Tired

I'm learning to be okay with people hating me. Not easy, but it's a lesson we all have to learn, I suppose. It's just hard when it's two menopausal women that you work with--rational thinking is out of the question.

Two Beauties

Ray LaMontagne's Trouble: Buy it and love it with every ounce of your music-appreciating being.

An Unfinished Life: Rent and savor it. Then buy it and share it with your friends.

More Praise for Emmanuel UCC

I’ve been exploring churches in the Oconomowoc area in an attempt to actually attend a church within my community, but none seem to fit like the UCC church in Dousman. I think I need to just suck it up and make the drive out there. Here are a couple of indicators of health that I perceived this last Sunday, which was “Bring Your Pets to Church” day.

1.) The service was held outside with our respective dogs, cats, and even horses. The service’s hymns spoke of God’s love for all of creation, and children helped lead some of the songs.

2.) One hymn referred to God as both Mother and Father—something I find to be invaluable, as both work as metaphors to speak of the nature of God . . .and to be in a church that values the suggestions of both means a lot to me, as I’ve encountered a lot of resistance to this in the past. Thank you, Emmanuel UCC. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

3.) During the service our pastor had us bring our pets/animals to the front of the gathering, and she prayed over and blessed each one. Afterwards, each received an appropriate treat. Carrots for the horses, dog chews for the pooches, and whatever you give to cats. Dima helped himself to the treats’ bucket before she could even pray for him, which brought laughter to everyone else and complete embarrassment to me.

4.) Later in the service, Nancy then had the children go spread bird seed. I love that the children are learning that caring for animals is vital to our understanding of our relationship with God and the nonhuman world. It will teach them not to exploit their surroundings, and that life is much larger than themselves as individuals. I’m game for any church that stresses the interdependencies of this world . . .agriculture, wilderness, human care . . .and to find a church that finds value in implementing this respect for the land and its inhabitants to its future generation brings me hope.

5.) The service handout’s front page was a drawing from one of the kids with the title “God loves pets.” Each week they try to showcase artistic expressions from the children. How empowering for the kids—to foster creativity and acceptance on a community level . . .LOVE it! And for them to have individual time in the spotlight is also important.

6.) The multi-generational community. To find church congregations that vary in age these days is rare.

7.) And finally, St. Francis of Assisi—love the man. He was referred to in the service and we recited one of his prayers.

They also gave horse rides to the kids once the service was over. How fun is that?

So with all of that said, I’m finally venturing back to church with a sense of excitement instead of dread.

Planes, Motorcycles, and Mini-Vans

A couple of weekends ago my dad's side of the family got together for a mini-family reunion in South Bend, IN. Above is my uncle Bob in Man-Toy Land. In his personal hanger (yes, for airplanes) is his tool shop, kayaks and airplanes he has built for himself, motorcycles (the latest a BMW touring bike which is a mighty smoothe ride), fishing boats, and I'm sure a lot of other crap that isn't really crap. He also hiked a portion of the AT last year, so he was eager to show me his backcounty gear that is stored there as well. His latest project is building a hutch for his wife, Rita, and naturally, we were shown all the tools necessary for the task. I do believe an obsession with projects runs in my family . . . . Look at him, he looks like a 5 year old boy in a McDonald's playland.
Bob decided to take me for a flight in his plane and even let me fly a little. We flew over a portion of Lake Michigan and surprisingly got clearance to fly over Notre Dame. Seeing Touchdown Jesus and the stadium from the air was incredible.
Airplane seatbelts . . .Bob had to strap me in like an infant. I tried to figure them out myself but I can only do so much with non-descriptive words like "That--there. No, no, that . . .there!"
My dad and mom (Ron and Dottie) with little Danny, my cousin Jenny's baby. He's a sprawler when he sleeps and especially enjoyed the comfort of my dad's gut. Jenny and her husband, Sean, give me hope for happy marriages. Fingers crossed, they'll settle into the Milwaukee area.

Well, onto other business on the internet, like paying bills and email.

Current . . .

Current read: A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson.

Current song of choice: Just Another Old Love Song, by Joe Purdy.

Current thoughts surfacing and resurfacing: All decisions involve loss, and the fact that happy endings don’t happen according to fate or some random circumstance—they involve a commitment to making hard decisions and discipline . . .oftentimes they require compromise and self-sacrifice.

Current anxiety: going back to Greek and Hebrew. My Greek is incredibly rusty, and Hebrew is an entirely different game that I haven’t played before.

Current question: Do I look for a job at the hospital in Oconomowoc to save a chunk of change on gas?

Current hope: that everything will work out at The Nashotah House for my MDIV.

Current surprise: how much I love Oconomowoc and its endearing “Parade of Lights” (pontoon boats dressed up like parade floats—themed and blaring music—parading through City Beach and past the docks), band shell concerts, art festivals, and May’s Garden Center (great deals on flowers and watering cans—also home of Dima’s treats and dog food).

Current other hope: that my cousin’s husband will take the job with Harley Davidson and move to the Milwaukee area. Then I could be a pseudo-auntie to their new baby boy, Danny, and hang out with my old partner-in-crime, Jenny.