First off, I have been adopted by a kitten. So cute! I'm not even a cat person. But it is a temporary adoption, thanks to Morgan. Last night, I was on the telephone and heard a meowing in the garage. Went outside and there is this little tiny baby kitten.....just as little and dis-proportionate as he can be. Has huge paws and a long tail and a wee-baby body. Adorable. He came to me and jumped around and overall just won me over. Andy caught me outside and smiling says, "Why are you petting that cat?" But he could see how cute he was too. But neither of us are cat-people, even though kittens are darling. To make a long story short, "The Cat" stayed in the garage overnight and we fed him and this morning it nearly required an act of God to get my car out of the garage without hurting The Cat. Morgan has found him a home though, so I am happy. As cute as he is, I just can't bear the thought of dropping him out somewhere or taking him to the pound to be euthanized. I am grateful he has a new home. ::Sigh:: I was a cat-owner for 36 hours.
So, church life is wonderful, right? Well, not so much right now. Feeling trapped in a ministry situation is definitely less than preferable, and we definitely feel trapped. There are some issues to be faced in the next little bit and I would covet your prayers on it. Seems like no matter how hard you try, or even how successful (quote, unquote) your ministries seem to be, people are still fallen and want to gripe about everything. It makes me angry because Andy is doing a good job. Everything he is involved in is flourishing. We all could improve of course, but he is trying hard, and in my book, he is succeeding. We have the added bonus (sarasm intended) of having a pastor three years from retirement, max, and boy is he waiting for it. In theory a ministry team should be just that - a team. Not at our church though. We have two ministers and two totally autonomous ministries through them. And this is not our preference and we have tried very hard to work things out, but it just seems like when Shon left, something inside Johnny died and he refuses to step over a certain point with Andy. That point isn't very far either - safe subjects only, i.e, theology, the church's "golden age," local politics.....you know.....stuff that requires no vulnerability and no risk. Really annoying to me. I am a relationship-builder by nature generally and having a pastor that you can't relate to, and who doesn't want to relate to you, STINKS.
We know that the gripers aren't everyone, but a few folks can really get you down.
I know that some people have a problem with the fact that we have had several black boys joining our youth group, which to us is great. They are nice boys, respectful and they add something to our group. But we have a few old fogeys that still think that the races shouldn't mix in worship. Phooey on them. Their loss at not getting to know these kids. Good kids too.
I need to vent, but more so I recognize that I need to commit myself to fervent prayer on this subject. We do not feel "released" from Cowarts yet, and it certainly would be difficult financially if we were to try to make a move at this time, but I can't say that we would be devestated if something else opened up.
It really has the effect of making me want out of vocational ministry permanently. I see the ministry that is accomplished through this law office and I say, "wow - more happens in a secular office than has happened at the church in years." The sad part is that I would not be exaggerating.
But for now, we will persevere - Andy only has two more semesters at BCF and he will be through there and we will have more options about what we desire to do next. He will definitely be doing graduate work, but whether it is law school, music ed, or something else entirely, we don't know yet. This has the obvious effect of drawing me closer to my Lord though.....He will sustain us if we are to stay there for another year, just as He has sustained us through the last year. Glory to Him either way.
On other notes - I am in the middle of doing some more home projects. Our house is SO close to being finished.....(I think we may finish just in time to move!) But I want to complete these last few projects before I go part-time here at work (providing that still works out.) I plan to strip the wallpaper in my small bathroom and repaint it with a lighter color, perhaps even a nice texture paint. I also plan to put in a tile border and backsplash in my kitchen. Found a beautiful pattern I love and will really pull from the color of the walls, which is "Desert Dust." Dad is going to come soon and help me replace the outside lights and repair my gate. I am going to push myself to finish my front and back flowerbeds next week (hopefully) and my "handyman" is coming Saturday at 10:00 am to look at finishing my baseboards and repairing my back door. Once my dad actually comes we will finish everything out with new laminate flooring and new couches. Then the house will be complete (or at least dang close to it!) - Yay!
No other real news here - we had VBS last week and it was exhausting, but we had a fantastic turnout. This weekend I want to go see the new Fantastic Four movie.
I feel a little better now.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Tag, I'm It! (imported from Myspace)
I have been tagged. Thanks to my amiga, Vicki. Good thing the tag doesn't require you to act within 24 hours or be shot at down, or contract a rare virus, or lose the love of your life, etc. or I would be in bad shape.
The rules are:
Once you have been tagged you can't be re-tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird random things, facts, or habits about yourself. At the end, you choose 10 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" on their profile and tell them to read your latest blog.
1. I hate it when people plant plastic flowers in their outdoor flower beds. Like we can't tell they are fake.
2. I do not watch movies that end sad. Period. My philosophy being that life has enough sadness, cinema should be an ESCAPE from it. (BTW - this drives my movie-loving husband crazy.)
2. On the same line of thinking....I have a basic annoyance with "chick flicks." Not that I don't watch them at all, but I think they paint romance with a VERY rose-colored brush. I mean, how many real guys do you know that will declare their fascination with your eyes, lips, hair, etc. in a Romeo/Juliet-esque soliloquey? None. That's what I thought. Influences girls/women to expect more from their significant other than they can live up to. I mean, I don't look like Nicole Kidman, so why should I expect Andy to live up to Matthew McConaughey? Unfair. Anyway, I find myself rolling my eyes during those tender scenes of reconciliation after what is usually a very stupid misunderstanding.
3. On a lighter note, (haha - pun INTENDED!) I tend to sing stupid songs when I am happy. They are usually extremely random and repetitive. This morning it was, "I'm a little Teapot." More recently it had been a thoroughly southern gospel selection of "Just a Little Talk with Jesus." (Don't ask me why the base line just kept rolling through my head, over and over and over and over....I don't even LIKE southern gospel generally!)
4. My car is messy. Inside and out. Always. Andy's is too. We both want clean cars but are unable to achieve it. (Mine is better than his though.)
5. I hate kickball. I was never athletic in school and it brings back feelings of being picked late in the selection.
6. I love bees. Not buzzing bees, but trivia contests. I won the school spelling bee twice and placed twice. I won the reading bee in 3rd grade. I placed 2nd in the geography bee in the 5th grade. Woo hoo! Go me.
7. I am a documentary-junkie. National Geographic and the History Channel kick butt. I know.....I am way dull.
8. I think that on average, I would generally rather talk to guys than girls. Or, maybe I should rephrase and say that I would rather talk with girls who have opinions on subjects that MATTER than girls that want to talk about what brand of flip-flop they prefer. (Seriously, I was at a party recently and they discussed flip-flops for an hour. I felt SO out of place.) If I must make small talk, I would rather it be about something of interest, i.e., current events, politics, heck, even religion.
9. I am extremely texture sensitive. I can't stand the way that mushrooms feel - not the taste, just the texture. Same goes with soggy bread. Same goes for using a paper towel to clean up a mess - I never use it to its full capacity - gets too wet and nasty. The list could go on and on and on.
10. I make lists. Lots of lists. I lose them a lot of times, but I find that the act of writing out my to do's helps me remember them. One time Andy bought me this cool book that was full of suggested list-topics and blank lines underneath. I so need to find that book.
Okay. Not as bad as I thought it would be either. Only took me a week to getting around to doing it. Ten more people to tag......Jennifer Maddox, Carrie, The artist formerly known as Aditha a/k/a Cher, Leah, Angie, Sarah, Josh Watford, Julie, Morgan, and Jeanna.
The rules are:
Once you have been tagged you can't be re-tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird random things, facts, or habits about yourself. At the end, you choose 10 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" on their profile and tell them to read your latest blog.
1. I hate it when people plant plastic flowers in their outdoor flower beds. Like we can't tell they are fake.
2. I do not watch movies that end sad. Period. My philosophy being that life has enough sadness, cinema should be an ESCAPE from it. (BTW - this drives my movie-loving husband crazy.)
2. On the same line of thinking....I have a basic annoyance with "chick flicks." Not that I don't watch them at all, but I think they paint romance with a VERY rose-colored brush. I mean, how many real guys do you know that will declare their fascination with your eyes, lips, hair, etc. in a Romeo/Juliet-esque soliloquey? None. That's what I thought. Influences girls/women to expect more from their significant other than they can live up to. I mean, I don't look like Nicole Kidman, so why should I expect Andy to live up to Matthew McConaughey? Unfair. Anyway, I find myself rolling my eyes during those tender scenes of reconciliation after what is usually a very stupid misunderstanding.
3. On a lighter note, (haha - pun INTENDED!) I tend to sing stupid songs when I am happy. They are usually extremely random and repetitive. This morning it was, "I'm a little Teapot." More recently it had been a thoroughly southern gospel selection of "Just a Little Talk with Jesus." (Don't ask me why the base line just kept rolling through my head, over and over and over and over....I don't even LIKE southern gospel generally!)
4. My car is messy. Inside and out. Always. Andy's is too. We both want clean cars but are unable to achieve it. (Mine is better than his though.)
5. I hate kickball. I was never athletic in school and it brings back feelings of being picked late in the selection.
6. I love bees. Not buzzing bees, but trivia contests. I won the school spelling bee twice and placed twice. I won the reading bee in 3rd grade. I placed 2nd in the geography bee in the 5th grade. Woo hoo! Go me.
7. I am a documentary-junkie. National Geographic and the History Channel kick butt. I know.....I am way dull.
8. I think that on average, I would generally rather talk to guys than girls. Or, maybe I should rephrase and say that I would rather talk with girls who have opinions on subjects that MATTER than girls that want to talk about what brand of flip-flop they prefer. (Seriously, I was at a party recently and they discussed flip-flops for an hour. I felt SO out of place.) If I must make small talk, I would rather it be about something of interest, i.e., current events, politics, heck, even religion.
9. I am extremely texture sensitive. I can't stand the way that mushrooms feel - not the taste, just the texture. Same goes with soggy bread. Same goes for using a paper towel to clean up a mess - I never use it to its full capacity - gets too wet and nasty. The list could go on and on and on.
10. I make lists. Lots of lists. I lose them a lot of times, but I find that the act of writing out my to do's helps me remember them. One time Andy bought me this cool book that was full of suggested list-topics and blank lines underneath. I so need to find that book.
Okay. Not as bad as I thought it would be either. Only took me a week to getting around to doing it. Ten more people to tag......Jennifer Maddox, Carrie, The artist formerly known as Aditha a/k/a Cher, Leah, Angie, Sarah, Josh Watford, Julie, Morgan, and Jeanna.
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