Over at RevGalBlogPals, Songbird writes:
There's a new baby on my street, a double PK whose mom and dad are Methodist Pastors and church planters. I'm hoping to go over and meet her today. I love new babies, the way they smell and their sweet little fingers and toes. Little K has me thinking about all the new things that please us with their shiny freshness.
Please share with us five things you like *especially* when they are new.
First let me share that the cyber world and IRL world are getting increasingly connected. I've never met Little K's parents, but I spent Monday and Tuesday at a Leadership training with someone who is a part of that new church plant. She kept checking her email and facebook to see if the baby had been born yet. In addition I also met one of Little K's grandfathers a few weeks ago when his job and my job intersected. United Methodism is indeed a connectional system.
Now on to the Friday Five.
1. A new journal. I love the possibility of all those pages waiting to be filled. This is probably connected to my earlier fondness for a brand new big chief tablet and a big fat pencil with a fresh eraser. It should be noted that I write in my journals with a Parker pen that was a High School graduation present more than 30 years ago. It just feels right in my hand.
2. A new car. Maybe in the next year or so???? Or maybe a new used car.
3. A new, fresh off the presses J.D. Robb detective story - or Jan Karon book but those are few and far between.
4. A freshly cleaned house (does this count?)
5. Almost anything new - especially if the procuring of it was not too painful. I had Leadership Incubator assignment in a mall this week. I was reminded of why I don't go to malls often. They spark in me that desire to get something new, just for the sake of having something new. Our budget doesn't allow for this as it once did, so I just don't go any more.
Bonus: I am looking forward to having a new Wesley Study Bible which will be on sale for only$20 Nov. 19, 20, 21. I didn't put this in my five because, well used Bibles are just as much fun as new ones.
When I was in Brownies, I learned the following song. It is applicable to friends and things.
Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver, and the other's gold.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Friday Five - Special Days
Over at RevGalBlogPals, Sophia is "thinking of the special rites of passage in our lives which we participate for ourselves or in which we support and bless others: baptism, confirmation, marriage, ordination, graduation, funerals etc. Such important days, so exciting and joyous, but also sometimes anxiety provoking or deeply painful..."
So for this week's Friday Five she asks us to "share five memories of such sacred moments with God and her holy people from your life and the lives of those you love."
This is an interesting day for this particular topic. While my life has been filled with many holy moments, there are a few days that stand out.
This weekend, Gifted & Talented and I will be celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary. Remembering our wedding all those years ago - we were sooooo young and sooo full of hope and possibility for our future. Earth tones prevailed. Young men and women lined up beside us as we took vows we believed but couldn't begin to comprehend. We have been blessed over the years through both trials and triumphs.
Our struggle with infertility ended on the day we stood in a hospital chapel and Manboy's birthmother placed him in our arms. It was indeed a holy day with a ceremony presided by her pastor and ours. We honored the difficult but love filled choice his birthparents were making, promised to raise him in a home filled with love, and prayed for all of us. We still watch the video some years as we remember that day, just two days after his birthday. He'll be 17 in a few months. Surely God has been with us.
There are several memories connected with my ordination journey which really began when I went to my parents and asked to "join the church" a year before the standard age for confirmation. The first time I spoke of my call out loud to G&T and later to my pastor. Standing at the giant window of the retreat center looking out at the lake, listening to praise music as I prepared for my commissioning interviews. The comissioning service.
Today, I am working on writing the answers to the theology questions for ordination. My last entry is not yet a memory, but rather a hope that next June the Bishop will lay hands on me and say "Take thou authority..."
So for this week's Friday Five she asks us to "share five memories of such sacred moments with God and her holy people from your life and the lives of those you love."
This is an interesting day for this particular topic. While my life has been filled with many holy moments, there are a few days that stand out.
This weekend, Gifted & Talented and I will be celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary. Remembering our wedding all those years ago - we were sooooo young and sooo full of hope and possibility for our future. Earth tones prevailed. Young men and women lined up beside us as we took vows we believed but couldn't begin to comprehend. We have been blessed over the years through both trials and triumphs.
Our struggle with infertility ended on the day we stood in a hospital chapel and Manboy's birthmother placed him in our arms. It was indeed a holy day with a ceremony presided by her pastor and ours. We honored the difficult but love filled choice his birthparents were making, promised to raise him in a home filled with love, and prayed for all of us. We still watch the video some years as we remember that day, just two days after his birthday. He'll be 17 in a few months. Surely God has been with us.
There are several memories connected with my ordination journey which really began when I went to my parents and asked to "join the church" a year before the standard age for confirmation. The first time I spoke of my call out loud to G&T and later to my pastor. Standing at the giant window of the retreat center looking out at the lake, listening to praise music as I prepared for my commissioning interviews. The comissioning service.
Today, I am working on writing the answers to the theology questions for ordination. My last entry is not yet a memory, but rather a hope that next June the Bishop will lay hands on me and say "Take thou authority..."
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunshine
is the name she goes by. She has a brilliant smile and a servant's heart. She works at the breakfast room of the hotel I stayed in last week. Breakfast is a buffet. Her job is to refill as needed and clean up after guests. Her vocation (calling) is to greet those guests with a smile or in my case a hug and a warm welcome. She takes a job that could be drudgery and turns it into a ministry. She wears a name tag with her official name, but her real identifier is the yellow and orange sun pin she wears next to it. I was blessed by her presence and so are many travelers each year.
Thank you God for sunshine (after 10 days of rain) and for Sunshine who brightened my day even if it was rainy outside. Amen.
Thank you God for sunshine (after 10 days of rain) and for Sunshine who brightened my day even if it was rainy outside. Amen.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Imagination
can be a good thing or a not so good thing.
In April, I wrote about my missing neighbor, Kathy Garza. Friday, I attended a memorial service for her. Her body still has not been found, but the prosecution is proceeding with murder charges. In the weeks following her disappearance, I really struggled - especially with my imagination. I wondered if she had been afraid, if she felt pain, if she knew she was leaving her children (2 adult, 2 teenagers). Even as I type this, the tears still come. As time passed, these thoughts no longer dominated my thinking, but were still under the surface and bubbled up whenever there was a reminder.
At the memorial service, the first song was I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. This time my imagination was healing rather than painful. As I listened to the song, I could imagine Kathy looking ahead to heaven in delight, looking back at her family with grief, and looking back to the presence of God with delight. I could imagine her feeling God holding her hand as she went through her suffering. I still ache for her loss, for her family, for our neighborhood, but I also have more peace.
Still working on that forgiveness thing.
Please keep Kathy's family and all those who miss her in your prayers.
Giver of Life, thank you for the hope we know in you. Thank you for your presence in our grief. Hold us close please. Amen.
In April, I wrote about my missing neighbor, Kathy Garza. Friday, I attended a memorial service for her. Her body still has not been found, but the prosecution is proceeding with murder charges. In the weeks following her disappearance, I really struggled - especially with my imagination. I wondered if she had been afraid, if she felt pain, if she knew she was leaving her children (2 adult, 2 teenagers). Even as I type this, the tears still come. As time passed, these thoughts no longer dominated my thinking, but were still under the surface and bubbled up whenever there was a reminder.
At the memorial service, the first song was I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. This time my imagination was healing rather than painful. As I listened to the song, I could imagine Kathy looking ahead to heaven in delight, looking back at her family with grief, and looking back to the presence of God with delight. I could imagine her feeling God holding her hand as she went through her suffering. I still ache for her loss, for her family, for our neighborhood, but I also have more peace.
Still working on that forgiveness thing.
Please keep Kathy's family and all those who miss her in your prayers.
Giver of Life, thank you for the hope we know in you. Thank you for your presence in our grief. Hold us close please. Amen.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Good Day
Yesterday was a good day. It was my birthday and lots of good things happened . Many were totally unrelated to my birthday, but made it a great day.
First I got a hilarious e-card from my sister in law showing Moses parting the waters. In the waters on one side of the break are three fish with big mouths and teeth chomping. On the other side of the break is a little fish named Harvey who is sticking out his tongue (do fish have tongues?) and mocking the fish who would have eaten him. The caption is "Harvey catches a lucky break. Hope your day is filled with unexpected blessings." It was!
Next, I was bemoaning with an experience pastor that I didn't feel good about my sermon that was video taped on Sunday to send to the Board of Ordained Ministry. I felt is was too head based and not enough heartfelt. She happened to have heard the other sermon I will be sending and felt showing both sides of my preaching might be a good thing. It may simply be justification, but I felt better anyway.
I got a long voicemail message that ended with appreciation for aforementioned sermon, and especially some of the teaching I had done in it. (Smile)
I received a thank you note signed by a whole Sunday School class for the materials they had checked out of the Conference Resource Center and used over the summer. I've worked for the last 9 months to get the Resource Center better organized and more user friendly, with more current material. This was wonderful affirmation. (Smile)
I received The Porpoise Given Life in the mail from the author's wife whom I met at a leadership incubator last week. She didn't plan it as a birthday gift, but it was nice that it arrived that day. I'm looking forward to spending more time with her as we incubate in the coming months. (Smile)
I had several calls and cards with birthday wishes through out the day including cupcakes at work. (Smile)
I had dinner with my husband and son - something that will happen less often now that manBoy is taking a dual credit class at the local Community College one evening a week, and working part time. They gave me a new Terri Hendrix CD and a crockpot cookbook to go with the crockpot I got a couple of weeks ago when the 30 year old one bit the dust. (Smile)
I joined facebook. If you know my real name, feel free to friend me.
We ended the evening with birthday pie - Key Lime to be exact - much better than cake. (Big Smile)
Now, on the morning after, I'm beginning to think my "age-fighting moisturizer" might be loosing the battle. (Smile, oops then the lines show!)
First I got a hilarious e-card from my sister in law showing Moses parting the waters. In the waters on one side of the break are three fish with big mouths and teeth chomping. On the other side of the break is a little fish named Harvey who is sticking out his tongue (do fish have tongues?) and mocking the fish who would have eaten him. The caption is "Harvey catches a lucky break. Hope your day is filled with unexpected blessings." It was!
Next, I was bemoaning with an experience pastor that I didn't feel good about my sermon that was video taped on Sunday to send to the Board of Ordained Ministry. I felt is was too head based and not enough heartfelt. She happened to have heard the other sermon I will be sending and felt showing both sides of my preaching might be a good thing. It may simply be justification, but I felt better anyway.
I got a long voicemail message that ended with appreciation for aforementioned sermon, and especially some of the teaching I had done in it. (Smile)
I received a thank you note signed by a whole Sunday School class for the materials they had checked out of the Conference Resource Center and used over the summer. I've worked for the last 9 months to get the Resource Center better organized and more user friendly, with more current material. This was wonderful affirmation. (Smile)
I received The Porpoise Given Life in the mail from the author's wife whom I met at a leadership incubator last week. She didn't plan it as a birthday gift, but it was nice that it arrived that day. I'm looking forward to spending more time with her as we incubate in the coming months. (Smile)
I had several calls and cards with birthday wishes through out the day including cupcakes at work. (Smile)
I had dinner with my husband and son - something that will happen less often now that manBoy is taking a dual credit class at the local Community College one evening a week, and working part time. They gave me a new Terri Hendrix CD and a crockpot cookbook to go with the crockpot I got a couple of weeks ago when the 30 year old one bit the dust. (Smile)
I joined facebook. If you know my real name, feel free to friend me.
We ended the evening with birthday pie - Key Lime to be exact - much better than cake. (Big Smile)
Now, on the morning after, I'm beginning to think my "age-fighting moisturizer" might be loosing the battle. (Smile, oops then the lines show!)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Spiritual Junk Food
Last week, I had the opportunity to worship here. The scripture reading was the "Bread of Life" passage from John 6. Rather than hearing a sermon, we were asked to reflect on the passage on our own. Here's where my thoughts went:
Lately, I've been working with my doctor or healthier living habits. One of these includes switching foods that are high in nutritional value for those that are high in fat or are simply empty calories with little value for nourishing my body.
So, given this passage about what real nourishment is, I asked myself, "Self, what spiritual junk food have you been taking in of late?" Where have you been seeking nourishment or refreshment where there was none to be found? Good.question. Frantic prayers of distress (see previous post), rather than faith perhaps? They serve their purpose, but they are not the "protein" I crave or the "fiber" I need.
On the flip side, where have I found true spiritual nourishment of late? In the study I'm doing for sermon writing, ordination writing, and preparation for Leadership Incubator (more later). In the new friends and colleagues in ministry I met last week at the LI. In one particular new friend with whom I spent a lovely afternoon exchanging spiritual journey history and exploring our surroundings.
So my question to you which you may answer in the comments or just in your heart is: What kind of spiritual food have you been consuming lately? Junk or the stuff of high nutritional value?
Lately, I've been working with my doctor or healthier living habits. One of these includes switching foods that are high in nutritional value for those that are high in fat or are simply empty calories with little value for nourishing my body.
So, given this passage about what real nourishment is, I asked myself, "Self, what spiritual junk food have you been taking in of late?" Where have you been seeking nourishment or refreshment where there was none to be found? Good.question. Frantic prayers of distress (see previous post), rather than faith perhaps? They serve their purpose, but they are not the "protein" I crave or the "fiber" I need.
On the flip side, where have I found true spiritual nourishment of late? In the study I'm doing for sermon writing, ordination writing, and preparation for Leadership Incubator (more later). In the new friends and colleagues in ministry I met last week at the LI. In one particular new friend with whom I spent a lovely afternoon exchanging spiritual journey history and exploring our surroundings.
So my question to you which you may answer in the comments or just in your heart is: What kind of spiritual food have you been consuming lately? Junk or the stuff of high nutritional value?
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Coping, Dealing, Gratitude, and Healing
COPING AND DEALING
It's been an interesting two weeks - that's the best word I can come up with.
Last week, the one that began when it was still July, started off with a minor concern. manBoy had a bit of a sore throat. Here's how it went from there:
Tuesday morning: Trip to pediatrician for minor sore throat ends with manBoy having fainting spell or neurological event that scared the ...... out of his mother (me). Of course the doctor had just left the room and it was over by the time she took the 10 steps back in response to my cry for help.
Tuesday afternoon: As a result of morning event, make trip into big city for pediatric cardiology work up that showed manBoy's heart to be perfectly healthy.
Tuesday evening: Jake the dog is whimpering and welping in pain and we cannot find the source.
Wednesday morning: Take Jake the dog to the vet.
Wednesday morning continued: Take manBoy to podiatrist for foot concern that involves a certain amount of digging around in his heel.
Wednesday noon: Meet with residency group to discuss Ministry Project that is new, last minute requirement for ordination.
Wednesday afternoon: Take manBoy to dentist for small filling.
Wednesday afternoon: Jake the dog comes home from vet with pain meds and instruction for 2 weeks of limited mobility due to possible slipped disc in neck meaning he is for now an inside dog with much more maintenance.
Thursday morning: Jake the dog is already feeling better and is whining to get out much to my aggravation. It will be a long 2 weeks. Daily Guidepost devotional for the day - being irritated with the dog and how God loves us even when we are irritating. Thanks.a.bunch.
Thursday morning continued: Deliver manBoy to PSAT/SAT prep class as heel hurts too much to propel himself there on foot or bike. Run into the office to pick up work to do at home. Pick manBoy up from class.
Thursday afternoon: Attempt to work at home, only to discover personal laptop screen goes black every 3-4 minutes. Look for extended warranty papers, give up, call store to learn they have records of warranty. Go to my doctor for follow up on health program. Good news. It's working. Take computer to store for diagnostics and repair.
Thursday evening: G&T discovers nails in two of my tires. Drive G&T's car to meeting at church.
Friday morning: Take car to tire store for repair. Learn that computer must be shipped off for two weeks for repair.
GRATITUDE AND HEALING
In all that, I did not have a headache! See earlier post about healing service and yoga. It's working! I did have a mild headache this week in the let down, but still two headaches in 7 weeks is way better than twice a week early in the summer. Prayers of thankfulness ascending.
My mom was in town for business and went with us to the cardiologist. Her background in people and animal medical technology comes in handy in understanding medicalese and interpreting doctor reports...
manBoy feels fine. The doctor listened to my concerns especially since manBoy drives now and ordered an EEG. We had it done this week, but do not have results back.
Jake seems to feel fine and we plan on releasing him from his housebound status today or tomorrow.
Computer is home and working after only one week!
With the exception of Jake the dog, all the issues of last week were covered by insurance or warranty. Out of pocket expensese were a mere fraction of what they could have been.
It's been an interesting two weeks - that's the best word I can come up with.
Last week, the one that began when it was still July, started off with a minor concern. manBoy had a bit of a sore throat. Here's how it went from there:
Tuesday morning: Trip to pediatrician for minor sore throat ends with manBoy having fainting spell or neurological event that scared the ...... out of his mother (me). Of course the doctor had just left the room and it was over by the time she took the 10 steps back in response to my cry for help.
Tuesday afternoon: As a result of morning event, make trip into big city for pediatric cardiology work up that showed manBoy's heart to be perfectly healthy.
Tuesday evening: Jake the dog is whimpering and welping in pain and we cannot find the source.
Wednesday morning: Take Jake the dog to the vet.
Wednesday morning continued: Take manBoy to podiatrist for foot concern that involves a certain amount of digging around in his heel.
Wednesday noon: Meet with residency group to discuss Ministry Project that is new, last minute requirement for ordination.
Wednesday afternoon: Take manBoy to dentist for small filling.
Wednesday afternoon: Jake the dog comes home from vet with pain meds and instruction for 2 weeks of limited mobility due to possible slipped disc in neck meaning he is for now an inside dog with much more maintenance.
Thursday morning: Jake the dog is already feeling better and is whining to get out much to my aggravation. It will be a long 2 weeks. Daily Guidepost devotional for the day - being irritated with the dog and how God loves us even when we are irritating. Thanks.a.bunch.
Thursday morning continued: Deliver manBoy to PSAT/SAT prep class as heel hurts too much to propel himself there on foot or bike. Run into the office to pick up work to do at home. Pick manBoy up from class.
Thursday afternoon: Attempt to work at home, only to discover personal laptop screen goes black every 3-4 minutes. Look for extended warranty papers, give up, call store to learn they have records of warranty. Go to my doctor for follow up on health program. Good news. It's working. Take computer to store for diagnostics and repair.
Thursday evening: G&T discovers nails in two of my tires. Drive G&T's car to meeting at church.
Friday morning: Take car to tire store for repair. Learn that computer must be shipped off for two weeks for repair.
GRATITUDE AND HEALING
In all that, I did not have a headache! See earlier post about healing service and yoga. It's working! I did have a mild headache this week in the let down, but still two headaches in 7 weeks is way better than twice a week early in the summer. Prayers of thankfulness ascending.
My mom was in town for business and went with us to the cardiologist. Her background in people and animal medical technology comes in handy in understanding medicalese and interpreting doctor reports...
manBoy feels fine. The doctor listened to my concerns especially since manBoy drives now and ordered an EEG. We had it done this week, but do not have results back.
Jake seems to feel fine and we plan on releasing him from his housebound status today or tomorrow.
Computer is home and working after only one week!
With the exception of Jake the dog, all the issues of last week were covered by insurance or warranty. Out of pocket expensese were a mere fraction of what they could have been.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
