MN: From the Perspective of a Nomad, Part 7

Funny, from where I lived in Texas I headed straight up I35 until I was on the opposite end of the country and...well, it's almost like being on the opposite side of the world! This time last year, I was jogging around and playing tennis in shorts. Today I was jumping rope and running sprints while snow tumbled down from the sky. Personally, I much prefer the fresh, crisp air and beauty of the snow!

Yes, it has snowed in Minnesota...

This is about as much as it stuck this time around, although it fell all morning. But the snow shovels are out, the guys have been putting bags of sand in strategic locations about camp and we're getting ready...because, you know, it hasn't snowed in four months - and it's about time!

I also discovered a new tree this week. Not that I'm a botanist. I'm not good with trees...or anything that grows, really. Aaron mentioned a tree called "tamarack" earlier this year. I wasn't sure what he was talking about...until I saw yellow fir trees this week. Our camp gardener was telling us today that it is the only pine he knows that not only changes colors but looses all it's needles. They're pretty neat. I've certainly never seen anything like them and they make the landscape very pretty.

New Hampshire

I guess you know it's a great vacation when you don't look at a computer but once. I checked my e-mail the day after I got there. Then I practically forgot I had e-mail. After all, I had an eight-month-old nephew to play with instead. And Allyson's six-going-on-seven children. And her sister Charity had a baby while I was there...does it get any better than that? So while it was nice to return to snow flurries in Minnesota, going back to an empty apartment was no fun at all. I miss the kids!

 Half of Allyson's kids: Seth, Silas and Laurel. (Missing Caleb, Violet and Marigold.)

Charity's new baby: Eleanor Hope.

 Jay's first cheese from the deli at the grocery store! Yummy!

  We love our ball! (Well, for 5 minutes at a time...)

 Bathtime!

 Aunt Melissa and Jay on the lawn at the Breakers in Newport, RI.

 Mommy and Jay at Rosecliff in Newport.

Yes, he is the most adorable nephew ever!

To-do List

Today, I leave for New Hampshire! It's a little hard to believe that I shall be leaving a cold, rainy state for one that will be warmer! I think I'm even going to miss the first snow flurries!

But that's okay, because I have plenty to do where I'm headed:

1. Play with Jay.
2. Play with Caleb, Violet, Seth, Silas, Laurel and Marigold.
3. Have dinner with some old friends.
4. Play with Jay.
5. Eat ice cream.
6. Play with Caleb, Violet, Seth, Silas, Laurel and Marigold.
7. Visit an old bookstore.
8. Play with Jay.
9. Eat good New England apples.
10. Play with Caleb, Violet, Seth, Silas, Laurel and Marigold.
11. Visit Newport, Rhode Island.
12. Play with Jay.
13. Eat the most delicious clam chowder in the world.
14. Play with Caleb, Violet, Seth, Silas, Laurel and Marigold.
15. In the midst of all this playing, visit with Katey and Allyson.
16. Play with Jay.
17. Go to Dunkin' Donuts (more than once).
18. Play with Caleb, Violet, Seth, Silas, Laurel and Marigold.
19. Visit the dollhouse shop and purchase flooring in order to finish a couple of floors.
20. Play with Jay.

Doesn't it sound like a wonderful trip? :)

Book Review

I have been reminded of late what great doctrines are held in the hymns of old. No one today sings, “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” Because the pop/rock ‘n roll style “worship songs” of today are all about ME, what God does for ME, and how “ME” felt about what God did. And why not? For are we not horribly selfish people? When God does work in mysterious ways, we think about how that affected ME. Not about the wonders He is performing.

Christina Willems felt that her whole life was of service to God. Taking over the poor farm after her father’s death, she poured every moment of her days into the people who relied upon her for their safety and provision. But when a fire destroys the kitchen of the home, she and those under her care are forced to rely upon the charity of others…until the Lord provides each of them with new homes and new ventures. With those she once cared moving on, and the mission board refusing to provide the money to repair the home; Christina finds herself adrift. What use is she? Why won’t God allow her to do the work she knows so well? And why do things seem to go from bad to even worse?

What Once was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer is the story of a young woman who finds herself lost in the midst of God’s mysterious ways…and found when she once again sees His wonders to perform.

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah for review purposes only.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307731258

Survived!

“The women are coming – head to the hills!”

Thus the weekends started with Bill’s cry to me as I jogged back over to the office before early bird registration began two Thursdays ago. He was a little off. No matter what time you tell the women registration begins, at least five of them arrive an hour early, so women had already arrived. And I thought, “If only I could head to the hills.”

“Let’s hurry,” Andrea said as we darted to our cars this past Sunday afternoon. “Before we run into another woman.”

And thus ended two weekends of women retreats. For no matter what time you tell them to leave, there were still women around even after we finally departed camp at two Sunday afternoon. Talking, chatting, saying goodbye twenty times, not wanting to go home. Who knows what time they all finally left.

And, so, I have officially survived two weekends of women’s retreats. Which was the only thing I could think of saying when Bill asked me at last week’s staff meeting how the weekend had gone. It’s not a question I can answer like he wants, which I think doesn’t make sense to him. He and Lisa see ministry as being out there for people to unburden themselves to, and exchange lots of hugs, and share life stories. Which is all a very important part of ministry. But it’s not my “niche”. I like my office, and order, and not tons of emotion. A support to the ministry Bill and Lisa feel is most important, and a wonderful thing in the office. Not so practical when over 200 women want to pour out their struggles and I come across as not being very emotional or approachable. So, what I haven’t quite learned is how I do fit in to women’s events…something Bill and Lisa haven’t figured out either.

So, while the two weekends were very long (and made more so by wet, autumn weather that allowed for getting out and yet seemed to congregate the women in one main building), there were high points. I got to know a couple of women who spend a lot of time at quilt retreats, which is nice because I feel even more lost during a month when I’m a mere passing face to over 500 women focused on projects I know nothing about. Knowing a couple of the women’s names and vice versa will be a stepping block I can stand on. And I got to know one woman who I work with a little bit. She’s does our website, works on mass e-mails and things of that nature. As some new things get launched I’ll have a finger or two in, it was nice to make a connection with the person who does all that.

I have to say, though, that a total of nearly 450 women over a total of six days is overwhelming, exhausting and mind-numbing. And I just marvel that Solomon – the wisest man who ever lived – had a harem of 1,000 women. He was nuts. And perhaps he shared my thoughts as he ended his days on earth: I survived! 

Millipedes and Frogs

I’m not actually sure what the Minnesota state insect or animal are, but I certainly have a vote. Perhaps once I get my voting status in order (which I thought I did when I got my driver’s license, but I’m thinking they didn’t read that checkbox right – or, either they don’t want another Republican in this state), I’ll cast my vote. Insect: millipede. Animal: frog.

I noticed the frogs a few weeks ago when I was tramping about camp in the dark delivering sleeping bags to men who had failed to bring one. (Either they don’t have a wife, or they slipped past without her checking their luggage.) Every step I took, a frog jumped across my path. And as it’s quite dark around camp, I was afraid I was going to step on one and end it’s life. When it rains, the frogs come out in even more abundance. For last weekend I was out after dark walking back to the office, frogs jumped out from every bush or rustled underneath the branches as I walked past. I have thought many times I should catch a few and try kissing them. One of them is bound to be a prince – right?

The millipedes started the past weekend. I know what those things are. I saw a few in the house in Texas – dried up in little curls which I dust-mopped down the hall. In my apartment here, they are quite alive and skitter their way across my living room floor. At first I just thought a few had wandered in. I caught them in a paper towel and squished them. But they came back the next night. And when I went out the next morning…well, there were more of them gathered in the cracks of the walkway by the front door than amounts to the entire population of Upsala. Yes, it was disgusting. Since then, the dozen or so that wander into my apartment at night get gathered up and unceremoniously drowned. I think word has gotten out. For while they remain in gross piles on the walkway, I’ve seen but two in my apartment tonight.

As fall progresses, who knows what other creatures I shall learn about in this state of Minnesota. Of course, the deer are coming out in droves. I see nearly half a dozen a week. Once winter sets in, the pheasants will come out and beg to be hit on the sides of the road. Stupid things fly at you when you drive by…rather like armadillos in Texas. But I don’t really blame the creatures. I love this time of year, too. Frost in the air – the leaves turning brilliant colors. A real autumn!