New York, New York!

A few of our best shots of NYC at Christmastime!The weather was quite foggy!

Best service in town: Hard Rock Cafe! Can't go wrong!

Again, check the fog!

In Dylan's Candy Bar

Don't eat the gumballs, kids! (Definitely saw some children reprimanded for this!)

Tree at Rockefellar Center with Swarovski Crystal Star on top!

Radio City Music Hall, where we saw the Rockette's Radio City Christmas Spectacular!

Bloomingdale's store front

One of Bloomie's magnificent windows. Each has it's own song as part of the soundtrack of windows! Very cool! This one was "The Christmas Waltz."

In the nasty subway! Ha! Friends for-eva!

Check it out!!!

The media specialist at my school was very tricky and created this lovely video that you need to watch. It stars me, Mr. Polly (art teacher) and some other staff at our school. Bet you didn't know I knew all these sweet moves, hey?

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/UHSkEumAFIbPtPZz
Meanwhile, here are some pics for the other things I've been up to lately!

Our media specialists at school dressed up to tell the story, "The Night Before Christmas"

My tree at home!

Mr. Polly explains the "Night Before Christmas" game to kindergarten.

Hanging with my students at The Nutcracker.

R.I.P. Maximo

Today, my beloved Betta, Maximo, went to the happy pond in the sky. I will miss his swimming in circles in the flower vase on my counter. I will miss him fluttering excitedly as he ate the food I gave him. Sigh.

Maximo Ginn
June 2008---December 2008

Psalm 95

Just because it's a great way to start the day...

PSALM 95:1-7

Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean—he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth! So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he's our God, and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

Comment of the Day

We were watching the following scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in second grade at school today...it's when Jeremy, Jemima, Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious are at the seaside having a picnic. Caractacus and Truly are off by themselves near Chitty, having a conversation, while Jeremy and Jemima are playing on the rocks. Jeremy is watching his dad talk to Truly.

JEMIMA: Jeremy, it isn't nice to peep!

JEREMY: I'm not peeping, I'm looking!

JEMIMA: Do you think they're going to get married?

JEREMY: I don't know.

JEMIMA: Has he kissed her yet? Because once he kisses her, then they'll just have to get married!

KID IN MY CLASS: Well, that's just about enough of that subject!

Did I ever mention I love 2nd graders? I wanted to tell them that was a great philosophy and remember it when they get to middle and high school. Sigh. Out of the mouths of babes...

NYC---Here I come!

It's official: I will be spending the big 3-0 in NYC!!! The tickets are booked, the hotel is reserved and we take off on December 19th!!! Mandy and I will fly into New York on Friday night and I'll wake up in one of my favorite cities on my birthday! We'll shop till we drop on Saturday and then head to Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night for the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular!!! I'm hoping to get to eat at my favorite NY retaurant...Serendipity iii...while we're there too! More info to come! YAY!!!!!!

Mountains...

Last weekend I went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for about 18 hours. Because of People to People interviews, and because of being tired from Lighthouse, Mandy and I headed up Saturday afternoon to meet Gina and Susan. It was beautiful. How about the name of Gina's parents' cabin? "Autumn Bearadise!" Love it!

The Lighthouse

Come on over, come on down

Come on in to the Lighthouse...

My time this last week at the Lighthouse Family Retreat in Watercolor, FL was just beyond words. It was such an amazing time to serve these 9, wonderful families who had a child who has cancer. One of the families even had a dad who had a brain tumor, and just as they were getting through that treatment, they found out that their 4-year-old daughter had Wilm's Tumor, a cancer in the kidneys. How do families manage such a traumatic, life-changing event?
The Lighthouse Family Retreat provides a place of refuge for families who have become disconnected and overwhelmed by the way cancer has affected them. I learned this week that cancer doesn't just affect the person with the diagnosis; it affects every member of the family...from the relationship between Mom and Dad, to the teenage siblings of the sick child.

Kids react to cancer differently than adults. Grown-ups tend to automatically view this disease as a life sentence. But kids are resilient. One of our moms told me that when her 10-year-old daughter found out she had osteosarcoma (bone cancer), she just looked at her mom and said, "Okay, what do we do next?" Some of the kids are back in treatment for a second round because they have relapsed. The kids' attitudes towards life really left me in awe and in silent recognition that every day counts and I really don't have a lot to complain about!
For many of our families this week, it was the first time Mom and Dad had been on a date or done anything without their children. And kids got to be kids...playing in the pool, at the beach, making Haunted Houses, and watching movies. We had a great time connecting with the kids while Eleanor and Buck Barber facilitated the group for parents each morning during a time called Flip Flop. It was here that parents were able to share their family's story with each other and encourage and support one another. Though our families were from all over the US...Texas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida and Georgia...connections of the heart were made forever.

Thank you for all of you who supported me in this endeavor, and the families would tell you the same thing. One mom has already blogged on her son's site that this was the first time in a long while that she's been able to really relax...her housework/laundry and cooking was done for her and she was really able to let go and enjoy her husband and children. I think that is just SO awesome. Jesus is in the business of connecting people and caring for them, and the families were really able to see that this week.

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures!

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

I cannot take credit for this stroke of brilliance. My coworker, D, did this a couple of years ago and I just found it on my computer. She went around asking kids at my school to finish the popular "addage" with their own words. The results crack me up! The addage is in black, and the children's responses follow in red. Enjoy!

1. Don't change horses there are shiny things on their paws.
2. Strike while the ball is moving.
3. It's always darkest before lightest.
4. Better late than early!
5. You can lead a horse to water but you can go in the forest by yourself.
6. Don't bite the hand that hurts!
7. No news is no fun.
8. A miss is as good as a Mrs.
9. You can't teach an old dog to swim.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll be sleepy.
11. Love all, trust all.
12. The pen is mightier than the pencil.
13. An idle mind is a statue.
14. Where there's smoke there's . . . Smoke!
15. Happy the bride who dances.
16. A penny saved is money
17. Two's company, three's a party!!!
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what is done already.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and whine.
20. There are none so blind as mice.
21. Children should be seen and not loud. (AMEN!)
22. If at first you don't succeed you seek.
23. You get out of something only what you get in.
24. When the blind lead the blind they get lost.


Out of the mouth of babes. . .

25. Never underestimate the power of God.

Lighthouse Family Retreat

Hello Friends and Family!

Can you imagine hearing the doctor say, "I'm sorry, your child has cancer." Can you imagine watching your child go bald, getting stared at, or being treated unkindly? Can you imagine the weariness of sleepless nights, hospital smells, losing control of your world?

Can you imagine living in unspeakable anger or just wondering, "Why?" Can you imagine your family growing apart?

Now just imagine a place of retreat.

Imagine a place where the warm sun, rolling waves and ocean breezes rejuvenate you, where the sunset brings peace to your soul. Imagine a place where you and your children can laugh and play together, where family relationships are restored, where caring friends walk beside you. Imagine a place where volunteers serve you willingly and joyfully, a place where the staff understands your child's needs. Imagine a place where the spirit of God resides to heal and restore, a place of comfort and encouragement.

Just imagine...

I wanted to share with all of you an exciting service opportunity that I have decided to be a part of called the Lighthouse Family Retreat. From October 14-19 I will be heading to Watercolor, FL to take part in the Lighthouse Family Retreat as a volunteer. Some of you may have heard of the Lighthouse before, but for those who have not, let me tell you a little bit about it.

Lighthouse was founded by Melinda Mayton, a pediatric oncology nurse. Melinda felt there should be a place of retreat for families who have a child going through treatments for cancer. Every year, Melinda and her team host a series of 10 family retreats at donated beach houses and condos at various beaches on the gulf. The idea is to give families a break from the disease...the h ospital visits, the chemo treatments, and the feeling of being "different..." and a time of reconnecting with one another free of cost. Volunteers serve families during the week and help facilitate activites such as a spa day for the moms, parents' date night out, a talent show, beach olympics, a movie night, and family style meals every day. We also do all the laundry for families and help them with whatever they could possibly need or want during the time they spend at Lighthouse. There are also times of counseling with the parents sharing their stories, and kids and siblings connecting during a time of play and crafts in the mornings. Each Lighthouse family brings their entire immediate family...Mom, Dad and siblings.

The week is sure to be an amazing experience and one that I will not soon forget. In order to make this cost-free f or families, every volunteer is asked to raise $750 to cover the cost of food and other materials. If you would like to partner with me as I go and serve at the Lighthouse, you can make checks out to the Lighthouse Family Retreat and send them to me here at home (Autumn Ginn, 6520 Roswell Road #94, Atlanta, GA 30328). I'd love for you to learn more by visiting the Lighthouse website here:

http://www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org

I hope you are having a blessed fall and that I can see you all very soon!!!

Love,
Autumn ><>

Let's Sing!

Kids at the Pre-School in Ngaamba singing the Family Members song sung to the tune of "Freres Jaques." The little girl up front in the pink sweater is Sophie, and she was just my absolute favorite!!! The lyrics are:

Family members, family members
In our home, in our home
Father, mother, brother, father, mother, brother
Sister and baby, sister and baby.



This is our same little Pre-School class learning the words and actions to "How Great is Our God." It's my voice and Robyn singing, and Robyn leading actions.



These are students at Itumbule Primary School led by Phoebe. The little soloist is a girl on the lefthand side kind of in the middle-ish row called Cynthia. She has a great voice. The song lyrics mean:

Some people say that Jesus is dead
But I say He is alive because I can feel him
In my head, my chest, my back,
My heart, my legs, ears, feet, etc.

Kind of looks like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" doesn't it? I think every school child in Kenya must know this song! Yay!

Memories of Kenya

Gosh I miss this place!!! Hope you can enjoy some of these pics until I can get a better gallery going!!! Thanks for checking them out!

The team on the way to the airport!

Isn't she beautiful?

Teaching at the Pre-School...45 students, 3 teachers, 1 room. Wow!

School room at Itumbule Primary. These guys hadn't finished their work so they couldn't go out to play yet. They were cute and funny, but I told them to hurry up and finish!

Busy workers at the Pre-School where I had the chance to teach

Me with Sophie and Mary, a teacher at the Pre-School

Sunset at Amboseli National Park

Highlights from School

So as many of you know, this is the first week "back to school" for my county. I thought I'd share a few humorous moments thus far...

A Kindergartner on their first day at music: "Bye Miss Grin!"

A 5th Grader to his teacher while seeing the ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) schedule posted on the board: "Ms. McGowan, what's an SOL teacher?"

Sigh. Never a dull moment!

Just the Beginning...

Just the beginning of the treasures I will share from my trip to Kenya. This is the kids at the Havilla Children's Home doing a performance for us. Man I loved those faces. I wanted to stay there all week. The girl in front in the red shirt singing the solo is Gladys. She's truly a leader, and a gift from God. I saw this girl in the kitchen making chapatis for everyone as well as leading in worship. I hope you enjoy this song! It rocks my face off!

God Speaking

Last weekend, Mandy and I went to the Beth Moore "Deeper Still" conference at Philips arena. Former American Idol contestant, Mandisa, was one of the featured worship leaders, and she sang this song that is off her new album. She talked of her struggles with a food addiction, and how God is working her through all of that. I was really impressed and touched by what she had to say. Check out this song she sings, called "God Speaking." I think you'll really appreciate it too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZI2gOBvBHk

Queen of Clean

As a little break in my otherwise serious blog, I would like to take a moment to award this year's Queen of Clean medal to my friend Sarah*!

I thought I was thorough when it came to cleaning my house. I vacuum, dust, swiffer, and windex things often...but little did I know I was only in the junior league.

I have, for the past hour, watched my friend clean her bathroom, including vacuuming the toilet seat cover and wiping down every cabinet door and closet door. I have watched her use Windex on every mirror in the house, and every framed picture. I have watched her dust. Currently, she is vacuuming around me.

One thing is alarmingly clear: I am no longer holding the title of Queen of Clean.

My mother will be pleased that I have a new, clean friend. I think even she could walk through this house right now with a white glove and find absolutely nothing.

Wow. I think I have to go home and do dusting or something...

*Name has been changed to protect the innocent/embarassed.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro, arguably the tallest mountain in the world, is definitely the tallest peak on the entire continent of Africa. It's located in a small corner of Tanzania, but is visible from Kenya. Only three weeks from yesterday I will be boarding the first of two flights totaling over 17 hours to set foot on the soil of this beautiful continent. But it's not really about the mountain that I may see from a distance. It's really about something far more personal. Something more like this:Need I say more?

Cardboard Testimony

Seriously, check out this video on YouTube. It's really moving. I know it moved me. I decided mine would read:

"Perfect Prideful Life...Proud of My Perfect Savior."

What would your Cardboard Testimony be? Leave me a comment if you'd like to share...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

Backsplash!!!

Kathy and I spent 6 hours doing this yesterday, and it looks AWESOME! Of course we still need to grout, but you have to let it sit 24-48 hours, so maybe we'll get to that one day next week! Then David has the trim to finish up and the kitchen will be DONE!!! I will save for appliances later...next projects will be the sliding glass door in the kitchen, venting the dryer and the upstairs bathroom. Yay!!!

The Kite Runner

Every so often, I see a film that changes me inside. Something happens to me as I watch it, and I consider things I have not considered before. Suddenly, my picture-perfect image of the world disappears and I am not the same. It happened to me when I watched Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond.

Tonight the film was The Kite Runner. It is based on the book of the same name by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author based in California. I hear the book is even more amazing, and plan to now read the follow-up novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, now being adapted to film as well.

If you'd like to read a non-spoiler synopsis of the story, click here http://www.khaledhosseini.com/hosseini-books-kiterunner.html

Otherwise, run, don't walk to your nearest Blockbuster and get this film. Seriously. Check it out.

Pastimes...

Once again, I am intrigued by the social graces of Jane Austen. Tonight, as I was watching Emma, with my cousin and another friend, I couldn't help but marvel at the supreme politeness with which everyone treated one another. See examples below:

Mr. Knightley: Emma, you didn't ask me to contribute a riddle.
Emma: Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightley. I thought you overqualified.

~~~

Emma: Was he handsome?
Jane: Many say he is.
Emma: Was he agreeable?
Jane: He was in no way disagreeable.
Emma: Was he a man of information?
Jane: All his statements seem correct.
~~~
Emma Woodhouse: One does not like to generalize about so many people all at once, Mr. Knightley, but you may be sure that men know nothing about their hearts, whether they be six-and-twenty, or six-and-eighty.
~~~
Mr. Knightley: Marry me. Marry me, my wonderful, darling friend.

Man, gotta love you some Jane Austen.

Diagnosis!

Would you believe that I am SOOO special that I am one in 130,000 people who have this particular adverse reaction to the Yellow Fever immunization? Oh yes! Lucky me!

After seeing my allergist again today, and later spending over an hour and a half with the infectious disease specialist, we have pretty much determined with 99% certainty that my rash/hives is an allergic reaction to the shot I got last Wednesday for yellow fever.

I am on four different antihistimines and anti-itch meds and have been advised to NEVER under any circumstance get this vaccination ever again. Or the flu shot.

Lovely!

Praise God that we figured it out. Now I have to sit and wait. And sadly, I will not be traveling with People to People to the UK & Ireland this year. I'm really disappointed about that, but I know it's best for my delegation and also best for my health. Learning to relax and rest are things I need to work on, so God will be giving me lessons in patience over the next few weeks. The great news is that I will be able to spend quality time with friends and family, and for the first time in 3 summers, I'll be able to celebrate both my Dad's birthday and Father's Day here in the states. This is a great thing!

The other positive is that it's highly likely that I'll be well by the time I'm to travel to Kenya in 6 weeks time. I will now have more time to get to know my team better and prepare for that 17-hour long journey to Nairobi. Had I gotten the vaccination after my People to People trip, it would surely have disabled me from participating in this trip, which is ultimately serving God's people and purpose in Africa, something I've longed to do for a long time.

Praise God for amazing doctors and modern medicine! I'm so thankful for my clever nurse friends and my caring friends who keep checking in on me. For now, I'm awaiting the arrival of my cousin who has offered to bring me dinner from Doc Chey's (sans the eggs!) and looking forward to some chill time with her!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7 (New International Version)

Whey to Go

My friend Heather pointed this article out to me and it's
borderline hysterical. Pay particular attention to the name of
the girl mentioned toward the latter half of the article!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080526/od_afp/entertainmentbritaincheeseoffbeat

Enjoy!

One Another

This week I listened to a podcast from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. Many of you will recognize that this is the home church of Francis Chan. The message was entitled, "A New Attitude Towards People." He talks about how in our society today we have such an autonomy, such pride in independence from each other. We like to do things on our own without the help of others. Interestingly, this is a phenomenon mostly seen in cultures with plenty of financial resources. I was just researching some cultural background for my trip to Kenya, and basically everything pointed to interdependence between the family and community.

Francis mentioned many scriptures that point towards exactly the opposite of autonomy. Take a look:

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Live in harmony with one another." Romans 12:16

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Romans 15:7

"Agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10

"Serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

"Bear with each another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." Colossians 3:13

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

"But encourage one another daily..." Hebrews 3:13

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

"Love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." 1 John 3:11

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:11

And that is only the beginning!! Clearly God desires for us to live in community and care for one another. He is not interested in our individual accomplishments, but rather the spurring on of relationships dependent upon Him. After all, if I can indeed do it all on my own, then what need have I for the Father? A relationship with Christ is one of interdependence. As the grass depends on the rain for nourishment, so I must depend upon God for my spiritual feeding. And much of that comes from my interactions with other people.

Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends. Czech Proverb

Fearless Leaders!

Let me introduce you to Amanda, Ben and Heather! These wonderful people are my travel buddies for our People to People adventure 2008! In just 18 days, we will be departing for the U.K. and Ireland for a 3 week tour, including a home stay outside Dublin, with 41 seventh and eighth graders! Are we crazy?! Yes!!! Today was our delegation picnic social and we had the best time. It was a pot luck with lots of fried chicken and congealed salads. Yum! The kids played in the creek and had hay rides on Ben's farm and we all enjoyed talking about the upcoming trip. One dad even decided to bring along his bagpipes to get us in the right mood (see below!)
All in all, we had a great afternoon. God is good! On June 5th, our adventure begins!!!

Willy Wonka!

I am so proud of my very talented students! We got through Willy Wonka with flair and now I can breathe a sigh of relief! SIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHH!!!

This Friday is our cast party and I'm excited about that. I'm getting together little goody bags for the kids. I was interested to discover at Party City today that they are now called, "Loot Bags." What's with that? Are we all pirates? Hmm...

Oompa-loompa Doompa-ty doo
I've got a final puzzle for you
Oompa-loompa Doompa-ty dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me.

There is a problem with lots of our youth
Not everybody likes telling the truth
Telling the truth starts a beautiful buzz
Isn't it nice when someone does?
It could be contagious!

Faith

LUKE 5 (The Message)
12 One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."

13 Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

Andy talked about this today at church and before he said it, I was thinking that this very short little blurb from the gospels really is the picture of all of our conversion stories. The NIV version has the leper saying, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," with Jesus responding, "I am willing."

Isn't that just the heart of the matter? Jesus is willing to change us both inside and out. In those days, leprosy was seen as a horrible skin disease, of course originating inside the body. Not only was the man in this story healed emotionally (inwardly), but experienced an obvious change outwardly in the physical sense. Jesus changed him tangibly that day in just a matter of moments. He can do the same for us when we place our faith in him. I know this is oversimplifying things, but sometimes it's the simplest things that can be so meaningful.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
~Saint Augustine

His Commands are not burdensome...

These are some verses I've been digging into lately. They are all about a simple truth: If you love God, you obey what he says to do. Simple as that. Not rocket science. Now the trick is being familiar enough with his Word that I know what it is he wants me to do. Easier said than done, but a challenge I'm up for!

John 14:15 (NIV)
"If you love me, you will obey what I command."

1 John 2:3 (NIV)
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands."

Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

1 John 5:2-3 (NIV)
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Gosh, that's some good stuff, isn't it?

Teachers Needed!

Anybody ever want to live and teach abroad? My friends Sarah and Glenn Stallsmith have lived and worked as ethnomusicologists in the Phillipines with Wycliffe Bible Translators for several years now. I have just received the following e-mail from them:

By the way, do you have any teacher friends who want to spend a year in the Philippines ???? We need one elementary teacher (4^th/5^th) and one Jr.High teacher (7^th/8^th) here at our little center school.Spread the word!

If you know anyone who is a Christian and would like to teach abroad, let me know! The area is called Bugabog and is outside of Manila. I can get more info as needed.

10 Random Facts

For your entertainment, here are 10 random facts about me. My roommate did this a few months ago, and so I'm going to follow suit. Those who know me well may know a few of these tidbits, but I've tried to put in some more interesting, lesser-known facts too! Hope you enjoy!

1. My father is a professional magician and writer. And yes, I did say MAGICIAN, not musician. He does, however, play the guitar very occasionally and sings all the time in the car. Dad performs around 400 educational school magic programs each year and has written around 80 books on entertaining and educating children through magic. He also travels around the world lecturing on magic and selling magical props, books, and other resources. Don't believe me? Check out his website: www.ginnmagic.com

2. I really love travel bags and accessories. Meaning, I like backpacks, magazine bags, any kind of travel bag really. And other travel accessories like Nalgene bottles, packing cubes, etc. I have to remind myself that I do not need a new bag for each trip. The Eddie Bauer backpack from Target has lasted me through Australia, France and all over the U.K. so far!

3. I have a need to be clean. If you know me at all, you are probably rolling your eyes or nodding your head until it nearly falls off. But see, when I was a kid, I played in the creek behind my house and made mud pies. This is shocking because I used to run around and get sweaty and dirty, but now, not so much. I used to catch salamanders, but Mom would never let me keep them. I clean my house...often. I enjoy purchasing cleaning products. I think I get this from my Mom. However, through the kitchen renovation, God has brought me to a new places where now "clean" doesn't have to mean "perfect." I've let it go a lot. I'm a work in progress.

4. I love HGTV and TLC. My roommate can attest to this. I actually really enjoy watching the real estate and home makeover shows. And What Not to Wear. Classic.

5. I have a degree in music but I can't really play the piano much. Yes, it's true. I took piano lessons from grade 2, but after I got the basics, I think I lost interest. I can practice and play things okay, but honestly, I prefer not to!

6. I used to want to be a writer. Except all my stories were lame and had the same plot. They were about big families with cleverly named children who lived in houses like the one in Father of the Bride on the perfect street in the perfect neighborhood. I think they were about that because I was an only child and I had a small family and lived in a normal-sized house. I also used to want to train whales like at Sea World. But then I realized you had to know a lot about science to do that, and I don't really dig science too much...

7. My love languages are Quality Time and Physical Touch. So basically I love getting hugs and hanging out. I love being around people. I love talking and listening to people. I thrive on activities with others. I'm not a loner.

8. Somewhere inside me, I honestly wish that life worked out like most romantic comedies or Broadway musicals. I mean, to have your life depicted through song and enjoy the sappy, amazing ending? Come on. We all want that, right?

9. I have terrible stage fright. Now don't get me wrong. I can sing on stage, mike in hand, no problem. But as far as acting, or talking on stage...it freaks me out. I was only in one musical in high school and I was in the "ensemble," which is a fancy word for "background chorus." It's a weird phenomenon. When I was a child, I was often given speaking parts in our church and school plays, and even played the lead in a version of A Christmas Carol. I could memorize anything. The problem now is that I realize that I might forget my lines, and people may actually laugh at me. Can't bear that.

10. The first songs I ever learned to sing (in the car with my Dad, no doubt) were Mr. Robato by Styx and De Do Do Do De Da Da Da by The Police. That's where my music education really began.

All in a Day's Work...

This afternoon a 3rd grader and I have the
following conversation:

HER: Did you know that Christmas is
Jesus' birthday?

ME:  Yes, I did.

HER:  I'm not sure when God's birthday is. I was
supposed to ask my Mom. But I think it's probably
on Valentine's Day.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Things I Used to Believe about God

This weekend was Passion Regionals in Atlanta and I had the opportunity to volunteer. It was an amazing weekend of renewal mixed with personal challenge. Speakers included Louie Giglio and Francis Chan and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall and David Crowder. God was certainly glorified!

So today I started reading Francis's new book, Crazy Love, which I picked up at the conference. I've only read the first chapter, and already I'm starting to remember the untruths I believed about God, Christians and the Church when I was growing up. I'm not blaming my church; without them I wouldn't have necessarily experienced the fundamentals that I now take for granted (I'm learning that over and over, and repenting for it!). Don't get me wrong; my parents never taught me these things overtly, nor did the church. However, here are the top 5 myths about God, Christians and the Church that I came up with:

1. God is big and powerful, and he lives up in Heaven, but is somewhat disconnected from us.

2. To be a Christian, there are all kinds of rules to follow, most of which involve a long list of things not to do.

3. Church is where Christians go on Sunday and if you don't go, you'd better be hospitalized or gravely ill.

4. Don't hang around people who don't go to church because they will be a bad influence on you.

5. Worship = Hymns (verses 1, 2 and 4) or Latin Songs that nobody understands.

Now this may all seem absurd to some of you, but how many of us are still living as if these "myths" are reality? For example, how many of us have meaningful relationships with people who aren't believers? Or how many feel that God takes attendance at church every Sunday and if you're not there, you'll be punished? And I'd venture to say that lots of believers say that they have a relationship with God, but still feel at times, really disconnected from Him.

I'm confessing now with a repentant heart that I do not believe these lies anymore. God is very near to my heart now, and having a relationship with Him isn't about what NOT to do, but rather how to ENJOY His love and all He can do through me. I missed church today, but still had fellowship with Him and other believers. I am intentional in developing relationships with those who don't yet know the love of Christ. And I know worship can involve singing, clapping, jumping (as demonstrated by the students at Passion!), or...watch out now...raising your hands! Who would have known?!

Psalm 100 (The Message)

A Thanksgiving Psalm

1-2 On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.

3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

4 Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

5 For God is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.

Granite...finally!

New granite worktops installed! Yay!
And here's the undermount sink from eBay...just about $100! What a deal!

I Heart Goat Cheese!

I got this from Kathy and I really enjoy it. I've even made it for small group. So I thought I'd share! Hope you like it!


Chavrie & Pesto Dip

Take one package of Chavrie (spreadable goat cheese) and empty the entire contents onto a regular dinner plate. Spread it out around the plate to fill the base of the plate.
Next, take your pesto and empty the contents on top of the chavrie, spreading it out evenly to cover the chavrie.
Surround the entire mixture with Stacy's Pita Chips or Wheat Thins as desired. It's a great h'ors d'veure that not lots of people make. It's a perfect mix of smooth and crunchy! Enjoy!

PS: I've included pictures of the products so you can find them. The pesto is usually on the pasta aisle; the chavrie is with the hummus and exotic cheeses.

Classic Shiloh

The health teacher sent this out to our staff saying, "How would you grade this?" It made me laugh out loud. Just another fun day at Shiloh...

TEST QUESTION: Name 2 foods in the meat group.
ANSWER: pork and chitlins

Wow. Good times, good times...

Easter Pictures

Kathy & me with our new Easter haircuts!

With Mom & Dad (and Harry the bunny)

Dad, Mom & Harry

Pseudo-family...us with Spencer & Sydney

Big shock: Dad does an impromptu show with Easter Eggs as props!