next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then.

i love being married. i could say how many years i've been with my nate, but a lady doesn't speak about things like that. or, rather, this lady would, but she and her consort have agreed that they have not quite reached thirty years of age, and to count the years would only reveal their crafty subterfuge. they (meaning me, and my handsome prince) would be cast out of all proper society in their city of angels (read: those under 30) and forced to entertain themselves at the prettily packaged suburban malls, perhaps even in (gasp!) the valley!!! ... which, if they were to be honest, is a much more likely place to find them than say, a night club. i mean, why do married people go to the meat market if not to actually buy meat?

but i digress, which, if we remember what dr. mike taught us all those years ago in acting class, is okay, especially if the tangent that your on will entertain, educate or enlighten.

but o, how i do love being married ... to my best friend. nothing seems worse than being shipwrecked with someone who doesn't exactly meet the standards you had before setting sail.

and i've always loved our marriage, to the point of idolatry at times, maybe. (idolatry: archaic term often used in the christian culture, it can mean the things -- or person -- that one places before GOD or it can mean anything that a person deeply loves (yowzers!) depending on who you're talking to, since hopefully we all know that not all christians think just alike. but whatever. all i am saying is that at times i get tunnel vision, and the only thing i care about is that one person, who is, just a person. but what a human being! one so suited for me.

just yesterday, my companion, who knows the importance of whisking a girl away, met me at work and took me on an impromptu, surprise bicycle ride. and all i could think while gleefully navigating my wheels toward venice with the sun shining brightly on the ocean to my right was how very nice it is to be married to a man who really gets me and that i can't imagine my life with anyone else.

so bon anniversaire, mon grande amour! je t'aime.

hallelujah! pass the biscuits.

yea! church! all i wanted was a little religion, where i could get my groove on in my Father's house, to open my soul for some sunday morning nurture. then, when brandon said he had a sermon that was so chock full of good stuff, real food for someone there who was thirsty (and admittedly, i was) i thought he was just making fun. but the sermon, and the service, was only the beginning. after the service, just to crank out as much praise as i could, nate and i went to the house of blues for their gospel brunch -- which i highly recommend if you dig seriously soulful music. because we went for our wedding anniversary (#9!!!), we ended up on stage, praising Jesus with the Los Angeles Cathedral Gospel Choir. they're not Trinity, but you know, they can get down. to top that, i found out that next saturday, ecclesia is having a one day seminar with an apologetics scholar. and just guess who has the day off. i mean, you'd think that i'd prayed for it. talk about a baker's dozen (getting more than you bargained for).

in case you're thirsty, too, check out the podcasts of ecclesia hollywood's CALLED TO BE FREE series. sunday, march 9 will be available soon, and it's so truthful, you might be persuaded to listen to the entire series (like me).

peace!

http://www.ecclesiahollywood.org/ecclesia_hear.html