Book Bag

The most challenging aspect about creating this blog post was taking pictures of books. I much prefer taking pictures of cats.. I’m taking some time away from school to clear my head and have read some interesting books. In school, you rarely have the opportunity to read books you choose yourself. All of the books in this post are written from the evangelical perspective. I often read secular books as well.

Faith Set Free by Will Davis Jr. Davis is founding pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship. This volume, which I am currently reading, challenges people to pray for their own needs as well as the needs of others.

 A Good and Perfect Gift by AmyJulia Becker. Becker is a mother of three small children who has an M. Div from Princeton Theological Seminary. AmyJulia shares the blessings and struggles she experiences as the mother of a young daughter with Down Syndrome. This is a great read to share with anyone who has a small child with special needs.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskanp. Voskamp is an author, home schooling mom, and farm wife from Canada. Don’t let that fool you. This isn’t a book about choosing math curriculum or bottle-feeding calves. In this popular book, Ann addresses how to find joy in the midst of everyday life.

Small Things With Great Love by Margot Starbuck. As some of you know, I am fond of the ministry of small things – reaching out to those around you just because. Starbuck, who grew up in Illinois and now lives in North Carolina, formalizes the process and also provides the spiritual underpinnings for loving your neighbor.




Trash Man

Ebenezer

Deep in thought in my wastepaper basket

Meow

Did you know that the Denver Dumb Friends League is waiving adoption fees for all cats who are one year or older through February 29, 2012?  Such a deal.  Perhaps you know someone who is looking for the purrfect companion?

Ebenezer may be naughty at times; but,

he has found his forever home.

Touchdown Timmy

I’ve been thinking about Tim Tebow lately. I know. Who in the Denver area hasn’t been thinking about Mr. Tebow? True confession time . . . I’m not a Bronco fan and I never have been.  I was raised in the western suburbs of Chicago and been a die-hard Green Bay Packer fan since Bart Starr shook my hand when I was in kindergarten.  I’m no Florida fan either. While I have nothing against Florida, Florida isn’t part of the Big Ten (Go Blue) or the Pac 12 (Go Buffs). 

So, why have I been thinking about Tebow? There are three primary reasons for this.  First, he always works hard. I have become incredibly lazy in middle-age. If I worked as hard as Tebow does, I’d be done with grad school. . . at the very least.  Second, he likes visiting kids in hospitals. So do I. Folks sometimes look at me cross-eyed when I share that I would love to be a chaplain in a hospital that caters to children and adolescents.  Third, Tebow is comfortable acknowledging his faith. I’m not. Some of my closest friends do not share my view on faith matters. I am so concerned that I will offend someone with my faith that I rarely share my faith. I am such a wimp.

PS: It is not unusual that I am a 'Packer Backer.'  Like many people who grew up in Northern Illinois, I considered Wisconsin another suburb of Chicago . . . that is. . . until I had a roommate who grew up 'Up North.'

Busted

In terms of quality, this picture is not the greatest; but, it showcases Ebenezer's exuberant personality.

Bag It

This morning, the Fourth Grade Sunday School class decorated canvas tote bags for the new church officers' three-ring binders.  They turned-out great.  Decorating a canvas bag with fabric paints is not unlike embellishing sugar cookies at Christmas time.  It's both fun and messy!  Service projects such as these also are a great way to enhance positive character traits in kids.

Cookies

I originally assembled - you don't really MAKE Pillsbury Slice and Bake Cookies - these cookies to see if they would look like the picture in the magazine.  They did - except I smooshed one of the Hershey's Kisses because I pressed down too hard.

Look Ma

Ebenezer has learned how to stand on his hind legs and shut my bedroom door. Of course, he begins meowing the moment the door closes.  Because I am paranoid that E needs to visit the kitty box, I quickly open the door to let him out.  Not unlike a pesky preschooler, Ebenezer REALLY enjoys shutting the door and watching me scurry across the room to open it..  I just ordered a rubber door wedge from Amazon.com.

Oh Beautiful For Suburban Skies

I took these pictures from my patio early this evening.

The Nosebleed Section

My condo has 12 foot ceilings - which is kind of funny - when you consider how tall I am not.  Ebenezer, who is roughly nine months old, now jumps well enough (albeit barely) to be able to sit in the nosebleed section (the space between  the top of my kitchen cabinets and the ceiling).