How proud am I ?

My young man gave his speech on Duke Ellington today. It was a crazy busy weekend as I had to work Saturday and Sunday so Brad helped him as much as he could but we didn't get a lot of time practice. I was a bit concerned he wouldn't be as prepared as he should have been. Plus, the young man woke up feeling pretty cruddy this morning and had a nagging cough but really wanted to go to school.

The teacher said he did a great job and that speaking is his forte. His presentation was so good, they asked him to do it for two music classes as well as his own 3rd grade class. He did his mama proud!

I have loved seeing my son gain a new appreciation for the benefits that come from putting in hard work. Did you know that when Duke Ellington's parents first started him in piano lessons as a child, he hated them? In fact, he didn't pursue music until he was almost an adult. (He actually studied art in college.) We had a great conversation about how it's important to try new things and maybe even try them again and again if we didn't like them the first time. A good lesson for us all, especially me. I tend more toward the safe, familiar things and I need to remember that sometimes moving outside of the regular is a good thing.

His work ethic was impressive. By the time he died, he had composed over 2000 pieces of music. Wow!

Here's a quote from the Duke that I love:
"I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues."

Poetry Thursday

I haven't put a post up for Poetry Thursday in ages, but I was inspired to look for a poem today and found two that jumped out at me. I'll put one up today and save the other for my next post.

Is my soul asleep?
Is my soul asleep?
Have those beehives that work
in the night stopped? And the water-
wheel of thought, is it
going around now, cups
empty, carrying only shadows?

No, my soul is not asleep.
It is awake, wide awake.
It neither sleeps nor dreams, but watches,
its eyes wide open
far-off things, and listens
at the shores of the great silence.

Antonio Machado, (1875-1939)
translated by Robert Bly

The Root of the Problem - Reflections on Retreat

I'm still processing the weekend spent with a group of women seeking to follow Christ authentically and honestly. The speaker offered us much to think about and reflect upon. Here's what's been swirling in my head and heart this week. I hope that no matter what your path of faith, there might be something here that resonates with you or encourages you this week.

True humility is an accurate picture of self. A realization that we are capable of great and horrible things.

Compassion is an emptying out of what isn't to make room for what is.

We are made for wholeness. We tend to live with a bent towards being like the prodical son, selfish, demanding, seeking to meet our own needs, or like the older brother, bitter, resentful and tied to a life of legalism. How can we move towards the middle? The place where grace meets responsibility?

Do I really live as the beloved of Jesus? How would my life change if I was truly living in the understanding of this?

Fear manifests itself as lies, disobedience and shame (I would add to the list - judgment). How do I ready myself to stand firm in faith against the fear?
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." 1 John 4:19a

The subject of blogging came up a few times at our meetings and the three of us there who had blogs answered lots of questions. It was fun to share the elements of compassion and community that are revealed in this form of expression and the relationships that grow from it. Thanks to all who left me blogiversary greetings on my last post and thank to those of you stopping by for the first time. Welcome!

I'm deep into my writing project again this week so I'll apologize in advance for the lack of posts this week. Please remember to pray for my dear bloggie friend Amber who is having surgery today. Hope you are all well and enjoying the blessings that come your way each day.

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Happy Birthday to my Blog! It's one year old today! Like my friend Jenny's blog, mine also has a wish list for its birthday.
- a dozen yellow tulips
- some chocolate covered strawberries
- lunch with Oprah
- whirled peas

Well, two out of four ain't bad (thanks to Brad). Thanks to all my good bloggin' buds for making this a year to remember! I love where blogging has taken me and the new friendships I have made. You all inspire me so much to appreciate the blessings and not take myself too seriously. Below is the text of my first post.

I'm not sure why, but I am starting a blog today.

Recently, I stumbled on a group of women artists who share their thoughts, challenges, successes and discouragements on the pages of their journals and blogs. Their words have been rattling around my head for weeks. I find my self checking their blogs daily now to read their latest posts. We lead very different lives, but I have been so encouraged by their transparency and openness to their audience. Though they speak to different subjects, experiences, events and situations, the theme seems to resonate from them; "Find what you love and do what you have to do to do more of it."

Intrigued by this phenomena, I started "grazing" around more blogs. I'm amazed at the wisdom, insight and sometimes bizarre thoughts that are being put out there. Why add my voice to the already crowded sphere of blogging? I guess I feel like in my brief history of blogging, I've already been so encouraged and challenged by others, I feel like I owe something back. I don't make claims of infinite wisdom or knowledge or a charismatic personality that will reach through your screen and shake you by the shoulders to motivate you to reach your full potential, but I might have something to say that might encourage someone along their journey. I hope if I do, you'll let me know. Until then, what's one more voice to "embroider the silence with words." (A favorie line from the book, Three Junes.)

This one made me think . . .

(Are they not the cutest kids in the world?)

I just finished reading a wonderful essay by the very talented Shari MacDonald Strong about teaching our children about spiritual issues. I have some strong feelings on the matter and they don't easily align themselves in any traditional camp. I think where I have landed on this issue comes from growing up in a home where religion was treated as a casual hobby or a social networking tool and landing in church that is trying to create real, authentic connections of love and service that put to life the message of Jesus.

Below is the comment I left in response to the article. I think it's such an important issue to discuss whether you have children or not because let's face it, for many of us, our adult views of "church" or "religion" are based upon what we learned, or what was force-fed to us as children. Ultimately, my goal as a parent is to raise kids who have a real, questioning, tested and authentic faith in a great God. Can I force feed them this? I don't think so. In my opinion, this is something that they must seek and experience for themselves. I can provide opportunities for learning, experience, share my own thoughts and feelings, but ultimately, their faith is something that belongs entirely to them (it should, anyway). I've sometimes wondered, especially lately as I have a 'tween in the house, what life will be like if one or both of my children ends up choosing a different path of faith than I have? I'm not naive. I know it happens. Or worse, what if they just go through the motions, never really experiencing anything and winding up as an adult who can go through the religious motions but never has a true experience of the holy and divine? If it happens, I'm sure someone will throw this comment back in my face, but until then, I'll keep on plugging along on the path that seems to be working for us. Below is my comment.

I can appreciate the efforts of parents who want to let children make decision about their own spiritual lives. I am in firm in my beliefs and my faith BECAUSE I have asked questions, worked through doubts and taken the things I have learned through study, prayer and meditation and put them to task in the the everyday stuff of life. I would want my kids to do the same. However, to set them adrift into the ocean of the spiritual world without guidance and structure doesn't seem to me to be the best way to ensure that they avoid the hurts that come from false righteousness, judgment and Pharisaical teachings (law instead of grace). I wouldn't just hand my child a book and say, "OK - you should be able to figure out reading. Good luck with that and I'll respect whatever method you choose to use to learn this skill." We guide and teach them with what we know and we adapt to take into account their personality, their strengths, their interests, etc. I think the same is true for their spiritual lives. And who says anyone needs to be an expert? Last I checked, even the most devout and acclaimed followers of God in the Bible would be poster children for "Misfits Anonymous" who struggled with issues of faith, obedience and understanding the ways of God. I don't think they are in there by accident. God left us many examples and even direct exhortations in the Bible that there are many things about God that we (humanity) just won't understand this side of heaven. I have taken "figure out all the answers" off of my eternal to-do list and my perfect parenting guidelines. It's done wonders for my self esteem and let's me sleep at night!

If your daughter is interested in Moses - teach her about Moses. What does the Bible say about him. Let her do the interpreting. How has history, art and culture portrayed him? When my daughter was 4 years old she watched the entire "Ten Commandments" video with Charleton Heston. We talked about what parts came from the Bible and what parts very imaginative writers and directors and actors interpreted ("made up or pretended" to a six year old). Moses is a GREAT character to study because of how he grew as a leader through hard circumstances. What great life lessons to start teaching a child!

Thanks for writing this and sharing your thoughts on the subject! I really appreciate your spirit of humility and wanting to encourage your kids.

Move over Oprah . . .

Came home from work yesterday and nestled into the couch to finish "The Twentieth Wife". The experience and the story were just what I needed. A wonderful romance set in the beauty and splendor of the Mughal Empire in India (1526-1858). For three and a half centuries, the Taj Mahal has haunted our imaginations. It is a tomb built by a grieving king of the Mughal Empire (1526-1858) in India in memory of his beloved wife.
But it was this woman's aunt, an empress in her own right, who was the most powerful queen of that dynasty. The Twentieth Wife is the story of this Empress Nur Jahan.

Now - no more books until I finish my writing project although, I have a couple more I can't wait to dive into! Let me know if you decide to read "The Twentieth Wife" - I'd love to hear what you think.

Don't give up on me . . .

I've been trying for days to think of something intelligent to write. The well just seems to be a bit dry so I'm going to steal a page from my friend Deb and offer you some "Random Thoughts From The Junkdrawer of My Mind".

1. Was anyone else disappointed with the Superbowl commercials? The game was decent at least. We decided to forego the very generous invitation of some friends and we just hung out at our own house for the game. Brad had been washing windows since we are enjoying a warm streak here in the PNW while the rest of the country is frozen solid. My windows haven't looked this clean in a couple of years!

2. Finally saw "The Queen" on Friday night with my movie buddy, Trisha. LOVED this movie. I'll write a post on this soon as I could so resonate with some of the themes and the very "British" expressions on grief and loss. More to come - pinky swear! I'm wanting to see more of the Oscar nominees before the ceremony but not sure when I'm going to squeeze them in.

3. So excited about my young man's writing project this week. They had to pick an African American and will work on writing a biography and preparing a speech for the class. J. chose Duke Ellington. He came home and googled D.E. this afternoon and the sweet sounds of jazz were coming from the computer. Man, I have one cool kid!

4. I had to write "a letter of concern" to my daughter's 7th grade health teacher today. I never thought I'd be one of those complainy parents but I just really don't get this one. The kids have to read several fiction or non-fiction books that have to deal with individuals facing health issues. Natalie chose a book called "The Lost Boy". She shared with me that there's several instances in the book where characters are using "salty" language (including the f-bomb). Now don't get me wrong, for a good piece of literature, I'm willing to let salty language and even an f-bomb or two slide, but what bothers me is this is required reading for 7th graders! And if Natalie hadn't told me about it, I would have never known she was reading this. I'm trying to express to my kids that this isn't appropriate language for school, home (or anywhere for that matter) and the school is endorsing it? I asked the teacher if I could please have a list of the books, why they were chosen, a brief summary of the contents and an indication of any language that my daughter would get in trouble for SAYING that she might be reading in these books. I may come off like a fundamentalist freak, but I feel like I did the right thing. I still might let her read them but I'd like to know what she's reading.

5. For my praying friends, please lift me up as I work on finishing a 9 lesson Bible Study. I'm a bit slogged down and need some fresh inspiration to sprint to the finish line on this one.

6. I'm so excited about a new employee at my workplace that is starting all kinds of new outreach projects in the community. We're making plans to get our families involved in work to help street kids and the homeless of Portland and I'm so excited to see how this will stretch many of us who have felt this burden for our community. I had lunch with his wife on Friday and felt like they are a couple who really "get" the burdens Brad and I often feel for moving out of the pews of our church and into the world.

7. I'm stealing minutes here and there to furiously read "The Twentieth Wife". It was truly a book I judged by the cover. Saw it on a trip to Powell's but held firm to my New Year's resolution not to buy any books this year and so I checked it out from the library. It's a wonderful love story set in the late 1500's in India. I'm excited to give my reading maniac friend Leah a report when I'm done. She's already got 4 books under her belt in 2007!

8. Do you think I could make this an even ten things on my junkdrawer list? Hmmm - to my loyal readers, don't worry - the skunk smell is gone and there are no more signs of the little critters. If you're just visiting ETS, just move along to number 9.

9. Uhhhh . . . I said I'd try for 10, didn't I? Well February isn't turning out to be so bad. And as Leah pointed out, there are some nice birthdays in February including this handsome stud.

10. Wishing you all a great week and I promise something of substance soon. Bless ya!

The Sweet Smell of February?

A little while back I wrote a post about how I never look forward to the month of October and how it always seems like the time of year when my luck or karma or my heavenly blessings just seem to dry up and if something can go wrong, it will go wrong in October. Well, I think January got a little jealous and tried to give October a run for its money this year. It was a tough month and I was more than happy to turn the calendar page yesterday and see a new beautiful picture in my "Greek Isles" wall calendar. (Someday *fist in the air*, someday I'm going to go there even if I have to sell a vital organ to do so!)

I was so excited for February. A new month. Wipe the slate clean. Start over.

That is, until 4:30 am this morning.

Imagine me waking from a restless 4 hours of sleep. As I shift under the covers, I smell an awful odor. Our dog sleeps in our room so I groaned, "Nicky - what did you do?" Sniff, sniff. No - that's not dog smell. That's skunk smell. And it smells like he's curled up at the end of the bed.

By now I'm almost gagging, walking through the halls trying to figure out how this wretched smell has gotten in my house. No windows open, no critters in the front yard that I can see, no critters in the back. Now I'm fully awake and spinning all kinds of horrific scenarios in my head. What if it's trapped in the garage? What if it's in the crawl space? What if there's a whole family living in the crawl space making beds, hanging pictures and planning to stay?

So I laid awake in bed wondering if February would be the month filled with calls to the "Critter Catchers", the carpet cleaners, and would be spent washing and rewashing surfaces to get out the nasty smell. Sometime around 6:00 am I fell back asleep, just in time to be woken up at 6:30 to get ready for work. When I got home, the smell was still in the house but had dissipated quite a bit so maybe my fervent prayers and bargains with God this morning were answered.

Aces. February is off to a grand start. Good thing it's a short month.