Today is the first Sunday of Advent which prepares us for the coming of Christ. It is filled with the tension of joy and hope that Jesus brings, but also is filled with the waiting and anticipation of it having not yet come.
This, I think is the Christian life. It has a surprising similarity to the Lent/Easter season, but truly I think it is representative of the Christian life. The hope and joy we have living in the tension of a not yet redeemed world. Sometimes, it's hard to know what to do with it.
But, I was struck with the importance of it this morning. I woke up from a dream where my little sister offered me pot (wtf?) and was feeling horribly sorry for myself and generally wallowy when suddenly the tension caught me off guard. This tension we live in is real. And we can fight it and wallow and distract, but ultimately we have to live in it regardless.
I find the tension beaufitul on days I'm not so busy striving for distraction or anxiety that we miss that it can be kinda beautiful.
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.Your ideas mature gradually–let them grow,
Let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
That's all I got.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Gratitude.
My heart feels so warm as I sit here, smelling our fried turkey and I think of the pecan pie that still needs to be made. I am so blessed in this sticky, odd, beautiful part of life.
I think of God and his unending faithfulness. Through my disobiedence, laughs in his face, as well as, fears, insecurities, and complete insanity. I would be lost without him.
I think of my family and how they still laugh at my jokes (no matter how random they are). They still love all of my little absurdities. They still hold my hand through the dark and cheer me on in the life.
I think of my friends and how they still wrap me in love from far away. Through phone calls, texts, mail, emails, blog comments, FB, and visits. They support my crazy antics, nervous breakdowns, completely lost moments. And when I forget myself, they are still there with a look in their eyes like, "Come on, Whit" and remind me of that too.
And when you have that, you don't need much more, but I have much more still. I have more books than I can count, tivo, sweet fall days, food in my belly, smiles on my lips, and despite the occasional panic attack, quite a lot of joy in my heart.
I hope your Thanksgiving is beautiful, warm, and you take a nice, long nap.
I think of God and his unending faithfulness. Through my disobiedence, laughs in his face, as well as, fears, insecurities, and complete insanity. I would be lost without him.
I think of my family and how they still laugh at my jokes (no matter how random they are). They still love all of my little absurdities. They still hold my hand through the dark and cheer me on in the life.
I think of my friends and how they still wrap me in love from far away. Through phone calls, texts, mail, emails, blog comments, FB, and visits. They support my crazy antics, nervous breakdowns, completely lost moments. And when I forget myself, they are still there with a look in their eyes like, "Come on, Whit" and remind me of that too.
And when you have that, you don't need much more, but I have much more still. I have more books than I can count, tivo, sweet fall days, food in my belly, smiles on my lips, and despite the occasional panic attack, quite a lot of joy in my heart.
I hope your Thanksgiving is beautiful, warm, and you take a nice, long nap.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Sadly Lacking.
I am sadly lacking some serious motivation to do any writing, and that's not good.
I have, thusly, employed creative skills in making little cloth flowers and crocheting scarves. I just finished and very large and very wide yellow scarf. 4 balls of yarn, kids.
Still, aside from crocheting, running errands, and going through some serious holiday missing my friends-ness, life is pretty mundane. I suppose it's all right. But, it doesn't make for interesting blogging.
At least we have The Hills/The City to look forward to, right?
I have, thusly, employed creative skills in making little cloth flowers and crocheting scarves. I just finished and very large and very wide yellow scarf. 4 balls of yarn, kids.
Still, aside from crocheting, running errands, and going through some serious holiday missing my friends-ness, life is pretty mundane. I suppose it's all right. But, it doesn't make for interesting blogging.
At least we have The Hills/The City to look forward to, right?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Hills, 1st edition.
I have made an executive decision that I hope will rekindle my blogging. I am going to start giving you my weekly take on The City and The Hills. Because nothing can produce an onslaught of delicious word vomit like unreality-reality-tv shows. Here it goes.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the following post are completely supported and of the writer of this blog and probably some other people too, at least until we change our minds. But, for now, we stand by all the ridiculous truth we say because we feel it is our duty, here at whawhawhitney to comment on the horrifying, wonderful, sad, beautiful, plastic world of Mtv unreality. Thank you for reading.
The Hills:
This week on The Hills, we have Kristen and Brody "just having fun" after their totally coincidentally timed break ups, Spencer realizing the complexities of surgeries, Audrina and Justin Bobby mumbling in the same mess, and that cute little Enzo kid ratting out Spencer for a (gasp) nother Speidi fight. Oh, and a Jayde and Kristen battle.
First, let's address Speidi because, quite frankly, I'd rather just be rid of them. First of all, all the money in the world apparently couldn't buy Spencer a simple lesson in human anatomy, but then again, I think we were all shocked to find out a vasectomy involved thinks like needles and scissors and rather tame cartoon pictures of the scrotum, so Spencer, being the brave man he is, runs out of that doctor's office faster than you can say, "I'll be on the surreal life in a few years." All that's probably well and good, since his friend Douchey McGee recommends not telling Heidi (way to look out for scum bag bros everywhere) which all goes fine and well until little Enzo (the one redeeming character in Speidi world) spills the beans...or nuts, as it were. A fight ensues, further proving both they shouldn't be married and they should be in front of cameras.
On a side note, this stint did burden me with a new cause. I'm officially starting a charity called FSP...or Faux-lebrities Shouldn't Procreate. At the top of our hit list? Spencer Pratt.
Then there was the Kristen/Brody love rekindled. Or at least, they had a lot of fun going on dates paid by Mtv. First, let me say I like Kristen. I have pretty much the whole way (save Laguna Beach season 1, but we weren't supposed to like her yet). I like that she's direct and has a little touch of bitch crazy in her. It makes both want to be her friend and watch the drama that follows in her life. Brody on this other hand, I'm not so convinced on him. I mean, the dude used to be BFF with Spencer Pratt...how reliable can he be? And he wears to many baseball hats with button up shirts, and if that's not a flaming dude bro alert, I don't know what is. Still, we watched them go to dinner and talk about Jayde and we watched them go to his mom's house (WOAH...no words there) and drink and talk about how cute they were and all in all it seems rather suspect to me. But, hey, if Mtv is footing my bill, I guess I'd hang out with a dude bro too. Boring filler!
Then there was the big fight! You could feeling it be prepped with cue cards every time Kristen spoke! And then it happened...and then 10 seconds later it was over. The biggest disappointment of the show. Mtv, please don't be cheap. If you're going to go to all the trouble of getting two people who will fight in the same room, could you buy them so more alcohol first? Jayde is crazy though. So, maybe she had pre-funked, but Brody diffused the situation entirely too quickly for someone who is that shady. I was hoping for a slap or a punch or something.
Audrina. Justin Bobby. Mumble, mumble. Illogical ramblings. Justin never making eye contact. Audrina crawling back for more punishment from a guy in combat boots and slicked back hair (ew) whose name makes him seem less rock and roll and more white trash. I know this show doesn't have writers [ ;) ] but maybe we could get a new story line there. Still, one of them is done. Finally forever. Yeah, we'll see.
So, here's the scoring for this weeks episode. On a scale of 1-10, unless otherwise applicable.
Clever editing: 8 (I had to use the rewind on tivo to see whose hands shot out first...don't worry, it was Jayde's).
Speidi's marriage believability: -56. (Seriously, how much is Mtv paying them to be married?)
Enzo's Cuteness: 10.
Level of Crazy Bitch: 7 (Jayde always ups it, but to be honest, I was just disappointed with the whole thing. Audrina's a disappointment to the crazy bitch in us all. Seriously, egg Justin Bobby's house or key his car or steal his combat boots).
Level of Douche Bag: 14 (Too much Spencer, Brody owns too many hats, and no matter what Douchey McGee's real name is, he needs a hair cut, shave, and vasectomy).
Overall Entertainment: 6 (After Audrina and Kristen's fight last week, this week was just lack luster).
Look for The City review in the next few days. Until then...
Adios, Bitches.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the following post are completely supported and of the writer of this blog and probably some other people too, at least until we change our minds. But, for now, we stand by all the ridiculous truth we say because we feel it is our duty, here at whawhawhitney to comment on the horrifying, wonderful, sad, beautiful, plastic world of Mtv unreality. Thank you for reading.
The Hills:
This week on The Hills, we have Kristen and Brody "just having fun" after their totally coincidentally timed break ups, Spencer realizing the complexities of surgeries, Audrina and Justin Bobby mumbling in the same mess, and that cute little Enzo kid ratting out Spencer for a (gasp) nother Speidi fight. Oh, and a Jayde and Kristen battle.
First, let's address Speidi because, quite frankly, I'd rather just be rid of them. First of all, all the money in the world apparently couldn't buy Spencer a simple lesson in human anatomy, but then again, I think we were all shocked to find out a vasectomy involved thinks like needles and scissors and rather tame cartoon pictures of the scrotum, so Spencer, being the brave man he is, runs out of that doctor's office faster than you can say, "I'll be on the surreal life in a few years." All that's probably well and good, since his friend Douchey McGee recommends not telling Heidi (way to look out for scum bag bros everywhere) which all goes fine and well until little Enzo (the one redeeming character in Speidi world) spills the beans...or nuts, as it were. A fight ensues, further proving both they shouldn't be married and they should be in front of cameras.
On a side note, this stint did burden me with a new cause. I'm officially starting a charity called FSP...or Faux-lebrities Shouldn't Procreate. At the top of our hit list? Spencer Pratt.
Then there was the Kristen/Brody love rekindled. Or at least, they had a lot of fun going on dates paid by Mtv. First, let me say I like Kristen. I have pretty much the whole way (save Laguna Beach season 1, but we weren't supposed to like her yet). I like that she's direct and has a little touch of bitch crazy in her. It makes both want to be her friend and watch the drama that follows in her life. Brody on this other hand, I'm not so convinced on him. I mean, the dude used to be BFF with Spencer Pratt...how reliable can he be? And he wears to many baseball hats with button up shirts, and if that's not a flaming dude bro alert, I don't know what is. Still, we watched them go to dinner and talk about Jayde and we watched them go to his mom's house (WOAH...no words there) and drink and talk about how cute they were and all in all it seems rather suspect to me. But, hey, if Mtv is footing my bill, I guess I'd hang out with a dude bro too. Boring filler!
Then there was the big fight! You could feeling it be prepped with cue cards every time Kristen spoke! And then it happened...and then 10 seconds later it was over. The biggest disappointment of the show. Mtv, please don't be cheap. If you're going to go to all the trouble of getting two people who will fight in the same room, could you buy them so more alcohol first? Jayde is crazy though. So, maybe she had pre-funked, but Brody diffused the situation entirely too quickly for someone who is that shady. I was hoping for a slap or a punch or something.
Audrina. Justin Bobby. Mumble, mumble. Illogical ramblings. Justin never making eye contact. Audrina crawling back for more punishment from a guy in combat boots and slicked back hair (ew) whose name makes him seem less rock and roll and more white trash. I know this show doesn't have writers [ ;) ] but maybe we could get a new story line there. Still, one of them is done. Finally forever. Yeah, we'll see.
So, here's the scoring for this weeks episode. On a scale of 1-10, unless otherwise applicable.
Clever editing: 8 (I had to use the rewind on tivo to see whose hands shot out first...don't worry, it was Jayde's).
Speidi's marriage believability: -56. (Seriously, how much is Mtv paying them to be married?)
Enzo's Cuteness: 10.
Level of Crazy Bitch: 7 (Jayde always ups it, but to be honest, I was just disappointed with the whole thing. Audrina's a disappointment to the crazy bitch in us all. Seriously, egg Justin Bobby's house or key his car or steal his combat boots).
Level of Douche Bag: 14 (Too much Spencer, Brody owns too many hats, and no matter what Douchey McGee's real name is, he needs a hair cut, shave, and vasectomy).
Overall Entertainment: 6 (After Audrina and Kristen's fight last week, this week was just lack luster).
Look for The City review in the next few days. Until then...
Adios, Bitches.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Bag and Tag.
Not even close, really. I was tagged by Sarah to do this little survey, and I couldn't think of a title that had to do with being tagged that wasn't just so obvious. Ha.
Here are the rules:
Use only one word, pass along to six favorite bloggers, and tell 'em you did so.
1. Where is your cell phone? Bookshelf.
2. Your hair? Unwashedgreasefest.
5. Your favorite food? Chipotle.
6. Your dream last night? VampireOKChouseAshleyCliffDivingDoozy.
7. Your favorite drink? Water.
8. Your dream/goal? Live.
9. What room are you in? Living.
10. Your hobby? Writing.
11. Your fear? Many.
12. Where do you want to be in six years? GraduateSchool.
13. Where were you last night? Home.
14. Something that you aren't? Man.
15. Muffins? LemonPoppySeed.
16. Wish list item? Phonograph.
17. Where did you grow up? Ooooooolathe.
18. Last thing you did? Crochet.
19. What are you wearing? Nightie.
20. Your TV? Off.
21. Your pets? Nonexistent.
22. Friends? Love.
23. Your life? StrangeBeautiful.
24. Your mood? Sleepy.
25. Missing someone? Always.
26. Vehicle? Dead.
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes.
28. Your favorite store? Target.
29. Your favorite color? Cobalt.
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday.
31. Last time you cried? Night.
32. Your best friend? Heart.
33. One place that I could go over and over? Portland.
34. One person who emails you regularly? Fbook.
35. Favorite place to eat? Couch.
Here's who I tag. (Don't worry, I won't bag you).
Olivia: Even though she has currently made a disappearance from the blogging world, I think I can convince her to come back and fill this out. Besides, she's one of my dearest friends. And those are so important in these strange days.
Heather: My long time Internet friend who shares my heart in my favorite place.
LP: My sweet, high school friend who loves life and has an infectious laugh.
Nevan: My dear friend who is going to be leaving for the Peace Corps soon! I'm so excited for her and proud of her!
Jola: Sweet, beautiful Jola.
Alee: I have a dear spot deep in my heart for Alee. We also are really good and making up analogies for any aspect of life and taking long walks in the snow.
Happy Tuesday friends!
Here are the rules:
Use only one word, pass along to six favorite bloggers, and tell 'em you did so.
1. Where is your cell phone? Bookshelf.
2. Your hair? Unwashedgreasefest.
5. Your favorite food? Chipotle.
6. Your dream last night? VampireOKChouseAshleyCliffDivingDoozy.
7. Your favorite drink? Water.
8. Your dream/goal? Live.
9. What room are you in? Living.
10. Your hobby? Writing.
11. Your fear? Many.
12. Where do you want to be in six years? GraduateSchool.
13. Where were you last night? Home.
14. Something that you aren't? Man.
15. Muffins? LemonPoppySeed.
16. Wish list item? Phonograph.
17. Where did you grow up? Ooooooolathe.
18. Last thing you did? Crochet.
19. What are you wearing? Nightie.
20. Your TV? Off.
21. Your pets? Nonexistent.
22. Friends? Love.
23. Your life? StrangeBeautiful.
24. Your mood? Sleepy.
25. Missing someone? Always.
26. Vehicle? Dead.
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes.
28. Your favorite store? Target.
29. Your favorite color? Cobalt.
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday.
31. Last time you cried? Night.
32. Your best friend? Heart.
33. One place that I could go over and over? Portland.
34. One person who emails you regularly? Fbook.
35. Favorite place to eat? Couch.
Here's who I tag. (Don't worry, I won't bag you).
Olivia: Even though she has currently made a disappearance from the blogging world, I think I can convince her to come back and fill this out. Besides, she's one of my dearest friends. And those are so important in these strange days.
Heather: My long time Internet friend who shares my heart in my favorite place.
LP: My sweet, high school friend who loves life and has an infectious laugh.
Nevan: My dear friend who is going to be leaving for the Peace Corps soon! I'm so excited for her and proud of her!
Jola: Sweet, beautiful Jola.
Alee: I have a dear spot deep in my heart for Alee. We also are really good and making up analogies for any aspect of life and taking long walks in the snow.
Happy Tuesday friends!
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