Scarf Tying 101

 

 

       If you love to wear pretty scarves, just watch the video above to see the model DIY demonstrate 25 different ways to tie them (thanks, LL for the link). 

     Pictured below are just a few of their interesting scarf ties (maybe the Bunny Ear says Easter). The thickness of scarves varies, so shop accordingly and have fun.  

THE BIBLE: Dutiful David. Really??

     At the time of year when kings go to war, King David remains in his palace in "unaccustomed"... idleness. He stands on his balcony, as an epic survivor of Israel's gritty, bloody, years-long, pseudo-consolidation. Anointed King Saul would share neither palace nor kingship with anointed David. David hid and endured, and finally ruled solely and safely in Jerusalem.
     
     THE BIBLE chronicles David's life in blended, inexact event order, but cause-and-effect are nonetheless displayed. Dredging into thorough detail is wisely avoided (the entire Bible, with too much detail, is enormous and would lose viewers like myself).

Shepherd Boy David

     Artistic liberties seem well-tooled, as shepherd-boy David survives and thrives life-threatening attacks from all avenues, including jealous King Saul. Bravo to THE BIBLE and Saul's actor... his envy-essence was portrayed masterfully.

David displays the head of Goliath

     THE BIBLE's David seems comfortable with duty and danger. The adrenaline rush of battle is draining... yet exhilarating. What is left for Dutiful David, who has achieved all that God anointed him to do... to DO??? King David dutifully wishes to construct a lavish temple for God, but God commands temple-building duty be passed to his son.

     David's idle thoughts turn to a stunning bathing beauty. He follows his vulnerable heart... to even greater danger... he steals a man's wife... Bathsheba. I wish that at this critical point, after David's sins against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, the directors would have included the prophet's word picture. That pivotal sheep parable is what re-opened David's softened, shepherd-boy heart, and it might have changed my David-review.

     Yes, I agree that David is a doer, and that he is dutiful as well. But he is also an emotional man, and THE BIBLE lessens that element. After David cuts Saul's robe in the cave, his interaction with Saul is mechanical; when Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle, David erupts at the smiling messenger, but he too quickly by-passes sorrow to kingship thinking. Even during the soap opera, Days of Bathsheba, he seems uncomfortably calculating rather than passionate.

     I will end today's blog with a question: Is THE BIBLE's David-essence solely dutiful? Or, does the dutiful essence overpower the non-verbal cues of "A man-after-God's-own-Heart"???
    
     This Sunday at 7:00 p.m. The BIBLE Part III will air on The History Channel. I look forward to watching it.

THE BIBLE: A "Real" Maniacal Moses??

 
     Experiencing THE BIBLE's fatherly Abraham, downtrodden Sarah, and hen-pecked Lot... I see a deeper-than-3-D aspect of these characters, and Moses is no exception. In other words, this is not my Mother's flowing-robed, coiffed Moses.

      As I write this blog, with fingers fluttering across the keyboard and mind dancing to Red Sea parting music, I realize that THE BIBLE has opened my eyes. Moses is now introduced to me in a new, tangible way. I already knew he wasn't a mere one-dimensional felt figure on a board. I felt chagrined by a boring, clean, almost untouchable two-dimensional character in a starched robe. His... essence... is now crystallized in my mind, and I will attempt to briefly clarify that essence.

      Moses' unkempt hair, gravely "follow me," and mischievous, faraway stare have helped me to see the unvarnished, softer side of him... Specifically, I honed in on a crazed side of his character. After all, the unique 4-part formula of: Moses' palatially-educated upbringing + Pharaoh-groomed "brotherly" rivalry + desert years + burning bush experience couldn't help but = a raw, muddy, desperately fearless and complex man with anything but a spurious side. He is REAL, and I think I finally get him. He is a believable, seemingly demented, Ph-is-raelite (Pharaoh-groomed Israelite) on a humongous, thank-less, and compelling God-mission... and THE BIBLE's astute facial expressions portray a borderline maniacal essence... I think it is accurate, and it is unexpectedly refreshing...

      ... refreshing, because of my personal belief in the God of Moses, unseen-by-me, but real none-the-less; and, I wonder if I am experiencing a personal "parting of the Red Sea," writing today's Deo Volente blog. I have a writer's (sometimes mischievous) far-away stare and unkempt hair, that both feel... a bit... ?!?

      Oh, my! Adding just a few blogging edits and tweaks managed to burn-to-a-crisp my cheese quesadilla. I cannot wait to share King David's portrayal. It is complicated as well as unexpected, in a different way. My next installment will contain reactions to THE BIBLE's King-David-essence.

     THE BIBLE mini-series Part III will air Sunday, 7:00 p.m., on The History Channel, and repeat Monday, 7:00 p.m. on Lifetime.

THE BIBLE: Real TV

* THE BIBLE: YouTube's 4-minute Trailer * 

      I admit that when I first heard there would be yet another Bible movie, I was hesitant. Thoughts of The Ten Commandments with starchy, clean, resonant Moses kept me from anticipating the March 3rd event, and there would be no surprise stories (Adam and Eve, Noah's Arc, Abraham and Isaac, Moses parting the Red Sea, Saul and David's rivalry, yada, yada)... I have read and watched all of the stories, but how would this movie portray the events? I felt compelled to at least give it a try.

      After viewing the first two episodes of the epic, five-part mini-series, I am pleased to say, "This ain't your parents' Ten Commandments! It is real TV." I feel ecstatic to repeat Life cereal's nostalgic phrase from years ago: "sHE likes it... sHE likes it!"  How could one not love maniacal Moses and Sodom's Ninja angel?




Sodom's bloody Ninja angel

      I will soon share why I feel The Bible is Real TV, and what I appreciate about their portrayal of Moses as well as aspects I did not prefer in their portrayal of dutiful David. Those thoughts will best be saved for another blogging installment.

     This Sunday 3/17 at 7:00 p.m., Part 3 (of 5) will air on The History Channel and will repeat Monday evening on The Lifetime Channel.

Left Behind - Back to normal rhythms

     The Brazil service team arrived home safely Saturday and came to our place that evening for a decompression-time dinner. We (including Jeff's Mom) loved hearing stories from the students. I'm glad they joined us for a hearty meal and chatting. It is the ideal avenue for all of us to begin to process the full impact of their 9-day adventure.

     The team shared their favorite and fun times. Ministry to the Brazil children ranked high, as did a water fight in the rain. Maybe the rhythmic event in the short video above ranked high as well. Overall, it was culturally enhancing to join with one of the best service teams ever.

      I was fully aware of our gathering's personal impact for me: This "missions widow" graduated, With Honors, from Left Behind University. It is great to have Jeff back as he gradually joins the Land of the U.S. Living watching basketball and paying bills.

     The apple salad recipe below was savored by all (I multiplied the amounts by 8 to feed 12 hungry stomachs). The pectin in apples enhances digestion.


Hyvee's Apple Salad (t=teaspoon, T=tablespoon)

1 med. apple sliced & chopped (I used Granny Smith & Red Delicious)
3/4 t lemon juice
2 T chopped walnuts
2 T honey
1/8 t ground cinnamon (this ingredient helps sugars digest & creates an apple crisp taste)
1 t flax seed (optional)
1 T salted sunflower seeds (optional)
1 T dried cranberries (optional)

In a small bowl, combine the apple and lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients; toss to coat. Chill until serving. Yield: 2 servings.

Left Behind - CR Monkey

     Woo hoo!! In just 3 hours the Brazil service team will be on Springfield soil, ETA 10:15 a.m. Prior to arriving at the Sao Paulo airport, they took a quick dip in the Atlantic at Copa Cabana Beach. They traveled trams, buses, and planes to arrive to Sao Paulo and back. The overseas return flight was only two-thirds full, so students were able to grab two and three seats each.

Jeff in Rio

2012's Costa Rica Capuchin Monkey is in video above

    













          For kicks as I 2012 reminisce, I am posting a very short video of my husband's encounter with a capuchin monkey in Costa Rica's National Rain Forest. That rascal hoped to steal a banana out of his backpack.

Left Behind - CR & Friend Requests

        The Brazil team is in the process of returning home. Tears were flowing yesterday as the students said caio to their new-found Brazilian amigos. I noticed on my husband's Facebook that he has 23 new amigo Requests. 

     Service trips are shared memories with people, people, people including: the missionaries/students we meet overseas; the people we serve; AND, the students on our team with whom we travel, eat, sleep, eat, shop, eat, and serve alongside 24/7. It sounds like this year's 2013 Brazil team served vigorously, and had a blast as well... cohesively with no distracting rabble. 

     I know that our 2012 Costa Rica service team memories (pictured below and in the blasting video above) were fun, treasured, and varied...

 

We had a "blast" shopping at CR's Walmart--see video above

 



 

 

    

 

Muchos gracias, Mary Mahon!