Reading Again, for the First Time

The more I read the Bible, the more I am finding things that I either didn’t read before, didn’t understand, or are coming to a new understanding as I get older [Rocky is wondering if I’m starting to go through a mid-life crisis – not sure if that’s a bad thing if it takes me deeper in to the Bible].  Last week, in my psalms study, I read Psalm 11 and one phrase suddenly brought me comfort, where before it was frightening, making God seem far far away.

Psalm 11:4: The Lord is in his holy temple …

In the past, I’m sure I took this simple sentence at face value.  God is somewhere, far way, in a temple.  I will need permission, a pass, a background screen, walk through a metal detector to get to him; He is inaccessible because he is in a temple.

Last week, however, I read the entire psalm, which is quite short, and re-saw what David was praying about.  David was praying about refuge from the wicked and wondering why the wicked were allowed to get away with, well, being wicked.  It’s been the theme of the past few psalms.  The wicked are given a free pass, the wicked are chasing me and yet the Lord does nothing.  But wait, God is present, he IS in his holy temple and is on this throne.  He is observing: which feels to me like he is not just watching us like some cosmic reality TV show, he is taking notes, he knows what is happening and will examine and provide justice.  HIS justice, not mine, not someone else’s, not society’s, but HIS.  I think that’s the tough part. We, and by “we” I mean “I”, want human justice.  We think justice is only in this life, but there’s more to it.  God is the ultimate judge and I need to remember that the Lord IS in his holy temple, he IS on his throne, and he WILL impart HIS justice.

vs. 7 For the Lord is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face

Inspired by “The Lorax”

Rocky took Maggie to “The Lorax.”  She LOVED it!  When they got home, she told me, it was the Best. Movie. Ever. Since then, she has stopped conversation several times to tell me about something funny that happened in the movie, or a line that made her laugh.  This weekend, it was so nice, we had the sidewalk chalk out and, while Jessie napped, Maggie & I hung out in the front yard where she started drawing “And Mom, you will have to guess, but I will give you hints.”  Turns out, she was drawing a “Truffula Tree,” though she didn’t have a black chalk, so she used the colors she liked best.  She explained to me that we had to draw stumps too.  Once the tree was complete, she drew a sun with the last Truffula seed planted below.

“Mom, the movie just makes me want to draw!”

The finished drawing:

My beautiful artist

I believe

My baby is growing up. She lost her first tooth!! She was so excited when she first noticed it was loose. She was so worried that the tooth would fall out while she was asleep and then how would the Tooth Fairy know she lost her tooth?? I explained that the Tooth Fairy is magic and she would be able to get the tooth no matter where it was! She was very very relieved. And last night, she finally pulled it out, put it in her tooth pillow and happily slept in her bed all night.  The Tooth Fairy brought her $2 (inflation). I love that Maggie believes in make-believe and fairies and magic. We do talk about the difference between fantasy and real life, she also knows it's okay to believe.

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My Wine Cellar

My cellar is a 20 bottle wine rack Rocky & I purchased with a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond after our wedding.  In Virginia, it sat in the dining room (which we never really used other than for storage) and here, it ended up in the crawl space, which is actually the very best place EVER for a wine rack!  My wine is always at the best temperature, especially the reds.  I’m even enjoying the whites that I store at this temperature (the Barefoot wines of the world rarely make it to the cellar).  Since joining the wine club, my “collection” has started to grow and I’m just now starting to contemplate a 2nd rack.  I really like the idea of letting some of the Cabs and earthier wines sit for a year or two before opening.  And if that’s the case, a 2nd rack, further into the crawl space, may be just what I need. 

 

I was completely remiss in updating the wine club selections for February.  Part of the reason I didn’t update was when I read through the selection descriptions, I thought they might be better if they sit for a bit, or at least when we are having a hearty meal or sharing pizza with friends.  This wine club has really gotten me drinking a lot of reds, and I’m discovering I prefer reds on day 2, rather than day 1.  But it’s hard to open a bottle and not drink!

Tonight, I opened a bottle of Cameron Hughes Field Blend, Lot 313 (not part of the club selections). A 2010 blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Carignane.  We tasted this at Simply Wine a few weeks ago at a Cameron Hughes tasting.  The Field Blend was my favorite, and I ended up purchasing 2 bottles, at $11.99 each.  The Lot series is interesting.  They collect small lots of high quality wine from the world’s best regions.  This wine is smooth, juicy/berry tasting, without a lingering after taste.  It paired nicely with the steak tonight.

So, upcoming.  From February, we have

• Man Vintners Pinotage.
• La Radela Tempranillo
• Dusted Valley 40 Nights (interestingly, their wine club is called “Stained Tooth Society,”  I like it.)

And in March:

• Zin Your Face, another Cameron Hughes, so I’m looking forward to this “jammy” wine.
• Hecula Monastrell (unable to find a website with information)
• Grangia  Vino Blanco (unable to find a website in English with informaiton)

I will reference back here for links to the wineries as I enjoy these wines.

I Will

I’m doing a weekly Psalm Study with Wendy Pope, a writer and speaker for the Proverbs 31 Ministry.  It’s a nice study, because it is easy – 1 psalm/week, 10-15 minutes, 4 days a week.  My original plan was to write once a week about each psalm, but I have to admit that the first few studies hit me a little too close to home, struck a couple of nerves.  I do hope to go back to some of those psalms, revisit, and maybe write about why they hit me so hard.

So, this week’s Psalm is #9.  In today’s vlog, Wendy talked about how our inward attitude becomes our outward expression.  I have to change myself, internally, before I can expect changes to be visible to others.

I WILL praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I WILL tell of all your wonders.  I WILL be glad and rejoice in you; I WILL sing praise to your name, O Most High. v. 1-2

For the rest of this week, I will follow the first 2 verses.  I will praise.  I will tell.  I will be glad.  I will sing.

My First Shiraz

Way back in my single days, I worked for United Airlines. The best part was, of course, the travel benefits. At the time you paid a small fee to travel anywhere United went. The majority of my travels were to visit family (I was pretty deep in debt), but I did take a few fun trips and one overseas trip to visit my friend Stan who was studying law in Sydney, Australia in the year 2000.  I spent 8 fun filled days, soaking up the southern hemisphere sun. I spent a lot of time sight seeing, but one day Stan and I took a wine tasting trip to Hunter Valley. I don't remember much of where we went but one of the wineries was Rosemount Estates where I tasted my first Shiraz. I loved the buttery texture, the slightly peppery taste. I decided this was the one bottle for me to take home with me -- I only had 1 carry on and barely room for my clothes much less a bottle of wine. I also worried about the bottle breaking but figured one bottle would be fine.  Upon my return to the States I guarded to bottle selfishly, waiting for the right time to open it. I finally opened it later that summer at my uncle's home at a Labor Day bbq. We all really enjoyed it.  It couldn't have been long after that I discovered it sold in grocery stores! I don't remember when that was, but I do still like to pick up a bottle from time to time. I found it at Target for $6.99 this last time. It's been awhile since I've had the Shiraz. I also enjoy their red blends. Enjoying that Shiraz reminded me of my trip and made me long for a trip back. Someday ...

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