PCC Scroll Volume XII Issue IV

Here is my latest article from the PCC Scroll.

I was mulling over the theme of this quarter’s newsletter, which is “Reset: Take God off Pause.” My mind kept focusing on the word reset. In my mind, the word was correlating with the sub-theme, which is “Getting Back on Track.”

Bing Dictionary (online) defines reset as, “set something again; put something back to zero.”

The editing team of the PCC Scroll recently reset during our yearly retreat with Kris Fulsaas. It was a great time to recommit to the newsletter and the newsletter’s mission. It was also a great time to plan for our next calendar year.

At my job, my work team resets twice a year during team retreats. During these times, we review our goals, and we track our progress toward them.

But in our hectic, busy lives, finding the time to reset can be difficult, but I find it’s very important.

I reset each year by going on a vacation. During that time, I do not check work email or voice mail. I mention this because many of us are still plugged into the matrix even on vacation, which defeats the entire point of getting away. Work will survive without me, so I totally unplug.

During a vacation, I will spend each evening journaling. I take the time to write about my important relationships and things I can do better. I take the time to set goals for myself for the next year. I write about my commitments to church to take pulse if I am on the right assignments. I write about my job and what my next career steps are. I write about my health and how I am doing. You name an aspect of my life, I write about it. It helps me reset, recommit, and refocus.

Vacations are a great time and place to reset, recommit, and refocus even if you can only go a few hours away. For example, there is a priory in Lacey, WA, called St. Placid that I have been to a few times. It is driving distance to Seattle, but it feels like another time and place. It is the perfect place to get away and reset.

It is too easy to continue to do the same things over and over without ever doing a sanity check to make sure we are still on track. How many of us have taken the time to ask God if we are heading in the direction He wants us?

I am reminded of when my computer begins to act awry at work, and I call the Help Desk about it. Often times, they will have me shutdown my computer, let it sit for a minute, and turn it back on. And nine out of ten times, this simple reset will do the trick.

Whether you have two weeks or one day, taking the time to reflect on your life is crucial. It is time to reset and make sure you are on the track God desires you to be on.

Seaplane

One more activity has been checked off of my bucket list!

I was able to go on a seaplane ride! I was so excited! My friend Linda and I flew round trip between Seattle and Friday Harbor. It was the perfect day as the weather was extremely nice. Between walking, shopping, eating, and chatting the day flew by.

Here are some pictures:

My partner in crime.

Our plane on the way down.

View from the plane: Another plane taking off.

View from the plane: Boats moored on Lake Union.

View from the Plane: Seattle

View from the plane: Mount Baker makes an appearance. With Mount Rainier in prominence, I often forget about Mount Baker.

Arriving at Friday Harbor.

Beautiful Friday Harbor.

Washington State Ferry docking in Friday Harbor.

View from the Plane: Seattle Skyline with Mount Rainier in the background.

View from the plane: The iconic Space Needle.

Bucket List as of 8/31/13

Bucket List

Updated Bucket List:

Places to Go:
Egypt
Israel
Portugal
Morocco
Turkey (Technically I have been to there but a very short time period)
Australia
Argentina

Things to Do:
Go horseback riding
Write a Book
Take a photography class
Go on a helicopter

Go on a hot air balloon

Walk half marathon

Maybe:

See Das Rheingold

Dungeons and Dragons

For the first time ever, I played a Dungeons and Dragons game. On Facebook, I joked that I felt like Penny on the Big Bang Theory. It was at a PAX convention, where seriously gamers converged on the city. It was actually quite fun. I would play it again.

It just so happens the Lord I was "secretly" playing is the lord who is shown below far right. There were five players, and I placed three, which  is not bad considering the other players were all gamers who had experience with this sort of game. Looking back, there are a few things I could have done differently had I known the rules and how to strategize correctly.

All in all, it was a good night!

Simple Pleasures

I enjoyed a nice day on the lake recently. We are having a great summer. Even went on a boat ride. Life is good!

Hair

Latest hair picture. Got highlights in time for summer.

15-Bean Stew

I am excited at this meal that I made with a little help from my friend Steve.

I went and had lunch with he and his wife, and he walked me through the steps to create this stew. OMG. It's good!

It's base is a bag of 15-beans with Kielbasa sausage for flavor. Added carrots, onion, garlic, celery, parsley and some pepper and the flavor packet from the beans.

Love how it gets better as it settles more and more.