My 3 firsts for 2015

This year I have had 3 firsts.

1. I received my first dozen roses.  Sent with love for a very tough birthday.

2. I got my passport AND got an Ireland stamp in it.

3. I went to my first ballet...the Nutcracker...and I went with three fabulous friends.  One of the four of us had her first ride in a taxi.

My 4th first which will happen in 9.75 days is...my first trip to Montana!!!  ...to see the Rieger family.  I cannot wait to ring in the New Year with these friends.

In 2015, I will have traveled 10,000+ miles.  And this does not include my morning and evening commutes to work...and commutes to church and the gym and random coffee outings.

14 hours later...

Today I....
Left my apartment at 7:30

waltzed in to Hilander / Schnuck's in the hood at 7:50 a.m. to hopefully not get shot while purchasing coffee creamer

arrived at work with 4 minutes to spare *I hate cutting it close but what I hate more than that is not having coffee creamer*

answered a frantic phone call at 9 a.m. - a homeowner was without water.  This phone call sent my morning in a tailspin...and it really shouldn't have.  We were not the issue nor was my favorite contractor.  The water entity had shut off a water valve.  Oh, you know, we turned the valve off.  Too which I replied in my head, "Do you do this often?" And outloud in an email to said favorite contractor, "Do they do this often - just shut people off?"

typed and filed and answered the phones until 4:27 p.m....  It should be noted that during my lunch break, I colored.

at 4:31 - clocked-out and headed to my hair appt

hair appt complete after an amazing gab-fest at 7:20ish

headed to knit wits for an hour

went to Woodman's for 27 minutes of grocery shopping - it really helps when you write out your list in the order of rhe store.  And YES, I had to go tonight because tomorrow night, someone from church is coming over to work on a top secret project.

arrived home...put away the groceries...changed in to my jammies...put a load of clothes in the dryer...did my dishes...and now it is 10:11 and I am ridiculously sleepy.  That sleepy when it's a good thing I have a cat and this cat cannot tell other people about her human.  Cats can keep secrets.  They don't tell other people when you stay up late reading and disrespecting the next day.  They don't tell when you cry at the sappy movie.  They don't inquire, "Really, you want to watch ' You've Got Mail ' again?"  Nope.  Cats are great.

Ireland: Saturday, October 24th

They call sleeping in “lie-in.”

Tonight is their fall-back night.  We will set our clocks back 1 hour. 

The Monday following their clock-turning-back is always a Bank Holiday.  On this particular bank holiday, they are running a marathon in Dublin so there’s a chance that we (all the people on the tour who are departing on Monday) will have to leave for the airport at 6:45 a.m.  The city closes the streets around the hotel for the marathon.

When we stopped in the town of Donegal for lunch and shopping, our guide directed us to a smallish shop which really didn’t have many gluten-free options aside from some snack bars. Knowing that this sometimes happens, I had resigned myself to consuming multiple packs of the delicious snacks called “Nibbles.”  {I’m hoping I can get these in the States.}  Before purchasing all the Nibbles I would need, we inquired of the clerk about other gluten-free options in town.  She sent us to Toni’s Bistro.  It was a bit of a walk but nothing too serious.

Toni’s was worth the hike!!!  The fish and chips was amazingly fresh!!!  My “fish and chips” was cod, mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and mushy peas.  The kitchen staff made me a delightful mocha topped with one of those trademark Irish frothed milk designs that I described in my last post. 

After lunch, we walked off what we ate by perusing the cute little shops.  In my attempt to procure a souvenir for my friend Nancy, I found a delightful altered book about friendship, only to flip the book over and read “Made in the USA – Kansas.” 

Tonight we stayed at a 120-year old hotel.  It’s been owned by the same family and passed down through the generations.  We were in Room 101.  The old-fashioned furnishing warmed my heart as did the easy to figure out shower. 

Ireland: Friday, October 23rd

Today’s weather is cold, rainy, and blustery.

We made our way to Kylemore Abbey.  Tucked back in a wooded area inbetween two small mountains.  The abbey sits next to a calm, quiet lake. 

We began our tour with a stop at Mitchell’s Café.  Mom and I enjoyed little snacks and coffee for me and tea for her.

From the café, we donned our raincoats and umbrellas and made a mad dash to the abbey.

From the abbey, we walked down the garden bus stop.  We waited and waited and waited.  No bus.  Upon re-boarding with our fellow travelers, we were informed (by Anne) that they stop the garden tours during mass.

Our next adventure – Galway

Mom and I choose to not do many of the extras.  Tonight we would be on our own in town.

We rode the bus back to the hotel and dropped off our stuff.  We, then, paid 2 euro to ride the two-decker public bus from the hotel stop in to the city.  We met up with Christine and Jimmy for the exciting bus ride back in to town.  Our bus number was 409. 

My mom had never been on a public bus.  This was a first for her.  Me – being the city gal – had taken a public bus in Chicago. 

Mom and I got off the bus in Eyre Square – a shopping district.

We enjoyed supper at Food 4 Thought.  Fish pie and decaf mocha for me.  The mocha maker created a lovely design in the frothed milk.  I love that about Ireland – if you order a “hipster” drink, they do something fabulous with the froth.  Hearts, smiles, winks.

Mom ordered the shepherd’s pie only to discover it was made with a tomato base.  We swapped. 

After supper, we shopped.  I managed to find 2 euro sliver knot earrings at Dunnes Department Store.

Mom and I stopped at Butler’s Café for hot chocolate.  When I inquired about how they make their hot chocolate, the café worker took me to a crockpot with thick melted chocolate.  She informed me that they mix the melted chocolate with steamed milk.  4 words:  Party in my mouth!!!  I will never ever be able to drink Swiss Miss again.  This hot chocolate was amazing and totally worth 3-1/2 euro.

After hot chocolate consumption, we meandered about town – through sweater stores and other woolen goods shops.  We saw a couple of street performers.  Two gals – one playing the accordion (which they call a smash box) and one keeping time. 

After all of our shopping, we managed to make it back to the bus stop and find our bus (409).  We went back to the hotel and donned our swimsuits and swimcaps and went for a swim in the hotel’s lovely pool.

Ireland: Thursday, October 22nd

Hawthorne trees are called “Fairy trees.”  A circle of these trees is called a “Fairy grove.”  Typically these circles are found near wells or graves.  Irish people are very superstitious.  They believe no harm should befall these trees.

Today we went to the Cliffs of Moher.  My travel journal says…

Lots of climbing and walking

No coffee at the Cliffs stop – it was much too late in the day

Puffins hang-out at the Cliffs of Moher from May to September.

After we left the Cliffs, we stopped at a lovely abandoned abbey.  Celtic crosses and graves dating back to the 1600’s. 

We ended this day in Galway where we will be for two nights.  It’s soo nice staying at the same hotel for 2 nights in a row because we do not have to unpack and check to see that our luggage is re-packed and ready to go before breakfast.

A baby hat

My co-worker and his wife have welcomed a baby boy.  This new little one has the brownest eyes that I have ever seen.  They are more brown than milk chocolate but not as brown as dark chocolate.  I imagine if you swirled those 2 chocolates together, you may find just the right hue.

As soon as I knew he was here - I had an overwhelming urge to knit him something to say "Welcome to the world, little fellow."  I looked through several baby hat patterns and decided on the hooded bear hat.  I love this hat and I love the monotonous pattern.  The way the hood flips inside and out for the duration of hood knitting.

I sure hope the little guy likes his new hat!!!

"He's got this!!!" ~ interviewee on The Lighthouse

I thoroughly enjoy listening to The Gospel Greats on Saturday morning.  Typically I begin my morning with this wonderful broadcast while I consume a cup (or 2 or 3) of coffee.  The old-fashioned hymns and even the newer Gospel-writers keep my focus where it should be...on HIM.


This morning I was hurrying about trying to consume said coffee while getting ready to head to Woodman's before going to get my hair trimmed.  The radio personality was interviewing someone and I managed to miss the majority of the interview - including the band member's name...  At any rate, I was walking from my bathroom out to the kitchen to refill my coffee mug when I heard the interviewee talk about how he wrote a particular song's lyrics.  He said, "God's got this!"  There was a pause.  I paused setting my mug on the counter.  The guy on the radio said it again, "God's got this!  Did you hear me?  HE HAS GOT THIS!"  It was such a wonderful reminder.  He has this!  And even more amazing - He has me and He thinks about me and He loves me. 


"He's got this!"  I'm going to write that on a sticky note and put it on my computer monitor when I get to work on Monday.


I'm hoping it has been written on my heart.  He's got this!


I have this thing in that I do not go to Woodman's between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays.  Something dreadful happens at my favorite grocer from said 9 hour span.  It's best if I stay away.  Trust me - I have not always stayed away...and then there's total frustration.  In order to avoid the frustration (read:  CART-RAMMING!!! ...and I'm not referring to me ramming my cart.  Others.  Other people ram carts.  It's soo rude.)...where was I?  Oh yes, in order to avoid the frustration, I have mentally blocked my brain from attempting to engage my body in to traveling to Woodman's during this time.  It's off limits for this girl!!!


My trip through Woodman's was quick and painless...however when I was done filling my cart, I happened to meander to the magazines.  Good idea:  Go to Woodman's and peruse the knitting magazines.  Bad idea:  Forget about your hair appointment while contemplating the purchasing of a knitting magazine. 


Why would I purchase this particular magazine?  It had a lovely sweater-y pattern that I actually think I could do. The 2 stitches were knit and purl which I have totally mastered.  There was no need for cabling or anything ultra-tricky.  I may perhaps need a knitting lesson at the Jess School of Knitting.  The instructor is fabulous, by the way.


Sooooo as I thumbed through the magazine, I saw other projects.  When I see a pattern, somewhere in my brain, a friend's face will come to mind and then I knit away the pattern for said friend.  The same thing sorta happens in the winter when I see hat-less or glove-less or scarf-less people.  I can picture them wearing something knitted by yours truly.  It's a gift!


Thankfully I know me...and I've known me for 40 years.  Before I left for Woodman's, I had set my phone alarm to chime.  Had I not done this - I truly believe I would still be at Woodman's reading knitting magazines.


The alarm begins chiming in my purse as I am leaving the store.  My heart begins to beat double-time.


I typically am an on-time kinda gal or a couple minutes late.  We all have our struggles.  But with appointments and choir practice and Sunday school responsibilities, oh and my JOB, I use my phone alarm to alert me as to when I need to walk out the door.


I dashed home and put away all the perishables.  Celia sat watching me run about while talking to myself and telling myself, "You should've paid attention, crazy!  This is what happens when you are a space cadet!"


I walked out the door with 20 minutes to get to my appointment.


Needless to say, I walked in the salon 2 minutes late...  Not too shabby for the knitting magazine reading space cadet who nearly dislocated her shoulder while carrying all her groceries up the stairs in one trip!

Some days I amaze myself...and other days, well, I'm just thankful I made it to the appointment at the allotted time.

I care...

I care that I don't care.  Actually I think it's more that I care that I'm trying not to care.   Maybe this is my tragic flaw...caring.  My compassionate heart has a hard time not caring...especially when I've cared for so long.

I'm trying...

I really am...

I have a little story to share with you...

I'm going to take a break from Ireland ramblings to share with you a sad little tale...

Once upon a time, there was a fabulous gal who lived in thriving metropolis.  She enjoyed thrifting and baking and knitting and spending time with her close friends.  She had an affinity for all things coffee - coffee themed nail polish, coffee sugar scrub, coffee in her coffee cup, an extensive coffee cup collection, and the list goes on and on.  She loved her place of employment because they had BUNN coffeemaker and said coffeemaker would brew her favorite beverage and have it waiting for her when she arrived to play the role of fabulous secretary Monday through Friday.

While in this role, she began to receive more and emails from a friendly chap from the Freeport area.  This country life loving gent was kind and funny and loved Jesus.  All three criteria (and the 4th being "not a serial killer" also) checked off the coffee-lovin' gal list of requirements.

The two emailed back and forth.  They were afforded many opportunities to see one another due to their working relationship. 

Imagine the sweet girl's delight when the fellow stopped talking sewer and started talking about his 3 sons and more about his love of the Lord than about digging and burying sewer pipes for her place of employment.

Talk away they did.

The girl, then, got her hopes up.  Could this be?  She talked to her pastor and his wife because she wanted some insight from someone on the outside.  They prayed with her and for her and this new thing that was happening.

Several months went by...same story...more emails...  And then one day the girl's boss declared the fellow "cute."  The girl thought this was charming in a humorous way so she shared the story with the boy's sister - who just so happens to be employed in the vicinity of the boy and, well, is his sibling.

The boy's sister replied how the girl's boss is not really her brother's type and it was unfortunate because he was taken.

Taken...?

Taken with Jesus?  Taken with coffee?  Taken...how so?

The girl never got an answer from the sister. 

The girl waited 4 days before the boy emailed.  The girl than asked the boy and sadly learned the truth.  

The boy appreciated the girl's friendship.  Surely he did.  Who would not love to have someone delightful to talk to and laugh with about the randomness of the day and life?

The girl was extremely sad to learn this truth.  It would be a falsehood to say that she did not cry herself to sleep wondering what she did wrong...

After much crying and praying and trying to wrap her brain about this, she was given the most amazing gift...a conclusion.

The story does end well because the girl realizes that God has something better in store for her!

To be continued...

But it DOES matter...

This past week I have discovered something very intriguing about myself.  And I don’t know why I am just now having this revelation of sorts.

Someone volunteered to do something for me that would’ve been a huge blessing and then they turned around and un-volunteered.  My immediate response was “It doesn’t matter.”

Yesterday again happened that kinda hurt my feelings and immediately I coped with it by saying inside my head and in a text message, “It doesn’t matter.” 

But it does matter…

And how do I stop this programmed response…? 

I just don’t even know.

I’m going to pray about this…because I want to acknowledge to myself (at the very least) that YES, THIS DOES MATTER!!!  My feelings matter.  They matter when all is well and they certainly matter when they are stepped on.

Saturday Randomness

Happy August!!!  Where, oh where, is the summer going?  I mean, don't get me wrong - my Autumn-lovin' heart is ready for sweater weather, hometown football games, and excessive coffee drinking...however, this summer has been delightfully charming and I'm not ready to write "August" anything!


It's been a while since I've blogged...it's nothing personal, it's just that I have been enjoying this little thing called LIFE.  Having a life.  Living life.  Watching each day unfold into something magnificent.

Speaking of magnificent...did you see the full blue moon last night???  My balcony is not painted yet (I've only been asking management for 19 months - but WHO IS COUNTING???)...where was I?  I've been waiting to get balcony furniture until it gets painted but now I'm thinking WHAT A SHAM!!!!  I should just go and look for balcony furniture -- especially now since they will be clearancing the summer stuff!!!  Perhaps this will be my Saturday adventure... 


ANY-WHO.....last night I hauled one of my kitchen café chairs outside and I sat outside in my jammies and gray hoodie and faux fur slippers watching the moon.  Here's what I wrote...


I'm completely smitten with fireflies dancing about and this amazing blue moon!!!  Even the background city (traffic) noise fades away as I hear crickets sweetly chirping their summer song.  And summer is my third favorite season...just wait until Autumn.  *Sigh*


If you regularly stalk my blog, you know my obsession with Fall.  Pumpkin everything...muffins, scones, CHAI!, Noosa Yoghurt.  It's a Fall party in your mouth!!! 


But for today -- August 1st -- I'm going to embrace summer.  And by embrace summer, I mean, hit the gym, run some errands, and perhaps sit outside on my UNPAINTED balcony. 


Maybe when the leasing office said they were going to paint my balcony in the summer, they meant 2016.


Happy Saturday!!!

Navy Pier ~ June 10, 2015

Place:  Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois
Traveling Companions:  Pastor, Roxanne, Leah, Uhura and me (Angie)

Shenanigans:
1. Big Timber Metra Train in to the City

2. Discovering Garrett's Popcorn has gluten-free options!

3. The top story Atrium ~ Pastor's outrage over the faux plants
4. Meandering down the pier

5. Taking pictures with Bob Newhart
6. Riding on the Ferris Wheel twice

7. Getting rained on and having to wait out the storm inside
8. Leah, Uhura and I buying hoodies

9. Waiting for FOR-EV-ER for supper at Bubba Gumps.  Oh, is patio seating available immediately?  Don't mind us while we gnaw off our arm.
10. Staying for the fireworks
11. Taking a ridiculous amount of selfies with Leah!

12. Getting on the 10 p.m. bus that was 10 minutes late
13. Asking the 10:10 bus driver, "You do let us off right at Union Station, right?" 
14. The bus driver letting us off at the OLD Union Station.
15. Telling everyone, "We have 9 minutes! We are going to have to run!"
16. Realizing 0.5 seconds in to the running to Union Station that I did not wear appropriate running shoes
17. Making it to the basement of Union Station with 3 minutes to spare
18. The metra ride back to Big Timber and the passenger that did something despicable in the restroom
19. Getting home at 1 a.m.

The Power of the Cross ~ Lyrics by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross

See What A Morning ~ Lyrics by Keith Getty

See What A Morning

Lyrics by: Keith Getty

See, what a morning, gloriously bright, With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem; Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light, As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!" See God's salvation plan, Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice, Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?" As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb; Hears a voice speaking, calling her name; It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again! The voice that spans the years, Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, Will sound till He appears, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
One with the Father, Ancient of Days, Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty. Honor and blessing, glory and praise To the King crowned with pow'r and authority! And we are raised with Him, Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; And we shall reign with Him, For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

Resurrected Life

On Easter Sunday, Bryan and I went to Open Door Church in Hudson, Michigan.  The pastor had invited a missionary friend to preach on Resurrection morning!  The service was full of singing praises and hymns focused on the risen Savior.  What a wonderful blessing!!! 

The missionary preached the Resurrected Life and implored us to live this promise everyday!!!  Some of my jotted notes include…

(v. 16) Stop seeing people as things à see them as spiritual beings in need of Jesus.

(v. 20-21) We cannot help but be ambassadors for Christ.  It should pour out of us because of His goodness and love and mercy extended to us.  We, then, should extend those traits through others.  Not in and of our own strength…but through Him.

5 Qualities of the Resurrected Life:

1. Motivated to live to please God

2. Live in confidence in a Savior who conquered death!!!

3. Be love-filled.  Be marked with a self-sacrificing love for others

4. A reconciled life

5. Be an ambassador.

2 Corinthians 5

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: ³ If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. ⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. ⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: ⁷ (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. ⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. ¹² For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. ¹³ For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ¹⁵ And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. ¹⁶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. ¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. ²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

A Prayer Request

Earlier this week, I received a text that my favorite former co-worker was involved in a pretty serious accident.  He was bicycling to work and he was struck by a car.  He has some pretty extensive injuries and a long road to recovery. 

If you think of it - please pray for him.  Pray for his wife - for grace day by day.  For his kids, too. 

They are very near and dear to my heart.  You see, even though I led to the demise of their beloved family goldfish, they have always treated me like family.  Thanksgiving gatherings, movie nights, supper, cross country meets, hockey games, and the list goes on and on.

I strongly dislike that there are soo many miles between us...as I feel so helpless and desperately want to be a blessing to them as they walk through this trial.  But I stand on this - the very best thing I can do for them is pray.  Without ceasing.

Heavenly Father,

Please keep this family wrapped in your love

and grace daily.  Help the doctors as

they treat Mike.  Give them wisdom and fill

them with Your knowledge. 

Help his recovery to be quick

and during this time of waiting,

help him not be frustrated.  

Bless Tammy with grace enough

for today and remove any worry

or doubt from her heart.  And I ask

that you show his children your abundant

grace and love and comfort.  Amen.