Family Visits

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This week my family drove down from California to see Jesse and I for Spring Break. We stayed at the Voss Villa (as I am going to call it from now on) for two nights, enabling us to enjoy the Riverwalk, Alamo and sightseeing around San Antonio. From there we drove up to Austin and checked out the University and Capitol Building.

That night we pulled into Dallas at around 11pm, where all 7 of us fit into our tiny apt. It was rather enjoyable, actually, once the sleeping arrangements got…well, arranged. In Dallas we did a lot of sightseeing, visited the Arboretum, enjoyed Easter lunch at La Madeleine’s, and, everyone’s favorite, played Apples to Apples. It was great, instead of going out to eat that night we chose to make tofu spaghetti (thanks to 3 of us being vegan!) and play this awesome game.

I was first introduced to it when we went to an impromptu game night that Fr. John and about 15 other parishioners organized. Normally, Jesse hates boardgames, and so we were skeptical, but the group was able to play it for a good 2 hrs. without stopping or getting bored. So, naturally, I wanted to put the game to another test and see if it could provide a few more hours of enjoyment for my family. We went and bought it, and Voila! Hours and hours of fun! No one wanted to stop, but unfortunately playing a board game until 1am isn’t as much fun when my dad accidentally falls asleep and serenades us with snoring…

Here are a few pictures, along with a link to the others.

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I miss them so much!!

Moments

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One of the best practical aspects of being a teacher is getting all of the breaks that my students do. I get this entire week off and paid for. It’s wonderful- finally, I get to get caught up on all the thoughts I wish I could be having, instead of having to decide how many piano books to buy on any given day (grand total that I have been reimbursed for this year at Mr. E’s Music Store= $740!) or how on EARTH I’m going to get my students to listen or do any work. No, this week has been, so far, about getting to do the things I wish I could spend more time on.

So, to start the week out right, Jenny and I went out for breakfast on Monday morning. She is a teacher as well, as she has her MA in Communication Disorders and does speech therapy with lower-income children in North Dallas. We met at her apt. and then hung out at Corner Bakery for some Lenten cranberry oatmeal and coffee:)

It was here that we had one of the best theological discussion I’ve had in a while. Just as a background note, Jenny is not yet Orthodox. Her entire family including her two sisters, brothers, parents, and extended family all became Orthodox around 5 years ago. She, however, was not yet ready and has been attending St. Seraphim on an off again. She only recently became serious about joining the church and committed herself to being a catechumen a few months ago.

This makes for an odd and interesting mix of conversation between us. Jenny knows a lot more about the ways and practices of Orthodoxy, while still knowing what it is like to be an outsider, not having grown up in the Orthodox Church her whole life. However, I love that we are not able to merely relate, but also that we are able to enlighten and deepen each other’s observations about the practical side to the spiritual life of the church.

Now, this is a powerful and emotional subject for me, because I have always found that theological discussions rely heavily on the type of knowledge read in books. [Read more…]

Sunday of Orthodoxy

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In honor of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, our church, St. Seraphim’s OCA Cathedral held a hierarchal liturgy during which our Archbishop Dmitri was joined by both Metropolitan Isaiah of the Greek diocese along with Bishop Basil of the Antiochan Diocese. Anyone who knows anything about Orthodoxy knows that this is a tremendous and precious example of unity and goodwill.

Jesse and I had been waiting for this Sunday for a long time, ever since it was announced when Ben was visiting. In preparation, Jesse and I met with Father John and then went to Vespers. It was also my night to go to confession (yes Courtney, I am a bad person no longer;), and since I haven’t gone to Father John yet I was a little nervous. But it turned out to be wonderful- one of the most uplifting confessions and experiences of my life. It’s true that confession makes your feet feel light as a feather for a good 24 hrs.

Anyways, I feel that it prepared me well for Divine Liturgy this Sunday morning. Jesse got me there (notice, I never say this the other way around when talking about getting somewhere, EVER) at around 8:45, and, since we did the liturgy of St. Basil, this meant that we were standing STRAIGHT for 3 hrs. Yeah. St. Seraphim doesn’t even sit down for the homily!

But it was totally worth it. Even though we are now accustomed to them, I still love hierarchal liturgies (different tunes and practices are done). I almost always tear up around the middle of the service when the deacons and priests and Archbishop Dmitri are proceeding into the altar, singing together responsively with the choir. Today was even more moving, as he was walking with Bishop Basil and Metropolitan Isaiah. Not only were they making history, but it was fellowship at its finest. It’s almost too profound for me to even grasp well enough to explain.

Since it’s hard to explain unless you are there, I took a video of it. Of course you can’t see them, seeing as all 30+ of them are around the altar and the choir is behind a screen on the left and right, but it might help you get the idea.

This next one is all of them being announced by Father John. As we sing to them, you can actually hear this adorable little girl who stands in the front row every week, praying and singing her heart out. It’s a shame she sings horribly off key:) I’ve watched many times as her parents try very hard to keep straight faces in order not to dampen her zealous child-like spirit.

I also took a fun little video of St. Seraphim’s interior. It’s not great, but you might get the idea.

Last but not least, we were also able to take a picture with Bishop Basil. It turns out that Jesse’s uncle, a priest in Wichita, is very close friends with Bishop Basil. In fact, Bishop Basil already knew who we were!!

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