Easter Adventures

My Easter began at St. Paul's, Sparks with an eclectic and moving Easter Vigil Service. They do good liturgy there in a church well adorned for the occasion with flowers, streamers, candles, and all the trappings. After the service we had a country hoedown with line dancing an country music kicked off by Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar" -- with lyrics espousing a kind of secular inclusive catholicity. A good time was had by all. St. Paul's is a lively place growing larger and younger these days. That's what happens when you put a good bunch of clergy (Kirk, Chip, and Kathy) together with a good bunch of laity.<br /><br />The next morning was Easter at Pryamid Lake Reservation. Before the early service at Wadsworth, the worship leaders were smudged with sage in the tradional Paiute way of blessing and purifying, comparable to the European use of incense. Ed Ely in Nixon had blessed water from the sacred lake, also using tradional Paiute prayers. We had a huge turnout in Wadworth despite the fact we had fewer than usual baptisms. There were around twice as many people as last year. One of the baptisms was an adult, Norman. He had a broken gas guage on his truck so he ran out of gas on the way to the service but was just barely able to coast to a gas station. Grace abounds, and Norman was determined. Good on him!<br /><br />At Nixon, we had only one baptism so attendance dipped just slightly, but given the low baptisms, it was really an excellent turnout. And we had a fabulous feast aferward.<br /><br />We have a special mission on the Reservation. There are practioners of tradtional Native Spirtuality, and there are Protestants who insist that the Native traditions are pagan evils to be deplored by Chrstians. We are the place where First Nations people can stay true to their culture and the ways of their ancestors and follow the gospel of Christ. The gospel is not about European culture. It is a flower that can grow in different soils. Seeing the gospel in these different contexts reaveals its essence and keeps us from confusing it with the social norms of our own backgrounds.<br /><br />Pryamid Lake Reservation is a place rich in history and tradition. It is also a land with a deep sacredness. I wrote this poem after a solitary visit to the lake during a windstorm.<br /><br />SHELTER<br />The wind,<br />resolute, indomitable,<br />swoops over bare snow mountains<br />down, down onto Pyramid Lake,<br />blue water skidding<br />away from shore, not to.<br />Vapor,<br />windblown mist twin, not spray,<br />races across, above<br />the breakers<br />toward island peaks<br />– how far?<br />I stand,<br />then kneel<br />at the edge,<br />dip my fingers<br />into mysterium tremendum<br />and cross myself with fascinans.<br />Then turn,<br />boots sinking<br />in wet sand,<br />face wind-grit stung,<br />straining toward<br />any shelter<br />I can find<br />from God.

Easter Adventures

My Easter began at St. Paul's, Sparks with an eclectic and moving Easter Vigil Service. They do good liturgy there in a church well adorned for the occasion with flowers, streamers, candles, and all the trappings. After the service we had a country h…

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Day 159 (Sunday 4/12)

<p>When we got home from church on Sunday I told DH..."I just feel so pretty today"! I have new hair, I made it all curly for Easter, wore my size 8 dress, and got lots of compliments from everyone at church. I think it was a good confidence booster because I don't always feel pretty! DH said that I should feel pretty all the time...'cause he says that I am...what a sweetheart! :) </p> <p> <br />We went to my Mom's house for dinner with her and her husband and my sister and her hubby and then my Mom's husband's daughter, her husband, and their absolutely adorable adopted daughter from China!! Her name is Maya, she's three, & is SUPER smart! She was the entertainment for the afternoon. I guess you could call her my step-niece...but we really aren't that close so it doesn't feel like that. But hey, I would claim her! :) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsI1V6wOh-e0ggqhTESjfH1Rx2ORqei7wHEB1a37s1hS1RmGcvlXEEebeBBRScGANxEsdytjq039MSaj0jM3CszDEFqzgJGTAVvu7b6xIvmg8DuYotEppmeHqixF4lv9TqFWS0A8tKkdP/s1600-h/DSC02254%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02254" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KdNJhYAzErzQIDiGNDyUeUcWf3s4uLii3GVwS3gXbEHZwmNIWR0KvruDXMGONPwignx6O8imBs0KtglkAoCQ7pZljwm7r9jly36WRLwIvVcTp5LfidqlqJW3e9mLIM31T0fOyJ34ft_I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC02254" width="400" /></a></p> <p> <br />Ok back to dinner...we had ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner rolls, scalloped corn, jello, homemade applesauce, and green bean casserole. Wow!! It was all SO good! I felt good I didn't stuff myself...just satisfied. And I said no to pie. The only choices were coconut creme and pecan and I'm not a big fan of either one. </p> <p> <br />We spent the afternoon just relaxing in the living room talking, playing with Maya, and taking it easy. DH was not feeling well at all today. I feel bad for him that his one day off work he is sick. :( A few hours after dinner I decided I wanted something else to munch on and I had a small slice of that stinkin pecan pie that I wasn't too fond of. It was just ok and totally not worth it! Sigh...</p> <p>  <br />It was fun to see my Mom and her newly remodeled kitchen, living room, bathroom, and office! Since my sisters (who live out of state) read this blog Mom said I couldn't put pictures up...but trust me...it looks AWESOME!!! Her previous kitchen was SO small and we had to all cram in around this small table and add some tv trays on the side for more space. It was nice to be in her nice formal dining room now and not have to eat while almost sitting on top of each other! Makes me want to have my kitchen re-done! </p> <p> <br />DH and I came home and just chilled the rest of the evening away. He still wasn't feeling well at all so we kept it low key. DH found his Easter basket so I did have some Easter candy...mmm I love chocolate! I finished reading Marley & Me on Saturday so we rented the movie. It was so good...but very sad. I think I liked the book better! <br />While watching the movie I had my favorite combo of strawberries, yogurt, and grape nuts! Mmm!! As you can tell I didn't count my points Sunday...and no exercise either. :( Monday is a new day and I'm going into it full force!! <img alt="DSC02259" border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGW0pRhHdiS4ZLaN5-6utjYkGzZBYaCkbXcuSBYEdb1CVHiT9MpSoHDlagXtPmZ2L86JG5ZLW1fSv7G1_JMmJD8IJfdXnWWxSdQc8jzrcE25-tyxwF2oT4RjAUiKEjpTFwDnCzsj88QI3/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC02259" width="412" /></p> <h5> </h5> <h5>  TAG You're It! </h5> <p>I got tagged by Kelly over at “Happy Texan”. Her blog is always full of fun ideas and YUMMY recipes!! And her comments always make me smile!!! ":)</p> <p> <br /><strong>8 Things I'm looking forward to:</strong></p> <ol> <li>hitting goal weight </li> <li>running a 5k this summer</li> <li>my sister coming home for the summer</li> <li>“summer hours” at work</li> <li>hosting my SIL’s bridal shower</li> <li>giving DH his bday present!!</li> <li>Hawkeye football this fall</li> <li>starting a family</li> </ol> <p><strong>8 things I did yesterday:</strong></p> <ol> <li>shopped</li> <li>tanned</li> <li>ate </li> <li>got my hair cut</li> <li>worked out</li> <li>played UNO</li> <li>blogged (for the 1st time in a week!)</li> <li>cried when i finished reading “marley & me” while working out!</li> </ol> <p><strong>8 things I wish I could do:</strong></p> <ol> <li>travel more</li> <li>feel comfortable in a bikini</li> <li>be a stay at home wife (eventually mom!)</li> <li>connect my house to the garage</li> <li>buy a motorcycle</li> <li>see all my sisters more often</li> <li>run a 5K w/o walking</li> <li>get rid of my stinkin’ love handles!!</li> </ol> <p><strong>8 shows I watch:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Biggest Loser </li> <li>Real Housewives of Orange County</li> <li>Jon & Kate +8</li> <li>CSI</li> <li>Criminal Minds </li> <li>Friends</li> <li>The Bachelor </li> <li>HGTV & TLC shows!</li> </ol> <p><strong>8 People I tag: (come on guys, be a good sport and do it) ;-)</strong></p> <ol> <li><strong><a href="http://thresholdofgreatness.wordpress.com/">On The Threshold of Greatness</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://road2skinny.blogspot.com/">To Being Skinny in my 20’s</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://simplyfabulousnow.wordpress.com/">Simply Fabulous</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://kristaskraziness.blogspot.com/">Krista’s Kraziness</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://karitakingbackcontrol.blogspot.com/">Taking Back Control</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://aworkingmomsjoy.blogspot.com/">A Working Mom’s Joy</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://heathersaloser.blogspot.com/">Heather’s a Loser</a></strong></li> <li><strong><a href="http://ajourneytothin.blogspot.com/">A Journey to Thin</a></strong></li> </ol> <p>Tag! You're it! :)</p>

Day 159 (Sunday 4/12)

When we got home from church on Sunday I told DH..."I just feel so pretty today"! I have new hair, I made it all curly for Easter, wore my size 8 dress, and got lots of compliments from everyone at church. I think it was a good confidence booster bec…

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