10 Year Anniversary

A couple weeks ago our community here at Cuvantul Intrupat (Word Made Flesh in Romanian) celebrated Bela and his 10 years of service. It was such a great evening as we ate Indian food, told funny Bela stories, watched videos made especially for him, and read letters written to him. We also gave him a gift: a DSLR camera that he'd been saving for and investigating the last 10 months or so. It was a joy to be able to surprise him with this gift...he never expected it! He also received an apron made just for him, the WMF bird in glass, and a t-shirt with a picture of our community on the back.

Here's some shots from the evening:
Our dinner together...and the handsome man.





Friends reading to him and presenting him with gifts they'd made.
Anca got dressed up for the occasion.







Bela opening the camera.





In other news, check out Contemplation for 1,000 gifts!

Sighisoara

Unfortunately, I'm not able to post pictures on my different pages.

Bummer.

If I could, I would have put this under "Romanian Wifery" as it has to do with, you guessed it, Romania.

On our way home from Cluj-Napoca several weeks ago, we stopped in the very old city of Sighisoara. We only stayed a couple of hours, but we took lots of photos of the old part of town. I loved being there. We stopped by one building where Vlad Dracula lived for 4 years (from 1431-1435).

While the part of town we hung out in was old, there's lots going on there. People live in the homes, are rennovating them, many restaurants and outdoor cafes, etc. If you get over to this part of the world, it's a must see.

In other news, make sure you get over to the Contemplation page as I'm sharing a little more from Oscar Romero today.

What's On for Today...

Click either the above tabs to read, or the title of the link below:


Contemplation: 1,000 Gifts
Activism: a poem called Whispers
Romanian Wifery: Things my Husband says that Make me Laugh.

A New Look

Yesterday was my birthday which I thought would be the perfect time to 'launch' my 'new blog.'

It isn't yesterday anymore, so, it isn't my birthday anymore. (That was obvious, I know). But, my birthday was just really great and I didn't have room in my heart to spend an iota of the day away from my husband...it was just that good with him.

Still, while it is no longer yesterday or my birthday, it isn't too late to kick off what isn't really a new blog, but more of a new look. I'm organizing my thoughts differently. I have a few different pages which you can see above: Contemplation, Activism, and Romanian Wifery. Just click on them to see what exactly it is I'm kicking around in this heart and head of mine. I won't change the subject matter under each tab every day, but I will update them a few times a week.

So, please come by often ~ and when you do, drop me a note. It does my heart good to hear from you.

I'm still learning, and I hope you'll join me.

Cluj-Napoca

A couple weeks ago I wrote about our journey from Chisinau to Cluj. If you didn't see the incredible video and my important display of videojournalism, then you're gonna want to go back to that post by clicking HERE. (In case it wasn't clear, click the word here. Not this word here, but the first word here. In bold type and caps. You know, not the one over here, but over there.)

We went to celebrate the marriage of an old friend, but were also able to see some incredible Romanian architecture and countryside. Thought I'd share a few of the prize shots.




We started out by making our way through this very dangerous canyon...shared only by us and ENORMOUS tour busses. As you can see, the view was breathtaking and I quickly forgot about the narrow roads and Hungarian tourists (who rode in those big busses).

From there we went through some gorgeous countryside...which you can view in the aforementioned video. :)







And then, there was the wedding. Nina, the bride, our friend, was a princess.

Finally, there was the city of Cluj. It's old...dates way back to Roman times (as do many cities in Romania). But, the feel of the city is what is so enchanting. Wish we had more time to explore. (Photos by Bela)

Inspiring

Bela took these photos of some flowers at the center. Aren't they great?






And I took these of some wild poppies (I think that's what they are) in the forest on The First of May (which is Labor Day in Romania). I'd never seen white poppies and what made the discovery all the more inspiring, were the 3 little lovelies I was out hunting flowers with: D, R, and S.

They're intelligence, strength, bossy-ness, laughter, hugs, hands to hold, and fierceness are truly inspiring.

Multitude Mondays

And the counting of 1,000 gifts continues:
11. I'm grateful that tonight I'll sleep besides my husband who loves me.
12. I'm thankful for the walk we went on tonight. He and I. Us. Walking. Together.
13. I'm grateful for kids who make me laugh, who make me hope.
14. I'm thankful for Jamie who is working on the blog with me.
15. On their anniversary, I'm thankful for the marriage of my parents.
16. I'm thankful for my bed, the shelter of a roof and 4 walls.
17. I'm thankfulf or the broken, one of whom is me.
18. I'm grateful for good books.
19. I'm thankful for salads.
20. I'm grateful that my husband is my friend.
21. I'm thankful for Seth who just turned 6.
22. I'm thankful for Terri who just turned....
23. I'm thankful for babies who are born early, but healthy.
24. I'm thankful for the First of May, Labor Day in RO, and hanging out with the kids in warm sunshine, eating good food.
25. I'm thankful for my dad who is turning 62 and off on the adventure of a lifetime with the love of his life!
26. I'm grateful for nice people.
27. I'm grateful that I not only get to try for babies, but I get to try for babies with him!
28. I'm thankful that sometimes, words just come.
29. I'm thankful for retreats and silence and rest.
30. I'm thankful that everything which is His, is mine.