Shed a Little Light

I've recently been listening to a great song "Shed A Little Light" by James Taylor. I think it is rather appropriate for the times we are in, both in the world and in the Presbyterian Church (USA). We are all bound together- all men and women- living on the earth. Yet, all we see are our differences and life in fear of the other. We should be open to all people, especially in the church. I feel the church is the place where all should be welcomed into the community. It distresses me greatly when we shut people out because of race, color, sexual orientation, socio-economic situations, etc. I pray for the day to come when the doors of churches will be wide open and all feel welcome to enter inside.

100 things that bring me delight

1. a really good cup of tea
2. walking through a bookstore
3. funky indie coffeehouses
4. cats curling up on blankets
5. Chinese take out
6. phone calls from dear friends
7. subways
8. God moments
9. walking down the street in big cities
10. reading a book on my couch under blankets
11. random road trips
12. a good glass of wine
13. the feeling after finishing a sermon
14. IKEA
15. filling up a bookshelf
16. james joyce with friends
17. fellini’s pizza with banana peppers
18. text messaging
19. finding new places
20. free wi-fi
21. looking at houses
22. New York City
23. old friends
24. reading the Washington Post
25. wandering around art museums
26. taking photographs
27. eating Indian curry chicken the night before tgiving with the fam
28. baby Micah
29. dark chocolate
30. down pillows & comforters
31. red walls
32. wearing pearls
33. Gilmore Girls marathons
34. hearing my fav songs on the radio
35. dreaming of buying a hybrid car
36. planning my future
37. using crazy fonts
38. laughing with friends
39. Sex & the City nights at Whit’s
40. a good margarita
41. yelling at the tv when republicans are debating
42. discussing politics
43. my big red mug
44. the sound of the ocean
45. finding out a pub serves blue moon on tap
46. spending time with friends
47. traveling on an airplane
48. people watching
49. long sleeve shirts from Gap
50. my favorite pair of blue jeans
51. crocs!
52. dinner invites
53. getting home after a long day
54. joy in learning something new
55. window shopping in fancy stores
56. Vera Bradley
57. watching my West Wings dvds
58. the ways love comes into life
59. daydreaming
60. Real Simple magazine
61. light reflecting on wooden floors
62. kind people
63. smiles on children’s faces
64. getting a good parking space
65. wandering aisles of Target
66. riding on carousels
67. feeling of accomplishment
68. squirrels chasing each other
69. generosity
70. meeting new people
71. enthusiasm about peacemaking
72. being independent
73. challenging people in sermons
74. knowing I don’t need a man to be complete
75. visiting dc
76. having a permanent card to ride the subways
77. listening to good music
78. watching steam rise from a cup
79. staying warm inside on a cold day
80. sunny days
81. bed & breakfasts
82. looking at photographs
83. facebook
84. my internship church
85. sleeping in on Saturday mornings
86. a change of pace
87. studying greek
88. wearing a robe & stole
89. my tiffany silver ring
90. having my hair shampooed at the salon
91. eating delicious food
92. bagel places
93. marc’s crazy animal shirts
94. time away from school
95. watching water shoot out of fountains
96. handwritten letters & cards
97. surfing wikapedia for info
98. post secret
99. modern art
100. tea presses

It's been one of those weeks

I'm sitting in this amazing, little indie coffeehouse near the University of Maryland. I needed a change of pace, a change of scenery. It's been one of those weeks. Amy's been out of town this week on continuing ed, which left me to make decisions & praying no crises would erupt. Thankfully, there was nothing I couldn't handle, but it still left me a little stressed. B's been super busy of late, so we've not been able to see much of each other. Two mornings this week, I took my friend Nikki's four year old son, Jack to preschool. I realized I was indeed old enough to have a four year old post-college. I am certainly not ready to be a preschool/soccer mom. Then, last night, in the middle of my "I need a break-Chinese food- Gilmore Girls marathon", my phone rang. It was my dad & he tells me that he is in the hospital! My dad & I both have a heart condition that causes our heartbeats to be irregular & at times can cause symptoms like a heart attack. He had an episode & has landed himself in the hospital for the weekend. He's had lots of tests & they got him stable. While I know he will be just fine, it is still a little unnerving. It reminds me of what I have to look forward to in my future- the condition worsens with age. I talked with him this morning & he sounds good. I know being in the hospital is not fun, but it is a little reassuring knowing there are people monitoring him throughout the day & night. My mom is staying with him during the day & he's had plenty of visitors.

Man. Life can be nuts sometimes. And, my schedule for this next week is a little on the full side! Tomorrow is the annual meeting & potluck lunch at church, I am going to a church member's art show in the evening, I am out four nights this week (meetings & choir), writing a sermon & liturgy for the bulletin this week, prepping another Sunday school lesson, preschool mom-ing two mornings, plus an appt on Thursday afternoon, not to mention needing to pay a visit or two to some church members. So, today I am enjoying some time away, drinking tea in this little coffeehouse. Which, is literally a house painted in funky colors and filled with eccentric people. A great place to immerse myself & refocus for what is ahead.

2007 in Review

I got this from my friend Marc. It was a great way to think about all that has happened over this last year. Here's to 2008! May it be a fantastic year:)

1. Was this a good year for you? Overall, yes.

2. What did you do this year that you'd never done before? Lived in an apartment by myself. Moved myself to Maryland. Traveled to Mexico, was a chaplain in a hospital.

3. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t do resolutions.

4. What was your favorite moment of the year? So many to choose from…

5. What was your least favorite moment of the year? Spending time as a patient in the ER.

6. What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year? Better health!

7. What date from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Two dates. First is July 3rd- the date of my surgery. Second is December 4th- my candidacy date.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Becoming a candidate for ordination!

9. What was your biggest failure? Not becoming a candidate back in February.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? This summer, my gallbladder acted up and I had surgery. Also, some migraine headaches/vertigo in the spring that kept me in the bed.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? My baby cousin, Micah who learned how to walk!

12. Did you breakup with anyone this year? nope

13. Did you make any new friends this year? Oh, yes! All of my wonderful friends at LPC.

14. Did you travel outside of the U.S. this year? I spent my Jan term in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

15. How many different states did you travel to this year? Let’s see…Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York

16. Did you lose anybody close to you this year? Not this year.

17. Did you miss anybody in the past year? My friends at CTS.

18. What was your favorite movie you saw this year? Shrek the Third

19. What was your favorite song? Dixie Chicks- Taking the Long Way Around

20. What was your favorite album? Josh Groban- Noel

21. Favorite TV show? Brothers & Sisters

22. What was the best book you read? Hands down…Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

23. How many concerts did you see this year? David LaMotte

24. What was the funniest moment of this year? Marc’s time travel experiment, so many moments at seminary…

25. What did you want and get? My internship at Laurel Presbyterian Church

26. What's one thing you wish had happened this year? I’m happy with the way things turned out, even when it was hard.

27. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? Not that I can think of.

28. How much money did you spend this year? Too much!

29. Where did most of your money go? Food, clothes, stuff for my apartment.

30. What was the best thing you bought? Five seasons of Gilmore Girls. Since I don’t have cable, I need something to watch!

31. What was your most embarrassing moment of the year? not sure…

32. If you could go back in time to any moment of this year, what would it be? Sitting in Whitney’s room- drinking wine, eating chocolate, laughing with friends while watching Sex & the City.3

3. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Thinking about my trip to California for this February!

34. What song will always remind you of this year? Taking Chances

35. Compared to this time last year, are you...
-happier or sadder? Much happier
-thinner or fatter? About the same
-richer or poorer? Well, actually richer in the grand scheme of things.

36. What do you wish you'd done more of? Spent time with friends before moving.

37. What do you wish you'd done less of? Stressing about Theology!

38. How will you be spending Christmas? My family traveled here to Maryland to spend Christmas at my place. We had an amazing dinner at my friend Nikki’s home- a huge Italian feast. New York City for the day.

39. Did you fall in love this year? Mmm….

40. How many one-night stands? None!

41. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 27 this year. I celebrated my birthday with Brandon having dinner in Alexandria, Virginia.

42. What one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having my CTS friends here with me in Maryland.

43. How would you describe your personal fashion concept this year?.I’m a very classic dresser. I love my pearls! They go with EVERYTHING. Also, lots of professional clothes for work, but still living in my jeans & crocs.
44. What kept you sane? Red wine, Sex & the City nights at Whitney’s, Amy, Brandon, my Wendy’s crowd.

45. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Barack Obama

46. Who was the best new person you met? Kathy Boyer

47. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year: I am called to ministry. No doubts about that anymore.

48. What are your plans for the next year? Spend five more months as LPC’s intern, travel to California, go to Mississippi with LPC to help with Katrina rebuilding, Montreat for the summer, pass the last two ordination exams, go back to CTS for my final year. Remain happy.

49. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"But what do you say to taking chances,

what do you say to jumping off the edge?

Never knowing if there's solid ground below

Or hand to hold, or hell to pay.

What do you say?
What do you say?"