Vine & Branches

parting with descriptive nouns

I'm turning over a new leaf... starting a new era...

from here on out I'm titling emails, posts, papers with verbs and adverbs rather than nouns.

graduating...

...from Mdiv programs and from toddler-hood.

Below are two pictures from Macy's birthday party. Her day of birth is not until Sunday, but we took advantage of family in town for Jeremy's graduation and celebrated yesterday. That's right... jeremy is a grad school grad, master of the divine. A quick picture of that first:

My dad is on ATS board and got to hand Jeremy his diploma. A nice personal touch.

Based on the picture alone... any guesses on how old Macy is turning? ;)

Macy's cake (princess cake she had been requesting for about a month) was touch and go into the wee hours of the night. But I have to admit I'm kinda proud of it. Not bad for my first real attempt at cake decorating. Not planning to make a career of it or anything, but it was fun.

Here's to reclaiming friendship

I got to see my friends from High School this weekend. We had a reunion of sorts at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Indy. I hadn't seen many of these folks since my wedding seven years ago! They are a pretty accomplished bunch - spread out all over. Amazingly, only two couldn't make it. Don't we look spectacular?!

get your pix fix

I am well aware of the real reason 79% of you check this blog… to see updated pictures of the two lovely little ladies. So, hopefully this will hold you over until I post costume pix (prepare yourself for ‘P Squared’… this year it’s gonna be a princess and a pumpkin). Meanwhile…

macy was kind enough to try each apple she picked - just to make sure it was ripe.

doing push ups never looked so easy

Ava update

She's rolling over like a corporate climber's 401k. Interestinly, her rolling is from back to tummy, which is more difficult than tummy to back. She has already figured out how to use the rolling to her advantage - moving closer to a toy or closer to her sister (who she's fascinated by).

Taken yesterday... Ava's four month birthday.

the ants go marching one by one... hurrah, hurrah

We have an unbelievable ant infestation. It's like the Egyption plagues, my friends. As soon as we spray the 500 ants teaming in that corner of the kitchen, another 750 have congregated in this area of the living room. We can't seem to kill them fast enough - there's just an endless supply. A few minutes ago I was sitting on my couch, reading a book, minding my own business. I felt an innocent tickle at the edge of my scalp and reached up to find a black, beady-eyed booger crawling out of my HAIR and across my forehead. HELP! Anyone know some surefire secrets for killing and repelling ants?

p&b

Paul and Brooke got married Friday. At the rehearsal dinner folks were given the opportunity to share. Here's some of what I said, and some of what I wish I'd said.

I have actually known brooke longer than Paul has. I really got to know her on our mission trip to Australia. We stayed in the same host home together while Australia's sunshine coast was hitting record lows. Our host home, like many in Brisbane, didn't have heat. Who needs heat for the one week of cold weather all year? Brooke and I were DYING. Our first night we slept in our respective twin beds, curling into four blankets each... and we were miserably cold. Our second night we said, "forget this" and climbed in a twin bed together, combined our blankets and spooned all night long. We both slept like babies. We woke up the next morning to our host mom's shocked expression when she opened the door to wake us up. We had some explaining to do. Ever since that trip... brooke has been like a sister to me and so it just makes sense that Paul would help us make it official!

I've always been a bit protective of Paul, carrying a sense of responsibility for his safety and his decisions that is probably normal for an older sister. I remember being about five and paul about one. I was swimming and watched Paul jump into the pool right infront of me. I wasn't strong enough to lift him out of the water or to hold the both of us above water, so I remember deciding to go under and plant my feet at the bottom of the pool so that his head would be above the surface. In reality, we were probably like that for a matter of seconds... but in my five year-old over-dramatic brain it was eons. I was resigned to the fact that I would suffocate before anyone got there... and the surprising thing was that it was ok (not preferrable, but ok). This is the first time I remember realizing how much I loved that little guy. And I still do, only he's not so little anymore. But it is from the perspective of an overprotective older sister who watched Paul grow up with a scrutinizing eye that I say,

"Paul I'm so proud of you." I'm so proud of the man of God that you have grown into. And I'm so proud to say that you have also grown into one of my dearest friends. Some things I respect about you Paul:

- your love of adventure. You're not a crazy spontaneous adventurer. You take calculated risks that inspire us all.

- your positive outlook on life. You see the best in people, you see the best in every situation. You make people around you love life and God's blessings a little more.

- you're an honest encourager. You don't go around spouting empty praise. Instead, you never hesitate to speak truth into people's lives. Your words of encouragement that have come my way have meant more to me than you know.

- your hunger for the things of God. You approach God and life the way you approach a summit. Hungry to soak up every bit of it. This means a learner's heart, the ability to savor the small moments, a willingness to make mistakes and laugh about them later, and choosing to take the harder-higher road.

Brooke and Paul - you are beautiful. And it is such a blessing to know that you'll always be a part of my life. Friendships can come and go... but as family, we'll always be a part of each other's lives regardless of distance or geography. So even though you're in SD and we're in KY (and who knows where our journeys will take us next)... I look forward to sharing life with you.

Family Photo Shoot

We had amateur photographer, Carissa Martin, take some pictures of our family a few weeks ago. Here are a few of them.

ordination

I'm getting ordained this Sunday. That's right, you can call me 'Rev' from now on, if you'd like.

My good friend Sarah J. asked me recently, "So what does it mean to you to be ordained?" She's good at asking questions like that.

Here are a few thoughts in no particular order...

* to me it means being set apart for ministry. I actually have five years of 'district-appointed' ministry behind me. So, I've already had the chance to do some living into my call to ministry. But there is something significant (dare I say supernatural?) about asking God to set me and my life apart for specific and intentional kingdom work. And this must be done in the context of community. Because as important as it is for me to ask for that set apart-ness, I can't explain why, but I feel like I need others to ask for it on my behalf as well.

* It is meaningful to me that I submit myself to authority. Ordination is a chance for me to publicly submit myself to God's authority over my ministry and to the Church's authority over my ministry. I need accountability. I need checks and balances. And... I also need confirmation of my call to ministry. There is something empowering about the church (which is representative of the universal Church) saying, "Andrea, you are called to ministry. You are gifted for ministry. And with God's blessing... now go do it!"

* It is also meaningful as a woman in ministry. I feel blessed to be a part of a faith tradition that doesn't question my giftings because of my gender. In theory, any door is open to me and there is no 'position' of leadership that is unavailable to me.

I guess there's a sense of humility that I'm having trouble verbalizing. I can't explain why, but I feel like I need God's annointing and I need other believers to come around me and lay hands on me. I have no idea what God has in store for me, but I know that I need God and I need others in order to get there. And ordination is a public opportunity to admit that need and receive the grace that comes in a place of want.

There are some ordained folks who read this blog... what has it meant to you? Was it a formality? Was it a means of grace?

Do you think there is something different about a lay person's call to ministry and a clerical call to ministry that warrents ordination?

What kind of Biblical basis is there for ordination?

Or, just say 'hi' and post a friendly or pithy statement unrelated to the post :).

Why I blog...

I'm still formulating my own personal 'philosophy' of blogging. And while I'm sure there's a book out there (blogging for dummies)... I think everyone's reasons are different.

There are (at this point anyway - but I suppose things will evolve) two primary reasons I blog.

1. Because I am incapable of scrapbooking

2. To savor life a little more

Let me expound... I carry a reasonably-sized portion of guilt because I haven't scrapbooked anything for my kids. Nothing. Actually, I've never scrapbooked period. I have fond memories of sitting down with my mom and looking at my baby book. My sister has completed scrapbooks for all FIVE of her children. My mother-in-law is an avid scrapbooker. These facts only pour salt in my wound (interesting expression, don't you think?). Am I the only one out there? Holla' to all the moms who are missing the scrapbooking gene?!? Not too long ago, I even priced how much it would cost to pay someone who scrapbooks out of her home for people.... yeah - suffice it to say that's not a viable financial option. So, blogging has to be it. I'm sorry to all of you out there who open my blog (all two of you) and roll your eyes at another picture of Macy and Ava or another 'cutsie' anecdote about their antics. Just un-bookmark me and start reading someone's blog who is questioning the original author's intent for Exodus 19:5 - with the understanding that I'm writing as much for my kids as for anyone else. At least I won't have to worry about gathering up stacks of scrapbooks in the next housefire... or move them every three years. Too bad I started blogging when Macy was seven months old and have neglected blogging for months at a time (just after I'd rationalized it all away, there's that guilt creeping in again).

So I blog instead of scrapbooking. And I also blog in order to savor life a little more. When I stop to verbalize a thought that's been kicking around or tell a story of some randomly funny event... it's like eating ice cream. You know how you can wolf down ice cream and get that searing pain that shoots from your frontal cortext straight back to your occipital lobe (I have to admit - I had to google that second one)? OR you can take a tastable amount and make sure it touches all the different parts of your tongue... the salty tastebuds, the sour tastebuds, the sweet tastebuds... to get the full flavor effect. Well, moments are tastable too and worth savoring. Even the simplest of moments can be savored and all the flavors appreciated one by one. Blogging helps me do that, I think.

So, let me have it -

Tell me why you blog

Or tell what you think was the author's intent for Exodus 19:5

Or tell me you don't scrapbook either

all wet

Our friends are on vacation, so Jeremy and Macy have been going over to their place and feeding their fish which live in a little pond in their yard. Yesterday, Macy came home drenched from head to toe. Apparently she slipped and fell in. She thought it was hilarious, saying, "Mommy, Macy swimming with the fish!" Jeremy pointed out that you can hardly call thrashing face down in the water swimming.

Random Pics

We were on our way out the door or a walk when Macy pointed out that we were all "hat girls" and insisted we take a picture.

Sometimes when Macy spots me holding Ava, she insists upon climbing up on my lap saying, "mommy's two baby girls."

Ava has been switching back and forth between these fingers and her middle two fingers. She may end up favoring her fingers over her thumb, just like a few of her cousins!

fourth of july

Is this symbolic of our patriotism?!

The fire engine sirens were a little louder than Macy cared for.

The highlight, for Macy, of the Wilmore parade was definitely the free candy.

The highlight, for me, of the Wilmore parade was the lawnmower brigade. Imagine syncronized swimming but with lawnmowers and no water.

Jeremy blew up Macy's swimming pool.

Yes, she did attempt to ride her bike in the pool.

Seven Years

Look at us... 7 years and we've still got it goin' on! Oh yeah, baby :).

We celebrated 7 years of marital bliss last night. Our anniversary was actually Sunday, but we celebrated it Monday (gotta take advantage of free childcare when you've got it!). We enjoyed the change of scenery and the private conversations without interruption or distraction. One of our favorite things to do together is to dream, and we were able to do some of that. In many ways, we're different people than we were when we tied the knot... but we love each other more than ever (sounds cliche, I know). Sometimes I look at him and think "who are you? you're not the guy I married!" But it's (usually :)) with a sense of thankfulness and awe. I think without realizing it, he constantly surprises me in big and small ways.

I sat across from Jeremy at dinner last night and thought... "man, I really love this guy!" But more than that... I really like him too. And more than that, I like us. When we got married it was just Jeremy and Andrea - two seperate entities with an 'and' denoting association. And there is still just Jeremy and just Andrea. But there's this third dynamic too, it's jeremyandandrea (for correct pronunciation, say it really fast). The two of us partnered together (partners in love, in parenting, in ministry, in paying bills, in making supper) become this unquantifiable dynamic that is really good too.

Plus, he's really good looking :).

amy's visit

My college roomie visited this weekend. She's moving to L.A. at the end of the summer which will make our impromptu visits a little less likely (...sigh...). Amy holds the record for the most room mates, and she's not done yet. Housing in Pasadina is barely managable without a room mate - or at least that's the excuse she gave me (personally I think she's on a desperate search to find a room mate as great as me :)). In all seriousness, SHE was the great room mate and is still an incredible friend.

"Andy" and "Amos"

Amy and Ava Ruth

Around the House

Macy and Ava do really well together. Macy adores her little sister and gives countless kisses each day. Ava rewards her in kind with her big, lopsided grin. My prayer is that these two will be life-long friends.

Ava is queen of the king.

Here's the gorgeous smile we've grown to know and love! Amazing to think that even smiling is something humans learn. But equally interesting that it is one of our first attempts at initiating social interaction in life. Ava's got the hang of it, that's for sure!