What I've Been Reading

Now that I actually have time for my favorite pastime, reading, I have been been exploring what our closest full fledged library has to offer. (There is a tiny library here in R-town, but the choices are pretty limited. Great kid's books, though!) I love the thrill of picking out a new book, and not knowing what lays ahead, and hardly being able to wait to dive in. Yes, I'm a book geek. In my defense, I inherited this gene. Honestly. It's my parents fault!

My latest newest favorite is the Elm Creek Quilt series by Jennifer Chiaverini. I discovered it through a book on tape, actually! I needed something to help pass the hours on my trip to see my bro & family in Big Sky Country, and found one of this series on CD. I love, love, loved it, and it made the trip fly by (well, "fly by" considering I had an impatient 4-year old in the back seat). Sugar Camp Quilt is my favorite thus far (the one I listened to on CD), though I've enjoyed them all. So far, I believe there are 9 books in the series. I think I have read about 6 of them. The library doesn't have the rest, so I'm going to have to ask them to order them for me.

If any of my family and friends actually read my blog, please leave a comment, and tell me what you have been reading lately. I'd love to hear from you!

Life, Or Something Like It

My Week Thus Far:

Monday: After a morning frittered away, went on family trip to the Big D an hour a way (only largish town with shopping options within decent driving distance). Gave in to the lures of Wally World, bought burgundy curtains for our bedroom. Felt the beginnings of a migraine, but it didn't develop. Been out here in rural land long enough now that it was a relief to get home from the "big shopping day."

Tuesday: Text study in neighboring town where we did actually study the texts a little, but more talked about parish life and stuff. Got to eat out for lunch again. After picking up Lil' Princess from school, convinced Pastor Friend to play hooky and show us the back country. Spent three hours exploring the wilds of ND and SD. Reluctantly ended our tour when Lil' Princess found the limits of her 4-year old patience. Found many beautiful spots to revisit, and show to family.

Wednesday: Prepared for confirmation, subject for the day is the 6th commandment, OH YAY. Picked up Lil' Princess from school, had lunch with Rev Dad (3rd lunch out this week, this is some kind of record!!!) She played with Church Grandma while I taught confirmation, which went well despite the topic. Picked her up, had grilled cheese and tomato soup for supper (yum!) and met for 90 minutes with Sunday school superintendent. Ahh, Wednesdays. They just keep going, and going, and going!

And what will tomorrow bring, you ask? A nursing home service. A few phone calls, and maybe a meeting if the phone calls work out. Maybe get a few pictures hung in my office, though I doubt it. Play with Lil' Princess outside, since freezing cold weather is literally right around the corner, and we need to enjoy the warmth while we got it.

There you have it. My life. Sigh.

Late Night Thoughts on Swimming

"Just keep swiming, just keep swimming, what do you do, you swim..." Oh, to have the simple focus of Dory!
I am in the middle of one of the hardest parish death experiences I have had to pastor, and I'm tired. The family prayer service is now done. The funeral is tomorrow. I know roughly where I want to go with the funeral sermon, but it is no where near done. But it is getting late, and I am tired, so tired.

So what shall I say to this family of a 24 year old man, life cut short in a senseless car accident? As I drove home from the prayer service, I turned into town and noticed about 20 trucks parked outside the two local bars. Now, I'm not against getting together with friends over a few brews, and it is Friday night, but all of a sudden, I got mad. Really ticked me off.

I raged to myself, "I'm going to bury a 24 year old whose life has been cut short, who should still be here, and you all are pissing away your life in the bottom of a beer bottle?!?!? You probably won't even remember most of what happens tonight because you'll drink too much, like you do many other nights, and I have to put a guy in the ground who treasured and lived every minute of his short life!"

Well, then I remembered life isn't fair, and if we all got what we had coming to us, it would be a pretty sparse world. So I got off my high horse, and headed on to the next thing on my to-do list for the funeral.

Just keep swimming...

These online quiz sites are kinda fun (especially when you're sick!)

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Literate Good Citizen You read to inform or entertain yourself, but you're not nerdy about it. You've read most major classics (in school) and you have a favorite genre or two.
Dedicated Reader
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

I'll Strike My Heroic Pose Now

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 75% Spider-Man 65% Green Lantern 60% Robin 53% Wonder Woman 46% Supergirl 46% Iron Man 45% The Flash 40% Catwoman 35% Hulk 30% Batman 20%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

The Hole in the Hedge - Where's Alice Off to Now?

For Alice, it was a curious rabbit hole that tumbled her into another world. For me, it is a tree-bough arch that leads to new adventures!

Between the parsonage and the church is a thick hedge of trees and bushes, broken by this passageway. The first time she saw it, Lil' Princess imagined it as a doorway into a world of dragons and magic. For me, it has been a gateway into a new community and a new life. Like Alice, I am at times perplexed, delighted, lost, intrigued, and changed.


I wonder what the next chapter will bring?

It's been two weeks in the new call already?

This is the chancel area of new Church #1

This is the chancel area of new Church #2.

I don't have a picture of new Church #3 yet. I'll post one as soon as I get out there with a camera.

It really does blow my mind that we have been here for two weeks. The days have slipped by so quickly, it seems like I barely wake up and it's time to put Lil' Princess to bed for the night. We have begun the slow process of settling in and learning the culture and the parishes. I am starting to feel lonely, and being a part time stay-at-home mom is HARD. I knew it would be, but my patience is really being tested. My life seems to revolve around tending Lil' Princess, driving, cooking, cleaning, a little bit of ministry, and grabbing every stray moment to read. I'm not complaining exactly, it's just an adjustment. A greater one than I anticipated.

I am enjoying all the wildlife (and making my dad drool as I tell him about it!) and the rugged beauty of this area. The people I've met are mostly friendly and glad to have us here. The parsonage is great, and having internet finally is wonderful! Rev Dad seems to be settling in well at his parishes, and enjoying each day filled with new experiences. Lil' Princess enjoys preschool, and having more time with me (though she's not happy with dad being gone more).

I miss my friends. I miss not having to drive more than a mile in a day if I don't want to. I miss my flowers and my great neighbors. I miss knowing my church family inside and out, and being known by them. I miss full time ministry.

I know that we will be fine here, and happy. It all takes time, and change is always unsettling. I just feel so......self-centered. With all the transition stuff going on, my interior life is all about me and what I'm feeling and experiencing, instead of being about others and ministry. That too will settle in time, I know. I just need to keep finding healthy ways of dealing with my loneliness and stress at change.

Well, enough wallowing. Time to drink some tea, read a good book, kiss my husband, and get some sleep.

What more could a gal want?