Archives for January 2009

Linky Interwebby Awesomeness 01.16.09

16 January 2009 by

– A couple of years ago I started reading Kelly’s blog. She loves SEC sports as much as I do, and she’s a good Southern girl in that she’ll monogram absolutely anything if she can get it to sit still long enough. She’s one of my favorite daily reads, and after a long battle with infertility, she announced this past May that she and her hubby Scott were expecting their first child. I was with Melanie at a conference when we found out, and I’ll have you know that we sat right there in our hotel room and cried. I don’t know when I’ve ever been so happy for someone I’ve never actually seen in real life.

Well, sweet Kelly is having her baby today, and you’d better believe that I’ll be hitting refresh ALL DAY LONG to see if that precious little one has made her entrance. Also, my best guess is that it will take Kelly approximately four hours before she’s dressed that sweet baby in something with her initials on it.

– The story of Flight 1549 just astounds me.

– Finally, click on the button below to check out some serious wonderfulness.

Filed Under: Daily Awesome

It’s An Improversation

15 January 2009 by

Tonight on “The Office” Michael spilled the beans about Dwight and Angela, Andy decided that Angela was worth fighting for, and Dwight discovered that Andy wasn’t the only person being betrayed. Ultimately Angela was on the receiving end of not one but two cold shoulders, and by all appearances the wedding is off.

Meanwhile, Michael met his boss in New York and rambled with much rambling randomness.

My favorites:

1. “I mean, eventually he’ll figure it out, when their kids have giant heads and beet-stained teeth, but for now, it’s kind of awkward.”

2. “Rule #17: Don’t turn your back on mares, men you have wronged, or the dominant turkey during mating season.”

3. “Keep in mind that when you hear these bad things that I say in your ears…I’m not very articulate today, so I’ll just save it for another time.”

4. “A little bit.”

5. “We were together and then he killed Sprinkles and then we stopped.”

6. “My philosophy is basically this – and this is something that I live by – don’t do anything to anyone for any reason…ever for any reason whatsoever.”

7. “Angela Bernard…”

8. “…will never be her name.”

9. “That’s stupid. I will use a sword and I will cut off your bare hands.”

10. “I will respect the results of the duel.”

11. “I have to say that I am so impressed with the potential you see.”

12. “I can’t believe they’re going to fight over me.”
“I guess people have fewer choices as they get older.”

13. “The Prius is silent if you keep it under five miles per hour. He deserves to win.”

14. “Andy’s running over Dwight with his car.”

15. “All you do is dress fancy and sing.”

What did y’all think?

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend

I Owe You At Least This Much

15 January 2009 by

I’ll go ahead and tell you right now that this post is basically going to be one big long run-on sentence THE LIKES OF WHICH YOU’VE NEVER SEEN, because the husband and I have to leave in about one hour and seven minutes and I need to whip my house into shape so that our sweet babysitter doesn’t think that we live this way all the time, what with all our decorative Star Wars action figures strewn about the living room and the oh-so-stylish dishes from this morning’s grits stacked up in the kitchen sink, and the kicker is that I really don’t have a whole lot to say other than OH MY WORD, IT’S COLD, and sweet mercy in heaven this week has offered an abundance of television riches.

Somebody give the Lord a handclap of praise.

And oh wait. I do have one more thing to tell you.

I am in the midst of a deep-rooted hair crisis and I desperately need highlights but I CANNOT spend the money to get salon highlights even though I really, really want to be more blonde at this juncture, which brings me right back to my never-ending home hair color dilemma and I promise I’m going to quit talking about my hair color woes at some point in, well, my life, but it might not be until I’m 85 and I’ve surrendered to the gray, and the only reason I say that is because I cannot picture myself sitting in a stylist’s chair when I’m 85 and patiently waiting for her to wrap my hair in pieces of foil, though certainly I could be mistaken in that assumption because if I’ve learned anything in this life it’s that I’LL NEVER SAY NEVER WHEN BLONDE IS INVOLVED.

So anyway.

I have to clean now. But I’ll be back later (“later” being tonight or tomorrow or 2013) with an “Office” recap because OH, HALLELUJAH, we get a new episode tonight.

In conclusion comma I leave you with the lone picture I took at our Christmas dinner, and I’ve been meaning to share this with you for some time but it just seemed so random, only now I have the perfect excuse because this whole post is pretty much an organizational disaster and would no doubt make my English professors so proud.

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You’re welcome.

Filed Under: Rambling

Linky Interwebby Awesomeness 01.14.09

14 January 2009 by

– I got a little weepy when I read “Today I Was A Mom” by Kathryn at Daring Young Mom.

– Anne at My Tiny Kingdom has a great bloggy idea called Flashback Friday – it starts January 16th.

– I loved the show to pieces, but I think maybe the “Moonlighting” folks should leave well enough alone. (link via Throwing Things)

Filed Under: Rambling

American Idol Watch Party

14 January 2009 by

So Shannon and I are going to be blogging about season eight of American Idol over at Culture11. We’re calling it “American Idol Watch Party” because all the punny Idol-y names are taken. Unless we call our posts “Idol-y Thoughts,” which, now that I think about it, sort of makes me smile.

Anyhoo.

Here’s my first Idol-y post. In case you want to read it. And maybe comment. And you can even rate it, but oh, FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, PLEASE BE KIND.

Finally.

I keep going back and forth about using my full name when I “write” at other places. I’m starting to get used to the idea, but part of me likes holding on to just a little bit of anonymity until the little guy gets old enough to understand all this interweb bloggy bidness. After talking to my husband this morning I decided that I was going to step out and use my full name over at Culture11, but a few minutes ago I clicked over to the article, saw that my byline says “Sophie Boomama,” and laughed my head off. So for now, “Sophie Boomama” it is.

Have a great day, everybody!

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend

Mad Church Disease

13 January 2009 by

Last year in Uganda Anne told me a little bit about a book she was working on called Mad Church Disease. I thought the concept – ministry burnout and how to overcome it – was oh-so-clever and intriguing since I have several friends in ministry who can hover on the edge of utter exhaustion if they’re not careful. It’s the part of ministry that nobody ever talks about, really – the part where you’re so busy taking care of other people’s needs that you neglect to meet your own. Sometimes you feel distant from your family. Lots of times you even feel distant from God.

Before Christmas I got a copy of Anne’s book in the mail, and after I got past the feeling of being SO STINKIN’ PROUD OF HER, I sat down and read. And read. And read. I thought of many of my friends as I read Anne’s stories and anecdotes. I identified personally with some of the struggles Anne mentions. And I loved the frankness with which Anne addresses it all.

Anne’s making the rounds on several blogs today, and mine is one of them. She offered to answer any questions that I had after reading MCD, so I sent her a question that came up during a conversation with my Bible study friends a couple of months ago. Here it is:

Let’s say someone works as an assistant to a senior pastor / executive pastor / high-up-person-on-the-church-leadership-flowchart. And let’s say that someone who works as an assistant notices that his or her boss is stressed, anxious, tired – basically on the verge of burnout. Do you think there are any specific things that assistant could do for his or her supervisor to lighten the load? Or should the assistant just stay out of it? I ask this because a friend and I had this very conversation a few weeks ago – and I’m not sure we came to any real conclusions.

Her response is so wise:

To answer your question – YES. Absolutely YES. How will depend on that person’s relationship with their supervisor and it could take some serious guts…maybe even putting their job on the line in the worst case scenario….but we have a responsibility to carry each other’s burdens (See Galatians 6).

A few ways the assistant could do this practically:

1. Communicate it directly. Set some time up with the supervisor to specifically address this. Don’t throw it in the mix of another meeting. “The reason I wanted to meet with you today is because I’m concerned.” Explain the behavior you see that is worrying you.

2. Offer any assistance you can provide. If it’s something obvious like a particular project or area of responsibility, THINK AHEAD. Assistants know better than anyone the details of what’s happening. Make a plan ahead of time of how you can lighten the load and recommend it for the supervisor. Otherwise, you’re giving that person more work trying to figure out what you can do.

3. Encourage them consistently and appropriately. When I see my own pastor getting stressed or overwhelmed, or maybe he indicates he’s had a long day, I shoot him a text message or quick email just to say how honored I am to work with him and that his passion for what he does is contagious. Small gifts for his family like a dinner out or offering to babysit so they can have time are both practical ways you can also encourage him.

4. Lead by example. You may be on support staff but people all around you see what you do. Are you contributing to a 24/7 workaholic, always available culture? Or do you have boundaries that you stick by? As an example, I don’t typically check my work email on the weekend. If I do, I won’t respond until Monday unless it’s a legit emergency. This is the culture on our church staff, but it has to be constantly made intentional. Talk freely about the time you spend with your friends or spouse. Leave on time. When you’re sick, stay home. All these things will communicate what is more important…work? Or health?

5. When all else fails, find someone else to help. It may be another pastor, or an elder, or a leader you know your boss trusts. If it doesn’t seem like your concern is having an impact and your leader is still about to fry, talk to someone else respectfully. Don’t spread rumors or talk about it with everyone…but find one or two key people that you know your supervisor will listen to.

Don’t EVER think “I’m just an assistant!” Who cares? You’re a believer! There is no hierarchy when it comes to caring for each other!

See? Isn’t she good?

If you’d like to read a sample chapter from Mad Church Disease, head over to Anne’s blog and follow the links.

You’ll be so glad you did.

Filed Under: My Friends Rock
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