authentic life

maybe this painting looks a bit archaic. it should it was painted in the very early 1300s. the amazing thing about it is the simplicity and emotion. this painting was done at a time when gold crowns topped nearly every head in church art (check out below). byzantine, flat, 2 dimensional art reigned supreme still, even in this same church (Santa Croce).

Giotto's Death of St. Francis is pretty much my favorite painting of all time.  There are so many I love, but this one shares so much emotion.  While studying in Florence, I went back to this painting about 10 times.  Any excuse I could make to find a restaurant, shoe store or antique market on this older, less desirable side of town.  The church itself a bit more sedate from the outside than that massive Duomo at the center of Florence that tourist flock to in hoards.  Maybe it had to more to do with less people, but there is something so endearing about it.

Imperfection can be such a painful part of life, but can you imagine us all walking around with gold crowns on.  Smiling and nodding as if nothing could penetrate our perfect exteriors or remove that dang piece of metal on our heads.  A little pat on your perfect shoulder and polite stepford smile and you are on your way.
Yeah, thats not what I want.

I have been hashing thru some of the real things that are a part of my history.  Honestly I hate (and I do mean hate in the impolite way) some of it still.  But on the advice of a friend, am hoping to face it head on find a way put it peacefully to rest and not to haunt.  Just have to remind myself once in awhile. . . so here are a couple sweet moments from my history that would have happened without the detours I have taken. =)

me and dad on labor day a couple years back at snow lake.  thats actually kind of a hard hike, but worth it.  a little embarrassing that my dad still kicks my rear on a hike, but its hopeful for my future!=)

Ice Cream with my girls (Payton and Hailey) at Westport in August 2009

Christmas at Aunt Janet's (December 2009) with my favorite little trouble maker, Miss Evan.  That girl is truly after my own heart.  Run em all down little lady! I got your back. =)

Happy Monday, almost St Patrick's Day and almost on my way to Ireland!

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Psalm the St Francis sang as he passed into heaven. . .

Psalm 141

A psalm of David. 

¹ I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me;
   hear me when I call to you.
² May my prayer be set before you like incense;
   may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
 ³ Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
   keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴ Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
   so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
   do not let me eat their delicacies.
 ⁵ Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
   let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
   for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
 ⁶ Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,
   and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷ They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth,
   so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”
 ⁸ But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD;
   in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
⁹ Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers,
   from the snares they have laid for me.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
   while I pass by in safety.