tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-153596422012-05-04T11:00:35.229-04:00Just a place for me to write down some thoughts and maybe get some feedback... maybe not.will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.comBlogger730125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-87700172170129866122011-09-02T17:53:00.001-04:002011-09-02T17:53:24.157-04:00

Hi.

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-25230212211286634722008-12-19T10:07:00.001-05:002008-12-19T10:09:54.866-05:00

Did you find me yet?HINT: Check out this week's comments at the revgalblogpals' Friday Five.

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-26062521093968974162008-12-11T19:47:00.003-05:002008-12-11T19:59:16.798-05:00

Life is good, please don't get me wrong... BUT my brain is a bit overloaded. Here is an example of a typical thread of thought... sometimes between 2-4am:I need to go to visit A at the hospital and should do that before going to COM meeting I need to look over my faith statement for that so I don't get surprised by questions on it but really even if I answer poorly I will pass but I don't want to

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-14950913904609239002008-11-22T20:14:00.002-05:002008-11-22T20:41:14.807-05:00

As I walk through the final steps towards a new call there is a LOT on my mind. A LOT.I have been trying to get it all on paper because when there is a lot swirling in my brain it usually helps to get it down on paper and organize it. Sometimes I even break down the 'to-do' list into the days they have to happen. There is actually too much to even get it all down on paper.Stunning.Just about

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-91842849088975334512008-11-21T06:45:00.004-05:002008-11-21T06:52:14.686-05:00

Songbird writes:In a minor domestic crisis, my food processor, or more precisely the part you use for almost everything for which I use a food processor, picked the eve of the festive season of the year to give up the ghost. A crack in the lid expanded such that a batch of squash soup had to be liberated via that column shaped thing that sticks up on top.Can you tell this is not my area of

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-7476593272365606792008-11-19T17:00:00.001-05:002008-11-19T04:51:44.277-05:00

Friends.... a fairly large, fully staffed, very healthy congregation is about to call their next Head of Staff.And it is I.This means I get to:Use the lessons I have learned here to continue to thrive in ministry and more importantly equip others to thrive as well,Own a home,Move out of the fishbowl life that is living on the property of the church in the manse,Be fully involved in the life of

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-66135810623378394062008-11-17T15:41:00.002-05:002008-11-17T15:43:24.365-05:00

When I was a kid I totally thought this was going to be me... except for the Japan part.Maybe it's a sign.The committee meets tomorrow night. I'll let you know soon after I do. Probably in the Twitter feeds below before I can get to a post.Thank you all for your prayers.

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-9471321716505126232008-11-08T21:48:00.000-05:002008-11-09T21:44:43.428-05:00

From a wedding meditation: The passage in Matthew talks about using our hearts and our minds and our souls to love as God calls us to love. It is the ultimate back up plan, because married life is committed love, it is wonderful love - it is not always easy love. The passage says heart, soul and mind; I am here to tell you that all three aren’t always on board at the same time.That is why the

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-45825546962772069322008-11-08T07:40:00.002-05:002008-11-08T07:47:11.406-05:00

On Thursday my friend took his 10 month old to a routine pediatrician's visit. 24 hours later they were checked into the pediatric cardiology unit at the hospital with a son whose heart is badly damaged and needs a transplant.Very fast and very scary. He is also in between calls - has left one church and has not yet started at the next. They are in the process of moving into a rental.They have a

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-42042885386522224292008-11-06T09:52:00.001-05:002008-11-06T09:54:38.968-05:00

This is not why I voted for him, but...How cool is THAT?!

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-68642197015270632832008-11-05T09:29:00.003-05:002008-11-05T09:39:04.718-05:00

The speech from last night. Thanks to MSNBC.Hello, Chicago.If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-23543083780981329592008-11-02T17:47:00.003-05:002008-11-02T18:01:20.815-05:00

I realize posts to this blog have been few and far between. I miss you all.Full time parenting and full time working have put a new time management spin on my life. Although, if you know who I am in 'real life' and we're friends on Facebook then you know I am able to fit in umpteen status updates.The real time vaccuum is the job search. It's a weird process because I have spent the better part of

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-18173536908528829082008-10-30T23:18:00.003-04:002008-10-30T23:32:52.728-04:00

Some loser did the Friday Five over at the revgalblogpals this week:1) Your work day is done and the brain is fried, what do you do? Facebook or other ways of touching base with friends. Also, I have re-engaged in a knitting project and that has been fun.2) Your work week is done and the brain is fried (for some Friday, others Sunday afternoon), what do you do?Hopefully nap, but if not playing

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-34158200082071468812008-10-15T18:21:00.003-04:002008-10-15T18:42:22.420-04:00

In seemingly long gone seminary days 3 couples headed over to someone else's house over Labor Day Weekend while the owners of the home were away on a real vacation. They pigged out on appetizers from the freezer section, embarrassed themselves by making stupid comments to the teenage ice cream truck driver ("Stay cool" said the overweight, middle aged woman in the bikini top), left weird things

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-31970381084538870622008-10-01T09:54:00.002-04:002008-10-01T10:01:57.330-04:00

In mid-March of this year I was phone interviewed by a committee looking for their next Head of Staff. I was heavily medicated thanks to the flu and at my own emotional ground zero. I did perhaps the worst phone interview ever.One of the questions was what books am I currently reading. I could come up with nothing. I said, "You mean besides Parenting magazine?" Even though at the time I was

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-47069707016265907772008-09-23T14:16:00.000-04:002008-09-23T14:18:25.586-04:00

Oh. My. Gawd.

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-86328215341454894102008-09-18T13:02:00.003-04:002008-09-18T13:27:28.259-04:00

When I arrived here at the country church that considers itself to have the ability to make friends (our motto is similar to that convoluted sentence and I don't want it to show up on a google search) it soon became apparant that the congregation was indeed friendly... IF you walked through its doors. They were not considered to be so friendly by our immediate neighbors. It seems that some of our

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-10296055443948498432008-09-15T12:32:00.002-04:002008-09-15T12:47:20.144-04:00

I went to Wendy's for a post-gym snack and their usual daytime cashier was there. His name is Bill and he is nice, efficient, and patient (I have been there with a screaming child). He is also mentally challenged.Today he gave me my change and for some inexplicable reason I didn't think the change was right even after running it through my head a few more times and so in order to take the honest

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-22720083358763834352008-09-04T08:22:00.003-04:002008-09-04T08:46:16.826-04:00

In the denomination I currently serve there is an annual nominating process for leaders of the church. There is a rotating nominating committee that gathers to discern who the leaders in the congregation are, invites those leaders to serve and then brings those nominees to the congregation for them to formally vote.I sit in on these meetings but tend not to say too much. I guide the discernment

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-39330225026056162712008-08-28T11:54:00.002-04:002008-08-28T12:03:58.375-04:00

"Mommy, we stop?""Yes, Aunt Mary needs to get a ticket." (to enter the parking lot)"Was she going too fast?"Guess who was in the car with Mommy when she received her speeding ticket?

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-67401677177582594262008-08-27T18:04:00.002-04:002008-08-27T18:05:10.297-04:00

"Mommy pushed me off the swing and then Marfa saved me." - The Boy.I will let you fill in the story around that one.

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-63496016589269728062008-08-18T15:17:00.003-04:002008-08-18T15:23:25.846-04:00

Dog to vetBoy and dog to parentsVisitationBeer with friendFuneral prepPackingSleepfuneralcommittalluncheoncomplete packingboy and self to airportland in NE statedrive to 2nd NE stateLOBSTER!Oh yes... it is going to happen. And maybe even more than once.C-ya in a week!

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-85454411184990760372008-08-18T03:13:00.002-04:002008-08-18T03:20:23.863-04:00

Hey all!Just thought I'd share with my homies that TOW1 has been to church two Sundays in a row now. Last week was VBS, this week was a baptism. And THIS week they actually came in late while I was doing announcements so the entire congregation was able to turn as one, wide-eyed to see how I was handling it.I handled it fine. Whatever.I really have no ill-will there any more, mainly apathy with a

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-81206753273267768652008-08-12T16:50:00.003-04:002008-08-12T17:10:00.645-04:00

As I have alluded to in earlier posts I am working on being a little more present with The Boy. Currently he will tell me to come sit on the couch and I will usually respond with, "just one minute." There will be a pause and he will then say, "Here's a spot for you!"You can't turn that down, you just can't - and I won't. So I sit and cherish that moment knowing it will be all too soon when I am

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15359642.post-4122711712007943322008-08-09T04:56:00.002-04:002008-08-09T04:59:22.285-04:00

For me personally, the saddest thing about the John Edwards affair is that it never occurred to me that he wasn't cheating. I saw the news today and I thought, "well duh..."

will smamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06632209393133155385noreply@blogger.com13