Back

We're back at home. Transitioning from the beach back into work can be difficult, which is why I like coming home on a Thursday, so I can catch up on stuff at work on Friday before church on Sunday.

Happily, a friend showed me a video to help me make the transition from South Beach to church office.

Enjoy!

Forget the Desert...

We had rivers in the church!!

Its been a full couple of days. Yesterday, somewhere between the morning baptismal prep sessions and my afternoon of children's communion instruction, we had a small flood in the women's room at church. Well, actually, not so small - the water flowed all the way across the hall into another room. Still, it wasn't all bad: since parents were attending the communion instruction afternoon with their kids, there was plenty of help on hand. Even better - one of the moms was way better at managing busted plumbing than I am. So, we did some clean up, while other parents got snack and a game going (Memory, but with pictures of things associated with Eucharist).

So, this week, I have no Friday Five "rivers in the desert" because I have had quite enough rivers, thank you very much.

Happily, I'm off to warmer waters and warmer climes for a few days, visiting my sister-in-law.

Did I mention that the flood went through the floor, causing all kinds of problems in the church school supply room too? Yeah. I'm so going on vacation now.

Coffee Coffee

And now for a short public service announcement.

Today, at Dunkin Donuts, is Free Iced Coffee Day. Go to a store near you & pick up a free iced coffee! Such a deal - especially if you live in Chicago, and there is a Dunkin' Donuts every 10 feet. Enjoy!

And now back to our regularly scheduled flyer-making.

Last Day of Winter

The RevGals say its the last day of winter.

I say, "THANKS BE TO GOD!"

To celebrate, I bought three little bud vases at the Pottery Barn outlet store last week, while on a shopping expedition with my mama. They are now sitting on my dining room table with these beautiful orange and pink baby gerber daisies, brightening up the place a bit. And to top it all off, my skirts have made their way back out of the closet. It really is starting to look & feel like spring.

That, plus, I need to get working on the Easter Vigil bulletin...

Scampering Spring

Bunnies live in my condo complex. We have an abundance of pine trees, which seem to be the perfect shelter for them, no matter what the weather. Sometimes on the drive between my garage and the main drive through the complex - a whole two blocks - I'll see as many at 5 or 6 bunnies in the summertime.

Forget robins, forget flowers: here, bunnies are the signs of spring.With these warm, sunny days, the bunnies have reappeared.

On my way home tonight from doing a presentation for one of our women's groups, I saw a bunny sitting on the corner. As my headlights turned the curve and landed on the little guy, he seemed confused. As my headlights continued to turn, he continued to stay in the lights - and scampered into the road right in front of me. He seemed to be simultaneously scared of the lights, but wanted to be in the light. Maybe after the dark and gray winter, he just hasn't remembered the difference between sunlight and headlights. Excitement and nervousness and lights turned him into one fast-moving bunny!

I guess thats how these early days of spring are for me. I've been waiting for this season, for the gray to go away for at least a few hours a day, to pull out skirts and shoes I haven't used: to enjoy the warmth and light. But this taste of spring reminds me that this spring might be the season that brings answers to some potentially big changes, or, it may be the season to discover that its not time for change. I don't know yet, but 72 degree weather fills me with the possibility of knowing.

Turns out, excitment, nervousness and light make for fast-moving brains, too.

Friday Five - A Matter of Taste

This week's challenge was inspired by figs. Incidentally, I was *just* out buying Fig Newtons for church school classes on Sunday, to enjoy with their story of the fig tree!

But moving on to the question at hand: Name five things you like a lot that some close relative or significant other did/does not like. This could be food, movies, hobbies, music, sports or whatever springs to mind.

1. Disney movies in general, but especially, Newsies.
I have this habit of hanging on to things from childhood in a sentimental way. There are all kinds of ironies there, but those aren't the subject of today's post. I love the movie Newsies, and I have since I was about 11 and watched it at a sleepover with my still-best-friend. Occasionally, to bother our husbands, we quote from it. Also, I still have the soundtrack tape in my car.

2. Marzipan
I love marzipan candy, and I think I always have. Apparently, lots of people do not share my taste for almond paste & sugar shaped like little fruit. So sad for them, more for me.

3. Food Network
My husband makes the very good point that its kind of rude of Giada, Rachael, Ina, Alton, and all my other food tv-buddies to make good food and not share with us. However, he doesn't really complain because they inspire me to cook food that doesn't have to go through a TV screen to be enjoyed.

4. Scrapbooking
I think this is mystifying to lots of people, but I really enjoy it. Though, I don't do it much anymore, I just love the book I made for my wedding, and I like making little gift albums for other people.

5. Michigan Football
I love Michigan football. I love watching it. I love Lloyd Carr. I love our fight song (though, the alma mater song is pretty lame...) I love football Saturdays on campus. I love that I bleed maize & blue. None of those things were especially true 10 years ago... but theres nothing like moving away from home to make you miss it! So, I am now a raving football fan, which I think confuses most people I know.

And just to be contrary...
#6: A distaste response: MUSHROOMS. I can't STAND 'em. (said in my best nasal Singin' In the Rain imitation way).

Balloons

When I was a kid, I couldn't tie balloons for the life of me. I blame it on small fingers. Okay, so maybe the logical thing to say is that small fingers should make it *easier* to tie those darn knots, but c'mon. My sister could tie balloon knots, and her hands were four years bigger, so the problem was surely my small fingers and not my general lack of motor skills. Both of which (the small-ness of finger and general lack of fine motor skills) continue to this day.

But I digress. Back to those balloons. Since I couldn't tie them, I'd spend all my little lung power on blowing them up, and then they would immediately deflate and fly all over the room because I would fumble the end, and inevitably drop it. And then I'd try again - blow the balloon up, try to tie it, slip, and the balloon deflates.

That is the best metaphor I have for how my energy works this time of year. I am still capable of getting energy worked up around an idea or a project or a task. I can build enthusiasm and focus... but then, something keeps slipping, and fffffffffttttttttt - all the air is gone again. I just can't hang on quite long enough to tie that knot on my brain.

Of course... once in a while, watching ballons fly all over the room can be fun. As long as you don't break the vase on the piano.

Welcome Wagon

So, I've been away from my blog-reading, which makes me a day behind on this... but Congratulations to Micah & Laura on the newest member of their family! Go on over and say hi.

ROAR

They say that March comes in like a lion.

So far today, we've had sleet, ice, rain, freezing rain, thunder and lightening. Its the kind of day that makes it hard to remember why I live in this part of the country. Especially when work committments have had me on the road quite a bit this week. The grayness, the coldness - by about this time each year, it seems to have seeped into my being, making me more edgy than I'd like.

But those same commitments have created a lovely space in my week that gives me this evening and tomorrow off, and the weather is a great excuse to order pizza, get out the fleece blankets, and just lounge for a bit. Already, the cold is ebbing, the crankiness subsiding.

With a little bit more self-care, the lamb may just show up by the end of the month.