drinking habits.

6 May
I’ve developed a severe drinking problem since moving to Dawson.
Coffee, that is.
I drink coffee every morning. Sometimes I use the coffee pot. Sometimes I use my french press. Whichever route I choose, I tote my travel mug along with me to work each morning.
I can think of worse habits but I fear my head is growing far too accustomed to this caffeine intake each morning. I used to drink coffee once in a while and, while living in close proximity to Starbucks and Caribous, my intake was typically sugar-loaded expresso once or twice a week. So really, the switch to regular coffee is better for the pocketbook and sugar intake. Right?
Some days it isn’t just mornings though. After I eat a meal, I sometimes find myself craving a small mug of coffee. I had the most lovely Sunday afternoon at my supervisor’s house with his family and other guests for a lunch following his daughter’s first communion. After lunch there was coffee; it perfected the day. I made a tortilla black bean soup tonight. Then what? I made coffee to sip as I mapped out my latest quilting project – a t-shirt quilt for my sister, Emma.
I believe there are a few reasons behind this drinking habit —
First, lutheran peer pressure. I’m lutheran. I work in a church. Coffee is omnipresent like God himself … not really but are you drinking what I’m brewing? Coffee is around. Available. Begging me to drink it. A lot.
Second, my coffee-loving coworkers. Tuesday staff meetings have helped me tolerate and, I dare say, enjoy some strong, bold cups of coffee. (In any mug but the blue one – that one is Keith’s.)
Third, church functions. What church function in Grace Hall exists without coffee? Answer: None. A few Sundays ago, Dawson had no power for a few hours on Sunday morning. We were aware that this outage was to happen; it was a planned move by the power company. We could have worship in a church with no lights or microphones; we could make that work. But the big question: Could we hold worship when there would be no electricity to make coffee for fellowship following worship? Don’t worry; a member went through much effort to bring a generator to church in order that the church service could still be broadcast on the radio and there was space to plug the coffee maker in too.
Fourth, necessity. Sometimes I don’t get enough sleep and the caffeine intake needs to be raised. For example, when I sleep for two hours at a lock-in on a Friday night or when I refuse to go to bed until at least one more quilt square is cut.

Happy May Day!

1 May


Lock-in #2

1 May
The list of fifth and sixth graders attending this lock-in kept growing – parents kept calling to sign their kids up. I would check the list in the main office every so often and by Friday, when we neared thirty, I grew terrified. Oh my. I wasn’t ready for the craziness; I wasn’t prepared mentally or physically for a night of little sleep, the running, the screaming … oh the screaming.

When the lock-in was in full swing, the total number was 37. We decorated flower pots, planted flowers, went on a scavenger hunt, ate snacks, and had free time. At this point, my coworker Tammy’s husband was a lifesaver. Jon took over the chaos of the free time and organized ridiculous relay races off the top of his head. It took a good hour and the kids loved it – perfect.
“Put the starburst between your knees and hop to the end of the hall.”
After Bible study, we let the kids run around a bit more before they were to be in their rooms watching movies. I taught them how to play sardines – the classic hide-in-the-church game. By 2:30am, it was pj/movies-in-your-sleeping-room time. Yeah … like that worked. I tried and some kids were asleep by 4:30 when I laid down on the floor. Others were not asleep and didn’t sleep a wink. Ugg. By the time I woke up at 6:15 to begin cooking pancakes, I could hear the non-sleepers getting anxious, running, screaming … and it started all over again.
Overall, it was a success. The kids had a blast. We completed a successful service project of delivering May Day baskets to our shut-ins. No trips to the emergency room. No lost children. The kids who attended left requesting another lock-in again soon. I told them they might need to find a new chaperone … I don’t think I’m cut out for lock-ins like this. (Small groups plus structured instruction, aka the first communion lock-in, are more my thing.) The lack of complete structure and the running/slamming of doors/screaming makes me go crazy. It was fun but I’m not always the most fun person with the above variables … lesson learned.

The mystery –

1 May
– is who left these outside my office door …

blog shout-out.

29 Apr
There’s no place like gnome received a blog shout-out on Our Little Slice of Happy, a blog I just discovered tonight. (I’m glad you commented on my post, Sabrina, so as to lead me into your blog world! And I have clothespins for you, as promised!) The blog is the humorous and sweet tale of C.’s family, written by his parents, Aaron and Sabrina. You’ll remember that C. is my good four year-old friend. We shake hands together. Play together. Generally have fun together. The whole family is wonderful! And remember how a few weeks ago I mentioned that I would miss the season of Lent? I loved reading that I wasn’t alone here and being reminded that Grace is a great church family!

Harland gnome.

29 Apr
Remember this from last week? Police recover Gnome. It was the breaking news on page nine in the Dawson Sentinal.
Harland, the gnome that has been missing for the last four years, has been restored to his original home, next to the feet of his gnome wife, Gladys. (Don’t you feel relieved to know this? Have you breathed a sigh of relief?) Harland and Gladys are both members of Grace, living together in the care center in Dawson. Harland was the manager of the grain elevator in town for many years, hence the prices in his hand. Oh happy day when a gnome has been returned to its gnome home! Now if we could just figure out where the hooligan teenagers put Gladys, all while hoping it wasn’t a velociraptor that took the heart-on-her-sleeve garden dweller … then all would be happy and well in gnome park.

clothespins.

28 Apr

Why WOULDN’T you want colorful clothespins and what COULDN’T you use these for?
I went a bit overboard – the clothespins came in bags of 50 – so why not cover, tape, and modpodge all of them? I’ll find uses for them, probably never all 50 at once but a few at different times. Comment on this post and tell me how you would use colorful clothespins and maybe you’ll find a few in your mailbox! (For serious! What am I going to do with fifty of these?)

rhubarb and spring.

28 Apr
I learned today of a mysterious rhubarb patch that is near my apartment building, apparently available and there for anyone in the apartment building. I hadn’t the slightest clue that this rhubarb existed until a congregation member, someone who doesn’t even live in my apartment building, told me about it.
Thus I came home and went on a rhubarb hunt with my kitchen knife.
I’ve always thought it was a small tragedy that when growing up on the farm, we had the largest rhubarb and asparagus patch, neither of which we ever ate in our house. Now I know that I love BOTH of the vegetables – apparently, I read that rhubarb is a vegetable? true? conspiracy? – and don’t have it so readily available as we did on the farm.
I found the illusive rhubarb patch … but was slightly disappointed. The stems are quite small … short … and I would need to pick an entire plant before I had much substantial to show for it. I still picked some and roasted the rhubarb so I can put it on yogurt. Maybe a rhubarb coffee cake for next week’s staff meeting?
On my little jaunt around the apartment building, I was struck by the different flowering trees which have suddenly came to light in the recent weeks – pink, red, and white – and was reminded how I love spring. The weather here has been so agreeable, so perfect. I’ve taken to walking to and from the gym and love the fifteen minute walk there and back in the cool night air. I wish the temperatures would remain in this range; I can do without 80 degrees and humid, which I’m sure is just around the corner.

my garden grows.

28 Apr

My garden is growing … somewhat miraculously.
The flowers are farther along than the herbs but there is finally a bit of green showing through with the chives and oregano.

handshake helper.

26 Apr
C. and I have spent a bit of time together lately. He likes it when I come over to his house to play and the feeling is mutual. I enjoy it when his parents invite me over to hang out. I’ve been over a couple of times for dinner and after-dinner games of car racing, I Spy, and Guess Who. C. and I, we’re pretty good friends now.
So on Sunday, the minute the closing hymn was over and “Go in peace; serve the Lord!” was proclaimed, C. left his parents and sister in the pew and ran out to the narthex to greet me. He threw his hands around me in a hug and then still wanted my attention as the rest of the congregation was leaving and trying to shake my hand – my hand that had a four year-old attached to it. I asked C. if he wanted to help shake hands with me. He nodded yes enthusiastically.
He stood next to me and shook every hand I did until the last congregation members had exited the sanctuary. I think the congregation members enjoyed it. “Oh, you have a helper this morning!” Apparently, C. tells his parents that he wants to be a pastor when he grows up. And a policeman. And a doctor. And a fireman.
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