This blog was written by three beautiful ladies. All in their twenties, these gals were studying to be pastors, a profession most typically associated and dominated by the male sex. Men. And – truth be told – old men at that. Obstacles, questions, and musings resulted as they confronted, negotiated, and played the system, aka ‘the man.’ The system of seminary, the musings on being young leaders, the questions of being fashionable in church leadership. [Yes. It is possible.]
Big questions. What does it mean to be female and a pastor? What will it mean to be a young female leader when a church – unintentionally out of necessity – requires that you fear not bats and their inevitable reign in the education wing hallway? How high of heels is too high when leading worship?
The three beautiful ladies sought to answer these questions, to share fashion fascinations, and to talk about life in general. A new blog was born. [Plus there was that whole class project assignment that needed to be fulfilled …]
Megan, Cassie, and I are just starting out at Steeples & Stilettos. The site was launched on Friday with introductions and the beginnings of what will be. It will be ever-changing and we hope to keep it going with our life thoughts and church experiences long after we graduate.
I rambled on and on about Pinterest a few nights ago. But did you get it? Do you grasp how this site can change your life?
Because I can’t get over how flipping awesome this site is. It’s all things gorgeous, amazing, and delicious. Clothing, recipes, and home decor – oh my. The home decor. I’m so very excited to have a home to decorate in [hopefully] a few short months.
On that note of homes of my own, these links for the weekend are all about home decor.
Pinterest is a site on the interweb [just ipod it] that – if I dare say myself – is a heavy contender to replace my google reader. It’s like google reader for pretty things.
I don’t even know how to explain and don’t care to admit how much time I’ve wasted on it in the last few days. I read about this site initially many months ago, requested an invite to the Pinterest community [I feel like that comes with a nose snub of sorts.], and, once I received said exclusive [not really] invite, it was lost in the waves of endless emails that is the constant moving sea of my inbox. Basically, I forgot about it.
Until yesterday when I got lost in the beauty of this new site and online community. You create boards of different subjects/items/themes. For example, I have a ‘recipes’ board on which I pin recipes I find on the web. When I pin a website to my board, a picture from said website shows upon the board. There’s little text initially on my board – just pretty, pretty pictures.
You can follow other people’s boards. See something you like on their board? You can repin it to yours. [And this is how it becomes the pretty google reader.]
Confused? I was at first too. If anything, take away from this conversation that Pinterest is pretty. You can visit my boards [I tried to upload a screen capture of what it looks like but failed.] and, if you’re even further intrigued, message/comment and I can send you an invite [raise nose in air] and you can join the Pinterest community too [if you promise to follow me].
Until you visit [or not] my Pinterest site in its beginning stages, see here three of the favorite things I’ve found so far via my latest pinning:
Baked cookies. Which was only halfway on the giant to-do list. [Halfway? Yes. Halfway. It’s a secret. Shh.] [And giant to-do list? Yes. Keep reading to the post that follows in blog order but preceded chronologically.]
I had the dough already in the freezer. The marshmallow fondant was already made. [Why do I have marshmallow fondant just hanging around? It was for – you know what? That’s not important.] THEN, when I came across this blog last night, it was meant to be.
I’ve had these message cookie cutters for a while now – I made a pretty big deal out of them while I was on internship. They are lovely but my struggle comes with decorating. Enter fondant.
All in all, it was only an hour detour from my to-do list, since the dough was already mixed, fondant already prepared, and I’m choosing to make the dishes wait. Now back to it.
After such a downer of a blog post a few nights ago, I feel motivated to feed you those lollipops and rainbows at an alarming rate. So much color and happiness and group hugs that you’ll want to want to sit alone in a room with white walls, rocking back and forth while murmuring things like, “No more unicorns,” just to get away from it all. Then, just when you’ve had too much, I’ll hit you with another downer post and – no. Totally kidding. Not part of my evil plan. (My evil plan remains a secret at this point in time.)
Truth be really told, this is a bit more engaging than beginning that two page paper that’s due tomorrow morning at 10. (… which I promise to start as soon as I tell you about crepe paper, okay?) Have I told you how I’m ready to be done with school? Right. Check. But in all seriousness, I say thank you again for the support. I received a ‘for cute’ email tonight from a woman in Dawson that I didn’t know read my blog – a note of encouragement and one that reminded me that my Grace family is behind me all the way. The cutest and so encouraging. (Thank you to Sharon!) I can and will do this, faithful blog friends!
Ready to hear about crepe paper?!
Crepe paper is a standard party decoration that – quite honestly – can make me cringe. I think it can be used in fun ways but you’ll typically see me stay away from it. Quite far away from it. Maybe I just can’t twist it properly. or something. But in general, not a fan.
However, this I could get on board with … you know what’s coming next, right?
You can sew crepe paper! [Credit for the photo and the idea is given to this blog. Coolest thing about it? It suddenly becomes sturdier with a seam and two layers so you can roll it up and use it again.]
How lovely.
I also found this to make crepe paper all fancy-like. It calls for sheets of crepe paper (which I never knew existed) but I think you could use a roll of crepe paper and take an xacto knife to it. The whole roll. I mean – be careful when you do it but I think it could work on some level. [I take no responsibility when you slice your hand or lose a finger. Simply an idea. I will, however, write a really long and depressing blog post when I probably stick my thumb with a blade while attempting. I’m good at posts like that. After the blood dries, of course.]
[you know that’s a joke, mom. right? ps mom. engage me on either of these decorating ideas and emma will have the classiest high school graduation party ever come june. plus graduation cap cakepops.]
The food processor (which I love, btw. you’ve heard me profess my feelings for this kitchen appliance previously.) has pretty much remained on the counter for the last few weeks, rarely returning to its place of storage in the pantry closet. What do I use it for?
This.
So delicious. Today it’s my ‘recovery’ drink after kenpo karate/quick dinner before heading off to confirmation in Stillwater.
Half a cup of greek yogurt. One cup of frozen triple berry fruit mix. Half a cup of OJ. Half a cup of water.
Ta da. That’s it.
And so delicious. [did I say that already?]
I came across this post a few weeks ago [this one too] and have experimented with smoothies a little bit since then. I tried carrots. That was a fail … too chewy. I’ve tried a bit of instant oatmeal. (I love oatmeal.) I also love the idea of adding some Carnation instant breakfast for a little extra punch, esp. if the smoothie is my breakfast, but I cannot find it in vanilla. Only chocolate. Something tells me I don’t want to add chocolate instant breakfast to my triple berry mix.
Oh. Right. The blog posting I wrote in crankiness and frustration last night, and then hit “Publish” with some sort of ‘stick-it-to-the-man’ attitude.
Thanks for reading, friends, and thanks to the many of you who commented, sent messages, and asked me how things were going. You are all so wonderfully supportive and the way in which you support me is proof of the community that is built and grows through such a silly thing as a blog. Blog. The word is just funny to begin with … but in all seriousness and slightly as an aside, this blog has helped me form and maintain relationships in a weird but really cool way. [As one who often struggles to let people into her life, it’s this crazy thing where you can learn about me and my life virtually; that somehow puts me at ease when face-to-face. But enough about that for now. Perhaps more in another blog post in the future.]
As for today, what comes to mind is a favorite quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail – said with a choppy British accent – “I got bet-tah.” [See video clip at the end of the post to bring light to this quote if you’re unfamiliar. Also, you should watch the clip if you would like to learn what else floats in water. Spoiler alert: Churches and very small rocks.]
Today was a better day. I won’t say that my confidence has completely been restored or my feet entirely steadied, but I think I might wear the yellow shoes tomorrow, Sabrina [see comment on previous post], to assert the unique feet that are my own/unique person that I am.
That is the truth – that each person is unique. Even better – that’s the way God intends it. [A lesson I love exploring with kids. I should practice what I teach.] I so easily get caught up in comparing myself to others that I forget to be myself and be content with who I am. [Okay. I can’t help it. Another video clip that comes to mind. Dawson peeps: Are you really surprised? Hello, Joyce?]
I am a seminary student but I don’t consider myself an academic. I’ll never teach at the college level, nor do I have any desire to work towards a doctorate. That’s not me. It’s not where my gifts are. I love [nearly] all aspects of congregational ministry and despite the lack of confidence and momentary freak-outs [which I guess will only be more frequent as graduation grows near – I apologize in advance], this is what I’m called to do. I learned that last year more than ever, but this year – returning to an academic environment which I feel is not my strength – it’s a struggle to remember that.
It’s no joke when I say that I have Kendall’s [my internship supervisor] and my internship committee’s final evaluation paragraphs of my year propped upon my study table. I think I need to be reminded – when I seem to lack the confidence and strength – that other people believe in these gifts I’ve been given and have witnessed my joy in ministry. Perhaps when I’m called upon to explain my CYF thesis to a class of highly academic classmates, I need to forget the comparisons, and simply “do my best and forget the rest.” [That’s what Tony Horton says. Who knew P90x and seminary classes had anything in common?]
In conclusion: Today was bet-tah. And thanks, blog friends.
Here are some of my favorite finds from the week —
This made me so excited. Now I can make my own scratch-off cards! (I will admit that I found this tutorial over my lunch today. I went snowshoeing and then had the supplies – under the Joanne Fabrics clause of my no-buy January – in my possession by 5pm. I have attempted. And it works. Gloriously. The wheels of creativity in Lindsay’s head are spinning.)
Do you like Nutella? I think I first experienced Nutella while in Greece and since then, cannot purchase a jar because I eat it. (I realize that’s the purpose.) How easy and delicious does this homemade version look? And how pretty packaged in mason jars.
The St.Paul Winter Carnival begins this weekend. Who doesn’t want to sit in a chair made of ice?
I’ve added another new blog to my blog roll on the right – stolen fotos. You should probably check it out.
It’s my elder brother’s second blog. And, as the title admits, he is stealing beautiful photos from the web and claiming them as his own! gasp.
Just kidding. [The name puns do, in fact, get old but I still engage them.]
[Sidenote: The best name story involving my older brother? He loses his wallet while in college. Calls campus security or police or something. “I’d like to report a stolen wallet.” “Okay, sir. What is your last name?” “Stolen.” “Sir, what is your last name?” “Stolen.” “Sir, I know it’s been stolen but I need to know your last name.” We often joke that how great would it have been if it was my younger brother – not if he lost his wallet – that would be unfortunate – but the story would have been good. “Can I have your name?” “It’s Ben Stolen.” “Yes, sir, I know it’s beenstolen but I need to have your name.” oh har har]
Right. My brother’s blog. He travels a lot for work [lucky] and for fun, and his camera is his travel buddy. This new site is a collection of his photos, often edited in an awesome fashion. We’ve never got along too well in the past as we live on opposite ends of every spectrum (politics, religion … you know, the big ones, plus the fact that he speaks fluent sarcasm) but I’ll do him this advertisement. Plus, we like each other more now that he lives in CO and I in MN.
Moral of the story: new blog. go there.
[late addition – Matt [the elder brother] brought this video to my attention again. Obviously, no direct relation to my younger brother. Except that is his name …]
Thanks for stopping by! I'm Lindsay, a Wisconsin gal, current hospice chaplain by day; one who loves to quilt, cook, create, garden, travel, walk our two doodles, and write, in addition to a million other life-giving verbs. If you read this - and I hope you do! - it's likely to be a bit unpredictable; probably an odd mix of crazy adventures and random projects with a little emotional venting sneaking in through the cracks. Step into the crazy; it's fun inside.
there's no place like gnome. 
