Greece and Turkey.

One week from today I will be here.


And tons of other ruins. I hope to post my own pictures when I return in July.

If I find the ark of the covenant, I'll be sure to make an adventure movie out of it.

Instead, I'm hoping to dig up something much less Hollywood-esque and much more Zion-esque. Ruins and restoration are the stuff of glory peeking. I'm excited.

Processionals.

I love processionals. I was in one today for the 2011 Commencement for my high school seniors. I revel in the solemnity. I like a good serious song to walk to while I make my way down the aisle. CJ threw me off this year by saying "hey Ruth" right when I entered but that's alright because she bought me some snoopy band aids.

Anyway, as I was saying, processionals give a sense of gravity and significance to a situation. It says, "Pay attention. Something worth beholding is among us." As I made my way to my seat and watched my students enter, I felt honored to be a part of bringing them there. And, where is "there" you ask? Well, mostly in the realm of wiser young men and women. I felt satisfied and found myself longing for a similar transformation. How will the story unfold and what comes next? Courage says, "come." Hope says, "The story is bigger than you."

Maybe I like processionals so much because they are bigger than Ruth. Perhaps it's one of those physical doings that speak to an intangible truth. I'm saying, "Hey, pay attention. Something worth beholding is among us." Yes. In Word now. In flesh later. But, definitely worth beholding.

Who knew these Seniors would be little incarnation bearers?

Gus and the spider.

I-26 at 4:34pm. The sun is at a particular angle to reveal a SPIDER WEB! Meaning... a spider is living in Gus. This is wrong. How can I drive with this knowledge? At any moment, an 8 legged crawly creature may attack. What's worse is this has happened before and it almost led to an accident on an interstate in Louisville.

How long can a spider live in a car, anyway???

My evening as Hollywood Hal.

Last week for a few hours one evening I became a 1920s Hollywood film director. I was on a mission to find my next big female star for my big upcoming film. We convened at the "Juice Joint" for some illegal drinking and other shenanigans. During dinner, Notorious Nick was murdered.


Rosie Marie owned the "Juice Joint." I thought she was the murderer. Look how sneaky she looks.



Flora had a thing for Southside Sal. She had divorced Notorious Nick and was now on to her next mob boss relationship.


Cy Ramsey and Kitty were getting along swimmingly. Cy was our bouncer.


Hollywood Hal picked this fine lady, Dina Diva, as his next big star. Dina performed a beautiful version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" during the evening. Hal held back tears.


Rosie Marie (looking sneaky again) with Bernie Booze (our resident bootlegger). Bernie kept pitching a business deal to Hollywood Hal over dinner. Hal liked the attention.


This is a ghost photo of Notorious Nick with his main squeeze, Molly Moll. Molly is a terrible singer but Hal was hustled by Nick to put her in the movie. Nick was really intimidating.


Chief Cameron with Caesar Butt. Our own police chief was the murderer. As you can see, Caesar Butt was on to her.


Hal posed with Caesar Butt, the murder solver. Caesar would make a great actor in the next film...

Anyway, if feels nice being Ruth again.

Carolina Girls Reunion.

This weekend was THE bible study reunion of 2011. The gals of the infamous (at least to us) bible study of the (mostly) graduating class of 2001 (yep, that makes 10 years since college graduation) gather annually to eat, have fun, talk, and ... well, eat. This year was an appropriate destination. Chapel Hill.



Ahhh... the Old Well. Happiness. Memories. Nostalgia. Blue was running through my veins again. It was good to be reminded of my Tar Heel roots and loyalties. This really is one of the finest places on earth.


My friends posed in front of the main quad. We remembered skipping class. It was great.



We stopped in the pit and tried to pretend to be students. I think they're pulling it off.





The Yogurt Pump. It's still there. It's still happy.


I found Woodchuck on tap. This also made me happy.


In fact, I was so happy that Alison and Jamie decided to get some too! This is our pretending to be 21 photo.


We ended the evening consuming more sugar and walking on Franklin Street. Not too shabby.
Carolina girls ARE the best in the world. awwww... I know that was cheesy but I couldn't resist.

MY Skippy Easter Bunny.

It's shameless but since I just bought my second Nikon camera in 6 weeks (long story), I thought I'd take some pictures of Skip. As you can tell, he lives a very tough life.


Skip looking pudgy. Watch those veggies, Skip!


Skip washing his face.


Sometimes he looks like a penguin...





It's hard to get to the shoulder blades...


"If I stay really still maybe no one will notice me."


This photo was taken right after Skip's naughty chewing of the furniture. Notice the shredded chair to the right.


Rabbit toys... they exist.


"Stop bothering me."



He's no wimpy bunny.


Toys conquered. The chewing is over, for now.

I know, this is all a bit excessive for a rabbit. But, Skip is special. I welcome the teasing. If you had a rabbit, you'd understand.

Bookends.

This morning I woke up to a Strawberry Shortcake Party. This evening I'm arriving home late from the high school prom.

I would like to thank Patty Griffin for perspective.

April 16th... done.

jetlagggg

Woke up at 4am in Paris but really it was 10pm and then hopped on a bus, plane to Munich, plane to Charlotte then intolerable turbulence then near vomiting then driving with student mom then back at school then friend pick up to yellow house where I was reunited with Skip then to bed at 10pm but really it was 4am or something kinda around there so that might mean 24 hours but I'm not sure 'cause my body has been moving since 7 days ago and I was over the Alps and Greenland just a little while ago and now I'm in my living room wondering what just happened.

The nunnery "solution."

A few years ago I was teaching an Old Testament lesson when out of the blue a student raised his hand and said the following,

"Ms Vann, I was thinking that you should become a nun, you know, join a convent and stuff."

"Why do you say that, Parker?"

"Well, you seem to like God a lot so you might as well marry him."

"Wow.... (I'm trying to think of what to say) The problem with that is I'm not Catholic."

"Oh, I thought of that and I found an Anglican convent on the internet last night. It's somewhere in Africa."

"I'll think about it. Thanks."

Marrying God. Wow. That's huge. Recently, Parker's suggestion has seemed appealing. I mean, God would make a great husband, no doubt. You'd get to live this life of simplicity, you'd have all your meals prepared for you in the communal living environment, you wouldn't have to worry about money, and the super highlight would be you wouldn't have to worry about men. I bet they have clean living quarters too. I kinda dig their outfits. You'd get to look pious wherever you go. With the irrevocable decision made to designate yourself as God's bride and shut out the world, you could think high thoughts, enjoy long periods of silence, and gain guaranteed security that life is predictable. This is sounding better and better...

Yet, I must say I am proud of all the single women I know who have opted out of becoming a nun, including myself. There's something honorable in the insanity that is this life. It can be done well. It requires "great fortitude" as my friend Julie tells me.

It's a privileged life to be among only a few generations of women who even have the option to live independently, maintain a long-standing career, take risks, own property, engage their influence widely, and minister to people in countless ways. I have 105 children who sit in a room with me every day and talk about things that matter. I am very lucky.

It's also an honorable life because it's hard. While married women look at you with this "oh, if I could just spend a day in your shoes," you look back and wonder what they are talking about. Loneliness is a form of suffering I've never understood. It's no one's fault. It just is. Longing genuinely for community and fearing with every wedding and baby shower that it is slipping away can be horrifying. Yet, it forces you to walk this line of trust in God and holding out hope in your hand, glancing at it from time to time. It's the "eat your vegetables" kind of accountability of this life. You are simply not allowed to depend elsewhere.

It is a risky life too. I had all kinds of nightmares last night surrounding this one friendship that's been hard. Your heart and hope and relational investment are on the line constantly. You cry frequently. You pray your brain out. You call your brothers and ask for input. Patience is ever the virtue you can't quite embrace. You have conversations in the mirror with yourself... "and this is truth." You see girlfriends around you happy in relationships and you grieve with them when they're over. You embrace the gospel and long for transformation above all.

And it's an honorable life. I'd almost hate to leave it. So, while the nunnery seems safe, it also seems like an escape from the world instead of a dive into it. The diving is scary and there are no promises guaranteeing that the expectations you have will be met but that's what makes it so wonderful. My musings about my life are woefully flat and uninspired compared to the reality that has unfolded. A better story is happening.

In the end, the risks and difficulties in the diving process will matter tremendously because they forced me to enter in to building God's kingdom instead of simply waiting for it.

So, thanks, Parker. But I think I'll choose this life.

Tips from the sick girl.

I think I'm sick more often than most people. Maybe it's because my sickness is more memorable, but I really think I get more viruses than most. Is it because I was formula fed as a baby? Is it because I work around a community of adolescent germ containers and spreaders? I think it's really the love affair viruses have with me. They love me, a lot. So far in the 2010-2011 school year Ruth has succumbed to at least four viruses. I try to keep them away but man o man are they persistent. Here are my tips on sickness this winter.

1. Airborne. This is a great little tablet that you drink when you get that foggy, I'm in another dimension feeling right before illness hits.
2. Sleep. Make sure sleeping is your favorite thing to do. It already is my favorite thing to do so this one is easy for me.
3. If you can't breathe very well or find yourself coughing up strange slimy stuff, try to sleep propped up, leaning on your husband (the pillow thing, not a real husband... unless you have a husband and then I suppose that's fine but then he can't sleep either so you might as well use the pillow kind.) This helps the strange slimy stuff go down your throat instead of sticking to the back of your throat.
4. If you can afford it, use vapo rub. I know, everyone thinks this is a kid thing but it really works. I like to put it below my nose like a greasy mustache.
5. Netty pot like mad. This is not a drug, though it sounds like it. Go to Walgreens and invest.
6. In prevention, use hand sanitizer (especially in the classroom) and wash your hands up to your elbows. Keep doing this until the skin on your hands is so rough and scratchy that you can injure someone with a handshake (which you shouldn't do anyway because germs love it when we shake hands. Don't let them get their way. Just be rude.)
7. Take your temperature a lot. It's just interesting.
8. Wear layers for temperature fluctuation during illness. Roommates always appreciate your layering options when your temperature is scary high. April and Tonia can attest.
9. Call your mom. Moan slightly.
10. Always shower. It makes you still feel like a normal person, even with pounds of snot, hearing difficulties, chills, aches, and the little gnome in your head hammering on your skull.
11. THERAFLU. Good stuff. Tylenol. Decongestant (without the silly behind-the-counter-showing-ID-I'm-not-a-meth-dealer fiasco). Antihistamine. All in one packet of bitter apple medicine happiness. And, it takes you to a happy place.

Viruses, I am NOT that cool, ok? Stay away from me. I will fight. I will win. Be scared.