These are a few of my favorite things....

1. Amy Grant's Christmas albums. All of them.

2. Don Moen and Travis Cottrell. Imagine how excited I was to find them singing together (see video below). Who doesn't need to be rescued? And if you don't like the tune, just keep it to yourself. Or talk about it on your own blog. smile.

3. My new silicone baking sheet.

4. Our Christmas-decorated home. Love it.

Nothing says Christmas to me like Amy Grant (okay, and Jesus and his glorious birth). Amy was the first Christian cassette I ever owned....20 years ago. I wasn't a Christian then, but oh, how I enjoyed Amy. Not much has changed. I own many of her "pop" and hymn CDs, but the Christmas season really takes off for me when we begin crooning to her Christmas tunes. Tender Tennessee Christmas. Angels We Have Heard on High. Breath of Heaven. Beautiful.

Don Moen? One of my all-time favorites. He led worship about 10 years ago at World Vision's Day of Prayer...soon after, I traveled to Minnesota on business. On my 2 hour drive to Long Prairie, I was surprised and blessed to be in Don Moen land (he's from Minnesota) and lo and behold - on Don Moen day. His birthday or something. I think 9 out of 10 radio stations in the land of Marge and woodchippers (fargo reference) are Christian. All of them were belting out the Don Moen tunes. I was in heaven. :)

Travis Cottrell. Beth Moore's worship leader - another fave of mine (and yes, I love his big, big grandious tunes). Duet with Don Moen below? God loves me for certain (smile).

Tonight, I whipped up some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (a thank you for my neighbor) on my new silicone baking mat. After two weeks of illness and more than my fill of the cooking channel, I just had to give it a whirl. Almost all the happening chefs use these. Or the happening chefs that I watch, anyhow. Amazing slice of slickness. Worth more than the seven dollars and 99 cents we shelled out. Truly. :)

I'm planning a cookie decorating party for some of hope's friends. Silicone sheets are now part of the master plan. Lee and I are registered for the City of Tacoma half-marathon. I have at least 4of my best and most loved peeps (Connie, Danielle, Shannon and Denise- that's you!) registering to walk as well (lee will jog) -- and fundraising for a cause that tugs at my heart. A little weird to be raising money for an organization other than World Vision...but I believe God is calling our little team to the cause. Stay tuned for more details on that one. Training begins in January...but I'm kicking it into a little pre-training gear now. I'm excited.

Not much else to share. Ephesians 4:29 is my focus of the week. "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth....except that which builds one another up." Huge paraphrase. But you get the drift.

Be blessed beyond measure.

kb

Don Moen and Travis Cottrell - Rescue

the human eye...

...is a terrible thing to waste.

After a week of inexplicable illness, my sinus infection decide to explode through my eye on Saturday morning. Otherwise known as: conjunctivitis. Pink eye. A little bit of hell on earth.

Until yesterday, I had never experienced pink eye. Today, I can say that I hope it never graces my cornea again. It was miserable. Yesterday, I had an uncontrollable ooze that started around 10 am and didn't end. Even while I slept.

This morning, Hope ran in to do an 'eye check." She contracted our "pink friend" while I was in Chicago. I awakened to "Mom, how's your eye?" As I peered out from the covers, it was quickly recognized that only one of my eyes was working. The other, was firmly "glued" shut.

After about 20 minutes of compressing and warm water and truthfully, a small moment of anxiety---I emerged from the bathroom. My husband, a fella of few words said, "Wow. You're wounded." I dodged to the bathroom and in the light of day could see how wounded I really was. The "puffy circles" that grace my face in the morning were there. But the one under my infected eye extended down to my chin. Seriously. I looked like Rocky Balboa's really bad cariciature. Really, really bad. As I emerged from the bathroom, we wondered aloud what I should do. Doctor, again? Was the state of my eye indicating that healing was on the way? Did I really have pink eye - or was my eye just rotting away?

Lee and Hope ventured out for new Christmas lights to leave me pondering and wondering. Interestingly enough, a few more hours of resting my eyes and the outpouring of eye liquid seemed to cease. By noon, my balboa-esque likeness has faded. I actually ventured out to Target toward early evening - amazed at and expounding on the wonders of modern medicine.

What a week. Through it all, I've ended with a few fun tips to share:

1. If you contract conjunctivitis (ie pink eye) you will not be able to catch up on that reading you've been longing for or the cross stitch you've been hoping to nestle down with. End of story.

2. Lifetime TV. I know why the network is called "Lifetime." The shows you watch on this station will stay with you about that long. Somebody is being stalked, being raped or being beaten. Or dying from cancer or cheating on their spouse. More than one hour of viewing will lower your IQ. Guaranteed.

3. The Food Network. Always worth watching. There's something for everyone. I was inspired by the Thanksgiving specials. I indulged in a few episodes of "Ace of Cakes." I also decided I liked Rachel Ray even less than I did prior to my illness. Bleh. Like fingernails on chalkboard. But I do enjoy her recipes. Minus her commentary. Paula Dean = not my favorite. Her grammar distracts me ('my family can't hardly wait for me to lay this on the table"). Sorry, Paula. But I did make note of her stuffing recipe. I've discovered two more cooking faves that I think I'll have to add to the tivo lineup. I don't know their names yet--but one made a tasty apple tart and the other a lovely green bean dish. Emeril will never be a show I can watch (I rank him with ol' Rachel R.). Bobby Flay and my Barefoot Contessa = always full of promise.

4. Martha Stewart. Her blog inspires. And her mama just died. ;( Sad day but neat legacy (minus the trading infraction and jail time).

5. Spanglish. I started to watch this movie - then fell asleep. Must every movie have an adulterous affair to succeed?

6. Finally, with the multitudes of entertainment shows, why doesn't the New York Times have a 30 minute spot? I know, I know - great minds don't watch tv. Pink eye knows no bounds. Intelligent television. For all you PBS-ers, Great Chefs was on all weekend.

Okay, so maybe not great advice. I don't normally view so much television. But there wasn't much else to do. I was very sick. My eye was balboa-ized. And I couldn't keep my peepers perched on a book for long. Tonight, I will be focusing my newly healed eyes on some words on paper and turning of the big color box in our living room. And continue my quest for total disinfection.

I can't wait for thanksgiving. We're going to my sister in law's for the fabulous day. Lee, Hope and I head out on "black Friday" at 4:30 am to hit some of the very best deals. Our tree will go up and Christmas will explode into our home. :) Lee is halfway through with operation outside light installation.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And I, for one, am so glad to have both eyes firmly planted on the prize.

kb

ps: that's "b" for my last name. NOT balboa.

marathon on the brain

I'm still praying about what I'm about to type. But I believe I am going to register for the Tacoma City half-marathon on May 10, 2008. I guess the Chicago Marathon was a little like child birth. The pain is easily forgotten. Like I said, I'm still praying about it. But I'm feeling "the itch" and a half-marathon seems like a more reasonable (and do-able) goal than a full marathon right now. The minimum minute-mark per mile is something like 20.36 (I think). I was able to range between 15 and 17 minutes per mile pre-Chicago. This adventure will be walking only. I think.

I'm chuckling over that fact that I'm considering a walk through the streets of tacoma. As my Daddy used to say, "Kid, it's the armpit of Washington. And I don't want you hanging out there. It's not safe." I know anyone who has grown up around these parts will agree with my Papa. If I register and "do this thing" maybe I'll become the biggest advocate yet for the streets of Tacoma and all the bounty I hear it offers. I'll become a member of the Tacoma Art Museum, discuss all things inner city and eat my lunch at the foot of Ruston Way. (um, no promises there).

Truth be known, I'm also considering the Chicago Marathon next year. I don't know what's come over me. We'll see about that one. I would definitely want Lee and Hope to be there with me. I don't know that I'd do it again without the two of them. And I don't know that we could swing 3 tickets to Chicago. I did enjoy that city. :)

I'll be asking Santa for a new pair of training shoes. And some winter training duds, I believe. I have a month before I have to register....I'll see how things feel as I swing into a little pre-training.

Now, if I could only kick this very nasty bug that has landed in the depths of my lungs. Hope's too. It's awful. After a night of little sleep and lots of coughing, I'm hoping to do more of one and less of the other tonight. Hope's wrestling with it as well...I'm blogging and breaking for interval bed propping and head adjusting as she coughs her way into slumberland. Poor girl. Seems her lung issues stem a little from moi. ;(

As much as I hate to admit it (ie agree with my husband), Hope and I almost always return from visiting my parents with nasty colds and coughs. Don't know if it's just "this time of year" or what the deal is. But he's right. Maybe we're allergic to eastern Oregon. That would make me very sad. I love that place.

Here's a shot of Hope and I. Is this Canyon City? I can never remember. It was a fun day - although I was fighting the bugt even then. Photograph: courtesy of Katie.

Kleenex, coughing and germs...

Oh my! ;( Indeed, our week has been filled with hot tea, chicken soup and lots of kleenes.

Hope and I returned home from a visit to my parents' house with colds extraordinaire. We were just sick less than a month ago....bleh. After a follow-up to Hope's asthma doctor last night, we both left with new inhalers and the faint echo of Dr. Andrade's laughter. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it Kris?" Yeah, yeah, yeah. So what if my colds always land in my chest two days after they arrive? He heard some wheezing in my lungs. So? :) Okay, I give. Hope probably inherited her asthma courtesy of her mama. Eeegads.

I also "get" that my inability to stay away from sugar affects my immune system greatly. That white stuff is my nemesis...I'm determined to overcome the habit. If you see me jonesin' somewhere in the path of life, no matter how hard I beg, do NOT feed me toblerone. It does NOT cure all that ails me. ;)

sisters are forever...

sisters are lovers of laughter. they stay up until 1 am talking about nothing. and everything. they share wounds. and accomplishments. and secrets. they understand things that no one else ever will. sisters believe the best and handle the worst. sisters grab the other's back. and remember their food allergies. even when no one else does.

sisters will always lend hair product, perfume ... or other more unmentionable items for the sake of comfort. the best sister will fold up like a taco in the worst foldout bed, just so the other, more neurotic sister can sleep. best of all, sisters are forever. and then some.

the only thing about sisters is that we are really three. but this weekend, there was only two. we miss other part. the laughter is always louder and slightly more ridiculous with three. but in a pinch, two will always do.

marrying the visible and the invisible...

I'm walking through a bit of a valley right now. More of an emotional valley, I'd say. God is seeking to bring something new from something old. Freeing me from some chains and survival mechanisms that simply don't belong any longer. I'm here to tell you that it's one of the hardest things I've ever done. But, I'm going to worship God anyhow.

Feeling a bit undone this morning, I was so grateful for my people. My Christian workplace and our morning devotion -- and specfically, my co-worker and sister in Christ who shared a reading this morning that was so "spot-on" for what I'm wading through. I found it online and am sharing the excerpt she read this morning. In the state I was in, it made me weep. Not sure it will be that profound for everyone. From the writings of Eugene Peterson in a book entitled "The Jesus Way." Here's to marrying the visible and the invisible....and celebrating the gifts we've been given in this life. Just the way they are.

"Faith has to do with marrying the visible and the invisible. When we engage in an act of faith, we give up control, we give up sensory (sight, hearing, etc) confirmation of reality; we give up on insisting on head-knowledge as our primary means of orientation in life. The positive way to say this is that when we engage in an act of faith we choose to deal with a living God whom we trust to know what He is doing, we choose a way of life in which bodily senses and physical matter are understood as inseperable and organic to vast interiorities (soul) and immense beyonds (heaven), and we choose to no longer operate strictly on the basis of hard-earned knowledge, glorious as it is, but over a lifetime to embrace the mystery that "must dazzle/Or every man go blind."

It is most certainly not disposition, an "inner life." It is an obedient life, a deliberate engagement of the will, a fusion of body and spirit, visible and invisible fused, taking us somewhere.

This involves considerable risk. The supposed security of objective certainty recoils from such risk. But for those who take it, it also results in inhabiting a vast, previously unperceived, reality. It also involves considerable retraining in virtually everything involved in being a man, a woman. The introduction of the word "faith" into our language produces a radical and total re-orientation from a flat-earth existence, plotted along the monotonous lines of suburban subdivision, to a multi-dimensioned "on earth as it is in heaven" in which God's presence is the dominant and defining reality with whom we have to do.

The way of Abraham continues today along these same lines. Somewhere along the lines, we realize that we are not in charge of our own lives. The life of faith does not exist in imposing our will (or God's will!) either on other persons or on the material world around us. We embrace what is given us - people, spouse, children, forests, weather, city - just as they are given to us and sit and stare, look and listen, until we begin to see the God-dimensions in each gift, and engage with what God has given, with what He is doing.

Everytime we set out, leaving our self-defined or culture-defined state, leaving behind our partial and immature projects, a wider vista opens up before us, a landscape larger with promise.

An excerpt from Eugene Peterson's "The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways that Jesus is the Way"

Few things in life match the thrill of running a marathon...

Did you track the ING New York City Marathon? I did. Paula Radcliffe won the women's elite with a time of 2:23:09. It's not even her fastest time. The amazing thing is she trained through her pregnancy earlier this year and has been off the marathon trail for 2 years.

Lance Armstrong ran as well. I watched a runumentary (smile) on his journey on the NYC marathon last year. That is one fit guy.

If you're interested in the results or news..

http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/home/index.php

http://www.nytimes.com/ has some great coverage as well.

:) k

Hurting People, Hurt People.

Like bombs dropping out of the sky. If one is hurt at the deepest level, they will hurt everyone around them. Word for the day.

If you're not growing, you're dying

Feeling a little reflective tonight. About a month has passed since the marathon. Hope has been sick. I followed suit. Work has been wild. I'm just coming up for a breath, I think.


I'm also flipping through a little book I purchased in Chicago. Actually, Shelly brought it to a meeting one day in October. It intrigued me so much that I bought one myself. It's called "This I Believe" - based on the NPR series of the same name.

The book contains the musings and thoughts of some "remarkable men and women" (to coin a phrase from the cover). I like the following statement by Brian Grazer, movie and television producer.

"Disrupting my comfort zone, bombarding myself with challenging people and situations, this is the best way I know to keep growing. And to paraphrase a biologist I once met, if you're not growing, you're dying."

So...are you growing? Or dying? God continues to dip me into the vat of challenging people and situations in very practical and clever ways. He's stretching and pulling me out of comfort zone after comfort zone. We are multi-faceted, multi-dimensional people. Comfort zones are layered creatures...conquer one, and there's another. And another.

A ton of energy and time...and sometimes alotta money is spent trying to avoid discomfort. To preserve the inner sanctum. Self-made security. I don't know what that looks like for you. What I've seen over the past few weeks is a lot of defensive play. The inability or downright refusal to touch another's life when it requires something out of the norm. Bleh.


I'm speaking in circles, and I know this. I said it at the start of my ramblings...close to a month on the other side of the marathon, God is definitely continuing the journey. Forcing me to stretch beyond what's comfortable for me. Facing past demons that have haunted and defined me. Saying "no more" to destructive habits and thoughts. Doing things I thought I couldn't. Engaging with people I said I wouldn't. Thinking about someone other than myself. Living in a place bigger than my comfort zones.


And finally, I shared an article about sisterhood a few weeks ago. I won't call out names, but someone very near and dear and precious to me sent my daughter the most fabulous gift today. Three halloween boxes filled to the brim with candy, kisses and one GIANT kiss. Hope was thrilled...and I was blessed. It's not about the gift...it's just so beautiful to be thought of. And I need to do a better job of that myself.


Hope your post-halloween Thursday was a good one. I imbibed in too much sugar as I handed out wrapped goods to the decorated masses. So today was an adventure in eating. But tomorrow...will not be. Oh! Hope's principal called me yesterday (or the day before). That buddhist play I blogged about earlier? They removed the worship scene after she reserached if further. Very cool.


Be blessed!!!

kb