My Shabbat Seven, v2010.03.13

These are some of the more peculiar things I've been thankful for in the past 2 weeks...

Magnesium Smoothie Day | Last Thursday was the occasion for what now seems to like an annual good idea. Sometime in the last gloomy days of winter, I make these "magnesium smooties" for the rest of the staff. Magnesium is something our bodies need to deal with stress, and it's also one of the first things our bodies deplete when we're stressed. (Magnesium can be found in bananas, orange juice, raspberries, & yogurt--all suitable for smoothies. Add a some strawberries, some Splenda, and whip cream on top and they're pretty tasty, too.) (Not actual picture.)

Quick trip to Tolono | We went up to Tolono last weekend so I could attend a seminar in Champaign. This also meant we got to spend some time with Mom & Dad at the homestead...or perhaps I should say they got to spend time with JT.

"deeee-LISH-us" | This was JT's newest impressive-word-that-we-didn't-teach-him.

Mess of Me | This is my newest favorite song. And I've realized how much I jive with Switchfoot's thinking. "I wanna spend the rest of my life alive." This song is off of their latest CD, Hello Hurricane. See John 10:10 for my understand of being alive...which I believe is shared with Switchfoot (a la Meant to Live & New Way to Be Human).


Receiving words of thanks | It's just always nice to receive words of affirmation.

Brain surgery | The first reasons for a pastoral visit to the hospital this week was for brain surgery. Just thinking about what we're able to do medically in our time & place--wow! Not that we deserve it any more than the people centuries before us, but "Thanks, God, for letting us live here and now with these incredible possibilities! Help Mike heal & recover."

New baby | The second reason for a hospital visit this week was to celebrate with proud parents of a new baby boy. "Yay, God, for this latest little bundle of miracle!"

Praise God
from whom all blessings flow!