Wake!

Tosca Lee's second novel tells the story of Eve, the first woman. Lee's lyrical prose tells of the first man and women in the Garden, their temptation, and fall. Lee then goes on to tell their story as they wander from the Garden and struggle to live in the fallen world. Through Havah's (Eve's) eyes, the reader learns about the beginning of mankind as a family is begun, and multiplies. Then the reader weeps with Havah and Adam as they witness the first death.

This is a story that at first we think we know well, until we read Lee's story and realize we hardly know it at all. Tosca Lee left me weeping and laughing, and wondering what it would have been like to live in a world such as Adam and Havah lived in. I could hardly keep myself from reading the book all at once. I could not pry my fingers from the pages, and the beautiful story occupied my thoughts long after.

Just as Tosca Lee's first novel, Demon, changed the way I thought about the fall of angels, Havah has changed, forever, the way I will think about the fall of man, and the story that followed. This is the kind of book I dream of writing - it kept me up reading, made me think, weep, and laugh. Someday, I will write something like this, but I can only dream of writing it as well as Tosca Lee does.

Wake!

Photography

Before it got all cold and snowy here, my fiancé and I made one last trip up to the mountains. I convinced him to stop and let me take photos of a graveyard on our way back down the mountain. Maybe it's weird - I don't know - but I think the shapes and colors of the older gravestones are interesting. Plus, sometimes one finds interesting things on the stones.

I thought this design was beautiful - especially with the varying shades of gray. :)

I like the curving lines in this photo. And the stones in the background.

This next photo I did not take for its aesthetic interest, because it is not interesting at all in that sense. It was a plain headstone, a different color from all the others - light tan instead of gray. The only thing written on it were the initials S.L. I am very intrigued by this stone. Who is S.L.? Why are there no dates, and only initials on the stone? Why is it a different material than all the others? I'm so intrigued, I may just write a story about it.

FInally...

I know it has been forever.... Oh well.

This is inspired by Van Gogh's "Starry Night." It was an in class activity.

"A cold wind tumbles over a sleepy town. A few twinkling candles, in a few dim windows, mimic the lights looking down. The moon, with its chestier cat smile, looks down bathing the church with its pale light. A song rises from the ancient church to meet the stars in the sky. They tumble together mixing pale colors. Nothing else breaths. Kay stared up at those dancing lights from the stone steps. The beautiful music that shimmered with the stars sent a shiver down her spine. She wished she could fly up with the music and join the stars just as love had done before."

Kutless - It is Well

Kutless had much to live up to with their second worship album. Their first, Strong Tower was a success, bringing the band some deserved recognition. However, their rock projects since have disappointed many, myself included. When I heard about the band's new worship project, I was anxious. I expected great things from the band, but worried the previous lackluster albums would be reflected in the new record. From the first sounds of "It is Well" my fears vanished. It is Well may not surpass Strong Tower, but it did not disappoint.

Kutless covers some old and new ground on It is Well. Both the title track, and "Remember Me" are old hymns that the band has reworked and updated. Kutless seems to do its best work at this, and I would like to see a project of only updated hymns in the band's future. There are also some modern worship songs that the band has made their versions of- such as "God of Wonders" and "Hungry." These tracks are well done, and catchy to listen to. It's hard to say if they will stand up next to the numerous other recordings of these songs.

Kutless originals make up the rest of the album. They are all good songs, but none of them creates the impact of "It is Well." All together, Kutless has created a cohesive enjoyable album. They did not disappoint this time. It is Well is an album I'm happy to own in its entirety.

Sunset Before Fireworks

I went to watch fireworks last night, but before the show starting, we got to see a different kind of light show.







I love sunsets... especially when there is water involved. :)

Succumbing to Silly Bands

I resisted. I really did.



But the pink guitar was just too cool.
I feel like I'm sacrificing my free thinking by indulging in a fad... especially at age 20. Haha.
But it's only one!
But will it stay one?

We shall see....

More Jewelry

Here's my third completed creation! (I don't have a picture of the 2nd yet...)
I love the pearls on this one :)




I'm still trying to figure out how to turn my glass chess pieces into pendants... I think I need stronger glue.

Au revoir!