by Heather Plett | Nov 30, 2007 | Uncategorized
Joe Banana is missing!
If anyone should see a small, friendly, furry little monkey wandering past your home, looking a little lost, PLEASE let me know. There’s a sad little five-year-old girl in our home, who’s having trouble falling asleep at night without her buddy.
And if he isn’t found… well, then the present the older sisters bought for the five-year-old for Christmas just won’t be of any use.
Here’s a picture of Joe in happier times, before he wandered off to places unknown. I’m getting a little choked up just looking at his smiling face. (Okay, I AM pathetic – I’m feeling all sad for a lost stuffed monkey.)
Oh Joe, where did you go?
by Heather Plett | Nov 30, 2007 | Thursday thirteen
(Because if Krista can do it, I can too.)
1. I was running out at lunch time to meet with someone, and on my way there, a blind man with a white cane asked “is this Graham Street”? “Close,” I said. “Just another 20 feet and you’re there.” I turned away, but he called out, “where is the bus stop?” “Well, there isn’t one on this block, you’ll have to go to the next block.” “Have I crossed Graham yet?” By this time I realized he was quite disoriented and I hoped he wouldn’t get hit by a bus. “No, you still have to cross Graham.” “Am I at the corner where I can cross?” “No, not exactly.” Giving up my effort to get to my meeting on time, I asked “do you want me to lead you to the bus stop?” “Yes,” was his simple reply. And so I lead him, helping him to avoid the places where ice and snow have already accumulated. And yes, I’m glad I was willing to be late for the meeting – it was worth it.
2. Don’t worry – not every item on this list will be as long as the last one.
3. Yesterday I fasted for End Hunger Fast. Leaders (and others) in churches across Canada fasted too. It felt like a nice way to be connected to people across the country – through the common grumbling of our tummies. (It was also kind of fun to know that an idea that was birthed in my little ol’ brain while I was brushing my teeth inspired people all across the country to give up food for a day.)
4. Speaking of ideas, I came up with another great idea to put together a quilt to present to our government as a way of communicating our concern that farmers in Africa are “taking the heat” when it comes to climate change. We hadn’t gathered enough quilt squares from people, and we’re running out of time (before the big Bali conference on Climate Change), so I thought it wouldn’t materialize. But now a bunch of university students have decided to run with it and I couldn’t be more happy.
5. I’m tired. It seems to be a constant state these days. No, I am NOT pregnant.
6. Speaking of being pregnant, I love ultrasounds, and I’m glad Krista shared hers. When I was in the hospital with Matthew, I had at least 15 of them (twice a day for at least 20 minutes each time), so I got pretty good at reading them.
7. Nikki had her second practice with the indoor developmental soccer team yesterday. Afterwards, one of the coaches said to her, with a smile of encouragement, “Good work Nicole. You’ve got speed, girl. And if you keep kicking like that, we’ll have to get a bigger damage deposit.” I think she grinned all the way home. It’s true, I wouldn’t recommend standing in front of her when she’s kicking a ball. And I would NEVER challenge her to a race. Bravo to the coach for encouraging the new girl.
8. I cleaned up all the piles in my office last week AND I got to the bottom of my in box. Woohoo!!
9. I don’t know if I’ll make it to thirteen. I’m floundering.
10. Even my boss told me I’m looking tired these days. He’s not the most perceptive person around, so it must be serious. I think I need a two week vacation in a warm place.
11. Yesterday, for our day of fasting, I organized a little contemplative “worship” thing for our staff. It was quite lovely. I spoke about justice, mercy, and compassion (read Isaiah 58 for inspiration) and everyone was invited to light a candle (to symbolize their acceptance of a call to do justice), take a sip of water (the call to be merciful), and hold a handful of split peas (compassion). Some people took the burning candles back to their desks. I felt all warm and fuzzy (though a little hungry) for the rest of the afternoon, with a candle burning on my desk.
12. It’s hard to feel warm and fuzzy these days. It’s frickin’ cold outside. I’m not ready for winter.
13. We’re planning a very delightful pre-Christmas surprise for our girls (well, it’s for us too, but we won’t be surprised). I can hardly wait.
by Heather Plett | Nov 28, 2007 | Uncategorized
I stopped at the mall last night to pick up some pictures, and on my way through Chapters Bookstore, I heard some familiar music playing and decided to investigate. Alan Frew from Glass Tiger was doing an old familiar tune, and because I was once a bit of a Glass Tiger fan (I saw them perform live back in the early 90s), I hung around a bit to try to figure out why Alan Frew was in a bookstore.
Turns out he’s written a book. “The Action Sandwich – a six-step recipe to success by doing exactly what you’re already doing.” Huh – isn’t that handy – I can do EXACTLY what I’m already doing and end up successful?
I haven’t read the book, so I suppose I have no right to be judgmental, but I just can’t help myself. Does the world really NEED another self-help/motivational book about six easy steps to success? Especially one from a rock star?
I enjoyed this quote from an Amazon review of the book… “During a reminiscence of meeting and singing with Rod Stewart, Frew states “Who’d believe it?” and goes on to declare, “The Action Sandwich would!”, referring to the action sandwich as a person.” Hmmm… gotta get me one o’ those ACTION SANDWICHES! Maybe I can sing with Rod Stewart! Or not.
If you’ve picked up one of these books for me for Christmas, better ask for your money back.
by Heather Plett | Nov 26, 2007 | random
1. Saturday night after dinner, we were sitting in our living room when we saw a limo pull up in front of our house. We weren’t expecting any celebrity guests, so naturally our curiousity was piqued. Out of the limo stepped these three young men with their very special cargo. Sadly, that is not the Grey Cup – nope, that will be heading to Saskatchewan tonight. Instead, it’s the Vanier Cup. Our University of Manitoba Bisons won it on Friday. One of these fellows is our neighbour. They were looking pretty beat, but still quite happy to pose for just one more picture.
2. On another note, today I had a speaking engagement at a seniors’ home in Steinbach. Given that my family roots are in the vicinity of that very Mennonite part of the province, I knew I would be subjected to the “Mennonite game” wherein nearly everyone in the room would try to figure out who my parents and grandparents were and which of the people in the room I was related to. (I didn’t grow up in that area, but both of my parents did.) Sure enough, I was not disappointed. What I didn’t expect though, was the woman who pulled me over to tell me, with a bit of a giggle, that she’d once dated my dad, back in the day. He’d taken her for a drive in the country and had tried to teach her to drive. At one point, they’d come upon a herd of pigs, and she’d become flustered and had just taken her hands and feet off of everything. I guess that was the end of the driving lesson.
3. Speaking of my dad… when we were growing up, Sunday was a sacred day. Other than preparing meals, washing the dishes, and making sure the farm animals got fed, there was no work done on the farm. Even if it was beautiful weather in the middle of the harvest, my father refused to break the sabbath. Back then, I thought of him as a little legalistic. Now I’m starting to think he was on to something. We have slowly let ourselves step away from “remembering the sabbath and keeping it holy,” and it has become just another day to get the laundry done, go grocery shopping, you name it. Today, after I got back from Steinbach, I took a nap and allowed myself to be lazy for most of the day. It was good. I think I need more sabbath-keeping.
by Heather Plett | Nov 24, 2007 | travel
I have another whirlwind business trip coming up in a couple of weeks. To Montreal and Toronto again. Two cities in two days. Two sets of meetings in two different corporate boardrooms with two very different audiences in two cities in two provinces in two days. Too much.
The only thing I’m looking forward to? A train ride from Montreal to Toronto.
How can you tell your life is moving too fast? When the thought of 4 or 5 hours of uninterrupted daydreaming, reading, staring out the window and contemplating the meaning of life gives me no end of delight.
I love trains.
