I WANT health, security and happiness for the people of the world. </Miss America>
I HAVE miles to go spiritually.
I WISH that as a nation we would be more concerned with feeding, clothing, and healing the world than spreading our economic and political philosophies. (stolen shamelessly from ChicagoRev. Hey, you may say I’m a dreamer, but […]

That’s Sorry-Ass Tiny Little First-World Problem.
You know, like “This latte is too foamy!” or “My favorite massage therapist is moving to Tennessee!” (That one’s actually true of me. She was a member of the church and she did it for free/reduced. Sob!)
OK, so this is a rant, not a cry for help. Bear that in […]

I’ve had an itch to blog, but have come up short on topics. But a good kid update functions much like a survey does—instant topic, no muss, no fuss. Plus it keeps the Grands and Aunties happy.
musica
It’s hard to believe this time last year I was keeping little mental lists of new words C was […]

I’m pretty sure I’m feeling little baby flutters.
Like being tickled from the inside.

And what an innovative title.
All in all, it was a wonderful vacation. R and I had a great time in Chicago, and C had lots of fun at Camp G-mommy. Our trip was definitely low on the lie-around factor, but that was by design. I think we both were probably weary enough to have had […]

Do you like getting stuff in the mail? I do. In the last several months I’ve received Christmas ornaments, a red pen with a heart on top that lights up, chocolate, a knitted bag, and an original short film. And I’ve sent similar trinkets, as well as a tin of steel-cut oatmeal. All of these […]

I’ve been tagged by Songbird…
1. Number of books I own.
Oh, I don’t know. I would say in the neighborhood of 800 or so? Might break 1,000.
2. The last book(s) I bought.
Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic, Reinhold Niebuhr (been on my list for a long time) Thoughts on the first few years of […]

She was on my shuttle from the airport to the conference, along with two other women, and hey, we were hungry. We asked the driver to stop for fast food before we reached the seminary, because dinner was still hours away. Well, the others asked, and since I am from the “eat now because you […]

I’m off to pack for my trip, having just gotten home from a three hour session meeting. But I just checked my e-ticket, and I leave at 1:00 p.m. rather than 11 a.m. like I had remembered. Cool! That’s the temporal equivalent of finding a 20 in your pocket.
But here’s the highlight of my day–after […]

My uncle once: told me that being left-handed was a special thing… and Uncle T is always right.
Never in my life: have I tried any illegal drugs, or even smoked a cigarette. True ‘dat.
High school was: pretty good by my senior year.
I will never forget: the weekend R and I got engaged, our wedding, the […]

I’m headed to the midwife in 10 minutes, to (hopefully) hear the fetal heartbeat that eluded us last time (too early). I had an appointment for tomorrow, but this morning I woke up thinking, “Call to see if they have an opening today.” (Tomorrow will be busy with getting ready to leave.)
Wish us luck! And […]

First, I’m doing a little happy dance because our personnel committee has re-written the family leave policy to provide 8 weeks paid maternity leave. (The policy had previously been FMLA—unpaid/use your vacation—and an earlier draft this time around offered 6 weeks paid, but a few of us advocated for 8, and the committee listened and […]

First and not unexpected, I received a terse yet cordial “no thanks” regarding the magazine submission. Well, that was embarrassingly quick. But I’m not too heart-broken. Perhaps I should save it for its personal historic value? Our family friend who’s had dozens of books published speaks to children’s groups and shows them the stack of […]

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…
God has shown strength with God’s arm,
and has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
God has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
This is a portion […]

I don’t normally have very linear dreams, but the last two nights I have dreamed that I submitted a poem to a particular magazine for publication.
Mmmm-kay.
So tonight, just now, I did. It happened fast. They accept poems by e-mail. Why not? There’s a first time for everything.
Yet I’m freaking a little, because usually when I […]

C.
P.
E.
Clinical.
Pastoral.
Education.
For the uninitiated: what is CPE?
The simple answer: a semester or more of hospital chaplaincy, for credit and (usually) no pay.
The more complete answer: hospital chaplain work, combined with individual and group supervision (read: therapy-lite), during which one works through the issues that come up during the CPE process and how they might impact […]

My husband, who oversees all things electrical and mechanical in our house, tells me that I should charge my handheld devices (cell phone and PDA) often, so their batteries don’t get too low. But it’s also a good idea to let the batteries drain down low every so often, so they can do what’s called […]

Here’s what I know…
When are you due?
Are you ready for a chuckle? The reverendchild is due in late December. I vow never to do the combined Christmas/birthday gift, but still, that poor little preacher’s kid…
How are you feeling?
Pretty much like last time. A little tired, a little queasy, a few food aversions, but as long […]

…for National Poetry Month.
Ah well. It’s too wonderful not to share.
Metaphors
I’m a riddle in nine syllables.
An elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils.
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.
Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.
I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.
I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,
Boarded […]