I find this odd, Netflix

The things that have happened

In no particular order…

• I have another new job… well a seventeen month old new job
• My sister and I went on a road trip
• and we went to Epcot Food and Wine
• and I went to visit her again at her new house
• I barely did any theater
• I took a seminary class
• I preached one of the last nights of our departed Evening Vespers service
• I had minor surgery
• that let me gain back most of the weight
• Ryan Bradley won the US Championship
• Many hours of “So You Think You Can Dance” were watched
• More youth got confirmed
• I agreed to help with Youth Sunday School
• so I am going regularly to the contemporary service at church
• I cut my hair short
• I cried my eyes out too many times
• I took a 12 week Biblical Greek class
• I put up a half done online dating profile… then took it down
• I applied for about 20 jobs… got one phone interview and no jobs
• I finally turned some acquaintances into real friends
• Visited Lakeland to go to FTC see old friends, waive at FSC, and see my beloved drama teacher get a distinguished career award
• I got lots of books
• I nominated myself to be a delegate to General Conference and did not win the vote
• I saw the first national tour of the Hair revival
• I spent holidays at home
• I picked up a bad YouTube watching habit
• I got asked to speak at next year’s Women’s Retreat
• I rode lots of roller coasters
• I went to the PCC reunion
• I went to my ten year HS reunion
• I help organize an emergency cold weather shelter for homeless people
• I got a new car
• I had a Seder meal at my house
• and more… can’t decide if that’s a lot or a little

Seventeen months later…

Shall I pick up where I left off?

Sermon: “Ask Your Father”

Luke 11:1-13 NRSV

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

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Audio MP3: saintpaulsumc.org

My dad worked as a manager at Kmart until I was in middle school.  There is a sweet story that my family tells about a time when my mom took me to see him at the store.  They were having a family festival and were giving out balloons.  My favorite color was brown when I was in preschool, so I’m sure that I had to settle for a red one.  Well sometime after leaving the store and saying goodbye to my dad, my balloon popped.  I’m sure the tears flowed.  Well my mom called my dad at work and asked him to bring home a new balloon for me.  When my dad came home, I saw the balloon in his hand (a red one of course).  I ran up to him and exclaimed, “Daddy, you fixed it!”  To me, he just knew what I needed and he took care of it without me even asking.  I think that God does that for use more times than we can count.  But today’s lesson is about how we ask our heavenly father.

Yellow for Spring

Here’s my Easter dress.  I cheated and wore it again the next Sunday for confirmation, not to the same church.  I got more compliments on it than I’ve got on any outfit in a long time.  Though this is not me in it.  I have no pictures.  Though they may exist out there as  I was the unfortunate subject of the “Here’s people getting food off the brunch buffet” photo session.  And I doubt that will be flattering, pretty dress or no.

I think that it is very me.

I brought cupcakes for the confirmands.  Prepare to be awed.  I spent so much time slaving on them.

True cupcake confession:  These are Walmart cupcakes with Veggie Tale “Peep-like” marshmallows stuck on them.  It was hard work, but anything for the kids.

That’s what I’m known for

We had our monthly United Methodist Women’s Circle meeting tonight.  We went to the Mexican joint.  I decided to just order some guacamole because if I’m blowing my calorie goals I want to do it on something that I really like.  So chips and guac for me.

Well Tamara said to me, “I never see you eat anything.”  RIGHT!  That’s me never eating anything.  Except my weight in tortilla chips.  And enough tea sandwiches to make me sick.  And more than my fair share of spinach puffs.  And that’s just when I was with Tamara.

So my weight loss/conscience eating have lead to two things (well besides the, you know, weight loss.)  One,  I spend a lot of time thinking about, planning for, dealing with, feeling guilty about, and generally obsessing over food.  I can quote calorie count to you.  It feels a little over kill.  But that’s the way it has to be.  But on the plus side, I’m saving some money.  Turns out when you need less food it costs less money.  Shocking I know.  So besides my eating small amounts when I go out I also look like a cheap skate.

But I’m ok with that.  I’m cheap… even at my fattest.  Now I’m just a bit lighter.

Confirmation 2010

The ceremony was lovely and uncomplicated this year.  I got to read the kids’ names again this year.  Maybe a part of it was that I only went to about 4 sessions of a reduced number anyway.  Plus the retreat, which was great fun.  Here’s some shots from the ropes course.

They are singing I’m a little teapot.

They are a fun group.  Most of them told me that the word games I brought were there favorite part.  No wonder I like them.

A stick

Did I tell you that a tree fell on my car?  It was luckily just the bushy part and quite early in the day on a residential street so no wrecks ensued.  Look a stick….Wait!  Cars don’t grow branches.

That’s not a stick.

I rescued him…

He’ll probably grow up to be a huge furry moth.

Shoe Therapy

When you can’t get the hobby table you want….

Container Store, why must you taunt me?

I have been in the market for a new craft storage solution.  I found it… for 1,200 dollars!?!