of research in, I didn’t get the chance to flesh it out and share it with you, so this morning, I’m posting first thing…
My husband has triggered my new fascination in French phrases we use in English. I’ll list a few here:
Raison d’être - Literally translated “reason to be.” From wikipedia:
“The French concept is more elaborate than a simple statement. Once the reason an object exists is defined, criteria to measure the object’s degree of success can be enumerated…when measurable criteria are known, gaps can be identified that show where the particular object fails to meet the prototypical object’s reason for being. When gaps have been fully identified, strategies can be implemented to close the gaps and bring the object closer to the true fulfillment of its raison d’être.” Full article.
Rather philosophic, isn’t it? (Those French can’t help it.) What I like about the concept, indicated from the excerpt above, is that the phrase doesn’t just mean to realize your purpose but to refine yourself until you arrive at the point of completing your purpose. Isn’t that exactly the journey we are all on? It’s one thing to know and even define your “assignment,” but it is entirely different to complete it.
espirit de corps – Literally translated “spirit of the body.” The denotation refers not to one person’s body but to a group or team. Dictionaries explain this phrase to mean the moral of that group, the
“shared spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group,” per Wiktionary.
By connotation, it seems to imply that this unity within a body propels the group to succeed. And isn’t that absolutely true? When everyone gets on the same page, progress is imminent.
A quick tip on usage:
These idiomatic phrases are usually seen in italics in their written form. Also, if you’re going to use them in speech, please make sure to pronounce them properly. You can find audible clips of pronunciation at Wiktionary.
Obviously, this isn’t a huge list, so if any of you know of anymore French (or otherwise) phrases to use, please comment!
Filed under: Culture, Language , phraseology, words
January 5, 2010 • 8:05 pm 1
I am in love with my new place.
Last night we stayed at our new place even though we are not completely finished moving everything out. We have most of the furniture that we are taking, apart from our bedroom suit, already moved in and mostly arranged the way I want it. Since we got so much done over the weekend, we were too excited to not stay over last night. We came home after our workout, ate dinner, packed some things and headed out. You should have seen us – full-size mattress oddly folded and placed within the trunk/back seat space (seat down) of our little sedan! We also managed to pack some baskets of laundry, a few things for the night, and what food we’d need.
It was so much fun just settling in after loading the clothes washer, making some coffee, and tidying up a tad. (It’s so hard not to blast through the boxes that haven’t been unpacked yet!) We put in a movie, had a bath (we have a nice-sized tub in this place), and snuggled close on our floor/mattress. Without being too personal, it was wonderfully cozy, and you must know the feeling I’m talking about when I say I felt a freshness and peace in the new place. I believe it comes with the fact that you’ve just finished purging all the unneccasary things from your old place, and you feel much more organized and ready to take on…well, anything. Okay, that’s at least how I feel.
I will have to post some pictures. And I’ll let you know how taking on the world goes. *wink*
January 3, 2010 • 6:54 am 5
My 2010 Vision
These are things I will bring into fruition through out 2010. I am more excited about this year than I have been about any year of my adult life. This is the year of dreams coming true. I have spent the last several years dreaming. This year I will reap a harvest.
From Habakkuk Chapter 2:
2 Then the LORD answered me and said:
“ Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
What follows is me writing the vision (verse 2a) clear enough for me and anyone else who will join me to whole-heartedly run with it (verse 2b):
First, a note on the idea of running with me: Women are primarily relational. I truly desire, and, in fact, need to be surrounded by people who share a similar goal or the same goal as mine. I have always longed for a team of strong women to join alongside me in ministry and personal growth. This stems out of a desire to share my life with others, to develop into a leader by digging in deep with the ones who want to and never looking back.
Now on the the things that will come into being this year:
Take Me Away This is the teenage girls ministry that I have dreamed of for several years. It’s time to start offering myself and my ideas to the middle and high school girls of Brevard. We will see insecure girls turn into brilliant warrior chicks ready to battle the demons of poor self-images, sexual promiscuity, and the destructive disease of gossip.
Creative Worship It’s time to bring together a group of worshippers so desiring of a place and time to pour out their creative spirits for praise and worship via music and the Arts. It’s time to build a collective group of people who will usher God’s spirit into the setting of a church meeting like no other.
The Definition of Beauty This is a working title for my book, which God gave me the clarification of last October. 2010 will see the completion of my thoughts on the subject that I’ve realized my whole life has been leading up to.
EatWell.SleepWell.RunWell This is my year-long campaign by which I will rejuvenate and redefine my body. My choices of food and my bedtime are what will determine my physical health this year, and how well I will be able to train for 5 and 10k races.
Transition Trade The entrepreneurial machine that will enable me to lose my full-time day job to the freedom of planning, writing, and living out everything mentioned above with the resources – the time and money – to do it not just well but abundantly.
*Take note of the umbrella organizations for some of the above: Even Though Student Ministries for Take Me Away and A New Thing for Creative Worship, both of which can be found detailed in my husband’s visionary document for 2010 here.
How will these things come into being?
DAILY DISCIPLINE.
First, by prayer – asking God to bless what I have laid before Him, giving thanks for who He is and how He has provided. Then by reciting this every morning: “I have been brought into this world for bigger things than I can even imagine. I walk with a purpose that I am so passionate about that I will not allow my temptation for apathy or laziness to takeover. I am blessed and highly favored in all my goings and comings, and I am anointed to achieve success in Take Me Away, Creative Worship, The Definition of Beauty, EatWell.SleepWell.RunWell, and Transition Trade at a level that the world has never seen. I am a Warrior Princess, being the child of the King and shall not be defeated!”
Do you want to run with me? If any of these Visions resonate with you, connect with me. I need supporters, fellow laborers for the cause. Comment here, or on facebook, or twitter.
It’s go time, baby!
Filed under: Career, Health and Wellness, Home, Spiritual , dreams, health, new year, writing, youth
December 28, 2009 • 4:52 pm 0
Favorite Things This Week
…so far.
1. Everyone seems so happy with the things they got for Christmas. I keep hearing things like, “Come look at this great necklace I got,” “Look at my hat,” “I’ve got cookies over here – Come get ‘em when ya want ‘em!” Fun. How delightful.
2. This quote: “Everyone’s waiting on their ducks to get in a row. Well, ducks don’t get in a row. And you are not a duck. Just saying the obvious.”
3. Finding this:
Jerrica Benton: Music Executive by day, glamorous rock star by night!
Jem! I totally had the Jem doll and Jem books when I was kid. And is it just me or is it possible that Lady Gaga is the current day personification of Jem? Look at Jem’s facial expression here! Tee hee…
Filed under: Points of Interest , favorites, quotes
December 27, 2009 • 4:31 pm 2
An Observation
It’s a really gorgeous morning. Pretty warm when you stand in the sun for long enough, but still cold with the remainder of the snow. On my way out earlier, I saw two little girls bundled up and playing outside – mainly jumping on a big pile of snow, all piled high in order to make it in and out of the driveway. We all have huge snow piles in our yards for that very reason. On the way back home, ( I wasn’t gone long) I saw the older girl still oustide playing, only this time she was kneeling smack dab in the middle of her driveway just staring at the payment. She could have been mad at her little sister, or sad that Christmas was already over, or….perhaps she was just interested in the way the sun shone on the pavement and made the little specks within sparkle.
Filed under: Points of Interest , humanity, youth
• 5:22 am 0
Lately: Part 2: The New Day
Just got back in from the barn. Not mine, of course, but my friend’s. If I’m available, I’m the one who cares for her animals when she’s away. Currently, she’s in West Virginia visiting family for the Holidays. And as I’ve already gone and come home from visiting my family just a hour and a half away, I’m looking after them until Tuesday. I love it. Two horses, two dogs, and two cats.
The fog settled in as I was there in the barn, and when I got home, I noticed how I didn’t have the Christmas tree lights on tonight. Doesn’t feel like they should shine anymore. Maybe it’s always a little sad when Christmas is over. Probably because it happens so quick after such a long build up. It does have me thinking about moving on, though. Moving on from this season, this place, and moving into The New Day.
I’m calling in that, because for the last almost 4 years, we’ve been ministering to youth by being employed at a local church. It was a little part of our identity. We are no longer employed at that church due to reasons we still have not totally understood. My David decided against the deacons and pastor’s idea of ”resignation” and instead had the church vote on what should happen. And it happened. We were no longer officially wanted there, which has become, little do they know, a complete release to fulfill our true calling! We are now able to minister to the youth with which we spent 4 years building a relationship without man-made, church decided rules and regulations. We are completely free to do ministry exactly the way God wanted us to.
I have just been keeping in touch with a few of my girls – texting and hanging out a little, mainly keeping up with what’s going on in their lives - during the transition. But after our move into our new place we’re renting, our plans are to host events we can invite lots of area youth to. These events will be the launch of A New Thing.
How definitely exciting!
December 23, 2009 • 10:03 pm 0
Lately: Part 1: The Reindeer Run
In October, my friend Shannon and I decided we wanted to run a 5K. Neither of us had ever done one, but both of us had been running at our seperate gyms and enjoying it. I had gotten up to 2 miles at a time, so I figured adding another 1.2 miles wouldn’t hurt. I started looking online and found a local one that would be held December 5th called the Reindeer Run. By November, Shannon and I were registered.
We both planned out our own training schedule for during the week, but the 2 Sundays before the race, we ran together the exact route of the actual race. Well, almost exactly. During the actual race, we had one more road that we didn’t know about. The remarkable thing about that was both of us finished in lower times than we had ever before even though we a little bit longer to go! Shannon finished in 32 minutes, and I finished in 34. Shannon’s next goal is to run it in 24 minutes. I haven’t defined my next goal, but we’re already planning our next run…I think we’re going to get addicted.
Shannon and I just before the race
Who’d have thought I’d become a runner?
Filed under: Health and Wellness, Sports , 5K, running
