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June 23, 2005
As I Get Ready to Go
I am definitely a last minute packer....a throw it together, shove it in a bag and hope for the best kind of girl. I'm crossing my fingers hoping that I have enough comfortable (and maybe even cute) outfits packed for the next 10 days at Creation. I know someone who maticulously puts things in stacks, wraps leakables in baggies, has lists and every item from safety pins to batteries along on trips "just in case". Watching him pack was like witnessing a strategically planned event. Watching me is probably more comparable to a childs candy scramble...it's chaotic and a challenge to see how much I can find and make fit into my bag.
I have to comment on my great night last night. I drove to my friend Wayne's house in Philadelphia and got to check out his new place. It seems like a great fit for him. When I walked in and saw my friends sitting at the table, I felt like I was walking into some sort of cool comedy. Especially the way they were sitting at the table facing the door. I was really goofy when I got there, I think because of my recent hectic schedule and the long ride. I was a little frustrated with myself for not finding any Lancaster County produce. (I shouldn't have waited to stop on my way...but the veggies from Weis were very tasty, nonetheless). It took me a while to get settled in...but once I did, it was great. At the end of the night, when I was driving home I had a few thoughts going through my head.
1. Gee, I'm pretty good at getting around Philly
2. This trip was so worth the late night.
3. I would like to see these friends more often
4. We've all grown a lot since college.
5. YESSSS, I have my bottle cap for a free soda.
Posted by stacey at 10:40 PM | Comments (3)
June 20, 2005
New Every Morning
A lady from my church sends me a daily devotion email. I have to admit, I don't always read it. Today's verse was this: Deuteronomy 2:3 "You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north."
I found it to be very inspiring for a Monday morning.
On Sunday, Jeff Bender spoke at church and he commented about how most times when he's referring to a scripture, he'll say "...this is one of my favorites" and he is aware that he over uses the phrase because there are so many great ones. I'm amazed that after being a Christian and perusing the Bible since I was very young, there are still verses that I haven't discovered. What an amazing book.
Posted by stacey at 07:58 AM | Comments (1)
June 19, 2005
The International Lifeguard
My plans to hang out by the pool all day today were foiled due to the cloudy weather...which is good because it will give me a chance to do some packing, etc today.
I did make an attempt to get some pool time in. Moments ago I walked over, signed in and layed out my towel. I felt sort of conspicuous being the only one there. The lifegaurd was obviously bored, poor guy. When I first came in I said something like "I saw the sunshine, and thought I'd take my chances" (or something equally silly sounding) to which he nodded and we both looked up at the huge mass of grey clouds moving in. Minutes later, (when he was pacing aimlessly around, and I was feeling ridiculous laying out in the invisible sun) I said "You must get really bored on days like this" and we ended up chatting for a few minutes...(me again feeling conspicuous sitting there in my bathing suit).
It turns out that the lifeguard (his name is something like Malisha, I can't remember???) is here for the summer from Serbia. (his accent was telling before he shared that with me). He is living in a nearby apartment complex and so far his summer has been quite boring for him.
Can you imagine having big plans to come to the USA to work as a lifeguard as a summer and ending up at an apartment complex in Lancaster? I have a feeling he had something else in mind. It sounded like his only form of transportation is a bicycle at this point...but at the end of his work season, he and his friends are going to see the sights of NYC and Philly, etc.
Hopefully there will be a few more sunny days before July 31st that I am free to stop over at the pool and get a chance to talk to our Serbian lifeguard.
When I left the pool, a father and his sons were entering the pool area...good...at least he won't have to sit there bored for the next 2 1/2 hours til the pool closes.
Posted by stacey at 04:15 PM | Comments (2)
June 14, 2005
as the summer turns....
So, suddenly it's Creation time. Next Friday we head out for set up. Zoinks. I am excited, but wow, this summer is running like kids to an ice cream truck.
I hope to make the most of this year at the festivals...make new friends and cherish time with old ones. Funny, for me the music at the festival is merely a backdrop for 9 days of hard work, comradery, reminiscing, more hot dogs than any one should ever eat, and much much more. I love working on staff with my friends.
I would like to publicly state that my friends Ann and Chuck are the most consistent picnic hosts ever. I'm a fan of the backyard barbecue and they are great at putting them together throughout the summer. Tonight I relaxed,,, and I haven't had a lot of opportunities to do that lately. Once the sun went down...ahhhhhhh....heaven. Great food, great friends, and plenty of children to have fun playing with. Yay. Good times.
Posted by stacey at 10:48 PM | Comments (0)
June 12, 2005
Some Memories of Summer
This past week I've felt summer on my skin and I'm having all sorts of memories from childhood summers. I can almost feel, taste, smell, hear and see these things even now...
1. putting vinegar on sunburns and Aaron getting blistered ears
2. bubblegum icecream from Big Scoop and creemes from the snackbars
3. the smell of new blacktop on the driveway
4. whipporwhils outside mom and dads window
5. camping on Lake Carmi and taking the path to the beach with Debbie
6. Idle Cure playing at youth group pool parties
7. anchoring the boat near Butler's island for a picnic and a swim
8. riding my bike to my friends camp and being too tired to drive home
9. Day Camp at Highgate Elementary School
10. "camp" at South Hero and next door to the Allinders
11. Making tents out of the folding orange lawnchair
12. cooking chicken on the big stone grill at Meme and Pepe's
13. Grandma's huge tomato garden
14. walking the loop early in the morning with mom and avoiding the scary neighbors dogs
15. writing the names of the boys I had crushes on on the white birch trees
16. eating honeysuckle
Posted by stacey at 09:42 PM | Comments (1)
Hot Summer Weekend
The air conditioner sounded like it was going to take off this morning. I guess it's working overtime in this heat. You know, I remember being a kid and being out in the sun all day. My Aunt Joanne would slather baby oil on and lay out...getting so hot she couldn't stand it on one side, take a dip in the pool and tan the other side. Well...yesterday I was only out by the pool at our apartment for like an hour and I know I wasn't laying on my belly THAT long...and when I got ready this morning I saw a pink back and shoulders. The sun sure is getting to our skins a lot faster these days.
Today will be a hot one at the game. We (WJTL) are there for Faith and Family Day. That should be fun. I've been at the field so much lately, I feel like a season pass holder. It's great to have something new and exciting like that in our town.
Marty's CD release concert last night was really great. Great music, a mini reunion, and an opportunity to celebrate my friends talent. Good stuff. His website is HERE
Posted by stacey at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
June 07, 2005
A Thousand Sounds
I hear a thousand sounds
My noisy stomach gurgles
A car passes by
Even the sound of electricity
Does not escape my ears
A jet flies overhead
The neighbors hammer a hole in the wall
My fingers tap on the keyboard
Click click click
The cell phone rings
The insects buzz
Another car dares to drive by
It’s splash informs me that it’s been raining
My noisy stomach still gurgles.
A car door slams
And my brothers feet pound up the steps.
Stomp, Stomp, Stomp
I hear a thousand sounds
They remind me that I’m alive
They remind me that I’m not alone.
Posted by stacey at 10:09 PM | Comments (1)
June 02, 2005
Bouncing
Today turned out to be a really beautiful day. I ended up watching my friends boys tonight, and I had a really good time. I hadn't put on my babysitter cap in a while, but it was a lot of fun.
Cute comment...we were out playing on their swingset and I had been afraid to go down their tube slide, because I wondered if I was too big...but I did. Later, the boys were trying to get me to join them on their trampoline. I said no at first, and C says, "Miss Stacey, you should try it. You tried sliding down the slide and you were scared, but then you liked it" How could I resist. Later in the evening when we revisited the trampoline, I pretended to be Tigger. : ) Kids are the greatest, and the boys I was watching are really sweet.
Posted by stacey at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2005
Inspired
So, tonight I tucked my tail between my legs and dropped off a book at the library that I have had on my shelves for years. I had lost it, found it, moved, and then it ended up on my bookshelf where it has been for YEARS...I dropped it in the box at the library. (I didn't know they were going to be closed...honest...in fact I am considering going in and starting some sort of a pledge anyway).
After I dropped my book off, I realized it was Wednesday night and about the time that In the Light Ministries started their Wednesday night services. I attended ITLM for the first several years that I lived in Lancaster. I ended up moving on to Victory church, but I won't go into how and why that happened...just know that there was no reason for leaving ITLM, just a reason I felt like I was supposed to go to Victory.
Anyway... my head is spinning. I really feel like I heard exactly what I was supposed to/needed to hear tonight. Pastor Phil shared about God's order in our lives and how it is essential spiritually, as well as in all other areas of our lives/the church, our bodies, etc. He is always very challenging and I felt myself saying and feeling ouch many times...in a good way. One thing he touched upon was that a lot of times we fall back on the excuse of being a "work in progress" to kind of excuse some of our behavior. That was a big ouch and really true for me. He did clarify that we are all in different places of our walk, etc...but it hit right on for me. God has equipped me with a lot that I really am lazy with, step all over and ignore. Another thing he touched on...that I have heard several times before, is that as you start to get stronger, more towards the light...more of the disorder in your life will rear it's head...like the light coming through the window showing all the dust flying around in the room.
One more great thing about tonight was I saw some friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and when the service was over, I didn't want to leave. It was kind of like that feeling I have when I go home and have a really good visit in Vermont, and then I cry as I drive out of town.
Posted by stacey at 10:24 PM | Comments (1)