Thank You Notes

Abundance

2011-07-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

There are days when I feel like nothing I have hoped for or planned will be coming to fruition anytime in the near future. Happily, those days are far outnumbered by days filled with reminders about how very much I have been blessed with - things that have nothing to do with me, and everything to do with grace. I spend lots of time planting seeds - whether in the form of ideas, or because I work with young adults, or offering up a sermon, or literally as I try to get my yard and garden to be productive, or in lots of other ways big and small.

But then there are the volunteers . . .

Volunteers are both the folks I am so very lucky to have the chance to work with and for AND they are the happy surprises in the garden. I am surrounded by people who willingly and graciously give of their time, their ideas, their energy, their hard earned money, and so much more to make possible the ministry I get to help make happen. I love that the same word is used to describe the un-planned plants that have taken root in the yard - like the unexpected color that I found when this lily just decided to show up in the front! First of all, seriously? How amazing is it that I live in a place where a LILY will just pop up in your yard unannounced. Now, the woman who lived in this house before me liked to plant things, and it is more than likely that she put that bulb in the ground at some point. But this is my fifth spring/summer and this is the first time they have shown up.

Another volunteer in the yard is rhubarb.

Now I know my predecessor planted this, but by all rights it should be dead. The dog chose it as his favorite place to run (read: stomp), so it has been flattened multiple times. AND there was a windstorm that took out the fence, so not only did a fence fall on it, but the guys who built the new one trampled the few meager plants that had survived with their heavy work boots. But the next year, it came back. And this year - it came back with a vengeance!!! I have now harvested three batches of rhubarb, and it looks like there will be more where that came from. Consequently I've made rhubarb pies*, rhubarb chutney (two kinds), rhubarb sorbet and some is frozen for later.

A volunteer that won't give up - happily, the rhubarb isn't the only one in my life like that. I'm grateful for all volunteers in my life - the human and plant varieties - but especially for those that stick with it - even when things get hard.

*My favorite is still rhubarb red berry pie -recipe follows - mmm mmm good!

Rhubarb Red Berry Pie
1 recipe of double-crust pie dough of your choice unbaked

3 - 3 1/2 cups (about 1 1/2 pounds, untrimmed) rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
2 cups strawberries, hulled and halved if small/quartered if large

2 cups raspberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small bits

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll half of pie dough into a circle and carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie plate.

Stir together rhubarb, strawberries, sugars, lemon, salt and tapioca in a large bowl.Pour filling onto bottom pie crust and dot with butter. Roll second half of pie dough and place it over top. Trim any excessive pie dough and crimp the edges. Cut slits into top crust for vents.

Transfer pie to a baking sheet (so it can catch any drips). Bake for 20 minutes then reduce temperature to 350 and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until the pie is golden and you can see the juices bubbling.

This is the hard part - let it cool for at least 3 hours so that the juices can settle and the tapioca can work its magic and firm everything up. It is yummy served with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

In theory the pie can keep for up to 3 days on the counter top . . .but it usually doesn't last that long!

Thank Heaven for Little Girls!

2011-06-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

Taken almost a year ago when little sister was born

Currently I am a bit like a small child asking, "how much longer?!?" almost every day! You see my sweet nieces (and their mom and grandparents) are coming for a visit in one month's time - and I can hardly wait. I find myself gathering up fliers and searching the internet for information about story time at the library, special nights with fun for kids at the minor league baseball games, children's theater in the park, etc. etc. Plus, while they are here, little sister will be celebrating her 1st birthday - so a party is in order. I know we will have fun as I get to show off the Williamette Valley, the coast and our wacky little city. I'm grateful for family and can't wait to have them here in my home!!!

Let the Sunshine In!

2011-06-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

Living in a very wet part of the country, I have learned that most of my life I took sunshine for granted. I like the rain, and I like having more distinct seasons, but come May or June for heaven's sakes I'm ready for some warmer temperatures and I want the sun to peak through the clouds! Running the heater and/or building a fire inside is a little annoying, even if some folks try to make it sound all cute by calling the month "June-uary".

So, I was VERY grateful to have been invited to a destination wedding in Florida this June! Having almost a week where my main duties included:

1. Sit outside by the gulf, read, sip on icy drinks, apply sunscreen, nap, hop in when you get too hot, repeat . . .

2. Sit outside by the pool read, sip on icy drinks, apply sunscreen, nap, hop in when you get too hot, repeat . . .

3. Spend a day at the spa, sitting outside by a private pool, using the whirlpool, getting a foot massage, drinking fru fru tea that will detoxify you, etc.

4. End every day in a lovely room with this view of the sunset . . .

All of that vitamin D and R&R mixed with time to spend with friends laughing and enjoying really fresh seafood . . .well, let's just say it does a body good! Plus, while I was away, the sun decided it might just be time for summer here, too! Hurrah!

Crunchy

2011-06-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

I was always the kid who got teased about my hippie tendencies - I read Ranger Rick magazine and worried about how we could take care of the planet. In high school I was the wierdo that thought littering was a bad idea. In college I was a member of a club with The Lorax on our t-shirts, we started the campus recycling efforts. And I've been THAT person who has campaigned for equal rights, advocated eating less meat (radical for the granddaughter of a cattle rancher) and pushed for locavore eating, less waste and reducing our carbon footprint. I even had one friend in college who called me "Janis" as in Janis Joplin, not because I have ANY of her skills, but because I was that particular young Republican's "hippie friend".

So living in the Pacific Northwest has been a bit of a shift for me. Instead of being a wierdo, hippie, leftie, crunchy-granola type . . .I'm kinda main stream. In fact, I'm pretty middle of the road and my square lifestyle might even be right of center here. You see center shifted when I moved to the left coast where marijuana and patient assisted suicide are legal in a town with multiple hookah lounges and a community where I know one person who lives full-time in a tree and several whose utilities are completely off grid . Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing. It has made me think more, stretch more in a new direction. I have had to define positions and consider stances that I sort of took for granted. And that is a good thing. Anytime we have a chance to consider what we believe and why, to engage with others in thoughtful discussion, to encounter those who are different from ourselves - I think that is a good thing. So today I'm grateful for the crunchy types.

Plus, I've gotten lots of hints on improving my granola recipe - here is the latest version, adapted from a version I got from Alton Brown:

Golden Granola (pictured above)

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup whole raw almonds

1 cup hulled, unsalted sunflower seeds

3/4 cup shaved, unsweetened, dried coconut

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar. Add maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine well and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an evencolor.

Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add dreid fruits and mix until evenly distributed.

Let cool & enjoy. Keeps well in airtight container. Yummy by itself, on yogurt, etc.

Getting My Hands Dirty in the Meantime

2011-05-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Lots is happening to keep me busy these days - and there are many reasons to be completely stressed out. But the thing that is helping keep me "grounded", pardon the pun here - is playing in the dirt. These are the new garden beds in the yard - specifically these are the guys filling them with dirt since I don't have a pick-up in which to haul that much soil, our local supplier helpfully sends folks around with truckfuls of the stuff and a handy hose to put the dirt right where you need it. That happened earlier this year. Then I had to wait, and wait, . . . . . and wait some more for the weather to warm up just a bit. This lesson of patience had applications in those other areas of my life, the stress inducing ones, as well as in the garden. But it was just the beginning of Patience 101.

Finally it was time to plant.

Asparagus Crowns

I planted lots of things - vegetables and herbs to keep the new fruit trees that are just a year old company- but the one veggie that I am most excited about is the asparagus. These wacky looking roots called crowns are planted a foot deep on mounds of compost and carefully tended. As each little shoot pokes through the couple of inches of soil layered on it, more dirt is added until the soil is again flush with the top of the bed. They have finally stretched up high enough that the soil is again level, and they've even begun to peek out through the top - and though I can't harvest any actual edible asparagus from them for at least a year, and probably two - I am excited. They are a tangible sign of hope for a yummy spring meal, in a year or two. This plant for me is a reminder of things happening in their own time.

There are SO many things in my life that I want to be happening sooner rather than later. There are projects that seem to be having trouble launching, and new friendships that seem to be taking forever to really feel like they are beyond the aquaintance stage, and personal goals that seem to be moving at a snail's pace. I don't think I am any more impatient than the rest of us in our instant gratification society- but sometimes I just get a bit annoyed that not all things work on MY schedule. In the meantime, the good news is at least I'll have salad greens soon . . .

Peeking up from the ground are rows of sugar snap peas, arugula, spinach, lettuce . . . and herbs in the wine barrels!

A garden, especially one with asparagus planted, is helping me remember that I can do my part to prepare the ground, plant some seeds, put down some roots. I can tend things and feed them and try my best to make it all work. But in the end, it isn't all up to me. Part of it is up to powers beyond my control, and part of it is simply waiting for the right time, the appropriate season. So I'm trying to wait, and for the time being as I wait for my garden to grow, I'm grateful for good friends, for things that are going well in the here and now . . . . and, of course, for the Farmer's Market.

Radishes & Leeks

Salad Greens

Local Mushrooms

Chard

Light

2011-01-31T12:04:00.000-08:00

Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon Coast - photo from the Internet

There are lots of people who bring light into my life. I am blessed to have a loving family, great friends and I get to work with college students who are a neverending source of hope and grace. One of the groups of people for whom I am most grateful right now is the board of directors for the campus ministry where I serve. I often hear of really disfunctional boards, people who at worst seem to derive pleasure from the personal tormenting of my colleagues and at best are well meaning but incompetent. I had the great blessing of inheriting a highly functional, compassionate board who not only care deeply about both God & college students but, amazingly enough, also about the campus minister. They are always willing to pitch in whether it is a fundraiser or mowing the lawn - dealing with the forever on the fritz boiler or campaigning for support from the larger church. AND on top of all that, they do so with laughter, love, joy and enthusiasm - even when they have lots of other things on their plates. THEN on top of all that, they reach out to support me - just when I feel discouraged or tired, I'll get a kind message, phone call, dinner invitation, etc. from one of them. They are always there with a kind word on top of all their personal time and service.

This weekend I had the opportunity to unwind at the Oregon coast. One of my board members and her family own a cottage there - and they invited me to use it. This isn't the first time they have shared this wonderful little spot. I've taken students here for retreats, it has been offered for use when friends and I were looking for an affordable get-away - and then they periodically just say, "hey, you wanna go to the coast?" Who would say no?!

To top it off, the weekend was lovely - there was even gorgeous sunshine and blue skies. It was the kind of weather that inspires walks along the pounding waves into town, where you can wander through fun shops, stop for fish tacos (made by the same family business that owns the ship that went out to catch the fish that morning), and check out the amazing colors of all the creatures in the tidepools - seriously, starfish come in some pretty wacky shades. I could listen to and watch those waves forever - with each "whoosh" you can feel the stress of life washing away bit by bit. . . you breathe a little deeper . . .all the little things that are driving you nuts get brought down to size, and you realize they really are just little things. What a gift.

I am truly grateful for each one of these people, and grateful for the time to stop and remember the things that matter in life - which of course aren't things at all. Jesus said we are called to be the light of the world, I'm glad my board members aren't afraid to shine!

Sunshine on my shoulders . . .

2011-01-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Living in the Pacific Northwest has made me more aware of the relationship between weather and mood. It has also taught me the importance of Gortex and waterproof shoes! The darker and wetter days of fall, winter, and early spring bring on a kind of hibernation. People still get out and do things - if the sun behind a few clouds and wet weather were allowed to stop us, there would be little activity between October and June! However, folks are less social when the clouds blanket the sky. You get invited to fewer potlucks, there aren't as many neighborhood get-togethers. Instead you see smoke coming from everyone's chimney as we all go home to get warm and dry. It all makes me hungry for homemade soup, a good book, a blanket and the sofa!

But the flip side is how WONDERFUL it is when the sun comes out. Yesterday I noticed my Texas friends talking about how cold it was there - how everyone was hunkered down at home. For fun I compared the temps. It was, within 4 degrees, the same temperature here - but here it was a "NICE" day. Why? Not because it was any warmer, but because the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly (something I know I took for granted in the Lone Star state). Folks still had on rain jackets, or carried a precautionary umbrella and the ever present warm cup of coffee . . .but they were out and about, making eye contact with one another rather than hurrying through the rain.

So, today, with the return of the gray wet weather - I want to stop and say that I for one am grateful for sunshine!

** BTW - the graphic at the top is from a fun blog called "Indexed" where many facets of life are boiled down to a vin diagram or graph. You can check it out here.

Roots

2011-01-15T08:49:00.000-08:00

As much as I love the city I live in now, I am also grateful for the small town where I grew up. My parents still live there. In the city limits is the church where I learned that it is ok to ask questions as well as sing praises. The teachers who taught me to read, and write, and who held my hand while I struggled through chemistry were all a part of that community. The children's theater program that gave this little drama queen a creative outlet and a source of much joy and helped me through some of the more awkward parts of childhood.

And it is the kind of place where people really know each other - which can be good and bad, but is mostly good. And you can't get away from it!

Last night, here in the Northwest country about 2,000 miles away, I went to a house concert. I LOVE house concerts - a chance to hear independent singer, songwriters doing what they do best in a setting where you can chat with them at the break. They are more likely to tell stories about where they come from, where their songs came from; there are shared laughs and tears and even food and drink in potluck style. Hard to find a better way to spend an evening. So, anyway, I was at this concert being put on by a great singer, Beth Wood, who is also a Texas gal transplanted to this part of the world. I first heard about her from a friend (and amazing singer/songwriter in his own right) David Lamotte. On his recommendation I have been listening to her music for several years now, so when I heard that she was appearing at a house concert here I jumped at the chance to go.

The evening was all it I could hope for and more. Of course, here in hippie-ville, it was held at an great house that lives on an organic farm. So the pre-concert announcements included information on obtaining fresh, free range eggs (when the hens start laying again after their "winter break"). Folks were encouraged to bring a dish to share and something to drink - the table was laden with yummy food and there was plenty of good wine - and then there was the fabulous music! Beth was wonderful. You can hear her singing and learn more about her here. And she had invited Sara Sample to join her - so glad she did! Love to hear and fall in love with someone's words, melodies, and heartfelt vocals. You can listen to one of my new favorites here.

Then, to top it all off, Beth's parents were there to visit. I chatted with her dad at the break. He said they were from "west of Fort Worth" . . . and after a couple seconds more of conversation I discovered that not only do they live on the lake where I spent my childhood summers playing, but that my parents had been to their house for some concerts and that his wife had my phone numbers with her because she ran into a family friend at the grocery store who made sure she had them before heading this way. I told you - you can't escape the connections!

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

New Year, New Name

2011-01-11T16:28:00.001-08:00

So . . . I've been a bad blogger. The point of even keeping this is partly to help keep in touch with friends and family who are far away, and partly to encourage a discipline of writing things down so that I can remember them. But I get busy, and I'm not sure if it really matters that I keep it up, so I put off posting anything. And then I'm frustrated cuz I have some fun pictures and a few mildly interesting stories that I know I'll forget to share next time we are chatting on the phone.

Hence the new plan, I'm going to try to turn over a new leaf this year. First things first, while I still care a LOT about faith, friends, family & food (and I'm sure they will make appearances in the days to come) . . . I think the new name "Thank You Notes" is a better fit. The plan is to use this space to make note of the things for which I am grateful - or at least some of them, cuz I have plenty of things for which to say THANKS!

To start the year off, I am grateful to live in such a fun, wacky town. The kind of place where vehicles like the one seen here are commonplace. Where it isn't always clear if someone is dressed for work or a costume party. Where most people who has how you are doing, are genuinely interested and wait for a response. I am mindful of this today because of the way the whole place came together in support of the local college team as they played a bowl game last night. They didn't win in the end, but it was so much fun to sit and laugh and cheer and . . . yes . . .quack with strangers of all ages as we watched in restaruants, homes and bars across the city. Some folks are sad today, but regardless of the final score, our strange, fun little city and their beloved team have a lot to be proud of -we have our flaws, but it is never boring!

Seattle!

2010-08-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

So right after my time in Minnesota I flew back to the northwest - but not to my hometown. Instead I landed in Seattle because I had the chance to connect with some friends for a couple of days. My friend Karen and her dad had been in Alaska fishing the week before - and since they are from New York City I didn't wanna miss out on seeing them on this side of the country! Plus Kirsten, Janna & her kids joined in as well.

Of course we had to see the Space Needle - in fact it was quite close to the MarQueen Hotel where we stayed. It is a fun place that once little apartments for mechanics back in the day. We had fun hanging out in the hood - fell in love with the Metropolitan Market (great snacks and good, cheap wine :-), and generally acted like tourists.

We also spent some time on Bainbridge Island - which you have to take a ferry to get to. I think taking a ferry ride with little kids is maybe one of the more fun things to do in the world!

Plus we found the super yummy ice cream spot on the island and had a great time enjoying fabulous treats in the sunshine! What fun it is to explore a bit of a city along with good friends!

Presbygeek

2010-08-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

In July, I had the opportunity to head to Minnesota and join with lots of other presbyterians as we converged on the city of Minneapolis for our General Assembly. Actually, I got to go a bit earlier for the Campus Ministry Summit, held at Macalester College in St. Paul. That was a great chance to see colleagues from all over the nation, hear from our keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Steve Haynor (new prez of Columbia Seminary) and generally enjoy time with others who "get" why campus ministry matters. The time together was good fun, worship coordinated with folks from "The Table" was wonderful - check them out at http://www.thetableatcpc.org/ - and it was all over much too quickly!

But for the uber-presbygeek there was still General Assembly, so I crossed the river to Minneapolis. I was officially there as an exhibitor for the group PACHEM (Presbyterian Association for Collegiate & Higher Education Ministries). There was much to do - between daily worship, hanging out schmoozing in the exhibit hall, connecting with presby-friends from all over and testifying on behalf of campus ministry I kept busy. I even got the chance to grab a meal with the pastor from my hometown church and another friend from the presbytery where I grew up.

Some explanation - for those of you who don't speak presbyterian, the General Assembly is our big national meeting that happens every two years now. We gather, worship, and have big meetings with representatives from all over the country where we vote on all sorts of things. It is what we do to prayerfully discern who God is calling us to be & where God is calling us to act, pray, etc. in the world. A presbytery is a regional grouping of churches - the one I grew up in is called Palo Duro Presbytery, named for the beautiful canyon found in the panhandle of Texas. And the reason these two guys are holding their fingers up by their heads is that the restaurant we picked was called Hell's Kitchen. Which we found amusing since we are all presby ministers - therefore the devil horns - I know, I know, but we were amused! And the food was AMAZING - I totally recommend it to anyone headed to the twin cities!

This is only the third GA I've been to - and I find them an interesting mix of meaningful worship, family reunion, business meeting, and politicking. But regardless of whether I find the day uplifting or frustrating, I can't deny that this is my faith family and I enjoy getting to see us in action. May God bless the work of my fellow presbys, now all back in their home congregations.

Summertime

2010-08-10T23:28:00.001-07:00

So I haven't written here in quite a while . . .but that is because things have been busy here. The summer started with what may be one of my favorite things about living in Oregon - the STRAWBERRIES!!! This year we had a particularly wet, chilly spring - so the wait was long. We prayed for sunshine so those little red yummy berries would ripen, and eventually they did.

There are lots of small, farmer owned u-pick places in the area. This year the place I went to had six varieties, each one sweeter than the next. These were all destined for either my tummy or the freezer, so the morning was spent picking Raniers, Shuksans and Bentons. All delicious and so sweet. I honestly don't remember tasting sweeter strawberries before the move to the northwest.

Berry picking was always something that sounded sort of Laura Ingallls Wilder - something you might do on your way home from the one room schoolhouse. I have learned a few things that reading the "Little House" books didn't teach me. For one thing, it is best to pick in the morning, before things warm up. And you need to bring something to carry your berries home in - preferably something not too deep, because if they are in more than a layer or two they get squished, and that is a sad thing to find when you get home after scootching around in the ground picking berries all morning!

To me the summer really starts when strawberries are around - so that is how my summer started, one lovely morning out listening to the birds sing picking strawberries galore . . .and enjoying strawberry shortcake for dinner!

A Touch of Texas

2010-06-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

This hoosier cabinet is now living in my dining room. I had been looking for something like this for awhile, and this one found me by way of Craig's List. It was a lot cheaper than similar ones I'd seen in antique shops and it fits in the space, so I was excited to bring it home. Imagine my delight at finding a note from the previous owner in it, saying that she acquired it while living in Wichita Falls, Texas! She said it was used as a display piece in a gift shop where she worked and that it was the only piece of furniture there to survive the big tornado of 1979. Little did she know that I grew up just an hour from that city, and I knew people who lost their homes in that storm. And now, here I sit admiring the "new to me" cabinet that survived the big one.

I liked the cabinet to begin with - I like having furniture that has a history. I like imagining the pioneer woman who used the grinder in the cabinet to make flour so she could bake bread on a wood stove. I like thinking about how she might have stored the food she put by to feed her family in it. It might have made a trip in a covered wagon, or lived in a soddy. And now I know in addition to being a useful piece of furniture for a few generations, it made the same trek I did from Texas to Oregon. AND it survived some seriously stormy weather to get here - I like having a survivor in the house. And I'm looking forward to adding to its stories!

Um, maybe it's more than a little spill . . .

2010-05-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

All of us are guilty of helping to create a world that demands the use of so much oil, gas, coal . . . . instead of just being angry at BP, maybe we need to figure out what we can do in our own lives, to change the system, to protect the planet.

God of Creation, have mercy upon us.

Riding the Waves

2010-05-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like most about living in Eugene is that it's only about an hour to the coast. The Pacific Ocean in all its glory, rocky coasts, lighthouses, amazing seafood, beautiful sunsets, whale watching. It is truly awe-inspiring. Every time I make it out there I wonder why I don't go more often. It makes me almost as happy as it makes the dog! He can't get enough of running on the beach, playing catch with the driftwood sticks.

Being there puts things into perspective for me; helps me to remember what really matters. It seems like a week doesn't go by lately without news of someone getting sick, a friend's death or someone's kid going to the hospital. Spring is supposed to be all about LIFE, but the news I've been hearing is darker. The ocean helps me to remember that while big waves are scary, they are also amazing. That there are whole worlds about which I know not one thing. It helps me remember there is more out there, and I'm not in charge of it - for all of that I am grateful.

Planting

2010-04-17T17:08:00.001-07:00

This spring has been filled with planting. I feel as though most of my time has been spent on things that won't bear fruit for several years. The most obvious of those is the yard. Last fall, with the help of some guys with strong backs and a few friends who wanted to give plants a new home, almost every plant in the yard was either relocated or sent to become compost for the city. Practically the whole lot was then covered with newspaper and/or cardboard and LOTS of leaves to smother the weeds and anything else that might grow. In the meantime, a talented landscape lady drew up some plans so that the yard can one day be low-maintenance, lovely and also produce more stuff to eat.

Now that spring is here it is time to begin making those drawings a reality. So far there are some new flowers, a couple of hedges,4 blueberry and 4 huckleberry bushes, a fig tree, a plum tree, a quince and 6 dwarf apple trees. There is still a CRAZY amount of planting that needs to happen in the coming month and in the years to come, but it is starting to take shape. However it will be a couple of years before any actual harvest happens. In the meantime, there have been some lovely surprises. Not everything got smothered as planned. There were some persistent bulbs that wouldn't be discouraged by a few layers of cardboard and a foot and a half of leaves. So, much to my surprise, there were some hyacinths and tulips and daffodils - quite the Easter lesson. Even in a yard filled with rotting leaves, bursts of color happen, spring happens, Life happens.

At the same time, I have spent hours in meetings planning and dreaming and hoping as we work to plant the metaphorical seeds so that the campus ministry can become self sustaining. That project will also take some time before we see results - fall 2012 is the goal.

So, we plant, and we water (sometimes with sweat, sometimes with tears), and we hope and we wait - and in the meantime, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for signs of Easter hope.

Using My Voice

2010-02-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

"She's so quiet, hardly ever says a word" . .. those of you who know me can guess these words have NEVER been used to describe me. I think I might have started talking before I was home from the hospital. I was always a chatty child, getting in trouble for talking to my neighbors in grade school. I preferred to think of it as just being friendly - after all, we weren't sharing answers or anything, just visiting because we were already finished with the assignments.

From the time I was in second grade I was involved in theater - a place where having a good strong, LOUD, clear voice is appreciated, thank you very much! (I actually remember being pleased that in that context I wasn't considered loud, I just projected well. ) In high school I even competed in talking - well that isn't what it was called, but I ask you what else is a speech tournament?

Now I'm a minister - so some people might assume I talk for a living. And preaching is part of the story, but more of it is listening. However, I don't shy away from a chance to speak - whether from the pulpit or in a classroom. Heck, I even talk in my sleep.

But here is the thing - even though I don't seem to have a problem speaking, never have, I sometimes have a problem speaking up. Maybe it is because I am usually a rule follower, or because I tend to want things to go smoothly, or because I often assume someone else knows more about something than I do- whatever it is, I have found myself wishing that I had said more sooner in a few situations lately. They all relate to a person I have to work with regularly. And the frustrating thing has been that when I do speak up, when I have tried to make myself heard - it seems to fall on deaf ears. Which would be annoying enough, but THEN when it turns out I was right (ok, I'm not always right, but go with me here), when the dust settles and what I had to say would actually have made things better - it is as though I never said a word.

Now, I'm not hoping for a big scene wherein I am proclaimed wise and all knowing by this person. I'm not even looking for an apology for being ignored. But I would think that after a few times I might have a LITTLE bit more credibility there! Of course, when I take a deep breath and think about it, I cannot lay all the blame at that person's feet. I might have qualified my opinions a bit too much and undercut the strength of what I was saying. I might have waited too long to say something, hoping for just the right timing.

The thing is I get frustrated not only with this situation, but with myself. So the irony is that the loud girl has to find her voice. I have to figure out how, in this situation, to make myself heard even when it might make things difficult for me, even when it is hard, even when I have to shout to be heard. Because I do have to work with this person - and I CARE A LOT about my work. And I will NOT let this person's inability to hear me affect what it is we are hoping to do in our ministry here. So, I'm working on finding my voice, on speaking up, on speaking out, on making myself heard - even if my voice is trembling I will find a way to keep saying something.

The poet Taylor Mali (www.taylormali.com) has a little something to say about this - hope you enjoy it, it inspires me!

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

best friends

2010-02-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

On this Valentine's day when there are hearts and flowers and chocolates all around I am grateful for friends. I have lots of friends in my life. It's a blessing really - the number of people who I care about and who care about me. And it isn't just the kind of "friend" that counts because you read their facebook status updates (altho that has been a delightful way to reconnect with folks I must admit). No these are not the kind of people one might "un-friend". These are the folks who I know I can call at 3a.m. if I need to talk. We can talk about what we hope for, what we are disappointed about, the things that we would just burst if we couldn't share them with someone, and the things we wish weren't happening at all. We talk with one another when we can, send round-robin emails to catch up with one another, and just keep talking and laughing and crying and sharing and caring in one big ol' conversation that has now lasted for well over twenty years.

I remember when I was a kid worrying that I didn't have a "best friend". It seemed to me like all the folks in the books I read, on the tv shows I saw, in all the good movies, had a bff. Someone with whom they shared EVERYTHING. That wasn't my reality. I had friends, people to hang out with and play with - there were lots of Barbie dolls and pretend shows. There were sleepovers and birthday parties and fun memories. But it wasn't until I was older that I started finding forever friends.

Some of them were people I had known for a long time, but it wasn't until we were all older that we truly got to know one another. Some of them were people I met in college. People who seemed to speak the same language. Even though we were from different places, different family situations, studying different subjects - we could talk and laugh and cry together. This tribe is one where I have always felt free to be exactly who I am - and I love all of them for exactly who they are, too.

There are lots of songs and poems and cheezy cards being circulated today celebrating romantic love. To be clear, I'm a fan of that, too. But I think we sometimes undervalue the gift of real friends. So on this Valentine's day, I'm thankful for the genuine love of good friends because, near of far, I cannot imagine life without them!

staying power

2010-01-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

These words are carved on a small wooden doorway at the top of a small stairway leading to a little, cell-like room in a tower - it is a lookout at the front of an old church at the abbey on the Isle of Iona. It was in this little room that the monks took turns watching and waiting. It wasn't like a castle lookout tower with a warning bell or a place for weapons to protect the place. It was situated so that the person who was "on-duty" could let others know when someone was coming to the abbey. The purpose of the watch was to welcome the stranger.

What must it have been like to wait and watch, to pray and try to stay awake as you looked for someone, anyone, who might be coming your way? I admire the resolve to welcome the strangers, and find it speaks volumes that this was part of their daily worship - just as much as leading the psalm-singing or planting the garden or carefully illuminating a sacred text.

Waiting is not my strong suit. Like most 21st Century Americans I have been conditioned to expect instant results. Hungry? Well there are any number of "fast" food places, and even if you cook you can be eating in 30 minutes. In Love? There are drive-thru wedding chapels only a flight away in Vegas. Wanna be entertained? You can instantly stream a variety of films, tv shows, etc. Curious about anything? Google it. Want something you can't afford right now? Charge it.

We all know, at some level, that waiting can be a good thing - but that doesn't mean we like it. 2009 was, for me, a year of waiting. We have been looking for ways to do more ministry, to reach out to more students, and (most pressing) ways to afford to keep this outreach alive. We have good ideas, and lots of dreams. But, for a variety of reasons, the timing hasn't quite worked out. So . . . . we keep praying, we keep planning, we keep dreaming - and because we are Presbyterian we keep MEETING! Lots of meetings! All of that adds up to LOTS of waiting.

Waiting to begin what we feel called to do in order to give new life to this ministry. Waiting for the right plan, the right team, the right vision. Waiting to welcome more students. I feel like I've been in that watch tower for MONTHS - and I can see, in the distance, a whole group of students heading our way. But the sea keeps changing and their boat can't quite reach our shores yet.

Frustrating? YES! But not without hope. We continue to listen, to hope, to pray, to work, AND to wait. And deep down I believe that all of this will happen in God's time. And when it does, we (like the monks) will be waiting to welcome in the new faces, tired from their voyage, looking for respite. I just need to figure out what those monks did to keep from going crazy in the meantime!!!

Wait on the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; Wait for the Lord! ~ Psalm 27:14

feeling small

2010-01-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

There are times when I feel particularly small - which is funny, because I have always been a big woman, even at my skinniest. But when I stand looking up at tall trees, or out at the ocean, or into a clear night sky, or at a mountain range - I feel small. When I hear about how many people are hungry, homeless and cold in our county, I feel small. When look at children existing on what food they can collect from the city dump in Nicaragua, I feel small. When the news is filled with a tragedy like the one in Haiti, I feel small.

Small because I wonder what can one person do, really, to make a difference when there is so much pain in the world. But then, then just when I think I might be small, I hear voices raised in hatred and blame - like Job's friends, let's blame the victims. Let's vilify the immigrants, the homeless, those who have just watched their island home crumble, who even now are digging family and friends out of the rubble. That is when I know who is really small - those who have little love in their hearts.

Then I am reminded that we are all children of God - we are empowered to be the light in this world. We can't change it all by ourselves, but we can do our part. And if all of us speak up, act up, give, help - then it CAN make a difference. I am reminded of Mother Teresa telling folks that if there are those who are poor or hungry in this world it is because those of us who have more than we need haven't shared with others.

This weekend we mourn the tragic loss of life and hope in Haiti, and we think about the life work of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Maybe we don't remember the names of all the people who worked in the Civil Rights movement, but the fact of the matter is, no matter how gifted, driven, and passionate King was, the country changed because LOTS of "little" people were willing to join the movement. They gave money, time, energy, respect of the status quo, and some, like Martin, gave their lives. Some things are worth giving it all.

I'm not sure how all this fits together, but I think it does. It is something about living for reasons bigger than us, reasons like love and justice. It is something about hearing the call to love our neighbors, to be the salt and light in this world. It is something about remembering even in the face of darkness and fear that love and light are greater. It is something about doing little things for big reasons, even when we feel small.

a crabby new year

2010-01-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming 2010 with some dear friends. We spent the weekend at the coast and made the most of one of the best years ever for dungeness crab! They were ENORMOUS and amazing - you didn't even need to dip them in butter, mmmmmmmmmm!!!!

What we couldn't eat went into an amazing seafood gumbo the next day - it pays to have friends who know how to cook! We got to watch a storm roll in from the comfort of the cabin (in front of the fire!), watched movies, played games and then went for some walks along the coast when the weather let up. All in all not a bad way to start the year, in fact I think it would bode well if the year follows that pattern. Out enjoying the beauty of nature when you get the chance, great meals from the bounty of local food, friends who will ride out the storms with you. Can't ask for much more, can you? Happy 2010 y'all!

let it snow!

2009-12-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

BEFORE

I can't believe Christmas day has come and gone! I love the holidays and I am truly enjoying living in a part of the world where lovely evergreens abound! This year was the first time in my life I have purchased a REAL tree - a beautiful Noble Fir. It came home the first Sunday of advent and has graced the living room ever since. It will be sad to see it go after epiphany! But even as great as it has been to be surrounded by yummy smelling greenery, I think my favorite thing about the holiday season may be the baking. I LOVE to bake - but rarely make time to really make pretty things. With school out and Christmas music playing, I get excited to make all sorts of cookies and breads and candies. The ones that really feel like Christmas to me are the gingerbread cookies. The smell of the spices baking fills the house and makes me feel like a kid! Plus, while all my relatives in Texas are getting cabin fever from all the snow, we haven't seen a single flake . . .so we just made some! Hope your holiday was filled with things you love!

AFTER

the color of Christmas

2009-12-16T09:09:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite classes in college was called, "The Faces of Jesus". In it we looked at a variety of stories, art, the gospels, and people around us and discussed where in them we could see the face of Christ. While the class presented options that varied from Renaissance paintings to a rabbit in a story to a sick person in the nursing home - the one thing we agreed on is that the image of Jesus isn't a static one. It isn't like an iconic photo of a model or rock star. But you might not know that if you grew up in the USA in a white protestant church. It seems like the main visual representation we get of Jesus in most churches looks a bit like this:

the only variation being that sometimes he isn't so tan, he might have more blonde highlights and in some cases the eyes are blue. Now I know that artists, and all of us really, are bound to imagine this One person, this Emmuel, this One in whose image we are created - looking a bit like those around us. So there are images of Jesus from all cultures, with different features, hair color and cut, clothes, etc. But I wonder if those of us with the most power and privilege in this country might benefit from thinking a bit about what it is Jesus might have looked like in the flesh. He was after all a middle eastern man.

Scientists who have tried to put a "face" to this middle eastern Jewish carpenter from about 200 years ago have come up with this image:

I'm not saying this is any more accurate than the Sunday school Jesus, but it helps I think to add this one to the mix. Just as it helps to look into the faces of ALL the people of the world to get a hint about what the image of God might look like.

During this season we are bombarded with images of the baby Jesus - but as you may have noticed, many of those little babies in the mangers are white babies. Maybe it isn't a big deal. Maybe it is just that we all imagine the Christ, the one who was and is for us, as looking like us. There is a Christmas song called, "Some Children See Him" that talks about that. It says that all children see the baby Jesus as looking like themselves. It speaks to Christ's ability to touch us all, regardless of race. But I wonder if those of us who are no longer children might get that message more deeply if we saw images that did not look like us. Maybe in an age of racial profiling, in a day when all middle eastern men are presumed guilty, in a time when most of those we have locked in prison are people of color - maybe it wouldn't hurt for us to think of that little baby as a little brown baby rather than a white one.

when life gives you lemons . . .

2009-12-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

One of the best things I have gotten to do since moving to this part of the world is a class I took through our local county extension office. Upon the completion of the course, which covers canning, drying, and freezing foods among other things one becomes a "master food preserver". The title seems a bit grand, but the skills you learn are both practical and fun! Plus they have helped me take care of Christmas presents early for the last couple of years. During the summer, when there is time on my hands I can make something that will be a welcome gift come winter. A taste of summer berries in jam, spicy apples and pears in yummy butters, and this year some homemade hooch! It takes a few months for everything to meld together, so you do have to plan ahead, but this summer I started some lemon and cherry liquours.

Another fun part of this is scouring the second hand stores for fun bottles - luckily one of our local shops carries corks in all sizes! This weekend was the long awaited bottling of the limoncello - it is yummy! And I was quite pleased with how the bottles looked with some wax over the corks, a bit of jute and a homemade label. Now I just have to bottle the cherry vodka (made from local cherries we picked ourselves!) so that gift giving can commence!

Rising up to say thank you

2009-11-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Later this week we will take a moment to say thank you. How that happens is different in each family's tradition - but usually, somehow, in some way, we do pause before diving into a turkey feast to recognize that we have lots of reasons to say give thanks. I have lots of things for which to be grateful, a good job that I love, a caring family, many supportive friends, a house that keeps me warm and dry, lots of yummy local food - really my life is blessed.

I took some time to think, meditate, pray recently when I had the opportunity to take an art class making a mandala. This artistic way of praying/meditating involves circles and has been used in various spiritual traditions. It is sort of like the recent study that says you can indeed learn (in fact maybe learn better) if you doodle while you listen. The idea is if you are praying while your hands and a part of your mind is busy, you may have a different/deeper expression of prayer.

The class was taught by a totally stereotypical Eugene hippie - she was very encouraging of each of us, which was appreciated by those of us for whom the idea of painting something was a bit intimidating. We focused on the season of autumn, and she had each of us draw a card with an amimal symbol on it. I drew the phoenix - on the back of the card it said that the phoenix, "reminds us that when we fully accept the fire of pain, we transmute what is no longer needed and become more whole/healed." As the teacher guided us through our artwork we were to contemplate what meaning this symbol might have for us. As a Christian the phoenix, a bird that will not die, but instead rises from the ashes, AND the season of autumn, when the whole earth seems to be aflame and heading toward the "death" and darkness of winter before the new birth of spring - all of this has obvious metaphorical overlap with the central story of our faith.

And for me personally, the idea of accepting pain as part of life in order to find wholeness resonates. Yes pain is a part of the story, death is a part of the story, but they are not the end of the story. Life wins. The flames don't kill the phoenix, the winter can't hold back the spring, the tomb is empty.

Working on this project I had the chance to contemplate what it was that needs to die within me, in my work, my life, what has taken more time than it deserves - so that something else - something worthy, something life-giving - can rise up and fly. It was such a gift, this gift of time, focus, listening. Now my mandala of the phoenix and the leaves is in my home, reminding me to take the time to think about what it is I need to mourn, what I need to welcome, and most of all to remember the many things for which I am grateful. My prayer is that all of us will take time to truly give thanks for our many blessings this holiday week.

meltdowns

2009-11-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

I have a two-year-old niece (who by the way I believe to be just about as close to perfect as a person can be). This is one of those pictures she may resent me having someday, as it was taken when she was throwing a fit about something while the rest of us tried not to laugh at the pitiful face and big, crocodile tears of what was either a plea for what felt like a big injustice OR was actually a last ditch effort to get some attention before breakfast was over! The thing of it is, that while it is hard for me to keep a straight face when our newest little drama queen turns on the waterworks because she has to do something completely UNFAIR like, you know, NOT throw things in a restaurant (seriously, how does my sister keep from laughing out loud when she gets the puppy dog eye treatment from her?), often I really do empathize with the two-year-old.

Sometimes life just doesn't seem fair. And the most logical reaction to that realization and frustration is to curl out your bottom lip, stamp your feet and have a good cry. Yes, I know we are supposed to be all grown up and MATURE when faced with the day to day things that add up to a less than ideal world. But don't you sometimes just wanna forget about being logical or sensible; don't you just wanna get mad for a little bit; don't you just wanna throw a tantrum and melt down? Sometimes I sure do. And the thing of it is, though we are told that crying won't change anything, it does. After I let myself have a good cry I'm usually tired, but it also cleans me out in some good ways. Those tears help get rid of a little bit of the annoyance, the frustration, the feeling that its all just SO unfair. And I can see things more clearly. Sorta like the way the world looks all sparkly after a rain shower.

So here's to meltdowns, and temper tantrums, and having a good cry. And here's to fresh starts!

Falling . . .

2009-10-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

Autumn feels more like the new year to me than January. The start of the school year, most churches are gearing up their outreach and educational programs, there is change all around. Seems like the crisp air and turning leaves give us all the permission to try something different - to let our own true colors shine through. As our thoughts turn toward getting serious about classes, or projects, toward preparing for holidays with those we love, towards curling up with a bowl of soup or a cup of tea, towards a season that feels like it is time to re-evaluate, look inward and move forward - the leaves give me hope that whatever it is this season brings it will be awash in color. I couldn't resist taking these pictures around campus this week. Happy Fall y'all!

already, not yet

2009-10-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

The beginning of this school year feels a bit like this sign -I'm not always sure which way things are heading. Make no mistake, I love what I do - I get to walk alongside young adults who are trying to figure out a lot of stuff. Things like what they want to study, who they want to date, what they believe about God. It is an honor and privilege to be allowed to participate in those conversations, to listen as some big questions are asked. But there are some tricky parts about ministry at a university. For one thing, people are ALWAYS coming and going. There is the normal, expected graduation of many - usually those who have become over time the group's leaders. There are the students who drop out of the campus ministry group for awhile because their class schedule is particularly grueling or they have to take on another job. There are those who decide they fit in better with a different group of folks. There are those who transfer to a different school. There are those who decide college is not for them. On the flip side, there are lots of folks who don't start looking for a ministry group till they have been in school for a year or two or four. It makes for an interesting dynamic. I recently learned that you need 17 hours of time with a group for them to develop "group-ness". They don't have to be continuous, but it does have to be the exact same people - so anytime someone leaves or someone new joins you are back at hour number one. Seventeen hours . . that is next to impossible in this context. So we already have a group, but they are not yet a group.

I feel like I am coming and going a bit these days as well. We are looking into ways we can become more sustainable for the long term - so in addition to the everyday, much of my time has been focused on a project that won't really begin to affect us until 2011 or 2012. So I'm working with today's students while spending lots of time dreaming about what this ministry could be to students who haven't even taken their SATs yet! The already and the not yet are struggling for my attention.

So how do you stay fully present to the people who are here now while looking forward? How do you foster community and group cohesiveness when you are never working with the same group twice?

Use of Space

2009-09-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

This picture, believe it or not, is on a golf course. It is located on a small island off the coast of Scotland where the fairway is also public grazing land and a place for the community to gather. I have to admit I have never been interested in learning to play golf, but the day I was here I kinda wished I could play a round with the cows! Being there made me think a bit about how choices communities make. What do we share and what do we gate? The idea that this lovely piece of property, with views of the ocean, rocky beaches and caves that spout sea water wasn't seen as prime land to develop, but rather a common ground, a place to raise livestock, have fun together and enjoy the beauty of the place. The concept that instead of deciding between open grazing and a golf course they opted for both. It means that anyone and everyone (including the cows and sheep) are let in - there is a gate, but it isn't gated in the way many golf courses in our country are. Just a fence to keep the animals (and the visitors) from wandering into dangerous territory, and a gate with a small sign requesting that you close it behind you. Yes the consequence of all that sharing is that you have to watch your step, but it also means the grass is always mowed and everyone gets to enjoy the view.

Serendipity

2009-08-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

I love when good things happen that you could never have predicted. Big crazy things like falling in love, yes, but also little things that make your day or your week a little sillier, a little happier. One of the things I get to do is answer a statewide food preservation and safety hotline, along with LOTS of other volunteers. We all took a class through our state extension service and this is a way to serve others using the knowledge we gained. That class was a blast and I learned lots. But the people I continue to meet as a result of it - that is the bonus no one tells you about! I meet all sorts of fun people who are a part of the program (that is how I got to can tuna last week). But it also opens other surprising doors. Usually time on the hotline is spent sharing recipes, techniques, etc. Sometimes it is a matter of life or death (no you shouldn't eat food that has other lifeforms growing on it - I don't care if you did put it up yourself!) This week I answered a call from someone who wanted ideas about how to preserve and/or cook with figs. Seems she bought her daughter-in-law a fig tree some years back and it has a bumper crop this year. So they have presented her with several pounds of these little gems. We talked about drying them, making jam, etc. and I also said (being the cheeky gal I am), "Well, I'd be happy to eat some of them for you!"

Honestly, I was just kidding. But before I knew it she was getting my name and calling her daughter-in-law and when my shift on the hotline was done, I had an appointment to pick some figs. Now, you need to know I love figs. My grandmother had a big old fig tree and we used to have access to figs or fig jam year round. It wasn't until I was an adult and went looking for them in the store that I realized what an expensive little habit they can be! They are usually more than $1 apiece! Ouch! So I sometimes treat myself to one little box of them each year. I savor them and wish for a fig tree.

Well not this year! I hauled myself to the arranged meeting place, introduced myself to the lady of the house and she encouraged me to take as many as I could carry home in the boxes I had in the car.

I picked more than 20 pounds in about 15 minutes. There were SOOOOOO many of them that I hardly made a dent in the crop!

I had figs to snack on aplenty, and enough to do some fun things, too! I did share some with friends, but I also made some jam . . .

So now I have a dozen amber jars of yumminess to enjoy.

I am drying some even as we speak s

o that I can put

them in my oatmeal, or a port wine sauce for pork this winter . . . .

And at the recommendation of a friend I took some figs, stuffed them with blue cheese (Oregonzola from the Rogue creamery), wrapped them in pancetta, put a few drops of olive oil on top of the whole thing and roasted them. WOW! They were amazing. I served them with a salad of fresh greens and grated beets from my CSA along with a fig balsamic vinaigrette and some toasted pine nuts. What a feast!

When I left to answer the phone that afternoon, I never guessed I'd be remembering picking figs at my grandmothers, or enjoying a meal fit for a queen that night! Plus I met a really nice lady and her daughter in law - days like that just make me smile!

Fishin"

2009-08-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

There was a time in my life when I really thought I didn't like fish. Mostly because the only fish usually available to a kid growing up in Texas was fried catfish - which, to my family's dismay, I still don't enjoy. But then I discovered all sorts of other kinds of fish - salmon, swordfish, tuna - and other ways to eat it - sushi, grilled, fish tacos! A whole world of seafood opened up to me. And just when I thought I couldn't appreciate it anymore I moved to the Pacific Northwest where fresh seafood abounds and where people do all sorts of cool stuff. Who knew you could smoke or can your own fish?!? Home-canned tuna is amazing. It is quite a process, but a friend of mine from the master food preserver class I took through our home extension office kindly hosts tuna canning days at her home each summer. This was the first year I could make it - and what a day! I am so excited to have all those little jars of yummy fish in my pantry to enjoy all winter long! Plus, we got to spend a day learning not only about canning fish, but about one another. I will remember those folks each time I open one of these precious little cans and enjoy locally caught, low mercury, super-yummy tuna!

happily ever after . . .

2009-08-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

One of the things I get to do as a minister is walk with couples as they make the journey to a wedding. It is a privilege to be able to hear their stories about how they met and fell in love, their hopes, fears and dreams. I got to preside at a wedding last week and it was a joy. The young couple worked hard to make sure the day was truly about celebrating their relationship and their families and friends, not just a big show. It was held at a botanical garden and we were surrounded by flowers and trees. A friend of the bride serenaded us with lovely medieval music and we feasted on fresh local blueberries and cherries - yum! Shoes were optional for those in attendance, as they stepped upon holy ground and made promises together about love. What a gift in a time when we hear so much about sorrow, when weddings are often portrayed as another opportunity to spend money and impress others to be a part of a celebration that was about taking seriously the intentions of those involved; a day that honored the love of these two people and was honest about asking for the love and support of others as they begin their life together; a day that included both serious vows and crying friends as well as laughter and high-fives all around! I am so grateful to have been there to witness the beginning, and I hope their new life together is joy-filled!

Food for Thought . . .

2009-08-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

I went to see the movie "Food, Inc." last week. I encourage you to see it if you have the chance,. In my opinion it is well done and shines a light on many of the problems in our modern food "industry". Unfortunately, I wasn't shocked by the content of the film. I have read several books about our how our food is grown, raised, processed, etc. these days - so the movie just added pictures and personal testimony to what I already know. While I don't think I can go totally vegetarian (like the folks pictured above, who I saw at a "veggie pride" march this spring in NYC) I do try to make choices that are healthy for me and the planet when it comes to meat. Really, I try to do that with all my food, but having access to veggies from a farmer's market, CSA, or your own backyard is easier in most parts of the country than acquiring what I think of as "happy meat."

I was spoiled as a child. I grew up eating beef from my grandfather's ranch. He fed the cows grass and hay . . .because that is what cows are designed to eat and it makes good sense. I always thought other meat tasted funny to me just because I was used to my grandpa's. It wasn't until I was older that I realized most beef in America is fed with corn that we have in abundance to due government subsidies. Even though cattle aren't supposed to eat grains. I am grateful to live in a place where I can get my hands on locally raised beef, pork, poultry and wild fish. It sometimes costs a little bit more, but I know where my food is coming from and what is (or more importantly is not) fed to the animals. The work of local farmers and ranchers is such a gift. A gift for which I am deeply grateful. I don't eat meat that often, but when I do I know I have a choice. Not everyone does.

nesting . . .

2009-07-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

I love my home. I love living in an old house, and a place where I can walk to the store, the movies, a park and some fun local restaurants. I love being able to share a big front porch with our neighbors as they pick up fresh produce from our CSA. I love that the house has great big windows that let in lots of sunshine.

So much to love about this place. I know I am so blessed to even have a place to hang my hat, and the fact that it is also a place I love and love sharing with others makes it even more of a blessing. I moved into this house in May of 2007 - I cannot believe it has been 2 years! There are still lots of projects on the list, things that will make it even more wonderful - but I like that about the house. I like nesting. Taking time to figure out what color would look best in the sitting room, or figuring out the best way to take off several layers of paint from the woodwork, or finally getting around to replacing the curtains the last folks left behind (I swear I'll get them sewn someday!!). But in the meantime, I get to enjoy living in a great house. Maybe it isn't perfect, but it is sound and happy and filled with pictures of people I love. And, to tell the truth, I like that it isn't perfect. I like that the paint on the stairs is a little bit worn, that the bookshelves have scratches, that the crazy peacock is still glued to the dining room light fixture (the last owner had a very different sense of style . . .). I like that it is comfortable. That you don't have to be too careful - you can just live here and enjoy it.

Sure, there are lots of things to do to make the house more perfect. And I have lots to do to make myself more perfect too - need to work on losing weight, organizing my time more efficiently, etc. And I'll keep working on me while I keep working on the house - one day at a time. But in the meantime, I think I'll go enjoy a cup of tea on the back deck and keep an eye out for the bluebirds.

Life is . . .

2009-07-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

As is obvious from the title of the blog, one area of life I think of often is food. Living in the Northwest I am continually amazed by the variety of wonderful locally grown produce that is readily available. This year alone I have picked 25 quarts of strawberries, 15 quarts of raspberries, and about 20 pounds of cherries so far! Most of them are frozen, or in jam so I can enjoy them year round. And many of the cherries are dried - they are sooooo sweet! Of course I've also eaten LOTS of them all fresh as well - and blueberries are here now, too. I am well aware of the fact that not everyone has access to such amazing food. This time last year I was in Nicaragua, where we were hosted by very kind people who ate basically the same meal three times a day: rice, beans and tortillas. There might be a little something else now and again, but that was the meal that kept them alive. I have thought of them often as I picked fruit this June and am more grateful than ever to be in a place - geographically and otherwise - that is filled with such abundance. I am certainly thankful that this summer my life includes a bowl of cherries!

first steps

2009-06-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

So, I've been thinking about starting a blog for awhile now and just haven't taken the time to do it. As with many things in life I sometimes put off starting a project if I don't think I have the time to do it "right". I'm working on that. So this is the first step. I don't yet know how it all works, how to make it cute, exactly how to load pictures and links and all the things I enjoy on other people's blogs. But I can begin. I can take the first steps trusting that I'll be able to figure it out as I go along. Knowing that doing something is better than doing nothing. At the very least, it is a beginning . . . and I like beginnings as they are usually filled with hope.