Thank you for echos.

I took a walk on Monday.

The trail I walked is a little over a mile long. If I had been walking for exercise I would have completed the loop in about 20-30 minutes. Instead it took an hour.

I was walking around a lake in a wooded area (Winton Woods for those of you around here) and it was absolutely gorgeous. It was an unusally warm day - I didn't even take a jacket, and the colors on the trees were phenomenal.

At first I had planned on it being an exercise walk. But after about half a second it turned into a prayer walk. I just couldn't stop thanking God for how beautiful it was. Or how warm it was. Eventually I just decided to stop whenever I felt like I should to thank God for something else. So I went through things like thanking Him for my family, my friends, the outdoors, education, etc. But then I started getting really creative with some of the stops and started thanking Him for things like reflections, echos and bubbles.

It was just really nice and really refreshing. And I was very excited to be able to do a whole prayer walk centered all around thanks and not once start asking or complaining or whining to God about anything. It was purely Adorations that were sent up.

I think I might finally be getting back into being myself. And that's a really great feeling.

NOV. 4th is coming!!

VOTE YES ON ISSUE 55 (if you live w/in the WWCS district)

http://www.fox19.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=15048&topVideoCatNoB=109491&topVideoCatNoC=104760&topVideoCatNoD=141804&topVideoCatNoE=142722

I know I say it a lot, but imma say it again - I'm SO PROUD of my lil bro :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw_XGrA5J2o

Jesus Loves the Little Children.

Probably because they make Him laugh.

I sat with the Pre-K and K kids tonight during dinner at church and now have a new favorite verse to the song "Down by the Bay." (You know, the bay.... where the watermelons grow, back to home I dare not go, for if I do my mother will say: have you ever seen a whale with a polka dotted tail/fly wearing a tie/llama eating pajamas.... yeah, that song.) Well the girls I was sitting with graced me with their rendition. During which my new favorite verse was created.

Here it is:
"Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow..... ..... ..... have you ever seen a pig..... ...... driving a JEEP?!"


hahahahahahahaha. it was too cute. This was also after 5 or 5 "correct" verses were sung and after I even suggested that the pig be wearing a wig. But no, that pig was driving a jeep. And then we had the sheep who ate a salad.

What a good night. I love my job :)

Hiatus

Sorry for such a long absence. I've been spending the last few weeks pondering on something that I ponder on quite often, which is: why did I attempt to re-start a blog? I'll be the first to admit that my blog posts never really seem to make sense, and also that my blog as a whole (at least at this time) doesn't seem to have much of a point. Then I read my friend Joanna's blog entry entitled why? in which she linked to this article which was very thought provoking indeed.

Now, of course my response to this article is no where near as wonderful as Jo's (girl, you're awesome!). In fact after reading that I almost came right back here to shut my blog down at once. However, I feel as though this blog is going to go somewhere. I don't know when or how, but it will.... eventually.

I just need to figure out a way for it to have a point, a way for it to direct glory upward and not me-ward, and to spread light and truth in a way that is fun and not too preachy. I'll probably ponder on it lots more and then be back.

As a closing thought, though, I really like what the article's author's daughter had to say about spending time - if you've got some spare time for crying out loud do NOT come here to read my blog - go do lots of wonderful, more productive things and then come by for a visit. I promise, it'll be here waiting for you whenever you come around.

I remembered!

As promised, here is the thought that I knew I had a great post for last night but forgot.

Yesterday morning I was introduced at my new church. I have been hired part time as their Christian Education Director and will be planning/helping with programs for all children and youth (4yrs-senior high). I'm quite excited albiet nervous about the whole thing. It was nice because after the service there was a carry-in (potluck) after the service and I was finally able to start meeting some of the kids and youth. I think overall it will be great fun.

Because yesterday was kind of the kick off day for everything (Sunday School started, LOGOS starts Wednesday, choir is back, etc.) we had communion. This church does communion a bit differently than I'm used to. This church is Presbyterian and I have almost always attended a United Methodist church. The differences are fairly miniscule.

Anyway, the communion that I have experienced the most has been that of intinction (spelling?) where everyone walks to the front of the sanctuary and rips off a piece of a real loaf of bread and dips their piece in the cup. My new church, however, serves it in the pews where you pass the bread and the cup and everyone stays seated. Usually when this is done churches use wafers or crackers or some other unpleasent bread option. Yesterday, however, there was real bread and you still had to tear a piece off, it was just done in your seat. That makes me hopeful that that is how this church does it, because I honestly do not enjoy the little cracker things.

The bread you ate when you recieved it and then the members of session who were serving came back around and passed around the little cups of juice. The cup we took all together.

What was most striking to me, though, is what was going on throughout the congregation as communion was being served. Whenever I've seen this done in the past whatever congregation I've been in has sat there almost silently, listening to the music, waiting for everything to get passed and it almost always seems like an eternity. Yesterday was not like that at all. When the bread and cup were being passed there was definitely a twitter around the sanctuary. Heads turned, conversations were whispered, and the pastor even went around and talked to a few people. There was music playing that we all enjoyed, and people were quiet and respectful when the pastor was speaking and when we took the cup in unison.

At first I didn't know how to react. It was completely different from any communion I had taken. I wasn't sure whether to be upset that people didn't appear to be giving it the reverence it deserved or to start a conversation with the people around me too. It was strange. But once I thought about it for more than a milisecond I realized that I really enjoyed it this way. I liked watching and listening to the fellowship that was going on around me. I like that it seemed as though everyone knew how important communion was, but that they weren't going to be awkardly silent during it.

Besides, isn't communion from the last supper, the sharing of a meal. I'm sure that if I were having dinner with Jesus we wouldn't be sitting in silence, awkardly waiting for everything to get passed and consumed before we talked. In fact I'm pretty sure that we would have a lot to talk about and that it would feel rather comfortable. Just like communion did yesterday.

I really am looking forward to serving this church and having fun with their kids and youth. I'm still nervous, and I definitely have my doubts and struggle more often than I'd like to admit with my own faith, but yesterday reminded me that it's ok. We all struggle, but that's why we have each other. And besides if God is for us, who can be against us. He'll definitely be with me as I walk into this new chapter of my life and my faith and I'm pretty exited about that.

This was going to be deep....

But honestly, I forgot what I was going to say today. There was a moment earlier today where I remember thinking "that would make the best blog post ever!" since then, however, too much has happened and I've forgotten what it was going to be about. Perhaps after a good night's rest I will remember and have something amazing to write tomorrow or in a few days.

Other than forgetting my surely awesome blog post I went to ikea today, met my roommates two very good friends from Wooster, was introduced (officially) at my new church/place of employment and attended my welcome potluck after the service. All in all it was a fantastic day with perfect weather - so perfect that I know exactly what kind of weather I want this coming Saturday for when I (hopefully) go to the Renaissance festival with my good friend Tony.

Speaking of Tony, although I have forgotten what my orginal post was going to be I've created an entirely different one including some pictures and blurbs about some of my favorite gentlemen. So enjoy.



This is Dave and Tony. (Well, Tony and Dave actually.) This pic is a few years old, but I don't think they've really changed much nor has our friendship. They both came to visit me a few weeks ago and Tony and I are planning to go to RenFest this weekend. I really don't know where I'd be without these guys, they are great.

Here's Mike and Zach. They aren't twins, so don't let the picture confuse you. They are, however, in the fam, as are Dave and Tony above. These two, however, I see less often and that greatly saddens me. Although one of them may be moving closer here in the next few months so hopefully that will more or less solve that issue ;) Altogether these 4 guys some of my favorite people of all time. I am blessed indeed to have the friends that I do.

This is Nathan. Or more rather, G.B. He was my co-counselor over the summer. He was great to work with and I miss him. Especially his ridiculous over-sensoring. He was even more intense than I was! But seriously he is fantastic and I hope he's doing well in Texas.

SCOTT SEESE!! I recieved a surprise phone call from this guy today and it made me super happy. Not just because I got to talk to one of my all-time favorite co-camp-staffers, but because it means he survived his treak along the Appalachian Trail. I missed working with him this summer an incredible amount and do sincerely hope that we can get together soon so I can here all his adventure-filled stories.

And last (for tonight at least) but certainly not least is perhaps my FAVORITE gentleman of the times - my lil bro. I love this kid. He just got a part in the Fall Play and is already rockin' his Junior year of high school. Expect amazing things from this guy.... amazing.

I think that's it for now. I'll work on remembering the other stuff. But for now, goodnight!!

Creative People

I really enjoy being around creative people. Being friends with them, working with them, observing them, learning from them.

I love when I can call a friend and say one idea and she'll run with it, planning a whole week long event in 30 seconds. I love meeting with good friends to brainstorm ideas and coming up with one of the best events/fundraisers I could have asked for. I love hearing about my friend who's travelling the country teaching theatre to kids who wouldn't have that opportunity otherwise. I just love creativity and people who are creative and liking to think I myself can be creative.

Imagination is such a wonderful thing. I hope it's not something being lost in this digital age. And if so, I hope that I can some how help kids find theirs again, even if for only a moment.