Thursday, 22 December 2011
Thursday, 01 December 2011
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Cookie Sales
As you brainstorm for your upcoming fundraisers, please note that while Christmas Cookie sales sound like a good idea, your life will revolved around them for at least two weeks prior to the actual baking day.The Down Sides:
--They sell extremely well. From students who really didn't want to be selling but had the consequence of not going on the trip if they didn't, they did pretty well. We have roughly 36 different people who have ordered. "That's not so bad" you think. Wrong.
--The total cookie sales amount to almost 100 dozen. That's 1,200 Christmas Cut-out Cookies. These cookies are a pain--not only are they time consuming to roll & cut out, but now you have to decorate and box them in a presentable fashion.
--Thoughts of sugar cookies, not sugar plums will dance through your mind and you will most likely become an insomniac for the week.
--Attempting to calculate measurements to this large of an amount is horrendous. Attempting to figure out what size of cutter designs are appropriate is also difficult. Everyone has different sizes and shapes--how do you not use too much dough or too little?
--Harnessing every student's energy into the kitchen can be quite difficult. Esp. when students want to run around, can't stick with a task, or feel that "women should be in the kitchen".
--Your kitchen will be a horrendous mess.
--This all takes a lot of patience.
The Plus Sides:
--They sell extremely well (if you advertise well), even when students don't try too hard.
--Lots of student interaction for many hours on end--last night we used the whole youth group time to make dough. Saturday may be interesting...we'll see how long it takes to do this shindig.
--Gets students out of their comfort zones and into the kitchen :) Once involved in an activity, they generally stick with it until a friend gets off task.
--You have to make a few practice batches to get your recipe "just right" and experiment with frostings to decide which consistency works best for packing. Lots of cookies to eat :)
--You learn something new--did you know the combination of baking soda & cream of tartar can be replaced with baking powder instead? Yeah! ...the more you know!
--You learn a lot of patience and organization.
--Your students learn life skills of cooking (baking), cleaning, and working together.
In a nutshell, I am SO grateful for an amazing volunteer team member and all her skills and talents with baking, math, and patience. "Quilter" has been an amazing asset to our team and I am so thankful she joined our team. The students love her and she adds so much to our team!
More to come after Saturday (my birthday!)... if I haven't passed out from exhaustion by then!
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
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Birthday Package!
This lovely thing came in the mail yesterday :) Mom's thoughtful like that.
She always attaches a card to the front. Under layers of tape. It's always fun to try to get it out without destroying the envelope... My friend opened it while I was driving today... The envelope didn't stand a chance...
Under the wrapping and envelope tape, there's the box tape. My friend did not find the tape nearly as entertaining as I did. Not to mention he tried to open an end--I know better than to assume the box opens in such a logical location,
but I didn't want to tell and destroy the fun!
Finally, its open! And there's more wrapping inside! And its so PRETTY! On each side you'll notice "little pieces of heaven". In other words, if Reese's were to reinvent their recipie/shape, it would be this. The most delicious peanut butter balls I've ever had.
Pretty!!! I received a lovely new necklace from mom that I love! Hopefully I'll take pic of me wearing that soon...but by this point I was tired of waiting to take a pic of everything and eager to dig in the box for the remaining trinkets, etc.
Last night my small group had a birthday cake and my friend gave me prints of some of my favorite shots we've taken together. Now I just have to decide where to hang them!
I've only been here a few months, but so far my birthday has been celebrated all week--what's not to like?!? Saturday however, I'll be busy making cookies with the youth group all day, so I won't get to celebrate on my actual birthday. Birthdays are such a delight!
Monday, 28 November 2011
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Lately...
I've been dabbling in photography. :)
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
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Glitter-Bomb
My brother A hates glitter. Absolutely hates it. I think this is hilarious. I sent a card this week with a piece of glittery wrapping paper in it to send a bit of mischief love his way.
I was doing this little trick while a friend was sitting here. I ended up glitter-bombing my own coffee table and hands cutting the paper more than I got IN the card even! So I made her hold the envelope so there would be little trace of glitter...I was am smart like that.
Today I received a facebook message from my sister-in-law regarding the ensuing activity upon arrival of the card.
So I bring the mail in and tell A he has a card. I give him the sealed envelope and he says "oh it's from my sister". He starts opening it and..... pauses halfway with a look of sheer PANIC on his face. Then he stretches his arms with the envelope as far as they will go and starts WHINING and squealing. He proceeds to look around and does not know what to do next. Then runs across the room, grabs his outside shoes and speeds past me for the door. All the way squealing. I am totally perplexed and follow him outside. Where he finally gets a meaningful sentence out of his mouth and says "it is SPAAAARKLES"! Oh horror. I start laughing and cannot stop. I urge him to finish opening the card, "c'mon, it is from your sister, you have to open". Still whining and stretching, he finally opens it, reads it and shows it to me. The second he is done, he runs back into the house for the trash can. Then to the sink still whining and looking at his hands. I say this is "so funny, she sent you glitter!" He growls and says "THAT WAS NOT NICE." I just say "brother and sister" and that I will write about it to you on FB.
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Yes, a grown man had THAT reaction to glitter. BAHAHAHAHA!
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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I love Fall
Every Fall I get into this sentimental mood. There’s something about the crisp- ness in the air, the crunching of the leaves beneath my feet, the artistry of the light hitting the rustic colored trees, the pumpkin-spiced lattes, apple cider, and visits to the orchards and pumpkin patches. It does something inside of me. It brings a stillness and calm that invite reflection, sentiment, and Sabbath.
Tuesday, 04 October 2011
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Suessical=My Life currently
I meet for coffee with a professor from my undergrad (who I didn't really get to know until I was in grad-school...odd, but true) and we had such a wonderful conversation. This conversation made me realize I am so thankful I was trained in counseling and given the tools I need to deal with a lot of situations. I never thought I would find myself in the thick of it all so quickly. ...But here I am, loving on these students. They really are good students, don't misunderstand me.
"Andwhen things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along, you'll starthappening too." -Dr. Suess
So here's a wee bit of information about my new job... we're all a bit Suessical. We're quirky. Here's a few of our differences from other communities:
The group has a full spectrum from un-churched students to very religious, full spectrum of views on Communion, and a full spectrum of academic ability (to name a few). We also have major trust issues within the group--students struggle to trust his/herself and to trust others. There is great skepticism and mistrust of the local church and churches/Christians in general.
We are located in an entire community based around the military. This means, students have few roots, most are "Third-Culture-Kids," and most have rough family lives (currently or in the past).
The group is very diverse. When asked what makes them different than a social club at school I was told "we don't have anything in common, like we wouldn't normally hang out with each other." Seriously, from boys who collect fairies and weaponry to a preppy long-boarder; an athletic beauty to a manga-obsessed artist. They are beautifully accepting of this diversity and have been fairly open to getting to know me. They are hilarious and crack me up!
"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." -Dr. Suess
This is why I love my job. I am living in the trenches with them, with Christ; to suffer with them and be present as they discover the God of suffering.
And I'd like to think Calvin and Bonhoeffer would give their seal of approval.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
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Moving has consumed my life...well, moving and a new job. And the 50 million other things vying for my attention. So here's a hug for you. You are not forgotten.
Phew. A lot has been happening!
1. I moved--by airplane.
2. I moved into an apartment with minimal supplies and am grateful for people who have supplied all my needs.
Exhibit 1: My bedroom. Supplied by various members of my church: the wine-box night stand on left & the comforter from a military chaplain and his wife. The two lamps from an older couple who is also moving soon (along with some bookshelves that aren't pictured). The bed from a friend who needed to get rid of it for years but was too lazy :) Glad I could "help" with that! Oh, and various blankets (seen here stuffing the pillow cases) from thrift stores or borrowed.
3. My parents and younger brother moved my stuff from back home. Yay! I have supplies now! It was a wonderful 2 days with them. A bit stressful at times--unpacking and moving, usually is. But, we also made time to explore the island and get some sun! It was a warm and sunny (rare) weekend for labor day.
Mom and Dad headed back Monday. It was the first time they had flown in YEARS, so it was a bit nerve-racking, I think, trying to meet regulations, check-in at a kiosk, and find their way around the airport again. They took a bus to get there as I was unable to bring them in (2 hours).
4. Caleb stayed behind for the week. We had a good time, he was helpful for unpacking (when we did that) and we were able to have quite a few adventures while he was here. We went to the tide pools one morning bright and early before heading out on Caleb's first ferry ride to a nearby town to explore.
He was also sporting the new look he has decided on. We had a heart-to-heart explaining that now that he's done with high school (a rough time for him), he was free to be whomever he wanted to be. He could reinvent himself. And he discovered thrift stores and a new look! I love it on him! He also had a lot of fun on our ferry adventure taking pictures of "wildlife". This mostly meant various birds he saw and one dog. Meanwhile, all three (a friend went along) of us walked around town with cameras for the day. It was a good time and we got some great shots--of birds and the town.
Coming back on the ferry though, we were exhausted. We found a seat quickly this time instead of walking around the deck as we had on the first trip. We sat down and giggled incessantly. And took a LOT of shots of Caleb, just kept clicking. Some were great, others not so much, but loads of memories!
It was great having the family here, but I was thankful to get back to a routine. There was, and still is, a lot of work to be done! Especially in my apartment! Once things find a place to live, I'll post pictures of that also. :)
Monday, 15 August 2011
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Apricot Jam.
Ranch Dressing.
Steak & Baked potato.
A smorgasbord of goodness.
And all of it is homemade from scratch. All of it is mouth-watering. Yes, even beets.
All of it is served in serving dishes on the table. Fine dining at its best. No, I am not at a Bed & Breakfast,I am staying with a couple from the church. When asking where to get the best steak in town, locals allknow to recommend Pauline’s house. W & P have been so wonderfully generous and hospitable. I can’t even begin to tell you. And my mouth salivates too much to takea photo of her delicious foods to share with you...but I did anyway. Just one meal though!
smiling_spunk
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- Name: bethy
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 11/9/2003
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after 17 hours of travel, I have arrived. I interview all day tomorrow and Sunday. Prayers welcomed :)
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what is this pulse thing? weird....
