by kathilipp | Jun 28, 2010 | Uncategorized |
I never realized how often I said this particular phrase until after I had taught at a weekend retreat.
Everything that could have gone wrong, did.
There was infighting in the group, the facility was overrun with spiders, and the woman who was suppose to assist me with one of the worship exercises decided she knew how to do it better than I did and created an entirely new session. (Without bothering to inform me.)
When I got back the evaluation forms from the committee, one of the questions that was asked was, “What did you take away from the weekend?” Lot’s of women wrote down spiritual insights that they gathered from the event, but the number one answer was “It’s All Good”.
I guess I say it a lot.
So when I saw this mug on vacation in Oregon, I knew I must posses it.
It has been a hard month. Roger’s step-father passed away, his step-mother ended up in hospital in Utah (they live in Georgia) and I have to say, this oil spill thing has had a remarkably saddening effect on me.
However, there is a lot of good stuff going on.
- I really like the guy I’m married to
- I’m going to see Wicked tomorrow in San Fransisco
- I get to write for a living
- God keeps loving me despite a lot of reasons He could choose otherwise
- Northern California strawberries
And because I want you to spend a little time thinking about what’s all good in your life, post something by Wednesday night at 9:00 CA time that’s good in your world and I’ll enter you to win a $5 gift card to Starbucks (because Starbucks? That’s all good…)
by kathilipp | Jun 27, 2010 | Uncategorized |
It must seem like the only thing I am doing this summer is reading books (and come to think of it, that wouldn’t be such a bad way to spend a summer…) We have had two family emergencies and a business trip in the past three weeks bringing us to seven different states. Blogging has had to take a back seat to life.
However, with long car/plane trips, I have had plenty of opportunities to read, so here is this week’s recommended reading:
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress is the memoir of a woman who, at 43, discovers that her husband is leaving her for a man he found on a gay dating website days before a car crash that sends her back to her childhood home to be cared for. The problem – Rhonda hasn’t been part of her Mennonite community for a while and suffers the inevitable culture clash that comes with any of us going to our parent’s homes.
Why I loved it: She comes from a German background, not too different that some of the foods and customs of my mom’s family. I could identify with some of the culture (and food) that my mom grew up with. My all-time favorite cookbook is 
the More-with-Less Cookbook compiled by the Mennonite church- it was a great peek into the people who are behind the cooking.
Even if you have no connection with the Mennonite church, you will be able to identify with her list of “Shame Based” lunch items and the universal embarrassment of patents when you are an adult.
It’s a beautiful, funny and wry book that I highly recommend. (Oh, and if you can find a copy – the cookbook rocks, too.)
by kathilipp | Jun 20, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Summertime is the chance for me to get some reading done – reading that isn’t about topics I’m writing about, but just things I am interested in all for selfish me. Each Monday I will be sharing what I’m reading this summer.
Plus, I would love to hear your recommendations this summer – we may not have the same taste in books, but other of my reader may just love what you love!
Book Recommendation – Orange is the New Black
It may seem a little weird that I’m recommending a book about a women doing a year in jail for a 10 year-old drug charge.
But I have to tell you – this is a very compelling, can’t-put-it-down read.
Here is the books description from Booklist:
Just graduated from Smith College, Kerman made the mistake of getting involved with the wrong woman and agreeing to deliver a large cash payment for an international drug ring. Years later, the consequences catch up with her in the form of an indictment on conspiracy drug-smuggling and money-laundering charges. Kerman pleads guilty and is sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. Entering prison in 2004—more than 10 years after her crime—Kerman finds herself submerged in the unique and sometimes overwhelming culture of prison, where kindness can come in the form of sharing toiletries, and an insult in the cafeteria can lead to an enduring enmity. Kerman quickly learns the rules—asking about the length of one’s prison stay is expected, but never ask about the crime that led to it—and carves a niche for herself even as she witnesses the way the prison system fails those who are condemned to it, many of them nonviolent drug offenders. An absorbing, meditative look at life behind bars. –Kristine Huntley
Prison is something I have only had a brief brush with – I had a male friend from college who was in prison and I had the opportunity to visit him once – so this was a topic I had no familiarity with. but once I started reading this book, I was presented with a world I never knew about – and it challenged some of my thoughts about our prisoners in the US and our prison system.
by kathilipp | Jun 9, 2010 | Uncategorized |
As I mentioned before, it has been a crazy couple of weeks.
Three MAJOR writing deadlines, Roger’s all-day birthday celebration, Kimber’s graduation and graduation party (which meant MAJOR housecleaning before her dad’s side of the family came over…) and then a death in the family (he was 97 and had a great life, so while sad, it’s also a celebration of a great life) which required a quick trip to Atlanta for a week.
Like I said, a busy week.
So in years past, if this week had happened, all my plants in the back garden would have died a long, withering death.
But, instead, because my husband installed a drip system, we are downright…
LUSH
by kathilipp | Jun 6, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Roger and I have had a very busy week. After Kimber graduated from High School, we boarded a plane for Atlanta to stay with Roger’s mom.
Dean – Roger’s step-dad, was almost 98 years old and had a life of ministry and travel and love that most of us can only imagine. So while we are sad, we are rejoicing as well.
Roger and I have been with each other 24/7 and that has lead to some mischief.
Not only have we been eating entirely too much, (Chick-fil-a! Cracker Barrell! Dunkin’ Donuts!) we have started to make up words. (Lupper – the forth meal we end up eating everyday whole here.)
And now Pre- Laugh – any time you are watching a movie or TV show for the second (or more) time, and you start giggling before the scene even comes up because you KNOW what is coming up.
Here are a few things that make me pre-laugh:
You know the scene where Princess Fiona starts singing like a Disney Princess to a bluebird and the bird mirrors her sounds until it explodes.
Big Pre-laugh. Huge.
It is inconceivable how anticipating one word can make me pre-laugh so hard I cry. (And if you’ve seen the movie, you know what word I mean.)
The Show How I Met Your Mother just makes me laugh, but nothing gets me more than the Canadian Pop-Star Robin Sparkles singing, “Let’s go to the Mall” Classic
We could use some pre-laughs around here. Tell me, what makes you pre-laugh.
I never realized how often I said this particular phrase until after I had taught at a weekend retreat.
