Golf

SO... this post is really belated... but a few weeks ago I golfed my first game. It was a blast! My friend Laura and I just went out, took are time getting a feel for the game, and of course, did not keep score! We enjoyed ourselves (even though we were both HORRIBLE!) It took us 3 1/2 hours to complete ...9 holes. LOL Nowhere to go but up, right??? WE went out again the following week, there was much more frustration and foul language this time around... but we can't wait to go out again! :)

The First swing... horrible form!


lining up the putt...

Extreme Yard Makeover

OK, maybe not EXTREME, but definitely needed! We have a really tiny yard and I've tried to grow actual grass multiple times, but that never really happened, then with Jason gone last summer I didn't do anything with it. This year, we realized how much we loved having people over (we used to all the time when we did the singles ministry) and wanted to start holding BBQ's again... but first, the perfectionist in me needed to do something with the yard... cause this is what it looked like before...



And here's what it looks like NOW...TADA!!!!!


And at night the trees have lanterns ( but I want to get a few more)


Isn't it pretty?!?! It's not much, but I actually like opening my front door now and relaxing in the yard. We had a great BBQ on Saturday night with the worship team. Sunday afternoon I sat out here, painted my toes, had a beer with my dog on my lap and my cat in the shade under the tree. Life is good. :)

Back from Germany...

Jason and I returned from our Germany trip a few days ago. We had a great time enjoying the beautiful city of Heidelberg! Alas, we only returned with nomination certificates, me for Best Actress and Jason for Best Actor in a minor role. In fact our cast got 23 nominations
(our most ever). But it was a wonderful get away.
The pictures of us together are on my friend's camera, so in the meantime, here's us...separately.

The other few days we had in Germany we spent in downtown Heidelberg eating and drinking and soaking up the sun. We brought Samson with us and he had a great time chasing pigeons downtown and drinking beer... yeah.

Happy man, even happier dog


Beautiful Skies...


FOUND! I needed earrings to go with my dress...


Lunch at Vetters... an ACT tradition

That's all for now... hope everyone is doing well!

Sunshine and Germany

Today is going to be a glorious day!! It has been rainy and gloomy here for months, despite it being "spring" for awhile now. But today it has been BEAUTIFUL outside, all sunny and warm but not too hot!! I went for a bike ride through some nearby Italian towns for about half an hour... it rocked! I considered going for a light run too, but since we'll be in Germany this weekend I won't be able to bike, so I'll run a lot then.
Thaaaaat's right, we're going to Germany... today! This weekend is the awards banquet for Toppers (Tournament of Plays) and we'll see if our show last month (The Baker's Wife) did well enough to garner any nominations/awards! Meanwhile, we'll be in Heidelberg having a blast with a lot of the cast up there... shopping, beer, walking around, and Starbucks! LOL Rob and Kim James are riding up there with us so we'll have a great time!
Just pray for safe travel and good weather. I'm VERY encouraged by the great weather here (I've been a tad worried with all the rain... seriously, I've been waiting for Noah to come out of hiding with another ark), and I hope the weather is similarly gorgeous in Heidelberg.

Ciao! Hopefully when we write next we'll have some trophy pics to post!

Ciao

Well, Tuesday morning I took the folks to the airport, bid them farewell and sent them back to the land of Sunshine. Though the trip wasn't anything like I envisioned it, I am so glad they came to see us. This is the first time they have been to the BAZIOTIS home, so It meant a lot to me. Our last few days together we took some adventures by driving around the local area and saying " What's down this road?" I think I gave my Mom a heart attack a few times attempting to maneuver my SUV down some of these Italian streets, but we had fun. They will be happy to know the weather HASN'T gotten much better since they left as it is STILL RAINING! Anyway, back to the daily grind of Italy for Jason and I now.
Here are a few pics from our adventures...

Bridge off the mountain Highway

Church in Masure ( I think)


Daddy Taking pictures


Beautiful Path off the highway ( and me obstructing the view!)

Inspiration

It's Saturday night and I sit here quietly on the couch with my headphones on, and my laptop appropriately on my lap. I just got done watching the movie "300" (yes, I know I'm late... whatever). I'm not ready to walk outside and spear people, but I have been inspired nonetheless.

My father was originally born in Greece, and grew up there until he left at the age of 15. He remembered the Nazis marching through Greece as a young boy, and when the communists came in after WWII and attempted to take over both Greece and Turkey, he was one of the "rebels" who stood up to them. He first killed a man at the tender age of 10... tender, but experienced. He was later hung but since he was just a young boy the communist leader decided to just hang him by his chin, not the throat, in effect neutralizing him and giving him a jaw ache. However light he may have gotten off, keep in mind he was "hung" next to his comrades, who were not given the same lenient treatment.

My father was from just outside the village of Sparta.

My father was only 6'0" tall and 185 lbs, but he was a warrior in both spirit and temperament.
He didn't have an 8-pack nor muscles the size of melons underneath his skin. But his mere glance WOULD freeze larger men in their tracks, for they knew his wasn't a "look" to threaten, but to warn. I saw this look frequently when I would mess up as a child... it was not a look I longed for.

As his son, I have this same warrior spirit within me. But mine is not the battle of the flesh. Despite my military status I don't wield weapons at the enemy nor scream in the throes of battle. I'd probably pee myself first.

My battlefield, my arena, is spiritual. The other vast difference is the strength and wherewithal to fight doesn't come from me but from He who created me, He who prepared and made me for this life. It's a battle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against spiritual forces in high places.

All too often I let myself get off course... it's so easy to become distracted by the things of this world, by the priorities of this world... that my prayers and Bible sustenance become fewer and fewer and my purpose on this earth becomes blurrier.
I am here to do whatever He wants, and at the present time I think it's to prepare myself for the future. But the more I get distracted and off-track, the less I'm able to fulfill my destiny in His name. Maybe not now, but later.

Sure, some of this may be left over hubris from watching the movie. But make no mistake, the movie merely refueled a bit of my passion. The direction and inspiration and life came from Him... and it's up to me to give it back, every day.

And only by dying can I truly live.

Enjoying Italy

Beautiful Church


Walking into the Gardens...

Had an amazing day on Thursday when we went to Aquielia, Italy to enjoy the ruins and church. The weather wasn't perfect, but we made the best of it. We explored the basilica and baptistry, ruins, gardens and aqueducts. The mosaic floors of the church were just incredible and in wonderful shape for being so old. Truly a treat to see such an amazing treasure!


Detailed Mosaic floor


Mom and Jason goofing around