JoDee Luna's Blog, page 31

Fame

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What an interesting human-derived concept fame is.

People strive their entire lives to capture this illusion of significance

only to have fame remain upon the earth after they have perished.

 

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Purposes of Non-Productivity

When did production become the touchstone of our worth?

The concept of “being” as opposed to “doing” fascinates, and yet frustrates, me. As a person of faith, I believe that Jesus’s sacrifice for me enables acceptance apart from my performance.

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I also get the concept of moving beyond sitting back and doing nothing to actively searching for tasks that just might have eternal value.

Yet I’m an earth dweller, and with this reality comes the cultural pull to measure my worth by what I produce:

Did I blog enough this week?
How many books did I sell?
Did I inspire and help every student in all of my classes?
Why has it been so long since I painted?
When am I going to get that shed cleaned out?
I haven’t exercised in two weeks. How could I have let that slip?
I really should be better at meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking.
My art room workspace is inundated with junk mail again. How could I have abandoned my creativity?

This pressure to perform definitely affects my career and personal goals. As an educator, I live with the constant stress of trying to teach my reluctant middle school readers to excel at literacy, test-taking, and 21st Century skills.

As a writer, I struggle to market my existing book and to push other manuscript projects forward. Yet these challenges nowhere rival the struggle I have to rise and write every morning, in spite of the demands of the day.

As an artist, I feel better about myself when I create. Yet when career demands swell, my art room lays still. I pass by the room on my way from the garage and sigh. Boy do I wish I had the hutzpah to finish that painting of my nephew.

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I long to create another rusty bed coil floral with those old springs I found months ago.

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Although I know I shouldn’t feel this way, when I don’t produce, failure pelt me like hurtling raindrops in a wicked thunderstorm.

Yet it is in these non-productive times that my mind rests from its constant churning with ideas and demands.

When I’m non-productive, my soul nestles under feathers of faith so eggs of possibility can mature and hatch.

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When the drive to do diminishes, my spirit is free to extend towards the Eternal Being whose wisdom whispers in the night:

“Cease striving and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Yes, there is a place and purpose for non-productivity. For it is in this temporary state that we touch eternity.

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“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.”

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The Birth of a Painting

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Somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond

Any experience, your eyes have their silence:

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In your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,

Or which I cannot touch because they are too near

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Your slightest look easily will unclose me

Though I have closed myself as fingers,

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READ THE ENTIRE POST…

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Here Comes the Bride: A Wedding Scrapbook

I recently made a scrapbook for my soon to be sister-in-law, Laura. I left the photo slots empty so that she could fill them in herself. Each page had a different theme:

Love at First Sight

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The Proposal

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The Bridal Shower

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The Bachelorette Party

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READ THE ENTIRE POST…

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The Infilling

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I am captivated by the concept that heavenly treasure can reside in earthen vessels, imperfect people filled with the Spirit of God:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing…” 1Corinthian 4:7-8

I also wonder why God would risk abiding in broken people.

Even the most together of us has suffered some form of disappointment, disillusionment, or devastation that has tweaked us irrevocably.

Cracked vessels. That’s what we are.

And yet, when we come to that place of humility in which we realize we need a Savior, He promise to fill us, dwell in us, and seep through the cracks we contain.

For this I am eternally grateful.

 

*Here’s an interesting post about the difference between indwelling and infilling that I found after I wrote my post.

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.”

 

 

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Recipes by Auntie Lala: Chicken Veggie Eggrolls

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Apart from my love of writing, painting, scrapbooking, crocheting, quilting, and basically anything your eighty-your-old grandmother does on a regular basis, is my love of cooking. I am constantly experimenting in the kitchen, trying out new recipes and making my own and tasting new flavors and spices. My boyfriend calls me, “The Queen of the Kitchen,” which of course would make him the king of the kitchen. Somehow I managed to find the only guy in LA that likes cooking more than I do. 

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Below is one of my own recipes for chicken veggie eggrolls. Please approach my recipe as most celebrities approach their marriages, not to be taken too seriously and made to be broken. Explore. Experiment. Enjoy. Bon appetit!

READ ENTIRE POST…

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Scrapbooking 101

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The key to scrapbooking is layers…layers, layers, layers!

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Step One: I start by staring at a pile of paper. I know that sounds stupid, but it works. Just stare at the pile until you start to see certain patterns and colors that look good together.Give your mind a rest for a bit and let your eyes do the work. After a few minutes, select three or four pieces to work with. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

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Cayucos Antique Street Fair Finds

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One of my favorite creative living activities is perusing antique stores and street fairs. So on a recent visit to the picturesque coastal town of Cayucos, I was thrilled to discover the antique street fair that weekend.

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This coastal town sports a western motif…

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and so I felt as if I’d journeyed back in time to the days when horses pulled wagons through town.

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I scoured that street fair in search of some unique tea cups and creamers to use in my rusty bed spring floral designs. I found several beautiful pieces, and then returned home to delight myself with a photo shoot. Don’t you just love the brooch?

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Here’s another beauty.

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My mother and I have a fondness for creamers, so I was delighted to find this one.

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Here’s another darling tea cup I found.

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Create adventures like perusing antique street fairs will fire up your creativity. The influx of images in through your eye gate will recharge your artistic battery. Look through your local paper to find street fairs in your area or search online. I guarantee you will enjoy the outing and return home with items you can use in your artistic projects. Be an adventurer for a day!

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Concetta’s Kitchen

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Concetta is our Italian grandmother.

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This hard-working Italian immigrant came to America with two small children. Her and great-grandpa worked hard to carve a life out of this strange new world.

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Great-grandpa Achille and Great-grandma Concetta Marinucci

We’re cousins.

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We like to cook, eat, and talk about food. Between our visits, we commune in Concetta’s Kitchen…or in available wine bars in quaint coastal towns.

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Recently, we enjoyed the delectable treats conjured up by Cynthia and Kim. This breakfast feast has eggs, goat cheese, and asparagus.

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During our last time together, we decided to find a way to pass on our recipes to one another. In the days following our gathering, Gina had the idea, “Hey, let’s call our blog Concetta’s Kitchen after our grandmother/great-grandmother.”

Everyone liked the name and so cousin Kim graciously built a blog called Concetta’s Kitchen.

[image error]I then decided to provide a front page space for Concetta’s Kitchen on this blog so all of you Refrain followers could sample the delectable recipes.

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Here’s a link to a wonderful post in which my mother tells about her childhood experiences with Concetta, “Feature Writer: Dee Cosola.”

Do you have a yummy recipe to share?

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Heroes Are Born

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Today, I am thankful for the men and women who have served, or are serving, our country in the armed forces. Courageous people like my father-in-law, Julio Luna, who is one of the remaining WWII veterans. This past weekend, I had the privilege of listening to him tell about the time his ship was torpedoed off the coast of Australia:

“When the torpedo hit, shrapnel flew through the air all around us. A piece hit me here (he shows us the scar on his arm) and a piece hit my knee. The ship went down and we swam towards shore until an Australian ship picked us up from the sea.”

Pop’s story had me riveted, and all I could think of was, we need to capture these stories while we still have him with us.

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Mom and Dad Luna celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with other veterans in the VFW Hall. Here is a photo of their family toasting them.

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I smiled a lot that evening, as I watched these precious people toast Mom and Dad and swirl around the dance floor.

Today, I’m also thankful for my precious father who served in the Korean War. Dad was also a navy man like Dad Luna. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with my father and paid special attention to the passion for his faith and country that danced in his eyes like flames of fire.

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Today, I’m thinking about my stepson, Jason, who survived several explosions while serving in the army during the war in Iraq. Not all of Jason’s army buddies were as fortunate, and so I’m praying for Jason. I know he will be thinking about his deceased friends.

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Today, I’m thankful for my nephew, Jacob, who is currently serving in the US Air Force. He was deployed to the Middle East. I’ve seen the toll this separation has taken on him and his parents, my brother and sister-in-law.

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Today, I’m praying for all of the families who have lost loved ones in wars and for those who must endure the separation that occurs when family and friends serve in the armed forces.

 

Thank you! Today we remember you!

 

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