Not going to the chapel. Not anytime soon, anyway.

I've been thinking a lot lately about marriage.

As in, why am I not married? Do I want to be married? Why is everyone else getting married, anyway?

I'm going to blame April for these thoughts. She's getting married in a few weeks. She is the last of my Lakewood Park (high school) classmates (that I care about) to get married. I think.

Pretty sure.

Anyway, I've been debating this issue in my head. Mostly, it's a moot point, because I'm not dating anyone and I've never met anyone I would marry.

(There is a list, though, of people I haven't met that I would marry. These are mostly celebrities or older, wealthy gentlemen. I really hope I don't ever meet them because then I'll have to make a choice. Because they will obviously want to marry me as soon as they meet me.)

I understand the value of marriage. And I have been lonely. But I really think that could be fixed with a cat. Not a person who needs attention all the time and messes with my stuff. A good friend could solve this, too.

And besides, where do you meet people these days? Contrary to popular belief, there aren't a lot of eligible bachelor missionaries out there. And would I even want to marry a missionary? I hear they can be a little odd.

There's always church, I suppose. But I'm not the best at inserting myself into conversations I haven't been invited to join. So I guess he'll have to do the pursuing.

Any other ideas?

Of course, not having a husband means not having children. (Because that's just how I roll.) But do I want kids? Kids are messy. I like hanging out with them sometimes, but I like it more when I can send them home to their parents.

So there's that.

I'm still not sure where I fall on this issue. But today I saw a friend's post that began with "my husband and I" and it just weirded me out. So for the moment, I'm quite pleased with my life as it is.

I just need to remember that the next time I make a Doctor Who reference and no one gets it.

Because if I ever do get married, my husband will be fluent in the science-fiction lexicon.

Sunsets and Rainbows 231-240

231

 Sunset beyond the bridge.

232

I don't want to hear it. They are not the same photo with different filters. Nope. Not at all.

233

234

I came really close to losing my camera just to get this shot. Possibly my life as well. But I was more worried about the camera.

235

One of my favorites and not doctored at all.

236

The lovely people responsible for this trip. (I crashed their anniversary vacation. Oops.) Thanks Mom and Dad!

237

My mom really likes this photo. I say it looks like the silhouettes of a bunch of people being hanged. It's all about perspective.

238

My nephew has always wanted to hold a rainbow.

239

240

This was actually a full rainbow, but it was huge - no way for me to get all of it. Still very cool. 

Secrets and Ninjas

Way back when, I mentioned a super secret article I was writing.

Before I get to that, though, I have to explain the ninja thing.

I've decided to become one.

Why? Because they are awesome. And they carry things like this:

But mostly because James has stolen the office I used for prayer letters, so I have to sneak past him to get to my printer. 

(Do you see the ninjas?)

Anyway, he didn't really steal it. It's quieter over there.

As for the other thing. The super secret thing. 

If you ignore the mess behind me, you'll notice that I GOT PUBLISHED.

Not by OMS, either. Though they rock.

Nope, that's my article (unfortunately not my photo) in The Connection, the official publication of the Evangelical Methodist Church. What did I write about? OMS work in Myanmar.


This article took ten years off my life.

But it looks cool!

Thoughts

I have a few thoughts.

More than a few, actually.

I'm just not sure how to verbalize them.



I've been on vacation. It was lovely. I'll have photos soon.

Mackinac Bridge 221-230

So I went on vacation. It was pretty fantastic, though not nearly long enough. I went with my parents to St. Ignace, Michigan, way up yonder in the U.P. It's a beautiful place with plenty of photo opportunities, but unfortunately, not a lot of variety.

Which is why you have this. 10 photos of one bridge.

But they are all different. And they are all awesome.

So there.


221

 The Mackinac Bridge, late afternoon. If you're in the neighborhood on a Friday, take the Vespers cruise around the bay. It's a nice tour.

222

223

I thought being on the bridge was terrifying. Being under it is crazy as well, especially when you can hear the cars going over.

224

Also, try to avoid the shipping lanes.

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I like this one a lot.

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And this one.

228

This one was taken about two miles off. Here's what it looks like during the day:

It's really difficult getting photos at night. Not many good places unless you're on the water.   I didn't have that chance. But I did...

229

...have a telescope. Of sorts. You know those viewers you pay to turn on at scenic overlooks? I put my camera up to one of those.

Pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

230

On the last day, we had to cross the bridge in a cloud.

Freaking.

Terrifying.



I have a lot more photos of the bridge, pretty cool ones, too. Let me know if you want to see them.

And if you're from the Michigan Board of Tourism, these photos are up for sale.

211-220

211

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep..."

212

You might have been wondering why I didn't include Harry Potter in my book post. It is one of my favorite series, but a) there are seven books and b) how do you properly explain seven books in one photo? (Especially when book 7 might as well be a completely different series. Just saying.)

213

Yay patriotism!

214

While I was down at the creek, I decided to reenact one of the most famous battles ever fought - St. George and the Dragon. 'Twas truly epic!

Alas, George didn't fare so well.

215

I admire people who decorate cakes. They do crazy awesome work.

216

Random photo. Very abstract.

217

Speaking of abstract...

218

Have you ever had breakfast at Bob Evan's? You should. Those pancakes are to-die-for.

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Reminds me of some futuristic device.

220

My trusty sidekick! We've now made it through 10,000 photos together!

Rockin' the Books! (201-210)

Props to Emily Jankauski for this idea. She suggested I take photos of books in settings that  illustrate their ideas. You'll probably want to click on the photos to make them bigger to see all of the nuances.



dos mil uno

There's No Place Like Here by Cecilia Ahern
Not a bad book, but I like the concept more than the actual tale. When you lose things, where do they go? That sock in the laundry, your spare set of keys - we've all misplaced things. But sometimes, we also lose ourselves. C.A. wrote about a world where when some people disappear, they go to Here - the land of the lost. But is it possible to find yourself and make it back to this world?

dos mil dos

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, et al by Brian Jacques
I've always liked Brian Jacques. The Redwall series was brilliant and new, so when I saw he had a new release, I jumped on it. The books follow Ben and Ned, a boy and his dog, made immortal by an angel of the Lord. I like the series because it takes place in different time periods, but also because I've always thought immortality makes for great material. I was sorry to hear of Brian Jacques' death, not least because I wanted to see where this universe led.

dos mil tres

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
The war in Vietnam was traumatic and life-changing for everyone involved. This book follows an infantry unit before, during and after the war in a very unconventional style. It is at times funny, often depressing and always painfully honest. History is important, and not just the cleaned-up versions. O'Brien has very strong opinions about his experiences.

dos mil quatro

The Squire's Tale by Gerard Morris
This is actually the first book in a really great series that combines Arthurian legend, fantasy and Christian values. It sounds like it wouldn't work, but these are some of the greatest books I've read in a long time. They are very funny, and yet poignant in the best of ways. I'd recommend them for anyone over the age of ten.

dos mil cinco

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
This was my absolute favorite book when I was a child. I'm not really sure why, but it always appealed to me.

dos mil seis

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Not actually my favorite set-up, but it does portray part of the series fairly well. The Horse and His Boy has always been my favorite of the series, probably because I've always liked behind-the-scenes material. I like writing (and reading) about what happens after the curtain closes, so to speak. Of course, the rest of the books are quite good as well. My least favorite had been The Silver Chair, but I re-read it a few years ago and actually quite enjoyed it. There were quite a few themes that I hadn't picked up on before.

dos mil siete

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
One of my favorite book series ever, if not the favorite. There are so many asides and background characters in these books to explore. Plus, Tolkien created not one, but at least two(!) complete languages. This guy was a wordsmith above and beyond the rest, and I love that he took Lewis to task for creating a substandard alternate universe that didn't follow any of its own self-imposed rules. (Christmas in Narnia? Please!) Anyway. I really, really like these books.

dos mil ocho

God's War by Christopher Tyerman
When I first began studying the Crusades, this book quickly became my number one go-to guide. There are many books that focus on one particular Crusade, but this is the only one I've found that puts them all side by side. I waited a really long time to buy it because I wanted a hardback edition. Alas, my desire for the book outweighed my aesthetic preferences.

dos mil nueve

The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara
This is actually the third in a quasi-trilogy about the American Civil War. Back in 1993, the film Gettysburg was released, beginning my love affair with both Jeff Daniels and American history. I soon learned that the film was based on the book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. A few years after that, I learned that Michael's son Jeff had written book ends for his dad's epic. I love TLFM the best because it's about my favorite part of the war (when we won) and because it doesn't portray Ulysses S. Grant as a boozing incompetent. Because he wasn't. Real history wins.

Incidentally, Jeff Shaara has gone on to write some really great books about some of the most significant events in history. They qualify as historical fiction because he's interpreting the perspective of real people, but I've found them to be highly accurate accounts and extremely engaging. Especially his book on the Mexican War.

A few years ago, the first book, Gods and Generals, was released theatrically. It didn't do so well, which is sad because I quite enjoyed it. I'm hoping Ted Turner continues to ignore sound business doctrine and makes TLFM into a movie. Although Jeff Daniels is getting on in years.

dos mil diez

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Also one of my favorite books as a child, The Wind in the Willows represents whimsy for me. My favorite character was Mole, followed closely by Badger. Unfortunately, not many stories carry mole or badger figurines, so I settled for Toad. I have never been sympathetic toward Toad, which leads me to believe that my temperament is more like Rat. I'm okay with that.

This photo was very hard to get. I will explain why in the next set of photos.



So what do you think? Do I have a future as a book promoter?

Also, I forgot to mention that all props shown are things I have lying around my house.

Forewarned is forearmed.



Oh! I also need to thank my lovely assistant for her excellent work hauling guns and rocks and whatnot. Elida was fantastic despite my idiosyncracies!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail notAs Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/19#ixzz22P74wdbC

This morning marks the fourth time in ten days that we sang this song at OMS.

You'd think I would take a hint.