SabinaBlossom's Xanga

greetings

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:49:25 GMT

I'm turning 50 this year. I've converted to Orthodoxy. My son graduates from Cal. I'm broke. I cut my hair. I'm grey. I can't wait . . . for the next adventure.

Random update

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:51:06 GMT

Davede flys in tonight from Portugal. YEAH!!! Let the fig peelin' begin!
Joseph got a new backpack that he slept with last night. I remember doing that with new shoes.
Isabella fell off her bike 3 days ago and ended up in emergency with a catscan. She's ok, but has a rainbow of bandages covering her body. OUCH!
Ava has a new kitten - Blossom. The sweetest kitten I have ever met in my life.

Life is good.

A letter to Davede I thought I'd share with you

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:22:36 GMT

Dear Davede,

The day you left for the Azores, I picked a couple of ripe and delicious figs and remember thinking "what a bummer -- all the figs are becoming ripe while you are gone and you enjoy them so much". No sooner did I think that, when after going out there day after day and watering the tree, that all ripening STOPPED. I mean, not a single ripe fig appeared. They were all hanging on, green and hard as a rock. Even the neighbor's tree had already produced a full crop. I began to think that I was doing something wrong.

I have been missing you quite a bit lately and well just now went out there and saw that the figs are just beginning to get a tinge of purple. I was amazed, I had nott seen such a thing before. Therefore, I'm fully convinced that in the heavenly realm, something happened to bless YOU and let you know that YOU REALLY MATTER.

The figs await your return - along with that sweet wine you sent to me from Terceira.

All my love, Mom

Early Christianity: The Development of Orthodox Christian Community & Faith

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:39:17 GMT

This is a better description of what is happening on Saturday for those of you who are interested in learning a little about your ancient Christian roots. I'm trying to come but have my daughter's birhtday celebration to attend to.

Early Christianity: The Development of Orthodox Christian Community & Faith
Saturday, July 21
St Anna Greek Orthodox Church
1001 Stone Canyon Drive, Roseville

1:00 - The Development of Feast Day Celebrations, Dr. John Klentos, Professor of Eastern Orthodox School of Theology, Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, Graduate Theological Union, University of California Berkeley
2:00 - The Role of the Parish in Community, Fr. Christopher Flesoras, St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
3:00 - The Structure of Iconography, Margaret Mueller
Break - Coffee and Cookie Reception
5:00 - Great Vespers, Fr. Christopher will talk from a historical perspective and then proceed into Vespers.

There's No Place Like Home (3x)

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:02:47 GMT

It's quite late and I'm home alone with just the girls sound asleep in bed. There's a refreshing cool breeze outside and I decide that before I tuck myself into bed, I'll hang some washed sheets in that fresh air (I'm both frugal and addicted to that delightful smell). The house is locked up tight and I proceed to go outside. Just as I finish hanging up the clothes, you guessed it, the wind catches the door, slams it shut, and leaves me there standing with my mouth wide open.

Knowing it's a waste of time, I bang on the girls window screaming their names - forget that. ("go awaaay" in a man's voice is all I hear, ha-ha ask Sarah Rutledge to tell you that story)

I think to myself, my neighbor's not home. I have no cell phone with me. My car is locked. The hidden key is outdated since we just changed the door handle and I have no blanket to spend the night on the hammik. Great.

Well I remembered that there's one window I leave open because it's so high off the ground it a little difficult for creeps to just climb in. Not so.

So, I grab the wobbly ladder and while wearing a short skirt hoist myself through the window and find myself safe and sound inside. That was my adventure a little while ago. Good night.

Mama Pooch

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:26:07 GMT

My mother-in-law just passed away a couple of hours ago. She was a good hearted woman who enjoyed life and loved her husband, children and grandchildren (I don't think she was ever too crazy about me though . May God give rest to her soul.

Discussions on Orthodoxy

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:00:23 GMT

As many of you know, I've been attending a Greek Orthodox Church for over a year. My love of history and of truth has lead me to this place. Please don't consider that a proud statement - it is my path - it is my search - it is honest and genuine as many of you, I believe, are also committed to searching out truth. If you are interested in attending a beautiful and intelligent evening set aside for those who would like to discover more of their Christian roots, please consider this invitation for you.

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2007
(after Vespers, a short service at 5:00pm)
Discussions on Orthodoxy
with
Dr. John Klentos PAOI, UC Berkeley
Sharing our Vision: Building the Shrine Church of Saint Anna & Our Ministries
Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church
1001 Stone Canyon Drive
Roseville

http://www.gosaintanna.org

There are several days set aside for this celebration, but the one that I am speaking of, I listed above. Davede knows Dr. Klentos from the OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship) at Berkeley.

May God bless and direct our steps as we search for Him who woos us to Himself

Friday, June 15, 2007

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:54:30 GMT

After 10 long days of not being able to find my cell phone and all the numbers stored on it; tearing apart my room and only occasionally hearing an occasional and muffled alarm coming from somewhere and nowhere I FINALLY found my phone. Know where it was? In the FREEZER! So if you've called it and I haven't called you back, that is why. COOL Huh?

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:54:11 GMT

Excerpted from "The Life of Mary Magdalene"
Her discreet sister, Martha, frequently rebuked her for these disorders and at length persuaded her to listen to the exhortations of Jesus, through which her heart was touched and converted. The seven demons which possessed her, and which were expelled by Jesus, were the seven deadly sins common to us all. The struggles of these seven principal faults are; first, Gluttony or the pleasures of the palate; secondly, Fornication; thirdly, Covetousness, which means Avarice, or, the love of money, fourthly, Anger; fifthly, Dejection; sixthly, "Accidie," which is the sin of spiritual sloth or sluggishness; and seventhly, kenodocila which means ego, foolish pride or vain glory.

Martha Rebuking Mary for her Vanity, by Guido Cagnacci 1660-61

On one occasion Martha entertained the Saviour in her house, and, being anxious to feast him worthily, she was 'cumbered with much serving.' Mary, meanwhile, sat at the feet of Jesus, and heard his words, which completed the good work of her conversion; and when, some time afterwards, be supped in the house of Simon the Pharisee, she followed him thither and she brought an alabaster box of ointment and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment - and He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.'
Christ at Simon the Pharisee, by Pieter Pauwel Rubens 1618-20

Friday, April 13, 2007

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 06:04:34 GMT

So strange this journey I have been on lately. God is teaching me things in the most unlikely places. I've been taking a design class and it has just wreaked havoc with my soul. I scratch my head and wonder why this talent God has given me causes me so much grief -- and has ALL MY LIFE. Yet I return to it and agonize again and again. You know artists have the reputation of being free spirits but for me it is pure torture -- not too much exageration either. I'm visiting again as I have in the past, as I present my work to my classmates for input, what tremendous guilt, fear and shame I walk through life with. Why it has to show up everytime before class, really urks me. I nearly go into complete paralysis and I've written letters to my teacher telling him I'm dropping the classs, but I don't. The feeling of failing myself in the past haunts me horribly so I push through. I pray to God and ask him to be gentle with me as I expose myself to others. After all art is an expression of self and my little self has hidden for so long a time. I am passing through doors I've never passed through before. I think I'll be able to breathe on the other side. --confessions of a wounded soul