Random Thoughts of a Redhead: September 2007

Wellll, I'm THRILLED to announce to you all that Sean and I are engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wedding will probably be not this winter but next.

Glory to God in all things.

Okay, Perhaps I'm Biased

My adorable God-daughter, Elizabeth (right) and her cousin (who also is my friend Elizabeth's baby, Eleanora). So cute.

Birth Verse

Find your Birth Verse

Here's Mine:

Revelation 11:17 NIV
...“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign."

With One Voice

I think I take for granted standing in church and singing together as a congregation. This Sunday, standing in the choir as we were singing 'O Lord Save Thy People' and came to the part about 'grant victory to the faithful' I realized something. We were the faithful standing together singing to God asking Him with one voice to send His Grace upon us. How beautiful.

Plus I wanted to share something from my favorite book, "A Collection of Letters to Nuns: Profitable instructions for laymen and monastics" by St. Anatoly (Zertsalov) of Optina

Letter 193. What Chanting Should Be Like
Peace to you and salvation reverend novice! So, you have started to chant "Lord I Call Upon You Hear Me." But the fact that you have started to chant is not important. The roosters out on the farm sing like anything -- they will drown you right out. But you are not a rooster. You have to remember that your singing should not be like the roosters but like that of the angels -- that is, done with profound humility, fear, ardent love and self-reproach. Such is true and God-pleasing chanting. But the vainglorious kind, designed not to please God but men, is worse than that of the roosters. ...My dear novice, be meek and obedient. May God preserve you from pride, audaciousness and disdain of others.

From the greatly sinful Hieromonk Anatoly.

"Now each is commended to give glory in whatever way he can: one by labor, one by chanting --- and you and I by patience. Christ will receive this too, just as He did the praise of angels, which they rendered to the One Who was born, as He, the King of kings and Lord of lords, lay small, weak and newly born in a manger. And what awaited Him in the future? Tribulations, hunger, thirst, revilings, wounds, blows, scourging, and finally being nailed to the Cross and a shameful death. All of this the Lord beheld as a man -- a child lying in the manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Let us also patiently endure for a little while for the sake of the Lord Who died for us, that we may also be glorified together with Him." --St. Anatoly

Today will mark 3 years of dating for Sean and me. And, yes, two church going Orthodox Christians had to get together on one of the strictest fast days of the year. It makes it all so much more fun.

I have held off blogging about our Anniversary in the past for various reasons but this year is different. I know this is the year where he and I grew together the most. Our relationship has really matured and become something extremely precious to me. At the risk of sounding cliche, I depend, admire and love him more every day.

I was interested in him since I was thirteen years-old. Knowing my age, I didn't tell him, just admired from afar. After 3 years of wishin' and hopin', I had concluded that I would wait until I graduated high school to tell this 19 year-old that I had some heavy-duty feelings for him. By this time, most everyone at St. Barnabas knew that I was interested. I can't tell you how many people asked me if I liked Sean.

I still don't really believe that Sean was completely oblivious to my admiration. He definitely acted as though he liked me. Like putting his arm around me at an angel's game (then ignoring me for three weeks, which I haven't really let him live down ;).), But, at the same time, he confused me quite a bit too. At Grace and Ben's wedding, I sat next to him and he did not look at me or speak to me once. He had brought a portable tv and just focused on it. His dad said to me, "Well, Erica, if you ever marry Sean. This may be what it's like." I turned a different shade of red and Sean gave his dad quite the evil look.

But, finally, one Sunday while the Bishop was talking, he held my hand. This time Sean was determined to find out how I felt about him. And we were up until 5:00 am on September 14 talking about it. I had been planning to wait until I graduated high school to say anything but you know that saying, "If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans."

There is so much more to the story but I'll leave it at that.

All this to say, happy anniversary Sean. Also, thank you Lord for bringing us together. Amen.