visitors

The fifth Sunday of the month we have joint worship
with the Lutheran congregation in town...its actually walking distance from our home.
So we were visitors, with part of our congregation in another house of worship.
Flash said that it couldn't be a church because churches are "big big tall".
They are all on one floor and had a beautiful facility. The hallway from the sanctuary to the fellowship hall has a bookcase running the length of it and its their library!
Brilliant use of space. Yet another church though, that doesn't have an approach to child care
so I stayed with Flash in the nursery. Yes, there were other children in worship,
yes they have the bags with crayons and coloring books. And they say "oh, it'll be fine".
No, it won't. He'll run and talk and well, anyhow...he's just not ready yet.
As it was we broke Joseph's arm in their nativity set. Sigh.

Also a dear friend from seminary came to visit us.
She's on vacation from big huge suburban church near Philly, visiting family.
She saw the service, our town, our church and home.
And it was wonderful to have a visitor, and to be one.

On Tuesday, New Years day, we'll have our Open House.
Opening our new home to the congregation and neighbors to "drop in" from 1-3.
Some I know panic at such things but I have to say that I really like a little entertaining, and it'll be casual.
I am not and will never be Martha Stewart and I never shoot for her standards.
The house will be reasonably clean with attention paid to bathrooms, vacuuming the floor and toys.
There will be lots of food of the self-serve variety...finger foods and chips and such.
And that will be that. Really.
My mother is very stressed about this "do" for me. She wants it to be more "elegant", keeps talking about our stature in the community.
She's suggested quiche and shrimp. Hmmm.
I guess I understand her thoughts, but I am more comfortable doing this our way.
Cookies, meatballs, little sandwiches and such.
And I think, I hope, our visitors will be just fine.

Friday5: Memorable Moments of 2007

1. Hubby's graduation, ordination, installation
2. Moving day and our friend's moving day :(
3. Finding our new church, town and home
4. no pacifier, toilet training, recognizing his name written out, becoming high speed wild child
5. Driving from PA out here with Flash in a packed van by myself 13 hours. Whoa.
and God was with us at each of these points and all the unmemorable ones too. The highs and lows and in-the-middles.
It has been a packed year. We'll see what 2008 brings.

Thankful Thursady

Ha! spellcheck
mostly potty trained!
excellent dogs
nice calm town
church
time to settle in
two interviews in January
warm dry house, full pantry
toys, probably too many
health, happiness, safety
family, friends
love
humor
a great babysitter
and 11 years of marriage!

Merry Boxing Day!

Flash and I did not attend Christmas Eve service at 7 pm.
He was asleep in the Dash PJs by 7:30. We'd already put out cookies, peanuts and carrots for Santa and the reindeer.
Hubby said the service went very nnicely, there were quite a few kids and 95 people total!
Thats quite good for us.

Santa and family and friends were very kind and yesterday we had a whole lot of Rescue Heroes and other toys to open and play with, all day. Hubby went to the office today (and a pastoral visit) and we're still playing!

1 pm is the community hike, and we're still planning on doing it.

Step-by-Step Candy Cane Coffee Cake

Almost Christmas Friday5

Tell some about your favorite Christmas memories.

What was one of your favorite childhood gifts that you gave?

I remember getting my sister a "pound puppy doll" when they were so hot. The cool part about it was my friend Barb and I were allowed to go shopping for it alone. Christmas shopping alone! at the Mall! Very exciting to us.

Recipe I can't do without: Candy Cane Coffee Cake

My sister actually called me for a clarification of the recipe this week. It is shaped like a candy cane...it doesn't taste like one. We had it every Christmas for breakfast with cocoa. I have cheated on the recipe for about 7 years now. My sister is appalled.

Candy Cane Coffee Cake (the cheatin kind)
1 can refrigerated dough (not the yeast, sour cream and flour mess everywhere, and hour to rise, blah blah) I have been using the can of roll out Pizza crust actually.
chopped nuts
brown sugar
cinnamon
butter
Candied cherries for decoration...red food coloring perhaps.

Preheat to 400
Spray cookie sheet with Pam
Lay out the dough lengthwise on a cookie sheet
Use a sharp knife to cut a "fringe" on each side of the dough
Each cut should be about 3/4 of an inch from the next and you must leave a 2.5 inch channel in the middle for the filling. This is all rough measurements.
In a bowl, mix the nuts sugar and cinnamon with a little bit of melted butter , a tablespoon maybe. Lay that in the channel.
Now "braid the fringe across the channel, making sure that no filling can leak. Good luck with that by the way...mine always leak.
When you've finished braiding, carefully curve the top so it looks like a candy cane.
You can brush the top with butter or egg if you like.
You could use some colored sugar, food coloring or, as we do, stud it with candies cherries.
Bake for 8-10 minutes and check it until its a lovely brown color.
Eat!

Tradition we can't do without.

Hmmm. So many traditions have changed and changed over the years, but Hubby and I were talking today about how Santa's presents were always wrapped in different paper, and in Hubby's family it was Santa themed paper. I went hunting for more gift wrap today. Hubby's family also had a present you opened on Christmas eve, and it was always new pajamas. We never had any presents under the tree until Christmas morning. There's always practical things in stockings, and always a new toothbrush.

Pastors and other church folk often have very strange traditions dictated by the "work" of the holidays. What happens at your place?

I guess we'll see. Hubby and I are talking about Flash and I not being at church on Christmas Eve. Our service is at 7 p.m. We won't be out before 8:30. So, we'll be in the nursery the whole time, and unhappy and it will be hard to get him to bed before Santa arrives. I know we're the pastor's family but, I think everyone will be happier if we aren't there.

If you could just ditch all the traditions and do something unexpected... what would it be?

Well, as I've said things have changed and changed again. Not sure what I can drop at this point. How about dropping Christmas dinner? Who wants to cook it, really? And it seems a bit like Thanksgiving redux. How about a lasagna? Its the right colors.

Bonus idea!
I was so excited that our town has planned a hike (on the miles of walking trails) for Dec 26. Weather permitting!
I am thinking of making that a tradition, weather permitting.

Clash of the Choirs ep 4

Team Lachey won and I really think they were surprised.
250,000 for the Cinncinatti Children's Hospital.
Woo Hoo!
And 50,000 for the other choirs' charities
It was a really nice reality show with talent, stars and charity.
Well done.

Career Update

Well, I have applied to all of the library jobs in the area.
So, I guess I am officially waiting-to hear.
Its actually very nice to know that there isn't anything more I can do,
especially this time of the year.
The waiting time of the year, advent.

Clash of the Choir ep 3

As I predicted Micheal Bolton's choir went home, sorta. So its down to Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey and Blake Shelton. And they were all amazing. Really.

My voting is based on whose choir is used as a choir. Patti La Belle's choir is fantastic but they really overuse solos in my eyes. Nick Lachey's choir did an amazing a capella version of "Flight of the Bumblebee" of all things! Bobby McFerrin had a version of that once upon a time and it was mind-blowing, as a choir piece it was amazing and strange to watch. Still love Blake Shelton's choir, they did a fantastic version of "Joy to the World". Again, not so much solos, choir teamwork stuff.

The last song each choir performed was as backup to their choir director on one of their hit songs. Patti LaBelle seemed to channel James Brown with "Somewhere over the Rainbow", and kicked off her shoes at the end. This started a mass shoe-shucking throughout. Then Lachey did "What's Left of Me", not a favorite song, but they all sang well. Blake Shelton was probably not allowed to sing his new radio favorite "The More I Drink", so they sang "That can't be Good" which has a story to it about a late night party that gets out of hand. I'm not sure that translated into a choir song, but they all looked like they were having a ball.

Another enjoyable night. Tomorrow is the last night and they say there will be lots of surprises...I'm thinking that all of the charities get something in the end.

Clash of the Choirs ep 2

Kelly Rowland's choir was sent home to Houston. I can't remember what they sang, so maybe thats why. Their charity was a shelter/soup kitchen facility called Bread of Life in Houston.

Tonights performances were very good. I enjoyed Nick Lachey's group most, they sang Low Places by Garth Brooks. My prediction is that Michael Bolton's choir goes home tomorrow. they weren't bad, just not memorable enough. His charity is Domestic Violence Prevention service of Greater New Haven.

Tomorrow night they'll all sing holiday classics.

Clash of the Choir ep 1

Well, it wasn't what I'd thought.
First of all no robes.
Only one song that was a choir staple.
But, its for charity and sponsored by a movie thats coming out sometime called First Sunday.
The premise is five famous singers pick and lead a choir of twenty singers from their hometowns. Nick Lachey, Cinncinatti. Kelly Rowland, Houston. Blake Shelton, Oklahoma City. Michael Bolton, New Haven, CT. Patti LaBelle, Philadelphia.

Ms. LaBelle's choir (He's got the whole World in his Hands) was awesome, although Hubby didn't like them best. Nick Lachey's choir (Unwritten) was fantastic and they worked very well together. Some of the choirs had extensive solo parts, which didn't seem very choir-ish to me and Hubby.
So the show is on again tonight and we'll see who's choir goes home.

7 random things about me

RevHipChick has tagged me for this meme...

1. Um, toenails are still OPI Cha-ching Cherry. A present from my sister in law.

2. I can juggle and was president of my college juggling club for two years.

3. Go Heels!

4. I name my cars. ancient blue Honda Civic: Trudy, red sedan: Ruby, green Ford wagon: Fern, current blue minivan: Hank the Tank
.
5. I unpacked another 5 boxes today...mostly boy clothes he's outgrown. So from box into bag into car to the Clothes closet! Also found more toys. Sigh.

6. I like to listen to the Harry Potter books on CD while I do housework. That is why I know the books really well. Too well maybe.

7. I'm having a really hard time coming up with these. Will 6 do for now?

Snow Day 2

Its our second snow day. We got about 8 inches but it drifts. About 25 degrees outside. Hubby went to the church and took the more reliable car so we are semi-officially "snowed in". Scoobydoo and Tom&Jerry seem to be our pals for the day. Flash is also entering the second week of wearing only the Dash Incredible PJs. On a few occasions he's worn a "disguise" on top of them. And yes they've been washed, but he practically sat by the laundry machines waiting for them.

Making some apple butter for gifts, so the house smells fantastic. I made pizzelles over the weekend, but ran out of eggs. And soon we'll run out of the pizzelles we made!

If you don't know Pizzelles they are a wonderful flat cookie, a bit like a ice cream waffle cone. My mother had a dear friend, Elaine, who would have my sister and I over for an afternoon of cookie baking with her some Saturday in December. I think that was my mother's Christmas shopping or wrapping day. Elaine always made hers lemon and anise flavored. Mine are orange flavored. Hubby bought me my own pizzelle iron for Christmas a few years back. I'll start on another batch tonight, when Hubby brings home more eggs. My recipe has 9 eggs!

Oh and tonight is the first episode of Clash of the Choirs. I'll report on that tomorrow.

Snowstorm 2007

Well its snowing.
a lot.
Gonna get something like 8-15 inches.
and wind.
Well, um, yeah.
Its December, its winter.
Snow is expected, right?
Why are there "snow-watches" on the TV weather shows?
Worse yet, why am I watching the TV for weather news
when I know what's supposed to happen?

I've never been such a part of the church equation though.
If I deemed it "too snowy" or too sunny or something...
I just didn't go.
But now, if church is happening I'll be there.
They are thinking of canceling church though.
I imagine the phone will ring early.
I wonder if the phone will beat the dogs or the boy?

Friday 5 Advent

Can you believe that in two days we'll be halfway through Advent?
Gaudete Sunday: pink candle on the advent wreath,
rose vestments for those who have them,
concerts and pageants in many congregations. Time to rejoice!

Rejoice in the nearness of Christ's coming, yes,
but also in the many gifts of the pregnant waiting time when the world
(in the northern hemisphere, at least) spins ever deeper into sweet, fertile darkness.

What makes you rejoice about:

1. Waiting? The anticipation of Christmas, the preparation, the decorating and baking

2. Darkness? I wake up in the dark now. This time of year is so hard on people, the darkness, the stress, the grey skies. But soon, Christmas!

3. Winter? White snow, the joy of children and dogs out playing in it. Cozy nights in our home, knitting, watching movies.

4. Advent?a way of celebrating the waiting time, measuring it out so the business and busyness of the season doesn't overtake us.

5. Jesus' coming? Yes! and um Santa too.

Bible study question

Hubby had a bible study group the other night. They are thinking about what to study next year, as well as doing an advent study now. He asked the participants what their favorite book of the Bible was. I thought that a very funny question at the time. First of all, I'm not sure that average people have "favorite" books of the bible and secondly, how intimidating for those who are less...um...prepared.

I asked what the answers had been. Luke, Acts, anything but Revelation, and Hubby's answer - Leviticus. Also very funny. He didn't think my laughter very funny and asked what mine was. Ruth, I answered. Its only 4 chapters long and there's quite a good story there. Hubby started in on the significance of Ruth but, I continued thinking that several years ago I would have had no answer for a question like that. No idea what to say. And I'd have been very embarrassed about it.

So, What is your favorite book of the Bible...if the question doesn't stump you.

Installation

Hubby was installed yesterday!
It was very nice and I was able to watch most of it.
So nice to see all those pastors in black robes with red stoles.
Hubby wore his red-based ugly-tie-stole.
The moderator gave a wonderful charge.
The sermon, by our good friend Robbie was very nice...telling us to let go of the past.
This was applicable to everyone I think.
I thought of the move, former jobs, the comfort of living near family and friends.
The congregation were reminded, surely, of their former pastor.
The recent interim pastor gave the charge to the congregation.
We met a local pastor who went to our seminary, and we have a good friend in common. His wife and son were lovely.

Flash didn't have a good day though.
The excitement of Grandparents,
going to church twice, opening Christmas presents from the grandparents,
and hunger meant that he was a mess.

The bulletin asked that parents keep their children with them during communion
and I thought it wouldn't look right if my Hubby's son stayed in the nursery.
So I brought him into the service. And he fell apart.
Yelling "but I'm hungry!" really loud.
Oh, Installation was at 4:oo
so, by the time communion rolled around it was about 5ish.
I had to carry him out screaming in the middle of communion, Hubby's installation.
Oh my.
And then the reception afterwards
where he ran full-speed around the dining room
and filled his hunger with cake, fruit and crackers with cheese.
Oh my.

Very embarrassing.
He hasn't been very well behaved recently anyway, but whoa!
in front of the church,
the guests, the grandparents.
Whew.

And, when we got home
the dogs had overturned the trash can
and strewn trash all over the kitchen,
knocked over the christmas tree and soiled the tree skirt.

And I had the grandparents and our friends from South Bend right behind me.
I am not sure how I kept my temper.
With the Grandparents I always feel like they disapprove because I don't "discipline" in these circumstances. But they would be acutely uncomfortable if I did!

So, it was a disaster (not a tragedy or a crisis, just a disaster) but he is installed and after my in-laws go home, we'll try, again, to go back to normal.

Friday5: Preparation

1. You have a busy week, pushing out all time for preparing worship/ Sunday School lessons/ being ready for an important meeting ( or whatever equivalent your profession demands)- how do you cope?
Let's see...a busy stressful week will be hard on the whole family
as I abandon housekeeping tasks and yell at those who don't pick up my slack.
Their compensation will be in frozen pizza and ice cream.
I will need a "time out". .

2. You have unexpected visitors, and need to provide them with a meal- what do you do?
Spaghetti or if I have some time chili.
When we had a grill, we'd do hot dogs or burgers.
Some of you are saying "When you had a grill???"
We left it at seminary and will get another in the spring I hope.
It just won't be Thursady without a cookout,
but as I am relearning, the outside world isn't like seminary.

Three discussion topics:

3. Thinking along the lines of this weeks advent theme; repentance is an important but often neglected aspect of advent preparations.....
Yes this is probably true.
Especially because I've never thought
of repentance as a part of advent and Christmas
...repentance is for Easter, right?

4. Some of the best experiences in life occur when you simply go with the flow.....
Yes, so long as it doesn't get out of hand.
I am not terribly spontaneous, and a bit of a homebody
so the flow doesn't flow far.

5. Details are everything, attention to the small things enables a plan to roll forward smoothly...
Leaves? What leaves? I only see this big forest!
Very much a big picture person, which is unusual for a librarian, frankly.
Yes, details are important, but detail for detail sake is boring.
As someone said "You gotta leave room for the holy spirit."

Bonus if you dare- how well prepared are you for Christmas this year?
Better than many years.
We have our decorations up.
I have most of the shopping done.
No cards sent yet. No packages sent yet.
But its still too early for Flash. He expects Santa every day.
The advent calendar makes little sense to him I think.

Thankful Thursday

So much to be thankful for...
A warm home
Family and friends
more than enough...
healthy and happiness, safety and strength.
sleeping pets on the floor.

Flash wanted company tonight so Hubby is sleeping on his floor.
He had a good day at school today.
He and Robert (aha! a name!) made transformers out of blocks.
And he asked me how a grandma could be run over by a reindeer.

Hubby and Flash got their haircut
our first haircut in our new town and met an interesting barber.
He used to have a big barber shop in Chicago with 9 employees,
but the stress became too much so he bought the little barber shop in our town
(former proprietor is still fighting lung cancer)
and moved his family to little canal town in the country.

Snow!

Snow Day.
Hip Hip Hooray!
Cold nose,
Wind blows
Why not prose?
Who knows?

Recipe for a crowd

Its the holidays
and you may have a crowd for breakfast.
This is cheap, easy and requires your crockpot.

The ratio is 1 to 3
1 cup of oats to 3 cups of water
OR
2 cups of oats to 6 cups of water
(the 2 to 6 feeds at least 5)

Put in the oats and water at bedtime.
Put the crockpot on Low.
Plug it in (this is key)
Wake up in the morning and stir.
Set out bowls, spoons, milk, raisins, syrup, butter or whatever your guests/crowd may like.
Go back to bed.

I made this last night for just our family of three.
Forgetting that Flash would want "the usual": Graham crackers and milk
and that we've discovered that Hubby breaks out in hives when he eats oats.
Oh well.
Maybe this recipe will help you.

Bedtime stuff

OK I know he's three and really tired...
but its bad when the pastor's boy starts insisting that Jesus was a girl, right?

And he's decided that everyone we know should get their very own magic eraser sponge for Christmas from us. Because they are fun, and magic and he doesn't want to share his.

Pancake breakfast was delicious. Hubby had a funeral, which went fine (his first) and a prayer to give at the dedication and lighting of a special Cancer victim tree. And then, the parade which was thankfully only a half-hour long, My blood needs to thicken some I think, cause it was bitter cold and threatening snow. We only got some freezing rain. So far.

A Very Grumpy Friday 5

Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal....

1) dessert/cookie/family food
Now to say fruitcake would be redundant, right?
Used to live near Claxton GA and my step-grandmother Nanny used to make fantastic fruitcake so, I'll be kind about it.
One cup of 'nog is enough for me...per season.

2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...)
oops, answered the nog question too early!

3) tradition (church, family, other)
Hmmm. I've tried to get rid of some over the years
so we're a little scaled back...except for the kid stuff.
Tomorrow is the town Christmas parade,
following the Lions annual Pancake breakfast.
I am told theres a Santa's toyshop thing in between too.
But, Hubby has a funeral so I'm not sure what we'll do.
Several folks have said that they always get their tree after the parade
...but I think we're going to wait on that...the day already feels so full.

4) decoration
LOVE love love decorations on other people's lawns.
Yes, they are tacky and use too much energy
but they aren't on my lawn...is that like NIMBY?
Don't like the styrofoam advent wreathes. angels made from toilet paper tubes, etc etc.

Our nativity set has already been thoroughly played with.
I am not sure all of the kings will return. They had capes...so...um... they can fly, you see.

5) gift (received or given)
Least favorite right?
OK plants.
My mom will ooh and ahh over a plant and feel thrilled by the gift of one (hmmm...gift idea!),
but I am terrible with houseplants and will kill them.
No, its true.
Almost nothing worse than giving someone a plant I say. Its like giving a pet.

BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it.
Oh, now I have a great answer for this one.
I am positive Hubby will be looking for the John Denver and the Muppets sing Christmas CD. Usually he's a Bing Crosby Christmas sort of guy...but that John Denver CD...Bah Humbug.

ps...He read this...we's gonna be looking for that CD. Sigh.

Job Hunt

I started the job hunt this week.
Three applications sent.
one Certification application sent.
After 3 years of one income, and part-time for some of it,
I'm feeling a little money-panic-y.
Maybe its the house,
or Christmas
or debt that are worrying me but...
Its time to get back to work.

And I was just beginning to get used to this
life of leisure thing.
(that was extreme sarcasm folks!)

Rescue Heroes

Have I mentioned that my home is guarded by a platoon of Rescue Heroes?
Two had a bath tonight.
One is on Flash's bedside table watching him sleep.
Theres one on my bed.
There are many many many in the playroom.

More now that ebay has worked its magic.
Santa must have heard about our need for an Ariel Flyer Rescue Hero,
because packages have arrived almost a month early.

Oh chilly chilly chilly

I'm beginning to get the idea of midwestern weather
and its only November: cold and windy here!
My husband is getting used to wearing closed toe shoes everyday because of work,
but I'm glad because this cold dry air will do terrible things to his feet.
Not to mention BRRRR.
Oh, and Flash has apparently inherited his warm feet,
and continues to refuse socks when indoors.
Clifford slippers are no help this week.
Myself?
I am enjoying socks, slippers, warm pants, shirts and sweaters and throw blankets!
And knitting warms me up in the evening too!
Our vintage furnace is chugging along well
and Hubby and our friend put in one of those energy saving set-back thermostats.
I think the heat is set to "no-one-is-home-right-now"
I guess I should have learned to work the thing before they all retreated.
So now its popcorn, cocoa and throw blankets for everyone!

retreating

Hubby and our adult houseguests have left for their 3 day new pastor's retreat.
Its a synod thing.
No child care however, and our friends are a clergycouple, with two kids.
The infant goes with them and I am keeping the 4 year old.
I kept her at the last presbytery thing too.
She's pretty easy
and she and my Flash have been friends forever
but the no child care thing is hard!
What about single parents,
what about the couples...especially when they make things mandatory.
Well, people out in the secular world do this some too
and they have neighbors and friends and family, I guess
but as a new pastor in a new location, what do you do?

So, for the moment I am a solution
...and happy to be, seeing as I am not yet employed,
but...this isn't a great way to do things.
The traditional pastor's wife hardly exists anymore, why do we keep pretending she does?

Friday5 on Saturday

From the Revgals:
Ah, the day after Thanksgiving--groan! Fortunately, I love Thanksgiving leftovers.

Thanksgiving is the American holiday when the greatest number of people travel somewhere else to celebrate. It is difficult to think of anything requiring much energy today, so I will keep it simple.

1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?
My house! Weird too, because we ALWAYS go to my Mom's. Its a bigger holiday than Christmas in my family, because EVERYONE usually shows up.

2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?
How can you throw tradition to the wind? How do you do that? Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, peas (since the asparagus went bad, and I really dislike the green bean casserole thing) and a pumpkin pie. Forgot to make rolls...which was just fine. Our guests made sweet potatoes and brought apple pie. Wonderful.

3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?
We usually have fruit cup before the meal...trying to start off healthy I guess. Just the kids had it today while we were setting up the meal. We say my Pop's grace: Some have meat and canna eat and some havena that want it, but we have meat and we can eat and so the Lord be thank-ed. - Robert Burns I'm told. Its much better in Pop's thick brogue. He is unable to have Thanksgiving supper with us. Travel and "canna eat".

4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?
I have gone out with Hubby's mom at before-crack-of-dawn. It was actually kinda fun, just for the crazy people value! We went to the Christian store in the next town over (Hubby needed advent bulletins) and hit the grocery store for the staples: Pull-ups and milk.

My stepfamily always goes to chop down their Christmas tree on the day after. W've gone with them the past few years. I would love to do that but it seems too early this year...and we've only been in our house 2.5 weeks folks!

5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?
Some this weekend, some next weekend. Everything up before the 7th. Everything down by Jan 15. Has to be up through Epiphany though.

On that note, Happy Christ the King day...which is a very odd little holiday in my eyes.

where does the time go?

Thanksgiving is almost here.
and after months of living this strange life at my folks
and having been in my house (almost unpacked...settled) for only 2 weeks (!)
I am wishing I was in PA for Thanksgiving as usual.

For one thing, its lots less work when my mom does it. And its a huge holiday for us. Everyone usually shows up. Christmas is just a "nuclear" family thing for us.
We are having friends from seminary for Thanksgiving and they are staying all weekend...
I am beginning to think that might have been too much.

Anyhow, I am doing turkey, mashed potatoes (instant), stuffing (Stovetop with my additions), asparagus ( unless it has gone bad...not looking so hot in the fridge) instead of green beans, since I'm doing it! cresent rolls, pumpkin pie and fruit cup. My family always starts with fruit cup and that tradition I will uphold.

I am not as worried about the meal as, perhaps, I should be. Cooking isn't usually a big deal to me. Its the "whole weekend" thing thats worrying. House tidying and such. Our water heater is somewhat tempermental and ... I'm just making excuses now.

After living with another family for so long, I have been relishing it being "just us".
but its the holidays
and its one weekend.
Right?
And I am looking forward to seeing them.

Sunday Sunday

It must be odd
to become a pastor
and think to yourself,
I won't get to hear other preachers much anymore
because they all work on Sunday mornings!
I had thoughts of that this morning.

Friday5 from the REVgals!

"Friends, it's nearly Thanksgiving in the U.S. and it's the time of year when we are pressed to name things for which we are thankful. I want to offer a twist on the usual lists and use Paul's letter to the church at Philippi as a model.

Name five things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise. These could be people, organizations, acts, ideas, works of art, pieces of music--whatever comes to mind for you."

Wow. Ok, I'll give it a shot.
True:
Honorable:
Just:
Pure:
Pleasing:
Commendable:
Excellent:
Worthy of Praise:

Whew. Um, truthfully, this made me think of our military men and women. We had a very touching presentation at church for Veteran's Day and it has really stuck with me this week. We have a lot of ties to the military as a family, although not in our immediate family. We have a lot of ties to the military in our church and in this community. I don't think our family is a minority in this.
A local bridge was dedicated to Veteran's last week and a friend remarked that he was so pleased that his nephew, a soldier, will have to cross that bridge on his way home, when he comes home. And Hubby has recently been to the VA Home.
I guess I am thinking about Thanksgiving and gratitude to them, regardless of your politics. If Service men and women aren't on your prayer list, please put them there.

Pastor's Corner

Just thought I'd mention that our new neighbor is also a pastor.
I thought it was really funny.
His wife seems very nice and they have 3 kids.
And we have that "pastor's wife" thing in common.

Getting settled

I am washing my first load of laundry in my washer and dryer.
Never been so excited about laundry in my life.
I'm sure the euphoria will wear off soon.

also: my folks have left and Flash and I have a terrible cold.
Achoooooooo

Friday5 on Sunday

From the Revgals!:
I am writing in my official capacity of grump!!! No seriously, with the shops and stores around us filling with Christmas gifts and decorations, the holiday season moving up on us quickly for many the time from Thanksgiving onwards will be spent in a headlong rush towards Christmas with hardly a time to breathe.... I am looking at the possibility of finding little gaps in the day or the week to spend in extravagant unbusyness ( a wonderful phrase coined by fellow revgal Michelle)...

So given those little gaps, name 5 things you would do to;

1.to care for your body
Joining the gym again. Feel like I haven't stopped moving for weeks. I'm a little achy.

2. to care for your spirit
Need to find a bible study group...barring that, I'll try to do some self study and read what the Revgals are up to more often, now that I will be re-settled.

3. to care for your mind
Got my new library card on Friday! I'm planning on taking some classes next year.

4. to bring a sparkle to your eye
Shiny new eye shadow? We are due for a date night! Now all we need is a babysitter!

5. to place a spring in your step
New shoes are good for that, right? No, no. Um, just being settled is fantastic, even though we're living "among the boxes".

Enjoy the time to indulge and dream.... and then for a bonus which one on the list are you determined to put into action?
I was too practical, wasn't I? I'll shoot for whimsical later this week!
New eyeshadow definately, and the gym and taking classes next year. Hold me to it!

dogs

Why do we have dogs?
OK they're furry and they love us and...ummm.
Huh. They're expensive and messy and just when you think they're so excited to see you, they run away.
Grrr.
They're back, of course. Simba will come to food, car rides and once, a leash and a promise of a walk. Weird.
Max doesn't want food, car rides or anything else but to be able to run!
New backyard is unfenced.
So tomorrow, after church and the required post-church lunch and rest, we install the invisble radio pet fence. We had one when we lived in GA and Max thought our existing fence was a hurdle. This time there won't be a physical barrier. I know it will stop Max...he understands it. But I'm not sure about Simba.
Old dog/new tricks?
And we can't have a dog flap here, I don't think. Sliding glass door, and the dog flap panels take up too much room... makes it hard for people to get in and out.
So, Operation Dog Containment starts tomorrow!

Us people are doing alright. Mom and Stepdad are visiting and Mom has reacted favorably to the town and the church folk. Thank God! On Tuesday Hubby has Presbytery meeting and Flash has school, but the parents will still be around. So, it'll be a while before we hit a "normal day". More news another day!

what a welcome!

We closed on the house this morning,
had lunch and went to our new house!
Flash was at his new daycare, having a ball!
At about 2 pm...the calvary arrived.
2 ladies from church...they started cleaning.
At 5:30 we had 7 church members, Flash and two other 10 year olds,
three pizzas and assorted cookies.
Painting had begun. Cleaning was just about done,
lawn had been mowed and "volunteer" plants eliminated.
7:30 Flash imploded screaming:
"I'm tired, I want to sleep in the guesthouse!"
We came back, he and I.
Warm milk, two stories, three blankets.
Geez its cold.
Tomorrow, more painting,
carpets are being cleaned,
fridge must be bought and delivered.
Thursday: our stuff comes!
Friday: Mom and the dogs!
Whee!

well, well well

We're here, or rather, most of us are here.
Full van, top carrier, bike rack
Flash and me.
left at 7:15, got in at 9 ish
3 stops, one wrong turn
completely exhausted...
am blogging inmy sleep.
G'nite.
ps...dogs come Friday with my folks...thats why "most".

WE may have a settlement date!

Perhaps Tuesday!
Gotta do a lotta packing up around here, stuffing it all into our van.
Hubby's gonna fly in and drive out with us...cuz I just don't think I can manage 2 dogs, one 3 year old and a 13 hour drive by myself. Just think of the bathroom stops alone!

The great Pumpkin is coming!

The Great Pumpkin is on TV tonight at 8!

Looking forward to the holiday classic, and the holiday.

Great Pumpkin tonight,
tomorrow morning is my Nephew's Halloween parade at school and we're going!
And then the big night!

Flash has his costume (Buzz Lightyear) and we'll do the neighborhood.

Thinking about visiting my friend, the math prof's, mom

and another of my mother's friends, too.



It all depends on Flash's mood.

6:00 on is the "witching hour" around here,

meaning that he turns from a normal child into a cranky mess.

So, Trick-or-treating will be interesting. Of Course!

recommendations

This started as a book blog
but as I've only read
the new Bill Geist book about life in Rural America...name escapes me,
and Harry Potter books (because they are handy) recently.
(And of course the Corderoy's Halloween book. Again and Again.)

But I've seen some movies!
Meet the Robinsons was fantastic and has a very good message. Keep Moving Forward!
Music and Lyrics with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore...very entertaining.
Hot Fuzz was hysterical and has this massive twist in it.
Its slapstick gory, and I hate horror movies and I could handle it just fine.
Also the Heffalump movie is fantastic
no matter how many times you see it.
I just hope 5 is enough.

so...

Exactly how IS someone supposed to take it when a family member "suggests" that I should watch the Supernanny show more often?

We are doing the best we can under another roof, different rules and our routines completely changed. Grrr. OK, he's been demanding and unruly. I get that. But I also know that he's not sleeping great, not playing enough, not with kids enough and not getting a lot of consistancy.
UGH. I am so ready.

First Day

Today is Hubby's first day as pastor of his church!
He drove out there alone in a fully packed car yesterday.

Best of Luck Hubby!
We love and miss you!
and hopefully we'll be there soon.

Just bloggin to blog

One of the good things...silver lining here folks...about our "delay" has been the logistics for this weekend's huge family wedding. Irish Catholic meets Armenian Orthodox. Should be fantastic!
How we were going to doing it has been supplanted by what will we wear?
By good luck I packed my nice black pants and a fancy top, just in case we were in this sort of dilemna. Mom wants me to wear a dress, or at least a skirt. I'm not against the idea, although I've worn this particular outfit to several weddings without any...problems.
She is wearing the same royal blue confection she wore to MY wedding 10 years ago.
My sister is a size 2 so...she'll wear something slightly offbeat, slinky, gorgeous and it will have cost her next to nothing. At mom's request, we went shopping. Had a fantastic time, found nothing for me, found some fantastically horrendous fashions out there and were back in time to meet the bus for my nephew.
The boys, Flash and my nephew, will be having a sleepover at my stepsister's house with her three kids. My other stepsister's daughter is babysitting for Flash, since he's 3 and there'll be 5 kids. Should be exciting!
Flash is thrilled and slightly worried, I think.

Update

Closing has been postponed. We are in Limbo.
Fortunately we have a place to live.
But Hubby starts on Oct 24...and we won't be in our house yet.
I don't think so anyway.

At a library program the librarian asked "What happens on Halloween?"
and my little Flash yelled "Santa brings presents!"
This after he wore his new Buzz Lightyear costume for two days straight!
(never found one with wings...he doesn't seem to mind.)

BIBLE Friday5

1.What is your earliest memory of encountering a biblical text?

I guess the Noah's ark story, right?

2. What is your favorite biblical translation, and why? (You might have a few for different purposes).

NRSV or NIV I guess. Those are the ones we have. I love my Serendipity Bible, but thats not really a translation.

3. What is your favorite book of the Bible? Your favorite verse/passage?

I think Ruth. Its short, and, um...

4. Which book of the Bible do you consider, in Luther's famous words about James, to be "an epistle of straw?" Which verse(s) make you want to scream?

Not a fan of the apocalyptic ones...not a bible scholar, barely a bible-reader!

5. Inclusive language in biblical translation and liturgical proclamation: for, against, or neutral?Bonus: Back to the Psalms--which one best speaks the prayer of your heart?

Yeah...I'm out of my depth here. Perhaps Hubby should "guest-blog this one.

Hi

Just a quick note.
Flash is healing, he's wearing a walking boot and moves just as fast as always.
We're in PA for a few more days and then the long drive to our new place.
Exciting and nerve-wracking!

Favorite story from our week in GA:
Our windows were open and Flash said "Whats that smell?"
I said "Its dirt and trees and cows"
He said" I think it smells like gutters"
"Gutters?"
"You know, where cows keep their milk"

Oh and I finished a knitting project.
Sort of sad that I finished, you know?
Starting a new one soon...something to do on a 13 hour car drive.

Thankfulness Friday5

Today's Friday5 is a simple "5 things you are thankful for"
and if you know the Veggietales Thankfulness song you are invited to hum along.

so...
1. Hubby: Who is taking care of so many of so many things for the move because I just can't.
2. My folks: who've allowed us to take over their home these 3 months and are helping us out with the move.
3.rain: Its been all over the news that Georgia might run out of water, and today its raining! A good soaking rain. No its not enough to fill the reservoirs but its a nice start. And I kinda hope it dries out by tomorrow because tomorrow is the Big Red Apple Festival here. And I love a street fair, I really do.
4. Flash's leg is healing, health and safety for my loved ones.
5. new possibilities.

Just a quick note... things are a little crazy as you can well imagine. This week ordination and niece's baptism in GA, PA next week, close on the house on the 15th, Supposed to be back in NJ for a wedding on the 20th and then Hubby starts on the 24th. The house need a coat of paint, frigde, washer/dryer and a new faucet. And we have to figure out our POD, which they will not deliver to our house...its too far away. Needless to say its all happy and exciting but I am well on my way to losing it! Oh and I'm officially unemployed.

Update!

Sorry for the short-and-sweet...
He's ordained. It was lovely, and not too long!
We are in Georgia! Lovely GA.
Staying with my in-laws, seeing Baby Cousin, sneezing my head off!
Oh and Hubby was carrying Flash the other morning
and they tripped off the front step.
Hubby is scraped up and bruised
and we spent Thursday am in the ER.
Flash "cracked his bone"
He's in a walking boot and somewhat miserable. But he's doing alright.
If the rescue heroes are nearby, he's OK.
He's angling for a Cliff Hanger Rescue Hero. I love the names.
Looks like he'll be in the boot for about 4 weeks, just to be safe.
That puts us at Halloween, and he's hoping to be Buzz Lightyear (with the inflatable wings... Jeez-o-man where am I gonna find that?)
And the move.
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, but so glad I got a chance to blog!
More about the ordination and visiting friends in GA later!

Even Rescue Heroes...

...can't resist popcorn!

Love books?

Vote in the Quill Awards!
www.thequills.org or you can vote through the msnbc. com website.
The winners in each category have already been chosen,
but we, the public get to choose the "Best of Show", as it were.
I voted for Flotsam.

Back here - number crunching..

1 hour and 3 days of work left
3 W-2s to find
22 days til the "close"
Hubby starts at the church in 1 month
12 hour drive to GA on Friday - woo hoo
6 days til Ordination!

Thats it I guess.

Say ahhhhh

Hubby was examined today.
I've never been to presbytery before and whew as a layperson I am glad I don't have to be there a lot. But he was examined and hooray!
He passed.
After a morning speaker and housekeeping and prayer and song, he preached, read his statement of faith...which they all had in front of them in writing, and then answered 11 questions.
11.
I was sitting in the back with our church folk and they were so funny.
They didn't really know what all was going to happen and were surprised, as was I, at the depth.
Kept whispering to those lined up to question from the floor "sit down!"
Joking about how maybe they should pay him extra for going to presbytery.
There was a childcare snafu which meant that Flash was in my care in the nursery for much of it, but during Hubby's big part a kind woman came and they had a fantastic time, with Flash's best friend from seminary!
What a great time they had.
More about their reunion later this week I think.

whew

Theres a lot of stress in buying a house.
But there a lot of relief in it too.
A place for our things
our dogs
our family
to live, work, play
and play and play and play.

Things seem to be coming together very well.
Thank God.

We're here!

This is the brief child-hanging-on-my-neck-yelling update.
and
Candidating went very very well.
Vote was Unanimous!
House-hunting tomorrow!
Visiting seminary friends at the end of the week.
Examination on Saturday.

Flash hasn't been very good.
Not sad or angry or malicious.
Just wired!
This town, our town, has three nice playgounds
and we'll be visiting one soon I think.
Momentarily perhaps

The Turnover File

I've written one for everywhere I've worked.
Ever since my first supervisor asked me for one just before I left.
Its a list of:
Projects left undone
Areas that need some care
Things I do that no one else does
Recommendations
I've always wanted to add in an apple turnover recipe...for fun.

And when I've supervised others, and they "move on",
I ask them to make one up too.
Its so helpful to the supervisor,
but also to the next occupant of that job.

So, I'm writing mine, again.
Its mostly
items for purchase,
favorite publishers and series,
A disk of flyers I've made, so they can copy them
and an apple turnover recipe.

HP Support

Did you know there are Harry Potter Support Groups?
They are for those people who are devastated by the ending of the series.
And its a great name for a book group discussion as well.
Or a fan club.
There was an article in the CourierNews (9/10)
with a list of other fantasy stories Harry Potter fans may enjoy.
That article made the rounds here at the library.
Librarians brought it in.
Patrons cut it out for us.
I just popped " harry potter support group" into google and got 690 hits. Wow.

I met a fantastic group of librarians a few years ago who are devoted to
the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace
who meet each year at the American Library Conference each year.
Not my cup of tea, but what fun!

So, think of your favorite book, or author
and ask yourself if you know anyone else
that enjoys that book/author as much as you do.
Now think of your friends and your blogreaders.
Do they even know your favorites?
You should share. You absolutely should.
Who knows who may share your love of whomever!

...and then you can form a support group.

Hip2b acknowledges that her list of favorites is far too long, but she enjoys Cat among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie, and anything by Jennifer Cruisie or Janet Evanovitch. Harry Potter, of course and many many others. None of these borders on fanaticism.

VMA's

or thank goodness Sky High was on last night.

In her defense I hear that part of Britany's act was cut (the much talked about "magic with Criss Angel" part) at the last minute because of safety or something issues. So, She may have kinda winged it because elements were missing and had to be reworked too quickly.
So yeah I sort of watched the VMA's. It was awful. I'm not a fan of Sarah Silverman's comedy at the best of times. The colors and lights were too much. The best songs and acts were cut off. The whole thing seemed schiophrenic, too much going on in too many places with nothing holding it together. Camera work was strange too, because you'd watch an "act" and then you'd be looking at it from far away and then from up above.

So, we watched as much as we could stand...and some Sky High!
you know how I love the superhero thing.

a fast five

1. wonderful Craiglist helped me find some more Rescue Heroes, because we packed all but 2, and neither of them were"Billy Blazes".
2. 8 more days of work.
3. So far a quiet day at the library so I've been catching up on comic books and lunch is coming soon.
4. A week from today we'll be flying to Indiana.
5. I am predicting against all odds that Britany Spears performance at the Video Music Awards on Sunday night goes well. Why not?.

Lovely Party

salads and dessert...aaahhhhh.
And nice speeches and a present and a funny card.
Funny, because it has a big 8x10 picture of me in a silly costume.
Colander girl...
no, not Calendar girl, which trust me would be way scary,
Colander girl...with a colander on my head.
Sigh.
9 more days here.
Love the job.
Hate the commute.

very sweet

Hubby said he likes it when I blog.
that I should blog more
even when I'm upset.

Isn't he the sweetest man?
And he made dinner last night,
his specialty, Nachos.
and I almost ruined it by having a big milkshake on my way home.
(What you thought I got Chicken at the Chick-fil-a?)

what do you bring...

We're having a potluck luncheon at work.
These things are rare here.
Usually I bring something tasty.
My recipes are packed.
My Spicy meatballs recipe is in my brain,
but my crockpot is packed.
I could throw something together or "pick something up"
But
Its my going away party...
so I may be off the hook for this one!

The going away party is coming way early,
because others in the department will be away when I leave.
I find that awkward.
Everyone will say nice things about me...
say they are sad to see me go...and then still see me for two weeks.
Its odd.

But I do like a party!

Things that help!

I told you I'm a mess by Friday!
I really should not blog on Fridays.
I should save the Friday5 for Monday.

Hooray for the holiday!
And mexican food
and children who dress up in costumes
when it isn't Halloween.

Friday 2

Are you glad to see this summer end? Why or why not?
This has been one of the most stressful and difficult summers in a long time.
Yes I'll be glad to see it end.

Name one or two things you're looking forward to this fall.
Our own house. Hubby starting work...

Having a horrible two days.
Feeling hopeless and depressed.
Prayers please.

Awesome Lyrics

I love to look up lyrics on the internet
because I can never figure out what the singers are singing!
So I heard this song on a Kohl's commercial
and then again on DisneyRadio.
I was sure I'd heard them wrong...but, I didn't, "cuz I'm awesome".

I’m a leader,
I’m a winner,
And I’m cleaner
Cause I’m awesome
I don’t need you
cause I’m neato
and I beat you
Cause I’m awesome
- from the Dollyrots

Start your engines!

Ladies and gentlemen...
we have a start date! October 24
and by extension a leave date for my job, right?
and an appointment with a realtor
who pretended that we'll be able to find and close on a house
in the time allotted.

Here's the question though...
should I leave the job before we visit/househunt for a week...
or should I try to keep my job until about a week before we go.
Part of the question is money but most of the question is about sanity!
People...what will I do for two weeks if I don't work?
Once I get there, I'll have plenty to do just getting us settled,
BUT
Part of me wants this endless commute thing to STOP.
I know I am the crankiest human being alive by the time Friday rolls around.
But the security of an extra paycheck
and unstructured time to worry and pace
makes me think that I should work as long as possible.

Soup! Enjoy!

The playground near my mom's has a great play-structure
It has a tower and slides, a steering wheel and ladders.
But underneath, they built a little window.
Flash uses it as a take-out window.

Yesterday as I sat on the nearby bench he yelled
"Mommy! Your soup is ready!"

Why is it always soup?

I went over, and retrieved my leaf-with-woodchips concoction
and asked what today's soup was.
"Its green chocolate soup. Here is your four dollars "

Why does he always say four dollars? And why does he pay me?

"Enjoy! Take care!"
And I went back to my bench to play-eat,
under the watchful eye of my young chef,
who had climbed up to the steering wheel/deck area.

CultureVulture Friday5

One of the revgals spent the week at Summer School studying the Gospel and Western culture, looking at art, literature, music, film and popular culture in their myriad expressions.
Not feeling like a high-falutin' answer to any of these...we'll see. And the spiritual journey thing...I don't know ladies...sometimes I feel like a passenger in this journey.

Name a
1. Book - Spiritual book. Spiritual book? Um... I find it fascinating that all these thousands of books have been written about one man, one book. I'm gonna go with, hmmm Simple gifts : great hymns, one man's search for grace by Bill Henderson.

2. Piece of music - Oh I don't know...Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet? No no no. Um, whats that one by Rascall Flatts? I'll find it.

3. Work of art - I have this painting painted by a friend of my grandmothers of pink azalea bushes that were ruined by Hurricane Hugo. She'd gone through a depression and lost a lot in that storm and the twisted branches and the pink flowers. Its an amazing painting. Knowing its story makes it even better.

4. Film - How about Groundhog Day? Love that movie, it has humor and a message too. At the beginning he's only living for materialsm, then he helps others and develops his talents and then he gives it all up and he just lives, and then life continues for him. There are messages in it, right?

5. Unusual engagement with popular culture - Well, the film might have been one, right? I have a "performer"streak in me, and I love a good storyteller, professional or otherwise. Imagine the confidence, the memory power, to be able to do that.

That have helped or challenged you on your spiritual journey.

Bonus: Is engagement essential to your Christian faith, how and why?
I'm not sure I understand this one but I guess that the music and the sermon affect me most at church. I do not enjoy stained glass much. I'd rather my church was sparse with big plain glass windows. I like hymns that we sing aloud together and I like the catchy upbeat ones best. I am not against modern music, I just haven't seen it done really well in a church setting. I did see a fantastic signing choir once and I recommend seeing one if you can!

Lunchtime!

Flash was staying with my mom for a long weekend a couple months back.
My mom cooks.
She cooks well too.
And she cooked a hot lunch for Flash each day he was there.

On the last day, she told him he had been good and she'd take him to McDonald's for lunch.
Normally he'd be very excited about that.
He said "Mommy knows how to make peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. Do you know how to make peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches?"
She laughed and told him that she had taught me how to make them!
And they stayed home and had peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches together.

Update:

Hubby sent out the "email to everyone" that details our plans.

Lots and lots of neat little messages came in

from friends and family who are excited for us!

Hooray!

And its my birthday

and I am wearing cute new shoes,

sent by my Mother in Law!

(she replaced the ribbon with a fun green with polka dots one)

Spies like them

Bourne Ultimatum was fantastic by the way.
And we adults are not the only ones who love those movies.
Kids love spies.
Think SpyKids (1-3), Cody Banks,
Kim Possible ( and her pal Ron Stoppable)
and Alex Rider (the books are fantastic; the movie...ho hum).

So the kid in front of me wants books like that.
And he's read Alex Rider,
and those books by McNab (traitor and paycheck)
and the young James Bond novels.
And he's not old enough for
Ludlum, Clancy, or even real James Bond novels.
Not interested in fantasy much (thinking Artemis Fowl here, but he's read them too),
and not interested in the superhero angle either (Chance Fortune, or Ordinary Boy).

The kids that read the most are so much harder than the ones who "don't like to read".
Theres the challenge that one book could turn that kid into a voracious reader.
But the voracious readers, um...like me, we just get pickier and pickier.

So, I told him.
"Until you get a little older, or someone writes something new,
I think you will have to write these spy books for yourself."

Word Association Friday5

This one is patterned off an old Friday Five written by Songbird
Below you will find five words.
Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one.
Your response might be simply another word,
or it might be a sentence, a poem or a story.

1. vineyard - Martha's Vineyard. A great vacation spot.

2. root - Root, Root, Root for the home team, if they don't win its a shaaaame!

3. rescue - Rescue Heroes, hands down. Some of Flash's favorite toys.

4. perseverance - Harry Potter. I just finished listening to book7 on CD this morning. Perseverance for reading and rereading the series and also for the characters, doing what they had to do to finish off Voldemort.

5. divided - multiplied. I am in a "school is coming" frame of mind here at the library. Everyone is coming in for their last minute Summer Reading. And all the books on those school lists are OUT!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Dogs

Give your dog an extra pat and an extra treat today.

I used to live in Atlanta where Michael Vick was king (I mean quarterback)
and the stories that are coming out about the dog-fighting scandal he's involved in is just awful. A fellow on the news was talking about how badly they treat the dogs,
teach them to be cruel,
cage them,
about stealing backyard pets as "sparring partners",
victims really.
Its just awful.

Give your dog an extra belly rub and a treat.
Simba would recommend two or three treats.
Max would reccommend a walk around the block and a chewie.

Well

We've talked, argued, cried and prayed.

Its a go!

Details are being hammered out.

Looking at houses, getting my professional license there.

Daycare or preschool for Flash.



He keeps asking if his toys can come to our new house.

He knows we wouldn't couldn't leave Baby Pooh or "Baby Brother" (a doll)

but what about the Rescue Heroes, the trains, his Jimmie Johnson racecar, his treasure box full of Pull-Ups "Cars" collectible cards?

Yes, yes! Of Course!



But I am finding that I am living just fine without all the stuff we've packed.

With only a few exceptions.

Ever thought...

I should post something just to let everyone know I'm here and I'm thinking about posting, connecting communicating but everything is the same pretty much and the same in our case isn't necessarily a great thing. We wait. We live our of laundry baskets (frankly, thats the same) we sleep in strange beds. walk our dogs on leashes in the backyard. commute and commute. Different toys.
Insult to injury. We are waiting for the church we visited and accepted to get itself going...but other churches keep calling and some of them sound really good, closer to family, more pay, and one of them near enough that I could keep my current job. I don't know if we should abandon the fish we've got...sort of, and hope that one of these bigger fish come through, or if I shouldn't push my luck.
And of course its hubby's decision, really.

Friday5STRESS

Today's Friday 5 is about stress
and I have to say that I am almost officially stressed out.
What do they say are some of the biggies for stress?
Um Moving, new jobs...stuff like that.
So this is so appropriate!

1. First, and before we start busting stress, what causes you the most stress, is it big things or the small stuff ?
Does it matter?
I tend to be more of a big picture person so big stuff mostly.
I am not going to freak out over a stain, running out of toothpaste or those sorts of things. Although I also don't get totally bothered by things like in "The Day after Tomorrow".

2. Exercise or chocolate for stress busting ( or maybe something else) ?
Exercise. What's that?
At the moment my time for exercise is curtailed by a 3 hour per day commute.
Chocolate is fabulous and more time savvy! See I'm saving time!
And I can always multitask with chocolate.
My commute hasn't been as stress inducing
as I thought it would be, thanks to CD-books.
My job is crazy but strangely calm and familiar right now so that helps too.
Diet cola, fancy painted toenails and the Chick-fil-a on my way home seem to helps also.

3.What is your favourite music to chill out to?
I don't like mellow slow music, never have.
Has to be bouncy jangly beats for me.
Not really into music for relaxing I guess.

4. Where do you go to chill?
I would go to the porch, with some iced coffee or tea
and watch everyone go by or read a magazine.

5. Extrovert or introvert, do you relax at a party, or do you prefer a solitary walk?
Party! People!
If I'm not throwing the party especially,
and if I'm not in charge of figuring out what my boy is up to.
Solitary walks are wonderful, on occaision.
Family walks are also wonderful.

Bonus- share your favourite stress busting tip!
Well, having established that this
stress-busting thing is not my forte,
I am open to suggestions that are not too new-agey or mellow.
I will share that Hubby and I are having a date night tonight! And TGIF!

Update...

Well, its coming together.
September will be very busy
as we navigate past candiating/finding a house/examination/ordination/ moving
and Hubby starting his first call.
Three different states also.
Wow.

My Summer Reading Dance Party!

Everyone has some event that they look forward too that seems a little hokey, right?
I can't be the only one.
If you look in Chase's Calendar of Events
you'll find festivals celebrating everything you can think of,
and some things you would never think of!
My Dance Party is one of those things
and no its not listed in Chase's.

The playlist is ready:
YMCA
Crazy Frog
Move it (from Madagascar)
Chicken Dance
Macarena
The HamsterDance
Cha Cha Slide
Hokey Pokey
Do the Dinosaur
Limbo!

Oh yeah!
The 5-7 year old set will be dancing the afternoon away!

Harry Potter spoiler!

I loved it.
I really did.
But I wanted to know what happened to Luna.
The epilogue was fantastic but...
I wanted to know what happened to Luna.

So... CREATIVITY TIME!
What do you think happened to Luna?
(or your favorite who wasn't mentioned)??

Some have asked...

Its getting better.
My family is very upset...and that gets me down.
Haven't had the courage to tell my Dad and stepmom yet.
But I told a few at work who are THRILLED for us, and jealous at the location!

Chocolate Cherry cake

1 pkg. Chocolate cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

350 degrees
9x13
30-35 min

easy easy easy
based on a recipe from the Cake Doctor
(Check one of her books out of the library! They're very good)

Oh!
And perfect because I am an Aunt again today!
Hubby's sister had a beautiful baby girl this morning!
6lbs. 10 oz, 21 inches at 8:43
We're calling her Baby Cousin 'round here!

Update

Packed
Moved out
visited church
accepted call from church...far far away
heartsick

Pack like the wind!

I've been packing all day
...yikes we have a lot of stuff.
And we're messy
and theres a lot of paper to be recycled
and dust elephants
and clumps of dog fur
and boxes boxes boxes.

Boxes for Goodwill
Boxes for the food pantry
Boxes for packing!
Boxes boxes boxes!

four walls of cardboard
moving out and moving on
my blog time curtailed

Harry Potter 7 : No Spoilers

I've finished it!
And its great
and ties up almost every loose end or question I could want!
Between reading it, packing and family stuff its been a very weird weekend.

I packed all my teacups!
So for tea tonight I drank out of a Pyrex measuring cup!
Blackcurrant.
MMmmmmm.

Friday5: Looking back, looking forward

Sally at the Revgals writes"When I began work here at Downham Market a wise friend told me that after one year I would see a few changes and sense God at work- years two and three would cause me to question and to wonder why I had chosen to accept the post here and in year four I might see the beginnings of something new.And so with that in mind alongside yesterdays celebrations I bring you Friday 5"

Looking back, looking forward..
1. Share a moment/ time of real encouragement in your journey of faith
I've been coming along this bumpy road for a while, I guess.
Hubby is my guide.
My Bible Study ladies, church family and thre revgals encourage me.
Just by being strong people of faith...and real people too.

2. Do you have a current vision / dream for your work/ family/ministry?
A home, a church, a job,
a library job for me, school for Flash, friends for all of us.
You know, just, everything.

3.Money is no object and so you will.....
I guess this is for my ministry right?
This doesn't really apply to me I guess.
Although if I won the lottery I'd pay off debts,
Tithe, and take some time off to re-evaluate.
And seriously consider opening my own ice cream place.

4. How do you see your way through the disappointments? What keeps you going?
Ice cream.
I mean, um...family? Prayer?
I have an optimistic spirit that makes me feel like it'll all work out OK.
Not quite "God has a plan" but something very much like that.
And after dark nights, most things look better in the morning.

5. How important are your roots?
Pretty important.
The older I get the more I realize
that my foundation in my family,
as well as just genes, has played an enormous part in my life.
I've really enjoyed living near my family
as an adult these past few years.

6. Bonus= what would you like to add ?
Very large numbers in my head.

Thankful Thursday

God,
I thank you
for my family,
friends and faith
for food, shelter and clothing,
the bare necessities and our creature comforts
and for our family's journey with you.
Please help us to be happy, healthy, safe and strong
And to be good people, doing good things in your world.
Amen

Two funny kid things

We say "amens" while Flash drinks his evening milk.
Then we sing a song if he's not finished the milk.
Tonight Hubby sang a made up lullaby,
and it went on and on, and on, and on... while Flash slowly drank.
After a few minutes, Flash looked up and said
"This is a really long song".
We laughed an laughed but now that I type it, it's not so funny. Hmm

Flash has a small lump on his head.
Could be a bug bite (his seem to swell horribly sometimes)
or it could be from a bump on the head.
So I asked him about it.
He patted me on the shoulder seriously and said "Its a long story, mom"

And my gladiolas have bloomed!

Miracles!

My mother's dear friend has been in need of a kidney transplant
for over 10 years.
Her health has been up and down from bad to worse,
and she's very difficult to match, something about markers.

Last Thursday night she got a call to come to the hospital,
they had a kidney for her, with the right markers.
They prepped her, and the other transplant recipient
(two kidneys from the donor).

And then
The donor kidney that was to go to her was cancerous,
but the other one was healthy.
The doctors talked to the other recipient,
explaining about the markers,
how it was so rare to find this rare type that matched perfectly,
about her chances.

They said the next kidney would be his.
He was prepped and ready
...and he gave it to her.
He gave her the kidney that he needed desparately too.
He gave it to her.

Two miracles.
Thank you whoever you are!
I'm praying for your kidney too!

Stuff, stuff stuff

4 boxes of kitchen things and I haven't started on regular dishware yet,
just pots and pans and devices.
I am wondering why I ever unpacked our fancy dishes.
Hubby's doing books (I think I won that one).
Boxes everywhere. Everywhere!

We are taking a small break.
Hubby is using it to nap, I am blogging. Hmmm.
Flash is having a playdate with Gammie (my mom)
and that's allowing us some much needed time to do this.
Max, one of our dogs looks defeated and scared.
Simba is taking it in stride, if we pack the biscuits he may have a problem however.

Situation update

The brief version...
2 weeks left.
POD and contingency plan #1 - my Mom's. sigh.
BUT...
Visiting a church in 2 weeks, far far away.
Lots of nibbles, no bites.

There was a church we visited twice and got a rejection letter from.
OK with that.

There was a church that we visited that was geographically desirable
and completely wrong for us.
OK with that.

There was a church that had arranged a trip with us
and then cancelled because Hubby's final assessment wasn't done.
So when it was done he emailed them!
and 3 days later they emailed back that they'd picked someone else.
It all happened in 1 month.
I was crushed.

Anyway, packing continues, work continues, fatigue continues.
The neighborhood is emptying, friends moving away.
I really didn't want to be the last ones here.
I'd rather say goodbye triumphantly on our way to somewhere interesting,
than waving at moving trucks.
I struggle with the idea that God brought us here and then... what!?
My petulant heart hopes that he's "preparing a place" for us to serve.
In a really whiny voice.

But then I think of the woman a building over.
She and her family (6 total) are off to a fantastic call, close to home in the midwest.
She is the best pray-er I know.
I dash off notes to God, she writes Him novels.
She told me once that she prays for her children's future spouses.
I'd never even thought that.
Anyhow, she told me that she was praying for a call for us
and that the call be so obvious that it would be easy to choose.
Hmmm.

Revgal Friday5: Potter and Other

Option 1: Accio Friday Five!
1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why?
Prisoner of AzKaban because so much goes on in it,
new characters, new plots to think about.

2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?
Um...I dressed as McGonagall the other day.
Physically I guess Molly Weasley.
I think she'd be very interesting to know and a great friend...
but I think I'd like to get to know Dumbledore.

3. How careful are you about spoilers?a) bring 'em on--even if I know the destination, the journey's still goodb) eh, I'd rather not know what happens, but I'm not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slipc) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out.
Well, I like theories but not spoilers.
I will read the whole book next weekend. Somehow.

4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.
Fawlkes the Phoenix will appear in the book.
I hope.

5. Rowling has said she's not planning any prequels or sequels, but are there characters or storylines (past or future) that you would like to see pursued?
She's said she had backstories for just about every character
and some of it had to be scrubbed, like Dean Thomas' family story.
Also I'd like to know about the adventures of the original Order of the Phoenix,
and when Dumbledore defeated the wizard Gindlewald.
By the way there's a ton of fan-fiction on the internet, if you're interested.


Option 2:
1. Former U.S. First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson died this week. In honor of her love of the land and the environment, share your favorite flower or wildflower.
I'm a sucker for any orange or peach flower,
stargazer lilies are lovely and fragrant.
My favorite weed is the dandelion.
I am hoping my gladiolas bloom before we leave here.

2. A man flew almost 200 miles in a lawn chair, held aloft by helium balloons. Share something zany you'd like to try someday.
Love that story. Zany huh? I'll have to think about that.

3. Do you have an iPhone? If not, would you want one?
Course not!
They're like 600$ and I'm far too practical for that.
My cell phone calls people...and I have discovered has a calculator and alarm.
I'd love one of those ones with the music players in them
and I thank iphone for(probably) driving down the cost of them.

4. Speaking of which, Blendtec Blenders put an iPhone in one of their super-duper blenders as part of their "Will It Blend?" series. What would YOU like to see ground up, whizzed up or otherwise pulverized in a blender?
A blender, preferably mine...the infernal thing.

5. According to News of the Weird, a jury in Weld County, Colo., declined to hold Kathleen Ensz accountable for leaving a flier containing her dog's droppings on the doorstep of U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, apparently agreeing with Ensz that she was merely exercising free speech. What do you think? Is doggy doo-doo protected by the First Amendment?
Sure. Although I think it was
a. disappointing that she didn't do the classic fire and paper bag thing and
b. unsportsmanlike that he actually SUED her for it.
And yes for the record ewww,
she shouldn't have done it and I'll bet it'll hurt her cause,
whateveritwas.

From the mouths...

We visited GA.
We've been talking about moving.
Its only natural that Flash is thinking about places.
And he doesn't get it yet...he's 3

Flash asked us at dinner the other night "where were we before we were here"
We said before we lived here in NJ we lived in GA.
And he said "No. before."
Well frankly thats it for him, really.
He was insistent and we were clearly wrong with all of our answers.
Finally I asked the smart-mom question
'Where do you think we were?"

We were with God, because he built us"

Kudzu

Doug Marlette, the cartoonist who wrote the cartoon that pastors everywhere have had sent to them in the mail or slipped under their doors, died in a car accident in Mississippi yesterday.
Rest in his peace.

Obstacle Course: Busy library week

Why do I always plan my obstacle course for a day when the weatherpeople on TV and radio tell you to stay in air conditioning?
Needless to say I had quite a few cancellations, but the 8 kids that came had a wonderful time!
And their choice of popsicles. I bought the kind with the joke on the stick. You have to eat the popsicle to read the punchline.
They were almost as much fun as the obstacle course.

...and I've had a request to bring the obstacle course things home so we can have our own!
My Basic Ingredients: Hula Hoop (jump in and out 3 times), string (to go over), table (to go under), plank of wood (for balance beam, add bricks for older folks). Add popsicles and 2 teen-age volunteer cheerleaders!

Today: Toddler Singalong and a Making Slime with the Mad Scientist
Rest of the week: King Tut, Storytime, Harry PotterCostume Contest, Baby Music and Chess!
oh and Thursday is a Teen Cookie Review Day!
Summer is underway!

Friday5: an oldie, but a goodie!

Today, what are you:
1. Wearing - Orangy-red tank top, khaki shorts, sandals. Nothing special.

2. Reading - We are on a road-trip today so Hubby and I are listening to the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series today. 10 hours of The Sea of Monsters! That'll get us most of the way there. We listened to book 1 from Jersey to Georgia! Flash watches movies in the back seat...its been a Kipper and Bob the Builder marathon.

3. Eating - Road food. Cokes and granola bars. I pack some of those yogurt-in-a-tube things for Flash. Hot tamales (the candy) for Hubby. We've been eating Mexican food since we arrived in GA. NJ has fantastic pizza and Italian places but the Mexican food situation is dismal. Our favorite place is Sangria, stopped there yesterday. Also El Campesino up here in the Mountains.

4. Doing - Typing. Packing for the journey which will commence in about an hour. Tidying up my in-law's place. Feels a little bit like college...I brought laundry with me to do...taking it back nice and clean and folded.

5. Pondering - Our next move! I am feeling a little optimistic at the moment. Our CPM liasion said she'd heard from a church and wished us luck. We have a visit scheduled at the end of the month (incidently the weekend that we were going to be moving...thats being moved up).

Hooray!

certified
ready to receive a call!
Atlanta was great, saw a few friends from church.
Whirlwind tour.
Heading back tomorrow.

5 lbs of

blueberries!
We went picking on Saturday with Flash and Flash's best friend...who is moving away this week. This is gonna be hard.
But we picked 5 lbs! of blueberries!
That amount filled my big colander!
Flash is hoping for a pie, I want to make a cobbler
but at this rate we'll probably just be eating them straight!

Starting the long drive to GA tomorrow night.
I may not be able to post until after the big Presbytery meeting.
A little prayer from each of you would be much appreciated!

hip2b

You may have noticed that I changed my blog title.
Hip2b.

Hubby finished seminary and we are hoping for a call to a small church somewhere.
Not quite pastorzwife2b anymore.
My title has been chafing me for a while,
and I decided that it wasn't the "to be" part!
Its that darn "z".

Anyhow, It won't matter for much.
The blog address stays the same.
No need to change me if I'm in your links. Thanks for that by the way.
This change was mostly for me.

small thanks to Huey Lewis and the News!

Friday5:Gifts and Talents

So with gifts and talents in mind here is todays Friday 5;

1. Personality tests; love them or hate them?
Love them, up to a point. Please don't ask me 3 million questions, and what does that say about my personality, really?

2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture ?
Definately a mixture. I am very practical but I have a creative streak. I used to think I was intellectual...but I think I'm somewhat over that. I read alot, but I don't enjoy the more intellectual books, magazines and hate to talk politics (which seems to pass as intellectual conversation these days).

3. It is said that everyone has their 15 minutes of fame; have you had your yet?
If so what was it, if not dream away what would you like it to be?
No, sadly. Haven't even met any famous people.
What would I like it to be? Mom of the Year? How about one of those things where someone famous says "This woman turned me on to reading and changed my life!"
Or to be beloved by children for writing a fantastic book!

4. If you were given a 2 year sabatical ( oh the dream of it) to create something would it be music, literature, art.....something completely different...share your dream with us...
Um, write that fantastic book? Make my little animal sculptures? Learn to garden?
Take singing lessons and sing with a band, maybe?
Maybe I should take some time to discover a dream to share...

5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
I'd like to know how to read music. I have a good ear but no real understanding of the notation* I have no patience for "throwing pots" but like to make little clay animals in pottery class. Haven't taken a pottery class in 3-4 years. I'm waiting for the CPU head-jack to be perfected so I can know a language without having to learn it (a la Johnny Dangerous)

Bonus question: Back to the church- what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
This is not a term I'm familiar with but my guess would be that every member of a congregation has some sort of ministry that they share in. Is it like "priesthood of all believers?" Or is it like vocation.
I have a vocation, children's librarianship, and I have "jobs" at church, I teach sunday school, I'm in charge of making sure the nursery position is covered, I come to clean-up days and social events, I've even liturgized. There is a lot to do in a church, just like at home and in a family, and "many hands make light work".
It's easy to encourage. Implementation could be tricky but, its very, very hard to maintain it.

In a funny mood

I heard this comedian say that his child identified the church by the "plus sign" on top.
Hubby just about fell apart laughing.
I do believe that'll preach!

A friend asked us for Country songs that talked about redemption, or God for a sermon he was preparing
and I thought... Boy oh boy- you don't know country music well at all, do you?
(My personal suggestion was Martina McBride's Anyway, which says God is great but sometimes life ain't good...and that she prays anyway.)

Am I the only one who thought it was funny that Carrie Underwood's first hit is "Jesus Take the Wheel' and her second is "He Cheats" which has a very catchy refrain -
something about "taking a Louisville slugger to both headlights, carved her name into his leather seats and maybe next time he'll think before he cheats"?

I'm pretty sure she isn't talking about Jesus...
and
they say he drives a Chrysler. Yuk yuk yuk
Thank you, I'll be here all month.

Final Assessment!

Final assessment!
Thursday evening, July 5.
Atlanta, GA
Woohoo for that!

But also, it would be Lillian's 5th birthday.

I scream, you scream,,,

we all scream for ice cream!

We went for ice cream tonight
and Flash ate his chocolate cone all the way home in his car seat
and then he said" We should go back there again"
I said, "Where, the Ice cream store?"
and he said, "Yes."

"We should live there."

Thats my boy!

the comic book post

Some of you have just rolled your eyes.
Those who haven't have probably already read Y: The last Man.
I am totally addicted.
But you have to read The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
Not a superhero book...group of teen girls form a guerrilla art group in their small town.

In other book news I did pick up the new Janet Evanovich and it was great.
Can't believe we've gone 13 books and there's no decision between Morelli and Ranger.
I am firmly in Morelli's camp.
Settle down already Steph!

Reunion...It can't be time yet!

I got an email about my High School reunion today. Its in the planning stages still.
Can not believe its come up so soon. Has it really been that long?

High school seems to bring up miserable memories in so many people.
Why is that? Is it collective memory or did we really dislike those years?
I don't think I did.

So, I am kind of looking forward to this.
Just to see old friends and aquaintances.
I hope my buddies come, it would be a shame if they didn't.

Feelin' Thirsty

Prayer - marginal
Church attendance- present and singing each Sunday
Devotions - nil
Bible Study...
My wonderful Bible Study group has dissolved, dispersed.
When I think I need them more.

Songbird is posting about being Thirsty, not just for water.
I'm thinking about it Songbird, I am.

Another thirteen

Um, who cares about Ocean's Thirteen?
(other than me, sorta)

Today Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich comes out!
I am 129 on the library list.
SIGH. I think I'm gonna break down and buy it.
Perhaps on my way home...

In personal news, maybe this "stall" in the Presby process will be a good thing.
Hubby has had some interesting phone calls and emails in the last few days, from places I consider to be "geographically desirable".

Flash is showing interest in a real bed.. We picked up a toddler bed at a garage sale, but it had no hardware to put it together, so it sits in pieces in the basement, waiting. I had thought that we'd set it up in our new house, when we get there. But maybe we'll be putting it together this weekend.

Another book... another day

Evil Genius - Catherine Jinks
Oh, so good!
But definitely for teenagers and above, for violence and evilness.
Nothing racy.
We had it until YA Sci-fi but I'd put it as a thriller. Super-genius Cadel has a miserable existence, but with the help of his therapist he enrolls in a college where he can learn to put his talents to evil uses. Some fantastic twists and rather serious too!
So good, so good.

Friday5 - Books!

Friday Five on books!!!

Um...I'm a librarian so, stunningly, I have very few answers to these...

1. Fiction what kind, detective novels, historical stuff, thrillers, romance????
Spy thrillers, mysteries, romance, mostly.
I am currently go through a superhero children's book phase.

2. When you get a really good book do you read it all in one chunk or savour it slowly?
Never enough time for the chunk anymore...but not a savor-er. If I like it, I'll read it through in several nights. If I don't like it...I give up!

3. Is there a book you keep returning to and why?
Several actually...
Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie
The James Herriot Books
ooh and theres another one...ooh, can't think of it.
My brain is mush today.

4. Apart from the Bible which non-fiction book has influenced you the most?
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
I know you've heard of it and yes, the title is icky. Pick it up and read it anyway.

5. Describe a perfect place to read. ( could be anywhere!!!)
Comfy chair, quiet place.
beach, cabin, backyard all sound fine.
with some snacks and a glass of um...iced coffee today.