summer – Salvaged Faith

walking on sunshine #reverb10

Posted on January 3, 2011Leave a comment

This prompt is HARD!!! First of all, I took a lot of pictures this year, so that was problem number one not a lot with me in them! Second, there are so many different “mes” I have tried to be this year. But In answer to the prompt:

December 25 – Photo – Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you. (Author: Tracey Clark)

It is not a flattering picture of myself… but it is me and my husband out on the water, enjoying the sun. I’m sure it is one that we took ourselves by holding out the camera. The sunglasses are on, the tongues are out – a sure sign of a good time and silliness, the air is warm, and we are with family enjoying ourselves.

What I see in this picture is life, energy, and fun.

This is the source of the passion I can bring to my ministry. It is what allows me to recharge my batteries. Whether it is Hawaii with my mom’s family or out on the river or the lake with my husband’s family, disc golfing in the summer… just being outside, enjoying the creation, letting other people take care of you and taking care of others is important.

What I want is for 2011 to have just as many of these kinds of moments, if not more. Times to truly relax and to be myself. Moments to let go and be silly. Days when I am not on call and don’t have to be anywhere… because they make those days when I do have to be there for others so much easier.

My first choice would have to be:

Friday Five – Dog Day Afternoons

Posted on August 8, 20084 Comments

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you?

Hmm, I think the closest thing I came to a sweet teen summer romance was on a camping trip my family took around the Wisconsin dells when I was in probably 8th grade. I can’t remember his name, but I do remember how much fun we had in the water park at the campground!!

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day.

I guess probably just lazing around in a bikini and one of my sarongs from hawaii would have to be on the top of that list. I also have a great new pair of mesh shorts with the heat wicking technology that I love to wear when I disc golf – that and a white tank top totally keeps me cool. But NOT a ribbed tank. I didn’t realize how much that extra ribbing traps in heat until I almost died of heat stroke the other day (okay, I just felt like I was going to die)

3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten?

Sweet corn. I LOVE sweet corn. And it stays with you because it gets stuck in your teeth!!!! I also love a great glass of sangria. I have a friend who made white sangria and it was to die for.

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory.

I would have to say the first time we went up to raft on the Menominee and Peshtigo Rivers in Wisconsin. This last time was fun, too, but I love playing cards and being outside and it seemed like that was all we did that first trip. That and drinking wine.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way?

I think getting myself back into my devotional life has been really good – and I did it on vacation while i could sit outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit?

When i was a kid, the sprinkler would be running. Now as an adult, I just head for the nearest air conditioning… how boring is that?

FF: Independence Day

Posted on July 4, 2008Leave a comment

1. Barbeque’s or picnics ( or are they essentially the same thing?)

Definately NOT the same thing. BBQ’s involve a grill, and a backyard, or a park, but definately involve fire and yummy grilled things. A picnic to me is more cold items, packed in a basket that you take with you to some place wonderful. Or your backyard, or wherever. When I think picnic, I always think blankets and baskets.

2. The park/ the lake/ the beach or staying at home simply being?

Well, we celebrate in my new town on the 3rd! So we had a day full of activites and for the fourth, we had lots of time off to disc golf all day at local parks. Then that evening, we went home and watched movies, b/c we had already done the fireworks thing.

3. Fireworks- love ’em or hate ’em?

I love fireworks. And I think I love them even more after working with some of the people that shoot them off. I worked for a city’s yearly shindig and got to talk a lot about fireworks (they had three different fireworks events and were at the time talking about a yearly fireworks competition). And then, working at a county fair a few summers later I got to hang out with the fireworks guys again. I especially love the fireworks that are choreographed to music!!!

4. Parades- have you ever taken part- share a memory…

Oh my goodness. Lots of parades. When I was young, I rode on the local county Cattlemen’s float with my grandma. And then, in high school I was first the Czech Princess, and then the Czech Queen. LOTS of parades with that – in fully costume, which was kind of hot! Not so many parades recently, but I was definately seen in kroj on the back of a few sports cars in my day =)

5. Time for a musical interlude- if you could sum up holidays in a piece of music what would it be?

imagine this video:

FF: summer books

Posted on June 27, 20082 Comments

1) Do you think of summer as a particularly good season for reading? Why or why not?

In some ways, I think curled up with a cup of hot cocoa or tea by a fireplace is a better time to read a book. But I also do like to read outside… when I have the time. Time is the hard thing about summer reading – there is always something else to do

2) Have you ever fallen asleep reading on the beach?

Yes! And got a little sunburnt because of it!!!

3) Can you recall a favorite childhood book read in the summertime?

I read a whole bunch of books in the Trixie Belden series one summer. They were some of my mom’s favorites and then became my own

4) Do you have a favorite genre for light or relaxing reading?

I don’t yet. I haven’t really been in the habit of reading for pleasure for a while. I am desperate to get back into the swing of it. When I was young, I would read book after book after book. Some of my favorite novels today are ones about the simple complexities of life: Gilead, The Cloister Life, I like reading about how other people are getting through the normal crap we deal with in our lives.

5) What is the next book on your reading list?

Right now I’ve started one called “A Blade of Grass.” But I haven’t gotten very far into it and its already overdue…. see, I’m having a hard time getting into this reading thing.