Monday, March 31, 2008
Prayer
As many people already know, there was a terrible tragedy yesterday in Baltimore when a father drown his three very young children at the Inner Harbor Marriott hotel. I just found out today that two of those children attended the school where I taught, a Christian school in Silver Spring. I'm just calling on you all to lift that mom up and that school up in your prayers. It's a devastating loss for that community. Sadly, they held a funeral just over a year ago for a child who was murdered by his father. That this would happen twice there is really heartbreaking.
Just Another Manic Monday
Whoa, oh! Hehe, truly, it's not going to be as bad as it sounds, there are just way too many things happening today that I'm feeling like I'll forget something! I'm feeling disjointed. Of course, that might be lack of sleep. Yesterday I was jolted out of bed by T telling me our neighbor was trying to call us on one of our cell phones that was on vibrate.... so I quickly jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes and ran down to their house. They went off to have their baby!! This is my neighbor who was told back in November that if she even made it to term, her baby would weigh no more than 2 pounds. She was born yesterday at 9:04 (they left the house at 8:15!!) and was a whopping 9 pounds 9.6 ounces. Sometimes multiple opinions are necessary! =)
Today I have a plethera of things to try to accomplish: volunteering in first grade, working in the lunch room, possibly visiting my neighbor if she isn't home already!, grocery shopping, meeting someone here to give us an estimate on installing these gorgeous lights my mom bought us back in November, mailing out our support letters that are finishsed, getting the girls off the bus, piano lessons, homework..... All mundane (sounding) and very routine. It's just the perfect storm of stuff, so to speak, and my head is already spinning.
I'm off to go set this perfect storm in motion - happy to have a few moments to myself first, thankful to have a God who orchestrates storms perfectly. =)
Today I have a plethera of things to try to accomplish: volunteering in first grade, working in the lunch room, possibly visiting my neighbor if she isn't home already!, grocery shopping, meeting someone here to give us an estimate on installing these gorgeous lights my mom bought us back in November, mailing out our support letters that are finishsed, getting the girls off the bus, piano lessons, homework..... All mundane (sounding) and very routine. It's just the perfect storm of stuff, so to speak, and my head is already spinning.
I'm off to go set this perfect storm in motion - happy to have a few moments to myself first, thankful to have a God who orchestrates storms perfectly. =)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Easter: The Sequel
Our pastor today spoke on the above topic, which was built around John 3:16 and our response to Easter. It was awesome, and I felt like it was a great message for people who are on the fence, so to speak, about following Christ. I'd love to post a link to the message on our church website, but I'm not sure it works. =(
"Christianity" is not really all about what Christ/God did for us... it's more about how we live in response to what He did. For me, it's just so basic as that, which is why I think I really embraced what he was saying today. For me, all other religions are man-made as a response to not wanting to believe in God, in the gift of His son, His love for us - created in His image, choosing to want to live forever with him. I find it difficult to engage in conversations about religions other than those following Christ because to me they are just all false. Maybe that makes me intolerant, or maybe it just makes me a firm believer.
If I can get that message working, I'll link it here.
"Christianity" is not really all about what Christ/God did for us... it's more about how we live in response to what He did. For me, it's just so basic as that, which is why I think I really embraced what he was saying today. For me, all other religions are man-made as a response to not wanting to believe in God, in the gift of His son, His love for us - created in His image, choosing to want to live forever with him. I find it difficult to engage in conversations about religions other than those following Christ because to me they are just all false. Maybe that makes me intolerant, or maybe it just makes me a firm believer.
If I can get that message working, I'll link it here.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
31,000
I had my 31,000th visitor today... from Germany! I have no idea who they are and what they were looking for, but they went to my page exactly one year ago today. So funny to remember that terribly bad hair cut, selling our art deco coffee tables on Craigslist and seeing that the cherry blossom trees bloomed last year on exactly this same day. Just saw some today!! Yay!
So, that's a lot of visitors. Of course, half of them are just my husband! ;-) Nice to be loved and stalked all at the same time!!
So, that's a lot of visitors. Of course, half of them are just my husband! ;-) Nice to be loved and stalked all at the same time!!
Re-entry
Typically when T and I talk about reentry we're referring to bringing our missions teams back home, to their "real world". When we do this, we design a debrief and when possible some kind of post trip support. Mostly, this is cultural in nature. In this post, however, I'm talking about those serving in the military and their reentry back to their lives apart from war.
When I was in grade school I had a friend who I was certain I was going to marry because 1) his father was a Baptist minister and he was the only Baptist I knew outside of those in my little Baptist church and 2) because he daily copied my spelling homework while we waited to be called as walkers to walk home halfway together. I assumed this meant that he at least like me and thought I was smart. Of course, at the naive age of 10 I knew very little about marriage, life or about war.
As we went through school together, I watched this friend develop into a gorgeous but crazy person who in high school lost all interest in anything academic and focused all of his attention on "training" himself to not feel pain. He came from a really nice family so I still to this day have no idea what led him to do that, but honestly, it was kind of painful to watch. His ultimate goal in all of this was to join the Marines, which he did right before Desert Storm.
B was smart, although he didn't think so, or if he did, he didn't want anyone else to know. While he honed his callous and hardened appearance and attitude, he was typically all smiles for me. Whenever we'd meet up at a party or at some event, he would smoke up a storm, perform crazy stunts for his friends like eating fish alive and tell funny stories. But when I'd get him alone, his heart would soften a bit and I'd hear a smidgen of his thoughts. And they scared me. Even more so, they were heartbreaking.
Stories about Boot Camp at Parris Island were crazy enough, but the tanks on the front lines in Iraq made me shudder. I'd heard plenty of news out of Iraq from my cousin, a career Army enlistee. We'd been penpals during his first round in Iraq. In college I wrote to him again and to B, but that was apparently only half of the story.
When B finally came home, I saw him for one of the last times. It was disturbing. He was 19/20 years old, was a hard core Marine and could barely hold a conversation with his friends, who each said he wasn't talking much to them. He sat in a corner, smoking, drinking and not looking entirely pleasant. I eventually made my way over to him, feeling pretty awkward and we started chatting. We moved outside and he finally just looked right at me and said, "Every night we had to clean our tanks off. I cleaned body parts.... I ran over people who I couldn't even see, they were little white blobs on my screen." In that moment, I saw for the first time since probably fourth grade, a deep sorrow in his deep blue eyes, something he'd not allowed himself to do in years - feel.
After talking with him that night, we lost touch and I really don't know where he is right now. Last I'd heard, he was off somewhere in the south, dating a nurse, got into a motorcycle accident and busted up his leg (making reenlistment no longer an option) and finishing wood floors. Never the same, always changed, forever broken.
All of these memories and more came flooding back to me last week in my Bible study group as a woman there shared her brother's experience. It was not quite the same, since her brother was someone we knew, never conditioned himself to feel nothing. He was in T's last D-team, the boys who are all getting married now, graduated from college and have "real" jobs. Her brother was sent to Afghanistan with his Army unit, fought on the front lines, experienced his best friend dying in his arms and is now home, serving the rest of his enlistment with the National Guard. His sister described to us a 22 year old who is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and getting very little support from the Army or the National Guard. They are very worried about him, and while he first had plans to join the police academy he can now only manage to wait tables at a local restaurant.
For anyone who has read my blog, you know I'm no anti-war protestor, in fact, I'm not even anti-war. I support what our troops are doing in the Middle East, but I think we owe it to each of them and their families to continue to support them in every way possible when they return. There was a hearing today in Maryland about the pathetic services these soldiers receive when they return and I'm more convinced than ever that we can do way better than this for people who choose to defend freedom around the world. This is serious, and for my two examples here, there are millions more, past and present, who deserve better than three power point presentations and volunteer counselors. That is just pitiful.
When I was in grade school I had a friend who I was certain I was going to marry because 1) his father was a Baptist minister and he was the only Baptist I knew outside of those in my little Baptist church and 2) because he daily copied my spelling homework while we waited to be called as walkers to walk home halfway together. I assumed this meant that he at least like me and thought I was smart. Of course, at the naive age of 10 I knew very little about marriage, life or about war.
As we went through school together, I watched this friend develop into a gorgeous but crazy person who in high school lost all interest in anything academic and focused all of his attention on "training" himself to not feel pain. He came from a really nice family so I still to this day have no idea what led him to do that, but honestly, it was kind of painful to watch. His ultimate goal in all of this was to join the Marines, which he did right before Desert Storm.
B was smart, although he didn't think so, or if he did, he didn't want anyone else to know. While he honed his callous and hardened appearance and attitude, he was typically all smiles for me. Whenever we'd meet up at a party or at some event, he would smoke up a storm, perform crazy stunts for his friends like eating fish alive and tell funny stories. But when I'd get him alone, his heart would soften a bit and I'd hear a smidgen of his thoughts. And they scared me. Even more so, they were heartbreaking.
Stories about Boot Camp at Parris Island were crazy enough, but the tanks on the front lines in Iraq made me shudder. I'd heard plenty of news out of Iraq from my cousin, a career Army enlistee. We'd been penpals during his first round in Iraq. In college I wrote to him again and to B, but that was apparently only half of the story.
When B finally came home, I saw him for one of the last times. It was disturbing. He was 19/20 years old, was a hard core Marine and could barely hold a conversation with his friends, who each said he wasn't talking much to them. He sat in a corner, smoking, drinking and not looking entirely pleasant. I eventually made my way over to him, feeling pretty awkward and we started chatting. We moved outside and he finally just looked right at me and said, "Every night we had to clean our tanks off. I cleaned body parts.... I ran over people who I couldn't even see, they were little white blobs on my screen." In that moment, I saw for the first time since probably fourth grade, a deep sorrow in his deep blue eyes, something he'd not allowed himself to do in years - feel.
After talking with him that night, we lost touch and I really don't know where he is right now. Last I'd heard, he was off somewhere in the south, dating a nurse, got into a motorcycle accident and busted up his leg (making reenlistment no longer an option) and finishing wood floors. Never the same, always changed, forever broken.
All of these memories and more came flooding back to me last week in my Bible study group as a woman there shared her brother's experience. It was not quite the same, since her brother was someone we knew, never conditioned himself to feel nothing. He was in T's last D-team, the boys who are all getting married now, graduated from college and have "real" jobs. Her brother was sent to Afghanistan with his Army unit, fought on the front lines, experienced his best friend dying in his arms and is now home, serving the rest of his enlistment with the National Guard. His sister described to us a 22 year old who is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and getting very little support from the Army or the National Guard. They are very worried about him, and while he first had plans to join the police academy he can now only manage to wait tables at a local restaurant.
For anyone who has read my blog, you know I'm no anti-war protestor, in fact, I'm not even anti-war. I support what our troops are doing in the Middle East, but I think we owe it to each of them and their families to continue to support them in every way possible when they return. There was a hearing today in Maryland about the pathetic services these soldiers receive when they return and I'm more convinced than ever that we can do way better than this for people who choose to defend freedom around the world. This is serious, and for my two examples here, there are millions more, past and present, who deserve better than three power point presentations and volunteer counselors. That is just pitiful.
In a Pit
OK, let's just face it. If this were a book review blog, it would have sadly failed prior to onset! I'm just not a huge reader, but I'm trying. I just finished the book In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson and by far my favorite chapter of all is right there at the end - all about being foolish. Here's my favorite excerpt (well, one of the anyway!):
But here's the deal: If you aren't willing to look foolish, you're foolish. In fact, faith is the willingness to look foolish.
Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish buying maternity clothes at ninety. The Israelites looked foolish marching around Jericho blowing trumpets. David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot. Beniah looked foolish chasing a lion. The wise men looked foolish chasing a yonder star. Peter looked foolish stepping out of a boat in the middle of the lake. And Jesus looked foolish hanging half-naked on the cross.
But that's the essence of faith. And the results speak for themselves...
... Can I tell you why some people have never killed a giant or walked on water or seen the walls come tumbling down? It's because they weren't willing to look foolish...
... The greatest breakthroughs, miracles and turning points in Scripture can be traced back to someone who was willing to look foolish. (pp 149-150)
This whole chapter really resonated with me. I really do think that I don't act foolish enough about Jesus, but I kind of chuckled to myself the other day when 2 of my Facebook friends, one I know very little of (but love his wife!) and the other an old friend from my pre-college days, both chose as a Superlative for me "Most Likely to Kick it With Jesus". Really? I'm glad they think so... or am I? Well, anyway, I love Jesus and if my friends don't know that then I'm in deep do-do.
Back to the book (this is why I don't do book reviews - I'm way too ADHD!).... I wonder to myself why we live so close to DC and we've not yet visited this guy's church. I've got another post on the horizon about why I think we have not wandered down south yet... that's for later. Back again. Here's what I love most about this book as a whole: it's a book for everyone who has a dream to chase. It's not a book about everything Christians do wrong (I'm really not liking those kinds) but about how to do life better, how to live, how to put your heart into living for God despite all the negative messages heading your directions. It's about chasing lions AND chasing dreams. I really think there's something for everyone, Christian or not, about grasping onto and holding onto passion. It's quite inspiring.
OK, so I'm not a great book reviewer, but I did love the book and thought of several people I'd love to have read it. It's been fun reading it in our small group, throwing around the ideas and our own dreams. So, if you have some time and can keep an open mind, I say give it a whirl. It's high on my list of recommendations. Now I'm off to tackle one of my lions: my (messy) house!!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
What Keeps YOU Up at Night?
I sometimes am so tired but just can't fall asleep. It's usually on days where I have a million things running through my head that I can't really process fully. I think today is one of those days. Here are some of those things:
1) T was stressed out - trip stuff, family stuff, work stuff all converging and nothing really getting accomplished.
2) My neighbor is going to have her baby today, we're pretty sure, so I'll probably end up sleeping on her couch tonight, getting her girls up... then again, mabye I won't!
3) A young mom in my Bible study group, who we've known since she was in high school, has been suffering from vertigo for the past few weeks. They just found a lesion on her brain stem today, will do an angiogram tomorrow. I'm praying for some good news in all this but not really seeing it.
4) T's dad will be having yet another biopsy on a new "funny looking thing" - he just completed chemo for his second cancer in a year.
5) We're having all our summer leaders here for lunch on Saturday - potentially around 30 people... and I really need to clean this place up!
6) We are still nowhere with our overnight accommodations in Vienna and Paris, just waiting on Buffy and Alison!
7) A father of one of my former students, whose sister I also know because I taught her daughter, passed away this weekend suddenly from complication due to diabetes. His funeral is tomorrow, but I'll be working while the whole family I work for attends... and that's OK.
8) Trying to plan a big fundraiser for our SPACE teams.... silent auction.... abiding by our church guidelines, which basically do not allow us to advertise or ask in church in any way (up front, bulletin, or on a website) for donations.... have actually gotten to the point of considering making spaghetti and meatball hats for everyone to wear to church to get a little attention. That's not too obvious, is it?
9) 4,000 deaths in Iraq.... what do I think of that?
and, finally, what has kept me alert and awake most often:
10) Amazingly, this week each of my Bible studies and books I'm reading and sermon on Sunday all have to do with faith. In girls grace adventures we even talked about the Shield of Faith today. What does this mean?
Now, maybe I can get some sleep.
1) T was stressed out - trip stuff, family stuff, work stuff all converging and nothing really getting accomplished.
2) My neighbor is going to have her baby today, we're pretty sure, so I'll probably end up sleeping on her couch tonight, getting her girls up... then again, mabye I won't!
3) A young mom in my Bible study group, who we've known since she was in high school, has been suffering from vertigo for the past few weeks. They just found a lesion on her brain stem today, will do an angiogram tomorrow. I'm praying for some good news in all this but not really seeing it.
4) T's dad will be having yet another biopsy on a new "funny looking thing" - he just completed chemo for his second cancer in a year.
5) We're having all our summer leaders here for lunch on Saturday - potentially around 30 people... and I really need to clean this place up!
6) We are still nowhere with our overnight accommodations in Vienna and Paris, just waiting on Buffy and Alison!
7) A father of one of my former students, whose sister I also know because I taught her daughter, passed away this weekend suddenly from complication due to diabetes. His funeral is tomorrow, but I'll be working while the whole family I work for attends... and that's OK.
8) Trying to plan a big fundraiser for our SPACE teams.... silent auction.... abiding by our church guidelines, which basically do not allow us to advertise or ask in church in any way (up front, bulletin, or on a website) for donations.... have actually gotten to the point of considering making spaghetti and meatball hats for everyone to wear to church to get a little attention. That's not too obvious, is it?
9) 4,000 deaths in Iraq.... what do I think of that?
and, finally, what has kept me alert and awake most often:
10) Amazingly, this week each of my Bible studies and books I'm reading and sermon on Sunday all have to do with faith. In girls grace adventures we even talked about the Shield of Faith today. What does this mean?
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Now, maybe I can get some sleep.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Happy Belated Easter!
Sorry it's a day late... but Happy Easter! The girls and I (T joined us on Friday) enjoyed our spring break in Connecticut. It was so nice to have a breather interjected into our lives of school, kid activities, kid sickness and missions trip planning. We had a great time with my mom, brother and sister-in-law and now.... we're baaaack!
I can't really think of one thing that stands out or one thing I should mention other than it was exactly what the doctor ordered. We DID have fun subjecting our CT relatives to taking the Myers Briggs and we also completed that assessment for my dad (postmortem) and it was exactly as I'd envisioned.... my brother and my father are one in the same! Other than the fact that, amazingly, my brother came out as an extrovert and my dad was clearly an introvert. I wasn't that far off from either of them, which brings me to my possible conclusion for my most recent MB change.
I've always been borderline S/N - sensing as opposed to intuitive. I've considered myself an S, as my dad was, but more recently have noticed I'm more of an N, and the description for that INTJ sounds way more like me. I was just wondering if, without my dad around to influence me - and he was a HUGE influence on me - if I'm able to let that N shine through more, since I don't have to seek his approval for anything! Just an observation, I have no idea if that's even possible.
OK - back to the real world. On Sunday in church, Pastor Dave made a statement that made me think a bit. It's from a verse that I have heard often:
He was speaking of things eternal, but mentioned the oxymoron it is to fix our eyes on something we can't see. We can only do that if we see things through the eyes of Christ. I'd never thought of that, but it's been swimming around in my head.
I'm so thankful that Christ conquered death, it doesn't even bother me when people think I'm crazy for believing. I think people are crazy not to believe, not to hope in something eternal. I want to be fixed on things unseen.
I can't really think of one thing that stands out or one thing I should mention other than it was exactly what the doctor ordered. We DID have fun subjecting our CT relatives to taking the Myers Briggs and we also completed that assessment for my dad (postmortem) and it was exactly as I'd envisioned.... my brother and my father are one in the same! Other than the fact that, amazingly, my brother came out as an extrovert and my dad was clearly an introvert. I wasn't that far off from either of them, which brings me to my possible conclusion for my most recent MB change.
I've always been borderline S/N - sensing as opposed to intuitive. I've considered myself an S, as my dad was, but more recently have noticed I'm more of an N, and the description for that INTJ sounds way more like me. I was just wondering if, without my dad around to influence me - and he was a HUGE influence on me - if I'm able to let that N shine through more, since I don't have to seek his approval for anything! Just an observation, I have no idea if that's even possible.
OK - back to the real world. On Sunday in church, Pastor Dave made a statement that made me think a bit. It's from a verse that I have heard often:
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
He was speaking of things eternal, but mentioned the oxymoron it is to fix our eyes on something we can't see. We can only do that if we see things through the eyes of Christ. I'd never thought of that, but it's been swimming around in my head.
I'm so thankful that Christ conquered death, it doesn't even bother me when people think I'm crazy for believing. I think people are crazy not to believe, not to hope in something eternal. I want to be fixed on things unseen.
Monday, March 17, 2008
La Boutique de Mon Amie
Last week I stopped in at my cousin's new boutique in Old Ellicott City. It's the most adorable little shop. She and her friend have been working on this place for months and their grand opening is this weekend. If you are going to be around for Easter, you should stop in. The have a serious range of jewelry, gifts and home goods, all price ranges and quality. I picked up a cute purse for $29, an adorable watch for $9 and some linen home spray for $5. They offer purses, fine jewelry, home scents, scarves, furniture.... and the shop is adorable. It's situated in the "Tongue Row" area off the public parking lot and is sandwiched in between a great food/gift shop and a jewelry repair shop. They have three floors packed with everything a woman could want. Great for gifts or even for yourself! ;-) And just like my cousin, it's perfect!
Register this weekend if you visit to win diamond earrings (a favorite of my cousin's)!
Register this weekend if you visit to win diamond earrings (a favorite of my cousin's)!
Who Am I?
Over the past few months, I've been somewhat contemplating my Meyer-Briggs Assessment. For most of my adult life, I've always tested as an ISTJ and for the most part have been that. But more recently, I can see that I'm not nearly as disciplined or refined as most ISTJ's I know. In my assessment, I'm totally an I, totally a J and mostly a T. My S/N is completely borderline, and I think I may have somewhere over the past couple of years crossed over to an N. Here's a little description of both:
The Portait of the Inspector (ISTJ)
Inspector Guardians look carefully and thoroughly at the people and institutions around them. Making up perhaps as much as ten percent of the general population, Inspectors are characterized by decisiveness in practical affairs, are the guardians of institutions, and if only one adjective could be selected, "superdependable" would best describe them. Whether at home or at work, Inspectors are nothing if not dependable, particularly when it comes to examining the people and products they are responsible for-quietly seeing to it that uniform quality is maintained, and that those around them uphold certain standards of attitude and conduct.
These quiet, no-nonsense Guardians have a distaste for and distrust of fanciness in speech, dress, and living space. Their words tend to be simple and down-to-earth, not showy or high-flown; their clothes are often homespun and conservative rather than of the latest fashion; and their home and work environments are usually neat, orderly, and traditional, rather than up-to-date or luxurious. In their choice of personal property (cars, furnishings, jewelry, and so on) price and durability are just as important as comfort or appearance. Classics, antiques, and heirlooms are especially valued, having achieved a certain time-honored status-Inspectors prefer the old-fashioned to the newfangled every time. Even on vacation, Inspectors tend not to be attracted by exotic foods, beverages, or locales.
Their thoroughness and orderliness, combined with their interest in legality and standardization, leads Inspectors to a number of occupations that call for the careful administration of goods and services. Inspectors feel right at home with difficult, detailed forms and columns of figures, and thus they make excellent bank examiners, auditors, accountants, and tax attorneys. Managing investments in securities is likely to interest this type, particularly investments in municipal bonds and blue-chip securities. Inspectors are not likely to take chances either with their own or others' money, and the thought of a bankrupt nation, state, institution, or family gives them more than a little uneasiness. The idea of dishonoring a contract also bothers an Inspector -their word is their bond-and they naturally communicate a message of trustworthiness and stability, which can make them successful in business. With their eye for detail, Inspectors make good business men and women, librarians, dentists, optometrists, legal secretaries, and law researchers. High school and college teachers of business administration, home economics, physical education, civics, and history tend to be Inspectors, as do quartermaster officers in the military.
Queen Elizabeth II, Harry S. Truman, Warren Buffet, Queen Victoria, James K. Polk,
and J.D. Rockefeller are examples of Inspector Guardians.
Here is the INTJ:
(Both descriptions can be found at www.Keirsey.com)
It's a little crazy that one letter can make such a big difference, but I feel like I'm not strongly either, but may have made the shift. Either way, I'm just plain crazy. There's no if's, and's or but's about it. I've highlighted in each what I'm most like. If you think I'm wrong, have at it! Sometimes, I scare myself.The Portait of the Mastermind (INTJ)
Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition, it is the contingency planning or entailment organizing role that reaches the highest development in Masterminds. Entailing or contingency planning is not an informative activity, rather it is a directive one in which the planner tells others what to do and in what order to do it. As the organizing capabilities the Masterminds increase so does their inclination to take charge of whatever is going on.
It is in their abilities that Masterminds differ from the other Rationals, while in most of their attitudes they are just like the others. However there is one attitude that sets them apart from other Rationals: they tend to be much more self-confident than the rest, having, for obscure reasons, developed a very strong will. They are rather rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population. Being very judicious, decisions come naturally to them; indeed, they can hardly rest until they have things settled, decided, and set. They are the people who are able to formulate coherent and comprehensive contingency plans, hence contingency organizers or "entailers."
Masterminds will adopt ideas only if they are useful, which is to say if they work efficiently toward accomplishing the Mastermind's well-defined goals. Natural leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command of projects or groups, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once in charge, however, Masterminds are the supreme pragmatists, seeing reality as a crucible for refining their strategies for goal-directed action. In a sense, Masterminds approach reality as they would a giant chess board, always seeking strategies that have a high payoff, and always devising contingency plans in case of error or adversity. To the Mastermind, organizational structure and operational procedures are never arbitrary, never set in concrete, but are quite malleable and can be changed, improved, streamlined. In their drive for efficient action, Masterminds are the most open-minded of all the types. No idea is too far-fetched to be entertained-if it is useful. Masterminds are natural brainstormers, always open to new concepts and, in fact, aggressively seeking them. They are also alert to the consequences of applying new ideas or positions. Theories which cannot be made to work are quickly discarded by the Masterminds. On the other hand, Masterminds can be quite ruthless in implementing effective ideas, seldom counting personal cost in terms of time and energy.
Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Ulysses S. Grant, Frideriche Nietsche, Niels Bohr, Peter the Great, Stephen Hawking, John Maynard Keynes, Lise Meitner", Ayn Rand and Sir Isaac Newton are examples of Rational Masterminds.
(Both descriptions can be found at www.Keirsey.com)
Happy St. Patty's Day!
My mother always told me I should wear orange on St. Patrick's Day because I'm Scottish. I like orange, but green is my favorite color. I have no problem finding something clean that's green in my laundry, so today I'm wearing green!! Plus, I'm really in the mood for spring, so green is a color I'm happy to wear!
The girls just made me a "gourmet" lunch. They set the table and made a fruit salad consisting of grapes, apple and carrots, peanut butter sandwiches, mini Pringles, cheese curls and a dessert of rice krispy treats. This is what happens when we run out of food! Hehe... but it was fun. They cleaned up the kitchen - and that's all that really matters!!
OK - off to pick up Kt's meds, the dogs, and get some laundry done so we can head up to Connecticut tomorrow for the rest of our spring break. Once there, I'm just going to relax!
The girls just made me a "gourmet" lunch. They set the table and made a fruit salad consisting of grapes, apple and carrots, peanut butter sandwiches, mini Pringles, cheese curls and a dessert of rice krispy treats. This is what happens when we run out of food! Hehe... but it was fun. They cleaned up the kitchen - and that's all that really matters!!
OK - off to pick up Kt's meds, the dogs, and get some laundry done so we can head up to Connecticut tomorrow for the rest of our spring break. Once there, I'm just going to relax!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Retreat Recap
This past weekend, we had the joy of hanging out on our spring high school retreat. It's hard for me to fathom that my own last high school retreat was 20 years ago!! Our kids stay at this really cool retreat place on the North Chesapeake Bay, complete with a high ropes course, climbing walls, gym, plenty of space, nice rooms, great food.... it was amazing! T and I and the girls stayed in a hotel like dorm - the girls even had their own room.
As we roamed around on an incredibly beautiful day yesterday, so many juxta posed thoughts went through my head. I'm sad to see some of our favorite seniors head off to college soon, but so excited for where they are headed. I'm so scared to send these kids into the world, yet so hopeful for the future because of them. Their silliness makes me roll my eyes, their enormous amount of potential to impact the world for Christ overwhelms me. I'm just amazed that they let us into their world, I'm honored.
I wish that I could share more than just a glimpse with you of just how important they are to us. What high schoolers do you know - more than 150 - who would embrace a group of leaders in their 30's? I mean embrace, encourage, thank, love... in a way that makes me feel like I'm just inadequate as a friend! We are so blessed year after year with a group of kids like this.
Twenty years after high school there are so many things I would have loved to have shared with them, but it was their weekend, their youth, their time to process life at their level. T did a session with them on creating, embracing, possibility and then creating. We spent a lot of last week talking through his session, thinking of worthwhile things to share, trying to shape something that would resonate with teenagers. It was really a message from T's heart, to speak into the hearts of kids that in our life here on earth, we matter and we make a difference. These are the kids who have the influence to shape culture.
One of our senior interns chose to get baptized on this trip, in the frigidly cold bay. It was really an amazing event and the people who shared about her and her impact on their worlds really speaks to the quality of kids we are launching out to the world. As she came up out of the water, I was imagining that the ripples she created were much like the ripples she will create in the world, the reach she will have because she's totally sold out, engaging and applying all that we've invested in her. More importantly, all that Christ means to her - and she's taking it with her into the world. It's some great imagery and some incredible energy.
So, to the kids in cpr who even bother to read the blog of a 30 something leader's wife, just know that we don't consider any of our time spent with you or given to you a sacrifice. It's more than an honor and our pleasure that you allow us to influence you in even small ways, that you are interested in being invested in, and the hope that you give us creates an unspeakable joy in our hearts. We do it for Him, and we think you get that. What we give to you does not even compare to what we've received - you've touched our hearts forever and we're happy that you keep us at least a little young!! Just know that God uses you in our lives and we thank you for your authenticity in His name.
thanks!
As we roamed around on an incredibly beautiful day yesterday, so many juxta posed thoughts went through my head. I'm sad to see some of our favorite seniors head off to college soon, but so excited for where they are headed. I'm so scared to send these kids into the world, yet so hopeful for the future because of them. Their silliness makes me roll my eyes, their enormous amount of potential to impact the world for Christ overwhelms me. I'm just amazed that they let us into their world, I'm honored.
I wish that I could share more than just a glimpse with you of just how important they are to us. What high schoolers do you know - more than 150 - who would embrace a group of leaders in their 30's? I mean embrace, encourage, thank, love... in a way that makes me feel like I'm just inadequate as a friend! We are so blessed year after year with a group of kids like this.
Twenty years after high school there are so many things I would have loved to have shared with them, but it was their weekend, their youth, their time to process life at their level. T did a session with them on creating, embracing, possibility and then creating. We spent a lot of last week talking through his session, thinking of worthwhile things to share, trying to shape something that would resonate with teenagers. It was really a message from T's heart, to speak into the hearts of kids that in our life here on earth, we matter and we make a difference. These are the kids who have the influence to shape culture.
One of our senior interns chose to get baptized on this trip, in the frigidly cold bay. It was really an amazing event and the people who shared about her and her impact on their worlds really speaks to the quality of kids we are launching out to the world. As she came up out of the water, I was imagining that the ripples she created were much like the ripples she will create in the world, the reach she will have because she's totally sold out, engaging and applying all that we've invested in her. More importantly, all that Christ means to her - and she's taking it with her into the world. It's some great imagery and some incredible energy.
So, to the kids in cpr who even bother to read the blog of a 30 something leader's wife, just know that we don't consider any of our time spent with you or given to you a sacrifice. It's more than an honor and our pleasure that you allow us to influence you in even small ways, that you are interested in being invested in, and the hope that you give us creates an unspeakable joy in our hearts. We do it for Him, and we think you get that. What we give to you does not even compare to what we've received - you've touched our hearts forever and we're happy that you keep us at least a little young!! Just know that God uses you in our lives and we thank you for your authenticity in His name.
thanks!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sick World
While we're on the subject of sick.... are we now glorifying the call girl/prostitute that took down New York's governor??? I'm just completely appalled that she's all over the news, getting the press she wants, all while that family is falling apart. Have some decency, news outlets, and give that mom and three daughters whose lives were just torn apart a break!! Oh, for shame!
Sick Sandwich
No, I'm not planning on getting you sick before lunch! Just a brief recap of my week... Monday - sick child, Tuesday - work, Wednesday - sub, Thursday - work, Friday - sick child. My week is a sick sandwich. Now I'm off to shower and take care of a child with a cold all day!
Suing Proponents of Global Warming
So, the founder of the Weather Channel is proposing a law suit to sue proponents, such as Al Gore, about global warming. Apparently, these proponents are unwilling to enter into a debate about the existence of global warming, instead "scamming" the world into literally buying into their theory of global warming. I think he has a valid point here and I'll be following this story.
In essence, the global warming propaganda may have a very negative impact on the environment should it be proven to be wrong. That GW proponents have been very strong in their criticism of environmental issues, all in the name of an unproven theory. The sad thing is that many of their suggestions would have a positive environmental impact and should not be discarded. But should they be proven wrong, especially in a high profile court suit, the impact could be devastating for them and their suggestions, which may be discarded after a heavy hit.
Really, without the global warming scare tactic, we really do need to be better stewards of God's creation, looking for alternative forms of energy, reducing waste, and being more aware of the impact humankind has on nature. We owe it to ourselves, but more importantly to our children, to do all those things and more. We need to be forward thinkers when it comes to environmental impact. Global warming aside, Al Gore gone, what can we do to improve life on earth for future generations?
In essence, the global warming propaganda may have a very negative impact on the environment should it be proven to be wrong. That GW proponents have been very strong in their criticism of environmental issues, all in the name of an unproven theory. The sad thing is that many of their suggestions would have a positive environmental impact and should not be discarded. But should they be proven wrong, especially in a high profile court suit, the impact could be devastating for them and their suggestions, which may be discarded after a heavy hit.
Really, without the global warming scare tactic, we really do need to be better stewards of God's creation, looking for alternative forms of energy, reducing waste, and being more aware of the impact humankind has on nature. We owe it to ourselves, but more importantly to our children, to do all those things and more. We need to be forward thinkers when it comes to environmental impact. Global warming aside, Al Gore gone, what can we do to improve life on earth for future generations?
Passover/Easter....
So... I've been having a problem with this Passover and Easter not coinciding this year. I don't understand all the intricacies of how they "choose" when certain holidays will fall, but these two are supposed to happen together in my mind. At least they did in the Bible, with great historical and religious significance.
Passover is the Jewish holiday where the Jews in Egypt painted the blood of Passover lamb over their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would passover their homes when he came through the land to take the firstborn, the tenth plague. After that plague, when all the Egyptians woke up to find their firstborn sons dead, the pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt - he freed them.
The very first Easter, Jesus entered Jerusalem on what Christians call Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter. He was arriving for the Passover festival, which lasts a week. His Last Supper was a Passover Feast and he rose from the dead, or conquered the Angel of Death, on the last day of Passover.... no coincidence there. It was planned that way by God, although I'm not sure that modern Jewish culture recognizes the significance of the two events happening exactly the way they did.
So, back to 2008... just doesn't seem right to me! Easter with no Passover!
Passover is the Jewish holiday where the Jews in Egypt painted the blood of Passover lamb over their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would passover their homes when he came through the land to take the firstborn, the tenth plague. After that plague, when all the Egyptians woke up to find their firstborn sons dead, the pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt - he freed them.
The very first Easter, Jesus entered Jerusalem on what Christians call Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter. He was arriving for the Passover festival, which lasts a week. His Last Supper was a Passover Feast and he rose from the dead, or conquered the Angel of Death, on the last day of Passover.... no coincidence there. It was planned that way by God, although I'm not sure that modern Jewish culture recognizes the significance of the two events happening exactly the way they did.
So, back to 2008... just doesn't seem right to me! Easter with no Passover!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Mathematical Mess!
I have a difficult time with panel findings that suggest that we, in the US, "typically cover too many topics without enough depth." They discovered this after researching why our *test scores* are so much lower than over countries around the world. Well, let me help you out, oh wise panel. Why do we teach soooo many topics without any depth??? Because we give *standardized tests* to see how our students are doing compared with the rest of the world in March/April.... and those tests covers a *wide range* of topics that teachers are told to cover before the *test* so that kids will do better on the *test*. We aren't teaching kids math, we're teaching them how to do better on a *standardized test* - THAT'S WHY WE ARE FALLING BEHIND!!!!! Just had to get that out!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Have Learned Nothing!
I feel, in a way, that I'm back to square one here. With everything I have on my plate and my attempts this year to simplify and say "no" to more things, I found myself just not able to function with MBS at 7:30 this morning. For those of you who don't know, that's just way too early for me! I was sound asleep, awoken abruptly by a call for help. Those are the kinds I just can't seem to decline.
To make matters even worse, my husband, also sound asleep, even though his alarm had already gone off, didn't bother to lie for me. I guess under any other circumstances I would have preferred he not lie, but this time I really needed him to tell this person that I was not here - I mean, they would believe that, right?? OK, I'm stretching a bit!
Anyway, I had plans for today - gym, laundry, visit my cousin's new boutique (more on that later!), sign Kt up for tennis camp, pick up more essential groceries, clean up a bit around here..... instead, I ended up subbing for mother's day out. Why? Because when she said, "Are you free to sub today? I'm in a bind." I could not for the life of me think of one good reason I could not sub. At least not one that would mean anything to anyone, and I just couldn't lie. I'm, what my husband so lovingly refers to me as, a sucker.
So, my day just added to my mushy brain... morning/early afternoon spent with 2 year olds, direct flight from there to new boutique, home for a 25 minute break before the girls got home, homework, gymnastics, 15 minutes for dinner, off to Girls Grace Adventure.... home to again sit around comatose, brain dead and wondering how I'll get everything done, now that I have to work tomorrow.
Well, at least the boutique was fun, fun, fun!!
To make matters even worse, my husband, also sound asleep, even though his alarm had already gone off, didn't bother to lie for me. I guess under any other circumstances I would have preferred he not lie, but this time I really needed him to tell this person that I was not here - I mean, they would believe that, right?? OK, I'm stretching a bit!
Anyway, I had plans for today - gym, laundry, visit my cousin's new boutique (more on that later!), sign Kt up for tennis camp, pick up more essential groceries, clean up a bit around here..... instead, I ended up subbing for mother's day out. Why? Because when she said, "Are you free to sub today? I'm in a bind." I could not for the life of me think of one good reason I could not sub. At least not one that would mean anything to anyone, and I just couldn't lie. I'm, what my husband so lovingly refers to me as, a sucker.
So, my day just added to my mushy brain... morning/early afternoon spent with 2 year olds, direct flight from there to new boutique, home for a 25 minute break before the girls got home, homework, gymnastics, 15 minutes for dinner, off to Girls Grace Adventure.... home to again sit around comatose, brain dead and wondering how I'll get everything done, now that I have to work tomorrow.
Well, at least the boutique was fun, fun, fun!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Back to that Mush...
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, because T is doing all this Strengthfinders stuff. One of my strengths is responsibility, and right now that one is really leading me down the path to a major coronary! I just hate it when things are left unresolved. Whether it be something someone did without explanation, a task I'm responsible for that cannot be resolved right this minute or something I just have no control over yet feel attached to for some reason. I turn to mush when too many things I'm responsible for are hanging in the balance. It's a monster of my own creation and it seems a life I'm destined for!! Now I just have to go back and read through all that responsibility stuff in that book to find out how to get out of this mush!
M.B.S.
I started this post about 5 minutes ago... just as a message flashed up on screen: "There are other people logged onto this computer. Are you sure you want to shut down?" Then, black screen. I was thinking to myself, "What just happened??" as I realized my chair was depressing the power button..... therefore, proving once again that I do, in fact, suffer from Mushy Brain Syndrome!
This happens to me 1) when things that don't normally happen happen (like Em staying home from school yesterday, knocking off my whole weekly schedule, and T forgetting to cancel our babysitter so we were completely dumbfounded when someone entered our house during dinner last night!), 2) when I have too many things going on at one (sick kids, messed up travel plans, work, Girls Grace Adventure, interviews this week for the new Children's Ministry director, going on retreat, going to CT for spring break, neighbors complaining to me about my child who is doorbell ditching!), and 3) when I realize that I'm getting older and I just can't hold everything up in my head as well as I used to!
Today, after spending last night trying to figure what to do about Vienna, for the 4th night in a row!, I went off to work. I could barely wake up this morning and never once thought I might be forgetting anything!! It wasn't until T was telling me about his day and his meeting at church that something foggy started to appear in my mushy brain. He said something like, "I showed up at church at the same time all these Connections women were leaving....." and it hit me. I read through my chapter last night, finished up my questions and was all set to go to that this morning... just like I do every Tuesday morning. What shocked me was that I did not even once, until he said, even think about Connections, or the fact that it was Tuesday. I made it to work, so I must have known.... but I have no idea why the other commitment never registered.
I'm officially mush.
This happens to me 1) when things that don't normally happen happen (like Em staying home from school yesterday, knocking off my whole weekly schedule, and T forgetting to cancel our babysitter so we were completely dumbfounded when someone entered our house during dinner last night!), 2) when I have too many things going on at one (sick kids, messed up travel plans, work, Girls Grace Adventure, interviews this week for the new Children's Ministry director, going on retreat, going to CT for spring break, neighbors complaining to me about my child who is doorbell ditching!), and 3) when I realize that I'm getting older and I just can't hold everything up in my head as well as I used to!
Today, after spending last night trying to figure what to do about Vienna, for the 4th night in a row!, I went off to work. I could barely wake up this morning and never once thought I might be forgetting anything!! It wasn't until T was telling me about his day and his meeting at church that something foggy started to appear in my mushy brain. He said something like, "I showed up at church at the same time all these Connections women were leaving....." and it hit me. I read through my chapter last night, finished up my questions and was all set to go to that this morning... just like I do every Tuesday morning. What shocked me was that I did not even once, until he said, even think about Connections, or the fact that it was Tuesday. I made it to work, so I must have known.... but I have no idea why the other commitment never registered.
I'm officially mush.
Monday, March 10, 2008
HELP!
It's been almost a week now of researching, calling, bugged out eyes looking for a place for a group of 26 to stay in Vienna for cheap!! Most of the hostiles we've called won't help us, hotels are outrageously expensive and we are beginning to think we're running out of options. It's difficult to believe that we can't find even one reasonably priced place to stay in Vienna. Except that the dollar has taken a huge dive and we just can't swim against that current anymore. Pray for us!
Murphy's Law
I was rearing to go this morning... Had my bathing suit ready to go for some pool time. Then, late last night (or early this morning?) Em threw up. I had visions instantly of days home, everyone getting sick, missing a week of school, the gym... Kt also woke up with a sore throat and swollen tonsils again. Note to self: don't dwell ever again on the thought that your family has remained healthy while the stomach flu and regular flu are raging through every other family you know!!
Anyway, I'm hoping for the best! Maybe a false alarm? Em has been fine since she was sick. She just finished breakfast, and while I'm keeping her home today we are wondering if the sour cream she ate last night with our take out Mexican food was bad. She was the only one who ate it, and from all the descriptions of the strain of stomach flu going around now, she definitely doesn't fit that bill.
Kt went off to school, albeit unwillingly. Not because of her throat, but just because she's in that "if we're a free country, why should I have to go to school" stage. It's getting a little old around here. I completed my diatribe on how because we're a free country you GET to go to school (all parents must do this!) and sent her on her way.
Here I am, sitting around all day with my "sick" Bindi. I was laughing yesterday because her "lizzie" - the purple gummy lizard - is now taped in the middle and apparently has been stuck to her ceiling twice now!! That's no way to treat a venemous lizard! LOL At least she still uses her gloves! ;-)
Anyway, I'm hoping for the best! Maybe a false alarm? Em has been fine since she was sick. She just finished breakfast, and while I'm keeping her home today we are wondering if the sour cream she ate last night with our take out Mexican food was bad. She was the only one who ate it, and from all the descriptions of the strain of stomach flu going around now, she definitely doesn't fit that bill.
Kt went off to school, albeit unwillingly. Not because of her throat, but just because she's in that "if we're a free country, why should I have to go to school" stage. It's getting a little old around here. I completed my diatribe on how because we're a free country you GET to go to school (all parents must do this!) and sent her on her way.
Here I am, sitting around all day with my "sick" Bindi. I was laughing yesterday because her "lizzie" - the purple gummy lizard - is now taped in the middle and apparently has been stuck to her ceiling twice now!! That's no way to treat a venemous lizard! LOL At least she still uses her gloves! ;-)
Sunday, March 09, 2008
To Hungary and Beyond!
Always an adventure - actually putting our plan into action... and asking fellow laborers for some support! Here is the support letter... Yup, we're crazy. and we know it! ;-) You're invited to join us~
Make sure you put in your supporter's letter that you blessed many families in immeasurable ways. Let them know that your team invested not only their time and resources, but their whole hearts to serve the families of Christian Associates. We are so grateful for all that your supporters have given so that we could be blessed!
~MR, serving in France
Dear friends, family, faithful supporters and anyone else who is receiving this!
It has been nearly a year since we initiated realizing a dream of ours – to serve Christ together as a family in some capacity outside of the US, our comfort zone. Many of you, I’m sure, remember receiving our letter last year, maybe wondering if we were out of our minds! If that’s what you were thinking, you may wonder again as we are hoping to return this year in the same capacity as last only with the added responsibility of being the sole team in charge of providing a full fledged children’s program for this amazing group of church planters in Europe.
Our trip last year was a growing and learning experience in so many ways. We had opportunities to connect with families who had given up their comfy homes in the US to serve in some of the most spiritually darkened places in Europe. We learned of the struggles they had adjusting to new cultures, languages, and the obvious disdain for America amidst the Iraq war. But even more apparent to us was the effect this had on their children, referred to as third culture kids, as they try to comprehend the passion their parents have for the lost in Europe as that relates to their roots, their socialization and their futures. Providing a short escape from the often stressful and uncertain lives of church planters was so much more important, and took so many various forms, than any of us had realized.
This summer, as part of SPACE [Students Prepared to Act for Christ’s Empire] - Grace’s student ministry mission component, we are returning to serve in Sopron, Hungary during Christian Associates International [www.christianassociates.org] annual staff conference. We will be traveling from July 22 to August 3 with a total team of 26 students and leaders, architecting an experience for the kids of CAI staff. While the opportunity to serve CAI and their kids is immensely rewarding, we also know that this environment is a real time laboratory for our students to learn about global cultures, leadership development and creating Kindgom threads out of nothing.
Of course, we can’t do this all alone and we would love your prayers and financial support. You can pray for our leadership, that the students on our team would create the future and that our children would continue to live lives bigger than themselves. You could also pray for our other SPACE teams for this summer – Baltimore, New Orleans, England and Cameroon. Financially, we need to raise $10,000 for our family of four and your financial support would also be a huge blessing. There are two ways you can financially support our team. First, you may send a check in the enclosed envelope with the response card. Please make checks payable to Grace Community Church and in the note section please specify, "SPACE Hungary - Shengs". You may also contribute via the Internet, by clicking the "Online Giving!" link at the top of the Grace Church webpage - http://www.gcconline.org. Click the "eGive" link and after entering the appropriate donor and bank information, fill in the amount for "Short Term Missions" and specify for "SPACE Hungary - Shengs".
Thank you so much for your support and prayers. We have huge expectations for this team traveling to Hungary with us – that they will serve and sacrifice for many this summer and that the spiritual climate of Europe will be different because of many of them.
I don't know if y'all realize just how much you give to us in coming to serve. Our first year, we were beaten down, discouraged, frustrated, humbled and broken. We were also grown, stretched, challenged and provided for in ways we could never imagine. The gift you gave us was a chance to process this stuff for significant periods of time, knowing our kids were entertained, safe and above all LOVED. It's hard to express how much the week at conference means to us-how much we look forward to it each year. Knowing that there are people there who believe in what we are doing and are willing to encourage us in that is amazing. THANK YOU!!!!!
~MR
~The Shengs
Hungary 2008
P.S.
Oh, and daddy. One more thing. Do you remember your last words to me.... "Keep yourself busy." I've been working on that. T was in the middle of taking the class Perspectives on the World Christian Movement when you died, and from that was birthed an idea that God has blessed year after year. He has spent the last 5 years developing missionally minded high school leaders, taking them on cross cultural missions trips and launching them into the world with a more globalized view of God's intent for all the nations of the world. We call it SPACE, or Students Prepared to Act for Christ's Empire.
After several years of him taking groups out of the country each summer, we finally realized our own dream of exposing your granddaughters to another culture outside of the US. We took them to serve a church planting missions organization and they met tons of missionary kids and families from all over Europe. They are both THRILLED to go back this year, although Kt's heart is really leaning towards that old dream of hers... to go to Africa.
I just thought you might like to know what kind of legacy you've left here on earth. Your sister sent me your old freshman initiation beenie from Kings, and mommy begged me to throw that old thing away. I just kind find it in my heart to do that, because it reminds me of your commitment to follow Christ in whatever circumstances He led you into. Of your heart to serve others and your devotion to His body of believers. Eventually I'll have to give to mommy (you know how that is!), but for now I'm just so incredibly thankful that God gave me you as a dad.
Of course, I'm wishing right now that those streets of gold were shippable because we have quite a daunting task ahead, raising funds to take a whole family overseas. But right now, that beenie reminds me that God does bigger things than we could ever dream and our worries are all in vain. I know our task is larger than life right now, but eventually it's fruition will be realized, either this summer or in the years to come in Europe and beyond.
After several years of him taking groups out of the country each summer, we finally realized our own dream of exposing your granddaughters to another culture outside of the US. We took them to serve a church planting missions organization and they met tons of missionary kids and families from all over Europe. They are both THRILLED to go back this year, although Kt's heart is really leaning towards that old dream of hers... to go to Africa.
I just thought you might like to know what kind of legacy you've left here on earth. Your sister sent me your old freshman initiation beenie from Kings, and mommy begged me to throw that old thing away. I just kind find it in my heart to do that, because it reminds me of your commitment to follow Christ in whatever circumstances He led you into. Of your heart to serve others and your devotion to His body of believers. Eventually I'll have to give to mommy (you know how that is!), but for now I'm just so incredibly thankful that God gave me you as a dad.
Of course, I'm wishing right now that those streets of gold were shippable because we have quite a daunting task ahead, raising funds to take a whole family overseas. But right now, that beenie reminds me that God does bigger things than we could ever dream and our worries are all in vain. I know our task is larger than life right now, but eventually it's fruition will be realized, either this summer or in the years to come in Europe and beyond.
California Tortilla Warning!
We have one of these fast food Mexican joints in our area. We love their food, but we have this one problem - they cannot get a single "To Go" order correct! We've only had minor issues when we eat in, but when we take out, it's always a mess. Over Christmas break, my brother went there with 6 orders. Only two were correct when he got home! The rest were almost unrecognizable. A spinach burrito with steak on it, chicken tacos with no meat and the best - a children's quesadilla with no queso!! Yup, that's right - they melted two tortillas together with no cheese in between! In fact, there was nothing to speak of in the middle. I wonder how they stayed together!!
T went out tonight to bring us home some California Tortilla, and Kt even told him to make sure her quesadilla had cheese in it. He managed to check that, but not our combination chicken/steak fajitas with no chicken. I sent him back for my chicken because... well, he should have known!! Please, CT, pay more attention to your take out orders!! Or we'll have to resort to Taco Bell!
T went out tonight to bring us home some California Tortilla, and Kt even told him to make sure her quesadilla had cheese in it. He managed to check that, but not our combination chicken/steak fajitas with no chicken. I sent him back for my chicken because... well, he should have known!! Please, CT, pay more attention to your take out orders!! Or we'll have to resort to Taco Bell!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Bindi
Em and I watched the wildlife show by Bindi Erwin last night - you know, the crocodile hunter's daughter. It's right up Em's alley! She couldn't stop watching, was totally drawn in and now.... she IS Bindi... She just came into the office here asking me if I wanted to meet "lizzie". She proceeded to sit down, and while taking out some old gloves from her fanny pack informed me that she needed gloves because lizzy is venemous. After putting on her gloves, she pulled out a purple gummy lizard. She is in her element!
Friday, March 07, 2008
I Want to Take That Class!
Looks like Tony Blair will be moving to my beautiful Connecticut, spending days teaching right down the street from my brother! The Prime Minister is heading to Yale New Haven to lead seminars on faith and globalization. Wow. I'm impressed. Of course, what dad would turn down an offer to teach at his child's school??
NightLight
I have a friend whose husband works for the State Department and they are serving right now in Bangkok. I'm always excited to receive her emails with pictures of their travels, their three little girls and also news from their church they are involved in over there. In many ways, their job has afforded them a witness in a foreign land where few would choose to serve, and many families have chosen to use their time in Thailand to make a difference.
My friend has been involved in a ministry of their church, NightLight, which attempts to save women and children from forced slavery. It's an incredible ministry and their efforts have proven very fruitful. This particular cause has received a lot of attention lately, but not nearly enough I'm afraid. Human trafficking is a huge industry and it's practiced all over the world, including in the U.S.
If you have a chance, browse their website - the jewelry is beautiful! Finding profitable alternatives and lifetime trades for the women they save is a priority if they are going to make a difference. Here's an excerpt from their newsletter:
Pray for that ministry, if you feel led, and the many others around the world who are dedicated to ending human trafficking.
My friend has been involved in a ministry of their church, NightLight, which attempts to save women and children from forced slavery. It's an incredible ministry and their efforts have proven very fruitful. This particular cause has received a lot of attention lately, but not nearly enough I'm afraid. Human trafficking is a huge industry and it's practiced all over the world, including in the U.S.
If you have a chance, browse their website - the jewelry is beautiful! Finding profitable alternatives and lifetime trades for the women they save is a priority if they are going to make a difference. Here's an excerpt from their newsletter:
We have been limiting the number of women coming to work at NightLight since the end of last year. One woman who applied for work was on our waiting list. Mid-February she came to us again. This time she got down on her knees begging us for a job. She said she just couldn't handle working at the bar anymore. Although we had tried to hold off new employees we just couldn't turn her down. We accepted her in spite of our limitations. Last week this woman chose to give her life to Christ. Once again God has demonstrated His sovereignty. God brings the women to us. They come for a decent job; they find life. We feel limited in space, in resources, in sufficient work and finances but God promises abundant life and He always keeps His word. He will provide. His heart breaks for the women ready for new life and waiting in the shadows. Sometimes we are slow in responding but God in His mercy acts to save.
Pray for that ministry, if you feel led, and the many others around the world who are dedicated to ending human trafficking.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Civility
noun
- formal or perfunctory politeness
- politeness: the act of showing regard for others
For a couple years now, the county we live in has been touting this "Choose Civility" campaign. I'm not really sure the origin or even the purpose, but many people received these dark green bumper stickers that they proudly display on their cars with that slogan. They make me laugh, or more appropriately snicker, because OBVIOUSLY they've either forgotten that they are wearing them or they have no idea what it means!! Here are some of the things that come to mind when I see one of these bumper stickers:
~ Choose to Drive Without a Cellphone Attached to Your Ear
~ Choose to Practice Civility Instead of Expecting Others to Show it to Undeserving You!
~ Choose Intelligence Instead of Wreckless Driving
~ Choose the Lane of Traffic Which Most Appropriately Suits Your Driving Skills (or Lack Thereof!)
~ Choose to Take Yourself Off the Road Should You Choose Not to Obey Basic Traffic Laws
~ Choose to Signal the Direction You are Going So As to Avoid Being Shown Uncivil Hand Gestures
~ Choose to Not Display a Bumper Sticker That Has Absolutely No Meaning to You Whatsoever
Have I covered everything? Need I explain further?? I didn't think so!!
~ Choose to Drive Without a Cellphone Attached to Your Ear
~ Choose to Practice Civility Instead of Expecting Others to Show it to Undeserving You!
~ Choose Intelligence Instead of Wreckless Driving
~ Choose the Lane of Traffic Which Most Appropriately Suits Your Driving Skills (or Lack Thereof!)
~ Choose to Take Yourself Off the Road Should You Choose Not to Obey Basic Traffic Laws
~ Choose to Signal the Direction You are Going So As to Avoid Being Shown Uncivil Hand Gestures
~ Choose to Not Display a Bumper Sticker That Has Absolutely No Meaning to You Whatsoever
Have I covered everything? Need I explain further?? I didn't think so!!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Day of Allergy Reckoning
We FINALLY took Kt for allergy testing so now we can say with confirmation that our daughter is allergic to cockroaches!! Good thing I haven't seen any around our house.... I have, however, seen a lot of dust, and apparently that is a huge problem for her. Here's the ranking:
1. Dust mites - testing more positive than the "positive"
2. Cats - which we could have guessed!
3. Mold - after 2 ER from mold exposure, I could have bet on that one!
4. Soy - which might explain why she got sick when we tried soy formula when she was a baby!
5. Raw egg - another that came to our attention this past year, fortunately, it's just a topical allergy, nothing to change a diet over!
6. Cockroaches - why do they even test for those?? Weird!
7. Dogs - not as bad as cats, but those hives she gets when the dogs come home from the kennel are telltale!
She had this test about 6 hours ago and her dust mite test is the size of a huge welt. She also had another spot on her arm that she said did not become bad until she got to school. I have no idea what that one was for and they didn't tell her the ones that tested negative. I guess we'll never know!
The doctor recommended getting rid of carpet - anyone have $30,000 for us to get some wood floors? I didn't think so! We will likely purchase the wrap for her mattress and pillow. It's the least we can do - LOL. The funny thing is that since we moved to this house I thought she was outgrowing the asthma. I guess this house is just a little less dusty? Sure doesn't seem that way, but I'm glad for her.
I guess someday we'll all have to get some allergy testing done!
1. Dust mites - testing more positive than the "positive"
2. Cats - which we could have guessed!
3. Mold - after 2 ER from mold exposure, I could have bet on that one!
4. Soy - which might explain why she got sick when we tried soy formula when she was a baby!
5. Raw egg - another that came to our attention this past year, fortunately, it's just a topical allergy, nothing to change a diet over!
6. Cockroaches - why do they even test for those?? Weird!
7. Dogs - not as bad as cats, but those hives she gets when the dogs come home from the kennel are telltale!
She had this test about 6 hours ago and her dust mite test is the size of a huge welt. She also had another spot on her arm that she said did not become bad until she got to school. I have no idea what that one was for and they didn't tell her the ones that tested negative. I guess we'll never know!
The doctor recommended getting rid of carpet - anyone have $30,000 for us to get some wood floors? I didn't think so! We will likely purchase the wrap for her mattress and pillow. It's the least we can do - LOL. The funny thing is that since we moved to this house I thought she was outgrowing the asthma. I guess this house is just a little less dusty? Sure doesn't seem that way, but I'm glad for her.
I guess someday we'll all have to get some allergy testing done!
So Hard
Em said this to me tonight: You know what is just so hard? Trying to keep your eyes closed all night long!
Future insomniac on our hands I imagine!
Future insomniac on our hands I imagine!
Is It for Real?
I will admit that I'm a total skeptic when it comes to global warming. Partly because I don't trust Al Gore one iota! But mostly because it just doesn't seem to be happening the way everyone predicted. I'm also not sure it's going to be quite as devastating as we keep being warned... and it's so darn expensive to "fix" it - which I don't really believe we can do anyway. Of course, articles like this one just cement my skepticism. What say you, Al Gore? I mean, because he's such a scientist and all. Even invented the internet! ;-)
Monday, March 03, 2008
Happy Heavenly Birthday!
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
Isaiah 6:1-4
It was 5 years ago today, oddly on a Monday, that I was awoken after a fitful night of semi-sleep by the stinging ring of the phone at 5:30 am. I was not surprised, but rather felt a rush of relief run over me, while at the same time great sadness. We'd been anticipating this moment for days, weeks, months.... possibly even a couple years. It was the hospital informing us that my father had finally passed from this earthly life into a new realm, known only to us by a few vivid pictures revealed to prophets and followers of Christ - heaven.
My father, by earthly measure, is but a babe walking the streets of gold, sitting at the feet of Christ, joined by those who have gone on ahead of him. While he is so young up there, I marvel to think of the knowledge gained in the first moment in His presence, the peace, the health, the love that must be in that place. The awe, the reverence, the sensory overload. When I think of my dad in heaven I am overwhelmed by the "thing" that was done for me so that I might someday join him. I am filled with humility, thankfulness and every kind of emotion towards a God who chooses to pursue each and every one of His creations to be reconciled through the gift of His son on the cross.February 22 was my dad's earthly birthday, and while I'll always remember that day, this one is far more important to me now. It's the day we made a very important deposit in Heaven, when our earthly hearts broke and set in place a heavenly mindset unlike I've ever owned before. I would love to have my father here with me again, but in my heart I understand that we were created for an even higher purpose and plan than I can fathom. I cannot attest to the fading memory others have spoken of because for me my father is as clear a memory as if he were still here! His memory now offers me a hope and a future in a place far better than here.
1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Revelation 4
Love, Deanna
Dear Daddy,
So much has happened since you've been gone. There's no way I could write it all in one letter, but I'm sure you understand. Here are some of the highlights!
The year you left us, Skyler was born. She was truly a gift from above as she reminded us of the gift of life when our hearts were broken by your death. She was a tiny little peanut - still is! - but with a big, stubborn mind. Her mommy has met her match! The following year she gave us quite a scare, contracting bacterial meningitis. In the backs of our minds, we kept saying to you, "You can't have her! We want to enjoy her for a lifetime!!" We won, and she's still here, ruling the roost down in Savannah.
A couple years later, your first grandson was born. He was NO peanut, let me just tell you! And he's got some lungs to match his stature. Brendan will not be ignored and if S didn't meet her match the first time around, there's back-up! There are so many things about those two that remind us of you. Brendan's love for food and his Lovegren glare. Skyler's intellectual bent and her piercing eyes. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't all wish you'd had the chance to meet them!
On the homefront, I'm doing just what you told me to do. I'm keeping busy! I even pick up odd jobs here and there and every time I read the want ads (like you taught me), I can see your proud, approving smile. I still think I should call you every time we make a big purchase, are expecting a big storm or just want to meet up with mom somewhere. I also still can't believe it when I forget that you're gone. People have told me that would fade, but it really hasn't. Sometimes it just feels like you're right next to me or in the next room (watching TV!). Most of time, I just feel like you're a phone call away.
Speaking of TV. you should see the nice TV you have now - I mean, that your son has! =) He has taken over your remote control and has talked mommy into some pretty nice technology. She even has a laptop now! D & J... well, let's just say that we're all still waiting on Doug. ;-) You remember what that was like, don't you? I might have more news for you in another 5 years!
My girls still miss their Pabu. We've discontinued our stops at Pilot for M&M's, we still check the weather before we venture out and we still enjoy taking turns in Pabu's chair. Kt - you would be so amazed by her. She studying one of your favorite subjects right now - Ancient Egyptian Civilization. She's even using your Pharaoh books! I really wish you were around to help her make a scale model of a pyramid (like the Mount Vernon you made for S;-)). Kt still remembers you dearly and her deepest desire is to make her grandmother move next door so she can take care of (pillage!) her!
Em doesn't remember you so much anymore, but she can recount any number of stories we've told her about you. While she doesn't remember, she is so like you in so many ways it's eerie. Em is intuitively attached to all weather events and stories. She faithfully listens in the morning for temps and is sure to inform each of us of any impending storm warnings. She also has a unique sense of her individuality, keeping firm in her belief that it really doesn't matter what the norms are, she's her own normal. (I keep waiting for her to happily go off to school in inside out shirts or mismatched shoes!) Em also shares the twinkle in your eye - it's the warmest thing on her most days, and my heart leaps when I see it because for me it's a glimpse into my father's eyes.
Finally, mommy. I know she told you that she would never go anywhere ever again without you around, but we've taken it upon ourselves to disprove that prediction. Since you've abandoned her, we've taken her to Disney World (of course!), Hilton Head, California (Disneyland!;-)), D&J to Montreal and other places around here. Most of the time we've driven or flown her.... she pretty much takes us, though! This summer, she's embarking on one of your dreams - and Alaskan cruise. (She turned down a trip to Hungary with us to go for that one!) You would be so proud of her in so many ways. Actually, you'd be amazed. Life has not been easy, but she's had the most positive attitude towards it all. She is living life to it's fullest despite the lonliness - and most of the time I think she's pretty happy.
There are many other things I could tell you, but really I'm just thankful that we had you around as long as we did. We all miss you dearly but look forward to joining you someday. Until then, we have lots of living left to do and we rest in the belief that you are in a better place, warming up the sofas for us! Don't worry about mommy - we've got her covered. In fact, we're fighting over her all the time. You taught us to value her, respect her and love her unconditionally - and it's a good thing you did that.
Miss you and love you lots,
Deanna
So much has happened since you've been gone. There's no way I could write it all in one letter, but I'm sure you understand. Here are some of the highlights!
The year you left us, Skyler was born. She was truly a gift from above as she reminded us of the gift of life when our hearts were broken by your death. She was a tiny little peanut - still is! - but with a big, stubborn mind. Her mommy has met her match! The following year she gave us quite a scare, contracting bacterial meningitis. In the backs of our minds, we kept saying to you, "You can't have her! We want to enjoy her for a lifetime!!" We won, and she's still here, ruling the roost down in Savannah.
A couple years later, your first grandson was born. He was NO peanut, let me just tell you! And he's got some lungs to match his stature. Brendan will not be ignored and if S didn't meet her match the first time around, there's back-up! There are so many things about those two that remind us of you. Brendan's love for food and his Lovegren glare. Skyler's intellectual bent and her piercing eyes. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't all wish you'd had the chance to meet them!
On the homefront, I'm doing just what you told me to do. I'm keeping busy! I even pick up odd jobs here and there and every time I read the want ads (like you taught me), I can see your proud, approving smile. I still think I should call you every time we make a big purchase, are expecting a big storm or just want to meet up with mom somewhere. I also still can't believe it when I forget that you're gone. People have told me that would fade, but it really hasn't. Sometimes it just feels like you're right next to me or in the next room (watching TV!). Most of time, I just feel like you're a phone call away.
Speaking of TV. you should see the nice TV you have now - I mean, that your son has! =) He has taken over your remote control and has talked mommy into some pretty nice technology. She even has a laptop now! D & J... well, let's just say that we're all still waiting on Doug. ;-) You remember what that was like, don't you? I might have more news for you in another 5 years!
My girls still miss their Pabu. We've discontinued our stops at Pilot for M&M's, we still check the weather before we venture out and we still enjoy taking turns in Pabu's chair. Kt - you would be so amazed by her. She studying one of your favorite subjects right now - Ancient Egyptian Civilization. She's even using your Pharaoh books! I really wish you were around to help her make a scale model of a pyramid (like the Mount Vernon you made for S;-)). Kt still remembers you dearly and her deepest desire is to make her grandmother move next door so she can take care of (pillage!) her!
Em doesn't remember you so much anymore, but she can recount any number of stories we've told her about you. While she doesn't remember, she is so like you in so many ways it's eerie. Em is intuitively attached to all weather events and stories. She faithfully listens in the morning for temps and is sure to inform each of us of any impending storm warnings. She also has a unique sense of her individuality, keeping firm in her belief that it really doesn't matter what the norms are, she's her own normal. (I keep waiting for her to happily go off to school in inside out shirts or mismatched shoes!) Em also shares the twinkle in your eye - it's the warmest thing on her most days, and my heart leaps when I see it because for me it's a glimpse into my father's eyes.
Finally, mommy. I know she told you that she would never go anywhere ever again without you around, but we've taken it upon ourselves to disprove that prediction. Since you've abandoned her, we've taken her to Disney World (of course!), Hilton Head, California (Disneyland!;-)), D&J to Montreal and other places around here. Most of the time we've driven or flown her.... she pretty much takes us, though! This summer, she's embarking on one of your dreams - and Alaskan cruise. (She turned down a trip to Hungary with us to go for that one!) You would be so proud of her in so many ways. Actually, you'd be amazed. Life has not been easy, but she's had the most positive attitude towards it all. She is living life to it's fullest despite the lonliness - and most of the time I think she's pretty happy.
There are many other things I could tell you, but really I'm just thankful that we had you around as long as we did. We all miss you dearly but look forward to joining you someday. Until then, we have lots of living left to do and we rest in the belief that you are in a better place, warming up the sofas for us! Don't worry about mommy - we've got her covered. In fact, we're fighting over her all the time. You taught us to value her, respect her and love her unconditionally - and it's a good thing you did that.
Miss you and love you lots,
Deanna
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Bottomless Pit
I think our house is really just a bottomless pit of kid junk. I'm sure my junk is in there somewhere, but it seems as though the surface, the volume and the bottom of every pile has a K or E on it somewhere. It's endless, it's contagious, it multiplies exponentially and as hard as I work to eradicate it, it's like Kudzoo.... there is just no end to it. Even when I give in and throw it all away I find more. How does this happen??? I ask myself, as I sit here on the sofa with a birthday party "goodie" bag next to me... that's only the beginning! ;-S
Congratulations, A&F!
Yesterday, T and I had the privilege of attending an amazingly fun celebration - the wedding of the couple we went through some months of pre-marital counseling with. Aside from the typical pre-wedding craziness, the day could not have been more perfect, more fun, and incredibly emotional. I am so excited for this couple, in ways I've never been at a wedding before. I don't know that I've ever been so invested in a marriage or so excited about how much potential two young people have together to change the world. I consider it an honor that they chose to involve us in the way that they did and am so excited to watch them grow together!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
In Like a Roadrunner?
So, the first day of March. It's a funny weather day - beautiful looking from inside, fiercely cold and windy outside. I wouldn't say it came in like a lion or lamb, but maybe a roadrunner. You'll just be walking along and then this huge gust of wind brushes by, almost like something went speeding by you. So, if it's in like a roadrunner, will it be out like a turtle? Who knows!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)