tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58441100162316851402024-02-18T20:48:43.672-08:00backinbloomingtonMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-34833608539749190962012-08-24T12:29:00.000-07:002012-08-24T12:31:47.779-07:00a time to "grow up".<i>It has been a little over nine months since I last posted, but here I am. I hope you enjoy!</i><br />
<br />
It happened all of a sudden.<br />
<br />
I wasn't expecting it, I wasn't looking for it, but in the middle of an apple orchard in Wisconsin (<a href="http://www.myharvesttime.com/" target="_blank">Harvest Time</a>), God hit me over the head and said:<br />
<br />
"You are a GROWN ASS WOMAN".<br />
<br />
Some of you are looking down your noses at me and thinking "did God say <i>ass</i>?"<br />
That's what I heard.<br />
I'm sure God said <i>ass</i> when conversing with Balaam, so I'm not gonna get too broken up about it, hopefully you won't either, and "spoiler alert" I'm going to reference it a few more times.<br />
<br />
It all started with our "Weekend of Weddings".<br />
<br />
Three.<br />
<br />
In one weekend.<br />
<br />
And maybe because I like to torture myself, or because I ADORE weddings. I was coordinating the one on Friday night.<br />
<br />
The Friday night wedding went splendidly! It was beautiful, it was fun, I danced and laughed joyfully with members of the church we have been sent out to plant from, <a href="http://www.redeemernorthshore.org/" target="_blank">Church of the Redeemer </a>.<br />
<br />
Then on Saturday, Nate and I split up. He headed to a wedding in Highland Park, and I hitched a ride to our wedding in Wisconsin, where Nate would later meet me for the reception.<br />
<br />
The wedding in Wisconsin was David's, a dear childhood friend of mine, to his precious bride Audrey.<br />
<br />
The ceremony was beautiful both aesthetically and spiritually.<br />
<br />
One of the best things about the wedding, was getting to spend time with my bosom friend Lindsay (you can read more about our antics <a href="http://backinbloomington.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-in-bloomington-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>). As we descended the steps from eating Apple Cider Shakes, (yes apple cider shakes, yum, yimmy, yum, yimmy, yay) I was sharing with Lindsay how I was feeling insecure at this wedding. Why? Well my ten year high school reunion is coming up in October and this wedding was a bit of a "pre-gamer" if you will. While David and I went to high school together, we were more friends because we were from the same neighborhood, and his other friends at school were those I would classify as the "cool kids". I never felt up to snuff with them, I never felt cool enough, pretty enough, (pick a trite "not enough" phrase, and it works) to attempt to associate with them. They weren't mean, or hateful, or bullies. I was simply insecure.<br />
<br />
The EXACT same moment that I am telling Lindsay this, said girls come up to me and say<br />
<br />
<i> "Hi Meredith"</i><br />
<br />
Those girls might very well be reading this blog right now, because I'm facebook friends with them. And you can say you aren't facebook "friends" with people you don't interact with on a daily basis, but you're lying. Because deep down you know that eventually your facebook "friends" are going to get married, or have some other lovely event, and you are going to want to be a creeper and see those pictures, because you love, love, love weddings<i> (or that's just me and in a moment we will get to why I am okay with that, <b>(but we both know it isn't just me)</b>).</i><br />
<br />
So ladies, you know who you are, and please take this confession as a compliment. <br />
<br />
As far as I'm concerned, this life is too short to shy away from vulnerability and honesty, so all readers should cover themselves while I spew vast amounts all over this blog.<br />
<br />
I don't know if these girls<i> (women? When do I make that transition to calling myself and peers women in conversation rather than girls? Is this like getting your period or losing your virginity or going through menopause? Do you just wake up one day and experience "the change"?) </i>knew I spent a lot of High School wishing I was "them".<br />
<br />
But let's take a moment to illustrate my ridiculous dramatic insecure pubescent nature:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">The neighborhood boys I ran around with had a tendency to talk about one of these girls "calves".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br />
No joke. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br />
I would just stand there silently wishing and thinking that if God was going to perform modern day miracles of healing the sick, he could surely implant some calves in the definition-less area between my round indiscernible knee caps and ankles above my size 13 feet. I often questioned why he gave me this prime real estate of long legs and NO CALVES! So much so, that before a band competition<i> </i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></i>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><i>(I was in the colorguard. I never actually tossed my flag in a competition, I always froze. I admitted that to the captain one day, got yelled at, and questioned my honesty policy for awhile. It's still the best policy, despite the trauma of having an 18 year old girl with JNCO's, a hemp shroom necklace and an Insane Clown Posse shirt on, yell at me for not tossing my flag. No one else had noticed, this was like the 6th band competition, what was the big deal? I even started to say that, then remembered she had on an Insane Clown Posse shirt, and hushed.)</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;">where I had heard we would be staying in a hotel that had a pool, I spent the majority of the night before doing calf raises. Over 5,000 calf raises to be exact. I was "stepping out (up) in faith" in my own way, thinking I might wake up with miraculous muscular gams.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"> I didn't. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"> I woke up with the most intense Charlie Horses you can even begin to imagine. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffe599;"><br />
And. . .<i>there wasn't a pool.</i> </span><br />
<br />
OK, back on track. . .<br />
<br />
As we spoke I attempted to keep my cool and was surprised at my ability to engage in pertinent meaningful conversation as we talked about where we were in our various lives, how some of us had moved back to Bloomington, how we all swore we never would, and I think right around then is when God hit me over the head and said:<br />
<br />
"You are a GROWN ASS WOMAN! I didn't create you to be a slave to your past, a slave to a geographic location, a slave to an uncomely opinion of yourself. I created you to be a FREE GROWN ASS WOMAN"<br />
<br />
Because I am.<br />
<br />
Because that is what God has made me to be.<br />
<br />
As much faith as I had put in my fake eyelashes <i>(Yes, I wore fake eyelashes to the wedding. I had a gift card to Macy's, went to the MAC counter, and after wiping about 3/4 of the makeup they had put on off, I felt like I looked pretty good. Judge away. It's a dramatic outlet, it's me using my "degree", and I highly recommend it if you want to feel glamorous for a night)</i>, I needed to redirect it and reappropriate it to where it always needs to be.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY91raWQHF_57sDVd3-QASV35nLAxybDE5KIP6GUyYqzFhklblopAmeo_tY24Wkn9pKIc58WI7IpKDwg9v9YwSOLEIsMRevcnkLril5hz5WVzIttncd0lsppusrGd7x_luSqVRRGx8h_X/s1600/196775_10100850399649310_748773580_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY91raWQHF_57sDVd3-QASV35nLAxybDE5KIP6GUyYqzFhklblopAmeo_tY24Wkn9pKIc58WI7IpKDwg9v9YwSOLEIsMRevcnkLril5hz5WVzIttncd0lsppusrGd7x_luSqVRRGx8h_X/s320/196775_10100850399649310_748773580_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you feel the glamour oozing from my eyelashes?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In God.<br />
<br />
And I can talk to these girls/women/females as a "Grown Ass Woman". And enjoy it, and find the privilege that comes from a shared history, not feel bogged down, or classified, or insecure because of it.<br />
<br />
I danced with abandon that night as a "Grown Ass Woman".<br />
I laughed with great vitality that night as a "Grown Ass Woman".<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSYFSlNuUJwm-BMoR7Lm7vknkseyJK0-0erg2XSKvlzzXKhdx9J78pFy_Y6ChaCXYLq3g6RFsfFykQcI0n7nmI_WGSErmEmltgqi2U9HuPv3xWGJMbJkg7Jm64ngro662pU3xHcVC1OUs/s1600/530230_554607716035_68586312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSYFSlNuUJwm-BMoR7Lm7vknkseyJK0-0erg2XSKvlzzXKhdx9J78pFy_Y6ChaCXYLq3g6RFsfFykQcI0n7nmI_WGSErmEmltgqi2U9HuPv3xWGJMbJkg7Jm64ngro662pU3xHcVC1OUs/s200/530230_554607716035_68586312_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm there in the center "dancing with abandon"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And I thought back on my high school experience with a joy and freedom I don't think I had before.<br />
<br />
I look forward to going to my ten year reunion as a " Grown Ass Woman".<br />
I encourage everyone to go to their respective reunions as "Grown Ass Men and Women".<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
Because we are creatures created in Christ, not in the image of one another.<br />
<br />
And with great thankfulness, this "Grown Ass Woman" raises her hand, and says:<br />
<br />
"AMEN".<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-3520420870415028302011-12-12T21:34:00.000-08:002011-12-12T21:34:43.586-08:00Movie Monday-Sort of. . .Hi everyone!<br />
<br />
I thought I would share what I was doing exactly a year ago today.<br />
Eleonore was overdue and I decided I should try to "dance her out".<br />
I started doing this on December 10th, 2011 since her official due date was the 9th.<br />
<br />
Since I don't normally post on Sundays I am revisiting two of the videos!<br />
<br />
More to come in the week ahead.<br />
<br />
<br />
peace to you,<br />
meredith<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WUFLKIxSJls?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VTwUIA3DKmk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-90618358598884846102011-12-08T20:48:00.000-08:002011-12-08T20:54:38.500-08:00"before we turn to stone"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I feel exhausted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I did a <a href="http://backinbloomington.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-know-its-not-wednesday-anymore-but-we.html" target="_blank">video</a> last night with my cat Madeleine L'Engle.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have a mild allergy to Madeleine L'Engle (the cat).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When I hold her next to my face while singing a song, I apparently end up looking like this:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7S7zyPhQIFfvTsnx7I0vQom0IDzr5BHwPN5ma_Yp16H2VSaQiWpfe_wRDlSHR_IfL22a7NPQHfgCaTByVaw6D0-UFo8y_AfkpcG4KMNJHyaMCJ-qyiyHSLWbMv_FhQOr9e2mvnw3YfP5/s1600/catattack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7S7zyPhQIFfvTsnx7I0vQom0IDzr5BHwPN5ma_Yp16H2VSaQiWpfe_wRDlSHR_IfL22a7NPQHfgCaTByVaw6D0-UFo8y_AfkpcG4KMNJHyaMCJ-qyiyHSLWbMv_FhQOr9e2mvnw3YfP5/s320/catattack.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In my Benadryl induced haze, I am having a little trouble thinking theologically, so please bear with me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Last night we had an amazing Bible Study/Prayer Service.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Generally the focus in the first week of Advent is Hope and the second week it is Peace. It is in this perspective we came to our Gospel lesson, Mark 1:1-8.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24217" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24217a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201:1-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24217a" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span">the Son of God,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24217b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201:1-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24217b" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24218" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> “I will send my messenger ahead of you,<br />
who will prepare your way”<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24218c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201:1-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24218c" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup>—<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24219" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">3</sup> “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,<br />
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,<br />
make straight paths for him.’”<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24219d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201:1-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24219d" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24220" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">4</sup> And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24221" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">5</sup> The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24222" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup> John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24223" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup> And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24224" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup> I baptize you with<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24224e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201:1-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24224e" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> water, but he will baptize you with<sup class="footnote" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24224f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201:1-8&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24224f" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</sup> the Holy Spirit.”</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were struck that the whole Judean countryside came because they heard his message of repentance and therefore came to confess. </span>We started talking about repentance and how that is a part of waiting actively in anticipation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This has resonated with me so deeply in this season of Advent and the times of transition I find myself in. </span>It would seem that the Gospel on a whole, and Mark in part, makes it clear that repentance, the willingness to say "I was wrong, I'm sorry" is essential for a life of peace. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I see this over and over again in my life. If I am unwilling to humble myself and ask for forgiveness for the wrongs I have done, it is impossible for me to have peace. Completely impossible. </span>It happens quickly. When I have done something that has caused offense to someone the immediate reaction more often than not is to find a way to defend myself and my decisions. And if I don't get myself in check, it becomes defending myself at all costs, causing further offense and hurt. But that isn't even the beginning. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It begins to eat at your insides. Eat them and at the same time disable them. It makes them hard so that the next time you hurt someone, and don't humble yourself and ask for forgiveness, you don't feel it as much. It becomes duller, so it can happen more and more and more.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I've found (by trial and error) that most of the "instructions" in the Bible aren't just for the heck of it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Not just for kicks, because God "can".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It really is in our best interest for ourselves and our relationships to freely give and seek forgiveness. It's the only way we can truly have peace.</span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard to humble yourself. It's like dying to yourself. A little death that comes before a whole lot of life. There is so much freedom when you humble yourself and ask for forgiveness. A huge weight is lifted off of you and you can feel again. I'm not going to try and fool you, that it doesn't open you up again and again to the possibility to be hurt again and again. But that is the danger with truly living isn't it? The danger when we choose to fully participate in humanity.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In my short experience on this earth, the peace that can be experienced is far greater than the turmoil. The possibility of deepening relationship, of showing true love, it can be amazing.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn't get this song out of my head with the Gospel lesson from yesterday.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CE3fM28iFVk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To me it speaks beautifully about looking beyond ourselves at the world around us, and the importance of taking responsibility for our actions "and not waiting for someone else's hand". The specific line that keeps speaking to my soul is:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"but brother how we must atone, before we turn to stone"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It is a simple truth.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If we aren't vulnerable to one another, and are incapable of humbling ourselves, we will turn to stone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The further we separate ourselves from humanity the less human we become.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let us all take this Advent season as an opportunity to seek forgiveness where it is needed and to freely give forgiveness as it is asked of us. Not many better ways I can think of to honor the coming of Christ who came to us in a humble vulnerable human form so that he could grant us ultimate forgiveness and redemption.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">peace to you,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">meredith</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-62087714652337812632011-12-07T22:23:00.000-08:002011-12-07T22:29:39.624-08:00Whimsical Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I know it's not Wednesday anymore, but we just got done with Bible Study!<br />
I'm kinda running on empty with whimsical ideas, so this is what you get.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/B6FlkjQw_L4/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B6FlkjQw_L4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B6FlkjQw_L4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<br />
<br />
peace to you,<br />
meredith & madeleine l'engle (the cat)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2ru1kcib0IvEW0Ai9S_-CnxQwsmQA6cpLmPphlwoXV2LWaCd8HGZYluWgm5UscevEp1KXEC020r2-OvMZt5FCcCMPO9T5wolneZ_GCHXRUDbVl-B5Vw66I-ydB3DsB_gwnFJwNvl9k3j/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-08+at+00.27+%25234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2ru1kcib0IvEW0Ai9S_-CnxQwsmQA6cpLmPphlwoXV2LWaCd8HGZYluWgm5UscevEp1KXEC020r2-OvMZt5FCcCMPO9T5wolneZ_GCHXRUDbVl-B5Vw66I-ydB3DsB_gwnFJwNvl9k3j/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-08+at+00.27+%25234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-50986538265436120752011-12-06T19:42:00.000-08:002011-12-06T20:01:18.314-08:00Cool it with the Christmas<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I have been trying to figure out a formula or structure to my blog to make it easier to maintain and update each day of the week (I have already decided it is good if I take a break on the weekends). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I thought of headlines for each day, and a preliminary setup looks like this:<br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Monday</b>-Music/Movie Monday-where I review a recent movie or music that I am currently experiencing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Tuesday</b>-Talkback or Top Ten Tuesday-I rant about a current issue, or I give you a top ten list!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Wednesday</b>-Whimsy Wednesday-(we have Bible Study on Wednesday nights, so realistically I know all you're gonna get is a funny youtube video/link or a good quote. Something "whimsical" get it?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Thursday</b>-Theological Thursday-I attempt to get deep.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Friday</b>-Photo Friday-Some of my favorite photos from the week.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I make no promises to stick to this. For example, next week on the 16th, Eleonore turns one. Next week is going to be devoted to Eleonore Bay, without apology and exception. Get ready for some gushing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But today I am sticking with it, and it's Talkback Tuesday. Which is essentially an excuse for me to be unapologetically sassy, and NOT an underhanded attempt to engage in sassy confrontational comment threads, getting more comments on my blog. . .I think.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It's Christmastime. Right?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wrong.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I will get back to this in a minute. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">On Facebook, around media outlets in general and in public, I keep seeing this thing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">People posting comments, or pictures, or links, or saying things that have to do with it being OK to say Merry Christmas.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The overall sentiment seems to be </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"F-You, I can say Merry Christmas if I want to. Get out of my F-ing way. I WILL offend you. Intentionally. Thinking intentionally, I might offend you, and I'm gonna like it, so I'm gonna do it."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some of the people I see this from are Christians, and some are not. Both kill me. Really. But I'm not going to "talkback" to those who don't claim to be Christians. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I'm going to "talkback" to the Christians.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One was shared that said:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"It's okay to say "Merry Christmas & God Bless America"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Absolutely. It is okay. And I know there are those who want to say those things because they believe they bring joy, or they really do want God to Bless America, I in fact share these same sentiments.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And Hippy Dippy alert: I want God to Bless THE WHOLE WORLD. I warned you, so you can't get mad.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But there is the majority, which are the sassy ones/people, demanding justice for our "rights" as Christians. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>That idea our "Christian Rights" is another post, for another time. </i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And it is with those, and that school of thought that I take issue.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, back to how I started.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It isn't Christmastime. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Not according to Church History, and not according to the Church Calendar. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It's Advent.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You may not have ever heard of it, and that's our (Christians) fault, including me. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here is the definition from dictionary.com:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="header" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><h2 class="me" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ad·vent</h2><sup style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 0.75em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></sup> <span class="pronset" style="color: #333333;"><embed align="texttop" flashvars="soundUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsp.dictionary.com%2Fdictstatic%2Fdictionary%2Faudio%2Fluna%2FA01%2FA0153700.mp3&clkLogProxyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fwhatzup.html&t=a&d=d&s=di&c=a&ti=1&ai=51359&l=dir&o=0&sv=00000000&ip=62d75957&u=audio" height="15" id="speaker" loop="false" menu="false" quality="high" salign="t" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="17" wmode="transparent"></embed> <span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[</span><span class="pron" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">ad</span>-vent</span><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5844110016231685140&postID=5098653826543612075" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 11px; text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a></span></span></span></div><div class="body" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="pbk" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pg" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 3px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">noun</span></span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">1.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">coming</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">into</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">place,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">view,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">being;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">arrival:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">advent</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">holiday</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">season.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">2.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="labset" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">( </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">usually</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">initial</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">capital</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">letter</span> </span></span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" /><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">) </span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">coming</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Christ</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">into</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">world.</span></span></div></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">3.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="labset" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">( </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">initial</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">capital</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">letter</span> </span></span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" /><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">) </span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">period</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">beginning</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">four</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Sundays</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">before</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Christmas,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">observed</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">commemoration</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">coming</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Christ</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">into</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">world.</span></span></div></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">4.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="labset" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">( </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">usually</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">initial</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">capital</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">letter</span> </span></span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" /><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">) </span></span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Second+Coming" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Second Coming.</a></div></div></div></div><div class="tail" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><div class="ety" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">Origin:</span> </span></i></b><br />
<span class="rom-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">1125–75;</span> </span></span><span class="rom-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Middle</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">English</span> </span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> < </span><span class="rom-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Latin</span> </span></span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">adventus</span> </span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">arrival,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">approach,</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">equivalent</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">ad-</span> </span></span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ad-" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">ad-</a> <span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> + </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">ven-</span> </span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">(stem</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">of</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">venīre</span> </span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">come)</span> + </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">-tus</span></span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">suffix</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">verbal</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">action</span></span></div><br />
<div style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="sectionLabel" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Synonyms</span> </span></span><br />
<span class="secondary-bf" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span id="hotword" style="color: #333333; position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; position: static;">1.</span> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">onset,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">beginning,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">commencement,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">start.</span> </span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;">And of Christmas:</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="header" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><h2 class="me" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Christ·mas</span></span></h2><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><sup style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 0.75em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></sup> <span class="pronset" style="color: #333333;"><embed align="texttop" flashvars="soundUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsp.dictionary.com%2Fdictstatic%2Fdictionary%2Faudio%2Fluna%2FC04%2FC0454700.mp3&clkLogProxyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fwhatzup.html&t=a&d=d&s=di&c=a&ti=1&ai=51359&l=dir&o=0&sv=00000000&ip=62d75957&u=audio" height="15" id="speaker" loop="false" menu="false" quality="high" salign="t" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="17" wmode="transparent"></embed> <span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[</span><span class="pron" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">kris</span>-m<span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" />s</span><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5844110016231685140&postID=5098653826543612075" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 11px; text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="body" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="pbk" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="pg" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 3px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">noun</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">1.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">annual</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">festival</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Christian</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">church</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">commemorating</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">birth</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">Jesus:</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">celebrated</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">on</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">December</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">25</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">now</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">generally</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">observed</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">as</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">legal</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">holiday</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">occasion</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">for</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">exchanging</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">gifts.</span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">2.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Christmastime" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Christmastime.</a></span></span></div></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">3.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Christmastide" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Christmastide.</a></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And just for kicks, Christmastide as well:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="header" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><h2 class="me" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Christ·mas·tide</h2><sup style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 0.75em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></sup> <span class="pronset" style="color: #333333;"><embed align="texttop" flashvars="soundUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsp.dictionary.com%2Fdictstatic%2Fdictionary%2Faudio%2Fluna%2FC04%2FC0454900.mp3&clkLogProxyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fwhatzup.html&t=a&d=d&s=di&c=a&ti=1&ai=51359&l=dir&o=0&sv=00000000&ip=62d75957&u=audio" height="15" id="speaker" loop="false" menu="false" quality="high" salign="t" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="17" wmode="transparent"></embed> <span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[</span><span class="pron" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">kris</span>-m<span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" />s-tahyd</span><span class="prondelim" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://sp.dictionary.com/en/i/dictionary/newserp/Sprite_Serp.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -491px -482px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; vertical-align: text-top;" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5844110016231685140&postID=5098653826543612075" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 11px; text-decoration: underline;" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a></span></span></span></div><div class="body" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="pbk" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pg" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 3px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">noun</span></span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">1.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">festival</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">season</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">from</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Christmas" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Christmas</a> <span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">after</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">New</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Year's</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Day.</span></span></div></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; font-weight: bold; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; position: static;">2.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="dndata" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 37px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">period</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">from</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Christmas+Eve" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Christmas Eve</a> <span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Epiphany,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">especially</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">in </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">England.</span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="tail" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><div class="ety" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><i><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">Origin:</span> </span></i></b><br />
<span class="rom-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">1620–30;</span> </span></span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Christmas" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">Christmas</a> <span id="hotword" style="position: static;"> + </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tide" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">tide</a><span class="x" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;"><sup style="bottom: 1ex; font-size: 0.75em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">1</span></span></sup></span></div></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">OK. A lot to deal with there. Mainly what I want to point out is that Christmas doesn't start until Christmas Day. Up to that point we are in the season of Advent, of waiting for Christ to come into the world.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Of waiting, patiently, in anticipation and excitement. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So what if, instead of exercising our "right" to say Merry Christmas, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">we exercise our "right" to WAIT?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wait and patiently exude the hope that we have because this has happened:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24984" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">10</sup> But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24985" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">11</sup> Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24986" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">12</sup> This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Luke 2:10-12</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you believe the best way to share this hope and love and your faith is to say Merry Christmas at all costs, after looking deep down and into your soul, then that is between you and Christ, and I have to respect that. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What if instead, Christians claimed the season of Christmas. . .how out of the ordinary that would be. How outrageous, to say Merry Christmas after the commercial hoopla is done, and the presents are opened and the belly's are stuffed, and we are in the midst of returning the sweater we didn't want, or the earrings that are downright ugly. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What would that look like? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A little crazy. A little off kilter. And then someone might ask "What do you mean?"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And then we might have to "be prepared to give a reason for the hope we have within us".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If we're honest, its easier to say Merry Christmas when the rest of the world is saying Happy Holidays. When it's socially acceptable celebrate Christmas. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We get to bask in the glow of comfortable Christianity as the rest of the world acknowledges that it is "Christmastime".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What I am going to try to adopt is this school of thought. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That my Lord and Savior saw fit to come to us humbly, as a vulnerable baby. And in doing that he was still so enigmatic, and so awe inspiring that the Angels came to sing, and the Shepherds came to bow. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It radiated through his humbleness. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I don't think with that kind of Glory He is concerned with Christians exercising their "right" to say Merry Christmas. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But just for the heck of it,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Happy Advent one and all!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zfxefn9mfk6eFSEqWc0CaHqn0ozd7ONkI_0-Fj31ke00uaSHbFUp3fH6R4UHCywJqUbxgNKTeWYCm3WaTuP5xfdLS4jFuuEgByYoztTymqbUFbVBGjZDL_jMqDLFxztCNYs7mhd06tnY/s1600/Advent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zfxefn9mfk6eFSEqWc0CaHqn0ozd7ONkI_0-Fj31ke00uaSHbFUp3fH6R4UHCywJqUbxgNKTeWYCm3WaTuP5xfdLS4jFuuEgByYoztTymqbUFbVBGjZDL_jMqDLFxztCNYs7mhd06tnY/s320/Advent.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div><div><br />
</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-17362268994239099582011-12-05T19:46:00.000-08:002011-12-05T20:07:38.855-08:00Back to DecaturToday was an exciting whirlwind of an adventure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOiDVZJlRKNTtrUhzyES5lzTE2AE51scwkIbiuQSfmmWc2M79CjU9p9ivpw9OxEKcsv073SnK7cUmUguD6cahMO0n94EsQJpZoDB-0P2k2D5CGm3BDiciJGUT4phJnkXw5myBSltbL_gM/s1600/soy+city+motel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOiDVZJlRKNTtrUhzyES5lzTE2AE51scwkIbiuQSfmmWc2M79CjU9p9ivpw9OxEKcsv073SnK7cUmUguD6cahMO0n94EsQJpZoDB-0P2k2D5CGm3BDiciJGUT4phJnkXw5myBSltbL_gM/s320/soy+city+motel.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://amongsttheknickknacks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deb</a> asked if Eleonore and I wanted to join her and Wolfie on a thrifting jaunt to Clinton.</div>I figured we should just go crazy, and go all the way to Decatur.<br />
(All the pictures are courtesy of her and her artistic self! )<br />
<br />
You see, I have this odd love affair with Decatur. I lived there from the time I was four to third grade and for my freshman year of college. Those are pretty pivotal years in the development of a memory, of a personhood, at least they were for me.<br />
<br />
It was hard as we made every turn, and drove past every place to not share with Deb the story that accompanied the particular place or street. We did some pretty great thrifting, and the kiddos behaved quite well.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSGttf3E2h_VyzVaT_rMFfKcJGdZSqv9uK9mXu7koewQ5GMho7lzvLjsjI-K-j5vQUFx-BpxCE9XrJwidYy7wpXOD_mEko8iSh4QO55weh8Cn5Kn2oZYXYmQdWNnE-qqeZ9JDdrlrAZlT/s1600/holding+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSGttf3E2h_VyzVaT_rMFfKcJGdZSqv9uK9mXu7koewQ5GMho7lzvLjsjI-K-j5vQUFx-BpxCE9XrJwidYy7wpXOD_mEko8iSh4QO55weh8Cn5Kn2oZYXYmQdWNnE-qqeZ9JDdrlrAZlT/s320/holding+hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Eleonore & Wolfgang holding hands in the backseat! </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>What was more valuable than any physical treasure, was the remembering. Remembering where I was when I first heard of the Iraq war starting on the radio in the car. Remembering the thrift store that my mother would buy me clothes from that I would despise because a peer had told me "only poor people wear thrift store clothes" and I had an incessant need to tell people where my clothing was from, so if I wore it, everyone was going to know it was second-hand. I was going to tell them.<br />
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<br />
The thing that stood out to me most about my time in Decatur were all my different "educational" experiences.<br />
<br />
I was home schooled for Pre-School, went to Northwest Christian Academy for Kindergarten, and first grade, was home schooled for second grade and went back to Northwest Christian Academy for the first half of third grade, transferring to Glad Tidings Christian Academy after Christmas.<br />
<br />
I kept harkening back to my first experience at Glad Tidings in 1993. I was excited about the change, I thought I had a good handle on things.<br />
<br />
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Little did I know.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I arrived to school in a hot pink corduroy jumper with a peter pan white blouse underneath. But here is the kicker. I had on Troll Santa Claus earrings, which were highlighted since I had a boy bowl haircut at the time. What went through my third grade mind that morning when I woke up? Perhaps I had a bit of a C'est La Vie attitude about the Santa Claus troll earrings. Or perhaps they were the one thing I had that I felt transcended into popular culture. I might have ridden in the Silhouette Spaceship Van to school thinking, "I'm the freaking s@#t, I have on troll earrings, you will all bow to my prowess". Because who is ballsy enough to wear troll earrings to a Christian school? No one I had encountered in my short time on earth. . .</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
Everyone else was much cooler (ballsier) than I. I had failed miserably. At recess, Jaclyn Dick and Jessica Dixson came over and started talking to me. They were unmistakably the Queen Bee's. And if I remember correctly, they had their ears pierced twice, and long hair down to their mid backs, GUESS sweatshirts with leggings and keds with scrunchy socks.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">WHAT ARE SANTA CLAUS TROLL EARRINGS WHEN COMPARED TO THAT!?!</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As they approached they began to probe.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Do you like Grease?"</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">All possibilities began to run through my mind. Grease. . .food grease? My father saves bacon grease to pop his popcorn that he gets in a tub from the boyscouts in.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I gingerly raised my eyebrows and stated what I could muster as calmly as possible:</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Like in a frying pan?"</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They could have been cruel at this point. I think they only giggled a little bit.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"No, the movie Grease! You will have to come over and watch it."</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Oh yeah, that, sure. I've been meaning to see it. Just haven't gotten around to it."</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I immediately boiled with seething rage at my parents. What was this travesty they had committed against me, that I didn't know what this mysterious Grease Movie was?</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I knew plenty about Star Wars, I knew plenty about anything Jim Henson had done. I knew the set list that the Moody Blues played at their Live at Red Rocks PBS special that I had been allowed to stay up for so I could "dance" behind the couch to "Nights in White Satin".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">None of these things could serve me now. I was like an Israelite who was ungrateful for her manna.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>When I got older I would look back on this again and think, "you let your eight year old twirl to a song clearly about SEX but didn't show her GREASE!?!?!?" For the love of God people!</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When I did make the trek to Jaclyn Dick's house, she enlightened me on such things as Nancy Drew Mysteries, Guns and Roses, and Madonna. I truly felt that I might go to hell for listening to Guns and Roses. Something about it seemed sacrilegious probably the skulls on the cassette tape cover. But Madonna's Poppa Don't Preach made sense to me.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I could justify that. My father was a pastor, and all of a sudden I had a song if I ever got pregnant and wanted to keep my baby.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Always a good thing for a third grader to hold in her back pocket.</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think I remember sharing that with my Father soon after I got home from Jaclyn's for the first time. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">He was calm and sensical enough to not bar me from hanging out with her ever again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I became one of the "popular" girls at Glad Tidings, despite my boy hair bowl cut and faux pas first day outfit. The way I did this? By telling everyone what sex was. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yep. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In detail.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When I was in second grade, on a ride home from Champaign where my mother was working at the time, I had turned to her and nonchalantly asked:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"So what is this sex thing everyone is talking about?"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Being a nurse, the practical answer was to tell me what this sex thing was, in scientific and biological actuality. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was like social gold, this information. Everyone else was still getting the birds and the bees junk from their parents. But I, as I sat atop the jungle gym with my captivated audience shared terms, and procedures like a 10th grade gym teacher reluctantly does in required Sex-Ed. If memory serves me, I shared with much more vigor and tenacity, punctuating certain terms with added thrill and rising intonation.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But, every time I did this, I had to pay my penance. Remember that <a href="http://backinbloomington.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-bloomington-2-hair.html" target="_blank">United Methodist guilt </a>I talked about? Yeah, like being born into sin, I was born into that, and I confessed to my mother every day after school. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mid spring we found out we were moving to Arthur, Illinois.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> (That process is a different story for a different time.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I remember going to my mother as a third grader, and saying:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"This is my chance, I will be able to have a fresh start and begin again. I won't have to be known as the "Girl who always talks about sex"."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The first day of fourth grade in Arthur came with great anticipation. To my credit, I think I made it to the second day of recess before I blurted out my wealth of information. It worked it's charm, and I was a "popular" girl again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As we've moved back to Bloomington, I haven't had any instances where I have felt insecure to the point of needing to talk incessantly about sex in correct biological terms. I think with the presence of Eleonore it is pretty clear I hold that information.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But just in case you are with me, in a coffee shop, or at dinner, or at the mall and I suddenly start saying things like "COPULATION" or "GONAD", simply calm me down, and reassure me that my identity is not found in my sexual knowledge, rather my identity is in Christ. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As Henri Nouwen says:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d5146; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600;">The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called the Beloved from all eternity and held safe in an everlasting embrace... We must dare to opt consciously for our chosenness and not allow our emotions, feelings, or passions to seduce us into self-rejection.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600;"> </span></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This wasn't something I was able to grasp as a second grader, or third grader, or fourth grader, or. . .ok, you get it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But I <i>think</i> I am <i>beginning </i>to get it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And it is one of the things that makes coming "Back to Bloomington" possible at all. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d5146; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d5146; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600;">Among our finds? </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d5146; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600;">This beauty for $1.00 which came with a polaroid camera and a leather case!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d5146; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 600;">Perfect to capture new memories with.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT4iaGjzwLR2epTnDewcOtRxScQ_9FAF_72grfc6ZGkUYyir_Jgvosfy122o1z4TT-1g9bu2MugGyds_xG2pXcYRHnNXaF-jNnaktCvSMJnUSJzPXiTKAipCv85C79lRuLAT0VUr094E1/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT4iaGjzwLR2epTnDewcOtRxScQ_9FAF_72grfc6ZGkUYyir_Jgvosfy122o1z4TT-1g9bu2MugGyds_xG2pXcYRHnNXaF-jNnaktCvSMJnUSJzPXiTKAipCv85C79lRuLAT0VUr094E1/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-85605955246300461992011-11-29T21:39:00.000-08:002011-11-29T21:39:08.953-08:00an apology and a promise.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Dear Blog Readers,</div><div class="MsoNormal">I must apologize to you, for my unexpected absence over the past week, and for letting you down.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I would like to say that I won’t let it happen again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But in all actuality, I kind of hope it will. </div><div class="MsoNormal">In relationships we always let one another down at some time or other.</div><div class="MsoNormal">And I hope your reading and my writing becomes a relationship. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What I can promise is that I will try with all my might to not have any pre-meditated any absences or let downs. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I wish I had something important as an excuse for why I was gone for this past week of blogging, but I don’t. Everyday life was trudging along at what felt like breakneck speed. And by the time I would get to thinking I needed to blog, I just couldn’t bring myself to muster the energy to do a post worthy of you all.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The week was filled with great joys, including Eleonore’s first Thanksgiving, and my Grandmother Molloy’s 81<sup>st</sup> Birthday (more on both of these later in the week).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t have much energy right now either if I am honest with all of you. My bundle of bubbly energy is going to turn one soon, and all her developmental advances are causing sleep patterns to be WACKY! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will leave you with a few photos that were taken while celebrating Thanksgiving with part of Nate’s family! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>It is so good to be back in the blogging saddle, and I look forward to sharing more exciting and (hopefully) insightful posts with you on a regular basis.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">peace to you,</div><div class="MsoNormal">meredith</div><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-26702951860143639712011-11-18T20:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T20:21:33.369-08:00Wedding Week Day 5-"Theology" of a MarriageAfter six years if there is one thing I have learned, it is that you cannot label your marriage, and you can't define it.<br />
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You might have an understanding of your Faith, that there are non-negotiables, and the rest is up for discussion. I think Marriage (as we are told it should be) when modeled after our relationship with God has to look like that.<br />
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When we were married we had our good friend Miles (also the man who hired us both that fateful first summer at East Bay, pretty integral person!) read an excerpt from who else? Madeleine L'Engle!<br />
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This was it:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Goudy Old Style';">"Ultimately there comes a time when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take. It is indeed a fearful gamble. Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created. To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take. If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation. It takes a lifetime to learn another person. When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We still aspire to this vision of a marriage today, EVERY day. It's a choice. The choice isn't always easy, the choice isn't always fun. But you choose, because you have made a commitment before God to that other person. And when you don't make the right decision, you look to that person, and are amazed when they have the strength to give you the grace you don't deserve, and equally amazed when you have grace to give to them. There is so much freedom, as Madeleine says, in those choices. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For freedom Christ has set us free. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Such a responsibility in this freedom. And not just in the confines of a marriage or romantic relationship. In each friendship, each family member, each stranger, each enemy. </span><br />
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It's exhausting, but we are called to be in community for a reason.<br />
Because it's still going to be exhausting, but when others can help hold up our hands it makes it easier to love others as we start to get tired.<br />
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I love you Nathanial Ryan Hopping, and look forward to six-TY more years of holding each others hands up to love each other and the world around us.<br />
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peace to you,<br />
meredith<br />
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</span>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-16120078178216653492011-11-17T21:56:00.000-08:002011-11-17T22:16:08.028-08:00Wedding Week Day 4-The Wedding (Continued)Our wedding ceremony was probably my favorite part of the whole wedding.<br />
<div>We were so blessed by the community that came together to make it happen and to support us in our commitment to God and one another.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One of my favorite parts of the wedding was the "soundtrack".</div><div><br />
</div><div>First we had a full praise service-</div><div>1.) Come Thou Fount</div><div>2.) Great is Your Name</div><div>3.) Be Thou My Vision</div><div>4.) Though I may speak</div><div><br />
</div><div>5.) Memorial Candles were lit/Grandparents were seated to Motion Picture Soundtrack by Radiohead played by a string quartet.</div><div>6.) Mothers were seated to Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach.</div><div>7.) Bridesmaids/My processional to Only Hope by Switchfoot</div><div><br />
</div><div>8.) Nate sings an original song I hadn't heard yet!</div><div>9.) We recess to what started as The Bridal March but morphed into "Good Love"</div><div><br />
</div><div>It was so randomly and perfectly us. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I look back at the words of "Though I may speak":</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Though I may speak with bravest fire<br />
And have the gift to all inspire<br />
And have not love, my words are vain --<br />
As sounding brass -- and hopeless gain.<br />
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Though I may give all I possess<br />
And, striving so, my love profess<br />
But not be giv'n by love within,<br />
The profit soon turns strangely thin.<br />
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Come, Spirit, come; our hearts control.<br />
Our spirits long to be made whole.<br />
Let inward love guide ev'ry deed;<br />
By this we worship and are freed.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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it is a hymn I haven't sung since our wedding day six years ago, and I find myself struck by what little that 21 year old girl/woman (still feel like a girl/woman, but that is for another post, at another time!) knew of what true, real, hard, life, love looked like and would look like. And yet I/she knew enough that there was truth to these words, that something resonated with what this marriage thing was supposed to look like. What a gift. what joy, what bliss, this deep true friendship and community I have been given in my husband is!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am so aware of how "lucky" I am. So grateful.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And often times when I laugh so hard that I fart in bed, because of the hilarious things he says, I half expect a parent to come in and tell us to be quiet, that it's time to go to sleep, because I don't know how I got to have a sleepover with my best friend every night, I feel like I must be doing something wrong to have so much fun and get to spend every waking moment with my best friend.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bet you didn't expect me to talk about farting, but that's how I roll. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Or better yet, how WE roll!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">peace to you,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">meredith</span><br />
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</i></b></span></span></div></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-74676822629600958092011-11-16T23:46:00.000-08:002011-11-16T23:48:35.604-08:00Wedding Week-Day 3 The WeddingWe got done with Bible Study and it is late so I am posting pictures now, and more on the wedding tomorrow!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEa4OgLRMlO-SbfekcARYi1coJ0bY_Kzzgq89UlPUJRY7hBCM9UTdLi0XmFh5V_oYiUdJqU63wjV2PNVWldMesZreB48Nwln0gDE_TdACtYwaCp9tSPuoEyszmG9eO9C6eB1GJMy_-VPs/s1600/224095_520403794690_22911230_30191883_741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEa4OgLRMlO-SbfekcARYi1coJ0bY_Kzzgq89UlPUJRY7hBCM9UTdLi0XmFh5V_oYiUdJqU63wjV2PNVWldMesZreB48Nwln0gDE_TdACtYwaCp9tSPuoEyszmG9eO9C6eB1GJMy_-VPs/s320/224095_520403794690_22911230_30191883_741_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite individual pic of my love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He still rocks a newsboy cap like nobody's business.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnhPoer5jImZqp5syQGd8WS7r-f9Jiwb4vc1uPJC7q4AIv9rlRbsyjv6uadGugITBrHPdBdTn4L5GWHxeLhDoynlXmhtt5qA00AWDqbugAn_or9pXHXKmYMfBmaInilZoxXyX879yAuOj/s1600/227825_520403749780_22911230_30191809_8072_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnhPoer5jImZqp5syQGd8WS7r-f9Jiwb4vc1uPJC7q4AIv9rlRbsyjv6uadGugITBrHPdBdTn4L5GWHxeLhDoynlXmhtt5qA00AWDqbugAn_or9pXHXKmYMfBmaInilZoxXyX879yAuOj/s320/227825_520403749780_22911230_30191809_8072_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite individual pic of myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tres dramatique, no?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOgkPx4dNMsa5JD7Jdk5oo1k1CdoUKXsMKrMDkdwgDFYEDhI6gecj890M0eLGSD0ky2lpE8wep2kZlAAmmQylbSDyA0OXJMcv4gBNGZxsSzmaex6yROa8srkTQJ_ii1mDy-cawZfqg7mr/s1600/224665_520403789700_22911230_30191882_296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOgkPx4dNMsa5JD7Jdk5oo1k1CdoUKXsMKrMDkdwgDFYEDhI6gecj890M0eLGSD0ky2lpE8wep2kZlAAmmQylbSDyA0OXJMcv4gBNGZxsSzmaex6yROa8srkTQJ_ii1mDy-cawZfqg7mr/s320/224665_520403789700_22911230_30191882_296_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right after the ceremony, so excited!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wGahzZm33z3IhkJ_6No2ynZhu9QcaYDiy8rk7el6RyQjyA_UTgojg6T4uIDunCOCeqBtF468PRKTR6Lpmd5PnK6U-Bzui3lrMDGacAplOwGS6g7UhOg80opv0Q84IUHCEIvlz_u0So01/s1600/226435_520403829620_22911230_30191901_403_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wGahzZm33z3IhkJ_6No2ynZhu9QcaYDiy8rk7el6RyQjyA_UTgojg6T4uIDunCOCeqBtF468PRKTR6Lpmd5PnK6U-Bzui3lrMDGacAplOwGS6g7UhOg80opv0Q84IUHCEIvlz_u0So01/s320/226435_520403829620_22911230_30191901_403_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leaving the church! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCzfYslOXbbt3NkJCqFm3l1gLA4GgilD14l83AVepIVtu52Ml_TjJ5rkxMG7eWv7e7YokN-Cd_EX5rl7FLYOi80BLeJRPHcKiEKVf1aOLlEshWM-yMheGRUOhFLulP3rmijJMD2Ktau3a/s1600/228285_520403704870_22911230_30191762_3509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCzfYslOXbbt3NkJCqFm3l1gLA4GgilD14l83AVepIVtu52Ml_TjJ5rkxMG7eWv7e7YokN-Cd_EX5rl7FLYOi80BLeJRPHcKiEKVf1aOLlEshWM-yMheGRUOhFLulP3rmijJMD2Ktau3a/s320/228285_520403704870_22911230_30191762_3509_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our First Dance to "The Luckiest".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More to come tomorrow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">peace to you,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">meredith</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-56317752010233946902011-11-15T21:20:00.000-08:002011-11-15T21:22:38.658-08:00Wedding Week Day 2-The Proposal<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was Valentine's Day 2004. I was soooo excited because I had never been "dating" anyone on Valentine's day and this would be my chance to grasp the Hallmark holiday in full glory!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Nate had other plans, or so he led me to believe.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At the time we were both undergrads majoring in Theatre. Nate was at WIU and I was at ISU. We saw each other EVERY single weekend during our dating/engagement, which can now admittedly be chalked up to some OCD on my part. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">He was in a production of <i>Phaedre </i>as Theseus. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Right off I was ticked. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have waited 20 years to have a date on Valentine's Day and I HAVE TO GO SEE A TRAGEDY ON VALENTINE'S DAY!?!?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This seems really fair. . .</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and it just kept getting worse. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My family was going to see the show that night, Nate's Mom was coming that night, Nate's brother and childhood friends were coming that night.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Fabulous. Perfect setup for a romantic night. Exactly what I was picturing. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To try to make up for this Nate asked me to come early to his dorm room, so we could exchange gifts. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I had been meticulous about his gift. It had numerous parts, with numerous nuances and meanings.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When I got to his dorm room, he handed me a card made of notebook paper and suggested we watch Edward Scissorhands. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">No words. I was fuming on the inside. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I got to the play. I was greeted by my family, Nate's family & friends, and other students I knew. The play was pretty packed and I looked around for a seat. Quickly the director Stephen came and ushered me to a seat they had saved for me, which was weird. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I watched the play. My man was amazing, because he is an amazing actor! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During the curtain call Nate began to take off part of his costume. I turned to my future sister in law and said:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Why is he taking off his costume? This is sooo unprofessional, it's embarrassing."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Someone brought out a stool and a guitar. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Nate sat down and said:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"I didn't want everyone to celebrate Valentine's Day with a tragedy, so I wrote a song for the love of my life Meredith Joy Owens".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A collective awwww went through the crowd. I too awed. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But then came the last line of the song. . .</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"You have changed my life, may I have the honor of making you my wife?"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The audience was hushed, other than the one guy who apparently wasn't in on the plan. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">He yelled out:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"OH SHIT!"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That snapped me back to reality, Nate came down the aisle, got on one knee, and officially proposed. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I of course said yes, and we all went out to pizza. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Despite the less than intimate circumstances, it was the most romantic Valentine's Day anyone could imagine!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejs_BQeXUNoJ4XFZS9gqelaeN3lgCa_tnkWze25jAsvUQKdQ0Im-swBDkoxC01_V-dgk-HdzpMk9TixHwMHPXm4_F0Ypo4zP_8z7LZNG0rfWBirzOZsf4ZfsQeOprwR8hZjDptyHIfMbs/s1600/n22911230_31257385_985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejs_BQeXUNoJ4XFZS9gqelaeN3lgCa_tnkWze25jAsvUQKdQ0Im-swBDkoxC01_V-dgk-HdzpMk9TixHwMHPXm4_F0Ypo4zP_8z7LZNG0rfWBirzOZsf4ZfsQeOprwR8hZjDptyHIfMbs/s320/n22911230_31257385_985.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have any pictures of the engagment on this computer, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but this was right around the same time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">True. Young. Love.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-91848260456844351672011-11-14T19:46:00.000-08:002011-11-14T19:51:03.054-08:00Wedding Week Day 1-How we metThis Saturday (November 19th) will mark the 6th year Nate and I have been married.<br />
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WHOA!<br />
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To try to grasp how long this is, it would be like making it in the same relationship for all of Junior High and High School. . .<br />
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I realize that this isn't the point, but it does give you a tangible way to grasp the length of time.<br />
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I have dubbed this wedding week, where I will take time to highlight different aspects of our relationship so far!<br />
<br />
Monday-How we met<br />
Tuesday-The Proposal<br />
Wednesday-The Wedding (worked out well alliteration wise eh?)<br />
Thursday-Where we have been<br />
Friday-Where we are going<br />
<br />
<br />
It was the Summer of 2003. I had come home from my freshman year at Millikin University and had already made plans to transfer to Illinois State University, switching from Music to Theatre. It had been a wonderful year of finding myself thanks to so many wonderful people, and an asset was that many of those wonderful people introduced me to wonderful music. I needed a job, and had slacked off in those efforts. My wonderful friend (and future Maid of Honor) Michelle, suggested that I should work at East Bay Camp on Lake Bloomington. I had been to EBC many times as a child and adolescent, but something about being stuck at camp for weeks at a time seemed suffocating, and I was hesitant. I wasn't working hard at finding anything else, so EBC it was. Miles Price (an amazing friend and future reader at our wedding) hired me to be in charge of implementing a new daily day camp.<br />
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So I begrudgingly took my dyed black hair, blunt cut banged, industrial ear pierced, vintage track jacket wearing, Norma Jean/Flaming Lips listening self to the first day of orientation and training. <br />
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It was June 6, 2003<br />
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All the counselors had assembled, except for one.<br />
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In came this tornado with a sideways cap, hoop earrings, thick black glasses, tattoos and a soul patch. He didn't seem phased by being late, and just jumped right into the conversation.<br />
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I just thought COCKY,COCKY,COCKY, cute, but, COCKY, COCKY, COCKY.<br />
<br />
Well, thinking the cute boy was cocky wore off pretty quick.<br />
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We flirted (a lot).<br />
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We prayed together (a lot).<br />
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We read the Bible together (a lot).<br />
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And by the end of the Summer, we were already talking about marriage.<br />
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This was overwhelming for me in so many ways. I had a list of I never's that I have talked about before. This was when I knocked the first two out of the park. Nate was the first guy I had ever dated that was shorter than me, and he had experienced a call to pastoral ministry.<br />
<br />
1.) I<s> will never marry a guy who is shorter than me</s><br />
2.)<s> I will never marry a minister</s><br />
3.) I will never live in Bloomington-Normal permanently after school<br />
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2 out of 3. . .for a time.<br />
<br />
I had never been serious enough about a guy to have the "meeting of the family".<br />
I was terrified. A twin brother who was the president of his Christian Fraternity who was engaged to a beautiful petite art major, and a Mother who was a music teacher, but also a ridiculous composer and musician.<br />
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The first time I met Jake and Kenz was in Peoria at Ruby Tuesday's. I think I cried most of the way there begging Nate to take me back because I was so petrified.<br />
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When I met them, they were great and so nice. But I did notice they looked at me a little odd when we first walked in. I was already PLENTY self conscious about our height difference. I am 6ft. he is 5'8, and figured they just thought we looked funny together. Later that evening we went to meet his Mom and stay the weekend. She too gave me an odd look.<br />
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What I found out years later is that Nate said this to his family right after we met.<br />
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"Mom, Jake, I think God wants me to marry a big girl."<br />
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So why the odd looks? They weren't expecting someone tall, they were expecting someone overweight. They thought I was a new girl, and they were obviously perplexed since he had talked about marrying the "big girl".<br />
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He hasn't ever lived that one down, probably never will.<br />
<br />
I'm glad God wanted him to marry this "Big Girl". Very glad.<br />
<br />
peace to you,<br />
meredith<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9995WZRoCOSY5U3FxpO-xseMK96QC4fYL_tZaS83tZIttZTl19eIpqfCcDisn953hiuE-sBIkezgFg3Zvbes2dbvVicLnDBZLb1yqiOmY6Pb4ocapCSDa2NhotcDTY7L2fLLeCncvNVR/s1600/255021_10100164579423540_22911230_49648858_5182289_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9995WZRoCOSY5U3FxpO-xseMK96QC4fYL_tZaS83tZIttZTl19eIpqfCcDisn953hiuE-sBIkezgFg3Zvbes2dbvVicLnDBZLb1yqiOmY6Pb4ocapCSDa2NhotcDTY7L2fLLeCncvNVR/s320/255021_10100164579423540_22911230_49648858_5182289_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you spot the two love birds? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A staff picture our first summer together.</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-46033851894104394922011-11-11T20:43:00.000-08:002011-11-11T20:47:00.774-08:00Photo Friday-Tattoo Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I have been debating for so many years now about getting a tattoo. My husband has a few :), and I have been itching lately for some ink. These pictures are some inspiring ones to me, and you can also find them on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/meredithhopping/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!<br />
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The problem is, ever since I met him, and ever since I have seen his amazing artwork on Nate, I have only wanted one person to do my tattoos, if I ever got them.<br />
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That person is <a href="http://www.theparlourtattoo.com/wp/jimmy-2/" target="_blank">Jimmy</a>. He now lives in Eugene, Oregon. And that makes a tattoo REALLY expensive. Although a total bonus would be visiting Mindy Rawlins and The Blair Family.<br />
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Trying to justify, trying to justify, trying to justify.<br />
<br />
Do these images inspire you as they do me?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Really want this on my body and on everything I own (with even more labels added in!). </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a vital reminder in a walk with Christ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">about loving everyone, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">because we so DO NOT deserve the love we have been given. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But maybe my forehead would be too much? :)</div></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U_npthtKCb_-Y5eEYyEy_S4_3Er2upI6fLOWtEDV7eJH-CA0iQhgtFRYZyr1Ots1Yni8b8YBpPLQg2dExlM-8gDj-KOdj0iPgoAiGoeyQbI6pJG9x3f6Th42u85AZ9hs5gRbm7hRFnI4/s1600/127355583_EKVdqMPk_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U_npthtKCb_-Y5eEYyEy_S4_3Er2upI6fLOWtEDV7eJH-CA0iQhgtFRYZyr1Ots1Yni8b8YBpPLQg2dExlM-8gDj-KOdj0iPgoAiGoeyQbI6pJG9x3f6Th42u85AZ9hs5gRbm7hRFnI4/s320/127355583_EKVdqMPk_c.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> What do you see when you look at this?</div><div style="text-align: center;"> If you don't see a hat, you know why this is so lovely and meaningful. </div><div style="text-align: center;">If you do see a hat, go read Le Petit Prince, and have your spirit lifted and outlook changed. </div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwP17BA515HbXp8ROYzhMXK0Xi7UfHcTOryNJHgGmgVqJCesqP7XWTwA7kk_Ct0GhMRG_MVY8sjqemmxCfSGGeR9H7XUD9M1NR-JxUp1bJJHC5JbFDtuiHtO_Mf10DJSt_U_O2Z4b65EI/s1600/124834220890691637_6GixPuCW_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwP17BA515HbXp8ROYzhMXK0Xi7UfHcTOryNJHgGmgVqJCesqP7XWTwA7kk_Ct0GhMRG_MVY8sjqemmxCfSGGeR9H7XUD9M1NR-JxUp1bJJHC5JbFDtuiHtO_Mf10DJSt_U_O2Z4b65EI/s1600/124834220890691637_6GixPuCW_b.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have always been incredibly drawn to shepherd/sheep imagery when it comes to my relationship with Christ. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This image is a visual representation of something far more amazing, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but it grants a little understanding for my feeble mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAOyqzhwVehD4av8qfG93p45HGwPtBCNkaOgEgFf5eocqtjtn5T9wovByjzWqRGawe0TAj9bqv9aQ95nHttbrzftjZt08KJXE-SsoC6noERlhQ05deXycb2Y9CJghwafTE3O3AHVD6SFd/s1600/128447337_M217cyzH_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAOyqzhwVehD4av8qfG93p45HGwPtBCNkaOgEgFf5eocqtjtn5T9wovByjzWqRGawe0TAj9bqv9aQ95nHttbrzftjZt08KJXE-SsoC6noERlhQ05deXycb2Y9CJghwafTE3O3AHVD6SFd/s320/128447337_M217cyzH_c.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother and Child, Mother Mary and Christ, Father God and His Children. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This sculpture is so beautiful to me, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it encompasses such intimate, passionate, nurturing relationships.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp8z_Df71ofxPytZ3dZHX_cm0hW1hawVEXVfQwNrmCEU-DhVOg-MV6puOThdMnynlEtjW5cR_UFrieWOVz1aGJOQ4LYXNW_SXe0hkR5Hf3rypxzEqPlWBswcN1csU9hYBzDHNn62r82gt/s1600/128457263_YLJHBKXF_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp8z_Df71ofxPytZ3dZHX_cm0hW1hawVEXVfQwNrmCEU-DhVOg-MV6puOThdMnynlEtjW5cR_UFrieWOVz1aGJOQ4LYXNW_SXe0hkR5Hf3rypxzEqPlWBswcN1csU9hYBzDHNn62r82gt/s320/128457263_YLJHBKXF_c.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are just a few inspiring images. Don't worry, you won't see all of them on my person any time soon (ferociously types in search engine "Cheapest Way to get to Oregon").</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">peace to you,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">meredith</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-41848305386749765092011-11-10T21:06:00.000-08:002011-11-10T21:20:33.928-08:00Did I give birth to Mike Tyson's Vampire Spawn?It happened.<br />
<br />
Eleonore bit someone.<br />
<br />
REALLY hard.<br />
<br />
And she drew blood.<br />
<br />
And it was traumatizing.<br />
<br />
Probably the most for me.<br />
<br />
I knew it was coming. Like a snarky little shadow that lingers a few feet behind Eleonore and I wherever we go, tiptoeing along is "The Possibility My Child Will Do Something Out of MY Control That Can Upset and/or Hurt Someone Else".<br />
<br />
If you aren't familiar with the TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE (pronounced tee-pee-mick-wood-soom-mic-tic-wah-o-see) Monster, thank your lucky stars. It is a nasty little booger, and it will get you when you least expect it.<br />
<br />
Perhaps I was getting too prideful. Eleonore loves other people. She loves to smile at them, and wave, and brighten their days. She is quite adorable, biased or not, it's true.<br />
<br />
But. . .<br />
<br />
there are these<b> teeth</b> that most of her peers don't have yet, or if they do, not as many.<br />
<br />
<i>A woman from my father's church said it was a sign of intelligence that she has so many teeth, probably COMPLETELY false, but at the same time, like all of you Mother's and Father's out there, I decided in my head, </i><i>"well yeah, probably, makes sense. makes sense to me". </i><i>It's just what you do when someone validates what you think about your child, you decide it's true. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
In retrospect, if the TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE Monster feeds on pride and a puffed up Mother's chest like I think it does, it was getting to be a chubby TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE Monster, and had more than enough energy built up to attack.<br />
<br />
It had taken a little trial run a week ago, when Eleonore bit my good friend Kelly's baby Kinley. Luckily no blood was drawn, and Kelly and Kinley both took it in stride.<br />
<br />
The next time it went full fledged and it was poor Wolfie as Eleonore got her first taste of blood. With a little "milkies", his blankie, and some snuggles with his Mama <a href="http://amongsttheknickknacks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deb</a>, he was up and playing with Eleonore once again.<br />
<br />
Deb was EXTREMELY gracious. It didn't phase her at all. I was in awe, and shocked that I wasn't getting yelled at, or cursed at, or thrown out by my collar.<br />
<br />
Wolfie was fine, Eleonore was fine, Deb was fine.<br />
<br />
I wasn't.<br />
<br />
I felt completely, and utterly, powerless.<br />
<br />
Seeking others advice on the matter for the most part made it worse, and I went to bed feeling like my baby had major psychological issues that I had spurned on by some sort of majorly inadequate parenting technique that had been put into place by my "style" of parenting.<br />
<br />
I didn't sleep a lot. Visions of being "the biters" Mom kept dancing through my dreams.<br />
<br />
The next morning, Nate, Eleonore and I were sitting on the couch laughing and playing. Nate was tickling Eleonore and we were all giggling, then he started to nibble on her ear. . .<br />
he looked up and we had both made the connection at the same time.<br />
<br />
He nibbles on Eleonore's ear when they are playing, she equates this with happiness, and love, so she OBVIOUSLY WANTS TO BITE EVERYONE'S EAR.<br />
<br />
I felt such a sense of freedom in that moment, but at the same time my heart was filled with an extreme weight of responsibility.We learn how to love. There is no question. We can't know how to love, unless we see how to love. It's pretty straightforward and simple.If we learn to love from those who love abusively, we abuse, if gracefully, then gracefully, if passively then passively, and the list goes on and on.<br />
<br />
This time it will be a relatively easy fix and the TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE Monster will be thwarted by no more ear nibbles for Dad! It is not always so easy, for many children, the way they have learned to love has done irrevocable damage to themselves, and to the world around them. The vicious cycle continues, because no one gave them grace. Because no one thought fit to name them, like I talk about in this previous<a href="http://backinbloomington.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-bloomington-5-albert.html" target="_blank"> post</a>.<br />
<br />
I myself am learning to live with the TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE Monster. They are always there, and always will be. I invite the TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE Monster to walk alongside me. I am not afraid. I will learn to handle each situation they throw at me with grace. Grace is what slays TPMCWDSOOMCTCUAOHSE Monsters, didn't you know?<br />
<br />
It gets most of the other Monsters out there too.<br />
<br />
Try it, and you'll see.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="body" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.</span></i></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="body" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">-</span></span></i></span><span class="bodybold" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eugeneone391861.html" style="line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Eugene O'Neil</span></span></i></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></span><br />
peace to you,<br />
meredithMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-57941003803850225162011-11-09T22:51:00.000-08:002011-11-09T22:52:47.249-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonight we had our Wednesday night Bible Study. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a wonderful time of fellowship, study & food. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of our community is still around and it is 12:22 AM. What an inexplicable joy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my post will just be a quote by my favorite author "on community".</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXafujlKutTgcZ-b30_AGozbM4DfaTlO7RYid6csZv_JUxUcQcdrdzmvKu2ZExkxXeuehJTgkvIudXnwQjzla4wLKaThaOcMs_0QK3rqIXXUhbbI_JB4-gPZ5qmKl71ct58PswVjWAn4OE/s1600/madeleine_lengle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXafujlKutTgcZ-b30_AGozbM4DfaTlO7RYid6csZv_JUxUcQcdrdzmvKu2ZExkxXeuehJTgkvIudXnwQjzla4wLKaThaOcMs_0QK3rqIXXUhbbI_JB4-gPZ5qmKl71ct58PswVjWAn4OE/s320/madeleine_lengle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"> A <em style="color: black; font-style: normal;">community, to be truly community</em>, must have a quality of unselfconsciousness about it.-Madeleine L'Engle</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will be hearing much more about her in days to come. She is utterly lovely.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">peace to you,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">meredith</span></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-71177904873721021322011-11-08T22:31:00.000-08:002011-11-08T22:38:24.353-08:00A photo shoot sneak peek!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You have already had a sneak peak of one of our photo shoots with Eliza Morris of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elizaandlizphotography" target="_blank">Eliza & Liz Photography</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I thought I would share the highlights from our last ridiculously fun shoot. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are so blessed to have found such a talented photographer to capture Eleonore as she grows so quickly!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVotv_7rboQmD4Cc84d8FrvmTqs74lasmGnCLceXJIidMqRAyQl0pDnojNEfIdjRNYy9IiPE1mJwFRsYkvki5ZXxJwUt9bwJLDvyhsbsxokaYtNZweCtKPfMh2gi1LEv3G1tyUkbqncB4/s1600/hopper25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVotv_7rboQmD4Cc84d8FrvmTqs74lasmGnCLceXJIidMqRAyQl0pDnojNEfIdjRNYy9IiPE1mJwFRsYkvki5ZXxJwUt9bwJLDvyhsbsxokaYtNZweCtKPfMh2gi1LEv3G1tyUkbqncB4/s320/hopper25.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMoMHdotbpTmpQycfN3oGDhgCiYsmExRGCcvsaFEYiPsWMN7liwwVAQ9AnX2bUsU8PZ6BpL6P83BZm0yhDqcg99sej8c6ZKy6lJid1ZpHib2_sSiN9B66-UlwyTEia24aQjvFqapCmSno/s1600/hopper29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMoMHdotbpTmpQycfN3oGDhgCiYsmExRGCcvsaFEYiPsWMN7liwwVAQ9AnX2bUsU8PZ6BpL6P83BZm0yhDqcg99sej8c6ZKy6lJid1ZpHib2_sSiN9B66-UlwyTEia24aQjvFqapCmSno/s320/hopper29.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87eeynTLHAx9XHWrCaUsekf9K_HUprkqkGmvQE6suOTspP0DZHNc73cWYwRLYdwUwmsJSV02QnOaUXnkEsc8BBJ404LRSmgho1KPiMlTEdKVkiBTyC5vBCkBru4MGJaDuzm4cDypiWzYj/s1600/hopper3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87eeynTLHAx9XHWrCaUsekf9K_HUprkqkGmvQE6suOTspP0DZHNc73cWYwRLYdwUwmsJSV02QnOaUXnkEsc8BBJ404LRSmgho1KPiMlTEdKVkiBTyC5vBCkBru4MGJaDuzm4cDypiWzYj/s320/hopper3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ77BrL3fMZOQUfDse6GpJoQ84_Fa1cb7TQxJXqrlsf5UMbHVXQczw22m9fjTW3SwS7MeQ9fDM6JFfCCDVvcbNiR7A13HfLIgvZRj3XzDZqFpHirCXnNuOX0pdurhgRNoEQ5qW1Amr2yAY/s1600/hopper48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ77BrL3fMZOQUfDse6GpJoQ84_Fa1cb7TQxJXqrlsf5UMbHVXQczw22m9fjTW3SwS7MeQ9fDM6JFfCCDVvcbNiR7A13HfLIgvZRj3XzDZqFpHirCXnNuOX0pdurhgRNoEQ5qW1Amr2yAY/s320/hopper48.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am smitten, and done in for all of eternity, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I get to have these two in my life EVERYDAY!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKhC5v4RHCZBIPAr15b9wvqzWinTdA262n4gaewpdAlvsX-8f0oI5MPMuNhRJx210ia0awrL7LskgEIyFk9ZGlBXx2zK2TyERG8gKr_c2PL1IuqYwis1bNCce_QFf2gPPUee4Tko7Po4O/s1600/hopper33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKhC5v4RHCZBIPAr15b9wvqzWinTdA262n4gaewpdAlvsX-8f0oI5MPMuNhRJx210ia0awrL7LskgEIyFk9ZGlBXx2zK2TyERG8gKr_c2PL1IuqYwis1bNCce_QFf2gPPUee4Tko7Po4O/s320/hopper33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1YKnX4NEx3iYhhAGicmhU840GPuV6SoqdOhozOCOlWaQIqHGcnXBSPDk2OEl7ng6v_lLVsOo_FqpAlyhQd3j6hRtQXZ4hvcGTVAj7qBqHShr1rZlEoVeQ7FgDe2WfU3cXTO1YmxptAS7/s1600/hopper50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1YKnX4NEx3iYhhAGicmhU840GPuV6SoqdOhozOCOlWaQIqHGcnXBSPDk2OEl7ng6v_lLVsOo_FqpAlyhQd3j6hRtQXZ4hvcGTVAj7qBqHShr1rZlEoVeQ7FgDe2WfU3cXTO1YmxptAS7/s320/hopper50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkebMnZomTfMsvJpN68Knoy0hqTFOZHqqmWpMAUsJFo1v7G7LQyFtLI2cH2t6tRlSnkuOqI-4nugDf6wyOZXtFpRyybOvF30Xp52U59a1hLPn991k2o7v4Kh5tmoz5OH25juRffJ-KP5gN/s1600/hopper51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkebMnZomTfMsvJpN68Knoy0hqTFOZHqqmWpMAUsJFo1v7G7LQyFtLI2cH2t6tRlSnkuOqI-4nugDf6wyOZXtFpRyybOvF30Xp52U59a1hLPn991k2o7v4Kh5tmoz5OH25juRffJ-KP5gN/s320/hopper51.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The little details are something that you don't want to forget, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and they pass by, just as quickly as everyone says!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1x02-wSh2M_c6On-O0G2Waup5eZgjfeax-22TLA63VbKhC5y_knqD8DOY4c-gV8RitRTgsRGHsuwzvPefsWJL48pgEWuJ7ij6S32Ac-5Q-I4NKKpDuM5idYOpir2r-24Ty_8PSF06KaxA/s1600/hopper46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1x02-wSh2M_c6On-O0G2Waup5eZgjfeax-22TLA63VbKhC5y_knqD8DOY4c-gV8RitRTgsRGHsuwzvPefsWJL48pgEWuJ7ij6S32Ac-5Q-I4NKKpDuM5idYOpir2r-24Ty_8PSF06KaxA/s320/hopper46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah8W7jXeFI_2treRk19m3rt5oeu37NgBK0UdPpQTnc0WcZ6IEScR82kt9jaePt1L6rjv84TeKv3iec9tqGmgHrA9kjm5F-eNAKCFfuxkiq5d2-Q3Q9C8jygR7Pr7FtHJktg0-taC6kX-G/s1600/hopper43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhah8W7jXeFI_2treRk19m3rt5oeu37NgBK0UdPpQTnc0WcZ6IEScR82kt9jaePt1L6rjv84TeKv3iec9tqGmgHrA9kjm5F-eNAKCFfuxkiq5d2-Q3Q9C8jygR7Pr7FtHJktg0-taC6kX-G/s320/hopper43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-hS4oPcxXOTaAkaczc9Zf64U-4c9Xn3lmGNE3kf8BNXgD1xIZycH2w1uipyvndekwGspMqOWvF5z9Ml4ZVQiWh5ejsmQrXWX6EE6pGMb-Eks3Wi8yssSieeisKZBYId3pOcqQbTNwB5t/s1600/hopper44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-hS4oPcxXOTaAkaczc9Zf64U-4c9Xn3lmGNE3kf8BNXgD1xIZycH2w1uipyvndekwGspMqOWvF5z9Ml4ZVQiWh5ejsmQrXWX6EE6pGMb-Eks3Wi8yssSieeisKZBYId3pOcqQbTNwB5t/s320/hopper44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are a motley crew, but wherever we go, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and whatever we do, we're gonna go through it together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjp_dPQvGEDGJ5GXxRD63rh4wW572ottBPMmYheeDUvtcU7P4fKfr2_nlvRqIBDqLdn9gxPztKFuJXRrmAlueMhtUpy5HyUJRjtEk3SpJBh7sqX4ZrFPZstPyj6Ku74GAsxVtKLCKuPXR/s1600/hopper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjp_dPQvGEDGJ5GXxRD63rh4wW572ottBPMmYheeDUvtcU7P4fKfr2_nlvRqIBDqLdn9gxPztKFuJXRrmAlueMhtUpy5HyUJRjtEk3SpJBh7sqX4ZrFPZstPyj6Ku74GAsxVtKLCKuPXR/s320/hopper1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAbNNvLGixDidbxitaw_Yte8QXrb31O4yTM2gnkQc4WShFkSzsfm68tfaiIF8rfdZ63Sg6BAs7d4X-qUR1aZwhyphenhyphenMi0901tW2AfDsayNHIvnbZ36tmwlKh3bvC8bhjHQhihm7yRhu7wJes/s1600/hopper2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAbNNvLGixDidbxitaw_Yte8QXrb31O4yTM2gnkQc4WShFkSzsfm68tfaiIF8rfdZ63Sg6BAs7d4X-qUR1aZwhyphenhyphenMi0901tW2AfDsayNHIvnbZ36tmwlKh3bvC8bhjHQhihm7yRhu7wJes/s320/hopper2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbUX92-sNaiWWQ4lJuUn761YSyi8gMhGKyy3vClhyysV1p3nE26Za6U4T4c_M-26JgUL1YMuRaeqlwMr2sw1EW9XY98KHfTMuVnfy07YI8CLmPRNy9DzYzjgfadgI_VL-mdIHcWI8vtGZ/s1600/hopper12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbUX92-sNaiWWQ4lJuUn761YSyi8gMhGKyy3vClhyysV1p3nE26Za6U4T4c_M-26JgUL1YMuRaeqlwMr2sw1EW9XY98KHfTMuVnfy07YI8CLmPRNy9DzYzjgfadgI_VL-mdIHcWI8vtGZ/s320/hopper12.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J0hzt48I0tFf2jwdHVgaicBqdFiYrV25GAdmgNPBL9GMR5PBZuAOCCpck2OWvjJtZkHAzTIoGQeWg1Hzvs5xRW56V5Tgav6g12pY8UxfZJNWe8g-eReSIakw4YmYr3hXTEWbuFgxhNiK/s1600/hopper8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J0hzt48I0tFf2jwdHVgaicBqdFiYrV25GAdmgNPBL9GMR5PBZuAOCCpck2OWvjJtZkHAzTIoGQeWg1Hzvs5xRW56V5Tgav6g12pY8UxfZJNWe8g-eReSIakw4YmYr3hXTEWbuFgxhNiK/s320/hopper8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every photo shoot we have had so far, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I make sure to get pictures of her in this red hat, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a white onesie on, and her Deer Ugly Dolly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It will be so fun to see all the changes but in the same "get-up".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I seriously can't gush enough about Eliza and her work. The capturing of my family, and my memories and these fleeting moments in time are so valuable, and I will be forever thankful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am a blessed woman, I know it, and I am completely unworthy of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">- Thornton Wilder</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">peace to you,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">meredith</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</em></span>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-22772283763931706262011-11-07T22:08:00.000-08:002011-11-07T22:11:30.861-08:00music to the heart and soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This Saturday will be a dream come true for me.</div><br />
One of my favorite musical groups of all time will be playing a show in Bloomington, at a childhood friends apartment.<br />
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I have been dubbed a "Superfan" along with my dear friend Lindsay who will be absent this concert since she currently lives in Arkansas.<br />
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Lindsay and I first saw Rue Royale in 2007 at Uncommon Grounds in Wrigleyville. We didn't pay much attention or realize what amazing food was there. We were there strictly for the music.<br />
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Our fates were sealed, and since then we have tried to make it to every show that has been accessible to us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP93vCTeSQ0YdsBJK2jSUTljhiSZBZN3byp-XQkBsNM0yLRoXV1ssGfmE136qdmReMtjQKtnWKC2zgXgh5HOwbfz-gc_HsV_Mv9N4QK7ivyFaro4PyJkuKgpxUF9_hv21gFC_JlS458H0/s1600/n22911230_36795677_2260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP93vCTeSQ0YdsBJK2jSUTljhiSZBZN3byp-XQkBsNM0yLRoXV1ssGfmE136qdmReMtjQKtnWKC2zgXgh5HOwbfz-gc_HsV_Mv9N4QK7ivyFaro4PyJkuKgpxUF9_hv21gFC_JlS458H0/s200/n22911230_36795677_2260.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 3rd concert at Subterranean Winter 2007! </td></tr>
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There isn't really much to say about their music, it is better to listen, and feel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TKYqh8qQ1lmX7wIS8JEkN3VZBrAiyvl8pS3j5MfUIonX58lSKmIAvo7O8UUhXbn-Nw2IanEMtB_IpCUiMqExvngjx_aMBp7NMCEzikmWTCZAaDkOnTlhBxm6-etbDi0_Whi0PdfWoDz6/s1600/a15901924_39137725_9935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TKYqh8qQ1lmX7wIS8JEkN3VZBrAiyvl8pS3j5MfUIonX58lSKmIAvo7O8UUhXbn-Nw2IanEMtB_IpCUiMqExvngjx_aMBp7NMCEzikmWTCZAaDkOnTlhBxm6-etbDi0_Whi0PdfWoDz6/s320/a15901924_39137725_9935.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornerstone 2008. I had an appendectomy,<br />
so I wasn't there.<br />
There was an empty seat in my honor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_iN6KH8FWfEcX0gy-uukzV4Ip90Ku-A7cjVH8-Qubt6NWIbM1C0_4kYwpC6DS0RuIyVg4lPfFkK_IOj2KDgL98RqjuOPJYZMTjFljz9-TRykztUeNvfBW9fPaXCLnkwCoWg0Y60Zfk2L/s1600/n22911230_38520944_5744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_iN6KH8FWfEcX0gy-uukzV4Ip90Ku-A7cjVH8-Qubt6NWIbM1C0_4kYwpC6DS0RuIyVg4lPfFkK_IOj2KDgL98RqjuOPJYZMTjFljz9-TRykztUeNvfBW9fPaXCLnkwCoWg0Y60Zfk2L/s320/n22911230_38520944_5744.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Schubas, end of Summer 2008! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eeuu1n7Vni1k9vGIVMeyP2U4m3YH0pSYxh-igXo5az2RqBjfbHqo_0HMavtjqOJc6C4MDjjO7LxXlzhwNqf6RM35rHL-RL0ZT1_i-LIDF8KiWRg-8HpIO6OBEc1PfisA_cg01jKmTuOu/s1600/IMG_5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eeuu1n7Vni1k9vGIVMeyP2U4m3YH0pSYxh-igXo5az2RqBjfbHqo_0HMavtjqOJc6C4MDjjO7LxXlzhwNqf6RM35rHL-RL0ZT1_i-LIDF8KiWRg-8HpIO6OBEc1PfisA_cg01jKmTuOu/s200/IMG_5560.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall 2010 in Macomb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_1of_OWRELPKY2PWpEX1whDAHe4iM_VeCFyOA5RQGMONMTgf_WgF8QfAxB0Rc2W86s7_wpq3N9fArYs0a_xvK8712-3ecZYDtnrgc9CzoI31bZDCcfr_56oT7Oz7alwKpHyBcSeI6bDi/s1600/n22911230_40470733_5600594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_1of_OWRELPKY2PWpEX1whDAHe4iM_VeCFyOA5RQGMONMTgf_WgF8QfAxB0Rc2W86s7_wpq3N9fArYs0a_xvK8712-3ecZYDtnrgc9CzoI31bZDCcfr_56oT7Oz7alwKpHyBcSeI6bDi/s200/n22911230_40470733_5600594.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring 2009<br />
Their Moving to England show at the Hideout<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't describe their music and even begin to do it justice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Listen, and if you like what you hear, contact me for the concert details!</div><div><br />
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<div>peace to you,</div><div>meredith</div></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-66526333184225434562011-11-06T20:28:00.000-08:002011-11-06T20:28:21.528-08:00a bosom friend.<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Tonight we had the distinct pleasure of having dinner with my lovely friend Liesl and her mother Susan who was in from out of town. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Liesl is one of my oldest and dearest friends (since the summer before 7th grade, when I first saw her in her Chuck Taylors, and Bogie's Diner Jersey), and she was one of the reasons (other than God of course. . .DUH) that moving back to Bloomington even seemed slightly tangible to me. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There is such enormous beauty in friendship. In tried and true friendship. It's the stuff that Jane Austen writes of, and what Lucy Maud Montgomery describes as having a "bosom friend". </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You might as well just see a picture of Liesl when you look for the definition of the term, because she is mine. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpUH-xn6yMuaD4ok38R4W3Bs9rbzdg1B0caxGpF5sziiyYKthxTjkSIq-pmVgf-QoCUfe0PJlYxmRQHAuDGljnbPr5SNfbxzgMqTMw5cYqi49HGG7cTw8fLECKkCnJl0jnsYz-oKxeduA/s1600/291778_2127192496664_1151460086_31969823_942279508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpUH-xn6yMuaD4ok38R4W3Bs9rbzdg1B0caxGpF5sziiyYKthxTjkSIq-pmVgf-QoCUfe0PJlYxmRQHAuDGljnbPr5SNfbxzgMqTMw5cYqi49HGG7cTw8fLECKkCnJl0jnsYz-oKxeduA/s320/291778_2127192496664_1151460086_31969823_942279508_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look up "Bosom Friend" in the dictionary, <br />
and this is what you'll see!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">She has been with me through so much. And has become a great friend to Nate and a wonderful Auntie to Eleonore. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sometimes it is a bit overwhelming to see all the beauty she puts into the world, to see how big her heart is, and how free her spirit.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Overwhelming, and at the same time utterly inspiring. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During Liesl's time in Belgium working for Young Life I had the AMAZING opportunity to travel there to assist her with moving back. We attempted to chronicle the adventure with this <a href="http://europewillneverbethesame.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>. I think we could easily get paid for traveling together and writing about it. Or maybe I just think we are funny and no one else does. . .nope, we're pretty funny.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ5wDltnXmECDL7C4QDrD6r0tFZjeLz8fWQQdpTlst4WstsWhPmC6M1a2ukORTyaQusgCTmo5AMpJo2iA9zjs-7r4Dqa6E-NMkaVbdKM3aGCMcUc9lCOBzuZaMrdTWjMrr5Mrh8MG17CB/s1600/n22911230_39614473_6242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ5wDltnXmECDL7C4QDrD6r0tFZjeLz8fWQQdpTlst4WstsWhPmC6M1a2ukORTyaQusgCTmo5AMpJo2iA9zjs-7r4Dqa6E-NMkaVbdKM3aGCMcUc9lCOBzuZaMrdTWjMrr5Mrh8MG17CB/s320/n22911230_39614473_6242.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liesl and I enjoying a good "brew" on our German Day Trip!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Life has lots of ups and downs, but there is so much joy to be had in friendship and fellowship. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is truly one of God's gifts to us.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope you all have a Liesl in your life. I can't imagine how empty mine would be without her. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-11905999362382974992011-11-05T21:21:00.000-07:002011-11-05T21:33:04.076-07:00Back to Do. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I haven't had a lot of time today to muse or ruminate on anything in particular. But as I was singing Do Re Mi with Eleonore today in the car, I was remembering this video.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-p1K2y9NILx5Hx_j90daRGIVw31xdAroZgum4ZarQ3rlSc4OJWfG32_K7CgIx8woTmelWgW2WwU6M10cYqYh3Pkj8_LccP7QuEEpSOiYdfUXTNLGlBmRyEl_noPxflu7fBjgkryw-f-pi/s1600/n22911230_38245490_8927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-p1K2y9NILx5Hx_j90daRGIVw31xdAroZgum4ZarQ3rlSc4OJWfG32_K7CgIx8woTmelWgW2WwU6M10cYqYh3Pkj8_LccP7QuEEpSOiYdfUXTNLGlBmRyEl_noPxflu7fBjgkryw-f-pi/s320/n22911230_38245490_8927.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate and I at the beginning<br />
of our time at Streams of Hope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In itself it is an amazing thing to behold. I first saw it in 2009. We were in the process of closing a church while Nate was in seminary. It was an amazingly beautiful, painful, and growth inducing experience which I am sure I will write more about in the future.<br />
<br />
The Sunday the church closed I stood to give some of my thoughts. I wanted the congregation to know that we had to decide if our journey as Christians stopped there, or if we were going to go out into the world and be the church, join new existing bodies of believers and evolve as Christians to share the joy & hope we have in the Risen Christ.<br />
<br />
This video had spoken immensely to my heart and soul during that period.<br />
God used something as simple as a song from <i>The Sound of Music </i>and a bunch of people dancing to speak to me, that joy still existed & that hope was still alive, even in the midst of mourning.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And, that ultimately, it starts with one person, making a decision. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So I shared this video on that Sunday with the congregation, and I share it with you now, because it still holds so much truth and beauty.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7EYAUazLI9k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-78620065507462511532011-11-04T20:39:00.000-07:002011-11-04T20:53:31.308-07:00What on earth am I(we) doing here?-Part 2<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Soon after moving to Bloomington, we were confirmed in the Anglican Mission. It was a wonderful day, and it happened immediately prior to our friend Fr. <a href="http://www.gregpaullynn.com/" target="_blank">Greg Lynn's</a> ordination to the priesthood.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We have a wonderful long-distance community in Peoria's AMiA plant, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/epiphanypeoria?sk=wall" target="_blank">Epiphany</a>. <a href="http://postconsumereports.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chris</a> and Elisa Marchand, dear friends from the Chicago area are co-planting a missional community there with Greg and his wife <a href="http://www.newlyrooted.com/" target="_blank">Alicia</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What a wonderful gift to have kindred spirits embarking upon the same journey so close!</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBymMS1s9Lba53xCKdBn20bYij_YMab29JuhSnbxuYYwbCe8BcRxKHMhY7iR_zqOwN_7M22Aelf3IdBpEjSQCDqVQgLv4ym8w5fv4XhQHeSG-NSpBEaVTQalzGgkmosDJxLx2BC-trclER/s1600/268763_10100229244853500_22911230_50137790_4869326_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBymMS1s9Lba53xCKdBn20bYij_YMab29JuhSnbxuYYwbCe8BcRxKHMhY7iR_zqOwN_7M22Aelf3IdBpEjSQCDqVQgLv4ym8w5fv4XhQHeSG-NSpBEaVTQalzGgkmosDJxLx2BC-trclER/s320/268763_10100229244853500_22911230_50137790_4869326_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Chris, Elisa, Father Greg, Alicia, Nate & Me<br />
at our confirmation/Greg's ordination!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Nate and I with a lot of prayer have wanted to take a VERY slow approach to this whole church planting-thing. We want to be able to give the community what they need and what can bring them closer to Christ, not impose our idea of what the church plant will look like on a community that we have been detached from for five years. This is a problem I think the Christian church gets stuck in a lot. Telling a community what they <i>need</i> before hearing what that community has to <i>say/where they are</i>.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">(Before I get bombarded by Christians telling me the community needs Christ, let's have that just be a given. We all do, or Nate and I wouldn't be giving our life to this calling).</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So right now what this looks like is a foundational group of people meeting twice a month, (soon to move to every week) at our apartment, discussing the word, our relationships with Christ, uplifting each other, and brainstorming on how we can bring Christ to this community and be Christ to this community. Very soon we will be embarking upon community outreach and eventually we will start meeting at a space, (as we are growing out of our dining room quite quickly. Intimacy is great within a missional community, but I don't want anybody to be able to tell that I wasn't able to shower that day, as being a Mommy doesn't always warrant a shower! :o) ) and having a full service as well as a weekly community group/bible study.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Exciting, scary, and an impossible environment to not be completely dependent upon Christ.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">One thing we are praying for is that God would put on someone's heart to come alongside us in ministry here in Bloomington-Normal, in a co-leadership role. It is exciting to be patiently waiting for that, not knowing who that person will be or what specific gifts they will offer. But as God has proven so clearly over and over again, He will be faithful.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This church thing if you have never been a part of it (or if you have), is intended to be this beautiful, messy group of people, growing together, leaning on each other and loving each other so much that they can't let each other stay where they are at, they must propel each other further on in betterment, in hope and beauty and love, to become what we were created to be.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In propelling each other it should catch onto someone else, and someone else, and someone else.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And then our world theoretically shouldn't look the way it does.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But there is something in me that won't allow me to stop looking at what this world can be if we allow the Hope of the Risen Christ to permeate itself through us and to others.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think the Church (which I claim to be a part of, I still believe in the Christian Church despite it's faults and it's NUMEROUS injustices, I apologize for these, and for the part I may play in them, but I still identify myself with it) forgets about this leaning, and dependence on one another, that we were created to be in community, to need one another, to change the world together.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Scoff if you must, but I adore So You Think You Can Dance (this is not as much of a change of subject as you might think, stick with me). This dance to Coldplay's Fix You really hits home for me, especially where I am at in my Faith journey right now.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>*I am not about to get into what the words to that song mean, I have my thoughts, but that isn't really what this is about.</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think this is how we are supposed to look in the church relationally. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We move in sync at certain times, and at others we show our individual gifts for the community.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And sometimes we are utterly unable to move, unless we are lifted by one another.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am quite fond of the 45 second mark where the "jumping" begins.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sometimes it feels like in the church or in our relationship with Christ that we are doing such futile things in a season of waiting, that we might as well just be jumping up and down.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But that jumping up and down is leading to something amazing, and may we all jump with such vigor and intensity. . .</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">watch and see what I mean.</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_TsR1yiAe9g?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-82718155987966363322011-11-03T20:43:00.000-07:002011-11-03T20:43:16.806-07:00What on earth am I (we) doing here?-Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I thought it might be a good idea to share with everyone what we are doing "Back in Bloomington".<br />
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In simple terms, we are "planting a church".<br />
<br />
There are different ways I like to describe it. <br />
<br />
I prefer "starting a Missional Community".<br />
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But I do like the imagery of planting. Of nurturing something, of sustaining something, of having responsibility for it. But normally you don't see the planter burrow down into the soil with the seed, and get their fingernails dirty, almost drown when there is too much water, and feel the seed break from its casing to take root, becoming entangled in them, becoming one.<br />
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So perhaps we should go with "Planting a Missional Community".<br />
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We knew from the beginning of our relationship that there would come a time in our lives when God would call us to be a part of a new church start/plant/missional community. We were just waiting for the when and where. <br />
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It finally became clear to us this Spring that we were to plant a church with the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA). Nate had done an internship at an AMiA church his last semester of sminary, and that is where our connection was first fostered.<br />
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Through a series of events God made it clear that we were to plant a church in Bloomington, Illinois.<br />
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This was not what I or Nate had expected.<br />
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In fact it was on my list of "I will never's".<br />
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When you realize that your three main "I will never's" were:<br />
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1.) Never marry a pastor (Being a pastor's daughter and grandaughter, I wasn't interested in "the family business".<br />
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2.) Never marry anyone shorter than me ( I am 6 feet tall)<br />
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We know how those two turned out, as I have been married to a 5'8 (he says 5'9) pastor for 6 years on the 19th of this month!<br />
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3.) Never move back to Bloomington-Normal<br />
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I wasn't doing to well with my "I will never's", but I was still being stubborn enough to claim that last one. <br />
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Have I learned to "never say never"? <br />
In some capacity. . .not completely though :o).<br />
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So we packed up, and moved from a three bedroom house to a one bedroom apartment,<br />
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and we were officially "Back in Bloomington".<br />
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And what happened next?<br />
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Find out tomorrow!<br />
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peace to you,<br />
meredith<br />
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P.S. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Our amazing photographer Eliza Morris of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/elizaandlizphotography" target="_blank">Eliza & Liz Photography</a> took some new pictures of Eleonore and some family pics for some church planting stuff and we got a few back today!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a peak at one of the pics!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjr1O8yDLXeMFMoe-DcxpkLEmSfux233PhInZRppeQNKCZl_a45sRgQeEIZghSg3U87V4oi9NVLdAsxS0WK94TxIN7wVUFtCJNT3gBnzPsUd4FTwr7CVtn1W3IC0TqpkoZ9VRIcy2BdQyW/s1600/new2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjr1O8yDLXeMFMoe-DcxpkLEmSfux233PhInZRppeQNKCZl_a45sRgQeEIZghSg3U87V4oi9NVLdAsxS0WK94TxIN7wVUFtCJNT3gBnzPsUd4FTwr7CVtn1W3IC0TqpkoZ9VRIcy2BdQyW/s320/new2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-24203924972095905442011-11-02T20:39:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:49:11.915-07:00Back in Bloomington #7-Hopping Halloween History!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In my quest to do a post a day, I have to apologize, that this one isn't especially wordy or introspective, but hopefully enjoyable nonetheless!</div><br />
Halloween is one of my favorite Holidays. It's dramatic, it's fun, it can be educational, mostly it's fun.<br />
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Nate and I first <i><b>committed</b> </i>to Halloween as a couple his first year of Seminary at Trinity. We had met an amazing hip and funny couple, The Blairs, and somehow we all decided to get dressed up and go out to dinner. It was History in the making. Since that first year we haven't missed one Halloween until last year when it was our first year apart from the Blairs (they live in the Portland area now, they are <b>THAT</b> cool and hip). It seemed like an appropriate mourning period. But with Eleonore being here we figured it was time to "get back in the saddle".<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The following pictures show our History with the Blairs as well as our first Halloween with Eleonore!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy, I know we did!</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P5SySSnPphAFtHdMNiinEymM4Bw2iuwSUYL8WKa_acS065JAhsqo1EML5Rs-ZTYr-n79qikoJCgKn0_kew_av83qFPOFqKB-DABpK7I1GURdyF9snGyKLYdO8plZm4tlhlsA6hCSdKq1/s1600/15446_214937371208_649276208_3989645_813960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P5SySSnPphAFtHdMNiinEymM4Bw2iuwSUYL8WKa_acS065JAhsqo1EML5Rs-ZTYr-n79qikoJCgKn0_kew_av83qFPOFqKB-DABpK7I1GURdyF9snGyKLYdO8plZm4tlhlsA6hCSdKq1/s320/15446_214937371208_649276208_3989645_813960_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2006-Sonny & Cher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_CwW5D2Xdx2yHrBs9L6qU4yc4ZDve8hDu8N88EJtLDVL_OjzRzsv74rnhI9LGiQd6kondQrQ53i7n35U5Zim2jntHI91akLU5l5j86ZFZXQj90itO-4sMUYhg8lFxgkw6zq90FGmCOF9/s1600/15446_214937376208_649276208_3989646_7092792_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_CwW5D2Xdx2yHrBs9L6qU4yc4ZDve8hDu8N88EJtLDVL_OjzRzsv74rnhI9LGiQd6kondQrQ53i7n35U5Zim2jntHI91akLU5l5j86ZFZXQj90itO-4sMUYhg8lFxgkw6zq90FGmCOF9/s320/15446_214937376208_649276208_3989646_7092792_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2006-Lucy & Ricky with Sonny & Cher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTyxG52Wk8L_01DpxG5KM-0lnWnpMypNJXoOZm-Dn-d45egXhko4hZYHan4MyFzyqalbQbCi7EAoNXPuhZYRFDLCX6NCqhxSgSAKGu-cEyjPCriV2WPDW6IPQBEiNeKHf4oB20JzqCfRz/s1600/15446_214942396208_649276208_3989738_8206085_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTyxG52Wk8L_01DpxG5KM-0lnWnpMypNJXoOZm-Dn-d45egXhko4hZYHan4MyFzyqalbQbCi7EAoNXPuhZYRFDLCX6NCqhxSgSAKGu-cEyjPCriV2WPDW6IPQBEiNeKHf4oB20JzqCfRz/s320/15446_214942396208_649276208_3989738_8206085_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2007-The Flinstones!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe2EzhAfp84VRhGaqx78I8ROjU22bvuzXwqCs0wi4Mb7nE0NZLdBZ5Bzp8A6KrruBgW2WZTfoMKpiu6hyphenhyphenAlhIn1ffB4UUaPQoNakLjANkJGpybO6ZBKshLgcGzvDQBvIDSDjTnft0D4o9/s1600/15446_214942371208_649276208_3989735_7106766_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe2EzhAfp84VRhGaqx78I8ROjU22bvuzXwqCs0wi4Mb7nE0NZLdBZ5Bzp8A6KrruBgW2WZTfoMKpiu6hyphenhyphenAlhIn1ffB4UUaPQoNakLjANkJGpybO6ZBKshLgcGzvDQBvIDSDjTnft0D4o9/s320/15446_214942371208_649276208_3989735_7106766_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2007-Barney & Betty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjDH-87BrByo-tf-QzO4DFtndZNzpWaG2lr2IMX3Zt96vNG79xsEAzNvHY4wbJoTtVtfkGC778vyufh1WbYAuSvej0FdIYluQbaKE2MovjXvtazOT9xIv3tcUywT1m55OAFC3J1TGKfv8/s1600/15446_214955241208_649276208_3989878_5235710_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjDH-87BrByo-tf-QzO4DFtndZNzpWaG2lr2IMX3Zt96vNG79xsEAzNvHY4wbJoTtVtfkGC778vyufh1WbYAuSvej0FdIYluQbaKE2MovjXvtazOT9xIv3tcUywT1m55OAFC3J1TGKfv8/s320/15446_214955241208_649276208_3989878_5235710_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2008-Linus, Luci, Charlie Brown & Sally</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN740yvMjBNU7S40h2X6J1tb_v8XRMMpn5nH3hUAyQJLI7s1bGax1vXi8FV-McrDXYY3hDRxD3MdjAVSHg1Pbphp1WC5NISUWd1DTaGlae-wXC11dp1qWBx1IXnwvsg7BByCkARmjJi-A/s1600/11042_737054450040_22911230_43275573_1030265_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN740yvMjBNU7S40h2X6J1tb_v8XRMMpn5nH3hUAyQJLI7s1bGax1vXi8FV-McrDXYY3hDRxD3MdjAVSHg1Pbphp1WC5NISUWd1DTaGlae-wXC11dp1qWBx1IXnwvsg7BByCkARmjJi-A/s320/11042_737054450040_22911230_43275573_1030265_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2009-The Wizard of Oz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhZTY0NAPeQPWhghnFb_pFOHgDfoEIZS_vWnPLvY5YKDtSoNvDvnDB2lXdG_H_MxbORchSNr2O0R8v9CMp3z8YmfJu7A2T12PtAmqEhlyo4vVsTKTuuNHIbf2i1KjfL0ppBghz7LyXToC/s1600/2427363885_e73dfc92b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhZTY0NAPeQPWhghnFb_pFOHgDfoEIZS_vWnPLvY5YKDtSoNvDvnDB2lXdG_H_MxbORchSNr2O0R8v9CMp3z8YmfJu7A2T12PtAmqEhlyo4vVsTKTuuNHIbf2i1KjfL0ppBghz7LyXToC/s320/2427363885_e73dfc92b7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2010-In Mourning </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2011-Olive Oyl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhnIs_YGgSs2OY9iop3Ywcqs0XTcyPcsW99vEDiJBvnY-d0J3nszi2Y2EfumkZPS_KPI3903o84i9EB2vTEbywtIzfVpL9mKVca7Rg3SvjBS8K4_0Szqcb7srcQ4OKwPUGHgX41e4iX7d/s1600/DSCN0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhnIs_YGgSs2OY9iop3Ywcqs0XTcyPcsW99vEDiJBvnY-d0J3nszi2Y2EfumkZPS_KPI3903o84i9EB2vTEbywtIzfVpL9mKVca7Rg3SvjBS8K4_0Szqcb7srcQ4OKwPUGHgX41e4iX7d/s200/DSCN0045.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Sweet Pea!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaookjDLkM6dzlbURQxnkNWm4F-oRgcw9EWa3p7u9q1Xuz55GSxqr638bBjqRt-ztMh3iX6aLL8lhnSONB-L9HRogsZIbBNhP0jyqQRtfSJEH6iLm2DEjK-8-eyRbegQBB1qYjIXw41yH_/s1600/DSCN0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaookjDLkM6dzlbURQxnkNWm4F-oRgcw9EWa3p7u9q1Xuz55GSxqr638bBjqRt-ztMh3iX6aLL8lhnSONB-L9HRogsZIbBNhP0jyqQRtfSJEH6iLm2DEjK-8-eyRbegQBB1qYjIXw41yH_/s320/DSCN0042.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Popeye, Olive Oyl & Sweet Pea!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUUOQmHCHHthxWiLgziPBEZlO6NAM6eq6hKyyMYAdut7GKvpFLGdScS1XJDpUS3U5MArNfEuGrhk0yac3QTaMLsnboY4wQFZiRVgTTtBMT2Sb7Ro_KR3tBjBkdY7ea_C8RrpEdgEFG21K/s1600/DSCN0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUUOQmHCHHthxWiLgziPBEZlO6NAM6eq6hKyyMYAdut7GKvpFLGdScS1XJDpUS3U5MArNfEuGrhk0yac3QTaMLsnboY4wQFZiRVgTTtBMT2Sb7Ro_KR3tBjBkdY7ea_C8RrpEdgEFG21K/s320/DSCN0049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of a beautiful tradition with the Kocourek family!<br />
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</tbody></table>And many more to come!<br />
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<div>peace to you,</div><div>meredith<br />
<div><br />
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<br />
</div></div></div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-83307619664437704982011-10-30T23:17:00.000-07:002011-10-31T22:14:37.935-07:00Back in Bloomington #6-Hair<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u>I am committing to a post a day during the month of November as a practice in discipline. As it is 12:05 AM on November 1st, might as well get to it!</u></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">During this journey we are attempting to save money every way possible so that I can continue to be the full time caregiver for our daughter Eleonore.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I thought I would take one for the team in August, and with the seriousness and determination of Rosie the Riveter attempted to dye my own hair for the first time in close to five years, blonde streak and all.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sometimes saving money doesn't help the family "team" because there is something to the old adage "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was frustrated, and knew it was going to take a lot of money to fix my mistake. It got me thinking. . .</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">hair.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Such a vast aray of things span from this topic. I feel like I could write a book under the headline.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But what to write about? Haircut disasters?You have already read about the <a href="http://backinbloomington.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-in-bloomington-4.html">adventure</a> that was my eyebrow journey in Jr. High. What about the bikini wax that I got a few days before my wedding resulting in me using the word Ooftah for the first time. . .well, the bikini wax can wait for another time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In Jr. High I am quite confident I was a glutton for punishment/self humiliation.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Right before a sleepover, I decided to "trim" my own hair. It was about shoulder length at the time. And maybe I didn't "trim" it. Maybe I thought it was a good idea to add layers as well. Thirteen year old adding layers to her hair with blunt kitchen scissors=brilliant.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I remember it not looking that bad in my opinion, but when my dear friend Laura called to see when I would get to our friend Lauren's house, I shared the news that I had trimmed my own hair. With great exasperation she exclaimed that we would need to fix it as soon as I got there. When I did get there my friends seemed to be waiting with baited breath. . .</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Shannon grabbed the scissors.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They thought it made the most sense to begin at the highest layer I had cut.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> To me this was near my chin.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To Shannon, Lauren and Laura, it was near my eyes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">They made me turn away from the mirror and made the first fell swoop.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A simultaneous squeal was let out and as I tried to turn around, I was quickly shoved into the bathtub so they could finish their deed (you might be asking how/why I didn't fight back? Lauren and Shannon would go on to be part of the State Championship Softball Team for Normal Community High School, they were strong. I did the plays and was on the basketball team because the school hoped there might be an ounce of potential in this 5'11 beanpole. There wasn't.).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When they finally let me rise out of the tub, it was a sight to behold.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I said we needed to call my parents immediately (I have always struggled with guilt, some people think Catholic/Jewish guilt is the worst. It's not, United Methodist guilt is the one that bites you in the "tookis").</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Shannon, brave one that she was, called my parents.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I quote:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"We gave Meredith a haircut, it looks amazing. She looks just like Cameron Diaz."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i>My Best Friend's Wedding </i>was a Jr. High Sleepover staple</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I couldn't agree more.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Cameron Diaz with poop brown hair that she let someone inebriated fashion into an uneven boy butt-cut.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Just like</i> Cameron Diaz.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My parents didn't let me get it fixed for a couple of weeks. . .</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I had to wonder if that was how Cameron Diaz got punished for bad behavior.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My hair eventually grew back, and in between now and then I have had a few impulse bang cuttings, but never anything that would harken back to the dramatic drastic nature of the "Cameron Diaz" cut.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The dye job was my first disaster in quite a while.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I've questioned God a lot in this journey.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A whole lot.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">About a lot of things.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Our conversations are probably entertaining on the outside looking in.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And for the life of me, I didn't understand, while on top of all the other "learning experiences" we are going through, the cherry on top would be my hair.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN1ufWNKkrE7E9qvPorXbYi4Lolw1fkorP4K7-zn2Ttg_iX3DfSWJvpc1w7iucGbpfD6tHSRDlLni_nozx7hyphenhyphenfYDc1WJ-JtZrz0NxtgaYtABRh_YkdKAaaw2oxFmQJJo6ahv5Ti9w9mWs/s1600/IMG_2483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN1ufWNKkrE7E9qvPorXbYi4Lolw1fkorP4K7-zn2Ttg_iX3DfSWJvpc1w7iucGbpfD6tHSRDlLni_nozx7hyphenhyphenfYDc1WJ-JtZrz0NxtgaYtABRh_YkdKAaaw2oxFmQJJo6ahv5Ti9w9mWs/s200/IMG_2483.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Eleonore in her pilot cap that day.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mindy gave her a yogurt bite</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"tear drop". See why I need this woman in</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">my everyday life?</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was moaning and groaning about this to my dear friend Mindy who was "Back in Bloomington" from Portland visiting her family and friends. <b><i>Sidenote-I am praying for God's guidance and provision in Mindy's life, while praying for this I also understand that God wishes to grant us the desires of our hearts, my desire is that Mindy moves back to Bloomington and works in community and ministry with us. If you would like to pray that too, it would be much appreciated. No really, pray that. I want her here! </i></b>While we sat at <a href="http://www.coffeehound.net/index.php?link=home">The Coffee Hound</a>, an incredibly awesome looking young woman in a blue hawaiian print caftan walked by pushing a stroller (check out her <a href="http://amongsttheknickknacks.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, you would be intimidated too). She saw Eleonore through the window in one of her "signature" pilot caps, and exclaimed through the window that she would have to come in. She introduced herself, her husband and her adorable 10 month old son Wolfgang. I couldn't help but stare at her hair. It was amazing. Half black and half bleach blonde. I had to ask where she got her hair done, and she said "Oh, I do it, I do hair". She gave me her number and we agreed to do a play date. I was so intimidated by her, I didn't know what to do. Eventually I mustered up the courage to text her (lots of gumption in texting, right?), and we did set up a play date.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There is nothing more to say other than God is faithful in ways we can never imagine. Not only do I have someone to do my hair and EYEBROWS (and do them INCREDIBLY well), I have an AMAZING new friend, as does Eleonore, as does Nate in Deb's husband Greg.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzYT9OUZKnatAPfCzZgKJ4Nagxlhhh3Q86CUhmwBek77WTFXJ4vVqg9tavWSC2rkQ1Nw0UDyGIuf8RZrxWppNabqsE_2lcd-PRYG4FuDcUx6elrj5JBGqua1sxGkCEVYXc9kaBn03Bi0f/s1600/DSCN0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzYT9OUZKnatAPfCzZgKJ4Nagxlhhh3Q86CUhmwBek77WTFXJ4vVqg9tavWSC2rkQ1Nw0UDyGIuf8RZrxWppNabqsE_2lcd-PRYG4FuDcUx6elrj5JBGqua1sxGkCEVYXc9kaBn03Bi0f/s320/DSCN0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bunch of "wild and crazy guys" out and about Halloween Night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God continues to show me that Nate and I <b>cannot</b> and <b>will not</b> do this alone.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That not only is He in every little detail, but community will be in every little detail.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And it might not look how we expect it to.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It might look even more amazing than we can imagine.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The church is a living breathing organism if we allow it to be, of sharing gifts and talents to lift each other, and sustain one another.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Friendship and laughter are amazing gifts Deb has given me, and her talent with hair is just "the cherry on top."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I am convinced more than ever that God is in the details.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Seriously, can you not when you see how fabulous my hair looks?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">peace to you,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">meredith</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLuNE0KpWe2UOiyRtb1lqFguQ1i5DkPMAbgAATqxvvxn0QAGYWqtSYXxPlU9T3XhyphenhyphenD8z0eIbKFQUYPO-sniGSw1cGVLysxL3MugdVYKNYy6lGyMCcFgz_awaE03y9qScRVCGhzPfzXynI/s1600/20110919130904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLuNE0KpWe2UOiyRtb1lqFguQ1i5DkPMAbgAATqxvvxn0QAGYWqtSYXxPlU9T3XhyphenhyphenD8z0eIbKFQUYPO-sniGSw1cGVLysxL3MugdVYKNYy6lGyMCcFgz_awaE03y9qScRVCGhzPfzXynI/s400/20110919130904.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wolfgang and Eleonore enjoying their community! </div></td></tr>
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</div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-45229621409071821052011-10-12T23:06:00.000-07:002011-10-13T16:20:47.151-07:00Back in Bloomington #5-Albert<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I wrote this over a month ago and wasn't able to finish till now. </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
There has been a lot weighing on my mind lately. I think any parent is in a constant state of looking at the world around them with a newfound lens of "What does this mean for my child?".<br />
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It can be overwhelming if you take that too far. It can consume you.<br />
<br />
But there is a fine line and a grey area where for brief moments you can see with the hopefulness and the heartache of a child. Which I have come to see as life in its purest form.<br />
<br />
My husband as his "Day Job", works as a residential counselor at a Boys Home for addiction and behavior rehabilitation. His "Night Job" is church planting, which is why we moved back to Bloomington.<br />
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This past week one of the boys from the home were on an extended home visit. He was also two weeks from completing the program/graduating High School. A young man who knew what he wanted to do with his life, who all the other boys looked up to.<br />
<br />
While at home, his mother caught him drinking, told him she was taking him back to the Home, where inevitably the leaders would be told, and he would have to start the program over again. In his compliant nature, he packed up his things, went to the car, then told his mother if he was going to be there for a longer time, he would like to have his slippers. He ran upstairs to his room, took out a shotgun, and killed himself.<br />
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As a parent the questions seem endless. For a while I thought my crying would be endless.<br />
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That boy was someone's Eleonore.<br />
That little boy. . .<br />
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And then my view broadens, and my questions as a Christian become endless.<br />
<br />
This decision was made in a split second.<br />
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In that split second, where was the Hope that is central to the Christian Faith?<br />
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And then I begin to judge.<br />
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I begin to judge the church, I begin to judge those who call themselves Christians. I begin to judge myself.<br />
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How often am I guilty of not exasperating myself in my need to share the Hope that is Christ Risen?<br />
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It is of course much, much more complicated than judging and asking those questions.<br />
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<br />
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I was on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">pinterest</a> the same week. Oh man, I love this website! So fun and inspirational.<br />
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One of my "boards" is a place to put all of the lovely quotes that are fashioned into art on said site. The one that hit home in light of this boy's death was this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNorzbWDiYlWB-73Tg6Yf90z7_WBwiD6AC812XweMPJG8xIMI1fWUEov50Zsd2VEaXYDhQ5xEElf0Hfdngj-tZ4-FAXabXwSqIVuHmYkGs73PDTFjVKeEUHqYMFQvNNmNCnUOgoIfz2wuc/s1600/141881213_n9Ii62m8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNorzbWDiYlWB-73Tg6Yf90z7_WBwiD6AC812XweMPJG8xIMI1fWUEov50Zsd2VEaXYDhQ5xEElf0Hfdngj-tZ4-FAXabXwSqIVuHmYkGs73PDTFjVKeEUHqYMFQvNNmNCnUOgoIfz2wuc/s320/141881213_n9Ii62m8_c.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
Practical and straightforward in it's nature, this Albert Einstein quote struck through to the base of the problem.<br />
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If you tell someone that they aren't good enough, will never be good enough for the love of Christ, and you judge them by this, and don't share what is CENTRAL to the message of Christ, they will <b>never</b> be able to experience the Hope and Love of Christ. If you don't name them for what they are. This idea of naming comes from my favorite author Madeleine L'Engle, and it consistently and persistently rings true with my theology and world outlook.<br />
<br />
I see it as an epidemic in our society. We are not naming the children, who are becoming unnamed adults, and we ourselves are not claiming our names.<br />
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I have a friend who recently started a sports team. She shared with me about her confusion of community within this sports team.<br />
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"I feel more a sense of community on my team, than I have in a church in a long time."<br />
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And I can't do anything but nod my head in agreement and apologize for the Christian Church and what it has become (which is a full time job when it comes down to it).<br />
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If we Christians cannot hold one another up in the knowledge and hope of the risen Christ, then how DARE we look upon the world in judgement.<br />
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I struggle with this on a daily basis. The house that sits across from ours is not the "loveliest". A seven unit victorian mansion that has seen better days, and holds so much sorrow and heartache.<br />
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I often don't recognize the strung out that enter and exit this place. Some of the men who are tenants work on the house to pay their rent. I noticed that they had been staring at me quite a bit (I do say "Hi" when I see them and make eye contact, as they are neighbors) but this was getting uncomfortable (seeing them in the reflection of the window staring etc.) I feel completely safe, more than anything I don't want other women being treated this way.<br />
<br />
Nate went over to talk to them about it.<br />
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The landlord proceeds to say:<br />
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"She's a pretty woman in a poor neighborhood, she needs to get used to it."<br />
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No words are fit to respond to this.<br />
I become enraged.<br />
<br />
It's a perfect example of a cyclical cycle that if we aren't careful we can all find ourselves trapped in.<br />
<br />
Because no one named the Landlord, no one cared and nurtured him and taught him the value of humanity, he cannot name anyone. In fact he allows people to live under his roof and continue in processes that not only don't "name" but actually "un-name" them, consistently de-humanizing <i>them</i>selves. And in the process he is de-humanizing <i>him</i>self. Thus a woman doesn't have humanity, she is thought of as an object to look at, un-naming her (me), and when I am "un-named" if I'm not careful, it takes away my ability to name, and so I begin to only see those men with eyes of disgust and hatred, rather than seeing them for what they are, un-named, un-nurtured, children of God (there is nothing wrong with being wise and safe, but it is still important to see them as human).<br />
<br />
When I do this, and enter into this cycle, am I any better than the influence and judgment that brought this young boy to a place of ultimate hopelessness and desperation, where he thought his choices were gone?<br />
<br />
No, I'm not.<br />
<br />
Where does it stop/start?<br />
<br />
With YOU and with ME.<br />
<br />
Making a decision, to exasperate ourselves in sharing the Hope of the risen Christ, and letting that define how we care for EVERYONE we encounter.<br />
<br />
This decision becomes even more vital when I see my child, and I see that my influence will directly decide how she values humanity and values creation. It's a scary and yet ultimately hopeful privilege.<br />
<br />
Einstein hits the American Christian Church on the head once again with this one:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span class="body">If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Albert Einstein</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
<br />
Let us make a decision to start filling the beautiful creation of God with the Hope we have been given, let us not be "a sorry lot".<br />
<br />
<br />
It might be crazy what we see.<br />
<br />
peace to you,<br />
meredtihMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5844110016231685140.post-31437801009055534942011-08-24T20:22:00.000-07:002011-08-25T02:42:34.144-07:00Back in Bloomington #4I have been looking for a place to get my eyebrows waxed now that I am back in Bloomington. That combined with my friend Alicia Lynn's <a href="http://www.newlyrooted.com/2011/08/never-say-never/">blog post</a> mentioning her eyebrows caused me to recall a specific eyebrow adventure of mine. What follows is an account of that very eyebrow adventure.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
<br />
Self inflicted pain was never a forte of mine. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I was a big sissy. <br />
I couldn’t even pluck my eyebrows. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I shaved them. </div><div class="MsoNormal">With a pink Lady Bic. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now in my defense, I figured it would work for the following extremely logical reason: my Grandmother constantly carried a Lady Bic in her purse, even hid away a couple in the glove compartment of the Maroon Lebaron she and my Grandfather drove. She did this so that at any given time, situation or place, she could easily remove her lady stache. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This caused me to not only shave my eyebrows, but also <i>my</i> lady stache, from the 7<sup>th</sup> grade on. It seemed practical and functional. Like a lawnmower cutting the grass or vacuuming the carpet, it was extremely satisfying to see the instant results. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Only a few times did I actually lather up with some Skintimate Raspberry Rain shave gel on my lady stache. To be truthful it burnt quite a bit with added things so I preferred (who are we kidding, prefer) dry face shaving as it also exfoliates a layer of dead skin cells quite easily.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once I started in on the eyebrows as well as the lady stache things got a little “hairy” (pun highly intended). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXb1ZgD1EOCc69lXpdYEaR29vSq5VtzHFikkwRP_nVSUYGbjEDkut3d3r8Erg4FppwsZb8AoHsIq1OvTzuYGfv3dAoH6Hjj5ywMkThT5pTUBeRUOF5wqSkagyGzocE47S261iL0r_HWbv/s1600/n22911230_37767465_1424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXb1ZgD1EOCc69lXpdYEaR29vSq5VtzHFikkwRP_nVSUYGbjEDkut3d3r8Erg4FppwsZb8AoHsIq1OvTzuYGfv3dAoH6Hjj5ywMkThT5pTUBeRUOF5wqSkagyGzocE47S261iL0r_HWbv/s320/n22911230_37767465_1424.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how I felt about not having luxurious eyebrows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As a 6ft tall 120 pounder during the summer between 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> grade, with a Louise Brooks bob and bangs that while highly stylish in the fashion world, were not intentional, just "practical", not much was needed to draw attention to my person. Add in the dark circles under my eyes genetics and allergies had kindly thrown me, plus pale skin and dark hair and I looked more like a Bosnian refugee than the blonde bomshell I was on the inside.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what makes the most sense for a girl like me to do?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Shave off her eyebrows. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t start out with that goal in mind. A mix between Elizabeth Taylor and Cleopatra (really the same thing since my visual was from Elizabeth Taylor AS Cleopatra) was my desired result.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkgHGeogpYP3Sm72uimqA6qCPw3yytrLtMj6UWj6Hy6EFf9ppIINeKuPw6_2RjFZFFtF3mSOYi18CmPPtpXOT2kkhXAhruyfgFybdC3Yh2JZ4KOto8_XeXMwQlJxPEqFN20PeyKDkS52Q/s1600/elizabeth-taylor-cleopatra-blue-dress.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkgHGeogpYP3Sm72uimqA6qCPw3yytrLtMj6UWj6Hy6EFf9ppIINeKuPw6_2RjFZFFtF3mSOYi18CmPPtpXOT2kkhXAhruyfgFybdC3Yh2JZ4KOto8_XeXMwQlJxPEqFN20PeyKDkS52Q/s320/elizabeth-taylor-cleopatra-blue-dress.jpeg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what junior high girl doesn't want to look like this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was perched on all fours on the formica bathroom countertop staring intently into the mirror, pink Lady Bic in my hand, and I was convinced that a life changing moment was about to take place. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This would be what would catapult me from not being asked out by anyone to being asked out by <i>everyone</i>. I didn’t need boobs. I didn’t need calf definition. I didn’t need clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch ( I had 5 different outfits total that I rotated each week. I thought that if I didn’t wear the same thing on Friday and then Monday that no one would notice. . .) I didn’t even need blonde hair. (What would have served me well was the knowledge that all I needed to say was “Yes you can feel me up even though there is nothing there <i>to</i> feel.” and I would have had them).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I knew that the key to winning any of the tall boys hearts was defined Elizabeth Tayloresque eyebrows! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I triumphantly began:</div><div class="MsoNormal">a little off on the left one, </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">a little off on the right,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">a little more off on the right.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wait. . .are they even?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I need to do a little more,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">wait, wait, wait. . .<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> oh, oh, oh, oh, OH MY GOD! <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The right one was gone. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well two eyebrow hairs remained. The early hints of my extremist behavior emerged as my twelve year old self thought "Oh what the hell! (I probably felt very cool for thinking a swear word). I can draw on my Cleopatra eyebrows and no one will be the wiser."<br />
<br />
So I shaved off the left one as well. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Oddly enough I don’t remember my mothers reaction. Maybe she felt self loathing since she herself used a lady bic for her lady stache and the generational curse had seeped its pink plastic flower fangs upon me.<br />
<br />
I spent hours in the bathroom that summer. Trying the Cleopartra brow, the skinny tattooed brow, the lipstick brow, the eyeshadow brow, the lipsmackers brow, the stickers brow. You name it, I put it where my eyebrows had been. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> My friends were as gracious as one can be expected to be when you are forced to walk around with Jr. High Meredith PLUS painted on eyebrows. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Taunting me in front of the neighborhood boys as we ran rambunctiously around the Pleasant Hills subdivision (right behind College Hills mall, now the illustrious Shoppes at College Hills), my friend Laura simply said:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Do you guys notice anything different about Meredith?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> These were the same boys that were friends with me I believe for the sheer fact that they felt guilty for calling me Lurch the majority of my 7<sup>th</sup> grade year when I would take my lunch tray up.<br />
<br />
They had their chance, they had ammo they could have obliterated me with in a single blow.<br />
<br />
Instead Simon just said “I don’t know, is your hair different?”<br />
<br />
To which I said:<br />
<br />
“No silly, I have no eyebrows! These are painted on!”<br />
<br />
Yes, as a good Christian girl, I knew honesty was good, but maybe in Jr. High God gives us grace about it not being "the best policy". I guess I hadn't developed my theology of grace yet.<br />
<br />
I told them I had plucked them as I knew to reveal the women of my families secret of the lady bic was right next to denying God, or beasteality.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">By the grace of God almighty, my eyebrows grew back.<br />
<br />
__________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
Every now and then in the bathroom a disposable plastic razor will taunt me.<br />
<br />
It will speak in a women’s voice with a French accent “Sink of zee power you could hold een your hand” One minute I could look in the mirror with a full set (albeit not that thick due to that summer) set of eyebrows on my face and the next they could be gone. In a matter of mere seconds.<br />
<br />
But I resist the urge, pick up the razor, and destroy the lady stache that I just noticed on my upper lip. And as I smile in the mirror stache free I pray to God I have the willpower to make it to my eyebrow waxing appointment. And my husband, who I do let feel me up, does as well. </div>Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03376899550447042497noreply@blogger.com4