Oh Life

Is there anyone in the world now who has some plan of their life and it actually happens? Or are most people like me. You have some ideas of what you are doing at the moment and some glimpses of where you are going. Maybe. I loved what my Dad said a few years ago.... I was debating and thinking and basically trying to figure out my life and he told me not to worry. "To figure out what you want to do right now." Not thinking so far in the future.

It makes a lot of sense. I have no control over what is out there years down the line, like my life could somehow be mapped out. There are always things that change, opportunities that arise, or interests that don't seem as interesting.

And letting go of the idea of needing one congruent line of life, means you are free to make a much richer life, not bound to the line that you thought your life would be made up of. Instead you get to dance around a bit more. It is the understanding too that God's will is not one line that you have to try to stay on like a tightrope, but more of a field in which you can go where you go. I think too, as we chose different things and options, new doors open. Or things that we never thought possible suddenly are, or something that you never thought you wanted or didn't think was you, suddenly is.

There are people who do have very specific career goals, and places that they want to live. I envy them sometimes. Choice can be overwhelming. It can be so sweet though too.

So here's to life and whatever the season brings....

My Knight in Florescent Yellow

There is a crossing guard that stands on the corner of Monroe Street and Edgewood. He is great and very handy to have around. As I run towards him, "going straight over?" Me, "Yep." And so he steps in to the road, raising he sword (or stop sign in this case) and the cars obey and stop and I safely cross the street. Thank you very much crossing guy. He always seems happy too. Really neat. My knight for sure.

What is a life of prayer? What is praying constantly, like Paul talks about in the Bible? Perhaps it is living life with an awareness of God's presence. Like running being great time with God. Or living thankfully and generously. Living a life where people matter, where relationships are key, and where you are real. Reality in shortcomings and in joys. And perhaps the key is presence, being in the here and now wherever that happens to be. That would be the best way to see God there too. If you are not there (your thoughts are thinking about what you are doing later, or on your ten year plan, or daydreaming, or thinking about everything that happened yesterday), how can you expect to see him there? Living in the moment, all the moments, the big ones and the little ones too.

Snow with a 9 year old

Snow becomes alot more fun when there is a little kid around who loves it. My little sister and I had snow adventures. One the night of the 23rd, we had to move my car so that I would not get a ticket. It had been parked on the road and we decided to move it in to the garage. The problem comes that my car is not the tallest of cars. And the snow was just high enough to be a problem. So we prayed for safe travels, armed ourselves with scrappers and got to work. And got stuck turning around on the street. Then got to the driveway and got stuck in the end of it. Then finally got in the garage. After which, we did a victory dance and made snow angels. Great fun. And a bit thrilling as we were stuck a few times and I didn't want us to slide in to anything while she was in the car. (not like I want to hit things normally, but you know how your senses get a bit higher when there is a little person involved.)

She was a great help for the next few days of getting the ice off of the driveway and sidewalks too, until she got bored or distracted. Then we would have snowball fights or I would throw her in the snow. I hung her upside down over the snow. And dropped her in it a few times. Then I asked her if she wanted me to fall in the snow too, which of course she did. So I fell in the snow too. She built two snowmen. One for me and one for her. How sweet! Mine had tomatoes for the eyes and mouth, and a zuchinni end for the nose. There are sticks for arms. For the pictures that we took, she knocked the head off of her snowman so she could be the head. How do kids think of this stuff? Great fun.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

This is a good letter by Shane Claiborne.


What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

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snow day

Today is a day o' snow. Last night our upstairs and next door neighbors made a giant snowman, one that got taller through the night. The snow is beautiful and peaceful. It is interesting that in people, lots of snow causes several different reactions, panic, calm, excitement for days off, for snowmen and snowball fights, snow angels, etc. And the laughter and perhaps hot chocolate that goes with that. Also, people seem to be there to help each other during a big snow. People start shoveling and there is someone else there to help, or someone gets stuck and there is someone to push them out. Last night, two guys from work cleared off my car before I got to the parking lot and two others had to push my car that did not want to leave the parking lot it looks like. A time I wish I had a Jeep, plus how fun would driving around running over snow.

There was a snow plow that I saw this morning that got stuck in a driveway. Another truck with plow came with a chain and pulled him out. (which is really nice cause it turned out that the plowing person that was stuck was the one to plow our street)

I just love when people come out of their individualist selves to come together for something. It's nice. And helping in the snow is something that you can't help but do. And I love that a snow day makes every thing stop, everyone move slower. There are so many things that can't be done, gives you more time to rest, to reflect and to spend time in the snow.

Why I love soccer

On Friday during soccer, I was thinking about why I like it so much and I have a thought. I am sure that it is a lot of different pieces, including getting to run around, being on a team, having a schedule to getting some exercise. But what I really like is how much it relies on instinct. You move where you go, you go where you think the other people or the ball will be. There is not time to think, just act. It is very fun and freeing. Maybe a lot of the same things that I like about dancing, how you don't really focus on what you look like or what you will do next, moreso you are in the moment and moving within that. Oh how fun. Now how to live like that all the time?

You couldn't in some senses cause there are things in life that need planning and preparation, but the freedom of getting just be in the moment. I like it. I also like stealing the ball from the other team.

Dancing and Eye Makeup

It is hard to dance and put on eye makeup at the same time, in case you ever wanted to know. The trick is that you can dance harder when putting more color on the brush. Dancing should be done a lot more than it is. Maybe that just means that I need more little dance parties in my house, makes you wake up in the morning for sure.

And what fun. There is that quote where a part of it says to dance like no one is watching. Very fun and freeing. You could dance around looking like an utter fool and no one would ever be the wiser.

I found this on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM and there on tons like it. Times when it is choreographed for large groups to do some interesting dance together. Oprah even did one at here season premiere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRnuiKql-E I love the flashmob dance things. Somehow they are exciting.

One of my dreams is to have been in a musical movie, like singing in the rain, getting to dance the good morning song. Being the girl you get to wear a pretty dress/skirt and dance around. How fun! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA3OnIYW5u4

It is funny the odd dreams and interests that we each possess. If you had three wishes of things that are really not easily possible, what would they be? What would you do? Or where would you be?