the practice of patience

As I made my grilled ham and cheese sandwich for lunch, I thought of a good analogy for patience.

My sister and I were talking this week about grilled ham and cheese sandwiches because they are something she is craving with the pregnancy. She commented about how Pat (my brother in law) makes them really well because he is patient. I agreed and said, I guess that's how him and I are alike. I finally mastered the technique of grilled cheese myself, so I was boasting to her about it as well.

I decided to have one for lunch today and thought of the conversation as I was making my sandwich. But of course, because I was thinking of it, my sandwich didn't turn out. I got distracted by something else in my patient state. I thought that the burner was on low enough, but I didn't check it often enough, and it was black when I finally looked! SHOOT! That patience didn't pay off, but maybe it wasn't the patience that didn't pay off, it was the distraction.

Okay, so if you need an explanation of what I'm getting at.. here it is.. in life they say that "patience is a virtue" etc etc... but if you're not paying attention to what you are patient with, you'll get burned!

haha... get it?!

I know... i'm cheesey... literally... haha... okay okay i'm done!

ooh.. two posts in one day again!

the "next generation"

Here is what I sent to Open Door on their "contact us" page... having just listened to a great new sermon by Dave... "the way of the rabbi"... it spurred these thoughts again because he again mentioned something about "the next generation".... what do ya think?---

For the past couple years now, I keep hearing from the pulpit that the "next generation" is important, and vital.. etc etc etc. Which I totally agree with and get excited about. My frustration is that there seems to be no instruction or no follow through in these people just saying it out loud. When I hear it, my question is, yeah, okay so?? What's your point... where are you going with that... where is your vision for the "next generation"...?? You can talk all you want about it from the pulpit, but still over half the congregation has no idea what the "next generation" is doing. Or who they are...

Is it the 20somethings... is it the 30somethings... or is it the youth? I suppose it is all of them.

I work with the senior highers... they are an awesome group of people. Why only let them lead a service that barely 1/3rd of the congregation attends? I'm sure there is some explanation of sorts that explains it away... what if this happens, what if that happens.. why does everything have to go through mirads of hoops at a BIG corporate church?

The 20somethings are starting to meet and it seems like a good place to connect, and it is fairly new... so probably needs some time to fester. I don't know...


I think my point to all of this would be, whose responsibility is it for things to change?

This could be a tricky line to walk on... because above all, it's not about the people, it's about the story of Christ in them.. and what he's doing in "the next generation."

I think that's the reason I've had a hard time with addressing any of this, because I don't want it to be a selfish, me- thing.

These thoughts probably aren't as thought out as they should be, but it's the best I've got for now.

I hate it when you've sent something, and then read it later again, (after having read it before you sent it, too) and realize something better to say... but owell... I guess that's why the last line is there.

almost two years

wow... i took Erin's challenge to look back from the beginning of all my blogs to date. Well, I admit that I didn't get through all of them, but it was interesting to read the ones I got through so far.

One of the highlights for me was reading the one about "Assertiveness vs. Old Fashioned Chivalry"..... It was bascially about my thoughts on dating at the time. After another two years of non-dating... except for one blind-date, my thoughts have changed slightly, but it sure doesn't mean it's any easier.

Here are my thoughts as of late..

This probably is a huge generalization, but I feel like some single christian men are wimps... okay that's really mean i know... so don't take it personally if you know you are not... but I can't understand why guys won't just say hey, let's hang out... and get the ball rolling to get to know someone. Just because you go out on a "date" doesn't mean you are ready to make any kind of commitment. Yes, I get it, it's hard... I've definitely heard the guy's side, but I've heard from a lot of guys who did take initiative... so I KNOW they do exist...
I've done the "hey let's hang out" bit many times and I'm sick of being the one to initiate things. Have I been not assertive enough, after 9 years of working in the youth ministry, and have NO dates??... that's a huge statement to make, because my intent in working with the youth has NEVER been to find a soul-mate. BUT, you'd think that there would be a higher possibility, right? atleast a few dates (that the other actually admitted to calling "dating").
okay so that was a huge rant... that i'll leave for now...

online dating just doesn't work for me...
i want to meet someone in a casual setting.. trying to wade through 20 matches who probably are already pursuing other matches in the first place is not fun! so yes, I admit here publicly that I tried it.. for one week.. (yeah yeah... give it time right... whatever) and cancelled. BUT, cancelling only made it so that I couldn't receive more matches. I continued trying to communicate with a couple, but neither really seemed to click... and I just didn't like the process. There's still this feeling of pressure... and it's a lot of work and time commitment. Of course that's how the dating process is, but in normal circumstances (vs. online) you'd usually only be "dating" and getting to know one guy at a time. (or i s'pose that could be challenged, but you know what i mean).
I don't want your "positive" thoughts encouraging me to give it another chance, unless you've had experience with this... :) (course, I'm sure none of my readers would be in this situation anyhoo... )

let's see... other thoughts...
i'm sure there could be more.. but i believe my caffine buzz from the mango tea i drank at 8 tonight is finally wearing off and i should go to bed so that i'm not cursing at clients under my breath tomorrow from my lack of sleep.. haha.. JK i don't do that!!! (too often, atleast)

back in Black!

I went to look at both jackets again thurs. night and the Green just wasn't workin for me. I thought I liked it better, but it was too lime-like for me.

I'll put up a picture soon, but wanted to let you all know! :)

I want YOUR vote!!

I'm trying to decide what Columbia jacket I want... I saw one at Sports Authority for only $112, but it was one of those trendy green colors. I think the exact same jacket is at Dick's Sports, but it's $160 and black and white instead of the green. I'm leaning toward the black, but I'm not sure how technical they'll get with the price match. I have to call tomorrow and see... in the meantime, what color do you prefer... i used a bit of photoshop magic to do this... it's all low-res so it's hard to tell anyhoo... but owell. (i'm such a nerd, it took way too long to pose and get a halfway decent pic)
trendy green... (do you think the color will get old in 5yrs., i want it to last)


















more traditional black


















I have them both on hold... Sports Authority only holds things for one day... and Dick's for 48hours... HELP! :)

my joshy

Just a little story about my nephew...

He's a cute little man, and tells it like he sees it. He won't often give you a hug if you ask him to (like if you're leaving and won't see him for awhile), but that's not to say he won't ever give you one either. It's on his terms. I think that's a good quality because you know that when he decides, he really means it.

On New Years day I went to the 'rents house because my sister's fam was there and wanted to play in the fresh snow with the niece and nephew. Well, they didn't have their snow stuff with them since it was pretty brown looking when they left paynesville earlier in the weekend. But, we still played outside but "didn't" play "in" the snow. Or, um, I didn't and they of course couldn't help themselves. We made snow balls and threw them at the house and then at my car, which was pretty dirty. Josh noticed that the snowball spot made it "look" clean, so he took it upon himself to "wash" my car. He was really determined to get it all done, and at one point said, "Anty Lisa, I need help to get this all done"... (I had been helping Sarah shovel snow into the street... or out of the street.. one of the two :)) So, I stopped and helped Josh wash my car.
We played some other games... made miniture snowmen and then decided it was time to go inside. When we were all done and got settled inside, Josh was playing on the chair and said, "I had a lot of fun outside playing! Did you?"
I of course told him I had a lot of fun. What a sweet boy, right? I mean, what 3 year old says stuff like that? Well, maybe many do, but like I said before, when he decides to say something like that, you know he really had fun!
So, even though he doesn't always give hugs before I leave, it doesn't matter so much because he shows his love in his own special way.
Love you Joshy!














(another one of those "moments" he was ready to be done with pictures!)