I sing.

This week I lost a colleague who has faithfully served a small congregation north of where I serve. She was an older woman but one of the most faithful women, it has been an inspiration to call her colleague and friend. The tradition in my tradition is that all the local clergy vest and process at another colleagues funeral and the bishop preaches. The family chose to have the cross process in the front, followed by the clergy, then the casket, and the family brought up the tail.

As we processed in many of the members of her congregation as well as her family still stood in shock, she died rather suddenly and unexpectedly, behind the cross was 28 clergy members, as we processed in we sang "How Great Thou Art." We processed in the shadow of the cross singing to the best of our abilities and sang the truth of our faith, we sang while others wiped tears, while others stood in uncertainty of their own congregation and if they would be able to call another pastor, we sang and joined in the choirs of angels professing that which our colleague believed so firmly in.

It is humbling to serve the church, it is humbling to know the great God we serve and love.

After a beautiful worship service it was humbling to hear the family of our colleague, her congregation and friends, come up to us and thank us for being present, for singing when they didn't have the voice. I often forget the power of the congregation, the power of the ones assembled, we sing, I sang, we join the choir of angels and sing when other's can't. I sing because I have a voice, I sing to share the story, I sing to worship the God I love, I sing to be transformed by the message. I sing off key. I sing when I can and at times others must carry the song for me.

Sing your song, join in the choirs of angels, carry others, be carried by the body of Christ, sing a song of love.

Back

I am back at home and had a marvelous time at continuing education and vacation. It was glorious. I really do intend on getting some posts up with pictures and all that happiness, I just need a couple days to get caught up on work, laundry, cleaning, and everything else I seemed to have missed including spending time with my sweet puppy who has been ultra snugly since my return and with Marc. It has been glorious to be back, I love vacation and continuing education, but I also like the everyday moments in life.

So.... look for posts to come. I will get to them.

Totally unrelated side note: I am ridiculously jealous of all my friends down south of here who are getting a snow day. I would nearly kill to have a snow day. I miss them.

All my bags are packed I am ready to go.....

What a wonderful vacation! Seriously.

I am on my way back home today.

I have missed my Marc and my Dakota, as well as all of my friends in Brainerd.

It will be good to be back in my own bed tonight (pending flights go as I hope they will).

Anticipate tons and tons of pictures in the days come.

California

I seriously can't believe I am actually here in California! I remember when we were booking our vacation and continuing education event thinking about how far away these ten days were and now we are here, loving every minute of it.

I am thankful for the sunshine and the chance to run and be outside without feeling like I am heading out into the antarctic. I am thankful for time with my parents (who now that I am not a teenager any more I actually adore), friends both new and old, and time for myself. It is glorious. While I miss people and things back
home I am still jazzed to be out and about.

The Extravaganza is by far my favorite continuing education event each year, I love the diversity of people, I love the freedom to ask questions, I love the chance to gather with colleagues who are wresting with many of the same issues I am wrestling with at work. I love the variety of speakers and the chance to worship without having to lead.

Side perk: we are in Anaheim, so I was able to run the Tinkerbell Half Marathon last weekend and we all are frequenters of Disneyland when we have some free time. WHOOP WHOOP.

I am certain when I return home you can bank on being overwhelmed with tons of photos.

Summer 2012 Mission Trips

Click here to view this photo book larger

IT IS FINISHED. In my mind finishing the photobook clearly means that the trips are done. I thought I'd share my shutterfly book in case anyone wanted to take a peek at the fun.

In happy news 2013 mission trips are around the corner and I am deep in planning for those.
2013 Mission Trips will be to Door County Wisconsin (middle schoolers), Pine Ridge South Dakota (high schoolers, and Summer Stretch in the Brainerd/Baxter Minnesota area (middle schoolers) - truth be told: I am thankful and love my call to serve alongside these faithful youth.

TOMORROW RACE DAY

Tomorrow I shall earn the first half of my Coast to Coast medal. I AM SUPER EXCITED! I LOVE to runDisney! Seriously, if I could afford it (I have to fly to every race and stay in a hotel) I would run every runDisney race every year. I LOVE them sooooo much, they really are magical. Despite the fact that there are sooooooooo many people who run them. I love it.

Today is the fine balance of not eating anything that I will regret, not over working my legs, and not under working my legs, and getting to bed at a decent time [which seriously is the worst part for me because I am like a little child waiting for Santa to come and have the worst time falling asleep - however I do always wake up wired and ready to go]. Today I will get in a short run, I will enjoy California, and I will think through tomorrow's clothing choices and probably change my mind on what I will wear at least a hundred times. (Really I am debating between two tops and two bottoms - which feels like 10,000 options.)

I have said for years that I will earn my coast to coast medal and I am not certain that I ever actually thought would manage a way to earn the medal. But it is happening. 2013 is going to be the year.

One thing I need to decide before tomorrow - to stop and take pictures with characters along the way or not. Seriously this is a tough debate, we'll see how I am running before I totally decide. I am running with my camera (yes, this may seem ridiculous but I can't imagine not running with it) - not to mention is does fit in my belt so I can always throw it in there if I want/need to. Plus who doesn't want to take pictures as they are running. It distracts me (which around mile 8-9 is welcomed). I am certain you can bank on a slew of photos coming at some point. They will probably be very delayed since I am in southern California till the 28th, but when I return home it will be picture overload on here.

Happy Birthday Brother

It seems sort of cruel, Mom & Dad, and I are out in California on vacation and you are in vet school, however I feel it all too appropriate to still write an ode to you while we are gone. Cubby and I have always gotten along fairly well but over time we have really gotten to be much better friends. Junior high wasn't the best of years for either of us (although is junior high ever good for anyone). Either way Happy Birthday baby brother! Love from California to you!

Pre-Vacation

While I am over the top jazzed to be heading out on vacation sometimes it seems almost like more work to go on vacation than it is worth, it never is more work than it is worth because I love vacation. In these days leading up to vacation I about go nuts. Seriously. It is such a slow process getting everything ready to go and getting people to fill in for me and making sure all my lesson plans are written and all that good jazz. I feel like I am currently the queen of the lists. I have lists for what I need while at the conference, I have lists of what I'll need in Disneyland, I have lists of what I need to run the half marathon, I have lists of lists it seems. Now the goal is to make it all fit under 50 pounds. This can be a serious challenge.

Slowly but surely it'll happen. Slowly but surely I'll weed through what I need versus what I would love to bring. Slowly but surely I will make it happen. There is a certain amount of excitement that goes along with packing as well as anticipation of the trip to come.




What do you always forget to pack?
Do you have any great packing tips?
Do you pack in a suitcase or in a soft sided bag?
Do you like to be able to carry everything on?

Packing-pa-looza

I leave THIS WEEK Thursday for California! SOOOOO excited (as if you couldn't tell) anyways. I have begun the packing-pa-looza. This is sort of a complicated trip to pack for due to several factors:

• I am running Tinkerbell Half Marathon
• I am optimistic about the weather being super warm but concerned that I am not packing warm enough clothes, so I then in turn want to throw in a whole bunch of warm clothes
• I am attending a conference for work after running Tinkerbell - this doesn't require work clothes but it does require more than sweats
• It is ten days - I don't want to over-pack but under-packing sucks once you get there

It is always a challenge to pack, I always try to pack as simplistically as possible but when there is so much going on it is a challenge for sure. I am a believer of the roll your clothes method and put things in your shoes. 

I also have my backpack to pack as well. For me I will be carrying on my running shoes (everything else can technically be replaced if they have to but it is impossible to get a well worn pair of running shoes), my ipad, my phone, some yarn (I need something to do on the plane), my running watch, and a snack or two (I hate buying expensive airport food). I probably will throw some other stuff in my backpack, I just haven't gotten to that stage yet.

Anyone have any tips for packing light?

Anyone else have a love/hate relationship with packing?

What are your necessities in your carry on bag?

I remember....

I have been trying to formulate this post for several days now, I think I finally got one I am willing to post.

I remember 3 years ago (January 12, 2010) like it was yesterday
I remember the joy on the children's faces as we played at school that morning
I remember the exhaustion of traveling to arrive in Jacmel only hours before
I remember the excitement of spending a week in a new country
I remember questioning what was going on and why the earth was shaking as it was
I remember trying to run but not being able to find my footing and falling repeatedly
I remember the dust that covered us from head to toe
I remember the terror in the eyes of a parent as they knew their child was inside a collapsed building
I remember the joy of finding some of my friends still alive
I remember the pain of the bumps and bruises
I remember wishing I could do something other than stand by and watch
I remember the long walk to find safety
I remember finding out that our safe places were non existent
I remember watching people take their last breaths
I remember the joy of hearing of a refugee camp that was being set up by the United Nations
I remember the taste of the bananas delivered by a stranger
I remember the pain of hearing of the death of a friend
I remember the uncertainty of what was to come and what we would do
I remember the feeling of laying on the cold ground surrounded by friends who surrounded us as we slept
I remember the constant state of prayer we lived in
I remember the faithfulness of the Haitian people
I remember the love of God that was showered upon us
I remember the many different failed plans of what we were going to do next - how we were getting home
I remember our path home - the pain, the sickness, the uncertainty, the hope, the promises
I remember the guilt of leaving
I remember the ways in which I knew we were showered in prayer and love from home
I remember the "welcome home" from the custom's man as we entered the United States once again
I remember the physical ailments healing and the mental scars forming
I remember the love of a God who is always present and always working
I remember the call to work for justice and peace in the world

I continue to pray fervently for the coming of God's kingdom where all will be well
I continue to hope for justice for everyone
I continue to share the love that was poured out on me from my Haitian brothers and sisters
I continue to trust that God is moving and in control
I continue to remember our 10 days in Haiti
I continue to give thanks for God who brings life out of death
I continue to live in the grace of God
I continue to trust in the promises of God for all people
I continue to remember 3 years ago (January 12, 2010) like it was yesterday

Race day around the corner

I am over the top excited to run Tinkerbell, seriously, I can't wait. I can hardly believe it is this month and I get to run my first leg of the coast to coast challenge. (I honestly don't think I ever thought I would complete this.) I am SUPER EXCITED. OVER THE TOP. I am already beginning to test out different outfits to decide which one I want to run in (I am a firm believer in the never run a race in an outfit you haven't run in before.) I got a sweet new blue long sleeve that I think is going to win for the top, we'll see. I'll keep you posted, I know you all are on edge wondering what will win (weather is clearly the complicating factor). 

I am having  a hard time getting my runs in due to weather outside and people's renewed commitment to fitness and their desire to also be in the cardio room at the ymca. They have a semi-strict policy on how one person should not be on any given machine for more than 30 minutes to make things fair, and blah blah blah. I am finding that I am having to go run at odd hours when normal people aren't at the gym. Which is okay too I suppose, however I am realizing that evening runs are not my favorite, I am then too wired to go to sleep, I am getting lots done however since I am not sleeping.

Anyone else training for a winter race while not living in amazing weather to run outside?

What shoes to do you like to run outside in during the winter months?

5 Months

No, I am not moving (THANK GOD), however my fiance, Marc, will be moving into my house after we get married in June. For some reason this has been on my mind lately and I am beginning to realize that I should probably think seriously about where his stuff will be going and make sure I make room to make the house his as well. There is a piece of me that wishes we were selling my place and moving into somewhere together (or I was moving from another house into my house - I do enjoy my place and don't want anything bigger) sot hat together we could figure out where stuff goes and what not. I however am jazzed beyond belief that I don't have to move.

The house is plenty big for the two of us, 3 bedrooms and 1 bath, let's hope we can figure out how to live together and how to share space. If we can't we are in a world of hurt. However, at the time that we get married and Marc moves in Dakota and I will have been living there for two full years. Yes, I will have lived at the same address for two full years, I haven't done that since I was in high school 10.5 years ago. I am realizing probably the obvious:

• Marc will need to put his clothes somewhere 
• I will need to take my camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, water purifier, and all my other glorious camping gear) and skiing gear (skis, snowboard, boots, etc) out of my closet and make space for him. Seems lame but for some reason I am slow on the uptake and just realized these things
• Marc has some kitchen stuff
• while we registered for lots of kitchen stuff because we both have hand me down stuff and rummage sale stuff we need to purge some of both of our stuff and somewhere I need to makes space for his stuff logically - I do have several empty cupboards that we can put stuff in - but we need to think through the logic
• the bathroom only has two towel hooks
• yes, I use two towels - actually I rotate two towels throughout any given week between washing them - and Marc is probably definitely going to need somewhere to hang a towel or two after showering (I promote showering often - this comes from working with nonshowering junior high kids)
• Some of my junk needs to either go to the attic space (strange space upstairs in my house) or I just need to get rid of it and stop holding onto stuff
• I sort of miss the days when all of my stuff fit in my vehicle - however I don't yet feel like a hoarder by owning a bed,a couch, and a kitchen table - I just feel less like a minimalist 
• the garage needs some loving
• I have a two stall garage but one stall is currently occupied by two kayaks (one is his), three bikes (two are his), yard games, lawn furniture (for the winter), a grill, a dog crate (Dakota's travel crate), and a bunch of other miscellaneous items - we need to figure out how to best fit two cars in the garage 

I am certain all of this is obvious to you all reading it, however for some reason when this hit me like a ton of bricks this getting married stuff became more real. We won't have two places to live - Marc and I will live in the same place. I won't have my own place, I must learn to share again (it has been a while since I have had a roommate) and I am certain that I will do things that annoy the heck out of Marc and will need to come to some compromises. Transitions are strange, while I look forward to transitioning into married life there are also certain things that I think get overlooked in the business of it all and for those of us who didn't live together before marriage moving in is a crazy process. T-minus 5 months until we get married.

How do you feel about moving?

Any tips on how to get rid of stuff and downsize what you own?

Anything you hold on to that you keep thinking you should get rid of?

What is your favorite personal item you own?

Bike Trainer

I dream of doing a triathlon  Seriously. I don't know why. Something about the three disciplines at the same race makes me excited to try, a short one, nothing major. My downfall is the bike for sure (granted my bike is from 8th grade so that doesn't help and is not in the best of shape due to the car accident this past spring- that's a whole different story). I can run (not the world's best runner but I can run none the less) and I can swim (I love swimming as well) but my biking is not my strong suit. I don't know why I am not amazing at it but I am not. End story. However I want to be better.

Marc set up his bike trainer in my living room, basically it is his bike on this little gismo that allows you to ride stationary. It is great. So I tried it. My butt hurt about two seconds in. Seriously those seats are NOT made for comfort, yes I know I just need to get used to it. It will be fine, my butt will build up tolerance. I am determined to learn how to bike better. Seems like an elementary skill, but I am just not an amazing biker. So I have vowed to improve, so now I bike in my living room while watching tv or a movie. That makes everything better, watching something that you can sort of space out to. Or it is at least in my mind.

I did order a pair of cycling shoes online the other day and I am hoping this helps some as well. I wore Marc's shoes, which were way too big and my feet sloshed around in them, so new shoes should massively help. Hopefully they fit, or else they go back and I order bigger, either way I think shoes that fit should also improve my experience.

Here is to my butt gaining a tolerance for his bike and slowly but surely learning what I can and cannot do. Someday I will earn a triathlon medal. I will hang it on my wall proudly.


Do you like earning medals?
Do they motivate you?
Have you ever completed a triathlon?

My burlap and mason jar wedding

I realize it is trendy. I don't care.

I like it.
It's our wedding.

Anyways. While my family was here my brother (THANK GOD FOR BROTHER) helped me made all of these beautiful mason jars for decorations at our wedding reception. They were super easy to make and he did an amazing job. (I have done lots of them since he left)

What we did to make the jars. 

1. Clean jars
2. Put duct tape inside out around the jar
1. helps to keep the twine from moving all over the place
3. wrap jars with twine in whatever pattern you choose
1. I went to the local craft shops and found a multitude of shades of brown twine/hemp/jewelry making materials
2. we wrapped the twine in random patterns so no two jars are alike
3. some jars (pictured above) we put a piece of burlap ribbon and lace under a simple bow of twine
4. seal off ends with a small drop of hot glue
5. Repeat tons

Crockpot Connoisseur - Chicken

I found this recipe here.
Seriously the EASIEST way to cook a whole chicken.
I bought a whole chicken without the insides in it so all I had to do was rinse it under water and put in the crockpot for 6-8 hours.
I made a rub to go on the outside:

• 3 tsp salt

• 2 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp thyme

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

It was ridiculously easy.I added some minced onion to it because I didn't have any onion in my house.


I was floored that there was no liquid required to this recipe. I seriously just put the whole chicken in there and when it was done cooking it was falling off the bone delicious!

TRY THIS RECIPE


[fail. I forgot to take a picture of the deliciousness]

Tunisian Crochet update 1

Throughout this year my friend Lindy and I are going to be attempting to make a Tunisian crochet blanket from lion brand. I began this year knowing nothing about how to Tunisian crochet. A few days before the new year I went to my local craft store and picked up my needle. I am hoping to use up lots of yarn from my stash to make this project, I may towards the end need to buy some, we'll see how the year plays out. Anyways, the throw consists of nine different stitches. I have begun with the basic Tunisian crochet, which thanks to youtube, I picked up fairly quickly, my gauge isn't exactly what it should be according to the pattern but apparently according to the reviews lots of people have this problem.

Serious rollage

finished square number 1 only 35 to go

First thoughts and lessons learned from the first square:

• relax - the tension must be fairly loose
• the ends curl - it seems 99% of people have this problem
• I am going to need a border
• Ending a square is not hard but not as easy as I would have liked at first
• I have a year, I can do this. It is only 36 squares and 9 stitches. I have a year.
• Yes, this is me giving myself a pep talk, thanks for listening
• I am loving having a project to challenge me, sometimes I get bored with doing the same projects over and over again
• 35 squares to go, I can do this

Anyone else taking up a year long project?

Are you learning anything new this year?

Any random goals for the year?

366 in 2012

It is finished. I LOVE IT! I successfully managed to take a picture every day this past year as well as get them all into a shutterfly book. I just finished it and cannot wait for shutterfly books to go on sale so I can order it. I used Becky Higgins Project Life Turquoise edition for my book. I am loving her designs and the option of digitally making books rather than having to do them with actual scrapbooks. As I was finishing 2012 I was a little sad because I knew it was over, I was sad because I wouldn't have any more layouts to design, or the challenge of taking a picture every day, sooooo I have decided to continue it for at least one more year. I am taking it on a year by year basis, not committing to doing a photo a day book forever (that could get old and I don't want it to be a chore, I want to love the project). Without further ado here is a glimpse of my 2012 book. I can't wait to order it and for it to arrive so I can sit down and slowly page through it. I will probably do one more proof of it before I order it, I would hate to have stickers in the wrong place or have a typo. Either way I am jazzed.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Looking back on the year there are a few things that were important as I made my book:

• The first few weeks seemed like I was always looking for the "big moments" the major things that happened, while yes, there are a few major things that happened last year (like getting engaged) my life is really made of of small moments that leave a big impact - yes, I go to work every day and it isn't always glamorous and sometimes the messy desk is the most appropriate picture for the day
• Shoot lots of photos & shoot often - I don't always know what my photo of the day will be until the day has ended and I am looking over my photos - I shot thousands of photos this past year and in turn had to make a general 2012 album as well (or really a 2012 album is in the works - I will post it when I get it finished)
• My photos come primarily from three different cameras - I always (or 99% of the time) carry my iPhone 4s [which takes pretty good pictures], I often carry my Nikon CoolPix AW100 [which takes great pictures], and sometimes I carry my Nikon D60 [which if it weren't for operator error would always take amazing pictures] and my book is a combination of all three of those cameras 
• Play with your layouts - sometimes certain layouts look better than others 
• Work with it every week - it gets ridiculously overwhelming if you have to remember back and do more than a week at a time - every Sunday night or Monday morning I updated my album
• Go with it - not every picture will be worth a million dollars - but looking back is sooooooo much fun

Anyone else do a photo a day book?
Are you enjoying the project?
How many years have you done it?

2013 Goals

Here are my goals for 2013 in no particular order - some are more trivial than others, however I am still adding them to the list {because this is my blog and I do as I please}:

• Earn my Walt Disney Coast to Coast Medal
• This will require me to complete two races, one in Disneyland and one in Disney World in the same calendar year. I will be running the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Disney World
• Learn how to fold fitted sheets
• Seriously, I have tried, but haven't been committed to it- my fitted sheets always just look like crap when they are folded - more like balled up sheets even if I have tried to fold them nicely - youtube here I come
• Get Married 
• June 8, 2013 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church I will be getting married and couldn't be more excited about the whole thing - minus the dress wearing crap - seriously my least excited piece
• Make a fruit pie from scratch
• No real reason for this one other than I just want to do it
• Paint one of the bedrooms upstairs
• Run 5 half marathons [I am tempted to say six because I think it would be sweet to say I averaged one every other month but that maybe too lofty of a goal]
• I have Tinkerbell Half Marathon, Fargo Half Marathon, Fargo Mini Marathon, and Wine and Dine Half Marathon on the docket already - I'd like to add one in Minnesota to my list
• Finish going through all of my boxes 
• I haven't gone through all the boxes since I moved to Brainerd in June 2011, it's time to do some serious giving away
• Organize my craft space in the loft
• Read 12 books for fun [I love reading but sometimes I get in a rut and do all my reading for work, which I don't totally mind, but I want to read for fun too]
• Make my bed 90% of the time
• I am not horrible at this one - I am probably currently at a solid 50% but would like to increase this goal - I don't want to go to 100% because seriously some days I really don't care - however I LOVE to crawl into a made bed
• Learn to to tunisian crochet
• My friend Lindy has inspired me to do this - thanks Lindy
• We are actually working a blanket with this style of crocheting in 2013 which will demand I learn 9 new stitches, I am jazzed and praying I can figure it out
• Run 500 miles this year
• bike to work 30 times
• swim 100 miles
• yes I know these are loft goals - but why set low goals
• Finish the stacks of projects that I have begun and have never gotten to for whatever reason - and if I decide I am not going to ever finish them then I need to disassemble what can be disassembled and move on - no reason to have all these half finished projects
• Settle into married life
• or begin to... really this goal is all about making the transition to married life intentional
• Make a quilt
• it has been way too long since I have made one
• Finish the three clergy stoles I have started
• Complete the Grantieman Triathalon in Clearwater, Mn
• Shoot over 250 pictures a month on my Nikon D60
• I LOVE this camera but I get lazy and don't take it out to take the photos I should, I really do want to improve as a photographer, so I must practice
• Catch up on photobooks
• yeah, I am way behind, finish 2011, 2012, Summer 2012 Mission Trips book
• update 2013 photobook monthly
• keep up with 365 days of 2013 book
• Create and Finish Summer 2013 Mission Trips book (finish before the end of the year)
• Create and finish a wedding photobook (finish before the end of the year)
• Order 366 in 2012 photo book
• When books are finished order: 2011, 2012, Summer 2012 Mission Trip book

What is on your 2013 to-do list?

Any books you recommend?