A Bit Frazzled

I was not quite prepared to face this week. The past few weeks have been pretty quiet and slow here at work with all the graduate students and professors out of town, but this is "Janmester week", a week of short courses before the actual spring semster starts. The program I work in is a small program, so I wasn't expecting things to really pick up much but oh my GOODNESS! I actually went home over my lunch break and took a nap today!

I thought I would share a picture of me at work so you might have a little idea of what I'm talking about!

I just needed to take a quick break and share my harried state. I feel much better now. (To tell you the truth, I'm glad to be back to having plenty to do again. Maybe if I could just spread it out a tiny bit more so I'm not doing 3 things at once!)

OK, back to the grindstone! Here's hoping you all are having a nice, calm, relaxing day!

Dementia? At 32?

Last night, I had to run an errand at the mall. I was just going to run in and run out. (Yeah, I know, highly unlikely.) However, I was able to go in, return an item, and get out of the store pretty quickly. It was when I stepped out of the store that the trouble began.

You've probably had this experience before. You step out of the store you were in, look to the left, look to the right, and then ask yourself, "Where am I? Which way did I come from?" Well, that was me last night. So I had to stop and think, what did I see when I came in the mall? What did I pass by? Am I going completely crazy? After a moment of forehead-furrowing thought, I remembered a sign I saw several stores down. OK, now I have a direction. Once I got going the right way, I saw the theater and remembered that I entered there surrounded by giggling teenage girls and pimply teenage boys trying to look very cool (or tight or whatever they say these days).

So out to the parking lot I go when I realize with a groan that I have NO idea where I parked. So I just started walking up and down the parking lot thinking I'd see it soon. Nope. I try and console myself by reasoning that I must have just really been deep in thought or highly distracted thinking about the errands I had to run. After about 10 minutes of wandering around aimlessly, clicking the lock and unlock button on my key ring in hopes that the car would wink and alert me to its location, I spotted it on the first row that I had looked. Of course.

I hear dancing and puzzles are good brain activity to help delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Anyone for a tango?

Progress and LOTS of H2O

JJ and I went and weighed in yesterday after doing a 2 day "Take Off", which is the LA Weightloss version of a "cleansing". JJ was using it as a jump start to get back on plan and I did it with him. He lost 3 pounds and I lost 1. I am now only 14 pounds away from my goal! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!

I gained 1/2 pound over the holidays, I think mostly due to not drinking enough water. Before I started LA Weightloss, I did not realize what a big effect a lack of water and too much sodium has on water retention. I always notice on the scales when I don't get my 8 glasses of water a day, especially if I don't get enough for several days in a row. So getting that water in might be a great New Year's resolution for those of you who are not in the habit.

Fitting in 8 glasses of water is easier than you might think! Buy yourself a good 32 ounce water bottle. JJ likes the ones that have a hook attached so he can hook it on to his book bag. If you keep that water bottle with you all day, you only have to fill it up once in order to get your 8 glasses in! My main problem is when I forget to refill or leave my bottle somewhere so I'm going to try keeping one at work and one at home. Besides, JJ got a cool new bottle the other day and I need an excuse to buy one too! =0)

If you just sip a little all day, you'll be surprised at how easy it is.

Tension

I heard this poem on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion radio show. If you have not heard it before, go! quickly! T0 http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/ and check it out. It is hillarious and entertaining and touching. Anyway, I've always WANTED to like poetry and have found bits and pieces that I've liked, but never really pursued reading a lot of poetry. I mean, when you think of someone who reads poetry you think, wow, they must be pretty smart or at the very least, really deep. So anyway, here's my little addition with a not-so-deep poem that is really better to hear when it's read by Billy Collins, the author, who says you should never use the word "suddenly" just to create tension. If you go over to the Prairie Home Companion website to listen to the poem, you can listen to the whole show or just skip through the first segment to just catch Billy Collins.

Tension
by Billy Collins

Suddenly, you were planting some yellow petunias
outside in the garden,and suddenly I was in the study
looking up the word oligarchy for the thirty-seventh time.

When suddenly, without warning,you planted the last petunia in the flat,
and I suddenly closed the dictionary
now that I was reminded of that vile form of governance.

A moment later, we found ourselves
standing suddenly in the kitchen
where you suddenly opened a can of cat food
and I just as suddenly watched you doing that.

I observed a window of leafy activity
and, beyond that, a bird perched on the edge
of the stone birdbath
when suddenly you announced you were leaving

to pick up a few things at the market
and I stunned you by impulsively
pointing out that we were getting low on butter
and another case of wine would not be a bad idea.

Who could tell what the next moment would hold?
Another drip from the faucet?
Another little spasm of the second hand?
Would the painting of a bowl of pears continue

to hang on the wall from that nail?
Would the heavy anthologies remain on their shelves?
Would the stove hold its position?
Suddenly, it was anyone’s guess.

The sun rose ever higher.
The state capitals remained motionless on the wall map
when suddenly I found myself lying on a couch
where I closed my eyes and without any warning

began to picture the Andes, of all places,
and a path that led over the mountain to another country
with strange customs and eye-catching hats
suddenly fringed with little colorful, dangling balls.

1 Corinthians 13, Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Less Than 20 Pounds to Go!

Hooray! When I went to weigh in yesterday, I found I only have 18 more pounds to lose. That is amazing. I look at myself in the mirror and while I can see how far I've come, it sure is tempting to say that I probably need to lose closer to 30. But we'll see when I get there. I certainly don't want to get into that trap that says I'll never be skinny enough and never have that perfect body that I think in my mind I should have. After being 74 pounds overweight, if I have a few little lumps and bumps, that will be OK with me!

So here's the big picture:

Thanksgiving Weather

I wish I could take credit for this little forecast, but I have to admit that I got this in my e-mail today and thought it was cute. We do give thanks for the many, many ways in which we were blessed this year, but you just can't ignore these other aspects of Thanksgiving! (And by the way, I'm not too proud of my last post - griping and complaining about our finances when we've been blessed so richly. Sometimes, though, you just need to get real and admit when you've lost focus.)

So without further ado . . . here's Thursday's weather forecast:

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway.

During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

Enjoy!

Lies - It's All Lies!

JJ and I are struggling financially this month. Next month doesn't look a lot better. I know that the Lord will be with us in this tight pinch, but it doesn’t mean that He won’t let us go broke. It’s just a little scary.

It’s so frustrating because JJ is working as hard as he can and we still come up short. I'm working full time and contemplating another part time job, but I don't feel like I could take care of things around the house and keep up with paying the bills on time and juggle everything else I'm trying to do AND work 60 hours a week.

We’ve been struggling for what feels like so long. It’s OK when you know it’s short term, but we’ve been trying to get out of debt for several years now with very little progress. We’re getting tired. Just when we feel like we’re making headway, something else like having to buy another car comes along. I’m sure many of you can identify.

I just have to keep reminding myself that no one ever promised me anything in life – I don’t know why I expect so much. Our culture tells us we can (and should) have it all, but that is a lie from Satan. And the fact that having it all would even be fulfilling or make us happy is a big fat lie too. I really wish that I could say that I have learned to be content in all circumstances like Paul. Man, why can’t I beat this mentality? Satan is just good at what he does, isn’t he?

A "Tommy Boy" Moment

If you've ever seen the movie Tommy Boy, then you're sure to remember the part when Tommy and Richard are driving down the highway crying and singing the Carpenter's song, "Don't you remember you told me you loved me baby?" Then out of the blue, the hood of the car flies up and they almost get killed swerving in and out of traffic. Although very dangerous in real life, this scene is hilarious in the movie.

Well, our experience Wednesday night had only one thing in common with that scene. We were not crying (although we sure wanted to afterwards). We were not listening to the Carpenters (I believe it was NPR). But the hood of the car DID indeed fly up and hit the windshield of the car as we were going 70 down the highway.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. The windshield did not shatter. We did not have to swerve in and out of traffic in a dangerous and hair-raising way. Although I did scream. JJ, however, remained cool and collected (thankfully, he was driving) and calmly slowed down and steered us off the road.

We called for some help from some folks at church (we had just left there and were not far from the building) and they came and helped us get the hood back down. There had been some bolts missing from the piece that the hood actually latches onto and it was very loose. We just cannot figure out how that happened. We only bought the car (used) 2 months ago. I cannot believe that in 2 months time those bolts loosened up and fell out on their own.

I am trying to keep this in perspective. The Lord protected us and no one was hurt. There is extensive damage to the hood, but the car drives just fine. But, our insurance does not cover the damage and the dealership, as expected, is saying that this is not their problem. So it looks like our beautiful new (used) car will just have to live with its scars for quite awhile. Maybe forever.

There are much, much worse things in life. I just wish we could have a bit of a break to recover financially before we get hit again. and again. and again.

Weigh-in results - as promised

Well, after 2 days of Take Off (LA Weightloss intensive 2 day kick-in-the-behind regimen), I lost another pound. So here's the latest:



Wow! What a mile stone! It's such great news that I won't even ruin it and tell you the really scary, very expensive thing that happened to us last night. Not yet. And just so you don't worry, everyone is OK. No injuries. Just very expensive repairs.

A Great Success

Last night, our little church that averages about 20 on a Sunday morning pulled off a Fall Carnival that was attended by over 100 children and we have no idea how many parents! Everyone put so much work into it and we were blown away by the turnout. It was encouraging for our little family to invest so much time and energy into something that was enjoyed so much by the community. Since we are in a new building, it was great for the community to see us where we worship, doing what we do best - ministering to kids. We have so many members in our congregation who are teachers or involved in the school system somehow that kids have really become our main ministry focus.

I did the clowning thing and dressed up as "Chipper". Balloon animals were enjoyed by all. I was impressed by the other adults in the congregation - almost everyone had a costume. Many adults are too embarrassed or too "grown-up" to dress up. I think this is exactly why we should do it. We just do not "play" enough as adults and Halloween is a great excuse to do just that! Some of the costumes I saw were a BIG smiley face, a Hershey's kiss, a scarecrow, a "spelling" bee, Elvis, biker dude and chick, Rambo, and a farmer. And of course, the kids' costumes were lots of fun too.

And best of all, I did not have a single piece of candy, cupcake (even though I baked and decorated 4 dozen), or cookie. Way to go me! The LA Weightloss thing is still going strong. JJ and I did a special 2 day "Take Off" on Sunday and Monday and I haven't been able to weigh in yet, but I will post my progress as soon as I weigh in. Stay tuned!

Special Effects

I was sitting at my computer at work today, typing away when all of a sudden, I noticed a lot of movement on the wall behind the monitor. The wind had picked up quite a bit (as it often does in West Texas) and the shadows of the trees outside my window began to dance and put on a great show. I had to stop for a second just to enjoy the play of light and then to watch the trees themselves bob and sway in the autumn wind.

I had to stop and thank God for the free special effects that he brought to my day. No Hollywood, $9 movie ticket, or obscenely priced consessions necessary.

Creative Costuming

I had to share this idea I found online today. I found out that a party I'm going to tonight is costume-optional. I hadn't even THOUGHT about costumes this year because I'm going to be a clown for our church's carnival on Halloween so I had to find something quick and easy. I looked online and found a super easy costume idea. I wish I could say I thought of it myself. I am dressing up as "partly cloudy with a chance of rain". How are you going to pull this off, you ask? Why, I'm glad you asked!

I'm going to wear a blue shirt and pin cotton balls randomly on it. Then I will carry a squirt gun around and I may or may not squirt the people around me when they ask what I am!

I think my favorite costume of all time was when I dressed up like Mimi and JJ was Drew Carey. We were supposed to insult each other all night, but (thankfully) neither one of us is very good at insulting the other. It was still a cute idea. And the bright blue eye shadow and neon blue and pink moo moo was very attractive.

Are any of you dressing up this year?

Campaign for REAL Beauty

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail the other day about Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. They have a video on their website about the "before" and "after" picture of a model and all that went into making that final gorgeous billboard of her look absolutely nothing like the woman she started out to be.

It really helps you to see how unnatural the images are that we are innundated with every day. We scrutinize and frown at that reflection that we see in the mirror every morning because we're comparing ourselves with a standard that is so unrealistic and preposterous.

So how about thinking about your best features today and appreciating the beauty that God made you to be! It's a challenge, especially when our enemy is a great liar - the best - and he tells us whoppers about ourselves every day. Don't let him do that to you! And maybe you can send the link of the Dove video to a friend that may need some encouragement to appreciate her unique beauty.

A Whole Lot Shakin'

Well, our little country church suddenly has a full plate! We had quite an opportunity that we couldn't pass up and so now we are in the process of closing on a new building. We've been renting and so now we'll have a place of our very own. The church is only a few years old and everyone is really excited. I'm happy for them, but I also wonder why it is that we sometimes feel we need a building in order to be a legitimate body of believers? I know there are pros and cons to both sides and honestly as far as our church goes I have my opinion but because JJ and I are so new there, I care more about the church making a harmonious transition than I do about the actual decision to buy the building.

We've also recently started a Wednesday night children's ministry. That's been fun, but quite a challenge since there are not many of us. As a small church, we tend to fly by the seat of our pants rather than plan things out very much, mostly because we can get away with it. I hope people don't wear themselves out because the kids enjoy it so much and get a meal out of the deal too!

We're really hoping to be in the new building by Halloween because we're going to do a "Trunk or Treat" and a carnival inside. I'm going to do a little clowning around since I know how to make balloon animals and juggle (sort of). When I'm a clown I can get away with dropping the balls a lot when I juggle since it makes it funnier anyway! So we've got lots of prep to do before the 31st. Anyone have any ideas on cheap and easy carnival games?

How 'bout some shrimp on the barbie, mate?

Today JJ starts his first official shift at Outback Steakhouse. So now he's a full time graduate student, a part-time minister (which means Sunday am, pm and Wednesday pm responsibilities), AND he'll be working 5 shifts a week "down under". How is he going to do this, you ask? GOOD QUESTION. Sometimes, when you need to do it to pay the bills, you just do it.

I feel bad that I'm just here working my safe little 8-5 job, but someone has to do the laundry, the dishes, pay the bills, and make sure that our family functions, at least on a basic level. (I never claimed our house was tidy or that I am the next Betty Crocker, mind you.) I contemplated waiting tables too, until I realized it really wouldn't do for us BOTH to be working ourselves into the ground. Someone has to be there to pick up the pieces later (ha, ha)!

And there's LOTS going on at the church where JJ's been serving and I'm really enjoying getting to be a part of things there. I'll have to fill you in on some of the details later, but for now, I'll just say it involves a new building, lots of kids, and a little clowning around.

Torn

I have not been motivated to post lately and it occurred to me this morning for the first time why that might be. Maybe instead of feeling bad for not keeping up with my site, maybe I need to put this on hold for awhile so that I can focus on some other things in my life. I did spend a lot of time thinking about posts, posting, and looking at other people's blogs. And while I see some value in this and make no judgements on others for their "blogging habits", I know that there are some areas in my life that really need more attention right now.

Time management is a real issue for me. I watch too much TV and spend too much time doing very little. Being an introvert, it is difficult to reach out to people in my life and foster the kinds of relationships that I know that I not only want, but also really need. Not to mention the fact that I know that I am not called to live in a bubble, but to be God's light in the world.

There is a lot more to this discussion, but I thought I would put these few ideas out there and see what you think. I do feel conflicted about the whole thing because I do see how blogging can help to keep you connected with people and this is obviously one of my goals. This is going to require some prayer and time to think this all through.

How much time to you all spend blogging? Why is it valuable to you?

Warrior Princess

I just found out this week that I have a new nickname. Never had many cool nicknames. My dad sometimes calls me "Pete", which I kind of like, but it's not one of those things that many people know about. But one of the faculty members notified me after coming out of a meeting that my new name is officially "Mary the Sukuma Warrior Princess". I don't know how this came about, but it is kind of catchy isn't it?

For those of you who don't know, the Sukuma tribe is the tribe that JJ and I hope to be working with when we go to Tanzania. They're a very peaceful tribe overall, and I hear pretty laid back, but the whole warrior princess thing does have a nice ring to it. Now I just need to find a cool costume to go along with it. . . maybe some war paint. That could be fun. . .

School Days

Ah yes, the first few weeks of school. I always loved the beginning of a new school year. Getting to know a new teacher and seeing which classmates you would be with all year was always exciting for me (even though it got more scary as those terrible middle school years arrived). I think one of my favorite things was new school supplies. I don't know what it is about paper and pens and notebooks - I still love buying all that stuff! And this year, I'll actually be back in class again!

OK, so I'm only auditing one class, but I'm still excited! JJ's taking Church Planting on Tuesday nights and since it's a night course I decided to join him. I am quite nervous since I've never taken a master's level course before. I'm a little worried I'll make a fool out of myself, but you know, if I do, it won't be the first or last time!!!

So wish me luck. And just maybe I'll learn something in the process!

He's Ba-ack!

Yes! JJ is once again home. Back where he belongs. It's very nice to not be living alone any more!!! And of course, to have someone to play Skip Bo with again!

For those of you who may be a bit behind (like me since I haven't posted in FOREVER), JJ's been gone since July 4th doing some small business consulting. He's never done this type of work before and it ends up that he actually likes it! Well, he likes working for the client. As for dealing with the corporate offices, not so much. So he and a friend are looking into the possibility of doing some consulting on their own and this way, JJ might actually be able to work and go to school at the same time. Especially since he's taking 10 hours this semester rather than the completely nutty 15 that he took last semester. Anyway, they're still in the very early stages of examining the possibilities of consulting on their own so we'll have to pray and see what happens.

As for me, I've been up to the same old stuff. I'll have to share later about some exciting things going on at church. But I'm going to try and get back in the saddle again. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up on all your goings on too! Hope everyone had a great summer!