Blessings 4/29/10

1.) A great dinner with awesome clergywomen
2.) Having someone say yes!
3.) Good conversations about moving
4.) Getting a bluetooth for my car
5.) Laughter
6.) Not having to get up too early
7.) Sunshine
8.) Walking around Barnes & Noble
9.) Good support
10.) Authenticity

Blessings 4//28/10

1.) Deleting some things off my calendar
2.) Another good day of training for NCD
3.) Spending the day with colleagues & friends
4.) Taking a walk
5.) Unexpected time to breathe
6.) Having food in my fridge to eat
7.) Going to bed early
8.) Rethinking through June worship
9.) Having an awesome secretary!
10.) Tying up loose ends

Blessings 4/27/10

1.) Dinner with a group of colleagues/friends @ my house
2.) Eating a good, healthy meal
3.) Good training on Natural Church Development
4.) Being asked to be interviewed by one of the teens in the church
5.) Sunshine
6.) The smell of grass being freshly cut
7.) Good conversations
8.) Being stretched
9.) Laughter
10.) Random phone calls

Blessings 4/26/10

1.) Having dinner with my grandparents tonight
2.) Listening to music in the car
3.) Waking up to sun shining
4.) Being able to get around a big hospital
5.) Friends who talk to me during long car trips!
6.) Warm water to take a shower
7.) Zyrtec
8.) My water bottle still being cold after being in my car for a couple days!
9.) My cats playing sweetly with each other
10.) Time to breathe & reflect

Professional Audience Member

When I was on vacation in CA, I was fortunate to be a part of 3 studio audiences...It was awesome! Chelsea Lately, The Ellen Show, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. They were all great for different reasons.

Chelsea Lately-- I love this show and I would love to see her live at some point. This was a really laid back atmosphere and Ross Matthews was on the round table! I love Ross! This was the second show that they filmed the day I saw it...But Chelsea still signed my book!

The Ellen Show--A really positive environment-- all of the people who helped us get to the stage were really friendly and positive, even the ones who only helped us cross the street. Went by way too fast!

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson--I've seen this one before and it was fun and this time was better than the last! Craig was funnier and interacted more with the audience both on an off camera.

So, some tips for those of you who may want to be a part of the studio audience--

1.) Even if you have tickets, you are not guaranteed in....The call time is the last possible time that you can get there, but you should get there early. We got to Chelsea Lately about 45 min early, but about 6 after us was the cut-off...

2.) Make sure that you have access to email or call to check on call times/last minute info...The Craig Ferguson show moved their call time up a half an hour and didn't have any parking available when we were there...Fortunately, they sent me an email letting me know about these things otherwise I would have been sad!

3.) Dress appropriately-- listen to what their dress code is...But, the nicer that you look the better possibility that you have of getting better seats....For some shows it doesn't matter and the VIP seats are reserved for VIPs, but at the Craig Ferguson Show, some of the folks who didn't get to see Dancing with the Stars came over to see Craig and were dressed up (as Dancing with the Stars requires) and a few of them got better seats because they were fancier...

4.) Bring a sweater/jacket-- most studios are cold and even though you're not there for all that long, it's long enough to be cold!

5.) Be prepared for any weather--You will probably have to stand or sit outside at some point, so be prepared for the weather. At Chelsea Lately, we were in the sun and there was virtually no shade or a place to sit down. At Ellen, while we were underneath the parking garage for most of the time, just before we went into the studio, it started to rain...Fortunately, we were close enough to the entrance to be able to squeeze in, but not everyone was so lucky!

6.) Bags/purses--Some studios are more strict than others about the size or if you can bring a bag on the lot...Pay attention! Security doesn't really care if you see the show or not-- it's not their job to make sure you're entertained, it's their job to make sure everyone is safe! Also-- almost all don't allow cameras of any kind and you must turn your cellphones off (most don't let you bring them in).

7.) If you aren't a laugher, learn how to be one. Your laughing helps to make the show-- the audience is miked because your laughing is what the home audiences hear. Most of the warm up folks will tell you-- even if you don't like the joke, don't think it's funny, can't hear it, etc....you are to laugh at everything. Occasionally if you aren't laughing and the host can see you, they may point you out either on camera or off and make fun of you.

8.) If you aren't someone who cheers, learn how to cheer. Even if you don't like the host or the guests or disagree with them, if you are instructed to cheer-- you better cheer. A lot of times, you'll be cheering for a long period of time like when announcements are being made or over the top of something else that the TV audience sees that you may not.

9.) It doesn't take that long to film and everyone is on a really tight schedule. Most shows don't do a meet and greet and you don't get to interact with any of the guests/hosts/etc... So, if you want to tell someone that you are their biggest fan, you won't be able to. Get over it.

10.) Be polite and friendly to everyone and look like you have tons of energy. Sometimes pages help seat the audience or the security are helping to make sure people get in...If you're rude to someone it could cost you a seat in the audience or a good seat in the audience...On the other hand, it could help you get a better seat!

11.) Have fun! It's really a blast and so much fun to see how TV gets made! It'll give you a whole new appreciation for what you see at home!

Blessings 4/16/10

1.) Getting home safely!
2.) Playing with Jonathan
3.) A GREAT youth group!
4.) Getting to talk about my vacation
5.) My brother's sense of humor
6.) Good conversations
7.) Honesty and vulnerability
8.) Cuddly cats
9.) Sunshine
10.) Sleeping with the windows open

Blessings 4/15/10

1.) Getting home safely
2.) My suitcase being exactly 50 lbs!
3.) No one in the seat next to me on the plane
4.) Freshly baked (warmed) cookies on the plane!
5.) Starbucks' tea
6.) Dad picking me up from the airport
7.) Chatting with my mom, dad, & brother before going to bed
8.) Warm weather when I got home!
9.) Catching up on some podcasts
10.) Family

Blessings 4/14/10

1.) Sleeping in
2.) Sitting on the patio to read
3.) Taking it slow
4.) Ordering off the secret menu at In-N-Out
5.) One last trip for frozen yogurt
6.) Making s'mores
7.) Falling asleep on the patio in the sun
8.) Sabbath
9.) A great vacation!
10.) Family

American Idol Top 9 (Redeux)

Well, I still haven't watched last weeks Idol, but I did hear about the judges save! Not sure how Michael actually did last week, but I would be surprised if he was bad enough to go home! Maybe it was too much saturation too early by the Idol producers? Anyway...tonight's mentor is Adam Lambert and I'm not totally sure how I feel about it. Where are the big name mentors that they usually have? Elton John? Barry Manilow? Cher would have been an awesome mentor tonight! But, we'll see how Adam Lambert does!

1.) Crystal Bowersox--Not sure that the background matched the song, but I don't think that is her choice? I loved starting the show out in a Gospel fashion! Crystal always brings it and she has a fabulous voice, but I'm not sure that I see her pushing herself all that much. I totally appreciate that she knows who she is as an artist and she does that and doesn't try and pretend anything...But, I would like to see her do something a little bit different.

2.) Andrew Garcia--Okay, so I like Andrew in theory, but he rarely lives up to it. This was an okay performance, but I was missing energy. I have to agree that it was karoke...I still haven't figured out what kind of artist he will be once he leaves Idol...Any guesses?

3.) Tim Urban--I don't want to like Tim Urban--he ruined a couple of my favorite songs for me and I just don't like him...However, I did really like this performance. There were moments that were a little rough, but overall it was pretty good...I really don't see him winning, but who knows at this point!

4.)Lee Dewyze--I like Lee a whole lot because he also knows who he is as an artist. I think that the extra intensity each week is the spark that Crystal is missing a bit. The vocals were awesome and I don't agree with Kara--he doesn't have to be playful because that's not who he necessarily is as an artist.

5.) Aaron Kelly--He has a great voice, but I just don't see him as a long staying artist...I don't like him totally...I think he just needs some more time to mature and then come back in a couple years. But I do think he has potential, just not right now.

6.) Siobahn Magnus--She has amazing vocals, but I think she's lost how to use them. I can't decide what I will hear her as on the radio. I wanted something a bit higher energy from her. This was not my favorite performance from her...I haven't seen last week's performance yet, but she seems to be relying a little bit too heavily on her fan base from those first performances.

7.) Michael Lynche--Vocally, it was great...But I'm not sure that I liked his take on the song. This is one of my favorite Elvis songs and I think I wanted him to be just a little bit more Gospel-y...It was good, just I'm not sure that it was great. I don't think it's bad enough to send him home though.

8.) Katie Stevens--I still think she sings out of the back of her throat and just not fabulous. I also think that she sings too old for her age. I can see her doing well in the tween market though. I'm not sure that's where she wants to be though. This was a decent performance. I'm just not a fan.

9.) Casey James--Good performance and it was a song that not many people will probably know and therefore not bring about too many comparisons. He could really own the song. I felt like I saw who he is as an artist, but I'm just not sure that it's American Idol marketable. Good stuff, but not too poppy to me.

Bottom 3: Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens
Going home: Andrew Garcia & Aaron Kelly

Blessings 4/13/10

1.) Hanging out with Susan today!
2.) Seeing Craig Ferguson
3.) Laughing
4.) French food at the Farmer's Market
5.) Seeing myself on Ellen
6.) Watching Glee for the 2nd time this week!
7.) Sleeping in
8.) Wearing one of my new dresses
9.) Baked Brie-- so good!
10.) Getting to do just about everything that I had planned this week!

Blessings 4/12/10

1.) Seeing the Ellen show live today!!
2.) Sushi!
3.) Spending the day with family and friends
4.) Taking the Warner Bros studio tour
5.) Not getting too wet in the rain!
6.) Seeing Matthew Morrison on Ellen!
7.) Laughing
8.) Dancing
9.) Breathing
10.) Being

Blessings 4/11/10

1.) Being able to worship
2.) Good conversations
3.) Lazy afternoons
4.) My phone reminding me that I'm on vacation
5.) Starbucks
6.) Reading on the patio
7.) Breathing
8.) Being greeted warmly and remembered
9.) Spending the day with family
10.) Fish tacos

Blessings 4/10/10

1.) Eating breakfast on the patio
2.) Going to the beach
3.) Being overwhelmed and compelled to worship while at the ocean
4.) The diversity at Venice Beach
5.) Delicious food at a hotspot restaurant!
6.) Seeing the screening of Glee!
7.) Taking pictures of some of the cast of Glee
8.) Bob being willing and able to drive to LA in the traffic
9.) Music
10.) Sunshine

Blessings 4/9/10

1.) David Crowder Band concert
2.) Frozen yogurt
3.) Crying at a movie
4.) Conversations that happen while standing in lines
5.) Water
6.) Sleeping in
7.) Sitting on the patio to read
8.) Bishop Tutu
9.) Coffee
10.) Cinamon Rolls with Cream Cheese icing

Blessings 4/8/10

1.) Going to Disney Land!
2.) Spending the day with Kelsey
3.) Dinner with family
4.) BerrySweet!
5.) A gorgeous day
6.) Children's laughter
7.) Adrenaline
8.) Being reminded to take things slow
9.) Sunscreen
10.) Water

Blessings 4/7/10

1.) Seeing Chelsea Lately!
2.) Hanging out with Kristin
3.) Canter's Deli
4.) Yogurtland!
5.) Good conversations
6.) Sleeping in
7.) Being on vacation
8.) Being in LA
9.) Laughing
10.) Family

Blessings 4/6/10

1.) Seeing the school that Kelsey will be attending
2.) Pinkberry!
3.) Walking around in the sunshine
4.) Getting around CA safely
5.) Tacos for supper!
6.) Sitting by the fountain
7.) Laughing
8.) Good conversations
9.) Sleeping in
10.) Breathing

Blessings 4/5/10

1.) Getting to CA safely!
2.) Beautiful sunshine!
3.) The Farmer's Market in LA
4.) Spending time with family
5.) My brother taking me to the airport
6.) Fair Trade Blueberry Roiboos Tea
7.) Being on vacation
8.) Planning out my week
9.) Sleeping on the plane
10.) Catching up on podcasts that I've been putting off!

Blessings 4/4/10

1.) Easter!!!!!
2.) Coffee waiting for me at Norway UMC before the sunrise service
3.) The sun streaming in through the windows during the sunrise service
4.) So many kids in worship!
5.) Being told, "This is the sermon of yours that I will remember forever."
6.) Rob Bell's "resurrection" video
7.) Spending the afternoon with family
8.) Hearing more family stories that I never knew existed!
9.) Mom, Dad, & Matt landing safely from CA
10.) Kelsey planning my day for me tomorrow!

Blessings: Reflection

So, for the last 40 days, my Lenten discipline was to not look negatively on life and to count my blessings. Specifically to count 10 every day. I am so glad that I picked this discipline up, but it was not always easy!

I don't consider myself a negative person and I tend to look optimistically rather than not...But, I was finding especially as I was preparing for surgery that I was not speaking all that positively! Perhaps my sarcasm was actually masking some anxiety I was feeling about the surgery itself (chew on that diagnosis, Dr. Phil!)...Although, I don't know that that's necessarily true, because the truth was that I was more annoyed at the surgery than anxious. Nevertheless, I was beginning to notice a pattern that I wasn't happy with or about and I wanted to do something to change that. It just so happened to come during Lent! What a coinsidence!

Some days it was really hard to find 10 blessings to remember...Sometimes it was because so much happened in the day that I just wanted to share a ton of blessings! Sometimes it was because I wasn't too keen on looking for blessings for the day! And sometimes it was just a matter of deciding what to actually post. Because there were/are blessings for some days that are just too personal or some that I don't want to share with such a wide audience! No offense...It's just that once they're public, they are no longer just mine and I want them for myself...Maybe it's a little selfish, but they're my blessings!

I'm trying to decide how/if I'll continue the discipline publically now that Lent is over. Privately, I will...Maybe an occaisional posting? I don't know. One thing that this did was to get me to post more regularly here, although I would like to pontificate a bit more...Maybe that will be my new discipline for the next 50 days!

Focusing on my blessings was a huge help to my soul and my spirit...more than I imagined that it would be. I think that coupled with some other things have helped to put me in a different frame of mind...One that is calmer and more peaceful. I honestly have not felt this calm in quite awhile! I'm really okay with it. My snarky comments are not nearly as frequent (although still present, because let's face it...if they were gone, it wouldn't be good for any of us.)...

I think in searching out for my blessings, I also found part of my voice to say no. Because I was not only looking for them to happen, but I was also focusing on them. So the things that are not as life giving, I am working on cutting out in order to save my well being. I haven't felt that free in a long time to do this...Perhaps I never have! In any case, I do enjoy it.

Certainly there are other contributions to this newfound outlook, but I have to say that I am happy with so much right now...So, it's much easier to point out those blessings as they come!

Blessings 4/3/10

1.) Getting a major chunk of packing done for vacation!
2.) Getting together with friends and watching a movie
3.) Asparagus
4.) Time for reflection
5.) Going to bed quasi-early
6.) Getting almost all of my laundry done!
7.) Continuing to hear about how well the youth group did for the Good Friday service
8.) Johnny Cash
9.) The smell of a grill
10.) The sound of gentle rain!

Privacy settings

So, I set my privacy settings all kinds of ways for my facebook profile. I hope that doesn't come as a surprise to some of you...I really don't have a problem answering most questions if asked, and while I may blog about things, I don't necessarily need to have everything public. But in my morning reading of my blog subscriptions, I found a site to check out on Susan Isaac's blog about Spokeo.com. I went to my profile page and they had far more information on me than I was comfortable with. So, I will pass on to you how you can delete your profiles as well.


1. Go to spokeo.com: http://www.spokeo.com
2. Type your first and last name in the search bar at the top of the page
3. Locate your profile and click on it (the names are separated by state)
4. When your profile appears, copy the URL from your browser address bar
5. Scroll down to the very bottom of the screen and locate “PRIVACY” in the bottom right corner
6. Click on the “PRIVACY” link
7. Paste the copied URL in the text box
8. Enter your email (you’ll receive a notification email with further instructions)
9. Enter the captcha code displayed to the right of the text box
10. Click the “REMOVE LISTING” command button
11. Go to your email and follow the instructions to confirm deletion

Blessings 4/2/10

1.) The youth group doing an amazing job leading the Good Friday service
2.) Feeling the emotions of the story
3.) Getting my hair done!
4.) Getting some new clothes
5.) Painted toes
6.) Sharing dinner with the youth group
7.) Driving with the windows down
8.) Sleeping with the windows open
9.) Friendly cashiers
10.) Water

Blessings 4/1/10

1.) Karli's dance during worship
2.) Sharing communion with other clergy from the district
3.) Having such awesome help in the kitchen--both before and after the service!
4.) A great Seder!
5.) Catching up with friends
6.) Wearing flip flops!!!
7.) Being able to walk to the grocery store
8.) Holy Week
9.) Johnny Cash
10.) Grace

April Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! The message of Easter is that new life abounds. Through Jesus’ resurrection the fabric of creation is forever changed and we have the opportunity to live in the hope that this change presents. Alleluia! With change always comes anxiety over the newness, but we are on a new adventure.

Many of you have already heard of the new adventure that we will be embarking on in the next few months. For those who have not yet heard it, please hear it now.
It is with a mixture of emotions that I announce to you that on Thursday, March 18th, I accepted an appointment to serve as the associate pastor of Faith UMC in Orland Park effective July 1st.

The conversation around appointment changes began during my yearly interview as each year I am asked to describe my long-range ministry plans. I shared my plans with the District Superintendent looking into the future, without a time frame in mind. In December, all clergy are asked to submit our plans and desire for the next year’s appoint. When I sent my letter in, I indicated that I was open to a move should the right appointment present itself. I was also clear that I was not interested in moving for the sake of moving, but that I would be open to consider an appointment that fit my long range goals. The appointment to Faith UMC in Orland Park fits within those goals.

The decision to accept this opportunity did not come without much prayer and discernment. We have grown together in many ways. I have been blessed to be the pastor of Sheridan-Norway United Methodist Churches over these four years…More than you can ever know. For the love and grace you have showed me, I am truly grateful.

The District Superintendent will be in contact with the chairperson of the Pastor Parish Committee to work in the transition with your new pastor.

While our time together is not yet over, we are nearing a new point. My prayers will always be with you for your continued growth and dedication to the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We are forever connected by the God who creates, loves, redeems, and blesses.

Blessings 3/31/10

1.) Seeing great pictures from yesterday's trip!
2.) Seeing/hearing awesome comments from the youth about yesterday's trip!
3.) Opening the windows to the house
4.) Sharing communion
5.) Good conversations at Bible study--we went off target a few times, but still had good conversations!
6.) Making some plans for vacation next week!
7.) My brother
8.) Walking to the grocery store
9.) My cat curling up to me as I was working on planning worship for the next few weeks
10.) People