Half Moon Reflections On A Week In The Life

On this half-moon night in Elko, I sip a Gentleman Jack in JR’s Bar while a sweet-voiced old guy with a white mustache and a red baseball cap sings “I thought I loved you then” at country karaoke night. A heavy set man plops down on the bar stool next to me. He is a sniper just back from Iraq, sent home because he is too old, but he has 479 confirmed kills. He wants someone to say they appreciate it, so I do, and get dizzy from the moral ambiguity of life. My glass is empty so I leave while a less romantic, more maudlin C & W favorite is on the karaoke machine. The desk clerk is singing it quietly as I go out the door into the night where the bright half-moon light -- which does not frighten me (I am only phobic of full moons) – is shining down into the clouds below.<br /><br />And I remember bits of this past week. There was a whirl of news media around a scandal where I was, by virtue of my position, the appropriate point person. Bishops from all over the United States sent me messages of support and encouragement. I met 3 times with the congregation involved and was so impressed with their calm, their compassion, and their wisdom. All the things I was supposed to bring them, they already had in abundance. Even crises can be full of grace.<br /><br />Thursday I was at an Army National Guard base for the commissioning of 1st Lt. Teogenes Bernardez, Jr. (our own Fr. Jun) as an officer and a chaplain. Friday I welcomed the Filipino Convocation of Episcopal Asian Ministries to a youth and young adult gathering in Las Vegas. There I discovered to my dismay that I was scheduled to be at St. Thomas, Las Vegas the next day – but I was also scheduled to be at St. Thomas the Believer in Lovelock. A calendar disaster of the first order!!! But I looked up and there, provided by the Lord like the ram with his horns caught in the bush on Mt. Moriah, was Bishop Botengan, retired from the Philippines. I asked him to save me by covering the Las Vegas service and he did. God is amazing. The one time I need a bishop; there actually is another one in the state.<br /><br />Having resolved that crisis I dashed for the airport to catch a plane to Reno – not a minute to spare. But before I could get away, the Asian Ministries coordinator for Province 8 gave me a box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, a present from the Bishop of Hawaii – perfect – it was supper! Yes, I ate an entire box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts while driving lickety split to the airport.<br /><br />Then it was off to Fallon – arrived just shy of 11 p.m. -- from which the Very Rev. Trudy Erquiaga and I headed out bright and early this morning to Lovelock Correctional Institution – home to our largest most Spirit-filled congregation in central Nevada. Yes the gospel is alive and well behind the barbed wire. Baptized two (full immersion), confirmed three or four, received one. Preached on Romans “If a person is in Christ, he is no longer under condemnation.” You can’t preach that anywhere else like you can in prison.<br /><br />Then eastward as far as Elko. I called the people in Wells (situated about an hour on beyond Elko) to remind them I will be there tomorrow. Up to now I’ve had the impression they didn’t much want to see me. Some say they are afraid I will close them because they are so small. But today on the phone they were perfectly friendly. It’s a four person congregation, the faithful remnant of a church that split over controversies in years past. Two couples meet at our church each Sunday to say Morning Prayer. I like that. Also Wells is the former home of Elias, the mad prophet hitch-hiker who anointed me for this job when I gave him a ride in Georgia the week before the election. Closing them is unthinkable. I hope to tell them that.<br /><br />Now here I am in Elko at my beloved Gold Country Inn. It was almost full when I arrived. There is a Western Shoshone reunion here this weekend. But I got one of the rooms with Moose curtains and bedspreads.<br /><br />Today Trudy asked me how I am liking my job. How can I answer? Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Moose bedspreads. Gentleman Jack and an old guy singing “I thought I loved you then.” Prison church. Two old couples church. Filipino youth church. Army National Guard rituals. I don’t deserve this life. It is just too amazing.

Half Moon Reflections On A Week In The Life

On this half-moon night in Elko, I sip a Gentleman Jack in JR’s Bar while a sweet-voiced old guy with a white mustache and a red baseball ca...

Read more »

Post Baby Plan

<p>Hi all! First of all, thank you for all the congrats & well wishes on <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2011/06/adelyns-birth-story.html">Adelyn’s birth</a>!! Second, I have to thank all my wonderful readers for sticking around over the past 9+ months while the focus of my blog switched from weight loss to weight gain (ie…pregnant!). </p> <p>For those of you who are more interested in the weight loss, I’m happy to report I will be re-focusing the blog again to losing weight! I cannot guarantee though that Adelyn pictures will not pop up from time to time! Ok, ok probably pretty regular, but the main focus will be eats & exercise!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMFCEN6h0c84vQdgJQNcxG_Xes85bMNx17CvZXrkaWXJUix6EE3LZT01c9kKHYc-_FitLEruKCwE6afr2Bj3wBmjkWWETg8QlBP488YABGP-op242BPxxCTgqzL0D1Y5eb8D-XP4TKBqa/s1600-h/DSC002364.jpg"><img alt="DSC00236" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVH_onFaUdLc-TLRK-b7aMqBPuw3dz4cNNF6YoqfPHY-t4aMf71-4h3I2MB8YZ-aYFj4tgCU8wqt7Kt89nevDigzLiOH7Ncu8Eq348iseEUAmrDZwGUo3hvium0G0M4fNElNYpOVDYila/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00236" width="404"></a></p> <p>Here’s where we get down to business and face the facts! My pregnancy weight gain was pretty minimal….for the first 20 weeks (less than 10lbs!). But the morning before Adelyn made her arrival (21 weeks later) I stepped on the scale at home and was up 55lbs total! Sheesh, I know! According to the dr office scale I gained 47 lbs, but I’m going to go by my home scale (which seems backwards since it’s heavier!) just because I’ll be using my home scale to weigh regularly. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54vqduRHptXhAMrKvlNt7tznES0FC4LqsYLdG-YdrZlwBn_6vQIJu65kVONZzysCMVw05xo1X9Ej34lnlTLv4jnBv6PlrmZ3AKKFw_aha7uEvxt1_N0cZeBZF3V55UsKs7_ovLcNyxQwC/s1600-h/40-weeks---6.16.114.jpg"><img alt="40 weeks - 6.16.11" border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbhMkdNCrgf8T3QxpflOozfTYt61AksQB7dYwUQO599lgaMdMReDdXCk90omU2UIu3RhVHofWDkUmhL2o5Tug1OFjUfQuytzF68b510PM9Gqj2mEY8OlCDtUuyLPV41rU4245VJFa_Tud/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="40 weeks - 6.16.11" width="304"></a></p> <p>The week I came home from the hospital I was down 20lbs. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ufannBbDTxZuKYcZj1DtAVR3eYe9aUMSFf99XVr2cWYt3-rfxa6H8m4PEaFQuOlDqJsMVnNjD-uteG2ED-cDBJy2f2r62w9_PDF7gTzEUvrSavIBZ7_8GuzbVa9_j4XBihSuUZQSGQW0/s1600-h/DSC000744.jpg"><img alt="DSC00074" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuN7kLYIhVX3y0VJKNjxq17h1bZNNzqu8HOymsQUdD3IeKRcQmT5qameRzM7axMAEGvFFO814EfCJG7aK-8uRbH__QChVHNLxuIbLABHA-qOAYBD2n31lsg04zcAs7V-xGtIG7Q-aJ9Zvb/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00074" width="404"></a></p> <p>This week I’m down another 14lbs, which means I have 21lbs to get to my pre-pregnancy weight. I wasn’t at my ultimate goal when I got pregnant, but at a nice healthy weight, so I’m setting that as my initial goal for now. </p> <p>Right now the dr says no dieting and no vigorous exercise, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be smart with my food choices! Prior to this week I had been eating WHATEVER I wanted…all those yummy home cooked meals from our church friends, ice cream (to the max!), etc! Tuesday was “day 1” for my with making good choices with my eats.</p> <p>Kyle and I made a trip to the grocery store and stocked up on fresh veggies & fruit, yogurt, healthy snacks, and lean proteins! So far these past few days I’ve been fairly proud of my choices, but boy oh boy, there are times I get the munchies! </p> <p>As far as exercise I plan to get in at least 1 walk/day. I haven’t been doing a whole lot of walking these past 2+ weeks. I wanted to make sure I gave my body time to heal. I think I ready to slowly add some light activity back in now. I have to say I’m anxious to get back to running, but I want to start slow and see how things go! I plan to listen to my body & not push it too much. </p> <p>And for documentation…here is where I am today! Gotta start somewhere, right?!?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhs8h8pk2km_9x6j3i5Ki006cbfo0JPIu7Qk8eDzYFas1DkYGDXYvGLF77O2AjsuWmMJUKZPGSVs_xkn2IYDq7pqHLVRu3Ay7hc1O76ryTrsowiWVxXeOkdvWJI0K-gClERlOuAKxszkU/s1600-h/DSC002554.jpg"><img alt="DSC00255" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1llIRiT-W7hQKkiGeaoanD4aba67G1mUHCEvFubTPNr8IO92lPKzcmyhJ_xC77ribxMULurJQS6VJNAqXK-BYtywRkHwKSxA9tD9OiT7fI9NgQLjC4O1JMfbIoyMeXApwaB_CEzib4rcK/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00255" width="354"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pij9eo3ySme0YmIYF52GOOUxuYe71Ls-5LA_X7EfS456GB74HWWw8B8XFqiA4K9vDMMIhw3HmQ-oRs_w5Loi4lkexj4ya0Zn4X37Vw_jsTeU_E1m2cQhfGtMDt6K5hm7ZsNk4uXkMUuw/s1600-h/DSC002574.jpg"><img alt="DSC00257" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ9MqLqsusRJWGXe35c-ISKHv5iyZOq-RA59hXqJg6GLRcRrNRyZfl_0nU6KcdpNzFvAqIloYXf8GPcKpfdMTo1VyjTwXqFZDeqZ2ySxPJsgqBFTbJPigsEY_nlfDy6lNTTJj3w7WjqE9/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00257" width="354"></a></p> <p>So there you have it, a little summary of my plan to be a fit mama!!</p>

Post Baby Plan

Hi all! First of all, thank you for all the congrats & well wishes on Adelyn’s birth !! Second, I have to thank all my wonderful readers...

Read more »