Friday Five: Moving

Mother Laura says:

We are right in the middle of a move--only twenty minutes away, but we're still a mix of busy, excited, nervous and surprisingly full of grief about what we're leaving, for me at least. So this week's Friday Five asks about your experience of the marvels and madness of moving...


1. How many times have you moved? When was the last time?
I lived in the same house from birth to age sixteen. Then my parents, who were nearly sixty, decided to move to an apartment. In our small town there weren't many of those, and while waiting for some new ones to be completed we moved three times (in the same town) during my senior year of high school, and even lived in our church's manse briefly. After college, let's see...two apartments in San Antonio, five in Houston, two in California, a duplex back in Houston, then in 1991 we moved into the house where we live now. I realized the other day that in a few more months I will have lived in this house longer than I lived in my childhood home. The Scientist and I hope we can stay in this house for many more years, until we are ready to, as we say, "go to The Home". (i.e. the old folks' home--that's what my dad called it)

2. What do you love and hate about moving?
I can't think of anything I love about it, although the excitement of the new is a good thing. I loathe packing and hauling, and most of all I hate leaving old friends behind.

3. Do you do it yourself or hire movers?
We hired movers for our cross-country moves between California and Texas, but otherwise we have always moved ourselves with the help of friends. Alas, I don't think all of our stuff will fit into a few hatchbacks anymore.

4. Advice for surviving and thriving during a move?
Eat regularly, and not just junk. Drink lots of water. Mark a couple of boxes with crucial stuff to be opened as soon as you arrive. In fact, take those boxes with you in the car.

5. Are you in the middle of any inner moves, if not outer ones?
Yes, I am trying to figure out my next move! Is this the year I follow through with my application to the three-year training program for spiritual directors? After my service on the PNC is over, what else is there at church, at Presbytery, at work, that I should say yes to, or that I need to leave behind?

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what moving means to you.
In our travels, the Scientist and I have identified a number of places where we are sure we could build a satisfying life if we ever had to move (Austin and Little Rock come to mind). We had seven good years in Southern California, a place where neither of us had ever thought about living. I believe we could build a good life anywhere, as long as we are together. So the old Billy Joel song, "You're My Home" is most applicable. Long as I have you by my side/There's a roof above and good walls all around...I need you in my house, 'cause you're my home.

Guest blogger: Amie

This morning my mama and daddy met some of their friends for something called a CROP walk. I stayed home because they didn't think I would enjoy walking that far. But while they were there, they made a new friend. This is Ruby.

Ruby's mom says that when they met her, she was skinny and very, very hungry, and so sick that she had no fur on her backside. Now she is one of the sleekest, shiniest, happiest dogs you could ever meet. Ruby loves her people, and they love her.

I think Ruby has been blessed, like Sister and me. I bet she is thankful, too.

(Now Mama has two beautiful friends named Ruby. But the other Ruby only has two legs.)

Seeking new dreams

During our first group session at the BE, our lovely facilitator Mary Marcotte passed around a stack of cards, each of which contained a single word. She invited us each to take one, spending time throughout the weekend sitting (or walking) with that word and allowing the Spirit to reveal its significance to us.

My word was "dream", and indeed I've had many dreams throughout the years. One of my biggest dreams, having children, was not fulfilled. But everything else I dreamed of at fifteen, eighteen, twenty-five, thirty--loving husband, education, professional achievements, nice house, travel--has happened. What do you do after your dreams have come true?

In recent months the Scientist and I have spent some time talking about our retirement--where we might live, what we'd like to do. But I'm only fifty-two! I don't believe God wants me to sit complacently on my behind for the next ten or fifteen years, thinking, "Gosh, I sure have a nice life." It seems that I have reached a plateau from which, theoretically, my life could putt along much as it is now, but surely that would be a waste of many productive years. I'm busy with home, work, and church, but something needs to change if I am to keep growing. Right now I have no idea what that would be. It's time for some new dreams, especially some that aren't all about me!

God, show me your dream, and help me to make it mine too. I fear that, whatever it is, it will require more exertion than I want to expend at this time of my life. So I pray for inspiration, and for your holy energy to fill me and set my feet on a new path. So may it be.

Until I have time to write:

Our ship, the Fantasy, docked behind her sister ship, the Ecstasy, at Cozumel.



Two views from Lido Deck, starboard aft:


Every night the cabin stewards left towel animals on our beds. Mid-Life Rookie and Dogblogger enjoyed this cute puppy.

What's a sailor without a tattoo?

Carnival Fantasy: Home of the Ecumenical Disco. (Vegas rules apply.)

RevHRod: Lutheran down to her toes!

Berry Delicious

That's the name of the nail polish I bought for my pedi. The one I'm getting tomorrow...to go with the sandals I bought today...because I'm about to get on a BIG BOAT...and I wish ALL of y'all were coming!

I look forward to reading the comments from the cyberparty that surely will be held this weekend (with teh Clooney in attendance).

Oh, no, I forgot--that would be Captain Clooney. Those on shore will have to settle for teh Rickman.

A boy and his dog

Spring

Christ is risen!

Sing hymns to him, O earth-born; praise the one
who suffered
And died for you, and when in a short time
You behold him living, receive him in your hearts;
For Christ is going to be resurrected from the tomb
and he will make you new...
Make ready for him a pure heart
In order that your King will dwell in it,
making a heaven.
Only a short time now, and he will come to fill with joy
those who are afflicted,
In order that Adam might exult.

--Romanos (sixth century)

Five for Good Friday

Thanks to RevHRod for this thoughtful Good Friday five.

Our prayer concerns are as varied as we are this day. For whom would you like us to pray?
Please pray for light and peace for all who are struggling and aching in their marriages, and also for Paula, Jill, Ron, and others who are battling cancer. And I would appreciate prayers for Amie, who continues to have seriously elevated liver enzymes, with no firm diagnosis despite numerous tests.

Are there things you have done or will do today to help the young ones understand this important day in our lives?
I hope that children and teens will listen and take to heart the story of Jesus' suffering and death for us, as it is presented in our Tenebrae service tonight.

Music plays an important part in sharing the story of this day. Is there a hymn or piece of music that you have found particularly meaningful to your celebrations of Good Friday?
Regarding hymns, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" have both been deeply meaningful to me. On Tuesday night we were privileged to attend a beautiful and moving performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, music that gives much glory to God and has enriched this Holy Week for me.

As you hear the Passion narrative, is there a character that you particularly resonate with?
Peter, who professed endless devotion to Jesus then denied Jesus when he felt threatened--the same Peter whom Jesus lovingly restored to Himself and even entrusted with ministry.

Where have you seen the gracious God of love at work lately?
I have a cousin who has struggled with cocaine addiction for many years. During her most recent stay in rehab, she met and fell in love with a young man who was a fellow patient--much to both families' dismay. Despite relapses and setbacks, they have stayed together and are now clean and sober together, recently married in her home church, and have a beautiful, healthy baby girl, Anna Leigh. Here she is!

Mystery!

We had a beautiful Palm Sunday service, but now I have a mystery to solve. First hymn: "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna". The kids come down the aisle, waving their palm branches, deposit them under the communion table, and exit off to the side. I blink rapidly (can't help it, that scene gets me every year), keep singing, we sit, the service continues. About halfway through the service, I look down...and there are no palm branches under the table. Where did they go? What did I miss? I still don't know. Did I really see the kids set them down? The sun and tears were in my eyes, after all. Friends could shed no light; when I mentioned the mystery to the baritone behind me, he said, "Did that happen? When did the kids come in?" LOL.

The preaching text was Matthew's account of the triumphal entry, with a twist I had never heard before: why two donkeys? A naturalistic explanation would be that it's almost impossible to separate a mother donkey from her foal! But the application our pastor drew was that the second donkey is for each of us to ride, to go with Jesus straight into and through the crises of our lives. As we know, to get to Easter, we do have to go through Good Friday.

We are all going to be crazy busy this week. My prayer is that we will each make time for reflection, and intentionally and consciously walk through this week with Jesus.

Friday Five: Time for Palms

Mother Laura says:

Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is here already? It's hard to get used to the new, earlier onset. My family has been getting up and out a little late and a little sleepy in the mornings. (Yeah...us too.)

And can you believe that in two days it will be Palm Sunday for Western Christians? Our Lent is almost over, while our Orthodox sisters and brothers, whose liturgical year follows the older Julian calendar, are just starting theirs. Nicholas did a recent book report on George Washington, and we were surprised to find out that our first President's birthday was originally Feb. 11, since he was born just before the change to the Gregorian calendar. Apparently the change almost caused rioting, as some indignant people were sure that they were being cheated out of eleven days of their lives!

To help you adjust--and enjoy the process--here's a Friday Five about time and transitions....

1. If you could travel to any historical time period, which would it be, and why?

As an almost-was English major, I waver between two choices: Elizabethan England, and high Victorian London. Between the two, I guess I'd go with the nineteenth century because the improvements in sanitation and health care since Elizabeth's day would make it an easier place to visit! Victorian London was a modern society in many ways, and I would enjoy seeing how everyday people lived.

2. What futuristic/science fiction development would you most like to see?

Wouldn't it be convenient if Scotty could just beam you up whenever you were running late?

3. Which do you enjoy more: remembering the past, or dreaming for the future?

I am fond of remembering the past, because so many of my dreams have already come true. But that makes planning and working toward the new dreams a pleasure too.

4. What do you find most memorable about this year's Lent?

I am sorry to say it has gone by in a blur.

5. How will you spend your time during this upcoming Holy Week? What part do you look forward to most?

This will be an extremely busy week at work, as (1) it is Spring Break all over our six-county region, so tout le monde made their children's eligibility evaluation appointments for this week, and (2) we are preparing for our state audit the first week of April, and I have to get all of my files in order before I get on a certain big boat on March 27. So the part I am looking forward to the most is Good Friday, when I am most definitely not working, and plan to spend the whole day at home. We are singing Dale Wood's "A Service of Darkness" that night. It has been a while since I participated in a Tenebrae service, so I'm looking forward to that.

I'm also looking forward to Easter morning, of course, and celebrating with two wonderful anthems, C. V. Stanford's "Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem" and Ralph Vaughn Williams' arrangement of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name". Then we'll come home and grill a leg of lamb! Marinate the butterflied leg of lamb in olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped fresh rosemary or oregano. Drain the marinade, then rub the lamb with more herbs and grill it to medium/medium rare. It's a fabulous Easter dinner. If you have a vegetable grilling basket you could cook some asparagus alongside. I think I'll make a lemony rice pilaf too...and maybe some strawberry shortcake!

Wowie Zowie! He Saved My Soul

He's the Rock that doesn't roll!

I am way behind the curve on commenting on the death of Larry Norman, who left us on February 24. If not for the often-maligned Larry Norman, there would be no "contemporary Christian music", good or bad--none of the artists I loved back in the day (and still do), like Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, Keith Green, Steve Taylor, all the way to current bands that you or I may never have heard of, but whom the kids in our youth groups know very well. In these times when every church has a praise band, it's hard to remember the horror with which the combination of Jesus and rock and roll was greeted in the late '60s and early '70s. My friends and I weren't horrified, we were thrilled!

This is the best video I could find of my favorite LN song, The Rock That Doesn't Roll. The video and sound quality aren't so great, but when you watch it, try to imagine how exciting this music was to young "Jesus people", so long ago.



Go dig out your old vinyl copy of Only Visiting This Planet or--even better--In Another Land. They still rock! Better than that, they still praise and glorify Jesus.

Rest in peace, brother Larry, and rock on.

Re: crossover voters

There's a lot I could say--particularly about some people's visceral, irrational fear and hatred of That Woman...but I'll just say: Maybe it's just me, but wouldn't you be mortified to admit that you had gone out and done something, anything, because Rush Limbaugh told you to?

Calendar flip

Time continues to march on, and I am another year older. We celebrated yesterday with an afternoon of museum meandering, including the members' preview of the new Pompeii exhibit at the MFAH. I was a bit disappointed, but I don't know exactly why, or just what I expected the exhibit to include. It mainly included multiple cases of jewelry and small household items recovered from the site, along with several of the poignant and unsettling plaster casts made of the people--and even a dog, poor creature--who were unable to escape the volcano's eruption. At Pompeii there are so many of these casts that one can see them tucked away in storage areas next to random bits of pottery. Their pathos provides reminders that these were mothers, fathers, children, people not so different from us. A more amusing example of our common humanity was a mosaic from the wall of a tavern, with patrons yelling to the barmaid, "Here," "No, it's mine," and the weary barmaid's rejoinder, "Whoever wants it should come get it!"

Later we walked down the street to the crafts museum and enjoyed a traveling exhibit with everything from glass (our favorite) to handcrafted chairs to mid-twentieth-century silver teapots. We topped off the afternoon with an early dinner at a fabulous restaurant where locally-produced foods are emphasized. Barack Obama's local headquarters is across the street from the restaurant, and as we relaxed on the patio before dinner, we watched young staffers standing on the corner nearby, waving placards and cheering for their candidate as many passing motorists honked in appreciation (or so it appeared).

Two more days until the primary! I'm looking forward to seeing the results, and I will be so glad when the political phone calls stop!

Friday Five: The Water and the Word

RevHRod says:

In this Sunday's gospel Nicodemus asks Jesus, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Poor old Nicodemus! He was so confused about the whole "water and Spirit" business of baptism.

For today's five, tell us about your baptismal experiences.

1. When and where were you baptized? Do you remember it? Know any interesting tidbits?
I was baptized in my home church, First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, Mississippi, when I was about seven months old. The dear pastor who baptized me, Dr. T. Russell Nunan, died last year at the age of ninety-nine. He was a wonderful man of God whose ministry meant a lot to my parents and to me. Mama used to tell me that I squeaked a little when he put the water on my head, but I didn't cry.

After I made a profession of faith (outside my church) at sixteen, I decided that I needed to be baptized again, and was immersed at a friend's church by her father--I think he was a lay preacher. That seemed like the right thing to do then, and was meaningful to me at the time, but later I came to believe that it was unnecessary--my "real" baptism had taken place years before.

2. What's the most unexpected thing you've ever witnessed at a baptism?
You can never predict how a baby will react to the whole thing, so in a sense every baptism includes something unexpected. Some squeak, some laugh, a few shriek! Our former pastor always wore a large cross, and many babies teethed on it as he carried them up the aisle.

3. Does your congregation have any special traditions surrounding baptisms?
Oh, me. We have to sing this godawful song, "The Borning Cry". If you love it, I apologize, but I can't stand it. Both the poetry and the theology make me wince. I think now that we are looking for a new pastor, it would be a great time to leave this tradition behind, but unfortunately I'm in the minority. A much better tradition in our congregation comes from our quilting group, the Ministers of the Cloth; they make a beautiful quilt for each child who is baptized. (They also make wonderful quilts for wounded soldiers who have come back to the States to recuperate, but that's another story.)

4. Are you a godparent or baptismal sponsor? Have a story to tell?
No, but when some close friends had their baby baptized some years ago, I was the elder who presented him and asked the questions directed to the congregation. I loved doing that.

5. Do you have a favorite baptismal song or hymn?
I've always thought that "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" would be a good baptismal hymn.

To the snowbound: take heart!

Amie says: Spring is in the air!


Our new camellias are in bloom!

Another book meme!

This one comes from the Psalmist. This is one that--depending on circumstances--could be either edifying, bewildering, or just plain silly.


Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)

I was trying to mark the hem of the Scientist's new slacks, but I haven't sewn in years and wasn't sure of what I was doing. The book I consulted is still here at hand: Singer Sewing Essentials (1984, and it still looks new).

Find Page 123.

Find the first 5 sentences.
(As we join our story in progress, we find our nameless heroine attempting to insert a zipper, using a glue stick. They didn't teach me that in eighth grade home ec.)

Post the next 3 sentences.
"Let glue dry for a few minutes. 10) Pull both threads at bottom to wrong side. Tie all four threads, using pin to pull knot close to zipper (page 59)."

Tag 5 people.
I can't remember who has already done this; if you have, please disregard the tag! But I'm sure you can come up with something more edifying than this! I'll tag Mindy, Jan, Diane, Kievas, and PG!

Book Meme

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

Anything by Cormac McCarthy. Many people have told me what a fine writer he is, and his novel The Road received a thoughtful critique in Books & Culture several months ago. However, his books are extremely violent, and I'm sort of a wuss about violence in books or films. We are exposed to so many terrible and shocking events every day without seeking them out, that I choose to refrain from deliberately putting more horrible images into my mind.

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

Ruby from Cold Mountain, May Dodd from One Thousand White Women, and Eowyn of Rohan (Lord of the Rings) would be great companions for an afternoon hike. I hope I could keep up with them!

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

OK. True confessions. Don't scream. I have never been able to make it through anything by Jane Austen. Don't hate me.

Come on, we've all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?

Barth's Church Dogmatics. I managed to get all the way though seminary without it. OK, so I wasn't in an M.Div. track, but still, it seemed that everyone else had to read it.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?

I don't think so! I can't come up with one.

You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why? (if you feel like you'd have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP)

It would depend on what sort of literature the VIP was interested in reading. If s/he wanted to know what all the fuss was about poetry, Camille Paglia's opinionated anthology, Break, Blow, Burn would be a good place to start. For fantasy, s/he couldn't go wrong with Lord of the Rings (although that could be a daunting prospect for someone who's not a big reader), or one of the most original and well-written books I read last year, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. If s/he just wanted an overview of Western literature, my sophomore lit texts would do fine--if I could supplement them with the Norton Anthology of Literature by Women!

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

In college I could read just enough French to begin appreciating nuances that would not translate into English. Of course, I lost that ability long ago. I remember particularly enjoying short stories by Alphonse Daudet. If I were fluent in French I could read Daudet again, but a lot of other French writers can be pretty depressing. Maybe I would go with Russian instead, so I could enjoy Chekov's stories in their original form.

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

It would do me good to reread Mere Christianity every year. If I could choose fiction, probably I would choose The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen, or a well-written epic fantasy like Watership Down.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?

I know there have been several books and authors I've met through blogging. The only thing I can think of right now is the Lily Conner mystery series by Michelle Blake. Lily is an Episcopal priest who winds up in the middle of mysterious and dangerous situations. The mysteries are well-written, and Lily is a very likable (and believable) character. And she's from Texas!

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favorite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

My aunt L. actually has my dream library already. A devoted book lover for many decades, she has a marvelous collection of first edition hardcovers, many of them autographed, from such writers as Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Walker Percy, and Shelby Foote (a high school buddy!). She also has many beautiful limited editions of various classic books, produced in the 1930's and 1940's by the Limited Editions Club, which I am not sure still exists. Imagine Jack London's The Call of the Wild bound in green and black plaid flannel like an Alaskan outdoorsman's shirt, or Aristophanes' Lysistrata illustrated by Picasso (who signed it, too!). The Scientist and I can bury ourselves in her library for days. In my dreams, I could not come up with a library like the one she actually owns.

This is a tough meme, isn't it? If you are a true bibliophile, feel free to give it a try!

The Name Game

QG tagged me for a thoughtful book meme. As I was beginning to ponder my responses, I got sidetracked by this...it's making the rounds...I first saw it at Mary Beth's place, so we'll blame her....Some of these work--some don't!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Fritzie Saturn (...and the Satellites! Can't you just see her, with her pink boots and Joan Jett sneer?)
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Pralines & Cream Amalfi
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Heeler (Ha!)
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Morrow Greenville
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Schne
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Rose la Croix (No, that's a soap opera name.)
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Harvey Willis (I cheated--those are their middle names)
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Chanel Hershey
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Whittington Wichita
10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Spring Bluebonnet (same as Mary Beth)
11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Cherry Sweatshirt
12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Granola Pecan

If you thought this was fun, feel free to play!