Grandpa and Grandma come and visit (among other things

Out and about, with friends

Icons...

Two icons I painted during the last two icon workshops. The top one is St. Paul
that I painted for Pavlo (one of his name saints), and the one underneath is
St. Cleopatra, which I painted for a friend.

More St Maria

Since the outreach center we've been working on is named for St Maria Skotsoba, she's been on my mind a lot.

Yet, another quote from her (just because she's so awesome)

"We like it when the “churching” of life is discussed, but few people understand what it means. Indeed, must we attend all the church services in order to “church” our life? Or hang an icon in every room and burn an icon-lamp in front of it? No, the “churching of life” is the realization of the whole world as one great church, adorned with icons—persons who should be venerated, honored, and loved, because these icons are true images of God that have the holiness of the Living God within them."

Just because it's a funny picture!

Mother Maria

One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite saints. She martyred at a concentration camp taking the place of a jewish woman. If you're interested, here is here very interesting and inspiring story.

"It would be a great lie to tell searching souls: “Go to church, because there you will find peace.” The opposite is true. She tells those who are at peace and asleep: “Go to church, because there you will feel real anguish for your sins, for your perdition, for the world’s sins and perdition. There you will feel an unappeasable hunger for Christ’s truth. There, instead of becoming lukewarm, you will be set on fire; instead of pacified, you will become alarmed; instead of learning the wisdom of this world you will become fools for Christ.”
-Mother Maria Skobtsova

FOOD!!

At the Petting Zoo...and the park

hanging out outside our apartment...

Quote...

Science arose from poetry... when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Hymn of Kassiani the Hymnographer

Since we just celebrated Pascha (Orthodox easter), I thought I'd post one of the hymns that is sung, mostly because it's so beautiful, but also because myself and the other woman who chants sang it this year. Because I've had Avi to take care of, I haven't been able to chant as often as I'd like to, and some ladies kindly took care of him for the first few services of Holy Week, I got to sing. It was a nice reminder of how beautiful the humnography is.

Hymn of Kassiani the Hymnographer
The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord, received the dignity of a myrrh-bearer, for with lamentation she brought fragrant myrrh to You before Your burial. And she cried: Woe is me, for love of sin and stings of lustful passion envelop me as the night, dark and moonless. As You cause the clouds to drop down the waters of the sea, accept the fountain of my tears. As by Your indescribable condescension You bowed down the heavens, so incline to the groaning of my heart. I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hair of my head, those same feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise when she hid herself in fear. Who can count the multitude of my sins? Who can measure the depths of Your judgments, O Saviour of my soul? Do not turn away from me, Your servant, for You have immeasurable mercy.

Some New Pics

I thought I'd try uploading all the pics that I have taken from Jan to now, and it actually worked (obviously, since you're looking at the new pics!!). Not all of them are perfect, since I"m still experimenting with the new camera.

Some Pictures

So, I haven't uploaded any new pics onto the computer yet of Avi, but thought I'd start posting them here, as opposed to facebook, because I figure it's easier for family to see them and all that (and it's much quicker than sending them through email). Here are some old ones that I thought I'd put up of Avi.