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LOST

I love this show!  I am so glad I didn't quit watching it in Season 2 when the frustration of not understanding what in the world was happening was beginning to overpower me.  I am amazed at how the storyline can be so confusing and disjointed yet so compelling at the same time.  I have no idea where this thing is going or how it will end in a couple years.  You can't say that about a lot of shows or movies.  Most are pretty predictable.  But LOST is like nothing else I've ever seen.  Kudos to JJ Abrams.  Maybe we should start having LOST parties?  Anyone else a huge fan?

Loyalty

I've been thinking about loyalty a bit today.  Mostly because I feel so blessed by it.  And humbled by it.  I feel like I am surrounded by people on our Kids' City staff team who are loyal to me.  Sure their primary motivation for pouring their heart and soul into the ministry is the mission.  But they make me feel like somewhere on their list of reasons for going above and beyond and sticking with the ministry is a personal loyalty to me.  I don't feel like I deserve that.  But I am so very grateful for it.  There is such comfort in the knowledge that a group of people are going to stick with you...through the chaos...through the valleys...and that they will be there to celebrate with you on the mountaintops.

One of the things I learned about myself this past year is that I'm not independent.  When a wise person pointed that out to me at first I was confused.  I'd always seen myself as an independent person.  After all, I'm single.  I live by myself.  I don't think twice about going to a restaurant by myself.  Heck, I've even gone to a movie by myself a time or two.  But she pointed out that an independent person doesn't really need other people.  An independent person is only concerned about her own world and is somewhat unaffected by others.  "Community is tremendously important to you," she said.  "You care deeply about the team.  You don't have any desire to go it alone."

She is right.  I am not independent.  The experience of "team" is one of the things I value most.  So tonight as I think about the team that has been given to me...the team I am a part of...I am deeply grateful.  I want to honor their loyalty by being the best, Spirit-led leader I can be. 

Random Thoughts

Since I can't get it together to write something meaningful and I don't want to keep letting my sister down by not posting...  Here are some random thoughts from my week.

• I'm very thankful for the invention of the curb.  One came in very handy tonight as I slid across black ice straight for a street sign as I tried to make a turn.  A little jolting, but the wonderful curb saved me from paying my deductible.
• I had my first massage ever this week.  When I arrived the massage therapist asked me why I had decided to get a massage.  I told her it was a Christmas gift from one of my friends and co-workers.  "I guess technically I'm her boss," I said.  Later on when she was working out all the knots in my back she observed, "Yes, you are definitely a boss."
• I had an interesting meeting today which may open up a new door to partner with another organization on some children's ministry initiatives.  That's all the details I'm giving.  Chances are even those are more than many of you care about so I'm guessing that's OK.
• I saw "P.S. I Love You" last night.  Definitely a good chick-flick.  I really want to see "Juno" sometime soon too.  I've heard good things about it.
• I've been working a lot the past couple weeks.  I'm going to take this Sunday off.  I'm thinking about going downtown to visit the Jane Addams Hull House Museum.  I've been reading a book on Hull House and thought it might be cool to go see it.  It's like I'm homeschooling myself.  Hull House reminds me of what we are trying to do through our Community 4:12 ministry at CCC.  It's amazing how the vision of a couple people can transform a neighborhood.
• Our church is journaling through 21 Psalms over the next 3 weeks.  I love when we study the Bible and journal as a community.
• I worked out today and then had a craving for McDonald's french fries.  I debated this for several minutes in the car as I left the gym.  Does the fact that I worked out make it OK for me to eat something crappy because I just burned a bunch of calories?  Or does eating something crappy ruin the progress I made by working out?  I gave up trying to answer this philosophical question and went through the drive thru.  Even black ice couldn't stop me.

Baby Love

OK, so one of the really cool things about being in Children's Ministry is that you get to hold people's newborn babies.  Here's little Adelyn born last Wednesday and Rocco born in November.  Rocco has the coolest hair ever!

Update on the Cooking Thing

You may need to resist the urge to call me Betty Crocker this week.  Yes, I started the week with a trip to the grocery store with, get this, an actual grocery list.  Now this is not my normal mode of operating at the grocery store.  I usually just wander up and down the aisles grabbing random items and end up with lots of stuff but no significant meals at the end of the venture.

But this week I went with a list.  A list generated from the 2 cookbooks I received for Christmas.  And so this week I have feasted on Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles and on Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice.  I even baked a cake (not sure I've done this since I've lived in Chicago!).  And what have I learned?

1. I can actually cook if I follow one of these easy recipes.  The Orange Teriyaki Beef was especially yummy.
2. When I have the time, I like cooking and eating at home.
3. Eating at home instead of eating out is not cheaper for a single person.

Yes, this venture to learn to cook started with an idea that if I ate out less I'd have a greater capacity to be generous.  But I think it might have actually cost me more to eat at home.  But, it was yummy and felt healthier and for now that might just be enough to keep me on this road to becoming the next Rachael Ray.

Seriously?

I got a weather station thing-a-ma-bob for Christmas.  One of those things that has a station for the house and a sensor you put outside and it tells you indoor and outdoor temperatures and a rough weather forecast.  So I just looked at it and it says it is 3 degrees outside.  Seriously?  I'm just not sure I buy the whole global warming thing.

If I Was Setting Goals This Year...

If I was setting goals this year, I'd...

• Be determined to blog more.  Maybe at least 2-3 times a week.  I love to write.  When I am inspired this blog is a great outlet for me even when it is just to add something short and meaningless.  I would blog more.
• Commit to working out at Lifetime at least 3 times per week.  I'd hope some weeks to make it 4.  I'd have a regular rotation of cardio and weights.
• Use the 90 Day Bible I got for Christmas to read through the entire book in this relatively short time period.
• Commit to practicing a new spiritual discipline.  Over the past couple years I've added regular retreat days and Bible study journaling into my routine.  I'll continue these practices but I'd also pick something new.  Something that will stretch me.
• Set a goal for the number of educational books I want to read.  Stuff on leadership, children's ministry, spiritual formation, culture.

These are the kinds of goals I normally set at the beginning of each year.  And I'd typically accomplish 75-80% of them.

But this year I'm not setting any goals.  It actually feels like more of a discipline for me to let go of my structures than to use them.  But I feel a conviction (Spirit-led, I think) that 2008 is supposed to be a bit different for me.  I think I'm supposed to just live more in the moment.  I feel like I'm supposed to strive less.  Play more.  Breathe.  I'm supposed to enjoy people.  I'm supposed to learn a better rhythm between accomplishing and just being.

Sure, some of the things I listed above might still happen.  But as I try to discern God's leading into this New Year, I think he's prompting me to be a bit more gentle with myself.

Anyone want to go to a movie?