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I'm probably going to mangle this song horribly, but here goes -
It's Friday, It's Friday,
It's Friday all day long!
It's Friday, it's Friday,
this is my Friday song!
(repeat song incessantly)
I heard this (or something like it) from a studiomate while in college. It always made me smile to hear it, so now, once in a while, I sing it for myself.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Spectator Sport
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I've known that people tend to stare when disaster strikes, but I hadn't realized it was such a spectator sport. As I was driving home today, I came across the scene of firefighters fighting a fire in a main street building. People pulled into all kinds of parking lots, walked from down the street to stand and stare as one young woman watched her worldly belongings go up in flames.
In the midst of all that staring, I saw a few people be true ministers to others. One gentleman walked down the street and purchased a flat of bottled water for the firefighters. One woman took time to offer the assistance of her church, and to just stand by, in case the young woman needed anything else that she could provide at that moment. She also took time to go get cold water for the firefighters and those struggling with such a devastating loss. As I watched this, I knew in my heart that this was Christ in action. It's difficult to stand by, seeing others reach out to strangers, knowing that I, too, should be offering some kind of help.
I approached one of the men who apparently knew the woman who's places was burning. I offered a card with my name and number on it, and said that my church offers help to people in need; if she needed anything now, or 6 months from now, give a call, and we'll see how we can help. While I feel that in some ways I should have been more proactive, for me, it was a big step to approach a stranger, and offer a card. Maybe, 6 months from now, that card will do someone some good.
At least I redeemed myself from simply being a spectator occupying sidewalk space!
I've known that people tend to stare when disaster strikes, but I hadn't realized it was such a spectator sport. As I was driving home today, I came across the scene of firefighters fighting a fire in a main street building. People pulled into all kinds of parking lots, walked from down the street to stand and stare as one young woman watched her worldly belongings go up in flames.
In the midst of all that staring, I saw a few people be true ministers to others. One gentleman walked down the street and purchased a flat of bottled water for the firefighters. One woman took time to offer the assistance of her church, and to just stand by, in case the young woman needed anything else that she could provide at that moment. She also took time to go get cold water for the firefighters and those struggling with such a devastating loss. As I watched this, I knew in my heart that this was Christ in action. It's difficult to stand by, seeing others reach out to strangers, knowing that I, too, should be offering some kind of help.
I approached one of the men who apparently knew the woman who's places was burning. I offered a card with my name and number on it, and said that my church offers help to people in need; if she needed anything now, or 6 months from now, give a call, and we'll see how we can help. While I feel that in some ways I should have been more proactive, for me, it was a big step to approach a stranger, and offer a card. Maybe, 6 months from now, that card will do someone some good.
At least I redeemed myself from simply being a spectator occupying sidewalk space!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Odd Ducks
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One of the motels we stayed in last week has a swimming pool. They've recently filled it, although the gate to enter is locked. The gate doesn't keep all swimmers out, however.
This duck was taking advantage of the nice swimming weather:
For whatever reason, the site of a duck in the middle of a chlorinated swimming pool seemed out of place.
It made me laugh.
One of the motels we stayed in last week has a swimming pool. They've recently filled it, although the gate to enter is locked. The gate doesn't keep all swimmers out, however.
This duck was taking advantage of the nice swimming weather:
For whatever reason, the site of a duck in the middle of a chlorinated swimming pool seemed out of place.
It made me laugh.
Phone Virus
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I've recently read in the news about all this cell-phone-virus talk. They said that it was the next wave after email viruses. I've seen those go around enough that I believe there really are email viruses. I'd kind of written off the phone ones, thinking "who can get a virus from a phone?" I mean Really!?! Where is all the medical learning our civilization has garnered through the years?
Low, and Behold, it is true. You can get a virus from a cell-phone. Just last night, my dear husband was talking on the phone to a friend of ours. We were distressed to find that our friend had an unpleasant bout of intestinal upset, and was suffering through recovery, and possible redevelopment of said intestinal issues. My husband wished him well, and said goodbye. Roughly 4 hours later, my dear husband was viciously attacked by the same intestinal upset that our friend had experienced! I have suffered no symptoms, even though I have been in the same space as both my dear husband and our friend in the last few days. He must have gotten it over the phone.
Now I have to ban cell phones, since obviously they're unsanitary, and could cause a severe outbreak of something horrible, like bird flu, or whatever. I should make a web page about how cell phone viruses will be the death of our civilization, and write to my government officials about my concerns.
I've recently read in the news about all this cell-phone-virus talk. They said that it was the next wave after email viruses. I've seen those go around enough that I believe there really are email viruses. I'd kind of written off the phone ones, thinking "who can get a virus from a phone?" I mean Really!?! Where is all the medical learning our civilization has garnered through the years?
Low, and Behold, it is true. You can get a virus from a cell-phone. Just last night, my dear husband was talking on the phone to a friend of ours. We were distressed to find that our friend had an unpleasant bout of intestinal upset, and was suffering through recovery, and possible redevelopment of said intestinal issues. My husband wished him well, and said goodbye. Roughly 4 hours later, my dear husband was viciously attacked by the same intestinal upset that our friend had experienced! I have suffered no symptoms, even though I have been in the same space as both my dear husband and our friend in the last few days. He must have gotten it over the phone.
Now I have to ban cell phones, since obviously they're unsanitary, and could cause a severe outbreak of something horrible, like bird flu, or whatever. I should make a web page about how cell phone viruses will be the death of our civilization, and write to my government officials about my concerns.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
the most wonderful time of the year
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Yesterday morning, I woke to see a fuzzy blur of fuschia-pink outside my window. It took me a few seconds to realize what I was seeing, something that I only have the privilege of seeing a few weeks a year - our redbud trees!
Spring really IS here! I makes me so happy to see spring colors, and feel the breeze from my open windows. I revel in all the things that bloom!
A firebush full of red-orange blossoms, the lilacs preparing to burst with their purples and whites.
Bluebells, grape hyacinths, the nearly fluorescent greens and yellow of new leaves. The images don't do justice to the vividness of the colors all around me.
This morning at church, my neighbor spoke eloquently about all the creation that God has made - the wonders of nature are truly things for which we should praise God!
Yesterday morning, I woke to see a fuzzy blur of fuschia-pink outside my window. It took me a few seconds to realize what I was seeing, something that I only have the privilege of seeing a few weeks a year - our redbud trees!
Spring really IS here! I makes me so happy to see spring colors, and feel the breeze from my open windows. I revel in all the things that bloom!
A firebush full of red-orange blossoms, the lilacs preparing to burst with their purples and whites.
Bluebells, grape hyacinths, the nearly fluorescent greens and yellow of new leaves. The images don't do justice to the vividness of the colors all around me.
This morning at church, my neighbor spoke eloquently about all the creation that God has made - the wonders of nature are truly things for which we should praise God!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
quilting pins
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There I was, merrily stiching away. I had pieced together the quilt top - my first. Although it's far from perfect, I'm pleased with my quick and dirty first attempt at creating a quilt. I had found and marked the center of the sides and the border pieces wih pins, just as the instructions had indicated. I had pinned together the top and the final border. I made my final pass of stiches. My quilt top is done! Triumph! Let the removal of pins begin! Let me take you back to the moment...
I start to take out the pins which held the last pieces together. They're cheerful pins, with flat, sunflower heads. The final pin, in the middle of the outside border seam. I pull. It doesn't budge. I look closer. Wait a minute... I don't see all the pin. Where's the...? Doh! Looking at the wrong side of the seam, between the two pieces that I've Oh so recently sewn together, is the missing half of the pin. Inconveniently, my work horse of a new machine cleanly stiched Straight Through the plastic head several times, leaving it firmly, and apparently permanently, attached to my quilt top. Not Cool.
Armed with my trusty seam ripper, I remove the offending stiches, retrieve the wayward pin, and cleanly repair the space in the seam. Looking at the quilt top, you can't even see where the pin had been.
Clearly, the kudos should not go to me for cleverness.
There I was, merrily stiching away. I had pieced together the quilt top - my first. Although it's far from perfect, I'm pleased with my quick and dirty first attempt at creating a quilt. I had found and marked the center of the sides and the border pieces wih pins, just as the instructions had indicated. I had pinned together the top and the final border. I made my final pass of stiches. My quilt top is done! Triumph! Let the removal of pins begin! Let me take you back to the moment...
I start to take out the pins which held the last pieces together. They're cheerful pins, with flat, sunflower heads. The final pin, in the middle of the outside border seam. I pull. It doesn't budge. I look closer. Wait a minute... I don't see all the pin. Where's the...? Doh! Looking at the wrong side of the seam, between the two pieces that I've Oh so recently sewn together, is the missing half of the pin. Inconveniently, my work horse of a new machine cleanly stiched Straight Through the plastic head several times, leaving it firmly, and apparently permanently, attached to my quilt top. Not Cool.
Armed with my trusty seam ripper, I remove the offending stiches, retrieve the wayward pin, and cleanly repair the space in the seam. Looking at the quilt top, you can't even see where the pin had been.
Clearly, the kudos should not go to me for cleverness.
roller coaster
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Motivation is a roller coaster. I'm am not sure, however, which side of the hill describes what. There's the commonly accepted view that uphill is good, downhill is bad. With a roller coaster, uphill is all the hard work, and downhill is the fun and easy part! Assuming the latter, I'm on the downhill side. I've been struggling for the past long while to Do things that are productive, and make a difference in life. I've finally hit a spot where some things are coming together, strictly because I am choosing to move forward. It certainly makes things more fun when I finally get to work!
I've recently reintroduced myself to intentional daily prayer and scripture reading. I make a list of others I feel the need to lift up in prayer, and I pray over those people and situations. I pray about whatever else strikes me. It's good. It takes practice. I've never had a comfortable way to pursue scripture study, so I'm starting where I can. The Book is opened to a random spot, I read for a while. I would say that I haven't read more than 15 percent of the scriptures in my lifetime. The least I could do is get to know the words that my theology is built upon.
One of the topics that has been of interest to me is healing. I think it's absolutely fascinating how easily we (as in, the general Christian church) accept people being healed in scripture, and even when we hear 4th hand that someone was miraculously healed, and yet, we struggle with the idea that we, or someone we personally know could truly be healed immediately. I believe that healing can occur, and does occur. I want to find out more about it.
I think part of what gets in the way of modern healing is fear. What if we ask for something, and it doesn't happen? What does that say about God, our personal faith, the faith of others? Isn't it easier to not make the effort, than it is to be disappointed, or to question our faith? Regardless, I'm curious about the circumstances surrounding scriptural healing. I'm excited to find where exploring this topic will lead me.
It's a good thing I'm on a roller coaster. Something else pulls me up the hill, and I get to enjoy the rest of the ride.
Motivation is a roller coaster. I'm am not sure, however, which side of the hill describes what. There's the commonly accepted view that uphill is good, downhill is bad. With a roller coaster, uphill is all the hard work, and downhill is the fun and easy part! Assuming the latter, I'm on the downhill side. I've been struggling for the past long while to Do things that are productive, and make a difference in life. I've finally hit a spot where some things are coming together, strictly because I am choosing to move forward. It certainly makes things more fun when I finally get to work!
I've recently reintroduced myself to intentional daily prayer and scripture reading. I make a list of others I feel the need to lift up in prayer, and I pray over those people and situations. I pray about whatever else strikes me. It's good. It takes practice. I've never had a comfortable way to pursue scripture study, so I'm starting where I can. The Book is opened to a random spot, I read for a while. I would say that I haven't read more than 15 percent of the scriptures in my lifetime. The least I could do is get to know the words that my theology is built upon.
One of the topics that has been of interest to me is healing. I think it's absolutely fascinating how easily we (as in, the general Christian church) accept people being healed in scripture, and even when we hear 4th hand that someone was miraculously healed, and yet, we struggle with the idea that we, or someone we personally know could truly be healed immediately. I believe that healing can occur, and does occur. I want to find out more about it.
I think part of what gets in the way of modern healing is fear. What if we ask for something, and it doesn't happen? What does that say about God, our personal faith, the faith of others? Isn't it easier to not make the effort, than it is to be disappointed, or to question our faith? Regardless, I'm curious about the circumstances surrounding scriptural healing. I'm excited to find where exploring this topic will lead me.
It's a good thing I'm on a roller coaster. Something else pulls me up the hill, and I get to enjoy the rest of the ride.
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