I never went to read my Facebook birthday wishes from people… Tomorrow will be a week after my birthday, and yet I still haven’t done it.
I wonder why…
Perhaps to avoid disappointment in how few I expect there to be, combined with an enjoyment of life out here, real life… I feel no need to go check them, though I also am a touch nervous to go check them.
Post-a-day 2022
I don’t even know what to say… for the fourth night in a row, I am going to bed after midnight. I was so absurdly tired last night, I didn’t even wake up until almost nine today. My usual wake-up around 4:20am had me hitting the bathroom and then falling back to sleep for another few hours. But I still am feeling the lack of sleep from previously in the week…
Oh, God, grant me spectacular restorative rest tonight. Thank you and amen.
Post-a-day 2022
(Almost got it wrong!)
“Mommy, it’s Ricky Martin.
And he’s dancing.
And he’s wearing a kimono.
And silk gauchos.”
“Picture, please.”
Tonight was the Ricky Martin concert after the rodeo. When the full sounds of “Livin’ la vida loca” burst forth from the darkness with sparkler flames and party lights, the place went wild, myself included. And then, he was singing… he was singing these words I had forgotten that I knew prectically perfectly – as perfectly as we could get back in the pre-Internet days, if we didn’t have a copy of the CD.
And then he was dancing on the parts where he had singing breaks.
I kid you not, not even halfway through the song, I had streams of tears rolling down my face, absolutely unanticipated, unexpected. I didnt even notice I was crying until I felt a downward movement of water on the lower half of my cheeks.
But, I suppose, it makes sense. That song and the period of my life that goes with my learning its words and notes so well, those were huge for me. I remember watching Ricky Martin on MTV when I was at my brothers’ dad’s house. I remember dancing around in the living room to this song in particular on multiple occasions. I remember trying to figure out what “mocha” meant, and how it connected to a skin color.
But I never once considered any possibility of seeing Ricky Martin in real life. Let alone hearing him sing or seeing him dance. It was so far out of the realm of possibility. Ricky Martin was, to me, more along the lines of history. He was like the president or Julius Caesar. He was a real person, but not one who ever would be real to me, not the way people in my life are real to me.
And, suddenly, years and years after his initial fame and my foundation of gratitide for him and his music, he pops up… and he is accessible. I get to see THE REAL RICKY MARTIN, right there… singing, dancing, doing costume changes (including a vest that was all lace on the back with a pair of pants that had half of a kilt-like skirt… and no shirt)… looking spectacular, by the way, and bringing to life a dream I had never even known to dream.
Gracias, Ricky Martin, for all you do and all you share with the world. And thank you for releasing that book entitled “Yo” that I originally thoight was in English, and so thought you were unexpectedly thug. That still gives me a good laugh.
And thank you, God, for this spectacular blessing. Please, guide me to be your love. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Post-a-day 2022
(Still had to think about it!)
Tonight was the For King and Country concert after the rodeo. My mom and I were both surprised at how much we enjoyed it. Those guys are loving and love-filled, and they are blessing the world with both their music and their words. It felt like Church, somehow, tonight, homilies included. And they actively made a call to restore chivalry and to love, honour, and respect women at all stages and relationships for the priceless children of God that they are.
It was awesome, really. And they love to play drums (and some other instruments mixed about). They reminded me both of little kids at play and of the scene in Tarzan where all the animals are making music with the human camp’s stuff. It was a blast to be with them tonight.
What’s even more spectacular than what I’ve already mentioned? The fact that, at the end of the concert, when it seemed over – lights were off and everything – they did a sort of encore, beginning with saying, “Merry Christmas, Houston,” and then playing/singing “The Little Drummer Boy”. Spectacular. Dreams come true… I was just singing Christmas music the other day, and listening to some. Naturally, people think I’m nuts for wanting it outside of November and December. But I like to spread it throughout the year, instead of to cram it into an overload just before Christmas itself.
So, yeah… good night.
At that, goodnight!
Post-a-day 2022
(Still have I think about it ^)
Firstly, Happy Texas Independence Day!! 186 years ago today, Texas gained its independence from Mexico and became a Republic, The Republic of Texas. When it later agreed to join The Union, it maintained the right to fly its flag at equal height with the US flag, for it joined as an independent republic.
On that note, the Texas state sport is rodeo. My mom and I went to the rodeo tonight. I attended seminars all day for the Ranching and Wildlife Expo, which were awesome, and my mom joined me for the last couple, which included demonstrations and dinner from and by Prasek’s Family Smokehouse. Talk about fascinating and delicious… I got to see how to cut up a deer and a wild pig, and then I got to eat deer tamales and sausage. Wowza.
Before all that, though, when I was on a break from the sessions, I stopped at the military area at the rodeo, and ended up doing the Marines challenge on the pull-up bar. Apparently, pull-ups and chin-ups are both allowed, but I’m too much of a purist for chin-ups in a (technically) pull-up challenge. I ended up tying with the leaderboard score for females, but I was truly proud of my awesome and strict pull-ups, all will full extension and NO legs. It was a fascinating and oddly fulfilling experience to have a handful of Marines counting allowed for me as I did them. (It was also satisfying to hear their initial reactions of support to witnessing my first pull-up, as they realized that I wasn’t just some average girl in a dress.) The Sargent told me, “You have to earn this shirt.” And I did. And it was awesome. I’m the back, it has my childhood quote: Pain is weakness leaving the body. I love it (even though it’s dry fit!).
Finally, do you ever have those days where you get homely consider if you just want to skip brushing your teeth and go straight to bed? Tonight was one of those nights for me. Of course, I likely never would do that, but the consideration arose today, and big time. I am worn. out.
Goodnight!!
Post-a-day 2022
God, I have given the first step in this process. Now, I am pursuing the second. But, golly, am I exhausted right now. Can we adjust this all to happen earlier in the day going forward? Working on these things in the evenings is rough for me, and doesn’t set me up for a great day the next day…
Oof… tired… goodnight all.
Thank you, God. Please, continue to support, love, and guide me. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Post-a-day 2022
P.S. It’s March, y’all!! And tomorrow is Texas’s birthday! Well, independence day, actually, but still – fun!! Yeehaw!!
Pursuing God’s will is not always easy – golly, is it exhausting! But, boy, is it fulfilling!
Thank you, God, for this day and this life. Please, bless me in this next year of my life as I aim to embody the life you have imagined and created for me especially and intentionally. Help me to be your love in the world, through your grace. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Post-a-day 2022
(Man, that’s still hard for me to get right. I hesitate just about every day!)
Tonight, I requested some prayer support. I am going to apply for a particular teaching position for next school year, and I would like some support regarding both the courage to do it, and the grace of God to fulfill His will in my doing it. I had a really spectacular experience in adoration the other day, and I feel that this is what I’m being called to do. That doesn’t make it any less scary, though… In fact, it makes it even more so… Because, now, I’m not doing this for myself anymore. I never want to let myself down, but that pales in comparison to how much I want to be sure not to let others down. And I am doing this for God and for His creation… not for myself alone, but only for me through them all first.
Alas, it is scary for me. But I trust in God and His call to me.
God, help me, please, to follow and pursue your will for me, what I am most here to do. Give me the courage and the strength to be your love in this world as I fulfill that will. Grant me your grace, please, that I embody all that I am here to be and to create and to begin and to complete through this beloved life of mine, through you. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Post-a-day 2022
P.S. My birthday is about to begin…
And so, after many hours volunteering today, we have fully experienced how real it is that the rodeo is actually about to begin – it is truly happening once again.
Yay!
Post-a-day 2022
And so, it shall begin… tomorrow is or first (and second!) shift of the rodeo for our rodeo committee this year. My mom and I are delighted – it has been so long…
May Houston and its people and animals and visitors be safe and welcoming these next few weeks as we revel in the reestablish meant of this wonderful tradition in Houston. HLSR, here we come!
Post-a-day 2022
P.S. Rodeo actually starts next week, but the Barbecue Cook-off is this weekend, which is what kicks off the rodeo season every year.
hannah ananas 