The boys are back in town

Husband Steve, and son Aaron went skiing in Colorado over President's Day weekend. They left Friday morning, and got back late Tuesday night. It was Aaron's first time on an airplane, and I think he was as excited about that as he was about going skiing. Here's a picture of the two of them in Colorado:

They had too much fun. Here's another of Aaron:

Meanwhile, daughter Eileen and I had a good time at home. Friday night, after getting home from work and school, we frantically cleaned house for two hours as we prepared for a Sit & Knit at my house. A couple of people braved the cold and joined us. On Saturday morning, Eileen participated in Math Relays sponsored by the school district. She participated in four events, and although it wasn't a clean sweep, she received three Gold Medals (in Algebra, Data, and Number Sense) and one Silver (in Geometry) at the 9th grade level. Makes her mama proud, that one! We celebrated at Outback Steakhouse that evening.

We also attended three worship services in two days. We went to the Saturday night contemporary service at Church of the Resurrection, our own church Sunday morning, and friend Laura Guy's church, Living Water Christian (www.livingwaterrchristian.org) on Sunday evening. Our conversations driving to the different churches were very interesting as Eileen read to me the list of things I was to watch for (for worship class) and we discussed the various aspects. She is the Alpha group leader for the youth at our church, and it has been very good for her and has caused her to think about things that are way beyond her fourteen years. I was really impressed by some of her insights and questions.

Meanwhile, with the boys gone, we broke a lot of the household rules like staying up late and eating in the living room. We did manage to "keep the home fires burning" for the boys. I have not been blessed with the fire-building gene, but fortunately Eileen got it from her father, and we were able to maintain until Tuesday morning a fire in the fireplace that Steve started on Thursday night. We had a great weekend!

I had a root canal on Tuesday and have been suffering since - welcome back to the real world! Well, not exactly the real world...the darvocet world.

Eileen and I get our turn in May. Eileen's choir from school is going to New York and DC, and I'm going, too. I have a few other fun trips planned, as well...a work-related conference at TanTara during Spring Break (good timing, huh?) and a trip to Chicago on the train in August to attend the UMC National Clergywomen's Conference. (www.gbhem.org) So far we have two in the room, and there is room for two more. Any interest?

So that's what I've been up to.

Roadkill - a knitted frog

At last some knitting content! That's what I set this blog up for, yet I haven't yet posted anything about knitting.

Someone on one of the lists I'm on wanted a toy frog pattern for one of her beginning students. Google search turned up very little. The question inspired me and I came up with this pattern. Knits up quick. I call it "Roadkill" because of how it looks when it is first knitted. Let me know what you think.

Flat Garter Frog
Use two coordinating shades of green, and knit two pieces, one in each color.
The lighter color will be the underside of the frog. The frog pictured is knit from Opal Crocodile sock yarn. Only half of the frog has been done in the picture.

Use an appropriate needle size for your selected yarn. If you wish to felt the frog, you should knit more loosely. If you wish to stuff without felting, drop down a needle size to create a firm fabric.

CAST ON 3
Row 1: K3
Row 2: INC1, K3, INC1
Row 3: K5
Row 4: INC1, K5, INC1
Row 5: K7
Row 6: INC1, K7, INC1
Rows 7-18: K9
Cast on 12 at start of next row
Row 19 : K21
Cast on 12 at start of next row
Row 20: K33
Row 21: K33
Row 22: Bind Off 11, K22
Row 23: Bind Off 11, K11
Rows 24-39: K11
Cast on 13 at start of next row
Row 40: K24
Cast on 13 at start of next row
Row 41: K37
Rows 42-29: K37
Row 50: K34, Place 3 stitches on holder
Row 51: Bind Off 31, K3
Row 52-66: K3
Cast on 3 at start of next row
Rows 67-69: K6
Row 70: bind off 6 and cut yarn
Repeat rows 52 – 70 on the three stitches placed on the holder at line 50 (you will not repeat row 51)
Place the two pieces together. Because it is done in garter stitch, there is no right nor wrong side, although it would be best to match up the cast on rows. Stitch together using the darker color yarn, leaving an opening where the mouth of the frog would be.
If you used wool, you may wish to felt your frog. Otherwise, stuff to the desired firmness. Sew mouth closed using contrasting yarn. Add buttons or googly eyes for eyes.

When it rains it pours!

I got an email from my pastor yesterday, and he asked me if I would be available to preach on March 12. He has planned a lenten series on Gandhi's "Seven Blunders" - the traits most spiritually perilous to humanity. They are:

Wealth without Work

Pleasure without Conscience

Science without Humanity

Knowledge/Education without Character

Politics without Principle

Commerce without Morality

Worship without Sacrifice.

Here is a link for Gandhi's grandson's interpretation of the seven blunders:
http://www.gandhiinstitute.org/Library/LibraryItem.cfm?LibraryID=780

My pastor allowed me to select one of five (Knowledge {Dr. McCoy - Palm Sunday} and Worship {retained for Easter} were spoken for) so I chose Science without Humanity. As a recovering civil engineer, I am somewhat familiar with science. At least that is the reason I told myself.

So now I'm in deep. I have a few things that I've thought of for illustrations, considerations, etc. Among them: Thoughts I had while visiting Los Alamos while on my immersion last year (Thanks God for once in my life I actually kept a journal!); The Tuskegee study some years back (Needs more research - Only a vague recall of major ethical issues having to do with subjecting African American males to some sort of harmful medical or radiological testing without their knowledge or consent); experiences in mission and using "appropriate technology". I'm still looking for ideas...feel free to post.

I also need a scripture that fits. A Psalm would be good, then I could possibly use the exegesis for a class that I'm taking this semester. Again, any ideas would be more than welcome!

********

I've been finding some other friends blogs, and as soon as I get their permission I will link to them as well. I added links for Hipchickmamma and Deaconess_grrl. Never played with html before. I was really thrilled when it worked!

A Couple of interesting quotes

I get quotes in my email. Still need to figure out a good way to save them for future reference, but here are a couple that spoke to me. Maybe something to develop further....

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.
--Washington Irving (1783-1859) American Writer

Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength. -- Anonymous

Your thoughts appreciated.....

Getting into preaching

Well, I survived my preaching class. I have intentionally used the word "survived" because that is how it feels. It met 5 hours a day, every day for two weeks. During that time, we had to read 5 books, write two papers - one 5-7 pages, one 15 pages, write and preach two 12-17 minute sermons, and preach two extemporaneous 5 minute sermons with little prep time. All scriptures for sermons were assigned, and the texts for the 5 minute sermons were assigned just before the break, and had to be preached after the break - 15 minutes prep time!

Don't misunderstand...I learned a ton in the class, but we all felt pretty abused. The professor was from another culture, and was promoting a style much different than that with which most of the class had experience. As she critiqued the sermons, she tended to harp on the errors (from her perspective) that she observed. It would have been enough to state the error and move on, but she would hammer on it for a good ten minutes or more. I felt so bad for the speakers that had to endure such abuse. One student ended the two weeks with bronchitis/pneumonia she felt was purely from the stress of the class. Running short or long of the 12-17 minutes was a guaranteed C or worse on the sermon. The professor said she "Loves preachers," but her behavior sure didn't show it.

It all made me very appreciative of one of the cultural phenomena of our seminary. There seems to be an unwritten rule among most of the professors that I have had that affirmation is essential. They seem to recognize that more can be achieved through positive reinforcement than through negative.

Well, I did come out of the class with two written sermons, one of which I preached for real this past Sunday, and one that I will preach next Sunday. I'm filling the pulpit for a friend who is leading a VIM trip to Bay St. Louis, MS. If you want to come hear me, send me an email privately and I can give you times and places. Hipchickmamma has suggested I post my sermons, but they're too long. I have translated one of them into Spanish as well, as I was told that one of the churches has a woman who speaks little English. I thought she could follow along and get a chance to "hear" (read) the sermon, too. She wasn't there. :-) But it was a good exercise. I've been needing to brush up my Spanish, and it really helped set the sermon in my mind. I'll probably do it again this week.

And I have decided I DO enjoy preaching. I wasn't sure before, but now that I have a few more tools instead of just the OJT that I've used before, the process is much more enjoyable. I got that much from the class.

Kim

In a Slump

Maybe it's the holidays...maybe it's health related. I don't know why, but I seem to be in a knitting slump right now. I finished my son's Christmas sweater the last week of classes, only to find out on Christmas morning that he had grown since I started it. I may have to add more to the length and sleeves and do some redesign on the collar 'cause I just don't like how it turned out. I had started some toe-up socks last week, and ripped them out about as quick as I cast them on. They were too wide. I cast them on again last night, but just can't get motivated.

Maybe it's because my mother-in-law is in town. I think she believes that I spend much too much time knitting...time I should be using to clean my house. I'm sorry, if Steve married me for my housekeeping skills he was seriously mistaken, and he'd have to be really SLOW because we've been married 16+ years and if he hasn't figured it out by now...Well, whose fault is that?

Seriously, I'm taking a little break. I stayed home from work yesterday fighting a cold - much better today. I only seem to get sick when I allow myself time to let down a little. Why is that? I tried researching it, but everything I found said that stress contributes to lowering immunity, not relaxation. I seem to thrive on stress; I get sick when I slow down. Maybe by slowing down the cold catches me (Why would anyone want to catch a cold?) When I'm moving full pace it can't catch up.

I'm planning a major sewing project for the weekend. I don't, as a rule, consider myself a seamstress. I've made skirts, and doll clothes as a child, and once made a dress, just to see if I could. (I wore it for a couple of years before it started falling apart. I'd call that a qualified success.) I made cushions for the window seat in the house. From knitting, I know the basics of clothing construction, and I can read a pattern. This is a major project more in terms of its importance to me. I'm making myself a clerical robe to wear for some upcoming preaching engagements! I'm planning to use good fabric in a natural color and take my time. If it works well, I may make more in other colors like black or navy. I'll post pictures if it's worth looking at. Stay tuned!

Back to work...lots of reading to be done for my January class. Happy New Year!

Kim

Chance of flurries...

We've had a flurry of activity as of late! Three weeks before Thanksgiving, my dear, dear husband suggested that maybe we should finish some projects before my inlaws came for T-day. Well, it was my busiest time of the semester, but house projects are one of my favorite ways to procrastinate! In the next several weekends, I painted the entire upstairs hallway, yanked up nasty carpet on the upper portion of the staircase and the upstairs hall, cleaned the WHOLE house, and Steve and I painted the living room! I had a paper due Thanksgiving Day (It's okay, it had originally been due two weeks earlier, and the prof extended the deadline) and the Monday after, and suddenly got busy at work, too. Somehow it all got done, and the relatives were well fed.

Then, last week, we got flurries of another sort! Ten inches of snow! The kids had snow days on both Thursday and Friday. It was beautiful and fluffy and VERY COLD! The kids had early dismissal on Wednesday and the dentist cancelled their appointment, so we baked cookies. I'm really not that kind of mom, and that is the first time I ever remember doing that. It was so successful that last night we made peppermint wreath Christmas ornaments.

This week is back to flurries of activity. We got our tree Sunday, but haven't brought it in the house yet. Last night was Scouts for Steve. Tonight, Aaron has an All-City Children's Choir performance, tomorrow Eileen and I have church activities, Thursday night is Aaron's school program, and Friday, I have a sit & knit at the house! And today is my birthday and I have NO IDEA if Steve and I will ever get a chance to go out and celebrate. Oh well, I did get some nice gifts from friends. :)

Here's hoping all will have a blessed holiday season!

Kim

Welcome to my world!

I'm new to this blogging stuff. Been considering it for some time, but didn't get to it until now, and mostly just because I wanted to post a comment on a friend's blog, and had to register to do so.

I tend to stay busy. Someone asked my daughter what her mom does, and she said, "My mom is a full-time student, works four part-time jobs, and still manages to be home two days a week."

I guess that pretty much sums it up! I am a full-time student at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO working on a Master of Divinity to begin a second career in ministry within the United Methodist Church. My first career is/was in civil engineering specializing in water and wastewater. I still work ~20 hours per week as a civil engineer. My other jobs include teaching knitting through community education, helping out one of the professors at the seminary, periodically substitute preaching for friends, and teaching workshops, along with a variety of volunteer activities through my church.

I live with my husband, two kids, two dogs and a cat in a 100+ year-old house on four and a half acres. This is an old picture. The plastic shutters are now gone, and there is more landscaping in the yard, but it should give you an idea. We love working on the house, but recently the time has been hard to find. We did manage to plant some trees last weekend, but it was a holiday! This weekend I really need to get some studying done.

I hope you enjoy my blog, and I'll try to write regularly.
Kim