The Year in Review

11/365

Jim Gray (Beaconhill NW) offered up a great list of introspective questions for closing out 2009.

I shared my answers on his blog (whether he was looking for that or not :-)) and thought I’d share them here as well.

1. What are the 2-3 themes that personally defined 2009 for me?
grace. patience. love wins.

2. What people, books, accomplishments, or special moments created highlights in 2009?
publishing my first novel in Dec., working through the foster care process to get certified as foster parents, our first cruise with friends in February and our second cruise with family in July

3. Give yourself a grade from 1-10 in the following areas of focus for 2009:
vocationally – 6
spiritually – 6
family – 6
relationally – 7
emotionally – 8
financially – 6 – this one always worries more than it probably should
physically – 7
recreationally – 6

4. What am i working on that is BIG?
I don’t know that anything I’m doing would be considered “BIG”. I’d like to think of the things I’m doing as small but having impacts on individuals – such as our podcast, my novel, laundry love, and our community groups.

5. As I move into 2010, is a majority of my energy being spent on things that drain me or things that energize me?
It’s a mixture. From 8-4:30 much of my time ends up spent on things that drain me. My evenings and weekends I try and focus on things that excite me but I’m also trying to re-prioritize some things and find more balance among the things that excite me.

6. How am I preparing for 10 years from now? 20 years from now?
Probably not very well. I’m more focused on the next 6 months than anything beyond that.

7. What 2-3 things have I been putting off that I need to execute on before the end of the year?
I hope to be doing some video/audio production work during my week off as well as some projects for our tribe – including building an online solution for tracking our “members” as well as preparing for some training for our community group facilitators.

What about you? How would you respond to these questions?

The Christmas fun begins

This weekend we got a head start on our Christmas festivities (besides the 3 or 4 office parties/lunches I’ve already been to) with two family parties.

Saturday night was the annual Turner-Medlin Christmas party – which I think has now become the Turner-Medlin-Blundell-Lattanzi party.

This was my third year to take part in the annual party and its always one of the highlights of the season.

Along with the Christmas festivities, we also use the occasion to celebrate our nephew Jake’s birthday – which is Dec. 21.

Jake blows out the Birthday candles
Continue reading The Christmas fun begins

Obama, Jesus, War & Peace

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. – Romans 12:20-21

I’ve been chewing on this idea of Obama winning the Nobel Prize for Peace since it was announced. It’s been interesting to read all the varied comments.

Especially when many conservatives were up in arms that he won it and then turned around and applauded his speech and his justification of war.

The Jesus Manifesto shares many of the thoughts that have been swirling around my head and I’ve yet to be able to put to paper – or keyboard.

So I encourage you to read his post and watch this video from Cornel West:

And consider this, did Jesus come to offer up a high-fetched dream that could never be lived up to? Or did he come as baby in a manger and the Prince of Peace to show us that living a life of love and non-violence could be achieved — and can be lived out — even in the face of the Empire?

The book is spreading

St. Peter’s Brewery is now available in print through multiple vendors online. You may also be able to purchase the book in your favorite brick and mortar book seller. Simply request St. Peter’s Brewery, (ISBN-13: 9781442174788 ISBN: 1442174781).

I’ve contacted our local Barnes and Noble and they said the book was not available to order in store yet, but something in their computer showed it would be available Dec 28th. We’ll cross our fingers and see.
Continue reading The book is spreading

Buy a goat – get an MpFREE

Pomplamoose has another great song on YouTube and they’re offering a free Mp3 of the track (along with one other un-released track) if you’ll purchase a goat for a family through WorldVision this Christmas.

Love it.
Continue reading Buy a goat – get an MpFREE

One step closer

Texas Baptist Home bell

Laurie met with our foster care advocate from the Texas Baptist Home this morning.

She came for a pre-service visit of our house to be sure we have everything inline for our official home study. Laurie called and said everything checked out OK.

All we needed before our official visit from CPS is to purchase a pack-n-play and car seat to be prepared in case we get a call in the middle of the night saying there’s a child or two waiting for us to bring to our house.

So Laurie’s out doing some shopping and we’re crossing our fingers that CPS will come the week directly after Christmas for their visit. If everything works out we could be certified as foster parents by the first of the year.

In addition, Laurie’s just finished stripping, sanding and re-painting a dresser for the nursery. It’s a dresser that she had as a child and her mom did as well. That makes two dressers she’s redone for the room.

Lauries been hard at work

So we’re that much closer! Thanks for all your support and prayers!