Tag Archives: celebrations

I heard a rumor Lent starts Wednesday

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And like a good evangelical, I’m wasn’t sure what to do with it.

Years ago, as a twentysomething and in college, which means I was meeting all sorts of folks, from all walks in church denominations, I attempted to do Lent. When I say attempt I mean I gave up something… can’t remember it now, but I do know I failed. I was a Lenten drop-out. Wasn’t able to go 40 days without that certain whatever it was I felt would be good to sacrifice.

As far as I can tell, evangelicals don’t go in for a proper Lenten season. We go from Christmas to Easter Sunday with maybe a New Year’s Eve midnight service in between.

I haven’t thought about Lent in years, happily approaching my spring with just Good Friday and Easter on my calendar. My deep thought of the approaching holy days would be to wonder if the egg hunt would be rained out.

Scrolling through the High Calling Blog’s RSS feed recently, I found an open invitation by Christine Sine of the Godspace blog to journey toward the Cross by observing Lent.

Journey toward the Cross. I liked that. I love the word picture there. Journey. Cross.

Plus, I love Christine’s blog header. And Christine lives in Seattle. I love Seattle (remind me to write a post about my Seattle lovefest and God-moment at the top of the Space Needle.)

Yeah, it didn’t take me long to decide this challenge would be in my best spiritual interest. I signed up, downloaded the booklet of exactly how this was going to work (which is great  – because don’t forget – I’m an evangelical and I have no idea what I’m doing.)

Lent A journey toward the Cross starts Wednesday. Anyone else in the God blogosphere willing to walk with us? Here is the link at Godspace. Hope you join in!

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Friends, one of the good things about belonging to a community of bloggers is that I’m constantly reading thoughts by people I wouldn’t normally meet as a homeschooling mom in New Jersey who only ventures to the Other Side (Catholic and Episcopal) for weddings and funerals. I (heart) High Calling Blogs.

Happy New Year

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I know. Fabulous blog post title, eh? I’m so original.

First, before I wish you a Happy New Year, etc., etc., I simply must give you an update on Kitchen Construction (Day 14). Because I know you’ve been dying, literally lying awake at night wondering, how’s it going? Is it near completion? And are they sick of take out Chinese food and pizza?

Answers: It’s going well. Doc is a work horse. It’s a bit of a job, so much more to do. Poor Doc. And yes, we grown-ups (translation: those that care) are tired of the take-out. Never did I think I would live to see the day. Me, tired of Bo Bo Kitchen’s Hunan Triple Delight.

But I am. And it’s all worth it. Here’s the latest picture.

As for last night, this was the first year we stayed up together to welcome the New Year. We all made it, minus one. Lucy went until past 10 p.m. then crashed, snuggled up in her toddler bed. I think this is the last year we’ll have a toddler bed in the house. She’s outgrowing it fast.

History has proved me a lousy late night party girl, except last night, when Susan asked me if I was going to stay up with her to see the new year come in. How could I say no? Her excitement of staying up hours past bedtime, with a party atmosphere complete with chocolates, salty chips and sugary drinks was infectious.

Almost didn’t make it. I did Movie Time (Prince Caspian), with popcorn and mozzarella sticks, washed up the dished in the utility sink and declared to everyone I was thinking of going to bed, but when I got under the covers, at the last minute I picked up a novel from the bedside. I read several chapters when the noise outside the window started. Fireworks. I made it into the New Year, wide awake, with Jem and Scout to distract me from sleep.

When I ran out to the living room, to see if everyone else had heard the fireworks, I found Doc and the boys playing Risk (Lord of the Rings version) and Susan on the computer. I went into the kitchen to see if I could see the last of the fireworks, forgetting the room is without windows at the moment.

How did you celebrate the New Year?