To Love...

To love at all is to be vulnerable.  Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken.  If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.  Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.  But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change.  It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. ~ C. S. Lewis

I've been thinking about how much strength it takes to truly love people.  You know, not to just hug people, smile and say 'I love you,' but to care about them deeply and live for them.  The kind of love where you would die for them.  As C. S. Lewis has wisely put it, 'to love is to be vulnerable.'  You have to open yourself and give yourself completely to them and that makes you susceptible to hurt.  It takes courage to love.  I think a person who truly loves should be called a Braveheart.

My posts are getting a little few and far between because my job is keeping me so busy.  But I really like it (my job) and I shall try to find more time to write.  I have Sundays off, which is just lovely!  Anyway, just wanted to 'pen' a quick thought that has been drifting around my mind lately.

Christ is Risen!

 After a long, sorrowful week full of eloquent services that moved me to tears on a few occasions, Pascha (Easter) has come!  Our liturgy began last night at 10:30 and was unbelievably beautiful and joyous, as always.  White flowers and green ivy decorated our iconostasis; our dear Matushka was the artist who set it all up (with some assistance from select members :) ).  And now, having slept in since I didn't fall asleep until 3 something last night, ...er..this morning... I am looking forward to a celebratory barbeque at our priest's house.  After our feast and games and mingling, we have a lovely short vespers, called Agape Vespers, or the Vespers of Love.  It is such a sweet finish to a wonderful day.

Then I have some news about Monday!  I have a job!  You know how I'd been putting that in my Damsel's Daybook entries as my wish all the time...well, I don't have to any more.  I am happily employed at a clothing store with an amazing manager.  I start on Monday at 9:00 in the morning.  I am so excited about it!

May God bless you on this happy day!

Spring is Here!

 Our Gorse bush in the front has started to bloom.  I took a branch and added it to my pussywillow that I had discovered on a lovely long walk last week.  They are now leaning on my polar bear that I have stationed on the top of my desk.  He's my little tribute to one of my favourite fairytales; East O' the Sun, West O' the Moon.

 Isn't he sweet?  He looks like he's sparkling with snow!

 

 This is our kitty enjoying a semi-sunny afternoon, perched high up on our stairs out the back.  I love the way she squints her eyes and looks like she's smiling.  That's her contented expression and it's usually accompanied by a soft purr.  Have I mentioned I love cats?  Her name is Cinder, by the way (kind of like Cinderella :) ) but we always call her Kitty.

 Some happy pansies Mum has in our kitchen.

 

 These flowers are really neat.  They grow on a bush out in our front garden and they look like little white fairy bells.  When I was little I tried to see if they rang by gently shaking them.  If they did, I couldn't hear them.

And this is my little sister's harp.  She plays it very well and I love to hear its beautiful melodies.  There's something truly lovely about a harp.

God is Great

Cross Galaxy

I stumbled across this video that had been posted by a priest that I am 'friends' with on Facebook.  It moved me so deeply that my heart is completely full.  It is especially wonderful as we are just coming to Holy Week and Pascha (Easter) is just around the corner.  So I wanted to share.  I know I have been posting a lot of videos, but I promise I have some pretty pictures coming up to show you!

Diana Originally Auditioned as Anne?!

Now here is something I didn't know!  This was quite interesting.  Schuyler Grant, the actress who played Diana Barry, originally auditioned for the role of Anne Shirley!  I read about it here: Diana Auditions As Anne.
What are your thoughts?  I personally think that the cast was perfect with Megan Follows as Anne.  No one could have outshone her performance, in my opinion.

A Damsel's Daybook V

Outside my window - The sun is peeking out and the birds are singing!
I am thinking about - Spain...they have castles and apparently chocolate milk in their cereal if my older brother is to be believed.
From the kitchen - A really good soup; the name of which I cannot pronounce or spell.  Yet.
I am creating - A cardigan.  Still.  But I'm almost finished!  I'm on the last sleeve.
I am reading -

• Walking With Frodo: A Devotional Journey Through the Lord of the Rings by Sarah Arthur (highly recommended)
• The Magic City by E. Nesbit
• The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper (which is still wonderful)
• Three Gothic Novels: The Castle of Otranto; Vathek; Frankenstein (I'm on Vathek...it's quite strange.  I liked the first, but I would have finished it differently)

I am hearing - My sister humming a tune from Disney's Ichabod Crane.  It is now stuck in my head.  *Sigh*.
I am hoping - I get the job I applied for.
I am planning - To finish my last assignment, fill out an election form (drudgery), and maybe watch some more of Hogan's Heroes.
I am wearing - Jeans, a white tank top, a light blue t-shirt and an off the shoulder tee over top of it.  And then two cardigans.  Yeah, I need the layers.  I get cold!
Around the house - I have no idea...I just got home from school!
My wish of the week - That I get a job and find some time to write those book reviews I have waiting for my other blog!