Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Vacation lessons

Our family did some vacationing in August and we learned alot from our time together and away from our normals schedules. Here are a few of our learning moments.

  • Did you know that Chuck E. Cheese is simply a well marketed ploy to teach young children to gamble and get addicted to gambling?
  • Do you have any idea how wet and muddy a labrador retreiver can get in a lake?
  • How many trips to Walmart does it take for a family to vacation? Answer: 3 in three different communities.
  • Have you ever tried to catch a sunfish (using Sun Chips as bait) in a child's butterfly net only to have a bass fish swim into the net to eat said sunfish and you caught him instead?
  • What does a preacher do on a Sunday morning off from the pulpit? Answer: go out to eat pancakes!

Learning takes place anywhere and anytime...now back to work!

Goals and Golds

Yes, I am excited that the Redeem Team did it! Whoo hoo! The only bummer is that the gold medal game was aired during Sunday morning. And I have a God commitment on Sunday morning so- I missed the live action.

Nonetheless- how exiting! What an instant classic! Go USA! What a terrific Olympics for everyone- especially our hometown gals from Indiana!

Now, I wonder how Coach K is going to come down from such a 'high' experience for this season fo Duke Basketball... if anyone can he can!

Summer Goals

I am a goal oriented person. In fact, if I do not make myself write down my goals for the year, quarter or decade then I wander around lost and bereft. Or something a little less dramatic than that.

This summer was no exception to the goal writing. Last night I pulled out my goal sheet and low and behold I can mark out 'completion' on three out of four goals! Whoo hoo! Scrapbooking projects- done. Upperroom devotion submissions- done. Reading list- done. Other creative writing projects- not done. Currently, I am at 75% completion.

Here is the curious thing- when does summer really end? At the start of school? At Fall Break? At the fall equinox (September 22)? So, technically, I could still make 100% if I get my rear in gear and start writing creatively... hmmm... the official start to autumn is only 4 weeks away- doable, as they say.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Fertilizer

Ever hear the phrase, "Money doesn't grow on trees"?

While I have a new phrase, 'money fertilizes the back yard'. Can you guess why? Yep. The Dukester, aka our dog, has now moved beyond rocks and eats dollar bills. If you want some cash you are welcome to come clean up my backyard and get some...

He, of course, did this after Sunday afternoon's Animal Blessing at church. Obviously, the blessing didn't stick.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Vacation packing...

How many books does a person take on a trip? Kinda like trying to figure out how many pairs of underwear you need... will I shower once a day or twice a day? Mmmm. These are my thoughts as I am preparing for our family vacation next week. That and I am trying to finish things up at the office, planning ahead for the next 2 weeks, etc.

Whew- sometimes you need a vacation from preparing for one! Ever feel that way! Well, see you when I get back and in the meantime- Go Team USA!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Redemption

Yes, I am a huge men's college basketball fan. And that is why I am excited about this year's Olypmic games... so many former ACC players (a Dukie grad too) and the bonus of Coach K... makes it so much fun!

Last night I watched the ESPN, 'Road to Redemption', series for the team. They are hailing our team as the 'Redeem Team' this year. Can they redeem respect for the United States in the world as being number #1 in basketball?! That is the question for Beijing this year.

I cannot help but consider how the church uses the words redeem and redemption. We don't place our hopes on overpaid NBA players to save us from ourselves, to help us gain respect, or to put us back in a place of honor with God. Instead we understand and believe that one Jewish guy from a tiny town in Northern Israel did that for you, me and everyone in history & future history.

The road to redemption for us was Jesus' walk through Jerusalem while carrying a part of his cross and then dying on that cross. The road didn't end there but continued to a borrowed tomb where he was buried. The road, as we state in our creeds, led Jesus into the darkest valley- hell itself, and then back out again when he rose from the dead.

Gratefully, we don't have to walk the road Jesus did. We have other sorts of crosses/sacrfices to carry. But we are forever changed by the gift Jesus' redeeming work has accomplished for us. We can stand tall with God's blessing as God's children. And that is worth more than any gold medal the world has to offer.

Friday, August 1, 2008

August means...

Because it is the first day of a new month it means that we are 7 days closer to the Olympics starting. Go USA! As we move into the month of August we are closer to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. That will be just as entertaining to watch/witness! :)

But the big news (in my house anyway) is that we are closer to three special events: vacation, preschool starting, and our daughter's birthday! It will be difficult to maintain our composure this month with so much excitement going on around us, yet somehow we will survive!

What does August mean for you? Birthdays, anniversaries, back-to-school, hotter weather, the State Fair coming?

See you this month!