This will probably be my last blog of October unless I am inspired in the next two days. I really do not plan on being inspired because I am tuckered out.
My blog has not been updated recently because I have been writing a sermon (for last week's worship) and finishing my draft of a book Todd and I are writing. This afternoon around 2pm I got 'er done! (Until Todd reads it with his big red pen and I must do re-writes!)
Before that happens though I can go home and clean the house, find the dog under all the clean clothes that have not been folded in a week, catch up on some TV watching, and try to remember the names of the people I live with. And I am going to get on the scales today because I swear I just lost weight during my final edit.
Perhaps my expectations are too high- I'll just pretend and go do yoga anyway!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Number 9
Eggs are not sold in nines. Neither are undershirts, socks or pantyhose. Why be a nine when ten is so close by?!
Not too many sports teams use nine players with the exception of baseball. Nine irons can be handy when you get stuck in a sand trap on the back nine holes.
The most use the number nine gets is at the end of a price to make us feel like we're getting a bargain. $.99 etc.
Today is a Number 9 for my husband and I- nine years of marriage. It isn't our first year and it isn't our tenth year. It is number 9. A website I found tells readers that for this anniversary you either by pottery or leather. What kind of wacky suggestion is that?
I'd rather have dinner, a movie, and flowers or a nice card.
Not too many sports teams use nine players with the exception of baseball. Nine irons can be handy when you get stuck in a sand trap on the back nine holes.
The most use the number nine gets is at the end of a price to make us feel like we're getting a bargain. $.99 etc.
Today is a Number 9 for my husband and I- nine years of marriage. It isn't our first year and it isn't our tenth year. It is number 9. A website I found tells readers that for this anniversary you either by pottery or leather. What kind of wacky suggestion is that?
I'd rather have dinner, a movie, and flowers or a nice card.
'bye Bye Garden
Our family garden project has truly been one of the best family projects of 2009! We couldn't have asked for more fun and adventure in our own backyard! And inexpensive too!
Last night, after our mornings of severe frost, we pulled up the frostbitten plants and cleaned out the entire garden area. Sad to say goodbye, but our daughter has already made a list of what she wants to grow next year! (This includes strawberries, more carrots, BIG tomatoes, and green beans.)
In case you missed our garden journey this year here are a few highlights for the memory treasure box:
Last night, after our mornings of severe frost, we pulled up the frostbitten plants and cleaned out the entire garden area. Sad to say goodbye, but our daughter has already made a list of what she wants to grow next year! (This includes strawberries, more carrots, BIG tomatoes, and green beans.)
In case you missed our garden journey this year here are a few highlights for the memory treasure box:
- Our kiddo screaming with her arms in the air- full of victory- "We've got food!"
- Yelling at hot pepper plants does indeed make them mad enough to turn colors. And they do become hot enough to make my husband's face turn colors too!
- Sometimes seeds don't grow despite good intentions, water, sunlight etc. (we had one sunflower seed that never germinated this year.)
- Our dog likes to eat green tomatoes, but they don't stay green by the time they come out the other end. Yuck.
- Pea pods have zippers! How cool is that?!
- Planting carrot seeds too close together makes them grow all weird and twisty.
- Watching things grow like our garden, my daughter, my dog, and my family- is one of the best things ever in my life.
- Eating the fruit or veggies of your labor makes you appreciate the taste all the more!
Bye bye garden- see you next spring. We have plans for you...!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Feedback
Have you ever wanted to know - how to tell if you're making an impact in the world?! I think I have found the answer.
Often the answer to 'how we're doing' comes in the form and kind of feedback we receive from others around us. Over the past year I have been the recipient of a variety of feedback as a leader, pastor, woman, wife, mother, and friend etc. Written notes, comments, conversations, emails, and discussion groups have been the various modes of communication. I have learned even more about myself and set different growth goals as a result.
I like to hear from folks about what they perceive as my gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. Criticism and rebuke are never fun experiences, but it can be a growing opportunity if I can get myself out of the way in order to grow. In short, we are all sinners in need of grace and as a Wesleyan I believe that I am still "...growing into the perfect will of God for my life" (i.e. sanctification).
Sometimes, though, a leader receives feedback that makes one go ..."uh?".
A couple of comments this past year have stood out among the crowd. I have been accused of being anti-feminist, unsupportive of women, and against women's roles of leadership in the church etc. Now, before you jump to conclusions, you need to realize that at the same time I was also accused of being feminist, promoting women's minstry beyond what the Bible tells us, and therefore expanding the role of woman too far from traditional and proper gender roles.
"Uh?" was my first response too.
Realistically, how can I promote and accomplish the exact opposite stance on one issue at the same time? That makes no sense whatsoever. I am not ambivalent on the role of women as well as men to be leaders in our community as well as church. My presence and gender speak to that lack of ambivalence.
What does make sense to me though is this... I must be doing something to make an impact in the world if I can cause opposite ends of the theological and social spectrum to be mad, frustrated, disgusted, and angry with me at the same time. I can stir the 'pot' as they say on both ends. What a great untapped vocational skill! Should I add that to my resume?
Therefore, I have come to view these two pieces of feedback as a compliment. They were never intended as that, but as opposite bookends of viewpoints about my leadership they must be. I believe they must be indications that I am doing something to further the discussion regarding the role of women and men in the church because somewhere inbetween these two comments lives the truth and reality.
I just had no idea until recently that I was so controversial. Hmm.
Often the answer to 'how we're doing' comes in the form and kind of feedback we receive from others around us. Over the past year I have been the recipient of a variety of feedback as a leader, pastor, woman, wife, mother, and friend etc. Written notes, comments, conversations, emails, and discussion groups have been the various modes of communication. I have learned even more about myself and set different growth goals as a result.
I like to hear from folks about what they perceive as my gifts, strengths, and weaknesses. Criticism and rebuke are never fun experiences, but it can be a growing opportunity if I can get myself out of the way in order to grow. In short, we are all sinners in need of grace and as a Wesleyan I believe that I am still "...growing into the perfect will of God for my life" (i.e. sanctification).
Sometimes, though, a leader receives feedback that makes one go ..."uh?".
A couple of comments this past year have stood out among the crowd. I have been accused of being anti-feminist, unsupportive of women, and against women's roles of leadership in the church etc. Now, before you jump to conclusions, you need to realize that at the same time I was also accused of being feminist, promoting women's minstry beyond what the Bible tells us, and therefore expanding the role of woman too far from traditional and proper gender roles.
"Uh?" was my first response too.
Realistically, how can I promote and accomplish the exact opposite stance on one issue at the same time? That makes no sense whatsoever. I am not ambivalent on the role of women as well as men to be leaders in our community as well as church. My presence and gender speak to that lack of ambivalence.
What does make sense to me though is this... I must be doing something to make an impact in the world if I can cause opposite ends of the theological and social spectrum to be mad, frustrated, disgusted, and angry with me at the same time. I can stir the 'pot' as they say on both ends. What a great untapped vocational skill! Should I add that to my resume?
Therefore, I have come to view these two pieces of feedback as a compliment. They were never intended as that, but as opposite bookends of viewpoints about my leadership they must be. I believe they must be indications that I am doing something to further the discussion regarding the role of women and men in the church because somewhere inbetween these two comments lives the truth and reality.
I just had no idea until recently that I was so controversial. Hmm.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
My Dog has Blog Fans
Okay, I've heard your requests for more Dukie pup stories.
Gosh- he gets fan mail and I get credit cards applications?! So,
here's the latest on our #1 pooch...
We have a tall queen sized bed and if you've met Duke you know he is a big & tall dog. Dukie in no way can climb up onto our bed (he is afraid of stairs). But, what he does do is drop his 50 pound head (he weighs 83 pounds total, he just has a stubborn thick head) onto the edge of the mattress at 5:50am to wake me up. Thud, goes his head on the bed. And while his head presses down the sheets he breathes in through his nose making a huge racket- sniff!
Thud and sniff. That is his early morning routine when Eric travels and I am in charge of his early morning activities (outside and food). Thud and sniff. His nose is wet. It is cold. It sniffs me out under the blankets when I try to hide from him.
He does not bark. He just breathes. Sometimes he drools on my sheets. Attractive and pleasant this is not. My dog makes more laundry than the people in my house.
And then Duke stares at me. In the darkness of morning he thuds his head, sniffs for me, and stares at me.
If I play like I am asleep, he really knows that I am not. He can tell, you know. If I pretend to sleep and he knows I am awake, then he does this other thing. He windshield wipers the carpet with his long otter tail making this swishing sound. And he only swishes in this peculiar sort of rhythm. (That in itself tells you how often I have heard this sound if I can duplicate the rhythmic pattern?!)
Thud, sniff, stare, swish-swish, swish.
Thud, sniff, stare, swish-swish, swish.
Thud, sniff, stare, swish-swish, swish.
"Enough, already!" As I get up and take care of him.
In retrospect I could have used an alarm clock like him in college.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Writing Exercise
The writer down the hall from me (aka Todd "the writer") is a maniac! We're working on this book together and he is so far ahead of me it isn't even funny. (He probably regrets signing this deal because I am such a slow poke.) We will make this deadline- at least I will make his deadline to get my stuff to him.
It isn't my typing that is slow. Although I could have used more years of piano lessons to help me. My editing isn't that bad either although I dread editing. I have learned a few new things to make editing quicker.
Mostly, I have to sit with these Bible characters and wait on them to talk to me. I know it sounds like I'm having a mental health-reality breakdown, but I am really not. Just gathering the Muse and hoping she will talk to me and tell me what is interesting, fascinating, and engaging to help grown ups get a kick out of their Bible reading. I want Bible reading to be fun and exciting. That is not asking much, is it? I want to help create conversations that will aid folks in understanding themselves and our lives under God's plan better.
Lofty and lovely goals, but would the muse happen already. Ack! Rainy days and busy schedules with my husband out of town are not helping this process move quicker.
I gotta go write more! No breaks. No stopping. Housework, feeding the kid, taking the dog out to go to the bathroom, paying the bills- they'll have to wait. (Although I cannot pull an over- nighter like my mentor Todd. Gave that up with breastfeeding years ago.) I gotta write so I'll quit dreaming about these Old Testament characters...
It isn't my typing that is slow. Although I could have used more years of piano lessons to help me. My editing isn't that bad either although I dread editing. I have learned a few new things to make editing quicker.
Mostly, I have to sit with these Bible characters and wait on them to talk to me. I know it sounds like I'm having a mental health-reality breakdown, but I am really not. Just gathering the Muse and hoping she will talk to me and tell me what is interesting, fascinating, and engaging to help grown ups get a kick out of their Bible reading. I want Bible reading to be fun and exciting. That is not asking much, is it? I want to help create conversations that will aid folks in understanding themselves and our lives under God's plan better.
Lofty and lovely goals, but would the muse happen already. Ack! Rainy days and busy schedules with my husband out of town are not helping this process move quicker.
I gotta go write more! No breaks. No stopping. Housework, feeding the kid, taking the dog out to go to the bathroom, paying the bills- they'll have to wait. (Although I cannot pull an over- nighter like my mentor Todd. Gave that up with breastfeeding years ago.) I gotta write so I'll quit dreaming about these Old Testament characters...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Smiles
Given all the stuff going on in our world (and when isn't there stuff happening?!), I have begun to appreciate what makes me stop and smile...here's my list:
- my daughter asks me how big butterfly poop is.
- God answers prayer by healing and encouraging my mother-in-law.
- my pup's entire back-end wiggles to greet me at the door when I come home.
- eating the Bread of Life with the world this weekend.
- my husband does the dishes without asking him to.
- purple-red-pink sunrises on cool autumn mornings.
- meaningful, passionate worship with my faith family.
- smell of bread baking.
- color of cheerful yellow mums in front of people's houses.
What makes you smile, in spite of your difficulties?
Friday, October 2, 2009
The Hunt for October
October for many folks is all about autumn, football, marching band competitions, raking leaves, and preparing complex Halloween costumes. Not us. We have more.
Perhaps I mentioned this in the past, but our October is packed full of birthdays and anniversaries. I just spent way too much money on greeting cards today for the entire month! I'll need two books of stamps to go with them all.
My hunt this October is for the perfect wedding anniversary AND birthday gifts for my spouse. Have I ever told you that he is very particular? What to buy him is tough. He is the kind of man who loves to hunt for a bargain and get a great deal. So sometimes I think maybe he'd have more fun searching for his present than I have time or patience to do.
What challenges me is that he has already gotten me the best anniversary present ever. He has planned, arranged, reserved and done all the details (including childcare) for us to have a romantic getaway weekend. (Tough act to follow, I know.) But isn't that the sweetest thing ever?! Sigh. I've got a great guy. You would agree with me that I just don't deserve him.
Now, if only I can think up something spectacular as a gift! Undershirts at this juncture seem like a bad option, don't you think?
Perhaps I mentioned this in the past, but our October is packed full of birthdays and anniversaries. I just spent way too much money on greeting cards today for the entire month! I'll need two books of stamps to go with them all.
My hunt this October is for the perfect wedding anniversary AND birthday gifts for my spouse. Have I ever told you that he is very particular? What to buy him is tough. He is the kind of man who loves to hunt for a bargain and get a great deal. So sometimes I think maybe he'd have more fun searching for his present than I have time or patience to do.
What challenges me is that he has already gotten me the best anniversary present ever. He has planned, arranged, reserved and done all the details (including childcare) for us to have a romantic getaway weekend. (Tough act to follow, I know.) But isn't that the sweetest thing ever?! Sigh. I've got a great guy. You would agree with me that I just don't deserve him.
Now, if only I can think up something spectacular as a gift! Undershirts at this juncture seem like a bad option, don't you think?
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