LOST 6X03 (What Kate Does)

Time for my thoughts on this week's episode. There are numerous sites that do recaps so I'm not going to necessarily do that, but I am going to share my thoughts on what happened.

The icon paintings in my LOST posts for this season were painted by Scott Erickson of The Transpire Project for Chris Seay's book The Gospel According to LOST.

*****SPOILER ALERT - IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED 6X03, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE SPOILED!*****



Season 6, Episode 3 - What Kate Does
~The enhanced episode of 6X02 (LA X - Part 2) was really helpful. I liked that they gave us a term for these two parallel story lines - flashing sideways.
~This wasn't my favorite episode, but it did help to have some of that filler information that we didn't receive last week.
~Really having an intense dislike for Sideways Kate in the beginning of this episode.
~I'm still not completely convinced that Original Sayid is going to turn out bad as this episode predicts. I still am wondering about the possibility that Jacob has inhabited his body like Not John did with Original John's body.
~My heart breaks for Original Sawyer. So much loss for him.
~Not sure why the Other Others want Original Sawyer back at the Temple so much. Still too many missing pieces on this one.
~The stuffed whale that Sideways Kate found in Sideways Claire's bag looked familiar. Anyone know if we've seen it before?
~So is the spring/pool in the fountain causing the Man in Black or something associated with him to come into people if they are healed in it? But remember, Ben was healed in the pool & although he's pretty bad, I don't think he's anywhere close to the Man in Black. Hmmm.......
~And evidently the Other Others in the Temple are aware of what happens on the Island at least to some extent since they are aware of the plane that landed on the Island (the other one that Original Jin is looking for to find Original Sun).
~And the Other Others must be aware of Original Claire being out in the jungle since Justin hits that it wasn't Russo that made the trap. So was Russo healed in the pool too?
~Still struggling with this whole infection thing? I wonder how many people have been infected & if Original Ben is infected, why doesn't he act like Russo & Claire?
~Loved the "We'll be in the food court if you need us" line!
~More heartbreak for Original Sawyer as he goes to get the ring he had for Juliette & then throws it in the water.
~A little shocking to see Ethan with Sideways Claire & Sideways Kate. I wonder how many other seemingly innocent run-ins the Losties have had with the Others in the Sideways timeline?
~And then Sideways Claire suddenly knowing the baby is supposed to be named Aaron. Very interesting!
~I wonder if Original Jack is as important to the story to come as apparently Original Sawyer & Original Sayid are. Evidently so since Dogen prevents him from taking the poison pill.
~And then Original Claire returns! Where has she been? Is she really taken over/claimed by darkness? What's to come for her!!!! Can't wait!
~That's all for this week. Can't wait for the next new episode! I'd love to hear your thoughts & theories on anything I've written about or something you think I might have missed.



There's my thoughts for what it's worth. Tune in next week for LOST 6X04 "The Substitute".

LOST 6X01 (LA X Part 1) & 6X02 (LA X Part 2)

Time for my thoughts on this week's episode. There are numerous sites that do recaps so I'm not going to necessarily do that, but I am going to share my thoughts on what happened.

The icon paintings in my LOST posts for this season were painted by Scott Erickson of The Transpire Project for Chris Seay's book The Gospel According to LOST.

*****SPOILER ALERT - IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED 6X01 & 6X02, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE SPOILED!*****



Season 6, Episode 1 & Episode 2 - LA X Part 1 & LA X Part 2
~So excited that Season 6 has finally arrived. Yet there is a bit of sadness in knowing that we are only a short time away from the end of LOST. The beginning of the end...
~This whole parallel timeline thing is interesting. Especially when Miles tells Sawyer that Juliette was going to tell him that exploding the bomb worked. So, are they trying to tell us that once a parallel timeline begins, it has to continue regardless of the change it made in the original timeline? If so, there must be millions if not billions of parallel timelines.
~I loved seeing so many of the older characters that we haven't seen in seasons. It gives one a wicked sense of deja vu though!
~Do you think any of those in this new parallel timeline will ever remember the original timeline? Jack definitely seems to be feeling the deja vu!
~What was with the whole cartoony effect of the island underwater in the parallel timeline? Are they trying to tell us that something happened to the island a long time prior in this parallel timeline? Very confusing!
~In the original timeline, we are now back to the present time, so the bomb had some kind of effect, just not the one they were hoping for.
~In the parallel timeline, almost everyone seems to have opposite characteristics than from the original timeline. The one major exception is John Locke. He is still paralyzed & in a wheelchair. I wonder what else is the same about him.
~Not John is totally creeping me out. He is one messed up guy (or whatever he is).
~Poor Ben, tricked by Not John. The look of shock on Ben's face throughout this whole episode made me think that finally Ben is showing he is human. He realizes that what he has done is so totally wrong!
~How cool was Sayid in the parallel timeline. "Can I be of any assistance?" and then, wham!, he kicks the door in! Love Sayid!
~So we finally find out that the smoke monster is a manifestation of Not John. I would venture to be fairly certain that Christian Shepherd is also a manifestation as well as Eko's brother.
~One of the best lines of the whole night was when Not John tells Ben, "I'm sorry you had to see me like that!" after he changes back into Not John from being the smoke monster.
~Juliette & Sawyer is one of those beautiful relationships like Desmond & Penny. I'm going to miss Juliette! (although, with this show, I can never count anyone out, she might be back somehow)
~In the parallel timeline, Charlie tells Jack that he was supposed to die. Wonder if he has some insight into what really happened. Was he trying to die now so he wouldn't have to go through losing Claire & dying by drowning?
~And then, THE OTHER OTHERS!!!!!! Wow!
~Kate in the parallel timeline is one scary lady! She is definitely one strong woman, but she scared the crap out of me when she ends up in the taxi with Claire.
~Finally we know where the children went. By why did the Other Others take them? I wonder if babies can be born in the Temple area of the Island unlike in Dharmaville.
~So, since Jacob gave Hurley the guitar case & their names were already written on the paper inside the ankh inside, does this mean Jacob knew that Ben would kill him because of the loophole created by Not John? Does this mean that Jacob is going to return somehow?
~And the paper says that if Sayid dies, they'll be in alot of trouble. Hmm......
~Did anyone else see a connection with how Sayid was positioned as he's brought out of the water in the Temple? My first thought was that Sayid looked like he was on a cross with the positioning on his body. Another connection with the Bible?
~How come Jack gave up so easily when doing CPR on Sayid when he fought & did CPR forever on Charlie? Did Sayid's resurrection need to be in it's own timing & without Jack's influence?
~Finally some understanding of the ash spread around different places. It was either to keep Not John (or whatever you want to call him) out of someplace (like now when the Other Others start spreading ashes around the temple) or when it was spread around the cabin in the woods. It wasn't Jacob inside that cabin, it was Not John!
~Not John tells Ben that he wants to go home. What or where is home? The temple?
~Another great quote, in the parallel timeline, at the airport when John tells Jack, "How would they know where he is? They didn't loose your father, they lost his body."
~Why was Richard in chains (Not John tells him that it's good to see him out of chains)? Wonder if there is some connection to the slavery in Egypt in the Old Testament & to Richard being in chains? Were they slaves of Not John at the Temple, but once they got Not John out, the Other Others were free & they are doing all they can to not let him back in?
~Sayid wakes up!!!!!!!! I believe that Jacob is being manifested as Sayid just like the man in black is being manifested as Not John. What do you think?
~That's all for this week. Can't wait for the next new episode! I'd love to hear your thoughts & theories on anything I've written about or something you think I might have missed.



There's my thoughts for what it's worth. Tune in next week for LOST 6X03 "What Kate Does".

A Day at the Aquarium

My work offered us tickets to the Downtown Aquarium for 1/3 of the regular price so we took advantage of it. Damaris' friend Melody (our friends Wes & Beth's daughter) went with us.

Happy 2010!

I am the new year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.

I am your next chance at the art of living. I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.

All that you sought and didn’t find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it but with more determination.

All the good that you tried for and didn’t achieve is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn’t dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have—these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, "Behold, I make all things new."

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2010 - 365 Days of Photos

My friend Rebekah is doing a 365 days of photos in 2010 & I am joining her in the challenge.


You can see all the photos from my yearlong challenge individually by going to the Picasa Album I uploaded all the photos to. Picasa Album - 2010 - 365 Days of Photos

Christmas in Houston

This year, we were unable to visit family for Christmas. It was just the 3 of us. We had a wonderful, blessed holiday & really enjoyed our time together. Here are lots of pictures of our days together. Hope your holidays were as blessed as ours were!

2009 Christmas Letter & Pictures

We hope that 2009 has been a blessed year for yall. 2009 has been a year of surprises & adventures for us.

Russell & C.C. completed their Master of Divinity degrees at Logsdon Seminary in Abilene, Texas, in August. Graduation was December 12, but they were unable to attend because of finances & the long distance that would have had to be traveled.

C.C. was to have done her Clinical Pastoral Education residency in Lubbock, Texas, after graduation, but a last minute change at the hospital there really threw things up into the air. After a mad search to find another hospital that still had an opening, C.C. applied for, was accepted at, & began her residency as a hospital chaplain at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas. She works around 60-70 hours a week both at St. Luke’s as well as at Texas Children’s Hospital. Although the long hours have been a huge adjustment, she honestly loves her job & ministry. The quote that says, “Find a job you love & you'll never work a day in your life” is definitely true for her.

The move to Houston has been a difficult one for Russell. We never imagined that the job market in Houston would be as bad as it is. After a sixteen week search for a job, Russell was finally hired by St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Sugar Land, Texas, to work in their food service area. He still intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Theology in order to teach at the college or seminary level in the future. Current schools of interest are in Texas and Colorado. In the mean time, he is praying about doing a year of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Damaris Mikaelia turned 10 this year. Do we honestly have a daughter in the double digits? It seems like just yesterday when she was born! Damaris is doing well in the 5th grade at Dulles Elementary School. Her favorite subject by far is music. She auditioned for & was accepted into the 5th grade choir which keeps her very busy. She really enjoyed the Colonial Days study that all 5th graders participate in & was thrilled to participate in the program where they performed colonial dances & songs. We’re including a picture of her dressed in her colonial clothing. She is almost as tall as her Momma & is already trying to “borrow” her shoes!

Unfortunately, finances & our new location (& the distance) will prevent us from being with any family for the Christmas holiday. If you’re ever in the Houston area though, come by and visit us. We’d love to see each and every one of you. We pray that 2010 will bring happiness, joy, grace, & peace to you & your family!
Russell, C.C., & Damaris Almon