Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end

In Semisonic's song "Closing Time" a recurring line is "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" I've always liked the song but it never really hit me how true it was until recently.

James last Halloween

On July 1st my dear friend and co-worker James lost his battle with Leukemia. He fought valiantly for a year and died days shy of his 50th birthday. His loss hit me hard...he was like a brother to me. He had supported me both personally and professionally and he was dear to me. We have been hurting as a staff and as friends of this amazing man.

His office and position are still empty. The search for his replacement will be a ways down the road still but we are talking about moving our new Director of Children's Ministry in to his office. She was our part time Preschool Director and with the death of James and our Nursery Director leaving, her job evolved into a full time job that covers preschool, nursery, and children's ministries through elementary school.

It is logical to move her into his office since many of the children's ministry supplies are in there. I was even the one who suggested she move into that office. But what I wasn't prepared for was the fact that her moving into his office would bring a final closure to James' death. I know we have to move on and I know he would want us to do so. But it doesn't make it an easy thing. And I know emotions will be there for a while. It is time to start moving on. And as we start a new chapter I'm reminded of this song.

There is a time and a purpose...

I work in a church. As part of the life of a church you have funerals. This weekend we had three. One Saturday, one Sunday, and one today. I'm tired physically and emotionally. I promise I will be back to regular posting soon.

Wordless (Almost) Wednesday ~ Holy Week

I work in a church. It is Holy Week. I find this week the hardest for me because I'm insanely busy but it is also one of the most holy times in the Christian church. I need to remind myself to focus on what this week is about. So here are my visuals.

Da Vinci's Last Supper

Garden of Gethsemane

Via Dolorosa

Vasily Vereschagin's Night at Golgatha

Dear Sick Co-worker,

Picture from Supernatural Botanicals

To my dear sick co-worker,

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. Please stay home and rest and recover. Seriously. When you come to work to try and work through it, you share your germs with all of us. Please stay home until you are well and go to the doctor to get the proper medicine. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Your co-worker who is now getting sick thanks to you

Weekend Review

It was a good weekend for us but Saturday was a busy one.

Friday was a relaxed evening for us at home.

Saturday involved a trip to Fresh Market to stock up for our next two week menu. It was a bit busy but not too bad. We decided to take the bike to a couple of gatherings. One about an hour away the other was about 20 minutes away. It was a nice day for a ride although we did hit a bit of rain on the way home. We got home and relaxed a bit.

Sunday was a laid back day. Laundry in the morning. Lunch with my parents at a local German restaurant. A "quick trip to Lowes" that lasted an hour. (pretty usual for us) Then home to relax. We finished the night with True Blood.

This week is Vacation Bible School at work and my co-worker is off this week. She claims it was coincidence but we're not so sure. ;-)

Office Supplies aka Things I Can't Live Without

When I was little like most little girls I played school or office often. And I liked making little notes, etc for people and leaving them around the house. Initially I used scraps of paper and tape. Then one day I was given Post-its. Oh how I loved them. And frankly I still do. I use them at work and at home often. So much so I have contemplated the Post-it Calendar. I like all the sizes and I love the bright colors. The newer lined ones make work notes even easier for me. I wouldn't work with out them.

Now I have a new office love. When we were at the bank one day the lovely teller loaned me her pen. It was wonderful. It wrote well and smoothly. And made my handwriting look better. I could tell she loved it too because she was watching me making sure she got it back. I returned it because I try really hard not to steal other people's pens because I hate that. But I knew I had to find them. So next time I was at Office Max I bought some. I currently use them on my paper calendar and love them.

I admit I have a weird love of certain office supplies...I think it goes back to childhood.

What do you love as far as supplies? Is there anything you can't live without?

In Transition...

I am currently in a transition period...

my blog...
I'm currently working to move my blog from Blogger to Wordpress. I'm hitting a few bumps but ultimately I know I will like it better. When I move I think my followers will go with me but you may have to re-follow I'm not sure. When I'm all set up at the new site I'll let you know.

my home...
J leaves for Japan for three years in July. We've known it was coming but now it feels formal. And so we're dealing with that...getting the house ready, getting paperwork in order, etc.

my career...
I've been at my current place of employment for almost 10 years. It is the longest I've worked anywhere and it was the first official job after college. And it has served me well but I'm feeling the need for something else...something more fitting to me. Now part of this may come from a job transition here...or me doing something part time in addition. I ultimately would love to have a creative home business making beaded jewelry, sewing purses, and maybe baby quilts. We'll see...  

Creativity is rearing her head

I've talked on and off about looking into some other creative outlets. I think I've found it. I'm going to continue working with beads and making beaded jewelry because that will always be a passion. But I'm also going to take classes on Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator so I can be more efficient and professional at desktop publishing and web design.

I think work will even pay for the classes because it would relate to my job. We'll see.

Light Bulb Moment

I love when I come to a realization that has been staring me in the face. I eat much more when I am frustrated at work. And right now my co-worker is on vacation...we cover many aspects of each other's jobs when one of us is gone. Right now I'm tired and stressed and eating candy like I'm in the Willy Wanka factory. Not good. The day is almost over. Good.

But I do have a recipe to share....

Crescent Pizza Rolls (Point value depends on toppings)
1 pkg. reduced fat crescent rolls...I used Kroger brand last night they worked great.
1 pkg. light Jimmy Dean Sausage (could also use Canadian Bacon or Turkey Pepperoni)
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 -3/4 pizza sauce
sliced black olives
sliced mushrooms

Preheat oven to temperature on the crescent roll pan. Cook the sausage and drain well. I spread mine out on paper towels to absorb grease. Mix cheese and olives into sausage. Unroll crescent rolls on a cookie sheet. (I unrolled mine so there were four down each side with the wide part facing the center) Spread pizza sauce over the wide part of the crescent and a little up the narrow part. If using mushrooms lay them on the wide part. Divide your sausage mixture evenly among the rolls. Roll the narrow part over the mixture and "tuck" it under the wide part. Bake rolls for about 10 minutes or until golden. Let sit for a minute. Enjoy! I think kids would love these. I know J did.

Holy Week...How Holy is it?

I work in a church. I love my co-workers they are wonderful people. And to be honest...and slightly biased...our church members are pretty awesome too. And Holy Week is the high Holy Week...no pun intended. However, working in a church causes this week to be stressful, tense, and not so holy sometimes. I'm kind of disappointed in that because I like Holy Week and the history that goes with it. So I'm trying really hard to put the "Holy" back into Holy Week. And to remember why we are here and what we are remembering.

***Soap Box***

Today is Good Friday...also known as Black Friday. Although it is a day of sadness because Christ died for us today. It is also very much a day of triumph because we know the rest of the story...Christ rose from the dead. And because of his sacrifice and the sacrifice of God...we are forgiven. Does it get any better? So today I am trying very hard to remember that Christ died not just for me...but also for the "lovely man who cut me off in traffic," for the kids in our area who are committing crimes for their gang initiation, for the people who frustrate me sometimes, and for everyone. Whether we think they deserve it or not...they are children of God...and if we're honest we don't deserve it either. That is the beauty of God's grace...there is nothing we did, can do, or will do that will cause us to deserve God's grace but God gives it to us anyway.

Easter is a coming...

I work in a church. I love my job because I have great co-workers and most of the time it is fairly calm place to work. (If you like organized chaos) But this time of year there is a crunch...Easter is coming and that means 3 Palm Sunday services, 1 Maundy Thursday service, 1 Good Friday service, 1 Sunrise Service, and 3 Easter services. So 5 bulletins between now and next Sunday. And my boss asks me yesterday if I have any plans on Easter Sunday because he'd like me to be here to help with a video. Now I don't mind because it is part of my job and he is amazing about giving us time off when we work above and beyond but I was looking forward to going to my church for Easter. The joys of church work...

Another issue I'm facing is I'm stressing and stressing for me means stress eating...and I'm not picky. I prefer sweet to salty but other than that if it's edible I'll eat it. Lately I've been going for full chocolate but later I may go for a cookie or a donut. And the other night I ate a whole bag of Cool Ranch Doritos...it was at least the snack size so that was good. But I need to get it under control. So after Easter...back to Weight Watchers I go.