Controlling the Controllable

Yesterday I was telling a friend how I spent the morning. Between 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. I washed and changed the sheets and duvet cover on our bed, dusted and vacuumed the bedroom, washed the floors and baseboards in the bathroom and bedroom, cleaned out the pantry and mopped the floor in there, removed everything from the kitchen counters and scrubbed it, folded and put away all the clothes and made lists for shopping for the upcoming visit from Alvaro parents from Colombia. (I still have lots of preparring to do for that). I've been meaning to get started on this deep cleaning project for weeks now but just never had the motivation to do it. When I woke up yesterday on my free morning, my inclination was to do some excercise, study my new, "Mark for Everyone" book and then maybe do a little sewing. But then I started feeling the pressure of being overwhelmed by work, worries about friends and family health, relationships that need feeding and the state of the house. Soooooo, I decided to control the controllable. The excercise of dividing the things in my life that are under my control and those which are not is amazingly cleansing. Once I made those two lists, I got busy on the controllable list and saved the other one for bedtime prayer. And by golly, I'm feeling less overwhelmed! Eureka!
I pray all the time for the ability to put tasks and concerns into perspective and I do believe God is a list maker because I frequently get the message to make a list. I make lists of the things I need to do and even lists of things that it would be nice to do. I even have a list of the kinds of lists I would like to make just to make sure I take advantage of the ideas God so lavishly makes me think of. It may not be list making, but I'll bet God is answering prayer in a way that is perfect for you. Quietly listen and then take action.

Chili Winners!!

Congratulations to all the entries for the 2008 FUMC Dallas Chili Cook-Off. Those receiving trophies are: 1st Place: Best Chili - Becomers Class, 2nd Place: Best Chili - Genesis Class and 3rd Place: Best Chili - Voyages Class featuring Steve Sims and Todd McCavitt. As is the tradition, The Lunch Bunch, pictured above in full costume, won Best Booth with their Sock Hop themed booth.
Thanks also to the Sarah Circle for welcoming the congregation and talleying the votes.

How to Relax

Do you find yourself in a tizzy? Are you running in so many directions that your feet have become tangled? Have you gotten yourself into that all too familiar position of too many people expecting too much of only one you? Wait. Are you asking me? Oh, well then, YES! I haven't even blogged in over a week...and that's usually one of my ways of getting unraveled. Actually, I've been concentrating a bit more on another mode of relaxation.

In a meeting about 9 months ago, as a 'get to know you' question, we were asked about our favorite music group. As the question worked itself around the room I was having a huge struggle trying to decide my favorite. Of course I worked it into a stressful excercise because I just couldn't decide who to say. After all doesn't music say a lot about who you are? Would I say the Stones or U2? Or would I mention some of my new favorites like Sufjan Stevens or Ghostland Observatory? But what about Johnny Cash or The Possum. And how can I sleep at night if I didn't say The Doors. Finally I decided that the only one and true answer would have to be the one who has been a favorite since before I can remember...Johann Sebastian Bach. I don't care if it is the harpsichord, guitar, organ or what...I can't get enough! Listening to his compositions actually make me want to pray harder, meditate and inspire me to be a new person. Yes...it's that dramatic. My husband gets this same effect with yoga.

My charge today is that each of us find the thing that makes us decompress...forces you to stop the madness for at least an hour. It might be well thought out and inclusive prayer for someone else. It could be a physical excercise that allows you to meditate on your mental well being. It could be hand writing a letter to a friend or family member that focuses on that person and how you feel about them. Maybe you sit down with a good Bible study and learn or relearn the depth of God's love for you, God's child. Whatever it is, do it. Take the time you need to take care of yourself. Me? I'm going now to find something with a cello.

Chili Cook-Off

I'm taking a little break from my preparations for our 2008 FUMC Dallas Chili Cook-off themed "Great Bowls of Fire". Yep, that's Jerry Lee to the right with his righteous hair! I've been listing teams, updating my task list, updating the email group list, confirming what I need to purchase, checking on the trophy order, making sure I'm publicizing to the congregation enough and brainstorming on who to recruit to count the votes. I'm chill-eeed out! Sunday January 27th is the big day. Last year, twelve teams competed and about 250 people attended this free event. My favorite part is that our congregation represents ALL generations and they ALL turn out to eat, visit, play and just have fun together. Yesterday, an eight year boy tore out the reminder from the bulletin and told his mom he wants to enter the cook-off! Yes! Full participation!

I think one of my biggest fears in church work is that I will be responsible for an event and it will be a big ol' flop therefore not being an event that our visitors will remember or our church members will want to invite people to next year. Plus, I'm a perfectionist and just can't stand to be responsibile for a flop. Yeah, you already knew that :)

Anyway, the competition is on, six teams have signed up so far and the official trash talk has commenced. Bet you didn't think Sunday school classes dish trash...to be convinced, come to the Chili Cook-Off on the 27th and witness some friendly slinging 'o trash!

Family Disfunction

Are you affected? Are you a victim of family disfunction? Have you taken part in the big trend (that's been going on since Moses and before)? Of course you are. We all are! If you aren't thinking about how what your mom would think, you're a big liar! Does this mean you are scarred for life...I guess so, of course, if you choose to be...you are! Or you can you just put yourself apart...get out of it. Oh, I know what you're saying...Rach, you're in some kind of haven if you think it all just goes away especially since someone just accused me of being my mother. yipe!
I think often of my mother and her ways. It's not so hard for me since I do most things the way my mom did...I don't know if its cuz I think it's the right way or because my mom says it's the right way. Either way, I do stuff that way. Am I a victim or am I just learning?
I don't know what I'm talking about...I just had a nice conversation with my mom...so I'm just thinking about her and the fact that I'm cooking and that I'm putting the peels from my pototoes into the bag the onions came in...why would you want to waste another bag?
Some would say that I do things the way I do because I wouldn't want mom to disapprove. But maybe, just maybe, I like doing things that way too....it's a possibility. Or maybe I'm brainwashed.

Getting Acclimated

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't belong here"? Maybe after you move to a new town. Maybe when given a new responsibility. Or maybe when you're faced with a tragedy or illness. How often I have found myself in that position wondering how I got where I am and having major reservations about whether or not I can manage my new situtation or surroundings. This picture is of Tiger and Vinegar, my parents' cats. Tiger and Vinegar were introduced to my family after a huge flood in Pasadena, Texas when they literally washed up to our driveway when they were only kittens. We've always assumed they are brother and sister. Tiger is the more adventurous one and Vinegar is a little more cautious. Shortly before Alvaro and I were married and we were in Pasadena for Easter, Tiger decided to take a vacation to Dallas by hopping into my trunk and making the 5 hour trip. We didn't know it till we opened the trunk at my apartment and discoved him. He was so happy to have a little time away.
Now my parents have moved to the country and here they go again...having to get acclimated again. After a quick think, they decided they don't really like cows or horses or other big animals. However, when we were home for Christmas, I found them venturing out into the field slowly investigating. They have once again acclimated to their new surroundings.
I wonder how and why. Was it because they had the constant of each other and my parents? Was it because of their own resolve? Or was it simply because they had no other choice and just had to buckle down and do it for survival. I wonder too why we humans find ourselves in situations that at first aren't comfortable. I'm never one to venture into the whole, "God is testing me" notion but I do believe strongly that God is right there with us as we bumble through. Through contant conversation and questioning of God we find our way into comfort and peace. It also doesn't hurt one bit to rely on the comfort of our family and friends...God speaking to us directing through them.
Who would ever think that cats could bring me to this understanding? Maybe God speaks through cats too. Take that you cat haters :)

I never sausage a sad face

Sorry, that is pure cheese...but I couldn't help it. I've just learned that Alvaro and I don't get to go to Fredrickburg to make deer sausage with my uncle this year...it's the same weekend as the FUMC 2008 Chili Cook-Off and I'm kinda in charge of that. Man, making sausage is a fun time! My apologies to all you non deer-eating folks. Over the course of that one Saturday, my family will have processed over 500 pounds of sausage...dried one pound links, pan breakfast sausage and fresh sausage links. With my uncles very special secret, 'I'll have to kill ya if I tell ya' recipe, there is just nothing tastier!

The only thing better than the sausage itself is the time spent with my cousins, family friends and anyone else who just wants to come over and be a part of the process. My cousin Sam is in charge of making sure everyone has plenty of hot pan sausage to snack on. Alvaro is in charge of cutting up the pork that gets mixed in. I like to tie the links and prepare them for the smokehouse. My uncle, Anton, is the official stuffer and casing untangler. (yeah, is kinda gross to watch) But for how many generations has this family made their own sausage, preserves, wine and put up vegetables? How rich to be witness to these age old and well practiced traditions that once were done for survival. In this same family was passed down a rich heritage of faith in which we are always reminded that God is the source of all our necessities. Even though I know I don't get to be there, Saturday evening the 26th will end with guitars and voices coming together singing hymns and probably some great folk songs. I'll probably still get some saugage but I won't have tied any of it.

I'm an Aunt!!

On December 29th, our niece was born!!! She was a week early and we were out of town so I didn't get to go to the hospital to see her. I've been visiting a couple times since we've been back to see her. She is just the smallest little thing when I hold her and she is extremely entertaining with her amazingly creative and silly faces. There are so many loving people in her life...Lilly's parents and great aunt are visiting from Colombia in addition to tons of friends. Here is my extended plan for Gabriela...watch out little one!
1. Be her cool aunt. When it's time for Lilly and Ciro to get out of the dang house for a change, Gabriela will ASK to come to my house.
2. Teach her to do the stuff girls aren't normally encouraged to do...like climb trees, dig for earthworms, play outside and get really dirty.
3. Be an influence. I'm going to be the strong voice of English as her parents wish her to be completely bilingual. Later we'll also see if she has an affinity for the piano :) lessons anyone?
4. Crafts! My poor sister and brother in law...you won't be able to see the surface of the fridge!
5. Faith. Here is the most important thing; to be another adult who will assure her that God is with her and loves her in everything she is and everything she isn't. More than anything in this world, she will need God's guidance as we all do in loving Gabriela.
Yeah for babies!!!

yea yea yea...enough about Blackacre already!!!

Since, two of you have asked and commented on our pecan farm, Blackacre, I have one last photo from our Christmas vacation. I can't seem to find it but I have a picture of myself in this same place (the entrance to our fabulous and very fancy farm) from when I was about 7 or 8 years old. One of the things I like least in life is leaving Blackacre. I usually cry a couple of pathetic tears as we leave so I decided to leave this time by having Alvaro take a picture of me smiling as we left. I'm smiling because I know we'll be back and it will just as wonderful every time I'm there. Now that my parents live nearby, it's extra wonderful to be there. Spending time with them is so meaningful and it's fun to be together for longer than just the weekend. I can pretend that Alvaro and I live at Blackacre and I can just drive a couple of miles to my parents place and hang out. I guess even adults can play make believe.