The Grinch!!!

"Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot

But the Grinch who lived just north of Whoville did not!"

Here are a few pics of the play from this evening! One kid threw up backstage before we even started. Another got sick in the middle of the show and had to come sit down in the audience. Ah, all in a day's work. Good times were had by all!!!

The Grinch & Max (This is in rehearsal...Max did actually have a dog costume for the show!)

Me with Cindy-Lou Who

Reynolds & I with Cindy-Lou, post show

Stille Nacht

Pictures from my White Elephant Party this evening!

The table is set!

Stacee, Julie & Moi

Small Group: Natalie, Kelli, Ashley & Me

The boys small group: Justin, Scott, Jeff & Chad

Julie & Mike with the Severed Head Singing Santa

Waumba Crew acting crazy (as usual)

How the world's most famous Christmas carol came to be written

In 1818, a roving band of actors was performing in towns throughout the Austrian Alps. On December 23 they arrived at Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg. There they were scheduled to perform the story of Christ's birth in the Church of St. Nicholas.

Unfortunately, the St. Nicholas' church organ wasn't working and would not be repaired before Christmas. (Note: some versions of the story point to mice as the problem; others say rust was the culprit). Because the church organ was out of commission, the actors presented their Christmas drama in a private home. That Christmas presentation put assistant pastor Josef Mohr in a meditative mood. So, instead of walking straight to his house, Mohr took a longer way home. The longer path took him up over a hill overlooking the village.

From that hilltop, Mohr looked down on the peaceful snow-covered village. Reveling in the wintry night's majestic silence, he gazed down at the glowing scene. His thoughts about the Christmas play caused him to remember a poem he had written a couple of years earlier. That poem was about the night when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to shepherds on a hillside.

Mohr decided those words would make a good carol for his congregation the following evening at their Christmas eve service. However, he didn't have any music to which that poem could be sung. So, the next day Mohr went to see the church organist, Franz Xaver Gruber. Gruber only had a few hours to come up with a melody which could be sung with a guitar. However, by that evening, Gruber had managed to compose a simple musical setting for Mohr's poem. It didn't matter that the organ was broken. They now had a Christmas carol they could sing without it. On Christmas Eve, the little Oberndorf congregation heard Gruber and Mohr sing their new composition to the accompaniment of Gruber's guitar.

Weeks later, well-known organ builder Karl Mauracher arrived to fix the St. Nicholas church organ. When he finished, Mauracher stepped back to let Gruber test the instrument. When Gruber sat down, his fingers began playing the simple melody he had written for Mohr's Christmas poem. Deeply impressed, Mauracher took the music and words of "Silent Night" back to his own Alpine village, Kapfing. There, two well-known families of singers -- the Rainers and the Strassers -- heard it. Captivated by "Silent Night," both groups put the new song into their Christmas season repertoire.

Silent night! holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
'Round yon virgin mother and Child!
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

The Strasser sisters spread the carol throughout northern Europe. In 1834, after they had performed "Silent Night" for King Frederick William IV of Prussia, that king ordered his cathedral choir to sing it every Christmas eve.

The Rainers brought the song to the United States in 1839, singing it (in German) at the Alexander Hamilton Monument located outside New York City's Trinity Church. In 1863, nearly fifty years after being first sung in German, "Silent Night" was translated into English (by either Jane Campbell or John Young). In 1871 the English version was published in an American hymnal: Charles Hutchins' Sunday School Hymnal.

Long time, no blog!

I realized that I have not blogged in forever, so here it is! My blog! So much has been going on lately that I have been sidetracked. My small group (left) went to the Cagle's Dairy Corn Maize once again this year and it was harder than we remembered! Still, fun times!

Thanksgiving break was a marvelous way to catch up with myself, and to relax but also get some things done around the house. During the break I was able to completely repaint my kitchen, which I am very proud of! Now it's two very subtle and calming shades of green that I am enjoying. Next step---cabinet gutting and renovation! I'm thinking this will happen post-Christmas though. Trying to be responsible with the funds!

At school we are working hard to prepare for singing next Thursday evening at the PTA Southern Supper with Santa. Then, on Friday we have our first chorus field trip to see The Nutcracker and that evening we sing at the Gwinnett Gladiators Sing for Santa event. Busy busy! Then, two weeks later we have our big Christmas chorus show which involves the singing of many carols plus a reinactment of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I'm excited!

I guess that's about it for now!!!

Remedy

I read this article in Atlanta Magazine about a woman who is a former strip club dancer who is now a Christian and has this amazing minstry where she and other former exotic dancers go into strip clubs and hand out goody baskets to the girls who work there. They also hold worship services in the middle of a questionable area of Atlanta which is evidently right near one of said clubs. So far, they have helped something like 125 girls get out of this lifestyle. I thought that was pretty life-changing.

Then, tonight at the Romania Partnership night, Pastor Gelu told this story of a time before Vox Domini Church was established when he and an American friend were out evangelising on the streets of Timisoara. He felt very uncomfortable doing that, and they are were getting ready to go home when his friend said, "Let's just go get that guy on the bike." So they chased down this man who was riding a bike and when they finally caught him and told him about Jesus right there, he responded by saying, "I've been waiting all my life for someone to tell me this."

It's been a really tough weekend, but God is still God and I am so blessed because of Jesus. This song by David Crowder Band just reminds me of who I am---who we are as Christians---and what a big world there is out there, just waiting for someone to tell them there's another way.

REMEDY, by David Crowder Band

Here we are, Here we are
The broken and used, Mistreated, abused
Here we are

Here You are, Here You are
The beautiful one, Who came like a Son
Here You are

So we lift up our voices, We open our hands
To cling to the love, That we can't comprehend

Oh, lift up your voices, And lift up your heads
To sing of the love, That has freed us from sin

CHORUS
He is the one, Who has saved us
He is the one, Who embraced us
He is the one who has come, And is coming again
He's the remedy

Here we are, Here we are
Bandaged and bruised
Awaiting a cure, Here we are

Here You are, Here You are
Our beautiful King, Bringing relief
Here You are with us

So we lift up our voices, And open our hands
Let go of the things, That have kept us from Him

[Chorus]

Oh, I can't comprehend, I can't take it all in
Never understand, Such perfect love come
For the broken and beat, For the wounded and weak
Oh, come fall at His feet
He's the remedy, He's the remedy

So sing, sing

You are the one, Who has saved us
You are the one, Who forgave us
You are the one who has come, And is coming again
To make it alright, Oh, to make it alright
You're the remedy, Oh, in us
You're the remedy

Let us be the remedy
Let us bring the remedy

I love that last bit..."Let US be the remedy..." That is what we are called to be to a dying world, isn't it?

Malachi's Prayer!

A friend of mine from college just posted her first-grade son's prayer from last night before he went to bed and I thought it was a riot. Bless his heart! I enjoyed it so much that I thought I'd post it here:

"Dear God, How are you? I was very good today. I stayed on green, got a hundred on my spelling test, and I'm star student of the week. Please bless Mom, Dad, Mary Ruth, and the dogs. And keep the Tooth Fairy safe when she travels to my house. Keep her warm because it's cold at night. Please let her leave me more money. If she does I promise I'll take canned goods to the student council food drive next week. And forgive me of my sins. Amen"

A Recap

How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His chosen Son, to make a wretch His treasure.

Our sermon series the past four weeks has been, "Judgment Call," by Andy Stanley and I have learned several things lately about what the Bible actually says regarding judging others and being judged by others. As Christians, we go either one of two ways: we tend to think, "I can't judge because I'm a Christian," or we feel that we are the ultimate judges because we are Christians.

In Andy's first talk, he addressed the fact that as Christians, when we see something another person is doing that bothers us, we are to first look in the mirror and assess what it is that God is trying to address in our own lives. After that, we may be in a position to judge another, but only another believer. It is really unfair to try and judge a secular person by a standard that they do not subscribe to. Without addressing my own sin first, I have no leverage to help address the sins of others. He also talked about how when we sincerely have our hearts broken over something a friend is involved in, that is when it is time to approach others and confront them.

I think about this often. It seems that I am perpetually juggling the ball labeled "other people's problems" and I'll be honest, it stresses me out a great deal at times. How can my heart be breaking over so many people at once, and yet I'm supposed to balance my job, my friends, my family, and my many other responsibilities? This is still somewhat of a mystery to me.

Andy concluded the series by talking about awkward situations, those talks that nobody really wants to have, but those which are necessary for growth and ultimately, restoration. He also addressed our response to being the one who is having judgment passed on you unfairly. In that position, my responsibility is to forgive the person who has misjudged me and pray for them. Andy says that we either give our enemies power or we forgive them.

I thought of this from a psychological standpoint, and it really makes a lot of sense. When we begin to believe the lies that people speak into our lives, whether or not we admit it, we actually are giving power over to those people. For example, if someone has been told all their life that they are dumb, eventually they may begin to believe that they are. That person then, has in essence, given power to all those who have called her dumb by allowing them to create who she is. This strategy is something that we work to rewire in my school often. We try to uncreate the wrong messages parents have sent their children while we can still intervene. It's hard work! But how much more does God desire to restore our hearts from past judgments? Far more! He is so amazing and so forgiving. And that is what we must work toward...realizing that sometimes judging at the right moment is a loving thing to do and at other times, receiving judgment is necessary. And we must recognize that God wants us to forgive those in our past who have misjudged us and move on. Easier said than done for sure!

I Wanna Be A Part of it!!!

Publish PostWe are always trying to persuade our students at school to make better choices. At church in Waumba and UpStreet we teach the kids to "Make the wise choice." But sometimes, isn't it interesting that this can trickle UP to adults as well?

I was with a friend tonight who had Andy's series, "The Best Decision Ever." In this series from a few years back, Andy suggests that we ask ourselves this question when pondering tough life choices:

In light of my past decisions, my current circumstances and my future hopes and dreams, what is the WISE thing to do?

Today, sadly, my cousin and I made the wise choice. It was not a fun choice, but we made it. We've been wanting to fly to New York and take in a few shows on Broadway at the end of November. Jennifer Garner is playing in Cyrano and I was sort of wanting to see Legally Blonde The Musical. But after doing an excel spreadsheet of the budget, we decided this trip could wait. Every hotel is in the price range of $300-$500 minimum, and it was just not happening. Sadness. But it was the right choice.

Sometimes, the right choice is the harder choice. Actually, much of the time it is. I guess this is what our parents meant when they said things like, "The right thing to do isn't always the easy thing to do and the easy thing to do isn't always the right thing to do." It used to seem so mystical when they said it. Now I get what they meant. Am I getting older, or just wiser?

I love this song!

We sang it at 722 last night and I'm diggin' it big time! It's by Hillsongs.

LEAD ME TO THE CROSS
Savior I come
Quiet my soul, remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

CHORUS: Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed, You are
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

CHORUS

To your heart, To your heart
Lead me to your heart, Lead me to your heart

Quote This...

Be the person God wants you to be right now! ~Louie Giglio

When God is silent, He is not still. ~Andy Stanley

Faith is not an emotion; it's a decision. ~Jeff Henderson

Don't be ugly. God don't like ugly. ~Keri Beth Brown

Jesus loves you, but I'm His favorite. ~On t-shirt worn by Keri Beth Brown

Whispers & Art

As a verb or a noun, its simplicity is resoundingly simple. God whispers. Not God screams, or yells, or is silent. God whispers.

Louie was wrapping up his series on Hope on Sunday morning and told the story of a girl who was struggling with God over abuse that she suffered when she was younger. She questioned God, saying, "God...where were you when that was happening to me?" Apparently she felt God respond to her by gently whispering, "I was there, weeping." God fully understands the pain we feel. And sometimes we underestimate His ability to empathize with us.

But one of my favorite Psalms reminds us that God knows us inside and out; after all, He is the one who made us! (Psalm 139). And yet, it is so easy to compartmentalize God and put Him up on the shelf with our Bible and only get Him down when we have a need, a request, or something distressing is happening in our lives. It is only when we begin to integrate Him into our daily plans that we realize how much His ideas really do work and that His principles are designed to make our lives richer.

All this is to say that I am working hard on renewing my mind daily and realizing that I am a part of God's bigger story.

Which reminds me of this poster I have in my classroom. It's a photograph of Norman Rockwell's painting, "The Golden Rule." If you aren't familiar with this painting, it is a picture of a group of people, dressed in clothing depicting their varying nationalities. Most of them have their heads bowed in some sense, as if they are all looking toward something. At the bottom of the picture are the words, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I bought the poster at the United Nations. But before the poster, I saw it for real. Someone has actually installed a mosaic of this painting on a huge wall inside the UN. You could really look at it for a long time, each tile so intricately laid in its right place. It's fascinating really.

When I think about God's plan for me, and for all of humanity, I think about that mosaic. It's one of the best mosaics I've ever seen up close. But just think, what if a big chunk of tiles were missing from it? It wouldn't look the same. It would still be art, but something would be missing. But what if---what if ONE single tile were missing? Would that make a difference worth noting? It would if it were part of an eye, a cheek, a chin, a hand, a piece of clothing. There would be a hole that no other tile would match color-wise. And this is how God feels about us. He valued our relationship with Him so much that He was willing to sacrifice His son so that we can be part of His ultimate story. So that we can be part of his magnum opus---His great work. And I definitely do not want to miss out on that. Do you?

If you want to check out the mosaic, here's a link:
http://www.gcms.k12.il.us/gcmsms/art/art%20appreciation/rockwell.jpg

He is doing Great Things!

This is so very cool. My friend Susan is just weeks away from heading to Timisoara, Romania on a misison trip with church. I know mission trips all have a specific purpose, but this one is something HUGE. The wonderful cast of people God has pulled together is going to be putting on a huge 722 style event in Piata Unirii, the big square smack in the middle of town. Timisoara is a university town, so this will be a prime audience. I have stood in Piata Unirii when I was there in 2006 (photos above). God will do an amazing work on October 25!

As of now, the team is still at about 50% of their financial needs. Because they have to take a band with them, they have to be able to fund all the band's equipment to travel as well, and when you have to take a 50 passenger plane into Timisoara, this can be very interesting! They are not designed for lots of luggage! If you feel you'd like to donate towards the trip, please contact my friend Susan via her blog (Susan in Romania on my favorite blogs listing). Finally, here is the link to a video commerical they are broadcasting in Timisoara on TV to promote the event. Hope you enjoy it!

So today I was working with first grade on sentences. They are supposed to begin to understand what constitutes a complete sentence as opposed to a fragment. So I would give them a fragment (basically, a simple subject), and they would have to complete the sentence to make it make sense.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVBumXDAOIo

My Dad...

So today I was working with first grade on sentences. They are supposed to begin to understand what constitutes a complete sentence as opposed to a fragment. So I would give them a fragment (basically, a simple subject), and they would have to complete the sentence to make it make sense.

So I put things up on the board like, "Miss Ginn..." and "My friend and I..." and "The ball..." Later on, I put up one that said, "My Dad..." I hesitated to put this one up, and apparently should have hesitated more. One child put, "My Dad is ossume!" (Which of course translates to "awesome"). Someone else wrote, "My Dad wrestles." Still another child said, "My dad is big." I look over at this one little boy who isn't writing anything. I prompt him and he comes up with, "My dad is a cheater! He cheated on my Mom!"

What do you do with that? Then the kid next to him says, "My dad is a cheater too. One time, we were playing Monopoly, and he cheated!"

We promptly moved on to "My mom..."

Clarisa

Just joined up on Facebook and my friend Clarisa from Romania found me right away! So cool. Anyway, she had this quote on her page that hit home with me, as it was what I wrote about recently on here. Thought I'd post it along with a picture of me with Clarisa.

"Sometimes it seems like God is difficult to find and impossibly far away. We get so caught up in our small daily duties and irritations that they become the only things that we can focus on. What we forget is that God's love and beauty are all around us, every day, if only we would take the time to look up and see them!" (Matthias)
I'm in the middle and Clarisa is immediately to my right if you are looking at the picture, in the white shirt. She's a cool girl!

All for Love

Guess I wasn't the best one to ask
Me myself with my face pressed up against love's glass
To see the shiny toy i've been hoping for
The one I never can afford
The wide world spins and spits turmoil
And the nations toil for peace
But the paws of fear upon your chest
Only love can soothe that beast...
(excerpt from Love Will Come to You by the Indigo Girls)

Tough stuff, loving. The more I talk to people---no, the more I listen---the more aware I am not just of what Jesus said when he casually mentioned that we should feed the poor, love the unloveable, help the sick, the widows, the orphans, sell our posessions, etc...but rather, I'm suddenly aware of what he meant. And interestingly, it's not really all that hard. When He said, "Feed the poor," I think what he actually meant was to FEED the poor. And, when he says things like, "Help care for orphans and widows," I think He actually meant us to do that, physically.

Some parts of the Bible are metaphorical, but I think when Jesus gave commands to the disciples and the crowds he wasn't just being metaphorical when he was talking about life changing love. The simplest things we do can actually alter someone else's life. Improve life.

I think as a westerner---particularly as an American---I spend far too much time thinking about how I want to be loved and what that looks like in my world. Not that God doesn't want wonderful things for me, or for any of His children...but wouldn't my time be better spent loving other people than worrying about myself? Like for example, hugging my student who this morning looked like he hadn't had a bath or clean clothes for a few days, and saying, "Hey, good job, buddy. You were really helpful today. Thank you for being a good listener." Or maybe it means having a Trade is One gathering at my house. Maybe, it's going to Africa to be the hands and feet of Jesus by handing out life-saving antibiotics or clean water. Or maybe even just learning the name of the guy who serves us every week at Fellini's.

The bigger I realize God is---that He is the God of all people, everywhere---the more intentional I think I am becoming in my pursuit of loving the other people. Because to God, they are just people. And it may cost something. It may cost time, money, emotions...it may cost letting go of one thing to gain another.

Love is hard stuff. Really.

This is a statue of Jesus holding the hand of a mother who lost her child. It's in the middle of Timisoara, Romania outside of an orphanage. The statue was specially commissioned to show Romanian women of Jesus's love for them, particularly in a culture where abortion is rampant. Through a crisis pregnancy center sponsored by Vox Domini Church, thousands of women are counseled each year, most of them electing to have their babies and end up gaining support from and being cared for by the church. (PHOTO AT TOP: Taken by Kelli in Kenya...local Samburu children)

With the Sibs in Orlando

The thing about life-long friends is that you can be absent one from the other for quite a long time and pick up right where you left off the last time. My trip to Orlando this week was a perfect example. My English friends, Steve and Joy Atkins (brother & sister) have been my UK family for nearly 10 years now, and we always get on like brothers and sisters. Joy and I are often mistaken for sisters in public, as we were today in one of the shops at the outlet mall. We obviously share the same tastes, as when I met Joy right off the plane, we discovered this:

Yes, those are my feet on the left, and hers on the right. In exactly the same pair of Rocketdog, brown flip-flops! Crazy. So now you probably want to see pictures of us, the sisters. Well here you go:
That was taken this past summer in London when I was there with People to People. So now we were here in my semi-territory. We went to Universal Studios yesterday, and today it was off to the Premium Outlets. A good time was had by all. Pictures follow. Enjoy!
















How about Steve & Autumn in the rickshaw? We barely fit two adult-sized bottoms into it!


And there we are...me, my "sister" and my "brother." Final moments at the Orlando International airport, where you can park your car outside ticketing without being shouted or whistled at and you can take last-minute pictures with your friends. Good times!

Realization

I was lying in bed tonight after reading a portion of Don Miller's Blue Like Jazz, talking to God as I often do right in the midst of those moments before sleep takes me over, when something struck me. It was as if something BIG had been realized by me, and it's kind of sticking in my brain so I felt I should write it down. So here it is: Probably the one thing I desire most in the world is to be loved and understood and to be held and cared for in tough times, listened to, etc. In essence, to be known. I don't think that this desire in me is one that is unique. In fact, I think most of us have this same yearning to some degree. Don Miller would probably say that what we are looking for is for someone else to validate us, when in fact it is God who wants to do so in the first place. But tonight, lying there, a new thought entered my mind: the desire God has put in me to feel loved by another person is, in fact, the same way he feels about me. He wants to be known that deeply by me. It's a blessing that God puts people in our world who can show His love tangibly to us, but that in itself is not enough. He desires it back. And He desires sincerity, our whole heart in this relationship with Him, not just the "leftovers" as Francis Chan so beautifully illustrated by eating that chicken leg a year ago during one of his talks. He wants the first bite, not the bone left at the end. I'm reminded of the passage in Revelation 2 where God says to the church in Ephesus, "You have forsaken your first love...repent and do the things you did at first!" (NIV). In The Message it reads, "Recover your dear early love." Wow. I don't think the word forsaken is exactly one I'd like God to use when I think of how I related to Him while on earth. But I love the romance in "dear early love." God wants to romance me, and He wants some love in return. I'd better get busy!

P2P Reunion!

I got to spend the evening in Ben's Party Barn with these fantastic students and their families. The rain could not stop us from reminiscing, listening to some good music, and enjoying a fabulously soundtracked slide show of our travels! It was good to be back together with our People to People family once again on this side of the pond. We won't soon forget all the fun we had in Scotland and England last summer. We hope to take some of these same students with us on our journey back to the UK next summer. Another adventure awaits! (Above photo taken at the Glencoe Center, Scotland)

At Stonehenge
At the William Wallace Monument

God

God is so amazing. He is good. He is enough. He is tangible through others. He loves us.

This picture is a testament to exactly that. It was taken on the beach at Labor Day Retreat last weekend. I'm so blessed that these people are in my life.

Thanks, God!

Want & Need

A friend of mine recently wrote an article for Paste in which he reflected on the state of our world today in relation to the lyrics of various John Lennon songs from the 60s and 70s. We always knew that lyrics weren't just to be taken at face value. Some people feel John Lennon was a bit of a flower child freak, and to a degree I guess I'm one of those people. But "all we need is love" was a hard message to be conveying back in those times, and is even now. It seems that in the darkest places on earth---places he mentions, such as Darfur---love and peace are exactly what we need a quadruple dose of.

Ironic, isn't it? The distance between need and want is vast. I need food, shelter and safety. I want a new pair of shoes, new kitchen cabinets, or a trip to Europe. Fortunately, because I was born in America, my needs are met with little effort, thus allowing me to pursue my wants at my leisure. The difference is, in the third-world, needs aren't being met for many, which leaves little room for desiring things beyond the most basic of human needs. What do we do about it? More importantly, what do we, as Christians do about it? Therein lies the real question.

Night for Africa

Kila mmoja na atumie kipawa alichopewa kuwahudumia wengine, kama mawakili waaminifu wa neema mbalimbali za Mungu.
~1 Petro 4:10 (Swahili)

Wow. It was awesome. I can't even describe how awesome it was. I will tell you in person if you ask. $50 well spent, and I hope every penny went to Kenya.

I told my Mom today to go ahead and start preparing herself mentally because I will be going to Africa on a mission trip when God orchestrates it. I'm ready to go tomorrow if I'm being honest. Check out some of the stuff we learned:

• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 50,000 children will die of AIDS this year
• 1,400 newborn Africans are infected with AIDS everyday
• There are 900,000 orphans in Nairobi, Kenya today, mainly due to AIDS
• More than 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $1 a day
• Every 3 seconds a child dies of nutrition deprivation/starvation
• More than 300 million people in Africa do not have access to clean water
• 1 million children die of malaria each year

The 410 Bridge was created to combat some of these problems by working alongside Kenyan communities as they seek to prevent and aid developing communities. It is very awesome to know that building awareness here can lead to lifelong changes for our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world by simply installing a water pump, sending a child to school, or helping to build a shelter for orphans. It was so exciting to be a part of this. From the choir, to Jeff Foxworthy's amusing "redneck" antics, we all had such a good time. Check out the 410 Bridge website for more info:

410 Bridge

Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. ~1 Peter 4:10

First Week Highlights

The first week of school is always filled with humor. I thought I'd share a few of our little stories here.

On Friday, two fifth grade girls in my classroom got all up in each other's faces and started screaming about the other one's mother.

On Wednesday, a first grader told our art teacher, "You look like art!" on his way into school.

And most amusingly, on TUESDAY, a little kindergarten girl was misbehaving and would not follow her teacher's directions. And so the school counselor came in to see if she could settle the little friend down. The girl promptly kicked and bit our counselor. Then our new principal came down. She took the little girl to her office and got down at eye level, just as the experts say you should. She said to her, "Do you know who I am?" The kindergartener nodded. Then she said, "Have you seen me on the TV each morning talking to you?" The girl nodded again. She continued, "What have I been telling the boys and girls every morning?" The girl paused and replied, through choked back tears, "To...listen...to...your....teacher." Betty said, "And have you been doing that this morning?" The girl looked her straight in the eye and said, "NO! I don't have to listen to anybody, bitch! My mom said so!"

My job is so full of adventure!

Back to School

Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.
~From You’ve Got Mail

Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.
~John W. Gardner

He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
~Victor Hugo

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't.
~Anatole France

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. ~Mark Twain

AND THE TRUEST OF ALL OF THESE:

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.
~Gail Godwin

It's Getting Hot out Therre...

Me, last summer in Oz: Temp was about 35 degrees and we were on a sheep farm. Sigh.

Step one foot outside of an air-conditioned building any day this week and you know exactly what I'm talking about.

If not, I'm talking about the weather in Hotlanta. Today, for example, it is 97 degrees outside, but with the heat index, the weather guys say it feels like 105.

Anyone who doesn't believe in global warming ought to visit our precious city for about five minutes. Or five seconds!

I'm not ashamed to admit that for the last several days, I have come straight home and ripped my clothes off, put on a bathing suit and lazed around my house. It's almost too hot to really go lay by the pool, so instead, I lay on the couch trying not to melt. Don't forget that it's important to keep hydrated in these extreme temperatures.

My Dad is so fortunate: he's down under, where it's winter! Who's ready to take a month-long vacation to Australia with me?

Families First

Today's message at church, part two of Voddie Baucham's Legacy series, really hit home with me on several levels. Voddie touched on ways we can make sure that God is head of our homes and families at all times. I was reminded all over again about how blessed I am to be a part of a church that truly values the family. Our church is designed with community in mind, and the three branches of children's ministry (not to mention the two teen ministries), further attest to this fact. Volunteering each week in Waumba Land is such a blessing; for the hour each week that we volunteer, we are easily blessed ten times over.

This evening, I had the privilege of watching a video created by my dear friends Mike & Julie Tiemann who recently returned from a mission trip to our partner church in the Dominican Republic. As I watched this six-minute clip, I could not help but have tears in my eyes as I witnessed couples celebrate God's faithfulness together at a Married Life Live conference, voices lifted while singing "How Great is Our God," in Spanish. This is one of many songs we celebrated with in Romania last summer, and it moves me to this day every time I hear it's melody. Isn't it just amazing to know that God receives praise in so many languages? If you have the time, please check out Mike & Julie's video:

http://www.arclight.net/~julieandmikemusic/D.R.%202007%20Stream.mov

Quote

I read the most beautiful quote today in a shop. I'm just going to post it here and marinate on it a bit. I hope you enjoy the quote, and all it implies.

Just when the caterpillar thought his world was over, he turned into a beautiful butterfly. ~Proverb

Beach Memory

Every once in a while, there is a taste or smell that just takes me back to another time or place. For example, whenever I use a particular shampoo, it reminds me of showering at my friends, the Atkins', house in London. I think it's because when I lived there for so long, I used this shampoo from Bath & Body Works. I identify that smell with my time spent there. Those were fun times, and even more fun when sharing one bathroom with about six or eight folks at any given time! Everyone knows there are smells of favorite foods prepared by a loved one that take you back to holiday meal...Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

Today I was caught by surprise as I bit into my Waldorf Chicken Salad at Flavor Cafe & Bakery. It took me back much further than my time in the UK. It took me to New Smyrna Beach, FL when I was six, seven, eight, nine, ten years old. We traveled there each summer when I was a child, staying several weeks in a condo by the sea. I can hear the waves crashing now, see my Dad and I creating drizzly tops to the sandcastles we'd build every morning. We stayed at a place called Colony Beach Club. Back in the mid-to-late 80s, this was a happening place. It was not a high-rise condo like so many that dot the same beach's shore today. It was a simple, two story sprawling complex complete with a boardwalk down to the beach and a pool.

It was at the Colony Beach Club that we met Mildred and Pop Taylor. I don't remember Pop's full name because to me he was always just Pop. That's what his grandchildren called him. The Taylors lived at Colony Beach Club, and over the years we became friends, exchanging Christmas cards and visiting every summer.
When I bit into that sandwich today I was transported back to Pop & Nan's beach condo where I would sit and talk to them for hours, a chatty little girl entertaining an elderly couple talking about who knows what. We had a good time together. Pop liked to fish, and Nan liked to talk. I didn't ever eat that chicken salad at their house, but something in the mayonnaise made me remember the smell and feel of their little beach side home.

Nan and Pop are gone now, passed away a few years back. I was sad when I found out; even as an adult it moved me. That little couple influenced me and created beautiful memories on the canvas of my mind. I'll never forget them.

Abraham Faith

He said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll point out to you." (Genesis 22:2, Message)

I'm not a mom yet, but I can only imagine and empathize with Abraham as to how he must have felt. What are you talking about, God? Sacrifice my own son on the altar? Surely I misunderstood. But he did not misunderstand. And so he took his son up the mountain and prepared the altar for sacrifice, just as he did every time. But God, he is my ONLY son. Isn't there another way? What must his thoughts have been as he cut the wood? Did he slow down, placing them one by one just to have a few more moments with his beloved? Or did he do it at the usual pace, painfully placing each stick up there, tears rolling down his cheek?

They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son. (Genesis 22:9-10, Message)

Agony. Was his son struggling? Did he think his father was going mad? Something just wasn't adding up. He had assured Isaac just moments ago that God would provide the ram for the sacrifice. And now there lay Isaac, tied up and watching a knife come closer and closer...and then...

"Don't lay a hand on that boy! Don't touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn't hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me." (Genesis 22:12, Message)

God did provide the ram. He wanted to see that Abraham had faith in Him, that he trusted his Heavenly Father. And Abraham did, although it caused him so much earthly pain to do so.

In modern church terms, we see that this is a parallel to the gospel story. Just as God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, but then spared his life with a lamb, God later provided the ultimate sacrifice---His only son---as the "lamb that takes away the sins of the world."

Today, my dear friend Tyler lost his only little girl. Taylor Kate was a brave little baby. When I met her for the first and only time in April, she was alert, aware. Sadly, a debilitating muscle disease caused her to aspirate many times a week, losing the ability to breathe on her own. This morning, Taylor received ultimate healing and went home to be with her Heavenly Father, Jesus. He wrapped His big arms around her in a hug and watched her run and giggle and play...things she could never do here on earth. Her mommy and daddy are hurting, but we will be Jesus' hug for them right now.

Scott was talking to Tyler earlier this week about this passage on Abraham. He was saying that sometimes, situations are so out of our control that the only option is just to say, "God, you can have this. I'm going to let it go and let you take over." At times this causes our human hearts great pain, just as it did today for Tyler and his family. Please keep them in your prayers in coming days. We leave on Monday for the funeral, which will take place on Tuesday around noon in Florida.

The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: "I swear—God's sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I'll bless you—oh, how I'll bless you! (Genesis 22:15, Message)

I am confident that God has a better blessing in store for Tyler. I hurt so deeply for his loss, yet because of our faith, we have hope. Hope for healing, hope for a future. God promised Abraham that he would be a blessed man because of his willingness to sacrifice his child and obey God.

Oh to have that kind of faith!

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (Jeremiah 29:11, Message)

Dad's in the AJC!

Check out my awesome Dad, who was interviewed about why he loves his job for the AJC this past Sunday. There are even a few pictures. I'm so proud of my Dad!

http://jobnews.ajcjobs.com/news/content/careercenter/articles/2007_0722_lovemagic.html

Broken Dreams Restored

Andy has been doing a series at church called Boulevard of Broken Dreams. He has been talking about what happens when you realized that certain dreams may never come true due to circumstances you are in and choices you have made. We learned how King David, even in his wisdom, had dreams broken.

This afternoon I was listening to a Rascal Flatts song called Bless the Broken Road and found the chorus particularly moving. It reminded me of this morning's talk at church. You may find the lyrics familiar:

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

These lyrics are so true to the way God works and how He perceives things in our lives. Our little lives are dotted with moments so horribly hurtful that we cannot see how things could ever improve. But I am realizing it is at those moments that God is working on our behalf, and preparing something even better than we ever could have imagined. I know He's done that in my life. God's so cool like that.

Everlasting

A thousand times I've failed,
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting,
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.
(Hillsongs Australia)

Tonight was so amazing. We had "Night of Worship and Communion" at Buckhead Church and it was, as always, extremely moving. I found myself in tears at least 50 percent of the time but it was well needed and worth it. At one point, they showed a video of various lead worshippers sharing what worship means to them personally. Moxie Davis, a regular at BC, said something that struck a particular chord with me. He commented that when he is worshipping God, he pictures how pleasing it is to the Lord when he gives praise wholeheartedly, and how much God enjoys our worship when we truly mean it.

Tonight they set up the foyer of the church with various stations including "Worship through Art" and "Worship through Taste." I am often moved deeply by worship, especially the kind that includes music. I think it's because music moves me in my soul. I can identify not only with the meaningful lyrics, but also the rhythms and melodies that God has gifted someone to create in order to help us worship Him through music. When I think about the words I'm singing, and how it honors God to sing those love songs to Him, like a special gift that we give right in that moment---I feel a wave of emotion wash over me and it's a huge release.

Tonight as I stood in that auditorium, it was as if I could sense the hurting people around me. I thought about how I wished that I could take the pain and hurt away from many of my friends, and how I would just about give anything to help them not feel that pain or experience what they are going through. All of this was what I was feeling during worship, and then suddenly it hit me. This is how God felt so long ago when His relationship with us was interrupted. Every time I choose to disobey Him, or dishonor Him, it's as if I am causing Him all this grief and pain. How sad that must make Him! Yet He chose to take that pain off my shoulders and bear it for me by sending Jesus. And it was in that moment that I truly began to see what worship was all about...it's about thanking a God who gave us exactly what we didn't deserve---a second chance at a relationship with the Creator of the universe who just happens to be madly in pursuit of a love relationship with us.

Funny word, grace. In ancient Greek, the word CHARIS means "grace, kindness." But in modern Greek, the same word means "behalf." Who knew God was a linguist? God's grace is epitomized in the fact that he showed us the ultimate kindness by sacrificing His only Son on our behalf.

And that's a story that is everlasting.

What Really Matters?

My roommate, Kelli, just got back from Kenya. She spent ten days handing out food to the hungry and medicine to the sick. She played with kids who were eager to show her some acrobatics or perform a song they had written. One child sang her a song he'd been writing about his future. The gist was that even though bad things have happened to him in his life, he knows he has a future and a hope because of Jesus. The child in the picture to the left is called Sam. I don't know the story behind Sam yet, but I will. What's important to know though is that God has already authored every day written in Sam's big life. And he matters.

I worry about things that don't even count in the scope of eternity: what should I eat for dinner---I have so much to choose from. Where should I buy a new shirt---there are 100 stores in the mall and money in my bank account.

Kel saw people who might not have had food unless her team had been there handing out sacks of grain. There were children with parasites and AIDS. Kids had clothes literally falling off of their bodies and their parents had no money to purchase new ones. But smiles are on these faces, a peace that passes understanding. And all because of Jesus.

Kind of brings American consumerism to a halt, doesn't it?

Hard is Worth It

Here we are at Gig on the Grass in June. What a fabulous night!

It has been my recent observation that some of the toughest things in life, though difficult, are totally and completely worth it. I've observed this in several friends who recently had babies, and also in those who are working hard to get out of debt or better themselves by going back to school. Though the journey may not always be fun, we gain so much along the way. I am so thankful for the people God is continually putting in my life to teach me this.

Over the weekend, Scott and I saw the movie, Evan Almighty. Morgan Freeman's character, God, comments to Evan in the film that when you pray for God to give you patience, He doesn't merely give you patience, but rather the opportunity to practice being patient. I thought this was a good point. How often do I pray that God will do this or that and then act surprised when we are given a chance to work on what we prayed for? Just something to think about. Not easy, but it's so worth it.

Order of the Phoenix

Peeking outside one of the Hogwarts Express trains (Scotland).

Another of the trains we rode which was used as the Hogwarts Express!

Just finished seeing the newest Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. VERY GOOD. My review is two thumbs up! It was very cool watching this film and knowing that I very recently stood inside some of the castles and rode in the trains used in the movie. It was all very exciting. The Scottish countryside is very evident in this film.
I was also equally impressed with newcomer Evanna Lynch who played the part of Luna Lovegood (A.K.A. "Loony Lovegood"), who befriends Harry in Year 5. Something else I noted this time: the scene in which Lucius Malfoy is attempting to talk Harry into giving up the prophecy was vaguely reminiscent of the serpent with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I found that connection something to think about, as some predictions are that there will be an allegorical ending to the series.
Lots of twists and turns in this one and now I can't wait until the final installment in Deathly Hallows next week. Admittedly though, it will be quite sad when the saga is over. We've all grown so accustomed to hearing about Harry and his friends. But they still have to make movies 6 and 7, so that gives us something to look forward to for now!

How Deep?

Today I have been listening to Francis Chan's talks from the Labor Day Retreat last year. The series is called, "This Thing Called Love," and it's about how deeply the Lord desires a love relationship with us. It's pretty amazing to just sit back and reflect on that for a moment. I think my new journey in Scripture is going to be finding verses that talk about God's love for us. Francis Chan says that because he did not grow up knowing the love of his own father---nor anyone else for that matter---that he honestly did not begin to fathom how much God cared for him until he was married and had his little girl, Rachel. He explains in his talk that when he realized that God's love for him was much like his own love for his daughter, he could not believe it. He kept saying to himself, "Is it possible that God can love ME like this?"

I can't help but feel sorry for all the things I've done that have not been glorifying to God. Jesus sacrificed everything for me, yet still I hurt people's feelings and follow my own agenda. I say that I love God, yet I put so many things before Him. But He loves me anyway. That is unconditional love.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life (Isaiah 43:4, NIV).

The Creator of our universe calls me precious and honored! The least I can do is live a life that is Holy and pleasing to my Heavenly Father. I'll end with the lyrics from one of my favorite songs that I first learned when I was doing a Christian youth camp in England one summer:

How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure...

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.
(by Stuart Townend)

Two Shellfish

Why couldn't the lobster and the shrimp get along? Because they were two shellfish.

I've done it. I've officially started a blog that is not on MySpace or Facebook. Because you know what I hate about both of those very time-consuming sites? If you aren't a member, you don't get to read them! This saddens me deeply so after much deliberation, I have decided to join the ranks of my friends outside of MySpace and provide an opportunity for everyone to experience the Adventures of Autumn.

And that brings me to my very first blog. What should I write about? Unlike many of my friends I can't write about my baby's latest tricks or my husband's travel adventures. Note: I do not have a baby or a husband, so that wouldn't make sense, would it? But there are important things in the life of a single girl that I can touch on and maybe one or three of them will touch you too.

So I could write about difficult things such as asking my downstairs neighbor to turn the bass down so my floor would cease vibrating last night (which he did!). I could write about the tree in the picture you see here. Or I could write about the Loud Talker at lunch today. Now that I think about it, I believe I'll write about all three.

Last night my downstairs neighbor was cooking out and having a good time with his friends. They were seated on his patio, while the music was blaring from inside his condo. I know this because I could hear them talking from my porch, and I could feel the vibrations of the bass through the floor in my kitchen, dining room and living room. In the past, I have had to deal with this and have done so by calling the police. But this time, I decided to be bold. So I took a deep breath, rehearsed what I was going to say and opened my porch door. I leaned over the balcony and said, "Hi. It's me, up here. I was just wondering, could you maybe turn down your bass some? It's really loud." He saw me, looked up and said, "Oh. You can hear that?!" very jovially. I said, "Yes, I can feel my floor vibrating." And believe it or not, he turned it down! Just like that! I was so relieved that I could watch my movie without the club remix happening below me.

Today is Monday and my Monday lunch spot is often La Madeleine. I love this place. It is so atmospheric that when I enter through the glass-paned wooden doors I feel as if I'm stepping into Europe. I always arrive during the lunch rush, which means it is a hive of activity. Standing in line today I noticed a single guy, reading his book while dipping his bread into his cup of Tomato Basil soup. I noticed two women in front of me in line who were chatting on and on about various topics. I noticed two, Indian women eating and laughing at a table nearby. I always look forward to hearing a plethora of languages around me in this place. It is refreshing and reminds me that I'm not the only one on this planet.

After ordering my ciabatta turkey melt, I situated myself at a round table near the window (better light for reading). I took one sip of my sweet, iced tea when I heard him. The Loud Talker. He was facing me, and his dining companion's back was to me. They were businessmen. His voice was so loud. His friend barely uttered a word, and when he did, I couldn't hear him because he was a Quiet Listener. A patient soul. When they finally left, Loud Talker was on his cell phone.

But we all know there's another side to every story. My neighbor wasn't doing anything inherently wrong, and he had no idea the music was causing disruption in my life. Loud Talker just needed to vent, or maybe he was lonely. Quiet Listener provided him a gracious ear.

It occurs to me that deep down, we are all selfish. It is the original sin, really. It's saying that my needs and my desires are the most important thing in the universe, above the needs or desires of others. I've heard it said that the biggest problem with sin is the "I" in the middle of the word. True. When Adam and Eve chose to eat the apple, they were in essence saying, "God, we heard what you said but we think our way is better. And we want to taste that apple right now. So thanks anyway." And that was that. No good came from it either.

In America we are bombarded by maintaining our "rights." The smoker says he has a right to smoke, even if it infringes on the rights of others in a crowded area. An angry, rush-hour driver thinks it's her right to fly past everyone else, with or without signaling. It's supposed to be our right to do what we want to do, believe what we want to believe. After all, this is America. Selfish, spoiled America.

Which brings me to my photo, which was not taken in America. It was taken in Glencoe, Scotland, known to be the place of the McDonald Clan massacre centuries ago. I took this photo last month, because it was a beautiful view. It wasn't until I got home and developed the pictures that I realized what an amazing perspective it offered. Not only do I get the tree branches dangling in front of me in the foreground, but I get the green, mountainous landscape in the background. It's a peaceful view. Part of me would like to still be standing there.

Sometimes I tend to rush to conclusions about others without maintaining the proper amount of perspective. It's very easy to do. But if I just step back---as with my photo---and see what the bigger picture is all about, I might gain some patience and grace in return. Just like Quiet Listener. Who would have thought a man in a restaurant would teach me a lesson?

Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live. ~Oscar Wilde