#Unexpected Calvary

[witch-hazels-musings]

Heyo Hazel! Hope you’re doing well :) Can I request a wine stain reading for Kaeya with the symbols boat, star, and square?

aroma: wine (romantic) | symbols: star (protection), square (comfort), boat (unexpected visits)

:: kaeya x gn reader | sfw - fluff | tasseography event

“Ah, how unfortunate,” Kaeya lamented as the rain drops covered his gloved hand. Tiny splashes vanishing into the next droplet before rolling down his arm and onto the soiled ground at his feet. He might have braved the weather any other time but it happened to have an ample amount of it. With a dismissive sigh, he walked further under the thick tree, leaned against the sturdy bark, crossed his arms, and closed his uncovered eye. “Might as well take it easy,” he hummed. 

The rain wasn’t sudden but that didn’t encourage Kaeya to move faster. At least fifteen minutes ago he felt the first drops on his cheek, one catching on his eyelash and startling him. It was like he enjoyed the excuse to stay away from his duties and as soon as the downpour hit he was well protected by the leaves above him. 

It wasn’t letting up. He wouldn’t have minded either way. There was always an excuse to tie him up -- speaking of, here came one now. 

“Oh! Are you stuck?” Someone shouted from the drenched path. Kaeya peered out through the rain only to laugh at the sight he saw. There you were, shoes in your hands, clothes clinging to your skin as if you jumped into the lake, hair laying flat. He might not see as clearly as others with his eye patch but he certainly could see the smile plastered on your face. “W-Kaeya? Fancy seeing you here.” 

“I should be saying the same,” he pushed himself from the tree but didn’t leave his shelter. “You know you’re bound to catch a cold.” 

He looked you over and somehow he knew exactly what you were going to say, “Ah! That’s just a bunch of nonsense. You can’t catch a cold from being wet.” The rain fell in your mouth and you coughed, quickly brushing away the stream of water flowing across your forehead, down your cheeks, and cascading down your neck. He couldn’t deny how happy you looked even though you were sopping. 

“And just what are you doing?” he asked, laughing at the whimsy of it all.  

“I’m taking a stroll!” you beamed the brightness of your smile. 

“In the rain?” 

“Of course in the rain!” Stretching out your hands, you let your head drop back so you could soak up the droplets. After a moment you started to laugh and the sound filled his ears and made his skin ripple. 

In all the time he’s known you, no interaction has ever been boring. It was nice, and refreshing to see someone behave in ways that were in their way a little chaotic.

Once he found you pacing back and forth along the cobblestone railings. You swore to him you would traverse everyone that lined the levels of the city. It caused a few citizens a fright and encouraged unruly behavior from the children, but it was harmless. Another time he saw you mixing ingredients at the alchemy table. Nothing came to much, but the colors it turned your hair made him laugh for a week. 

You were odd, sometimes unpredictable like there was this driving force in your heart that nothing could tie down. Somewhere in his chest, he understood that feeling. It was one reason why he sought you out so often. 

Two birds of a feather, yours were just multicolored. 

“So, Mr. Calvary Captain,” you began as you sauntered toward him, not caring or minding the puddles you stomped your way through. “Would you care to join me on this stroll about the forest?” your accent changed as if you were playing a character in a play. Even your behavior shifted as you bowed before him before offering him your hand, waiting for his reply. 

“Why ever would I do that?” 

His question made you pause. Quickly you shifted so you could tap on your lip, thinking about the best answer that would convince him to join you. When you found an answer your face lit up as if someone just told you exciting news. 

"Because the rain is freeing," you breathed and, in the same moment, took his away. 

“My, my, I guess I must submit to that,” he hummed as he stepped out from the tree’s canopy, “either way, talking with you is certainly more interesting in the rain.” 

“How very right you are,” you replied as you took his hand, giggled like a menace, and dashed toward the open meadow. 

--

“See, I did warn you.” Kaeya teased as he removed the thermometer from your mouth. The blanket he wrapped around you slipped off your shoulder and exposed your bare skin. He lingered, a bit longer than he should before turning away to pour the tea he was brewing. 

“It’s your - ACHOO - fault!” 

“Now, whatever do you mean?” 

“You used your vision to turn the water into ice. It made me so c-c-col-” another sneeze cut you off which made you glare at him. 

“Yes, that.” He placed the warm cup near you, watching intently as you took it and began to breathe in the aroma before sipping the liquid, “yet you’ll have to admit, it was rather breathtaking.” 

“... yes, I’ll give you that,” you huffed, frustrated that he was right. With a pout, you pointed at him not noticing how much the blanket moved in your action, “you have to take care of me until I’m better. Your fault, your problem.” You emphasized, pointing at yourself energetically.

Kaeya’s eyebrows rose but only for a second. Instead, he leaned into the smirk that touched his lips, he took a step forward and pulled at the blanket you neglected, he let his breath wash over you as he replied, “I have no objections to that.” 

You sat a bit straighter and turned your gaze from him. He always wondered if you saw him as more than a friend, if his desire to keep you happy, safe, loved was more than just a fleeting feeling. Your response gave him the flash of hope he needed to dig deeper. “G-Good.” 

all works & ideas created by Hazel, recreations, reposts not allowed even with credit provided

[quotedfictions]

Iced Tea

Synopsis: You and Kaeya are out on a romantic date, ruined by wild weather; you go home and make the most out of it. Making iced teas and picnic sandwiches, you take your ruined date, turning it into a lovely indoor picnic for the rest of the day.

Themes: Cute, Fluff, Romance, Soft Kaeya, Romantic Kaeya.

Warnings: None

Word Count: 868

It was supposed to be a nice day, with fluffy white clouds and lots of sun for Kaeya's day off, and usually, it doesn't rain during the Windblume festival. Still, that day, you must have stood too close to poor, unlucky Bennett for that morning because you and kaeya hurried to pack up your once lovely picnic because of some unexpected downpour on the day you and your fiance were supposed to spend time together before he returned to his calvary duties the next day. As you picked up the basket after gently tossing the last plate in and closing the lid, Kaeya picked up the blanket and froze it while it was flat to use as a temporary umbrella while you rushed to get back home within the walls of Mondstadt.

"Agh! It wasn't supposed to rain today; I was looking forward to our date today because we both had the same day off," you sighed sadly, ringing out the hem of your dress at the door, knowing you would have to mop it later. Kaeya walked over to you after handing the now-soaking wet picnic blanket over the bathtub of the shared home. "Princess, my love, we can just have the date inside in front of the fireplace" Kaeya places his lips on your temple, giving you a soft kiss of reassurance as you rung water out from your dress while looking dejected.

You returned to the living room after drying off and changing into warmer clothes. Kaeya joined you in the kitchen as you made more sandwiches because the ones you made earlier that morning had become soggy from the rain. "Thank you, Kaeya, for setting a dry blanket out for us in the living room and suggesting we continue inside; that was very sweet of you" You smiled as you finished cutting the sandwiches into small squares and placing them on a plate with some fruit and chocolate. At the same time, Kaeya poured some grape juice for both of you; despite his preference for alcohol, he respected your dislike towards wine more than his brother, even though the redheaded male ran Mond's wine industry.

Kaeya helped you carry the fresh food and drinks to the living room area, where he had started a small fire in the fireplace and laid out the comfiest blankets, he had also placed a few pillows, and there were rose petals on the floor. It was self-evident he was trying to make you feel better, knowing how long it had taken you to get the entire day planned for the shared day off. However, you had more days off than him, considering you were just a fill-in for Lisa when she left Mondstat because you didn't bear a vision, but you were paid well and taken care of when you were there, making sure the library peace was undisturbed. "Thank you, Kaeya; you a sly fox with romance, aren't you?" You teased the taller male getting a kiss on the forehead in response

"Anything for my darling Y/n~" his smooth, gentle, and husky voice with a loving tone made you smile as you both cuddled up with your favorite book and blanket, reading together while the rain tapped against the windows, the warm yellow-orange glowing fire helping you heat up from the previous cold that had plagued you from being soaked in rainwater. "Unfortunately, we couldn't continue our planned date, but at least we've made the most out of it, haven't we?". You were leaning against the male's chest as you looked up at him with a loving look. "Yes, My love, we persevered, given the situation would have meant canceling due to weather, but anything can be inside if you know how to do it right."

As the evening went on, you and Kaeya chatted the night away, sharing small kisses now and then, snacking on the sandwiches you diligently prepared, and sipping on the iced tea kaeya had made yesterday before leaving off to his calvary duties assigned by the knights. Even after three years, your romance had never died, and you were getting married soon as well, and it is days like these, when the weather takes a turn and tries to ruin your plans and put a downer on your relationship, that Kaeya reminds you on why you said yes to his proposal.

You both loved each other deeply, and as the indoor date carried on, you drifted off to slumber in your lover's arms, both glasses of iced tea empty, and no food left on any of the plates you and Kaeya had placed out early that day, the fire had finally got out as the male gently lifted you off the floor, marking the spot you stopped at in your book. Kaeya carried you off to your chared bedroom and tucked your sleeping figure in before climbing into his side and cuddling you, marking this as a day full of good memories despite the plan going off the rails, happy that his iced tea did not go to waste as you both drift off into the land of dreams thus marking the end of your date, with you both cuddling in bed.

End.

[sassenach77yle]

🕊🕊🕊

Tonight is the Vigil of Easter, a service where we hear readings from the Bible regarding God's deliverance of His people (e.g., the flight from Egypt and the path through the Red Sea), the reading of the Passion (the description of Jesus's condemnation and crucifixion), and the Resurrection. Catechumens (the people who wish to become Catholics and have been taking instruction) will be baptized, and others confirmed. It's a time of mingled sorrow, hope and joy--the coming of Easter.

For the moment, I thought I'd post the following snip from BEES (the chapter titled "Metanoia"), as it's rather apropos. (Tomorrow, I'll post a new excerpt as an Easter egg. <g>)

[Excerpt from GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE, Copyright 2021 Diana Gabaldon]

A stack of these broadsides had been left on the breakfast table; he’d caught a glimpse of one headline as Germain had gathered them up and tapped the pages tidily into order before putting them in his bag:

THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF HENRY HUGHES Who Suffered Death on the Twelfth of June, Anno Domini 1779 ...

No stranger to the excesses of the daily press—the things Fergus printed were in fact not that different in character or intent from the tabloid papers of his own time—he had been struck by one factor peculiar to this time: to wit, the fact that the condemned men (and the occasional woman) were always accompanied by a clergyman on their journey toward the gallows. Not just a private pre-execution visit to give prayers and comfort, but to climb Calvary alongside the condemned.

_What would I say to him_, he wondered, _if I should find myself called to accompany a man to his execution?_ He’d seen men killed, seen people die, certainly; much too often. But these were natural—if sometimes sudden and catastrophic—deaths. Surely it was different, a healthy man, sound of body, filled with life, and facing the imminent prospect of being deprived of that life by the decree of the state. Worse, having one’s death presented as a morally elevating public spectacle.

It struck Roger suddenly that he’d _been_ publicly executed, and the milk and French toast shifted at the sudden memory.

_Aye, well…so was Jesus, wasn’t He?_ He didn’t know where that thought had come from—it felt like something Jamie would say, logical and reasonable—but it flooded him at once with unexpected feeling.

It was one thing to know Christ as God and Savior and all the other capital-letter things that went with that. It was another to realize with shocking clarity that, bar the nails, he knew exactly how Jesus of Nazareth had felt. Alone. Betrayed, terrified, wrenched away from those he loved, and wanting with every atom of one’s being to stay alive.

_Well, now you know what you’d say to a condemned man on his way to the gallows, don’t you?_

Diana gabaldon fb 🕊🕊🕊

[questing-wulfstan]

WIP Word Search Game

I was tagged by @honeyteacakes and @seiya-starsniper, and I fail to do everything that I am tagged in, but it’s so precious when anyone thinks of me, and also I love love talking gratuitously about my writing so thank you so much for the opportunity 🫶💛

@honeyteacakes ‘s words: rough + short + warm + dreamer + night

@seiya-starsniper ‘s words: rose + wood + grey + tall + old

in order of the words to search, not necessarily the linearity of the fic :

An Epiphany of Poppies upon the Battlefield (the Big Bang fic™ I am finally allowed to talk about !!)

An inconvenience of being immortal was that it made getting rid of a drug addiction a true calvary. Hob had witnessed so many fellows succumb to the soughed promises of abandon in the arms of this siren. So many of them wither away like fragile poppies in rough hands.

Hob instinctively winced and took a step back. Yet as his eyes embraced the feminine figure, fascination overtook him. She was as dark as Hob’s new companion was pale. She wore a sober dress that ended just below her knees, with short sleeves, entirely black like a mourning garb.

Hob blinked and propped himself up on one elbow, to discover a young lady with diaphanous skin and fiery incandescent hair that hung by one foot wedged between two pieces of wood of a chandelier, her other leg bent at a 90° angle, the foot of which resting on the knee of the other. Delirium.

“I am so sorry for your loss,” he murmured, the puddle of his eyes troubled, reflecting nothing promising but the smoke-saturated grey skies. “Is it their bodies you are looking for ? I can help …”

Soon however, he could distinguish Delirium, her pale skin reflecting and diffracting what little light entered the cave like a humanoïd moon, Lucienne’s presence beside her, merged into the shade. And then, further in the cave : a woman. Tall, her flesh modelled from clay.

To Mend Dreams

His pupils expanded like a shutter opening, spurning his iris and cornea, leaving his eyelids to open on spatial void, dotted with tiny distant stars, and one bright orb, that dazzled without blinding in the center of each. The little grip that the laws of physics seemed to have on his hair vanished, leaving it to look like a proper crest, made of the same thread the fabric of the night was woven from.

Saints and Sinners laid alike / The Thousands and One Wedding Nights

"My lady, will you accord me this dance ?" Calliope's eyebrows rose, taken by surprise. Several emotions passed on her face, too fast for Hob to decypher, but too numerous and for too long for him not to be taken aback on his turn, unexpecting the suggestion to evoke so much in her … (it’s probably not the meaning Seiya had in mind, but I’ve only ever used rose in that sense once and I cannot spoil it  👉👈)

tagging @nicolodigenovas + @littledreamling + @virgo-dream + @immacaria + @disc0bandit + @saecookie​ with the words : smoke + glass + bloom + soft + shade (translating them if needed is encouraged !!), if they please 🫶

[graveltrip]

2023 predictions

started writing this a few weeks ago, wanted to put together a list of predictions for the season for fun, then put it aside and ignored it. testing rolled around, i was far from finishing it and i didn't really care, but reading it back now, some of the calls i made were pretty solid predictions, so i decided to finish it, here is 23 predictions for 2023:

max wdc

rb will start pushing checo towards retirement (if he acts up)

ferrari off track politics extravaganza

merc rivalry heating up, extra points if shit goes down in silverstone or interlagos

a new winner (probably lance)

the ocon vs gasly beef will go in an unexpected direction and it's gonna be way more under the wrap than people expect it

andretti's calvary to get into the sport continues + the fia vs liberty media vs the teams/drivers thing will come back again

audi stirring up things in silly season

the lando should/needs to leave mclaren talk will get even louder

haas comfortably in the mid midfield

at least one of the at boys will lose his seat at the end of the season

big aston martin controversy by/around the summer break

certain reserve drivers will get more media attention than some of the actual drivers and it's gonna be annoying asf

lewis comfortably beats george

lance is gonna be closer to fernando than a lot of people expect, he will still lose the teammate battle tho

alpha tauri vs williams flop off at the back

oscar will be the highest placed rookie, but his season will be just okay

kevin vs hülk 1st lap incident with some spicy radio

another not that bad, but undewhelming year from ferrari, questions around charles staying with the team start bubbling up again

nyck will bring some of his fe antics to f1 and people won't be happy about it, he will continue where pierre left off when it comes collecting penalty points

someone will miss a race, so there will be more than 20 drivers in the standings at the end of the year

alpine is not gonna the smoothest ride this year, but they will develop a good car by the end of the season

the las vegas gp is gonna have a ton of hype to the point of being cringey, but the race is just gonna be meh

[lotus-flowerz]

The Remains of a Life Once Lived

TW!! SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS, SELF HARM, MENTAL BREAKDOWNS, ALCOHOLISM, HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY ANGST, ANXIETY ATTACKS, PTSD, NIGHTMARES

Kaeya and Diluc's unexpected reconciliation

A/N- this is my first time doing a multi chapter series! please leave any feedback you may have in the comments! i know it's a change from my normal content but i hope you all still enjoy it!

next chapters

Prologue

Tired eyes cracked open to sunlight streaming across the room. A headache surged behind his forehead and nausea bubbled in his stomach. He stumbled his way to the bathroom to shower and possibly throw up. So sleeping off the alcohol hadn’t helped as much as he thought it would. He sighed and gripped the sides of the sink, looking in the mirror. He looked sick. Worn down, tired. Barely there. He hung his head and climbed into the shower. He didn’t want to go to work today. He hoped everyone had forgotten what day it was. He hadn't celebrated his birthday since four years ago. A lifetime ago. Before he lost it all.

The hot water from the shower snapped him out of his self pity. It did little to alleviate his headache, and he was 99% sure he was going to vomit.

But, as always, he cleans up nicely. He emerged from his house a different person. Cavalry Captain Kaeya. Sir Kaeya Alberich. He tossed a coin with a thumb as he walked to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, flashing that dazzling smile at everyone, saying his good mornings, trying to ignore the headache that still pounded behind his eyes. The second he got to his office, he closed the door and sat down at his desk, head in hands. A stack of paperwork awaited him, and he got to work. Signing off what he needed to, writing reports, all of the boring work that being the Calvary Captain of the Knights of Favonius entailed. Especially since Varka took all of the calvary.

A gentle knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

“Come in.” he called in his usual singsong voice, not bothering to look up from what he was writing.

“Good afternoon, Kaeya! Happy birthday!”

His face darkened momentarily, but he fixed it just as quickly. If Jean noticed, she didn’t say anything.

“Thank you, Master Jean. Now what brings you to my office?”

“Well, we’ve received word from Springvale, I’ll let you read over this,” she placed a report in front of him, “And you can have the rest of your day off to prepare.”

Massive crime ring in Springvale.

Citizens cannot leave their houses, it is not safe.

Treasure hoarders poaching all the boars in the area, not allowing them to reproduce and taking away hunter income, killing the economy.

Cart robberies

Many citizens had critical injuries

Expedition length- November 31- December 8

“Ah, how generous of you to give me the rest of the day off on the day of my birth. Let me clean my office up a little and I’ll get out of your hair for the rest of the day.”

“Alright. Be here at 6 AM, your team will be waiting for you. This is a large safety threat, so your team will consist of more people than it normally does. I will brief all of you further more tomorrow morning. Be sure to get some rest tonight, okay?”

“Why, of course. I’ll see you in the morning then, Master Jean."

end of prologue

[allknowingofnir]

It had been nearly a month since Mei's defeat from August, having lost her right arm, but most of all her husband... She had been too quiet and sad, barely around the Roundtable Hold. Besides, not like she spent a month in a coma in there.

Needless to say, when she returned all of a sudden with as many scrolls and books as her one good arm could carry, she seemed to be in a rush.

"What do you know of the Crucible Knights powers??" Was the first thing that spilled out of her mouth.

(Punished Mei AU)

The change in her demeanor had been almost as jarring as the fact she now only had the remaining arm. The fight with August had been brutal, and the effect, noticeable. It made her sudden request just as unexpected.

"The Crucible Knights? Hm... well, as their name implies they draw their strength from something called the Crucible, it is thought to be the ancestor power to the Erdtree itself. Something of the forbearer of the age, much more primal, beastial. Many of the demi-humans draw strength from it too-the Misbegotten for example."

"...hm. You know... if you seek to understand its power fuller... there may be someone I could send you to. If you tell him 'Gideon Ofnir sends me', he will hear your request. He is hard to track down, but a Night's Calvary in service to the Veiled King... by the name of Maldron."

[yuukimiyas]

hello choleヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ dnt mind me i’m just trying to break the ice hehe :3 but where do your f/o’s take you out on the first date? ^_^ do they plan meticulously for it, or do some of them go with the flow of things instead? wishing you a wonderful thursday new friend >ᴗ< !!

hello hello new friend everly!! ૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა sobs i do apologize for getting to this so late :'< but its so so lovely to get to meet you!! i hope you & your faves have the v best time here in the city of lovers!! ໒꒰ྀི´ ˘ ` ꒱ྀིა ooo!! this is such a cutie lil question!! well def some of my f/o's plan for dates hehee ૮꒰⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა reo plans v meticulously!!! he's a perfectionist by trade so ofc everyth has to be PERF for his best girl hehee ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ always so so lavish & expensive w him!! i swear!! & kenyū is also a v well thought out planner!!! even though i'm always tryin to get him to live a lil!!! go w the flow!! :3 but ofc shinya & kaeya on the other hand...oh boy...໒꒰ྀི ∩ ⸝⸝ ∩ ꒱ྀིა kaeya def tries to plan but smth always beckons him away regarding the calvary ugh!!! & ofc shinya lives a v unplanned/unexpected lifestyle so planning isn't rlly his style hehee but all of our dates are always SO memorable & special to my lil heart <33 hmmm as for locations, it just depends on the time of day rlly!! i go on lots of lil bookstore dates w my faves!! as well as late night walks/drives, goin to the movies & getting some yummy treats!! ☆૮꒰ˊᗜˋ* ꒱ა eep!! this q was so CUTE!! tysm for stopping by lovie!! i hope we get to interact more as mooties!! im sending nothing but love & light your way! MWAH!! (˶˃̶ ᵕ ˂̶˶)

[gracebeyondmeasuree]

Dear Heavenly Father, just want to breath this word of thanks for an absolutely delightful day yesterday. Has left my mind in a bit of a daze, though I’m not one to be easily swept away. Lord I thank you for this gathering and this momentary connections with these people of your kingdom, so unexpected, like a gift you’ve just bestowed into me this week. Lord I just pray that you would continue to guard my heart in your word and truths and not let these little moments of light overshadow and claim my heart such that I fear to see your greater (greatest indeed) gift, that which you purchased with your own blood at Calvary Jesus, help me to look upon the cross each and everyday and just cast aside the pretensions, pride and arrogance to just humbly breath a word of thanks, with a hearts that’s full of praise, and sorry for all the ways that I’ve transgressed your ways, grieved your heart, lord through your power help me to stay - forever yours, as sheep following an altogether gracious shepherd, lead me with your righteous hand now and forevermore. That I may love the people around me better, act out the fruits of your spirit and sing of your praise and word to the ones near and dear, that they may draw near to you too

[sharingstories]

The Story Within the Story: Good Friday, Easter, and the Power of Personal Reflection

The Christian holidays of Good Friday and Easter stand as central pillars within the faith, commemorating moments of profound suffering and triumphant resurrection. While the story of Christ's crucifixion and rising is a familiar one, Good Friday and Easter hold a deeper significance for believers, inviting personal introspection and spiritual renewal.

Let's delve into a few key facts to know about Good Friday and Easter:

Good Friday: A Day of Somber Reflection Good Friday marks the day Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross at Calvary. Christians around the world observe this as a day of mourning, fasting, and prayer, reflecting on the weight of sin and the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice for humanity.

Easter Sunday: Celebration of New Life Easter Sunday bursts forth in joyous celebration, marking the belief in Christ's resurrection from the dead. It signifies victory over sin and death, the promise of eternal life, and the foundation of Christian hope. Church services are filled with uplifting music, vibrant colors, and an emphasis on fresh beginnings.

The Importance of Symbols Numerous symbols are associated with Easter, holding specific meanings within Christianity. Eggs represent new life, lambs symbolize Christ's purity and sacrifice, while the cross – a somber symbol on Good Friday - becomes a symbol of triumph and hope on Easter.

Check out 15 Interesting Facts To Know About Good Friday and Easter

Beyond the Biblical Narrative: Finding Personal Meaning

While the foundational story of Good Friday and Easter provides a spiritual compass for Christians, these holidays also offer a poignant opportunity for individual reflection. The themes of sacrifice, suffering, and rebirth can resonate deeply with our own human experiences of loss, hardship, and the search for renewal.

Good Friday invites us to sit with difficult emotions and acknowledge the pain inherent in life. It offers a space to grieve losses – both personal and collective – and to examine those parts of ourselves in need of healing. Much like Christ carrying his cross, we all bear burdens that can feel overwhelming. Good Friday reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles.

Easter, then, is not simply about a historical event but a reminder of the human capacity for resilience. It's a testament to the belief that even in the darkest of times, there is always the potential for transformation and new beginnings. It encourages us to seek out the seeds of hope within ourselves, to nurture those fragile shoots, and to work towards our own version of resurrection.

Share Your Stories: The Power of Personal Narrative

The story of Christ's death and resurrection is powerful, yet it takes on an even deeper dimension when woven together with our personal experiences. During the Easter season, consider sharing your own stories of hardship and resilience. It could be a tale of overcoming a significant setback, a time you emerged stronger from a period of darkness, or ways in which you've found glimmers of hope in unexpected places.

By sharing our vulnerable human stories, we create a powerful tapestry of connection and understanding. Our experiences, however different from one another, reveal shared threads of struggle and triumph – a reminder that none of us navigate this world alone.

This Easter season, let's go beyond the traditional facts and rituals. Let the story of suffering and rebirth inspire us to turn inward, reflect on our own lives, and bravely share the stories that shape us. After all, within each of us lies a testament to the enduring human spirit.

[california-slow-take]

What most people in the Bay Area already know is that the city moved the vast majority of its dead to Colma in the 1930s. That, at least, is the common narrative. What Winegarner uncovers here is a far more shocking tale — one in which San Francisco remains awash with dead bodies that are simply lacking grave markers. And we’re not just talking about the handful that have popped up over the years during construction work.

The bodies that were moved to Colma came from San Francisco’s four main cemeteries — Laurel Hill, Masonic, Odd Fellows and Calvary — all of which were positioned on the north side of the city. However, San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries thoroughly charts all of the other places that city dwellers once used as graveyards — and many are in unexpected, and under-discussed, locations. Dolores Park, for example, was a Jewish cemetery. Russian Hill is named for the fact that Russian sailors were buried there in 1848. Bodies were buried at First and Minna downtown. Most shockingly of all, Civic Center was once home to an enormous cemetery named Yerba Buena. (And a smaller one known as Green Oak.)

The Yerba Buena graveyard started at Market and Larkin and stretched all the way up to where City Hall stands today. It was opened in 1850, contained an unmarked mass grave of 800 bodies moved from North Beach, and was filled with between 7,000 and 9,000 bodies within the first eight years of its existence. In 1868, the dead were disinterred and moved again — at least, they were supposed to be. In truth, hundreds of bodies were left behind, under what is now Civic Center Plaza, City Hall, the Asian Art Museum and the Library.

According to Winegarner, few corners of the city are actually free of former residents’ bodies. Keep in mind that the Mission Dolores graveyard once contained between 10,000 and 11,000 bodies. And while only 200 or so are marked by gravestones today, thousands of dead remain under 16th Street and the surrounding buildings, many of them the Indigenous people who built the mission in the first place.

[they-who-hjonketh]

Fennec Quinn

Pic 1 : ✨Cunning and Stunning✨ | @jadenite Pic 2 : Shady | AlenaGAdams I commissioned this artist through Etsy and there shop has been removed. I have been trying to find their socials/ways to contact them so if you recognize them please DM me! The only thing I can find up is their fiverr so I tagged that on the photo Pic 3 : Ice Princess | @basedmoniart Pic 4 : Cozy | MAGUREIISAN

Fennec has been an ever evolving character since her conception over 10 years ago. In many ways, this character has grown up with me - her character arc evolving into things much more mature as I grew, her motivations shifting as my own ideals were challenged, and her flaws being handled with much more care and respect as I came to find comfort in her imperfection.

Originally she was an OC that would occasionally feature in embarrassing middle school fanfictions - a complete Mary Sue who was every bit as obnoxious as I was. Then she became the center of an elaborate fantasy tale that I continue to write for nobody's consumption but my own. And eventually, through a fateful invitation to play Dungeons & Dragons with two coworkers and a friend of a friend she became my first D&D character.

✨Cunning and Stunning✨

This portrait is how I picture her in my fantasy novel. She wears flowers in her hair that match her twins crown as a show of solidarity. Technically the crown belongs to her - a symbol to indicate her birth right into the Monarchy and her ability to manipulate more than a single element - but she's always hated authority and had no desire to sit on a throne. She gave her crown to her twin, who is only First Rank, as a protest to power based labelling, knowing full well Zedran belongs in politics much more than she does.

The sweater she's wearing belongs to their Head of Calvary, Aries Astro. She's consistently stealing his clothes, much to his and her father's protest.

Shady

This was the first commission I ever got of Fen and was for the start of our D&D campaign. A large part of her story pre-RPG includes an unexpected companion who finds himself as her shadow. I had to rethink of her in D&D terms, and my DM was gracious enough to incorporate a lot of my ideas.

This was the birth of her as a shadow sorceress raised in a thieves guild, a vastly different beginning than her former royal upbringing in the land of the fae.

Her personality transferred between the mediums, though she was much more solitary here than I had intended, and some of that self-isolation eventually trickled it's way back to the source. I find my current version of Fennec to be sometimes painfully independent, in large part to the events in this campaign.

Ice Princess

This commission was from a portion of our campaign that the setting just really resonated with me. I loved the imagery of sailing on the frozen sea, plus she had recently gotten her furry companion, Omen, based on my own cat Buri. Her shadowy companion remains just a silly little guy, every watchful, and thankfully, not fighting for control in this moment.

Cozy

There was a while I had tinkered with coercion being a prominent ability among the fae. Specifically, the fae being able to control their human companions through verbal command. I had toyed with the idea of Fen having an amplified version of the ability, being able to coerce even her fellow fae folk, and what punishments for such a thing might include. The most obvious solution was a muzzle, and for a while there were iterations of Fen that had been entirely mute - muzzled since the first time she had exuded power over a fellow royal. Ultimately, I abandoned the idea, figuring the elemental abilities to already be a lot.

This commission was supposed to be a muzzled version of Fen once she had made it into the human realm.

I do still like this train of thought, I'm just not sure where, when, and how I may fit it into my stories.

[yhwhrulz]

Today's Daily Encounter Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Look to the Hills

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.1

Whenever I read the opening verse of Psalm 121, I always imagine the opening scene of the musical classic "The Sound of Music", where a young girl is up on the hills singing freely. This is her 'happy place' where she can be without a care. In the next few scenes, her life takes an unexpected turn, and she finds herself on her way to a new adventure. Feeling unsure of what awaits her, she sings to muster up her courage and while on the bus, in the window's reflection we see the hills again. This is a subtle but clear picture that by looking to those hills she would find her source of strength.

As Christians, we too, can look to the hills and contemplate where our strength comes from; we can know, without a doubt, that our help comes from the Lord, the Creator of those very hills! Our help and strength come from the God who watches over us by day and by night, who keeps us from all evil and desires to be our comforter forever! (Ps. 121)

The recent rains in California brought snow to our mountain ranges. If you have found yourself driving on most any Southern California freeway, you might have been treated to the beautiful sight of those snow-covered mountains. Lift up your eyes to those hills and behold the wondrous works of our Lord!

As Easter approaches, there is another hill to take into consideration—Golgotha, also known as Calvary—the hill upon which our Lord was crucified. Our Lord, lifted to the sky upon a cross was then, and continues to be today, the greatest reason to look to those hills. The ultimate sacrifice was made that day so long ago as a token of God's unending love for mankind. Look to the hills today and receive God's greatest gift of love and mercy just for you!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Loving Lord, you gave yourself as the ultimate sacrifice, on that cruel cross, upon that hill so long ago because of your great love for me! How else can I show my gratitude than to look to you for my strength and my help! Thank you, Lord, for forgiving my sin and loving me as I am. In Jesus' most precious name, Amen.

Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV).

Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B.

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[was-noch]

If you want to see Brandon Gleeson in a film, where he's living in an small Irish town with odd inhabitans, a burning house, and an unexpected meeting on the beach, go watch Calvary (2014)!!

[carolap53]

November 30, 2022

God Holds Your Hand GRACE FOX

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“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

My husband and I took our 18-month-old granddaughter, Lexi, to the zoo. Carefree and happy for independence, she toddled between us on the wide, paved path. All went well until the zoo’s mini train approached and the engineer clanged its brass bell.

The noise startled Lexi, and she instinctively grabbed for my hand.

She relaxed the moment I responded. She felt safe with Grandma’s hand holding hers.

Sometimes my hands struggle just to open a pickle jar, but God’s hands can do anything. His are the hands that reach for ours when we’re exhausted or worried or scared. With His hand clasping ours, we can trust and choose not to be afraid.

The Lord knows His children are often easily frightened, so He reassures us of His presence and says He holds our hands: “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).

The magnitude of this promise boggles my mind! Ponder it with me, will you?

God’s mighty hands shaped the universe. (Psalm 19:1) When He cups His hands, they hold the oceans. When He opens His hands, they measure the heavens’ expanse. They carry the dust of the earth in a basket and weigh the mountains on a scale. (Isaiah 40:12)

God’s “mighty hand” led the Israelites from Egypt into the promised land (Jeremiah 32:21, NIV). His hand protected the Israelites, quenched their thirst with water from a rock, satisfied their hunger with bread from heaven and clothed them with a wardrobe that never wore out. (Deuteronomy 8:15-16; Deuteronomy 29:5)

The hands that defended and provided for the Israelites all those years ago never grow old or feeble. (Hebrews 13:8) They still defend and equip God’s children with everything we need, both basic and big. There’s nothing God cannot do on our behalf; therefore, we can trust and choose not to be afraid. But wait — this good news gets even better.

God’s mighty hands became flesh and were nailed to the cross on our behalf. (John 20:27) He could have crushed Calvary’s cross between thumb and forefinger. He could have snapped its wooden beams like a toothpick, but He chose instead to spread His hands on that cross to prove His love for us.

Life’s journey brings unexpected detours and unwelcome delays. It leads us through dark valleys and deep ravines where the shadows of fear and discouragement fall on us. But in the midst of it all, my sweet friend, God’s nail-scarred hands embrace ours. He’s with us, and we are safe.

Let’s choose to live from this truth. It gives us fresh hope and courage to face whatever today brings.

We’re in good hands when we’re in God’s hands.

Almighty God, thank You for holding our hands. Remind us of this truth when we feel afraid, discouraged or too weary to take another step. Grant us fresh hope for today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[christ-driven11]

Second Blog Post-- August 14, 2022-- Jeremy Camp: Carried Through By His Grace

August 14, 2022

Jeremy Camp: Carried Through By His Grace

 If you ever find yourself doubting God’s love for you or questioning how faithful he is in the midst of a very painful storm, just ask my very good friend Jeremy Camp. He’ll tell you how faithful God is and how perfect his love is just by telling you his powerful and heartbreaking story about love, loss, faith, hope and a lot of prayer.

 Jeremy was leading worship at Calvary Chapel Bible College located in Murrieta, California when he first met Melissa Lynn Henning. The way that Melissa worshiped blew Jeremy away and he knew that Melissa was the one for him. At first when Jeremy said I love you to her, Melissa couldn’t say it back, she just wanted to focus on Jesus. That’s why when they dated for a little while Melissa broke up with him. Jeremy was heartbroken.

 When Jeremy started to move on things took an unexpected turn when he got a call from a friend saying that Melissa had cancer. On the way there Jeremy told God that if Melissa says that she loves him he’ll marry her. He went to go see her in the hospital and she told him: “Jeremy, if I were to die from this cancer but just one person accepted Jesus because of it, then it would all be worth it. She also said that she loved him. Again Jeremy was blown away by her faith.

 One night Jeremy went to Melissa’s house to visit her and on that night he proposed to her and she said yes. When they got married the cancer was gone and they all praised God, but when they got back from their honeymoon the cancer had returned and spread rapidly throughout her body. Melissa had weeks to months to live, Jeremy was so devastated.

 When the moment came that Melissa’s time was wearing thin they all gathered around her hospital bed as they had in the weeks before. She needed around-the- clock care. Her strength was fading but her faith remained strong, just like it always had. Melissa never once complained about the cancer or the pain because she chose to trust in God and lean on him, depending on his strength. 

 In a  passage of his book I Still Believe in the eleventh chapter ‘It’s Time’ Jeremy wrote:

 “Melissa’s pain was probably the most difficult part for me. Her pain had worsened and grown more frequent. There was a painkiller I would give her, but if the pain reached the excruciating level before I gave her the shot, it would be too late for the medicine to take effect. One time when she woke up in great pain I didn’t get the medicine in fast enough. That was one of the worst nights of my life to see her in agony and feel like it was my fault, that I had failed her. She had hard days, and she had days when she would be understandably irritable because of the pain. But I never once heard Melissa complain about the pain or question God.

 Jeremy never gave up, he knew that God could heal her just like he had before. On the day that Melissa died she kept telling Jeremy over and over that she was healed. And then hours after, it was time for her to go be with Jesus. At 12:05 am on Monday, February 5th, 2001 Melissa died.

 Jeremy was so heartbroken, all he could do was lay on the floor and cry. Melissa’s family along with Jeremy’s family were worshiping God around the hospital bed. Jeremy didn’t have it in him, but he knew he had to trust God, he was still worthy to be praised. His family helped him stand up and he worshiped, because Melissa was with Jesus. All her pain was gone.

 Two weeks after Melissa’s death God told Jeremy to pick up his guitar. Though that was the last thing he wanted to do he obeyed and wrote the song I Still Believe.

Scattered words and empty thoughts

Seem to pour from my heart

I've never felt so torn before

Seems I don't know where to start

But it's now that I feel Your grace fall like rain

From every fingertip, washing away my pain

'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness

'Cause I still believe in Your truth

'Cause I still believe in Your holy word

Even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind

With promises, I still seem to bear

For even when answers slowly unwind

It's my heart I see You prepare

But it's now that I feel Your grace fall like rain

From every fingertip

Washing away my pain

'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness

'Cause I still believe in Your truth

'Cause I still believe in Your holy word

Even when I don't see, I still believe

Well, the only place I can go is into Your arms

Where I throw to You my feeble prayers

Well, in brokenness, I can see that this was Your will for me

Help me to know that You are near, yeah

'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness

'Cause I still believe in Your truth

'Cause I still believe in Your holy word

Even when I don't see, I still believe

'Cause I still believe

'Cause I still believe

'Cause I still believe

'Cause I still believe

'Cause I still believe

I still believe

I still believe

I still believe

Oh

I still believe

I still believe

 The year after Melissa died Jeremy was touring at Festival Con Dios with his band when he met Adrienne Liesching, a South-African singer from the Christian pop-rock band The  Benjamin Gate. Melissa’s story had immediately captivated her and it had a very big impact on her life and her faith. 

 Upon becoming friends, Adrienne would ask Jeremy questions about Melissa and he would answer them for her in full detail. Jeremy and Adrienne married on December 15th, 2003 and they have three kids, Bella, Arie and Egan.

 It was very hard for Jeremy and it still is. He has opened up to me more about losing her and told me more about her since we became friends. He told me that he still dreams of her sometimes, I think that is very beautiful! I can tell that it still hurts him that Melissa isn’t here anymore, but he knows that no matter what happens God is still worthy to be praised, he’s still in control, he knows what he’s doing.