Esther

The women of our small group Bible study have going through Beth Moore's study of Esther.  I love going through Bible narratives piece by piece and studying the historical and cultural nuances that we quickly pass over when we are reading English in our Western culture.  Last week in our video study Beth pointed out some intriguing literary structures that are found in the book of Esther.

Don't worry I am not going to bore you with a literature lesson, but I have to admit it was very refreshing.  In school I was never a strong reader so literature was by far my least favorite class.  However, since learning that reading can be quite enjoyable when one is not forced into it and constrained by time, I have become intrigued by the elements of story, good metaphors, foreshadowing, irony, allegory, and theme.  I mean don't you love when a good book is wrapped up nice and neat and you can look back and see that the author had a specific reason for everything that was written?  Don't you love when good triumphs over evil and the wicked characters get what is coming to them?

It makes me think of Harry Potter.  I have heard that J.K. Rowling knew each character's past and future before she began writing.  I don't know if that is true.  But when reading her books (or rereading) it seems that that must have been the case.

Anyway, back to Esther.  Esther is so packed full of literary elements and seemingly coincidences that I am tempted to think when reading and studying it, "Is this not a bit exaggerated just to make a good story?"  I mean does real life really work out this way?

Beth wrapped up last week's session by saying "At the end of our life it will have theme and beauty."  And it hit me, yes, life IS full of irony and metaphors.  We are surrounded by the plot of God's story of redemption.  He is the great author and He created all of those things that we love to see in our favorite stories.  Just as a good author works out the story just perfectly how he/she wants it, God does the same.  He weaves our story (or more appropriately His story) so that at the end of it all we can see the beauty of it all.

Why do the most beloved stories involve love, a rescue, good triumphing over evil, some type of "Cinderella" figure, the list could go on and on?  Not because we are trying to escape reality and make life more lovely.  It is because God put inside us the desire for these things.  He wants us to see the beauty in those themes because those are the themes that He uses.

How comforting it is to know that when it is all said and done my life will not only have purpose but it will be a literary masterpiece!  That makes the trials of life seem much more bearable!

LOST

My husband is a huge LOST fan, and we will be tuning in tonight just like we do each Tuesday night to try to get some more answers.  My sister, Hillary, is a film student and is also a loyal LOST fan.  She entered a contest on ABC's website to create a promo video for LOST.  The winner gets their promo video aired on ABC during the series finale and a trip to LA for the finale party with the cast.  Her video is really good (and I'm not even a LOST fan).  If you have a moment go to this website  http://lost-promo-contest.abc.go.com/published/7462 and rank her video - 5 stars preferably :)  You can only vote once per IP address.  I think ABC chooses the videos but your views and rankings will help catch their eye.  Thanks!!

More From the Beach

We had such a great time at the beach, then we stopped by Monroeville, AL for a few days to attend a wedding that Hillary was in.  We had such a good time but are ready to get back in a normal routine.  Poor Sterling didn't have a clue what time it was at any given time because our days were so abnormal.  He was such a trooper though and had so much fun playing with his new friend Sophee.  He also got a runny nose and a cough while we were there.  I think he is going to have allergies because it seems like his nose is always running!  It could be so much worse though, I know.  He hardly ever has a fever and never gets ear infections.

I couldn't pick my favorite pictures again; so here are lots more pictures from the beach.

Beach Time

We are enjoying a fun girls week at the beach with my family and dear family friends from Texas.  It has been a little chilly on the beach but we have enjoyed it anyway.  And I have been so excited to get some great pictures in the sunlight that I have gotten a little camera happy.  I'll post some more later.

Sophee is almost two and she and Sterling have had SO much fun together.  Isn't she a doll!

Sterling was a little timid about the sand at first but soon he was digging and shoveling sand everywhere.  Such a little boy. 

For some reason he doesn't like putting his right leg in the sand.  He can be so quirky. 

 

Hula Girl

 Sweet toes

Sterling loves the pool. Especially since it is heated!

Fun splashing in the tub

 

Bubbles!!

"I'm Walking" Pictures

We are staying at my parents house getting ready to take a girls + Sterling trip to the beach.  Since there are others to walk to I was able to snap a few pictures of Sterling walking back and forth between Ki (KiKi) and Ker (Colonel).  He is walking across the room now.