This week I found out that our new president is a Steelers fan! (He has good taste.) I figured him for a Bears fan, but I heard President Obama say in an interview this week that next to the Bears the Steelers are close to his heart. Now, there is no doubt that his former presidental election advisary John McCain is cheering for the Cardinals.
As for me and my house... well it is the Steel Curtain all the way, baby! Got my jersey on today at the church office. (Much to the surprise of all our staff/volunteers).
It is game time! I am excited! This will be fun! Go Steelers!
I am already doing warm up exercises to swirl my terrible towel (don't want to pull any muscles during game time.) I believe a little Super Bowl hype is a great diversion from all the economic crisis we have going on right now... have fun, party safe everyone!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Snow
You know that alot of snow has fallen when your labrador retreiver needs a path dug out for him to go to the bathroom! Almost 11 inches here of the white stuff!
Everything is closed today so we've got chili in the crockpot; movies going on in the bonus room; and we've been dancing to The Beach Boys around the living room! Fun stuff when the world slows down because of the weather.
Keep warm!
And one more thing- Go Steelers!
Everything is closed today so we've got chili in the crockpot; movies going on in the bonus room; and we've been dancing to The Beach Boys around the living room! Fun stuff when the world slows down because of the weather.
Keep warm!
And one more thing- Go Steelers!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hungry + tired = satisfaction
Sunday morning our crew of 21 confirmand students, a handful of adult mentors, Andrew and myself drove into downtown Indianapolis. Our goal was to serve others before we served ourselves. And I do believe this group did just that and did it well!
Congrats to the 2009 Confirmation Class who with care and compassion served lunch to 280 very hungry homeless persons at Soups On @ Roberts Park UMC. It was cold and snowy on Sunday morning, but the coffee was warm and the kids were wired up!
They scraped plates, bus'd tables, mopped (yes, Mom's your sons do know which end of a mop to use), served bread and butter, fetched more drinks, passed around deserts, and did a lot of dishes etc. We ran out of food just as we served the last person. There was only some stale bread leftover. Nothing was left for our hungry, tired kids to eat.
In the midst of all that we also sorted and prepared hundreds of shirts to ship to Operation Classroom in West Africa; we helped bring in donations of food and candles; and we organized and overhaul'd a pantry closet.
Whew- we were tired. We were hungry. But I do believe we were satisfied as well.
Congrats to the 2009 Confirmation Class who with care and compassion served lunch to 280 very hungry homeless persons at Soups On @ Roberts Park UMC. It was cold and snowy on Sunday morning, but the coffee was warm and the kids were wired up!
They scraped plates, bus'd tables, mopped (yes, Mom's your sons do know which end of a mop to use), served bread and butter, fetched more drinks, passed around deserts, and did a lot of dishes etc. We ran out of food just as we served the last person. There was only some stale bread leftover. Nothing was left for our hungry, tired kids to eat.
In the midst of all that we also sorted and prepared hundreds of shirts to ship to Operation Classroom in West Africa; we helped bring in donations of food and candles; and we organized and overhaul'd a pantry closet.
Whew- we were tired. We were hungry. But I do believe we were satisfied as well.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Labyrinth-ing
On a Calvary Women's Retreat several years ago, one of our church ladies asked me how I was first introduced to labyrinths. A book, is the simple answer. Actually it was a lent devotional book by one of my favorite Catholic authors.
I think I have my Uncle Father Mike (he's a Catholic priest) to blame or praise for first sharing that book with me. Some time during my years in serminary at Duke, Uncle Father Mike had this little gem shipped to me as a present.
Edward Hays, the author of The Lenten Labyrinth: Daily Reflections For the Journey of Lent, does a wonderful job of weaving the themes of lent and labyrinths together with scripture. This is a well-worn book in my collection. In fact, I just wandered over to my bookshelf and found it! Poor thing, it will need a new binding soon.
From my introduction through this little devotional, I then began the quest to find labyrinths to walk and experience. At that time I had no idea there was a labyrinth locater on the world wide web- http://labyrinthlocator.com/ I had to ask around and then try to find these weird things.
And in those early days I often got lost finding a labyrinth to walk. That has been the irony because labyrinths aren't supposed to get you lost! (A little labyrinth humor!)
Visit the site above. You'll find our church's labyrinth on there. Go walk one for yourself.
I think I have my Uncle Father Mike (he's a Catholic priest) to blame or praise for first sharing that book with me. Some time during my years in serminary at Duke, Uncle Father Mike had this little gem shipped to me as a present.
Edward Hays, the author of The Lenten Labyrinth: Daily Reflections For the Journey of Lent, does a wonderful job of weaving the themes of lent and labyrinths together with scripture. This is a well-worn book in my collection. In fact, I just wandered over to my bookshelf and found it! Poor thing, it will need a new binding soon.
From my introduction through this little devotional, I then began the quest to find labyrinths to walk and experience. At that time I had no idea there was a labyrinth locater on the world wide web- http://labyrinthlocator.com/ I had to ask around and then try to find these weird things.
And in those early days I often got lost finding a labyrinth to walk. That has been the irony because labyrinths aren't supposed to get you lost! (A little labyrinth humor!)
Visit the site above. You'll find our church's labyrinth on there. Go walk one for yourself.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tidbits about Labyrinths
Since I have this 'thing' for labyrinths- I'd thought you'd like to learn something of my passion for them.
Did you know that a labyrinth is not a maze? And a maze is not a labyrinth? This is a common misconception. Mazes are designed to be difficult and get you lost on purpose. Labyrinths, on the other hand, have one path in and the same path out. No getting lost there.
Also, did you know that labyrinths have been used by Christians as a form of prayer, worship, and meditation since 324 BCE? Yep, in that year Christians placed a labyrinth on the floor of their church in Algiers, North Africa.
Historically, in the larger Christian church labyrinths have been used "as a way to symbolize and connect with the risen Christ's presence, power and love"(Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion Christian Prayer and Labyrinths:Pathways to Faith, Hope and Love page 6).
Me, I like the combination of movement while walking a labyrinth with prayer, thought, and reflection. Movement and prayer is not something we do on Sunday mornings except while singing. So this is a treat to walk a labyrinth.
Sometimes I just sit in the middle of the labyrinth and pretend I am in God's lap. Other times I stand around the edges of the labyrinth and as I pray for folks I place them in the center next to God's presence.
We shall do more labyrinthing tomorrow.
Did you know that a labyrinth is not a maze? And a maze is not a labyrinth? This is a common misconception. Mazes are designed to be difficult and get you lost on purpose. Labyrinths, on the other hand, have one path in and the same path out. No getting lost there.
Also, did you know that labyrinths have been used by Christians as a form of prayer, worship, and meditation since 324 BCE? Yep, in that year Christians placed a labyrinth on the floor of their church in Algiers, North Africa.
Historically, in the larger Christian church labyrinths have been used "as a way to symbolize and connect with the risen Christ's presence, power and love"(Jill Kimberly Hartwell Geoffrion Christian Prayer and Labyrinths:Pathways to Faith, Hope and Love page 6).
Me, I like the combination of movement while walking a labyrinth with prayer, thought, and reflection. Movement and prayer is not something we do on Sunday mornings except while singing. So this is a treat to walk a labyrinth.
Sometimes I just sit in the middle of the labyrinth and pretend I am in God's lap. Other times I stand around the edges of the labyrinth and as I pray for folks I place them in the center next to God's presence.
We shall do more labyrinthing tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Go Steelers, Go Steelers, Go Steelers!
Yes, I am a Steelers fan in the middle of Colts country. I have been since the 2nd grade when my family lived in Bulter, Pennsylvania. Back then I was the only girl in my class who collected football cards.
My collection had cards of all the great ones: Terry Bradshaw, Mean Jo Greene, Mike Webster, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Lynn Swan (I learned from him that ballet lessons help receivers) Jack Ham, Franco Harris, and so on and so forth. Those were the years the Steelers went back-to-back bowl games: Super Bowl XIII in 1979 and Super Bowl XIV in 1980. Ah- the good ol' days.
We have a terrible towel. We have jerseys and will be purchasing one for our preschooler this fall for her birthday. At her request because she likes Troy Polamalu's hair and how fast he can run!
You can imagine the excitement at our house this year! Wouldn't that be something to add a 6th trophy to the collection?!?! See you on Super Bowl Sunday!
My collection had cards of all the great ones: Terry Bradshaw, Mean Jo Greene, Mike Webster, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Lynn Swan (I learned from him that ballet lessons help receivers) Jack Ham, Franco Harris, and so on and so forth. Those were the years the Steelers went back-to-back bowl games: Super Bowl XIII in 1979 and Super Bowl XIV in 1980. Ah- the good ol' days.
We have a terrible towel. We have jerseys and will be purchasing one for our preschooler this fall for her birthday. At her request because she likes Troy Polamalu's hair and how fast he can run!
You can imagine the excitement at our house this year! Wouldn't that be something to add a 6th trophy to the collection?!?! See you on Super Bowl Sunday!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Cold, Cold and more cold!
I have been snowed in before... lots of times. In fact I have very vivid memories of the Blizzard of 1978. My family lived in Muncie, Indiana at the time. But not until this past Thursday and Friday have I been cold'ed in. I guess that is the word for it.
When it is colder in central Indiana than Anchorage, Alaska you know it has nothing to do with global warming and everything to do with Mother Nature throwing a curve ball our direction.
So, we were stuck inside and we decided to nest and not venture out-of-doors. My preschooler and I watched lots of cartoons, ate plenty of warm soup, and called the elderly folks of our congregation to check on them. Believe it or not, many of them were not home! They were out braving the cold; going to doctors appointments, helping one another, or, as in the case of my grandparents, they were out shopping! (I presume my Gram and Grandpa had no trouble with waiting in line last Thursday.)
All I have to say is Brrrr... it is time to move to the beach or move the beach closer to us!
When it is colder in central Indiana than Anchorage, Alaska you know it has nothing to do with global warming and everything to do with Mother Nature throwing a curve ball our direction.
So, we were stuck inside and we decided to nest and not venture out-of-doors. My preschooler and I watched lots of cartoons, ate plenty of warm soup, and called the elderly folks of our congregation to check on them. Believe it or not, many of them were not home! They were out braving the cold; going to doctors appointments, helping one another, or, as in the case of my grandparents, they were out shopping! (I presume my Gram and Grandpa had no trouble with waiting in line last Thursday.)
All I have to say is Brrrr... it is time to move to the beach or move the beach closer to us!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
White Out
You haven't heard about my pup in awhile so I thought it was time for a labrador update.
This morning as dawned crept through the big puffy flakes of snow, I let Dukie outside for a morning run and sniff expedition. It was still dark so it was difficult to see. And there was snow everywhere... over our pine trees, covering our large deck as well as flakes falling fast.
After awhile I couldn't find our dog...he is a yellow lab... his form simply got lost in the white out of the landscape. Kinda of a stealth dog at that point... gradually I could follow his tracks as the sky brightened.
I watched a big white furball rush at the backdoor when I called him into the house... snow tracks all over the kitchen floor. He then ate a paper reindeer for snack- what a life!
This morning as dawned crept through the big puffy flakes of snow, I let Dukie outside for a morning run and sniff expedition. It was still dark so it was difficult to see. And there was snow everywhere... over our pine trees, covering our large deck as well as flakes falling fast.
After awhile I couldn't find our dog...he is a yellow lab... his form simply got lost in the white out of the landscape. Kinda of a stealth dog at that point... gradually I could follow his tracks as the sky brightened.
I watched a big white furball rush at the backdoor when I called him into the house... snow tracks all over the kitchen floor. He then ate a paper reindeer for snack- what a life!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Do Before I Die List
Over the weekend I was able to accomplish one of those things on my "Do before I Die" List. Very exciting to check this item off. Been there, done that (but didn't I get a t-shirt).
How I ended up at this event is another much longer story for another day which will only bore my reading public so I won't tell that tale. I think my attendance at this event has to do more with my teenage fascination for wild west stories, movies, and novels etc...
...but I ended up at the 1500 Indy Gun and Knife Show Sunday afternoon. Yep, me and about 3 other women. (I told my husband if I had known what a great place this was to meet guys I would have come to these events when I was single. He informed me that guys are not looking for ladies at gun shows.)
Anyway- lots of testosterone at the fairgrounds exhibit hall. I had no idea how much there is to know about this kind of stuff! A whole other world...
I did sort of feel like I was in a modern wild west scenario except for no cowboy hats mostly camo gear!
Anyway- now onto other sorts of adventures.
How I ended up at this event is another much longer story for another day which will only bore my reading public so I won't tell that tale. I think my attendance at this event has to do more with my teenage fascination for wild west stories, movies, and novels etc...
...but I ended up at the 1500 Indy Gun and Knife Show Sunday afternoon. Yep, me and about 3 other women. (I told my husband if I had known what a great place this was to meet guys I would have come to these events when I was single. He informed me that guys are not looking for ladies at gun shows.)
Anyway- lots of testosterone at the fairgrounds exhibit hall. I had no idea how much there is to know about this kind of stuff! A whole other world...
I did sort of feel like I was in a modern wild west scenario except for no cowboy hats mostly camo gear!
Anyway- now onto other sorts of adventures.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Signs of Stress...
This past week was our family's first week back at work and childcare/preschool since the Christmas break. We've had a tough time adjusting to 'normal' again. Here are a few signs of stress...
...you might be stressed if your right eye twitches so severely that your gas permeable contact lens pops out while doing yoga (a feeble attempt to relax) in your upstairs bonus room.
...you might be overtired when your daughter mouths off from the back seat, "Well Momma, you need to sleep better so you won't be as grumpy to me."
...you might be too focused on work related issues when you wake up in the night after dreaming about completing work-related projects.
Sigh- at least the weekend is coming.
...you might be stressed if your right eye twitches so severely that your gas permeable contact lens pops out while doing yoga (a feeble attempt to relax) in your upstairs bonus room.
...you might be overtired when your daughter mouths off from the back seat, "Well Momma, you need to sleep better so you won't be as grumpy to me."
...you might be too focused on work related issues when you wake up in the night after dreaming about completing work-related projects.
Sigh- at least the weekend is coming.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Giant Pray-ers
This afternoon I was privileged to visit with one of the spiritual giants in our congregation (who would be very shy about me calling him a 'spiritual giant'). He is such a humble and giving servant of the Lord.
Of all the prayer requests he could make for us to pray about (like his declining health, wife, children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren) on his soul is the chaos and bloodshed in the Middle East. We lamented the violence and the difficulties to find an easy solution to the conflict.
So we prayed; this spiritual giant and pastor, not quite knowing how to pray. We weren't sure what to ask God to do other than to bring an end of violence and a beginning of new ways for people to live together. And I was reminded as we prayed that maybe these are the best kind of prayers...prayers of not knowing what to say or how to say it because then our agendas, assumptions, or opinions don't influence anything nor get in the way- all is left for God to do what God does best.
Save us from our messes.
Of all the prayer requests he could make for us to pray about (like his declining health, wife, children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren) on his soul is the chaos and bloodshed in the Middle East. We lamented the violence and the difficulties to find an easy solution to the conflict.
So we prayed; this spiritual giant and pastor, not quite knowing how to pray. We weren't sure what to ask God to do other than to bring an end of violence and a beginning of new ways for people to live together. And I was reminded as we prayed that maybe these are the best kind of prayers...prayers of not knowing what to say or how to say it because then our agendas, assumptions, or opinions don't influence anything nor get in the way- all is left for God to do what God does best.
Save us from our messes.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Epiphany
It 'dawned' on me this evening that today is Epiphany. A celebration of God making God'self known in revelation. Like the star revealed to the travelers and seekers where to find God in human form.
I cannot say that my day has been filled with revelations. Other than after reading a bit in the new leadership book, I am compelled to re-work some of my vocational/pastoral goals for 2009. That, I am afraid, is my only revelation for today.
I hope your day was filled with more revealing tidbits!
I cannot say that my day has been filled with revelations. Other than after reading a bit in the new leadership book, I am compelled to re-work some of my vocational/pastoral goals for 2009. That, I am afraid, is my only revelation for today.
I hope your day was filled with more revealing tidbits!
Turn Downs
The past few weeks I have been in recruitment mode for our confirmation students. We enjoy matching them with an adult mentor for the duration of their confirmation experience... and I have been calling, emailing, and talking to all sorts of adults at our church about mentoring a young person.
I just told our youth director that I had more luck dating than I have this year in recruiting adults to work with a student. I wonder if it has anything to do with 6th graders themselves? They are a little wiggly and they are at a unqiue juncture in their growing and maturing. Imagine a whole group of adults intimidated by scrawny 6th graders! Laughable, but it may be true.
The only thing scary about me when I was in 6th grade was my really bad acne and the huge orthodonic bills my parents paid.
I kinda like 6th graders... some stuff is still new enough that they get genuinely excited. And it is fun to watch them on the cusp of the social world in which they live, move and have their being. Can't say that I would want to do 6th grade over again. Although I did have a crush on a really cute guy in my confirmation class... but that is a story for another day.
Here I go again to ask and ask and ask... maybe being turned down alot these past few weeks is God's way of humbling me or making me see the world as God experiences it. I am sure that God has gotten turned down far more than me.
I just told our youth director that I had more luck dating than I have this year in recruiting adults to work with a student. I wonder if it has anything to do with 6th graders themselves? They are a little wiggly and they are at a unqiue juncture in their growing and maturing. Imagine a whole group of adults intimidated by scrawny 6th graders! Laughable, but it may be true.
The only thing scary about me when I was in 6th grade was my really bad acne and the huge orthodonic bills my parents paid.
I kinda like 6th graders... some stuff is still new enough that they get genuinely excited. And it is fun to watch them on the cusp of the social world in which they live, move and have their being. Can't say that I would want to do 6th grade over again. Although I did have a crush on a really cute guy in my confirmation class... but that is a story for another day.
Here I go again to ask and ask and ask... maybe being turned down alot these past few weeks is God's way of humbling me or making me see the world as God experiences it. I am sure that God has gotten turned down far more than me.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Welcome '09
We never did make it until midnight- but everyone in my house slept through the changing of the year. Our daughter made it up past her bedtime and then an hour later she finally begged to go to bed because she was "so tired".
Our New Year's party to welcome in '09 was a simple dinner out at a local restaurant. We then came home to make s'mores and watched lots of movies in our PJ's around the Christmas tree. Very nice and cozy.
Happy New Year, everyone~
Our New Year's party to welcome in '09 was a simple dinner out at a local restaurant. We then came home to make s'mores and watched lots of movies in our PJ's around the Christmas tree. Very nice and cozy.
Happy New Year, everyone~
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