Multi-tasking...

I have been pondering whether my ability to multi-task is a good thing. Sometimes it allows me to be efficient and do two jobs at once. (For instance, watching TV and folding laundry, particularly matching socks!) But sometimes both tasks get the short end of the stick.

Today I blew the leaves into piles in our yard and then began to prepare them for composting, all the while listening to my Greek vocabulary on my headphones. I was making great progress until I noticed that the Greek recording had suddenly stopped... just as I poured a load of leaves into the compost bag!

Somehow, my faithful old iPod headphone cable had gotten tangled, come unplugged from the device... and, you guessed it... it fell under all those leaves... I had to dump out the full bag, and then dig around to find it, and then re-rake and re-stuff the bag. The good news is that I got my slightly dirty iPod back. The bad news is I had to rake the same pile twice.

I can laugh at myself for this stupidity. But at the same time, I begrudged the time wasted digging for my iPod, re-raking and re-piling the leaves.

Did I really need to try and study while I raked leaves? Couldn't I have just enjoyed the breeze and the clouds and birds? And did I really make that much headway on my Greek? I was short-changing myself on both.

I guess I do the same thing when I try to live in the middle without committing. I try to "have it all." And in doing so, I get little to nothing.

So. I'm trying to be more selective in my multi-tasking. If you see me with a far-away look in my eyes when I should be paying attention, just remind me.

How's about those leaves, Deb?

So much for 30 posts in 30 days...

Brick walkway towards the Quad

I didn't get any posts written over the weekend because I was enjoying every moment of my weekend with family. (That's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it!)

We made three day trips to visit The Johnnie for Parents' Weekend. Bearded Brewer and I tag-teamed so that Reedy Girl had one of us nearby at home. Her recovery from the flu required multiple doctor visits last week, and antibiotics from the nasty "opportunistic infection." (24 hours on those and she was so much better. Today she was back at school.)

Friday morning, Bearded Brewer enjoyed Attic Greek and Euclidean Geometry. Saturday we made a fast day trip (leaving Reedy Girl to nap and heal) to experience a Johnnie "seminar" in the morning on "The Apology of Socrates" and in the afternoon, consider the topic where each freshman math class begins - "a point is that which has no part."

We also squeezed in lunch with another Johnnie family, and then spent most of Sunday watching a fencing tournament. Here's a few pictures that are representative of the weekend...

Bearded Brewer and The Johnnie

Reedy Girl and The Johnnie
(Yes - they are ALMOST the same height! That's how much Reedy Girl has grown!)

The Johnnie and Yours Truly
(For a change, I let the camera be pointed at me.)

The Great Hall - located in one of the classroom buildings.

When Johnnie fencers aren't fencing, they are reading!
(In this case, Plato!)

...or they are texting/reading/napping...
(just beyond this picture, someone is reading their textbook on a Kindle...)

And then - en garde!

Friday Five: What's New? Edition

Songbird writes:

There's a new baby on my street, a double PK whose Mom and Dad are Methodist pastors and church planters. I'm hoping to go over and meet her today. I love new babies, the way they smell and their sweet little fingers and toes. Little K has me thinking about all the new things that please us with their shiny freshness.

Please share with us five things you like *especially* when they are new.

1. Kittens. Reverend Mommy's pictures of kittens by Princess are SOooooo cute!

2. Cars. That new car feel and new car smell. But I don't much care for the new car payments...

3. Spring buds. The days before the leaves, flowers and bushes just burst open with color. After a drab, grey winter... I love it.

4. A pie, fresh from the oven. Specifically, a fruit pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top. (Getcha drooling???)

5. Clean sheets on the bed. Unlike my college student days, I do change them every week! I love the smell and feel of fresh, clean sheets.


Probably I've left something out... chime in with your comments...

Deb

found a new website

Hat tip to Debbi!!

She posted a recipe (Cheddar Cheese Casserole Bread) that looked great and sounded easy. I need some inspiration to make my meals more interesting. (Cooking's just not my favorite thing to do.)

Mennonite Girls Can Cook is full of great, healthy, from scratch recipes. Everything from canning to casseroles.

I will definitely be back to get ideas from their blog!

yummm!!!

Publish Post

Day 4 of the ?? Flu ?? or whatever...

Dr. Henry administers fuzz therapy and prescribes random scritching with a side of purrs and, oh yeah, the stuff that other doctor wants. But for now... rest, fluids, and naps.

So what are the odds that the rest of us will come down with this???

sigh...

Numbers brings comfort. (Numbers???)

A moment of honesty:

I have found it hard to believe that the Old Testament books of Numbers or Leviticus would have inspirational words in them. The wars, the blood, the sacrificial system just didn't speak to me. Maybe you've kinda wanted to skip over that stuff, too.

But -- recently I was writing an essay on the making of the tabernacle in the desert (Numbers 3-9). And as I read Numbers 9, I was struck by the promise God made - to always be with the people who were called to love and serve YHWH. Even though they had chosen to worship an idol in their man-made golden calf, even though they complained, even though they did not believe God would rescue them from the Egyptian armies, again and again God was faithful.

When the tabernacle was built in the desert, God's Presence descended over it as a pillar of fire at night, and a cloud by day. In the middle of the camp, there was a visible sign that God would never leave nor forsake the people God had called by name. When the cloud moved, the people moved. When the cloud stopped, the people stopped. It didn't matter when. It didn't matter for how long. They just watched and obeyed.

I think that many times my fears and reluctance are because I am not confident of God's presence and direction. And yet - in every circumstance - if I just look and wait and pray - God is very clear. When I charge off on my own and then look over my shoulder to see if I'm doing what God asks, ah, then, more often than not, I'm struggling.

So as I read over Numbers 9 recently, I journaled this prayer... and I thought I'd share it with you.

Lord of the Comforting Presence and Awe-bringing Fire,

I am only able to enter into your Presence because the sacrifice of Jesus, who was made sin on my behalf, and who goes before me as my High Priest, Savior and Lord. I recognize that nothing I could ever do would make me worthy. I seek Your guidance, protection and re-direction as I prayerfully make decisions about future ministry and service for You.

God, I ask that You make me wise as a leader. Give me discernment to see Your guiding hand. Give me patience to wait on Your direction. And give me humility to follow others in authority over me as You direct them, whether or not the way seems plain or clear to me.

Thank You, Father, Protector, Redeemer, Friend and Guide. I am listening to Your Spirit’s call and I desire to obey You in every way.

In the Name above all names, Jesus –

Amen.

worth re-reading...

When I left full-time ministry when our first-born was a baby, one of the books that my Beloved Bearded Spouse gave me to read was Henri Nouwen's The Road to Daybreak. It is one of those books that I pull out from time to time to make sure that I have kept my "ministry compass" pointing north.

I re-read it recently and was amused to find this quote with the date of April 2006 - the month I found out that I was accepted into divinity school...

I feel a tension within me. I have only a limited number of years left for active ministry. Why not use them well? Yet one word spoken with a pure heart is worth thousands spoken in a state of spiritual turmoil. Time given to inner renewal is never wasted. God is not in a hurry.

There are zillion things (OK, maybe only half a zillion!) that I dream of being able to do for God as I finish my degree and begin working in ministry... and yet what is more important in the long run is the continued work of inner renewal in my heart.

I am grateful I serve a merciful, compassionate God!

Deb

A milestone!

It seems like it has taken me forever to get this far, but today I registered for my last semester of classes at seminary. It's been a four year journey, one that has definitely changed me and the goals I had set when I started this.

The process I've gone through didn't happen quickly. Or easily. There have been many days where I was ready to just toss it all and go get a job in retail somewhere, or write the Next Great American Novel. (Who knows? I may still do that, some day!) But over time and with a lot of support and encouragement from my family and friends, we have finally reached this milestone.

In some respects, I am much the same person. And in others, I know that I have changed. I still have unanswered questions and concerns, but I have assurance that I will understand the what/why/when/how some day. But more than anything, I have indeed "seen the goodness of the Lord."

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)

30 posts in 30 days...

I didn't realize it, but a lot of bloggers are doing "30 posts in 30 days" this month. Mindy's on target for it, and so am I. I originally had something profound to write today... but that's all tossed aside for another day.

Today we became a statistic... Reedy Girl is down with the flu. She's warm and quiet. The cats are taking turns checking on her. A quiet, drowsy girl on a couch, particularly one with a fever, makes for a wonderful cat backrest.

Purr therapy... the new treatment for the flu!

We are hopeful that she doesn't share it. If everyone is on their feet by the end of the week, Bearded Brewer and I will be heading east to see The Johnnie for Parents' Weekend... here's hoping that all of our ducks fall in a row...

Deb

Looking things squarely in the face...

This just kind of speaks to my heart tonight...

thank you, God...

NOTE: I took out the embedded video.
(The vocalist's mannerisms were bugging me... but I still like the song!)
You can watch the video here...

"The Prayer"

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe

I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Remind us where you are
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

Need to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe