I decide for the first time in my life that I can wing and just toss in a a towel, some shorts and my tennis shoes for a trip to the gym. Packing light, right? Which means of course that it also happens to be the day that the soap dispenser in the gym shower is OUT of soap. I always bring my own…except for today. Last time I ever pack light.

Then there was the fact that a 15 minute bus ride back to the office turned into a 45 minute ride when the Burnside bridge shut down.

So now I find myself guzzling down a Blue Dot IPA and it’s good. And right now I need it. Here’s to Monday!

Bryan and I were so guilty of this and as a matter of fact…we still do when we’re apart. We’re so silly.

My attempt at a diaper cake for my sister-in-law’s baby shower last weekend.

Chlorine-free diapers aren’t exactly the most beautiful thing in the world but I think it turned out ok.

We’re excited to welcome Kaylie into the world soon.

Today I couldn’t help but imagine scenarios for each person getting on the bus in which they were an out-of-work superhero. I had myself grinning ear-to-ear and mildly coughing to keep from hooting at some of the outlandish, completely ridiculous stories that somehow popped into my head. I promise, it was all free-flowing thought that I barely had any control of. Where does this stuff come from?!

Hmmm…..I think there’s a good reason why one’s thought processes should be kept to one’s self.

Enjoying the Gingerbread House display downtown.

The Teddy Bear Room at the Fairmont

Making our own gingerbread houses

Birthday Breakfast…Mom’s not in the picture since she’s taking it but thanks to her we had a phenomenal feast.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

the one I’ve been mulling over recently though is the highlights of 2009 list.

in January I joined Clark in his new venture, Second Stories.

February: getting to spend a week with my Grandmother after her hip surgery. it was probably one of the more relaxing weeks of this year.

a trip to Mexico, a Women of Faith conference, and seeing my all time favorite musician live.

volunteering with Compassion SE in June (and I’ll be doing that again in 2010).

witnessing the marriage of my college roomie in Hawaii. ( I may be making a repeat visit for the birth of their first little one next summer)

celebrating the birthday of our good friend Audrey.

spending time with our nephews on the coast.

watching Bryan complete Hood to Coast.

finding out my brother is going to be a Daddy soon.

getting Bryan a pretty sweet birthday surprise.

our first real (and life sized) Christmas tree.

decorating gingerbread houses with my family.

relearning how to knit, taking a rosemaling class with my Mom, and visiting Mona the camel on San Juan Island.

celebrating my baby sister’s 13th birthday.

visiting my sister Hannah and watching her fly.

seeing White Christmas with Grandma.

check out parts 1 and 2 if you want to catch up…

Yup, still thinking about resurrection. So far it has been a humbling, tranformative journey and this week was particularly joyful. I was impressed by what meanings resurrection might hold in my life. Things like:

redemption

grace

reconciliation

healing

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to reconnect with a very dear friend, experience the first steps towards a healed relationship that has been broken and hurting for a long time and be reminded of the inherent dignity and worth of humanity as we are all image-bearers of the Creator.

Life is such a messy thing. At the moment I feel mine is particularly full of color, texture, nuance, and roller coasters. Not literally mind you, just figuratively. At the end of a day on the roller coaster one tends to feel as one does after a ride on a real one. Wind-blown, breathless, perhaps a slightly upset and unsettled feeling in the pit of one’s belly. Not to mention the way neck hair takes forever to calm down once it’s been on end for awhile. And then there’s the hoarse voice from screaming, or if you’re like me and you don’t scream you simply get stiff shoulders and fingers from holding on for dear life.

Today I decided to step off the roller coast. Temporarily. I needed a break and once you’re a grown up no one will call time out for you except yourself. So I did. Now I’m watching the rain pound against a wall of windows, the vestiges of a latte still enticing me with the coffee aroma, and my favorite boots happily perched on the stainless steel stool I’ve deposited myself on.

More thoughts on what the resurrection means in my personal life… (Click here for the first post in this series)

My nature is often deeply critical and quick to judge others by what I see without ever giving them a chance to truly be known. This sinful flaw in my character has recently been under intense scrutiny as I delve deeper into how the resurrection plays out in my life. I am reminded daily of C.S. Lewis’s words from The Weight of Glory:

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal…. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”

If I believe that to be true then why can’t I get my actions to line up with my beliefs? I resonate with Paul when he bemoans the fact that his actions are in-congruent with the tenets of his soul.

So I started putting my belief into practice with the first test being how I responded internally to the people I come across in daily interactions. Lets take a bus ride as an example. I’m riding the #14 down Hawthorne, happily minding my own business…probably reading or listening to music on my ipod. Next thing you know, we’ve stopped and the driver is letting a few new passengers board the bus. A teenager passes by me on her way to the back of the bus. The music from her earphones is loud enough for me to hear above my own ipod and she yells at the top of her lungs to someone she recognizes. The very first thought that pops into my head is what an obnoxious and disrespectful person she is.

Next an older man shuffles on board and takes a seat directly in front of me. Frankly, he stinks. And he’s mumbling something unintelligible. Again, I’m annoyed and somewhat repulsed. Lastly, a couple with a screaming child settle into seats near the front of the bus. The woman is visibly upset with her tantrum-throwing two year old and keeps tugging on him while the man slumps back and ignores the situation. My immediate assessment: poor mothering skills on her part and absolute laziness on his and I won’t even share what I thought of their toddler. All this in about a minute and a half. It takes me only thirty seconds more to catch myself and rewind the whole thought process in my head; asking God’s forgiveness for my response to each person and trying my best to image them as He might see them. It’s harder than I think.

But this story gets to the very heart of this issue. It’s only one brief instance in life, particularly urban life where I am constantly interacting with society and confronted with hundreds of people to rub shoulders with on any given day. My prayer as this journey of discovery, conviction, and incarnation unfolds is that I will see the world through resurrection eyes. The eyes of Jesus who loves every one…yep I remind myself everyone.