Glee

A few small bouts of glee came my way today, and for that I am so grateful.

1. I got my speech for the donor brunch for Thursday done...two days early.

2. My thesis is making slow but steady progress. One week left!

3. Mom and dad came in for a short visit to bring cheer, have supper at my favorite restaurant, and share the latest on Woofie.

4. I have been longing to get a banana hanger for a while. I found a kick-ass one for $3 today :)

5. Glee premiered tonight. It wasn't as brilliant as I was expecting, but it still made me smile.

I'll take this any day.

And now I'm back to writing about intergenerational youth ministry as a revitalizing source for aging congregations...aka big words that mean we need to snap out of it and start engaging youth or...else the church's future is pretty dismal.

Wish me luck. I need it.

$$$

Tonight was the annual gathering on salary packages for seniors. Talk about overwhelming. Combine the words: base salary, housing allowance, expenses, IRS, loan repayments, and negotiations, and it seriously makes me want to drop out of seminary--if not ask the question, "Do I really want to do this?"

Yes, I know we only have a month of class yet, but it all gets to be too much--especially knowing that it could be awhile before I am having the negotiating talk, let alone the first interview.

Part of the reason the process it is so overwhelming is because each candidate is at a different place in the call process. Some already have had their first and second interviews, others have congregational profiles in their hands, and others, like me, haven't even had second conversations with their bishops (which won't happen for another two weeks).

It's a good thing I have my thesis writing to distract me. One week left, and I have most of it to still write.

Uh oh.

I probably should stop procrastinating and get back to work. Yep. Now if only I could remember where I put my motivation....

Easter is Coming

It's been too long since I've been here. I've realized over the past few weeks how much I miss it, so I think it's time to start blogging again.

Life is deep in transitions right now between final weeks of school, graduation, first call assignment, leaving seminary friends behind, and the great unknown of what the future holds.

But one thing is certain...Easter is coming!

To kick off the re-start, here's a video written and produced by WorkingPreacher and the Center for Biblical Preaching (where I work).

Enjoy!

Birthday Celebrations!

I celebrated my 25th birthday this weekend! It was one of the best birthdays I have had in a while (minus Hell's Kitchen last year, of course).

The festivities began on Friday afternoon with my college friends. They surprised me by taking me to a water park west of the cities for an overnight extravaganza. It was the perfect getaway.

Saturday morning I returned home to have my whole immediate family there. Popparone, Momma Cakes, Micah, Noah, Abby, and Suz. Plus Unca Ronnie added to the fun! It has been so long since we had all spent a day together and shared in a meal: homemade pizza, corn mush, green bean salad, and birthday cake!
We spend our time together playing games, telling stories, laughing, and...going down to the river! It has been many, many years since all of us have gone down together. Abby, Noah, Woofie, and I went swimming. Woofie came too!

The water was so shallow we could walk across to the island. Dad made the trek with us. We spotted eagles and fish along the way.

Saturday evening Dad and I visited Grandma and Bernie to catch up on all of the Osceola news.

Sunday, UB came for the day, and we had such a good time too.

Plus, thank you to all who called and wrote as well. I am so thankful for your love and friendship.

If that weren't enough, there are more celebrations to come. Not necessarily birthday ones, but this week, I get to see some more friends I haven't been with in a year!

What a blessing.

With joy--
HGJ

The Ultimate Waterslide

I love waterslides.

I don't like roller coasters, but I love the anticipation at the top of a waterslide, sitting in the water waiting for the go-ahead from the lifeguard, pushing off, and plunging, twisting and turning, up, down and all around, the slides, finally catching my breath at the bottom in the pool. Going to a water park is, by far, one of my favorite things to do.

I'm up for pretty much any slide, but this one had me completely amazed. Someone sent me this video. Check it out. The slide is sweet. The pool is incredibly small!



Peace--
HGJ

If I could live anywhere...

Today I decided if I could live anywhere in the Twin Cities, it would be Linden Hills in South Minneapolis.

My friends (and newlyweds) emily and Colby live there. It has the neatest shops, a co-op, awesome restaurants, a super cool bakery, gorgeous homes, its own library, and the feel of a small-town. Plus, it's a few blocks from the lakes.

Someday...when I'm rich and famous.

Ha.

A fellow dreamer--
HGJ

Family Camp '09

We spent Sunday--Thursday with friends from my home congregation at Lake Carlos State Park, just outside of Alexandria, Minnesota.

It was fun to reconnect with these families, eat delicious food, enjoy the beautiful weather, and spend all day outside. The temperatures were cooler, but so wonderful.

Little Bertha, Mom's Scamp camper, made the trek just fine. People are still surprised to hear that it sleeps four. Our little egg shaped camper suits us perfectly. Anything more would be too much for us!

What a relaxing time for us all.

Peace--
HGJ

Heavenly Day{s}

The joys of being at home:

*70 degree weather. Talk about heavenly.

*Family time, all the time.

*Reconnecting with friends.

*Woofie. Woofie. Woofie.

*Walks with Popparone.

*Runs in the woods and fields.

*Getting Little Bertha--Mom's Scamp--ready for Family Camp.

*Being able to take naps!

*Baking with the family.

*Passing out my Prickly Pear Jelly to family and friends.

*Visits from neighbors.

*Playing games and putting puzzles together.

*Drinking Wisconsin well water. What a treat!

*It's a real summer vacation! I love it.

All the best--
HGJ

A Full Circle

We pulled up the driveway on 50th avenue just after 8:00 tonight.

It was incredible!

We "roller coastered" on our way--using the hills and bumps of the road to make it feel like were a roller coaster--and made our way through the deep forest. It really looks like a jungle.

We honked the horn, called for Woofie, Dad came out of the house bawling, hugs were shared with Micah and Suz, and sighs of relief were had by all.

We are so thankful that the car survived...we survived...and that all has been made well.

I am looking forward to spending time at home, playing games, going on walks and runs, visiting family and friends, and enjoying this month of freedom.

Who knows when I will have a time like this again?

Almost a year ago we left this place. I looked a lot different. I felt a lot different. A lot of things have changed since then. What a year!

Here are our before and after shots.

I wonder what this next year will bring!

With joy and thanks--

HGJ

4-3-2-1

Today in #s:

4 states: New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, & Kansas.

3 rainbows spotted: is this normal?

2 funnel clouds sightings: scary!

1 long day.

Your tired friend--
HGJ