Safe and Sacred Spaces

I'm not sure what I've said or done about the sacred spaces in Hastings. Hastings is a incredible town that plays host to art, very well; in all media... music, visual, spacial, theater, etc.
Two of my favorite places in town are the beading area of Beads and Botanicals; and Imagiknit's large kitchen table... for gathering, knitting and chatting. I've come to enjoy these spaces as places that I can disappear from the world at... places I can learn and soak in the peacefulness of the created space around me... One is quite different from the other; but nonetheless, depending on the mood... the spaces are there for me to take in and without judgement!
Finding that space is half the battle some days, for people! A dear friend and her daughter joined me last weekend for a crafting whirlwind... our goal was simple: share craft ideas for the holidays and spend time catching up and being each other's sounding board for life's little and big issues! And that's what we did... I introduced them to the bead store; and VOILA... T found her space... her stress lowered, her anxieties melted away and her confidence was restored as she labored into her bracelet, with love and delight.
Some people find their sacred space in a building of worship, park, nature's inventions (beach, mountains, dormant volacanos); but others might not have to look as hard... the quiet of their home, the coffee shop downtown or as I have discovered, the small and unique shops of the sidestreets of Hastings, Nebraska.
Wherever the space is, I pray that you have one, are able to use it to it's fullest and see the face of God in whatever takes you there.
Peace to you and rest to you in your space!

Thanksgiving

So, it's that time of year. Thanksgiving! It really is one of my favorite holidays; although this year, I continually hear folks moan that it's been squished between Halloween and Christmas decorations... which is so true; and I struggle every year to give it space and reverance.
Last night, the community of Hastings joined together for a fourteen congregation Thanksgiving Service. It was a great chance to see the faces of other Christians in town; and to meet the clergy of the city that Steven has had the opportunity to work with for this great service.
Those that played well together last night were, in an ELCA term, the CCM congregations that we have partnered with in ministry. I sat with my aunt and uncle; and they were gracious to introduce me to their colleagues from the past and present... and I did see a few faces that I recognized on my own (small victory) and C and J were there from LCGS!
So... the week of Thanksgiving '08 will look a bit like this: Steven will commit another saint to the Church Triumphant this morning; then we will worship with our LCGS family tonight; and then hit the road for Cheyenne tomorrow to spend T'giving with my sister and one of our mutual dear friends; and a few cousins. We will return on Saturday, allowing Steven plenty of time to work on his Sunday (1st Sunday in Advent) sermon!
In the meantime, while he works today; I shall bake our menu items for the T'giving meal; as well as continue on getting goodies baked for the Christmas season!
A very safe and joyous Thanksgiving to all!

Settling In for Winter

A cool and crisp Fall is upon us... with temperatures ranging from low 30s to the occasional and well-enjoyed mid 50s... and we've enjoyed watching the leaves turn and fall off... and the time change come and lay night upon us earlier and earlier...
Church is settling in as well... Steven comes across more comfortable each Sunday, with his leading, singing and preaching... I'm very proud of him. Names are coming to us more easily, and faces become more familar and welcoming.
We have enjoyed coming into the homes of church members, seeing them in their own environments: work and play.
Courtney is into her new job in full-swing... learning more about the various housing programs and getting engaged with the clients and co-workers.
Thanksgiving will be spent in Cheyenne, with Courtney's sister and college roommate; and joining up with cousins that Steven has not met yet... great times. It'll be a quick visit, but nice to get away and be someone else's guest for once...
Lots of craft time has been occuring... Courtney's knitting skills improve with each scarf she makes and embellishes; and we've both journeyed into beading with the help of C at Beads and Botanicals (see their link on the blog).
Safe holiday travels to all!

Good Friends and Kiddos

This past weekend we have more visitors... my dear friend, Jennifer and Eric and their kiddos, Abigail and Matthew. Jenny and I were in middle school together in Texas back in the day...
I had not seen Jenny and Eric since 1999; thus Steven had not met them... they were pregnant with Abigail around our wedding; and unable to attend.
We had not hosted friends/family with small children; so it was truly an experiment for all. After a nap for all and lunch on Saturday; we took to the Hastings Museum for a few hours, taking in the planetarium, dead animals of all shapes and sizes, kids play area for hands-on learning and dress up and then downstairs to the KOOL-AID part... Eric's favorite part!
Sunday, we had church and a Veterans' Day celebration; and on MOnday, the kiddos and the Women went for a play date and hung out at the house the remainder of the day... the weather was just cold, nasty and freezing!! Eric really was waiting for snow... which never came!
We learned how to feed, change, entertain and discipline young children... it really was delightful!
It helped Steven and I get a better (not full nor perfect) sense of what having kids would really be like... and you know, I'll take just one... dont' necessarily need a whole gaggle of them!

3rd Anniversary Presents

I'm just sure that the new trends for anniversary presents says, "3rd anniversary: appliances." And so we took it to heart and today, our 2nd major purchase of our marriage arrived: new washer and dryer! High-Efficiency, top-loading, 4.5 cubit feet of washer space, without the center agitator. And the steam feature on the dryer, to boot. We couldn't be more excited... our new children have arrived; and I just might spend the rest of the week, washing and drying everything I come across... maybe just even the cat!
What a great way to spend your anniversary! We did go out to lunch for Chinese, and the rest of the day is being spent working in our own little worlds, accomplishing tasks from the 'to-do' lists...
Not quite sure some days that we would make it this far... but alas,
Cheers, to the next three years!

Still in the Effort of Not Saying No

Saturday night, we found ourselves with three other couples, enjoying dinner at a local Chinese Restaurant and then taking in the local Hastings Community Theater's production of "Arsenic and Old Lace."
It's on our continual quest to not say no to any invitation... and it's finding us in the most interesting settings that are partially far off our radar; and partially what we've always wanted in a town/living setting.
This week, I have begun to renovate my aunt and uncle's half-bath on the main floor of their home. Mostly, because I enjoy their company and lots because I just like projects and have plenty of time for these sorts... the Napoleon Bonaparte wallpaper has gone by the wayside; and the original red/white/blue paper is being scrapped off slowly... and in it's place, will be a delightful cream paint and below the chair rail will be a coffee brown. It's all in the effort to not make the existing sink and commode look more pink than they are; and to coordinate with the newer floor tile.
Book Club... another place that I found myself this morning, due to the mantra of not saying "no" to any invitation... I joined Linda for their twice monthly gathering of the Fortnightly Book Club, established 1932. She did inform me that it's not the oldest one in town... nor the only one. What a delightful group of women... who have a vast array of ages, pasts, presents and literary desires... that makes it all the better. Today's review, by Janell was of "North to the Night."

Finding Friends

So tonight, we accepted an invitation from a local Presbyterian pastor and his family; to come for dinner and hang out with other 30-somethings... who are also pastors.
So, the crew was John and Meg with Robbie and Ellie; and Paul and Emily, Moses, Phoebe and Oliver. (eliminating last names for the privacy of them... not necessarily myself!)
We had a delightful evening... the only requirement was to not wear "Preacher" clothes... Dinner, conversation and lots of laughs due to either life situational stories (gotta tell about yourself so your new friends will know a bit about you) or the kids who spent the evening playing very well together and then dressing up the parrot puppet with Robbie's clothes.
The best conversation went something like this.
"Momma, I'm four now... can people who are four use a knife?"
"With parent supervision, yes."
"Well, I cut the cake into pieces for me and the other kids.... and I put my hand on the end, not the sharp end, but the other..."
Like we all say, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission... right?
Now, that conversation was preceeded by Robbie telling us that they were playing house and he was the baby, so he was coming out for plates, so they could eat dinner... and asking us for suggestions of what to eat... Silly me, threw out this elaborate menu (totally thinking they were planning a pretend meal...) His mother, the much wiser of the group, knew better... and was attempting to steer him away from the leftover cake that he really was planning on serving.

And so... we're making friends... slowly and one dinner date at a time... coincidentally, 4 of the 6 at dinner tonight are 34!!! Nice to find a group of young pastors in the same town... how often this group gets together... one never knows... we don't have the kids yet, to drag to a play date... but again... in time, in time!