Happy, Happy Earth Day

Hug a tree, love your planet and remember that the earth is yours only for a time, borrowed from your children and from mine.

In celebration of Earth Day, one of my favorite poems...

Trees

Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918)

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Friday Five - Time Out Edition

Sally from revgalblogpals writes...

Holy Week is almost upon us, I suspect that ordained or not, other revgal/pals calendars look a bit like mine, FULL, FULL, FULL........ Jesus was great at teaching us to take time out, even in that last week, right up to Maundy Thursday he withdrew, John's gospel tells us he hid! He hid not because he was afraid, but because he knew that he needed physical, mental and spiritual strength to get through... So faced with a busy week:


1. What restores you physically?
I have always loved plugging in my headphones and dancing around like a nut! Now that I have this nifty little gadget called iPod, I have organized a playlist entitled "Dance Mix" and I live for those times. :) I also really enjoy an afternoon siesta, when I can find the time. ;)

2. What strengthens you emotionally/ mentally?
Spending time with my family, taking a walk, having coffee or ice cream and laughing with my girlfriends, unwinding with a funny and pointless movie like "Rat Race" - too funny and some killer one liners, reading a book that is not "required reading"

3. What encourages you spiritually?
I am starting to realize how precious and necessary it is - John & Charles Wesley, and others like them got it right - to spend chunks of time with God - ALONE! My goal is to spend one hour each day, one day a month, and one week a year (this one may prove challenging given the fact that I am a mom of two beautiful little girls and that I already ridiculously lean on a wonderful, supportive hubby/daddy) in silence/solitude and prayer (dialogue over monologue) with God...doesn't that sound heavenly! :) me thinks so

4. Share a favorite poem or piece of music from the coming week.
So hard to choose - I love the traditional hymns - "Because He Lives", "Were You There", "Christ the Lord is Risen Today", but one that gets me every time is an oldie, but goodie in my book - I love, love, love "Sunday's on the Way" by Carmen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muK1DPKhKJ8

5. There may be many services for you to attend/ lead over the next week, which one are you most looking forward to and why? If there aren't do you have a favorite day in Holy week if so which one is it?
Is it even possible for me to choose just one!?! Holy week is my favorite, even more than Advent and Christmas - there I said it. I'm certain that I am not alone, but I love the entire journey through Holy week. I love the extremes of emotion: rejoicing, fellowship, anguish, sorrow never felt before, desolation and then the extreme joy of the empty tomb and meeting the risen and victorious Lord. The journey to the cross and beyond always makes me keenly aware of the tremendous sacrifice that was made and the depth of God's love for me and for all.

I pray blessings on all who will minister this week, that we will be uplifted and strengthened by the Holy Spirit so that all those around us may be touched by Jesus in powerful ways - Lord, may Your consuming fire burn within people!

Friday Five: Signs of Hope

Thanks to Songbird from RevGalBlogPals for the invitation to hope!

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:10-13

In the late, late winter, as the snow begins to recede here in Maine, we begin to look almost desperately for signs of spring, signs of hope that the weather has turned and a new day is on the horizon. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Easter and Spring twine inextricably, the crocuses and daffodils peeking through the Earth as we await the risen Christ.

Share with us five signs of hope that you can see today or have experienced in the past.

1. More sunshine! :)

2. Flowers peeking through! ;)

3. "Wearing a coat optional" days! ;0)

4. Positive signs for the housing market - Lord please sell our house! :}

5. Just looking into those beautiful brown eyes and blue eyes of my precious little girls!

BONUS
Easter is coming! :-0
Yellow Peeps are in the stores - yum yum yum!

25 Random Facts + Bonus

1. I believe that Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life! :)
2. I am madly in love with Dale, Little Miss Lou Who & Ray Ray
3. I have been extravagantly blessed by wonderful, funny, encouraging and loving family & friends - Thank You, Lord!
4. I have learned already that being a minister is not easy - but I LOVE it.
5. I do not think that I could work a Monday - Friday, 8 - 5 job anymore.
6. My life verse (yes some would say taken out of context) is Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
7. I love to travel - I have been to various places in the US, Ireland, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Bahamas, Bermuda.
8. I have worked in the travel industry, the insurance industry, the health care system, higher education and media.You
9. I prefer the mountains and the woods to the beach.
10. I love campfires - especially for the purpose of hot dogs & ooey gooey smores.
11. I am still learning and loving it!
12. I love music - as long as it is clean & semi-understandable.
13. A must for any car that I own - air conditioning (this did not always come standard) and good sound (for playing music).
14. I went down the Piney on my hiney. I love Slate Run!
15. I would really love to own an a-frame, log cabinish home with some decent land, that has woods and a stream that I can sit by, and a cow for Dale . . . someday. . .
16. I have way too many books that I have not read.
17. I am discovering, I hope, a poet inside.
18. I am horrible at regular communication - thank You Lord for above-mentioned, very patient friends.
19. Being with young people makes me feel younger.
20. I hope that the ministry that God has called me to brings Him more glory! :)
21. Believe it or not, there is a part of me that misses Lebanon.
22. I hope to build a lasting and loving relationship with my two beautiful daughters, providing a safe place for both of them to turn when life gets tough.
23. I married Tim & Nikki at Camp Seltzer long before Pastor Dan did. :)
24. I fell off a six foot scaffolding (thank you Pastor Dan for saving my life) and lived to ride horseback the next day.
25. I secretly wish that my brother Chris would move closer - I miss him very much!

Bonus - I love being called Andii by those who know and love me - thanks Mom & Dad. ;o)

Holy Silence

Wait = Weight
Growing ever more burdensome
Upon body, mind, heart, soul
How much longer!?!
The cry escapes...

An aching, a longing, a heart's desire,
to serve obediently
And yet - silence . . . stillness.

Your voice - Holy and True,
brings peace.
Cannot carry burden alone . . .
but with You, all is possible.

230 a.m. - awakened
to find that You hear my cry.
And You offer the answer,

"Give it back, that burden that you have been carrying."

You are here - have been,
and continue to be.
So I may find rest,
and hope for today and beyond.

Gratitude for You.
All glory is Yours.

Just one more thing,
please answer soon
And if I may be bold,
let it be yes and get a bit easier - lighter

For You bring Light and Life,
to those who present requests to You . . .

Joy amidst pain.
Peace amidst chaos.

My Life in Pictures...

DIRECTIONS:
- Go to Google image search.
- Type in your answer to each question.
- Choose a picture from the first few images.
- Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage.
- Save the image for use in this note.
- Post and tag all your friends.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your hometown?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. What is your favorite movie?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What is one word to describe yourself?
10. How are you feeling right now?
11. What do you love most in the world?
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
13. What is your favorite song?
14. What is your favorite season?
15. What is your favorite animal?
16. What is your age?

Friday Five: Mid-Lent Check-In

Thanks to Sophia at RevGalBlogPals...

The pastor of my grad school parish once gave a fascinating reflection, at about this mid-point in the season, called "How to Survive the Mid-Lent Crisis"! As I recall, his main point was that by halfway through the season we have often found it very challenging to live up to our original plans....But, he suggested--on the analogy of the healing and reframing of our life plans that can happen during a mid-*life* crisis--that that can be even more fruitful.

So here's an invitation to check in on the state of your spirit midway through "this joyful season where we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed" (Roman Missal). Hopefully there's a good deal of grace, and not too much crisis, in your mid-Lenten experience!

1. Did you give up, or take on, anything special for Lent this year?

I have been practicing the spiritual discipline of silence/solitude and though it definitely takes practice, it is time well spent and totally worth it!

2. Have you been able to stay with your original plans, or has life gotten in the way?

Yes! And I have been thoroughly blessed by my time with God. In addition, since I am now in my first year of ministry I am participating in a mid-week, community Lenten service and that has been wonderful as I experience worshiping in differing settings and being fed by my brothers in the ministry.

3. Has God had any surprising blessings for you during this Lent?

God has blessed me abundantly during the last few weeks with a depth of intimacy and a deep desire for Him that I have never known before...

4. What is on your inner and/or outer agenda for the remainder of Lent and Holy Week?

To seek God and to spend time with Him.

5. Where do you most long to see resurrection, in your life and/or in the world, this Easter?

I have been so blessed by this Lenten season my prayer is to see resurrection in the heart of the people that I am surrounded by - my family, my friends, my faith community...Nothing is impossible for God!

Bonus: Share a favorite scripture, prayer, poem, artwork, or musical selection that speaks Lenten spring to your heart.

See my earlier post from this week for a poem that God wrote through me. I have always desired to be a poet! :) Thank You, Father, Son & Holy Spirit!