Saturday, September 29, 2007
We're expecting!
Baby number two is due Mid-April. Leigh has been having a rough first trimester. Celia can say "baby" and point to mommy's tummy. More later...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Doctor, doctor... give me some news, I've got a bad case of ...
Cervical Whiplash!
On Tuesday I, while I was out running some errands, a man rear-ended my car. I had been stopped at a light for about a minute when... BAM! I got out of the car and spoke with the driver. He had a lap full of cell phone and Ipod... and said he had been looking down at his phone. He followed me into a parking lot and I took down his information. About an hour later, I started feeling sore in my shoulder area. Two days later, I feel like someone hit me in the back with a baseball bat. I went to the doctor today. He said that I will be sore for a week or so and then I can see a chiropractor and massage therapist. Hopefully, I will not have any long-lasting symptoms. The moral of this story is... whiplash is real and it is not at all pleasant.
On Tuesday I, while I was out running some errands, a man rear-ended my car. I had been stopped at a light for about a minute when... BAM! I got out of the car and spoke with the driver. He had a lap full of cell phone and Ipod... and said he had been looking down at his phone. He followed me into a parking lot and I took down his information. About an hour later, I started feeling sore in my shoulder area. Two days later, I feel like someone hit me in the back with a baseball bat. I went to the doctor today. He said that I will be sore for a week or so and then I can see a chiropractor and massage therapist. Hopefully, I will not have any long-lasting symptoms. The moral of this story is... whiplash is real and it is not at all pleasant.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Does the body of Christ have a soul?
I spent the weekend at John Knox ranch, at the Main Event for Youth. We talked about community and being the body of Christ. Reflecting on that theme, I think we are all suffering from a poor self image or (at least) placing too much emphasis on what our body "looks like". So, what is the soul? The goal? The thing that illuminates us? This spark of life that comes from somewhere else?
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Grieving
Dreams will not let me sleep tonight...
It has been eight years since my brother died.
The death of my father-in-law has brought some of that more distant loss to the surface... to mix with new loss.
I miss my brother's voice. I miss his warmth. I miss his hugs. I don't ever want those dreams I have, where I see him, to end.
I don't know what to do with his comic book collection. (Funny... but this has been an unresolved issue for way too long.)
Anyway, here is tonight's dream...
It's time to move. This isn't a change of domiciles in the manner that I am accustomed to. This is an abrupt, life preserving and strategic move... over the golden bridge.
Running full speed. Carrying nothing. There is danger on my heels. I know this place--know its contours and rhythm. It is much greener now than I remembered. My family will come later... after the area is secured and there may be a safe passage. Out of breath I turn the final corner and there is my brother. Bow in hand, he aims back toward the path I have just run. (I think: Don't shoot, my girls are back there! Then I realize that they are out of range anyway.) Practice points. Always practice points... signs of immaturity (I think) and then he lets the arrow fly.
The snake doesn't move. It was already dead and this shot is the fifth arrow to pierce that thin line in the grass. My brother has become a marksman, better than any I have ever seen. Practice points... but I can see he has put them to good use as I look back down the path.
I enter the house. It is in bad shape, neglected for too long. The floor has gaps that let in the cold. I bend down to survey the scene. Rats. I hate rats... and in an energized fury... the rat killing begins. I pick up a board and those maggot infested vermin and their filthy friends fly at the bite of my swing. The coast is clear (my yard is in order) and I begin preparing the new homestead. Where is my bro... Awake.
It has been eight years since my brother died.
The death of my father-in-law has brought some of that more distant loss to the surface... to mix with new loss.
I miss my brother's voice. I miss his warmth. I miss his hugs. I don't ever want those dreams I have, where I see him, to end.
I don't know what to do with his comic book collection. (Funny... but this has been an unresolved issue for way too long.)
Anyway, here is tonight's dream...
It's time to move. This isn't a change of domiciles in the manner that I am accustomed to. This is an abrupt, life preserving and strategic move... over the golden bridge.
Running full speed. Carrying nothing. There is danger on my heels. I know this place--know its contours and rhythm. It is much greener now than I remembered. My family will come later... after the area is secured and there may be a safe passage. Out of breath I turn the final corner and there is my brother. Bow in hand, he aims back toward the path I have just run. (I think: Don't shoot, my girls are back there! Then I realize that they are out of range anyway.) Practice points. Always practice points... signs of immaturity (I think) and then he lets the arrow fly.
The snake doesn't move. It was already dead and this shot is the fifth arrow to pierce that thin line in the grass. My brother has become a marksman, better than any I have ever seen. Practice points... but I can see he has put them to good use as I look back down the path.
I enter the house. It is in bad shape, neglected for too long. The floor has gaps that let in the cold. I bend down to survey the scene. Rats. I hate rats... and in an energized fury... the rat killing begins. I pick up a board and those maggot infested vermin and their filthy friends fly at the bite of my swing. The coast is clear (my yard is in order) and I begin preparing the new homestead. Where is my bro... Awake.
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Death of Drink
From drink to dip
From sup this cup
To barbaric rip?
No more to share
The bounty there
at table o’ the King
instead to rip and dip
slip, trip, quip.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
New Computer
So, my motherboard died. :(
I called Dell and they walked me through the process of removing cd drive, memory, hard drive, modem, wireless card, etc. The tech said... "sorry, the only thing left is the motherboard". To replace the motherboard for my inspiron 9100 would cost $150 for parts and about 500 in labor... add taxes, diagnostics, etc. and you can see how it quickly becomes a lost cause.
On Friday, I bought a new laptop (not a Dell) for about half the price I paid for the Dell. So far I am loving it. I am turning my old hard-drive into a 60 gig USB Drive.
Let the good times scroll
I called Dell and they walked me through the process of removing cd drive, memory, hard drive, modem, wireless card, etc. The tech said... "sorry, the only thing left is the motherboard". To replace the motherboard for my inspiron 9100 would cost $150 for parts and about 500 in labor... add taxes, diagnostics, etc. and you can see how it quickly becomes a lost cause.
On Friday, I bought a new laptop (not a Dell) for about half the price I paid for the Dell. So far I am loving it. I am turning my old hard-drive into a 60 gig USB Drive.
Let the good times scroll
FYI
First aid for teeth that have been knocked out...Find the tooth.
Put it in a glass of milk... really... a glass of milk!
If no milk is available, have the "owner" of the tooth spit in a cup and put the tooth in the spit.
Get the individual to the dentist/ER within an hour.
Teeth can be re-attached, but sometimes (like with my friend here) they will fall out again.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Chugga chugga choo chooooo!
I think I can, I think I can...
In my first two weeks as a youth and children's director I have...
sent out 60 emails
received 180 emails
attended 4 committee meetings
received first aid and CPR training
organized and attended two picnics
supervised the making and selling of 200 breakfast tacos
consumed 3 large, cold breakfast tacos
been given the "name test" (where a youth gives you a serious look and asks "Do you know my name?")
passed the "name test"
battled the printer, learned how to use a new printer
recruited Sunday School teachers
recruited Youth Advisors (aka Seminary Students)
prayed for youth undergoing surgery
coordinated a presbytery wide youth event with other Youth Directors
hung pictures, bulletin boards, etc.
moved furniture
mourned the loss of my laptop (motherboard failure)
signed up youth for a retreat, mailed in regestration
read Sunday School curriculums
organized a "first communion" class
scheduled childcare workers
learned some new games
been given a nickname by the youth (Big D)
I like what I am doing but look forward to more personal contact and less administrative work. Have I mentioned that I am supposed to be working part-time? Ha ha ha...
In my first two weeks as a youth and children's director I have...
sent out 60 emails
received 180 emails
attended 4 committee meetings
received first aid and CPR training
organized and attended two picnics
supervised the making and selling of 200 breakfast tacos
consumed 3 large, cold breakfast tacos
been given the "name test" (where a youth gives you a serious look and asks "Do you know my name?")
passed the "name test"
battled the printer, learned how to use a new printer
recruited Sunday School teachers
recruited Youth Advisors (aka Seminary Students)
prayed for youth undergoing surgery
coordinated a presbytery wide youth event with other Youth Directors
hung pictures, bulletin boards, etc.
moved furniture
mourned the loss of my laptop (motherboard failure)
signed up youth for a retreat, mailed in regestration
read Sunday School curriculums
organized a "first communion" class
scheduled childcare workers
learned some new games
been given a nickname by the youth (Big D)
I like what I am doing but look forward to more personal contact and less administrative work. Have I mentioned that I am supposed to be working part-time? Ha ha ha...
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Gearing up...
This week I began my position at University Presbyterian Church as the Interim Director of Youth and Children's ministries. I am having a good time. I like the work.Tuesday we watched this video entitled "Everyday Creativity". I recommend it.
Key Learning Points:
- Creativity is a matter of perspective.
- There's always more than one right answer.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
- Learn to break the pattern.
- Reframe problems into opportunities.
- Train your technique.
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