TGIF

Thank you God for Friday. Thank you for the end of a work week. Thank you for the privilege of having a job when so many people in America are unemployed. Thank you for having a job that brings me joy and that brings honor to your name. Thank you for work that makes a difference in people's lives.
I know that there are some days, even some days this past week, when I felt like I was just spinning my wheels. I wondered if I was really making a difference. It feels like there is so much more need out there than I or Habitat are able to address. There are so many people in TriState Habitat for Humanity's service area who will sleep tonight in some deplorable conditions. It honestly overwhelms me at times God.
Remind me that I am not Superman and my job is not to rescue everyone. You already sent a Savior to the world. My job is to trust in Him and in your unending grace. My job is to use the gifts that you have given me to serve families living in poverty in the best way that I can.
Thank you also God for a week that marked a milestone in my parents' marriage. It's hard to believe that they have been married for 47 years. When half of all marriages end in divorce, their love and relationship has endured. I'm grateful for the example of the love that my parents have displayed and lived out in their lives.
God, help me to find rest and renewal this weekend. I feel like I need to recharge my batteries. I want enjoy Sabbath time and also some play time. I hope to enjoy this wonderful region to which you have led me in some way. I don't know exactly what that means yet, but I trust that you will guide me.
God, most of all, thank you for your love that remains steadfast. You have led me to this place at this time and it has blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined. I am enjoying my work. I'm a part of one of the most gifted teams with which I've ever worked. I attend a church that inspires me and serves the city in some truly amazing ways. I have a family and friends who love me. I am filled with humble gratitude for your faithfulness in the midst of my life.
Thank you God for Friday and every day that are all gifts from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Feeling Lonely

I'm feeling kind of lonely tonight. I'm not sure what's going on with me. Sometimes it just hits me. I wonder if it's a bit of depression setting in. I got to thinking about friends who live far away. I also was thinking about fun times I had with those friends in the past. I miss being with those friends. I also miss having friends who will spontaneously jump in the car and meet me for ice cream late at night. I haven't developed those kinds of friendships yet.
It's always hard for me to make new friends when I move to a new community. I think it's one of the curses of being an introvert. It just takes longer for me to build friendships than it does for extroverts. I know it will happen but I get impatient. I know getting involved in a small group at my church will help. I also know that just being in the community longer will help me to connect with people. Right now, it's just hard.
The good news is that I know God has some wonderful people out there whose paths I have yet to cross. So, I use times like this evening when I'm feeling kind of lonely to pray for those friends whom I haven't met yet. I pray that God will connect us soon. I also pray that God will allow us to be blessed by one another's companionship in wonderful and lasting ways. I also give God thanks for friends past, present, and future. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

New Phone

Well, I finally did it. I got a new cell phone today. This is a major milestone in my life because this is only the second cell phone that I have ever owned. I got my first cell phone in 2006 in my home town of Mishawaka, Indiana right before I moved to Knoxville Tennessee. The reason that I decided to get a new cell phone was because my old cell phone was having a hard time keeping a charge. I think this might have been what caused my problem earlier this summer when I my phone shut off and I didn't know how to turn it back on.
When I went to the Verizon store today to get the new cell phone, the guy who helped me (who was probably still in elementary school when I got my first cell phone) said, "Your phone is really old." He then proceeded to try to sell me a smart phone with all kinds of bells and whistles. I told him "no." He then showed me their basic phones that were on display in the store. He suggested that I get one with a keyboard for texting and a camera. I told him "no". I then asked him if they had any other basic phone models in stock that were not on display. They had a catalogue and I pointed to some phones and he thought they did have a few of them in the back. I told him I had a $50 credit on my account and I wanted to use that to get a phone and that I hoped that they had phones that would not cost me anything if I used my credit. He went into the back stock room and emerged with my new phone. He told me that I would not have to pay anything for this if I used my $50 credit and that I could walk out of the store with a new phone. The salesman also warned me that this phone didn't take photos, connect to the Internet, or have a flip out keyboard for sending texts. He said it was just a "plain Jane phone." I told him that it sounded perfect.
So, I've spent the evening reading the manual for my new phone. I know. Most people just know how to use their phones and never even unwrap the manual but that's not how I'm wired. I like to read the manual and learn all of the little tricks to operating new phone. Of course, there are very few little tricks because by the rest of the world's standards, I am now the proud owner of the world's most boring phone.
In spite of the fact that I am really excited about my new phone, I also will miss my old phone. I may try to donate my old phone to the Smithsonian. Maybe they will display it next to Dorothy's ruby slippers.
That old phone has been my communication device with the world for the past five years. I think about all of the conversations I have had with friends and family using that phone. I have laughed deeply and shed many tears while using that old phone. I have heard good news and bad news while talking on that phone. I was talking on that old phone when I was offered the Family Services Coordinator position at TriState Habitat for Humanity. I have renewed relationships with old friends and talked for the first time when people who would become new friends. I have made plans and cancelled plans. I have offered and received words of encouragement on that old phone. That phone traveled with me from Indiana to Tennessee to Ohio. It went with me when I traveled. It has been the alarm that has awakened me every morning for the past five years. It has been a faithful companion and I will be sad to see it go.
I am grateful for both my new phone and my old phone. I am grateful for memories and new beginnings. I am thankful for new technology that will carry me into the next season of my life and journey.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Great Weekend

I have come to the end of a really great weekend. I got a call from my friend Mari to say she made it home to South Bend okay. We packed a lot of activities into our extended weekend. We had a good balance of tourist stuff and down time watching movies. I'm grateful for Mari's willingness to travel all the way here to visit. I'm also grateful for her willingness to put up with me. I am much more tolerable in small doses so Mari's willingness to put up with me for four whole days says a whole lot about her graciousness.
Now, it's back to work tomorrow. I'm hoping there are new applications for home ownership awaiting me when I get back to the office. I also hope we are able to get a family recruitment direct mailing out this week. Along with some extra meetings, it looks like it will be a busy week.
I hope you had a good holiday weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Friday Recap - Part 2

I'm continuing on with my recap of my big tourist day on Friday. After crossing the Ohio River on the Augusta Ferry, we were in the downtown historic area in Augusta, Kentucky and ready for our next tourist stop.

Rosemary Clooney Museum - The Rosemary Clooney House is owned by Dr. Steve Henry, former KY Lt. Gov., and his wife, Heather French Henry, former Miss America (who was born in Augusta). The museum was established to preserve Rosemary Clooney's house, to open it to the public and to house memorabilia from her life and career.

Starting in 1980 Rosemary began calling Augusta's 106 Riverside Drive home. Located on the banks of the Ohio River in historical Augusta, KY, this was her retreat from the demands of her career and a haven for rest between performances all over the world.
The house is a beautiful Federal style home. I think I was most surprised by how small it was. Knowing that Rosemary Clooney owned a huge mansion in Beverly Hills, her house in Augusta was tiny in comparison. The house has just two bedrooms that are not very big. In fact, they have Rosemary's big brass bed in her former bedroom and it took up half the room.

• The house is filled with all kinds of memorabilia from Rosemary Clooney's life including:
• childhood photos from her years in Maysville, KY
• the largest collection of White Christmas memorabilia anywhere in the world
• costumes worn by Bing, Bob, Vera, and Rosemary, as well as sketches by Edith Head and Bob Mackie for designs worn by Rosemary including the iconic red dress with white fur muff that Rosemary wore in White Christmas
• building materials from the demolition of her mansion at 1019 Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills

  Our tour guide was a hoot. She talked almost non-stop. She has lived in Augusta for over fifty years and seemed to know all about Rosemary, her family, and career. She shared some behind the scenes stories about Rosemary's personal life and relationships.

The museum also includes a bunch of memorabilia from movies that George Clooney has stared in or directed. His costumes from Up in the Air and Leatherheads are on display as well as a bunch of his movie posters.

You can check out the Rosemary Clooney Museum at http://www.rosemaryclooney.org/index.html

The Parkview Country Inn - After spending time at Rosemary's place, we were hungry and ready for lunch. My friend Roslyn recommended that we try the lunch buffet at the Parkview Country Inn. The Parkview Country Inn was constructed in the early 1800's. The Inn originally included a tavern. The tavern area is now the main lobby and sitting area. The Inn is operated as a bed and breakfast.
The lunch buffet was quite tasty. We even splurged and ordered dessert. I had black raspberry cobbler with ice cream. It was delicious! Over lunch we laughed and visited and Mari and Roslyn got to know one another better.
When we came out of the Inn, we had a little excitement in trying to get out of town to our next destination. They were getting ready for Augusta's Heritage Days Festival and they had the road blocked off by vehicles in one direction and by barricades in the other. We narrowly escaped being trapped in Augusta forever by sneaking down an alley and cutting through a parking lot and then we were on our way.
You can check out the Parkview Country Inn at http://parkviewcountryinn.com/

Maysville, Kentucky - We moved on down the road next to Maysville, Kentucky. Maysville is another beautiful historic river town along the Ohio. The architecture is amazing. I am in awe of how many of the historic buildings had been and are being restored. The downtown area is like stepping back in time. I could hardly take it all in.
According to Wikipedia frontiersman Simon Kenton made the first settlement in the area in 1775 but was forced out by the western battles of the American Revolution. Returning in 1784, Kenton built a blockhouse at the site of Maysville and founded Kenton's Station (frontier fort) at a site three miles (5 km) inland. Kenton met new settlers at Limestone, as the landing place was called, and escorted them inland to his station. In 1786 the village which grew up near Kenton's Station was established by act of the Virginia General Assembly as the town of Washington. By this time John May had acquired the land at Limestone and Daniel Boone established a trading post and tavern there. In 1787 the little settlement was incorporated as Maysville, though the name Limestone persisted well into the 19th century.

Maysville was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. The abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe visited the area in 1833 and witnessed a slave auction in front of the county court house in Washington, Kentucky. Stowe included the scene in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, published in 1852.

I wish we would have been able to spend more time in Maysville walking around the historic district. It's definitely some place that I want to visit again. You can learn more about Maysville at http://www.cityofmaysville.com/

Ripley, Ohio - We crossed the Ohio River again on the William H. Harsha Bridge which is a huge suspension bridge that is quite impressive. Once we crossed the river, we headed west again along the river towards Ripley, Ohio.
Colonel James Poage, a veteran of the American Revolution, arrived in the free state of Ohio from Staunton, Virginia in 1804 to claim the 1000 acres he had been granted in what was then the Virginia Military District. Poage was among a large group of veterans who received land grants beyond the Ohio for their service and freed their slaves when they settled there. Poage and his family laid out the town of Staunton in 1812; it was renamed in 1816 to honor General Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, an American officer of the War of 1812.

The proximity of the river and of the slave state of Kentucky on the opposite shore led to Ripley's role as an early stop on the Underground Railroad, a network of citizens helping slaves escape north to freedom. A number of prominent abolitionists lived in the town in the 1800s, mainly on Front Street near the river, including John Rankin, former slave John Parker, Thomas McCague, Thomas Collins and Dr. Alexander Campbell.
You can learn more about the history of Ripley at http://www.ripleyohio.net/

Rankin House - When we arrived in Ripley, we drove up the steep hill overlooking the town and Ohio River and arrived at the Rankin House. A National Historic Landmark, this was the home of Presbyterian minister John Rankin who is reputed to have been one of Ohio's first and most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad. In addition, he wrote Letters on American Slavery, first published in book form in 1826, and among the first clearly articulated antislavery views printed west of the Appalachians. Letters on American Slavery became standard reading for abolitionists all over the United States by the 1830s. From 1822 to 1865, Rankin, along with his wife and children, assisted hundreds of escaped slaves in their trek to freedom. Located on the Ohio River, John Rankin's home (and Ripley, Ohio in general) were considered one of the first stations on this route of the Underground Railroad. It was here that Harriet Beecher Stowe heard the escaping slave's story which became the basis for part of her famous work, Uncle Tom's Cabin. John Parker, a Ripley abolitionist and former slave who was active in the Underground Railroad, wrote of Rankin, "At times attacked on all sides by masters seeking their slaves, [John Rankin and his sons] beat back their assailant, and held its threshold unsullied. A lighted candle stood as a beacon which could be seen from across the river, and like the north star was the guide to the fleeing slave." (see photo above)
Visiting the Rankin House was like standing on holy ground for me. I kept thinking about all of those who climbed that steep hill in their quest for freedom from oppression. I thought about the Rankin family and all those who risked their lives to help escaped slaves. Slavery is certainly the most vial institution ever conceived and we need to have landmarks like the Rankin House to remind us how far we have come as a nation and that there are still people today longing for freedom in our world.
You can learn more about the Rankin House at http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw14/index.shtml

Parker House - John Parker (1827-1900), a former slave, lived in this house, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, from about 1853 until his death, and from this location planned many rescue attempts of slaves held captive in the "borderlands" of Kentucky. Born a slave in Norfolk, Virginia, Parker was sold at the age of eight to a doctor in Mobile, Alabama. The doctor's family taught Parker to read and write and allowed him to apprentice in an iron foundry where he was compensated and permitted to keep some of his earnings. Persuading an elderly female patient of the doctor's to purchase him, Parker, at the age of 18, bought his freedom from the woman with money earned from his apprenticeship. Parker moved to southern Ohio and around 1853 established a successful foundry behind his home in Ripley. Patenting a number of inventions from his foundry, Parker was one of only a few African Americans to obtain a U.S. patent in the 19th century. Though busy with his business, Parker was also active in the Underground Railroad and is believed to have assisted many slaves to escape from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Parker, who was well-known by regional slave-catchers, risked his own life when he secreted himself back into slave territory to lead fugitive slaves to safety in Ripley. Once the slaves were in Ripley, Parker would deliver them to Underground Railroad conductors in the town, such as John Rankin, who would harbor the fugitive slaves and help them to the next depot on the network. In the 1880s, Parker recounted his life as an Underground Railroad conductor in a series of interviews with journalist Frank M. Gregg. These interviews have recently been edited by Stuart Seely Sprague and published as His Promised Land: The Autobiography of John P. Parker Former Slave and Conductor on the Underground Railroad.
We had a great docent at the Parker House. He really knew all of the history and gave us a complete account of Parker's life. You can learn more about the Parker House at http://johnparkerhouse.org/

After our visit to the Parker House, we headed home. It was a long but really good day full of laughter, good friends, good food, and great American history. I am so grateful to Roslyn for doing all of the research before our trip and for driving us around. It was truly a day of blessings.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Friday Recap

After getting a good night's sleep last night, I am ready to go for another day. I don't know what we plan to do yet. We may just be lazy, watch movies, and try to stay cool.
Here's a recap of our activities yesterday along with some color commentary:

Maple Creek Artisan School - My friend Roslyn said that she had seen a sign for an artisan school and always wanted to check it out. So, on our way to our other stops, when she saw the sign, we turned down the road. We drove down a winding country road through a rather dense forest. I wondered as we drove along what in the world and who in the world could be living back in this woods. I told Roslyn and Mari and I was not really interested in joining some secret cult back in the woods. Who knows how many ticks I might get? After about a mile or so we came to a sign that identified Maple Creek Artisan School. It was a large log structure poised on the side of a hill in a beautiful wooded setting. It looked deserted to me so I just figured we would turn around and get the heck out of there before the cult members woke from their slumber and tried to get us to sample their Kool-Aid. But then we saw the sign that said "gallery". So, we decided to get out and see if anyone was around. The sign said they were open but I didn't see any lights on. We got out of the car and moved up the steep sloping walk to the log building. The whole time I was glancing around wondering if the Blair Witch was going to jump out and try to steal my soul. We walked up on the long porch and still no signs of life. There were some pottery pieces on display on rough hewn tables. They were really pretty and I was now feeling disappointed that we couldn't look at the gallery. I looked in the windows and didn't see any lights on. I moved down the porch to the main door and then saw a light on inside. I didn't think the door would be unlocked. Obviously everyone was tired from the night before when the cult members were out in some forest clearing sacrificing animals to some pagan god they worshipped. I thought it would be better if we got in the car and headed back to civilization. However, when I tried the door handle, it turned. I pushed the door in and it swung open and there was a woman holding a broom moving through the large building turning on lights. I wasn't sure at first if the broom was simply a cleaning device or her mode of transportation. She smiled and greeted us and welcomed us to the gallery.
What a treat the gallery was. They had all kinds of stuff on display. Much of it was from their students and other local artists. There was a lot of beautiful pottery. There were wooden bowls and carved figurines. There were some absolutely amazing pieces of furniture. They had rugs and wall hangings and blankets and quilts. There were paintings and photographs. They had some metalwork and handmade walking sticks. It was a huge display and I had a hard time taking it all in.
We also discovered that they offer classes there. Students are able to sell their works in the gallery. They have a regular pottery class in which students can have their works fired in a regular kiln, a gas powered kiln, and once a year they fire pieces in a wood fired kiln. We got to go down into the pottery studio and see some of the things that the students are currently working on.
The main building was constructed from the wood from two dismantled old barns in St. Leon, Indiana. They had photos of the two barns on display. I could see the wonderful care that had been taken to make these old materials useful again in a whole new way. I was most impressed by this.
The mission of the Maple Creek Artisan School is to provide and maintain a traditional arts education community with a focus on nature, fostering new artists and furthering the heritage of Appalachia. If you would like to check them out on the web and or plan a visit there go to http://maplecreekart.com/index.html

Augusta Ferry - We left the artisan school and were back on the road. Roslyn had shared that we were going to cross the Ohio River via ferry. I was excited about this because I've only ever been on a ferry twice in my life and I just think it is so cook that you can park your car on a boat and sail off across the water. Roslyn said we were going to get on the Augusta Ferry which takes you across river to the town of Augusta Kentucky. Just as we pulled into the dock area for the Augusta Ferry, we saw the ferry pulling away. The ferry was about twenty feet off shore and I suggested to Roslyn that she could still make it if she got up enough speed. She evidently didn't think this was a good idea. Of course we were all disappointed but knew that we could probably keep ourselves entertained for the time that the ferry made a round trip back to the dock. Then, we noticed that the ferry seemed to be moving back to the shoreline. Sure enough, the ferry captain was chugging back to get us. He glided back to the dock, dropped the safety cable, and Roslyn drove her car forward and parked on the ferry. We then were able to get out and stand on the deck of the ferry. The Ohio River is beautiful in this stretch. It's wide and as we pulled away from the shore, I looked back to see the rolling hills and ridge line that runs parallel to the river on the Ohio side. We could also see the town of Augusta as we headed across the river. While it was pretty hot yesterday, there was a nice breeze on the river. The ferry docked on the Kentucky shore and we drove off into the historic downtown area of Augusta.

Augusta, Kentucky - The area was part of a Revolutionary War grant by Virginia to Capt. Phillip Buckner, who first visited here in 1781. Buckner returned in 1796 with 40 Virginia families. The Legislature of Kentucky issued its charter on October 2, 1797. At the request of Capt. Buckner, the town trustees were chosen and Buckner deeded them 600 acres of land on which the city is located.
The city was named after Augusta County, Virginia. The city grew quickly and in 1796 became county seat of the Extensive Bracken County Area. The location was moved to Oxford then back to Augusta then finally to Brooksville in 1839 as county seat. The city was home to five separate schools, one private four public. The most famous built was the Augusta College, which served the entire Bracken area until 1887. The college continued to serve the city until October 31, 1896.
The downtown historic district is beautiful. There are homes (some dating back to the 1790's) that line the street along the Ohio River. There are many Federal style buildings as well as Victorian and Antebellum styled homes.
In the last quarter century, Augusta has been best known as the site of three major films: Michner’s Centennial, PBS’ Huckleberry Finn, and Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers. Augusta is also the home of the Nick and Nina Clooney family, former home of Rosemary Clooney and Miss America 2000, Heather Renee French Henry. Noted Playwright Stuart Armstrong Walker was raised on Riverside Drive and later patented the portable stage and introduced the individual spotlight system used in theatres today.
As we drove off the ferry and along the river front street and looked at the amazingly well preserved historic architecture, it felt like we were being transported back in time. You can learn more about Augusta at their website: http://www.augustaky.com/

To be continued tomorrow. . . . Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Great Day

I had a great day today with my friends Mari and Roslyn. There was a lot of history, laughter, and good food. It's really late and I am tired. I will share more tomorrow. I hope you have a great holiday weekend! Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Vacation Activities

My friend Mari made it into town this morning. We had a nice day. We went to the public library in Hamilton and checked out a couple of movies to watch over the weekend. After lunch we then spent the afternoon at Ikea and a local used bookstore. After eating supper, we took a short walk to burn off a few calories and then settled in to watch a movie.
Tomorrow we are off to be tourists. We are going to meet up with my friend Roslyn. The three of us are going to visit historic sites in the area related to the Underground Railroad including some old mansions where fugitive slaves found refuge after crossing the Ohio River. We also plan to cross the river on a ferry and visit the town of Augusta, Kentucky. From the research I've done, it looks like Augusta is a small river town and has some shops that we will probably wander through. I also discovered that Augusta has a museum dedicated to the life and career of Rosemary Clooney. Also, this is the town in which George Clooney grew up. Who knows, maybe we will catch a glimpse of George wandering the town as he takes a break from his busy film career. I don't think I will hold my breath on this but I guess anything is possible.
It looks like it's going to be a fun day. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Cleaning

My friend Mari is coming to visit. In preparation for her visit, I spent some of this last weekend doing some extra cleaning in my apartment. After doing this, I realized my apartment really needed some extra TLC. While I try not to let it get too out of control, there are just some things I don't like to do.
One task I really hate is scrubbing the bathtub. For me, this is a pain in the neck. I aways have a hard time getting my tub really clean. There always seems to be gunk in the grout that won't come out or soap scum that seems to be fused with the tub itself. Thankfully, we have really good water in Hamilton and there is not a lot of lime or iron in it. In one parsonage I lived in, it took about two days for the toilets to turn orange from all the iron in the water.
In addition, I think I would like my life's motto to be "I don't do windows." Mostly I just keep the blinds closed so I don't have to see how bad the windows are. I don't know how they get so dirty. I could understand it if I had kids putting their hand prints all over them. However, it's just me and I try not to mess with my windows. Cleaning windows when they streak and smear drives me crazy.
I think the household chore I hate the most is dusting. This task just never seems to be done. As soon as something is dusted more dust seems to come from other parts of the world and gather on all of my stuff. I don't know where dust bunnies come from but I wish they would keep on hopping away from my apartment.
One thing about having company is that it does give me an opportunity to do some of this extra cleaning. When it's just me, I don't really care all that much about dust or dirty windows or soap scum on the bathtub. However, when I know someone else is going to see these things, I want to avoid having my guests run screaming from my apartment for fear they may get eaten by a giant dust bunny or need a tetanus shot after they use my bathroom.
I'm grateful to have most of the straightening done already. I still need to do some more dusting, clean the kitchen really well and give some more attention to the sliding glass door. I know it won't be perfect. I also know that Mari won't really care. But I care because for me this is a part of offering good hospitality. So, I'll do my best and keep on cleaning in preparation for what I know is going to be a great weekend.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Good Morning

It was a good morning today. The wall raising went off really well. We had a good turnout of volunteers, family and friends to support the Habitat Partner Family on this very special day as we raised the first walls of their house. The pastor did a great job in his devotional. There seemed to be a lot of energy in the air. It was also great to have the Mayors of Hamilton, Ohio and Fairfield, Ohio present for the wall raising. After the wall raising service, my friend Karen and I went to lunch. It was nice just to visit and catch up with one another.
I continue to feel so blessed at this time in my life. I am ever grateful that God has brought me to this place at this time.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Blessing in Disguise

Earlier this week my email account was hacked. Someone stole my password and started sending out spam to everyone in my contact list. It looks like most of the emails were meant to infect people's computers with viruses if they opened them. Thankfully, I think I now have the problem corrected.
I decided to send an email out to everyone on my email contact list apologizing that they might have received spam from me that could have caused damage to their computers. The wonderful thing was that I have had several email responses from folks that I have not talked to in a very long time. It's been a huge joy for me to check my email for the past few days as I catch up with friends. I have been reminded of so many wonderful people who have crossed my path in life and had a huge impact upon me.
These emails have been a sign of God's grace to me through the relationships that have helped define my life.
So, while I don't recommended having your email account hacked, it can be a blessing in disguise. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

Technology

It should really be illegal for me to own any technology. I have never been good with gadgets or electronic devices. Back when I owned a VCR, I never did figure out how to record programs from the television. I was usually doing good just to keep the clock from blinking.
Today was just another example of why I should not ever own technology. I went to use my phone and I noticed it wasn't working. The clock wasn't showing on the outside. When I flipped it open, there was nothing on the screen. I really wasn't sure what to do. I thought the battery was dead and so I put it on the charger in my car.
I met my friends Vickie and Patty for lunch today and then we went to Ikea. At lunch I asked them if they knew what I might do. Vickie suggested that I take the battery out and wipe it off and put it back in. When I got home, I tried this. When I took the back off, I discovered there was a lot of grit under the back cover. I thought that this might be the problem. I got my can of air out and blew a bunch of that gunk out of there and cleaned the battery off and put it back in. Then - nothing. The phone still didn't seem to be working.
So, I went online to the Verizon website to check out how much a new phone might cost. I really don't have the money right now to buy a new phone but I have a credit on my account that I could put towards a new phone. What I realized is that since I bought my current phone nearly five years ago, phones have really changed. I've seen all of those smart phones that people have and they overwhelm me a bit. I also don't even want to think about the monthly service charges for me. I don't even have a texting plan on my phone. I don't text and I don't like to get texts because they cost me money. If I was going to have to get a new phone, I just wanted one like the one I already had. I just wanted to make calls on it. I did find a basic phone online that looked like it would do the job.
So, I headed out to my local Verizon store. The salesman who was assigned to me asked me how he could help me. I held out my phone and said that I couldn't get it to work. He took the phone from me and asked; "You can't get it to power on?" I said; "It doesn't seem to work." He flipped the phone open and pushed the power button. It was at that moment I realized that I had not bothered to try this. I always have my phone on so I just assumed the battery was dead or the phone was broken. I really don't even know if I've ever turned off my phone. I have put it on silent mode but I don't think I ever turned it off. I guess I must have hit the power button and turned the thing off. "Oh," I said to the Verizon employee. "I guess I didn't try that."
I wanted to run out of the store as fast as possible, get into my car, change my name and address and hope that this incident didn't get posted on some Verizon stupid customer blog. So, instead, I'm posting it on this blog.
The Verizon salesman was very polite and spent some time talking to me about upgrading my phone. I'm sure he was ready to laugh me out of the store but he never showed it. While I'm still attached to my old, outdated phone, I know the day will come when I have to part with it.
I really do like technology when it works and does what I want it to do. However, they should just make these things more simple. Who knew that you could accidentally turn your phone off? Obviously I didn't.
Oh well, I'd better get off my computer before it blows. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Great Day with Friends

Yesterday I had a great time with my friends Patty and Vickie. I drove over to Brown County, Indiana where they are staying for the weekend. We had lunch together. Caught up with one another. Walked around the shops in Nashville, Indiana and then had supper together before I came back home.
It was so great to spend time with them. While I am grateful to be in Cincinnati and doing the work that I am doing with Habitat for Humanity, yesterday also made me a bit homesick for Northern Indiana and the friends that I left behind there. I feel like I need to be more intentional about getting up to Northern Indiana more often.
Yesterday also reminded me of friendships that I have allowed to grow distant in my life. There are some people who have been very important in my journey and I have not spoken to them or spent time with them in a very long time. That makes me sad. I know that's a part of life, but it's still hard for me to accept. I also think that could be better as trying to reconnect with friends whom I haven't talked to in a while.
So tonight, I'm thanking God for the gift of friends and the blessing of their presence in my life. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Road Trip Tomorrow

I had a nice quiet day around home today. I took a vacation day and just did some laundry and some errands. It was nice to just relax a bit.
Tomorrow I'm on the road to Nashville, Indiana. I'm going to spend the day with my friends Vickie and Patty. I have not seen them for quite some time and I am really looking forward to it.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Great Games for 4th of July picnics

Great Games for 4th of July picnics
Happy 
birthday, 
America!
Are you hosting or attending a 4th of July barbecue, picnic or party? 

Want some fun games and activities to rally the crowd? Try these super sports and patriotic party playtimes for Fourth of July fun.
Games to Play at a Fun Fourth of July Barbecue -  
What fun Fourth of July patriotic games can you play at your party, barbecue,

Chickens Gone Wild

My friend Sheri sent me this YouTube clip from Sesame Street. I haven't watched Sesame Street for many years but they must have a wonderful writing staff because this skit is hilarious. I love watching the chickens flying around at the beginning. Also listen carefully to the names of the chickens. Attila the Hen is my favorite.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy a little preschool humor in your day. I certainly did. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbkYO96hyeA

Birthday Wishes

I want to extend birthday wishes to my friend Sheri.

Sheri declined when I offered to sing my rendition of the old Chi Chi's restaurant birthday song with her this morning when I talked to her on the phone, so I thought I would share it with everyone now:

Happy, happy, happy birthday!
Happy, happy, happy birthday!
Happy, happy, happy birthday!
To you, to you, to you!
Olé!

NOTE: This is much better live when I sing it dressed in a traditional Mexican costume. :)

Happy birthday Sheri! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Walking Again

My friend Karen and I have started walking again. We took the month of May off and now are trying to walk three mornings a week. We meet at Wal-Mart and if it's hot like it was last week, we walk inside in the air conditioning. If it's cooler like it was this morning, we walk out in the parking lot. Today we walked around Wal-Mart's parking lot and then headed down past Kohl's and then went further on and walked around Menard's parking lot. It was a beautiful morning and I was grateful to be back getting some more exercise in my life.
I have also found that walking is kind of like therapy for me. While I'm not much of a morning person and really don't like to exercise, however, I like having a walking partner because Karen and I can share what's going on in our lives. Sometimes we talk about a movie we saw the night before on Netflix or about something at work. Sometimes we share what's going on in our families. We never seem to run out of things to talk about.
I do feel better when I walk. I feel better from getting the blood flowing through my body a little faster. I also think it helps me to feel better about myself when I get up and moving in the morning. I think it also helps me to have a better day at work. I am not sure why, but it feels like days that start with walking are days on which I have a better attitude and more energy. While today was a typical Monday with all of the craziness that is Habitat, I found myself feeling grateful for starting the day out walking. While I still sometimes grumble about it, I know it's good for me and I know that it helps prepare me for the day.
So, tonight, I'm grateful for the gift that is walking in my life. I'm grateful for my friend Karen who chooses to get out of bed and be my walking partner. I am grateful for cool mornings to walk.
I am also thankful that tomorrow morning is a non-walking day for me and I will get to sleep in. I cherish these mornings as well and the rest that I experience that helps me get through the day.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

My Life Feels So Disorganized

My life feels so disorganized, Holy Spirit. It seems as if everything around me is piling up. It’s not just the drawers that need reorganizing, the kitchen that needs cleaning, or the heap of stuff in the garage that needs sorting—it’s everything:



my daily schedule crammed full of tasks,


my house crying out for a major cleaning


my office with the overflowing in box and stacks of junk—


even my relationships are disorganized.


I feel disjointed, out of control, out of touch.


Bring order into my life. Help me sort through all the things around me.


Help me see what needs to be kept,


what needs to be thrown away,


and what needs to be changed. . . .


O Holy Spirit, even as I say this, I feel fear. I know that things need to change. I know, deep in my heart, that my life’s disorganization is symptomatic of a deeper disorganization.
I need your gentle breeze to blow through my spiritual life. I need your strong wind to sort through the stacks of issues I don’t want to face. I need your quiet presence as I deal with the unspoken prayers, the unfulfilled desires, the unrecognized emotions I have hidden away.
Holy Spirit, come now, in this moment, and in the recesses of my heart, begin the process of organization. Begin to sweep out the dark corners, sift through the crammed closets, and blow through all my dark places. May you blow through my life every day. Through your power, bring order into all the chaos around me. Amen.

- Patricia Wilson, Quiet Spaces

The prayer above was a part of my e-devotional this morning. It was the perfect prayer for me to pray at the start of my day. While I don't have a garage that is full of stuff, everything else pretty much hits the mark. While I have learned some tips along the way to help myself make better use of my time, I still am not an organized person in so many ways.
This disorganization carries over into my relationships. Too often I feel like I am not a very faithful friend, son, brother, uncle, co-worker, or church member. I coast a lot and allow others to carry my relationships too much. I tell myself I don't have the time or resources or some other lame excuse. The truth is, I get lazy and I don't want to make the kinds of accommodations that being in relationship means for me.
There is no relationship that this is more true than in my relationship with God. I am pretty much a weasel when it comes to my relationship with God. I don't want to be inconvenienced or have to go out of my way to live out my faith. I want to always take the easy path. Heaven forbid that I should really take up my cross and follow Jesus. That certainly wouldn't work into my schedule.
The good news in all of this is that God is a God of unending patience and grace. God is always a faithful Father and Friend. God is always ready to listen. God is always calling my name. God continues to call me to a kind of perfect order in my life that is centered around Jesus. In spite of my disorganization and selfish behavior and foolishness, God still loves me with a love that will never let me go. Into my chaos, God blows fresh winds of forgiveness and mercy.
Thanks be to God!
Thank you for being a part of my journey!

New Life

Congratulations to my friends Mike and Diane Wandling! They are the proud parents of Thomas Michael Wandling who was born on May 26, 2011. Congratulations to his sister Audrey, Aunt Sheri, Uncle Ian, Grandma Rendall, and Grandpa Rendall.
Seeing the photo of this beautiful baby reminded me of all that is good and wonderful in creation. Thanks be to God for the gift of new life!
I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I am looking forward to a relaxing long weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!