Thursday, June 23, 2011

Honor the Dead

Gen. 50
Two deaths, two burials, two last wishes left for others to carry out. Jacob and his son, Joseph, have specific instructions for what they want done with their bones after they die. It takes the whole chapter. Why? How important can it really be to fulfill a last request? The person is dead, after all. What do they care?


Several weeks ago, I watched "The Art of the Steal" which documents the systematic, legal plundering of a man's private art collection by the City of Philadelphia. The collection features the best of impressionistic painters like Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Valued at about 25 billion (yes...that's billion with a "b"), the original owner left very specific instructions about what he did and did not want to happen to his collection after his death. Sixty years later, every specific has been violated. But why would he care? He's dead, after all.

So why does our sense of justice scream, "Foul!" Why does God devote an entire chapter to the last wishes of two patriarchs? Putting on my very theological cap, I think the point is that, even if the dead are not around to care any longer, God cares. And because He does, we'd better.


Until next time,
Becca

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Birthday Blessings

It's 87 degrees inside my house right now...at least upstairs, so I am downstairs crafting away in my basement. Whew! Besides, I'm heading out to a birthday party tonight and need a special card for a special lady.

This is based off the Mojo Monday Sketch 194.

This is the first dimensional flower I've made using a strip of paper accordion folded and then formed into a circle. I used scallop edges scissors to give it a little bit of petal curve.

Paper, stamps and ribbon are all CTMH. I didn't have a circle punch to create the scalloped edge as shown in the sketch, so I cut 3/4 inch squares and set them on the diagonal. I zig-zag stitched the strips and then planned to go all the way around the square with another zig-zag, but as I went to turn the corner, I noticed I'd run out of thread. Since I thought it looked kinda cool, I did it on the bottom, too.

Off to run some errands in my air-conditioned car at the air-conditioned post office and grocery store.

Until next time,
Becca

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Saying Goodbye

Today I'm off to help some dear friends pack up and move out. It's part of this Army life, but that doesn't mean I have to like it...at all. This couple has been instrumental in making our first experience with the Army great. Jeff has just been promoted to full-bird Colonel, and they are moving to Pennsylvania so he can attend the War College.

(Do you know why it's called "full-bird"? I didn't. The rank insignia for a Lt. Col. is a maple leaf. When you get promoted to Col., the insignia changes to the eagle with wings spread. You refer to both in conversation as "Col. So and So", thus the need to differentiate between a Col. and a full-bird Col. That will be 5 cents for the lesson, please.)

Frankly, I don't mind if Jeff goes. Don't get me wrong...he's a wonderful man who held the position of Division Chaplain here at Ft. Carson with intelligence, humor, and compassion. But his wife, Lisa...  There are no words to explain what she has meant to me personally and to all the chaplain spouses here. She needs to stay. However, after 7 deployments, she's not going for the idea of remaining here while hubby moves on alone.

But...duty calls and so, armed with rubber gloves and a mop, I'm off to help them break my heart.

Until next time,
Becca