[joy] way down in the depths of my heart

After church yesterday, we met and talked about making the season surrounding Christmas as joyful as possible by choosing to focus on the things that are most important to us and setting aside the things that are distractions or burdens.

Many of us named mini-disciplines -- things we took upon ourselves or things we cast off -- that would help keep us joyful and focused in the last days of Advent and into Christmastide.

So how is everyone doing?

I said I would stop trying to add things to my already-whirlwind trip back east, and... I successfully didn't make plans with one of my cousins, although it's hard. Part of me really does want to see everyone, even though I know that logically I can't, and that I want to be able to enjoy leisure and rest with the people I am going to see.

How about the rest of you?

[food] "finest bread I will provide/till their hearts be satisfied"

All right, quick and dirty list of foods that I have on hand that require NO prep (pour food into bowl and/or put food on plate) or extremely minimal prep (microwaving).

Beverages:
(prep required: pour food into cup)
+Milk -- I drink about 2 gallons of skim milk a week
+Naked Juices -- expensive, but delicious, and more densely nutritious than other juices

Finger food
(prep required: pick up food)
+Fresh bagels

Bowl food:
(prep required: pour food into bowl. Eat with chopsticks or spoon)
+Trail mix
+Pre-shelled nuts (currently walnuts - no salt added)
+Frozen berries
+Cereal (currently store-brand Oat Bran), which can be combined with milk, berries, and/or trail mix for a more complicated recipe.
+Frozen broccoli (this requires three minutes in the microwave)

Plate food
(prep required: put food(s) on plate, sometimes stacked/spread/layered)
+carrot sticks (sometimes with hummus)
+bread (can be combined with below items to make sandwiches)
+peanut butter
+sandwich meat (pre-sliced)
+cheese (pre-sliced)

I am actually allowed (for definitions of "allowed" that apply to grown-ups, i.e., sanctioned by health professionals, support networks, and my own sense of self-preservation) to do things like eat ice cream for dinner, but all the items on the list above are more or less healthy.

first and foremost

First and foremost I FIGURED OUT MY EMAIL/PASSWORD!! yeah me!
Second, today on the way home daughter and I decided that we would go to the store and get salad's from the salad bar for lunch. I actually got a large salad so it will probably be dinner also. This whole eating right thing is not easy!! The factors are many and complicated... I know when we talked this morning after church I mentioned that feeding good things to the children was hard.. (and to myself) it seemed as if the consensus was that I should simply feed them whatever I cook and it would all work out in the wash... and I actually believe that it is true! I also know that being the only parent in this house creates challenges that require me to make decisions on what is important... am I making sense? I get to do it all.. and I take it on (mostly) happily. How do you combat stress when it seems as if ALL of your choices create more? (I am really not whining- only trying to process) If I let go of the ... laundry.. then we have dirty clothes... if it is the dishes then we have nothing to eat on... I ask the kids and demand and cajole.. etc etc for help from them and God bless 'em the do... but what can give so that everything else flows? Oh yeah and do some care taking of myself in the process? any good answers? anyone?.... anyone?..

time postings

Hi,

Before I forget, for those who haven't gotten an email from me and check the Blog, all my swimming times are in at the Masters Web site. The web address is http://www.usms.org/comp/meets//toptimes.php.
Click on gender, stroke, distance, and age group(45 -49).

I swam the 50 free, 50 breast, 50 fly and 100 IM.

Keep exercising and eat well.

Vicki

Things You Learn on "Marketplace"

Just heard this during a report about the sales of big televisions: "fifty-three percent of people surveyed say getting the TV they want is more important than energy conservation."

I'm actually a little surprised that it's only fifty-three percent.

I've been looking at furniture lately, and I must say it is amazing what one can pay for a television, and of course the giant TVs must suck down a ton of juice off of the grid.

I worry that television is doing us in. People are spending ridiculous amounts of money on it--the TV itself, and then the digital cable to make everything look good. People are paying their cable bills when they can't pay their rent. That's a pretty rough set of priorities.

And I have a TV. I also have cable, though I didn't when I first moved into this apartment, because I couldn't yet afford it. I work at least one extra shift at the restaurant every month to pay for my cable, and it would probably be nice to have that time for something else. But I watch TV and want the cable.

I do wonder, often, whether the "boob tube" is just stealing my time. I can justify the History Channel, or Discovery, or PBS (but not Antiques Roadshow). But I'm watching a lot of crap, too.

In Advent I'm going to ask people to have a one week television Sabbath. I'm hoping we can do it. It worries me that I'm not sure.

For the love of water

Hi everybody,

I'm on a Masters Swim Team. Masters Swim Team is for adults out of college up to any age, women and men. I joined to get in shape and some things in swimming has changed such as flip turns, jumping off the starting block and the new breaststroke style.

Saturday, November 7th, from 5-8 is the 1st local swim meet at Gladstone Community Center.
It is free for spectators.

I will swim the following events:

50 butterfly
50 breaststroke
100 IM (individual medley with fly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle)
50 freestyle
a relay (probably the medley)

My seed time (average) will place me in a heat. I will compete against men, women of any age. The computer will look at my age and sex with the other swimmers, adjusting the time.

Anybody is welcome to come. I haven't swam in front of people in a very long time. I won't swim in many meets because some meets are in other states.

Yes, I'm nervous. There will be alot of people and it will be noisy.
But it will be fun and I wanted to try out the new things I learned.

It really makes a difference to work out with other people in any exercise. It motivates me to eat better, train harder and get me in shape. My passion is water.

Because of my job working in the evenings, I train with the team on Saturday only and on my own swim Tuesday and Thursday in the mornings.

Address:
Gladestone Community Center
6901 North Holmes
Gladstone, MO 64118

Please pray that all will go well. I want to have fun and try out the new things I've learned.

Vicki

Perfection

Hi,

I have a problem at work. Everything has to be perfectly clean and organized. For the last few weeks I've been skipping my last break. Sometime soon I'll be evaluated with my other coworkers for a school score for the year. The person who scores us is the head of all the schools and will look under sinks and under book shelves for a little piece of paper. Pressure. With the flu and other illness we're suppose to disinfect more. Pressure. There's activites events to set up and put way with tables and chairs. Pressure. A custodian may be sick and there's overtime. Pressure.

My doctor told me to switch arms for cleaning and let the tendinits heal in the right. Easier said than done! I did that. But now my left inner elbow was a little sore last night.

How do you stop from being perfect? I need to take that 15 minutes for a break to sit, breathe, and drink alot of water. My other co-worker has dust and cob webs in his area. He knows when to stop. My other worker ran out of time the other day and didn't have time to do wash the extra desks after the Halloween parties. Our rooms were trashed and frosting was on every floor. Sometimes it's impossible to do it all.

So my goal is not to be perfect. Work hard and take my breaks when needed. If I don't, then I will have major problems with my own health. I have to learn not to feel guilty if it doesn't get done and be honest with my superviser if it's a crazy night with many events.

Anybody have any advice?

Vicki

Physical fitness

Hi everybody,

It's hard to be dedicated to physical exercise as the body gets older.
I started reading a magazine called Women's Health that has articles on style, health, fitness and nutrition tips.

I have less energy to work out and it's taking forever for my tendinitis in the elbow to heal. At work, I slipped on a wet floor, did a nice slit and used that sore arm to catch myself.
Damn, it was just starting to heal. Back to square one. Ice, Ibuprofen and stretching. I hate taking Ibuprofen because it hard on the stomach and well, what's the scientific word......., I'll just say it naturally - causes gas. I know that's part of getting older. Digestion is harder and people have gas problems. I know it's funny, but it can be a health issue. That could be an
interesting topic during health awareness group time.

Name 2 topics that you would like to discuss sometime?

Name 3 exercises or form of exercise you did this week? Don't laugh.

For me it was swimming, stretching, and exercises to help the abs (leg lifts, stomach crunches)

Eat heathy and stay well.

Blog

Hi everybody.

At the next meeting should we go walk a mile at the park, after church?

Is anybody out there?

Should we close down this Blog since it's not being used?

flu shots

As I wanted in line to get my flu shot the nurse announced they couldn't give the mercury free flu shot to pregnant and breast feeding mothers. That shot is not out yet. I thought mercury was out of all shots now. I guess that is the only way to preserve the dead virus that they shoot into the muscle.

With the health care confusion I didn't make any calls to people because sometimes phones are a problem but I did write my letters. Through the Autism Society I sent a letter to Washington and our State Rep. about needing health care for all, including those with autism. My job will not cover autism because then the insurance would be too high.

There's alot of dissagreement on what should be covered when it comes to autism and they're making it very complicated. The testing and the basics should be covered but not all the different therapies. Schools can provide that. That is one of the topics that is slowing down the passing of the health care reform that will cover insurance for all.

By the way, I keep getting a phone call from the Washington D.C. area that I don't answer. I'm not sure if it's sales or political. I don't give that number out too many people. I am involved with Sierra Club and get radical on petitions.

Yes, our country is in a crisis. Now they're saying 1 out of 100 children has an autism spectrum disorder. They need to find out now what is causing this disability and plan for the future - what do we do with these adults in the work force or for those who can't work?

Shots for young children or some pollution that triggers or damages a gene in the fetus of the baby, what ever it may be, families are struggling.

Three questions:

1) Some of you don't have children but answer this anyway - do you trust the goverment in the required shots that all need before going into the public school?

2) What do you think causes autism?

3) Are you getting the swine flu shot, even though there hasn't been enough time to test it?

Healthy habits, unhealthy habits

Two simple questions:

1) What three things did you do this week that is healthy for you body (physical), mind (emotional), or soul (spititual health)?

2) What three unhealthy things did you do this week that was unhealthy?

Sometimes we do things that are unhealthy because of habit, stress, tight on time or just tired. Priorites can get complicated when too many things are going on.

For me on question 1 - exercised, went to doctor on my elbow (tendinitis), some days ate no meat.

Question 2 - need to get more sleep, one day wanted chocolate and more chocolate, and I need to spend more time in prayer.


Answers can be simple. We're all busy. But the little things in health can go a long way and into a good habit.

On Sunday let's discuss - What do you struggle with when it comes to food? Are you an emotional eater, everything looks good, always hungry, eat on the go? Personality ties into
habits of eatting. Mental health ties into food. Discipline (will power) and control is the key to a sucessful diet.

Vicki

Conversations about Health Care

So today the President spent a few minutes (ten or so) on the phone with thousands of faithful people from 32 religious denominations (one of the fun facts I got from the phone call) to talk about Health Care Reform. I sat on the phone listening in to the whole of the conversation.. not just the presidential part :). It was so beautifully done, with stories from clergy and lay people alike talking about the consequences of having a broken system. This system that is based on profit and not wellness. This "free market", insurance driven, broken system. People are dying. People are living with pain when they shouldn't have to. People are delaying care and not buying the medicines that they require. People are forgoing caring for themselves so that they can get their children what they need. People are having to decide between medicine and food... medicine and bills...

This is an affront to what I as a Christian believe to be good and true. We are called (to act with justice) to care for everyone. EVERYONE. Regardless of ability to pay for the best care. The statistics are staggering.. this is the riches country in the world with one of the worst systems to support its people in their health... their HEALTH.

God wants us to be healthy. God wants us to be happy. God demands that we act for those that cannot act for themselves.

It is time... this is about our universal "health".

What are you going to do?

stuff from churchwide

You know what's happening at Churchwide?

...

You know what else is happening at Churchwide?

In March 2009 the ELCA Church Council adopted a churchwide strategy on HIV and AIDS. In its action the council voted to ask the churchwide assembly to approve a three-year, $10 million fundraising campaign in support of the strategy. The assembly also will be asked to affirm the strategy.

and

In 2007 the United Nations Foundation (UNF) approached Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Baltimore, and asked it to mobilize Lutheran constituents in the United States against malaria. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, provided substantial funds to UNF for this purpose, and UNF plans to provide a grant to assist in fundraising for the initiative. The ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod have been working with UNF and LWR to develop the initiative.

The ELCA Church Council, in November 2007, authorized the ELCA churchwide organization to develop the initiative, and it stipulated that the effort should be coordinated with the church's longstanding commitment to HIV and AIDS ministry.

In March 2009 the council recommended that the churchwide assembly approve continued development of the initiative, prepare resources and solicit donors during the next two years. The recommendation also asks for development of an LMI churchwide fundraising campaign, and asks that a report and recommendations be brought to the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

You can watch the ELCA assembly live every day at the ELCA website. The AIDS discussion will be Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and the Malaria discussion Tuesday afternoon. I understand that video highlights and possibly the entire video stream will be available after the Plenary Sessions.

++

Edited to add: There are also several interesting memorials from the Synods regarding health-related issues, including several involving disability. 2009 Memorials Committee Report.

[limitations] if I make my bed in Sheol You are there

Today I discovered that I can't actually walk 4 miles in 90 degree heat without wanting to pass out at journey's end.

I am more proud of myself for asking for a ride home from meditation than for the walk to meditation, 'cos yeah, eight miles in 90 degree heat wasn't going to happen.

We sang a musical setting of Psalm 139 that sprang to our musician's mind after hearing about my walk in the heat because of the "if I go down into hell, You are there" imagery. Which is trufax, yeah.

As usual, I was much better at meditation -- brain was quieter -- when my body was tired.

And I did indeed get a ride home.

[three things] accessibility

Our bulletin every week says:

Persons of all gender identities, races, ethnicities, economic backgrounds, and sexual orientations are encouraged to participate fully in every aspect of this community's life together.

At our Seers meeting on Saturday night, we looked briefly at this statement as a possible articulation of one of our core values as a community.

Despite the temptations inherent in laundry-list inclusion, I really wish we could add dis/abilities to that list, but. Inviting someone to church when they can't get in the door, hear the sermon, or share fellowship without going into anaphalactic shock is an empty invitation.

We shouldn't say that people are invited when we can't be fully hospitable to them. I think this is an issue this congregation needs to think about in terms of lots of issues, like race and gender identity, but I'd like to use this Three Things to open a conversation about dis/ability, since disability is a health issue as well as a welcome issue.

Before I ask the questions, two points from disability politics 101:
1. Many of the difficulties disabled individuals face are not inherent to their condition. They are caused by a society that is designed for (temporarily) able-bodied people. Disabled people face many daily impediments that are not inherent to their disability or chronic illness.
2. No one is able-bodied, full stop. If we have general freedom of movement, sight, hearing, etc, we are temporarily able-bodied. That could change at any moment.

So, three things!

1. What are three ways that our worship space is accessible to people with particular mental or physical disabilities? How are people with disabilities able "to participate fully in every aspect of this community's life together"?
2. What are three ways in which our worship space is not accessible to people with particular mental or physical disabilities? How are people with disabilities barred from full participation in every aspect of this community's life together?

Let's talk in this post especially about physical issues: the layout of the worship space, the movements throughout that space, the printed worship material, audibility issues, foodstuffs, etc.

[discussion question] health and spirituality

I am asking these questions honestly, folks. I keep getting hung up on the word "health."

Wellness works for me. Wellness suggests to me well-being, general goodness in one's state of being.

Health... I am reading as the opposite of sickness or illness, and when I think illness I think chronic illness, which leads to a whole different set of questions and a whole different problem.

Maybe it's that health as the opposite of sickness conjures up images of my girlfriend's medical texts and anatomy labs and I have difficulty connecting that to what we do in church on Sunday.

So my question is How is physical health a spiritual issue?

I will readily admit: I suck at honoring my body most of the time. If I could live in my head and didn't need to eat or sleep or move? I would be much happier. I wouldn't really be much happier, but I imagine that I would.

So talk to me about God and health and sickness and exercise and diet and all the things that are components of your idea of a healthy lifestyle and tell me how they are also part of your spirituality.

Or tell me, why does God want you me us to be healthy?

Or tell me, what does being healthy entail?

Write legibly in ink and cite all your sources. You have three hours.

[three things] bodily gifts

What are three things about your body that are gifts from God?

(For instance, but not limited to: things you do with your body to serve God and neighbor, things you love to do with your body, things you love about your body, things about your body that show forth God's grace and love for other people.)

[triumph] the second biggest hill in the world

The biggest hill in the world, of course, is the one Niki climbed after Merry Wives of Windsor. (Well, okay, actually, this is the biggest hill in the world, but setting that aside for the moment.)

The hill leading up to my apartment complex is the kind of hill that kind of prevents me from ever walking down it because I know that, no matter how good the rest of my walk is, it will have to end with GIGANTIC HILL OF DOOM.

So:
+Every Wednesday night, I go to meditation down in Westport. (Please ask me for details if you want to join us. It's a great blessing for me.)
+My car is still in Iowa, scrunched up and sad and with blood in the hood from the deer I hit last Monday.
+My girlfriend is in Wichita, visiting her family, and for reasons that fall into I Do Not Blog Publicly About My Health, I chose not to couldn't come with her.

So I walked to Westport. It's a four mile walk. I did it in jussst over an hour, so I'm just under my preferred walking speed (4 mph), but basically I'm pleased that I can still walk almost 4 mph despite being ever so slightly out of shape from several years of no exercise at all. So that was a physical triumph. Laziness, 0, Ruth Ellen, 1.

Then, before meditation started, I had a lengthy and enthused conversation with the people I meditate with (about the only subject I can reliably talk about at length and with enthusiasm: church. Specifically ours.) Still! Social anxiety, 0, Ruth Ellen, 1.

Meditation itself? Was so much better than for instance last week, when I was so anxious about the deer strike and related issues that I couldn't turn my brain off long enough to even try to meditate. This week, tired from walking and feeling lots less anxious, I actually managed to meditate without my brain exploding. General anxiety, 0, Ruth Ellen, 1.

Then I walked back home, since I canna sleep in Westport, and made that trip also in just over an hour. It seemed easier, too, except for that incredibly large hill that makes me never want to walk down from the safety of the apartment complex again.

So I walked eight miles yesterday. I give me 1 gold star, and my dad gives me two (one for every state I walked in) and my mom gives me one, and my best friend gives me one, and I am open to more. :)

+++

Then I stayed up until 5 in the morning talking first to best friend on the phone for nearly 6 hours and then to best Australian friend on IM (we almost never have the chance to chat because of the halfway around the world problem) until I finally had to collapse asleep. So sleep remains a problem.

But I walked eight miles yesterday, you guys. And had a real conversation and meditated deeply enough that my brain was almost, almost silent for half an hour.

\o/

Greetings

I am here, so now I just have to post something.

Yahoo article on orgaic foods

There's an article today through Yahoo on findings that organic foods are just as nutrient as regular food. Most people (I don't think) switch because of the nutrients. For me it's eating something that doesn't have toxic spray on it to fight insects, that could cause cancer in humans. But most important organic meat means the animal had a better quality life istead of being caged. The organic vegetables means they used environmental practices for the earth that didn't put chemicals into the ground table water and poisons that would affect the surrounding ecosystem. Local organic foods supports the local farmer who is trying to survive, taste better and it is better for the environment for food to travel less than 100 miles.

Three questions

1) What do you think when you hear the word organic?
2) What does that mean to you?
3) On some things are you willing to buy organic?


Because of the high cost of organic many can not afford it. I know, I can't sometimes. The consumer demand lately is to have more options available and with the higher demand, more companies will do it. It will eventually lower some prices. Walmart and Target are going green. I hope they're doing it for the good not because it's a money maker. Every little step we do goes a long way.

Fight for the injustice that causing harm to the earth. Customers have the power by what they buy or not buy. Pollution in all the geochemical cycles are affecting people, plants and animals.
Be a voice for God's creation in how you live: simple