Enjoy it.

On a totally un-project-related note, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have so much to be thankful for and enjoy. Top of the list, as always, is from Luther's Small Catechism's explanation of daily bread in The Lord's Prayer: food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, land and cattle, money and goods, and most importantly family.

Thanksgiving is an especially important holiday for my family because 67 years ago my maternal grandparents were married on T-Day. 67 years! It might be normal for other couples to celebrate 5, 10, or 15 years of marriage and then start over with spouse #2 for whatever reason. These couples are often amazed that my parents have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. My parents joke that "aw, that's nothing..." They are both fortunate enough to have parents who celebrated (or would have if Grandma M were still alive) golden anniversaries. What amazing examples of happy, strong, faithful marriages!

Because we have something "extra" to celebrate, our Thanksgiving church going usually involves going to Grandma and Grandpa's church, fill at least 2 pews with family members, and get mentioned in the prayer, as in "and Thank you Lord for safe travel for ALL our family members..." Pastor K's sermon involved the following passage 1 Timothy 6:17-19:

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

He pointed out how everyone at church probably had a closet full of clothes, were going to celebrate with family, weren't living on their last dollar, and had the treasure of knowing we're going to heaven someday. We're rich and we shouldn't take it for granted or be snobby. We should enjoy all that God has given us to live life as God intended to His glory and honor as a reflection of all the gifts we have.

I can completely and emphatically say, "thank you" for all that I have so richly been given from those clothing and shoes that I worry over what to wear to my amazing family and the wonderful example of godly living and Christian love they show me everyday.

I'm off to go enjoy their company after a day of shopping and leftovers (more blessings!). So thanks for stopping by, more on the projects later.

Isaiah and the Girls

I don’t know when your weekend starts, but I consider the beginning of my weekend the second I get into my car after work on Friday, turn the key and the “Friday Anthem” starts playing on WKLH.

Friday was filled with seeing a movie with some friends and going out with Mom and Lisa and her friend Anne and her mom. Dad is away hunting, so it’s a Girl’s Weekend! After dinner, the five of us ladies played some nickel slots since we missed the start time for Bingo. Later, after most us either broke even or lost $5 (we’re only high rollers in our imaginations), we consoled ourselves with ice cream, and were glad we got to spend time doing something fun and silly with really great friends.

Saturday morning was when Isaiah first stepped into my weekend. I mentioned in my last (OK first – yeah, yeah) blog entry that I planned to run 12 5K events in 2010. Since I haven’t run one in a while, I thought I could squeeze one in, and to find out my target pace for my first race of 2010. I didn’t tell a whole lot of people in case my time stunk, but fortunately, I have a new personal best of about 32:20. I didn’t have a watch on so this is my closest estimate from the mile timers.

I went to Wirth Park for the Brookfield East Booster Club’s Turkey Trot, got my race packet/goodie bag, and warmed up. Whenever I do one of these races by myself, I try and look for someone who might be my same speed. After the announcements, I headed over to the start line and started sizing people up as I listened some music to get me pumped up (“Come on Eileen” – in case you were wondering). I nixed the guys right away, thought “nuh, uh” to all the people who had cross country shirts on, and did a big mental no way to the iron woman who looked like she could break me in half.

Then I heard a girl about my age and size ask the girl next to her, “Do I get disqualified if I have to take a walking break because I signed up to be a runner?” I had found my pace buddy! I good-naturedly assured her that it would be OK and offered to start at the same pace. She and the other girl both thought this would be a great idea so at the sound of the gun, we stayed together.

Unfortunately, I either underestimated myself or guessed poorly that we would match strides. After some initial chit chat, I wished them luck and moved on to find my own pace. I hit a nice groove and by the first mile mark, I remembered the passage Isaiah 40:31 that reads:

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I didn’t exactly feel like an eagle, but at least I didn’t feel like a turkey! (insert your groans and eye rolls here). Thank you God for legs that run! I ended up running along side this very nice late 30’s-early 40’s woman and a young girl who will someday rule the long distance world. To my pace buddies out there, thanks for keeping me company, and thank you to all the volunteers who reminded us that the finish line was in sight!

As soon as the race was over, I got in my car and made a quick turnaround to pick up Marie and Jess for the 5th Annual Girls’ Weekend. In senior year of college, the women that I made friends with the very first weekend of college (1st and 3rd Floor East!) started going to the Wisconsin Dells over Deer Hunting Weekend. Since 2005, we have matured from screaming on water rides, eating pizza and drinking too much Smirnoff and Mike’s products to making a nice balanced meal, chatting around a spa/hot tub and drinking a few glasses of very tasty wine.

It is SO nice to get to catch up on each other’s lives, talk about future plans, and simply enjoy being in the company of other Christian women. Being one of the two single gals left, it’s also fun to hear about the girls’ relationships with their husbands and parenthood tales now that two of the women are mommies! I can add “my friends have found wonderful husbands” to my list of blessings. Now, if only the guys had attractive, single brothers or clones…

Never slowing down, I went right from the Dells on Sunday to my church’s Advent by Candlelight program. This program is designed for the women of our congregation and our friends or relatives to take an afternoon to just think about the REAL meaning of Christmas. We’re supposed to set aside our schedules and lists for a few hours for fellowship. As a member of the hand bell choir (unusual instrument I play #1), we played this lovely piece called “Night of the Father’s Love” that combines “Silent Night” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”. If you watch “Glee”, you’d call that a church mash-up.

The theme of this year’s program had to do with wonder and how the prophecy in Isaiah 9 came true and now we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas. One of the lines the speakers said tonight was especially nice, “This is the reason we’re here together: to remember that God loved us so much that he sent his son to be our Savior. We are here because he loves us and can have peace in that.” This especially made me smile because her son was in my 4-K Sunday School class last year, and he explained to another student that “Jesus saves us because he’s our Savior. It’s what he does.” I wish everything could be explained as simply as that.

Hope everyone has a great start to their week! It’s a short work week with Thanksgiving in just a few days. At the moment, I’m especially thankful for Girls’ nights/weekends and Isaiah. What will you be thankful for?

That’s what you should do!

My mom and I went to see the movie “Julie and Julia” staring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep after reading the book, written by Julie Powell. (Spoiler alert!) During the scene where Julie’s answering machine is spouting messages from interested parties and agents, my mom leaned over and whispered, “That’s what you should do.” Inspired by fun bloggers like Kalie, Erin, Julie, and my mom's suggestion, I'm putting one foot in front of the other and starting a blog.

What to blog about? I like to cook, but they already made a movie about that, like I mentioned. I seriously doubt there will be a feature film made about my life, but you never know. If “they” do, I’m putting Courtney in charge of casting the movie. Speaking of Courtney, I remember her once exclaiming "Heaven help us if Jen ever is left to her own devices." Hence, the projects.

Since that water skiing moment mentioned up there by the title, I’ve had a “project” every summer where I learn something new. Mostly it’s a new sport because summer is the perfect time in Wisconsin to learn something new without freezing, but lately these projects have expanded to scrap booking, learning a new instrument, and trying out new recipes.

I’m sure you’ll all have a good chuckle about my adventures. I know that my friends and family have some good eye-rolling moments over my escapades, so why not share them at large? Here you’ll read about my next project for 2010 “12 5Ks in 12 Months”, and get a dose of what it’s like to be resident of the great Cream City that is Milwaukee.

Feel free to post a comment, ask a question, suggest a 5K in Wisconsin or a new project for me to try. In the meantime, just enjoy the blog!