7QT - Creepy (and not-so-creepy) Thrift Store Finds, Advent Reflections, and Endings

---1---

I have not done 7QT in so long...but I have been collecting snapshots for a little Take I've been planning on CREEPY THRIFT STORE FINDS:

Hunchback Santa or South Park Santa?



Take your pick here....

I thought the PeeWee Herman costume was the creepy thing
about this photo, but now that I see the ceiling, I think I was mistaken.

There is absolutely NO CHANCE this doll will come to life and
kill you in your sleep if you take it home. Money-back guarantee.

Glowing, smiling rabbits in a rusted-out amusement park ride cage.
The thrift shop people really are trying to give the children nightmares.
 

---2---

Speaking of thrift store finds (but non-creepy ones this time), I learned a little more about my icon egg.

 

 

I discovered (from the Cross on the back of the egg) that it is Russian Orthodox in origin, and through a little more digging found that it is Our Lady of Kazan, or Holy Protectress of Russia. One Internet source said it was a tradition for mothers to present this icon to their daughters when they became brides, as a Protectress for the new couple's home. It made me like it even more that I acquired it :).

 

---3---

I posted on Facebook a couple of months ago:

I realized it was about this time last year that I was struggling SO MUCH, and no one knew. I was trying to pay my bills and live, but I had been paying rent, car insurance, a ridiculous buy-here-pay-here car payment, phone, and utilities, and living on ramen lol, all on a barely-more-than-minimum wage. I had applied for jobs ALL SUMMER. Finally got hired about mid-July to be a s...ubstitute teacher, but because of training and the slow moving process of getting hired to work for a school district, the job didn't actually start until well into September. By then it was too late. I was 4 weeks late on my car payment, and they came and took the car. My phone was shut off, my electricity was shut off, and I consequently ended up losing the second job, all within a two-week period!! Things are so much better now. Thankful that though the hard times definitely come, they also go. So grateful for those easier seasons, and for a good friend or two who come along to help you through the rough ones!!

Along those lines...lately I have taken a step in the right direction to get back on track toward my future career goals (teaching), and gotten another position as a substitute teacher for a school district nearby. I am loving it. On my way out of one of the schools last week I saw this bell in the schoolyard:

 

It reminded me of another bell that used to sit on a base across the street from where I lived from ages 12 to 14 or 15 near Sycamore, Ohio. It marked an old cemetery, mostly from the late 1800s, and I think it was a remainder from a church that had once stood there. But we, being very respectful and awed by historical artifacts like kids often are, would crouch behind the septic tank in our front yard and aim our bb guns at the bell. (I was a pretty good shot for a girl and all ;).)

 

---4---

Speaking of Advent...

Well...

Wait.

No, that is what we should be speaking of, isn't it?!

Okay. We will, then.

 

This poem by Luci Shaw was posted on Modern Mrs. Darcy this last Sunday, and it really struck a chord in me:

 

It seemed too much to ask

of one small virgin

that she should stake shame

against the will of God.

All she had to hold to, later, 

were those soft, inward 

flutterings

and the remembered surprise

of a brief encounter – spirit

with flesh.

Who would think it

more than a dream wish?

An implausible, laughable 

defense.

 

And it may seem much

too much to ask me

to be part of the 

risky thing – 

God’s shocking, unconventional,

unheard-of Thing

- to further heaven’s hopes

and summon God’s glory. 

Much as I hate to admit it, I know precious little about Advent. Oh, but I know all kinds of stuff about God. And despite all that deep, theological stuff I know, sometimes I still have the audacity to wonder if He's really even real.

So this season, despite how little I know about liturgy and Advent, I decided to do a little bit of intentional observation. I tune into an online Lectio Divina practice on Wednesday nights when I can (called Thin Places, by Extravagance UCC). I read Advent-themed blog posts. I am even reading through a daily devotional (of course, I miss about as many days as I hit on this). I'm even keeping a brief little journal of my reflections each day this season.

And this poem.... "...to ask me to be a part". To ask me to believe and risk ridicule and head wagging because I as a reasonable individual dare believe and stake my hope on an archaic fairy tale....

I seem to be learning a lot from Mary this Advent. From imagining the Nativity and her actions during the story, both told and what possibly went on that wasn't written word for word, to pondering on this poem and the things people must have thought and said about her, being pregnant and not married...and if she dared to tell anyone that she was a virgin. But she did it. She allowed God to use her in the most important of His acts toward humanity - giving us His Son. She faithfully obeyed. Maybe I can faithfully remain.

  

---5---

Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon I finished my last final for the semester! It was actually a 5-7 page essay for the class "History of the American South." Here was the essay question: "A variety of historians and other scholars have stressed the importance of the invention of the cotton gin, the Civil War, political reformers (Populists, Progressives, New Dealers), the invention of the air conditioner, and World War II to the history of the American South. Explain the importance of each of these items in terms of its impact on the South (economically, socially, culturally, politically, etc.). Rank them 1 through 5 and explain your choices." Whew! I really did like the class, but gosh, I'm glad it's over!

 

On Monday I had my World History 2 final. That professor did his exams in essay form, too, but the essays were shorter, and you didn't know what he was going to ask until you showed up (the American South was a one-week take-home paper). I didn't know half of what he asked about, so I filled in and wrote essays about other stuff we studied during the last half of the semester, hoping maybe he would give me some credit for learning, even though I apparently didn't learn the right stuff. We'll see.... :/

 

---6---

 So, in celebration of finishing the semester we went to dinner at the Whole Hog Café (inexpensive, good bbq), and then to the cheap movie theater to see Nightcrawler...which was good, but quite strange. And tonight we plan to finally put up the Christmas tree! I've been picking up a few Christmas ornaments here and there as I thrift shop. I'm happy with my little collection of classy, country-style decorations. They make me happy. :)

 

---7---

Jennifer, I must admit I was sad to see you relinquish the Quick Takes, but understand. You have so much on your plate. And really, this isn't good-bye, my invisible little Internet friend. I'll still follow your non-Quick Takes-hosting posts and continue to be inspired by the spectacularness of your life's mundanity :). Thank you for sharing it with us! And thank you for introducing us (or at least me) to Kelly! I believe this is the beginning of another beautiful virtual (imaginary? O.o) friendship!!

 

 

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain't the Lyceum!