A Prayer from Sister Julie

So, I’ve been an inactive blogger. I’m starting up again…I promise. I really want to have this blog for the future.

This is a letter which came from my good, childhood friend Julie who has just become a novice.  It came with her RSVP for our wedding, sending her regrets. This letter warmed me inside and out.

Dear Erica,                                                                          Sept 2, 2008 (Prophet Samuel,                                                                                            repose of Fr. Seraphim of Platina)

So, here you are preparing for your wedding, your marriage — such a joyful and profound sacrament. May God bless you! The world turns such things upside down — joyful feasting becomes gluttony, a bride’s adornment becomes vanity and self-love and so on. That’s what the world tries to sell us. Be strong and keep your mind and heart on the things above. Contemplate the mystery you are about to enter into. Prepare you heart and adorn your soul and enter into the true, deep, rich, spiritual joy of this sacrament. And as you stand in the midst of the Church, know in your hear that what takes place on earth also takes place in heaven and surrounded not only by the visible Church, family and friends, but by the invisible Church — the saints of all ages, the Theotokos, the angels, etc…and you are standing before our Lord, in the midst of the Church and in my own feeble way, I will be with you too, through my heartfelt prayers for you and Sean.

This is only part of the letter but one of the sweetest prayers and blessings for our marriage.

American Idol

I have been following American Idol this year. Normally, I’m aware of it but I have never gotten into like I have this year. I found an artist I loved almost from the beginning. DAVID COOK! Who also happened to be the winning contestant this year!

The first we heard him was when he sang “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi and almost immediately he showed his true “rocker” colors. He’s not just a singer he plays guitar and wanted to start a rock band. At first, you aren’t so sure that he has the versitality to win the competition. But he shows many different sides throughout the season singing songs from, “Billie Jean” (he changed the arrangement up…it was beautiful) to “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera. He was amazing. The only reason I watched American Idol was to watch him perform. I really got into him as an artist and really loved to listen to him sing. I bought most of his music from ITunes. And thanks to Sue we were able to go to the American Idol finale live last night!

It was a really cool experience, we got to see Mike Myers, ZZ Top (who performed “Sharp Dressed Man” with David Cook), Brian Adams, Donna Summers and Nash (from Crosby, Stills and Nash). We also saw a boy band called the Jonas Brothers…but that was kind of boring. We all had a good time and the winning song by David Cook was called “Time of my Life” which I downloaded this morning and listened to the lyrics more closely. The lyrics, I think actually can be used to inspire someone in the Christian life. When I listened to it for the first time, after the concert, I really did feel that it spoke to some of the coldness I had in my heart about living in the moment and really appreciating the time God has given us to live the right way.

Here are the lyrics:

Time of My Life

I’ve been waiting for my dreams to turn into something
I could believe in
And looking for that magic rainbow on the horizon
I couldn’t see it.
Until I let go, gave into love
watched all the bitterness burn.
Now I’m coming alive, body and soul
feeling my world start to turn.

(Chorus) And I’ll taste every moment
and live it out loud
Oh, this is the time
this is the time to be
more than a name or face in the crowd
I know, this is the time
this is the time of my life.

Holding onto things that vanished into the air
and left me in pieces
But now I’m rising from the ashes
finding my wings,
and all that I needed was there all along
within my reach,
As close as the beat of my heart.

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
Now out on the edge of forever, ready to rollll.
Keeping my feet on the ground
arms open wide
face to the suuun.

(Chorus x 3)

Also, here is David Cook performing Music of the Night:

Music of the Night is kind of a dark song, but he sings it very well.

And here he is singing with ZZ Top:

Okay…so I’m learning

Well, apparently I haven’t figured out wordpress completely yet…

I hadn’t approved the comments left by you guys because I didn’t know I needed to. (Sorry!) I’ve changed that fine little feature…Your comments are up!

I’ve been trying to set up this new blog because work has been crazy and my hands are so tired. Jeez… I can’t remember the last time my hands hurt this bad. It’s been setting off my headaches because of the tightness in my forearms and thumb. Ouch. Plus, it’s been kind of a crazy week leaving me in a little bit of a foul mood.

Spiritually, it’s been tough. I’ve been listening to Fr. Thomas Hopko’s “Word of the Cross” to help me through. I really struggle with the feeling of being “uninspired” which shows my naivete with the Christian struggle. I mean, how strong of me to lose momentum just because I don’t FEEL like it. According to Hopko, “God takes away the toys, and your relationship with Him becomes much more serious.” I think it’s helpful. Fr. Thomas Hopko really is amazing. I don’t know how many of you have listened to the Word of the Cross but it really puts struggle of the Christian life in perspective.

He quotes Mother Teresa when she was asked why God doesn’t allow her to suffer. “Because I am not worthy.” She responded. Lord, have mercy.

And Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Well, here’s the new home with a new name and everything. Sean came up with it for me. It came about for obvious reasons back in elementary school when a teacher said umm in front of my name once upon a time and then a song has been sung at me since then as a way of teasing me though I have learned to take it as a sort of blessing. (If you are still unsure about what the song I’m referring to is, scroll to the top of the page.)

Well, I haven’t blogged in months. Originally it was because I wasn’t going to blog during Lent. (Unfortunately, this wasn’t because of an attempt at piety, most of my fellow bloggers don’t blog during Lent and I find it highly unsatisfying to blog when there are no readers to follow my crazy ramblings.) The break from blogging turned into a relief as my life became somewhat more chaotic. What with a wedding looming five and a half months in the future, studying for my licensing exam, taking the test, starting my new job after getting licensed (yay!), trying to find an apartment, learning to direct and take on more choir-related responsibilities, learning to sing things for Holy Week I had never sung before along with the added stress of Holy Week and Pascha, needless to say I felt overbooked.

Things have calmed as of now. I’ve been recovering from a 48 hour bug, so with a two day break from work and other responsibilities, I finally felt up to blogging again. This isn’t to say that I’m not happy with how things are going. I’m really happy about my life. God has been blessing my life in ways I can’t even begin to thank Him for.

I’ve been overwhelmed with happiness as well, I have my wedding dress and veil hanging on my bedroom door to the right of me, my wedding crowns sitting on a bed stand, flower girl baskets resting in a corner, all of them reminding me that this really isn’t a dream. We really do just want to be married. It didn’t really feel all that real until we found an apartment. Well, to be honest Sara found it for us. We love it. it’s a cute little two bedroom apartment in Huntington Beach. Sean moves into in 9 days. I’ll be following him into it in about…ohhh 178 days (not like I’m COUNTING or anything.)

It’s all going really smoothly. We have most of our furniture (stacking up in my room as of right now) given to us by caring friends and family members. We’ve both been really thrilled with the helpful family and community that God has led us into.

Glory be to God in all things.

I’m going to share my favorite picture of Simeon and me from Pascha. (He’s technically Sean’s godson but I’m self-adopting him. He’s just too cute. Sean needs to share the cuteness.)

A Blog Is Born!

And at exactly 3:35 PM, E Rica’s new blog came into the blogosphere.

A not-so-historic moment, I think.