Quote for the day

Time with friends is not spent, but invested.

Day after Christmas...

It's the day after Christmas and I'm out of bed
With way too many lists of things to do stuck in my head

I've been out shopping, fought the crowd at the mall
It didn't take long for me to hit the "I've had enough" wall

Presents are opened, underneath the tree is bare
but I've a new camera and new stuff to wear

Time with the family has been great fun indeed
but now with scholastic tasks I must proceed

PIFs and papers that I need to write
Books to read late into the night
(okay not really, but it rhymed)

Trying not to go shopping, I've no more money to spend
And there just aren't enough hours to see all my friends

This Christmas has been merry, but a little bit sad
This may be the last time at home, this Christmas I've had

What the New Year will bring, I really don't know
But here's to looking forward and seeing where I will go.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends and family.
May you be happy with what you have received this Christmas.
Peace

I have been cleared for take-off!!!!

Just finished meeting with my committee. I have been certified as ready to receive a call pending the successful completion of my CPE (hospital chaplain internship) and I can circulate my PIF whenever I have it ready. WOO HOO!!!!!

Now I just have to get my PIF written and let the fun begin.

To all my friends, please pray for me that I might procede with wisdom and discernment. Exciting and scary all at the same time.

Exploring my call...

Having had several conversations with several different people lately, the subject of where I sense I am called to, what kind of church has surfaced several times. One of the conversations, I turned it around and asked the question of the person across the table from me. That was very helpful! Solo pastorate vs associate in a multi staff chruch. My friend remarked that I was the jack of all trades and master of none...yet. She is right!

I still am not sure where I am called to. Part of it will just depend on each church, but one thing I am becoming more and more convinced of, is that I am not called to be safe. I have a tendency to do things a little differently and my sense is that is to be the norm for me. To always be a little out on the edge and slightly non-traditional. Part of it is about creativity, part of it is about pushing myself to see what I am capable of. We shall see.

One more semester to go, then who knows what will happen!

Peace.

Hallelujah!!!

One more semester is finished! Now a few weeks off until I leave for Germany and Switzerland. A couple days in Austin to tie stuff up then back to Oklahoma. Merry Christmas to all!

24 hours left for the semester

A 5 page paper for pastoral counseling and a World Religions final is all that remains for the semester. In 24 hours I will be done until January. The final stretch. Almost done.

22 Christmas Questions

This responsory list is making the rounds in the blogosphere. Thanks to Chris for yet another distraction for reading week!!!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate…especially with a little peppermint schnapps. Mmmmmmmmmm.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wraps of course, otherwise there is nothing to tear into on Christmas morning!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored on the tree. House White and some tasteful splashes of color. Just no houses decked in blue, especially the driveway. It looks like an airport.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No. But I am certainly not opposed to it either.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Used to put them up after Thanksgiving, now I don’t decorate, cause I live in a dorm room. And the bulk of the holidays are spent at the folks house anyway.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Ham and Scalloped potatoes.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Doing a Christmas production for the family with my cousins at Grandma’s house. Especially when we made the only boy be “Pinky” the elf one year.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What do you mean the truth about Santa?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Sometimes, but not usually.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Lights, Garland and sentimental family ornaments.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Having grown up in Oklahoma…snow? What’s that? Oh that white powdery stuff. Would love to see some.

12. Can you ice skate? Nope. Never been able to.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My 2 front teeth? Actually legos, recently.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Theologically I’ll agree with Chris, the Incarnation. Otherwise, fun times with family and friends, particularly my nephews Josh and Jayson.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Fudge

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Waking up to loud, brassy Christmas carols on Christmas morning or Orchestra Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Norman.

17. What tops your tree? An angel.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Yes!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Too many to pick.

20. Candy canes: yuck or yum? Yum for a few weeks, then yuck.

21. Favorite Christmas movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I love Dr. Suess.

22. What do you leave for Santa? Christmas cookies, milk and a carrot for Rudolph.

Monica, Paps, Tim, Paul….who’s next?