lights, lights, and movies

fso the title references three recent activities.

1. lights (the first, not the second) = bemidji's 'night we light' parade. this is a variation of a festival of nights. takes place the friday after thanksgiving. was the 14th annual this year. i sat on bethel lutheran's float and sang with the choir. nothing quite like live music on a float. and it wasn't too horribly cold or anything. which was a pleasant surprise for northern minnesota at the end of november.

2. lights (now the second one) = christmas lights. my parents and sister drove up with some christmas decorations. like my precious gifts from germany. which includes two nativities, one musical, and one ginormous nutcracker. add in the cheese-tastically amazing inflatable nativity that now resides on my front lawn. and some icicle lights. and a christmas tree. i bought my first tree! well, technically my mom paid for it. but it's mine.

3. movies. my baby sis kiana and i went to the latest in the twilight saga/series of movies: 'new moon'. it was a pretty good one. not quite what my sister wanted since she's a jacob fan who's never read the books and so did not know how it was gonna end. i love how upset she was. and i enjoyed giggling like a little schoolgirl during the movie with some of the romance. and all the boys with nice bodies running around without their shirts on. then we came home and watched 'monsters vs aliens' when we got back. it was pretty cute and i'm glad i bought it on black friday.

other highlights recently:

- mom's chicken noodle soup.

- black friday shopping where i purchased several movies ('monsters vs aliens' among others). no, i did not get up for the 4/5/6 am rushes. i slept in and didn't get to walmart until 8 am. which was fine for me. and was happy that there were still a lot left for me to peruse and purchase.

- simply having guests around. slumber party! except we all have our own rooms since i have the space...

- taking a picture with santa and mrs claus at walmart this afternoon. i would like to note that mrs claus (aka lee, a sweet woman who attends the church i intern at) is standing behind us while we all sit on a bench.

turkey time

tis the season for turkey. and lots of it.

of course, it's also the holiday season. which is more than just turkey.

i like the idea of thanksgiving. of getting together with family and friends to celebrate the harvest and bounty that miraculously arrives each year. to rejoice that somehow God always provides for us exactly what we need.

i heart hallmark channel

basically because they are showing christmas movies, which is a great genre.

granted, i am also a fan of chick flicks. and action-adventure. and sci-fi. and serious movies. and sad ones.

okay, so i like watching all movies and tv shows.

much like i love books. picture books, romance, fantasy, and so on.

and music. i like music.

basically i am a sap who likes to escape reality whenever i'm relaxing.

and that is why i am loving my evenings and days off.

so tonight i have been watching christmas movies. despite the fact that the season of advent hasn't actually begun.

which means we are still a month away from the christmas season for the church year.

granted, i have been avoiding playing christmas music so far. just seems a bit wrong at the moment.

but i have no qualms about reading books or watching shows about family, love and other sappy stories that take place in christmas movies.

which leads me to another rant: why is it that the best movies are the holiday ones? seriously, it's so unfair. then no one ever shows them except for during the months of november and december. it's just not right.

cause who doesn't love christmas movies?

let the craziness begin...

oh, how i love the church seasons. and with pentecost almost over, advent is about to begin.

which makes me really glad that i was able to run away last weekend. the last weekend before all hell breaks loose. well, not really hell, but i do like to use that phrase...

sadly enough i had gotten a call on my birthday morning in which my friend megan informed me she had the flu and i could not stay with her as my midway stop on my trek out west. stupid virus. i still love her, and i'm happy that my sister was willing to let me show up a day early.

so after spending a lot of time on the road (11 hours each way, roughly) with a few of those battling snow, i made it to the black hills of sd where my sister, brother-in-law and niece live. i arrived much later than i wanted to, but i was glad to get there. even if i had to drive through snow essentially from dickenson, nd to just south of buffalo, sd. and i'm grateful for those who answered phone calls from me on my long trek since i find one of the best ways to stay awake is to be talking to someone.

i was extremely happy to get to see my immediate family this past weekend. i love them and i love how crazy we all can be. and hickish, much to the dismay of my sister who now lives in new york and is used to a different culture. which does not include wearing camo in airports, mullets on stuffed antelopes, or having wood chips be considered "classier" than kitty litter. oh, how i love south dakota.

we had our thanksgiving meal. i was in charge of manhandling the giant, 23 pound turkey. and the stuffing. and bread (homemade dinner rolls, of course).

saturday night i went out with those over 21 (two sisters and their significant others). we went to piedmont to a saloon. not a bar, a saloon. because bars don't belong in the west with the cowboys and ranchers. this bar was the classy one with the stuffed animal with a mullet. and a fantastic live band. no joke. this band had an amazing singer. and one cute guitar player.

sunday i traveled the distance back to bemidji. and i realized that i drove 1430 miles from my house and back. which is a lot.

then i get up monday morning, report for duty (aka show up at work at the church), and get to business. last minute invitation to go to a women's meeting that had an auction. working on getting an information letter ready for a youth gathering taking place this weekend. intern committee meeting. community symphonic band rehearsal. then finally back to my house for a short break since i also am prepping to lead a bible study tomorrow afternoon as well as reading a book for a book discussion on wednesday. and realizing i need to start working on my sermon for sunday since i am gone much of the weekend at the gathering.

so sunday i preach at three different services (two at church and one at a nursing home/assisted living). of course, this sunday is the last week of pentecost and officially christ the king sunday. then we have thanksgiving next week, and i'll be preaching at a community thanksgiving service at bethel but is a combination of the three elca churches in bemidji. then advent begins. and i start leading adult bible study as well as helping with noontime advent services.

and all this adds up to a craziness that will not be slowing down anytime soon. but i'm okay with that since i prefer busy over bored. as long as i can get everything done that i need to.

a hunting i did go

i have a song in my head: a hunting we will go, a hunting we will go, hi ho the cherry oh, a hunting we will go.

cause a hunting i did go.

today (and a glorious autumn day it twas) was spent in the woods waiting for a deer to stumble near enough for pastor mark to get off a shot. sadly enough, there was no deer. i was happy that i did not watch bambi get killed, but at the same time i like to eat venison.

i took a book with and got in a wee bit o reading this afternoon. but unfortunately the sky became dark early. stupid combination of clouds and early sunsets and trees.

but i did enjoy getting out into nature, drinking hot chocolate, sitting in relative quiet and companionship, even if i did not spend much time basking in the sun.

Birthday Bonaza

my family is in the midst of the craziness of birthday season. this year it began early with my niece at the end of october, whereas it usually starts with my dad's on nov 7, continues through my sister krissa's today (which just so happens to be the same day the berlin wall fell = nov 9, 1989), mine on thursday, sister kayla's on the 22nd, sister kiana's dec 15th, and wraps up jan 5 with sister kendra's. then a short break before the month of may which has more (mom's and brother-in-law's).

and that is just my immediate family. which means grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins whose birthdays fall into this time span are not listed.

i've been getting a few birthday cards already since i'm actually not going to be around bemidji on my birthday. the cards have all had quarters taped in them. i'm surmising (big word, right?) that this is because i will be turning 25. so i get 25 cents for my 25th. i think it's pretty awesome. something small and tangible to put into the card.

but back to the fact that i will be traveling. it has been challenging to stay focused on what is going on with my job since i am prepping for a trip back to south dakota to see my family. we will be officially celebrating my niece's first birthday (since no one had the time to travel in october) and thanksgiving (since at least 4 out of us have to work either the day before, day of or day after thanksgiving). of course, this is all taking place on my birthday weekend. not that i'm being greedy or anything, but i am excited that i am able to share my day with people i love.

so thursday is the first leg of my trip. i will be traveling to watertown, sd from my current location in bemidji, mn. one of my bestest friends ever lives and works there. i'm super excited to see megan that night.

then friday is the second leg of the trip as i travel across the state of south dakota. literally. i will cut from the northeast corner to the far western part to near sturgis where kendra lives with her hubby trevor and daughter libby. i'll pick up krissa from the airport while kayla picks up kiana on her way through parkston from omaha. that day kendra, kayla and i (those over 21) are thinking about going to famous deadwood for the night and leaving krissa and kiana (under 21) home to watch libby. sister bonding time.

saturday will be the day of feasting and festing. i volunteered to cook the turkey. and apple crisp. and bread. cause i like to cook for other people. mom and dad will be driving out that day to join us younguns. and i'm stoked that all the fam will be there.

then, sadly enough, i will be taking off sunday morning to start the trek back to bemidji. it will be at least 10 hours on the road as i head north towards bismark, nd then head east towards minnesota. that's right, scenic trip through north dakota. nothing like having a round trip.

but despite the fact that i will be spending over 24 hours in my car, i'm thinking that it will be a great birthday weekend.

goody-goody

that's me!!!!!! yay for me!!!!!!!! i rock!!!!!!!!!

now that i'm done boasting, perhaps i should share the story.

especially since i'm not really that much of a goody-goody.

after eating lunch out today with people from church, i decided to blip on over to walmart across the street. and so after shopping around and not finding much of anything that i need (plenty that i want but can wait to get). then i venture back outside and into the rain. when i get to my car, there is guy who's got his pickup hood up. he asks me (and he's extremely quiet and hesitant but since i was the only one who was around and parked nearby...) if i would be willing to jump start his truck. of course i said of course.

and that was my good deed for the day.

then i went back home and baked some more bread. i've been experimenting with wheat flour, not just the typical white flour (and i refuse to buy the bleached stuff). tons of fun, let me tell you. and very tasty.

other update: i'm going back to sd this weekend! for the first time since july (since i spent august traveling and have been working far, far up north since early september). so excited!!!!!!!!!!!

now if only i can stay focused on my work and behave myself until i take off thursday for the first leg of my trip...

I forgot the 5th of November

...despite being told to "Remember, remember, the Fifth of November"

So disappointed with myself. Perfect day to watch V for Vendetta (cause I have that movie in my growing collection). But I did not put the DVD on my agenda. Granted, I could be watching it now, but "The Mentalist" is simply too captivating. So intstead of admiring Guy Fawkes, I am watching TV commercials in order to savor the comedy on TV. Which is just fine by me.

Also on this 5th of November I was once again battling a headache and stuffed nose. Cause I always seem to be sick whenever I reside in Minnesota. So not cool. I blame the trees. All those trees. Lots and lots of trees. At least that is what I'm going to claim.

Back the 5th of November thing: WHY would I want to remember the 5th of November? It's not like it's my birthday...or even a real holiday in the USA.

So I forgot cause it seems to be yet another typical day in the neighborhood. And it did not faze me that it was the 5th of November.

So maybe I'll watch V for Vendetta tomorrow on the 6th of November instead. Cause I can.

[Note: I would just like to remind people of the disclaimer of this blog. The title of my blog literally means Kara's nonsense. So this particular post fulfills all unnecessary requirements to be considered an adequate post in my little world.]

slacker betty (note: that is not my name nor am i talking about any betty in particular)

i like to do as little as possible.

except when i like to keep busy.

i am a contradiction, aren't i?

and of course, now that i'm starting my third month as the intern pastor, i suppose i should be working on that.

update: i have to do an internship project and i'm super excited about getting approval from my intern committee and supervisor for this project.

as many know, i have worked many a year at libraries. i love books (unlike capital letters) and i like having them organized and looking pretty on shelves.

so my project is to organize the church library and to hopefully add in some good resources that people will actually use. like devotions, book club suggestions, bible study guides, youth activity books, etc.

and did i mention that i'm super excited to find a software program, pick out new books, and make the library look pretty and useful?