Uphill idealist

Take twenty women with ages ranging from 17 to 65, add a catered breakfast and tasty lunch, some inspiring readings and discussions, lots of laughter, an opportunity to build a stronger community, hands on art and craft projects, some quiet time, some not-so-quiet time, and you have a day retreat for a lively sisterhood of women; committed to growing in their faith - cross generational friendships - and a great future together! Thank you to everyone who supported, helped with and attended the first women's day retreat at First Lutheran Church of Jamestown. Keep posted for the next one to come Spring 2012.

Image from Free Historical Stock Photos. This year for Halloween, I'm happy to be dressing as "Rosie the riveter". I've alway' loved her look as well as her determined "We can do it!" frame of mind. It's also wonderful that there were and are many real life 'Rosie's" out there in the world. Thank you for all the it you have done and continue to do! Thursday evening, I'll be heading to a nursing home with youth group members to visit and share some happy Halloween cheer with the residents. Do you think there will be any "Rosie's" there? For now I have to wait and see. But for you, here's a peek at your's truly - in Rosie fashion.

Image found at Homemade Soup blog. Chicken noodle soup is good for: stuffy noses, hearts that are broken, weary bodies and burdened minds. What is the fix dancing inside that bowl? Water, carrots, noodles and broth - everyday items cooked in love and brought - comfort for life, and breath and soul. Wrap me up and hold me tight. Swaddle me like an infant tonight. Hold me in the place of safety and rest - so the noodle soup, now in my stomach, can work it's best.

October marks the month for costumes and dress up for Halloween. Why should boxes be left out of the fun? Each October, Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry creates flashy boxes for a purpose: to draw attention to our food drive to help collect food for Joint Neighborhood Project. Here are ONE: TWO: THREE: examples of how boxes - and caring for others isn't' boring!

I had a moment in this unexpectedly warm weekend of fall where I thought, "After all this hair growing, I think that short pixie cut I used to have was perfect." What do you think... Cut the locks or keep em? Here's where I'm at... Here's where the process just about started... Which look do you like?

Moving furniture, setting up the stereo, putting on make-up and spraying glitter in our hair, opening the glo-stick packages, dimming the lights, inserting the mix CD, turning on the strobe light, kicking off our shoes, and turning the volume up to 10. This is our dance party, with silly string, Doritos, and our silly dorky selves having the time of our lives. This is our dance party. Will you come and join us? T.L. Eastman 2010

The happy snowman bounces in the wind as if listening to the "Thumpity, thump, thump.." chorus of the Frosty the Snowman song. I feel as if I'm going to blow away, but this glowing, fabric, lawn decoration is staying safely tethered to the frozen ground. This snowman doesn't have anywhere to be, people to see or work to get done. I on the other hand, have a list that seems way too long. Somehow though, I keep moving. Maybe the wind will be at my back today, just to help things along a bit. I think that would be wonderful as I bounce along in my own untethered way singing... "Thumpity, thump, thump...!"

This just made me smile. Hope it did the same for you.

As for those who gave their opinions on what hair-do to 'do' last week, I decided to go with a blend of cut #1 and #2. Here's the result (above)of my time of cut and then later decided color at the salon, as well as my niece Carlie's handiwork (second photo) on my make up for the dessert night I went to on Saturday evening. Hope you all like the results! Lamont

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!

All eight students that are going to New Orleans for the ELCA Youth Gathering in July. Libby and I served lots of smiles today. Hannah was our greeter and money collector. Phil, Libby and Heather were happy to serve. Really. Nate and Scott are fearful that tossed salad will take over the world. Devious vegetables. Lexi wants to go on the trip to New Orleans. We start them out fundraiser young in this youth group. Heather and her coffee cart. Becca helping to clean up - she still is smiling! More food? It was a long day. But we had fun... and we chipped away at the cost for the trip with our efforts.:) Thanks for your help and support Jamestown - F.L.Y Youth loves you!

There are some times that busyness wears me out and other kinds that seem to fuel the fires of creativity and life for me. This week was a mix of both kinds of "busy". Work: This last week was the second week of spring break for the school age kiddos in my community. So it marked the second week straight of working with my kids home with the break from school, having some more of my students back in town after trips away for Easter, and working on preparation for some additional art classes/workshops in the coming weeks. One day last week, our youth group spent the day spring cleaning and reorganizing the youth room and kitchen. The cupboards are filled with sparking dishes and glasses thanks to a donation of kitchen wares from my co-worker Cathy. (Thank you!) Overall it was a productive day of clearing out three construction garbage bags full of trash, fostering team building and spending some quality time with the student. Nicest of all, both my kids (16 and 12) are in the ...

Back in the day, my friend Drew and I used to go to church together. I've always admired his artistic creativity and thought you'd like a chance to see a little of his work. Go to Drew Pocza to see what I mean.