So…I’m an IronMATE (check out that picture). How fun. Charlie brought this home after he’d gotten his race stuff picked up.

I was so excited to wear that at the Ironman event.

It fits in with my writing when it comes to mates and things. I talk about that a lot in the stories I write.

And it’s true, Charlie’s my fated mate, so it was fitting.

We had SUCH A blast at the all day event.

Swimming 2.4 miles

Biking 112 miles

Running 26.2

I can only say one thing:

Thank GOD it wasn’t me doing it.

Charlie did great.

He finished in 10 hours and 39 minutes which landed him 37th in his age group (out of 400) and 237 overall (2600 entrants)

He trained so hard for the last 10 months. So I’m glad he did better than he’d expected!

Here are some pictures.

This event was for you, Lynn Boeyink (2/2/48-10/24/11)

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Chaos of a mass start

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Coming out of the water into transition

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Transition from swim to bike area

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Biking out of transition

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On the bike. 112 miles, can you FREAKING believe that?

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Me & RG hanging out between bike laps.

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The two dads!!! My dad and Charlie's

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Coming out of the bike transition to start the run

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THE RUN....26.2 miles, how is he still smiling??? LOL

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FINISHED!!!! Charlie and RG

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Celebration Dessert at Arrowhead Grill

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YUMMMMM

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Thanks for sharing this with me.

All your thoughts and prayers poured out on Facebook was AWESOME!!!!

So proud of you, Char, my IronMATE!

]]> http://lied2girl.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/you-either-have-compassion-or-you-dont/ Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:09:41 +0000 lied2girl http://lied2girl.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/you-either-have-compassion-or-you-dont/ “Take away all the qualities that make for a genuinely good father—wisdom, compassion, even temper, selflessness—and what you have left is Homer Simpson with his pure, mindless, dogged devotion to his family”. —Paul A. Cantor,Gilligan Unbound, 2001

Reality Check: Love IS conditional in a partnership/relationship because everyone has a limit to what they will tolerate in a relationship from their partner.

Examples:

After 30 years of marriage you find out your spouse has been cheating on you for many years.

A man abusing a woman physically, emotionally, spiritually, or intellectually.

Your spouse commits a serious crime like murder, rape, or child molestation.

What if a woman’s husband killed their child? Could she still love him “unconditionally”?

Some may choose to still stick by/with their partners in those situations, but a person who wants happiness in their life won’t for very long.

True love is a VERB, it’s emotion in action, not a feeling. It’s about what you give… and not about losing “logic” or acting on impulses. Love shouldn’t “consume” you and it doesn’t defy explanation. Love is earned…. and love can be given…. but only to those who work for it. Love is ALWAYS work.

Are you ready for the chaos?

Are you ready for the Team Jacob and Team Edward madness?

I must admit, I AM. I know, you’re shaking your head right now. But if you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you already know I’m kind of a dork, so that’s okay.

I’ve read the books. I love them. The story is awesome. The movies have been pretty good.

But I’m not crazy enough to go to a midnight showing or anything. **LOL** I’ll wait until things cool down a bit (if that’s possible the hype is so huge on this) then check it out with my BFFs.  :)

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What movie are you anxious to see?

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Now, don’t you just want to ease into that little slice of goodness and nap the day away? **Le Sigh**

I used to think lying around was wasteful–back in my OCD-keep the house immaculate days…but now, not so much. Sure, if you laz around all day every day, whole ‘nother story.

But there is something to say about shutting everything around you down–yes, even the smart phone and computer. *gasp*

Didn’t some commercial coin the term, “Idiating?”

It’s totally true. Not just for writers, but for everyone. To shush the hum of constant noise, distractions, everything, and just let your mind wander. I know I try and do that for a little bit as often as I can, and it’s amazing to see how the ideas come flowing.

So, when’s the last time you “ideated?”

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Me & my mother-in-law, Lynn December 2011

Normally I do “This Writer’s Journey” on Fridays, but today, I had to post something my sweet Mother-in-Law wrote back in 1988. Today marks one week since she was laid to rest. She went home to Jesus Monday October 24th and we said our final goodbyes on Friday October 28th.

RG, Lynn and Lynn September 2011

During that funeral service, I took the podium and read a poem she’d written. The family found it while looking through old photographs.

Those of you who may be new to the blog and don’t know my deep connection with my mother-in-law, her name is LYNN.  Yep, same as mine because I took that as my pen name to honor her. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders. She read the first thing I ever wrote before I even knew I’d try and start writing for publication.

So, here is her poem:

Take a Look Behind You

Take a look behind you, someone’s hurting there.

Maybe you can reach out, show them that you care.

You question what your role is, what you could ever do.

You say, “Someone should help them”, could that someone be you?

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The person there behind you needs Jesus, that you know.

To share the love and grace He did was His command, and so—

If you would like to reach out but wonder if you can,

God’s working all around you; just join Him in His plan.

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The one that’s there behind you may be a struggling soul,

Who comes to church and plays the game but doctrine takes its toll.

To this one no one mentioned how real are love and grace.

A load of guilt from past mistakes is present in its place.

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And not so far behind you, there’s an aging person there.

Who has a lot of wisdom and experience to share.

But visitors at their front door they very seldom see.

Alone they sit with memories of how it used to be.

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Perhaps the one behind you is a lonely woman who

Feels no appreciation for the things that she must do.

She cares for children, cooks and cleans and does the tasks at home.

She has no one to talk to and feels so all alone.

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The one behind you, too, may be the anxious businessman

Who bears financial burdens and works as best he can.

He seems in charge, he’s strong and tough, this all by outward show.

While inside he’s a frightened boy, but he’ll let no one know.

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And look right there behind you, you’ll see a busy teen

Who’s privacy and family times are few and far between.

From peer there’s often pressure that tempts and leads astray.

She knows the right thing from the wrong, but still goes her own way.

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There’s near enough behind you the ones who live in sin.

They try by their own efforts, but just can’t seem to win

They know deep down inside them, they are not living right.

The grasp of sin is all too strong and holds with all its might.

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Jesus seeks to save all these; He wants to ease their pain.

That’s why He died upon the cross, exactly why He came.

So do you ever wonder where the hurting are?

Just take a look behind you; you needn’t look so far.

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Lynn Boeyink, 1988

If only I’d taken a picture so you could see this work of art sandwich…but, I didn’t.

It’s the cheesy blend of five cheeses, and some fried to the outsides of the toast.

Dipped in ranch…

Oh, boy. It’d been a while.

Six months, actually.

It got me thinking.

Yes, another scary thing, I know, but bear with me…

With all the internet stuff, chat rooms, emails, and texting for communication, I don’t often take time out of my schedule to actually meet up face-to-face with people.

And that’s just sad.

I vowed right then and there not to wait another SIX months before hanging out with my friend again. I sure missed her.

So, here’s to Good Friends and Grilled Cheese.

Anyway, I came upon this pretty sight.

And no, it’s not another sunrise.

It was this:

Now, I have no clue what this cactus flower is called.

I’m just not into stuff like that.

But what I AM into, is the idea of stopping and taking a second to enjoy the things around you.

Ever since my MIL fell ill with cancer and is now approaching the final days of her life, it’s really made me re-think things. One of which is how fast-paced I live life.

So, I stopped and enjoyed this nice little sight. It’s amazing how a beautiful, delicate flower can emerge from a thorny, prickly desert cactus.

I love it.

Anyone know what this is called?

So, when was the last time you stopped to “smell the roses?”

I’d love to hear. And if you have a picture, do send me a link. I’m always on the look-out for pretty sights

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]]> http://lynnrush.com/2011/10/17/once-upon-a-time/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:05:08 +0000 Lynn Rush http://lynnrush.com/2011/10/17/once-upon-a-time/ I write romance novels. As in fiction. Paranormal-Urban Fantasy-type fiction.

But for the past fifteen years, I’ve been witness to a real-life fairy tale-type love story.

My Mom & Dad-in law.

My sweet MIL was admitted to the hospital this past week. Seems the cancer has started its final attack. At the moment she’s resting comfortably, surrounded by her two sons and her husband.

My hubby sent me a picture that rocked my world.

It helped me understand the whole idea of true love. The true meaning of through health and sickness, ups and downs, until death do us part.

Here’s that picture:

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Lynn looks quite different from from the day they took their wedding vows over 44 years ago. Heck from the time they first met in the FIFTH grade!

Yes, they began their fairy-tale romance that young!

When I was last in Sioux Center, staying with them for a couple of weeks to help them out, they shared their story with me. How Lynn arrived to town when she was only five. How her & RG met in school when he started his first year at a town school.

He’d been educated in a “country school” up until then.

Finally, in the seventh grade they went to a little party together as a date, and they were smitten. Together ever since.

Sure, they had their share of ups and downs, sicknesses and you name it. But this picture of them together in the hospital showed me something–> Love is, indeed, the strongest things out there.

I believe it so much I’ve tattooed it on my arm (Faith, Love & Hope, but the greatest of these is Love. 1 Cor 13:13)

But to see it. With my own eyes…

There are no words.

The love between these soul mates is palpable. You can almost see it in tangible waves in this picture.

Though they face such hard times right now, two things stand firm with this couple:

Their faith in God and their love for one another.

Even though Lynn can scarcely mutter a word, she and her soul mate don’t need words. No, they don’t have telepathic abilities like the characters I write about. No, they don’t have super powers to heal wounds and injuries like those I write about. But they do have the boundary-breaking, never-ending, soul-connecting love I write about.

It’s a real life love story.

So, today, my sweet parents, I dedicate this post to you. Dedicate this day to you. May you feel God’s peace around you. And thank you for the stunning example of what a soul mate truly is.

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I’m into brainstorming (ask anyone who took my mind-mapping class at the Muse Online Conference)**LOL** So, I’m looking at all options whether they’re obviously not what I want to some that might work. So, here are a few we’ve come up with so far. And don’t mind the water marks…we’re just been playing around with the backgrounds before we purchase them….

1.

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2.

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3.

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4.

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5.

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6.

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7.

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Well, that’s it for now…..Any faves? Are they all junk? Heading in the right direction? Way off course?

Most of my novels are set in the desert so I’m hoping to find something along that line….

But we’ll see what happens

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I know, I’m getting a little wild and crazy with the shock factors.

Check this picture out:

Now, you might be wondering what the heck I’m thinking with this picture. But I’ll tell ya, sometimes, like ideas for books, thoughts just slam right into my brain when I see something interesting.

And this particular morning, this really struck me. Me and my dog out running. His little shadow next to mine. He runs with me all the time (unless it’s too hot in the desert here). He’s always excited to go. Anxious to keep running when I’m heading to the garage to call it quits. When I’m tired, he kind of tugs me along. He’s even known to bite at the leash and pull, urging me forward.

He’s just my loyal running buddy and it hit home when I saw this shadow from the rising sun behind us.

So here’s to you sweet Maddux. Thanks for all the runs you’ve taken with me and will take with me in the future!

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And I mean cried.

I’m not going to post the note I received, I’ll keep that for myself, near and dear to me. But to read that something I’d written impacted someone in a positive way…well, it really just made me smile. Made my heart smile.

It’s amazing the power of a kind word. An encouraging word. It can lift someone up so high they have to look down to see heaven.

Now, did that person know her email would affect me so profoundly?

Probably not.

Did she know that I’d been feeling a little anxious about the upcoming release of Wasteland and how people would receive it?

Probably not.

Regardless. She took the time to send a letter of hope and encouragement, and it was at exactly the moment I needed to read it.

Then I started thinking, when’s the last time I encouraged someone? Took the time to send someone a special note?

Too long.

Don’t wait another minute, you just never know how much that person might have needed to hear an encouraging word.

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That no one understands or has experienced what you are going through?

I can’t even BEGIN to understand what my mother and father-in-law are experiencing right now as they deal with her cancer.

Last Friday, she received the news that her cancer has spread/worsened beyond treatment. There isn’t an option of chemo any longer.

And yes, that was the day my books arrived (see yesterday’s post). So, it was a bitter-sweet day. I was glad to hand her the book so she could read the dedication and see just a tiny sliver of light on that dark day.

Then yesterday, while I was at work, I heard this song by RED–> Not Alone.

And I cried.

Isn’t it interesting how you hear something right when you need to.

Here are the lyrics that really hit home:

I am with you

I will carry you through it all

I won’t leave you

I will catch you when you feel like letting go.

‘Cause you’re not…

You’re not alone!

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Have a great day, everyone. And know this, you are NOT alone!

We didn't see each other before the service, so pictures were taken after. . .

***Here is a repost of one of my favorites from the last Week of Love***

When it came to choosing a person to do the scripture readings at our wedding, I didn’t hesitate–Lynn & RG Boeyink. That’s Charlie’s Mom and Dad.

First, they’re awesome role models (married 43 years now!) Second, their faith continually astounds me. Third–well, there is no third, I just KNEW they were the people to do it.

But when Lynn and RG made their way to the podium, I got a little nervous because I saw Lynn carrying a piece of paper.

It was then that I knew she’d written something down.

It was then that I knew, I would need Kleenx–lots of them.

She just has a way with words . . . So, here is what she read.

Not an eye was dry in the church.

Enjoy, and be sure to stop by tomorrow, because my sweet hubby is breaking down his TOP TEN most favorite love songs. And he knows how to pick them, let me tell you.

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When was it Love?

By Lynn Boeyink

I wore my mom's wedding dress. My diamond is Charlie's mom's engagement diamond.

Little did you two know that on the campus in Marshall, Minnesota, you would meet, eventually fall in love with, and today marry each other. As the months and years passed at Southwest State and the friendships came and went, you established yourselves there, chose your fields of study, worked and played, and the awareness of one another became more real.

But when what is love?

Was it a glimmer of in your smiles that set the world in fire or was it in the eyes that sparkle and light up a room?

Perhaps there was something unique in that friendly manner and charm that seemed to be so natural. Or was it that confident style that told everyone you met that you could conquer any task or problem that came your way?

Was it a sense of love on those first few dates when you were convinced that this is one very special person? Or, was it when the realization that your life goals and commitment to hard work were similar or when you realized that your enjoyment of the outdoors and sports were compatible?

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my dad on my wedding day

Perhaps it was love when you learned of one another’s faith in Jesus Christ and that you both had a desire to be a part of the world around you but not to live by worldly standards. Maybe it grew to be real love as your time together became more and more cherished and your time apart more uncomfortable.

It must have been true love when you looked into one another’s eyes and finally knew deep in your hearts that you wanted to be together forever.

But you do know, don’t you, that it really was love long before you ever met, before your first date, even before you left home to venture out on your own to make your way in the world. Before you did any of these things—it was love!

It was love because God says in his word, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” and He says, ‘I know the plans I have for you…plants to give you home and a future.”

So you see, it was love for you when you committed to each other, but God loved you long before that, His love is eternal, and his plans for you stand firm forever.

It was love for you before you were ever born, because God said so. He planned it that way. May you grow in this love for each other with time knowing always that your union is part of God’s divine plan for your lives.

You may kiss the bride. Bonded for life now and happy to be.

~~~

So, what’s your love story?

Yep, I’m here in Iowa for a few weeks. I’m super excited, too, because I get to spend time with Charlie’s parents.

You might remember Lynn from my posts about her here and here and here.

Yeah, I kinda like her (and her son…LOL)  Anyway, I came to Iowa to hang out with her and help around the house as she works to get stronger after her big surgery so she can face another round of Chemo.

Oh, and I’m sure we’ll be talking writing–JUST a little bit. Considering I have to get going on my Violet Midnight edits, I’m sure I’ll be doing some editing as well.

I went for a run today. It’s kind of creepy-fun running the paved trails through the corn fields. Stalks taller than me on both sides….Feels so Children of the Corn-like…..

I love having him around. Such a great kid.

But an 11-year old boy…what the heck will I do with him while he’s here?

LOL

No, he’s really easy going, but I met up with a friend and she suggested rock climbing.

I’m like, “Um–NO!”

Yeah, I’m kind of a wimp–I know my history of speed skating, road/mountain biking would suggest otherwise–but still…ROCK CLIMBING?

I stepped out of my comfort zone and at least called. Turns out he was too young to Belay for me, so I was safe from having to scale the 30-foot walls, but then it dawned on me. I’d have Luke’s life in my hands.

Literally.

Silly Luke!

I’ve never had that. I don’t have kids. I have a couple of dogs, yeah, but still…this was a HUMAN life. This cute, funny, awesome kid—–>

I sucked it up and got all the waivers out to Luke’s Mom to sign and all that fun stuff.

So, 1pm on Friday of last week we made our way to Ape Index.

We got buckled up. We did our lesson and Luke had a little fun…

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And then…we were on our own.

YIKES.

He's nearly 30-feet up on this one!

It took a few tries before we both gathered up our nerve but then he took off. Look at him go!

The whole experience got me thinking about trust. Holy cow the trust he had in me to hold him steady should he fall or slip. I was both honored and scared. More honored than scared…the fear only lasted a little while. Then I thought about all the people I trust and I realized how truly blessed I am.

Sure, I’ve been betrayed before. I think we all have, right?

But just because one restaurant screwed up our meal, it’s not like I’d NEVER go out to eat again. Or, just because I went to one bad movie, it’s not like I’d NEVER go to a movie again.

You just learn with each bump, right? You’ve heard me say that a few times on this blog before, huh?

Anyway. We had a blast, and besides a few blisters on our hands, we arrived home in one piece.

Who knows, maybe some of this will end up in one of my future novels….

Blogging about things that happen in your life is great. Like a journal, it can be one of those things that helps you get all the crazed thoughts out on page for you to see in front of you… taking a moment to edit, perhaps, for sanity… and then save in draft form, or in a secret corner of the internet so that no one will ever see it again. Braver folk put their everyday lives out in front of the people of the world, asking for feedback, perhaps. “You should have let the coffee cool before drinking it,” or, “I know a great way to clean lint out of that area,” and that sort of thing.

This space is not for that, necessarily… although I always welcome domestic and hygienic advice, God knows. Here are my hopes:

1. Keeping interested people in the conversation that will shape SafeHouse Church, and up to date with its progress:

SafeHouse, the church that I and two other families are planting in the Twin Cities, is a project that we’ve been working on furiously now for about a year. This is an exciting time for us. On January 22nd, 2012, we’ll be having our first gathering, and from there, our new community. SafeHouse Church is an experiment that has grabbed our hearts and hopes, challenging us with the need to make a church home where people who no longer fit in existing spiritual communities — including ourselves — can belong.

Along the way, we’ve run into such a number of people who have resonated with that same need. We’ve run into Christians from many traditions who are interested in doing Christianity in a spirit that in many ways, we’ve really lost. This is a Christianity that encourages doubt and questions, that respects and finds its place alongside (instead of against) other faiths, that desires the voices of all people, including LGBT people, that finds loving service and care for the oppressed and untouchables at the core of the gospel of Jesus, that encourages spiritual growth and healing in community, and that speaks ancient wisdom in language and style that is approachable by the people who are around it.

Of course, this kind of Christianity has always been around, but it has often been feared by the most influential and popular institutional churches, and it has had to make its own way. So, I hope to be able to keep all interested parties up to date with how SafeHouse is going! Here, I’ll be writing at times about this exciting experience of planting a church, the theories and theologies and wounds and hopes that have gone into it, and what wisdom we’ve drawn on from many faith traditions to shape a new way of doing church.

2. Doing Progressive Theology:

There’s no good definition for progressive theology, but I think the best way to describe it is theology that rises out of communities of many voices, where people ask good, hard (sometimes unanswerable!) questions and see how our worldview and theology affects life. Theology that has both constructive and deconstructive impulses. Sometimes it’s disillusioned, sometimes it’s prophetic, and sometimes it’s healing. I want to write with those of us finding ourselves on the borders of lots of places — we might not exactly be the old guard liberals, though we love their iconoclastic impulses… we’re not precisely evangelical, though we have been captured by their passion for pursuing a relationship with the God of the universe. We’re somewhere in between, and being in that place demands both integrity and openness to discussion. It means curiosity and inclusion of the other, while being willing to be openhanded with our own thoughts and criticisms and constructions.

For my part, I would very much like to share the stream of faith that has most informed and empowered my worldview and relationship with God — LGBT liberation theology. This stream of faith is both incredibly diverse and strongly convicted. It is both experiential/incarnational and aware of the need for an integrated theological worldview of God. And, though people never expect this, it is almost always deeply passionate about the scriptures. I would like to show you what I mean, and share what I am learning, thinking, and questioning. And I would love for some reflections in return!

3. Chatting about gay community and life, LGBT politics and history, and why it all matters:

I mean, this really is just kind of inevitable. So I hope you enjoy chatting with me about this, as it happens! I think it’s helpful, and fun, and weird, and often quite awkward, and political in all sorts of strange ways, and will at times raise all our hackles and demand some non-anxious presence. And I have to admit, I might not always do this in the best way, so as I’ve done for a while now, I’ll learn as I go. But I deeply value the contribution of the people who have come before me; who paved the way for me to be where I am now. Most people don’t know the sacrifices that transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and many other people have made so that I am able to be in the surprising, ridiculously hopeful position of going to seminary, being a pastor in a church with both straight and queer leaders, and riding a massive social/political/religious wave of integration and mutual respect. We might not always totally make sense to one another, but that’s okay! We’ll work on doing it better together. A future where sexual orientation no longer divides churches, families, and friends, and where we are able to be one “body of Christ” is possible… but we are going to have to work for it and talk about it, because it’s not here yet.

So, if any of these things interest you, please… keep reading. Comment. Write and publish your own thoughts. Send me messages. And if it’s helpful to you, grab my RSS feed and get it sent straight to your reader. Keep in touch!

No profound reason or anything, just…because.

Instead, I wanted to share a bit of inspiration with you. We all have people in our lives who inspire us, and sometimes they do something that just makes you sit back and say, “Holy cow, I’m super lucky.”

One day I sat at my laptop and opened up the cover to start up some writing. And this is what I found:

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That’s from my sweet hubby. Sometimes we just need a little pick-me-up, don’t we?

What’s something inspiring that’s happened to you this week? You might have just the story someone else needs to see today!

For me, that included a 40-mile bike ride in the beautiful (yet tortuous) hills of Sedona, AZ.

Here’s a sneak peek–>

You all know I love sunrise pictures...this was from my dad's porch!!

How would you like to wake up to that view every morning?

Charlie and Dad just before we roll away.

Just had to stop and get this picture. We rode through this town.

Me and Dad at the top of Airport Road

Okay, so, if you’ve ever been to Sedona, AZ, you might have seen Airport Road. I’ve driven that road (in a car mind you) several times. Once up top, you get a panoramic view of the red rock city. I’d commented several times, “Holy cow, this would suck to bike.” Mostly because of the steep incline, not to mention the lack of shoulder and narrow lanes.

So, when my dad mentioned us biking up it, I was like, “Um….” I glanced at Charlie, “Okay. Let’s try it.”

After creeping up an 11% grade incline at barely 5MPH, I made it to the top (Dad and Charlie were up there already having a snack..just kidding, but yeah, they beat me up there–LOL)

It was worth it, though. Great view!

We made it!!!!

Conquered the Airport Road Hill!

Had to give the bikes a rest...then we tackled the downhill!

Okay, so it was slow going UP the hill. But down…….

Oh yeah! We hit about 35 mph! Now that’s a RUSH!

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What’d you do for the holiday?

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Jack and Maddux are already good buddies!

As my good friend, Lori, says, Happy Weekending, everyone!

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Starting tomorrow, the group blog I belong to is having a freaking awesome giveaway.

Now, I post on Fridays, but you should check each day out to see how you can get entries into a drawing for some sweet prizes. Autographed books, $75.00 gift card, and much more!

It starts tomorrow, Monday the 20th  —–> HERE.