Construction Update

Just to keep all of you far away friends in the loop, the rockin refuge has been getting some changes. It's not finished yet, but artwork is underway for phase 2 of the decorating process.

Infinite Intersections

Last night at FCI, we were discussing the infinite character qualities of God. I love a great visualization to help you wrap your finite brain around the infinity of God and this is perhaps the best I've heard all year. So imagine expanding lines running horizontal intersected by vertical lines. Each line represents an attribute of God (i.e. grace, mercy, justice, holiness, omnipotence, omnipresence). At each intersection of lines, think about how God can simultaneously embody both attributes that we often struggle to reconcile (such as justice/grace or holiness/mercy). And imagine that these intersections continue to expand because God is infinite and eternal. WOW!!! Amazing!!!

Fall at Wea Creek

Friends in High Places

Can I just begin by stating that I have had my driver's license for over 12 years now and have yet to be pulled over by the police? Ummm...well...that was what I could've declared prior to Saturday at about 5:30 p.m. when I indeed recieved my first official stopping by the local blue and white.

Let my clarify that in my defense I was quite preoccupied. My mom was following me and I was hoping she did not miss her route to attend Lance's Fall Rumble. Being somewhat unfamiliar with the West Lafayette rules of the road, I apparently failed to observe the 30 mph posted sign. Also, I am driving my new car which just begs to go a little faster than you probably should in it.

So as I'm cruising up to the Feast with pumpkin bread and german potatoe salad as my passenger, I see the flashing lights behind and think, "Oh great!"
Well, low and behold, as I lean out to look at who will be writing me up I see a familiar face. It's Dan! That's right, Dan is Eric's (middle bros) former roommate and also my former roommate's husband.

He approaches and I say, "Hey Dan....You going to give me a ticket?"
He said, "No...but I wondered why somebody was smiling when I was coming up here."
He went on to clarify I was not just a little over the speed limit and asked about my whereabouts for the evening. We catched on and I was able to congratulate them on the upcoming arrival of their first baby before cruising on.

My new-found revelations from this incident include....
1. Who knew I was in the know with somebody who could keep me out of trouble? I actually have friends in high places. What a blessing!
2. Drive slower in West Lafayette and I won't need another blessing.

Misty

My favorite part of living at the new home and having a new drive to work is by far the best benefit to the end of summer and beginning of fall. Recently, I've made some very early morning trips to work (It's amazing what you can accomplish before 9 am with no one around!) and discovered a surprising gift. As I leave my driveway, nothing is spectacular. A small sunrise off behind me as I back out the alley. However, as I make it past 350 to Poland Hill with radio on, I anticipate the break of the tree line. Surely, it will come! And it does... A haze with colored fractures shooting through over barren fields sandwiched between forested groves protecting the mist from quick evaporation. Ahhhh....So beautiful! So soft! So lingering of the night's presence before day takes over.
Seriously though, if you want an early morning inspiration, just cruise out that way. It's worth it! You'll feel like you are in a postcard with a psalm at the end. :)

Evacuation

I went to training today in Indy. Frankly, it was less than helpful. Other than learning compared to other programs we're doing great and listening to everybody complain about the changes for 2009-2011 service contracts with the state, I really was left wondering if it was worth it. I'm hopeful tomorrow will offer solutions to my running list of supervisor questions I willingly slapped on a piece of large, poster paper and gave to the trainers.
But, by far, the highlight occurred around 3 p.m. Sitting in a room with 20 other professionals trained in crisis intervention, we had our own mini crisis event! Right at the downtown Government Center of Indianapolis to boot! We're sitting and discussing the importance of 24/7 availability when.....BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! over a speaker system.
Trainer 1 questions: "What is that?"
Trainer 2, laughing: "It's a bomb!"
pause....more....BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Finally a voice, too automated to be the voice of God, declares, "There is a serious danger present on your floor of the building. Please proceed immediately to the nearest stairway and evacuate the building."
This message continues to be repeated as we and several other hundred people file past the Indiana State Police and metal detectors.
After 10 minutes or so, we were all shuffled back into the building.
No word on what the evacuation was for only reports it had been occurring frequently.
As we filed out, I told my colleagues, "Well, I guess I know what my next blog is about."

Same Spot?

Does anyone else wear out holes in the same spot on jeans?
And, do you wonder why they always appear in the same location on your jeans?
I mean, what is that about?

Out with the Old...

I was so excited Thursday morning. It was to be a crisp fall day and I was rummaging through the closet to revive an outfit nested away from last winter. I found my black and white plaid pants that are just a bit too long. No problemo! A shoe with a heel would remedy this dilemma and the fall dressing festivities could continue. What did my little eye spy but a substantially heeled, black patent leather pair having be unused since last winter too! Yippie! I discarded thoughts on having to deshoe everytime I would go through the metal detectors because I really wanted to break out the patent leather. They would provide just the right amount of extra confidence to withstand my 11+ hour day.
Well, I arrived at work, set up tasks for the intern, and began 3 supervisions. During the second supervision, I looked down to realize my patent leather shoes were...cracking.
"Bummer," I thought, "Another keeper that has wore it's way to the discard pile." Out loud to my coworker I lamented, "Oh no, my shoe is cracking! I suppose it's only right. I have had them since 7th or 8th grade. There over 15 years old."
"15 years old? Wow, that's something." I thought. "I'm going to miss them."
Throughout the day, I continued to look down to see the cracks converging and the leather starting to peel away from the sides of the toe.
"Please hold up," I thought, "I do not have time today to go home to get new shoes. It's a good thing isn't not raining or my feet would be wet with these holes emerging."
While with my 6-7 year olds, I shared my shoe problems to which they promptly solved my problem reporting, "Go buy new ones."
I replied, "But I like these just the way they are."
6-7 yo's: "So buy new ones just like it."
Me: "I can't there over 15 years old."
They still didn't get the concept of I can't replace them.
By the time I finally left the office, whole sections of the toe area were missing chucks of leather which fell off in scattered clumps on the carpet.
As of today, the shoes are in the trash. No need to try to make them last. They have done well...may they rest in peace.
And, note to self,
1. check shoes before leaving the house for cracks.
2. discard shoes prior to age 15.

Too Old to be Alive?

Have I mentioned how fun it is to be co-facilitator for a kids' group? (Actually I refer to myself as Laura, my coworker's, wingman) Well, it is. Since I don't have my own families at work anymore I miss some of the funny kid moments, but Thursday night is the night to make up for it. Here's part of tonight's conversation...the debate was about age.

7 yo female: "25!!! If I was 25, I'd be dead!!!"

All other 6-7 yo's: Laughter before debating and challenging each other to over 100.

Clearly, I should be grateful I've made it past 25. Now, it's just one foot in the grave from here on out!