a few more.

28 Jul

aunt kari, molly, aunt peggy, and trudy read at the beginning of the ordination service.
sharon photographs the scene from above.

paige and amanda read the charges.

grace presents me with a green stole which matches their paraments.  oh for sweet.

mommy and i.
cousins!
the pastor uncorks the wine.  favorite part of this photo?  sharon’s face!

a few photos.

27 Jul
More will follow!

laying on of hands.

the dawson sixteen-hours-in-a-car wonderful crew.

molly was my awesome acolyte.

giving of the stole.
a better glance at the stole, sewn by mom.

the ladies served a super classy reception.

with aunt kari and molly bea.

the grandparents.

a happy wednesday.

27 Jul
For a day that started off with me sitting in the lounge at the toyota dealership and shelling out a couple hundred bucks for needed repairs on Sprocket, it turned into a happy wednesday.  Why the happiness?
I finally saw the last Harry Potter movie.  Cousin Colin and I went in fear.  In fear that we would cry a lot.  In fear that we would be so sad that it’s come to an end.  In the car ride to the theater, we both said more than once, “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”  Ready or not, two weeks past release, we watched the Harry Potter saga end.  What did I think?  I’m still processing.
I received these in the mail today.  Quite honestly, they are more beautiful than I ever expected them to be. I love them.  I love them a lot.  [I’ve been crushing on these bowls from Anthropologie for well over a half year.  This set was bought as an ordination gift and shipped to me.]  I’m in love … with latte bowls.

I spent nearly an hour in phone conversation with a friend.  The reason for the call was not happy to begin but it was great to connect.  Miss her.
I received a reusable sandwich/snack bag from the Reilly clan [who are also behind the bowls!].  I’ve actually been meaning to sew a few of these – I think the idea of reusing baggies like this is genius.  Now I’ve received one that matches my lunchbox in theme – gnome.  The sandwich bag reminds me that gnomes also walk their dogs, have gardens, play trumpet, and may possess creepy teeth.
I drove back to Madison tonight to pick up my younger brother, Ben, from the airport which he arrived at via bus.  This is my brother who moved to Alaska a few months ago and is making an appearance at home for the auction this weekend.  He flew out of Anchorage and into MSP early this morning.  His first flight out to Madison was cancelled.  His rescheduled flight was cancelled.  Apparently, no other flights existed and so at 5pm – five hours after he was originally scheduled to arrive in Madison – he boarded a bus to get to Madison.  Poor guy.  But fun to see him and catch up!  [Did you know they don’t have thunderstorms in Alaska?  There’s your fun fact for Wednesday.  I had no idea.]  Right now it’s a shot in the dark but there might also be a bit of Alaska adventure for me in the next month.  You see Ben has a car here.  He wouldn’t mind having it in Alaska.  Enter Lindsay with a wide-open August.  I might take a tour through Canada to Alaska with my brother’s Subaru.  The idea has only just surfaced … but here’s hoping it might work!  [With maybe a stop in Havre, J&M?  According to google, it would only add two hours to the drive.  So worth it!]

love.

26 Jul
You think to yourself, “Could this girl blog any more than she has in the last few days?!”  
[Don’t challenge me!]
Here’s what I think: I’m still processing that day when that one thing called ordination happened.  As I process, I blog.  Not to mention, now that the ordination planning is behind me, what else am I supposed to do?
In the process of it all and in talking to the call committee chair at Red Oak Grove [hereafter to be called ROG], I will not move until Labor Day weekend.  I will begin work that week and lead my first worship service on September 11.  [Sounds like a great idea, right?  On the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11, I will preach to a church of people I have yet to know.]  That means one more month at home.  One more month to … shrug
So there’s that.  And then there’s the fact that I feel a little … sad that the day is over.  There was so much build-up [um, four years?] to that day and now, it’s over.  In the past.  Behind me.  I knew that on that day I would see friends and family and we would celebrate.  Celebration over.  As my favorite resident in my CPE nursing home would say in her raspy voice, “Now what?”  [“Push Margie?  Feed Margie?”  She would also tell me on occasion, “You talk too much.”  That may apply here as well.]

That being said, let’s talk a little bit about this word love.
This word has been a part of the last few days in many different ways.  I had written earlier that I felt so supported and loved on that day.  [True story.]  Whether the word was said verbally or not, I felt it.  Then I started to say it and hear it in all sorts of places.
From my college roommate, who has taught me a lot about saying “I love you” aloud, something I have always been timid to do; now it’s how we end our phone conversations.  I yelled it to Cassie as she left that night.  “Love yous!”  [She responded with a “I know.”]  In the card I received from my tweeds.  [Tweeds: pet name for Sara.  I call her that and she calls me Schmoopsie.]  At the end of an email from a Dawson friend and in the text message I sent to another Dawsonite [and meant to be shared with the whole sixteen hour crew.  she’s just the one I normally text.].  At the end of a message, combined with a “God loves you,” and at the conclusion of my video ordination greeting from friends.  A “love ya” that was signed with a “ME” in a facebook message, and a “We love you, Lindsay” from the Bananas.
As Hugh Grant says in the beginning voiceover of the movie Love Actually, “If you take the time to look, you’ll discover that love is, actually, all around.”
I’m looking.  I’m looking to name it already present and to grow into it.  It’s still a tricky thing to say, and it can be a tough bridge to cross.  It’s something I still hope to discover in one sense of the word, but also something I feel my life is filled with in another sense.  It’s found on tip-toes and shouted from roof tops, and it’s not an easy thing to always talk about …
And …
… I end this post, having confused myself, forgetting the point I initially wanted to make, and for fear of getting a little too sappy.

a portapotty post.

26 Jul
It’s an I’m-just-not-sure-what-to-do-with-myself kind of day.  
I went to target to purchase note cards to mail off, but moped around the store for easily 45 minutes before actually checking out.  Then stopped at a quilt shop to see if I could find a quilt cleanser for these babies.  [I stopped at this quilt store a few weeks ago, looking for fabric for my red stole.  The woman who I spoke with today remembered me and asked me how my ordination was.  For nice!]  
A two-coffees kind of day.  A little obsessive over facebook day.
A spray painting wooden roosters day.  [Speaking of roosters, I died laughing at this blog post.]
I went to the jewelry center at the mall.  Gal pal, Kim, and her husband, together with her parents, bought me a Pandora bracelet for my ordination.  I found out there is a gnome charm.  Done.  [The woman who helped me asked if I collected gnomes.  Um … I guess so!]

And then I came home to find this in our yard.  Classy.  [We’re hosting an auction this weekend.  I promise a portapotty in the yard is not normal.]

I’m baking a cake in an attempt to make these tonight, as per request of a friend throwing a baby shower.  Wish me luck.  Mine likely will look nothing like the picture.  [But mine also won’t cost $48/dozen!]

But first, I think I might take a nap.  Sleep has not been my friend these last couple nights.  [After I put a second coat of paint on the roosters, of course.]

a gift.

26 Jul
I was showered upon with hugs, prayers, cards, love, and gifts at my ordination.  [yeah, yeah, yeah, lindsay.  you’ve mentioned this before.]  It’s true.  I want to share one of these gifts with you.  It’s one that came wrapped like this:
The same way in which I wrapped Lori’s ordination gift from Grace last year with old, old bulletin covers that still hang out in the copy room.  They’ve come in handy!  [I still remember carrying the ugly, tacky box into Lori’s church and putting it on the floor by all the other gifts.  The preaching pastor for the ordination, one Pastor Mary, was standing nearby and she sincerely complimented me on the wrapping.  “Oh.  Oh!  That’s so nice.  Wonderful.”  Really, Pastor Mary?]
Inside of this box I unwrapped while sitting on the grass outside, surrounded by the Grace folks and others intrigued by such folly [I probably attracted over by reading the card aloud with such emphasis and emotion.], were many things.  Many things.  Not pictured are the gifts from the 50th anniversary of Grace that happened this past June.  A cookbook, notecards, and an ornament.  Super cool.  Then there were these things –
A bat catcher.  Something every church/pastor needs.  [What will I do when I don’t have a Batman to catch the bats at Red Oak Grove?!]

A “cooky” pastry press.  Lynn showed me how to use it.  It’s for ladyfingers, eclairs and more.

A purple gingham apron, a piece of really strange red and green fabric, a purse/pocketbook thing [for church keys, I guess], and a new sewing book.
And, naturally, new cardigans.  Three to be precise.  A light pink, fleece gray, and a knit pink.  They’re only slightly sketchy and likely need to be washed.  [Courtesy of the thrift store in Dawson and excellent thrifting done by the staff.]
Good job, Grace.  Good job.

‘naners.

25 Jul
You know about my ‘naners, right?  [Dancing Bananas/high school friends/ring a bell?]
I was so grateful that three of them were able to celebrate with me yesterday.  And herein is the only group photo I took of the day –

[Krissy, right, insisted that she stand there and her twin sister, Kim, stand on the left so it would be a Poff sandwich.  I argued that the Poff girls should have stood in between the bread of Lynn and I because who has a wheat sandwich?  Rye?  No.  You call a sandwich by what’s on the inside.  Oh well.  One battle I lost, obviously not influenced or helped by the magical powers I received earlier.]
Many of you were snapping away and for that I am grateful!  It would be super awesome if you could email me the photos you have so I can blog, facebook, and print them off to share!  [Please and thank you?]

formal vs. casual.

25 Jul
I meant to blog about this a few days ago but, well, time slipped away.  Something about an ordination?
I received a package towards the end of last week.  The return address was Stillwater; the last name was Gieseke.  I knew I was in for a treat.
Inside the package was a bag of all sorts of practical things any pastor needs.  Emory boards, whale playing cards, note paper, glow sticks, and more.  Plus a can cozy.
Yes.  A can cozy.
This can cozy was designed especially for me, to showcase both the formal and the casual sides of being a pastor.  You’d best bet I put it to use last night in the celebration at my house that followed the ordination.  Both formal and casual characters were documented.  I’ll let you figure out which is which.  Good luck.

crying and smiling.

25 Jul
There’s that Dr. Seuss quote that gets around – “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”
That’s not working out so well for me in regards to [whispers] the ordination.
It’s not all tears – I am smiling.  I’ve been smiling since guests began arriving yesterday.  My friend, Sara, arrived to my house early afternoon yesterday, followed by Cassie.  Dawson folks arrived at church shortly after [including a wonderful surprise as Sharon walked into church!], and then congregation members, call committee people from Austin, family, and more friends.  I smiled when Keith, the custodian from Grace, greeted me with a smirk, a hug, [note: oxford comma] and a “Sunshine!”  I smiled when Miss Molly Bea [my 6th grade cousin and goddaughter] conquered her public speaking fear to read during the service.  I smiled when my mom put the stole around my shoulders, and felt great moments of support and comfort through the hands that were laid upon me.  I smiled when Kendall said, “I’ll be right back,” dipped down into the pulpit, and came back up with three gnomes to teach us lessons.  [More on that to follow.  I will share the gnomes and the lessons with you!]  I smiled during the special music and when I handed bread to my cousin, Sam, during communion as he giggled.  I smiled at how lovely the ladies of the church set up the reception that followed, complete with fancy coffee servers and a quilt/prayer shawl gift for me.  And many hugs.  So many hugs.  I love hugs.  It was a good day.  [More stories certainly to follow.]
But now this morning, I’m crying too.  I cried in the days leading up to the ordination, causing me fear that I wouldn’t be able to remain dry-eyed during the service.  Miraculously, I did.  [I recall this from my last Sunday in Dawson, too.  It’s not because I’m a rock and have no emotions – I think my body holds out on me and keeps me pretty level-headed when I’m in front of people.]  I’m crying because it’s over and because of all the people who traveled and supported me on this day.  I felt so incredibly loved yesterday!  I’m crying because for the last few weeks I’ve been able to say to many of my geographically-distant friends, “I’ll see you soon!”  Now I don’t know when I’ll see them next.  I cry at the wonderful notes that people wrote in the cards I received [“Lindsay, You have been on my daily prayer list for years and you will continue to be on that list.”], and cry at how wonderfully my friends from home and family [some of whom are not so favorable towards church] tell me they’re proud of me and support me.

It was a big day.  A good day.  An emotional service and wonderful celebration.  A ginormous thank you to all those who came, who hugged, who participated, and who were thinking about me yesterday!

I felt the love.  Thank you.

[want to hear a rap about the ordination?  of course you do and my rapping friends, Joel and Melissa, provided!  it’s awesome.  as usual.  “so/ the sun is setting as I write this rhyme/ can you believe it’s almost time/ four years at seminary/ a couple interviews/ hey/ did you hear the great news?/ Lindsay Stolen gettin’ ordained on Sunday afternoon/ near the end of July/ the month after June/ with joy we dance to a little tune/ your feet hit the floor/ the plans have been made/ cold oatmeal with almond milk/ is your breakfast of trade/ a robe called an alb/ a stole/ you’re a pastor/ how the time flies much faster/ how do you feel? … well we’ll just ask you/ you’re a firework/ a dance party rocker/ blogger extraordinaire/ a tight rope walker/ so what we’re trying to say/ through all these words and phrases/ may God bless you this day and always/ for new trails you blaze/ peace and love to you.”

AND if you weren’t able to attend, here’s a section of the service, lovingly prepared and taped by my soon-to-be southeastern MN colleagues.  they’ve already invited themselves over to my house for dinner on sept. 12 and much shenanigans will ensue.  thanks to Lauren, jD, and Paige for this creative greeting!  I am blessed with such awesome friends, all around.  seriously.]

[the sound?  the baptismal font.  love it.]

it’s here.

24 Jul
I’ve been a bit absent [again] as I’ve been busy preparing for today.  [and for a cousin’s graduation party yesterday.]
It’s here.  It’s time.  People are on their way …
[whispers]
the ordination.
I’m nervous as all get out.  But excited too.  It’s down to those last minute details like where the clergy will vest and who will use what microphones.  It will be okay.  God will show up.  I will be ordained.  There will be many tears and much rejoicing.
Prayers welcomed.  Stories to follow.
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