a croc of ugliness

As Diva, I feel that it is my responsibility to make an official statement about the latest shoe trend that seems to be catching on like wild fire - Crocs. All I really have to say is ick!!!!

Jen is trying to convince me that they are the most comfortable shoes on the planet. Now that would seem to be an ok excuse coming from a nurse who knows what it's like to be on her feet for 3 consecutive 12hr shifts, but she's not wearing them as a nurse - she's still on mat leave and has been seen wearing them on the street . . . like in public!!!! Can we say Nasty!!! And to make the nightmare even more terrifying she's on a mission to find a baby sized pair for the Little Diva!!!!!

Now that is where I have to put my foot down (my dainty pretty foot that is only worthy of sparkle, satin and fine leather shoes, of course :) It's ok if the rest of my family wants to gallivant around town in their rubber clogs looking ridiculously horrible, but the crocs stop there - It's unacceptable for my petite protégé to have to be subjected to this hideous fashion trend, even if she does just wear them "around the house".

I'm sorry but it is a diva's duty to say "no" to the hideous trendy trends that will make us look back and wonder what on earth we were thinking!!!!. Those shoes just scream "fashion faux pas" with all the holes , clunk, and horrible plastic rainbow colours sans glitter or anything sprakley .

Don't worry Julia, Auntie Diva will save you from those horrible predators to the fashion world- if it's the last thing I do!!! I'll track em down, wrangle them up and throw them into a deep pit never to be seen again. Just call me the Croc Hunter - CRIKEY!!!!!

still waiting . . .

Come For Me

Jesus come take me away, I long to see Your face
This world is broken yet beautifully made,
Jesus come take me away.

Jesus I’ll patiently wait, until like a vapor I’ll fade
Help me fulfill all your dreams for these days,
and Jesus I’ll patiently wait.

You’ll come again with a shout,
like a thief in the night you’ll come riding on clouds
and Finally the voice I have followed for life
has a glorious face that is lit up with light
And you’ll come for me, no more pain - peace,
No more fear - release
just lost and consumed with my glorious King.

Jesus today I am tired, and I need your music to come and inspire
and I give myself to be refined in this fire,
but Jesus today I’m so tired.

You’ll come again with a shout,

like a thief in the night you’ll come riding on clouds

and Finally the voice I have followed for life

has a glorious face that is lit up with light

And you’ll come for me, no more pain- peace,

No more fear - release

just lost and consumed with my glorious King,

and you'll come for me.

come for me.

Music & lyrics - Charlie Hall (from CD Flying into Daybreak)

Today it was this simple song so beautifully stated with imagery of Christ's return, that reminded me of what it is that I am truly waiting for. I wait with eager anticipation for the day He will come for me. I will not and can not sit idling my life away knowing that this promise is everything I am waiting for.

What a glorious day it will be - worth the wait indeed.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

waiting . . .

Waiting is such an idle verb.

Doing nothing but sitting in anticipation of what's to come.

Should waiting with anticipation be idle?

I don't think so, but for me it is.

I seem to have a huge problem with waiting.

It makes me feel stuck.

These days more than ever.

Partly because I don't really know

exactly what I'm waiting for.

I long to be somewhere else.

I've done what I can and now I can only stand still.

Maybe it's the anticipation that's causing the problem.

I think too much.

I plan too far ahead.

I react emotionally.

I shift between several identities.

I'm not living my life to the fullest and I know it,

yet I do nothing but try to convince myself that sitting here

waiting in anticipation is going to get me somewhere.

Waiting really makes me feel useless.

So why do I continue to sit here?

Because somehow waiting has become safe

and it gives me an excuse to avoid taking anymore risks,

at least for the time being.

right turn

"For a lot of us the most spiritual thing we can do is to do something - to turn right when we want to turn left." -Erwin McManus Chasing Daylight

Today I chose to turn right when for months now all I've been doing is searching for excuses to turn left. I'm feeling a little uneasy yet at the same time very excited at the prospect of what is to come. How will He use me and grow me in the next few months as a result of my choice to seize this divine moment set before me?

Baby Bunnies

It really doesn't take much to thrill me. I know with the whole "diva image", some may think that I am high maintenance but really all it takes is seeing a couple of baby bunnies on the street to get me super excited. Sometimes I get so excited about baby bunnies that I get a little carried away. Last night on my way home I had one of those thrilling baby bunny moments and as a result am now thought of as the neighborhood nutbar.

Baby Bunnies are great. Two summers ago our back yard bunny, Peter, had babies in our garden. (We continued to call her Peter even after we realized that he was a she.) Now we'll occasionally see a bunny hopping through the garden and it's a very thrilling thing for us. Whoever sees the bunny makes an announcement to the entire household that Peter has returned (even though it might not be Peter. they all look like Peter so in our house all tan colored cotton tail rabbits are named Peter, it's just easier that way.) It's always quite exciting to see Peter again, whenever he comes to visit I feel like that little girl who used to get super excited at the cottage when I'd see a wild animal on the property.

Back to last night. I'm driving home from Small group and I pull onto my street a little after 11 and right there on the road are two Peters hopping around, chasing each other. Aaaaaaaa!!! I got so excited not one Peter but two, I could barely contain myself. I stopped my car, mainly to avoid seeing a Peter splattered under my tire, but also to give the Peters a special shout out. I rolled down my window and said in a high pitched excited baby bunny kind of voice "Peeeeter!! Hi Peter & Peter!! You two are gonna get run over. You have got to get off the road!" I started honking the horn, trying to scare them onto the grass. It took a little coaxing but they finally ran up onto my neighbor's lawn.

After bidding farewell to the Peters I drove off, checking my rear view mirror to make sure that they were staying on the grass. They were there alright, and behind them sitting on my neighbor’s porch was my neighbor and 2 other members of the Seminole Dr clan ( a group of men from our street who get together and chat it up about their lawns, gardens, roofs, shingles and window trims). I laughed it off cause really who cares what my neighbors think of me! . . . . . .

Apparently My Dad seems to care. He happens to be a part of the Seminole Dr Clan and he came home tonight after chatting with his street pals and asked me what on earth I was doing last night. My Dad tells me that a couple of his friends watched me "talking to myself" on the street last night. My Dad already knows I'm completely insane and has come to accept me for who I am, but he tells me that he would prefer it if I keep my lunacy confined within the walls of our home :)
I say Give me a break lawn boys! Didn't you see the Peters? Couldn't you tell that I wasn't talking to myself but was simply having a pleasant conversation with a couple of baby bunnies on the street. sheeesh!! :)

JEN

MY BIG SISTER

One of my first role models.

One who taught me about generosity and genuine caring.

One who allowed me to learn from her mistakes.

One who allowed me to learn from her successes.

One who encouraged my creativity with hours of make believe.

One who encouraged me to live my dreams.

One who made me giggle enough to get the "If you two don't stop giggling, I'm gonna pull this car over at the side of the road " threat from Daddy:)

One who inspired my musicality at an early age by offering her leg as a pretend piano and guitar :)

One who kept me up at night talking or playing humzinger.

One who woke with me and reassured me when I had a nightmare.

One who forgave me for all the hair pulling, pinching, biting, pushing, name calling and dumping of pasta on her head :)

One who experienced the same joy, excitement, and embarrassment of my childhood days.

One who has shared the sorrow and the grief that I've experienced.

One who still sees and understands the little girl that lingers within, because she knew that girl better than anyone else.

One who is more than my sister, One who is my dearest friend.

My big sister - One whom I thank God for everyday.

Happy Birthday Jen, Love ya!!

Lessons from Auntie Diva

(Julia puts on her glam disguise for yesterday afternoon's diva walk)

Diva Lesson #6
The Art of Being Mysterious
Sometimes a diva must disguise herself in order to avoid constant interruptions by her adoring fans.

Tips on how to be mysteriously adorable
1. Pick sunglasses that flatter your cute little bone structure (see above photo)
2. Make certian that your hat matches your outfit because a diva must always look well put together (see above photo)
3. If a fan catches on that it is you, blow them a kiss then pose for the camera in true diva fashion. (see diva lesson #4 - Mastering the art of picture posing)

Diva 101

I'm exhausted!! My voice is completely worn out and I'm mentally wiped, but happy that I am. It really does require so much focus to put together a self produced recital like Diva 101- it's been a while since I've had to do it all - from programmes to hall bookings, to promo to props etc.. Over the past few years I've had blessing of being able to work in productions where all that was required of me was to show up and perform. I forgot how stressful self produced recitals can be (Losing 3 notes off my top octave a week before the recital because of my medication didn't help with the stress) but it was indeed all worth it!! Divo and I learned a lot and Oh what fun we had!! Our goal for the show was to put together something fun that still showcased the art form for what it is. (Ok there were a few not so artistic moments a.k.a. Time to Say Goodbye, death scenes and Carmen, but that was all to add an even greater comedic factor - anything for a laugh and really who's to say that a man singing Habanera in his falsetto voice isn't artisic? :)

A special thanks to those who came out yesterday, on a summer Sunday evening to support us. It truly is a blessing to be able share our love of singing with others - we hope you had as much fun as we did :) Of course it is also our sincere hope that the lessons learned in Diva 101 will come in handy in your quest to become as great, as wonderful and as near perfect as your expert professors (like that's ever going to happen:)
Diva kisses to one and all. mmmmmwa!!

Her Royal Highness has arrived,

and her little chamber maid naturally looks on with adoration :)

A lesson in "pop-era"

Proof that Divas and Divos can get along when necessary.

How can I keep from singing?