Hello, friends!
If any of you have talked to me at all during the month of March, you've probably caught on to the fact that it's been a stressful month. I am worn out. Work has not necessarily been bad, just... exhausting. I would love another day off so that I could sleep in.
Tomorrow is not going to be that day.
In fact, tomorrow, I will be waking up a full hour earlier than I normally do. I don't expect this to help with my worn-out state. Here's what I do expect:
-Celebration
-Rejoicing
-Saying that forbidden Lenten word over and over
-A lot of lilies
-A lot of laughter
-A sense of community that you don't see on many other days of the year
-Excitement
-Good food
-Good fun
-In general, happiness all around
All of those things sound wonderful, but here's what I expect most of all: to hear the most wonderful story ever told, the story that makes all of those things possible and meaningful.
More sleep would be great, and I'm sure I'm not the only person desiring it. But tomorrow is Easter, folks - and sleep can wait. I hope you will all be celebrating with me tomorrow!
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Point Guards and DCEs
Hello, friends! I'm writing to you today while listening to the Drake-Sacred Heart women's basketball game. I've listened to or watched quite a few games this season, and there are a couple of names that come up very frequently. The first is Lizzy Wendell, the top scorer for Drake and the Missouri Valley conference overall. The second is a more interesting study - Caitlin Ingle, not top in points but in assists.
For those of you not versed in basketball terminology, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a basket. Most players with many assists are point guards like Ingle, as their role is primarily that of passer and ballhandler. Ingle is particularly talented at reading the court. She always knows where everyone is on the floor, teammates and opponents alike. She knows what her teammates are capable of, and she uses all of this knowledge to pass the ball at crucial moments and lead her team to victory.
I think Caitlin Ingle is a good example of what I strive to be in my work as a DCE. I'm not out to score the most points, so to speak. It's not my job to succeed myself, it's my job to lead others to success. If I can put on an event or activity by myself, that's fine and good. But if I can get to know people well enough to help them take on leadership roles that fit their skills, if I can get my church members to a point where they're putting on events and activities with minimal help from me, that's far better. I want to be known for assists, not points.
The Drake women's basketball players were my idols as a kid. It was my dream to play on that team. Now I find my inspiration from them in different ways. Thanks, Drake, for always providing me with opportunities for dreaming and growth - and goooooo, Bulldogs!
For those of you not versed in basketball terminology, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a basket. Most players with many assists are point guards like Ingle, as their role is primarily that of passer and ballhandler. Ingle is particularly talented at reading the court. She always knows where everyone is on the floor, teammates and opponents alike. She knows what her teammates are capable of, and she uses all of this knowledge to pass the ball at crucial moments and lead her team to victory.
I think Caitlin Ingle is a good example of what I strive to be in my work as a DCE. I'm not out to score the most points, so to speak. It's not my job to succeed myself, it's my job to lead others to success. If I can put on an event or activity by myself, that's fine and good. But if I can get to know people well enough to help them take on leadership roles that fit their skills, if I can get my church members to a point where they're putting on events and activities with minimal help from me, that's far better. I want to be known for assists, not points.
The Drake women's basketball players were my idols as a kid. It was my dream to play on that team. Now I find my inspiration from them in different ways. Thanks, Drake, for always providing me with opportunities for dreaming and growth - and goooooo, Bulldogs!
Friday, March 11, 2016
Single Life Struggles: Episode 2
Hello, friends! Here's another Single Life Struggle for you.
Single Life Struggle: when you are disorganized and also bad at keeping track of finances, and you just wish you had another person around to help you sort through the mountain of papers and find the ones you need for your tax appointment today because you're not sure you'll ever find them on your own.
Single Life Struggle: when you are disorganized and also bad at keeping track of finances, and you just wish you had another person around to help you sort through the mountain of papers and find the ones you need for your tax appointment today because you're not sure you'll ever find them on your own.
That's all folks- unless one of you wants to do my taxes and all other financial transactions for the rest of my life, because that would be fantastic.
Monday, March 7, 2016
5,000 Views and Counting
Hello, friends! Woot woot - as of a minute ago, my blog has 5,006 pageviews! That is super cool. I'm pumped. I promised a special blog if I got up to 5,000, so here goes nothing.
I have carefully studied the posts that have received the most all-time views. They include: "Roasted" (in which I detailed the roasting of the University Lutheran graduates); "A Wednesday in the Life" (in which I described a Wednesday in my LCI life); "I've been installed!" "Did it hurt?" (in which I described my installation in Tallahassee); "The Puzzle was BIG NEWS" (in which the puzzle was big news); and "Fireworks, Icebreakers, and Propitiation" (in which I described my 23rd birthday). You know what they all have in common? I'm not really sure either. But here's my guess: they all had pictures, and they were all fairly informative.
Therefore, this blog will include pictures, and at the end, there will be an announcement. Prepare yourselves, friends!
I'm writing this from my DCE study. It's slightly more organized this evening than it was this morning. (Trust me on that point.)
On my door I have this sign, given to me by Pastor Jay to remind me that Florida is probably warmer than wherever I am.
On the wall by the door I have my prayer map. The orange dots represent missionaries that I know, the pink dots represent other church workers that I know, and the green dots represent friends and family.
On the next wall, I have my calendar. I wanted one that showed me all 12 months at once because that way I can see things in perspective.
Right next to my desk I have a small white board with a rainbow fish that I made on my last Sunday at Messiah in Johnston, IA.
Behind my desk I have a cork board full of random notes.
To my left, I have my dog, because, well, she's cute.
Next to Kensi is my bookshelf, which will only hold all of my books until I acquire approximately one more book.
Above my bookshelf are items representing many of my favorite things: Concordia, campus ministry, Drake women's basketball, and, of course, my nephew. (I hope posting a distant picture of a small picture of my nephew doesn't get me into trouble with his parents...)
And the obligatory selfie.
Now that you're all satiated with a plethora of pictures (that's for you, Melissa), here's the announcement: I am in the process of becoming a foster parent. I'm in my DCE study tonight because it's the easiest place for me to watch training videos and scan documents to send to my case worker.
I decided to become a foster parent for a few reasons.
Number one, I want to help people. The kids in the foster system certainly need someone to help them, or they wouldn't be there.
Number two, I'm passionate about kids. I briefly worked for a residential treatment center, and while I didn't enjoy my time there, I did fall in love with the kids. For all of their troubles, they were just kids. That center is what made me interested in foster care in the first place. (In case you're wondering, I've requested to foster kids in the 11-18 age range. That probably seems crazy to many of you, but trust me when I say that I should not be fostering younger kids... I'd have no idea what to do with them. There's a reason I prefer youth ministry to children's ministry!)
Number three, my situation right now allows for foster care. I go to work at 8:30 and get off at 3:00 - perfect timing for dropping kids off at school and picking them up. I have a spare bedroom. I don't make a lot of money, but I also don't have student loans to pay off or other people who depend on me. As Pastor Jay would say, I'm fat - I'm faithful, available, and trainable to become a foster parent.
And number four, as much as I can without having actually done it, I understand the stress, challenge, and trouble that foster care can be - and I still want to do it, because I also understand the joy, opportunity, and benefit that foster care can be.
I know this won't be easy, but I know it will be worth it. I ask for your prayers and support as I continue down this journey. I'm not officially approved yet, but I expect it to happen within the next month at the latest. Needless to say, when I am actively fostering a child, you won't hear much about it because of privacy laws, but I will make sure to let you know when a child comes into my home so that you can pray for us.
This is Iowa Girl Meets World, signing off for the evening. Thank you all for helping me get to 5,000 views. :)
I have carefully studied the posts that have received the most all-time views. They include: "Roasted" (in which I detailed the roasting of the University Lutheran graduates); "A Wednesday in the Life" (in which I described a Wednesday in my LCI life); "I've been installed!" "Did it hurt?" (in which I described my installation in Tallahassee); "The Puzzle was BIG NEWS" (in which the puzzle was big news); and "Fireworks, Icebreakers, and Propitiation" (in which I described my 23rd birthday). You know what they all have in common? I'm not really sure either. But here's my guess: they all had pictures, and they were all fairly informative.
Therefore, this blog will include pictures, and at the end, there will be an announcement. Prepare yourselves, friends!
I'm writing this from my DCE study. It's slightly more organized this evening than it was this morning. (Trust me on that point.)
On my door I have this sign, given to me by Pastor Jay to remind me that Florida is probably warmer than wherever I am.
On the wall by the door I have my prayer map. The orange dots represent missionaries that I know, the pink dots represent other church workers that I know, and the green dots represent friends and family.
On the next wall, I have my calendar. I wanted one that showed me all 12 months at once because that way I can see things in perspective.
Right next to my desk I have a small white board with a rainbow fish that I made on my last Sunday at Messiah in Johnston, IA.
Behind my desk I have a cork board full of random notes.
To my left, I have my dog, because, well, she's cute.
Next to Kensi is my bookshelf, which will only hold all of my books until I acquire approximately one more book.
Above my bookshelf are items representing many of my favorite things: Concordia, campus ministry, Drake women's basketball, and, of course, my nephew. (I hope posting a distant picture of a small picture of my nephew doesn't get me into trouble with his parents...)
And the obligatory selfie.
Now that you're all satiated with a plethora of pictures (that's for you, Melissa), here's the announcement: I am in the process of becoming a foster parent. I'm in my DCE study tonight because it's the easiest place for me to watch training videos and scan documents to send to my case worker.
I decided to become a foster parent for a few reasons.
Number one, I want to help people. The kids in the foster system certainly need someone to help them, or they wouldn't be there.
Number two, I'm passionate about kids. I briefly worked for a residential treatment center, and while I didn't enjoy my time there, I did fall in love with the kids. For all of their troubles, they were just kids. That center is what made me interested in foster care in the first place. (In case you're wondering, I've requested to foster kids in the 11-18 age range. That probably seems crazy to many of you, but trust me when I say that I should not be fostering younger kids... I'd have no idea what to do with them. There's a reason I prefer youth ministry to children's ministry!)
Number three, my situation right now allows for foster care. I go to work at 8:30 and get off at 3:00 - perfect timing for dropping kids off at school and picking them up. I have a spare bedroom. I don't make a lot of money, but I also don't have student loans to pay off or other people who depend on me. As Pastor Jay would say, I'm fat - I'm faithful, available, and trainable to become a foster parent.
And number four, as much as I can without having actually done it, I understand the stress, challenge, and trouble that foster care can be - and I still want to do it, because I also understand the joy, opportunity, and benefit that foster care can be.
I know this won't be easy, but I know it will be worth it. I ask for your prayers and support as I continue down this journey. I'm not officially approved yet, but I expect it to happen within the next month at the latest. Needless to say, when I am actively fostering a child, you won't hear much about it because of privacy laws, but I will make sure to let you know when a child comes into my home so that you can pray for us.
This is Iowa Girl Meets World, signing off for the evening. Thank you all for helping me get to 5,000 views. :)
Thursday, March 3, 2016
World Book Day
Hello, friends! I have just discovered that it is World Book Day. Therefore, here are some of my favorite books.
- "First Test" by Tamora Pierce
- "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
- "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
- "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J. K. Rowling
- "Hope Was Here" by Joan Bauer
- "Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card
- "Shadow Spinner" by Susan Fletcher
- "Dragonflight" by Anne McCaffrey
- "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
- "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
What are some of your favorite books? Let me know in the comments!
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