Friday Five

FF: Fork in the Road

Posted on February 27, 20095 Comments

For today’s Friday Five, share with us five “fork-in-the-road” events, or persons, or choices. And how did life change after these forks in the road?

1. the first that comes to mind is a choice in high school. I agreed with the decision of a teacher instead of sticking up for one of my best friends in the whole wide world. It was a choice that caused lots of heartache and distance for a while, but I’m thankful that God and our other friends kept us together so that we came through on the other end.

2. The second is where I chose to go to college. I had a lot of places I could have gone – lots of places where I was accepted and who were offering scholarships. I didn’t feel called to go to the small liberal arts college only an hour away (where communication would have been my focus). I really wanted to go to the large private university four hours away (where science would have been my focus). I ended up applying after graduation to a small Methodist college where a bunch of youth ministry friends were headed, got in, and God told me that’s where I was supposed to be…. which led me through science to religion as a major and the rest is history.

3. The beginning of the war in Iraq. This was a major fork in the road for me, because I had strong feelings about it, both personally and spiritually. And I knew there were lots and lots of people who disagreed with me. I was in college at the time and in community with a group of people however who helped me to use my voice and my hands and my feet to make a statement about the war publicly. We created a memorial of crosses on the lawn in front of the chapel – in honor of those who had died, both soldiers and civilians since the conflict had begun in the week before. Overnight, the crosses were torn down and the broken pieces used to spell “God Bless the USA.” As a Christian, I was heartbroken and ashamed of my neighbors. As someone who always though that there was a way to find agreement, I lost a piece of that in myself.

4. Exploration in 200something – The speaker for the day was Hispanic and she recounted the story of Samuel’s calling in the temple. For the first time, I felt called into ministry and it was because Samuel kept thinking the voice of God was just his master. I thought before that time that the voice of God speaking to me was just the voice of my youth pastor, or pastor, or a friend, never did I think it was actually GOD speaking to me. Until she spoke those words, “Samuel, Samuel” with the hispanic pronunciation. It stays with me until this day.

5. My friend Nicole – in the airport in Nashville – convincing me to go to Vanderbilt. I was kind of torn at that point and I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do until I sat down in the airport at that silly little food stand with Nicole. By the time I got on the plane (and I was almost late!) I was convinced that I needed to go to seminary there. And I haven’t regretted it for a millisecond. It was where I needed to be to grow and thrive and find my place. It brought me into contact with tons of amazing people at my church there… I am so grateful for that conversation in the airport!

FF: Taking a Break

Posted on February 20, 2009Leave a comment

I offer this Taking a Break Friday Five. Tell us how you would spend:

1. a 15 minute break
Nowadays, a 15 minute break is spent checking email or hopping on the internet to browse facebook or the grey’s anatomy message boards.

2. an afternoon off
This happens kind of frequently because I tend to use my home office hours to relax and then end up catching up on work on Saturdays – my day off. I tend to sit in front of the tv watching food network or movies… or playing computer games

3. an unexpected free day
see above. Although I really want to spend more of my free days visiting my grandma

4. a week’s vacation
somewhere warm. where I can swim. and relax with a novel or three

5. a sabbatical
a cabin by the river. with lots of books for reading and thinking and trails to hike nearby

FF: My Favorite Things

Posted on February 6, 20094 Comments

From Rev Gals:

In a week of wondering how various things in our family life will unfold, I found myself thinking of the way Maria comforted the Von Trapp children in one of my favorite movies. Frightened by a thunder storm, the children descend upon her, and she sings to them about her favorite things, taking their minds off the storm.

So, let’s encourage ourselves. Share with us five of your favorite things. Use words or pictures, whatever expresses it best.

1. A cat curled up in the crook of my knee. There is nothing better in the world than Tiki or Turbo curled up next to me. The warmth of their bodies, the love and affection, that sense that they just want to be close to you – even though there are countless other places to rest. It is amazing.

2. Fire. Doesn’t matter if its a campfire in the summer or a blazing fireplace in the winter or the flicker of a candle in a dark room. Fire is so alive and powerful and passionate and it dances and warms you to the core.

3. Girl’s Night. In Nashville, Girl’s Night was every Tuesday evening. Drinks, dinner, bitching, joys, loves lost, school stresses, family troubles, new opportunities – there is nothing better than sharing that with people who you feel completely safe with over really really good food and drinks. I especially miss the lemon martinis at cabana and their sweet potato sliders.

4. Wi-Fi. It lets you carry the world with you. Free from wires, you can sit with a hazelnut latte at a coffee shop (or McDonald’s these days) and talk with friends around the world, read some of the greatest thoughts of our generation, know what’s going on in our political and economic landscape, and watch the funniest crap in the world on youtube.

5. Sit-Down Meals. We don’t eat this way very often in my house, but I want to do it more. With no distractions, sit down meals are about family and people and relationships and about the food. They are where we talk about our days and catch up and reflect upon it all. When I have kids, it will be where they have a voice, they have the floor and where we all pay attention and listen to one another.

FF: HGTV

Posted on January 30, 20091 Comment

From Rev Gals:

As some of you may know I am in the midst of my first home purchase. It is a new-build and so some of the fun was picking out upgrades and major decor items to my taste rather than walking into a previously owned home that needed to be upgraded room by room (pink and teal tiles in the bathroom, anyone?). As much as decorating is not my thing, I did try to embrace the moment because just how many times do you get to have a do-over on kitchen cabinets/floors/countertops?

And so, my questions to you this fine Friday involve your home past, present or future…

1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?

I think the first room I would want to play with would be our family room downstairs. It is kind of empty and needs some love. We currently have a sectional couch from my parents basement, a microwave cart, a college tv stand, a dvd bookshelf and a small kitchen table with my husbands computer on it down there. It’s sad.

I would start by painting the walls (I’m thinking red) and getting some great black and white posters to hang. I also have a number of black and white photos the we have taken and of family to put up. (right now the walls are bare)

I’d buy a larger game table for playing cards and board games and I would get a larger corner unit for the television. And then some storage items – like one of those great big square coffee tables with all the storage underneath.

2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?

I actually haven’t lived in that many hideous houses… but the pastel, 80’s era, geometric designed curtains in my in-laws dining room is probably the most hideous I can think of.

3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?

A fireplace. Hands down. I was actually thinking about wanting a fireplace a few days ago, and then this week, we were looking through the history book that our church historian just completed, and in the article on the opening of this parsonage – there was a FIREPLACE in the living room. WHY was that taken out?

4) Your kitchen – love it or hate it? Why?

I really like my kitchen in the parsonage. All the cabinetry was done by a former pastor. It is HUGE and has lots of storage space. I might update the appliances a bit, but they are really just fine.

I think the only thing I would add would be shelves or a counter top in one corner. It is a dividing wall between the dining room/living room and an odd little corner. A breakfast nook wouldn’t quite fit. We had a small kitchen table there for a while (see #1) but we really need a place to put recycling items and hide the litter box underneath. We never ate at the table while it was there, because the dining room is literally two steps away.

5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?

First, buy a bedroom suite. We currently have no headboard, and a scrappily put together suite a an endtable, a twin size headboard/shelving unit, and a dresser we got off of a curb at one point. I would love to have a matching set and two dressers – my husband just has too many t-shirts and could fill up our current one on his own.

Second, buy a game table for the basement. And a nice entertainment center/stereo system.

Third, redo the countertops in the kitchen to something that isn’t white. I think that we have already stained at least one section from kool-aid. They look just fine, but soak up stains like you wouldn’t believe.

Fourth, put new tile down in the basement laundry/bath room. It’s like a 1970’s orangish tan that really isn’t that cheery.

BONUS: Why do you think there was such a surplus of ugly bathroom tile colors showcased in all homes built from the 1950’s right through the early 80’s?

lol… I forgot this was the bonus when I listed my final $10,000 makeover wish. Of course the bathroom tile is ugly… it had to match the advacado green toilets and sinks they were putting in.

Ironically, I really like advacado green. I painted my church office that color when I moved into it. And all the older women looked at me like I was crazy – but it looks really nice!

FF: Cabin Fever

Posted on January 23, 20091 Comment

Here in snow country we are settled in to what is a very long stretch of potentially boring days. The holidays are over. It is a very long time till we will get outside on a regular basis. The snow that seemed so beautiful at first is now dirty and the snow banks are piling up. Our vehicles are all the same shade of brownish grey, but if we go to the car wash our doors will freeze shut. People get grumpy. Of course, not everyone lives in a cold climate, but even in warmer places the days till springtime can get long. Help! Please give us five suggestions for combating cabin fever and staying cheerful in our monochromatic world?

1) Lots of movies. I love to catch up on all of the great movies that I missed in the last year, as well as old classics. This week, I’m really looking forward to watching both the Golden Compass and Juno.

2) Cooking and baking. Yesterday I made homemade chicken and dumplings for the first time in my life. And I made homemade chocolate chip cookies the night before.

3) Chopping vegetables. sweet yellow peppers, bright orange carrots, crisp green celery.

4) Playing games. My family’s favorite game right now is “Carcassone” – in which you create your own kingdom and have cities and farms and roads. But we also play a lot of cards. Pinochle, Hearts, 500…

5) I’m thinking of taking knitting back up. If I can remember how to cast on the stitches. I have some friends that are having babies and I’m thinking about making them booties.

FF: Pancakes

Posted on January 9, 20091 Comment

Fridays are my days off, but I got up at a reasonable time to draft a letter of support from our ministerial alliance for a grant the city is trying to recieve. Somehow I became president of our ministerial alliance, even though I’m the youngest one and I’ve only been here for a year. Or rather, because I’m the youngest and I’ve only been here a year. The new kid on the block gets all of the responsibility, because no one else wants it =)

For a little fun, here is the RevGals Friday Five: It’s time for something light and fluffy (literally). Pull up a chair to the kitchen table and tell us all about your pancake preferences.

1. Scratch or mix? Buttermilk or plain?

I almost always use pancake mix. It’s just easier to add water to a complete mix and be done. And they taste just fine. We normally buy buttermilk.

2. Pure and simple, or with additions cooked in?

I love plain and simple pancakes. Just some butter and some maple syrup. That’s all you really need. If I’m going to add something, usually it’s blueberries or chocolate chips, but it is very rare that we do so.

3. For breakfast or for dinner?

Both! We have breakfast for dinner quite often. And don’t forget about brunch!

4. Preferred syrup or other topping? How about the best side dish?

Again, I like to keep them simple. Butter and Maple Syrup. On the side, nothing is better than chewy bacon.

5. Favorite pancake restaurant?

Of course, there is the Pancake Pantry in Nashville… they have Sweet Potato Pancakes that are to DIE for.
Back here in Iowa, our local cafe has pretty decent pancakes – they are my Wednesday morning ritual.

Bonus: Any tasty recipes out there, for pancakes or other special breakfast dishes? Bring ’em on!

I have a friend in college who always added a table spoon of sugar and a dash of lime juice to her pancakes. They made them pretty tasty!

FF: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Posted on January 2, 2009Leave a comment

As we look back we may come to understand how God has worked in and through us in joy and saddness. how we have grown against what may seem impossible odds. As we look forward we may do so with expectation, and we may do so with fear and trembling. As we look back and forward in New Years liminality I offer you this simple yet I hope profound Friday Fivein two parts:

First list five things that you remember/treasure from 2008

My very first church
Adding Turbo and Tiki to our family
Worshipping with my new congregation – especially Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve
Wednesday Night dinners with the family
Learning how to disc golf with some great friends

Then list five things that you are looking forward to in 2009

Becoming healthier (exercising in particular)
Learning to play the guitar
More time spent with my immediate family
Finding my rhythm as a pastor… less trial and error, more consistency
Building stronger ties with other young adult pastors.

Posted on December 19, 2008Leave a comment

I’ve been a HUGE slacker and haven’t played with the RevGals for like a month or so.

Here’s this week’s Friday Five – and feel free to play along in the comments if you want!

The Nativity shown here is the Willow Creek one that I got last Christmas from my mom and dad =)

There are only five full days before Christmas Day, and whether you use them for shopping, wrapping, preaching, worshiping, singing or traveling or even wishing the whole darn thing were over last Tuesday, there’s a good chance they will be busy ones.

So let’s make this easy, if we can: tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

1. Christmas Shopping with my hubby. We are going on Monday morning and I pray the roads are good. We have done a little bit of shopping, but have a lot left to buy. We are doing little gifts, and joint gifts (all the siblings going in together) type of things and probably also some homemade goodies.

2. Revising the Family Christmas Program script & finding someone to read the second part. I got very inspired by Kathrine Hawker’s “outside the box” liturgies for Christmas Eve – one is a retelling of the Christmas story that includes and vocalizes some of the inconsistencies in how we put together our naitivity scene, but it does so in a way that can be funny and involves kids in costumes. It works nearly perfectly for our “informal pageant” but will need some tweaking for our context and to take a little bit of the skeptical edge off.

3. Scripting our Lessons and Carols Communion service (probably again using some of Hawker’s materials with more traditional readings and some of our bishop’s Christmas prayer.

4. An unexpected (well, they are always unexpected) funeral tomorrow. It will be a small gathering and prayers for the family who loved her dearly.

5. Wrapping up presents for our many family celebrations. We have gatherings on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Saturday and Sunday next week – PLUS an Epiphany Christmas gathering with my immediate family.