Thankful

Thanksgiving Day was technically yesterday for us, although we had dinner on Wednesday (it went well, aside from the fact that I forgot to make the green beans. Oh well!), did little to celebrate yesterday, and talked with my family for a bit this morning. In the spirit of the season, and with credit to SRW, here are 10 things I am thankful for, in no special order:

1. Our bed. It is so nice to sleep on a comfortable mattress, safely elevated above cockroach level and supported by the slats of a bedframe underneath.

2. Technology. I'm thankful that we don't have to wash all of our clothes by hand (although it feels like it, at times). That our internet has worked pretty well, and we've managed to stay underneath the monthly cap. That we have computers, email, and web-based phone services to communicate with loved ones at home. That I now have a mobile phone again!

3. Friends and family in the US. I'm thankful that I can send an email to my girls and they respond when I'm feeling homesick. That we receive at least one piece of mail a week (but would love to receive more! hint hint) from someone at home.

4. Spelt and Maple. Most of you know I have some food intolerances. These substitute for the major ones (wheat and most refined sugars), so that I can cook and bake without too much trouble.

5. Waffles. This one's for you, SRW.

6. Friends in Aus. In the midst of all the transition, there have been a few people who have made me feel at home. You know you're good friends when you can get their daughter a Princess Leia costume for her birthday, and they are just as enamored with it as you are.

7. TV shows on DVD. Burn Notice, Boston Legal, Battlestar Galactica, all brought to you by the letter 'b'. Yes, I do like Battlestar Galactica. To quote Laura, this means I've entered the "upper echelon of dorkdum."

8. Books. I've become reacquainted with these foreign objects since finishing my job in the US. I've read 3 Jodi Picoult, 2 or 3 Christian fiction, and various other things (whatever I could get my hands on.) Currently reading Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris. I like a good book that challenges who I am and where I'm going, and to combine that with someone this reflective about her faith journey has been formative to say the least.

9. Jesse. Perhaps it's cliche, but I'm thankful for my husband of just over a month. Whether he's helping to peel the potatoes, playing volleyball with me despite a sprained wrist, borrowing tv show seasons from friends, or just hanging out, I'm loving the fact that we can be together just about all the time. Not that I would change our long-distance "courtship" (used here to refer to dating and then engagement, as opposed to any Joshua Harris-esque ideas, but I digress) as it brought us close, but that sharing life is 'heaps' better (to use an Aussie phrase. Heard this week in context: "there's heaps of crickets in here." "he's heaps good [at soccer].").

10. Summer Vacation. "Vacation" may not be the right word, but this break from the "working world" has been refreshing for me. It's hard to believe it's been almost 2 months since I was "gainfully employed." I'm amazed at how much there is to do around the house, and somewhat nervous about how things will get done once I do get a job, but in the meantime, this time has been everything I could've hoped. I'm able to plan meals and be creative in the kitchen, settle into the house and organize things to make it a liveable home. I have some time to write notes to friends (and thank-yous from the wedding). Yes, I'm starting to look for jobs, but for now, I'm enjoying the chance to sleep in some and reclaim some rest.

Of course there are other things I'm thankful for, but here is a limited smattering. Hope you all have wonderful Thanksgivings, and in case you didn't catch the not-so-subtle hint before, send us mail! ;)

Tradition

Last year, I came to visit Jesse around Thanksgiving time, and we made a sort of Thanksgiving meal for the young adults group. In the interest of making a tradition, I decided to make Thanksgiving Dinner for the group again this year. That's right, just me. Thankfully, Jesse took some time out this morning and peeled all the potatoes (white and sweet) and cleaned up some of the boxes from the bedroom furniture so that I could focus on dinner. He also went shopping with me first thing so I'd have all the food I needed.

Things were off to a good start; Jesse cut up the cheap day-old French bread I'd bought for stuffing, and I began sauteeing the onions and celery in lots of butter. I decided to get the turkey out of the fridge, so I could prepare it to be stuffed. I pulled it out, only to flip it over to the back of the package and read: REHEAT ONLY. FULLY PREPARED FOOD. I flipped it to the front, where a strategically placed circle proclaimed "Ready to Eat." I repeated the process a few times. Sure enough. The turkey we'd bought was fully cooked.

I was bummed. We'd bought a slow-cooker this morning because I couldn't find a roaster pan to my liking (nothing big enough that also had a cover), and we'd already started making the stuffing to go in it. I did what any self-respecting cook would do.

I called my mother.

It was highly convenient that I'd started working on this project in the morning, as that meant it was evening for Mom. After chuckling with me about the mix-up, she confirmed that the stuffing would probably cook just fine while the turkey reheated, and wouldn't need more time than that. I was relieved. She stayed on the phone, and Jesse and I chatted with her and my sister in turn while working in the kitchen.

Having redeveloped a plan for the turkey, I placed it back in the fridge and continued working. I boiled and mashed both sets of potatoes, adding garlic to the white potatoes and maple sugar, dried cranberries, and walnuts (among other things) to my signature sweet potatoes. I sang for a bit while I cooked, and that was fun. I missed the camaraderie of the Thanksgiving kitchen, though. For the past few years, I've brought my sweet potatoes to whatever family gathering we've had. Other family members each chip in a dish, and typically, whoever's hosting provides the turkey. There's typically bouncing around in the kitchen, snitching of others' dishes, helping with various tasks, etc. It's a lot of fun.

Don't get me wrong; I've had fun getting this dinner ready. I'm reasonably pleased with what I've accomplished; the turkey is now reheating in the slow-cooker with homemade stuffing, there are apple pies in the oven (with spelt flour crust), two potato dishes awaiting reheating, and before too long, there will be green beans and corn. It's taking the whole day, but it's worth it to keep the tradition alive. Even though they're a world away, my friends and family are gearing up for the same marathon. That's the part that's fun to share in.

(PS - I finally put pics up on facebook. Enjoy!)

It's Here!

Our bedroom furniture arrived today!! :D The dresser smells like cedar; it's wonderful. We haven't taken out the bedside tables yet; we wanted to get the bed put together first, as that seems to be the bigger project. The fact that we won't have to sleep on the floor anymore is quite exciting. Not that we didn't have a mattress; it will just be nice to have a real bed.

We got the headboard and footboard assembled before we headed off to lunch with the Ministers' Association for the Christmas get-together. Only 2 of the other wives came, but it was fun to get to know everyone there. I had a great time talking with one of the women who attends a group in Newcastle for minsters' wives, and she said she'd let me know the next time they were meeting. So that's exciting.

I accompanied Jesse on a hospital visit for the first time yesterday. We had quite the time finding our way around inside, at least in part because we knew the woman had been pregnant, but whether the baby had been born or not remained a mystery. After taking a few wrong turns, and asking for directions more often than either of us would like to admit, we found her.

Now that the furniture's finally here, it seems there's plenty to do. I'll need to go and buy sheets (we have some coming from our wedding registry items, but those are still 5-7 weeks from arriving, even though we know what they are), and I've needed to get some groceries in order to put on a Thanksgiving dinner of sorts for the young adults tomorrow night. (Yes, tomorrow is Wednesday, but Thursday night is volleyball and cricket night, and there would not be time for a big meal afterward!) Thing is; I'll be on foot to the grocery store and Kmart, so I'll be choosing my purchases wisely or suffering the consequences ;) Once I have the things we need, I can finish putting the knobs on dresser drawers and start putting clothes away. It will be a good day when our front rooms are no longer completely cluttered with suitcases.

The Organization Continues

Friday, we went on a bookcase and dresser hunt around Maitland after a late breakfast at Lavender's (a restaurant on the river, with plenty of shade. Glorious!). We found The Reject Shop, a sort of Tuesday Morning meets Big Lots kind of place, I think, which had some bookcases for sale for an amount we were willing to pay :) We found a dresser for the guest room at Sam's Warehouse (kind of a K-mart type store, but without any clothes for sale). The main purpose of our "shopping trip," however, was to go to the cricket supply store, which was having a sale. Jesse got a pair of cricket gloves and was quite pleased with himself.

We returned home for a quick rest and to pick up the car, and headed to the movie theater to see Quantum of Solace. We both enjoyed the movie, and were excited to watch another Bond movie with a bit more to the plot than some have had :) After the movie, we drove around collecting our finds (we'd been out walking before) and got them back home before youth group.

Saturday was day 2 of the cricket match between NZ and Australia, and it was on our TV for most of the day. We managed to get a little laundry washed while it was both sunny and windy, and to stock up on groceries for the week. Jesse put the bookcases together, and things began to appear more organized.

Church went well Sunday; we had strong support for the youth leadership conference we'd like the youth leaders to go to, and that was really encouraging. There was also a positive response to starting Bible studies for adults in the coming year (and for youth to start over the school break). The school year is winding down here; most of the high school kids seem to be studying for and taking their final exams.

After church, we just lied low again and relaxed. I've been hooked on Battlestar Galactica, so I finished watching the first season. Jesse watched with me for awhile, then built the dresser we'd bought and organized all our books and DVD's and put them away. I made some whole-grain honey bread, and didn't realize until too late that I don't have bread pans. They went on the shopping list, and I baked my bread on a cookie sheet. It's a little flat... but it tastes good!

The big exciting event in our lives so far this week has been receiving the call from the furniture store that our bedroom set has arrived! It will be delivered tomorrow (Tuesday), and we walked over to pay for it today. I am looking forward to having my clothes in drawers, and not sleeping on the floor (well, on a mattress on the floor, but still...). Once we get those things situated, more photos will be forthcoming.

A Familiar Face

We played our first volleyball game last night. The owner of the sport complex where Jesse plays soccer and cricket found another couple that wanted to start a team in the mixed league, so we signed up. Unfortunately, they were leaving on holiday for two weeks, but another woman from the better league joined us for our first game. The house rules are quite different from what I've played before, the closest being wallyball. We're surrounded by nets, and it's the same as volleyball in that you can't hit the ceiling when it goes over the net. But after the serve, any wall (including the back wall) is fair game. There's not really any such thing as a lift (pretty much every contact with the ball is some kind of carry), and you just stand in the back corner to serve. There are 2 points for an ace serve. Guys can't hit the ball with a closed fist. (Actually, the rule as explained was that 'blokes' can't hit the ball with a closed fist.)

I haven't played volleyball since college, and Jesse maintains he hasn't since 6th grade. It took a little warming up, but we got into it. There are 2 games of 15 minutes each. We lost the first 42-40. Not too shabby. The second game was a different story. The person helping us out was good about informing us of the house rules. Unfortunately, she also took every opportunity to explain what we had done wrong. Those who know me well know that I took this really well... ha. "Cover your corner." "You have to move for that." "You hit the roof with the serve."

I heard "cover your corner" so many times, I was about to lose it. Thank you, I am well aware that ball was my responsibility and I botched it. I know that serve was not good. After being told that again, I just said, as straight faced as I could, "I get it." I'm tired, I'm not as good as I used to be, these rules are different, and I'm trying.

This is where I saw the familiar face: my pride. It's so easy for me to rip into the rules, talk about what a low level of play it is, etc. To be frustrated with this woman who is, in all likelihood, just trying to help us get used to the game. But the real problem, I discovered, was that I considered myself above the instruction. It's scary to think that I can take that kind of approach to something that's supposed to be just for fun. Yes, I may know more about 6-on-6 volleyball, but I'm really not good enough to blaze any trails there. My "career" there ended after 4 years of varsity at a DD school in Western New York State, never having won even a Sectional title.

It's tempting to be proud of educational achievements, of having obtained professional certifications, of uprooting my life for a new adventure. But if the gospel is true, none of these things make me any better than another person. My hope and my prayer is that I can get back on that court next week and just have fun. I'm not going to be anyone's MVP; in all reality, I will need to re-learn the game a bit, between being away for so long and the new rules. Perfectionism has no place in recreational sports. Perhaps, with myself out of the way, I can build relationships with people and show them what real hope looks like.

Green

It seems "green" has come to refer not only to the environment in general, but to things that are 'good' for the environment, or at least 'better' than other things. At my former job, we had a 'greening' initiative of sorts, that involved moderating temperatures to save on the energy required for heat or a/c, being issued mugs made out of corn (not sure how that one worked) to be used instead of disposable cups in the office, unplugging power cords when not in use, and other measures.

I was thinking about my "green" footprint today as I stood battle, yet again, against an army of ants determined to take over my kitchen. They launched their best assault yet this afternoon. Jesse and I had taken our lunches (which consisted of leftover meatloaf, 4 baking powder biscuits-turned-grilled ham & cheese sandwiches, and tomato soup) into the other room to continue watching Battlestar Galactica (on which I am now hooked), and I kept watching after he'd left to go back to the church. On my return to the kitchen, the little ants had turned out en masse. After removing all the items from the counter yet again, the orange spray-bottle cleaner and I struck back. Jesse is bringing home some sticky-tack, as a temporary plug for the hole the ants are coming in.

After cleaning up the counter and dishes, I saw another failed attempt at being "green." Sometime last week, during a grocery trip, I noticed some basil plants in small planter boxes that were on sale. (Incidentally, some of that fresh basil had been used in the tomato soup that I thawed out for lunch. But I digress.) I purchased one, and dutifully set it at the front of the sink, where it could receive sunlight, and I would be more likely to remember to water it. However, on hanging out the initial loads of laundry (on which I've previously waxed eloquent), I noticed that the leaves were shriveling up and realized I was baking the little basil plant, since the sun shines on the back of the house all afternoon. I then moved it to the other side of the kitchen (actually, the dining room), where it gets more moderate sunlight and, you guessed it - forgotten in the water department. So I gave the poor struggling thing some water.

On the plus side, there is a cute little lizard living under our house who's probably 4 inches long (not counting his/her tail) and scampers under the house whenever I come outside. Supposedly, our twin-tub washer is environmentally friendly. So is our laundry detergent and dish soap. That's got to count for something. On the minus side, there was a 2-inch or so cockroach in the kitchen last night. The young adults from church were still over, playing on the wii, and I just called, "Jesse, I need you. Big big bug."

Also on the plus side, there is a beautiful flower garden in front of the house which was put in and maintained by the former tenants. As we were walking in one of the first days we lived here, I said to Jesse, "Too bad about that flower garden." "What? Why?" "We're probably going to kill it." "Oh. Yeah."

The New Normal

Various antics of the weekend included Jesse and I both taking Friday off (we went out to eat, and found a cute little diner right around the corner from our house for breakfast!), finishing season 1 of Burn Notice, purchasing more household supplies, wandering Newcastle and wading in the ocean, good Bible Study discussion at youth group, and playing the Wii.

Sunday morning, the service was structured as a hymn-sing, with announcements, sharing and prayer, and devotional times included. During the sharing time, one of the men in the church shared a devotional he'd read recently. The really intriguing thing was that Jesse's topic for his mini-sermon was on the same topic as that shared by this man, unbeknownst to him. It was confirmation that these were words needed in the congregation, and they seemed to be well received by everyone present.

After church, they always serve 'morning tea', with little snacks and hot drinks available for fellowship. I met a few more people and reconnected with some I'd met before. The people love having the chance to get together, and it's great to see in this small way the fostering of faith community. After tea, we sat with a few other church leaders (we'd brought lunches) and discussed various church activities, including the reception they're hosting for us in a couple of weeks, certain conferences available for youth leaders, and other pressing matters. It was a good time to get to know these people better, for me, and to see how these things are put together in the church.

Since there was no evening service, we were able to relax. After a trip to the grocery store on Jesse's part to get me the egg I needed, I made cinnamon rolls from scratch. We munched on them while watching Boston Legal.

It's funny, this complete change in normalcy. I waffle between the need to indulge my inner introvert and really figure out where I'm going, and just taking things as they come. Don't get me wrong; I'm enjoying this life. I've just reached the end of the detailed plans, and as I consider things like headhunters, visas, and job applications, I'm realizing I need to go back to God and seek further instruction on what my role is here.

Jesse's gone to work out; I'm going to crack open one of the books I purchased for the trip and never got to: Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris. I know a lot of my friends read it in college, and I thought I'd check it out.