four-ph of July

5 Jul
“He makes me melt like a popsicle on the four-ph of July,” Darla from Little Rascals
I did not melt on the fourth of July and can’t say I really ran across anyone who wanted to make me melt. (Though I did meet my friend, Kate, in Watertown because she wanted company when she saw Eclipse. I suppose it was a close call – shirtless Jacob would have made me melt if their theater hadn’t been so dastardly cold!)
I also thought about how I missed being in Edgerton for the fourth. Jenni’s annual fourth of July party. Allen’s birthday. Fireworks at Racetrack. Campfires. Those were the best nights, before we all moved away and grew up. Shucks.
I did have a good weekend though. I went to the explosive Fabric Warehouse sale in Willmar and came home with a few new projects to make. (Some of which I have already attempted and, yup, they have failed. Some epically, some not so badly.) I had dinner with a pair of congregation couples. Saturday was a good day.
Sunday I flew solo with worship, presiding at communion for the first time in regular Sunday worship. Now, technically, only ordained pastors are to preside at communion. There are a few outs to this and typically one only needs permission from the bishop of the synod and then all is well and good. We forgot to ask. Oops. Kendall was sure to give some advice regarding presiding at communion illegally, including (but not limited to) standing on top of the altar to avoid the congregation even realizing that I am not ordained (because they would instead be thinking something else) or standing beside the altar so as to avoid the lightning bolts God would send to smite me. I stood behind the altar (as one should) and survived. The entire service actually went off without a hitch. phew. I can do this.
I think I’ve been a bit burned out of late and last night was proof of it – I went to bed at 8pm and woke up at 10am this morning. (There was a brief period of time at 4:30am where I was wide awake … but then dead asleep again shortly.) Further prescription for my burned-out nature – I’m on vacation this week! I’m heading into the Cities today, hopping on a plane with my mother tomorrow morning and flying to Colorado to visit the older brother. Blog posts to resume next week!

Dear Father Time,

1 Jul
SLOW DOWN. I am refusing to acknowledge that today is July 1st. It cannot be possible. Unfeasible. Maddening. Why?
I worked at a campground for many summers of my life. The perfect summer job (except for cleaning the bathrooms – could have done without that). July 4th weekend was our second of three holiday weekends in the summer. It marked the halfway point of the summer for all practical reasons. If today is July 1st (I refuse to admit the truth in the statement.), July 4th is but days away. Summer is nearly half over. Not cool, Father Time, not cool.
July and August. That’s all that remains of my year-long stay in Dawson. Two months. I probably wouldn’t have said so last November, but this year has flown. As I was grinding my coffee beans this morning, so engrossed in the morning routine and familiarity of my life in Dawson, I realized that I hate the thought of uprooting again. The packing. The adjusting. Ick.
The goodbyes. The final evaluations. The leaving.
So, Father Time, if I may, just put in this request? Maybe to feel as if there are a few extra hours in the day. The ability to enjoy my days to the fullest. Extra laughs, learning experiences, and new adventures. A slow, lingering, extended two months. Please?
Sincerely,
Sweet Pea

today’s list.

29 Jun
Wear a gray t-shirt that I fashioned in this style under a favorite yellow cardigan? Check.
Converse via email multiple times with a friend who always makes me feel good about myself? Check. (As friends should … and even if she does live in Texas.)
Watch New Moon in anticipation of Eclipse tomorrow with Emily and her daughter, Hannah? Check. (That’s right. We’re going to wait in line. It will be an adventure.)
Do a little bit of (fun) grunt work for Kendall to earn my time off and my way out of Wednesday night services in order to see Eclipse? Check.
Bake a strawberry rhubarb pie for our staff planning retreat on Thursday? Check.
Three mile run? Check. (5k, Cassie!)
Visit and do more socializing than actual work today at church? Check. (It’s hard to not be social when Harry, the man who calls me Sweet Pea, is working the food shelf across from my office for the afternoon.)
Have an overall pretty awesome day? Check.

jam.

27 Jun

I try to make strawberry jam each year as a throw-back and in honor of my daddy, with whom I made jam many-a-summer. Actually, correction: I would pick the strawberries and make the jam. My dad was always in charge of clean up and quality control.
I honestly don’t even eat jam but every once in great while. I make it and share it. With the 11 pounds of strawberries and two handfuls of rhubarb I picked, it was jam time. This afternoon I walked in the Riverfest parade with the Grace Lutheran float and afterwards, the stove, potato masher, and massive amounts of sugar were my friends.
I made three batches of strawberry and rhubarb jam. That’s 24 half-pint jars. Sixteen and a half cups of sugar. Mmm.

garden update.

27 Jun

Riverfest wkend.

27 Jun
Oh, the emotions I felt throughout Dawson’s summer festival, Riverfest, this past weekend.

Accompanied: I drove to Watertown on Friday morning to meet up with my friend, Kate, and then we were off to Brookings to pick strawberries. $1.19/lb strawberries! Afterwards, I convinced her to come back to Dawson with me to partake in some Riverfest activities. Yes! She bought pajamas and a toothbrush at Target and then hopped in the car with me; I had a friend to accompany me to the festivities!
Loved: I love walking down the street and having people, especially kids, say, “Hi, Pastor Lindsay” or stop me to have a conversation. It makes me feel like I belong here and that I’m loved … well. At least liked. Err, maybe acknowledged is the best term.
Awkward: Kate and I attended the new gnome unveiling on Friday night and it felt a bit like we crashed a family reunion. I’ve been in Dawson for ten months so I recognize names and know a good number of people through Grace but the roasting and toasting of Dick, the new gnome, seemed like a family ordeal at times. Dawson is kind of like a big family … everyone knows each other and pretty much everyone is related in one way or another. (Below: The new gnome, Dick, only minutes after is was revealed in a very anti-climatic manner with a black garbage bag. Can’t help but say I was anticipating more but, for the most part, the new gnome lives up to my expectations.)

Comforted: We visited Jesus at the cemetery before the fireworks. Nothing like a little high-five action with the Savior.
Disappointed: My decorated gnome did not win. sad face. But at least I entered.
Caffeinated: Both Kate and I bought the reverend gnome mugs. Perfect for coffee. (Apparently there are gnome mugs for nearly each of the gnomes in the park! If only I had known, I would have started collecting!)
Embarrassed: Kate and I entered the two-person blind lawn mower racing on Saturday morning. (I am so not joking right now.) I drove blindfolded and Kate sat behind me and directed me through the course. In my head, the course went right; it was a circle to our right. We started out and I don’t think I was even really listening to Kate who was saying, “Left. Left.” because I thought I knew where to go and that was right. Oh my. Kate didn’t stop me or tap me on the shoulder or anything … so we went in a circle. Our time wasn’t so great but we did make it though without hitting any of the orange markers, even with our detour. Great laughs were had by all at Lindsay’ inability to know which way is left/right and her inability to relinquish control and listen to her eyes.
Fulfilled: Good weekend.

suzy homemaker.

22 Jun
Tonight’s agenda: Sew apron. Bake pies.

Tomorrow night is a fundraiser at Grace for the young men going on a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters at the end of July. It’s a pie auction. I figured I would do my part and contribute a few pies, even if I am slightly bitter that I initially planned the trip but am unable to go on it because only males signed up to attend. (Over it. It’s okay. Still hope to canoe the BWCA some point soon.)

It was only fitting that I have an apron to wear while baking so that was the first thing I did when I arrived home. I fashioned myself a simple apron and then went to work creating my dutch apple pie with oatmeal strudel and chocolate pudding pie. They are both new recipes so I have slight anxiety allowing them to be auctioned off, not really aware of the quality and taste of them. I spruced the chocolate pudding pie up just a tad with some water, sunshine, and a canoe out of white chocolate to go along with the purpose of the evening.
Apron sewn. Pies made. Dishes done. All while wearing pearls.

three things.

20 Jun
First. I decorated my gnome. Not sure if he’s winning material but he suits my bit abstract, bright color aesthetic. He is a happy gnome decorated with solely happy tape. ( … love my japanese masking tape.)
Second. A congregation member shook my hand before church today and said he put a container of fresh picked strawberries in my car. Fresh picked as in that morning before church. SO delicious and so much better than store-bought. Made up my mind. I am willing to drive 1.5 hours to a pick-your-own-strawberry farm to obtain massive amounts of such deliciousness. (The tragedy is that there isn’t one closer; southwestern MN seems void of the pick-your-own variety. I’m taking my business to South Dakota.)
Third. I used Pinky and the Brain as a sermon illustration this morning. I began, “Who remembers Pinky and the Brain?” One person raised her hand. Thank you, Sabrina. Pick-your-own-adventure, Pinky and the Brain … if it weren’t for you, I’d be nearly zero and zero for pop-culture references in sermons (like every confirmation class I had this past year).

Quilt accomplishment.

18 Jun

Another quilt behind me – a tshirt quilt for my sister that I have been working on since she delivered a bag of tshirts to me at Easter. I just kind of made it up as I went along, knowing that Emma wasn’t too particularly attached to the tshirts but thought a quilt for all of them would be cool. Pink sheets for the back and the sashing. Bright polka dots for the binding – yummy. I sent the quilt home with Ben and Emma received it today. I hope it keeps her warm.

ordination affairs.

17 Jun
I crashed an ordination last Friday night. The former intern at Grace – the intern before last year’s Lori (whose ordination I attended and participated in earlier this year) – was being ordained in Hector, MN. I’d never met Dale before, our paths hadn’t crossed on campus so I was a crasher. I was up for a road trip and social time so Keith, Gail and Karen picked me up and we were off on our 1.5 hour journey east. We met up with Tammy and Jon at the church and took over a pew; Kendall was there too but participating in the service.
I left the ordination with two main thoughts:
One. That will be me soon! The service was two hours long but you would have never glanced at your watch because it was so wonderful. The music was splendid and the entire service so engaging. It made me begin to wonder who will preach at my ordination. Who will I ask to participate? What kind of high-quality paper/font will I use for the bulletins? It’s hard to believe that after this long journey through seminary, as of next May, the scholastic portion will be complete. Then the first-call process. Whoa.
Two. I love my coworkers. Now, I knew this before but this night it was just super reinforced. A mini road trip with coworkers was a fun Friday night; I’m so glad I went. I loved sitting in a pew with them, enjoying the service together. Coffee and cake afterwards was a riot. I loved hearing them dream of the road trip they will take to my ordination (which I would guess will be at East in Cambridge). It’s an eight hour trip and I will expect none of them to make the journey … but will wholeheartedly love it if they make it. Maybe I can bribe them with cake pops.
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