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.)

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!

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!

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!

Final Countdown to Fall...

You know summer is winding up when crayons, paper, and backpacks appear in all the local stores. Sigh. There is still more fun to be had like ... pools to swim in, garden veggies to grow, hammock naps to enjoy, and BB Q's to eat!

So much to do and so little time... Good news is we've already made our annual 14 loaves of chocolate zuccihini bread. Bad news is we're still behind in our summer reading program. About 35 books to go for my kiddo and over 700 pages left for me to read.

There is obviously more summer to enjoy! But while we do that there is the gentle approach of autumn busyness... for example, believe it or not we'll be planning Advent and Confirmation 2011 next week in our staff retreat. Ugh.

Better go and ride my bike... see yah!

Special Bible

I know something must be up because rarely does my Spiritual Director give me homework. You can imagine my surprise last week when she handed me material as I left her new office!!

My quest is to explore the upcoming exhibit of the Saint John's Bible her monastery is hosting during the month of August. Visio divinia, lectures, workshops and tours are all a part of this fascinating event.

Here is the website were you can learn more about this http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/ hand calligraphy and illuminated manuscript of the NRSV Bible. It is gorgeous! First one done this way since the invention of the printing press. Here is more information on the exhibit
http://www.benedictinn.org/benedictinn.org/The_Saint_Johns_Bible_Exhibit.html

I am intrigued by this group of monks who are attempting to remind all believers that our Scripture is alive and full of life. So, I hope you may join me in my quest to be a student of the word as it is presented in such an amazing manner!