The Tudors

I've been watching the Showtime series The Tudors through my Netflix subscription. It's been an enjoyable series to watch for me. I love history and have always been fascinated by the Tudors. They certainly put the fun in dysfunctional. This family is so messed up that I think Jerry Springer would think twice before putting them on his show.
Henry VIII was a narcissistic sex addict. At least that's the way this series portrays him. He went into fits of rage that seem to indicate a kind of bi-polar mental disorder. In this later years he was very sick and paranoid. He bent the interpretation of Scripture to his whim and will and took the whole country with him. He changed the world and the church by embracing Protestant ideas but seemed to be motivated by the most selfish of reasons. He was obsessed with fathering a male heir to the throne and in many ways treated his daughters and wives like dirt.
In some ways, The Tudors feels more like a soap opera. I think if someone told me the story, I would think that he or she was making it up. It's unbelievable in so many ways and yet it all really happened. It is the story of the corruption of absolute power. Henry VIII and his family turned England, the church, and the world upside down and in some ways we still live with that legacy today.

I hope you will continue to join me in praying for the East Coast as Irene causes so much damage and impacts so many lives.
Thanks for your prayers and for being a part of my journey.

The Approaching Storm

I invite you to join me in praying for all of those impacted by hurricane Irene. It looks like this is going to be a huge storm that affects millions of people. Please pray for safety for everyone as well as encouragement for those who will be trying to pick up the pieces after the storm has passed.
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

It's Hot!

Today was really, really hot here in Cincinnati. We are under a heat advisory for today and tomorrow. Officially it got up to 96 degrees. The Weather Channel website said the heat index was 110 degrees. It looks like tomorrow will be more of the same.
For a short time the air conditioning went out at our office. I'm not sure what happened but they got it fixed pretty quickly. However, just knowing it was out for that time made me whine. I'm sure my co-workers were ready to strangle me.
I am staying inside and trying to stay cool. I hope you are as well.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Letter from Missouri

I received this letter through a United Methodist email list I subscribe to. The letter was written by Bishop Robert Schnase of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church. I thought I would share his words of hope and call to action with you.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Dear Colleagues,


I give God thanks for every one of you for your many kind emails, voice messages, phone calls, and expressions of concern following the devastating tornado that destroyed much of Joplin, MO. Among those killed were several United Methodists, and every United Methodist Church in the area has members who have lost their homes. All our pastors and church staff are safe. We lost two church buildings, including St. Paul United Methodist Church ( a large, strong, vibrant congregation with an average attendance of close to 1000), and we lost the District Superintendent’s Office. Several other churches and parsonages received more limited damage. The hospital and five of the seven schools in Joplin were nearly completely destroyed.
The Missouri Conference Disaster Response team has been active and effective from the earliest hours, and many of our churches have sent trained First Responder teams. Tom Hazlewood from UMCOR was on the ground in Joplin within 24 hours. Many of you have generously offered funds directly to the Missouri Conference and others have expressed your intention of supporting the UMCOR Spring Storms appeal. All of your gifts are appreciated. In addition many have expressed their active interest in sending VIM teams to the area. Please refrain from doing so during the immediate days ahead since only highly trained and professional teams are on-site at this time. However, we shall covet your help during the weeks and months to come.
The city of Joplin was named after Rev. Harris Joplin, an early Methodist preacher who settled there in 1839. For years, he hosted people in his home and led them in worship, prayer, and singing. His ministry was one of hospitality in the truest sense, and he used his own humble dwelling as a tool for ministry. As far as I know, the building he used no longer exists, but the church community he founded provided the seeds from which dozens of area congregations have sprouted. All of us who are Missouri United Methodists are to some degree the fruit of his ministry.
Tornadoes and hurricanes and floods and fires can take away our beloved and sacred places in a moment’s time, but the love of God that binds us to another is not nearly so vulnerable. God’s persistent and persevering love causes us to reach out to help a neighbor and to embrace strangers and to assist one another in the rebuilding of lives. The church is not the pile of lumber and bricks left after the destroying winds and rains; the church is the gathering of people standing above the rubble unified by the spirit of Christ to love and serve others. The church is the people counseling one another through unfathomable grief and loss. The church is people risking lives for their neighbors and opening their homes to strangers. The church is people across the state and nation and world praying and giving and preparing to offer their best and highest in service to help rebuild lives. The church is alive and vigorous and redeeming. It is grace in every gesture and love in every action. The church is the body of Christ doing the things Jesus did in Jesus’ name today.
Thanks to you, United Methodists will rebuild in Joplin. On behalf of others of our colleagues whose areas have been affected by tornadoes and floods, I strongly encourage you to lift up the UMCOR Spring Storms appeal. Funds at UMCOR are extraordinarily low right now, and this severely limits our capacity to act quickly and effectively during times of tragedy. Your help is appreciated.

Yours in Christ,
Robert Schnase,
Missouri Conference

A Wonderful Day

Today was a wonderful day! I wasn't sure how it was going to go when I woke up this morning. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night and I had a hard time prying myself from beneath the covers when my alarm clock went off. However, I got moving and thanked God for the sunny cool morning as I headed to Northern Kentucky for the wall raising service for one of our Habitat Partner Families.
The wall raising service was great. We had a lot of people including groups from a local Firestone plant and a Catholic high school. This week is also National WomenBuild Week for Habitat for Humanity International. It's the week when women are encouraged to volunteer with Habitat and participate in our mission of ending poverty housing in the world.
The Partner Family was so excited as we raised the walls. The mother especially got a bit choked up when she was thanking everyone. She offered gratitude to God, to her church, to her family, and to everyone gathered there for helping to make her dream of home ownership a reality. I must admit that I got a bit teary-eyed when she began to speak. I have the humbling honor of knowing a lot more of the details of families' stories and this family, like many of our families, has had a rough road. So, today was a huge milestone and a great day of celebration.
This afternoon I attended a workshop in Springboro, Ohio that focused on how to get published. It was a good class. I think I come away from the workshop feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole idea of publishing my writing. I don't know if I have what it takes to really do it. I enjoy writing but one of the points that the presenter really drove home was that publishing is a business and to get published you have to think like a business person. That is hard for me to do when it comes to my writing. It is very personal and hard to think about like a commodity to be bought and sold. I know that's what the reality is. I just don't know if I have the energy and entrepreneurial spirit to take the next step. I guess this is something I need to really pray about.
I'm really looking forward to attending my church tomorrow. I also am looking forward to spending some time with my family for Mother's Day and my nephew Cameron's birthday.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Busy Weekend Ahead

I am hoping that sometime soon I am going to have a nice quiet weekend with absolutely nothing to do. This will not be one of those weekends. Instead, my weekend is full of activity.
Tomorrow I'm attending a wall raising service for one of our Habitat Partner Families in Northern Kentucky. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate and the rain will hold off in the morning. I am looking forward to this day. This is the first family that I worked with through the entire process since I've been with TriState Habitat for Humanity. We had other families approved or who were already in process when I started with THFH but this family is the first family that I did the initial application review, worked with them to get their application complete, and then finally saw their application approved by the Board of Directors. So, this will be a very special day for me.
In the afternoon I am planning to attend a writing workshop in Springboro, Ohio. The workshop is led by an author who is supposed to take class participants through the steps of getting a book published. I am looking forward to being a part of this. I think some of my writing class participants are going to attend the workshop.
On Sunday, my family has a two big celebrations. Of course, it's Mother's Day and I will get to spend some time with my Mom. Also, Sunday is my nephew Cameron's eighth birthday. It's hard to believe he's eight-years-old. It will be fun to celebrate with him and my family.
I am also really excited to be able to get back to my church. I have not been able to attend for the past three weeks and I really miss it. I am looking forward to the worship service.
I know there are probably a lot of people who have busier schedules than I do, but for me this will be a lot. This is especially true since I would like to just nap and watch Netflix. Oh well. Let the weekend begin! Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Lessons Learned

I'm really tired and sore today but it's a good tired. I also know that I am sore because I accomplished a huge thing in my life. Yesterday I walked the Flying Pig Half-Marathon. I still can't believe it but I really did it.
As I've been reflecting on my experience, I have been thinking about the lessons that I learned throughout this entire process. So, I thought I would share with out some of the things that I learned.

Every Journey Begins with the First Step - This journey for me began last December. My sister Stacey sent out an email encouraging me to sign up to walk in the Flying Pig Half-Marathon. At first, I thought she was crazy. I think I just let the email sit in my inbox for a few weeks. However, I kept thinking about it. On the last day of the early bird registration fee, I decided to go ahead and do it. I had no idea really what I was doing but I decided this is something I wanted to do and really needed to do. It was going to be good for me. So, I took the first step and it forever changed the last four months of my life. Every important thing that I have done in my life began with a first step.

Pain Is a Part of Life - I have experienced new levels of pain in my training and in walking the marathon. My back hurt. My legs hurt. My head hurt. My knees hurt. My feet hurt. Today I'm nursing a blister on the bottom of my foot. The wet weather yesterday didn't help matters. However, what I learned is that you can push past the pain. It's still there. It reminds you of your humanness. However, it doesn't have to defeat you. I nearly had an anxiety attack on Saturday night thinking about the painful big blisters that were going to form on my feet. I also wondered if I was ever going to walk again after I stopped and tried to get out of my parents' truck after the ride home. I was so stiff and in a lot of pain. However, I rested and it is better. What I'm left with in spite of the pain is a huge sense of accomplishment. We all walk around with some kind of pain - emotional, physical, psychological. What we do with that pain makes all the difference in our journey of life and faith.

It's Better If You Don't Have to Make the Journey Alone - I thank God for my friend Karen's willingness to walk with me. Through our training, she held me accountable and helped me to stay motivated. When we were walking and we didn't know if we were going to make it, we lifted one another up. I don't know if I would have been able to do this on my own. The same is true in my life. I am an introvert and I need a lot of alone time to recharge my batteries; however, I cannot mistake my need for alone time as a license to be a social hermit. I need other people to encourage me, love me when I'm not very lovable, and laugh with me. While sometimes you need to walk alone to have time to reflect, having companions can really make a huge difference.

It's Vital to Have Encouragement Along the Way - One of the best things about walking in the Flying Pig Marathon are the different groups who encourage you along the way. There were high school cheerleaders, barber shop quartet groups, Gospel groups, rock bands, and even an Elvis impersonator. I think I most enjoyed the groups of people who just stood in a group and cheered for us and shouted words of encouragement. They told us that we could do it. They told us we were doing a good job. They clapped and whooped and hollered. Then at the end of the marathon, my parents, my nephew Cameron, and my sister Stacey were cheering us on to the finish line while they held up posters with our names on them. It was what I hope heaven will be like. I imagine all of the saints and those who have gone before me in the faith cheering me into the presence of God. Each cheer, each word of encouragement helped me to keep moving forward just as in all of life.

What You Wear Can Make a Huge Difference - I heard on the new last night that a man tried to run in the marathon completely nude. The reporter said that he ran the first mile before he was arrested. Thankfully for everyone involved, I didn't try this. However, I did get some new walking clothes. I got a new shirt that wouldn't soak up the water and keep me cool. I also got a new part of athletic pants. They were were also helpful at keeping me dry. I even got a new pair of special underwear for athletes. I didn't know there was such a thing but they seemed to make a difference. Life can be like this as well. If I would have worn my usual cotton T-shirt and sweat pants they would have been soaked and heavy I would not have been comfortable. My new sports outfit helped me to finish the race and keep me as comfortable as possible.

It's Okay to Take a Break and Rest - I took a vacation day today from work just to rest. I relaxed and rested. I knew that I would need time to recover. I've got a ton of work to do but I knew that I needed time to rest. While I sometimes feel guilty about taking time for myself, it's really important to do. In fact, when I don't take time to rest and relax, I get really grouchy and can't really give my best to the other parts of my life. God rested on the seventh day and gave us the Sabbath to rest and renew. In our 24/7 world, this is hard to remember. However, rest allows us to have the energy to work and produce and make a difference in the world.

Well, I'm sure there are many other lessons I learned; however, I'm not long from bed. I am still tired and it's going to be a long week of work.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Prayers for Tornado Survivors

I've had a really wild and crazy day. I thought I would write about the anxiety-filled chaotic day and then I read this news release from the United Methodist News Service about those communities literally ripped apart by the tornadoes.

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=9371889

So, instead of my usual whining, I thought I would share this article with you and invite you to join me in praying for the people impacted by these terrible storms. My anxiety and personal drama pales in comparison to what so many people across the Southern United States are going through and how we can help.
Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

Off to the Races

As the time gets closer to walking the half-marathon on Sunday, I am feeling really tired and stressed. I'm not sure what's going on with me. I want to be at my best. I want to give the marathon my best. I am taking tomorrow off and hopefully will have an opportunity to rest. However, I am going tomorrow morning with my brother-in-law Rob and his friend to an abandoned storage unit auction. Rob and I are thinking about bidding on a storage unit or two and then you get whatever is in the unit. They don't allow you to go through the stuff before the auction. They open the door and basically you have to bid on the stuff without really looking at it closely. I guess there is a reality show based on people who do this called storage wars. I am thinking about working with Rob to sell stuff on eBay and Craig's List. I'm not completely convinced of this but I am intrigued.
Later in the day my friend Karen, my sister Stacey, and my brother-in-law Rob are going downtown to pick up our marathon registration stuff. Supposedly we are going to get all kinds of free stuff from the marathon sponsors. I am looking forward to that.
Saturday my Mom is making a big pasta dinner for everyone. We plan to carbo-load before the marathon. I am really looking forward to that.
The weather is not looking good for the marathon. It is almost certain to rain. I am questioning if I really want to walk in the rain. Last year my sister Stacey walked in the rain and she got huge blisters on her feet and had to go to the doctor. I don't want to get blisters and I really don't like to be out in the rain. All of my co-workers were encouraging me today to go ahead. I don't really want to walk in the rain but I also don't want all of this training to be for nothing. So, I think I'm in no matter what. I am really glad I took a vacation day on Monday to recover.
I will keep you informed as the weekend progresses. I certainly welcome your prayers. I'm sure it's going to be interesting. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Mudslides and Record Rainfall

I saw on the news today that the Cincinnati area is experiencing a lot of mudslides. I didn't know that this was a mudslide area. I thought they just happened in California. However, as this article in the Cincinnati Enquirer http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110427/NEWS01/104280320 says, the silty soil and the excessive rain are a perfect mix for mudslides. The television news showed roads that had washed away. There is even a church that is in danger of having its foundation washed away.
As of today, we are on course to break the all-time rainfall record set back in 1937. If the rainfall predictions hold true, we will have received over 14 inches of rain in the month of April. Rivers are rising and everything is wet.
I invite you to join me in praying for all of those impacted by all of this rain. There are many who live near rivers whose homes are in danger of flooding. We have some of Habitat homes located in some of these area flood plains. I know those home owners must be feeling anxious.
Thanks for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

Rainy Day

It's been a rainy day here in the Cincinnati area. It's actually been a rainy week. It seems like the monsoon season has hit Cincinnati. The rain meant that my friend Karen and I walked at the mall this morning. We walked six miles which seemed easy after last week's twelve miles. The rain also meant that I have had terrible sinus problems all day. I am not long from bed because I am really not feeling well.
I went over to my sister Stacey's house this evening for dinner. My sister Shelly and nephew Michael are in town. Tomorrow we are getting together for Easter dinner.
That's all for now. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Tardy Trowel

Tardy Trowel(posted for the A to Z Challenge)
T is for Trowel … and Tardy … and Tulips … and Terrible Temperatures!
My trowel is tardy.
Late April in the American Midwest is a truly tantalizing entwining of winter and summer. Honestly, spring is elusive!
Last week, we went from 74 degrees to snow overnight.
My garden is calling.
Buried in paperwork, I peek out my office window to see a robust

A Wet Windy Wonderful Wall Raising

Today we held a wall raising service for one of our Habitat Partner Families in Batavia, Ohio. It rained and we got wet. It was windy and that made it chilly. There were about twenty volunteers from a church in Northern Kentucky along with other volunteers, family, and friends of the Partner Family totaling close to fifty people. Seeing all of these people was a wonderful site. The goal was that by the time everyone left, the four exterior walls would be in place. I'm pretty sure they were going to meet that goal.
I always feel such gratitude when I am able to be a part of wall raisings and house dedications. They are like paydays for me. I get to see families filled with excitement as they take their next steps toward home ownership.
I once again felt proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization. For me, Habitat does what I always wished the local churches I served would have done. We offer direct ministry to and with the poor. We come along side families in need and partner with them to build safe, decent, affordable housing. I can't think of anything that is more life-changing. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing with my life. I am so grateful that God has called me to this place at this time to be in ministry.

A Beautiful Day to Walk

My friend Karen and I decided to walk after work today. I was really kind of tired and just wanted to go home. I have been really pooped since I was sick. However, I am so glad that I took the time to walk today. We walked on the bike/walking path that we walked on several weeks ago. It was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the low 70's. Any hotter and I can't stand it but this was great. The path winds through woods, along fields, under roads, and over streams. It was wonderful.
Karen and I are hoping to walk thirteen miles over the weekend. We were supposed to walk that far last weekend but I was not ready after being sick. I hope I am feeling up to in this weekend. It's hard to believe that it's almost time to walk the half marathon. Time has really flown by. I am ever grateful that I decided to do this. It is going to be one of the great accomplishments of my life.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

- Rainy Days and Mondays, The Carpenters

Today was both a rainy day and a Monday. It was pouring down rain when I went into the office. It was dreary and wet. I began to remember the lyrics of the song Rainy Days and Mondays sung by the Carpenters. The words seem to fit the day and my mood. It was a bit crazy at the office and I still feel like I'm trying to catch up from being sick. The rain kept coming down and I felt like I wanted to go home and cover up with my Snuggie.
I love when a song seems to express all that I'm feeling and all that is going on in my life and heart. The Carpenters were masters at this. I have always enjoyed their music. It was good to remember this particular song and the memories connected to it. I saw myself sitting in the living room of the house I grew up in in Mishawaka, Indiana. I remember the green shag carpeting. I remember the big stereo with the turntable and eight track tape player. I remember the wood paneling and the picture window that looked out across the street to the golf course. I remember rainy days from the past and how I love the rain and the way it washes and renews the earth.
So, while rainy days and Mondays can get me down, they can bring back wonderful memories too. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Visit with Family

My parents are in town this week. They are staying over at my sister Stacey's house. I went over to visit with them today. It was good to see them. I realized I had not seen them since they went to Texas last fall. They are not liking the cold weather here in Cincinnati. We got snow last night.
I have the morning off tomorrow from work. I plan to take my car to the Volkswagen dealer. I have a light bulb out and you need a PhD to change the bulbs in a VW. That's the one thing I have not liked about my Beetle.
I am really looking forward to getting back to work. I was really inspired by what I learned and can't wait to begin implementing some of the new practices. I am still riding high on inspiration from the Habitat for Humanity Conference in Atlanta. We also will be getting ready for the arrival of our new Executive Director next week at TriState Habitat for Humanity. It is definitely going to be a time of transition and change. I would appreciate your prayers for our affiliate during this time.
Thanks for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

Hunting Trolls

I had a nice dinner at my sister Stacey's house tonight. It started out just being my sister, her husband Rob and myself. My nephew Cameron was playing at a friend's house. About half way through dinner, Rob got a call from mother of Cameron's friend. She told Rob that Cameron wanted to come home for dinner because his mom had made corned beef and cabbage and his Uncle Kevin was at his house. Cameron asked his friend's mother to call because he and his friend were busy hunting trolls in the back yard.
So, Rob went to pick up Cameron and brought him back home. It was good to see him. He gets taller every time I see him. He also had a kind of Mohawk looking haircut which I had not seen before. Cameron ate with us and then began getting his bag packed because he was going back over to his friend's home to spend the night.
Cameron asked Stacey what kind of weapons he could use to hunt for trolls with his friend. Stacey suggested his cross bow or toy gun that both shoot marshmallows. Cameron rejected these ideas. He wanted to take a knife. Stacey then suggested he take one of his toy swords. Cameron also rejected this. I think he wanted to take a real knife from the kitchen.
I suggested that maybe trolls were allergic to petroleum products. I meant like oil. Stacey asked me if I was referring to Vaseline. I hadn't thought of that but it would probably be good. I then suggested smearing cucumber melon lotion on a troll might work. I thought that they might be repelled by the smell of cucumbers. Cameron also rejected my ideas.
Cameron then asked Rob and immediately Rob said that trolls have very thick skin and that Cameron would not be able to use a knife to kill them. I'm not sure where he got this information from but it sounded convincing to me. It also seemed to convince Cameron. Rob went on to say that the best way to kill a troll was with blunt force trauma. Again, I have no idea where he gets this stuff. So Rob suggested that Cameron take his mini wooden baseball bats with him. So, Cameron grabbed them from the closet and went off to his friend's house to hunt for trolls.
It really is amazing what you learn when you're with a seven year old.
My friend Karen and I walked nine miles. I misread the schedule and we are backing down on distance and I think next week we walk eleven miles. I brought Gatorade and some trail mix with me and this made a huge difference. We also ended up walking at the mall because it was pretty cold this morning.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Break in the Weather

I think that for only the second time since we have been training for walking the half-marathon, my friend Karen and I will be able to walk outside tomorrow morning. We are supposed to walk nine miles tomorrow. It seems like winter has lingered on here or when it's warmed up, it's been raining. So, we are hoping to get outside tomorrow morning and walk a different route. It will be a nice change of scenery from the mall we've been walking in the past three Saturdays.
I continue to experience more than just exercise as I walk. It's good for me to have a walking partner to hold me accountable. It is also been a very good discipline for me. I need to be more disciplined in my food intake. I have failed miserably in this area. I guess I need to work on one thing at a time.
Most of all, I do feel better. I seem to be sleeping better and have more energy. I know that I could drop some weight I would really feel better. I ask for your prayers for this. I don't seem to have the will power on my own. I definitely need to lean on God for this.
I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for your prayers and for being a part of my journey!

9.2

Saturdays are always the days that I walk the longest each week in my preparation for walking the half-marathon. Today was no exception. It has rained most of the day today and it was raining pretty hard this morning. So, my friend Karen and I decided to walk at the mall again. We walked 9.2 miles. We probably walked a little bit more because we had to walk out to our cars in the parking lot but Karen didn't record that distance on her pedometer.
When I think about it, I can't believe that I walked this far. While I was kind of sweaty when we were done, I didn't feel to bad. I actually felt energized. I think there might be something to this whole exercise thing. Who knew? (besides the doctors, fitness gurus, and every diet book I've ever read)
According to our training schedule we were only supposed to walk six miles after walking eight miles last week. However, Karen suggested that we increase each week until we get to thirteen miles which is how long the half-marathon is. So, I guess we are going to stick to that plan.
I am really thankful that I decided to walk this half-marathon. It is really teaching me some things about myself. I didn't know if I could really do it but I seem to be doing it. I still wish I would see better results in my weight loss. I don't seem to be disciplined in eating habits. I guess I'll have to focus on one thing at a time. I would still appreciate your prayers about this.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Creative Writing Class

I had another wonderful creative writing class tonight. There's only one more session and then it will be done. This has been a very different course than the first one. I have enjoyed immensely. There is one more class in this series. The next class focuses on how to get a book published. I am very interested in that class.
I am really glad that tomorrow is Friday. I have not been feeling well this week. I seem to not have much energy and have not been sleeping well. I think it's the changing weather wreaking havoc on my sinuses.
Saturday will be another big walking day. I am hoping the weather will cooperate and we will be able to walk outside. Beyond that, I don't have much planned. I'm guessing that Netflix is in my future though.
I hope you have a great Friday. I'm headed to bed. It's been a long day.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!