How Will You Make Your Cup to Runneth Over?

I've been thinking....I know...uh oh...now what!  Well, I have been thinking and lately I've wondered if we truly need to think of another way to actually "do" church.   I have recently heard several comments from members that have upset me a tad and the one common theme has been "I just don't get filled when I go to church".  While this thinking kind of angers me because my knee jerk response is "What you put into it is what you get out of it", I have to think about new ways we can truly be filled without it always sounding so selfish.  And I still truly believe that if we all put our time and talents (and not just our treasures) into church whether it's worship, fellowship, lay ministries, community outreach, etc.. we will receive much more than we can imagine. 

But the reality is that people go to church nowadays to be filled with warm fuzzies and when they do not feel it, they stop coming, they stop participating, they stop giving.  People do the bare minimum to get by.  Church has become an individualistic institution where we arrive to the building and sit in our usual place and let others do all the work (unless we've signed up for a duty that day).  We walk in and sit down and possibly peruse through the bulletin and when we discover we might be singing a new song that we don't know or not singing our favorite hymn, we're disappointed.  We walk through worship with a disappointed heart.  Then we hear the sermon and since it wasn't maybe what we wanted to hear, we are again, disappointed.  Maybe some days we want people to walk up to us and ask us how things are or in a sense, "mind read" that we need someone to talk to us.  I can tell you that no one is a mind reader (Not even Shawn Spencer from Psych or Patrick Jane from the Mentalist), and no matter how much we'd like to believe it that also includes the pastor.  So, on that note, if you need something, by God, tell someone!  However, no one walks up to you and asks you how you are, and again, more disappointment.  Now you walk out of church not getting your way with anything in today's worship.  You sit and fester about it and decide to complain to others about it or you decide to stop coming for awhile.

Church has become selfish and individualistic for many people.  We have become a consumerist society.  We go church shopping to find the right church for our needs.  We tithe to the church we choose and if the church is not doing what we think they should be doing, we pull our funding.  We stop volunteering for events in the church because we don't like what they're doing or we're not interested in what they do.  If you don't like the produce at one grocery store, you just go to another.  We view church the same way.

I propose a challenge to everyone.  What if we were to walk into church with the intention of filling someone else other than ourselves? What if you woke up on Sunday morning and said to yourself, "I'm going to walk into church and make sure I walk up to someone and ask them how they are doing!", "I'm going to sing every hymn like it's my absolute favorite".  You never know, the song you are singing might not be your favorite, but maybe the person sitting next to you desperately needs to hear this message.  Sing out and participate in filling someone else!  So, the sermon isn't exactly what you wanted to hear.  Take notes and really reflect on one or two points of the sermon that jumps out at you.  Ask the pastor questions about it.  Ask one another.  Maybe the message in the sermon rang true for someone sitting in the back row.  Be there for them to help them be filled with the message.  You might end up being filled and you don't even know it!

If you know of someone who has an idea or wants to organize an event, instead of saying "That's a good idea....I won't come because I don't want to, or don't care about that, or better you do that, than me", say instead "I will go to support you in your ministry!".  "I see that this is important to you and I will support you in this ministry or event, or potluck or whatever it may be."    I see, too often, that people will not verbally shoot down people's ministries.  They shoot them down by not being there and showing support.   To me, that's worse than telling someone you won't come.  We had a member work really hard to purchase equipment for us to start a Sat. evening worship service.  And when we had all the equipment and we had the service sorted out on power point, the day came to start it and only 3 people showed up (and that included myself and the pastor and it didn't even include the person who wanted to start this project).  Each week on Sat. evening no one showed up.  The "if you build it, they will come" mentality is dead.  It doesn't work.  You HAVE to have members come and truly support this ministry.  Just leaving it for someone else to do it will not help any ministry for outreach or spirituality or worship, etc... successful. 

We have to really be in it for each other in order for anything to be successful.  Not just the same 10% of people that show up for everything.  Eventually, even those people get tired and there is no one around to fill them up again either. 

I challenge you to go to church (or to work or any function that you may be attending this week) and go for others.  Be there for others!  Support others! Don't think about how much you are or aren't being filled.  Think about how you can fill others today, tomorrow, each Sunday.  What you put into it is what you get out of it! I bet that when more and more people let go of the "me mentality" and start showing care and concern for others, with no expectations of receiving anything in return,  we will then truly receive the greatest reward and that our cups will runneth over. How will you make your cup to runneth over?

My Happy Place

A little over a year ago, I found my happy place.  When I'm getting a massage or at a spa party and someone says to go to my happy place, I go to someplace unusual and uncommon to most happy places.  And recently, I find myself going there more and more.  I've had lots of stress in my life as of late and I feel I almost need that happy place every day now.  When most people day dream of their happy place, they envision oceans, beaches, cool breezes, solitude, but not me.  When someone tells me to go to my happy place I envision crowds, smells of baked goods and desserts and the sound of ragtime music.  As I make my way down the street I hear laughter of kids squealing with delight (or screaming their heads off depending on the time of day).  I hear people talking about their game plan of how to tackle the day.  As I continue strolling, I turn to the right to the Market House where I smell freshly ground coffee and the sounds of the early morning.  Old fashioned telephones are situated in the market house to enjoy the old time conversations of party lines.  Conversations of no importance tie up the party lines and it brings giggles to the people eavesdropping.   I make my way through the line, conversing with the people around me, who are at first, total strangers but within minutes become friends on the journey.  The smell of the coffee is getting stronger now.  I'm now the next person in line and order my medium coffee with a touch of room for cream and Splenda.  I saunter over to the condiment counter and doctor up the coffee.  Sounds of main street music, bells and horns of the main street vehicles and the clippity clop of the horse drawn cars waft in as I get lost in stirring my coffee.  I make my way out to the umbrella patio tables and chairs.  Shade is plenty in this little hidden treasure.  The fruit cart hides the area away from the hustle and bustle.  The caffeinated beverages warms my throat all the way down to my toes.  I close my eyes and enjoy every sound, smell and taste of this place.  All of a sudden I hear an out of tune piano playing up in the second story window.  A woman is giving a piano lesson.  Then in another window, a man starts yelling because his shower is too cold and we get to hear his morning routine of gargling and singing in the shower.  There is a dentist drilling on a patient in another window.  It's fun to hear the soundtracks play in those second story windows.  Time slowly passes by with each sip of my coffee as I watch people rush to the many lands offered to each guest.  I am totally and completely content with people watching.  I smile knowing all the fun that awaits once the coffee cup is empty.  I pack my coffee receipt away. I remind myself to remember and save the coffee receipt, as I get free refills all day. 

Anytime I want to relive my morning ritual in this happy place, I can do so.  And I'm off to be the kid at heart that I always know is waiting to escape.  I've been blessed to be able to be at my happy place twice in 12 months and I hope, one day soon, I'll get to go back. But for now, I can relive the memories when I freshly brew my own cup of coffee and sip the warm yummy beverage from my favorite Snow White mug, play the Main Street music on my iPod, and go to my happy place-The Coffee Spot on Main Street, USA in Disneyland, Anaheim, California.

I hope you all have a happy place that you can go to when things get stressful.  Take time away from all the madness in your life.  Find little memories and mementos to remind you and you can travel to your happy place anytime you want.  I hope you all can go visit you happy places sometime soon, in person, but in the meantime, have fun creating your happy place and visiting your place often. 

The Battle of Endo

Yes, the title sounds like an episode from Star Wars.  Unfortunately, there aren't cute little Ewoks running around in this battle.  As some of you may know (and some of you may not know) last July, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis.  It's actually a very common disease in women and the symptoms vary with each person.  One of the main symptoms is infertility. So, I've been coming to terms with not being able to have kids (physically).  Some days are better than others.  I guess today isn't really a good day, since I actually want to blog about it.  There are definitely other options that we're looking at and adoption is top on the list.  Fertility doctors and in vitro procedures are too expensive for a pastor and secretary's pocketbook and with my prognosis, it might not really be worth the try, pain and heartache to do those procedures. 

But the main reason I'm even blogging about this is for many of you to know about this disease.  As of now, there is no cure.  None.  But there are ways of healing and ways of keeping some of the symptoms at bay.  Symptoms run from moodiness, PMS-like symptoms (but sometimes about 10 times worse), infertility, digestive problems, headaches, anxiety, lower back pain, fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, and many other symptoms linked with our reproductive organs.  Also, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is more common in women with endometriosis, as well as, Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  We don't know how a woman gets Endometriosis, although it could very well be genetic.

So, what is it?  Ok, I'm going to get a tad graphic here, but it's my daily life and it's something I deal with all the time, so it's just what I live with on a daily basis.  Basically, the lining that a woman sheds each month (which is normal for all women) but for women with Endometriosis, the lining ends up going through her system and that lining adheres to other organs in the body, causing lesions, pain and sometimes ruining the reproductive organs.  The Dr. that performed my surgery (which determined my diagnosis) found this lining even in my hip, as well as my ovaries and uterus. 

Ok, what can be done?  Well, there are lots of artificial and sometimes harmful ways to alleviate the pain.  One type is a hormone shot that was actually created for men with prostate cancer.  Um. No thank you. There are types of surgeries that can be done, but some women go through life having many surgeries in their lifetime.  I'm learning a lot about diet and herbal supplements, massage, acupuncture, that can possibly benefit in the healing of symptoms of this disease.  There are a lot of foods I should and shouldn't eat to help with a lot of my symptoms.  And while it's hard to do, it can become a matter of quality of life vs. a miserable daily life.

Did you know that it is estimated that over 70 million women suffer from Endometriosis.  It is more common than breast cancer or AIDS and despite the amount of women who have this disease, not many people know about it and there is still no cure.  On one of the more popular sites (www.endo-resolved.com) dedicated to Endometriosis, it says "Endometriosis is serious. It is affecting millions of women around the world. It is not simply disrupting women’s lives, it can be devastating for most women. It affects her health, her quality of life, her possibilities of having children, her income earning potential, her emotional well-being, her relationships, her sex life, her economics if she lives in a country where she has to pay for treatment, her social life; in essence it affects her entire life."  I also have a friend, Melissa, in New Zealand who has a blog full of information and hope for women who suffer from Endometriosis.  Check out her blog: www.cureendometriosis.com

So, it's a lot to take in.  It's a lot of information.  It's sometimes too much for me to digest on some days.  And it's also important to shout it from the roof tops to make people aware that this is out there.  You never know, it might help someone in the long run that you know about this disease.

Remember to be kind to one another and live life to the fullest.  Don't take each other for granted and live in every moment! 

Life in an ABBA song

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

Some of you are too young to know or care about the Swedish Pop Group, ABBA.  Some of you danced to the remixes of Dancing Queen and Lay All Your Love On Me (Erasure and Tribute cds) in college and some of you danced in the living room to their 8 Tracks.  Ya, I said it!  8-Tracks!!!  When I hear an ABBA song, memories flood my brain.  I am instantly happy.  I sing along.  Happy.  I secretly dance while vacuuming, as I have my iPod running the entire ABBA box set.  Contentment.  Who would have thought cleaning the house would be this much fun?

There are songs about happiness and love and heart-break and sadness; fun, memories, friendships, dreams, and all the good stuff that a song can possibly contain.  One of my favorite movies of all time is Muriel's Wedding.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!  It's about a young girl, who saw herself as nothing, was told she was nothing and believed it, but through a friend, some gumption and her ABBA songs, she found out who she was (through thick and thin).  "Mamma Mia", the musical, has been out since 1999 and as we've seen in the musical (and recently in film), life can truly be told in an ABBA song.  Some people may say that life should be more than just a song, but even the most simple songs have so many intricacies.  The words, the melody, the harmonies, the bridge, the intro, the instruments all weaving together to produce a sense of happiness in the soul.    

"Standing calmly at the crossroad, no desire to run.
There's no hurry anymore, when all is said and done."

So, (if you're an ABBA fan) what ABBA song tells a story in your life?  Break out the old LPs, or cds, iTunes library, or if you're a die hard, pull out the 8 track and find your favorite ABBA song.  Play it. Play it Again.  Sing at the top of your lungs.  Smile and be happy that something as simple as a song from a 70's pop group can flood your mind of memories and you can find life again in an ABBA song!  I've always related to "Thank you for the music".  My life is in this song and I turn around and thank ABBA for all the music they sang and wrote.  I will always be a fan and always see my life in an ABBA song.

"I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
'Cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me"

The Knitting Conundrum

During the Summer months I have all my skeins of yarn staring at me from various places in my house.  They're hanging out of baskets, or my knitting bin and even the guest room closet....just sitting there softly whispering to me....knit with me, knit with me, knit with me.....but I have excuses.  "It's Summer, my yarn friends.  It's too hot and I have vacations to do and friends to see." 

Well, now it's the Fall and very soon to be Winter (as they are even predicting snow this week), UGH!!!  But, now here I sit, staring back at the yarn.  I had so many plans to knit.  Knit hats, scarves, lap blankets, prayer shawls for Christmas gifts and now it is almost 2 months until Christmas and I'm not that fast at knitting.  I don't even think Wonder Woman could knit fast enough to finish all the projects I wanted to accomplish before Christmas.  I do this to myself every year.  It's like a broken New Year's resolution.  Every single year, I say, "If I start projects in January and knit until Spring, I'd be done.  But I don't.  I feel like a Christmas shopper on Christmas Eve.  If only I fly to Australia during our Summer (because it's Winter there) and knit all Summer and then fly back and finish up the knitting on time.  Then I won't have yarn whispering to me during the heated Summer months and I won't be looking at the skeins guilt ridden because I haven't paid them any attention.

So, the solutions are as follows:  1.  Knit like a mad woman.  Night and day and get them all done.  2. Pick only a couple of the projects and knit.  3.  Knit all the easy ones and see where I end up on time or 4.  Knit nothing and start the "New Year's resolution" syndrome all over again.   I think I will end up working with a combination of 1 and 3 and go from there. 

I love to knit and I want to knit more but I just make up all these excuses not too.  Sometimes knitting is intimidating.  It might be crooked.  I might skip a stitch and look like it has a whole in it.  The colors I pick might not match and it looks more like a 70's blanket.  Sure, there are many excuses, but I have to suck it up and knit.  Just pick up the needles and knit.  Just pick a project and not be afraid of it and knit.  Knit! Knit! Knit!  We'll see how this little pep talk of mine does, but it is, indeed, my knitting conundrum.  Happy Knitting to all of my fellow knitters and may your needles work with ease and your yarn keep untangled!

The Amazing Race

The new season of the reality show "The Amazing Race" started tonight and I'm really excited that the show is back on.  I wouldn't say that I'm a reality show junkie (although 2 out of 4 of my blogs are about reality shows) but there are a few that I wouldn't touch with a 10 ft. pole, but this is, by far, my very favorite.  Yes, there is some greed involved (what reality show doesn't revolve around that?) and some bickering and arguing (mostly within the teams of two) but the Amazing Race, in my opinion, brings something different to the table.  This game takes us around the world where we get a glimpse of cultures, traditions, world history, eclectic music, ethnic foods and the power of teamwork, family and perseverance.  We watch teams of two overcome fears, stereotypes, family dynamics, frustrations and games of strength, wits and endurance and when a team is eliminated from the race they share their experience of a lifetime, their reactions of how the race has changed their lives and what truly matters in this life.  Funny how a reality show that is aired for one hour each week is a conduit to remind people of what is really important. How navigating through other countries, getting out of your comfort zones, teamwork, patience, calm attitudes and the ability to follow the rules can change someone's life.  But it does.  Sure, they show the frustrations, the arguments, the temper tantrums, the back biting, but the Amazing Race has a good way to not dwell on that as some of the other reality shows might do (because of ratings, etc.).

I always imagine myself on the amazing race. Kind of like a "what if" scenario.  It would be so cool to travel to this place or that place, or I might say, there would've been no way I could have accomplished that challenge.  But I'm still able to pull some of the valuable lessons from the Amazing Race and use it for my own "Amazing Race" aka: Life.  I can still use many of those traits that I see on the show within my daily life; at work, at home, at church.  We can make our daily lives "Amazing", so to speak.  I know that might sound corny, but it's true.  Most of us won't be able to compete on a show like "The Amazing Race", but we can take all of what we see and apply it right now. 

At work, you have teamwork and problem solving that can be used.  At home, you have those around you who you love and appreciate and should cherish each moment and make memories and you don't have to travel around the world to do it.  Stop and take a look around you and wonder in the gifts and and the abundance that you have right now.  At church or any other avenue of faith, religion and spirituality, there is the test of comfort zones, from sitting somewhere different, (I know that's a stretch, huh?) to introducing yourself to someone, to singing a new song that you're unfamiliar with, to enjoying the community you currently visit each week.  We can recognize the strengths, gifts and talents of each person and appreciate all of that abundance right in front of our noses and use those to bring good to each other.

While it would be wonderful to have that opportunity to race around the world and experience all that is "The Amazing Race", we can experience some of that right now and create a life that can be truly "Amazing".  Just stop a moment, take a look around, love those around you, make memories now (don't wait) and know that you are capable of amazing things in your life, right here and right now.  I love this quote from Mother Teresa "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."  If we could concentrate on that concept at home, work, church, community and every where we may go, what an wonderful world this could be (just like the song).  That would truly be "Amazing"!!  So, go out and live your Amazing Race! 

The Crockpot Connection

I think I've gone wild with my slow cooker this weekend.  I've cooked two meals and I have enough leftovers for a week or more.  What is it about the slow cooker that I'm attracted to?  Is it the fact that I love comfort foods simmering away all day and dinner is ready when I come home?  Is it that I love finding new ways to cook different dishes but I don't have to worry too much because I dump it all in the slow cooker and let it cook all day? Do I fall in love with my crockpot all over again when the weather gets chilly and crisp?  The answer is Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!  I'm a sucker for easy recipes, and to have a "fairly" no fail recipe to prepare and all I have to do is to cut up or plop in some frozen meats or veggies and spices and herbs and put the lid on the slow cooker and set it to low, I will have the satisfaction in knowing that what I'm going to make is going to be delicious.  It's one pot to clean and there is most always leftovers for lunch.  I'm not a huge leftover fan, but the crockpot dishes.... I LOVE the leftovers.  I even have recipes to make breads and desserts in the crockpot and while I haven't tried those recipes yet, I'm not far off.  I have recipes for appetizers, drinks and side dishes too. 

I have to admit, I'm not a great cook.  I can't create dishes on the top of my head and I don't really know what flavors go with what and I'm notorious for burning or forgetting an ingredient.  With the slow cooker, the recipes and directions are fairly easy and we end up eating a delicious meal.  I feel good that I can cook something.  Plus with our busy schedules, I load up the slow cooker in the morning and when I come home I switch it to warm and it's ready when we're ready to eat.

So, I sound like I should be on QVC trying to sell you a slow cooker (and if they were to call me up and pay me, I'd do it) but I was just so happy to eat yummy, healthy and delicious meals this weekend that I wanted to share my accomplishments, however small they might be.  If you are looking for some good recipes for your slow cooker as the Fall and Winter seasons approach, Betty Crocker has a lot of great recipes.  Also, Stephanie O'Dea author of the book "Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking" has some fabulous ideas that are healthy, east to make, gluten free (although you can use the regular ingredients if you are not gluten resistant) and the recipes are some what inexpensive.  She will be coming out with a new cookbook in late December and I can't wait.  She also has a blog where you can get some of her recipes:  crockpot365.blogspot.com .  McCormick's also has a slow cooker packet/recipe line and the packets I've tried have been great.  There are easy ways to make dinner now a days, but with the slow cooker, you can have the best of both worlds.  You can use healthy ingredients, herbs, spices, frozen, fresh or canned veggies, frozen or fresh meats, low maintenance preparation and directions and a tasty meal that has been simmering all day and when it's done the meal fills our bellies with warmth and nourishment and comfort.  We can all use that from time to time.  Oh, and a slow cooker recipe is great when you have family or company over.  You will be able to spend more time with family and company and you won't have to be stuck in the kitchen all day, or you won't have to spend a lot of money going out all the time either.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my slow cooker experience and I'll be posting about my great kitchen buddy, the crockpot, from time to time.  It makes me happy and confident in my not so great cooking skills.  I'm not afraid of my slow cooker anymore.  Dare to slow cook.  Connect with your slow cooker, connect with your inner chef (though simple it may be, like mine), connect to friends and family through comfort food, and you can even connect with your healthy side.  It's all in the Crockpot Connection..  the Lovers (of good food) the dreamers (of cooking a decent meal) and me (a Crockpot chef).