Long lost friend...

So I was about my regular business today, doing what I do, and a funny, strange, weird thing happened. I ran into an old friend of mine. At first I wasn't quite sure, you don't want to be one of those crazies who talks to everybody like you've been friends since grade school when you really don't actually know them. So I decided I'd better get a little closer just to be sure.

"Well, hey there you! How've you been?"

Silence.

"Wow, it's been a long time hey. Like eight or so years..." I sheepishly glance at the floor.

"Actually, make that more like nine years, too bad you can't count."

Ouch.

"So, have you seen anyone else we used to bounce with?"

"Ya, back there. And over here a little. We've been in hiding, remember?"

"Hiding?! Why on earth would you do that? That's crazy!"

"Well, Dawn, you inadvertently forced us into...hiding. But really we've been here all along."

"Oh. I'm so sorry."

"That's ok. Glad we're all moving in the same direction again."

"Ya, me too. Will I be seeing more of you?"

"If you're smart and quit being so lazy you will. And by the way, Heart says thanks for all the cardio lately."

Nice hey. That's all I got. My creative brain is on holidays I think. Or permanent hiatus. But I did indeed notice my waistline today for the first time in a long time. My real waistline, you know, the part that dips in (or at least is supposed to) a little just after the ribs and before the hips. I was shocked. Now at this point I know some of you will say WHO CARES! Well I do and this is my blog, right.

I've maintained the same body weight over the past few years after having my babies, but everything got all shifted around somehow in the delivery room. I'm certain the doctors were playing a practical joke and filling me with extra surgical sponges round about my belly, butt, and thighs. Not funny.

So I took action: I'm taking charge of what goes in and what I do with it in terms of my body. For the past four weeks I've been working out regularly (I've always been a runner, but 20-30 minutes on the treadmill seemed like enough and I'd eat what ever happened to find it's way into my mouth...) I'm also watching more closely what goes into that orifice I call pie-hole. (My curiosity about calories has turned into a bazaar little obsession - I figure out the calories of what I'm eating, decide to eat most things anyway, then do more mathematical calisthenics to figure out how many more minutes I need to run, how many more crunches or curls to do, leg lifts, etc. Sadistic, I know. But on the days that I'm feeling particularly lazy, I'll not have that jumbo chocolate muffin that is a whopping 690 calories...that's another 25.5 minutes of running!)

This all started when my dear sister in law announced here engagement - wedding to be THIS JULY. And I'm the maid of honor. And I have a ponch and saggy old lady arms. And I really couldn't tell where my legs ended and my butt began.(Secretly I blame her for this new madness going on.) SO.....

I now have a sore group of muscles almost everyday. I can tell you how many calories are in many foods. And I can measure out my proper portions sizes for meals with the palm of my hand (which I don't really do so much anymore, for some reason people look at you funny when you're at the buffet.) And I can count to eight three times in a row rhythmically and remember to breath while repeating sets of lifts, lunges and pulls.

Will it last? Can I keep it up? Will I meet any more long lost friends along the way? Time will tell. Maybe I'll make a new friend...Six pack! Well, lets not get our hopes up too high.
G'night.

Actually... No.

Ok, so I don't actually want to see the new Jim Carey movie YES Man any longer. And the link on the previous post doesn't work anyhow. Which is a good thing. After watching a few previews of the movie on You tube and a few clips of Jim Carey's other "works of genius" I've decided it's a good thing you didn't get thru on that link and even better I didn't waste my $$ on theater tickets. (Well, actually, M has two free adult passes to our small theater here in town, but something better's bound to come along anyway...) It also occurred to me that the only movies of Jims that I have seen are the Trueman Show and Liar Liar. Bits and pieces of Ace Ventura and The Mask as well. So with the first two there, you can see why my opinion of the actor would be somewhat misconstrued. But after listening to some very off colored comments by this man (with actions to go with), I can safely say I'm no longer a fan. Not. At. All. It's kind of like putting a swig of artificial vanilla in your mouth; smells really great until it's in there and then you feel the immediate need to quickly get it out. Yuck.

PS: sorry if you've seen the movie and liked it. Ya, sorry.

YES

I wonder how different my life would be if I were a yes man, er, woman. And yes, I would like to see Jim Carey's latest movie "YES". Looks funny and I've always had a thing for that crazy Canadian. So, if you've seen it, tell me how you'd rate it and please keep the ending to your self. Thanks. And I don't know why but there seems to be a bit of an issue posting a clip directly to here so if you'd like a sneak peak, check that link down there. Sorry.


http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pV9Uviv-9bk

HELP!

I need your help all you graphic design, digital scrap booking, know the Internet like the back of your hand people...
A colleague and I are trying to redesign a brochure we made for our doula business. Right now it's a plane-Jane (yawn, boring...) print out on white paper. One photo only and it really could use some help.
Since I don't know where to get all those great ideas for beautiful back grounds, swirly thingies or creative anything, could you help me?? We'd like to put it together on the computer and either email it or save it to disk to have printed at Staples or some copy place.
Please help me, I'd be forever grateful...

Hot Topic Part 3

Hey, read the first and second parts before this. It all makes way more sense when you read them in order.

I've never seen resurection, nor instantaneous healing, cast out demons in Jesus name or feed thousands with the contents of a kid's lunch bag. But why not? Is it for lack of faith? Sin? Or is it because I've been led to believe, as my forefathers before me, that that's not the way God works anymore. The "church" and it's leaders would never intentionally lead people astray. Heck, I've been in leadership positions and I'm responsible at least in part for any damage done. I'm driving at the fact that I think I've been plodding along thinking this path is the right one, but how I'm moving along on it is all wrong. I feel as though I'm slowly placing one foot in front of the other, careful of each step, cautious of what's going on around me, just like the instruction book has been interpreted for me and what I think I heard the Holy Spirit say, but I'm not so sure cuz I can't really hear all that well, not really knowing how exactly. But now I have an invitation to take off running like a bat out of, well, some cave (couldn't say it) with Him being the blast of energy and power pushing me and yet leading me. Perhaps what we've seen in the past and tacked on to our basic belief in God is about to be blasted to bits leaving us with, well, just Him. Would you be ok with that? Would I? What would that even look like? Some how I don't think we see Him as He really is.

Don't get the wrong impression, I'm not all jumping off the pews, rolling on the floor, drunk in the spirit looking for an "experience" in God. Not apposed to it, just never been there. And I know it's not just all about the miracles, signs and wonders. BUT, have we limited His awesome power by programming every minute of our gatherings, keeping it all organized and under control? Have we grieved our Lord with the billions of $$ poured into bigger and better buildings and programs instead of focusing our time and resources on the widow, the orphan and the poor? Have we been lulled to complacency by our cozy, comfortable little huddles within the huddle? Worse still, are we walking in disobedience knowing that what we are doing may be the traditions of man instead of yielding to His spirit moment by moment? I don't have the answers. I'm searching and digging like never before, crying out for some bit of revelation and wisdom. So, if nothing else, all this has me running toward my Savior. If nothing else it's forced me to get serious instead of staying lazy. And all I can say is LORD HELP ME.

Hot Topic Part 2

Ever wish you hadn't been privy to some information? Wished someone hadn't told you something or pointed out something obvious you hadn't noticed before. What I'm talking about is not like when someone leans over and whispers that your fly is open (and instantly you recall that you'd forgotten to zip up after your last visit to the lil' girls room, about an hour ago, and you've been moving about visiting with a room full of people with your pink polka-dot undies flashing the entire place.)Slightly embarrassing but non life threatening. What I'm talking about is more like when a stranger points out that a tire on your car is dangerously low. You kind of wish in a way they hadn't said anything, cuz it's just so much work to get down there and change it yourself. You might not even know how, so you'd have to ask for help. Ugghh. Option #1. Just keep on driving on it. It's just low, right? The rest of the vehicle still works. You can still get from point A to point B. Heck, you can still even carry a load of kids and the groceries in it. Or... Option #2.Get down on your hands and knees and use the tools you have to fix it. Ya, you'll probably get a little dirty. Might even break a nail. It'll take a bit of time (ok, for me a lot of time) but you know it's gotta be done. Why? Quite simply - safety. That and you'd be burning nearly twice as much fuel which here in this country is an issue. As in option one, you really could go on driving on a flat tire, but somewhere along the way the safety of the vehicle's passengers would be in jeopardy. After a while it would start to wreck the stuff under the hood. (Sorry, I'm not a mechanic, but I do know that something would get wrecked...)And there's always that fuel consumption issue.

So where are you going with all this Dawn? you're asking. Well here's the skinny: Last post, I blogged, rather, ranted about some of the seeming dysfunctions of our modern day church here in North America. Sorry if I'd offended. It wasn't intentional. Recently a friend passed along a book called "Mega Shift" by James Rutz that has stirred my spiritual pot. A Lot. However, prior to that, friends of ours had challenged us several years ago to really take a good look at why we do what we do as believers and followers of Christ. Basically, the input of both sources, along with the Spirit's prompting I believe, have forced Michael and I to question a few things: why we (and the church, when I speak of the church I mean the corporate gathering that happens on Sunday mornings) cling so tightly to traditions and perhaps even theology that may be flawed by our own humanness? Are we living out our faith the way God wants to thru us or have we again put Him in a program filled box where we punch in our access code and wait for entry expecting to receive unlimited blessing with a lifetime warranty. Worse still, are we teaching our kids the pat answers we were told as kids instead of really searching the scriptures with them and praying them thru it. They ask a lot of crazy questions and pat answers are easier...like leaving the tire a little flat.

Which brings me to my final point. I'm not trying to be a heretic here, and I am well aware of these "new movements" and faith fads. But why is it that so many believers I have spoken with or read about or blogged along side of, why are so many desperately searching for answers on this very same issue. The issue of WHY we do what we do. Who was it that decided that the order, position of office, the content of "church" would be the way it is? (I know it's changed over the centuries and there are lot of groups doing fantastic work.) But as a whole, it seems like we've sort of left the Holy Spirit out of it, and in doing so have also been trained to live our lives that way. Unintentionally.