Only the women are here. Paul is our token male, but as soon as the dinner is done and the dishes are cleared, he will be gone too – upstairs to tuck the girls in and then off to bed himself after a very long day and a two hour commute through traffic. It’s nice, just us women hanging out in the living room.

We were supposed to go out tonight. The Seattle Art Museum was hosting a special event for the Day of the Dead and the artists were going to build a memorial altar and a tapete. But I’d mis-read the online announcement and the event was going to be over by the time we’d gathered. Plus, I … {read more…}

You know, I am still totally into this video. I listen to it at least once a week, usually more. It’s helping me shift back into the person I used to be: the person who camped out the university president’s front law in order to get them to divest from South Africa during Apartheid; the person who wrote letters for Amnesty International; the person who ran a homeless shelter for teenagers; the person who spent the summer in an inner-city commune in order to learn how to live with and for the poor; the person who really believed Isaiah 58 was what it was all about; the person who wept at the thought of being given the opportunity to … {read more…}

(Last) Friday

• I do not get up to walk at 6am due to staying up ‘til midnight catching up w/hubby after ThPM guest have left. (Oh yeah, you. I remember you!)

• Drop children off at school. Go to yoga!!!!! Substitute instructor elongates the last letter of each word (feel your breatthhhhhhh…) V. annoying. But, she understands what level of workout people need on TGIF. Really mean it when saying “Namaste” and bowing to instructor after class.

• Pick up younger child at school. Meet Jen (ThPMer) for afternoon of girl time while her three-year-old is at preschool. Try to catch up on “deep stuff” while younger child eats either 1)macaroni and cheese w/food coloring and hydrogenated oil or 2) a … {read more…}

Lest anyone over-romanticize the previous entry regarding Thurday Night, here’s the really skinny on the lead-up to that lovely evening.

• Drop elder child at school. Take younger child to birthday party of 4-year-old buddy from Missional Cooperative. (In Edmonds…45 minute trip)

• Drive home the wrong way. Turn around to pick up younger child’s kitty cat ears at birthday house. Search house for kitty cat ears. Find kitty cat ears in car. Call friend on cell phone while driving. (Always a bad idea.) Confirm Turkfest plans with ELIGIBLE BACHELOR professor/dad. (Yes, he is “looking” … adopted daughter is adorable.) Return younger child to babysitter. (An hour and a half late.)

• Feel grateful that new pals/ThPMers Mel and Jen are making … {read more…}

The folks from ThPM have just left and I feel energized and happy. My friend Barbra Henderson runs these small groups she calls Simple Spirituality. Her main goal with them is to help people “practice the practices” they believe in. I’ve come to really appreciate that phrase — practicing the practices.

You know, there are really only two reasons for me to cultivate something like ThPM. One is because I believe in remaining intentionally, deliberately connected to God. One of my mentors, Rose Swetman, calls this the “upward journey,” which is a phrase she copped from Church of the Savior in Washington DC, I think. The other reason to cultivate ThPM is that I believe in the incarnation. … {read more…}

Are you bored yet? For anyone who’s new to the blog, this isn’t my normal style. I just thought it would be interesting (to me at least) to document on week “captian’s log” style. Here’s yesterday.

Wednesday

• Up half the night with stomache and sore throat. Bail on 6am walk (phew! Walking partner didn’t go either.) Get up and get everyone ready. Put buffalo potroast in crock pot w/salsa. (Husband purchased 1/3 of a buffalo on-line last year. This was the last of it.)

• Remember it’s your week to drop younger child off at after-preschool playdate!! (Wahoo! Six hours in a row to yourself!)

• Remember you’ve promised elder child to use preschool/playdate “free” time in order to stay at school with … {read more…}

Tuesday

• Wake up at 6am to walk 3miles with pal-and-neighbor, Heather. Do ignatian examen together while walking. Consolation: Dinner with kiddos and William – happy to have been able to help. Desolation: Catie not getting to see her pal Tommy anymore now that they are in different classes.

• Get kids dressed. Take elder child to school and chaperone the world’s most miserable field trip to pumpkin patch (it rained the whole time). While on field trip, try to get quality-time w/child as well as pay attention to 3-4 other attention starved kiddos. Watch elder child walk out into pumpkin field crying because she is wet and wants to go home.

• Drive home with Karen, mother of Eden’s best friend, … {read more…}

A couple of months ago my friend Pat detailed a week in his life as a church planter. I thought I’d do the same, just for kicks. This is, after all, my on-line diary, is it not? Sorry if it bore you. But I bet I’ll find it interesting in a few year’s time. Here goes.

Saturday
• Thank God for last-minute babysitter (Tonya—ThPMish pal) who was willing to come over at 8:30am ON A SATURDAY. (Worry about my mother who had to cancel b/c of poor recovery from earlier day-patient procedure.)

• Send cashola with Josh (Tonya’s hubby) so he can get pizza for other folk who are helping Mike and Alicia move off the island (Where he’s headed. … {read more…}

Lynette Friesen sent this to me this week and it truly made me happy. Lynette’s quite the poet herself. Browse the lovely lines at her place.

God Says Yes To Me
Kaylin Haught

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
and she said yes
I asked her if it was okay to be short
and she said it sure is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
or not wear nail polish
and she said honey
she calls me that sometimes
she said you can do just exactly
what you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it even okay if I don’t paragraph
my letters
Sweetcakes God said
who knows where she picked that up
what I’m telling you is
Yes Yes Yes

The boys are back in town! (Thank the good Lord.!)