Monday, July 30, 2012

A night in the life of a church planter.

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“Come on kids, time to go!”

“Mom are we taking two cars?”

“Hun have you seen my phones? Bible? Sermon?”

“In your truck.  On the side table.  In your Bible.”

*breathe deep* as we pull out of the driveway.  *Breathe deep* as we pull into the parking lot.

“Ben, you have trash cans and the a-frame signs.”

“Yes Dad.”
*breathe in the heat.  It must be 10 degrees hotter in the fellowship hall than in outside.  Maybe 15.

“Making coffee. Sarah and Sam?”
“Yep, mom we got table cloths and tables to fold up.”

“Evening Libby, Jay, Joe, Lindsey”

“Check. 1, 2, 3.  Check Check.  1, 2.  Evening Rachel!”

*burble burble of the coffee maker.* Whistle as the kettle is done* 

I bob around the kitchen the sound of warm-up worship.  The laughter of the kids. The greeting of our team. 

“Evening Rachel.  Did you pick up the blue bag from the bank?”

“Evening Andi.  I totally forgot!”

That’s okay I have a deposit slip. Could you come over and check on the new dates of our weekly events sheet I printed out?”

“Yep.”

“Ohh muffins!  Evening Laurie. Suzanne. Howard.”

Hugs and waves and laughter.  Dan went kayaking again.  Forgot sunscreen again. 

Chairs being straightened.  Background music being played.  Screens moved. 

Air conditioning turned on.  Fans moved.  Fans added.

 It has to be 80 in here. Brow wiped.

James comes in from his prayer time as I grab a mug and head out to greet.

Peek back into the room.  Worship ready. Check. Lectio. Check.  Set-up done. Check.

 Coffee and snacks. Check. Kids sitting and ready. Check.

“Welcome to the Vineyard, my name is Rachel.  I’m so glad you’re here tonight.”

*You hear the strains of the worship team.  James up front.

“Evening everyone.  Today we have…”

*Breathe*

Everyday People.  Everyday Faith.

2 ½ years ago my husband and I planted a church.  We have learned availability, obedience, prayer, work, and contentment in doing what God has asked of us.  I wanted to give you a little snippet into the hour before church every week.  It is my favorite time.  It may not seem that spiritual, what you can’t see are the hours of prayer, prep, sermon writing, fellowship, conversations, shopping trips, meetings, and all the other things that keep the wheels turning. 

The term “everyday people, everyday faith” is our church’s motto.  We believe that ordinary people living ordinary lives can have extraordinary faith.  An everyday faith that winds its way through every aspect of your life, even the mundane, coffee making, chair setting up, paperwork times.

Quest for the perfect pants

Pin It I sewed Abi a pair of pants this weekend.  These are the first pair in the quest for the perfect pair.

I drafted a jean-style pant with 4 pockets, zipper fly, and tapered leg.  I used some navy cordory that has a bit of a stretch.  I chose that fabric because I got a great deal on it earlier and I figured if they did not turn out, not a lot of money has been invested.  I used some scraps of charmuse to line the pockets and for the waistband.  (Abi is a bit like the princess in the story, The Princess and the Pea and has quite sensitive skin.  She did not want the heavy cordory rubbing her skin.)

They turned out OK.  But not great.

You can see the bagginess up front.

I think this view looks pretty good though.
The legs and the rear-end fit great.  But there is some gapping at the back of the waist and bunching in the front of the crotch.   Abi especially did not like the bagginess up front.

 I still think they are wearable and pretty cute.  They fit her way better than ready-to-wear (RTW) would.  But she is disapointed.  Her expectation is perfection.

So I adjusted the pattern and got to work on a new pair of pants.


To be continued...

Saturday, July 28, 2012

I Ain't Going to Study War No More

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Love Vacations,  especially when I get to spend time in a lovely country with lovely grandchildren.  However sometimes the tourist trail takes you to places that cause you to think about your world, the past, the future, and how you  think about things.

We were in France,  and made a stop at Verdun.
Verdun was a battlefield in World War I where hundreds of thousands of men were killed. The War to end all Wars.
Some estimates are that the French lost 360,000 and the Germans lost 340,000.  Some sources say more.  All sources say we will never know for sure.  All sources say how horrible the carnage and suffering was.


 What was gained?  Another war 20 years later.


An old negro spiritual has been ringing in my head as I think about these things:
I ain't going to study war no more
I ain't going to study war no more
I going to lay down my burdens
and study war no more.



Friday, July 27, 2012

Nerdy Obsessions

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I have a confession to make:

 I have severelyneglected my duties as a daughter and a sister. I have neglected my blogging duty.  And, I have to admit I really only have one excuse.


The truth is I am an addict. (No, not what you are thinking)  I am hopelessly addicted to … Battle star Galactica.

Yes.  Battle StarGalactica.  The sci-fi hit from ten years ago.  Not only can I not tear myself away from this Space adventure… I’m not even on time with the craze.  I was flipping through Netflix one night after work and decided to give it a whirl. Now I am hooked.  So badly, in fact, I would rather watch one more episode than take the time to write a blog for my family (or really do anything). Matter of fact, right now… Starbuck just shot down a Cylon raider and saved the day… once again. 

If you watched it you would understand.  The scriptwriting is really good.  And the plot; though at first seems a bit used, is developed into a maze of intertwining sub-plot.  It’s the funnel cake of Sci-fi shows.

 You must start at the first episode and watch it non-stop for three straight weeks to really grasp the complexity on characters.  Like I did.

Now, I know what all of you are thinking.  I’m the youngest daughter - wild and free.  I’m the one who runs with the “in”crowd - Auntie Mame - The metropolitan woman who understands the trends and fashions of the current day.

Well, the fact I just referenced a 50 do-whopp song and a Broadway musical proves that is not true.  Behind this facade of hipster glasses and push-up bras is a 100% nerdy girl.  I love sci-fi and fantasy stories.  I watch documentaries on space, I tell cheesyjokes only my dad will laugh at, and on occasion, will go see a cartoon movie in the theater even though I don’t have any children to go with.

I am a nerd.  And I’m ok with that. 

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to see “Brave” with me then gohome and do arts and crafts… I’m in!

What to drink with my newest nerdy obsession?  Something that dose my true nerdy obsessionproud.  An orange wine from the Lazioregion in Italy.  Coenobium Rusticum is a blend of the classic Italian white grapes:55%Trebbiano, 15% Verdicchio, 20% Malvasia and 10% Grechetto. This geek loving wine gets it orangecolor from extended skin contact of white grapes.  This exotic fruit and honey-scented white isa product of Cistercian nuns, using centries old traditions to fund theirconvent.


Monday, July 23, 2012

designing for Abi

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So many times when people find out I make my kids' clothes they say, "Enjoy it while it lasts." or "You know, there will come a time when they won't want Mom-made-clothes."

I always reply, "I know ..."  But there is a lot going on in those statements.  There is a basic assumption that:
  1. My children are one day going to want 'brand name' type clothes.
  2. That I will actually buy those brand name clothes.
But are those assumptions correct?  Well, I don't know the future, but being that my kids are (sort-of) normal people, there is a good chance that they will be aaffected by the media and their friends and want clothes that have a certain look or name splashed across their chest.

It is the next assumption that I really question.  One of the main reasons I started sewing is that I don't like a lot of the clothing offered to young girls.  {insert long tangent here ... I am not going to actually write it out today.}  So, I have already proven that I will not buy just whatever the stores offer.  And, I regularly veto items my kids ask for, either on the basis of modesty or expense.

But lest you think I am a mean mom that does not care that my child wants to be a stylish elementary schooler, that is not true.  I do not believe age-appropriate and stylish have to be mutually exclusive.

A couple of months ago Abi saw a shirt at the store and drug me over to it.  "It is so pretty!  So-and-so has one like it and I love it."  I went over and looked and  I was shocked to see it was just a rectangle of fabric sewn on the sides and a hole in the middle and yet they wanted $20.  I told her I would not buy it but I would make her one.  Later, she picked out the fabric and I made this shirt for $3.

silly girl wearing a butterfly shirt by Major_ Moma
She is SO silly!  Here she is showing off the butterfly sleeves.
This is something I normally would never make.  But, I know that part of keeping her interested in having Mom-made-clothes, is making stuff she likes.  She is a person with distinct tastes and I acknowledge that in my sewing.  When she was small, I chose most of her clothing, but these days, she has a lot of say in what I sew and buy.


My other major tactic in prolonging making her clothes is that I am working on my skills.  By the time Abi is a teenager, I want to be able to make just about anything.  My goal is that she will be able to point to something in a magazine and I will be able to re-create it.  That way, though it wont have a 'brand name' it will have the look she is after.


Here she is wearing the shirt in France.

And in the end, if she does not want me to sew for her, that is fine.  I will just have more time to sew for me!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

(nearly) Instant Gratification

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How do you prioritize your creative projects? 
 I usually have a list of what I would like to get done and then rank order them using the factors of Need, Deadline, and Funness (I know that is not really a word).  And I really like to work on each one at a time, cleaning up between projects.  However, there are times when my projects overlap.  For instance, I am working on a long project of making medieval costumes for the family and instead of working on those straight through, to break up the monotony (no I am not enjoying this project), I work on other things.  Plus, the deadline for the costumes was pretty far off when I started, so those were not always at the top of the list.
But, time does march on and now the deadline for the costumes is coming up and I had to work on them.  I was so unmotivated.  So I forced myself to get to work but also gave myself a reward when I got to the 'almost done' mark.  I decided to make this quick sundress for Abi.  It is basically a tube that has been smocked on top and straps attached.  She had picked out the fabric months ago and was thrilled with the results.  I was simply thrilled to be not making something medieval.

This is just a silly story about my sewing, but I think it rings true in my real life too.  Those long term difficult projects can sometimes be intimidating.  And, I am so used to instant gratification that it is hard to have the endurance to get through a long term project when I don't see the results for months; I am guessing many of you have the same issue.  During those times, I make the goals smaller and just force myself to get to work.  And of course, I sprinkle some 'fun' work into the mix so that I get some breaks.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Trapped in History

Pin It There are so many stories I want to share about our trip, but not all of them are going to be interesting to the world at large.  But, I will in the next couple weeks share some highlights from the trip and some tips about family travel in France.

I also hope to return to my sewing room with fresh vigor and have new creations to share.

One of the funny stories from the trip is when the baby trapped my husband, son, and I in the room that the Germans signed the unconditional surrender ending WWII.

This is actually a small room in an out of the way building in Reims, France.  It is still covered in maps and charts and contains the table on which the official surrender was signed.  There I was, being moved by the gravity of events which occurred in that room, tears coming to my eyes, and SLAM.  The door was shut.  By my one-year-old child.
The husband went to open it, but could not.  It was locked.  Eli almost started to panic; "Dad, this is not funny."  But never fear, Abi was on the other side.  We called out to her and sent her for help.  She told Isa, the baby, to stay there and she ran for her grandpa who in turn called for the museum staff, who spoke no English.  So a quick mime routine sent her running upstairs with the key. 

It all took only about 5-10 minutes and we were out of the room.  Here is a picture of M, the French lady, and the culprit of my short imprisonment.

Needless to say the mood of somber reflection was replaced by giggling about the events of the day.  I do recommend that if you are in Reims, go to the museum, but do not shut the door to the map room.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sleeping Outside

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A few weeks ago Boyfriend and I went camping at Lincoln state park, just outside of Wenatchee, WA.  By camping, of course, I mean renting a cabin and cooking outside.

  It was a quick one-day trip to get out of town and find some sunshine.    That we did.  Just a two-hour drive outside of Seattle we found blue skies and weather that was in the 80’s.   Michael enjoyed the sunshine, gazed at the majestic rock cropping around us and watched a family of marmots witling around the campgrounds.  I slept.

 My  new job is pretty full and labor intensive; and that for eight hours a day I am going non-stop.  I did not know how tired it would make me.

On Monday morning I woke up, packed, and headed out to the campsite.  This gave me time for my first one-hour nap in the car.  We arrived at the campground and I immediately changed into shorts and took a nap on the picnic table.  By the time I woke, Boyfriend was ready to explore.  We walked across the state park and down to the beach on a frigid man made lake.  I also napped there, and on the boardwalk and on the cabin futon.  Needless to say, with such a full day, I headed to bed early that night.

Loire Castle, France
I have to say, it was a great getaway… though I slept through most of it.  Sometimes I need to let go of needing to do things.  There was no hiking on this trip.  There was no visiting the town or going out to eat.  When I was not sleeping, we sat around the fire and did nothing.  It was fabulous! 

When spoiling oneself with nothing to do, one should also spoil oneself with something lovely to drink.  On a beautiful sunny day in eastern Washington, I suggest a crisp refreshing white.  On a beautifully lethargic day I suggest spoiling yourself with Lucien Crochet’s “la Croix du Roy” Sancerre.  This is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley, FR.  Nothing beats the bright minerallity found in Sancerre.  And, with Lucien Crochet’s commitment to high quality Loire wines; it’s hard to beat this choice.

Hot weather advisory:  Gulp water - savor your wine.  Use an ice bucket to keep your whites cold and only pour 1/3 glass at a time.  This will help you pace your drinking and keep your wine at the proper temperature.


Saturday, July 7, 2012

Love of art and history

Pin It As you have read from my mother's posts, we are having an amazing experience. My husband and I traveled a bit before having children and wandering France with 3 kids in tow present some challenges. We find that it is best to plan for only 1 or 2 sights and be flexible. And though we consider the kids interests, we still do "adult" venues.

Today, we went to the Louvre. The kids not only behaved; they enjoyed it. Abi bounced from exhibit to exhibit but absolutely loved the Egyptian antiquities. I am simply overjoyed to see my love of art and history passed on to my kids. Major Moma

Friday, July 6, 2012

Fraternite, egalite, liberte

Pin It Visiting Versailles made me understand the French revolution more. The over the top opulence was a little shocking to me. Huge rooms with huge murals equating the reigns of these French kings with classical gods illustrated to me their aspirations to deity. Can't blame the revolutionaries I am afraid I wold have been knitting in the square.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Going for a walk.

Pin It I went for a long walk yesterday. It sure felt good after the long plane ride. I also wanted to stay up as long as possible. AND look who I am walking with.

In Paris!

Pin It We had an uneventful flight. That is the way they should be. Right now I am on a train heading to Etrechy, we are staying there. M

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

On our way!

Pin It We have arrived at Vancouver airport ready to wing our way to Paris. I was up nearly all night in anticipation of this wonderful trip to France and Germany. Not only do we get to see the Eiffel Tower we get to see grandchildren we haven't seen for a year. A couple of thoughts. First travel has difficulties but the rewards are great. Also fly out of Vancouver. Ticketing and security was efficient and helpful. Thanks neighbors to the north!! Always go to an airport with a Starbucks. And finally travel with someone you love.
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