Friday, March 29, 2013

Easter Weekend

My boss is off today.  It's the last Friday of the month so I can wear jeans.  The rest of the floor can wear jeans every Friday, but we are only allowed the last Friday of the month.  So I'm wearing a comfortable pair of blue jeans.  I'm also wearing a pink quarter zip pullover.  Finance can wear them any Friday, but we aren't  ever.  However, my boss is off so I'm following the time honored, "What she doesn't know, she won't know."
I've been spending lunch time lately reading fanfiction.  It makes the most random thoughts go through my head.  Be happy that I subject only my closest friends to them.  You would think I was a crazy person and run away.  Really and truly, you have no idea what I think over the course of a day.
I wanted to tell you about a blog I follow just because I liked last night's video.  It's Kandee Johnson.  It's easiest to find her on YouTube, but I'm at work so I can't look up the link.  She has great make-up tips.
What are you doing for Easter?  My aunt is coming out, and we are going to church and then to brunch - at a place that will have crab legs on the buffet.  Yum!!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Necklace


Numbers 6:24-26

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
25 
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
26 
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’



The verse is the official United Methodist youth blessing.  It is, also, the conclusion of every meeting of the youth group where I grew up.  We would cross arms (right over left) to bring us closer and then at the end twist out while still connected and facing the world.  We left a space in the circle for members who weren't there, members yet to come, Jesus, and members who had moved on.  We would go around the circle with our prayers and praises.  It's a special time and one that defines the group for me.  As an adult facing a tough week, I would still draw strength from the group as we closed on Sundays and remind myself we were praying for each other.
We always went to the Ichthus festival.  Our group was a little different in that it was a senior high only trip.  I can't tell you how big of a deal it was to finally be a freshman.  At the end of the festival we got a necklace to remind us of our blessing.   Each bead stood for a different part of the verse and the cord was green for growth.  Except that was 1992, needless to say I have replaced the cord and a couple beads since.  The blue bead is to look up to see God, and you see the blue sky.
The yellow bead is to remind us of the sun as God makes his face shine upon us.
The white bead is to remind us of the peace God is granting us.

The freshman girls said we'd never take it off.  I don't know about the others, but I still wear it most days to remind me of it.   I know it looks plain, but it really is something I treasure a great deal.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Grammar Nazi

This is a phenomenon I have seen recently on Facebook that bugs me.  It's people claiming to be "Grammar Nazis" over the uneducated masses.  I'm aware that people are using and spelling words correctly with less and less frequency.  It can be annoying.  However, does anyone remember the Bible verse about not picking the splinter out of someone's eye until you have removed the log from your eye?  Yeah, that one.  No one is perfect.  Yes, people aren't saying things correctly, and it's not good.  However, the Grammar Nazi is judging everyone and viewing them as falling short of their own wonderfulness.  Pretty sure that judging people, being arrogant and condescending is actually worse than confusing "there" and "their" as someone was quickly typing (and let's not get into Autocorrect.)

Friday, March 22, 2013

Sermon Notes


Shoes with holes
 Have holes but refuse to get rid of them Yes, they are comfortable and I do that too often, and that probably does say more about me than I think.
Yard work or no choice?  That is a difference, and probably says good and bad things about us.
Luke 5:27-28
Levi left the tax collector booth to follow Jesus. 
Fee to Romans to have booth. Beyond it was theirs  usually corrupt and then 
Levi/Matthew was a traitor as a Jew to work with the Romans. He hosted the banquet with Jesus that so annoyed the Pharisees Women with hair and perfume. Good reminder that just because someone appears to have it all doesn't mean they really are.
Parable of forgiving debts. 
People filled with holes only Jesus can fill You knew that would be said when the topic was annouced, right
Choked on a piece of cheese so I'm fighting the urge to cough  We have snacks and, yeah, I'd literally choked on some cheese so my throat was scratchy and I spent the sermon trying not to hack.
We become like the Pharisees  Our holes aren't as bad as someone else's My sins aren't as bad as your sins, which is me too often.
Samaritan  Need to take a breathe to see the Samaritan and I rarely allow myself the time to do that.
John 4:10 Women at the well  Important to note that she was there when no one else was around.  How do I feel this and how do I contribute to the issue?


And I wanted to include a passing mention of what I did on Saturday afternoon.
Have I mentioned that originally my church was an extension campus of the one I grew up in?  We became our own church a couple months ago.  It feels not correct to say "main campus" anymore.  OTOH, it's always going to be more than a random church.  So from now on if I say FC, then you'll just know that's what I mean without going through the explanation, okay?
Anyway, they had a prayer walk this week, and a friend invited me.  I decided to go on the hope of running into the friend and knowing that with all the change lately that it would be time I should take with God.  After I finished doing taxes, I headed over.  It was a good experience.  The theme was home.  There was one point though.  There was a fill in the blank card that you opened and it was a message.  One of the blanks challenged me.  My automatic answer for the past 22-23 years has been one thing, and now it’s not there.  I had to come up with a different answer.  It’s not easy, and I didn’t like the response that fit the blank, but not the message inside.  I need to redefine my life, and I’m not sure how ready I am to do so.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Iditarod thoughts


Now that almost everyone has crossed the finish line, let's see how we did.

Dallas Seavey - Last year's champion.  I like the business sense I see in his social media postings.  I tend to like the record breakers.  He became the youngest ever to win.  He's won the Yukon Quest.  OTOH, defending is harder than winning.  He's not raced this year so his team is a little unknown.  Also, the contest is being run by his family.  How many will chose him to kiss up to them?  At $6,000, I skipped him when picking my 7 for $27,000.  Currently 15th.  His brother is thinking he'll place well but not win.  His brother was right.  He finished 4th.  This would be soon after he was 9th and stated that he was hoping to maintain the placement he had as his team wasn't doing well.  He was either A. lying or B. has a different definition of "not doing well" than the rest of us.

Mitch Seavey - Dallas's father and the 2004 champion.  I would put him in the top 10 without question, though he's around 60 years old.  I think some of these past champions are going to start falling down in the standings as their body can't stand the wear and tear that their kids can.  Also, I'm wondering how many people will chose him to impress the contest organizer.  I'm hoping to pick people who finish just as well, but aren't the favorites so I pick up points that others leave on the board.  Currently 8th  He won for the "gentleman of a certain age."  Maybe I should have not considered age.

Aliy Zirkle - Probably my favorite to win at the start of the race, and there's a fair amount of buzz about her.  It's been 20 years since a woman won.  She was second last year, and the Iditarod was clearing out "Alaska where men are men and women with the Iditarod" t-shirts, which makes me think someone must have ordered them to be the winner's shirt.  Her husband won the Yukon Quest this year with the dogs she will be running.  Currently 9th  Finished 2nd for the second straight year.  Mitch congratulated her at the finish line saying that she would win it a couple times herself soon.  I believe it and thought it was a classy move on his part.

Lance Mackey - The Incredible Lance Mackey.  First to win the Iditarod and Yukon Quest in the same year when it was thought impossible.  Cancer survivor.  First 4 time consecutive winner.  He's had a couple down years and is in the process of a divorce.  Very popular, so I expect a lot to pick him, so I passed.  I wouldn't count him out.  Currently in 1st, but he's in the middle of his required 24 while the others have finished.  I expect him to drop down in the standing over the next 16 hours and then rebound.  Mackey was 19th and broke a tooth.  He seems to be on a downward swing, and I hope he swings up pretty soon.

Martin Buser  Oops forgot to say anything about the rabbit, except he did turn out to be just that the rabbit.  Finished 17th.  I had thought he was undervalued, so I picked him.  I picked up decent points along the way, but hoped he would finish higher.

John Baker - My choice to win.  He won in 2011.  He's the first Alaskan Native to win in a couple decades.  He's from Kotzebue, in Northern Alaska.  He's known for having dogs that have a steady trot that kills the competitors.  Think of him as the tortoise that wins the race.  Not flashy, but he wins.  He's currently in 24th. I don't think the heat is doing him any favors.  Finished 21st.  Next year, I'll look at the weather and if one day it might get up to 52, I won't pick a Northern Alaskan team.

Ramey Smith - He's in the late 30's to 40's age group that I'm favoring.  He or his brother almost always win the fastest Safety to Nome award (extra points for winning an award).  He keeps being up there at the end, so I picked him as an under the radar musher, but top 5 finisher.  He's currently 36th, but he's a closer.  He might have the fastest time, but with everyone still coming in we don't know.  It's either him or his brother right now.  Finished 20th.

Gerry Willomitzer - consistant participant with good results.  A little on the older  side, but he's not expensive.  What's the baseball phrase? Utilityman?  Yeah something like that.  Currently 27th.  He lost a dog (not the one in the news articles).  There was a mix-up and he went ahead instead of back, and was withdrawn for being non-competitive and I forfeited all the points.  Won't pick him next year because there have to be better choices.

Nicholas Petit - Nothing really notable.  I chose him to be a solid finisher, who will be in the top half.  Currently 22nd.  Finished 6th.  So I am happy, my highest finisher.  Will keep him in mind for next year.

Wade Marrs - He beat Lance at a 200 mile race last year, so I was looking for cheap and hopefully not at the back of the pack.  He's in 38th place, so about where I expected.  32nd, so about what I expected though I hoped for better.

Scott Janssen - The mushing mortician.  He did mouth to snout a couple years ago to save a dog.  He's been steadily moving up.  He scratched on Day 2.  I'm regretting choosing him as one of my cheaper choices.  He scratched before entries were due in.  Next year I will wait to submit my picks.

Mikhail Telpin - From Siberia!  Has Russian village dogs that I won't attempt to spell what they are called.  Look a little more like a show Siberian/Malmute than the Alaskan huskies.  I like their looks, but the experts don't.  But then I have a show quality Siberian, so you know my tastes.  Dad picked him.  We have since found out he started with 12 dogs instead of the usual 16.  The Fantasy Iditarod awards 2 points for each dog at a checkpoint.  Dad's less than thrilled that he's spotting everyone 8 points at each checkpoint.  Well not all the other dogs will finish, but still Telpin could drop some as well.  Still on the trail in 50th, but everyone seems to think his dogs are cool.

DeeDee Jonrowe - Sentimental favorite.  I love that she's a tough competitor, but everything is accessorized in pink.  Finished 10th.  Actually she's not getting younger and to stay at the top this long is pretty amazing.

Jeff King - He seemed to be an early favorite.  Last year he came back from retirement.  I would never count him out as I think he wouldn't return if he didn't have a competitive team.  OTOH, he's one of the "closer to 60 than anything else" age group, so I think the younger guys have an advantage there.  I didn't include him in my choices as well because I thought he costs more than someone who scratched last year and didn't enter the year before should be.  Finished 3rd.  Wish I had taken him instead of Baker.  Evidently, this was the old guys' year.

Next year, pick any Norwegian entered.  As a rookie, the young Norwegian finished 7th, which is actually very typical for them to finish in the top 10 as rookies and unbelievable for other people.  And he was only 1,500 in the fantasy Iditarod.
I will finish somewhere around 400 out of 476.  Not thrilled, but I will do better next year!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Changes

I posted this on Facebook last night, and I thought I would post it here as well.

Hi,
I wanted to write this as a note because I doubted whether I would be able to say it in person what I want to say.  I’ve been trying to take some time and pray to find out what God is calling me to do.  It has in no way been an easy or quick decision for me.  All of you have made a lasting impression on me, and I truly love all of you.

I have enjoyed every minute that I have spent with all of you.  It’s been a once in a lifetime opportunity to define what we wanted Water’s Edge youth group to be.  We’ve spent Sunday evenings talking and learning about each other.  We finally have our own permanent youth room!  We’ve had so much fun hanging out at Ichthus and taking communion there is one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced.  In everything, it was a chance to get to know each other, ourselves, and God better.  It’s amazing to see how much everyone has grown in just a few years.

I love that we have such a tight knit group.  The friends I have made through youth group are truly the friends I’ve found that stay for a lifetime.  I pray that you will find the same thing.

I have been offered the opportunity to be the Water’s Edge treasurer, and I’ve decided to accept it.  To move into that role means that I have to cut back on other things, and for now that means youth ministry.  This is not an easy choice for me as I am very invested in the group and each of you.  However, I know at this point this is a move I need to make.  I will still see you in church every week, and I expect you to say hello J.  Also, please know that I am always available to listen if you need someone to listen.

Love in Christ,
Lauri

Monday, March 11, 2013

Waders


Sermon musings from yesterday......  We're continuing the shoe metaphors with hip waders.

We need to know:
We might get wet. Who's in the boat with us?

FYI, Heels was a week I missed so you won't read anything on here.

Who was he hanging out with?  Fisherman.  Not the days movers and shakers.  IDK, this goes back to a conversation I had recently.  Why do we assume that the rich or successful don't need God?  Isn't there a reverse snobbery in there?

Read Luke 5 about Jesus making them fishers of men.

Don't like to share our stuff?  Peter really was tired and didn't feel like going out with Jesus on a fools errand.  I am so there so much of the time.  How do we know when to take the boat out again and when we can pass because we need the rest?


Who is with us?  Peter saw it was the Messiah, when He calmed the storm.  Well yes, that would be memorable.  I wish I could see things that obviously.


Do you want to be in a boat in the middle of a storm at night? I like to be in control of my situation as much as possible, so NO WAY!
No one else has ever calmed a storm. Better than a miracle. I guess you have to be willing to take the risk to see the miracle, and I like to calculate my risks too much.

The minister lost her father last summer.  She's starting to see breaks in the clouds through the storm.  People turn to Wrong things to mask the pain. I know you aren't supposed to say time and distance heal wounds, but they do.  Laura Ingalls Wilder said one time that her family must have sounded very fatalistic but they didn't dwell on what happened to them just on what was next.  I think we've lost some of that attitude.  Yes, we need to acknowledge that any type of pain hurts, but to keep your eyes forward.  Seriously some stuff right now?  One of my best friends keeps encouraging me to do that, and I know it's not what I really really want to hear, but it's what I need to hear.

Matthew 14:24-23 Jesus us praying on a hill reenergize and reconnect  Do we pray 
when we are tired?  Sometimes.  I know I use it for other things - to meditate and to go through things.  It's usually mentally tiring.   

Disciples in a boat while Jesus prays at a distance.  He comes to them.  Peter starts sinking. Jesus calms him when you ask to get out of the boat in the middle of the storm why are we surprised that we will get wet?  But I want to stay safe and dry! I probably need to step out of the boat more often.  Have I shared my friend's sermon that talks about how Peter DID get out of the boat?  That he did have more faith than the other 11?  I think this needs to be added here.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

The Iditarod

Here's my Iditarod preview blog, or the my thoughts from before the race and if they have changed by Day 5 of the race.  This is the first time there's ever been a Fantasy Iditarod for fans, and I can't tell you how into it I am.  The Anchorage Daily News had a story about it today, but they are limiting access to the site so I don't want to use up an instance finding the link.  Yeah, I can be a brat like that.  The Fantasy competition is being run by Danny Seavey, son of Mitch and older brother of Dallas.

Dallas Seavey - Last year's champion.  I like the business sense I see in his social media postings.  I tend to like the record breakers.  He became the youngest ever to win.  He's won the Yukon Quest.  OTOH, defending is harder than winning.  He's not raced this year so his team is a little unknown.  Also, the contest is being run by his family.  How many will chose him to kiss up to them?  At $6,000, I skipped him when picking my 7 for $27,000.  Currently 15th.  His brother is thinking he'll place well but not win.

Mitch Seavey - Dallas's father and the 2004 champion.  I would put him in the top 10 without question, though he's around 60 years old.  I think some of these past champions are going to start falling down in the standings as their body can't stand the wear and tear that their kids can.  Also, I'm wondering how many people will chose him to impress the contest organizer.  I'm hoping to pick people who finish just as well, but aren't the favorites so I pick up points that others leave on the board.  Currently 8th

Aliy Zirkle - Probably my favorite to win at the start of the race, and there's a fair amount of buzz about her.  It's been 20 years since a woman won.  She was second last year, and the Iditarod was clearing out "Alaska where men are men and women with the Iditarod" t-shirts, which makes me think someone must have ordered them to be the winner's shirt.  Her husband won the Yukon Quest this year with the dogs she will be running.  Currently 9th

Lance Mackey - The Incredible Lance Mackey.  First to win the Iditarod and Yukon Quest in the same year when it was thought impossible.  Cancer survivor.  First 4 time consecutive winner.  He's had a couple down years and is in the process of a divorce.  Very popular, so I expect a lot to pick him, so I passed.  I wouldn't count him out.  Currently in 1st, but he's in the middle of his required 24 while the others have finished.  I expect him to drop down in the standing over the next 16 hours and then rebound.

Martin Buser
John Baker - My choice to win.  He won in 2011.  He's the first Alaskan Native to win in a couple decades.  He's from Kotzebue, in Northern Alaska.  He's known for having dogs that have a steady trot that kills the competitors.  Think of him as the tortoise that wins the race.  Not flashy, but he wins.  He's currently in 24th. I don't think the heat is doing him any favors.

Ramey Smith - He's in the late 30's to 40's age group that I'm favoring.  He or his brother almost always win the fastest Safety to Nome award (extra points for winning an award).  He keeps being up there at the end, so I picked him as an under the radar musher, but top 5 finisher.  He's currently 36th, but he's a closer.

Gerry Willomitzer - consistant participant with good results.  A little on the older  side, but he's not expensive.  What's the baseball phrase? Utilityman?  Yeah something like that.  Currently 27th.

Nicholas Petit - Nothing really notable.  I chose him to be a solid finisher, who will be in the top half.  Currently 22nd.

Wade Marrs - He beat Lance at a 200 mile race last year, so I was looking for cheap and hopefully not at the back of the pack.  He's in 38th place, so about where I expected.

Scott Janssen - The mushing mortician.  He did mouth to snout a couple years ago to save a dog.  He's been steadily moving up.  He scratched on Day 2.  I'm regretting choosing him as one of my cheaper choices.

Mikhail Telpin - From Siberia!  Has Russian village dogs that I won't attempt to spell what they are called.  Look a little more like a show Siberian/Malmute than the Alaskan huskies.  I like their looks, but the experts don't.  But then I have a show quality Siberian, so you know my tastes.  Dad picked him.  We have since found out he started with 12 dogs instead of the usual 16.  The Fantasy Iditarod awards 2 points for each dog at a checkpoint.  Dad's less than thrilled that he's spotting everyone 8 points at each checkpoint.  Well not all the other dogs will finish, but still Telpin could drop some as well.

DeeDee Jonrowe - Sentimental favorite.  I love that she's a tough competitor, but everything is accessorized in pink.

Jeff King - He seemed to be an early favorite.  Last year he came back from retirement.  I would never count him out as I think he wouldn't return if he didn't have a competitive team.  OTOH, he's one of the "closer to 60 than anything else" age group, so I think the younger guys have an advantage there.  I didn't include him in my choices as well because I thought he costs more than someone who scratched last year and didn't enter the year before should be.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

March 4th

“Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible."

- Claude T. Bissell

This was originally titled "Memorial Day" as it was written almost two years ago.  I have no idea how I was going to tie the two together so this will be a fresh take.
Three out of four ain't bad?  Anyone will tell you that I have high expectations out of myself and those around me.  My Iditarod preview should be coming tomorrow, but remember "if you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes"


Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuAOywTy0zo&feature=youtube_gdata_player