Takes and Things

I don’t think I can get up to a whole seven takes today, but maybe there might be a few here and there.

One

After lots and lots and lots of rain, and even some flooding, the temperature finally shifted and everything is nice and chilly. This is wonderful because I don’t have any clothes for hot weather, and also, the humidity has been exhausting. This is called Middle Age, or Anne Gets Older.

Two

I am so close to being done with TLOTR. I’m halfway through the scouring of the shire. So help me, I will finish it today if it’s the last thing I do. I did realize, as I was racing along page after page yesterday that this is what I do. It takes me two or three years to get into a book, and then when I get to the last third, I have to suspend reality and just finish it. There has got to be a better way to read but by gum, I can’t think of what it might be.

Three

Whenever I put down my book (which is enormous and I’m getting wrist pain from trying to hold it up because it’s all three books bound into one) I’ve been watching youtube people talk about manifesting, including this wild clip of Jennifer Aniston talking to Drew Barrymore about how Jennifer Aniston manifested Friends. It is so strange.

Four

When I have to cook or drive the car I’ve been listening to NT Wright’s book on Paul–the biography one. It is really good, as I’m sure everyone already knew. It provides excellent context and background into Paul’s life and writing and what kind of person he was. I do wish that Wright would break down just one time and use the word “Christian” or “Believer” or something instead of “Messiah People.” I know he’s trying not to reinforce what everyone already thinks, which is fine, but a lot of his work arounds are awkward, especially when used over and over. Although, who am I–me criticizing NT Wright is probably like Sue Monk Kidd giving Tolkien writing tips.

Five

Here are some pet pics:

For real, I have got to take “first day” pictures of my children before the whole first month of school is gone, but they are never handy when I think to do it, and also, they are not as cute as the pets. They are all tall and wrapped up in sweats and headphones and sarcasm. It is Not The Same.

Six

The lections for Morning Prayer today included the bit in Hebrews about God being a consuming fire, which reminded me of Lewis’ anthology of MacDonald and this bit:

He will shake heaven and earth, that only the unshakeable may remain: He is a consuming fire, that onnly that which cannot be consumed may stand forth eternal. It is the nature of God, so terribly pure that it destroyes all that is not pure as fire, which demands like purity in our worship. He will have purity. It is not that the fire will burn us if we do not worship thus; but that the fire will burn us until we worship thus; yea, will go on burning within us after all that is forieng to is yeilded to its force, no longer with pain and consuming, but as the hightest consciousness of life, the presence of God.

Seven

Go check out more takes! I will be wandering around in the bliss of a cold, clear day. Have a nice weekend!