The UnCommon Good

Switching to Wordpress

2011-04-22T20:33:00.000-04:00

I'm moving my blog from blogspot to wordpress this weekend.

I think you will be very happy.

For a sneak peak and the reasons for the move, go to: http://theuncommongood.wordpress.com/

I have no idea what that will mean if you follow www.theuncommongood.com in your reader.

You might have to look for a facebook post or tweet on Monday for the new url.

Thanks for reading!

Love,
April

An Ode to Brothers

2011-04-20T23:07:00.001-04:00

In the past week, both of my brothers turned another year older.

They turned old, actually. Kyle hit the big 3-0 and Jonathan is wrapping up college at 22.

I love them more this year than I did last year. While I've always been a bit envious of those with sisters, I would not trade having brothers, or my brothers in particular, for anything. I never take it for granted that I got to live this life with my brothers for one more year. They are so important to me. I have been blessed.

You might think that parents shape a child, but I'd like to make an argument for siblings.

Kyle was my constant companion, my best childhood friend. I couldn't dream of a better sibling for a child. He can create a story better than anyone I know, and I got to live that with him. We spent endless hours in imaginative play- turning our closet into a motor home, our backyard into the wild west, our downstairs into an art museum. Of course, you had to pay to visit the art museum. But you're not surprised, right? We both love competition, so it worked well for us to have a live-in competitor for our parents attention, the best grades and status. We have had many doors open to us because we pushed each other to excellence. Today, this has led us to a deep admiration and respect. We're following our talents (his are billion dollar mergers, mine are with kids) and our dreams (even though he is a hugely successful lawyer, he is also an incredible fiction writer). Kyle is brilliant, complex, sensitive and a party-animal. I love that I got to know that from the beginning, and appreciate the man he's become on a very deep level.

And then Jonathan came along. You might want to stop now and read the beautiful story of his adoption. Jonathan's more than we ever imagined God could give our family. The best way to put it is that for all the effort Kyle and I put into our lives, Jonathan has been showing us up since toddler hood. It's because he has WOO. Woo is actually a strength on the Strength Finders test and it fits him perfectly--"Woo stands for winning others over. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet—lots of them." You can't help but be super happy to be alive when you are with Jonathan. His laugh is contagious and the way he inspires others has truly, deeply changed me as a leader. I've loved having him on my leadership team and then getting to de-brief our days. He adds valuable wisdom and insight into ministry, life and what the team needs. I'm his biggest fan and Kyle is his biggest donor, so he's set for life. I can't wait to see what the next few years hold for our talented, lovable, wooing baby brother.

And there you have it. 12 lines on each brother. Yes, I counted. Because they will totally argue over who got more time on the blog. Which is fine because I'm good at sarcasm, I'm not too sensitive, I can hold my own in any game and sometimes, I might even punch back. I only had brothers, you know.

Oh, and since they'll never write an Ode to The Sister- at least let me give myself props for teaching them how to dress well-

Yes, I Lied on the Mexico Surveys

2011-04-17T22:10:00.001-04:00

This was not my first trip to Mexico. Nor will it be my last. I have family in Texas, so I've even driven over the boarder a few times. During which, boarder patrol stopped us and asked many questions about ME. Because when I go to Mexico, I don't come back looking like the rest of my family. I turn much, much darker. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a gringa.

Seriously. Did you know that Grand Rapids, MI only gets 84 days of sunshine a year? That's worse than Seattle. And FAR from Mexico. I love Mexico.

Mostly, I think I love Mexico for the people. And because I sit around developing working theories about everything in life, here is my theory about why the people of Mexico are so nice (including many Mexican immigrants here in Grand Rapids that have become some of my favorite people):

1) The weather is awesome

2) The food is amazing (I could eat Mexican every.single.day of my gluten free life)

3) The music is exceptional

We've been studying customer service and surveys at work. So, I was thinking very profoundly when I was given a few surveys in Mexico. But, let me admit here. I crumbled. And lied. I couldn't tell them that their Mexican food wasn't as good as the last place. Or their music. You see, we became instant best friends with our wait staff..and sometimes bus drivers...and people on the street. The people of Mexico inspired something in me--an inability to say anything negative.

It got me thinking. How did this culture of smiling, hard-working, family oriented people arrive at something so different from American culture? Did the beautiful environment breathe art that breathed life? Or something different?

This is why I travel. To meet people. To observe how to become more un-American. Oh, right, and for more days of sun. One more, then (the view from our $67 a night Westin room- thanks to hotwire.com)...

A Gray and Yellow Spring

2011-04-11T00:00:00.002-04:00

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

For some reason, I can't get enough gray and yellow this season. It could be because winter seemed to be hanging on ~~FOREVER~~ just a bit too long. Or because gray and yellow balance all sides of my personality- the combination feels perfectly urban and serenely natural.

Elle Decor

Banana Republic

Chicago Designer, Summer Thornton

Anthropologie

Apartment Therapy

Etsy

Grieving Summertime

2011-04-08T00:00:00.041-04:00

As I approach the summer season, I do my grieving now. It's fair. There are going to be things about summertime that I will miss. And I've led enough summer teams to know that when I'm in the middle of it, I will love it and it will all be worth it. But, I also remember what it was like to not be a summer camp director. To go to the beach, ride my bike, run the lakeshore, go to festivals every weekend....

I'm an extrovert. I live to be where the people are. I only like restaurants that have 2 hour waits. Seriously. So, you're not expecting me to say that I just want stay home with my flowers this summer, right? I want to have time to garden. I want to tend to my soil, sketch plans for full-summer blooming, grow organic fruits and vegetables...maybe even wear a floppy hat.

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Terri Guillemets

I went out in my yard and took this picture today. The first bloom of spring.

And then, I came full circle in my idea of grieving summertime. What if this was all I needed to see-the first bloom? And what if blooming isn't about the flower after all? What if it's really meant just to show us how to do it in our lives?

My soul is in bloom. I will tend to that. That can travel anywhere. I will honor my Creator with new inspiration.

Anything Can Happen Child, Anything Can Be

2011-04-05T23:39:00.004-04:00

Last summer, after the little girl I mentor came to Day Camp, she called me on Saturday and said, "Apurul, when I come to camp on Monday, will I need to bring my back-a-pack?"

It broke my heart to tell her that she only comes once. Because she knows that I'm at camp every single week of the summer. I can only give "my kids" one awesome week of summer, but I try to give them tons of quality time the rest of the year. And since they're on Spring Break, I've been cramming.

Last week, we took a girls only trip to see Tangled.
Rapunzel: I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?
Flynn Rider: It will be.
Rapunzel: And what if it is? What do I do then?
Flynn Rider: Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.

How do I help these kids dream? How do I share the keys to unlock a world beyond their neighborhood? How do I instill not only one dream, but many?

Often, my dreams have been fed by great books. A while ago, I decided that I would give "my kids" a love for bookstores. Today, we tried a new one. I wish you could have seen them squealing as they discovered Schuler Books in Grand Rapids.

The three of us picked a worn couch for silent reading. I think it's a beautiful scene.

They loved watching ME read. And I loved telling them about how fun it is to read a 700 page book that you never want to put down (The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand- read it?). They adore me, and it's so important that they get to see this side of me.

We also sat like grown-ups in the coffee shop and read the original version of Rapunzel. You know, because we like to compare and contrast literature to film.

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts,
the impossibles,
the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves,
then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.”
-Shel Silverstein

Sharpening The Axe

2011-04-03T23:11:00.000-04:00

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

This is what is before me. Another summer as a camp director with SpringHill. A large tree to be chopped down.

Spring is spent sharpening the axe. I do this professionally (oh, the long hours- we won't go there) and personally.

Today, I'll focus on nesting. I truly believe it's a thing. And that it's actually not limited to women about to give birth. This season for me very much parallels welcoming a new child. It's all-consuming, sleep-depriving and can be isolating. My thoughts can't be selfish, my needs have to be last, my strength has to be steadfast as others are depending on me to take care of them.

But oh, the reward. And instead of just one child, it's many. 8,000 predicted at Day Camps. I know some of you think I'm crazy. This season I keep doing. This life I keep living. But 8,000 children.

So, let me invite you into the nesting. Here's what I've been up to.

When you nest, you have to change things. Even in your favorite room. How lucky am I that I found an amazing color of spray paint and some stray things just waiting to be rescued in my basement? I took two empty frames, an old basket, and two sconces and updated them in the new color for spring. I also found fun fabric from hobby lobby and recovered the two old chairs under the sconces. I didn't yet get to re-finishing one of them. Let's be honest, it probably won't happen before summer.

Nesting means getting your stuff together. Being prepared for disaster. Did you know that last Friday was national "back it up" day? Yeah, that threw me into a panic, too. I ditched my plans, pressed play on "24," got to work organizing all my e-files and put them into dropbox. Freedom! I feel so much better. And inspired. Saturday I spent the rainy day cleaning the actual piles of paper in my home office as well.

Nesting must involve getting rid of what you don't need. Look at my ever-growing to-sell/give-away stash that lives in a corner of my dining room. I think this week I might actually start taking things to the mission and learn more about selling books on amazon. Any tips?

And nesting should always involve baking. Even with my weird restrictions. This gluten free/sugar free/dairy free thing has been challenging. And I miss my pancakes. Enter my new favorite mix. Superior pancakes, even if you don't have to eat gluten free.

"I will prepare and some day my chance will come."
-Abraham Lincoln

Should You Go to Grad School?

2011-03-27T19:28:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, you get to be a part of something that feels so important, so meaningful, so much greater than you are that it will always be remembered as your once in a lifetime.

That's how I feel about my time spent at The Erikson Institute. Erikson was not only where I went to graduate school. It's where I came to understand my place in something greater.

I have a colleague who thinks that graduate school is a waste of money. He believes that you can learn everything you need to know online or in print. Let me say this: I do believe you can become a lot smarter by being an avid reader. However, in my opinion, you pay to go to the best grad school so that you can sit in the room with the smartest people in your field. You set yourself up to have personal relationships with professors that are top researchers, will provide you with reflective supervision and will take an interest in your career. And at the core of "sitting in the room with the smartest people" are the other students. I wanted to be a shared learner, friend and future collaborator with the most intelligent, diverse group of students possible.

Those were my intentions. To get smarter. And to find a high paying job in a field I loved (oops- should have picked a different field). But it became so much more. I couldn't help but be caught up in the wonder of the multi-disciplinary approach. The faculty at Erikson are not only teaching; they are producing leading research that is impacting policies and programs, spearheading community initiatives and new schools and providing direct services to families in need.

Yes, I left Erikson with a great education, relationships with smart people, and an attractive job offer at Loyola. But more importantly, I left with increased vision, purpose and resolve to do what's right in the lives of kids and their families.

Sometimes I'll take the hard road, make risky career choices, push people to have dialogues and make changes that they weren't ready for. But I've been set on a course that is right, is needed, is in my heart and has been nurtured. And I'm forever grateful.

Photos were taken on a recent visit to The Erikson Institute. A special thanks to Stephanie Bynum who took me on a tour of the new building and spent time collaborating with me on a special project.

Life in the Quad(rants)

2011-03-23T23:58:00.000-04:00

Today, while I was in a meeting talking to people about kids and volunteers and what an awesome partnership we're going to have this summer, I accidentally got as excited about an app on my ipod as I was about our shared ministry.

Somehow, we got on the subject of managing our time. You know, we're all riding in the mega-church/mega-camp fast lane. And because we highly value the work we do and the people we're serving, it can be hard to prioritize.

Enter the Quadrants.

They've revolutionized the way I manage my time. I discovered that I was spending too much time living in the urgent. They were all important things, but I wasn't spending enough time on things that were vital for the future of our organization. I was being a day-to-day manager, not a visionary leader.

Haven't heard of the quadrants? You must research. Michael Hyatt recently blogged about how to use the Quadrants (also known as Stephen Covey's Time Management Matrix) here.

I've noticed an increase in my focus and decrease in my stress-level since being introduced to the quadrants. For example, when my to-do list is just too long (which happens often), I find new creative freedom in knowing that what lives on the unimportant list can sometimes be accomplished by someone else or in a different way.

Oh, and let me geek out about that app. It's called Priority Matrix for iphone and there's a great free version. I'm so in love. Is that wrong?

For those of you that don't have an iphone, ipad or ipod touch, you should really buy one. Oh, just kidding (although not really- and dear brother, if you're reading this, I REALLY REALLY would use an ipad every single day of my life and am looking for a donor--you?). The paper/white board version works ~~just~~ almost as well. Here's my office wall:

P.S. My boss called me a nerd today on the phone. And he's good at math. So it must be true.

Leave A Light On, Chicago

2011-03-21T00:33:00.002-04:00

I've paid taxes in 3 states and 2 countries. I've lived in the middle of nowhere, the city and the suburbs. So, I'd like to relay to you--with prior research and extreme conviction--

You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl.

And Chicago is MY city. Because Grand Rapids is nice and all, but it really doesn't count.

Every so often, I HAVE to get back home. To walk the crowded streets, ride the "El," eat at my favorite restaurants, talk to some of my favorite people.

Meet my brunch buddy, Clay. We go out for other meals, but I always think our best conversations happen over brunch at Nookies. Fantastic food. Great vibe. It's BYOB and the couple next to us was splendidly mixing their own Mimosas.
Of course, we stopped to see the Green River on our way to brunch...

Then, we did what true Chicagoans do on a Saturday- a nice mix of walking and El riding as we shopped and strolled our way through the city. Of course we ducked in for an afternoon cocktail at Adobo Grill. Chicagoans, you know.

And finally, dinner! Enter my tapas teammate, Dara. We really don't ever discuss where to meet for dinner--it's always tapas at Cafe Iberico. There are other tapas in town, but we will heatedly argue with you about why Iberico is the best ever. We co-chair the fan club.

Luckily I was in town for two dinners, so my cute mom came in from the suburbs and met me at another fabulous place- The Grand Lux Cafe. We always request the rotunda- a huge room of windows overlooking the bustle of Michigan Avenue.

I don't want you to leave thinking I'm just a wanderer and foodie (although not bad choices for a life). Chicago is rich for me because it's the place where I've grown the most intellectually. Here's my favorite study spot overlooking Rush St. I re-lived my Grad School glory days and worked here for a few hours. That view is life-giving and creativity-injecting.

So, leave a light on, Chicago. I can't seem to stay away for long...

Ravenous

2011-03-18T13:14:00.004-04:00

I can't get enough of the green river crowds, the fast fiddling, the Irish dancing, the laughter and yelling. Ah, St. Patrick's Day.

Shauna Niequist's book Bittersweet, describes the idea of ravenous: "I think life is delicious and I want to gobble it up in big bites...So much to see, taste, touch, try, do. I can feel myself come to life, eyes open, taking everything in...I feel like life is so genuinely interesting, so much to be tasted, tried, discovered."

Exactly. Which is why I drove to my sweet home Chicago for the dyeing of the river. I always want to be where the people are. And apparently where we float Shamrock Shake boats....

I love the crowds. But, as my friend Clay stated, sometimes all the green and North Face from the suburbs can get a little out of control. That's why I love coming back to Grand Rapids for March 17th-- to spend my night at Quinn and Tuite's. The live music is the best in West Michigan. And I was going to say nice things about the crowd, except that too many of them thought my green hair was REAL.

When you have friends that play their own Irish music, the after-party is brilliant.

I convinced my friend to play my favorite song on the penny whistle...enjoy!

I'm not sure what your plans are until next March, but we'll be dreaming of our next gathering of green...

Why I Came Home From School Crying Today

2011-03-09T21:07:00.001-05:00

I'm not a crier. So I wasn't prepared to sit in a second grade classroom today and have tears well up in my eyes.

I showed up to mentor during my lunch hour with much excitement as always. When the teacher asked me to stay in the classroom, I was pumped. Because, let's be honest, it makes my day to have kids huddled around me like they want my autograph (I handed out camp post cards instead).

But then, the teaching happened. It was about alliteration, metaphors, similes, and "omomatopoeias" (yes, it was spelled wrong on a GRPS worksheet). And the lesson was taught to second graders (most of whom are English as a second language learners) from a 3-ring binder. So the tears welled up. I had my first tragic, real life glimpse of our 50% graduation rate in GRPS.

These are the kids I love. They deserve so much more than this. It's NOT FAIR.

I came home and legitimately cried. Full out, kind of crumbled for the state of our education system. I'm having a hard time getting over it.

Maybe you don't know. Maybe you haven't experienced what it's like in some of our schools. You need to be aware. We all need to work together on this. Please watch David Guggenheim talk about why he made the movie, "Waiting for Superman" and why it's not enough to "take care of my kids and move on"...

Oh, and you should DEFINITELY watch the movie. It's my plea to the world.

Why I'm Scared to Get Married

2011-03-07T21:10:00.003-05:00

The list is kind of long, actually. But the God I worship is a healer, so I do believe He will take my jaded, messed up self and weave it into a beautiful story.

But then I might break all the "rules" and just live with him. Because really I'm scared of the actual wedding. It's not what you think. My greatest fear is that we'll throw a great big party and people won't get along.

I've carefully selected my friends to be VERY different from each other. The professors, the artists, the brilliant business minds, the stay-at-home moms (and dads!), the college students, the lawyers, the retail workers, the camp people, the atheists, the Jesus-followers, the people that think Rob Bell is going to Hell, the people that think those people are viewing the Gospel all wrong...

So you can see why I'm scared of a fight breaking out. But, I'm going to keep doing it. Collecting these people and calling them friends. I'm living out what I was made to do.

I think I knew this from a young age. Even in my 99% white town, I sought to be best friends with the kids that were different than me. During her time in the US, Hana Ee opened my little eyes to the wonders of sleeping on mats, Japanese cooking, and women that actually wore kimonos. And when Joyce arrived from Puerto Rico to live in my neighbor's basement, she blessed my life with her Spanish and dancing and large family. Both girls returned home before I was in 3rd grade. But I'll never forget what they gave me.

Don't think I'm all- aren't I awesome and friends with everyone- here. I'm ashamed of the way I went against what God created me to do. In high school, college, and often since then, I've succumbed to that peer pressure of having a friend group that looks like you and talks like you. I'm ashamed I wasted years. And hurt people. And didn't live the story I was created for.

But my God had bigger plans for my life. My friends, and their crazy, varied, lovely stories have revealed new worlds and truths. They've shaped me.

My Future Career: A Professional Field Tripper?

2011-03-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've always envisioned myself working forever. Until death. If you have spent 5 minutes with me, you know I have big goals and dreams for helping children.

But, I'm starting to see the appeal of being a stay-at-home mom. Because I would print those free business cards and hand them to every teacher. My title would be, "field-tripper."

I had a day off last week, so I got to go on a field trip!!! It was with the litle girl I mentor and her 2nd grade class. Now, I'm no stranger to the class or the neighborhood. I'm definitely the only white girl that shows up at the park. And they stare. I think it's because they wonder what color my hair really is. So do I, kids, so do I.

On the bus, I felt one of the boys in the seat behind me reach over and touch my hair. I looked back to VERY curious eyes.

"What are your eyes?" he asked.

Pause from me. (Because honestly, I really don't know how to characterize their color).

"Baby Brown," he said with confidence. There you have it. Makes perfect sense. I'm claiming it as my color. Second grade genius.

The rest was magical. Forever captured by my camera. The kids LOVE having someone take their picture. Here are a few of the little girl I mentor at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

And here are my qualifications for being a professional field-tripper:

Within 30 seconds, I knew all 7 kids in my group by name (and never forgot them)
I played along at the dentist, the bank, the post office, the puppet show, etc. And of course, created memorable learning experiences along the way. That's what we do, right SpringHill?
Only 3 of my 7 kids got lost. And it was only for 5 minutes. At the end. When everyone was trying to get on the bus. No big deal.

I got invited back on today's field trip. That's right. They had one last week and this week. I can't go, of course, because I'm a working woman. But I'm really hoping to have some time off on St. Patrick's day. At the Valentine's party I got to hand out bingo chips! I'm really getting into this "Room Mom" gig.:)

Things I Love Thursday

2011-03-03T08:00:00.032-05:00

Yep. Still here in winter.

There are a few things that make me happy inside my house, which is where I spend more time than I would like these days...

The Decemberists. I'm so in love. To the point that they are my constant companions at home. If you don't have The King is Dead, you need to stop reading and click here to purchase it. If you're still unsure, check out one of my favorites, "Rise to Me." It was inspired by lead singer Colin Meloy's son with autism. I love how life enters art in such beautiful ways.

And then there's my Tyler Candle.

Since this isn't a scratch and sniff blog, here is how it is described:
Floral, woody blend combined with patchouli and vanilla with a heavy musk undertone

I was introduced to "High Maintenance" at the Urban Cottage in Saugatuck. Here the owner will woo you with his invented and borderline inappropriate names for the entire Tyler line. He happens to call this one, "the pot smokin' mama."

Just to be clear, I don't know if what he refers to is true. But I'm guessing it's my favorite scent because some days I want to be creative and free and some days I want to be chic and sophisticated. It speaks to all sides of me.

So, no, I'm not thankful for the chill outside. But the chill vibe inside? Totally got that going on. Thankful that all it really takes is a great album and a candle...

What Football, Fans, Birthdays, Life Purpose and Hot Tubs Have in Common

2011-03-01T00:27:00.001-05:00

I spent my 21st birthday at a Texas Roadhouse in Indiana (with friends I still love).

And my birthday this year (couldn't get the whole table, but this post features Danae anyway).

The after-party when I was 21 was very Taylor University-like. I came home to a surprise party thrown by my dorm. Those Christian college kids even got special permission to have boys on the floor. Scandalous, I know. We drank sparkling cider straight out of the bottle!

In between, I've had some memorable birthdays. And after-parties.

But I think this year will stick with me for a long time. We threw a getaway at my dad's lake house. And when the rest of the world got silent, I made my way to the hot tub with one of my best friends, co-workers and fellow child-champions. For hours, Danae and I sat under the winter stars and talked about how we can better define our purpose, our methodologies, and our contributions to help kids and families. It was the perfect way to ring in a new year of life.

This video captures some of the feeling behind what we want to do for children. It will change you.

You're a little teary, right?

Every child, every prisoner, every coach needs to be cheered on.

Maybe you've been pondering what to do with your life. Or your year. Or your day. What if we all just lived out this video? What if we look for the people around us that don't have fans? The children that need their names chanted the most?

And we'll be their fans. We'll cheer them on. We'll show them that they're worthy. And champions. And when they go to bed, they'll have memories of people chanting their names. And those memories won't go away when the hard times come again.

Best Birthday Card Ever

2011-02-25T11:58:00.000-05:00

A Fed Ex package arrived today for my birthday.

I love that my mom has to Fed Ex birthday cards. I'm totally my mother's daughter.

In it, I found the best birthday card EVER.

The front says:
April, I remember the time you came home from college and told me, "No more pink roses in this house!" I'm so thankful for your decorating advice...

And the inside:

For those of you that don't know my mom, she pasted her head on that body. And that wreath of flowers on top. I am pretty convinced that's what she would look like if I wasn't born her daughter. It does make me happy to be alive. Maybe turning older isn't so bad after all. Maybe I have finally discovered my purpose...

Lunch Break with April

2011-02-24T12:59:00.003-05:00

I'm so serious that February needs to end. And I need to shovel again. But I just can't bring myself to do it today.

So, welcome to my working-from-home-today-lunch-break. Since I'm hiding from my shovel and have no food in my house, I had to find something positive to do. Luckily, I remembered a certain project that has been ruminating in my head for a while....

My DVDs just went from this:

to this:

And there you have it. DVDs by color, not by alphabet. These are behind a closed door, so no one actually sees them. And also, the driveway's not shoveled and I'm still hungry. But, you know what? Sometimes it's important to make the little things around you more beautiful...

Oh, and did anyone else notice that all the guy movies are dark and all the girly ones are lighter colored? Funny. Now they are now unintentionally organized by genre. I was just going for pretty.

3 Great Gifts to Nurture A Baby's Mind

2011-02-21T22:32:00.002-05:00

I spent a lot of money getting a master's degree in Child Development. So at least I'm an expert toy-shopper. And since we're about to have our first Day Camp baby (my friends Tony and Jen are due with baby Maxwell any week now), I had reason to shop! For the record, I totally believe that playing with dirt and tupperware are great. But, in case you need to send along some gifts or buy some for your little ones, here are some of my favorites right now. (I sent them all to Baby Max from amazon.com).

Hey Max-
This toy keeps you busy in your younger months- Mommy can hang it from your car seat so you'll have something to look at on your Day Camp travels. Then, take it down to grasp, crinkle, cuddle and chew! You are loved! -Aunt April
Freddie The Firefly

Hey Max-
I was pretty sure your dad wanted you to have a "manly" toy. You can chew on this and hold tools like the screwdriver when you're 4 months old. Then when you're 9 months old, you can begin taking tools in and out...over and over again! In no time, you'll be building things with your daddy! You are loved! -Aunt April
Melissa and Doug Fill and Spill Toolbox

Hey Max!
I can't wait until you're 7-9 months old and begin to discover that every action has a reaction. This toy will last you into your toddling years. You're going to have a blast with baby physics. I can already tell that you're totally smart like your parents. You are loved! -Aunt April
Melissa and Doug Deluxe Pound and Roll Tower

What Defines My Days

2011-02-18T08:00:00.042-05:00

I'm entering into the season of my job that has me working most Sundays. And so I CRAVE days "apart". I yearn for the next vacation. But if you follow my blog or facebook, you realize that I'm one of the most vacated people alive.

Here's my philosophy. Vacations help me remember who I am. I'm still desperately trying to determine how to live my daily life with rhythm despite a job of many colors and the passionate pursuit of volunteering and social excitement.

Days apart define the rest of my days.

I love what Eugene Peterson says about sabbath and vacations in an interview he did with Peter Santucci:

Holy days are a background rhythm for your life that you fit the rest of your life into. You don't take a day off; you take a day apart. The Sabbath defines the rest of the days. That's a totally different way of viewing time than our culture views it.

It's not easy. It requires long training and persistent determination. But ultimately it's easier to live this way than to live fragmented, crazy.

One of the things we experience when we live this way is that we become integrated without even trying.

When people take-- to use the secular word--vacations, they slow down. They are leisurely. They spend their time talking. They relax. They find that they're capable of it. People don't go on vacations to get integrated, but they go on one and become integrated. Integration is a by-product. You don't go looking for it; it happens.

The beauty is that once you experience moments like this, you can't go back to your crazy life. You have to breathe differently.

For more on my trip to Bali, Indonesia, see this post. Life-altering.

My Gift to People that Hate Children: Kid Ambassadors

2011-02-16T08:00:00.019-05:00

A few weekends ago, I found myself in a beachside Westin with four kids ages 7-10. We were quite the possy. I started baby-sitting for them when all four were under 4. Which is seriously my idea of fun. But I realize that not all adults appreciate kids- especially in hotel lobbies.

On our first morning, I acted quickly. Right there in the elevator, I gathered the kids close to me.

"You guys, I need to tell you something very important. Do you know that not all adults like kids?"

Shock. Awe. Dismay. Just the reaction I'm hoping for.

"And some of those people are actually staying in THIS hotel with us. They are going to be in the lobby when we get off the elevator."

Horrified looks. They can't believe it. The oldest two verify that it might be true. They heard that some people HATE kids. More terror in the group.

"I have a great plan. Do you guys know what an ambassador is?"

One of the ten year olds explains it brilliantly to her siblings (genius parents).

"So, we are on a special mission this weekend. We are here to be KID AMBASSADORS to all the people that don't like kids. We're going to show them how awesome and cool kids are. After they see us, they are going to LOVE kids. Do you guys think you can accept this mission?"

Elevator opens. Perfect timing. They are beyond pumped to save the world for kids.

Let's be realistic. It's sometimes hard to remember your mission. We all get a little sidetracked by trying to jump over lines in the floor or the inexplicable need to antagonize a sister. But, all I had to do was whisper, "Ambassador" and said child would straighten up and act his best. And if one fell out of line, you better believe the other siblings would make sure to get her back on track. After all, they wouldn't want to mis-represent ALL kids.

Of course, I came prepared with ~~a few~~ a gazillion games in my head. Because sometimes your first trick gets old. Here they are playing "Order Up" in the lobby.

My favorite quote of the weekend? From the youngest. She came running up to me.

"April, do you just LIVE for kids?"

Yes. Absolutely. So glad they know.

Love, Loss and Living

2011-02-14T00:19:00.005-05:00

I posted here that I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.

That was actually a ~~lie~~ mis-print. I'm pretty pumped about today's plans. Most importantly, the second grade party at Burton Elementary. Let's be honest, I'm just a holiday kind of girl.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

But what happens if you're not feeling life abundant when V-day rolls around?

That's why God gave us people to tell. Like our Starbucks baristas.
One of my childhood friends, Robb, died suddenly in his wife's arms just before Christmas. In her deep grief, Tricia, found herself unable to venture out into the world. Except to Starbucks. It's at a local coffee shop that she's being loved by strangers. I think you need to read her post titled, Starbucks, today.

I'm forever grateful that Tricia is sharing her story of love, loss and living through it on her blog. It gives me a different perspective and new lens from which to pray this Valentine's day.

May we be the strangers who step up and fill the void. May we be like Tricia, who allows others in when the pain is so deep. May God use you and me to surprise His children with His love.

* For more of Tricia's story, grab some tissue and go to Teaching Tuck and Ty,   photo by Bart Heird on Flickr

Things I Love Thursday

2011-02-10T19:01:00.002-05:00

I love capturing pictures of kids that are forever reminders of their character at that moment in time. Speaking of character, check out these four kids I got to spend last weekend with in Florida. Love them. They are as much fun as they look.

My Creativity Creed

2011-02-08T22:50:00.002-05:00

Creativity. It used to seem so ambiguous to me. Reserved for the people that were born with the knack for brainstorming. But, I've been fortunate to be invited into a creative community in Grand Rapids; here I've learned that creativity is an art to be studied, practiced and risked. Please meet one of my brilliant friends, Cornerstone Professor Don Perini, featured in this recent Grand Rapids Press Article (it also mentions my friends Elizabeth Wing, Jeanette Banashak and SpringHill Camps!).

One of the benefits of creative friends? They are always sharing things with you. Like this Creativity Creed (I got it from Don's Creativity Break-out Session at SpringHill).

Learn the habits of other creative people with passion and imitate them.
Time-vampires are those ugly activities that steal your time. Slay them.
Design your environment to inspire you to do extraordinary things.
In all that you create, make it meaningful and redemptive.
Your choice of friends is more important than your work or where you live...so choose your creative community wisely.
It takes effort to accomplish any creative endeavor. Hoping or willing it to happen won't make it happen. So get to work.
Capture all your ideas, otherwise they will be lost forever.
Resistance comes form hell. Don't allow perfectionism, self-doubt, fear, busyness, or excuses to defeat you.
Life is risk. It is unavoidable. There is even risk in playing it safe.
Keep moving forward no matter how many times you fall.
What you tell yourself is more important than what others say about you.
Create. We need your contributions.
Most people who start a creative endeavor quit. Don't be that person.
Reward yourself. You deserve it.

This is posted near my desk. And I'm definitely buying Don's new book, Rhyming with Orange. What are you doing to practice the art of creativity?

A Personal Hedgehog: The New Fad in Pets or Something More?

2011-02-03T08:00:00.007-05:00

What is my purpose? What should I do with my life? As I work with college students, I find myself in these conversations over and over again. And as I get older, I realize that what we once thought was answered is always being re-defined, re-shaped and sometimes re-rooted.

My friend Carly (she blogged about the topic here) passed along a video of Jim Collins (author of Good to Great) sharing some considerations for leaders. I wish I had heard these when I was 20, so I'm blogging them for all those college students I love. But, to be honest, I think the principles apply to every crowd.

About 30 minutes in, Collins starts talking about a personal hedgehog (the hedgehog from GTG is explained well here). He challenges you to find your path to the best fit for you, the place where your three circles meet. I've diagrammed it for you:

I also really liked his 10 Considerations for the Emerging Level 5 Leader:

1. Build a personal board of directors

pick them for their character, not their accomplishments
they don't always need to know they're on your personal board

2. Turn off your electronic gadgets

begin the discipline of putting white space on your calendar
effective people take time to think

3. Work on your own Three Circles

study yourself, make empirical observations with no judgment

4. Figure out your questions to statements ratio...and try to double it.

you spend way too much time trying to be interesting, why don't you spend it trying to be interested?
learn to ask questions, learn from everyone you meet

5. Live by this question-

"If you woke up tomorrow morning and discovered you had 20 million dollars, a terminal disease and only 10 years to live, what would go on your stop doing list?"

6. Stop your stop-doing list

7. Unplug the opportunities that distract you

there will always be many once in a lifetimes
define your 3 circles and hold everything up to them

8. Find something for which you have so much passion, you are willing to endure the pain

9. Articulate the values for which you will not compromise

10. Prepare to live a life where at age 65, you're only 1/3 through your work

Want to hear more? You can watch the whole thing:
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A Tribute to Snowmageddon

2011-02-02T09:13:00.003-05:00

Oh, winter. If we were to play take it or leave it, I would leave it. And not just today. Greetings this morning, from Snowmageddon in the midwest.

Pine trees heavy laden with snow are the only thing I like about winter. Until you get me moving (THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SHOVELING). When the world of winter sports opens up, there are a few moments when I must admit to liking this season a tiny bit.

I do think being sporty in the snow is pretty rad. But let's be clear-- 1) it took me a long time ~~to agree~~ be coerced to go out in the cold and 2) I am a poor excuse for sporty.

But that Jay Taylor (one of the other SpringHill Day Camp Directors) is one heck of an instructor. Please note the progression of action so well captured by his lovely wife, Liz.

Liz said I smiled my nervous smile the whole time- but it's Jay that looks nervous. I think I was telling him, "you're thinking it's a bad idea to let go, and I want to affirm that."

Finally, I went at it alone...but if you look closely you will see that my mittens and sweater are caked with snow. And, yes, the snow actually goes all the way up my back. Don't ask.

After our evening of fun, Instructor Jay kindly recommended I keep practicing at SpringHill before hitting the big slopes. But he was showing me some backwards moves like he thought those were in my future, so I'm thinking it's only a matter of time...

Singleness and the Church

2011-01-31T08:00:00.024-05:00

How many friends do you have of a different ethnicity? Of a different religion? Of a different marital status? Have you been to their house for dinner? Have you invited them to your superbowl party?

I’m passionate about being a part of a multi-ethnic, multi-socio-economic Christian community. And now I’d like to add to that, multi-marital status.

Let’s start with the Church Singles Group. I can't even believe I'm admitting publicly that I've been to one. I won’t tell you the year or the church to protect the ~~innocent~~ bizarre, but let’s just say that one night I thought, “Self, you’re good at making friends and you need to know more single people. How bad can it be?”

WORSE. Much worse than you can imagine. OH MY GOODNESS. Bible study turned into conversations from toilet training cats to being scared to make phone calls to “naughty praises” because an ex-husband broke up with his girlfriend. Might I add that the entire time one of the two guys slept and the girl-that-never-talked hoarded food into her pockets from the snack table.

I couldn't believe my life had come to that. I made a promise to NEVER go to another church singles event. But, recently I’ve been thinking--other singles might not have my background with the church or my perspective to laugh it off and keep pursing authentic community.

Here are some insights I've gained into the life of a single person at a church:

It can be hard to gear up emotionally to go sit alone at church.
Teaching pastors are all married. And they do a lot of preaching to the married with kids crowd. Which is awesome because my passion in life is building up children and their families. But every time they add a one-sentence clause about the single people, I cringe for the majority of the church.
Most of the cool crowd seem to know each other through the “marrieds only” small groups. Is the only way to get "in" with the church people to find a spouse?

I pulled up the 2010 Census Data. Just in case you haven’t seen it. You know I research this kind of thing. 50.3% married. 6.3% widowed. 10.4% divorced. 2.2% separated. 30.8% never married.

It’s time for us as a church to start intentionally reaching the other 50.7% And I'm pretty sure it's not going to be through singles groups.

Who are you going to invite to dinner?

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

Three are Even Better

2011-01-30T01:20:00.008-05:00

I love this picture of Heidi, Abby and me at our Taylor University Floor Retreat our Junior Year. It's a great reminder of the roots of our friendship. And our skinnier days. And how I broke my hand on a field-sized slip-and-slide.

But mostly, I love it for this:
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ephesians 4:12

Things I Love Thursday

2011-01-27T20:47:00.004-05:00

Love it: The path I walk to work when I stay at SpringHill.

Love it: New SpringHill Staff Track Jackets

Here I am with Todd, my first boss at SpringHill (1999) and my friend. I love that I work with my friends.

Love it: This book and that our team is always ready to implement change

Love it: Team Pictures

Love it: All the fun our Day Camp team has eating, laughing, playing cards, snowboarding and sharing music while we are together up in Evart, MI for a few days.

Kiss me, I'm...

2011-01-25T08:00:00.014-05:00

Just waiting for the next holiday.

No, not the one with hearts and valentines. I don't celebrate that one.

I'm Irish. I love the one, true, dye-your-river-green-Chicago holiday. My favorite of the year.

I was reminded of it last week when I braved the ice and snow to get to the West Michigan countryside for Fenian's, the "Best Irish Pub in Michigan."

Wednesday is their Traditional Irish Music Session. And musicians come from far and wide for an Irish Jam.

photo by Grand Rapids Magazine, September 2006 (but it really did look like this when I was there)

Right there in the little town of Conklin. Irish Fiddles and Penny Whistles and everything. It's almost like Ireland. Ah, Ireland. I miss you.

Don't you love how music unlocks our memories? It's a good thing that penny whistle player I know travels with me. She really is the best in Ireland and Michigan. You should hear how many people ask her to join their bands...

They Loved Me First

2011-01-20T20:50:00.008-05:00

Sometimes, it's hard to grow up.

One of those arduous tasks can be to navigate adulthood with your parents. You're not quite on the same playing field, but you're definitely not a child anymore. And you are secretly scared that those things you did today represent the exact things you told your junior high self that you would never do as an adult...

But one of the greatest honors of adulthood is to reflect on the magnitude of the love of your parents.

To say that they loved me first. To be their kid. To play that role.

It was my mom's birthday yesterday. I spent a lot of time thinking about the blessing of her. To this world. To her family. To me.

She instinctively, intelligently and carefully brought us to adventure, wonder and individual discovery. What a gift this love is to a child.

Happy Birthday to the wonderful woman that held me first.
And made me feel so secure.
And taught me that I am LOVED.
I am so thankful I get to be your daughter.

Love,
April Elizabeth

Sugar, Oh Honey, Honey

2011-01-18T22:44:00.003-05:00

I gave up sugar on December 26, 2010.

This was not by choice.

After allergy testing, I had to cut out most of my favorites. Like goat cheese. And bread and oil. And peanut M&Ms. Oh, I can hardly bear to talk about it.

At first, things were going famously. I felt great, had tons of energy, and was promoting that everyone go yeast free, gluten free, dairy free, peanut free (oh, and there's more)...

But my doctor warned me that there are studies connecting sugar withdrawal to cocaine withdrawal (sugar also affects dopamine and serotonin). Ugh. Having never withdrawn from a substance, I'd like to think this is easier. But I must admit that this week I seriously considered taking up smoking. And I had to text a friend from Meijer for support so that I wouldn't buy chocolate donuts (thanks, Heidi).

Now I have some new addictions. I call them, reminder-of-the-glorious-sugar-days products.

Sweet Potato Chips and Crystal Light.

And yes, I realize that neither one fits into my mostly organic diet. But, I figure it's better than smoking for now...

This American Life: Filters and Beard Charts

2011-01-16T14:37:00.004-05:00

I have a full life. Like many Americans, I feel like I'm on the perpetual treadmill and the speed is accidentally getting faster and faster.

When the speed gets too fast, what do you do? Jump off? Are you able to keep up?

I've decided that in order to keep up with the important things, I need to apply personal filters. I'm trying to shred the things that hold me back from reaching my potential.

One of the filters I applied was TV. I canceled my cable and even my basic stations.

But, I'm not that hardcore. I bought Apple TV. For a one-time price of $99 plus your monthly Netflix subscription, you can instantly stream a large number of movies and TV shows. And, if you really need to watch something new, you can also stream from the itunes store (recent recommendations: The Town and Inception).

Love the TV filter. Commercials are gone. So is channel surfing...and landing on something worthless. And, for some reason, I've become documentary girl. I've found buckets of Apple TV options (including podcasts) that allow for critical thinking. Never.going.back.to.cable.

So, it was the filter that ultimately led me to the beard chart. Brilliant. Have you seen Showtime's "This American Life?" If not, you need to watch "God's Close-Up" about a Mormon painter who uses atheist, bearded men as his models for religious scenes. I'd love to know your thoughts on this episode. Any Ira Glass listeners/viewers out there?

You can watch the full episode instantly on Netflix free with your monthly subscription, or on itunes for $1.99.

Things I Love Thursday

2011-01-13T08:00:00.022-05:00

Sometimes, the greatest spiritual truths are taught from a child's perspective.

Like the creation story.

"Then God said, “Hello animals!” And everyone came out to play. The earth was filled with noisy noises — growling and gobbling and snapping and snorting and happy skerfuffling. “You’re good,” God said. And they were. God saw all that he had made and he loved them. And they were lovely because he loved them. But God saved the best for last.....So God breathed life into Adam and Eve. When they opened their eyes, the first thing they ever saw was God’s face. And when God saw them he was like a new dad. “You look like me,” he said. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever made!” God loved them with all of his heart. And they were lovely because he loved them."

And I don't care who you are. Or what your adult theology/philosophy is on the creation story. Every child, every person, every creation needs to know:

You are lovely because He loves you.

Do you know that today?

..........................................................................................................................................
Good, now about my source...

The Jesus Storybook Bible. It's my favorite.

If you have kids, this is the best bible out there. (See what my friend Kate said about it). Some adults have been known to keep reading it after the kids go to bed, too...
Even if you're not a Christian, I think you might still appreciate the refreshing writing and illustrating of this story. Art.
If you do kid's programming, this is a great tool. We use it at SpringHill for improv skits. I narrate and my staff perform hilarious renditions of the stories. We love that it clearly and humorously communicates the message of Jesus. Because our God is funny.

Image is from the JSB Website. Click here to download the full creation story and other videos!

Rock Stars and Opera Divas

2011-01-09T21:08:00.012-05:00

We're starting recruiting season tomorrow. I've decided in addition to that whole "loves Jesus, loves kids thing," I will start looking for secret rock stars and opera divas.

"There's no half-singing in the shower. You're either a rock star or an opera diva."
-Josh Groban

My Summer 2010 Team was one of the best I've served with. I'm pretty sure they all belt it out in the shower. They don't do anything half-way. Most of them are coming back this summer--contracts signed within 10 minutes of getting them. They never waiver in commitment.

As I was putting away Christmas today, I was thinking about how much I love this team (and the fabulous party we had at my place).

I love having so many college students in my life and my home.

And I'm very thankful my floors have not yet crashed in from dance parties...

Things I Love Thursday

2011-01-06T08:00:00.005-05:00

Sometimes, when I'm cleaning, I think, "Oh, just one more surface..."

Seriously.

It wasn't always that way. One day my friends John and Sherry over at Young House Love told me about their obsession with Mrs. Meyer's. Since I'm highly allergic to the WORLD, I'm currently switching over to organic everything. It was fate.

And, oh, y'all need to hear the people talk about Mrs. Meyer's (the Basil Scent in particular). It's almost disturbing. But just wait until you try it. You'll be one of them. I bought mine off of drugstore.com and this review was enough to convince me:
I love Mrs. Meyer's products and I think this scent is probably my favorite. Like the title says... if only I could bathe in it! It makes my daily household chores bearable. I am constantly cleaning after my three munchkins (all four and under) and this gives me that moment I need to breathe in and relax between the craziness of my day. Yes a cleaner really can do that!

Here's my homemade, label-maker version. I took the original bottle and poured a few cap fulls into each recycled spray bottle, then mixed with water. The $7.99 price tags looks a lot better when you realize how far the 32 oz bottle actually goes. I've already made 4 spray bottles and a few floor mixtures.
Plus, did I mention it's just heavenly? And it cleans well. In.Love.

You weren't expecting a cleaning product, were you? :)

Expired Drug Problem

2011-01-04T21:50:00.012-05:00

You probably don't have a drawer that looks like this:I mean, I cleaned it out last year. Along with it's companion closet. Once perfectly organized, it then turned into this:I'll admit. My storage space is enviable. But you know the rule--Have space, will fill it. Or is it--See a mega-sale on lotion, must buy it? Anyway, clutter stresses me out. But in the past, I've always carefully organized the clutter, only to have it end up looking like someone tried to steal all my diamonds again (nope, no diamonds).

Enter the book, The Joy of Less. It's an Amazon Top 10 of 2010. Miss Minimalist taught me something that I kind of knew but never applied to my bathroom before. You're supposed to completely empty the room and take the contents somewhere else. Then, only the things you love/need can come back in. This is totally embarrassing, people. Is there a support group for this? Toiletry hoarders?I had some major piles going: Keep, Trash, Recycle, Give-Away, DRUG Disposal (it also seems I have an expired drug problem). In just a little over an hour (while watching netflix), my closet was reclaimed and I had the joy of less. Ah, white space.Oh, and the drawer? Guess who found enough MAC recyclables to get her free lip gloss? :) But, in keeping with the new rules, when one new lip gloss comes into the home, one needs to leave. Just so you know how I'll keep the pretty white space. Allow me to put the joking aside for a moment. Having less and consuming less is a deeply spiritual movement in my heart. I'm not even sure how all this crap got here. But I don't want it. And I'm taking measures to stop it.

After I did the bathroom clean-sweep, I went over to the little girl I love's house. She doesn't even have a couch. I'm blessed. And guilty.

Do you think I kept too many necklaces? Really.

I Got Punked on New Years (yes, by a mouse)

2011-01-02T17:38:00.012-05:00

There were multiple times in 2010 when I thought I was being punked. Except the cameras never came out. And the seriously-made-for-TV encounters kept coming. So, it's no surprise that December 31, 2010 ended the same way.

Meet the mouse that I captured in my kitchen. He was still moving slowly but wouldn't respond to me screaming, "Go away, mouse, Go away, mouse!!!!" Thus, the pot. (I snuck up behind him- are you so impressed? I felt very brave).

But then, he and I were both paralyzed from this point forward. Meet the man that came over to save me from standing on my couch as I rang in the New Year. Check out the tool I gave him. I'd like to thank my facebook commenters for all the ideas.
Once said mouse was "disposed of," Evan and I got out of mouseville and rang in the New Year properly. Including, but not limited to adult bingo and one very fuzzy iphone picture.And now that 2011's here, we're all settling into a great year. Evan's back home at the famous Cheese Louise. Fitting, right? And I am here with my mouse friends STARVING. Because I can't go into my kitchen. I've created a really nice towel barricade for myself in my bedroom. Where I feel I'll be safe for most of 2011.

30 x 30 (30 Things I Want to be About in My 30's)

2010-12-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

I'm not much into New Year's Resolutions. Usually, I think they make people feel bad about themselves in February. But, while I was on vacation, I spent a lot of time thinking about living life with intention.

This fall, our SpringHill Day Camps team re-visited the vision we'd committed to and the specific goals we had set in 2008. We were actually blown away. Our vision and goals look so tiny compared to what God has actually done. But they were an incredible starting place. And you know what? Some of what we set out to do at first turned out to be distractions. So we refined and cut them out of our practice. And we're better for it.

I'd highly recommend putting together a list of the things you want to be about--an intentional living list. Keep the vision in front of you. Set daily goals to achieve the bigger picture. Re-adjust when necessary. Be ready to be surprised.

30 Things I Want to Be About in My 30's:

be a good neighbor
be mentored/counseled/coached
become seasoned in sacred pauses and Sabbath
capture beautiful photography
collect passport stamps
continue my education
develop daily rhythms
embody a good partner and team-player
equip future leaders
give more and be financially healthy
have less stuff
improve my Spanish
invite people into my home
journey through each day with intentionality and vision
learn how to cook food that meets my dietary needs
listen to lots of live music
live with margins
love on my brothers like crazy
memorize scripture
mentor families, not just their kids
participate in a multi-cultural, multi-socio-economic community
place filters in my life
practice humility and grace
provide a safe, loving home for children
pursue deep friendships, not thousands of acquaintances
send thank-you cards
sit in the homes of people that aren’t like me
spend time being active outdoors often
take care of my body
write more

Yuletide Highlights

2010-12-29T04:00:00.012-05:00

Thanks for understanding about Christmas. We all have such different stories.

What did you do Christmas night? We got invited over to our friend's house for Mexican food. And pomegranate margaritas. It was awesome.

I think every Christmas should be Mexican night.

About that brother of mine. Love him. The highlight of this Christmas was our many talks. Until all hours of the night. I think he's spectacular. Until he beats me at games.

Need a Christmas love story? I do. My Grandpa Jack (died in 2000) and Grandma Doris eloped on Christmas Eve. They were seriously in love. We still celebrate together.

The original 3 with their mom- Aunt Debbie, Uncle John, Grandma Gann, My Dad

I remember when all these kids (except you, Michael) were babies. Now they're men. Most days....

In conclusion, a few simple things I wanted to remember about this Christmas:

The presentation of the package (can you say themed baskets for all?)

And freshly fallen snow (view from our front door)

I hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright!

Through the Years We all Will Be Together (or not)

2010-12-24T01:23:00.015-05:00

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow (what?!)
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Christmas is so different as grown-ups. I miss waiting at the top of the stairs, begging to go down to unwrap gifts that were a total surprise. And that glorious, big breakfast in our pj’s- where we would insist on singing “happy birthday” to Jesus. But most of all, I miss having my family together in one house. Oh, how I desperately yearn for that. I grieve that Christmas is so quiet, sitting in the house that was once filled with holiday joy and now misses the pieces of the puzzle. I find it so sad that we have an unspeakable grief as we descend the stairs on Christmas morning, and so cold and sterile to exchange gifts with my dad in the car instead of in front of the fireplace. It's hard to live joyfully in the present holiday moment--there is always someone missing. I worry that my mom is home alone while we celebrate with my dad’s family, that my brother is in NYC eating take-out, that my dad is celebrating with a new family and might not be missing us as much as we are him. I’m still trying to get used to divorce.

As often happens when your world turns out different than you thought, I’ve found that my view of my Savior has changed. I need His birth, His presence, His freedom more. I’m so easily caught up in what my earthly family once was and the grief over what never will be again. And yet, when I sing the Christmas hymns now, I can’t help but have a visceral, knot-in-my-throat reaction to them. I haven't been left to face this alone. It's for me, imperfect and struggling in my broken world that He has come! Emmanuel: God with us.

Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, Oh Israel

Whether your holidays are filled with joyful family celebrations, homes that are too quiet or take-out dinners for one, my Christmas prayer for you is that you deeply understand the love of your Emmanuel. May we rejoice in that, my friends.

Long December and There's Reason to Vacate

2010-12-23T16:24:00.006-05:00

Here I am, back in the cold midwest, dreaming about the glorious days of my 10 day Arizona/California vacation. Here are the highlights for you:

Delivering Food to Families
• I’ve been thinking a lot about authentic community. I want my home and my spirit to be welcoming to all kinds of people- all ages, all cultures, all stories. In order to do so, I need to not only do the inviting, but I need to get invited in. My friend Carly and her friends in the Redlands have been invited into homes because they deliver food to families living with AIDS. As I joined them (and laughed so hard that it made the #1 of my vacation), I started to think about returning to my community with fresh love for people and perspective for what true community takes. I love that my vacation was about more than playing and exploring. It was about people. And serving. And thinking.

That Glorious Mountain Air
• I spent 4 days hiking in the mountains. I LOVE the mountains.

78 Degrees and Perfect
• You know how I can’t chose if I’d rather be at the beach or in the mountains? California is the perfect solution.

P.S. While I was watching surfers on the Santa Monica Beach, I was getting text alerts about the severe winter weather warning in Michigan.

Great Times with Old and New Friends
• The number one question I got about this vacation was, “Who are you going with?” And when I said myself, I think people were a little baffled. But, you don’t need to have someone else sign the rental car agreement to make sure your vacation is filled with old and new friends. I'm so lucky to have friends all over the U.S. And to be able to collect them as I go, too. Beautiful, wonderful friends.

A 12 Hour Disneyland Day
• I was a Disney child. We sometimes even went twice a year. And as a children's program developer and director, I have a great adult appreciation for Disney. I still get swept away by the magic sometimes. But, I'd never been to DisneyLAND or California Adventure, so a 12-hour-park-hopper I became!

May you find days of friends, rest, reflection and magic in your December as well!

Summiting Cathedral Rock

2010-12-14T13:43:00.007-05:00

Kate has been a friend of mine since 1997. It really all started because of Dr. Parker's merciless comments about our recorder-playing abilities in "Music for Teachers." And then we spent some amazing summers at camp together. Our dance parties with kids in the CoCo dinning hall eventually led to soiree's in cocktail dresses when we were roommates in the Chicago Coachouse. It was great to catch up at Kate's new Arizona home and enjoy some of our favorite things together.

Dining at The Mission in Scottsdale:

The Scottsdale Sunset. Kate claims it's like that always. So jealous.

The next day we drove to Sedona. And picked the hardest hike. Summiting Cathedral Rock. Please note that it is pretty much a vertical hike. And allow me to quote Kate: "This is totally like rock climbing except without the harnesses and belays and safety."

Sometimes hikers need to crab crawl down the mountain...

I tried to stay vertical mostly so that I could look cool. Speaking of cool, once upon a time Kate and I had matching black pleather pants. So for this hike, we bought matching tank tops that say, "There is no I in team, but there is in ice cream." We'd like to thank our sponsors, Ben and Jerry. Our favorite men to invite to our Chicago apartment.

I wish this could capture the glory of the Sedona sun. I tried.

The view from the summit.

More beauty around every turn.

The Sedona Light

2010-12-13T02:51:00.006-05:00

Cathedral Rock in Sedona has always been one of my favorite mountains. I got to spend some time there in God's presence at sunset.

"Take time to be holy. Holy does not mean goody-goody; it means set apart for sacred use. That is what these quiet moments in My presence are accomplishing within you. As you focus your mind and heart on Me, you are being transformed; re-created into the one I designed you to be. This process requires blocks of time set aside for communion with Me.

The benefits of this practice are limitless. Emotional and physical healing are enhanced by your soaking in the Light of My Presence. You experience a nearness to Me that strengthens your faith and fills you with Peace. You open yourself up to receive the many blessings that I have prepared for you..."

Excerpt from December 13th reading in "Jesus Calling." Check it out in my kindle list to the right.

Packing Light

2010-12-09T17:58:00.015-05:00

Rachel, a great blogger over at Small Notebook wrote a post called, The Beauty of Packing Light, and inspired me to pack for my long trip in a carry-on. I was genuinely thrilled to be among the minimalists. Until my bag had to be checked after all (no more room in the overheads) and got ruined. And started a cascade of other vacation problems...

Upon arriving in Palm Springs, I discovered that my cute new small suitcase was completely beat up and the handle no longer extended. Guess what? United doesn't cover any damages but were nice enough to give me an ugly strap so that I could still wheel it. Thanks, guys. I left in a bad, bad mood and looking like a luggage-fashion disaster.

When I saw my rental car (booked with this coupon code and corporate code in case you need to save $75 too), I thought my luck was turning. It was a cute VW Beetle. In Red. Perfect for my AZ/CA roadtrip. However, my GPS ran out of battery power a minute outside of the airport. The cigarette lighter didn't work. Since it was midnight, I navigated (or drove around in circles) to the Palm Springs Quality Inn and decided to deal with it in the morning.

They should change their name to Dumpy Inn. And I should have spent the extra $27 and stayed at a $77 4-star hotel from hotwire. I usually do that, by the way, and have never, ever regretted it. But I was trying to save every penny. STUPID. It smelled, I had to keep my shoes on the whole time, I found hair from the last person and there was a homeless person outside my door. Here's a picture for you. Please notice the lovely, ripped seating that I rolled in front of the door. And the huge gap between the door and the frame. And my luggage strap. Not how most people see Palm Springs, I'm guessing. :)I woke up feeling awful from the dirty, musty room. And the anger issues. And the fact that I was too scared of diseases to shower there. So I packed up my little VW and went to exchange it. By the time I had my THIRD car from Alamo, I was able to get a working one. A Chevy Cobalt. Without Cruise. Felt like a severe downgrade, but at least my vacation could begin. And you know what? Somewhere along the road I remembered who I was. And that it didn't matter what I was driving. Or where I laid my head. The purpose of packing light was for the freedom to roam and I wanted to spend every extra penny on my camera lens. I was humbled when I walked through the desert and captured moments like this at Joshua Tree National Park:Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6

Concert of the Month: Joshua Radin

2010-12-05T23:24:00.010-05:00

I'm not going to lie. I don't believe in celebrity crushes. I think they are unnecessary, ungodly and kind of weird. But, oh, my goodness, I couldn't help the way I reacted when Joshua Radin started singing. He took my breath away. I almost couldn't get a grip. I think it's fair to say I have my first (and hopefully only) celebrity crush. And judging from the picture we took below, the rest of the crowd at Minneapolis' First Ave felt almost the same way. This is the encore. Joshua and his band set up RIGHT IN FRONT OF US and crowded around one mic to perform "Ring of Fire." EXCELLENT.
I learned a few new things from this particular Concert of the Month (besides the fact that I can probably quit the club since no concert will ever be this good):

1. I love a standing-only venue. The energy and the crowd is awesome. It reminded me of a great night at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC.

2. I'll pick the city wisely. I really believe that artists give varied performances in different cities. Josh had special memories in MN and it was his first night back in the midwest (he's from OH). Plus, he was playing a famous venue where Prince got his start.

3. Your musical companion counts. I went with Abby, one of my college roommates and best friends. Read her blog post about how we arrived "against all odds." We had great dinner conversation, ditched our coats for fashion even though it was 15-degrees, stood on the concrete in heels for 3 hours and squeezed each others' hands when the songs were just TOO good.
Quotes of the night:
Abby: "I wish I brought a mom stool." (yeah, I'm still not sure what a mom stool is)
April: "I'm so glad I'm not married so I don't have to feel badly about how much I love him."
And now, you can see what the obsession is all about. I've decided to give you one of his newer songs, "Brand New Day." I actually think I like his older, dreary, heartbroken love croons a little better, but this one is just so uplifting. Thanks, for the best night ever, Joshua! (Oh, right, and you, too, Abby). :)

History Week: The Encore

2010-11-30T23:22:00.009-05:00

I wanted to get one final November post in. Because it's a very special month-- National Adoption Awareness Month. And because my brother insisted on his own post.

I love that my life was changed by adoption. I think it's an amazing gift- for a child and for a family. Take a look at this kiddo that came into my life when I was 10.
Yes, those glasses were really mine...I'm a child of the 80's. Not sure about the blue eye shadow at age 10...but back to my baby brother....

Adoption is my first memory of having a dependence on God and watching Him answer prayers. For four years, we prayed as a family each night for this baby. When he finally came, we named him Jonathan, meaning, God's gracious gift.

Our family was adopting a baby with special needs- and Jonathan's need was a perfect fit- he was hearing impaired and my mom was fluent in sign language! However, we quickly noticed that our new baby was turning to sounds and soothed by music. Yes, he has perfect hearing. And that, my friends was the first miracle I experienced--not that his hearing was fine, because we would have loved him regardless--but that the only way for God to get Jonathan into our family was for this perfectly-hearing baby to appear to have a special need. And I can't for a second imagine what our lives would have been like without him. To know Jonathan is to be blessed by joy, love, laughter and fullness of life. What a blast it's been to journey through life as this little boy's big sister...and to watch him grow-up into such a wonderful man and teammate (he works for me at SpringHill). I'm forever grateful that I have an adoption story (and hope to adopt someday, too). I am wholeheartedly convinced that adopting a child brings great honor to God. It's living out what He's done for us. Come join my family. Sight unseen. Just as you are. I've chosen to love you forever and then some.

Love you, buddy! So glad you're my brother forever!

More Thanksgiving Confessions

2010-11-29T00:00:00.001-05:00

1. I Googled My Way Through Cooking
My grandma was still in the hospital on Thanksgiving, so I googled my way through my first solo Thanksgiving meal. Due to time constraints, I followed Chef Marc's recipe and turned that baby up to 500 degrees! Hot and tasty! And I loved this recipe for cornbread stuffing (my bro and I voted it better than Grandma's but didn't tell her since she was in the hospital bed and all). Special thanks to my MacBook Pro that was by my side the whole time. I might have been alone in the kitchen, but I felt so loved by Google and the great musical genius, Pandora.

Our Thanksgiving meal was in the hospital room. Please notice the tablecloth over that hospital rolling table. We're super classy like that. The pic below is my mom and Philo (the nun from India that is living at our house this year while she studies hospital chaplaincy).
2. The Nun-Mom Asked Me How Many Kilo’s I Weigh

I really like Philo, the nun. I got to spend some good time with her over the holiday. She's well-traveled, well-studied and I like that someone's in the house to laugh with my cute mom. One thing I wasn't quite ready for was a conversation about my weight. Who is, really? Apparently, she's seen some older pictures of me and she's disturbed by my weight gain. And the fact that I don't eat enough lettuce. So, when she asked me how many kilo's I weigh now, I fumbled through something like "I don't know kilo's." Which is true. But if a nun tells you that you're fat, does that mean it's a word from the LORD?!

3. I Ate Thanksgiving Dinner Twice and Insisted on an Encore
I drove straight from the hospital to my dad's side of the family to celebrate Thanksgiving #2. I took Philo's comments to heart and only had one serving at each Thanksgiving that day. :) Then, when the double piano players stopped (my aunt Debbie and my step-mom Debi), I shouted "encore" from across the room and they went on to do an incredible show that was much better and longer than the first. I think the Concert of the Month Club is wearing off on me. I love music. I love that it is a tradition at family holidays.

4. I Wish Uncle Julio Was Really My Uncle
Oh, here we go. Finally not a cell phone photo. A night out representing two of the many things I miss about Chicago: Dara and homemade tortillas from Uncle Julio's. I love that she's always on my agenda for family time at the holidays.

Thanksgiving Week Confessions: The Bedside Comedian

2010-11-24T10:37:00.009-05:00

I'm going to post my Thanksgiving Confessions again this year. Read last year's here.

Imagine a girl and her Texas Grandmother spending quality time together and filling two shopping carts with all the joys of Thanksgiving festivities. They’re laughing at the check-out and planning the meal ahead. And then it ends with the grandmother falling face-first into the cement. Pretty much a holiday nightmare. Complete with the girl having to call 911.

First, let me give a thankfulness shout-out to the City of Park Ridge who had an ambulance to us within 56 seconds. My mom pays 10x the property taxes I pay, but it seems worth it for days like yesterday.

My grandmother’s in the hospital (doing okay, running some further tests). Unfortunately, I’m not unfamiliar with being at a family member’s hospital bedside. Sometimes, I try to act like my mom and help the patient calm down and be at peace- but that’s her role. And sometimes, I try to say some nice spiritual things like Philo, our sister from India (literally, she’s a nun- I promise to blog about her later), but she’s actually the hospital chaplain as well, so it’s better left to her.

So my role? I’m the comedian. It’s not constant hysteria, but bed-side-notes of humor. Who else was going to tell my grandma that the neck brace she was wearing had given her an instant face-lift? And, who is there to joke with her about how they always ask the hardest questions when you have a head injury? Come on, doesn’t everyone already stumble over the question, “What day of the week is it?” Even without a head injury? Can’t we make these questions easier, people?

I think I made her rough night a little easier (I rubbed her head, too- that’s better than comedy, usually). And it got me thinking about living an authentic life in all circumstances. It’s so much more rewarding to all involved when I am ME. Even in a hospital room. I confess that oftentimes I try to fit the mold of what I think others need/want from me. I try to be the whisper of peace, the chaplain, the intelligent one, the pretty one, the team leader and more. I love integrating how others see and respond to the world, but in the end, I’ve got to be the person God made me to be.

P.S. I’m pretty sure He laughs at some of my jokes.

Go Ahead and Bring Your Props to the Wedding

2010-11-19T11:12:00.012-05:00

In order to kick off the keepin' it real posts, I thought I'd share some recent photos. My dad got re-married a week ago and the wedding was very nice. But, of course, it's always a little awkward when you are meeting your new step-family for the first time at the wedding. In front of a hundred other people. I loved my brothers' approach- they never thought about being anyone but their authentic, crazy selves. They teach me so much about living and loving. I do adore this picture of the three of us, but what if we only had this kind of picture to remember the night? The one of my brothers with their props completely shows off their personalities. Much more than anything posed. Love them.
And back in Grand Rapids, I continue to spend a lot of my free time with the little girl I mentor. And her brothers. And neighbors. And cousins (who are mostly the neighbors, too). We took our own family picture at our Fall Family Luncheon a few weeks ago. Let's just recognize how hard it is to get all kids to smile authentically at the same time. So, never to be defeated by an unsmiling child, I started taking "goofy" pictures. Guess what? We laughed harder than ever. And I think we captured the heart of what it's like to spend time in relationship with a child. Love them.So, friends, bring a prop to a wedding or put a turkey craft on your head and pose with a kid you love. Those are the memories I want.

P.S. The new step-family is totally cool and nice. I'm not just saying that. Keepin' it real here, folks. Very thankful for that.

Shifting & No Visible Bounds

2010-11-19T03:06:00.006-05:00

In the old “Paul Revere” churches in Boston, there was a part of history that struck me silent. Take a look at what they wrote on the memorial plaques still hanging on the church walls:It was one of those sweet moments in life where you feel God's speaking to you in the silence.

All people are like grass.
All of their glory is like the flowers in the field.
The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground.
But the word of the Lord stands forever.
I Peter 1:24,25a

So I've been thinking a lot about this since Boston. Leaving a ministry legacy.

When I get passionate, I have to integrate it. You see, I've been using this blog as a fun, creative outlet. Which is great. That is important. And I'll still do that. But have you ever met someone nearing the last quarter of their life? They get more gutsy with what they say publicly. They keep it real. Life's more interesting that way. So are blogs. There's about to be a shift.

Oh, and Paul Revere is memorialized by only one but important word (inscribed on every Boston statue of him)- does anyone know what it is? What would you want your ONE WORD to be?

Update: Paul Revere: A Patriot.

History Week: Daddy's Little Girl

2010-11-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

History week is coming to a close. However, there will be an encore to history week that will feature the last family member added- the famous Jonathan Gann. :)

Tonight, our family will be celebrating my dad & Debi's wedding.

I will be showing up in all my celebratory glory, but I do think it's fair to acknowledge that re-marriage makes kids grieve a bit on the inside. Or at least oldest children that are girls and are still kind of emotional about the fact that family Christmas will never be the same.

In all this change (don't worry- I'll catch up to it all), I'm so glad for pictures to remind us of what was, what is and what always will be. Here's a little tribute to my dad on his special day. I think he's amazing!

Dad, we've had a special connection from the beginning.
It's an honor to journey through this life as your daughter.

I've always eagerly anticipated our time together. :)

I've always carefully studied your wise ways and varied skills.

No one will dispute me- you know how to play better than any dad!

I love being your oldest. And your only daughter. You've shaped me well.

I appreciate that you still let me reach out like I did on
that first day of school. Sometimes I just need to know
that my dad is nearby and thinks it will be okay.

I am forever grateful for my daddy.
Much happiness and love to you on this day!

History Week: Gotta Get Those Eyes

2010-11-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

This is another favorite childhood picture. On my mom's side, I was the first-born grand & great-grandchild. I think these women pretty much think I'm the greatest thing in the world, don't you? How cool to have photographic proof that I am this loved. The enormity doesn't escape me. These women passed down a lot to me- faith, higher education, work ethic and a love of children. But let's be honest, all I really wanted was those EYES.

Bette Lee Rudd Nolen, Georgia Ann Nolen Gann, Mary Elizabeth Knox Rudd, April Elizabeth Gann

Just in case you thought Granny Rudd was looking a little frail in the picture above, check us out a few months later on the farm in Slidell, Texas. This woman had spunk! I'm so thankful for the years I got to spend with my Granny and that my parents frequently took us city kids to the Texas farm to ride tractors and wander around in our cowboy boots...

History Week: Mirror, Mirror

2010-11-11T00:15:00.007-05:00

Oh, my goodness. You guys were right. Yippee! I did grow up to look like my mom. I still think she's MUCH more of a classic beauty, but look at how many of our features are similar. Weird.
P.S. Dear Jenny--Sorry for blurring your face out. I thought the angle of this recent pic was a good match for my mom's- and it looked weird when you just had one eye. :)

History Week: Picture Perfect

2010-11-10T13:07:00.006-05:00

I'm re-visiting my childhood through pictures.
Here's one of my favorites. And why I love it:

1. My parents were the same age that I am now. WOW. Wish I would have found this sooner and known I was striving to be this attractive at the age of 31. My mom is SO BEAUTIFUL.

2. I have never, ever found a dress that I loved as much as that purple one.

3. That cute kid in the red polo. You can totally see his personality in this picture. The rest of us put on our picture perfect smile, but Kyle definitely used the "I'm ready to take this world by storm" pose. And he meant it. Love you, bro!

History Week: All Memories Are Not For Keeping

2010-11-09T17:23:00.010-05:00

It's history week on the blog. You'll see why on Friday.

It's been quite fun to pull out old family photos. Except for this one. As an advocate for childrens' rights, I was disturbed. I can't remember the names of these kids, but I know they were childhood friends of mine. Maybe they will come across my blog and tell me they ended up being okay, but I wonder how damaging this was to their malleable psyches. We can only hope they don't remember. And that they don't have this picture in their baby books like I do...

P.S. Mom, I will be forever grateful that you never dressed me as a clown for Halloween.

Concert of the Month Club

2010-11-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

I'm doing a new thing. It's called, the "Concert of the Month Club."
Yes, I made it up. I'll take name suggestions.

On October 30th, I saw Over the Rhine in Grand Rapids.

photo courtesy of Old Rock House

Here is why they are one of my favorites:
1- they are seasoned
2- they are insanely creative
3- they move well on stage
4- they write about real life

Look for their new album, The Long Surrender, released 1.11.11. They played their new set and it was my third and favorite OTR concert. Trust me. You'll want to get this new one.

Well, my friends. I'm a believer. That is, a believer that once it hits November, you can crank up the Christmas music. And one of my favorite albums is OTR's Snow Angels. Check out "All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue" below. If Christmas is all jingle bells and glowing hearts for you, then this is not your band. Over the Rhine keeps it real. Love them.

In November, the "Club" will be traveling to see: JOSHUA RADIN!!!

Tie-Dye Your Socks and Drive that Bus

2010-11-03T21:47:00.014-04:00

I love building teams. Sometimes, it's the simplest things that can become huge team-unifiers.

The team that tie-dyes socks together, stays together.

I cut mine into leg-warmers in an attempt to be young and hip like all those college kids!

My favorite part of the fall season is meeting with past staff. I love hearing the stories of how life-changing it was to be a part of an authentic community, a team that worked and played hard, and ultimately, getting to introduce kids to Jesus.

Some past staff and I recently gathered at Ridge Point Community Church to help out with their "Trunk or Treat" --6,000 Hollanders showed up! And when their planned entertainers had to cut out early, they invited us to take the stage for an hour.

And so, without any notice or practice, my staff effortlessly took the stage to sing, dance, perform skits and "drive the bus" to a better-than-candy experience for kids. I'm pretty sure their tie-dye socks give them superpowers. I'm so proud of them.This is what it looks like to "drive the bus." Just in case it's not one of your favorite dance moves. I highly recommend it.

Birthday Party Gone Wrong

2010-10-28T22:15:00.006-04:00

Last Saturday, there was a tragedy on my block and two teenage lives were lost. One shot the other at a birthday party and a life was lost to gunfire, another to prison.

I’ll never forget the sounds of the teenagers wailing. And the kids running everywhere. It was chaos. We’ve been reeling in this normally quiet neighborhood. These are my thoughts:

1. You can never start talking to kids soon enough about the company they keep. As soon as the sun rose, I called the kids I mentor and made plans to spend the afternoon with them. Even the 6 year old and I had a serious talk about picking good friends. And the girls made him admit that he’d already made some bad choices! We'll turn that around!

2. The grandmother (my neighbor) that was throwing the birthday party for her granddaughter should be charged. All the people on the online forums are speaking badly of the shooter’s parents. But I blame the adult that was throwing an out-of-control party for teenagers. She told Fox News she wants to have another party for her granddaughter, but this time, she will take pictures of everyone first, and call the police ahead of time. What?!

3. Both the shooter and the victim had criminal records at the age of 11. What have we done as a community/school system/church/mentors to help these boys since then? Things shouldn’t have ended this way. There were warning signs.

Parting is Just Sorrow

2010-10-20T23:47:00.005-04:00

Have you ever left a group of people and felt like this?

This is a shot taken with my TU friends (see previous post) a week after we graduated from college. We were saying our last goodbye. Forever to live in different places. With different lives. And different problems.

In the next ten years, we'd have to navigate miscarriages, infertility, a baby almost dying, a parent with cancer, a sister with a brain tumor, parents divorcing and so much more sadness.

It was insightful, really, to sob so painfully at the age of 22.
We knew how much we'd need each other.

Re-Living the Taylor Days

2010-10-17T21:04:00.009-04:00

I graduated from Taylor University with fun, beautiful, trusted and committed friends for life. Each year, we gather for a weekend to re-live our TU days and love on each other in-person. We have a proven, simple friendship philosophy. It worked when we were planting the seeds 13 years ago and still keeps us strong now:

1. eat good food together
2. sit in our pajamas and talk

We visited Ali in Ohio this year and we've heard her talk about the Winking Lizard since we graduated. We've all been dying to go together, so we piled 5 adults and 2 babies into the SUV to go practice the "eat good food" part. Heidi and Baby Reese, Ali and Baby Andy

April, Abby and Jenny

We all really love each others' kids. Really, we do. Even Jenny. But this is what our reunion dinner ended up looking like. Turns out babies don't like 3 hour dinners.

We ate at home the rest of the time. Which has many benefits including elastic-waisted pants. :)

Never to be defeated by screaming babies in the backseat, we pumped up the music and threw a dance party in the car. See? Just like the good ol' Christian College days.
I love my friends.

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness. - Lois L. Kaufman

Biking Boston in the Fall

2010-10-13T22:05:00.007-04:00

When our team traveled out East, they put me in charge of the Boston entertainment. I wanted to look really cool and smart, and since I didn't know any Boston locals (now I do!), I went straight to my favorite source, Trip Advisor. The #2 rated thing to do in Boston is to take a bike tour with Urban Adventours. Brilliant. Every city should do this.

We spent a 3 hour ride with fun, witty and knowledge bikers that incidentally got paid to be tour guides. We really saw all of Boston- from South to North- including history and Fenway! And the thing about biking in groups is that you become a force on the streets and cars have to yield to you. A welcome change.I'm going try to bike every city that I visit. It really is the best way to get to know the landscape and see the sites!

Bicycling Magazine rated America's Best Bike Cities. They are:
1. Minneapolis..................6. San Francisco
2. Portland, OR................ 7. Madison, WI
3. Boulder, CO..................8. New York City
4. Seattle...........................9. Tuscon, AZ
5. Eugene, OR.................10. Chicago

And, coming in at #26: Boston.

For those of you that are Grand Rapids fans, we're #36 on the list. But did you know that we're going to build 100 more miles of bike lanes by 2013? Anyone want to start a bike tour company?

Beyond Silly Bandz

2010-10-09T08:00:00.004-04:00

I am heading up to the SpringHill Youth Worker's Conference today where I am leading a break-out session about connecting with kids. I've titled it "Beyond Silly Bandz" since we all know that is the obvious and easiest way to build a relationship with a child. Yes, I have been the adult in a fancy dress with a silly band accidentally still on my wrist from an earlier trade...

Today's session will open with a video of kids prayers. It's authentic. It's raw. It will touch a nerve. It will help you connect on a deeper level with a child in your life.

This video is from my friends and ministry partners at Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. They have an incredible way of telling a story visually.

Eating My Way Through Maine

2010-10-06T23:43:00.010-04:00

Have you ever blogged about your trip based on what you had for dinner?

Welcome to Maine.

Ron invited the Day Camp Team to his vacation home in Maine and we found out very quickly that our week of strategic planning would be well-fed.

I quickly fell in love with all things Maine. Lakes, rivers, ocean and green. No big-box stores, organic everything, fresh seafood everywhere and chefs that were dedicated to beauty and excellence of food.

The first night we got straight off the plane and went to King Eider's Pub in Damariscotta, Maine. Here's the team with Ron. He's quite the local celebrity.April, Danae, Jay, Ron, Craig, Tony

The second night we did dinner at home together. It was awesome. A 4 hour process of socializing and appetizers. Fresh lobster was the main course. When I say fresh, I mean, really squirmy and still moving.I wish we had more restaurants that looked like this in MI. The chicken at Francine's Bistro in Camden, Maine was the best I've ever had in my life. I know you're supposed to eat seafood in Maine, but did you see that lobster I ate the night before?

Ron saved the most fabulous for last--Primo Restaurant in Rockland, Maine. Melissa Kelly is the co-owner and chef. She took great care of us and was so nice (including extra not-on-the-menu appetizers for our table)! I would go to Maine just to eat Melissa's food. She does a daily menu based on what is the most fresh in their garden and greenhouse.Thanks for the pictures, Ron!

Why Women Might Be Better Lawn Boys

2010-09-28T21:34:00.007-04:00

I've been the owner of a lawn for two years and I've never owned a lawn mower. You see, I had this nice young man, the lawn boy, who brought his generous dad's mower over and cared for my lawn. But then that lawn boy moved to college. And I was left with a growing jungle. So, I had a few choices:
1- Find another nice lawn boy with his own mower --Nope, didn't have time to network before the lawn grew to high.
2- Hire a legit lawn service--Um, I could have done this if I stopped buying groceries...
3- Buy my own cheap lawn mower and do it myself--I'm allergic to grass, but a $100 investment would pay for itself in a few weeks...

The winning option was...#3. And when I decided to buy my first ever mower, I wanted it to be on the cheaper end, take up a small amount of space in the garage, not involve hauling gasoline cans, and help me SAVE THE WORLD!

So, my friends, meet the Task Force!Yes, I bought a reel mower (I got it at Lowe's- see it here). Besides the fact that I break into hives every time I mow, I rather enjoy the new green household helper. :) I love that it doesn't make any noise or pollution, it can get very close to trees and under picnic tables and it does have a nice clean cut. In this picture, you can see that I cut the bottom section, but not yet the top section.

Yes, the neighbors were totally staring at me when I was posing my lawn mower.One negative is that you have to pick up every single tiny stick before you mow or it gets caught in the reel and won't move. I think that's okay because raking before mowing probably adds a ton of calorie burning to the project.

So, here's the interesting thing. Every single person told me not to buy a reel mower because they are too hard to push. But, I realized that men are the only ones giving advice on mowers. Hmmm. Sorry guys, but you're wrong. It kind of feels easy to a woman. The reason is, that you haven't spent years pushing double strollers. Reel mowers are way easier than double strollers. Those kids sure are cute though, aren't they? I kind of liked that double-stroller pushing job better than lawn boy.

Like a Child

2010-09-27T08:00:00.003-04:00

They say that love can heal the broken
They say that hope can make you see
They say that faith can find a Savior
If you would follow and believe
With faith like a child

-"Like a Child" by Jars of Clay

Is anyone else going through something in life where you need a little clarity? A little love of a Savior? A little push towards hope?

Check out this facebook video. It's an 8 year old sharing her story about how she had faith that her friend would come to know Christ. This is one of the reasons I love my job/mission- my GR Day Camp Team got to be a part of the faith journey of these two little girls!

I love how she says, "I know a lot about heaven because my brothers live there." If I could only see things through those eyes...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=432101176361&ref=mf

Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." Matthew 9:22

Singin' Sweet Lake Home Donnell all Summer Long

2010-09-23T09:00:00.005-04:00

We took this picture on the boat a few nights ago. Here's why I love it:

Cruising

It was taken just after we spent hours on a moonlit pontoon boat cruise. Love those!

Genuine
The genuine smiles of my friends. We'd just finished sharing about our summers (and how being a leader is sometimes rough) and we still looked like this. Happy and blessed.

Shared

I always look forward to finishing a summer of ministry and getting to my family's house on Lake Donnell to rest/try to break the speed record on the waverunner. I loved inviting the other SpringHill summer camp directors to share in this experience with me.

Comrades
I've known some of these people for 10 years, and others for just a few. But they are SO much more than my co-workers. They are my comrades.

Purpose
For a lot of our time together, the boats sat docked while we worked hard planning summer 2011. This team understands the purpose behind playing hard and working hard.

The joy in life is to be used for a purpose. I want to be used up when I die.
-George Bernard Shaw

Last Year I Didn't Know How to Spell Mentor, This Year I Are One

2010-09-20T22:58:00.008-04:00

Everyone should be a mentor.

If you're not a mentor, then you miss out on things like the following voicemail:

"Hello, Apurul, can we come to your house to eat the pancakes?"

Resulting in nights like this:

Best dinner party I've had.

Every dinner party should end with a creative experience. Ours was painting pottery.

I loved how a man at church said it last week- "last year I didn't know how to spell mentor, this year I are one." Anyone can do this. And you should. It's amazing to love on kids that aren't yours. Especially kids that don't often have experiences outside of their neighborhood. And need an adult to be their champion. All you need is a willing heart and pancake mix.

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Just Whistlin' While I Work

2010-09-14T20:36:00.007-04:00

Once upon a time I moved into a house that hadn't been updated since 1972. Oh, except for that little TV from 1993. Here is the story of the ever evolving office/guest room. It was painted my riskiest color- Bamboo. And it is my favorite. Nothing better than painting white walls!

As you can see from the before and after, the first thing I did was some quick and thrifty things to bring it up to date- trundle bed from Craig's list, desk from SpringHill (formerly Ikea) and my own mac screen and bookshelves left over from Chicago.
So, here's how my office was looking until a few days ago. Definitely functioning, but I felt crowded by bookcases and I wanted to be closer to the windows while I worked.
Since fall is the season of change, I've changed the look of my office by doing the following completely free things:
1. Turned the bed and added a blue pillow to the mix.
2. Hung dry-erase boards on the antique ladder and positioned it near my desk.
3. Tied back the curtains with binder clips. :)
4. Took the top off the Ikea desk (it was hindering my creativity) and moved the desk to the corner window.
4. Brought in a smaller, blue shag rug that was in my basement and placed it on a diagonal.
5. Turned my bookshelf on it's side and stacked books vertically.
6. Hung a national geographic map for artwork.
And here are not so free, but real cheap additions. I love the color added by these Ikea holders (already had the artwork of the SpringHill landscape) and this new filing system (I'm totally sold on the "Getting Things Done" book).

I think I'm going to go look for more bookcases to turn on their sides....

Sacred Pauses in Canada

2010-09-02T20:58:00.010-04:00

O Light of God...
Anointed by your morning light I lift my spirit to receive the gift of this new day. Open my eyes to see the beauty that surrounds me that I may walk through this day with the kind of awareness that calls forth grateful living. In all of creation let me see the brightness of your face. Shine in my heart and on my life, filling me with joy, creativity, hope and laughter. Draw me into the radiant glory of your presence and into the small lights of those with whom I live and work. O Warmth and Energy of the Sun....
Beautiful reflection of divine light, shine on me at this noonday hour. Rejuvinate and invigorate me. Renew my commitment to the tasks of this day. Lead me to my courage. Warm what has grown cold in me. Energize all that has become lethargic. Enliven my growing moments. In the middle of this day help me to stand before my life with an open heart. In communion with all who have gone before me, I pray.

In This Hour of Deep Silence...
When all things are hushed, I carve out a space in the darkness for you, O Beloved, to dwell. In the quiet of the night I seek your face. Shine upon me and I shall be healed.
Pour out the blessing of your presence on all you retire to their beds in sorrow and fear. Comfort those who have no silence. Shelter those who have no peace. Surprise them with your love.
Summon me into your beautiful darness. Lead me to the land of rest. Cherish my every breath while sleeping and I will rise at dawn with the memory of you in my heart.

All words are those of Macrina Wiederkehr as written in "Seven Sacred Pauses." These are my daily, ritual prayers.

Leave No Trace But Start Your Dishwasher

2010-08-30T23:46:00.015-04:00

I've just returned from a backpacking trip in Canada. It was spectacular.

Feast your eyes on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Superior.
When you're in an environment like this, you can help but become a bit of a purist. We were very careful to cook our food with a stove that burned only a little white gas (best for environment). We ate all our meals on boulders on the beaches. Breakfast where the sun rose:
And dinner where the sun set:
We spent many hours cooking, pausing to give thanks, sharing our meals, and then cleaning up to leave no trace. We burned much of our waste, packed out the rest, and washed our dishes with biodegradable soap in the lake.

Of the entire trip, the mealtimes were some of my favorites-- the shared meals and shared work. It's so weird, I can't even seem to turn on my dishwasher at home...but I'll be the first to pump water to purify, get the stove set up or do the dishes when surrounded by beauty!

Speaking of beauty- check out my lovely un-showered, un-made-up friends!

Here we are with our backpacks on as we are all ready to hike out at the end of our four days in the "interior" of Lake Superior Provincial Park. (Yes, there were more than just meals, so I will write another post on Canada.)
On our hike out, we saw that the neighboring backpackers left a site that looked even worse than this one (random pic from the internet). It kind of ruined our pure experience.
But I did come home and recycle everything I possibly could this morning. After this experience, I'm more energized about protecting our environment. Now if only I were energized to do the dishes piling up...

Burton Kids to Day Camp

2010-06-26T22:59:00.004-04:00

We're serving over 4,000 kids this summer at SpringHill Day Camps. But I'm most excited about the 90 kids coming THIS WEEK from Burton Elementary School. These are MY KIDS.
This is the little girl at Burton that I have the privilege of mentoring. She's been calling me often since school ended. And all she wants to talk about is what we are going to do together at camp! I can't wait for THIS WEEK!

My Friends, My Estate

2010-05-01T17:04:00.007-04:00

"My friends are my estate. Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them. They tell me those who were poor early have different views of gold."

-Emily Dickinson

Dara, Emily, and Kate are my dearest friends from my Chicago days. We recently spent a wonderful weekend reunion in Saugatuck, MI. I moved away from Chicago a few years ago, but it doesn't seem quite as big as Kate's move this summer-- to Arizona to start her life as a professor! We've all worked so hard this year in our careers- it's nice to take time out to celebrate that! And laugh. A LOT.

Éirinn go brách (Ireland Forever)

2010-03-23T23:21:00.009-04:00

I had some fun the week of Saint Patrick's Day. Since my recent trip to Ireland (watch it here), I'm embracing all things of my Irish heritage. Like green hair.
Le Éirinn mo chroí (my heart belongs in Ireland). I can't wait until the next trip to Ireland. Or at least the next overly-commercialized Irish-American holiday!

Sláinte!
Cheers!

And the Ice Breaks

2010-03-11T22:33:00.007-05:00

Most people in Michigan close up their cottages for the winter. Not the Gann's. We like to do crazy things like run through the snow to the hot tub.
The past two weekends, work had me stationed down in southern MI and I got to enjoy winter at the lake. Since it will hopefully not be winter at the lake again for a VERY long time, I snapped this picture. Don't you love the antique dinner bell? It comes in useful when everyone is out on the water and there's a big BBQ about to be served!As for the indoor entertainment, we used to have a SUPER TV. I really wanted it for my own house. It turns out some other people did, too. They broke in and stole it. The local police guessed that maybe they came across the lake in the dark of night on snow mobiles and up the 100 steps and carried the 55" TV out that way... My philosophy is that we might need some new detective work in town... So, until we get a new TV, we put the baby one up on the mantle. My dad thought it would be a good idea to secure it with packing tape. I told him that idea was like the time he thought we should paint our basement "rose." Proof that he doesn't always listen to me-My dear old dad redeemed himself when he introduced me to a new feature of nature last weekend- the sound of ice breaking. I almost wished that we could stay in that moment and that spring didn't have to come.

It was one of the most peaceful sounds I've ever heard.

Psalm 97:1

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

Psalm 66:4

All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.

Isaiah 55:12

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Paradise Found: Bali

2009-11-30T21:51:00.011-05:00

I had to get a new passport this year. And since I love passport stamps, I've gone on some awesome trips in '09. But nothing compares to being in Bali, Indonesia. It was during February of 2002- the Year of the Black Horse- Chinese New Year.

Home-base was Taiwan. I moved there in '01 with my buddies from Taylor University- Chris (Mitch) Mitchell & Derek Rust. We taught English to the cutest Taiwanese kids. And we found adventure with Amy, our new friend from New Zealand. So the four of us decided to ring in the Chinese New Year on Bali Island.

We have stories like you wouldn't believe. The pictures can't even begin to describe what we encountered. Oh, to be young and invincible again...

Amy, Derek & Mitch- thanks for the journey! The whole experience was life-defining for me. You challenged me to embrace things unknown and I will forever be different.

pictures by Christopher Mitchell

Thanksgiving Confessions

2009-11-29T14:05:00.016-05:00

1) I like setting the table WAY more than preparing all the food.

2) I didn't actually win game night. Even though I am holding up a "W" for the picture.

3) Taboo is still my all-time favorite game. I picked teams. They might have been a little unfair. My baby bro (Jonathan) and me VS. my mom and 81 year old grandma. My little strategy worked: it wasn't about winning as much as it was laughing SO hard at my mom and grandma giving each other clues. And Jonathan and I WERE going for a Taboo World Record...

4) Jonathan and I got up at 4:00 AM (after going to bed at 1AM) to be door-busters for Black Friday. Not because we needed anything, but because it is tradition. We hit Best Buy first, but refused to stand in line outside. So we went to Kohl's, where we stood in line inside and bought ourselves Keurig Coffee Makers and other great deals...

5) At the Thanksgiving Table, we went around and had to name 3 things we were most thankful for. We cut my mom off at 71 things. I accidentally listed my friends Tony and Mat before God. :) I am SO thankful that they spent tons of hours getting my bathroom ready for my Thanksgiving Guests. Plus, they are just really fun to have around. They represent so many friendships that I have been blessed with. Friends that have become my family.

6) At the holidays, I am always reminded that life hasn't turned out as dreamily as I thought. It's a little more messy. But, I am so thankful that while so many things in my life have changed, my purpose and identity have not. I hope that no matter what you did for Thanksgiving (whether dreamy or messy), you find joy and purpose in being salt and giving light to everyone in your house/neighborhood/world.

Matthew 5:13-15

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

Los Abrigos (The Coats)

2009-11-12T21:52:00.009-05:00

Tonight, I got to hand out coats that Mars Hill Bible Church collected for the families of Burton Elementary School. Of course, I came with a camera in hand to capture what it looks like to have the gospel lived out in Grand Rapids, MI. The last photo is of me with the little girl I mentor. She's fully stocked with pink gear for the winter- so cute!
Thanks to those of you that donated your winter gear, bought brand new coats for these kids, and worked so hard to make it all happen! You are a blessing!
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. Acts 4: 32-25

Monkey Bars and Popcorn Necklaces

2009-11-10T22:14:00.007-05:00

I'm a big fan of putting all else aside to PLAY with kids. My mom is over 55 and still plays on the playground with her kids at school. She's been a great example of how to really connect with a child. How awesome is it that my whole job is about teaching a team to connect with children. In fact, I'm on the docket to present on that subject on Saturday at this conference: Think BIG!

Just so you know I'm "living it out" in real life, let me introduce you to the new little girl I am mentoring this year. (sorry for picture quality- taken by my blackberry)
She's in first grade and loves games and writing. This past weekend, we got the chance to have a great Mexican lunch together and then she asked me if I would go play on the playground with her. We connected more in that hour and a half of playing than we have at all of our mentoring sessions. There is something so cool about teaching a little girl how to go one bar further on the monkey bars. We even skipped around the track while holding hands and singing. Dreamy.

Last week, we read a book about popcorn. In it, they made a popcorn necklace- she had never seen one before and LOVED the idea. So, guess what we did at mentoring today? :)

I know a lot of mentors are a little intimidated by their hour with kids. The trick to making it the most wonderful hour of your week- let the child lead! Child-centered play is central to building cognition and self-recognition. Here's a story that NPR did on the subject: Old Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills. How can you help a child play today?

"Shop Your House"

2009-11-02T23:20:00.010-05:00

Okay, I might be kind of obsessed with decorating blogs. I'm confused about if I want my style to be shabby or chic or country or Asian, so I've decided to go with all of the above. One of the best things I've learned from blogging decorators (by the way, none of them seem to be working, single women- it might be my niche in the market) is that you should "shop your house"... re-decorating with only the things already existing in your house. This is not so easy for the girl that was living in a studio apartment just a year and half ago. I don't have a lot of extras. But, I stuck to the rules and feel great about my accomplishment- a totally free master bedroom make-over!

Here is what the master bedroom looked like before I moved in. I do love a good rescue!
And here is what it looked like a month after I moved in. A drastic improvement, but it still didn't feel right.
So, I re-arranged the furniture a few months ago and tonight, I "shopped my house" to decorate it. Please notice the icky laminate doors to the closet in the previous picture and the drastic change with the new curtains (I stole the curtains out of my guest room to make this happen). Since I wasn't allowed to even buy curtain rods, I used cable in my basement to hang the curtains. I thought that got creativity points.
I like having some of the antiques that were left behind in my parent's first house. They moved from house to house with my family and now I get to start out with them, too! Plus, I will take anything that is FREE.
Last week I bought this table at Mick's Flea Market in Gas City, IN. It was $25 and perfect for my hallway. But, I think I like it even better next to my bed. I'm also working on the idea of "layering" decor.
This furniture arrangement is so much better. Especially since you don't have to walk around my ginormous bed to get to the bathroom. There's now a nice walkway with my only rug (I'm allergic to carpets, rugs, etc. which is why the floors look so sterile).
I must say that my guest room, hallway and kitchen look a little worse since those were the rooms that I "shopped" in tonight. Hmmm. I'll deal with that later. :) My bed awaits...

BUNDLE UP BURTON

2009-10-27T00:25:00.005-04:00

The ladies in my Bible Study wanted me to share my story of helping to keep our Grand Rapids kids warm last winter. But, as I'm currently on a mission to save the children by recruiting the best staff for SpringHill Camps, I had to make a quick video to share with the women of Mars Hill. Thanks for joining with me in this effort! Also, if you want to give coats, blankets and other winter gear, but don't go to Mars, I will happily pick them up from you! Let's keep all God's kids warm this winter!

(click on far right corner to make it full screen)

It's like a cleaning lady moved in

2009-10-19T21:44:00.004-04:00

****See update below*****
I grew up in a lovely suburb of Chicago where the mean house price is $600,590. When I scrub the floor on my hands and knees, I still feel like I've got mean step-sisters standing over me and I am Cinderella. My punishment, mostly because it was never a part of my childhood routine. One of the nicest benefits of being able to afford a house in the suburbs? Being able to afford an awesome cleaning lady!

Enter adulthood. I now work for a non-profit in a city where the mean house price is $500,000 less than where I grew up. And I am so blessed. Today, I walked the little girl I mentor to her house in the inner city. And I felt at home.

But secretly, I still dream about material things. Like someone to come do my cleaning for me. And then, I discovered the Shark Steam Mop. As a coupon-clipping Kohl's shopper, I brought home my own cleaning lady!

They should pay me to be on an infomercial. I'm hooked. Can't stop cleaning. It even steam-cleaned my white rug... something it doesn't even claim to do! But, the "Proof is in the Pad."

Any bets on how long my cleaning infatuation will last? :)

******JAN 2011 UPDATE*****
The steam mop stopped working. It won't get hot anymore. So, I take back all my nice comments. I went back to dirty floors. And the occasional swiffer.

Dear Summer Staff, I miss you!

2009-10-08T23:54:00.005-04:00

Dear 09 Summer Staff,

I miss you! I've never seen a group so intentional about sharing Christ's love with kids and with each other in intentional community. You truly "Lived it Out" this summer and your investment in kids is long-lasting. When parents answered the question, "What did you appreciate/value about your campers week at SpringHill?" they overwhelmingly said...YOU!

"That they cared about my child and he wasn't just a kid in the crowd"

"The intimacy the counselors established with our kids. Digging into Scripture, not just surface."

"I loved all the energy and ambition you could see in every counselor"

"The counselors really tried to get to know each child personally and make them feel included. Our son developed a deep interest in God that we have been very neglectful in. We will take this lead and all begin to put God first again. Thanks!"

You guys ROCK!

Lots of Love,
April

Tackling a Baseball

2009-10-08T21:22:00.003-04:00

This weekend I had some firsts:

I slept in a Caboose at SpringHill Camps
I taught a break-out session for over 100 women at our Women's Retreat
I had brunch in The Tigers Stadium Club
I caught (okay, tackled) my first foul ball after 100+ baseball games!

Special thanks to my friends from Chicago, Kate and Emily:
I'd sleep in camp housing with you girls any day!

Special thanks to the McCurley family:
You continue to make Danae and me feel like rockstars! Thanks for the game!

Mice and Chipmunks and Leaks, Oh My!

2009-09-28T17:22:00.007-04:00

I welcomed in one year of home ownership with a few problems. LOVE the home, not so sure I love the ownership part.

A few mice thought that my house was VERY quiet and decided that they would move in and eat my hot chocolate- packets and all. I got back from a weekend away, opened my cabinet and there he was, staring back at me like HE owned the place and I was the intruder. So, I did what any sane woman would do. I slammed the cabinet, screamed as loud as I could, ran to the living room, stood on the couch, and reached for my blackberry to call for help. Luckily, my neighbor Rachel came right over to help me go through my cabinets and set traps. She was awesome at holding the broom in case one came running out at us...
Every nervous breakdown needs to end with a Target run. I bought lots of traps, poisons and added to my airtight container collection. The food is all nicely sealed and my cabinets look fancy. Miraculously, the mice are completely gone. Here's hoping they stay away FOREVER.
After the mice were cleared out, I decided to go through and fill some holes around the house with steal wool. I read all about it in my hours of googling how to keep the critters out. Of course, google forgot to tell me to make sure that you don't trap large rodents in with steal wool! Yesterday, I heard a chipmunk trying to eat and claw his way out from under my living room floor. You should have seen me on the porch trying to remove the steal wool and insulation foam so he could get out. Remember that scene from Christmas Vacation? I thought for sure he would attack me like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdiXSsFp29s

Oh, and my roof is leaking. I thought my bathroom ceiling would cave in on me any minute. My dear dad has helped me with so many home repairs. I'm so blessed to have a dad that will drop everything and demo the bathroom to find a leak! We've discovered that the leak is beyond our skill-set. Time for the professionals....I'll take referrals!
I just did a quick run-through of the house because I heard a noise. Turns out it is the dripping, not a rodent. Ahhhh! Wish me luck!

Luck of the Irish

2009-09-25T23:55:00.014-04:00

If I had time and an expense account for a hobby, mine would be photography. What would yours be?

I love the digital age because I can take 300 photos and not waste film. Then, with two clicks on a computer, I can print my own art. Or, with another two clicks, I can create a video of my Ireland Trip. Enjoy views of Dublin, the Dingle Peninsula and Glendalough. Oh, Ireland...

A Trip to Ireland

2009-09-10T00:30:00.009-04:00

More pictures and stories to come, but I couldn't wait to show you the luck of the Irish!

Jeanette brought her Irish Tin Whistle and played for us often. Not bad for an American playing traditional Irish music and a 79 year old nun that broke out into a jig. You'll love the video!

With David, my plane buddy and authentic Irish welcome. "Brilliant."

Monthly Payments

2009-08-17T01:07:00.006-04:00

When I came back to work for SpringHill, I knew I had to cut some monthly payments like a gym membership and cable out of my life. It's good to simplify, right?

There's been a lot on my plate this year and Ben and Jerry have become GOOD friends of mine. Somehow, when I hit 30, my dear friends seemed to affect me negatively. In a little at home math lesson, I realized that a pint of my favorite has 620 calories and 40g of fat. Yikes!

So, the gym membership has been added back into my budget. I'm so excited to have a gym to go to again! And it's almost as fancy as my Chicago gym...the only part missing is a double-decker hot tub with waterfall. It's a different crowd here in GR. :)

As for the cable, I do feel like I am SUFFERING without HGTV....

In Awe of DC09 Staff!

2009-07-21T23:16:00.005-04:00

I got called out for sounding like a "support letter" when I wrote an e-mail to my Taylor friends about what has been happening at Day Camps this summer. I'm struggling with how to describe it effectively. How do you capture a summer of God-breathed moments into words?

Someone else was able to capture a moment and send it to my inbox today. Check out the story below about my brother, Jonathan (a counselor on my team) and the impact he has had on the life of child from inner city Grand Rapids!

When I went to Burton afterwards, "Manuel" was still there and his counselor, Jonathon, was wrestling with him, teasing him, hugging him….all the things a kid should be doing with a dad. This kid was laughing like I had never seen. "Manuel" is one of our high focus kids at Burton with a ton of difficult home life issues. How thrilling to see him being loved on and having such a good time.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, April, for working so hard to get our Burton kids to SpringHill Camps this summer. No doubt every minute was worth it and our time was spent as God wanted us to. Please pass this gratitude along to each one of your staff members. It’s obvious they have huge hearts for bringing the love of Jesus to these kids. They were truly phenomenal!

I read the full e-mail to my staff this evening. Later, while we were planning dinner for the next few nights, Natalie and Naomi (counselors) approached me. I thought they were going to have special food requests, but their only plea was that we eat as cheaply as possible the next few nights so that we could free up more money for scholarships. They had realized when I was paying for dinner tonight (Panera for 20- the only time we have "eaten out" all summer) that the cost of our food was almost enough to fully scholarship a kid to camp.

Wow. I continue to be in awe of this experience and this team the Lord has entrusted to me.

And lest this sound like a support letter, let me tell you that I am exhausted with the responsibility of it all (and especially my expense reports). :)

Reaching More Kids

2009-05-13T12:53:00.013-04:00

1999 was my first summer at SpringHill Camps.

So, 2009 will be especially celebratory for me.

In 1999, those lovely cranberry shirts with the feet on them read, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10:15).

Ten years later, I've walked a lot of dust-filled roads. Those of you that know me know that my life is pretty much sold out to SpringHill. Many of you try to convince me that I work too hard, but it's because my heart bleeds SpringHill. I still feel choked up each time I really think about the opportunity the Lord has given me to reach kids and their families for Christ. There is nothing I would rather be doing!

Over the past few years, I have realized more and more of a calling to reach children that are the least of these. This summer, I have an exciting opportunity to take my Day Camp team to an area that will reach 100 children living in poverty in Grand Rapids. Please check out my website:
www.springhillcommunity.com/april
...and join me in prayer that God's message will spread far and wide and that money will never stand in the way of a child having a SpringHill experience!

New Orleans Habitat for Humanity- SpringBreak '09

2009-03-19T21:29:00.001-04:00

Habitat Trip 2.27 to 3.7

2009-02-25T23:37:00.005-05:00

"When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil"

For my 30th birthday, I am going to work with New Orleans Habitat for Humanity to build houses for Katrina Victims. I'm privileged to be working with a group of 25 college students from Grand Valley that are giving up their Spring Breaks to help. Their passion keeps me young!

I'm most excited to pass on the blessing of a dwelling space. When I walked into my new house in September for the first time, I unexpectedly burst into tears. I was overwhelmed by the grace of God and His provisions of a house for me. My hope is that my hammer will swing a little harder (and straighter- that seems to be an issue in my own home) as I have a fresh understanding of home-ownership.

May the work of our human hands be a tangible offering of God's Hope and Love to New Orleans.

Some Favorite Pictures

2009-02-22T01:17:00.002-05:00

Just thought I would blog some of my favorite pictures since I've been neglecting this space.

My brothers, cute mom, and me!

April, Dara and Evelyn in New York for New Years.
We scored great tickets to Rent!

Trip to the Smoky Mountains with SpringHill friends. Notice all the SNOW on our Spring Backpacking Trip.

One of my all-time favorite pictures of Ali, Abby, April and Heidi on Sanibel Island.

It Came Upon a Whirlwind Christmas

2008-12-30T20:56:00.010-05:00

I've done a lot of traveling this season. In fact, I need to go pack my bags so I can head out again in the morning. But, I wanted to share some of the highlights of my whirlwind travels!

I did in fact leave downtown Chicago to become a Michigander and thought I'd show off my new life by dressing us all up at the SpringHill Christmas Party. I am SO excited about another year working with an innovative, fun team!

Danae, April, Tony, Craig

Don't worry, I can still be fancy. But, not as fancy as my designer brother. Check him out! Kyle flew in from NYC and we celebrated Beth and Tim's wedding with our cute mom.

Christmas Eve has a long standing tradition. We gather 'round the piano and sing our hearts out. Always my favorite!
Uncle Hugh, Aunt Debbie, Greg (my dad)

There's a new baby in the Gann family this year! Congratulations to my cousins Mike and Jenny. We all loved taking turns holding her. Jonathan heard it from all the men for wearing a pink polo to the Gann Family Christmas, but I think he looks adorable with Addison!Again, let's give the spotlight to my baby brother, Jonathan. It doesn't get more cheerful than time with him! Here we are in a night out downtown Ft. Worth.It was a windy Texas day, but we tried a family portrait.

Grandmother Nolen, Aunt Mona, April, Jonathan, Georgia (mom)In Texas, I got to catch up with my friend, Anne and her son, Elijah! Elijah is quite the charmer and it was so awesome to see their house and eat their favorite Mexican. What a blessing to have friends that feel like family- no matter where life takes us!Christmas Love to you all!

I CRY FOR YOU

2008-12-11T23:59:00.008-05:00

I adored my little neighbors in Chicago. After I told them I was moving, I would randomly find 5 year old Ana weeping. She would look up at me with tears in her eyes and say, "I cry for you, April." Little Ana has a very sensitive heart- one that clearly breaks out of her love for other people. If only I could love half as well as my Ana...

Honestly, I didn't pray for a heart like Ana's. I should have. God's giving me an anthem- "I CRY FOR YOU." Let's start with the underprivileged of Grand Rapids. My heart is literally breaking after a coat/blanket drive where 400 families lined up at Burton Elementary. Huge turnouts mean running out of coats and blankets. I wept.

And then for the little girl I mentor. She told me she'd never built a snowman or played in snow. She's not from the south, she's just never had mittens. I was blessed to take her family on a Kohl's shopping spree to outfit them for winter. Of course, we ended a whole day of fun with a huge snowball fight. I've never seen such joy! And from an activity I always took for granted. Can you feel my heart breaking?

But, mostly, tonight, I cry for you, sweet baby Kaiya.

Heidi [Anderson] DeKorne is one of my best friends in the entire world. And her husband Mark is quickly becoming one, too! One of the great blessings of my move to Grand Rapids was to live near the DeKornes. This past Tuesday, we spent a glorious night being snowed in together. I held their sweet baby all night (I may or may not have actually picked sleeping Kaiya right out of her bed upon my arrival- I'm obsessed with her). Heidi, Mark and I ate 6 cookies each and watched Biggest Looser while the girls slept and the snow fell.

I was definitely thinking, life doesn't get much more dreamy than this.

And then it came crashing down. Today, Kaiya was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. All the visitors that saw me at the hospital tonight would have seen me holding it together pretty well. But in solitude, I can't stop weeping for my friends in pain and for precious little Kaiya. Please pray for the DeKornes- for the survival and healing of Baby Kaiya.

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Kaiya

My eyes were foggy from tears and tiredness on my drive home from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit tonight. But, my God was very clear. He hears our cries. He knows our hearts.
He is mighty to save.

2 Samuel 22:7-
In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

Psalm 61:1-3a
O, God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to a towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge."

My New House

2008-10-19T21:31:00.017-04:00

Welcome to my new home in Grand Rapids, MI! I have been so blessed to have a bunch of help getting things ready. I've now been here one month and have already thrown a dinner party and housed seven guests for an entire week. The next party is in two weeks. What a blessing to have space to entertain!

Here is my backyard surrounded by pine trees. Future home of an organic garden?

And my living room. You can scroll down to my previous post to see what a transformation this is from all white!

I couldn't afford art, so I made my own arrangement of things I've collected traveling. The comments have been that this room feels very comfortable--my goal along with uniqueness.

The view from the front door. The open door in the second hallway is the bathroom. I'm not posting bathroom pictures yet because they are not ready for public display. :)

Here is my bedroom. I still need to paint the doors white and put things on the walls. The goal is that it feels like a lush retreat. That's Heidi's daughter, Ava, reading on my bed.

Ava DeKorne: my favorite house guest thus far.

This is the guest room/office. I am very happy with this room! It is a trundle bed for multiple visitors...

And the kitchen...The cabinets are going to be painted the color of the green cove ceiling in the living room. I'm going for an Italian villa feeling.

The table was set for 8 this past week!

I actually worked really hard on the basement as well. This "yoga room" was home to five of the SpringHill Camp Directors this week! I think the men enjoyed the slumber party set up as much as if they were junior highers. We could hear them giggling through the vents!

The backdrop of the treadmill is a closet I created out of old curtains.

This is a park one block west of my house.

I'm loving the trees and nature of GR!

I went for a walk today and returned to this sunset out my window. I am blessed! Goodnight!

The Big Move

2008-09-10T20:46:00.001-04:00

Sorry to those of you that are totally bored with my blog. I promise to post pictures after I get settled into my new house. Believe me, I have had some superspecial times these past few months and have the iphoto gallery to prove it!

It has been over six months since I put my stuff in storage in Chicago and since then I have stayed for a week or more in ten houses (oh, and two nights in my own car). The number of friends that have let me join in on their dinners is too high to count. Thanks to all of you for making this transition period fun and adventurous.