When a Toddler Hands You a Carrot

In this post I want to talk about 3 things; my thanksgiving in Davis, my high school English teacher, and what else besides soccer.

On my first Thanksgiving away from my family, I was invited to my mentor, Clay, and his families house for an afternoon of Thanksgiving fun.  While I was there I did something I have never done before, I picked an orange off a tree and ate it!  The noteworthy thing was not that I picked something directly off the tree were it grew, I do that often, this was an orange.  That orange was so good and so juicy.

In that family I felt welcome, and I enjoyed it.  Even the 1 year old toddler enjoyed me being there. I know this because we played several rounds of peek-a-boo, cuddled with her when she was tired, and when she was getting ready to leave, her mother was packing a bag of fresh produce, the toddler then dove into the bag and dug around until she emerged with a large carrot, and a huge smile on her face.  Still smiling she presented me with the carrot, and that is an honor.

On a not so happy note, my high school English teacher, Susan Gheens-Magnus, passed away this week.  She had been fighting cancer for a long time.   She had been a long time teacher and coach in Audrain County, and I know that she touched many lives.  One afternoon during my senior year she was teaching about how characters are not only good or only bad.  To illustrate her point she asked the class if they knew anyone who was only good.  A girl in the class who I never really paid much attention to said, "Cindy."  I thought that was nice that someone I didn't even really know would think of me as a good person.  However, Ms. Gheens response was even more humbling.  She responded, "Ok, well, yeah that is probably true"  So, thank you Ms. Gheens for being awesome, I'll see you in heaven.

Finally, an announcement....Sporting Kansas City is going to the MLS Cup as the Eastern conference champion!!!!!  That is my team, and I am so excited to watch the MLS Cup.  I haven't been a fan of that team as long as some people have, but I still feel like they are my team.

You may not know it now

This weekend was a weekend of discernment.  The weekend of Exploration 2013.  This event was for young adult United Methodist who are considering ordained ministry.  It was a great time to see so many of my friends.  I was even able to quote my favorite gospel rapper.  Before this weekend I had been intimidated by seminary because of the academic side, money and time.  But this weekend  I can say that the take away from this weekend was "An angel came and was like 'Breath life, you got this man." (That is from On Jordan's Stormy Banks, part II, from my favorite rapper, Praiz.  Not sure if that is the exact interpretation, but its the way I interpret it.)

Now lets move from one of my favorite genres of music to another, country.  Yes I do like them both.  I drove to do some shopping for a big event we are having on Wednesday, in my car I was listening to country music and I heard Trace Adkins singing "You're Gonna Miss This"  After I parked and was walking through the parking lot I continued the lyric in my head thinking, "You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this, gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast."

I thought to myself am I really going to miss this?  Will I miss the virtual absence of fall, the lack of omnivores, the strange arrangement of traffic signals, and my room?  I thought about my count down till I visit home.  Then I thought, will I really wish these days that I can't wait to be done hadn't gone by so fast?

I guess I will, well I can't wait until I can hug my nephews Landen, Ethan and Owen again.  But I know that the day will come when my hand written letters are addressed to families in the Davis UMC congregation (Instead of Mexicoans), I know a day will come when Briaghia texts me to tell me that it took 8 adults to replace me when I left.  (At least I hope that I can do that for this Church.)

So one day I will wish that my days as a US-2 did not go by so fast, but for now, I can't wait until I can start seminary and finish seminary, and get ordained and give the world my gifts of service and love.

InterFaith

This is a very Cindy blog, and as many of you know, my nephews are super important to me.  I will start with a story about them.  One cold dark evening in Missouri, I was working in my "homework"  while my nephews played in the cupboard under the stairs next to my room.  Then I heard Ethan's scream of pain, and he continued to cry, so I left my "homework" ran to him and ask him what was wrong.  Through sobs he replied, "Landen said he wasn't going to be my friend anymore!"  My worry subsided and I announced to the boys that you can't ever stop being friends with your brother.  A little shocked by this proclamation, they began playing in the cupboard again just like the friends they will always be with each other and with their brother, Owen.

A Jewish Rabbi, a Christian Missionary, and a Muslim woman sat down for a peaceful dinner.  Yes, they were at the same table.  This table was a meeting of the celebration of Abraham.  It is during these times that we seek to find a cultural understanding that I am reminded of the rule I enforce with my nephews, you cannot stop being friends with your brother.  You don't have to be your brother, you just can't not be his friend.