::fill-ins

Sometimes, dear readers, a blogger needs a little help.

Hence, the Friday Fill-In.

I can't...

...seem to stop hanging out at Caribou Coffee.
The ambience reminds me of "Up North" Michigan, the employees are so friendly and sweet, coffee drinks are delicious, and the free wi-fi is readily accessible, reliable, and very quick.

Lately, it's my favorite hangout.

=====

I can...

...feel myself becoming more and more comfortable with calling Detroit "home."

This summer has solidified its magnetic pull on my spirit.

When I'm gone for too long, I'm homesick for its bipolar beauty.

=====

...__________ made me feel really good this week.

...The end-of-summer party I went to on Monday night made me feel really good this week.
It's an annual gathering hosted by my friend Kathy, and this was the first time I'd been included.
Lots of laughs, adorable cats, good wine, and an experimental Arnold Palmer (iced tea + lemonade) with a splash of gin.
Delicious.

=====

I bought...

...a few (cheap!) books at a Borders close-out sale yesterday.
Garrison Keillor's Good Poems, A.J. Jacobs' The Know-It-All, The Best American Spiritual Writing 2010, and The Electric Guitar: An Ilustrated Guide (a gift for Paul).
Total: $20.24.
Not too shabby, eh?

=====

My car..

...is sadly on its last legs. Last month's visit to the mechanic revealed that the engine cradle had rusted through.
A sturdy sheet of metal is welded on for now, but I know it won't be long.
Car-shopping when you're broke is seriously depressing.

=====

My bedtime ritual includes...

...lying in bed listening to podcasts on my iPhone.

God bless the Stitcher app.

=====

This weekend I will...

...go to see/hear my friend Kim play music in Ann Arbor, enjoy a block party in my neighborhood, and go with some very fun folks to Lake Erie Metropark for some watery shenanigans.

Et tu, dear reader?

::LL lessons

Last week, I spent a few more days back at Camp Lake Louise for the first-ever Special Needs week.

Our campers represented a wide range of special needs; Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Cognitive Impairment, etc.

What I was not entirely prepared for was, how much these people would teach me, how attached I would become, how intense our connections would be, or how much I would miss them after they left.

I feel as though I cannot tell stories of the week with words - no matter how finely sculpted - as effectively as my photos can, so I'd like to share a few...

[Also, you may want to listen to this song.]

Clarence, joyful as ever

Steven, Camper Extraordinaire

(Another) Steven, transfixed by the camera :)

Jenni introducing Erin

Campfire song leader, Hannah

Steven paints lovely trees...

...and loves giving kisses

Ron dances with Hannah

::of scales and physicians

I hate scales.

They mock me.

They show me combinations of numbers that lacerate my hard-won confidence and perforate my self-esteem.

They are the first component of the visit to the doctors' office where I have to talk about all the stuff I don't even like to think about.

It deserves a think, I know.

And no one likes to focus on their painful dysfunctions. I know this too.

My doctor did advise me to pray every day for strength to achieve my weight-loss goals.
That's a prescription I can live with.

::grrrreat lakes

It's such a bizarre experience to feel like a tourist in my own home state.

This week, I visited Michigan's west coast for what felt like the very first time.

I was dazzled by the enormity of Lake Michigan, the abundance of windsurfers and toddler tourists, and the sight of such lovely lighthouses.

My friend Ann was gracious enough to invite me along, and we went exploring with cameras in hand.

After lots of emotional stresses lately, it felt so cathartic and cleansing to stand before Lake Michigan, wind hurling my hair every which way, and feel the spray cleansing the darkened, lonely corners of sadness.

::happy thoughts, part one

Today, I feel as though I have a serious case of Church Drama Meeting Hangover.
UGH.

Therefore, I'm choosing to focus on things that make me smile and feel utterly delighted.

Let's start with Wilma, shall we?

Now, the first thing you need to know about Wilma: She. Is. Awesome.

I have known her all of my life.

She's the "Craft Shop Lady" at Camp Lake Louise.

She's 87 years old.

She's been coming to camp for more than 50 summers.

She tools around in a golf cart most of the time these days, offering rides to any and all who seem even remotely in need.

Her kindness, creativity, generosity, and strength are incredible sights to behold.

The following picture is one of my favorite shots EVER.

This is what a wonderful, lighthearted, down-to-earth woman Wilma is...

Sideways hat, gang signs, kickin' shades.

Wilma RULES.

::leavin'...without a jetplane

There is drama in every life.
It's unavoidable.
As a human living among other humans, it's an occupational hazard.

Amidst all the sub-genres of drama, I've decided that Church Drama is particularly stressful.

I left a church once.
It was painful; and although it was seven years ago, the byproducts of the transition are still sometimes painful.
Basically what happened was, my brother was fired (some would say "in a roundabout way") from his job as youth pastor.
I stuck around and continued to volunteer with the youth group, alongside my brother's replacement.
After a year, I was burned out and had found a community where I felt much safer, and where I was confident that I could grow and thrive.
If you'll pardon the saccharine analogy, I was a tree that had overgrown its yard.
It was (beyond) time to move forward.


Conflict/drama in my current church has tempted many to leave.
I cannot blame them, and I can never claim to be in a position to stand in judgment of anyone.

But I cannot help but wrestle with the question,

What are the "right" reasons to leave a church?

I can see the point about how, if we leave every time something happens that we don't like, then we're treating the Church like consumers, and the fellowship to which we belong may as well be something as crass as Wal*Mart. (Or, as Zach and I now call it, "Walmy's.")

I can also see the point that if the members and/or leadership of a church have behaved in a way that we find morally reprehensible - to the point where the simple act of entering the building makes us physically and psychologically sick - then leaving seems like the only option available.

I remember, all those years ago at my former church, pulling my car into the driveway while listening to Caedmon's Call's Love Alone, shedding tears, surrounded by the mysterious empathy I found in that fusion of word and melody.

And the hands I've seen raised to the sky
Not waving but drowning all this time
I’ll try to build the ark that they need
To float to You upon the crystal sea

Give me Your hand to hold
‘Cause I can’t stand to love alone
And love alone is not enough to hold us up
We’ve got to touch Your robe
So swing Your robe down low...

::emmy & calvy

So, last week I went to camp.

As always, it was awesome.

Spending a week alongside my dear friends Zach and Erin is always a distinctive delight, as is their son Calvin.
My niece Emma is Calvin's BFF, and of course I love to capture this with my Canon lens.




Once in awhile, I like to join the party.


This is one of my favorite pictures of myself, ever.
These two are incredibly delightful company.
Last night, Emma said to me, "Calvin! He's my best buddy in the whole world!"
All together now..."Aww!"