Happy Weekend everyone! Hope you all had a great week, here's the latest from our little corner of the universe!**1**
I had the chance to preach a short homily on Wednesday night at Ash Wednesday, which was SO fun for me, I loved getting to think about and share about this holy day that means so much to me. In typical Glendale Pres fashion, the service wasn't a traditional Ash Wed. service, it was a "Worship Encounter" which we have several times a year--an evening full of music, poetry, often drama, dance, videos, art, testimonies and reflections. I adore them and wish we could have them more often!
**2**
Since Lent has officially begun, my hubby and I have had some conversation about what it is we would like to change in our daily lives and why. We have decided together to journey into the world of vegetarianism for the six weeks of Lent. This isn't just because it's healthier than eating meat (although it is), or because it's easier on our environment (although it is), nor is it because it's a cheaper way to eat (although it is), but we wanted to do something that would cause us to constantly remember and pray for those in countries where food is so hard to come by. Every time we decide we "really want a hamburger" or really want the steak in our burritos, we want to remember that there are people everywhere who would love that as well, and never have a shot at attaining it for themselves. We don't think about how easy it is for us to get ahold of food here, nor do we put much thought into the fact that for millions of people scrounging up rice and beans for a family each day is literally a full time job. We have it so easy. We want to attempt to remember these precious children of God world wide and intentionally intercede for them during this season. It's going to cause us to think creatively about what we eat, be intentional about trying new things, and plan ahead when we know we'll be stopping with youth at fast food places (like for lunch today on our drive). We already discovered the benefits of not ordering something with meat at a restaurant! Last night we went to use a gift card for the Cheesecake Factory and split a bit salad (without the chicken) and a pasta dish plus a glass of wine and were amazed at the fact that if we had ordered these with meat we would have been adding about $7 to our bill! We are going to incorporate fish into our diets once a week (on our "celebration" days--you break your fasts on Sundays during Lent generally) but otherwise, we're going to do our best to avoid eating meat. Stay tuned for fun new recipes we'll try!
**3**
We take off this afternoon for a weekend at high school winter camp with 500 high school students from churches all over southern California. We're taking 26 people from our church (5 leaders and 21 kids) for a weekend of music, talks, games, food, crafts, hiking, zip lining, snow games etc. And I'm sure, little sleep! So if anyone tries to call and only gets voice mail this weekend, we have no service :) I am excited that we are taking kid's phones away from them for the weekend to help them retreat. They will hate it, not being able to text a million people a day, but it should help us be able to connect face to face a little better!
**4**
I received a letter from a church I had interviewed at back in January saying they were pursuing another candidate. My immediate emotion when I opened the letter was relief, so I think that's a sign that I really did not want that job. It was for a children's ministry director, and I think if I'm honest, I really don't want to be a children's director even though I know I'm qualified and could do it.
**5**
I got to have dinner Wednesday night with my former pastor and supervisor, Ross, which was amazing. It was so good to catch up with him, have him encourage me in this job hunt process, hear what's been going on at the church I used to be a part of etc. I am so thankful for him and his presence in my life these past several years!
**6**
I've come across a couple great websites and a terrific free podcast on itunes that have been really enlightening for me about marriage. I've learned SO much (from the podcast mostly) about how different men and women are, what are effective ways to communicate with each other, what really doesn't work when it comes to our husbands, and I have been absolutely amazed at how dead on these pieces of advice are! Little tiny changes in the words I use or the way I phrase things have received HUGE pay offs, it's as if I have started learning how to speak a language my amazing hubby can interpret and respond to without trying to decode what it is that I am asking for. The websites have just been fun ways to getting ideas on how to bless our husbands in little ways and to help network happily married women so they can share suggestions with one another (or with newly married women) on how to better love our men. Wanna check them out for yourself? I'd highly recommend it!
The podcast is called Marriage Uncensored through itunes, and was actually a TV show in Canada led by 2 marriage specialists. It's a free download and since it's a video you watch it right on your computer or put it on a video ipod. I'll be honest, the woman on the show drives me a little crazy, but I have received great advice and they always have a special guest, like the author of Love and Respect, or the author of a book on sex we read called Sheet Music. Great stuff out there to help strengthen marriages!
The two websites are:
The Happy Wives Club (http://www.happywivesclub.com/)
and
The Generous Wife (http://www.the-generous-wife.com/)
Let me know if any of you check em out and what you think!
**7**
We're about to celebrate our last monthiversary! Yikes! 11 months! Almost married a year! Where did that year go??
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