Categories Family & Friends

A Christmas Announcement

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Our family Christmas last night was enjoyable, but the last gift absolutely stole the show.

In a box labeled “From the Menter family to the Menter family”, we found two cards and several “Grandma” and “Grandpa” baby bibs. It was my brother and his wife’s way of announcing that they’re pregnant.

Baby J. Mentner will be making his arrival somewhere around the middle of July.

They’re not finding out Baby’s sex, but Debbie and I just KNOW it’s going to be a boy. (Grace reads over my shoulder and says “And me!”) Daniel, of course, is obstinate and insists it’s a girl–and that she’ll be the cutest girl in the whole world.

The pre-wedding plan said something about having the first kid somewhere around January 2012–but I’m glad they re-thought that plan and decided to start a bit earlier. Since they anticipate moving elsewhere for Dan’s Ph.D. program sometime in 2012, this gives Auntie Rebekah a bit more time to spoil the little one!

Yep. This announcement definitely stole the show.

And NOBODY is complaining!

Categories Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: People

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Advent is a time of year when many people’s minds turn towards STUFF. What am I getting? What am I giving? What do I want? How will I decorate? What do I need? Buy more stuff. Stuff to eat. Stuff to wear. Stuff to decorate with. Stuff to give. Stuff to keep for ourselves.

This Christmas season, I’ve been blessed with plenty of STUFF–but I’ve been mostly blessed by the PEOPLE in my life.

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Today I’m thankful…

…that my little sister could come up to Columbus for the day and spend a bit of time with me and Anna

…that I was able to get a hold of my friend from church today–even though I didn’t know her phone number or address, or even the NAME of her business

…that my sister knew the name of Maria’s business so I could drop off my gifts for her

…that all of the kids happened to be there when I dropped by–and that we had some wonderful conversation while I was there

…that I have wonderful coworkers who I truly enjoy working with

…that I was able to catch up with an old classmate-turned-coworker today when she visited our facility

To the God who revealed Himself as a man, incarnate–
For the people He has granted me the privilege of knowing and loving–
I give thanks.

Categories Work

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

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My workplace has been having a mini-spirit week in this week leading up to Christmas. Today is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.

I hate ugly Christmas Sweater Days.

Why?

Because I love ugly Christmas sweaters.

I’d wear them everyday if I could and still be a professional.

Wearing them on “Ugly Christmas Sweater day” makes me seem complicit in the “make fun of themed sweaters” trend. Which I’m totally not into.

But I like to wear my Christmas sweaters–so I’m wearing one today.

Ugly Christmas Sweater

But please, if you want to make fun of Christmas sweaters–do so behind my back. I happen to like them.

**Please forgive the remarkably poor quality of the picture above. I didn’t have time to make sure I got a good one.**

Categories Everyday Life

Small Talk

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I’m great, thanks for asking.

It just so happens today went well. I left work after less than nine and a half hours–for the SECOND time this week!

What’s more, when I got home and checked the mail, I found THIS

Letter announcing that Bubble wrap is inside

Yes, that’s right. A letter announcing that it had Bubble wrap inside.

I appreciated the physician directory and the first aid kit welcoming me into the community, but the Bubble wrap definitely stole the show!

But enough about me. How have you been? Have YOU gotten anything interesting in the mail recently?

Categories Book Reviews

Book Review: “The Checklist Manifesto” by Atul Gawande

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I’m quite fond of checklists myself. I use them for practically everything. They save me time, money, and energy–but did you know that checklists can save LIVES too?

And I’m not being facetious.

Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto tells the story of how simple checklists save lives–in the building of skyscrapers, the flying of planes, and in the running of operation rooms.

Gawande is a surgeon, and the bulk of the book concerns how he and a number of colleagues in the WHO developed and implemented a checklist to reduce surgical complications–with stunningly positive results.

As a dietitian (and sister and roommate of a physician assistant), I was fascinated by Gawande’s stories of operating rooms, emergency rooms, and public health campaigns. But this book isn’t just for people who like medicine. Gawande stretches outside the constraints of medicine to discuss how checklists are used in architecture and aeronautics, in disaster relief (well, by Walmart during Katrina, at least) and in investment.

Gawande makes a compelling case for the necessity of checklists, even among highly trained professionals, to deal with the problem of extreme complexity. He argues that in the world in which we live, there are hundreds (even thousands) of opportunities for something to go wrong. Even the most advanced practitioners need only forget one thing for a fatal error to occur. Checklists can be used to reduce these errors by ensuring that all of the most important considerations are made.

As I read, I found myself thinking of ways I could use checklists in my own work. Maybe checklists for weight loss interventions (I find myself typing the charting shorthand “wt” instead–I think I may be spending too much time charting at work) or for tube feeding initiation. I toss around a half dozen ideas, start compiling mental checklists. Yes, I’m going to be implementing checklists soon.

The Checklist Manifesto isn’t a self-help book or a “how to” manual–but I can almost guarantee it’ll get you thinking about how you can use checklists to make your life and your work better, faster, and more efficient.

I read this book on recommendation from Lisa Notes. Check out her review.

Rating: 4 stars
Category: Medical(?)
Synopsis:A history and defense of the checklist as a life-saving tool for modern days.
Recommendation: Definitely of interest to medical types, probably of interest to quite a few more. A fascinating story told well.

Visit my books page for more reviews and notes.

Categories Homemaking

Preparing for Christmas

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Come the second week of December and my boxes still aren’t unpacked, my self still not settled into the House of Dreams.

Moving while working isn’t easy.

Maybe I’d be tempted to skip Christmas decorating this year. After all, I’ll be going back to Lincoln to celebrate Christmas with my family anyway.

But I couldn’t do that.

Christmas provides the impetus to finish my unpacking, to get the main rooms ready.

Christmas in the House of Dreams

Stick a tree in the corner next to the piano.

Christmas in the House of Dreams

Lights around the window and a mini-tree on the end table.

Christmas in the House of Dreams

Anna winds lights along the staircase.

Christmas in the House of Dreams

Christmas balls and lights among my crystal on a bookcase.

Christmas in the House of Dreams

An advent wreath on the table.

Christmas in the House of Dreams

The House of Dreams is ready for Christmas (except for those empty boxes and miscellany still hanging out in the dining room.)

I finished the last “emptying” of the living room and dining room last night.

Two more rooms moved in–and two ready for Christmas. Yippee!

And now, to show off my Christmas tree and its homemade skirt in a bit more detail…
Christmas tree
Christmas in the House of Dreams

Please forgive my vanity, but I’m pretty proud of our little (big) House of Dreams.

Categories Memes

Firsts

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Amber filled out this “first” meme last night–and I’m thrilled that she did. ‘Cause it seems just long enough to quickly fill out before I jaunt to Lincoln to see my FIRST (and second) brother graduate from college. Congrats to Joshua and Daniel!

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
I have yet to go to my FIRST prom. So who knows. Maybe someday as a chaperone?

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
I should hope so.

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
~Revelation 2:4-5

3. What was your FIRST job?
Washing dishes for my pastor’s wife and across-the-street neighbor.

4. What was your FIRST car?
Benedick (Benny D for short), named after Benedick in “Much Ado about Nothing.” Benny was a good, faithful Chevy Cavalier. He served me until the day he died.

5. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Anna, asking if I was awake :-)

6. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Dunno. Probably myself :-(

7. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mary Menter, although I called her Mom

8. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
Nowhere. It was a Wycliffe plane and we just circled about Seward.

9. Who was your FIRST best friend?
Bethany, whose last name I no longer remember. We had matching baby dolls, thanks to her mother.

10. What was your FIRST sport played?
Never played sports. Sorry.

11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Likely at my cousin Ariann’s house. Either that or at Anna’s best friend Amanda’s house. Or maybe at Yvonne’s (a lady in our church who had three boys but no girls–now she has a girl!)

12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Anna. When you live with only one other person, the options tend to be limited.

13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
Anna and I were flower girls at my Aunt Nellie’s wedding.

14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Before or after I got out of bed? Turned off my alarm and the electric blanket before laying in bed for another hour. But after I got, I made my bed. It’s a flylady habit.

15. What was the FIRST actual concert you ever went to?
What does that mean, “actual” concert? My pastor’s wife took my sister and I to see an orchestral performance when we were in late elementary school. Otherwise? Er..dunno. I’m not much of a rock concert person.

16. FIRST tattoo and/or piercing?
Ears pierced at age 8? Infection set in soon after and the ears have been mostly shut since.

17. FIRST foreign country you went to?
Mexico. Hasn’t everyone?

18. What was your FIRST run in with the law?
??? I’m coming up blank. I got a warning for speeding while coming into downtown a few months back.

19. When was your FIRST detention?
What’s detention?

20. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
The only state I’ve lived in longer than a couple of months–Nebraska

21. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart?
Kyle P. He moved to Germany with his family when I was 7. Heartbroken young lass. Who would I climb trees with anymore?

22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
Anna. We’ve pretty much shared either a room or a home for all our lives. (Sans a year when she was in college and I was in Bible school and a year when she was working while I was in grad school.)

23. When was your FIRST real kiss?
Haven’t had it yet. Virgin lips here–and proud of it!

25. When was your FIRST birthday?
My first (and only) birthday was March 14, 1985. I celebrated the first ANNIVERSARY of my birthday on March 14, 1986. (I’m such a smart-alek.)

26. Who was your FIRST serious boyfriend/girlfriend?
I’ll pass on that one. I’ve never dated non-seriously, but I’d rather not drag old boyfriends into my blog.

27. What was your FIRST word?
Dunno. Mom could maybe help us out on that one. I do know that my sister’s first word was actually a sentence: “I don’t want that” referring to some food she was being fed. Mom and Dad couldn’t figure out whether to be excited or upset.

28. What was your FIRST surgery?
I’ve been told the exploratory thing-a-ma-jig doesn’t count as a surgery ’cause I didn’t get cut open, so it’d have to be the nose job. Now I can breathe. It’s exciting.

29. Who will be the FIRST to respond this?
You?

Categories Flashback Friday

Flashback: Christmas PresentsCh

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It’s been an age since I’ve participated in a Flashback Friday. But now I’m back, and back just in time for the last Friday before Christmas. At least, for the last Friday before OUR Christmas.

Flashback Friday buttonToday Linda asks… When did you open Christmas presents when you were growing up? Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? If you traveled, did your parents take the gifts, or did you open them early or late? … Did you have stockings? What was generally in those? Were gifts simple and practical or more extravagant? Did you give presents to your parents and siblings? Were they homemade or purchased? If purchased, did you pay with your own money or did your parents pay? What are memories of special gifts you received?…

My family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve–and we’d open our gifts after the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church.

I suppose we were a rather modest family–we certainly never received hundred-dollar gifts like some people might have. But still, we generally had a nice selection of gifts–a few practical gifts, a couple toys, and the little doo-dads we kids bought each other with the dollar Mom and Dad gave us to use to buy gifts for each sibling.

Nevertheless, my favorite Christmas present ever came the year Mom and Dad didn’t have money to buy any extras.

I’m not sure what the deal was that year–maybe a car or a large appliance broke down and needed to be replaced–but money was tight. I was just developing a money awareness, and for whatever reason, I remember peaking into Mom’s checkbook after she’d written her tithe check at the end of December. I was shocked to see that the balance in her and Daddy’s checking account was $7!

With little money to purchase presents, Mom used her ingenuity to make us gifts. A picture book for Danny made with fabric and fabric paints–a story about when we go to Grandma and Grandpa’s farm. Little teepees of doweling, fabric, and more fabric paint fit perfectly with Lincoln logs and cowboys and Indians.

But the best Christmas present of all was that year when there wasn’t any extra cash. That year, Mom made us a tent.

She made it out of fabric scraps in her favorite colors of rust and tan and pumpkin and mustard and olive green. Pieces leftover from skirts or dresses she’d made herself. Pieces she’d intended for outfits for herself but had sacrificed to make our tent. Pieces obtained from family or friends. She pieced the pieces together into an enormous tent that fit over the school room table. Windows on three sides had flaps that could be rolled up and tied. The fourth side had a door that could likewise be rolled and tied.

But the crowning glory was the flag. A Tinkertoy and dowel invention poked through a grommet in the top, holding taut the peaked top. And atop the dowel flew a flag.

We spent many a day in that tent. It was a pioneer’s covered wagon, a princess’s castle, an Indian’s teepee, an adventurer’s tent. It was a house, a store, a library.

As each of us children has grown and become more financially independent, our gifts have grown in size and cost. But none of the many gifts we’ve exchanged since that day have been able to match the enjoyment we gained from that one.

Just goes to show that money isn’t everything.

Hear other people’s Christmas memories at Mocha with Linda’s Flashback Friday Meme

Categories Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: The End(s)d

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There are things we don’t like to see end–and things we can’t wait to see end. Ends can be happy–or they can be melancholy. This week, I’ve had some ends I’ve been expectantly anticipating–ends that have come at last.

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Today I’m thankful…

…for the END of commuting between Lincoln and Columbus

…for the END of the semester teaching at the University

…for the END of catching up from last month’s conference in Boston

…for the END of last night’s treacherous drive

When there’s so much going on in my life and so much tossing me in every direction, I’m thankful to have some of it come to an end.

And I’m thankful for the new beginnings every ending heralds.

Categories Theology

Songs I love and hate

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Recently, Christianity Today asked a collection of prominent evangelicals whether they thought “Away in the Manger” should be done away with.

Why do away with “Away in a Manger”? some of you may ask.

The bad theology, of course.

You know…”The little Lord Jesus no crying He makes…”

At best, it’s extrabiblical. At worst, it’s unbiblical.

It’s a denial of the full humanity of Christ.

But it’s a pretty song, a cute song, a song rich with memory for many of us.

The question brings to mind a whole slew of other songs that I love and hate. There are the songs whose melodies I love but whose words I abhor. And the ones whose words I love but whose melodies I hate. And then there are the worst ones, the ones whose melodies and words I love–except for a couple of lines.

Songs like “Above All”.

I think it might’ve been my favorite song except for its one huge glaring fault.

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There’s no way to measure what You’re worth”

It’s beautiful–singing about the supremecy of Christ over all things, of His matchless worth.

And the chorus only increases the wonder, telling of the pinnacle of God’s glory displayed through the cross.

“Crucified laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a Rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall..”

I exult in the supremecy of Christ, I celebrate the incarnation, I rejoice in the crucifixion–the Power of God displayed for all to see.

And the next words send me back to earth with a thump.

“You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all.”

What?

Are you serious?

So I just sung about how God is above all–but now you’re telling me God worships ME?

Uh-uh. Not happening.

God, the supreme God who is above all, thinks of me (Hallelujah)–but He does not think of me ABOVE ALL. God thinks of me and loves me–but He is God-focused above all. He does not live to make me happy or even to save me–He lives to be Himself and to be seen as Himself. And, boy, is that a good thing! If God were me-focused, it would decrease His God-hood, it would make Him an idolator. God doesn’t think of me above all.

So, needless to say, that song frustrates me a bit.

So good. So bad. So difficult to separate the good from the bad.

Tell me, do you have a song you love and hate? Do you think about the theology in the songs you’re singing? What songs bother you–and what do you do about it? Do you still sing along? Do you stand in silence? Do you write a letter to the editor? Tell me what you think about theology and music.