Tuesday, August 31, 2010

New Year's Resolution: August

I have officially failed at keeping my new year's resolution. My goal was to do one "Indianapolis" thing each month. Despite great weather we didn't manage to do much of anything in the city other than go to church. However, we had a great month doing lots of non-Indianapolis things:

- A weekend visit to Momaw's with Mama and Lu. A great girls weekend and a chance to visit Momaw and Aunt Nancy
- A weekend home, relaxing
- A Pizza Hut date with Treva
- A beautiful wedding in Crawfordsville, celebrating Joseph's birth and Joey and Liz's marriage
- The official beginning of Christmas shopping
- Preparing for Labor Day weekend and Mark's first trip to Notre Dame!

So, while I only managed to keep my resolution for seven months I am still thankful for all of the wonderful visits and times that were shared in August

Movie Project: August Recap

With more nice weather and weeekends out of town we didn't manage to see a lot of Academy Award winners but we did see the following: From Here to Eternity (1953), Kramer vs Kramer (1979), Braveheart (1995), and Shakespeare in Love (1998). With this month's viewings we are officially under 20 left to watch!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Random Act of Kindness

One day last week a man came into the jail lobby to turn himself into a warrant. For the sake of storytelling I'll call him Dave. He was with his wife and son and immediately I judged. I was so frustrated, as always, by the fact that his child was with him. I hate watching children watch their parents get arrested.

Moments later a young woman who had just been released came into the lobby, barefoot and crying. She told me that her family lived three hours north, that she needed to call them, and that she didn't have any shoes on her feet when arrested so she did not have any to wear now. I offered make a phone call for the young woman on our Admin phone but before she could give me all of the needed information a witnessed an incredible random act of kindness.

Dave stepped up to the young woman and said, "Here you can step outside and use our cell phone to call. That way you can talk as long as you would like." She stepped out, made her phone call, and then returned. Dave's wife handed the young woman her flip-flops and said, "Here, you may have my shoes. I am just driving home, I don't need them." Then Dave and his wife explained to their son that in life you will make mistakes, some of them you have to be arrested for, but you can always make them right. They also explained, and showed with their incredible kindness, that every moment is an opportunity to make someone else's day better.

I was amazed. Never in my life have I thought to give someone my shoes much less taken them off my feet and left somewhere barefoot.

What a wonderful reminder of God and His awesome presence in all aspects of our lives.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

New Year's Resolution: July

July's "Indianapolis Event" was by far the most special of the year. We were blessed with a week long visit from Matt, Jenn, and our beautiful nieces Katherine and Elisabeth!

On Sunday, July 25, we shared in the baptism of Kati and Elli. The girls were bapitsed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Indianapolis. It was so special to see them becoming offical members of God's family in the church that the boys were raised in.

We are so thankful that Matt and Jenn were willing to travel SO far with their little ones so we could all meet them and love on them. It is hard to believe that next time we see them they will be almost nine months old! Dear God, please bless Matt and/or Jenn with a job a little closer so we can share more time together!

Movie Project: July Recap

Whew! With lots of visits and vacation I'm a bit behind on my end of the month posting.

Our July Academy Award Winners were: Mutinty on the Bounty (1935), Rebecca (1940), Mrs. Miniver (1942), All the Kings Men (1949), My Fair Lady (1964), and Gladiator (2000).

Rebecca has been by far my FAVORITE! I loved it! Everyone go find it and watch it!