Category: Musings
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In Defense of Hallmark Films
I recently watched two romance comedies, and the difference was striking enough that I had to write about it. The films were Home Again (2017) and Falling For Christmas (2016). Home Again was a “modern” rom com—so modern, in fact, that there isn’t a clear romance. The main character (played by Reese Witherspoon) is a…
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10 Tips I Wish I Heard Before My Wedding
It’s wedding season! Daniel and I are in 3 weddings this summer, on top of the others we’re attending, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal showers, etc. I’ve been thinking about what advice I might give to friends who are in the wedding planning season. When I was planning my own wedding, I read through hundreds…
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Whatever Happened to that New Year’s Resolution?
Remember that week between Christmas and New Year’s? Loaded down with gifts, parties and sweets, you were looking forward to getting back into the normal swing of things. Thus, you made a New Year’s resolution (or maybe two or three). The question is, did you keep it? The statistics for New Year’s resolutions are pretty…
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How Much Blood Does the American Flag Cost?
For the last twenty years, since I was two years old, my family’s 4th of July tradition has consisted of the same events. We first attend our neighborhood carnival, which includes the ferris wheel, the giant slide, and cotton candy. Next is our street block party with hot dogs, American flag shortbread cookies, and basketball games. Finally, the…
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Writing as Art
During my final semester of college, I’m taking a class called “Vision, Voice, and Practice.” The painting and poetry professors have teamed up to teach it, and it’s offered for either upper division Art or English credit. That’s where the “Vision” (art) and “Voice” (writing) parts come from. The class has afforded me a wonderful…
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Starving, Going to War, and Giving Thanks
The images that come to mind with Thanksgiving are typically related to food: turkey, gravy, stuffing, a slice of pumpkin or apple pie. Family may also come to mind, along with the occasional Pilgrim. We don’t usually think of bloodshed, cannons, civil war, and patriotism. Yet these were the circumstances under which Thanksgiving became a…
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A Final Act of Service
Who does a funeral benefit? This last week, I took some time off from work and school to be with my family as we buried my grandfather. It was a difficult but rich time, remembering and learning more about a man who was one of my heroes. Prior to this week, I had always thought…
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A Time for Everything: Changing Seasons
Last weekend in Los Angeles, we had 90-degree weather. On Saturday, I wore shorts and flip flops; on Sunday, a sun dress. I am very tired of the summer. Don’t get me wrong—one of the reasons I love living in Southern California is the near-paradise weather. We rarely get rain, bask in 80 degrees in…
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What Kind of Faith Do I Have?
There seems to be a disconnect in my life between my absolute faith in Christ as the Savior of the world and of my soul, and my sometimes-less-certain faith in his guidance of my everyday life. Of course, in my head I absolutely believe that he will provide for me every second of every day.…
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From Atoms to Mustard Seeds: Assurance and Uncertainty
My latest post for Evangelical Outpost: John Wesley insists we can have assurance of our salvation. Romans 8:16 states, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Wesley takes this to mean that we can be absolutely certain of our entrance into heaven: “To secure us from all delusion,…
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Vacation Bible School and Athanasius: the Power of the Gospel
I never thought I’d be using Saint Athanasius to explain God to a fifth grader. But this Wednesday, I found myself thinking over Athanasius’ arguments in On the Incarnation as I challenged a group of squirmy 10-year-olds to tell me why Jesus had to die on a cross. Why couldn’t he die in his sleep…
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The Novelty of the Old
Hello, again! In lieu of posting on my personal blog, I have been contributing to a larger Christian blog called Evangelical Outpost. I have received multiple requests to publish the posts here so that the email subscribers receive them, too. This is my latest post, which went live today. Throughout my schooling career, teachers have instructed…
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Why are endings so sad?
For the past three summers, my sister and I have been steadily working our way through the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I read to her while we get ready for bed at night, and we’ve managed to get through one book every summer. It has been a fun project, and a very special time…
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A fairy garden tour
Imagine a bright, fresh morning in the middle of May. You step out into your backyard to view the grass glinting with dew, flowers bobbing their bright heads, and trees whispering softly in a light breeze. A bird sings somewhere nearby. It’s a perfect morning with fresh air and sunshine. You see movement amidst a…
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The 4th of July–A Remembrance
July 4, 2012– Red, white and blue. On T-shirts, on toe nails, on the cheeks of young kids with face paint. On the flags that hang from houses and decorate fair grounds. On wrap-around porches and tablecloths. Hula-hoop contests. Carnival rides. Shaved ice and cotton candy. Water balloon tosses. Bare feet. Barbeques. Cold lemonade and a game of basketball.…
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A Whipped Cream Paradise
If you asked me three months ago what I would be doing this summer in my spare time, I definitely would not have told you that I would spend the summer cooking. I’ve never been very fond of cooking–spending hours grueling away in the kitchen only to have everyone devour whatever you’ve lovingly made in…
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The First Post
So I’ve started a blog. The username and password are there, I’ve come up with a fun title, and even picked a background design. Now I have to start writing. What constitutes a blog subject? I guess I could talk about anything: the guacamole and chips I ate for dinner last night, the new shoes…
Victoria Van Vlear 