January | 2006 | presvlisa's Xanga Site

Month: January 2006

More snap , crackle and pop! I went to the Chiropractor today for the second time I have another appointment on Thursday. At first I felt the strain of the adjustment but after a couple days I felt really good, more energetic and less stiff, I am looking forward to my next appointment and continued care. I am so grateful that it is covered by insurance, we do have a small co pay . I think I will start taking the boys and make an appointment for Fr. . I don’t see a need to take the baby, her birth was pretty uneventful, hardly knew she was born, poor kid had to cry out to let us know she was there! LOL

I do need to find Maria~Angelica some gripe water though, she suffers so much with gas pain and trying to pass her bowel. I found these homeopathic pills at Walgreens and the seem to help a little but the infant gas drops don’t really seem to do much. I am going to see if Wild Oats has gripe water. The pharmacists here in town have no idea what I am talking about. It is very common in England and was easily available. I don’t know if it is the part of the country we live in but America is so far behind England in homeopathy.
From Tracy’s blog , I am so excited for her and her family!

“Well, we did it!! My whole family is now Orthodox. Hard to believe. I was nervous about the chrismation but it was quick and easy. We did Vasilopita today at coffee hour then I put my kids down in the quiet room for a nap. They didn’t sleep, but rested and stayed pretty mellow. Dh and I waited around while Fr. was preparing for the baptism. He brought me a book of Apostles instructions to show me where it was written that sprinkling is okay. lol (I had a tiny problem with that earlier.) Then the grandparents arrived and we talked some while we waited. My mom said to my mil “This ought to be some ceremony”. Mil didn’t really say anything. I don’t think she got it because they don’t think anything bad about Orthodoxy.

The actual baptism ceremony was soooo amazing. So much more involved than a Protestant baptism (not that I think there’s anything wrong with a Protestant baptism). I didn’t realize that it starts at the nathrex? I think it is, outside the congregation area. I didn’t know there would be chanting and things read from the book that are similar to Divine Liturgy.

One thing that really stood out was how the kids and their godparents went around the baptismal font singing as Fr. was censuring. I loved that.

The kids went right along with the program. No crying or anything. Then they got to have communion right there. So our kids have had communion before us!

I feel like I’m boring people with the details. I can’t really explain how cool we thought it was. Dh said this was the best day of his life. For me, it’s up there in the top 10.

I haven’t heard feedback from my mom yet. But my aunt and uncle who came with her (they’re RC) want to know what the cutting of the hair symbolizes. I don’t know so can someone help me out there?

Since we didn’t get to take pictures of the actual baptism all I can do is post what we took afterwards. I only have a few on my camera but will post more when I get them from my uncle’s camera.”

Sierra and her Godparents

Jaxon and his Godparents

3rd from left is the Presvytera, me, dh, last on right Fr.
With Tracy’s permission I am sharing her journey home to the ancient Christian Church. Tracy it’s just the beginning! I am thinking about you and wishing you a joyous day tomorrow; I wish we could be with you!

“My background is first Baptist, then Pentecostal/charismatic, but I considered myself nondenominational. I moved to a newer part of town and the church we ended up at was a typical megachurch – you know, rock and roll music, coffee and donuts, plenty of blond jokes from the pastor, all fun and games with the only real message being “Jesus Loves You” basic stuff. I couldn’t stand it but my husband and kids loved this “fun” atmosphere. I kept going because I figured it must be something wrong with me. When I finally couldn’t take it anymore I started trying different churches in the area and it was all the same. Nothing felt right anymore. Plus, being exposed to many denominations I was very aware of all the different interpretations of Scripture, which always bothered me. I experienced firsthand how misinterpretation can lead you astray from what is actually meant.

I was at a crisis in my faith because I knew something was wrong with me and the churches, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I decided to take the bible and start at the beginning to find the problem. I studied the Jews and Judaism, even mystical aspects of it. Then I visited a Messianic congregation to check that out. That was my first exposure to a liturgical service. I was absolutely amazed. I loved the blowing of the ram’s horn, the liturgy, the Hebrew being spoken. This was November/December 2004. But still I knew this wasn’t for me because they were keeping certain laws including food laws and I couldn’t agree with that.

On a Christian mothering board I am on (on the Internet) there were several Orthodox women who had to defend their faith when questioned by the Protestant women. I used to pay little attention their posts because I wasn’t interested in Orthodoxy. But the more I heard their explanations, and more importantly, the humble tone of their explanations, I started opening up to the possibility.

So I began to read on the internet and you know how it goes once you read church history with an open mind!! I was afraid to actually visit a parish though. So I went to the local Greekfest in March to scope things out. It took me until June 5th to get the courage up to go. I went alone and was terrified. But I knew as soon as I walked in that this was where I belonged. It was sooooo exciting to me! I get excited right now thinking about it! I even went to the social hour afterwards because one of the older women insisted. I’m glad she did. People were friendly and Father came and talked to me. He was so nice and humble and it all came spilling out – how excited I was to be there, how I loved Orthodoxy, how I’d been taught anything catholic was the “Whore of Babylon”, etc. I felt like an idiot afterwards, saying so much.

My husband was really opposed to it at first. So I quit talking so much about it and just took our 7-year-old daughter with me and we attended regularly. He saw that I was serious and had prayer time in the mornings and evenings with our daughter. All I asked him was to please attend the classes they had at the parish and if wanted to reject it after being informed, then fine, I wouldn’t ask him to go anymore and would probably go ahead and go back to a Protestant church with him (although I couldn’t imagine having to do that!)

After the first class he was ready to convert!!!! He heard the church history and it all made sense to him and he loved the Priest too.

So here we are, only 6 months after my first visit, converting this Sunday. Even though it’s so exciting – I’m a little nervous. I read on an Orthodox board once, someone described the time of conversion as looking up at a very tall building, wondering if you can live up to it all. That’s how I feel.”
I just talked to Tracy for the first time ever, and she is really cool and so easy to talk to. Thanks for calling Tracy I am so excited for your chrismation and the baptisms of your children. Glory be to God for all things! We will be looking for pictures on your blog. I will be thinking of you and your family on Sunday and I will light a candle for each of you! It was so nice to hear your voice, praying you have a wonderful day on Sunday as you begin your new life in Christ as Orthodox Christians. How exciting!

“For those that have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:27
I had my first adjustment at the chiropractor today. There was a lot of crunching noises going on and I hope I am not a hurtin’ in the mornin’. I am grateful I found a chiro that takes my insurance and is close to home. What is your opinion of chiropractors and the chiropractic approach? What about taking children for adjustments? Do you go for your overall general health or just for back problems etc…? Should I be asking any questions? Educate me please.
Today is Jonah’s 5th birthday! It is so hard to believe that Jonah is FIVE!!!!!!!!!

We will be dining at Chuck E. Cheese tonight. I know you all are jealous.

We had a full day yesterday. We managed to squeeze in two Feast Days , a couple good meals and a movie! At Church we celebrated Theophany (Epiphany) with the Blessing of the waters after the Divine Liturgy. Then as a congregation we went to a local lake for the Blessing of the Waters and the diving for the cross. Then we went home, made a nice lunch, cut our family Vasilopita (which is traditionally done on Jan. 1, St. Basil’s Day) and then we took the boys to see The Chronicles of Narnia and to Bravo! for dinner. The movie was great, the boys knew the story and they were so cute whispering to me about what was going to happen next. Maria~Angelica was her sweet little self and she slept in her sling the whole movie. Here are some pics of our day.

What is nice about my Mom’s Vasilopita is there is a coin in the bread for each child! That is a Yiayia for you!

The End

I am really upset for Ambra and her baby ,ZaraLayna, please remember them in your prayers.
Okay I had to bite, here goes!

Four jobs you’ve had in your life:
1. Nanny

2. Waitress ( I was a lousy waitress)

3. Elevator operator on the Eiffel Tower and children’s rides operator at Kings Island

4. Camp Counselor for bereaved children and children with Down’s

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Sound of Music

2. Fiddler on the Roof
3. Dr. Zhivago

4. Yours, Mine and Ours – the original one

Four places you have lived:
1. London, England (loved it)

2. Columbus, Ohio (hated it)

3. Cincinnati, Ohio

4. Middletown, Ohio

Four TV shows you love to watch :
1. the news

2. Real World and Road Rules and the challenges (I hate to admit it though!)
3. Oprah

4. My Name is Earl

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Russia
2. Europe – almost every country but not all
3. The Holy Land and Cyprus

4. The Bahamas

Four websites you visit daily (Excluding blogs):
1. www.Orthodoxchat.com
2. www.google.com
3. www.yahoo.com
4. www.momys.com

Four of your favorite foods:
1. warm brie

2. Asian salads

3. a good rueben

4. fresh pineapple

Four places you would rather be right now:
1. a warm sunny beach
2. my bed

3. London but not right now, maybe when it is warmer

4. a warm swimming pool

Four bloggers you are tagging:

1. If you are reading this consider yourself tagged! (this line was stolen from Jane, I can’t take credit for it. Thanks Jane.)

2.

3.

4.
Jonah and I are watching the service live from Tarpon Springs on Antenna. Fr. is at Church. I would have liked to go to Liturgy this morning; Maria~Angelica is having her nap though. I am enjoying the commentary about the Liturgy and the Patriarch, by Fr. Chris Metropolis, so BEAUTIFUL! Early this morning, following the Liturgy in Greece it was so exciting to see the Agean sea blessed by the Bishop of Piraeus, at the port of Piraeus. Hopefully today’s coverage will show the blessing of the waters, the Gulf of Mexico, and the famous diving for the cross in Tarpon Springs. You can watch it live on your computer just click on a media player below.

LIVE EPIPHANY 2006 CELEBRATIONS AVAILABLE TODAY ON
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA WEBSITE

Tarpon Springs, FL – The Centennial Epiphany and Blessing of the Water Celebrations in Tarpon Springs, FL will be broadcast LIVE today on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website at www.goarch.org/liturgy. His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of over 250 million Orthodox Christians, will preside over the event which is expected to attract thousands of Orthodox Christians and non-Orthodox Christians. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and other hierarchs and local clergy will also participate in the services and festivities of Epiphany.

The LIVE Internet broadcast will be available WORLDWIDE from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm ET beginning with the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy. Immediately following the Patriarchal Liturgy will be the Blessing of the Waters. Then, His All Holiness, hierarchs and clergy and the entire congregation will proceed out of the church and through the streets of Tarpons Springs to the Spring Bayou where thousands will have gathered for the diving for the Cross. His All Holiness will throw the Cross into the bayou, where some 50 young men, waiting in boats, will then dive into the waters as they vie to be the first to capture the coveted cross and the promise of happiness and success in the coming year. The Cross retriever will also receive a special blessing from His All Holiness and a prestigious trophy.

The LIVE Internet broadcast will be available so that all Orthodox Christians and others throughout the world can participate in this historic event. This production and Internet broadcast is being made available by the 2006 Patriarchal Visitation Committee. Technical services are being made available by Greek Orthodox Telecommunications and the Departments of Communications and Internet Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

LIVE BROADCAST of the Patriarchal Liturgy, Friday, January 6, 2006

www.goarch.org