Ian and Nigel are making movies

This video skit was a project that my husband Ian and son Nigel worked on last week as an entry for an upcoming contest - Please stop by Youtube and show your support if you like it!

"This is my 11 year old son's entry for the Ghoulardifest 2008 Skit Contest. His grandma and I helped him
Nigel & I are heading out to Ghoulardifest in Ohio next weekend. It's an event that celebrates cheesy old sci-fi movies from the 50s and 60s, old TV personalities, and pop culture. They're having a skit contest in the "style of Big Chuck and Lil John." This is our entry. We were assisted by my mom, making her acting debut, when it became obvious that all other family members were deliberately avoiding us."

Stuff

Where are the things that make me want to care,
for something more than stuff to get and stuff to wear.
The model of better life does not mean
designer life, designer cars and designer jeans.

Cars they rust and jeans wear thin -
when they are gone what will I begin with again.

Wonder and beauty are all around us you see,
under our noses and feet and not what they try to sell you on TV.

Think of the days before you had all you have,
are you amazed by the contentment in hand?
Stuff in itself can be shiny new and pretty,
but what happens when its no longer on display as something you'd fancy.

How much is enough? Can we every really tell? When tripping through the hallway on something you really ought to sell.

Sell for the space and the room to breathe.
Sell for some food for someone in need.
Sell for the sake if breaking free,
from the things we think are important -
and in the end they aren't.
Only then can we see.

Consider another perspective

In light of much of the inappropriate commentary on the racial background, the manipulation of facts and other frustrating and nasty elements of the presidential campaign - take a moment and consider that there may be another point of view: a well thought out, educated and ethically sound reason for voting or at least considering the option of voting for Barack Obama on November 4th. Visit the Matthew 25 network's website to get some logical perspective on this upcoming election.

Peace,
Tara

Spiritual type quiz - go head you know you want to take it.

Here are my results - What do you think? Accurate or no?
To get your results - click here: Spiritual types test

You are a Lover, a feeling type, whose spirituality comes primarily from the heart or emotions. You value freedom, independence, and spontaneity. Along with your gift of enthusiasm, you show us how to have fun and appreciate beauty. More than any other type, you know how to experience joy. This puts you in a unique position to experience God in the moment, to revel in what is happening around you, and to be in the present tense.

To Lovers, God is a nurturing parent. Prayer for you is often extemporaneous, speaking to God about what is on your heart at the moment. Music moves you deeply; so does heartfelt preaching and worship. You believe that real faith must be shared. Consequently, many Lovers are interested in missions or in spreading the Gospel through the media. You are passionate about holy living.

On the other hand, a Lover's impulsive behavior can get you in trouble. You sometimes focus on satisfying immediate desires to the detriment of investing in longer term needs. You have been known to exude a "holier-than-thou" attitude toward other spiritual types. That does not endear you to us. Guard against thinking that to be right everyone else must share a spiritual experience similar to yours. You also may need permission to acknowledge anger, disappointment, sadness, and doubt, and to allow yourself to be less than ideal.

Snoopy | Aunt Bee | Alanis Morissette
Billy Graham | Julia Butterfly Hill
Andrea Bochelli | Joey Tribbiani
His Holiness, The Dalai Lama | Mary Magdelene
Captain Kirk | Ida Mae Brown (in Ghost)

Late with the bread - time to suenllo

Somehow, someway I'll begin to figure out my new schedule and pattern of life so the Monday bread isn't Tuesday or Wednesday before it's done baking, but there was so much in the last two days that I might have failed to mention had I not been delayed in the bread delivery.



John Kozal's (public education reformer from 1960's to present) lecture at the University of Buffalo on Friday reminded me of the importance of fostering beauty and aesthetics in the world. Especially in the world of children who rarely experience it. In an educational system that often teaches to the test, many children are losing or have long ago lost the opportunities to expand their current horizons with access and experience with art, music, and theater. I'm all at once burdened with the overwhelming need of children in our country for positive creative outlets and spurred on to personally continue to be a supporter of the arts in my local schools and community by expressing their necessity. John's words of challenge reminded me of my own early connection with arts as a child. My own discovery process began in the primary school days when I had teachers who had the freedom and resources to teach a variety of subjects to help us prepare for life - and not an exam at the end of the term. Connections started then, serve me daily now. What if I had never had the opportunity or contact to the teachers that flinted my earliest shades of creativity? I would be a dark heart. I don't want that to be the case for the children of my community.
The abandonment of hope, especially in or for children, drains me of life. Being their advocate for opportunity is the best way to refuel.



Saturday and Sunday were a blur - the wedding was beautiful. The bride and groom were gracious and happy, the hall was full of friends and family and communion was shared with everyone. Helping my daughter and her best friend with hair and makeup for the fall homecoming dance was great girl time - I was honored that they asked me to help them. Worship on Sunday was full of music and excitement for the near future as I was announced to the congregation as the Director of family and youth ministry. I all felt like an new beginning. This new ministry is an opportunity to grow as well as share some things I've learned along the way. It will be an adventure.
Weddings, new beginnings and challenges - this stirs up the life in me.

Art projects are everywhere in my house - ones for this school or that, ones that pop into my mind while I'm working on planning for another. It's like a tap that keeps dripping - plop, plop, plop - even though you thought you'd turned it all the way off. I made a tree pattern for Ian's media board. Something to evoke a peaceful, strong, and supportive feeling when you look at it. I hope it speaks to those who are looking for all of those things: peace, strength and support. The image not only spoke to me when I was done, my daughter now would like a mural on her bedroom walls including the "strong tree". Like I said, projects are everywhere in my house!
If I rest in the fact that these projects will arrive in their own time and way, I can relax and enjoy the process and be surprised by the outcome when they are ready.



Farewell Albert. He was a gentle, kind, forgiving, patient and truly a person who achieved the goal set for followers of God in the book of Micah 6:8 - "But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." I keep having overflowing memories from the 2 1/2 years we worked and served together in ministry in Warren - you loved my Buick Skylark, taught me how to make funnel cakes at the fair booth, would have soup with me at lunch, and loved reading Lois L'Amour paperbacks while waiting for people to come into the food pantry for their orders.
Albert, I will miss you. Your departure leaves me lonely, but your restoration in heaven makes me so happy. Read a few good paperbacks till I see you again.

Teaching varied groups of children art is one small way I feel it is possible to help make the creative connections for some of the folks that Mr. Kozal spoke of. Some days are tough - not knowing the names of all the kids, feeling a little unsure of where you need to be when and what you need to be teaching who - that does put me a little off balance sometimes. Then there are the days that things really click. Were i share a little knowledge and the students teach me something in return. They always seem to teach me so much. Today I asked a group to take the concept of a "dream" and create a collage of varied papers and drawing tools that represented it. I learned that these students are proud of who they are, they have many dreams for their future and they are willing to accept a new teacher like me into their lives.
There hope and promise of life filled my heart up to the brim - they are my, Suenllo (dream) come true.


That is enough bread for now. Until later, sweet dreams.