My daughter is Super Pretzel

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!

No law against love

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 work with the staff person at check out in order to receive my tax exempt status for the purchase. I was not carrying the exact form they wanted, but I had MANY forms of identification that proved I worked for a tax exempt organization - but the person refused to look up the information stating it was against state law to do so.

At the utterance of the words, "Against state law." I felt my face go red with anger. The rush of anger took me off guard too - usually I'm easy going! I asked if I got the correct form and brought back my receipt if I could be refunded the tax. The clerk said, "You have to return all the items UNUSED with the receipt and the tax form. Then you may receive tax exempt status."

My face got redder. I told her I'd pay for it as I needed the items that day and rushed out of the store, I'm quite embarrassed to say, in quite a huff.

Days later, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in several months. After the usual hellos and catching up, she asked me - "By the way, were you shopping in ------ the other day?" I grimaced at the thought of my now passed rush of anger at the clerk and shyly said, "Yes, I was there."

She seemed a little nervious to speak, but said, "I thought it might be you, but I heard the conflict and thought since I've never seen you angry before it couldn't possibly be you."

Yes, it was me. Face turning red, loosing my head, speaking a little to loud at the clerk, and rushing out the door. That was me.
How embarrassing.

The circumstances were frustrating, but I did not have the correct forms. To be honest, the clerk was only doing her job. I was the one out of line.

Moment like this sometimes remind me of the old show "Candid Camera". Here you are, not behaving in a way that is loving or graceful, let alone kind or polite; and always someone takes note of it. The way I behave is seen by all around me, everyday. Thankfully, I try not to make a habit of blowing my top at clerks in stores. I'm usually easygoing, right?

My point is this, if I was more aware of people around me, would I behave differently? If I care about living like Christ, would I behave differently? As I get ready for this trip, I'm thinking of all the opportunities we'll have to live out our faith in the heat of the big easy. What will people say we are, who I am even if we don't hear them speak it?

I hope this experience while shopping last week will be a good reminder for me to be easygoing and graceful. What response would I like to hear when someone asks who I am? I'd like to hear that I am: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

There is no law - not even tax law against characteristic like these.

Do not worry

"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!

SWB: Lists

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 shopping.
Check.

I had wanted to make a list of what I needed, but in my hurry I remembered the list from the camp itself and took it with me before I headed out the door. Before I entered the first store, I took a moment and wrote down some items that were not on the camp list. Then I searched and found the items I was looking for in not one, not two, but three different department stores before I wrapped up my hunting and gathering for the day.
Check.


At work, I've had two lists sitting on my desk for the last month. One is for overall youth work and the other a word document entitled as "Countdown to New Orleans!" Day by day and week by week, I've had the satisfaction of taking a thick black sharpie and crossing items off both these lists. One by one, I feel myself feeling calmer with each sharpie swipe.
Check.

I've been thinking on a larger scale of my life's lists. Like: what do I want to accomplish or enjoy this summer, what I'd like to do before I turn you-know-what in a year and a half, and so on.

I wonder what life, mine and yours, would look and feel and be, if only we took the time to truly know what we needed, write it down and live in a way to gather what we desire. There is so much more to this than making lists of things. The kind of listing I'm describing is the act of being more aware of one's life and the various physical, spiritual and mental needs we would find there. I think I may call it - a Holistic list - for starters.
Check.

In the last month, I've had to deal with some list items that I'd been putting off, out of my fear that there was no way to deal with them. On the other side of scratching these nagging items away, I'm feeling calmer and know its better, I'm better for having dealt with these items.
Check.

There are all kinds of lists: Work lists, packing lists, to do lists, what I want to do this summer lists... but this holistic list is one that has space for all aspects of life. A holistic list is one that can show you where you are, and where you really want to go.
Check.

That kind of calm direction is the kind of bread this baker could have much, much more of. Check, check, check.....

Peace.

All are welcome

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 welcome, all are welcome here

From the woman who comes crying
leaving tears at Jesus feet
To the man who knows the right way
but cannot see (Chorus)

From the ones who feel forgotten
those who sense their place is gone
To the ones who live in hunger,
here you belong (Chorus)

Go into the streets and cities
to the farms and families
Tell about the splendid table
God's mercy (Chorus)

Nigel sang the song, but more importantly he believed and lived out the song a few minutes later. What a church it would be if we all connected our worship and actions so naturally!

Note: "All Are Welcome" words and music by Hans Peterson and Larry Olson ©1999 Dakota Road Music.

To see the original post or to look at other jems, just click on this link to kilnfolk.org