Monthly Archives: February 2010

We didn’t throw a party…

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Did I mention that I recently read “Julie & Julia?” Read. Not watched. (Well. I did eventually watch the movie. Last night. And the movie was only somewhat like the book. Hollywood…)

(Meryl Streep remains brilliant, by the way.)

I thought reading the book would be a neat way to end 2009, since so many people said my 100 song wildness was in line with Julie Powell’s cooking through “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in a year. With every page I turned, I realized that Julie Powell and I were not that different… until she went & got a publisher and book deal and all.

And, it must be said that Drew knew nothing of Julie’s wildness when he suggested this lofty goal for my 2009.

But that’s neither here nor there.

The point is this: at the end of the story, Julie throws a beautiful party to celebrate the close of her year – the achievement of her goal – the journey of finding her fulfillment. But we, in my real life journey of 2009, didn’t throw a party. Drew and I had about a 15 minute “yay” and then continued packing our apartment, or something like that. I did get some “congratulations” – but when the chaos of December got in bed with some sort of humility, we had one heck of a “flop” on our hands.

And now, 2 months after completing my 102nd song of 2009 (stupid overachiever I am), as the dust settles in our new home, I find myself trying to pick up my guitar. But I’m stuck. Stuck looking back at one of the most exhilarating times in my life… but there was no ribbon flapping across the finish line.

At The Chapel, we are learning to be very intentional about our “wins.” In short, define the target. And when we hit it, acknowledge it.

I don’t want to yell “GO ME!!!” – in fact, I even feel a tinge of hesitancy in hitting “publish” on this. But I do regret not having some type of celebration that reflected the wildness of my 2009 goal… Some type of “online party” with this blog-reading community, because YOU were the faithful ones who walked with me. Gave me honest feedback. Suffered through poor recordings. Et cetera.

Is there anything wrong with saying, “This may be one of the biggest achievements of my life?”

But, what does it matter? I’m afraid the moment has passed.

Something worth praying about…

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The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Is God Saying “Don’t Buy the House?”

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We’ve had so many road blocks in the journey of buying our own home. SO many that I started wondering if God was trying to say something.

And other people were wondering the same thing. We’ve had lots of people ask us, half-jokingly, if this was a sign from God. We’ve had people who don’t even know us, but know our family and know our story, ask our family if God was trying to communicate something. And this from people who aren’t hyper-spiritual. Who don’t readily look for signs everyday.

The journey has been SO difficult, cumbersome, and frustrating, that it’s beyond explanation.

Not only has our Realtor noted that this is the worst home-buying experience he’s ever seen.

But so has our Mortgage banker.

And so has the Closing Attorney.

Yes, I said Closing Attorney.

Because we went ahead and bought the house last Thursday. :)

And you’ll see NO SIGN of buyer’s remorse from us.

“Good things come to those who wait.”

Who’s Crazier, Me or Mz Elite???

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Early this morning, I got an interesting text: “Hey Tia the Lord has been dealing heavily with me concerning the play please be in prayer that this looking a september in Jesus name. Mz Elite”

My reply: “Amen. But this isnt Tia. I think you have the wrong cell number…”

“Oh lord! Thanks”

And, then I started thinking, so I continued: “No prob. & God is soveriegn over everything. even plays!”

“Yes he is!”

The whole exchange left me with two conclusions:

1) The whole social media experience has made me way too comfortable interacting with total strangers.

2) I needed to hear that more than Mz Elite did.