This mornings KALEIDE event...

At least once a quarter, Crosspointe cancels regular services and instead of coming to the church to be blessed, we go out and bless the community.   Since David-the-Artist-Pastor has been teaching the past several weeks on the life of John-the-Baptist being a light life that ignites others, Magical-David-and-Kylie came up with the idea to make this Kaleide event about blessing firefighters.

So this morning, I made a green-bean casserole (potentially the only vegan dish...lol) and we are joining with five other families to take lunch to Carrollton's Fire Station #7.  Other groups of families are taking meals to other stations around the area.

There was a bit of a mix-up and the firefighters didn't actually know we were coming so the seven of us walking in with dishes and bags was a bit of a surprise, but they were so great and showed us around the fire station anyway letting us ask a zillion questions.

This particular station has both the oldest firetruck--which has been restored and now is mostly just used for parade duty--and one of the newest ones which is equipped with a ton of stuff--including equipment for cutting open cars.

One of the really cool things is that they explained how the fire stations of Carrollton and the surrounding communities of Lewisville, Coppell, Farmers Branch and Addison all have specialties.  The communities got together and decided rather than all being generalists they would each take a specialty the others could call on. There is high-angle rescues, deep dive, subterranean, etc.

I love this concept of blessing.  In fact, I was trying to think of a different word to use in this post, and just couldn't find one.   So, blessing it is!  Anyway, it was really great to "bless" people with a meal who serve our community. And as it turned out, they blessed us by giving us a glimpse of a life we'd heard about, but never really get to see.

And, we were assured that medical emergencies on the ambulance work nothing like House.

ArtLoveMagic's Underground at SouthSide Lamar

Tonight, ArtLoveMagic hosted one of its largest shows of the year: Underground.  ArtLoveMagic events are designed to break down the walls between art lovers and artists.  Visual artists create live, there is live music and poetry, and the energy of simply being there in the middle of all of it is amazing.  Every ArtLoveMagic show has its own theme and personality. The Underground show is all about "edgy" art.  The vibe was definitely "street" with taggers, comic book artists and other art forms that pushed the bounds.

Michael Lagocki's character, Hailey, is one of my favorites.  This collaboration between Michael--who inked the painting--and Ashley Jones who collaged it was the first time I'd ever seen Hailey in living color. 

Another piece that was compelling featured a group of men huddled together.  It was an interesting snapshot of human solidarity.

I purchased a t-shirt from Justin Nygren who was doing screen printing live. (shirtsequalsawesome.com); and there was an artist named George who had these amazingly cool metal flowers.  (I could only afford the small ones, but I bought three.)

Rina, Melody, Nathon, John and I decided to grab some coffee at the Opening Bell where we heard singer/songwriter Jeff Metil.  I really liked his style and picked up one of his CD's.

As I was talking with Rina and Melody, it occurred to me they looked like sisters sitting there, so I snapped their picture. (The light in the background threw the iPhone off, but hopefully you can see the resemblance.)

Tonight, when the last person leaves and all of the trappings of the show have been packed away, there will be a small group of ArtLoveMagic folks in the wee hours of the morning at a Waffle House somewhere, laughing about the joy of tonight and scribbling on napkins to plan the next one.

Rescue Yoga

I love the way yoga makes you feel. Stronger. More flexible. Relaxed.  But I've found I can only maintain so much commitment to a video (even a really, really good video) and though I've liked the teachers I've had at gyms, there is something about being surrounded by a zillion people smaller, stronger and 10x more flexible than you are that can completely psych you out.

In my heart, I've always hoped for a yoga studio.  Something close (so I'd actually go), something affordable (that wouldn't require my whole monthly personal allowance) and something with lots of flexible classes (because my schedule rarely is.)

So, I was driving down Josey a couple of months ago and saw a sign for RESCUE YOGA.  Just a little sign, tucked in a strip mall behind the Walgreens at Frankford. There was a list of classes hanging near the door, so I grabbed a schedule and went back to addend a class.

And I loved it.

The thing about a yoga studio that is different to a gym or videos is that the studio itself tends to have a personality. In this case, Rescue Yoga is relaxed and very real--which is probably a reflection of the owner, Jenny.

In fact, it has been a discovery to me just how much personalities of instructors provide different "flavors" of classes.  I suppose this happens everywhere, it is just that I hadn't experienced it before. (At the gym, the vibe was homogenized....probably intentionally.)  If I were to describe it, I would say that Jenny's classes are very real and relaxed, but with a lot of knowledge laced through them. I don't believe I've ever gone to one that I didn't learn something I didn't know before.  Bill-the-Realtor teaches with a power you would expect from a male yogi. He is also very focused on the internal benefit of yoga to focus the mind and connect with the breath. Victoria-the-Dancer's class is just fun. I found myself smiling constantly as there was a lot of joy to it.  Heather-ahhhh.  Heather teaches restorative yoga...which is like a gift she gives you each week.  In fact, Heather's is a "can't miss" class for me.  It is something I didn't realize I desperately needed until I found it. Restorative yoga provides the type of deep relaxation that an hours worth of massage does for you. But at only $10 a class, you can afford it much more often.

If you live in North Dallas, check out http://www.rescueyoga.com/.  Or, Google to find a yoga studio in your own neighborhood.  And, if you already go to a studio, tell its story below.

Nothing is wasted

I wish I'd gotten around to blogging about my lunch with Heidi before she left to go back.  (I also wish I'd thought to snap a picture....sigh.)

Heidi is a friend of mine from college who now works in China helping children become literate in the native language of the area she lives in. She showed me some of her textbooks.  It is a very looping and pretty script.

Heidi's sister-in-law, Monica, is in my ATC group.  Actually, if I think about it, I don't believe Monica and I have ever met face-to-face.  We connected via this blog, her blog, and facebook.

I can't imagine living and working long-term in another culture. Yes, I did spend three years loving my time living in Panama, but I always knew I would go "home." The adventure of learning Mandarin and accepting a teaching position is a bit surreal.  Heidi is tall and beautiful with large blue eyes and long red hair, so she doesn't exactly blend. (In fact, she is so obviously Western that she can't leave her apartment without people calling out "Hello.")

At our lunch as we were catching up--you know where you tell your whole life in 20 minutes--I commented on how much the things I learned working for early childhood consultants were applicable to my current day job as a marketing director.  Heidi said simply, "Nothing is wasted." 

And I've thought a lot about that in the weeks since our lunch.

In reading Biomimicry, one of the big themes is that nature doesn't produce "waste." Everything.  And I mean EVERYTHING has a useful purpose.

I'd just never thought about the experiences of life before in that context.  Still thinking on it.

Shirts = Giving

Justin Nygren does screen printing as an art form. (In fact, if you come to ArtLoveMagic's Underground show in Dallas on January 30th, you will see him do it live.)

When Justin's job was downsized with the economy, Justin decided to take his skills and make them his new career.  He was in the middle of website building and setting up shop, when the disaster in Haiti hit.  With no money to give, he decided to take what he had--shirts and a screen printing press--and give anyway.
 
You can help Justin help Haiti by visiting http://shirtsequalsawesome.com/
 
And if you would like t-shirts for your organization or event and like what you see on the website, you can help Justin and his family too by spreading the word about their new business: Shirts Equal Awesome.

Bethany Graduates...sort of...

One of the weird things about graduating in December is that you don't actually get to "walk" until May, so though Bethany is officially graduated from high school, it will be another five months before she gets her diploma and the whole family comes out to celebrate. 

This morning was senior pictures, so I'm glad someone shot Bethany and Elisa in their caps and gowns via iPhone so that Bethany actually gets an image looking "graduated".

Tonight we took her to dinner at the place where we celebrate all big family events--Uncle Julios; then we went to play Glowy Golf and video games.  Bethany introduced me to a roller coaster simulator that was way fun.  We played some classics like Galaga and Centipede and raced motorcycles.  (Had it been real I would have died after riding 5 feet.)

And, though Bethany came in last at Glowy Golf, she actually beat her Dad at hoops.  (Something that is very, very hard to do.)

Now, while I'm blogging, we're all hanging out in John's office watching XMen.  I love the "us four and no more moments."  Now, getting back to that...

Unlearning

Since I've learned to pay attention when threads of conversations in different circles have recurring themes, I thought I'd share the latest one...

- I read Mary Burleson's post on things she had been taught and once believed deeply, that she now has completely changed her thinking on.

- I interviewed a man yesterday for an article--an advocate for the homeless--who previously worked for a televangelist. When I first met him at a dinner, I heard him say, "They are selling Magic Jesus...hell, I sold Magic Jesus."

- During our car ride up from College Station, Chase was talking with me about Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis and the problem he had with it. I was very proud of him, he had initially been very critical of the book based on things he'd heard.  I asked him to read it before stating opinions on it, and he did. (Note he still holds the same opinions, but he softened his objections because Rob Bell's heart comes through in the book.)

As Chase and I talked I couldn't help but remember 20-something Cathy and how she thought and believed. There are beliefs I would have fallen on my sword for at 20 that I now know to be untrue. (Heck, there are people who figuratively put swords through me defending what they believed to be true.) And as I contrast my own experience with those of others, it occurs to me that the whole process of growing and becoming requires a lot of "unlearning."

Unlearning is hard.

There is fear to it.

After all, unlearning changes your view of the world.  And when the way you see the world changes, vertigo sets in for a bit until you get comfortable with the new you (then the whole process seems to start again).

And I see two responses to 'unlearning.'  One is anger or deep criticism for the people who taught what is unlearned or at yourself for being gullible.  Because once you 'disbelieve' something, it is hard to see it as true. The other response...what I believe to be the better response...is humility that in our own humanness we don't know everything.  The grace to be able to respect others...even when we think they are wrong.

Because if you live long enough, you will learn you are wrong about a great many things.

This isn't to say there aren't things I believe strongly. I do.  I just think now I have a healthy fear of putting a sword through someone over an issue that comes down to how they see the world or how strongly they embrace what they were taught by others.  I used to think beliefs changed the world.  But now, I think that people do. The conversations. The interactions. It would seem that what we do is more influential than the most persuasive of arguments. A cup of water given in kindness has more power than libraries of doctoral theses.

At least that's what I believe. I hope it isn't something I have to unlearn.

Motorcycle Accidents, Chase's Surgery, and New Years Eve

A few months ago, we got a phone call. "Mom, Dad...I've been in a wreck."

Now, given that our son rides a motorcycle, my heart stopped right there. As it turns out, a pizza delivery driver pulled out--and into--Chase. The bike was totaled, but Chase was not. I talked with him on the phone. Hung up. Then promptly burst into tears.

Chase's wrist was fractured and ligaments torn...and I was incredibly greatful the damage wasn't fatal.

His surgery was scheduled for December 31st, so we canceled our annual party so we could be with him. Then the surgery was bumped, leaving us at loose ends for New Years Eve.

Robin-the-Artist and Floyd-the-Sidekick have a baby, and if it has been awhile since you've done this, NYE babysitters are expensive and difficult to come by. So I asked Robin if we could bring the party--albeit a small one--to her. So, Troy and Rhonda-of-the-Comic-Strip-Pantyhose and I packed up some food and grown-up beverages and invaded their house.

We talked and we laughed...the way you only can with really great friends that you've known forever.  And of course, since we were with Floyd and Robin, the soundtrack for the evening was great!

Chase's surgery was on Tuesday, so John and I drove to College Station to meet him at the hospital there. 

After they wheeled him in, we hung out in the lobby for what felt like forever. Around, 6:30pm, the surgeon came out and showed us pictures of the pins and the bolts and told us all had gone well. (Yes, I absolutely had to look away. Glad John was there.)  Chase will only have 70% motion in his wrist, but again...he's breathing.

When you have a grown up son, it is nice every once in awhile to get the opportunity to do parental stuff.  We shuttled medical records, navigated the insurance stuff and took care of getting prescriptions, food, then drove Chase and his vehicle back to Dallas where he is hanging out in our guest room while he recouperates. (His right hand had the surgery, so he can't drive for quite awhile.  We all have stick-shifts.)

It has been nice just having him around.

The Theme for 2010

I'm not sure exactly when I started doing "themes for the year."  I do know that it started out silly. Like one year, the theme was "it's all about me"  which I would jokingly remind my family of whenever something was too much about everything else.

But somewhere along the line, it actually became a 'thing.' A real theme. The one item I wanted to focus on.  Not a resolution exactly, but more about intention.

This year, the theme is simple--Daily.  To be honest, I'm not even sure exactly what it means yet, except that as a 'big picture' sort of girl, I've been impressed lately that all of the truly significant things in life happen at a daily level rather than at a 'big moment' level. Not that I don't think the big picture view is important, but more that the big picture view doesn't result in implementation.  You can 'zoom out' to set trajectory, but to actually get there happens in the daily actions.

Last year, I helped Kimberly-the-Behavioral-Therapist with a project.  For three weeks, participants had to write down what we did every 30-minutes. The weird thing is that looking at the spreadsheets across the three weeks, I saw that every day was almost exactly the same. (Even though they felt really different.)  We typically get up every morning at the same time, spend the same blocks eating, sleeping, working.  Even the work day has a certain rhythm.  The point of Kimberly's project was that to make real change, you have to change the blocks.  Get up an hour earlier if you want to work out. (Changing the block from sleep to awake.) Schedule dinner with your family if you want to build relationship. (Changing everyone's blocks from work, or soccer, or music practice to eating together).  Set aside a block of 30 minutes to practice harmonica (which I never, ever did.)

I've also come to believe that God works on a daily basis. That you can experience His presence simply by allowing yourself to become quiet enough to reach out for it--not just sitting cross-legged on the floor or kneeling with hands folded, but as you go about your life.  It would seem that the more 'blocks' you spend doing that, the more the days are filled on God's agenda rather than hitting our head against brick walls. It would seem the more we would experience 'flow.'

Standing at the beginning edge of 2010, those are just possibilities.  I can't wait to see what the theme, Daily brings.