Minnesota Preacher Woman

Friday Five - Black Friday

2006-11-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

Black Friday Five
This is a "Black Friday" Five in honor of the busiest shopping day of the year:

1. Would you ever/have you ever stood in line for something--tickets, good deals on electronics, Tickle Me Elmo? Two weeks ago I stood in line to buy a collector CD (Cities 97 Sampler) of great music – buying one to keep and one to sell on eBay. And 20 years ago I stood in line to get Bruce Springsteen concert tickets. That has been it. I marvel at the people who have time to stand in line for 24 hours or more for an item. I have a one hour limit for standing in line, it seems.

2. Do you enjoy shopping as a recreational activity?
Yes, when the mood hits me. I have to have the patience to face the crowds and the right pair of shoes on my feet. My 9 year old daughter is really starting enjoy shopping so when I’m partnered with her I find shopping a great way to spend some free time.

3. Your favorite place to browse without necessarily buying anything.
Definitely a good bookstore. I can spend hours at Barnes and Noble without making a purchase.

4. Gift cards: handy gifts for the loved one who has everything, or cold impersonal symbol of all that is wrong in our culture?
I think that Gift Cards are alright. They don’t compare to a well-chosen gift or a handmade item but they do fine by me.

5. Discuss the spiritual and theological issues inherent in people coming to blows over a Playstation 3.
We bury ourselves in so many empty endeavors in this life.

Missing Viola

2006-11-23T05:40:00.000-08:00

Viola died last week. The day began with Viola directing the choir and sitting at the piano bench and leading our Sunday worship. Then later in the day she felt the pain surge through her head, felt the sudden effects of the blood filling her skull and died.
Once again I had that unique experience that we ministers are blessed with – I had the honor to stand at her bedside with her as she was dying. We talked and we prayed. And then soon the machine was hooked up and she was breathing no more on her own.
And then suddenly the Lord whom she had so long sung about, the Lord whom she taught so many of us to sing and praise, the Lord who had walked with her all through her life was cradling Viola safe in His arms.
Once again we are left in that awkward situation – weeping here on this side while we trust and we know that Viola is singing and dancing elsewhere. May that hope and that promise begin to ease our sadness. Viola, you will be missed!

Friday Five - Giving Thanks

2006-11-17T06:41:00.000-08:00

Friday Five: Giving Thanks
Please tell us five things or people for which you are thankful this year.

This has been such a wonderful year that it is hard to limit the list to only 5!
1. My children – you are growing up to be such wonderful people. The joy you bring me is inexpressible. You teach me, inspire me, fill our home with laughter and blow me away with your unique talents. Thank you for being you!
2. My friends – I have prayed for friends in the past and God always answers this prayer way beyond my imagination. I am thankful for my clergy friends with whom I gather each and every Tuesday, I am thankful for long-time friends and my closets friend, Michelle. Thank you for reminding me to laugh.
3. I am oh so thankful for my congregation. At other points in my ministry I have felt like my congregation has been an endurance challenge or a test from God. Right now I am blessed with a congregation that is a true community of faith. Just last week when our organist died I stood back and watched you surround her young daughters with love and care that still brings tears to my eyes. I love being a pastor at this church!
4. Our puppy. It is amazing the love and joy and teamwork that a new addition can bring to a home. Thank you, God, for our puppy.
5. This last one gets to be many: our health, our home, our wonderful community, a math teacher that has taught eldest son to love learning in a new way, my helpful parents, our travels this past year…the list could go on and on. Thank you, God, for everything!

Friday Five - Red, white and purple all over

2006-11-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

Friday Five: What’s red and blue and purple all over?

1. Favorite red food
Many favorites: Red M & M’s, red wine (I know it literally a food), red marinara sauce on a pile of ziti pasta.

2. Tell us about the bluest body of water you've ever seen in person.
Two years ago I took my children on a cruise to Mexico. As we took the ride from Cozumel, Mexico over to Playa de Carmen, I remember thinking that I have never seen such beautiful, blue/green water as that in front of me.

3. It's movie rental time: Blue Planet, The Color Purple, or Crimson Tide?
Without a doubt, the Color Purple, Whoopie and Oprah.

4. What has you seeing red these days?
The War in Iraq, the evangelical religious right rhetoric, the tragedy in Darfur and George W. Bush.

5. What or who picks you up when you're feeling blue?
My kids and my close friend, Michelle.

Friday Five - Nothing But the Tooth

2006-11-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

Friday Five: Nothing But the Tooth

1) The Tooth Fairy
The Tooth Fairy was real until I forgot one night. Rachel was 8 and I let her down. So I thought I could just set her down and tell her the truth. She was shocked. I was sure that she had an inkling that there wasn’t a Tooth Fairy but she was really surprised. Later that day I tucked some money away for later therapy sessions she’ll now need.

2) Flossing
Gotta do it – need to do it more often.

3) Toothpaste Brands
Did an experiment in college science class as to which brand kills the most bacteria. Ever since, I’ve been a faithful Colgate fan.

4) Orthodontia for Adults
Go for it!

5) Whitening products
I just wish I knew which ones worked the best. I see a light product on the market and wonder if it really works. I like the Crest Whitestrips.

Ghoulish Friday Five

2006-10-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Ghoulish Friday Five

1. Do you enjoy a good fright?
I don’t like scary movies but I enjoy the scaring that my kids provide me. They love to jump out and scream, “boo” and I can handle that.

2. Scariest movie you've ever seen:
I haven’t seen many because they scare me soooo much. The movie “Sybil” shook me up when I was a kid because the real Sybil lived nearby. I had nightmares for months. Movies about people with mental illnesses stick with me the longest, like Misery or the aforentioned, Sybil. I guess that Halloween (the first of a dozen) was one of the ickiest movies I’ve seen.

3. Bobbing for apples: choose one and discuss:
a) Nothing scary about that! Good wholesome fun. I think I’ve only bobbed for apples a few times and many years ago. There is so much water that I don’t think the germs would be too concentrated to cause problems.

4. Real-life phobia
Every now and then I’ll be laying in bed and hear a creak or a noise and wonder if I locked the doors. Then my imagination runs wild and I’ll think that it sounds like someone is walking down the hall or up the stairs.

5. Favorite "ghost story"
My sister-in-law rented an apartment above a barbershop. She kept insisting that there was a ghost. She had numerous stories about seeing the image of a man in the apartment with her. Finally someone admitted to her that the original owner of the barbershop committed suicide in the building – so she was sure that the spirit of the dead barber was her roommate.

Friday Five - Election Season

2006-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Since many yards are filled with political signs and the only commercials on television are political, the RevGal Friday Five is about ELECTIONS.

1) How old were you when you voted for the first time? I was 18 years old when I first voted. My parents were very politically active and instilled in me the importance of voting. I went to “League of Women Voter’s” meetings with my Mom many times and accompanied her to the polls every time she voted. Although they are very active democrats now, for several years my parents were members of the “Young Republicans.” While they were more conservative they brought me to a hear Richard Nixon speak when I was a child.

2) What was the contest at the top of the ballot? When I first voted it was a Presidential election with Ronald Reagan and Carter/Mondale on the top of the ballot.

3) Can you walk to your polling place? I can because my church is the polling place for our community. I even have to set up the rooms!

4) Have you ever run for public office? Never, although I would love to serve on the school board once my kids are older.

5) Have you run for office in a club or school or on a board? I did run, uncontested, as the President of the Parent Teacher Organization of my children’s elementary school. I served for one year while I was working ¾ time in my last parish.

Friday Five - Groups

2006-09-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Friday Five - Groups

1. Tell us about any group(s) you currently belong to. (e.g. book club, knitting circle, walking buddies, etc.)
I belong to a “women’s night out” group. We meet once each month and enjoy an evening at a restaurant with a drink and a nice dinner together. The main ingredient is laughter. It is an eclectic group of 6 women and I always look forward to the night out.

2. Do you feel energized or drained by being in a group situation? If the answer is "it depends," on what does it depend?
Energized – although I’ll confess that sometimes I have to drag myself out the door to go to my Women’s Night Out group if it is has been a long day. The main reason is I’m a major homebody. But, inevitably, I come home happier and glad I went out.

3. Is there a role you naturally find yourself playing in group situations? That is, do you naturally fall into the leader role, or the one who always makes sure the new person feels welcome, or the quiet one who sits back and lets others shine, or the host? I think I’m a bit of a leader in the group and most groups in that I often choreograph the date/time/place but once were are there, I try to sit back and listen.

4. Handshakes vs. hugs: discuss.
Hug, hugs, hugs. Can’t get enough, can’t give enough. Think it is because I grew up in a home were we didn’t and still don’t hug. I hug my friends a lot. I hug my kids constantly. Never my Mom. Anyone want to analyze that for me??

5. Ice breakers: a playful way to build community in a lighthearted manner, or a complete and utter hell of forced fun and awkwardness?
I like icebreakers if they are needed. There are very few times when I truly think that they are needed, though.

Friday Five - Boo-Boo Alert

2006-09-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

RevGal's Friday Five Boo-Boo's

1) Are you a baby about small injuries? I’m a tough cookie – no tears.
2) What's the silliest way you have ever hurt yourself? Tripped and fell in front of my congregation when I was an intern pastor. Someone nicknamed me “Digger” – I didn’t realize then that “taking a digger” is another name for a fall.
3) Who took care of your boo-boos when you were a child? My Mom – withouth much tenderness, but she was always there for me, nonetheless.
4) Are you a good nurse when others have boo-boos? I’m a very caring nurse unless my kids really had it coming to them…the other day my son was being very careless and ended up tripping down some stairs. I didn’t fawn over him at all but told him to grab some ice.
5) What's the worst accidental injury you've suffered? Did it require a trip to the Emergency Room? When I was a child I fell off the top of a high slide at a playground. I landed on a spike/bolt that held down the brace on the slide and needed stitches near my hip.

Friday Five - Brushes with Greatness

2006-09-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

RevGals Friday Five “Brushes with Greatness”

1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous.
When I was a college student, I spent two summers working at the lodge restaurant at Zion National in southern Utah. I met three D list celebrities when I worked there: Pernell Roberts (of Bonanza and Trapper John, MD fame) who was very rude to all who approached him; Judge Wapner/Wopner (who hosted a show by the same name) who was very kind and even carried glossy 8x10’s ready to autograph; and Bob from Sesame Street. Bob was there with his family and I even took he and his family on a hike. Once while I was working there, someone mistook me for a celebrity. Even though I was waitressing, a woman stood up and pointed at me and said, “Aren’t you that woman from Cagney and Lacy??”

2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet. I would love to sit and have a private discussion with people like Barbara Brown Taylor or Jim Wallis or James Forbes. I consider myself a BBT groupie – have been in the same room many times but never met her.

3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone oughta have a chance to meet. The heroes that I know are people who have overcome great adversity and maintained a strong faith and healthy sense of humor. I would love people to meet Mary, who worked in the housing office at my Seminary and was my boss when I was a dorm Head Resident. Mary’s husband was murdered and her son paralyzed in the same attack. Mary and her son went on to champion legislation for handicapped accesibility. But behind the scenes, she also founded a scholarship for African-American men because she wanted to reach out to the young man who murdered her husband. She also wrote an open letter of forgiveness to the murderer, who was never caught, and printed it in a major newspaper on Christmas Day. Mary is an amazing woman whom others should meet.

4. Do you have any autographs of famous people? I have autographs of many Minnesota Vikings because we often visit their training camp. And I have autographs of Judge Wopner and Sesame Street Bob but not Pernell Roberts (see above).

5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for? For doing something like Texan Ann Richardson did – stepping forward in her 40’s after raising her children to make a difference in politics.

Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago? The subway sandwich guy and Paris Hilton are the two that come to mind.

Friday Five - Life in the Fast Lane

2006-09-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Friday Five - Life in the Fast Lane

In homage to Will Smama, who was in a fender bender, the Friday Five is about life on the road.

1. Driving: an enjoyable way to clear the mind? a means to an end? a chance to be quiet with one's thoughts? a necessary evil? the downfall of our planet and its fossil fuels? Discuss.

I like to drive during the day. I find it relaxing and at times, therapeutic. I love taking my kids on road trips. Last year I thought nothing of driving to Washington, DC and back to Minnesota as the sole driver for our summer vacation. But in recent years I started to hate driving long distances at night. So if the sun is out, I love it, but at night, I don’t.

2. Do you drive the speed limit? A little faster? Slower? Have you ever gotten a ticket?
Speedy Mary – I tend to drive a little fast than the speed limit. I got pulled over a year ago but only got a warning – whew! I haven’t had a speeding ticket for 20 years.

3. Do you take public transportation? When? What's your opinion of the experience?
No opportunities for public transportation in my home. This summer we used Amtrak from Minneapolis to Chicago for our vacation. I thought it would be nicer – the last time I took Amtrak I had a sleeper car but riding coach was a little humbling. Felt like a greyhound experience.

4. Complete this sentence: _____________ has the worst drivers I've ever experienced.
I have had “less than pleasant” driving experiences in both Montreal, Quebec and around Boston.

5. According to the Census Bureau, reverendmother's fair city has the 6th longest average commute in the United States at 29 minutes each way. How does your personal commute rate?
My personal commute is about 2 minutes because my little bedroom community is only a mile wide. My eldest child begins at a new school this year in the adjacent community and it will now (groan) take a whole 10 minutes to get him to school (while the school bus ride will take an hour – go figure).

Bonus for the brutally honest: It has been said, and the MythBusters have confirmed, that cell phones can impede driving ability almost as much as drinking. Do you talk on a cell phone while driving?
Unfortunately, yes, I do talk on the cellphone (while driving) about three times per week. I hate doing it and want to stop because I think it is dangerous.

Can you say VACATION?

2006-08-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

I’m in the midst of vacation – a truly rejuvenating one. My two children and I love to travel, but it seems that I’ve overdone it in past years and have come home from our travels exhausted. Take last year: driving half way across the country – as the only driver – only to swelter in the August heat of Washington, DC. Fun trip but truly exhausting.

This year was going to be different, I was certain. So instead of driving, I decided that we would travel by Amtrak. An adventure for the kids. We enjoyed 6 days in Chicago. It would have been a perfect trip if not for the vomiting from young daughter on the way to the Amtrak station and vomiting from my eldest son on the way home from the Amtrak station. Needless to say, our van smells!

Chicago was wonderful. We saw the musical WICKED while we were there and loved it. Defy gravity and go. We bought the soundtrack and are all singing, “Popular.” Another highlight of the trip was taking in the wonders from the King Tut tomb, now on display at the Field Museum. Amazing. Eldest son (Handful but heartful) really enjoyed the Museum of Science and Industry and Delightful Daughter loved the American Girl Place, with her doll in tow.

Me – I enjoyed time with my kids. We walked miles every day and laughed and talked and pulled together again. The past months had made an independent bunch of us. I enjoyed time to read while the kids played in the pool (Memorykeeper’s Daughter - a good read). And I enjoyed the rest, as well…we slept in each and every morning.

Now we are home and using another week of vacation to get ready for school, to clean the garage…and to clean our van, now nicknamed the Barf-mobile. Life is good.

Hot hot hot Friday Five

2006-07-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hot hot hot Friday Five

As a heatwave span the globe, the Revgalblogpal Friday Five (as compiled by reverendmother) is about heat.

1. What's the high temperature today where you are? The forecast today is for a high temp of 98 degrees.

2. Favorite way(s) to beat the heat. Air conditioning tops my list! Today is a day-off for me so I’m taking the kids and heading to the nearest lake. I’m sure a cold popscicle will also be in order, as well!

3. "It's not the heat, it's the humidity." Evaluate this statement. After living several summers in southern Utah (Zion Natl Park) which is very hot but also dry, I would say that the statement “it’s not the heat, but the humidity” is most certainly true. Shade works in dry heat but not in high humidity. Pure hell is a day with excessive heat and excessive humidity.

4. Discuss one or more of the following: sauna, hot tub, sweat lodge, warm-stone massage. Thinking of any of these on a day like today is near-torture. Amazingly, even the warm-stone massage doesn’t sound appealing! Can't think of any of them until winter arrives!

5. Hottest you've ever been in your life. I was on a three-day backpacking trip in Zion National Park and we ran out of water – yes, we were rookie hikers. So most of the third day we were parched, which made the heat take a terrible toll on our bodies. We pushed forward because we knew that the last half of the day was on a well-traveled trail and we begged for water whenever we saw another group of hikers. That experience is the most I’ve ever suffered in the heat…

Non-temperature related bonus: In your opinion... who's hot? Ooooh, where to begin? The first thing that came to my mind was that Richard Gere in “Shall We Dance” was hot.

Friday Five - Happy Anniversary!

2006-07-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Friday Five: Happy Anniversary!
In honor of the First Anniversary of the RevGalBlogPals, Songbird has compiled the following Friday Five:

1) What is your first memory of the RevGalBlogPals? It was early in November of 2005 and I got on the computer to explore the world of blogs – for the first time. I “googled” to see if anyone might possibly have a blog about being a woman pastor. Was I surprised to find not just one blog but a whole circle of women. In the days that followed I read many of the different blogs and suddenly felt like my world was richer and my days were brighter – there were women sharing common experiences, inspiring me with their wit and their wisdom and opening up my world with insights from women of different denominations. I didn’t start a blog until after the Festival of Homiletics. I’ve been to several Festivals but missed this year – I read several posts during and after the Festival and felt bad because I would have loved to have met you as you gathered there. In some ways I feel like a silent partner of the community because I don’t take the time to update my own blog very often. Yet, I visit several RevGal blogs on a daily basis and want to become more active in the community.

2) Have you met any of the other ring members in real life? None, that I know of!

3) Of those you haven't met, name a few you would love to know in person. I would love to meet the matriarchs…Songbird, St. Casserole, Preacher Mom, Reverend Mommy and Jan E.

4) What has Ring Membership added to your life? I elaborated on that in an earlier question…it has been a tremendously positive experience. Humor, joy and insight is added to each day by visiting the various blogs.

5) Describe a hope for the future of the WebRing. It will be interesting and exciting to see how the community continues to develop as the numbers grow.

I would love to have a gathering, as has been suggested. If the blog can be as enriching as it is, gathering together would be that much and more.

Summer Joys

2006-07-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

Vacation is refreshing! We enjoyed a wonderful time in northern Minnesota. Eldest child (Handful and Heartful Son) learned how to water ski! It didn't come easy - he didn't even get up on the first day he tried. I loved watching him try and was impressed at his persistence. So much in life has come easy for him - so it was a relief to see him not give up when he wasn't an expert in his first day. What a joyful look on his face when he finally got up on his skis.

I read Barbara Brown Taylor's "Leaving the Church" during vacation. I actually read it twice, underlining sections the second time through. I was impressed by BBT's candor - it seems to have been a therapeutic project for her.

Now I'm ready to read a book about the original "Vicar of Dibley" that was recommended by another sister in the RevGalBlogPals. Really looking forward to reading Joy Wallis' autobiography - wondering if there are a lot of similarities between herself and Geraldine Granger.

Another summer joy is both my kids are calling for some snuggle time - so the computer and the blog will have to be done for now...

Vacation Time Approaching

2006-06-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Vacation time is almost here. I'm taking next week off. The week after that includes July 4th, which will be a very light week. Thought I had planned that one well. (Last year I took the week of the 4th as vacation and it didn't make sense that I was taking vacation time when it was already holiday time I had off).

The psyche sure seems to know when vacation is coming for me. It always feels like I've been running a marathon when I approach vacation and can barely make it to the finish line. I have definitely been overworking myself. One look around our home is all it takes for me to know that!

We are driving 'up north' - a fond Minnesota experience. 'Up North' is a nebulus place that means north of Minneapolis. I like going way up north, to the pine trees and loons and northern lights. We will spend most of the week on Leech Lake, which doesn't sound too appealing unless you realize that the lake isn't leech infested and is actually walleye infested. I hope that eldest child/son can catch some walleye. I won't even dip a line in the water. Hopefully lots of reading and sleep for me. The kids will spend lots of time in or on the water.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For...

2006-06-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

ICE CREAM!

Friday Five, as inspired by Reverend Mother.

1. Ice cream: for warm weather only or a year-round food?
Year-round food. Definitely. I grew up with a Mom who is an ice cream fiend. She definitely passed on the love to me.
2. Favorite flavor(s)
I consider myself an ice cream snob, in that I like the finer things of life. I love expensive ice cream. Love Ben & Jerry's. Anything by them, but really love Cherry Garcia the best.
3. Cake cone, sugar cone, waffle cone, cup?
Sugar cone in a cup, best of both worlds.
4. Childhood ice-cream memory
Went out Sunday lunch at Bridgeman's Ice Cream Shop/Restaurant with my grandparents when they were visiting from Florida. I was about 11 years old. I registered everyone at the table for a give-away. Later that day they called to say that my grandfather's name was drawn to win 10 gallons of ice cream. "Time for a party!" said my Mom. We went to pick up the ice cream and invited all the aunts, uncles and cousins to bring a topping and come over for sundaes. I remember feeling a personal feeling of pride that this family gathering happened just because I had filled out all those give-away registrations. My grandpa died later that year.
5. Banana splits: discuss. I haven't eaten many in my life. They seem so big but would love to have one again. I bet I haven't had one in 20 years! Bet that the fruit would cut the guilt feeling, though!

Friday FiveZzzzzzz....

2006-06-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

This week's Friday Five is all about sleep!
1. In what kind of environment do you sleep best? (e.g. amount of light and noise, temperature, number of pillows, breathe-right strip, sleeping in the buff, etc.) Ever since I divorced, I have preferred to go to sleep with television on (with a 30 minute timer). I only recently started sleeping in the middle of the bed even though the marriage was not definitely over - but mainly because one of my kids often wandered in for part of the night. I have 5 pillows on my bed (which seems excessive to me), mainly because my two kids and I often watch tv or a movie together on my bed.
2. How much sleep do you need to feel consistently well-rested?How much can you get by on?What are the consequences when you don't get enough? I need 7 hours and usually get 7 hours. If I get 5 or less I'm pretty grumpy and very lethargic.
3. Night owl or morning person? A little of both. Prefer the early morning but can easily stay up very late working on a sermon, etc.
4. Favorite cure for insomnia Turning on the television or reading for awhile usually gets me tired again.
5. To snooze or not to snooze? Why or why not? I do not take naps but only because I have a hard time finding 20 minutes that I can slow down enough to nap. I long for the days when my schedule slows down enough that I can or even need to take a nap.

Two Father's Day Cards

2006-06-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Today I'm mailing Father's Day Cards. One to my adoptive father, my dad, who is currently spending some much-needed vacation time in the Cascade mountains of Washington state. Then, later, guilt made me stop by the drug store and get a second card.

I am adopted and reunited with my birth parents 17 years ago. I don't remain in contact with Birth Mother. It was a hard relationship to forge. She had so much baggage from the past, it seemed.

But I've remained in contact with Birth Father. He and Birth Mother were High School sweethearts who never married. He has been married for over 35 years and never had any other children. I have a pretty good relationship with Birth Father and his wife. I'm having a harder time with the obligations that they keep suggesting that I must meet. For example, Birth Father's wife recently celebrated a milestone birthday, they were angry that I didn't drive 7 hours to help them celebrate. I feel like my primary responsibilities of two grade-school aged children (that I'm raising alone) and a full-time call at a busy, growing church are about all I can bear most days. My needs are rarely met each day, let alone the needs that Birth Father and his wife seems to have.

But, yet, I'm grateful to know him. Grateful for the emotional closure that I felt in reuniting with Birth Father; glad to know more of who I am because he welcomed me back into his life. So today I found a card with butterflies on the front (re-birth) that simply says, "For everything...you are wished happiness...Happy Father's Day." Thank you, Hallmark.

I may not be able to be the daughter he always dreamed that I would be and I may feel stressed with all my obligations...but I wish both of my fathers joy and peace. In the end, I thank God for the opportunity to be able to send out two Father's Day cards.

Friday Five

2006-06-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

1. Favorite way to spend a rainy day
I would be curled up on the couch with a book and bowl of popcorn. And most importantly, my two children would be downstairs playing together peacefully.
2. Favorite song about rain
I can only think of Burt B.'s "Raindrops keep fallin' on my Head." But that song brings back fond memories because it was one of my dad's favorite lp's and I remember being 5 years old and dancing around the room while he listened to it.
3. Favorite movie featuring rain
One of my favorite movies right now stars Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton "Something's Gotta Give." One scene when they were finally connecting features a rainstorm that even knocked the power out.
4. Favorite piece of raingear, past or present
When I was in kindergarten my Mom made me a raincoat and hat. I still can't believe that she sewed a raincoat. She was a thrifty gal. After I outgrew that raincoat she used the material to re-surface the stool we always had in our kitchen.
5. Favorite word for rain
Drizzle - don't know why!

Passages

2006-05-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

Do I celebrate or do I mourn? A litte of both, perhaps. (Yes, I'm having a conversation with myself!) It is the last week of school for my two grade-school-aged children. (You know the song, "no more teachers, no more school...") I would right a second verse for the parents...and a third verse especially for us single parents with full-time jobs. I have enough to juggle but add to it a couple of energetic kids out of school for the summer!

My eldest, Handful and Heartful Son, will be done with grade school altogether. I'm not sure if I'm prepared for him to head to Middle School yet! It means a long bus trip out of our bedroom community and into the large city. So I'm mourning the end of the age of innocence for him as he ends his grade school career this week.

My daughter actually cries on the last day of school because she loves it all. I was so like that in the 3rd grade, also.

Tomorrow I'm chaperoning Delightful Daughter and her third grade class trip to our Minnesota Zoo. We drive to the Minneapolis area in school buses. Un-air-conditioned school buses. The temperature has only been in the 90's here lately with very high humidity. Knowing that the class has lots of chaperones going, I called Mrs. School Teacher and asked if I might drive behind the bus in my air conditioned van. I know the gas prices are high, but I'd rather put some NPR on the radio and just imagine what it is like in the school bus.

And at the end of the week, summer vacation begins...there will be laughter and sunshine and trips to the beach. And there will babysitters and camp and stressful moments. And through it all, God will walk with us.

A Saturday Confessional

2006-05-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

I need to begin with a confession. I got hooked on Soap Opera’s when I was in the 7th grade. Three of my best friends were really into soaps and it didn’t take long for me to get hooked. All My Children to be specific. Erica Kane, Chuck and Donna, Tad, Palmer, the whole town of Pine Valley. I got so wrapped up in their lives.
Looking back, I can see that my soap helped get me through my High School years. It helped me to be immersed in the lives of others because sometimes, quite frankly, I wanted to escape from my own life.
Life wasn’t too pleasant in my home during my high school years. When I was in 9th grade my big brother Bob was often coming home drunk, if he came home at all. My brother was often running away and constantly fighting with my parents. By the time I was in 11th grade the kids on the school bus were pestering me – trying to buy drugs from me because they knew that my brother was a drug dealer.
Life wasn’t too pleasant…but sometimes, if even for an hour, I could escape into the world in Pine Valley. For sixty minutes I could forget the problems in my life and focus on all of their problems, instead.
If those soaps had been about perfect people with perfect lives, I wouldn’t have watched. The soap helped me realize that I wasn’t alone in having a life with problems. Mine usually look insignificant and small compared to theirs! Erica suffered through tragedy after hardship almost every day but…then she would get back up and dust herself off and face another day. It made me realize that I could become resilient, too. And regardless of what happened to Erica Kane, she was never banished from Pine Valley, but always embraced.
I’ll be the first to admit that Soap Opera’s are not the highest quality of TV programming. I haven't watched All My Children for more than a few moments in the last ten years. But during my my formative years I honestly think that I learned lessons about grace from All My Children! That silly Soap Opera also taught me lessons about coping with an imperfect family and lessons about finding hope in the face of struggles.
But after I was watching my Soap, at some point, I heard another story that also struck a cord with me; a story about a broken family and a runaway and a jealous sibling. This time it wasn’t called a story but was called a parable , entitled The Prodigal Son. It finally dawned on me that Jesus told cool stories that even I could relate to in my life. After I was ministered to by a Soap Opera it ended up leading me to me being ministered by the Bible and the Good News of hope that comes from God. My eyes were opened to the fact that the Bible is filled with stories that I could connect with. Jesus didn’t rub elbows with perfect people who had perfect lives. But he ran around with people who couldn’t figure everything out. Instead of just coping I ended up finding hope in the midst of my own imperfect family and my imperfect life. I realized that I wasn’t ever alone, but God was always with me, and I learned to turn to God in prayer when I felt especially alone or sad. The stories of the imperfect people being ministered to by a powerful God gave me hope.
Thankfully God's Spirit touches us through some of the least likely sources.

Hello everyone! Minnesota Preacher Woman here

2006-05-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

I've been an avid follower of the RevGals for 9 months....a reader and an admirer. And I've been a two-time visitor to Festival of Homies. I didn't go this year but REALLY wished that I had when I read about the meet-ups that took place. My heart ached. I would have loved to have met those whom I've read about and cheered for...

I have been a Lutheran Pastor for 16 years. I'm serving at Growing Church in a bedroom community in central Minnesota - just down the road from Lake Wobegon. I went to college across the street from the Prairie Home Cemetary.

I'm divorced and single-handedly parenting two children -- my son "Handful and Heartful" is 11. My daughter "Delightful" is nearly 9.

I'm excited to be a part of the RevGal circle even though I've been here on the fringe for many months. I even have an official mug!