WOW

I just started reading the book "The Year of Living Biblically" by AJ Jacobs, and WOW am I hooked!  The premise is that the author, technically Jewish but self-proclaimed agnostic, takes a full year and attempts to follow all Biblical laws, suggestions, and guidelines literally.  Everything including "love your neighbor", "be fruitful and multiply", disciplining with the "rod", and not wearing clothes of mixed fibers.  The book is light-hearted yet reflective, hilarious, and completely true (although since it is narrative, is the closest thing to fiction I've read in about five years, save children's stories) and his journey is fascinating.  Above all, he is an absolutely fabulous writer!  He's not a lofty Shakespear-type, but has this way of drawing you in and holding you captive until every last word has been ingested.  The pervious book he wrote was about reading the Encyclopedia Britannica, all of it, from A-Z.  Who can sell a book about that?  Apparently he's that captivating!

I am only one month into his journey, and so far he has not made any great spiritual leaps.  He is still trying to follow all the rules (he counted well over 700).  He has grown in a few areas such as coveting far less and being slower to anger.  Already I am inspired.  In preparation for his journey he spent four weeks reading the Bible, five hours a day.  And I have trouble with my daily devos! Every day his head is filled with thoughts of what the Bible requires and if his words and actions are keeping in line with Biblical principles.  Obviously, without Christ (so far) he is missing the point of it all.  But man, I'm only on page 45 and already I'm put to shame.

¡Ole!

Saturday night as I was just about to go to bed (way too late at 11:45) I heard music start to play outside.  This is quite common, as many people here have parties way into the wee hours of the morning, and there is nothing you can do about it.  But this time I was not hearing the latest reggeton from someone's ginormous sound system, but a live Mariachi band.  Mariachis are originally from Mexico, but are also found here for birthdays or special occasions.  I thought I would head to bed anyway and enjoy the music as I drifted off to sleep, but it sounded like the Mariachis were practically at my front door, so I unlocked the doors and ventured out for a little look.  Sure enough, they were standing *at* my door, serenading the lady in the second floor apartment across the street (complete with trumpets, guitars and all!  At midnight!).  There were about 15-20 people gathered behind the band, adding to the celebration.  I just lingered in my doorway enjoying the music and the flattered look on the lady's face, relishing in the fact that I live in a place where Mariachis can serenade (as they have done for centuries) at midnight, and the whole neigbourhood rejoices.  

This Week in Review

- We had three parties at our house in one week.  Two were "grill outs" for the two youth groups. The other was a surprise b-day party for one of our young adults.

- Shaylee started crawling at 9 months.  But she has been pulling up to a stand and cruising (little bit) for a few weeks now.  She crawls using her hands and feet instead of her knees.  She would really just rather walk.  I thought she just might skip crawling altogether, but she decided it was worth the stop over.

- I finally bought new clothes (well, new to me).  Last Monday as I was walking home my pants fell down around my thighs, right in front to two passers-by. So I decided it was time for properly fitting clothes.  See I've lost 25 pounds in the last two months, and had not yet begun to replace my wardrobe. But I visited the second hand clothing market and began stocking the closet.

- I think perhaps gluten was not the root of my eczema, so as of last Wednesday I am dairy free now.  Here's hoping something works!

- Shaylee and I have both had little colds today and yesterday, at least I think.  She also recently got her top two teeth, which could be behind her runny nose.  And I think I mine could be seasonal allergies to something here.  Time will tell.

- I have really enjoyed reading Kelly Thomas' blog, even the older posts I had not previously read.  She and I have almost identical boy stories.  Sometimes you make my sides hurt, Kelly.

- Last night I gave the talk at young adult youth group.  I was slotted to talk about budgeting, what the Bible says about it, and take them through step-by-step to developing a personal one.  It went really well.

- In anticipation for the next year, I have been wading through homeschool curriculum.  I am slowly narrowing the prospects so when we are in the States next year I will know which ones I want to look at in person and which don't interest me.

- This week I have been reading "The Strong-Willed Child" by Dobson.  I swear some of the stories are about Micaiah.  He is a wonderfully sweet child, but is he ever strong willed!  This book is giving me insight to understanding his behavior, and ideas on how to handle it.

- I tired to Bree Van de Camp it this week by taking up gardening.  Last week we sodded the front yard, so I bought a gardenia bush, hydrangeas, azaleas, impatients, zinnias,  some other flowers and pretty little plants and spent the afternoon playing in the dirt.  I'll post pics soon.

Dinner tonight: rice, black beans, Coca-Cola chicken

On the tube: American Idol (very different schedule for us)

Listening to: Ingrid Michaelson (current fave: Fisherman's Wife)

Evening project: cleaning the kitchen