Thursday, April 26, 2007

Haha

So I got a commerical response to my last post on Myspace. Go figure- everything is commericalized! Anyhow, the ad told me thank you for what I wrote because the "girl" thought the same thing! HAHA, I wrote about Uh-Oh the cat stalking me. But hey, if other people who just happen to be selling something understand what it's like to be stalked by a cat, more power to them.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Uh-Oh

So there's this cat in my life right now. Her name is Uh-Oh (seriously). Normally this wouldn't be worth blogging about, but this cat stalks people.

It all began simply. I moved into this house (which my supervisor at Breakthrough so graciously allowed me to) and I began to enjoy the cuddly pet.

Then it started staking out my room. It loves my closet and one time I heard faint meows. Thinking they came from the cat in the hallway, I looked, only to later discover her meowing from the other side of my closet door. That's not the only time the cat has suprised me by hanging out in the closet.

If I pick her up to put her out of my room, she whines. Sometimes I have to dart out of my room, quickly pulling the door behind me to prevent her from spending all day in there. And then, just when you think she can't get you, there she is.

I was taking trash out back tonight and I looked up. There, in the third story window, sat the cat....staring (this would be a good time for some Hitchcock Psycho music). As I type she is laying on my bed, which is better than when she walks across or rubs her head on my laptop.

She's stopped scaring me. I've experienced enough of her "just appearing" to know better than to be startled.

I love animals, I really do. But when that German Shepherd ran at me today and barked at me before I knew what hit me, I realized it. There's no pet like you're pet and my pets are waiting at home. I'll be there soon.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Help! My Bicsupid!

I have had weird teeth dreams for the past couple years. I will dream that I have lost or am on the verge of loosing one or two teeth. In the most recent dream involving this topic I didn't loose teeth, but I had odd shaped holes in a tooth.

In fact, in the dream I thought about how I often dreamt about missing teeth and how awful it was that this wasn't a dream. But then it was.

I think I started having these teeth dreams around the time I interned at Waco. I honestly think that seeing so many people missing teeth really affected me! I would like to keep me teeth as long as possible. But then again, who wouldn't?

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Let's Do This

So there is a lot I want to do this summer. I want to join a gym (cause frankly the state of my health is absurd), I want to start a book club, get serious about putting money in my savings account, get back into my love of the written word, and find more of the joys of living in the middle of nowhere (I might as well find them and enjoy them now because in a year I plan to be out of Harnett County...no offense to my Harnett County loved ones).

There are a lot of other plans such as going to Charleston, working two jobs, taking an advanced theology course, checking out more of the local sites (especially movies in the park at the art gallery!) and relishing this last summer vacation before I join the working world and three and a half month vacations are a thing of the past.

How do I leave this place? I am gonna figure it out in about a week and a half. It's a real reminder that it's not about me, it's about God. If ever I think the fate of a child's life rests in my hands alone, I have allowed my ego to overtake me. God can do anything with a life, I am simply the one he may choose to make it happen. Not because he needs me, but because he loves me enough to want me to be a part of the process.

And oh what a perfect patience that is! Even after I mess up time and time again God still says to me, "Daughter, I still want to use you. I forgive you. Dust off your knees where you fell, hold tighter to my hand, and let's do this."

Thank you God for picking me up time and time again.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Correction

Correction: The Olympics are not necessarily coming to Chicago. Chicago is the United States' bid in the international quest for the Olympic games. With all the hype you'd have thought it was a sure thing!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

News at 5

The Olympics are coming to Chicago, I read that on the scrolling marque outside of the ABC 7 studio downtown. But that's not the part I want to focus on. I want to focus on later, when I was walking back to the L.

I passed by the studio again and realized they were doing a live broadcast. I joined the throng of people peering inside and thought about how I had wanted that to be my life. Didn't I get accepted into college as a broadcasting mass comm major? Somewhere along the way I realized I didn't want to spend my life talking to or working behind cameras.

And yet, there they were. I was mixed in with people on the sidewalk and they were on tv. I thought, as I had walked away, that no one would know what I could have been, regarding broadcasting that is. Then I realized that newscasters aren't really household names anyway. You gotta be the Katie Courics of this world to get nationwide recognition.

So maybe my path of urban ministry means a lot more. Besides, anyone who thinks one enters the broadcasting scene and immediately ends up on Chicago's ABC 7 news is only kidding his or herself. In the media world you start small and you start where no one else longs to be- early, early mornings and late, late nights. But soon you move up. Maybe you can become the next Diane Sawyer, but probably not. I'm guessing most newscasters make most of their life impact on those closest to them. So maybe they're not all that different from me.

Oh yea, across the street Diana Ross performed tonight- pretty cool.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

What Color Is Your Parachute?

For me, that would be the primary colors and green. Who knew kids of all ages could appreciate a giant peice of fabric? I must say that teaching the parachute class is a wee bit more exciting than teaching board games.

In other news, I am listening to that Vitamin C song that was so popular when I graduated high school (yes, my high school year can be remembered by a woman named for part of the nutritional spectrum). Anyways, the song "Graduation" talks about how the high school graduates talk about where they'll be when they turn 25.

Now, I graduated high school at 17, so 25 seemed pretty far off at the time. I turn 25 this summer. As the plan goes (and I know God has taught me a lot about how plans can change) I will be turning 25 in Harnett County, North Carolina, fresh from a semester in Chicago. I'll be babysitting the kids, just finished up with an advanced theology course, and enjoying my last real summer break.

The song also questioned whether the graduates would be the same when they started making big money. Ha! I don't think big money is in my future. So, at 25 I will have a better understanding of God's call on my life- a far cry from my broadcasting in NYC ambitions at the age of 17. Life changes for the better all the time.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Simple Words

I was telling a student today that I will be leaving to go back to North Carolina. After explaining to her why, she asked me if I had to write about my time here. I said yes. She said, "Put me in it."

These kids mean more than they know.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

450? Not a Problem

So I was a little anxious over whether or not I would meet my 450 hour internship requirement. So, wanting to calm my anxiety (or find multiple ways of earning more hours) I got to work adding all that work time. Let's just say hours won't be a problem. Add to the fact that I am not counting a lot of work time (for instance, if I got in at 8:15 I just started adding from 8:30....do that a bit and you exclude a good three or four hours) means that I will have even more than required that I don't show.

Now that I know that's taken care of I can focus more on what's been tugging at my heart these past few days...leaving. Maybe it's presumptious for me to call the youth "my kids." But here's the truth that they don't know- I care about them.

Kim, a co-worker, told me that her daughter thinks I am so cool. I don't write that to be like "look at me!" I write that because I really struggled with what I thought was a lack of connection with the kids. I love walking down the street getting greeted by some of the kids that are on the other side of the street. I've really connected with two girls in particular. I didn't realize how much so until they had been gone for spring break and I could see their expressions and attitudes when I got to see them again.

I admitted to Marcie that I didn't think I was good at this whole youth thing. I have my high and low periods, but I don't think I should ever come to a point of saying, "I'm good with these kids, I know all there is to know." This ministry is a constant learning process and I learned from DeVos that one of my spiritual gifts is learning! But seriously, I don't tire of learning.

I think I really want to work in a non-profit urban ministry, but lately I've realized I am earning an MDiv, which is a great commodity for working in a church. I'm considering both options, but I will probably apply to non-profits and then to churches. That said, I have one year of seminary left...so keep me in mind in another 6 months as I begin to seriously start applying for ministry positions. Let me know if you hear of any places that will be looking for people! Ideally I"d like to come back to Chicago, but I'm open to where God wants to send me. And yes, I could see myself in inner city Durham.

My time at Breakthrough has been invaluable. I had considered staying during the summer and getting a full time job and volunteering a few hours a week at the center. Man, I would love that. But I know God is preparing the way for me to be back in NC this summer. I want to come back and visit, who knows. I just know that I feel a yank on my heart when I think of leaving these kids.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Whoa

Wow. So today was pretty much amazing. There's been this off and on frustration in my life lately. I think God clued me in a little bit today about it. I thought I was supposed to learn one thing, and maybe I was supposed to learn another. I had set my agenda and it wasn't being met. But maybe God is teaching me something personal about myself and the ministry he's given me.

So my dad got a little brighter- then the card came. Once I saw the purple envelope I was pretty sure it was for me. Mom said she had sent me an Easter card. I tore into it and found a card and a Borders gift card! I was quite excited and proceeded to share this exciting news with others.

Then, a huge box was delivered to Breakthrough and I didn't think a whole lot about it. Then I found out my name was on it! I got back to the house and tore into that. I got a whole basket full of shower gels, body lotions, candy, and other stuff. One of the adult Sunday School classes at church sent it to me.

I love getting mail, but even more I love the people who send it.

And mom....I love you.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

More Coyote Goodness

Now, the thrilling story proceeding the previous linked article.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/325903,CST-NWS-coyote04.article

Headline: Coyote Cools off in Downtown Chicago

So this post is mostly for my non-Chicago friends, as those of you here have more than likely heard this story.

A coyote walked into a Quiznos in the Loop the other day. Now, the Loop is the economic center of Chicago and quite a busy little place if you happen upon it before offices close for the day. So my fellow interns and I didn't quite understand how no one seemed to notice this furry creature striding through the area that contains the Sears Tower. According to a Chicago Tribune article, some people thought it was a dog. Not that an urban canine running down the sidewalk is normal or anything.

The video footage on the news was priceless. He walked in quite nonchalantly and proceeded to sit in the beverage cooler, which held the bottled sodas.

The same article also mentioned that the people in the Quiznos calmly walked out. I, on the other hand, would have had to stop myself from just happening to need a soda at the same time the coyote cooled off near the Pepsis.

Read the linked article from the Chicago Sun-Times to find out about his trek back to the woods. The last sentence is priceless.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/326865,CST-NWS-coyotegone04.article

Monday, April 2, 2007

Frederick, The Dog Rescuer

The summer after my freshman year of college I was quite the dog rescuer. Domestic dog running the streets? I'd track down the rabies tag number through the Humane Society and take that dog safely home. I was doing pretty well with the whole dog rescue gig until I found a small dog outside and off a leash. Those, my friends, are prime dog-in-trouble qualities. So I asked the couple at a house nearby if they knew whose dog it was. It was theirs.

So ended my spree of good canine deeds. Then today happened. I have excellent dog radar. If there is a dog within 100 yards I can usually spot it. This dog, however, is different. Usually I won't notice him until I'm right beside him.

The first time I saw him he was lying by the sidewalk eating snow. The other times he was safely in his yard, letting out a bark as I passed. Today he was running along the sidewalk.

I wanted to get closer to him but he was half a block away on Carroll Avenue, near Breakthrough. He'd stop and sniff and then trot a few more steps and do more of the same. I had no idea if this was a friendly dog, but I was about to find out.

Finally I got close enough to utter a sweet, "Hey!" to the overgrown baby. He trotted over and expected to be petted, to which I happily obliged. This fearsome dog behind the iron fence was nothing but an overgrown lapdog. We started our trek back down the block.

A couple times he was distracted by the barks of another dog, but I urged him along. A man passed by on the other side of the street and I am pretty sure he thought I was walking my dog without a leash as I kept uttering sweetly, "Come on!"

I let the German Shepherd know his owners wanted him. When we got to the gate I saw that it was cracked open. I also hoped it was the right gate or some poor kid, being terrified of dogs, was going to find a rather large pup in his front yard. I told the dog he needed to go home and I shut the gate after he slipped in.

That's when I noticed her. She yelled at me for stealing her precious baby. Haha, I'm so kidding- wanted to make sure you were really reading. Actually, she was so thankful (this I deduced by the repeated "thank you's" in an amazed tone) and was astonished that I knew where to put him.

I continued onto work with a spring in my step, happy to be of service.