first few family outings

i'm really intrigued by the idea of "family." i've always been the little kid of the family. and i never payed attention to much. it's really different now that i've grow up and fallen in love with this guy who is very different from me and really attractive and desirable and then we join up (get married) and now we are a family - me and this guy i love and I'm not the little kid anymore - and there are only two of us in our new family - and i have to pay attention a lot to my choices, to my behavior, to my husband. it's the most powerful transition i've ever experienced - it's incredible and i stand in awe.

and here are some photos of me and my family

standing in awe on various excursion:

we thought about going skiing but decided we'd rather explore by foot in a less-populated area - it turned out to be super rewarding!

perfect white. perfect blue. real green.

sweet abandoned cabin.

we often marvel at the "hardcore-ness" of the minors back in the day

and their experience of such remoteness from others

being with the one you love in the wilderness.

nothin better.

camping along the South Platte River

Sunday night - no neighbors

morning bike ride through the valley

and of course - my favorite.

Fesa Fou Efra!

a little girl i work with, Karie, is seven years old

she's a pretty good student

she's very relational - and generally a good friend to the other girls.

she showed me a note today that she was going
to give to another girl at the Center.

she was thanking the girl for writing an
"i'm-sorry-note" after they got in a tiff.

she read the note to me and as i looked down
at the paper this is what i saw:

Fesa Fou Efra! - which she read as "friends forever"

wow, what a ridiculously way-off spelling, but i like that she didn't hold back. she wasn't hindered by her lack of knowledge - she just did the best she could. in this simple gesture i saw freedom, innocence, boldness, and beauty in the imperfection.

No worries, be happy, Fesa Fou Efra!

mi amor in the meantime

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Uhh, visit my husband's website for now to hear stories about
wedding // honeymoon.
he's more eloquent than I. Yet I long to reflect on the time shortly.


here it is: www.omargooding.livejournal.com/

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Molly's Book List C: Social Activism

Social Activism: Book List B

1. Compassion - by ... Henri Nouwen!! woohoo!

- this should be attached maybe as an appendix to the Bible

2. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - by Ronald Sider

3. The Good News About Injustice - by

4. One Nation Over God: the Americanization of Christianity - by

5. Theirs is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America
- by Robert Lupton

- started living with the poor in Atlanta and this book has some great insights to his own personal spiritual journey living amidst the poor

6. Urban and Multi ethnic Outreach - by Rodolpho Carrasco
- i met this man in Pasadena at the ministry he started in the super-ghetto - he's seen amazing things / people changed in the hood and they have a huge after-school program which was super inspiring, this book are just some random thoughts / writings about his ministry in the hood

7. The Good News About Injustice - by Haugen

8. One World - by Singer

9. The End of Poverty - by Jefferey D. Sachs

10. I would like to read more of MLK's writings


-- please attach any recommendations

Molly's Book List B: Spiritual Healing

Spiritual Healing: Book List B

1. Here and Now - by Henri Nouwen

2. We Would See Jesus - by Roy and Revel Hession

3. Reaching Out: the 3 Spiritual Movements - by Henri Nouwen

4. Abba's Child: the Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning

5. Devotional Classics - ed. Richard Foster

6. Can You Drink the Cup? - by Henri Nouwen

7. Diary of Private Prayer - by John Baillie

8. What's So Amazing About Grace - by Phillip Yancey

9. The Jesus I Never Knew - by Phillip Yancey

10. I hear Oscar Romero is good

11. I would like to read more of Mother Theresa's writings


-- please share any recommendations --