Life in Stumptown

It’s been a busy weekend! Friday night was Charity’s rehearsal dinner, which I attended with my date for the weekend — Laura!

These were the groomsmen’s gifts…4/26/08 is their wedding day! Charity got me the cutest stationary stuff…it’s purple and yellow with polka dots and an “A.” We all know I’m a sucker for stationary. It was really sweet of her to get that for me.

After that, Elena and Jacob came over to play the Wii. I’m hooked. Guitar hero is fun, but I just can’t get enough of that game where you ride a cow and knock over scarecrows. Bizarre, I know. But, it is just so much fun. Anyhow, we’re officially in Emily’s army now. You can make little Wii characters and choose all of their features — face shape, eyes, eyebrows, etc. etc. And it’s very detailed with size, shape, location, etc. Emily likes to have one for everyone who plays and then she likes to press the “whistle” button, round them up, and call them her army. Oh, Emily! I made one for Dad too. I understand that he will never play the Wii. But, these little cartoons really resemble the person they are made to, and I just couldn’t resist making a little bald man in a pink shirt named Myron!

I got up early on Saturday. I had a little bit of quiet time on the porch swing before I got caught up in the busy-ness of the day. I had to leave by 10:15 to pick up a picture at Cord for the reception and then get to the church by 11:00. I took pictures of the girls getting ready and was stationed at the guest book by 1:00. The wedding was beautiful! Everything came together so nicely. They had live music (a flautist and a guitarist), red Gerber daisies, and the reception was so elegant. I saw my friend Ally there…she caters at the  Makoy Center where it was housed.  Oh, and I got through my reading without tripping, choking, etc. After the reception, everyone changed and headed to Dave and Buster’s for the evening. Charity’s mom was amazing and treated everyone to dinner and a game card! I was so excited to play Dance Dance Revolution, but there was this guy on it the entire time. He was quite the DDR extraordinare. He had worked up a sweat, but that didn’t seem to bother him since he brought his own towel. My theory is that he comes here instead of the gym. Everytime I checked back a different crowd of people had gathered, making DDR a spectator sport and probably wondering why this guy wouldn’t get off the game and let someone else play. Anyhow…Laura and I had a chance eventually. He stepped off to take a break and Laura boldly asked if we could have a turn. It was all very strange and defied multiple social norms. Here’s some pictures of the wedding. I apologize for the format. WordPress is doing weird things and I’m too frustrated to spend more time attempting to figure it out. Also, the one’s of the little girl are the flower girl getting really excited about her present. And the bridesmaid’s presents are in there too maybe, I can’t remember now.

This morning, I went to church.  We talked about faith and Hebrews 11.  All of these great men of the Bible (Abraham, Noah, etc.) took these great acts of faith.  They did things that required them to believe that which they did not see.  They were commended, but did not always get what they were promised before they died.  That is because our promised inheritance is not for this world.  But, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t expected to aim for it (it being whatever goal God sets out for us).  The pastor talked about how people who have faith take risks and do what God is calling us to do no matter the cost.  I took the word “cost” literally because that is what has been on my heart lately.

Is God really calling me to go to Columbia?  All of the details haven’t been filled in yet.  I’m still waiting to hear about the rest of my financial aid.  My brother has talked to me about the serious debt that I will incur and is it something I want to take on.  Will I need the expensive education if my life changes in a few years and I become a stay at home mom?  That forces me to think about other things.  I so badly want a family and children.  If and when I do get married and have kids, I would love to stay at home with them.  I don’t want other people raising my children.  I don’t want to have to send them to daycare.  But, I also really want and feel called to be a social worker.  I want to do both.  It’s not that I want to climb the corporate ladder or want the career, I just want to reach people, impact lives, and show God’s love by being a social worker.

I guess it comes down to the fact that I don’t know what’s going to happen.  I can’t live my life waiting to meet a husband and have kids.  I think that when God calls us to do something, He wants us to do it to the best of our ability.  I’ve been given an amazing opportunity to get an education at a world class school.  Perhaps this means I will struggle financially, but I don’t think God will ever fail to provide.  Jenn has caused me to consider that maybe God isn’t going to give me all of the money now, because He wants me to trust Him that He will provide.

I’ve been continually trying to seek His will on this, because I don’t want to get myself into a bad situation.  It’s hard to discern though.  I feel that mix of calling to go and apprehension too.  But, I think that apprehension is found in the tasks that God calls us to do, not because we are capable on our own, but because He will reveal His glory to us in the way He weaves the details in the process.

Anyhow, in church today, the pastor asked us to write down something that we would do for God.  Something that requires faith, something we would do no matter what the cost, something that would be a risk, something that takes courage.  I wrote down Columbia.

After church and childcare, I went to Inniswood for a photo shoot.  Beckett, a little one year old!  We had a great time.  The couple heard about me through a “Mom’s Club,” that my neighbor is part of.  They just moved here from Northwest Indiana and wanted some candid pics of Beckett to mark his one year milestone.  The mom used to be a social worker!  Then I went to the grocery and came home to take a Sunday afternoon nap, which was glorious and much needed!  I read my book on the porch swing for a while, made some dinner, and have caught up with Jenn, Bethany, and Elena   I’m looking forward to a short week and a little jet setting on Thursday

I am loving flex time!  It’s this thing we can do at work where we can balance out our time to make it forty hours.  For example, I worked until 8:00 on Wednesday and 6:00 on Thursday.  Therefore, I’m not going in until 1:00 today.  So, that means I got to have a fun Thursday night like when I was in college!  I came home last night and got so much done.  I cleaned a little bit, painted my nails, researched stuff to do in Portland, watched Grey’s Anatomy (first night back on!), and then got ready.  Elena and I went to Spice Bar (our favorite), Park Street Tavern, and Mac’s.  The first two are downtown and the third is in the Short North.  We had to walk a bit.  It was odd though.  Elena and I were walking barefoot down High Street, while pondering who thought the high heal was a good idea, and we felt completely safe.  I told her I almost had that West Chester feeling.  She said she was familiar with that being raised in the ghetto and all, but could understand.  Anyhow, I’m going to miss Columbus.  So, I’m newly in love with Park Street.  It’s this cute little bar that reminded us both of this hole in the wall pub we found in NYC.  It had live music, just a guitarist and drums, and they were playing lots of covers from the 90s.  It was pretty empty.  We loved it!

I got to sleep in until 10:30 this morning.  I’m going to make sure I have things ready for Charity’s rehearsal dinner tonight because Laura and I need to leave for that pretty much when we get home.  I have to go because I’m doing the reading at the ceremony and I’m making Laura tag along so I know someone.  Also, I am the official host for Wedding Jeopardy, a game Charity and I made to play tonight about her and her fiance.  And, of course, I told her I’d snap a few pictures too

First things first. You all need to click on my link to Renee’s blog and see how cute my nephews are. They’re the stars of a movie about oatmeal and rockets

Anyhow, I can’t even seem to remember this morning. It has been a long day! I had lots of visits, so that was nice, because the weather is still beautiful. I worked until 8:00. That’s why it has been such a long day. But, after work, Laura and I decided to test out Emily’s Wii. I’m hooked. Rob and his brother came over and we played Guitar Hero. Looove it!!! I also love the game where you’re a cowboy and you run and try to jump over things and hit scarecrows. I feel the need to do this with my whole body, not just the controller. I still manage to curb the fence most of the time. The fence is the very edge of the screen…not just the very edge of the trail I’m supposed to be staying on. Some of you might remember playing Mario Cart with me…it’s a fairly similar outcome. I was Alice the Asian Cowgirl and Laura was the Sccczz. It’s a wonderful game and I’m very excited that we have it until June 22nd. That is when Emily gets married and takes it with her. Hmmm…I wonder if we can keep it through the Honeymoon…

We had such beautiful weather today! I love doing casework on days like today. I was out all afternoon enjoying it! When I got to my first visit, foster mom was outside with the baby on the porch. So, we sat out there and had our meeting. Then I got to spend my usual two hours on Tuesday with my favorite kid. Even when she’s grumpy I love her. She’s 14 and has an attitude. I would too if I’ve experienced the things she has. She has a comment about everything. But, she’s so smart. I really want to see her use her potential. She writes poems about what it’s like for her to be black and to have a “third shifter” for a mom. I’ll let you figure out what that one means Anyhow, she lets me copy all of her poems because she knows I think she’s great. She was pretty quiet today, but I just always love my job when I’m with her. And my last family was outside when I got there too. So, just stayed outside, talked, and the three girls showed me cheers and did gymnastics. They’re a handful. Everyone calls them bad, little girls. It’s sad. They’re not bad; they just have a messed up mom, who I actually love a whole lot, who doesn’t know how to parent and they were all drug exposed in utero. They’re really sweet and smart. They just have a lot of boundary/attachment issues and act out, often. I didn’t stay for long tonight, so I told them that next month I’ll bring nail polish and we’ll talk over manicures.

After work, Laura and I went to pick up Charity’s wedding present The big day is this weekend! And then we watched dinner over FRIENDS. It’s a usual for us and always makes me happy. I’m going to miss our evenings together next year. And now I’m off to Zumba and then home to a phone date with my brother. He’s going to give me big brotherly advice on how to prepare for NYC, at my request!

So, if you know me at all, you know I really love the feeling of productivity.  This is both a curse and a blessing.  I feel good about all of the things I would like to do in life, but sometimes I should just relax and not try to take on so much.  This weekend, however, was both extremely productive and relaxing!  I edited photos all day on Saturday.  I used that new Lightroom program, so it took a while because I was learning.  I like the program a lot.  I took my time though so I enjoyed it and took breaks and stuff.  Plus, She’s All That was on TV.  Remember that Freddie Prince Jr. movie from circa 1999?  Laura and I watched that, Sixteen Candles, and Juno.  Quite the Saturday night line up, huh?

On Sunday, I woke up at 8:00 for church.  But, I had been in such a deep sleep and since I had been lacking sleep all week from the Justice Revival at the Vineyard and my inability to sleep in on Saturday, I decided to go back to bed.  I woke up around 10:15 feeling much more rested.  I grabbed some oatmeal and came back to bed and finished Blue Like Jazz.  If you haven’t read it, I highly suggest it.  I think it was even better the second time through!

After that I grabbed a shower and some lunch and headed to Crimson Cup.  It’s a local coffee shop in Clintonville.  I started going through some Columbia stuff.  I made a checklist to move to New York.  I’m going to go through it with my brother tomorrow night.  I got my field experience application done.  And after that, I decided I needed a break.  So, I headed to the grocery.  Then, I went to Panera to get back to work over dinner.  I read the news on NPR for a while.  I’ve decided I need to be more educated about the world and what’s happening in it if I plan to pursue this Columbia thing   Then, I made a contract for photography that I plan to use at each photo shoot.  I’m going to call the lawyers at work (we get 30 hours of free legal advice per our benefit plan) and see if this is a covered service.  I also made an excel spreadsheet with all of my clients so far.  Caught up on email, confirmed some photo shoots, etc.

I don’t think my ducks are in a row yet, but they are definitely in a more organized formation

I even had time to start my new book: The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne.  I think I’m definitely accomplishing my goal to read more!

Today was a good day at work.  I’m caught up lately, but I know it’s only a matter of time until I’m trying to stay above water.  We went out to lunch at El Vaquero to celebrate Charity’s last day, which is actually tomorrow.  I got fajitas and had them for both lunch and dinner!  Charity bought Maggie and me staplers.  I know that sounds lame, but it’s so not!  It’s the best stapler ever!  I’m really not going to get into it though…it just can’t be explained with words.

You’d think I’d have more to say about work, but I really never do.  I would rather come home and not think about it.  Plus, I figure it’s not the best idea to start writing online about it.  So, we’ll limit the work commentary to stapler anecdotes.

I went to the gym and had an excellent workout!  I also went to the thrift store next to the gym.  I think my gym costs me more like $20 bucks a month instead of $10 because it is so conveniently located next to the thrift store.  I bought a green skirt that I think can also be a dress and an ivory camisole.  $5.00 total.  I’m such a sucker.

Anyhow, that’s about it for now.  I’m really sorry if I just bored you with the day’s events, but thanks for reading!

I’m starting to feel better about Columbia.  I finally got a hold of someone on Friday.  A really rude person in admissions passed me onto a really nice person in admissions who called me back in a matter of minutes.  She gave me her direct line and answered all of my questions.  She also said she is unsure why I haven’t received my fin. aid info because their records said it had been sent.  So, she emailed me scholarship and work study info and said she would put loan/grant stuff in the mail that day.  This is what I learned:

I’m high priority for housing, so I shouldn’t worry.  I should find out by the end of May.  If I am unable to get a furnished place, they do a massive trip to IKEA with one massive delivery which cuts costs.

Work study is done through internships rather than having to have a campus job.  That’s a blessing because the program is rigorous since it’s class + field experience in one year.

They are giving me a $6,000 scholarship.  That scared me at first because it seems tiny.  Then I looked up scholarship info on the website and it said they range from $2,000-$8,000.  So, I’m on the higher end.

I am getting $4,410 in work study.  That also scared me, but on the website it says work study is offered at a max of $4,400.  So, I’m at the highest end.

Thus, my reasoning and my HOPE: when I get my grant and loan information, hopefully I will be on the high end of those too.  So, I will patiently await for next week’s mail.

I’m going to make a list of things I need to get figured out this weekend.  Like, if I don’t have a car, how will I stay insured?  Should I keep it?  Or should I sell it?  Etc.

I went to the Justice Revival Thursday and Friday nights.  It was a cool thing, not what I expected, but a cool thing.  The best part was getting to know Heather.  I love making new friends.  It’s such a shame to meet such a cool girl when I’m about to move, but perhaps we’ll be able to stay in touch.  We went to Stauff’s last night after church and ran into Mike and Emily!  It was the best surprise.  I love it when you merge your friends and feel confident that it will go well personality-wise.  Examples: The Jenn + Elena combo, Emily + anyone.  Heather reminds me so much of my friend Lauren from high school.  I wonder if we friend similar people throughout life.  I wonder if the word “friend” has become a verb since the onset of facebook.

Anyhow, please note it is early on a Saturday morning.  I went to bed at 1:00 with great dreams of sleeping in.  I woke up at 7:45 and have been up since.  What is wrong with me?  Perhaps I’ll nap later.  Today should be good.  I’m thankful that my photoshoot got postponed.  Here are the weekend goals: hardcore quiet time, finishing up Blue Like Jazz, editing photos, creating a photography contract/release of sorts, organizing my photography clients on a spread sheet (I have a whole handful of people I don’t know now), booking a Portland hotel, and maybe a little scrapbooking.  Lots to get done!  I’m going to go get started

So, it’s far too long after my bedtime to be starting a blog, but I can’t resist.  I was very excited to blog today.  I’m going to try to be short and sweet so I can get some sleep.

I was excited from the beginning of the day because I was wearing a new outfit.  It was even more exciting that it was a skirt because it was warm out.  It was a white skirt with a black fabric stitched on the right bottom and up that made a flower.  It had white stitching on it for detail.  And the skirt had a black ribbon around the bottom.  I wore a black top with it that had a white ribbon that tied in the back.  The best part is that the whole outfit cost me $3.00!  I’m going to write about much less superficial things now, so please keep reading.

I am very stressed about Columbia.  I have tried to email about financial aid, have not heard back; I have tried to call and was on hold for twenty minutes on two different occasions and had to hang up; and today I emailed a more specific email address and it got kicked back twice.  I’m really trying to trust that God will provide but I am struggling to let this one go.  You know what I think it is…I think I’m scared to let Columbia go.  Like if he doesn’t provide the money, I might decide not to go.  I need to let it go.  I need to go where He is directing me.  The world is bombarding me with logistical questions that I don’t have the answer to.  As a result, I try to find the answer and the first place to look is financial aid.  I need to realize that God will provide answers if that is my path.  I’m such a stupid human, you know?  I keep going through this same lesson.  Pray, have patience, wait.  An answer comes.  Not pray, freak out, complain, etc.  How am I going to pick a school?  Am I going to get into school?  All of these questions got answered before.  I need to let Him answer this too.   Please pray for this if you see it.  It’s a constant struggle right now.

So, tonight at the Columbus Vineyard (which is HUGE…I used to go there), my coworker/new friend Heather (she’s the nurse), my friend Whitney, and I went to the Justice Revival.  Basically, there’s this group of people who call themselves Sojourners.  They are Christian activists, perhaps?  They are trying to merge Christianity and social justice.  I’ll put the website on my links; check it out.  This was the first justice revival.  They chose to have it in Columbus for a variety of reasons.  The Vineyard pastor, Rich Nation, is friends with these people.  Apparently America follows what Columbus does…based on elections at least.  The churches in Columbus apparently have a good relationship with one another.  I think the Vineyard partnered with a local black church to put this on.  I love it when suburban churches pop their diversity bubble.  I feel blessed to be able to go.  There are two more days of it.

Tonight, they talked about how there’s been this great divide among the church in terms of denominations, races, etc.  And a specific divide which he labeled The Great Divorce.  The mainliner church went off pursuing social justice and trying to save people from their Hellish lives and the evangelical church went off pushing the relationship with Christ to save the world from Hell later.  It clicked when he explained this.  I didn’t know anything about the mainliner church.  I want to look into this.  But, this has always been my issue with each Christian movement I’ve been a part of.  I just didn’t feel like enough emphasis was placed on social justice and I felt like a lot of it was very misguided.  So, anyhow, I’m pretty excited.  Oh!  And Matt Redman did worship, which was awesome.  He is the Australian singer that originally sang Blessed Be the Name.  The last tidbit that made me think was the fact that America has an entire industry centered around storage.  Everyone needs storage.  Sheds, boxes, containers, garages, units, pods, etc.  Other countries would think we were insane for this.  I never even thought about how weird it is until now.  I’m of course guilty of this too.  I have so much crap at my Dad’s house and probably way too much in Columbus.  Tonight left me with a lot to chew on.  I’m excited for tomorrow and Friday too.

Also, I’m really excited to start hanging out with Heather.  It’s encouraging to have Christian friends at work.  She’s young and new to Columbus.  And I talked to Whit for a while after too.  I feel so blessed by her friendship.  I feel like I learn so much everytime I’m with her.  She’s one of those people who you just observe and you see these qualities that you know you want to reach for in yourself.  She’s always so self aware and is quick to keep herself in check.  I’m doing a poor job of explaining this.  She’s so loving and always has such kind things to say to me.  I need to learn how to receive and give compliments better.  But, it’s not compliments with her.  It’s just genuine expressions of love.  She expresses them on a regular basis.  It’s so encouraging.  I need to get better at this.

I didn’t write yesterday, but I am sad for Elena.  Many crappy things are happening in her life right now.  I’m going to spare the details because I don’t want to embarrass her.  If you think of it, please say a prayer for Elena.  I am just so sad for her and there’s really nothing I can do about it.

Also, I’ve been homesick lately.  But, not exactly homesick.  I think sister sick.  I miss my twin and I miss my sister.  Isn’t it weird how God gives you such amazing people in your life but then plops you all in different places.  It’s okay, because there are always enough people where you are.  Hopefully.  It’s also weird how you miss different people at different times.  Like sometimes, I miss my dad or Dana or Jenn.  Right now, for whatever reason, I just miss Bethany and Crissy a lot.

Okay, I must sleep now.   Rob is leaving for New Orleans right now.  Midnight.  I’m excited for him.  He’s doing an advocacy project for grad school down there.  Anyhow, goodnight!

Mike introduced me to this wonderful new photo-editing software. It’s called lightroom! It’s another Adobe program that is more focused on the tools that photographers need while photoshop has a lot of graphic design stuff in it. Anyhow, I downloaded it for thirty days for free. I opened it and was completely confused on where to even begin. So I found the instruction manual in a PDF and watched a podcast tutorial. It’s pretty amazing. I can’t wait to try it out, but I’m just too sleepy right now to do that.

So instead, here’s a very mindless blog entry — song lyrics that my heart loves

Lord I have a heavy burden of all I’ve seen and know
It’s more than I can handle
But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and I can’t let it go

And when I’m weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Lord it’s all that I can’t carry and cannot leave behind
it all can overwhelm me
but when I think of all who’ve gone before me and lived the faithful life,
their courage compels me

And when I’m weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharaohs court
I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sisters standing by the dying mans side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down that door

I see the man of sorrow and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

It’s called When the Saints by Sara Groves. It has been so encouraging to me lately and I wanted to share it with you. I think it is an absolutely beautiful message!

I think I’m getting hooked on this blogging thing.  Clue number one was the fact that throughout my day I kept thinking, oooohh I’m gonna blog about this. 

Okay, so I had a pretty good quiet time today.  I like to write about it because it makes me remember what God taught me.  Maybe you can learn too.  Although, so far, I think only my sister reads this, so this may not be a plural you as in you all.  Crissy, I hope you learn something.  Haha!  1 Corinthians 10:12-13 stood out to me.  I often start to get on a good track with God.  You know, regular prayer, regular quiet time.  It’s too easy to say my walk with Jesus is going well and I soon fall and remember how sinful I really am.  1 Cor. 10:23 also stood out to me.  It talks about how everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.  This is what has been on my heart lately while I’ve been trying to decide on a grad school.  I’ve wanted to follow God’s will.  I know he will bless any path I take, but I want to take the one that is the best choice!  Okay, and then I really loved 1 Cor. 11:11-13.  In the previous verses, it talks about how Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman.  This is always an obstacle for me because of my outspoken feminist instinct.  Not that I have ever had the desire to burn my bra or not shave my legs, but I believe in equal rights, partners in marriage, etc.  I like these verses because God talks about how woman did come from man, but man is born from woman.  He talks about the need for unity among the two and ultimately both come from God.  While perhaps a woman may ultimately have to submit to her husband if opinions differ, I think God emphasizes the need to make decisions together focuses on equality more than he ranks the sexes.  Lastly, 1 Cor. 12:26.  Paul talks about how we all make up different parts of the body.  I love this verse because it talks about how when one part suffers the whole body suffers and when one part rejoices the whole body rejoices.  I love it because I have seen lots of ups and downs lately with my friends and myself.  It is so true that we are all in this together.  We must rejoice and suffer with each other to get through it.  Sometimes it is hard to rejoice with others while you are suffering.  But it is harder to suffer alone, while others are rejoicing.  So we must suffer with others even if we are rejoicing.  Follow me? 

Okay, so post quiet time I went to my photo shoot.  All I knew was I was photographing the post baptism gathering for a baby.  It was at this little house in the Short North that was probably no larger than my house.  There were probably 20-30 people there.  It was a catered event.  The mom asked me to just take pictures of everyone around the party with Will (the baby).  Her only directions were to specifically get some of the priest and the God parents.  This is not what I was expecting.  It was crowded.  The baby was only passed around to a handful of people.  He had a long day, so he was smiley, but quickly tired.  Plus, old ladies didn’t exactly understand my role so they kept talking to me while I was trying to do my job.  Everyone was just really excited about this baby.  I know this sounds really negative.  But, it was a strange thing.  I love kids.  But, this was like a huge gathering to talk about how great Will was.  Will is one.  It’s different from a graduation party when relatives share how proud they are of the graduate for being so ambitious, accomplished, driven, etc.  I mean these people were talking like this is some child prodigy.  He’s so smart.  He gets compliments wherever he goes.  He’s always so smiley, mild mannered, happy, pleasant.  They also all tried to do some cuckoo song his mom does to make him smile.  Everyone said they just couldn’t do it like Mom does.  Grandma asked me to try to sing the cuckoo song.  Grandma, I don’t know the cuckoo song.  Also, this was a tall family.  I should have worn heels.  I’m worried about how these are going to turn out.  Okay, I’m done being cynical now.  I am however very excited to use lightroom to edit these pictures.  I downloaded the beta version and have it for free for thirty days.

After my photo shoot, I went to Caribou.  I had caramel coffee, read Blue Like Jazz, and listened to Coldplay and Jack Johnson on my IPod.  So, what’s that, like the epitome of me being a yuppie?!  Whatever, it was great.  I flipping love this book and I can’t wait to visit Imago Dei.  Donald Miller makes me so pumped.  I could only read a few chapters; I don’t know if it was the caffeine buzz or the excitement of what I was reading, but I was so ancy and had to leave.  Whitney said she understood.  She used to have to stop reading it too because it would make her want to get up and save the world right then.  First I read the chapter about confessions.  I love his humor.  I love how he talks about everyone’s reactions at the table when he reluctantly shares his idea to have a confession booth during this massive campus wide party at this liberal university (Reed College).  He just matter-a-factly says he wet his pants.  You have to read the whole paragraph for this statement to be funny.  But I always want to laugh with someone while reading it.  It’s like wanting to tell someone a joke you’ve heard.  Or how it’s so great to watch Friends episodes with other people.  Basically, I hear Jenn laughing in my head when I read Donald Miller books and just imagine what she’d say if I told her about it.  It’s a fairly predictable conversation.  I read the line.  Jenn cracks up and says, “I know, right?  Isn’t it great!”  Anyhow, I just love how these they do this completely outrageous thing in the name of Christ and actually get a genuine reaction from these drunk/high students.  I feel like they totally planted a seed in a very bold way because they were so real about their faith and were able to drop all of their pride.  I want to be Donald Miller’s friend.  Okay, the next chapter is even better.  It’s about how he goes to church without getting angry.  He has the same issues that I do with church.  He feels that people are trying to sell Jesus like he’s a vacuum cleaner.  I especially like this analogy because I feel it is true sometimes and hilarious, but that’s not my biggest issue.  My biggest issue is that it seems the church places such a big emphasis on being anti-all things liberal, especially homosexuals and loving all things republican.  He recognizes that Jesus probably wouldn’t belong to a political party at all.  Also, he talks about how he struggled to feel at home in a Christian community.  I have felt like that in each church I’ve been a part of.  So, then he talks about Imago Dei and why he loves it.  He gives four reasons.

1. It is spiritual.  He says they fast and pray and trust the spirit to lead them to what they need to do as a body.  For example, instead of reaching the youth by a typical youth group, they started a teen ministry by feeding the teenage homeless population on a regular basis.
2. Art.  It talks about their artistry which is purposely providing the creative people in their church an outlet for that expression.  Talk about utilizing ALL spiritual gifts!
3. Community.  Self explanatory.
4. Authenticity.

I know many churches would claim to have those last two.  I guess I just feel I am similar to Donald Miller as he expresses himself in his books; therefore, I believe I would feel this church would have a good community and would be authentic if he does.  He talks about the need to just love people.  All people.  Even non believers.  Especially non believers!  Without the motive of conversion.  He says when they started to do that, that is when Imago Dei really started to grow.  I want to do this.  Reference my To Write Love on Her Arms link.  I think this is a great example of this sort of love in action.  That is why I had to leave Caribou.  I feel like God has put this passion on my heart.  I want to love the people society rejects.  I got that whole “I am bursting with love feeling” and had to get out of my chair.  I ended up talking to Whitney and went to Panera with her and Megan.  I mean they already know God’s love, but I told Whitney how I was feeling, so that helped.  Mmmm….I want to go do God’s work now.  I think He’s going to use me in a big way someday.  At least I hope so.

Panera was great.  Whitney says that if she wrote a Blue Like Jazz book it would be called Pink Like Ballet.  That may be a false statement.  She didn’t say that today.  She said something to that effect in my happy book.  That is what I have deduced from it.  I told Whitney that if I wrote a Blue Like Jazz book she would be one of those quirky characters in it.  I don’t know what her blank would be yet.  All of Donald Miller’s friends are Tony the Beat Poet or Mark the cussing preacher.  Hmm…Whitney the __________.  Anyway, we started a prayer pact.  I just named it that.   We both have some important prayers.  I told her Columbia is constantly on my mind since I made my decision.  I am nervous re: a few factors.  I want to trust God.  I want to be patient.  I want to depend on prayer.  I want this experience to make me more diligent in my prayer life.  I hate fasting.  I don’t know another tangible way to make myself more committed to prayer.  Whit and I each wrote out Eph. 1: 17-19a on a notecard.  I just now learned I should have written an “a” after 19.  Whit, add an “a” to your card.  On the back we wrote our prayers.  I will share mine.

1. An excellent financial aid package from Columbia.
2. A well balanced living situation between money and living space.
3. A God prepared place for me in a Christian community.

We promised to read the verse each day and then say our own prayers and the other’s prayer.  The hope is that the verse about prayer will stick in our head after these prayers are over and it will pop in our heads and be connected to the need for prayer.  I hope that makes sense.  I don’t even know if it makes sense to Whitney.  But, she agreed to do it being the good sport she is.

So, that’s about it.  It’s been a good Sunday.  Blessings on your week to anyone who actually is reading this.  So, full circle, Crissy, I hope you have a good week

It’s been a good weekend so far.  Emily and I had dinner plans on Friday to catch up.  She’s been busy lately so we each had a running list of things to tell each other.  We tried out this cute place called the Cornerstone Cafe in Clintonville.  It’s pretty much a neighborhood deli.  We both got pizza bagels, which tasted just like those from Marx’s Hot Bagels in Cincinnati!  I used to get that all the time with my dad as a kid.  Anyhow, we ate on a bench outside until rain hit.  Then we hopped in the car and went down to Denise’s, which is probably my favorite ice cream shop ever, barring maybe the Cone in West Chester, and that’s just for sentimental reasons.  We learned that Stan, who named the shop after his wife, Denise, mixes all of the flavors himself.  The staff is incredibly friendly and will let you have as many samples as you’d like until you can pick your flavor.  I had New York Cheesecake and Ginger; Emily got Bailey’s and Tiramisu.  Both our ice cream and our conversation were wonderful

I slept in a bit more than I had planned on today, but I still got most things checked off my list.  I had a quick quiet time with my breakfast.  I am currently reading in 1 Corinthians.  I found myself really relating to 1 Cor. 9: 19-23.  Paul is talking about how you have to relate to the population you’re talking with when sharing the Gospel.  It made me think about part of mine and Emily’s conversation last night and just about how we need to be aware of how we appear to others.  What do my clients think about me?  What am I doing to relate to them on their level?  I guess it just brings many questions to mind that I’m a bit too tired to explain right now.

Anyhow, I continued to get ready and tried a bit of Laura’s friendship bread   It was delicious.  I’ve been munching on it all day.  Amanda, our neighbor, gave us the mix.  We are failing to pass it on and have given away our only directions, so the chain might stop with us   We did give some to Charity.  She came over around 12:30 and brought our house a bag of Bath and Body Works lotions she didn’t want.  I was incredibly excited!  Especially since Japanese Cherry Blossom was in there   She and Laura and I left for Cap City Diner in Grandview to have lunch with some other girls for Charity’s “Bridal Girls’ Day Out.”  Then we went to Clay Cafe to paint pottery.  It was a lovely afternoon. 

After that, I went out in search of a bridesmaid’s dress for Emily’s wedding.  Perhaps there was a theme to my day.  She wants us to pick our own dresses and the only guideline is the color, royal blue.  I started at Sawmill.  No luck with dresses, but I did get a pair of ivory dressy sandals for 80% off!  Ten bucks at Filene’s basement and some sunglasses to replace my broken pair I’ve been dealing with all week.  I went to Tuttle and found one at JC Penney’s.  Only $30!  I bought it and kept the receipt until it passes the bride test!

Tomorrow after church I have a mini-photo shoot.  I’m taking pictures at a family’s home for their son’s baptism.  So, between that, church, childcare at church, and my typical Sunday grocery run, it will be a full day.  Where do the weekends go?