Here is my 2008 Jack-o-lantern...the only thing I HAVE to have besides a truckload of candy...to be ready for the trick or treaters. I'm rather happy with this year's creation. Usually I just whack a few holes in a pumkin so I can spend more time on roasting the seeds. But this year I decided to take a little more time. I found this template online, came home and started carving. I love that he is so dreamy. I wonder what he's thinking of? Enjoying the cooler weather? I get thoughtful just looking at him. He reminds me to dream and find joy in those dreams. Tonight, about 50 children will come to our door dreaming of sweets and praise for their creative costumes. I think of their parents and the fun and joy in the activity of meeting neighbors and watching their children's faces. Happy Fall everyone!
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Dreamer
Here is my 2008 Jack-o-lantern...the only thing I HAVE to have besides a truckload of candy...to be ready for the trick or treaters. I'm rather happy with this year's creation. Usually I just whack a few holes in a pumkin so I can spend more time on roasting the seeds. But this year I decided to take a little more time. I found this template online, came home and started carving. I love that he is so dreamy. I wonder what he's thinking of? Enjoying the cooler weather? I get thoughtful just looking at him. He reminds me to dream and find joy in those dreams. Tonight, about 50 children will come to our door dreaming of sweets and praise for their creative costumes. I think of their parents and the fun and joy in the activity of meeting neighbors and watching their children's faces. Happy Fall everyone!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
That's Fair
I'm just getting around to saying it but, "Its State Fair time". I love the fair. I love the food (Rachel's must haves...corney dog, brat with plenty of sauerkraut at Mueller's...and that's it. I can take or leave the rest. I wouldn't mind an ice cold beer but I can live without it. I never try the newest fried monstrosity and I won't even try your's. I just need to go and see all the people, listen to Tex tell me what's happening next and then...the most important thing of all...take about a two hour stroll through The Creative Arts building. I know, I know! You'd rather have a liver transplant. But I just love to walk through and look at the patience, love and creativity that has gone into the amazing things displayed. After I've stood in front of the preserves and pickled okra and drooled down the front of my shirt...
I go all around the perimeter of the room and look at every quilt. Then I attack the center. Look at this little sampler I found.
It's not the most intricate piece of work I've seen but I'm pretty sure this could be my life's mantra. That just about says it. I don't get very excited about spending money and the whole idea of materialism so for someone to have sewn that into a piece cloth???...they just have to be kin.
I go all around the perimeter of the room and look at every quilt. Then I attack the center. Look at this little sampler I found.
It's not the most intricate piece of work I've seen but I'm pretty sure this could be my life's mantra. That just about says it. I don't get very excited about spending money and the whole idea of materialism so for someone to have sewn that into a piece cloth???...they just have to be kin.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Going Buggy!
Last night my husband surprised me with a really nice dinner out...on a Tuesday even!!! He raced home, picked me up at 5:30 and we were off to The Keg. The Keg is a steakhouse close to our home. Outside, there are two big bronze statues of longhorns and lots of cacti and rocks and native grasses. As many of you know, I really don't eat cows but have no problem watching my husband enjoy a nice steak it that's what he has a hankerin' for. I ordered a nice merlot, a wedge salad and the Ahi Tuna steak with two sides of asparagus. We had a great time talking, laughing, teasing and just being still and enjoying a nice meal together. After we paid the bill, we walked to the front and out the door. Just outside the door, on the prickly pear, look at what we found.
Are these stink bugs? What are they? I saw two big bugs and then all those little babies. Are those all their kids or did someone get permission to invite friends over to their prickly pear pad? I just love these bugs and realized after 5 minutes that I was still standing there looking at them. God makes cool stuff!
Are these stink bugs? What are they? I saw two big bugs and then all those little babies. Are those all their kids or did someone get permission to invite friends over to their prickly pear pad? I just love these bugs and realized after 5 minutes that I was still standing there looking at them. God makes cool stuff!
Monday, September 29, 2008
A Stinky Sunday Morning
Now that's not what you want to hear a church staff person talk about right? But it is what it is. Let's just suffice it to say that the back of my car never looked so wonderful as I approached (no...ran) to it at about 12:35 yesterday afternoon with the beautiful prospect of going straight home, getting back into my pajamas and getting back into the bed so I could have a second chance at a nice day.
Every Sunday I know that I will be in the crook of being a member of our church staff and just a plain 'ol member of the church. I do everything I can to be fed in the midst of feeding. Actually I try to look at all my encounters on Sunday mornings as 'being fed'. But yesterday between the adventures of Confirmation, coraling two baptism families for a quick briefing, and feeling just plain stretched to the point of transparency...I just felt beat down before worship even started. I found myself in my office crying 'UNCLE'. Lucky for me I got a second chance at church later in the day.
Yesterday evening at 5:30 our UrbanLife and Music & Arts ministries conducted a 'Service of Scripture and Choral Meditation'. It not only saved my day but put me right back on the path I was on earlier in the day. The congregation came into a setting of quiet in which we were well able to prepare our hearts for stillness and a setting for hearing God. The service lasted about 50 minutes. During the 50 minutes I felt a sense of calm and love that only God can give and the setting allowed me to not only listen but to hear God's soothing presence.
Last night's moment reminds me that I must take time every day to be quiet. No talking. No conversation. No writing. Just listening.
Every Sunday I know that I will be in the crook of being a member of our church staff and just a plain 'ol member of the church. I do everything I can to be fed in the midst of feeding. Actually I try to look at all my encounters on Sunday mornings as 'being fed'. But yesterday between the adventures of Confirmation, coraling two baptism families for a quick briefing, and feeling just plain stretched to the point of transparency...I just felt beat down before worship even started. I found myself in my office crying 'UNCLE'. Lucky for me I got a second chance at church later in the day.
Yesterday evening at 5:30 our UrbanLife and Music & Arts ministries conducted a 'Service of Scripture and Choral Meditation'. It not only saved my day but put me right back on the path I was on earlier in the day. The congregation came into a setting of quiet in which we were well able to prepare our hearts for stillness and a setting for hearing God. The service lasted about 50 minutes. During the 50 minutes I felt a sense of calm and love that only God can give and the setting allowed me to not only listen but to hear God's soothing presence.
Last night's moment reminds me that I must take time every day to be quiet. No talking. No conversation. No writing. Just listening.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
What's the Main Thing?
Haven't you ever heard of people say, "Keep the main thing the main thing"? I guess we all get to decide what the main thing is. The quote most likely is a moral or value driven statement. And maybe for some the 'main thing' changes from day to day. The main thing could be God, or family or Love...
Today the main thing for me is to breathe. No, seriously...I can't breathe. Allerigies are kicking my butt and I'm unable to concentrate on anything but trying to get a breath. The older I get the worse the allergies get...and today I lost. I couldn't work, plan or eat because of the lack of breath. I feel defeated...a little lost in having to concentrate on breathing.
It makes me think about how I often forget to breathe daily. We get up, get ready for the day, grab a bite to eat, drive to work, assess our day and then bam! we're off on a meeting, task driven day. When do we breathe and reasses the main thing? It's a trap we all fall into. No one is immune! Only now, when I'm forced to think about it do I stop to breathe. Help us all, Lord, to remember the importance of your breathe in our life.
Today the main thing for me is to breathe. No, seriously...I can't breathe. Allerigies are kicking my butt and I'm unable to concentrate on anything but trying to get a breath. The older I get the worse the allergies get...and today I lost. I couldn't work, plan or eat because of the lack of breath. I feel defeated...a little lost in having to concentrate on breathing.
It makes me think about how I often forget to breathe daily. We get up, get ready for the day, grab a bite to eat, drive to work, assess our day and then bam! we're off on a meeting, task driven day. When do we breathe and reasses the main thing? It's a trap we all fall into. No one is immune! Only now, when I'm forced to think about it do I stop to breathe. Help us all, Lord, to remember the importance of your breathe in our life.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Fear the McRib
I'm not here today to judge what you eat. I just have say my gross out level today is so over the top that I have to share. So I was driving to work this morning and saw the sign..."The McRib is Back" Now I do try to stay away from fast food and especially as far away from McDonald's as humanly possible. But back in the day I did imbibe in a McRib or 100. Apparently, though, I've been thinking about that sticky 'sandwich' enough to do a little digging into the mystery of it's make up. With just a little effort I think the McRib could reach Spam fame...have you ever Googled the McRib? One guy posted pictures of his adventure in discovery. First he removed the top bun
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
What's it all for?
Why do we work so hard? at being nice, being benevolent? Are you looking for some kind of 'thank you'? Do you need affirmation? Do you need recognition? Or are we just being kind for the sake of being kind? It's a question we care about. We as humans need a little bit of 'you're doing a good job' don't we? We need some 'ataboy'.What if it were just a way of life? Let's translate this into Texan terms...say you're on the road and you let someone cut in front of you. What are you waiting for? The Wave...right?...out the back window? What if you don't get it. Are they less Texan? maybe. But what does it matter? You did what daddy taught you so who gives a flip if you're thanked? I realize this as I drive to work and understand that I'm in the midst of many different kinds of people who come from many different places. I realize that Christ wasn't expecting anything and He gave anyway. In this particular instance, this is what Jesus would do. Just don't ask me to wear that dang bracelet. Jesus wouldn't wear that bracelet! I'm pretty sure of that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
