In the news!!!

The Herald Journal contacted my co-Leader Louise Speth about doing a story on the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting. You can read it here:

Sleep in, or get up?

 I recently went on a fabulous trip to Florida, and while I was gone, JB had to do a few things with out me. She had to set her alarm by herself and get up in time to meet the school bus at the bottom of the hill. She did all of these things completely and full on her own. No Problem. This blog is NOT about wondering if JB has the capability to get herself up and off to the school bus. She has clearly shown that she is perfectly capable. This blog IS about me. (of course) Before I left on my trip, I would normally get up to see JB off to school. She still got up on her own, got dressed, and came upstairs for breakfast. We would chat about the plans for the day, homework that needed to be turned in etc. If it was raining out, I might be persuaded to drive her down to the bus stop rather than make her walk in the rain. While I was gone, Bill did not get up to see her off. He just slept in and let her do her thing, which, again, she did without any problems.
Now I am home again. I still want to get up in the morning to see JB off to school. I like chatting with her. I don't mind driving her down to the bus stop when it is raining. Bill says I need to sleep in and let her do her own thing. That it's good for her to be independent. I agree with him...but only a little. My reservation is not with her being independent. I am all for it. I am reserved for other reasons....
Just after high school graduation, Jason, a young man in my graduating class, the school valedictorian and principal's son was riding his motorcycle to his girlfriends house. An elderly gentleman didn't see him coming and proceeded to drive his car across the intersection, hitting the motorcycle and killing Jason instantly. At his funeral, I remember hearing that his mother was distraught because she had just argued with him about going to his girl friends house, and that her last words to her son were words of anger. Looking back, I have NO idea if this was even true, but I do know the thought of that moment has forever stuck in my mind. This was YEARS before JB ever came to live with us, but I have always been conscious that my last words to her when we part are never words of anger. Sometimes it's hard. I can be very angry but still give her a hug and explain that I am upset right now, but I still love her very much. So for me, getting up to see her off is not about trying to keep her from being independent, but more about telling her I care for her before she goes away. I don't know God's plans. I don't know that some crazy isn't going to go into the school and do something stupid, or the bus won't crash, or that I will have a heart attack or fall down the stairs, and won't talk to her again for what could seem a very, very, long time.
So now I'm torn. Sleep in, or get up? What do you do?

Finish it up already!

Day 33. Fifth Sunday of Lent: March 25 Today I will create The Eleventh Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows Jesus’ body being nailed to the cross. This must have hurt! As I create this station, I will remember that whenever I am in pain and hurting, Jesus knows how I am feeling because he has felt that way too. I will hang this station in my house as the eleventh of fourteen. I will also give another family member a comforting massage or foot rub!

Day 34. Monday March 26 Tonight I will ask my family to gather in a quiet circle. We will light a candle and turn out the lamps. We will sit together in silence for one whole minute and think about people for whom we want to pray. We will share their names with each other, and then we will be quiet for another whole minute while we silently pray for God to watch over the people we have named.

Day 35. Tuesday March 27 Today I will create a beautiful top-secret anonymous “Jesus loves you” card for a neighbor. I will sneak over to their house and leave it at their front door!

Day 36. Wednesday March 28 Today I will create The Twelfth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows that Jesus has died. As I create this station, I will think about the people or pets I love who have died and even though I miss them I will smile, knowing that they are with Jesus. I will hang this station in my house as the twelfth of fourteen.

Day 37. Thursday March 29 Tonight I will ask my family to gather before dinner and talk about what we wish we had done better or differently today or this week. As we eat dinner we will ask God to nourish not only our bodies but our hearts too, so they become better at doing right and kind things!

Day 38. Friday March 30 Tonight my Lenten practice will involve washable markers again (!). I will write today’s mistakes on my arms or legs and then I will wash them away with a white washcloth. This will help me remember that by dying on the cross, Jesus made it so that all my mistakes and all my sins—yesterday, today, and a million tomorrows—wash away into nothing in the eyes of God.

Day 39. Saturday March 31 Today I will help a parent bake pretzels, which originated as early Christian Lenten treats. The shape of the pretzel was meant to represent our arms crossed in prayer.

Here’s a recipe: http://www.moodycatholic.com/recipe_pretzels.html

Day 40! Palm/Passion Sunday— April 1

Today Lent ends and Holy Week begins! I will create an altar in my home using palm branches from church. I will add candles and flowers and a mirror to remind me that Jesus loves ME, just as I am—the good parts of me as well as the not-so-good parts. It is because he loves me that he set out on this journey to Jerusalem, where his life will end in suffering and death. For Jesus, I am worth any sacrifice. Whenever I pass by my altar I will stop and tell Jesus, “thank you.”

Holy Monday April 2 Today I will create The Thirteenth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows Jesus’ enemies walking away and his friends lovingly taking his body down from the cross and preparing it for burial. As I create this station, I will think about the loving things we do for people who are our friends. I will hang this station in my house as the thirteenth of fourteen. I will try to be a good and loving friend to someone today.

Holy Tuesday April 3 Today I will think about this verse from Matthew: Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” By “least” Jesus meant the people or animals we often forget because we think them unimportant. Today I will take pet treats to the animal shelter for the animals there; or I will take cookies or fruit to people at a local retirement or nursing home, because too often they are forgotten by the rest of the world.

Holy Wednesday April 4 Today I will create and hang the fourteenth and last station of the cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows Jesus’ friends anointing his body and laying it in the tomb (a cave in the rocks). I will invite my family to walk around the fourteen art stations I have created and talk about each one.

Maundy Thursday April 5 Today I will learn that “Maundy” comes from Latin and it means “mandate” or “commandment.” The commandment Jesus gave us on this day was to remember him and talk about him whenever we eat and drink. Tonight at dinner we will have bread and red wine in addition to our regular dinner. Together we will take them in our hands, ask God to bless them, break/pour them apart/out, and then share them with each other.

Good Friday April 6 Today I will talk with my family about endings. I know that books end when the last page is read. The day ends when the last light sinks below the hills. Life ends when people take their last breaths. I will take down my fourteen art stations of the cross because their time is also at an end. My parents can help me burn them or we can roll them up and bury them in the yard, or we can simply put them away and not look at them again. Endings are sad, but as I learned when we talked about seeds and flowers, endings also make room for new beginnings.

Holy Saturday: The Great Vigil of Easter April 7

Today I will prepare to celebrate! I will create an Easter basket for a neighbor, a stranger, or an elderly shut-in. I will learn that 500 years ago, people were forbidden to eat eggs during Lent. So, when Easter came, everyone enjoyed eating eggs! We color and decorate them with joy because eggs are symbols of new life.

Easter Sunday!! April 8 Today I will shimmy-shake and dance and sing. I will throw my arms in the air and leap like a deer and shout for joy. Why? Because I know that even though bad things will occasionally happen to me, I will make it through hard times, because God is powerful, God loves ME, and—even though it may not seem like it at the time—I know that good will always win over evil and death.

vacay, lent thru March 24

so.... I am leaving on a jet plane...on Monday. I am heading to Florida to see Kellee and Ashlee for a few days.With all the stuff I need to do to get ready, and then being gone, and all that entails, I am posting the next weeks worth of lenten tasks today. See you all next week!

Day 25. Saturday March 17 Today I will create The Seventh Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts Jesus falling to the ground a second time. Even though Simon is helping him carry the cross, Jesus is exhausted. As I create this station, I will think about being tired and discouraged and remember that when I feel that way, Jesus understands because he has felt that way too. I will hang this station in my house as the seventh of fourteen.

Day 26. Fourth Sunday of Lent: March 18 Today I will look in the parish directory and choose two people—one person I know and one person I don’t know. I will pray for each of them two times today. I will ask God to help them have a wonderful, happy, holy day.

Day 27. Monday March 19 Today I will create The Eighth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows the women and children of Jerusalem coming out to say farewell to Jesus. They are sad to say good-bye to such a wonderful man; Jesus was their friend and made them feel important even though other people were not so kind and respectful to them. I will think about how I can be a better friend to people that everyone else seems to disrespect. I will hang this station in my house as the eighth of fourteen.

Day 28. Tuesday March 20 Today I will use washable markers to tattoo crosses on myself and my family (with their permission, of course). Why? Because they will remind us and everyone who sees us today that we are followers of Jesus Christ; Plus, it’s fun, and I am a kid and this 40-day-project is getting to be really, really long!

Day 29. Wednesday March 21 Today I will tell Jesus the story of my day. I will tell him what I saw and did and said. I will tell him what I did well, and what I didn’t do so well. I will tell him what I wish I could do over again. When I am done, I will ask him to take the story of my day and help me write a new and even better story tomorrow! I will finish by saying, AMEN!

Day 30. Thursday March 22 Today I will create The Ninth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows Jesus falling down for the third and final time. He trusts that whatever happens next, God will be with him. I will hang this station in my house as the ninth of fourteen. I will also practice what it means to trust: I will ask my parent to blindfold me and then lead me around the house or yard, trusting that they will take care of me so I don’t fall! To trust someone means to put your life in their hands.

Day 31. Friday March 23 Today I will create The Tenth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that shows the soldiers taking Jesus’ clothes away from him. This must have been humiliating! As I create this station, I will remember that whenever I feel embarrassed or ashamed, that Jesus knows how I am feeling because he has felt that way too. I will hang this station in my house as the tenth of fourteen. I will also choose one of my favorite pieces of clothing and take it to the Food Pantry (or other charity) to be given to someone who may not have enough to wear.

Day 32. Saturday March 24 Today I will help my parents with cleaning, or a chore that is too big for one person to do alone. It could be picking up my room, or dusting, or helping to rake the yard. Instead of playing or doing things I want to do, I will cheerfully do things that are helpful to others.

Day 24. Friday March 16

Day 24. Friday March 16 Today I will walk around my neighborhood and pick up litter. I’ll throw the bag of trash I collect in the garbage and I’ll recycle anything that can be recycled. Why? Because God loves the earth just as much as he loves us, so I should be kind to and take care of the earth just like I do my sister or brother, my pet or my best friend.

Day 23. Thursday March 15

Day 23. Thursday March 15 Today I will create The Sixth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts a woman named Veronica wiping the sweat and dirt from Jesus’ face as he walks. It is a tender thing to do. As I create this station, I will remember that when a person is in pain, sometimes it’s the little things we do that make the biggest difference. I will hang this station in my house as the sixth of fourteen.

Wordless Wednesday

Day 22. Wednesday March 14

Day 22. Wednesday March 14 Today I will let someone go ahead of me in line, or through the door first, or in traffic, or if we are taking turns doing something, I will let someone else choose or take a turn before I do. I will do this because I want to be like Jesus, who said that if you let other people go first and you go last, then in God’s eyes, you are the best!

2012 Girl Scouts 100

2012 Girl Scouts 100, a set on Flickr.

JB was a member of the Color Guard for the Centennial Celebration at the Utah State Capitol. We started the day at the Clarke Planetarium, then went up to the capitol for the party. Way to go JB!

Day 21. Tuesday March 13

Day 21. Tuesday March 13 Today I will create The Fifth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts a man named Simon helping Jesus to carry the cross. As I create this station, I will remember that no matter how hard something is to do, it is usually made a little easier if someone helps. I will try to remember to help others when they are struggling to do something all by themselves. I will hang this station in my house as the fifth of fourteen.

Day 20. Monday March 12

Day 20. Monday March 12 Today I will walk (or ski, bike, or swim) for 20 minutes. Why? Because it’s the 20^th day of Lent and you are half-way on the 40-day journey to Holy Week. Phew! Besides, Jesus walked everywhere. It’s been estimated that during his 3-year ministry, Jesus walked over 3,000 miles! 

Day 19. Third Sunday of Lent: March 11

Day 19. Third Sunday of Lent: March 11 Today I will create The Fourth Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts Jesus encountering his mother as he walks along carrying the cross. Jesus and his mom look into each other’s eyes and they say silently, “I love you.” As I create this station, I will remember that the love my parents and I have for each other is one of the most precious things in life, and I will make sure I look in my mom and dad’s eyes and say silently “I love you.” I will hang this station in my house as the fourth of fourteen.

Day 18. Saturday March 10

Day 18. Saturday March 10 Today I will plant (vegetable or flower) seeds in a pot in our window. I’ll water and care for them. As I watch my seeds sprout and grow in the days ahead, I’ll think about how one day my plants will grow up and bear fruit and then they will die, leaving behind seeds that can be cared for and watered to make new plants. This cycle happens over and over again. This is one of the most important things to remember in Lent: that new life comes from death. I will think about this and realize that even though I may not be able to fully understand it, God is present through the whole process!

This morning

Lenten Stones

If you have been following this blog on a daily basis, you have seen that each day contains a "Lenten task" that was written by our Pastor Susan Springer. The idea is that each day in Lent we do something that will bring us one step closer to God, and to Easter. To help the children understand this concept a bit more, she has expanded this idea to literal "stepping stones" the ushers lay out onto the church floor each Sunday morning. They then read the stones aloud, and actually step on them. Each Sunday new stones from the week before are added, and eventually the path will wind it's way to the Alter by Easter morning. Photos from the first two weeks can be seen here: Lent Stones

Day 17. Friday March 9

Day 17. Friday March 9 Today my family and I will make a meatless meal. We can find a recipe from our favorite cookbook or we can find one at http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/cooking.html I will chop vegetables or stir soup or cut up herbs with scissors and my family and I will talk about people who never eat meat because they can’t afford to it. Maybe we can give the money we would have spent on meat to the Food Pantry.

Day 16. Thursday March 8

Day 16. Thursday March 8 Today I will create The Third Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts Jesus falling down because the big cross he is carrying is so heavy. Roman soldiers yell at him to get up and keep going. As I create this station, I will remember not to be demanding but to have compassion for people who are struggling. I will hang this station in my house as the third of fourteen.

Day 15. Wednesday March 7

Day 15. Wednesday March 7 Today I will not say anything mean about another person. I won’t gossip about anyone. I won’t laugh at or make fun of another person. I won’t pick on or tease anybody. Why? Because Jesus reminded us to LOVE one another!

Wow. I find it interesting that this is the message for today. At Jb's school today is the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign. The focus is to stop using the word "retarded" to mean something that you think is stupid. Here is a lovely little clip:

I really wish people could just be nice to each other.

Day 14. Tuesday March 6

Day 14. Tuesday March 6 Today my parents and I will find a prayer we like from The Book of Common Prayer. (Starting on page 810, or visit: http://www.bcponline.org/ and click on “Prayers and Thanksgivings”) We will pray it together twice today!

Day 13. Monday March 5

Day 13. Monday March 5 Today I will create The Second Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts Jesus carrying the wooden cross on which he will be left to die. The cross is heavy and big. He can barely lift it. He has to carry it a long way. As I create this station, I will remember that when I think I can’t possibly do something I’m supposed to do, Jesus knows just how I feel because he’s been there. I will hang this station in my house as the second of fourteen.

Update on the Update about JB

Dr.'s office just called (surprised me with today being a Sunday and all) and told me the tests for H.Pyori are negative. Yet one more problem/diagnosis that we know it ISN'T.

Update on JB

On Wednesday, Jb had a follow up visit with her pediatrician here in Logan. I explained entire scenario of what happened in SLC and where treatments were going etc. He suggested we test for a peptic ulcer caused by H.pylori bacteria. You can learn about this bacteria here: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/
Results should come tomorrow.

Day 12. Second Sunday of Lent: March 4

Day 12. Second Sunday of Lent: March 4 Today, instead of watching TV or listening to music I will try to spend some time in silence. I will listen instead of talking. I will listen to the birds, to the sound of my own breath, and to the sound of the wind in the trees. What else do you hear? Can you hear God speaking to you in a gentle and loving way? Jesus spent a lot of time in silence listening to his father, so you know it’s a good thing to try!

I must admit this task frightens me. I do not care for silence anymore. When I was a child I used to relish the quiet times. I would climb up into the old tree house and listen to the birds and feel the sun on my face. I liked to stand in the wind as it blew my long hair up to the heavens and sucked my breath away. I would dance in the rain and cheer the lightening as it zipped through the sky. I remember how it was when I could be left alone with my thoughts and listen to the wind in the trees... but now, I don't hear peaceful things in my head anymore. The voices that speak to me now are angry, confused, and full of desperation. Silence now, instead of bringing peace, conjures images of the dead and feelings of eternal helplessness. Voices from the media shout out loudly to me in silence. I hear the cries of beautiful children being killed by their parents. I feel the pain of the families who realize it was their child who murdered another. I worry for the unknown victims as I hear of their struggles with illness, addictions, or natural disasters. In silence, I pray. I pray that everyone can get along. I pray that if God is going to come again to this earth that he get a move on and do it already, because all the hate and violence that humans inflict on each other pain me so much that some days it is almost unbearable. No. Silence to me is just swirls of anxiety shooting forth out of the darkness, releasing dementors, who lie in wait within the silence to pounce like a wolf upon a limping elk. No. I do not care for silence. Today, I will watch a lot of TV.  I will play games on the computer. I will knit while listening to my i-pod, and I will drive with the radio turned up LOUD.  Probably all the way to 11.

Day 11. Saturday March 3

Day 11. Saturday March 3 Today I will pray for somebody I don’t know. I will pick a person at school or in the grocery store or wherever we happen to be and I will ask God to take care of that man or woman, boy or girl. I will ask God to help that person feel loved and help them to do good things. I will do this because that person might be having a really bad day, and my prayer will help them. 

Day 10. Friday March 2

Day 10. Friday March 2 Today I will eat fish for dinner instead of meat or pizza or mac-n-cheese. Why? Because it will help me to remember the early followers of Jesus: after Jesus died, it was dangerous to publicly admit you were a Christian and so instead people drew a simple fish in the dirt to tell others that they followed Jesus Christ. Read a “fish story” in the Bible—either Matthew 4: 18-22 or John 21: 4-14.

I've been widdlytinked

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Day 9. Thursday March 1

Day 9. Thursday March 1 Today I will create The First Station of the Cross. Create a collage or piece of art that depicts Jesus being condemned to death as punishment for challenging the Jewish and Roman leaders. On his head is a crown of thorns. His hands are tied. He is sad and scared. As I create this station, I will remember that when I am sad or scared, Jesus knows just how I feel because he’s been there. I will hang this station in my house as the first of fourteen.