wonderfully sick

I'm home for Christmas, and so far have had several meaningful and fun memories. Here are a few of those memories, in no particular order:

1. Ordering 2 speciality frappachino drinks at Starbucks with my sister, and finding out that they messed up our order, so we got two more for free!
2. Sleeping in the same room and bed with my soon-to-be 4 year old niece, and feeling her little toes and elbows and knees bump me often throughout the night. :)
3. A Christmas Eve service with friends, and sharing what aspect of the Christmas story spoke truth into us this year.
4. The kisses and hugs of my sister's 3 beautiful girls.
5. Coming down with some serious stomach sickness Christmas Eve, and knowing that I would be taken care of well - I was with people who loved me very much.

And the celebration is only just beginning...wow, it is good to be home.

Story

I went to an Andrew Peterson concert this past weekend. In one word - incredible. He has a Christmas album that is anything but traditional, and goes on tour with a bunch of other great artists every year during the Christmas season. He and his friends sing the whole album from start to finish without any pauses or breaks for clapping. He calls it a Christmas musical, but without people dressed up in camel costumes. :)

I love this musical, because it's all about Jesus. They sing about the Israelites being delivered from Egypt, and the people wanting a king to lead them, about their captivity, and then about a man named Joseph and a girl named Mary. And then they had a little boy - Son of God, Son of Man. I love how every part of his musical, and indeed every part of the Bible is a story belonging to a bigger story. A story that all points to a Savior.

I belong to that story. And I think sometimes, I skip listening to the stories in search of straight meaning and purpose and answers. I recently heard someone say that when we watch a movie, we usually don't immediately ask what the purpose of the movie was right after we're done with it. We usually don't ask for the purpose when someone tells us about an important event in their life. We hear, we listen, and we get it if we're really paying attention.

I guess I want to pay better attention to the stories of the Bible, and the stories of truth all around me. I want to know truth and love and beauty and all that God is. Not by searching for some hidden answer in the stories (cuz stories don't have answers), but rather trusting that the truth that's there will take hold and shape me...if I let it.

Getting into the season

I don't know why exactly, but I've never had a Christmas tree since moving to West Virginia. Maybe the fact that I'm always gone from my house over the Christmas holidays has kept me from wanting a tree. Maybe it's the fact that trees are always more fun with kids and families to share it with. Maybe I'm slightly cynical when it comes to holiday decor (do you see inflatable santas in every yard where you live too?). But this Christmas season, I took the plunge and bought a tree.

The best part about it was being able to pick it out at the tree farm and cut it down myself. Close to gathering my own firewood (which I'm planning on doing sometime soon) or digging my own coal (I leave that up to the miners), cutting my own tree has renewed my heart - I'm officially 'festive.'

Next year, I might even put up lights around my house. It's a slippery slope, those holiday decorations...

my family

Living away from family is mostly a bummer, I've decided. I love my family. I love seeing them over the holidays, playing with my nieces and nephews, and talking with my parents, brothers, and sisters. I love every second of it.

And I think being with my family reminds me that I was created for community. But my family is only part of my community. My friends in West Virginia are also part of my community. My friends spread out across the globe are also part of my community. And I think I'm craving more community right now. There's this deep-seated desire I have to connect more with people, to love them somehow, and receive love and friendship from them as well.

I want to work harder on recognizing and celebrating community, however it looks in my life. Today, one of my friends here in West Virginia helped me move a coal stove into my house. (My propane bill last year was incredibly high, so I'm hoping coal will be cheaper and more fun for me to use to heat my house.) Anyway, he always helps me out when I need stuff done around my house that I can't do. He's like a big brother to me in a lot of ways. I'm thankful for his friendship!

Feeling the vibe

I bought a car last month, but never showed what it looked like, so here he is.

His seats fold down, so you can stretch out in a sleeping bag for the night. He's great!

little brown sign

I was driving home from a conference/class today and was about 2 hours from nowhere...when I noticed a sign. "Kanawha State Forest" It was brown.

I think I love brown signs. For one, they're not afraid to look ugly. And, what's more important, they point you toward possible unknown adventures. The Federal Highway Administration websites states that brown road signs direct us to areas of public recreation and cultural interest. It could be a snow-mobiling trail or an art gallery...You never know what you'll get with a brown sign.

So, I followed it. 20 miles later, I had driven through a tunnel of orange and yellow leaves, past numerous trails and camping spots, into valleys, alongside a stream or two, and decided that I would come back next summer for the full experience of Kanawha State Forest.

Thank you, inconspicuous little brown sign.

a loitering autumn

The beginning of October is really pretty in West Virginia. The leaves just start to turn, and every once in a while a burst of red maple leaves shout at you as you drive past. By the middle of October, most of the leaves have begun to turn. I would wake up thinking about how beautiful it was outside. By the end of the month, it was everywhere. Orange, red, yellow, brown, in the trees and on the ground. Just incredible.

By now, almost all of the leaves are falling off. Almost. I'm still waiting for these two trees in a neighborhood near me to turn yellow. They're holding on to their green-ness for dear life. but when they die, it'll be an amazing grand finale to my favorite season of all.

I love seeing the change all around me - I love watching this 'death' take place year after year. I love that it means spring will come again.

rare

I often forget to be thankful for all the time I have to spend with children and teenagers. Every day after school, it's my 'job' to hang out with kids, or teach young teens how to run their own business, or help a 4th grader with multiplication homework. And I do love it. I love them. And sometimes, I catch a glimpse of their world. I see it through their eyes. I hear their perspective and can understand just a bit more clearly what they experience and how that is constantly and unnoticably shaping them.

The other day, I had this rare glimpse into the world of the 7th grader. There are two 7th graders involved in my after-school business program. I pick them up from school twice a week, and transport them to our ministry's youth center. I am beginning to love those conversations. Not because of what I can say, or how I direct it, but because of the kids' plain honesty and genuiness.

They tell me about their day. They laugh about funny situations. They complain about teachers. They tell me weird dreams they remember from the night before. They tell me the first thing they'll do when they get home. And my all-time favorite discussion topic: they ask how to pronounce words that they're learning from health class. They spelled out some of the words from their lesson on the human body and sexuality...and I couldn't help but giggle. It's like I'm transported back into junior high, and I feel just as uncomfortable as they do (maybe more?). Ah, the privileges of spending time with kids...

Come on, ride the train

I discovered a new love this weekend. Having decided to buy a car last weekend while I was 8 hours away from West Virginia, I had to leave a car in Indianapolis while I drove my new car back to W.V. Thus, I found myself on a Friday night riding a train back up to Indianapolis to pick up the car I left there. It was a great way to spend a Friday night. Seriously.

Yeah, sure it took eleven hours in a train (by way of car, only 7 1/2 hours) but I whole-heartedly still recommend it - travel by train if you can, whenever you can. Think of the gas you will save by not taking your car!

My favorite parts about the train:

• Knowing that there's a good chance the conductor is wearing a funny-looking hat.
• Not having to worry about keeping your eyes on the road - somebody else is doing that for you.
• Living in the mountains by a river is even better when viewed from a fast train.
• Way more leg room than a plane or car
• You can bring all the snacks you want!
• Time to think...lots of time to think
• Arriving at a train depot in the middle of the night with other dreary-eyed passengers and knowing that everybody feels exactly how they look...including yourself.

Every day, I hear trains pass by my house 2-3 times an hour. It carries coal, not passengers, to the rest of the world. I have always liked them, and have gotten used to their engines rumbling past. Now, I'm hooked. I don't know when I'll ride the train again, but I hope it's soon.

On a whim

I happened to be in Indianapolis last weekend (see yesterday's blog) with my family, and just so happened to notice a used car lot while driving past it, and happened to glance upon a pontiac vibe in my price range...and i just so happened to buy it. I'm glad my dad was with me, because, while I like to feel independent and capable of making important decisions on my own, it's good to have your dad agree with you about your decisions. And it's also good to have your dad help you negotiate with a used car salesman. No offense to any used car salespeople, I just think they aren't so pushy towards me when my dad's with me.

So, I'm pretty pumped about my 'new' car. It's real shiny. I had spray painted my old chevy cavalier where the rust was showing through, so I think this is a definite step up. In fact, I feel like it's so nice I don't deserve it. The coolant doesn't even leak! It's incredible.

And I also know that God provided it for me. I mean, God didn't necessarily write on the wall, "Buy the Pontiac Vibe in Indy this weekend..." But He did provide the funds necessary to get a good used car. One that is comfortable and safe and efficient. And I don't deserve it.

Absent and thankful

It's been a while since I've blogged. And I have reasons a plenty. Busy weekends, having no desire to be online, trying to catch up on missed 'Office' episodes, and so on and so forth...you know how it is.

I kinda feel like my computer is like my silent accountability partner...just waiting for me to talk and be honest again...it's visible presence a reminder to connect myself to others and to take time to reflect in writing.

So, I went to Indianapolis last weekend to see my new nephew be dedicated in church. I love this little 5-month old boy. He's a gift from God. And my brother and sister-in-law are wonderful loving parents. It's all so good. It was good for my heart to be there with them, celebrating with them their joy - their son - their blessing. It reminded me of God's words to the Israelites right before they were to cross over the Jordan and claim the land God had brought them to.

He reminds them that they are entering a place "with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards you did not plant." They would constantly use and be among things of value that didn't come from them. They had no claim to self-sufficiency, nor could they boast of themselves. Thankfulness - their only option. God had given them everything.

God has been good to my family. He has given us much. My heart is thankful for Levi, my nephew. For bringing him to my brother and sister-in-law, and providing Levi with a family of love. I am thankful. We are thankful.

Traveling Ahead

I've been on the road a lot recently. It's been good, but also tiring. Last weekend, I traveled to Indy to see my brother and his wife and new son, and then headed over to Illinois to be with my parents. Sunday, I spoke at my home church. It was a full day, but really encouraging for me as well.

I think speaking about life and ministry in West Virginia always challenges me: I find myself thinking, 'how can i put this all into words?' And somehow, God always shows me how to speak and gives me the words and His wisdom. This weekend was no different. And I'm thankful for that. Plus, my home church was incredibly affirming in their encouragement and support of me.

This weekend, I'm off to Roan Mountain, Tennessee for some backpacking with Mel. My favorite hiking spot with a good friend...can it get any better?

Next weekend, I'm back to Indy for my nephew's dedication at church. My whole family will be there - i can't wait for that!

The only sad part about all this traveling is my dog being alone...I don't miss him much, but I think he misses me. This past weekend while I was gone, he chewed off the water spicket outside my house. Water was gushing freely for who knows how long! His favorite chew toy is a 6 foot long drain pipe, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. :)

I'll write more next week.

I'm in it for the eggs

My dad grew up on a farm in Canada, but he went to college and moved far away from farm life, never to return again. Except for family vacation. Every summer, my parents would load up my brother, my sisters, and me and take a 3 week vacation out west. We visited the farm ever summer. The smell of cows, the old barns to play hide and seek in, fields and fields of harvested wheat (or whatever it is my uncle grows)- I think I grew to love farm life (or the idea of it at least.) So now I've become a farmer. Kind of.

This past spring, my friend Emily and I bought 12 laying hens and set them loose in a fenced-in yard near where both of us live. (don't worry, we got permission first.) These hens lay the nice brown eggs - their yolks are richer, more orange than yellow, and apparently better for you. I don't know if you can technically call yourself a farmer when all you have are 12 hens, but it's a start. The other day, someone dropped off 5 more hens and a rooster. Since 2 of our previous hens had disappeared (we think it was a fox), we now have 15 hens and a nice manly rooster.

Today, a friend of mine showed me how to tell the chickens apart (It's hard when a lot of them are the same color). Their comb is different. I didn't know what the comb was, though, so that didn't help. (It's the part on top of their head that's red. Some hens have bigger combs, some have smaller one...anyway). So, I'm learning the ropes. Next spring, we're hatching off some diddies (i.e. baby chicks). And I might even take a couple hens to the slaughter house this fall for some fresh meat. I think my grandpa would be proud. :)

Mouse in the house

Last night, i woke up at 4 in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. So I just layed in bed, thinking of fun memories from this past year. Here's some of my favorites:

• Flying to Colorado to see Rudy, Mandy, Raleigh, Riccara, and a whole bunch more of my college friends!
• Getting all dressed up with some friends here in W.V. to go take pictures at the Wal-mart portrait studio.
• Being with my mom on Mother's Day for the first time in a long time!
• Spending the night on top of a mountain in a thunderstorm.
• Watching my friend Angie and her kids play in the ocean for their first time.

So, as I was enjoying my memories, I heard some scurrying in my room. It's not even winter yet! but here they are. maybe it's only one mouse...or two. but they'll be gone soon, i can guarantee that.

the perfect truck

I've been on the hunt recently for my next used car to own. My chevy cavalier has peaked out at 206,000 miles, and it seems like the engine has breathed its last. I could put a 'new' (i.e. used engine with 60,000 miles on it) into it for $900 dollars, labor included. My mcdowell county, W.V. friends tell me to replace the engine and keep it going. But i'm just not so sure...

So, I'm dreaming up the perfect car to replace it.

• Good miles per gallon (save the earth, right??)
• Stick-shift drive (way more fun)
• Space to haul my dog or my bike or my backpacking gear in the back
• Not a bank-breaker
• Low mileage

Any suggestions?

I will say this, though. Living in West Virginia makes you want to own a pickup truck. Then I would be a real mountain momma. I could mount my shotgun in the back window and the rebel flag painted on the hood. I think I actually get get away with that here. Crazy...

if it's yellow, let it....

Can anyone finish the above phrase concerning water conservation use in the bathroom?

I just came back from a weekend retreat with 40 middle school students who have joined a watershed conservation group at their school. With 40 13 and 14 yr. olds, I'd hardly call it a retreat. A chaotic break from normalcy is maybe more like it. But it was good. I got to spend some good one-on-one time with students that I have mentored in the past. And I also received some valuable info on water conservation.

In case you didn't know...

• 5 gallons of water is used each time you flush the toilet
• Keeping the water running while you brush your teeth uses 2 gallons
• For every minute of your shower, 5 gallons of water goes down the drain
• 1 quart of oil spilled into a creek contaminates 250,000 gallons of water

But here's the real crazy info that is hard to digest...

• 60% of all sewage in my county goes raw into the creek, no treatment, no filter!
• Last week, a diesel truck flipped over on the road near the creek in front of my house. 7,500 gallons spilled into the creek, killing 2,500 fish in 4 miles of stream.

McDowell County, W.V. is a small dot on the USA map, that's for sure. But one day, I hope, that dot will have properly treated sewage.

As for me, I'm thinking of putting a composting bathroom in my yard...(well, maybe not)...

here goes something

i've been a bit sluggish in entering the blog world...but my cool friends all have blogs. plus, there is just a lot of good stuff i've been reading in books recently that i have to share. like this:

"Cutting down on certain foods is good for our health and the planet, while caring about where our food comes from and what conditions it and its growers live under is good for the soul." J. Matthew Sleeth

I've been reading Sleeth's book, Serve God Save the Planet. It forces you to think - what kind of choices can i make that would be good for the planet and good for others. it reminds me that my relationship with God is deeply connected with my relationship with others, which is also deeply connected with how i treat the earth.