No Talking

Friday, April 23, 2010

If you've been following my status reports, then you know that I lost my voice last Friday. I've been battling recurring sinus infections for the past 6 months. Now I have nodes on my vocal chords as a result of this last attack. I'm looking for a new ENT as we speak, one who looks at the whole person, in this case a person who needs her voice to do the work she loves and is called to do. I won't whine about my former doctor here. Just please pray with me that the new ENT will be more proactive and holistic in his approach.

Now, on the PLUS side, staying home from work for the past week has been a good rest and given me time to read and study. I just started a new course in theology of missions and there's a ton of reading to do, as usual. I'm supposed to give a short presentation in 2 weeks, so need the voice for that as well. I went over to church yesterday afternoon to play the piano for the first time in months. I feel like I'm "coming back to the heart of worship" again, even though I'm on a break from leading worship. Ironic, isn't it? that I lose my voice the same week?

Being silent is not easy. I love to talk! I love to teach! I love to sing! But I've had to do this before. Back in college, I got a bad case of laryngitis and was quiet for two weeks. It's really the only way to get rid of these swellings on the vocal chords. Voice rest!

I'm staying home from work for another week now, so you'll probably hear a lot from me here and on the message boards as I compensate for not being able to talk!

(Not real sure what this emoticon represents - talking chunks of cheese? But the heart is nice!)

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Sparkiversary #3

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Yesterday I celebrated 3 years on Spark! What can I say but this:

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Don't Wear Your Trousers on Your Head, Fred

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Now that I got your attention, thought I'd share a link to a song today. I want to learn it so that I can teach it to the kids at our next English Day Camp at the language school in May. I may have a weird sense of humor, but I think it's so cute. It's on the website of the British Council, so you don't have to worry about ads. The link takes you to a puzzle, then click on the button to hear the song:
www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-cl
othes-popup.htm

I'm not able to sing myself at all right now - I have laryngitis! It's rather ironic, because I would have been on schedule to lead worship at church today. And now I'm here at home recuperating. No speaking or singing for at least another day or two - I hope I can return to work on Tuesday. I have just one 90-minute private lesson.

On Wednesday I start back to school myself - a seven-week, one day a week Biblical Theology of Missions course. So I won't have to talk, just listen all day!

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Update on Fun, Worship, and Empty Hands

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Update on the Fun Factor: Not only did I have fun this week, I had the responsibility of making English learning fun for a group of 10 kids at the language school's Kids' Camp. We played Red Light-Green Light, Simon Says (great for learning those action verbs), Keep Away, Duck-Duck-Goose (with opposites), sang songs, made collages, drew monsters and more. At the end of the week, I was beat. But I think we all had fun.

And MORE fun: I got to meet the daughter of a Spark friend IRL yesterday! That was very cool. She is here in Germany leading a team of Christian workers who minister to university students. I got to see the house where they have their gatherings and chat with her about "Gott und die Welt" - "God and the world." In other words, just about everything. It was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours and I look forward to getting together with her again.

I laid something down this past week that is, and has been, very important to me - leading worship at my church. Officially, I'm on a break until I finish my degree. But a lot can happen in a year and I don't know if I'll ever go back to it as a regular role in this church.

I came to this decision after much prayer. At one point, I felt the Lord saying that I needed to let go of the old if I wanted him to fill me hands with new things. It seemed fitting to have Easter Sunday be my last day. We sang "My Redeemer Lives" and, as I led the congregation in the song, the words about "you lift my burden, I'll rise with you" really resonated in my own spirit!

I believe that getting this degree in Educational Ministries will open new doors for me, but the next year is going to be very challenging. Resources like time, energy and money are not unlimited. So something had to go. Funny, now that I have a little more time, I keep coming up with ideas for new projects! That's a challenge in itself - staying focused, not spreading myself too thin as is my tendency. As my pastor says, "Not every good idea is a GOD idea."

I may need reminding, dear Spark friends! I know I can count on you!

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You Read it Here First

Sunday, April 04, 2010

I could have titled this post "Shameless II" --- When I click "post blog entry," I'll be crossing over the 40,000 Spark Points mark and can go pick up my new trophy. What is it about those points and those little icons? One of the Spark People mysteries, I guess. In a couple of weeks, I'll cross another milestone - 3 years on Spark. I'm amazed.

More news, and a bit more significant: another long-time Spark member is about to have her baby today. According to her status, JENSFITJOURNEY has gone into labor and is on the way to the hospital. (I'm pretty sure it was her husband who posted for her!) Join me in praying for a smooth and safe delivery. Lots of Sparkers are looking forward to welcoming Michaela to the world!

P.S.Picked up my trophy:

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