well, well, well.
If there's anybody left following this blog, that's quite something. I should give you a sticker, for finding this and reading it - perhaps my favourite kind, a butterfly sticker! (let me know, maybe I'll mail you one....) Perhaps there's some grace in cyberspace for people who have graduated, bought a house, moved in, went on a fabulous 2 week vacation in BC with friends and family, and started a new pastoral position.
After about 4 weeks on the job, I'd say I feel like a soaked sponge. I'm soaking it up - people, places, structures, systems... and I haven't yet truly started squeezing it out and distilling what's there. There's still time yet for that. I'm absorbing a lot, and learning a lot, and I know that the learning is just beginning.
That said, I am confident that K and I are where God wants us to be, and that's enough for me right now.
I can't promise when I'll be back on here, but I have a premonition that life is starting to fall into a rhythm that might become more normal, so I'm hopeful. That's all I can say, I'm hopeful.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
a roller coaster ride... or a quick european tour?
You may have noticed it's been a while since I posted. Sorry about that - but perhaps you found other lovely summer activities to fill the time that you might have been spending reading my blog. I know I've been busy doing just that!
When people ask me how my summer is going, a common answer goes something like this this:
"It feels like a roller coaster ride - very fast, very exciting, but I hope it's over soon because if it goes on much longer like this I might get a little nauseous...
"Or perhaps one of those Europe-in-seven days bus or train tours. You know the kind when you board a bus and see the sites of a new country every day. It's Monday so this must be Venice... it's Paris so it must be Friday... When we get home we'll figure out what we saw.
I'm looking forward to getting home and looking at the pictures so I can process all that I'm seeing and experiencing."
I am looking forward to the slow down. (if it ever comes...)
Perhaps you know how I feel.
We graduated with M.Div. degrees in late May.
We candidated at Valleyview Mennonite Church in London.
We were called as pastors.
We accepted the call. (We start mid September)
Kendall started interning as a chaplain at Goshen Hospital.
Kendall's dad retired from over 40 years of pastoring. (Congratulations!)
We went to a big gala to celebrate this in Toronto.
We bought a house in London. (pictures will come later)
Good friends are moving away, and we're making time to see them before they go.
I have had another birthday.
My mother retired from 30 years of teaching.
I wrote two papers to complete requirements from the semester.
I took my final course of my seminary career (Medical Ethics)
We had a big family reunion in Ontario.
We camped with family in Algonquin.
We visited friends and my Little Sister in Toronto
I am writing one final paper for Medical Ethics this week.
I am also writing a sermon for Kern Road, preaching this Sunday.
Then we pack, and move to our new house.
Then we settle in for a few weeks.
Then we go to BC for two weeks to visit Kendall's 94-yr-old Grandma and several friends and family members - and hopefully climb a mountain and visit Pender Island in the midst of it all.
Then we start in our new role as pastors in London.
Whew! But in the midst of it all, the tomatoes are ripening, the zuchinni are coming in faster than we can snap our fingers, the green beans are heavy on the plants, the peppers are ready and the basil is ready for one big batch of pesto. The sun has been shining, memories of camping with family - spending time on the water, in the water, by the water and around the fire - these memories are fresh and wonderful. New songs learned around that campfire are running through my head, and life is rich and wonderful.
If only the paper would write itself and the boxes pack themselves, then that would be lovely, wouldn't it?
When people ask me how my summer is going, a common answer goes something like this this:
"It feels like a roller coaster ride - very fast, very exciting, but I hope it's over soon because if it goes on much longer like this I might get a little nauseous...
"Or perhaps one of those Europe-in-seven days bus or train tours. You know the kind when you board a bus and see the sites of a new country every day. It's Monday so this must be Venice... it's Paris so it must be Friday... When we get home we'll figure out what we saw.
I'm looking forward to getting home and looking at the pictures so I can process all that I'm seeing and experiencing."
I am looking forward to the slow down. (if it ever comes...)
Perhaps you know how I feel.
We graduated with M.Div. degrees in late May.
We candidated at Valleyview Mennonite Church in London.
We were called as pastors.
We accepted the call. (We start mid September)
Kendall started interning as a chaplain at Goshen Hospital.
Kendall's dad retired from over 40 years of pastoring. (Congratulations!)
We went to a big gala to celebrate this in Toronto.
We bought a house in London. (pictures will come later)
Good friends are moving away, and we're making time to see them before they go.
I have had another birthday.
My mother retired from 30 years of teaching.
I wrote two papers to complete requirements from the semester.
I took my final course of my seminary career (Medical Ethics)
We had a big family reunion in Ontario.
We camped with family in Algonquin.
We visited friends and my Little Sister in Toronto
I am writing one final paper for Medical Ethics this week.
I am also writing a sermon for Kern Road, preaching this Sunday.
Then we pack, and move to our new house.
Then we settle in for a few weeks.
Then we go to BC for two weeks to visit Kendall's 94-yr-old Grandma and several friends and family members - and hopefully climb a mountain and visit Pender Island in the midst of it all.
Then we start in our new role as pastors in London.
Whew! But in the midst of it all, the tomatoes are ripening, the zuchinni are coming in faster than we can snap our fingers, the green beans are heavy on the plants, the peppers are ready and the basil is ready for one big batch of pesto. The sun has been shining, memories of camping with family - spending time on the water, in the water, by the water and around the fire - these memories are fresh and wonderful. New songs learned around that campfire are running through my head, and life is rich and wonderful.
If only the paper would write itself and the boxes pack themselves, then that would be lovely, wouldn't it?
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
letting go of screen time
It's a funny thing to decide to write about on a blog - letting go of screen time. But here goes:
When I was growing up, there were strong boundaries around the television. For many years we didn't have a television. When we got a television, we weren't given many hours to watch tv. Not that I pushed much on that account, I loved playing outside and reading and so many other activities I didn't think much about the t.v. The computer was introduced into my household when I was in high school, but it was an instrument for homework. There were some games, but I never got drawn into that scene.
In College, I met e-mail. I loved it!!!! I spent hours corresponding with friends, drafting long letters outlining philosophical and theological quandaries, social happenings, stories, dreams, and the like. I was hooked. Soon on its heels, the internet with windows-based search engines. Netscape. A whole new world. But it was limited by dial-up.
In my community household in Toronto, we had dialup for a while. Five women, one phone, dialup internet. It was a tricky situation. Then approximately 5 years ago, Lisa, our resident 'field marshall' took it upon herself to get us unlimited high speed internet which would allow the telephone calls to come in at the same time. A whole new world.
Internet surfing.
Chatting.
E-mail.
Solitaire.
Internet surfing.
It started slowly. It seeped into the cracks. It became the first thing I checked in the morning, the first detail to attend to upon returning from work. The last activity of the evening before bed. An evening's activity. I can't imagine life without my computer, without high speed internet. It's a part of my life.
But - I realize that I have not developed limits for internet/computer time in the way that I have continued to maintain boundaries for the television. Why the double standard? Should Kendall and I be blessed with kids, we want to limit t.v. time, and I hear more and more about broadening the label to 'screen time'. That concept makes a whole lot of sense to me. It's the same concept as limiting television in my childhood - encouraging active and imaginative play.
I am pledging to let go of screen time. I would like to get down to 5 hours a week of screen time (non-work related). I've got a long way to go.
But I think that life will open up for me in active and imaginative ways when I do.
A few weeks ago I deliberately didn't turn on the computer when I came home from class, and committed to not turning it on until 8 p.m. I was restless for a bit, then got out a picnic blanket, a novel, and my journal and went outside. It was absolutely lovely. My friend Rachel came home from work and we spent time chatting before she went in. Her husband Sam and my husband Kendall came in from Ultimate Frisbee and joined us on the blanket. It was a glorious hour, opened up by letting go of screen time.
As I enter into a time of transition, I tend to fall back into old habits. I will need extra will-power to let go of screen time right now. But I think that the energy will be worth it. A more active and imaginative life awaits.
When I was growing up, there were strong boundaries around the television. For many years we didn't have a television. When we got a television, we weren't given many hours to watch tv. Not that I pushed much on that account, I loved playing outside and reading and so many other activities I didn't think much about the t.v. The computer was introduced into my household when I was in high school, but it was an instrument for homework. There were some games, but I never got drawn into that scene.
In College, I met e-mail. I loved it!!!! I spent hours corresponding with friends, drafting long letters outlining philosophical and theological quandaries, social happenings, stories, dreams, and the like. I was hooked. Soon on its heels, the internet with windows-based search engines. Netscape. A whole new world. But it was limited by dial-up.
In my community household in Toronto, we had dialup for a while. Five women, one phone, dialup internet. It was a tricky situation. Then approximately 5 years ago, Lisa, our resident 'field marshall' took it upon herself to get us unlimited high speed internet which would allow the telephone calls to come in at the same time. A whole new world.
Internet surfing.
Chatting.
E-mail.
Solitaire.
Internet surfing.
It started slowly. It seeped into the cracks. It became the first thing I checked in the morning, the first detail to attend to upon returning from work. The last activity of the evening before bed. An evening's activity. I can't imagine life without my computer, without high speed internet. It's a part of my life.
But - I realize that I have not developed limits for internet/computer time in the way that I have continued to maintain boundaries for the television. Why the double standard? Should Kendall and I be blessed with kids, we want to limit t.v. time, and I hear more and more about broadening the label to 'screen time'. That concept makes a whole lot of sense to me. It's the same concept as limiting television in my childhood - encouraging active and imaginative play.
I am pledging to let go of screen time. I would like to get down to 5 hours a week of screen time (non-work related). I've got a long way to go.
But I think that life will open up for me in active and imaginative ways when I do.
A few weeks ago I deliberately didn't turn on the computer when I came home from class, and committed to not turning it on until 8 p.m. I was restless for a bit, then got out a picnic blanket, a novel, and my journal and went outside. It was absolutely lovely. My friend Rachel came home from work and we spent time chatting before she went in. Her husband Sam and my husband Kendall came in from Ultimate Frisbee and joined us on the blanket. It was a glorious hour, opened up by letting go of screen time.
As I enter into a time of transition, I tend to fall back into old habits. I will need extra will-power to let go of screen time right now. But I think that the energy will be worth it. A more active and imaginative life awaits.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Almost there...
Well, I finished my last 2-page paper today, and tomorrow I have a one hour class and that's it for the semester. I mean, not including the two papers I have extensions for. But it feels tremendous to be at this spot. I'm going to take it easy, do some shopping, and rest up. The summer's going to be busy, and I want to be ready for it!
I'm anticipating a new role as 'domestic goddess' (a.k.a. full-time housewife) this summer, while Kendall interns at Goshen hospital. He'll be working full-time with a half hour commute each way, and I'll mostly be studying at home, so.... the cooking and cleaning and stuff will mostly be mine. That way we'll have evenings together without so much hassle. I'm not really complaining, but I admit I'm not used to it. I'm clearly spoiled.
This weekend is graduation. My mom and Dad, and Kendall's Mom and Aunt Martha are coming, as well as Kendall's brother Mark and Rachel. Should be fun.... Woo hoo!
I'm anticipating a new role as 'domestic goddess' (a.k.a. full-time housewife) this summer, while Kendall interns at Goshen hospital. He'll be working full-time with a half hour commute each way, and I'll mostly be studying at home, so.... the cooking and cleaning and stuff will mostly be mine. That way we'll have evenings together without so much hassle. I'm not really complaining, but I admit I'm not used to it. I'm clearly spoiled.
This weekend is graduation. My mom and Dad, and Kendall's Mom and Aunt Martha are coming, as well as Kendall's brother Mark and Rachel. Should be fun.... Woo hoo!
Monday, May 7, 2007
one doozy of a cold
I'm on the recovering end of one doozy of a cold (fingers crossed now) Wow. I'm weak just thinking about it. Last Tuesday I had a tickle in my throat and a useless kind of cough that didn't do anything about it. By Wednesday my voice was hoarse and quiet, and I still had that useless cough. By Thursday I was mute and I stayed home from classes, sleeping all afternoon and generally feeling under the weather. Still the useless cough. Friday morning I made it to class, with a little bit of a cough and some sneezing, but was so utterly exhausted by the afternoon I slept it all away. Friday night the coughing and sneezing started in earnest, and Kendall said I coughed/sneezed every 30 sec until 3:30 a.m. when I retreated to the living room to allow Kendall to rest. I myself didn't sleep. At noon on Saturday, Kendall got home from his weekend class and I still hadn't slept and was still coughing and fitfully sneezing. He went to CVS and brought home the equivalent of Dayquill/Nyquill. I took some of that, and was promptly asleep for 5 hours that afternoon. I called off my commitments for Sunday, slept 11 hours Saturday night, then 2.5 hours Sunday morning, another 2.5 Sunday afternoon, and a full 8.5 last night.
I don't like depending on pharmaceuticals to become better; I like to think I generally maintain my health with preventative action. I like to exercise, eat healthy, take my vitamins and act on first symptoms with rest. I prefer herbal supplements most of the time - I swear by oil of oregano to take on my ailments, and echinacea or ginseng to boost my immune system. I tried a mustard plaster to loosen up the phlegm in my throat (which it did, it did bring on the serious real coughs) But with this cold, it seems, once the cough came, I couldn't sleep without medicine masking the symptoms. And now I'm still on symptom-masking meds. For which I'm very grateful.
There's always a balance, isn't there? I don't want to medicate every problem; I want to give my body the chance to heal. I want to build up my immune system, I want to prevent illness as much as possible with healthy diet and lifestyle. But when it comes to a cold like this one, I am firmly grateful for whatever's in this Dayquill/Nyquill stuff.
I don't like depending on pharmaceuticals to become better; I like to think I generally maintain my health with preventative action. I like to exercise, eat healthy, take my vitamins and act on first symptoms with rest. I prefer herbal supplements most of the time - I swear by oil of oregano to take on my ailments, and echinacea or ginseng to boost my immune system. I tried a mustard plaster to loosen up the phlegm in my throat (which it did, it did bring on the serious real coughs) But with this cold, it seems, once the cough came, I couldn't sleep without medicine masking the symptoms. And now I'm still on symptom-masking meds. For which I'm very grateful.
There's always a balance, isn't there? I don't want to medicate every problem; I want to give my body the chance to heal. I want to build up my immune system, I want to prevent illness as much as possible with healthy diet and lifestyle. But when it comes to a cold like this one, I am firmly grateful for whatever's in this Dayquill/Nyquill stuff.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Thinking about thinking about moving on
It's nearing the end of the semester. We're graduating at the end of May! It seems phenomenal to me that the end of our seminary studies is approaching so quickly. I have so much more to learn! I have more questions to ask! We do have coursework to complete over the summer, though, so we will be able to pack a little bit more in 'under the wire' before we move on from here. But that date is fast approaching. And what's happening after that point is at yet unknown.
I find it an exercise in trust - day after day - to be confident that there will be a good life for us after the summer. That a position will open up for us, that we will have a good place to live again, we'll make new friends, that we'll have rich and fulfilling work... it's so much easier to trust when there's something definite in place. Which kind of defeats the purpose of faith, doesn't it?
I'm also noticing that I'm starting to 'shut down' in some ways emotionally and socially in this place already. It's a defense mechanism I have - if I start shutting down now, it might not hurt so much later to say good-bye. So I invite fewer people over, go home earlier, get less emotionally involved in a conversation or committee... and I make fewer social plans. Do you know what I mean?
It's not a good plan, really. We're still here for four more months! I need these people! I have a good life here!
So.... I need to be intentional about living in the present. The present is good. The present is accessible. And the present has many gifts to offer; I need not put all my well-being into the future.
I find it an exercise in trust - day after day - to be confident that there will be a good life for us after the summer. That a position will open up for us, that we will have a good place to live again, we'll make new friends, that we'll have rich and fulfilling work... it's so much easier to trust when there's something definite in place. Which kind of defeats the purpose of faith, doesn't it?
I'm also noticing that I'm starting to 'shut down' in some ways emotionally and socially in this place already. It's a defense mechanism I have - if I start shutting down now, it might not hurt so much later to say good-bye. So I invite fewer people over, go home earlier, get less emotionally involved in a conversation or committee... and I make fewer social plans. Do you know what I mean?
It's not a good plan, really. We're still here for four more months! I need these people! I have a good life here!
So.... I need to be intentional about living in the present. The present is good. The present is accessible. And the present has many gifts to offer; I need not put all my well-being into the future.
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