Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Things Overheard on the Way to School

My daughter's vocabulary (from reading all her summer books) and her imagination never cease to make me laugh... here is a sample of what I overheard on the way to kindergarten today:

"Why do we have saliva?"

"What are seeds made of?"

"The (Mars) rover fell upside down because it had the hiccups!"

"We don't pee broccoli!"

"Why are dinosaurs extinct?"

"We don't pee lettuce either."

Yes, we have some really strange travel conversations... (sigh) wonder what she'll ask about tomorrow morning. You are welcome to car pool with us, if you're up to it!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Moon Shadow

Just me and my moon shadow tonight... well, and a dozen or so other brave souls. My labyrinth buddy, Shirley, is hosting another Full Moon Labyrinth Walk! Woo hoo! Have bug spray and will be there!

Reminds me of Girls Scouts in grade school when I was manipulated by peer pressure to go on a 'snipe hunt'! But this time we're not in search of a nonexistent critter... just walking and meditating to deepen our soul work! :)

Cannot wait... I've even got a brand new journal to crack open after my walk! Hope the clouds part so the moon and I can walk together!

See you on the path!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Garden- 2010

Our latest garden update needs to include the weird fact that yes, the strawberries have bloomed again for the 3rd time this year. Is this normal, we wonder? Does this happen to other people? And why, even though we've had all these blooms, have the strawberries themselves turned rotten right away?

Our tomatoes continue to produce in great abundance. We've shared sacks full with everyone we meet.

The sunflowers are drooping now (and my sinus' are grateful). So, we're about at the end of our season. The carrots (who grew back their stems) remain to be investigated. All things considered it was a great little garden this year. The only plan for next season is to try some herbs in a little box on the deck.

My kid proudly refers to herself as a farmer! :) And when she shows off her garden Diana recounts very clearly and specifically how little the plants were when she planted them etc. Her enjoyment of all things growing- never ceases to tickle my fancy.

Strippers

Sorry to disappoint some of my readers, but this blog isn't what it may seem.

Last week we hired a man to strip our deck of it's old, faded stain and condition it for a new stain color before we host our daughter's birthday party.

For three hours this poor man slaved over our deck section by section. Using both a powerful chemical and a strong power washer a fine layer of wood was slowly and carefully stripped off the deck.

Watching him work from my kitchen window I appreciated his patience for such monotonous and tedious work. The powerful spray of water and chemical splashed up and over all our of our surrounding landscape leaving a brownish residue.

The experience made me think of our spiritual transformation from sinner into saint. At times we are blasted hard with the force of God working in and through our lives to clean us up. The process can hurt a bit.

Other times additional toxic situations peel away our illusions of self, control, and strength leaving us raw and vulnerable to the elements until we are re-marked or stained with the character traits of godly living. Thus, soul transformation mimics my deck's outer transformation.

Wouldn't it be neat and tidy to have 'before and after' of ourselves as God works through us and within us like the stripper took digital photos of my deck? But then again, sometimes the work God does lies hidden and dormant until a situation challenges us to reveal just how God has been moving within us.

Thanks be to God there is more than one way to witness how we've grown!


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Missing Summer Already

Officially the seasons do not change until later in September, but already the transition is in the air. Schools have re-started. Fall decor and even Halloween costumes are on sale. Pre-season NFL games began last weekend. Autumn has arrived.

Bye, bye summer.

Long days. Hot nights. Humid air. Allergies. Summer gardens. Chalk art. Bike rides. Swim parties. Naps under the ceiling fan. Hours at the library pouring over books.

These are now enjoyments of the recent past.

Hello cooler weather. Crisp evenings. Football and marching band seasons. Pumpkin carving and trick or treating. And of course, our fall fish fry!

Sigh.

See you next year summer! Bye for now...

K-garten is Starting!

Glue sticks, check.

Fat washable markers, check.

Safety scissors, check.

Elmer's Glue, check.

Backpack, check.

Lunch box, check.

Kiddo with missing teeth and eager heart, check.

Ready to answer the question you've asked all summer?, '"Who will be my reading teacher?"'

We're ready. Kindergarten, here we come! Woo hoo!

(But Momma's having a tough time with this life-transition...tears, anxiety, and general nervousness. Sigh. I am sure I'll be make it through just I'll muddle through junior high, high school, college etc.)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

In Case the Bishop Wants to Know...

In case the Bishop wants to know ... what I've been reading for continuing education, this blog will answer all of his questions or perhaps raise more.

Our local library finishes their Summer Reading program this week and I just posted my final log entry. Over 2047 pages of book were read by me this summer. Felt a bit like seminary for a while there. This does not include the 192 books my daughter and I have enjoyed the past few weeks for her part of the summer reading program.

Some reading was better than others. One author and I held an argument. From another I learned how people in Africa are praying for their healing and my hope. And from one fictional author I learned all about forsenic science and murder - (how that applies to local church ministry, we'll have to see...)!

Here is my list:

  • Detox for the Overly Religious by David Putman
  • If the Church Were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus by Phillip Gulley
  • A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
  • Pslams for Today by Beth LaNeel Tanner
  • Like Breath and Water by Ciona Rouse
  • Inner Healing for Broken Vessels by Linda Hollies
  • Do What You Have the Power to Do by Helen Pearson
  • Winding Path by Eve Hogan
  • Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs
  • Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

Wonder what my reading this fall will be like? Or if, I'll have time to read!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

End of Summer Blahs

What do you do when you have the blahs?

Inquistive people may try to search out the source of their 'blah-ness'. Free-loving types may consider their blah-ness an invitation to relax and take-it-easy. Others of us (those alpha, leader, go-getter types) may simply not know what to do with blah-ness and seek a diagnosis and remedy. My blah-ness is leading me in a different direction.

The petunias along my back deck are looking tired and blah. Even though their purple and pink color remains brilliant and bright their foilage and plant stems seem to mirror what it is that I am experiencing. Fatigue from the heat and humidity of summer. Slowness in growth because they've already grown so much they're reached their current potential. (Not that I am finished growing, but I may have maxed out of my current self-growth cycle.)

Lately, I have felt nudged to be still. This call I have to be quiet within may be the best response to life around and within me. The best response to my blah-ness...

Shh...let's be quiet together and celebrate how God's grown in us and God's love has grown through us this past/current season. Maybe while we're quiet; we can be cool too!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Missions Mania

Wow- what an awesome weekend at church! Two guest missionaries preached (Guatemala and Congo), two mission groups gave their testimonies (Russia and Mountain Top), a visiting group of UM youth from Illinois were on their way back from Red Bird Missions worshiped with us, and we collected over 129 back-to-school items for local community children in need! Whew!

I am pumped! I am excited! Hearing missionaries speak is like a shot of spiritual adrenaline for me. My mind and heart start racing at the ideas and the opportunities to make a positive impact in someone's life.

Missions can be contagious. My five year old discovered that. She heard a mission group share about orphans in Russia and then heard a preacher talk about hungry kids who are without a school in Guatemala. A question mark was formed on her forehead.

Our car ride home was filled with inquiry, "Momma, what is an orphan? Will I be one?" "Why are those babies hungry?" "Where are their mommies? Don't their Daddies work for dollars so they have stuff?" "Why?" "Why?"

Kids want to know the hard stuff and I'd rather she learn about these things in church than anywhere else.

To show the impact of our worship service ... later during dinner she was talking about all the dollars she had saved in order to shop for things. She sighed and said, "I have too much money!" (She won't say that when she's a teen!) I told her she could share it and give it. Reminding her of the children we talked about during worship that needed help. Her Daddy then offered- "For every dollar you give Mommy and I will match for $2.00."

Bright smile beamed on her face, "Okay!"

I just love generosity... it is contagious!