November 2, 2011

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  This morning's bad news: Freya ate dog food then threw up everywhere, Mazie had a long, dramatic sobbing fit over a shirt, the dog pooped on the floor right in front of me and then I bent my thumbnail back (still hurts like a muhtha). This morning's good news: Nate put the laundry away last night, the weather is beautiful, Christmas music is blasting from the record player, God loves me despite my miserable failures and I'm able to stay home and experience all of this.

  Last night (at my church group) brought about so much clarity and peace of mind. (Peace of mind is an expected result of clarity, no?) We were discussing my desire to be an effective person to my peers in the neighborhood, etc. and how I keep signing myself up to make dinners and other acts of service. I do love to make dinners for other people, (or rather I love the IDEA of making dinners) but I usually end up feeling overwhelmed and it falls on a day where the little ones are falling to peices (like today). Part of the issue is that I usually just can't make extra of whatever we're having because we eat things that might scare others.  ... like collards and potatoes, broccoli and black beans or just a big salad. Last night I shared that I feel as though I'm giving in an area that I'm not called to give in and I can't figure it out!!  One of the other ladies said, "Well, I think that you are an excellent relationship person and maybe instead of making dinner for people you can relate to them and connect on an emotional level with them." Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Shoot. Connect with people on an emotional level? Hmmm, sounds messy. Calling up my friend that just had her baby and talking/sharing with her the challenges of new motherhood and offering her encouragement is what I am called to do, not make dinners and so on. Other people have the gift Service and I need to trust that God will place them where they are needed.
  

  What does this mean? This means that I don't need to feel lazy or useless when I'm not doing something for someone. This means that I need to pick up the phone, talk face to face, etc. and build relationships. This is very scary for me as my own insecurity gets in the way of being effective, unfortunately. Anyone have the gift of miracles they want to share with me?

  (I do really enjoy rallying up the troops for the greater good though. Currently I have more than eight boxes of items sitting on my front porch to donate. I filled none of them .... everything was dropped off by friends and family. Rich and poor alike. So, I have the gift of ... moving people to action? Who cares. I'm just ecstatic to be surrounded by such awesomeness. This is what the Christian community is about. Giving, giving, giving. These givers move me to tears.)
  

  Pictures from Friday night

  Sausage corn chowder
  

  MFW-A. My Mary
  

  Laura is signaling something. Or dancing?
  Getting ready to high five?
  

  Soup gathering
  

  More soup gathering
  

  Happy soup gathering. Because soup makes us happy
  

  Not the most wide array of pics. I set my camera down and forgot to pick it back up it seems. I didn't get any pictures of Adam, Nate or myself. We were there though. We were. I promise. SO there. And another thing ... these are good people, you know? Good changes over the years. Good hearts. Good minds. I liked our night.
  

  
  

  • 8:20 pm
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