gossip...

I'm learning so much about where I tend to cross the line from discussing an issue and gossip. It's such a hard line to walk and so easy to cross. Wish I would become at better seeing the line before I cross it...

Mystery Meal

Tonight in youth group we held our annual "Mystery Banquet" with our Junior High students. If you aren't familiar with the concept, here's how it goes. You give the guests a menu list with disguised names (Little Ceasars Pizza = Small Roman Wedge). They pick the items in courses, not knowing what they'll get.

My favorite tonight was watching our youth pastor trying to eat Spaghetti O's, lipton noodles, and pudding with no utensils and no napkin :) followed closely by Michael eating pudding witha pickle and LaShae slurping her food off her plate and wearing it all over.

It's always a great time, lots of laughs and pictures that end up haunting students for years!

perspective

I spent some time with a 5th grade girl today. She's the daughter of my friend and she's second of three children who often feels very middle. We did a work project, played a few games, listened to Sharathon 2006 action (www.wcsg.org), and munched on some cookies.

I remember (vicariously) what it was like to be bored with life and family, to not have enough to do, to think that you'll never grow up and get to do all the fun thing in life. Do you remember those days?

Even as grown ups, we still wish away today in some manner or fashion for something better than today is offering. Yet God has offered me today, as a gift, a lesson, an opportunity... As I wish away and long for more, what I have I missed that He has offered me.

What does contentment look like? How would it fit if I tried that on? Wouldn't I feel much more comfortable wrapped up in God's peace and satisfaction?

Philippians 4:12 - I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Long Time No Post

It has been a while since I posted anything here. In some ways I guess I questioned why I bothered. . . I haven't come to a great conclusion to that one, but I'm back here I guess, to share how good God is.
I sat in church yesterday morning and marvelled that God would love me. In my apathy and busy-ness of ministry, God reached down and touched my soul. There was a sense of healing, forgiveness, and passion stirring within me.
My sense of uncertainty, anxiety, and frustration really stems from a lack of perspective. It's not about me, it's not about stuff, it's not about what other people think, it's not even about what's going on or how I try to earn God's love. It's only me that stands in between me and God. If I can manage to step out of the way, what joy and what peace can I experience?
"It's not about my situation, It's about God. 'From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.'"- Bill Brew.

How much do we care?

"caring"

We're hearing a lot about caring on TV right now, about caring for our neighbors, for those in need. But what do we really care about? Keeping that appointment, getting a project done on time and to the "top" of our abilities, what people think, our reputation, our bank accounts.

Maybe the greatest thing that I've gathered from this hurricane tragedy is what to care about, and how much do you care. I can care about the stuff of life, but not with my soul/being. Those kind of cares I need to reserve for people. How do we express that care and compassion? I'm still wrestling with my heart and my selfishness and my God to figure that one out.

Caring, in its purest form requires vulnerability and opening one's self up to hurt. I'm not good at that. I care too much about my own heart to risk it for most others. I don't see that in Jesus' example. He invested in others, wept at pain, and sought to bring comfort to all. Lessons that I desperately need to learn...

Air Freezing (aka Air Conditioning)

Come on. Is it really necessary to keep air conditioning at 66 Degrees with the fan blowing constantly in the work place? It should be a crime to HAVE TO wear a sweater in the middle of the summer. No wonder why people believe in global warming. No one can handle the heat anymore...

On another note, life is good. I had a relaxing weekend with the family, got domestic and canned peaches yesterday and spent all my freelance money at an outlet mall. Not so shabby. Also on a happy note, although I'm not diabetic, I've switched to eating like one when my mom was diagnosed early summer. Should have done this a long time ago. I feel better and 15 lbs lighter. The food structure/portions in combination of running after a toddler all summer have done me some good.

Pies for Jesus!

That's me behind the pie. The things you'll do to help teach kids to love God. The boys beat the girls in The End Zone Adventure VBS penny contest so my friend Andrea & I got pies in the face, whipped cream with sprinkles (which do stick to your eye ball is you aren't careful). However, we had our own "stash" of pennies (thanks to the US Postal Service) which were enough to outweigh the guys - so pies for everyone!

Feels Like Fall

As the thermometer dips own into the 60's I'm reminded that fall is coming, and it makes me smile. Many people bemoan the fact that summer is almost over but not me. My favorite season is just around the corner...

My toes are chilled and it feel good to wear jeans again. Pre-season football is on, the fresh produce is pilling into the stores (and from our first ever veggie garden). I have this sudden desire to curl up with a blanket, hot chocolate, and watch an old movie/musical.

I also know that hunting season is just around the corner (early goose season starts Sept 1 and it snowballs from there) and I'm about to become a weekend widow. That means break out the scrapbook supplies and spend lots of time at the park with Ryan.

If you listen closely you can almost hear the leaves rustling, kids playing in piles of fallen leaves, and all the complaints about raking. I can almost smell the aroma of hot cider and fresh donuts, apple pie baking in the oven...mmmmmm. Can't wait.

Scram Lake - The Simple Life

I've immersed myself in life without the comforts of internet this week. Andy, Ryan and I are out at the in-laws cottage at Scram Lake (no, I'm not kidding). There you will find no phone, no internet connection (nor at any of the coffee shops in the nearby town), no dishwasher, and very little water pressure (showering takes much longer when the water dribbles).

However, in the absence of the comforts of home I've read 4 magazines, enjoyed time with my husband and son, entertained family, gone for mini-boat rides (as long as a 17-month-old lasts), made lots of lists - and it's only Tuesday. My type A personality is taking a while to unwind.

I'm in to work today and getting a bit of a technology fix and taking care of loose ends for the week. I'm also realizing that the technology that supposedly "frees" our time at a certain point begins to eat it up and leave us with less than we started with... Ahh, the simple life - for a week at least.

itchy, itchy, scratchy, scratchy

I like summer, I just don't like all the nasty stuff that comes with it. I have skin the color of vanilla ice cream (artifical flavor variety, not french vanilla) so the sun isn't always my friend. This summer I've been careful and avoided the burning thing. I'm actually getting what looks like a tan, but more like my freckles merging together...

NOW... is the time for poison ivy. Being a good samaritan and owing a few favors, I helped my brother clear the brush out of his woods last weekend. Now comes itchy, itchy, scratchy, scratchy. I could think about poison ivy and catch it, so I'm learning. However the pharmacist recommended a product that Paul Harvey advertises for called ZANFEL. It's $40 a tube, but it works. I was able to cancel my doctor's appointment for tomorrow (that I had to fight to get) because all that is really left now is the blisters that had started before I began the ZANFEL. Good stuff FYI.

AAAHHHH... starting over

I just got my laptop swapped out again. Thanks the CU's 2-year lease program, I got a new Dell and the chance to start over on way too many things. Loading software, realizing I didn't save all my bookmarks correctly, all sorts of fun stuff.

Think of it as an extra tax day every two years. A bunch of prep to make sure you don't miss anything to realize once you've sent them in that you missed a W2... joy.

eating like a child

Ever watch a toddler eat something they really like? Watched Ryan today as he inhaled spaghetti, sauce and all. By the time he was done craming it in with both hands, every last inch of his mouth, cheeks, nose, arms, most of his legs, and part of his hair was coated in sauce. Talk about true enjoyment. One of these days I'll do the same - just for fun - to remember the good ole days. I think i hear a watermelon eating contest, or maybe even a pie eating contest calling my name.

careless words

they come flying out of your mouth...
you desperately wish and try to pull them back...
it's too late.

yesterday i once again was able to experience the pain that careless and angry words can cause. what takes just a moment to say takes an exceedingly great amount of time to fix.

one of these days i'll learn this lesson, until then, i'm doomed to repeat it. scary and unpleasant thought. one of those times that i wish for heaven, to be done with the less desireable sides of me. another live and learn experience. Lord help me.

coming back for more...

My buddy Cal said that if I posted a second time, then I was trapped into this blog thing for good. Guess I'm stuck then...

My husband tried to do some fireworks with our 16 month old son Ryan last night, thinking it was a more "friendly" option that going downtown. The fireworks he bought at the street side tent evidently didn't come well labelled as to their "abilities." As the first firework went off and screamed through the evening sky (cuz 16 month olds don't last well til dusk), I watched Ryan's face shrivel up in terror and his body shake almost to the point of convulsion.

After calming him down we tried a few more fireworks that "sounded" safer by their title. After firework #5 we were done for the evening as our little guy screamed for mercy. Sure glad we didn't head downtown for the big show.

Getting Started

I've avoided the blog movement for a long time. I do web content work, but I'm not a techie. Figured that this might push me a little closer to that title. However, my friends have been posting things that I want to be able to respond to, so here I go...