Measuring Time

As I was listening to NPR today---running around to Costco and the like--- there was an interesting discussion being held about time.

The question asked was, "What is your significant measure of time?"

Picture taken by ToniVC

This question struck me as I realized that I had not considered my own measure of time.

As many callers and e-mails came in, it was soon evident that we each measure time in a personal way. One woman called in and described how her love-bird woke her up each morning instead of an alarm (PS. It woke her up by snuggling with her...no questions there...)...and another woman called in emphasizing how much faster time flies by as she gets older.

These musings on the personal significance of time made me stop and consider---how do I approach time?

I am blessed to not regularly be forced to wake with an alarm---and I do not have a pet who wakes me up. I also am no longer in school or work a 9 to 5 job. I do not live on a farm or in a place where I must get up as the sun rises (or earlier) and go to bed when it sets. We do not go home for holidays because of Red's work--and well, that does take away from their significance...and I'm at a point in life where I am neither dreading or looking forward to my next birthday.

Hmmm--as I stop to consider my relationship with time...I realize a few things.

1. I would love to measure time with the sun. ( a) Using a sundial would be super cool (b) I would love to rise with the sun and sleep with the sun.

2. I still function on a school schedule (ie. the New Year...January 1st...does not signify the start of an actual new year. My new year is in the Fall aka. after Labor Day when many people return to school...also, it does not end until the beginning of Summer...which means I have about 3 months of non-time....interesting...

3. Red's job significantly impacts my year---and so when we have time off from January to March that is our vacation time---a time of year that every one else is working... This makes the first "half" of the year (September to December) much more significant....

What are your thoughts on your relationship with time? Have you changed how you measure it as you've gotten older? Is there a particular reason you measure it the way you do?

If you would like to listen to this broadcast from NPR or read a summary, click here. The broadcast will be available after 6pm EST.

Karmin may be my new favorite.

Our dear friends Chrissy and Brandon have been in town the past couple of days...and so we went out to Chrissy's sis's house for a little fellowship and good food---and perhaps some killer games of Nerts...the best game ever..

So while enjoying our time together, Chrissy exposed me to the fabulousness of Karmin. A duo who specialize in some awesome covers--and have some sweet tunes of their own.

The gal is crazy talented...her rapping is amazing...and her voice is beautiful. Just take it in my friends.

A crazy cover:



An original song:




Go share this with your friends---Karmin needs to be on the charts...

Marines, Inland in St. Louis

Since moving to St. Louis, we have become dear friends with Jackie and Micah (you're heard about them before...) and Micah was a Marine.

I had been hearing about Marine Week St. Louis on NPR so when Jackie asked me if I wanted to go, I jumped on it. I honestly am quite ignorant when it comes to armed forces and thought that this would be a great way to gain some knowledge--and sweet friend time.

So, I woke up at 4:45 this morning and met Jackie half-way down town at Starbucks (which sadly didn't open until 6:30am...bummer) and headed down to The Arch/Riverfront area.

The morning started off nicely once we were down there--we enjoyed walking around..catching up..and, well you know, posing in front of Hummers..

(A "professional photographer" approached us and took our picture...turns out his specialty is taking pictures of vehicles...I'm not sure how to take that...)

You may be wondering why we needed to be there so early in the morning... Friends, let me show you why.

Here it is:

We got to see this baby land!

Pretty cool, eh? It is a CH-46 and is used to move platoons. They were first manufactured in the 1960's (Vietnam, anyone?) and are still used today.

It's one of those things that you've seen in movies...aghem...cough...Forrest Gump... and always wondered what it would be like to be inside one.

Turns out, it's really hot inside...and not as big as it looks on the outside...

But still super cool:

We stayed until 8:30am...enjoyed checking things out and learning more about the helicopters, etc. It spurred some great discussion about the courage and diligence it takes to serve our country...something I feel I under-rate sometimes.

So, thank you Marines and other armed forces. Your service is appreciated. Thank you for helping make this life possible.

....The end of this experience is especially fun and is related to a parking garage...

We arrived at the parking garage at 5:58am..just in time for 6:00am early bird special (ie. 4 buckaroos from 6am-9am instead of the usual $6.00). So we thought, sweet! We had a $5.00 between us--so we were covered unless we stayed for an extraordinary long time. So we went, enjoyed, and returned to the car at 8:40am or so. Just in time...to pay $6.00.

"What?!" you say..." That doesn't make sense!" I know, right?! Well, it turns out that they are sticklers about that 6am rule, and the fact that we were there three minutes early means we were not true early birds (though I beg to differ)...

So here we are with only $5.00 and they tell us we can leave an id and go to the ATM. (Wait, what?)...so we scrounge for change, fall 40 cents short...and have to ask the car behind us for some cents... Jackie hops out of the car...and the attendant who is fully irritated with us shouts out, "Ma'am your car is moving!"

Here I am sitting in the front seat, completely oblivious to the fact that the car is rolling--and then when I realize, I have no idea how to work the stick-shift so I freak and bend over to press the brake pedal with my hand. (Totally by-passing the emergency break that is conveniently right beside me.) hahaha

Jackie rushes back to the car---40 cents from the cranky man behind us---and we are on our way. Car in tack...and dues paid.

So that was my experience at the River-front all before 9am this morning---

The Marines will be in town all week bringing awareness about their skills and also helping construct a greenhouse on the Saint Louis Riverfront and also to build a garden in a local community...

And, if you head down to the Riverfront, be sure read all signs in parking garages and know that they mean it when they say the times...

Click here for more information about Marine Week!

Picnic with Shakespeare

St. Louis is such a sweet place to be in the summer. There are so many free places to go and things to do.

Last night, Red and I decided to take advantage of one of these opportunities: St. Charles Shakespeare in the Park.

We saw Much Ado about Nothing...a fabulous comedy, and enjoyed a delicious picnic.

Check out our super cool picnic basket!! (Thanks Jackie--we were the only ones with a basket!)

The play was set by the Missouri River in downtown St. Charles. They had simple props, but did a great job of making the characters fill the stage and come to life.

It was so relaxing laying on our picnic blanket, talking, and taking in the people around us. It was a mixed crowd but definitely lent itself to the more senior end of things. (I'm always interested in who shows up at these free events...so many types of people there for the same reason...)

Red and I have been struggling some with balancing our alone time with our social life. It was such a nice time to be with each other but around others.

Poor Red, he is so big, that it was difficult for him to get comfortable on the blanket (we couldn't find a normal camping chair for him to use!!)...so we ended up leaving at intermission (Hey, no judgement)...it's as he pointed out: it's difficult to pay attention when you're really uncomfortable..)

So we left. But, I was still so satisfied. I love being outside...and I love supporting the local arts...and I love picnics (which we've established before...)...and I love free things...and I love my Husband....

So it was a great night.

Well, and it also ended with a spectacular sunset:

What free things does your community offer? Leave a comment, and let us know!

I want to be a traveling musicianary.

I have a friend. One--and well she's actually more of an acquaintance than a friend. Her name is Chelsea.

(We hit it off at a wedding last year in Denver, and well, hoped we'd meet up again one day...but you know, it's one of those things you'd like to happen, but don't expect...)

So anyways, I got a random text from her Thursday asking if I knew of a place she and her friends could come serve in worship.

I had no idea what that meant. I asked, and she explained she and her fellow musicianaries were looking for some people in St. Louis to lead in worship...and could they crash at our place.

Hawk, Chelsea, Random photo-takers dog, Red, Me, AC

So they came...and they led our community group in worship on a night that is normally just for hanging out and fellowshipping...it was incredible, and then they crashed at our place.

Chelsea, Hawk, and AC led our group in a night of intimate worship. I truly felt like the Lord was singing over me and my heart. The songs resonated deep in me.

It was sweet. It was an incredible experience that emphasized the community of Christ.

I adore Chelsea. The Lord has blessed her with the gift of storytelling...the gift of song writing...the gift of connection.

Being around Chelsea and her fellow musicianaries (Hawk and AC) was an incredible encouragement of the heart.

A force to be reckoned with: people who live by the Holy Spirit.

This experience exposed my own hesitation to go boldly.

Go boldly, for the Lord is with you.

If you, or anyone you know is interested in having the musicianaries come to your church or your home. They are on tour for the next two months (road tripping across America) in hopes of providing as many people as they can with an avenue for good worship and intimate community. They are doing this particularly to reach churches and communities who can not afford to pay worship leaders.

Contact Information

Chelsea Florence

GodsLoveisFree.com

Reelin' Reds with Red

So I have been traveling the South since that post in Texas and have thoroughly enjoyed visiting my old stomping grounds.

There is nothing like going back to your college town for a some friends' wedding and getting to see the people you survived college with.

Between Texas and Mississippi, we headed down to the beach in Alabama to visit Red's family. We thought this was going to be the "downtime" in our trip---little did we know...

The first day we got to sleep in and just piddle around. Then that was it.

The second day we took the boat out to Robinson's island for a day in the sun. The boys set up a tailgating tent and manned the grill while the gals floated on rafts (and as I reapplied sunscreen quite liberally over and over again...I refused to get a sunburn this year.)

Needless to say, it was awesome.

The next day was opening season of Red Snapper, and the boys were extremely excited about the prospect. Red's little sister and I decided we were going too, and then his mama jumped on board...in all sense of the word...and so we got up at 5am to head out to sea.

It was incredible. After returning in-land to drop off some landlubbers who couldn't quite get the hang of things, Red, his Dad, and I headed out.

It was gorgeous.

About 15 miles out, we found our sweet spot and started to reel them in. (I wish I could show you a video of my grace in motion...it turns out 10 lb fish can really give you a fight...I was sore in places I didn't think should be sore...for days!!)

I finally sat down with the rod in the holder because I wasn't as effective a man-handler as I needed to be.

Victory, fishes!

Here is Red in action:

We came home with 6 Red Snapper that day, all over 10 lb. It was an exciting experience and one I hope to do again sometime.

One warning to people...if you ever take Dramamine (which I did, just in case, though I had never been sea sick before...) be weary of the fact that it can and will (in my case) make you sleepy!!

I was so sleepy that at one point I thought I was going to fall out of the boat! I was nodding my head like I used to in class...miserable----but the fish made it worth it.