shalom.

"...the Hebraic understanding of shalom is far more than just the absence of conflict or strife. shalom is the presence of the goodness of God. it's the presence of wholeness, of completeness." (rob bell - 'velvet elvis')



my job (design associate for CHDB, INC...whatever that means) has its pros and cons. one of them (both a pro and a con) is waiting for inspections. a con because it is just that, waiting. a pro, because it is waiting. i've learned to bring things with me to help occupy the time. computer. newspaper. books. food. drinks. today, i distracted myself for a while with the book by rob bell, entitled 'velvet elvis: repainting the Christian faith'. i've read it once (front to back)...but have revisited it numerous times. i just find it so full of insightful inspiration. it is especially beneficial today, a day when i am feeling like my heart just is not in my job. i'm sure this in part has to do with it being the second day back from a wonderful weeklong vacation in cape cod. but its also in part due to the constant struggle i have with "work", with determining what it is i should be doing with all that God has given me and blessed me with. (that is not to sound egotistical, and hopefully if you are reading this, you know me well enough to realize that) its just that lately, even if i can say that i enjoy my job, i feel like i am working for a paycheck. and there may not be anything wrong with that. but i'm not so sure it is right for me.



what does this paragraph have to do with my "introduction" paragraph. maybe nothing at all. but maybe just the desire to not only experience shalom myself, but to help others realize it as well.



and since i have a tendency to look up to, admire, and try to be like my sisters...i too will share some photos from our cape cod vacation...

photo gallery.

hudson oliver culp.

when did i become "emotional"? i was once a little blondie with constant bumps and bruises, the "little miss hit" as my sisters labeled me, what some would call a tom-boy. i would pick up random pieces of furniture and show off my strength to whoever would be impressed, in particular to my grandmother as i told her "heffy mama". and now today, as i drove from site to site, the very thought of my new nephew could bring tears to my eyes. i have yet to meet him, due to circumstances, but i know that he is a perfect reflection of God's love and faithfulness and a demonstration of the beauty of God's wonderful design in creation.

what a world hudson has become a part of. it is not without fault - there is pain and suffering, of course. but i already know in his first 12 hours of life that he is a blessing. hudson enters the world, a community, a family...and that is not just any family. (no, i am not patting myself on the back for our extended family...i am referring more to his immediate family - adam, kate, and alex) his mom is not just my sister, she is one of my best friends. she will fill that home with a joy that is contagious (she already does). adam's solid foundation will teach him to see the good in everyone, in everything. alex will fill the big-brother shoes well, and make him laugh through it all.

i'm sure that i will be updating with pictures...but for now, get your fill at kate's blog:
www.k8culp.blogspot.com

the maids.

nobody outcleans the maids. (that's their slogan, by the way) and better yet, nobody has a better logo than the maids. if you don't already know, i'm obsessed with "the maids". i would like to meet the individual who designed that ingenius logo. my boss and his wife recently hired a cleaning company to clean their house (our office is in the basement). i was so disappointed when it was not "the maids". i guess my boss just doesn't get it...NOBODY outcleans the maids.

now that i've blogged, my sister can have her baby...she threatened me that she wouldn't have the baby until i updated my blog. obviously, the baby would have a say in this and would win...but since i'm so anxious for their child to come, i'll do my part.

ec track 2008.

maddie, arrielle, jamie, schuyler.
myself and maddie.
me.

the beast.

new york city is always good for providing new experiences. sometimes they are good, sometimes they are not. though more often than not, even if it is an experience i wouldn't wish to repeat, i can appreciate it for one reason or another.

the beast (or actually "the shark") was a new york city experience that i can now say, been there done that, to. our high school church youth group (linC) went into the city yesterday without knowing what to expect. all we really knew was that we'd be on a large speed boat that rides around the city for about 30-40 minutes. we knew we might get wet. what we didn't know, or at least i didn't know, was the extent of how wet we just might get. i guess since i had to brush puddles of water off of my seat before i sat down, i should have known. within seconds of the boat taking off, i was soaked. literally. it depended on the seat you had, somewhat. the crew was there to ensure that anyone who didn't get wet by the boats doing would get wet by water guns. i didn't need any help - either did a few of the kids in our group.

some pictures for your enjoyment:

"the shark"

my view behind me...

we did ride pretty close to the statue of liberty

ben and kelsey...just a little wet.

kelsey got more soaked than anyone else on that boat.

south street seaport.

the disorganized group.

some of the seaport's entertainment...kinda creepy at times.

the group.

in wonder.

i have not blogged lately. i guess i just don't feel like i've had "blogworthy" updates or excitement to write about. i still don't, but i'm going to share another song that i really like lately. i don't necessarily listen to a lot of "christian music", but lately artists such as david crowder, chris tomlin, and now a little newsboys have been blaring from the speakers in my travels. there is one newsboys song in particular getting my attention, called 'in wonder':


So much wonder
Carved in your coral seas
So much wonder
Shaded by ancient trees
I consider all that your hands have made
Every newborn’s eyes, every new sunrise
No power can tame your presence
No light can match your radiance

LET ALL CREATION SING IN WONDER
EVERY SEA, EVERY CREATURE, EVERY STAR
YOU OPENED UP MY EYES TO WONDER
WHAT A VISION, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE

Such a wonder
Ordering time and tide
Such a wonder
Bridging the great divide
I consider all that you had, all you gave
And all that you endured
From this rebel world
What a wondrous cross you chose to bear
What a wonder you would even care

LET EVERY ROCK CRY OUT
LET EVERY KNEE BOW DOWN
YOU OPENED UP MY HEART TO WONDER
WHAT LOVE, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE

No power can tame your presence
No light can match your radiance
Such a wonder...Such a wonder...

LET EVERY ROCK CRY OUT
LET EVERY KNEE BOW DOWN
YOU OPENED UP MY HEART TO WONDER
WHAT LOVE, WHAT A WONDER YOU ARE


this time of year in particular draws me to the wonder of God. i intentionally take the time to notice creation all around me - it helps that i have a lot of time on the road to look around and enjoy the opening blossoms, fresh green leaves, freshly mulched plant beds. such a wonder...