Uphill idealist

After a tasty evening snack of Super Pretzels with my family, an amazing thing happened... My daughter was instantly transformed in "Super Pretzel" herself! Was it the mustard? Was it the cream cheese? I'm not sure we'll ever know! Super Pretzel emerges from her secret headquarters to fight crime in the City of Jamestown! Super Pretzel feels strongly about her adopted planet earth. That is why she uses a recycled beach towel as her cape! Super Pretzel is impervious to an attack by her evil Ninja brother! Super Pretzel takes a hot-line call from the Chief of Police! (Being a conscientious crime fighter, she ALWAYS has her cell phone with her!) Super Pretzel caught on camera as she goes "up, up and away!" Super Pretzel shows off her mad fighting skills as she gives her evil Ninja brother some what-for! Just a typical evening at the Eastman residence. :) Oh how we love super heroes!

It's been a hectic week prior to leaving for our group's trip to New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering . As I've been busily ticking things off my to do list this week, I've experienced a wide variety of emotions. I've had moments of frustration, worry, anger - yes anger, excitement, wonder, hope and joy. All these emotions and the wide variety of them have made me look at this scripture in John where Jesus asks what others think of him. “Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’” Mark 8:27-29 (NRSV) Who do you say I am? The other day, I had a frustrating situation while shopping for supplies for a project for this upcoming trip. My time was short and I was trying to

"Do not worry, you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31 This is our FLY group banner that we made to bring with us to New Orleans for the ELCA Youth Gathering . Thank you to everyone who helped with the planning and creation of this project. Nice work!

There are many days I never take the time to sit down and write a "to-do list", usually because I feel to busy to write it all down. Lists, like I said, are not ones I always take the time to write. Somehow, though when I do write them - I seem to spend less time feeling frantic and wondering - "What did I forget?" Somehow, on Monday I arrived at my day off with only a few obligations and had some time to do some much needed shopping for an upcoming trip to New Orleans and for my son's summer camp week. The night before, I'd cleared off the kitchen counter and sorted the mail and found several things that needed to be attended to - so as I got ready for bed, I began to make a mental list of what had to happen in the morning so I could get all I needed done, well, done. Check. As I got up the next day I found my papers, wrote some checks, filled out some forms, sealed papers into the envelopes, and laid them on the counter to be mailed on my way to go shoppin

My husband Ian wrote a lovely post on some happenings at our church on Sunday. Here is a re post of his note here... I was greatly encouraged by my son, Nigel, yesterday. We were selling sno-cones and cookies outside of our church, raising money for camp scholarships. A man who was obviously mentally ill approached our booth, asking if we were giving away food. I told him that we had enough to share and wrapped him up a plate of cookies. My son then invited him to the fellowship breakfast that our church holds every month between services. Now I don't know if the man will remember to come back in three weeks, but it was amazing to hear Nigel respond so readily to someone's need. I know that I never reacted with such confidence and grace around the mentally ill when I was his age (12). A half-hour earlier, the worship team at our church led us in the song "All Are Welcome" during communion: All are welcome, friend and stranger at the banquet of the Savior All are wel