Texas Chainsaw...not so much

Tonight at Mosaic...the scary welder mask/chainsaw wielding/pantless/smelly guy came in. And...he was not so scary, kinda smelly, and didn't have a chainsaw. He also put money in the donation box - and I felt ashamed and asked for Jesus to forgive me and remind me again and again that he loves us all and that Mosaic is here for HIM and I am here for HIM.

I say that not just for platitude's or because it sounds good...it also requires a serious look into our mental health system in this country. We do not do a very good job (church or otherwise) of taking care of this people group. That's for another blog (or thesis) on another day. Right now, I have to tell the TCM Guy what time it is...cause he's asking.

Breakfast at the Falls

Today my mom treated her girls (my two sisters and I)to breakfast at Snoqualmie Falls - Salish Lodge. We had the "Country Breakfast" and no joke...here is what we got:

Course 1: Parfait (yogurt, fruit and a granola sprinkle) with two types of pastry. I had a scone and an orange brioche.
Course 2: Snoqualmie steel-cut oatmeal with a peach/cranberry compote served with milk and brown sugar
Course 3: Three eggs (served how you like), shoe string potatoes, apple wood sausage, ham and two pieces of bacon. This was also served with a buttermilk biscuit.
Course 4: Buttermilk pancakes.

It was so good! The beverages were also very good (I am grounded for the "coffee" I ordered...he he!) and we all shared the "chocolate pot" which was basically heaven in a cup.

It was one of the most fun times I've had in a long, long time. I was with three of the people I love most in the whole world and it didn't matter that we were overweight, skinny, cranky, happy, single, married, poor, rich, young or old...it was just nice being together and loving each other...we laughed really hard (Holly did not wet her pants) and we just enjoyed one another. I think that we should make this a regular thing - even if it's Denny's or Family Pancake...I need these women in my life on a regular basis!

Thanks Mom, for thinking of us and bringing us together for a much needed time of fun, relaxation, great food and a little nip! :)

Why sometimes I love Community

As most of you may know, one of the burden's of my heart recently has been my folks and their care and employment. My dad lost his pastorate in Bellingham so he has been scrambling trying to find something to make life meaningful. My mom has been the breadwinner working for my 99 year old grandma and that has helped a lot!

Today, my dad got a call from someone in our church. She is head of a department at Edmonds Community College and offered my dad a job as an adjunct faculty member. He will be able to teach a series of classes on making life changes - not faith-based but can offer some advice and stuff. I am just thankful that in our church, Mark let dad do a Sunday School class and Mary came and met him and now several years later it turns into something (I think) my dad has always wanted to do. What this could lead to is also amazing. I truly believe in the Lord's care and purposeful acts in our lives and am so thankful to be in community with these people - for better or worse. One never knows what will happen.

I'm in a grant writing class this week at SPU. It's so intense that I come home with one eye closed every night. Luckily, tomorrow is Wednesday and we're almost done. I think this skill set will be a great addition to the school, Mosaic and SFC.

Quarter #2 Done

I just submitted my final paper to end quarter #2! I'm taking two classes again starting July 2 - Juvenile Delinquency and Grief Counseling - should be interesting.

I literally have *nothing* to do right now and it feels great. I tried to see if my mom wanted to hang out and go to Salvage Studio - but I guess she is busy or doing something else...oh well.

I am going to watch all my old Tivo shows from February! Happy Saturday!

$21 a week/Food Challenge

As I was sipping my Diet Coke w/lime and listening to NPR today, they talked about the "food stamp challenge." Many senators are participating this week in this challenge in an effort to up the food stamp subsidy (tied to the Farm Bill) and trying to live on the average amount that food stamp recipients receive or $21.00/week - if you do the math that is $1.00/meal. This does not include WIC-which also subsidizes food for families w/kids. I thought about this as I was reading the choices these people were making - lots of peanut butter and tuna fish and I thought about taking the challenge myself.

My weekly budget (when I'm Southbeaching) is about $50.00/week, this includes a lot of veggies (which are not cheap) and some pre-packaged foods. So, to go to $21/week would limit those choices. Again, I do not think this would include WIC - which as I remember there was always leftover eggs, cheese and milk.

The worst part was when they were talking with a food stamp recipient about the jar of spaghetti sauce that gets broken - that was supposed to cover several meals and now the person can't feed anyone in her family - there is no more money to buy another jar.

I am all for raising awareness of what the government likes to call "Food insecurity" - I guess it's easier to hear than POOR, or POVERTY, or STARVATION...and I think that if we all tried this together, for just 7 days...we could go far in raising our awareness of what it feels like to be truly insecure and incredibly creative. Thankfully, after a week, I can buy diet Cokes again but for several million Americans, this is a weekly challenge.

I may try this and post what I've purchased and eaten - another reason why I love Mosaic!

Reason #428 why I like working in the wilderness

We have two (twins) baby fawns that just came out for the first time today-wobbly legs and all. They are so cute! I will try to get a picture soon...

Sunday Nights

In the summer of my youth, Sunday nights were the most fun. After church, sometimes we would go to Mr. K's or VIP's with a killer kid's menu. But the best was when we used to go to the store and my dad would let us pick out whatever we wanted for dinner - we finally got smart enough to share our picks (Holly and me) so one person would get a dessert to share and one would get Totino's pizza roles that burnt your chin when you bit into them. It would stay light for what seemed like forever. Then, to know that you didn't have to go to school the next day was how heaven will be - I am sure.

Now, in my life, Sunday nights suck. For some reason, they remind me of how alone I am. I usually try to have friends over or go out with H&H, B&E - but friends are busy and Brent is grounded...so I'm home. I do not know what it is about Sundays that make me very lonely and faced with the fact that I am alone...but it happens almost every Sunday. I like my job now, so I no longer stress out over that, but something happens in my psyche, only on Sunday nights, to make me feel this way. I wish they had a single-use Zoloft for just such an occasion.

I must admit, my faith was strengthened this weekend - the Lord answered a very timely prayer on my behalf. He took care of me - and maybe that is why this Sunday I do not feel as alone.

Justice for all

On May 2, 1964, Charles Moore & Henry Dee, 19, were hitchhiking along a rural Mississippi road. Charles Moore (pictured at left) was a college student and Henry Dee worked at a local lumber yard. As they were walking, they were picked up by several members of the Ku Klux Klan. They were bound, beat and thrown alive into the Mississippi River.

While looking for missing three civil rights workers in July of 1964, searchers stumbled upon the lower half of a young black man's body. Partial remains of another man are found the next day. The men are later identified as Moore & Dee. Oh, and the bodies of the missing civil rights workers were also found in August. They had also been murdered.

Arrested in the Moore & Dee case were two men, James Seale then 29; and Charles Edwards, 31. The FBI reports that both Edwards & Seale admit to picking up the two boys and beat them but left them alive. The FBI turns over their findings to local authorities who promptly drop all charges.

The case was reopened in 2000 because FBI documents state that part of the crime took place in a National Forest; making this a federal crime.

Prosecutors have trouble finding Seale because his son, as intelligent as his father, tells authorities that he is dead. Come to find out, he's alive and well and living a few miles from where the crime was committed.

James Seale was finally arrested on January 24, 2007 and is now standing trial for the kidnap, beating and murder of young Charles Moore & Henry Dee. The case should be concluded in the next few days. I will update the blog when I hear the verdict.

I am thankful for justice, no matter how long in coming.

I want some Cocoa Puffs

I amaze myself that in about 6.5 hours I can knock out a paper to submit..thankfully it's only a draft - but I still think it sucks.
Anyway..it's done and I would really like some Cocoa Puffs...but I don't want to go to the store.

Hey mom...there's not one swear word in this post!

Red Letter Rants - part II

How many times in the past few months have I supposed to have been writing a paper and I choose to blog instead?? Hmmm....

Probably as many times as I've blogged about how much it sucks sometimes to live in community. I think that the "big" churches have it better-you can just go to church, listen, leave and never have to be accountable to anyone at all...but that's not what my reality is at this point; and truthfully as hard as it is, I don't know that I would trade it for anything. Maybe today, but not normally.

It sucks to live in community when people send you stupid emails about stupid things and you end up rolling your eyes at their utter lack of intelligence or grace. Someone I know received an email this week that was so stupid I started swearing at my computer screen when he told me. Instead of uplifting this person or saying "hey I'm praying for you this week..." this email was so incredibly stupid and showed exactly what kind of person this was. I wanted my friend to reply and say "you know, here's a crazy idea...you get your shit together first, then you can email me about anything you want...but until then..." My friend has way more grace than that.

And I hurt for my friend...because I KNOW (beyond all doubt) that we all are trying so desperately to live in the midst of what God is doing and to get others to love Jesus or even give a damn about him and then to get shot down by idiots IN HIS NAME is sometimes really shitty. Hell (if there is one) will be full of Christians who do exactly that...drag someone down in the name of Jesus. That my friends, is the unforgivable sin.

Maybe tomorrow's post will be more fun. Maybe I'll also get my paper done.

What a novel idea

In an effort to become more community oriented, and after reading "This Pile", last night I decided to try out the new Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes located in downtown Renton. I like coffee houses for new ideas, yet this one left a little to be desired..EXCEPT for the cupcakes.

They bake them right there on site and they are really good. They have cute names and the taste is really moist and good.

I got some for my friends' anniversary...but only if they invite me to dinner at some point ;-)

The coffee was so-so; ours is better; and it was so frickin' hot in there yesterday (due to the huge cupcake convection oven) that I couldn't stay for long. It made me long for the cool & oh so hip lair that is Mosaic.

However, the cupcakes...they were very good. My hats off to Hang & Lange Woon for combining cupcakes and coffee - it was delightful!

RIP CNR

I was young when Match Game was on - but remember Charles Nelson Riley. He was always smoking and usually joked about being gay.

He died today of complications from pneumonia.

Binge & Purge

I am trying to clean up the 588 square feet that I own. I need a place for my College Sweatshirts (most recent is Virginia Tech) and my shoes that litter my bedroom floor. I do not think I've seen my bedroom floor in about a year.

In between homework and season 2 of "24", I will start this process. I have a secret storage unit so truthfully, I don't have to toss anything...yet. It's just a matter of moving and adjusting.

Does anyone need a working cash register??

Update: **9:06 am**

I took my first sack of clothes to the purple donation bin - and the shoes I threw in would not go down into the bin..so someone may get a free pair of Tommy Hilfiger shoes if they are lucky...watch for more up to the minute updates! I know you're riveted.

Update: **12:15 pm**

Part of my purging problem is that I continue to think that some of the things I'm purging are worth money...and considering my lowly state, maybe I should try to sell them?? ARGH...keep purging...nobody wants your old clothes! (Did I say that outloud?)

Update: **3:06 pm**

I dropped four full bags of clothes into the donation bin. It feels really good to get rid of all that stuff-and I only felt guilty for a little bit - I think I'm over it now.

Long live Barbaro

On to bigger and better things...

I love horse racing. It is so fun to see the athleticism of thoroughbreds. They are a magnificent animal - a true gift from our creator. If you've read Seabiscuit (the book by Laura Hillenbrand) you know that horses live to run - and love to run. If you've ever been to the track you see their ears prick up and they can get fractious when riled and ready to run. It is very exciting. I hope to spend some time at Emerald Downs this summer. It's a cheap date too - free parking and about $4.00 to get into the infield.

The picture above is Barbaro - winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby and favorite to win the Triple Crown in 2006 before pulling up lame in the Preakness one year ago today. He recently was put down due to his injury.

Today's close finish at the Preakness was reminiscent of the 1938 match with Seabiscuit and War Admiral (famous son of Man'o War) with gangly Seabiscuit winning by a nose.

The race they say isn't to the swift. But it is always to the swift and the game. It so happened that Seabiscuit had these two qualities in abundance. War Admiral could match neither flying feet nor fighting heart. Man'o War's brilliant son hung on with all he had until it came to the big showdown--to the point when the hard-way thoroughbred , the horse from the wrong side of the track, began really to run. -Journalist Grantland Rice - Baltimore Sun - 1938.

I will end with a little quiz -

____________ won the Kentucky Derby in 2007
a) Barbaro b) Hard Spun c) Scat Daddy d) Street Sense

____________ won the Kentucky Derby in 2006
a) Lawyer Ron b) Jazil c) Barbaro d) Brother Derek

____________ won the Preakness Stakes today
a) Hard Spun b)King of the Roxy c) Curlin d) Street Sense

____________ was the last Triple Crown Winner in 1978?
a) Affirmed b) Secretariat c) War Emblem d) Funny Cide

Good luck on the quiz and no cheating - there may be a prize!!

One check away

Today I was involved in an incident between me and someone on the phone. As the conversation was evolving, and going downhill quickly, I realized that what this woman was telling me (or what I heard) was basically "you're poor and one check away from chaos and we don't want your business." She did not say that - but that is how I felt and what I have told myself continously since the conversation.

You know...she was right.

No matter what facade I may put on, no matter what car I drive, what clothes I wear, what shoes I have (and they are cute), or if I own my own home. I am poor.

I am poor in that I live above my means and I am LESS THAN one paycheck away from utter chaos. I am not talking of poverty - like some people know - because, yes, I have a family that can help me and friends I can count on, but truthfully, I do not have it all together and I try so hard-so hard to make sure people think I have it together. I screw up with my money so often and do not use it right and spend too much and always want people to think that I'm o.k.

I am a Pharisee in sack clothe and ash. Father, forgive me, Sister forgive me...I want to use my money for good. Today was a reminder that I do not and I have a lot to learn!

Toby's Back...and so am I

I couldn't stay away - regardless if anyone reads...thanks for the kind comments too, by the way.

Here's a video from the Dove Music Awards with Toby, Kirk (who reps V.T.!) and company.

I am definitely going to be in the black section of Heaven.

http://music.yahoo.com/video/42954417

Tired of writing

I finished a paper today and went to turn it in only to find an email from the professor giving us until Wednesday to complete it. This makes me so mad as I adjusted my whole weekend to make this happen.

I'm also tired of blogging. Maybe it's writing I'm tired of. Nobody seems to care or read (based on the huge comments I receive) and if people do not comment, perhaps they are not reading - so I think a break from bloggin' is in order. When it stops being fun for me - maybe it's a good time to quit.

So, goodbye cruel blog world...I'll see if I can stay away.

Faith in Action

"What is the use of preaching the Gospel to men whose whole attention is concentrated upon a mad, desperate struggle to keep themselves alive? You might as well give a tract to a shipwrecked sailor who is battling with the surf, which has drowned his comrades and threatens to drown him. He will not listen to you. Nay, he cannot hear you any more than a man whose head is under water can listen to a sermon. The first thing to do is to get him at least a footing on firm ground, and to give him room to live."

--General William Booth

I am doing a research paper on faith-based social services and one of the best examples has been and continues to be the Salvation Army. I love this quote - it is so Wesleyan in nature and makes so much sense. It also encourages me that what we are doing with Mosaic is something worth doing - even during the tough times or the sssllllooooowww days.

I had the chance to meet with a representative (and friend) of the Salvation Army this week. I was so impressed and amazed at her knowledge and desire to make difference in our world. She introduced me to some other folks and we got to talk about how the church (not ours-ours gets it!, but the collective church) has gotten so far away from the original mission of social service and is now more concerned with buildings and stained glass and how many songs to sing on Sunday morning.

I also think that founder William Booth "got it" - that is the message of the Gospels - that if a man is hungry your "sermon" or "tracts" mean nothing to him! NOTHING!

Thanks for making this journey through papers and school with me...and helping me "get it"!

Boomerang, Toomerang, Soomerang!

The outspoken, cranky schemer who took over the Museum-Go-Round after the Froggs moved; oft known to say "Okay, toots." She is generally the villain when a storyline calls for one, but her neighbors are quick to forgive her because they understand her so well. It is discerned during the series that she has low self-esteem and is extremely self-conscious, and because of this, her neighbors are extremely patient with her until she finally learns her lesson. Despite her own faults, she consistently shows King Friday when he is wrong about something and frequently goes to extremes (such as physically moving her museum or modifying a comet) to do so.

I wonder if this could describe me more?

I watched Mister Roger's Neighborhood (right between Sesame Street & Electric Company) during my entire childhood. It was a great show and Mister Roger's was a wonderful human being.

Click on the Boomerang, Toomerang, Soomerang for a little treat - make sure the volume is up on your computer :-)


See ya toots.

Ellie got a spanking

We were at the Fundraiser banquet tonight for Mosaic and Ellie got a spanking. She was messing around and Holly told her like 12.5 times to stop but she didn't...so she got spanked. I'm sure it wasn't the first spanking given at the Mo, but it was the funniest.

I have to say that tonight was really fun. My whole family was there and I am so proud of my little sisters. Each of them are there in support of what is being done and they each give in their own way - I am so proud of what they are doing for Jesus and the Kingdom - something I have prayed about continously - that they would feel a part of this place. I felt so blessed as I sat there with some work friends and looked over at my sweet family. All of us together at church - it made me happy!
Don't get me wrong...it's not about "church" it's about being together and doing something for the KoG!!!! I love it and I want more of it - Holly has great ideas for how to do financial things for the folks that we could turn into classes in the Den and Hillary serves behind the counter and has some really mad foaming skills. All of us working together makes me cry! I'm hoping that when Phil comes home, he may put an apron on and make a smoothie or two!

Thanks Lord, for bringing my family there and letting us work together for you!