The Backyard

Best Books of 2011

2011-12-20T18:55:00.001-08:00

I’ve read 80 or so books thus far into 2011, and I will post a list of my favourites by genre after Christmas. For now, here’s a list of my favourite books actually published this year that I have either read, or am currently reading. (For those of you who’ve already opened your book giftcards, and looking for inspiration.)

In no particular order:

1. The Pastor: A Memoir
A beautiful memoir, full of great stories, insight and humour. 2. Salvation Means Creation Healed: The Ecology of Sin and Grace
A comprehensive exposition on the need to widen the scope of what we mean when we talk about “salvation.” Wonderful. 3. Small Things with Great Love: Adventures in Loving Your Neighbor
A must read for anyone who feels overwhelmed both by what is wrong in the world and by doing the laundry. 4. Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
I heard him speak on preparing for the second half of life at the Wild Goose festival, and suspect this is the book that will cause me the most reflection in the coming months. 5. The Cost of Community: Jesus, St. Francis and Life in the Kingdom
The sermon on the mount observed through the lenses of the life of Saint Francis and his own community. 6. Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts
Another beautiful memoir, a deeply personal narrative of the search for home and redemption. 7. Practicing the Way of Jesus: Life Together in the Kingdom of Love
Experiments in spiritual formation from a creative and generative practitioner. 8. Insurrection: To Believe Is Human To Doubt, Divine
The always provocative Rollins explores the ways we use religion to keep us from encountering the God of whom Jesus felt forsaken, and thus so often forego the liberating experience of resurrection. 9. The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited
Beginning with the question, ‘Did Jesus preach the gospel?’, McKnight takes on the narrow understanding many have of “the gospel”. 10. Christians and the Common Good: How Faith Intersects with Public Life
A much needed call to a faith and politics that is focused on comprehensive human flourishing rather than partisan interests.

And in fiction:

1. Doc: A Novel
A cracking re-telling of the life of Doc Holliday. 2. In the Rooms
Laugh out loud funny, utterly unsentimental portrayal of addiction and the literary world. 3. Divergent
For anyone who enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy.

(Full disclosure – several of these authors were already or have become friends, which no doubt has influenced my enjoyment of their writing.)

This Christmas – buy once, gift twice

2011-11-22T07:57:00.001-08:00

An idea has been rumbling around in the back of my mind for a while, and a few days ago it burst forth with a rare degree of creative clarity. I had been thinking about offering to sign and mail copies of “The Story of God, the Story of Us” to people who were looking for Christmas gifts for friends, family, teachers, pastors etc.

Then our friend Andrea Baker stopped by to visit a couple of weeks ago. Andrea and her husband Andy are field directors for Word Made Flesh in Bolivia. For the past decade they have worked alongside their friends on the streets in El Alto, and offered alternatives to women caught up in the sex industry. The cost of living has more than tripled during that time, and their regular support is no longer adequate for the work they are doing, let alone to further develop the business that is helping their friends get off the streets. Andrea was in the States to receive an award for her work with the least of these, recognition of the kind of service that is the heartbeat of Word Made Flesh, whose staff embody the Story of God.

So here’s my idea.

In the season when we prepare for the mystery of the Word made flesh (John 1:14), we want to give you an opportunity to give two gifts at the same time. We have bought a bunch of copies of the book from our publisher. Gift #1: I would love to sign and mail books out to those of you looking for Christmas gift ideas. We’re asking a minimum of $20 per book (incl. shipping). Here’s why. Gift #2: We will give all the net proceeds to Word Made Flesh Bolivia, and Rebecca and I will match the first $500 raised.

This is how it works:

1. Email me at sean.gladding@gmail.com with the number of books you’d like, the names of the recipients, and the address you’d like me to ship them to.

2. I’ll reply and let you know where to send the check. Once I receive your check, I’ll mail your books!

3. Final date for shipping is December 15th. After that, we’ll send a check for the total amount raised to WMF.

Thanks for helping us support the work of Word Made Flesh Bolivia this Christmas.

(An FYI. The executive directors of WMF, Chris and Phileena Heuertz have written books about life and mission that are well worth reading: Friendship at the Margins, Simple Spirituality and Pilgrimage of a Soul)

A neighbourhood valentine's video

2011-02-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

Our friend Felice put together a short video that captures a little of what we love about our life in the East End. Enjoy!

Communality Christmas

2010-12-20T06:38:00.001-08:00

Communality Christmas 2010
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Chickens, trombone and banjo, Hungarian cabbage rolls - it's a Communality Christmas!

Sungold cherry tomatoes

2010-08-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

Sungold cherry tomatoes
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We planted a couple of tomato plants behind our apartment - they are both about 9' tall and the Sungold is particularly prolific. And 'oh boy' delicious.

The fun goes on and on and on...

2010-08-19T09:10:00.001-07:00

Black walnuts - the fun goes on and on and on...
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Seth and Maggie found the first black walnuts of the year and had a big time pounding the fruit with hammers to get to the nut, which they squeezed out with their fingers. Which will no doubt now be stained for quite some time.

Travis Reed comes to town

2010-08-17T17:48:00.001-07:00

Travis Reed
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Our good friend Travis Reed of 'the work of the people' spent a few days with us last week. He was in town to do some filming with Sean for a 6 part video series that will be a small group resource exploring some of the themes of the Story of God that scripture invites us to be shaped by.

We spent many hours wandering the neighborhood, on the streets downtown, in the London-Ferrell garden and the Episcopal cathedral, trying to capture where these themes are being made manifest in our life here in Lexington. With heat indices in the 100s, it was hot and sweaty work, but thanks to Travis' talent for drawing forth inspiration when it seems to be draining out with every drop of sweat, we finished all six. Travis will now turn his editorial gift to transforming those many hours of film into short films that will hopefully provoke thought and conversation around the Story.

The book should be back from the printers in just 3 weeks. Sean will be heading up to Chicago to spend a couple of days at the Christian Community Development Association's annual conference with the good people of IVP, and will return with a few cases of books. We are excited to finally see it!

We'll let you know when the videos are done, and where you can take a look at them.

On holiday in England

2010-07-02T06:29:00.001-07:00

Seth with crab
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We're having a wonderful time visiting family and friends, and we brought some beautiful weather with us! Check out more photos on Flickr.

Seth's Co op class art exhibition

2010-06-02T11:20:00.001-07:00

Seth's Co op class art show
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Over the course of the semester, Seth and his classmates have been creating art in various media, both for the experience and for their first class exhibition.

On the day of the show, they took turns greeting people, serving refreshments, talking about their art and selling it. It really was very impressive, and a lovely afternoon, thanks in large part to the hard work of Seth's teachers, Ms Littrell and Angie. The kids had a great time, as did the parents and family members!

Seth had worked particularly diligently at a piece of weaving, and we bumped into the weaver at a neighborhood event, and Seth told her about his purse. She wrote a beautiful reflection on their interaction, which you can find here on her blog.

Check out some other shots of the exhibition at our Flickr account.

2010 FIFA World Cup: United

2010-05-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Community Supported Agriculture

2010-05-25T16:57:00.001-07:00

Hoop house produce
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Jeremy Porter, a member of our community here, is farming just under an acre of land about 30 minutes outside Lexington. Supported by his wife Karissa, he has started a CSA called Eden's Gate, providing fresh produce to 40 shareholders, ourselves included.

Back in the winter months he bought and constructed this hoop house with the help of several teams of volunteers. He has been starting all his seedlings to transplant to the field in the hoop house, and has also planted rows of vegetables in the ground, as you can see. This picture was taken 3 weeks ago - when I went out last Thursday, you could barely see the paths, so lush was the produce. We've enjoyed some heads of lettuce, broccoli and turnips this week, and the CSA officially starts on Thursday - a week earlier than planned.

I've been out a few times to help plant the seedlings, hoe and water. It's been a gift to spend time with Jeremy, get my hands in good soil, and watch the miracle of growth from seed to seedling to food up close.

There's plenty of information on CSAs available on the web - there's probably one near you. Support your local farmers, and enjoy the amazing flavour of locally-sourced produce.

Animalia

2010-05-17T17:30:00.001-07:00

Orangutan
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We spent a delightful couple of days this weekend enjoying animals as a family. Maggie's class took a field trip to Louisville zoo today, and we all went along. It was a cool, overcast day - perfect for wandering around with a bunch of kindergardeners. It was our first time to this zoo, and they pack a lot into a small space - which brought out the ambivalence I (Sean) feel about zoos. I love being able to see animals I would probably never ever get to see otherwise, but recognize that most are crammed into a concrete and steel structure that surely cannot feel like home, even to those that were born there. Still, the animals today were very lively - giraffes see-sawing around their enclosure, penguins diving and swimming, a very friendly orangutan and a siberian tiger that roared as we approached - a quite terrifying sound when you're not expecting it, the deep bass rumble at the end reverberating around in our chests. Maggie and Seth had a big time with their friends, and we enjoyed leisurely conversation with other parents.

On Saturday, a truly glorious spring day, we went to the Bluegrass Sheepdog trials and watched dog and owner work together on a lush, green canvas of rolling hills. It's felt like a huge gift to have two full days of outdoor time together, and seeing the beauty of creation expressed in so many ways filled us deeply.

Hopefully this brief entry signals a return to updating our blog a little more often - watch this space!

Book Review – Friendship at the Margins

2010-05-10T13:06:00.001-07:00

Friendship at the Margins is part of the Resources for Reconciliation Book Series, a partnership between IVP and the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School. The series asks what it means to pursue hope in the midst of the many manifestations of brokenness in our world. Each book is co-authored by a practitioner and someone from the academy. I have been looking forward to reading Friendship, written as it is by two people I have respected for a long time: Chris Heuertz, international director of Word Made Flesh, and Christine Pohl, professor of social ethics at Asbury Seminary, who was my advisor during my time there.

Two decades ago I volunteered regularly at a free lunch program offered by a downtown church in Lubbock, Texas. From one to two hundred people came, mostly from the neighborhood. We ‘got them through the line, fed and cleaned up’ in an hour. For a reason I no longer remember, one day I decided to stand in line, get a plate and sit down at a table and get into a conversation with a couple of people. That was an important milestone in my journey into the heart of what the authors discuss in this book.

Although a relatively short book, it took me a while to read Friendship. The authors ask questions I thought I had satisfactorily answered a long time ago, and yet through their graceful interweaving of stories with the insight that comes from praxis, I found myself being challenged at the same time I was nodding in agreement with them. I took stock of some of the friendships I have, and confess I came out wanting. Having lived in Lexington for 9 months now, I became somewhat uncomfortable as I reflected on whether blossoming friendships here are truly mutual or if I’m still tempted to see certain people as “projects”, “potential donors” or “representatives of causes.” One of the strengths of the book is the honesty and humility evident throughout, which gently drew forth the same from me.

The book takes an unflinching yet generous look at donor-recipient issues in service and mission; at the unavoidable ambiguities and tensions that arise when we become friends with those outside our own social circles; and at the necessity of long-term commitment to place and people. The last chapter, which asks what kinds of spiritual practices help sustain friendships at the margins, seems particularly important. What will help us sustain long term commitment to each other – where does our hope come from, and how will we nurture it in the midst of our shared brokenness? (To that end I’m also looking forward to reading Pilgrimage of a Soul by Chris’ wife and partner in mission, Phileena, released next month.)

Friendship at the Margins – highly recommended.

Shrove Tuesday

2010-02-16T17:10:00.001-08:00

Shrove Tuesday crepes
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

This post is in honour of our dear friend Peter Johns - chef extraordinaire, and fellow Brit, as I imagine he did something similar today. I decided to make pancakes for Shrove Tuesday like me mum always did growing up - once a year, straight out of the pan, lemon juice and sugar liberally sprinkled - apply to face till you can't eat any more.

Well, if you're going to make a dozen pancakes (crepes, more accurately), you might as well make three dozen. So, for our regular Tuesday night family meal with our friends the Maddocks I served crepes stuffed with caramelized onions, wilted kale and sautéed mushrooms, topped with a light cheese sauce with more than a hint of nutmeg, accompanied by roasted sweet potatoes. Followed, of course, by the traditional pancakes of Shrove Tuesday.

There's a reason it's called 'Fat Tuesday'. One big splurge before the season of Lent begins tomorrow...

Frosty February Fun

2010-02-09T17:17:00.001-08:00

Snow seats
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Maggie and Seth made their first big snow people this afternoon - and then Maggie said she wanted to make snow chairs to rest in because she was tired. So we did. Check out more photos on Flickr.

missing jasmine

2010-02-03T05:51:00.001-08:00

jasmine in bloom
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

I woke up this morning really missing our old garden. The jasmine would be starting to bloom, and we would be preparing the soil for planting the first seeds on Valentine's Day. That rich scent and receptive soil seem afar off today, with snow lingering in piles and a ways to go before preparing our small plot in the community garden for planting.

Foy Vance

2010-01-28T10:47:00.000-08:00

Geoff introduced us to Mr Vance a few months back, and I've found myself listening to this Irishman with the beautiful voice a lot recently. This song moves me deeply, so I thought I'd share it with whoever stops by The Backyard today.

Sabbath rest

2010-01-25T10:43:00.001-08:00

Stump with lichen
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

With temperatures creeping into the 50s, we decided to hike a trail in the Kentucky Palisades this past Saturday as part of the rhythm of rest we've established. Being outside the city in the quiet of the countryside is extremely restorative for all four of the Gladdings. We drove south to Jim Beam nature preserve (this being Kentucky), and found the trailhead as described on the website, although, despite it supposedly being "open 365 days a year", the gravel parking lot's barrier was down and locked. So we parked in the grass by the track, and walked in.
We spent a delightful couple of hours getting up close to lots of lichen and fungi - the only green to be found in the drab colours of winter. Rebecca overturned numerous rocks, and the eager looks of anticipation on Maggie and Seth's faces as the secrets the rocks held beneath them were revealed was priceless. "Can we turn this one over too?!" The highlight discovery was a newt, with golden ants, wriggly earthworms and beetles aplenty.
We heard cardinals chipping in the distance, saw vultures circling, and were accompanied by a Downy Woodpecker, who flitted from tree to tree ahead of us for awhile.
We breathed deep of the solitude the woods afford, catching glimpses of the palisades through the trees, and hearing the sound of running water from the small streams winding their way down to the Kentucky River below.
One day in seven to rest. Good idea.

Favourite kids' books

2010-01-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

I realized I was missing a very important category of books in my review of 2009 - childrens'.

So, here are a baker's dozen of some of the books that make us laugh out loud, or that have beautiful illustrations or that we just really like. Top honours goes to "The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone" by Timothy Basil Ering, a beautiful, whimsical tale of greening 'cementland' that we delight in reading over and over again. In a similar vein is "Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney.

A brace of beautifully illustrated stories are "The Wild Girl" by Chris Wormell, and "The Raft" by Jim LaMarche. In bibliography, we love Brian Wildsmith's "Saint Francis." In traditional tales, Margot Zemach's "It Could Always Be Worse" is a favourite.

In the fun category are "Tacky the Penguin" by Helen Lester/Lynn Munsinger and "Todos Hacemos Caca" by Taro Gomi. In the fun for kids, but especially for adults category are "Where's My Cow?" by Terry Pratchett/Melvyn Grant and "Duck for President" by Doreen Cronin/Betsy Lewin.

Finally, the family favourites. These tend to be a moving target, but here are ones we read on a regular basis. For Maggie: "The Paper Bag Princess" by Robert Munsch/Michael Martchenko, which ends with the immortal lines, "'Ronald,' said Elizabeth, 'your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.' They didn't get married after all." For Seth: "Skippyjon Jones" by Judy Schachner - "Holy Frijoles!" - whose website is as cool as her book. And then, when we just need some pre-school humour, "Pooh! Is That You Bertie?" by David Roberts - the family that boffs together, stays together!

Best Books - 2009 Pt. II

2010-01-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here are my favourite novels from last year. There are some years when one novel leaves such a lasting impact that it's easy to say, 'that was the best for this year.' 2009 was not one of those years. There were several novels that vied for the 'best of 2009' spot, but none that really stood out from the rest. So, I have settled on "Mudbound", the debut novel from Hillary Jordan, as first among equals. The story is told in the first person by the six protaganists. A father moves his family to an isolated farm in the Mississippi Delta just after World War II. The story unfolds as the war hero sons of the farmer and the sharecroppers on his land return and form a friendship that exposes the racism deeply embedded in this part of the South. Another son, the antithesis of his war hero brother, creates more tension, as long-held secrets hold sway over the two families. An unblinking and beautifully told narrative of the personal and structural evil that is racism.

In historical fiction, the standout novel was "World Without End" by Ken Follett, the epic sequel to "Pillars of the Earth", one of my favourite novels, which is in post-production as an 8 hour mini-series. I also enjoyed "The Eleventh Man" by Ivan Doig, whose "Whistling Season" is another favourite.

Madeleine L'Engle's "A Live Coal In The Sea" is a beautiful, painful and hopeful story of three generations carrying the scars and open wounds of poor choices and long-held secrets.

In short stories, Wendell Berry's "Fidelity" comes highly recommended. I'm not a fan of short stories usually, but after a slow start, I was drawn into this collection - my first by this son of Kentucky, our new home. Also set in Kentucky, I was pleasantly surprised by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's "Faith, Hope and Ivy June", her 136th(!) novel. It tells the story of two high school students who spend two weeks in each other's school: one a private girls' school in Lexington, the other from "the hollow" in Hazard County.

Thanks to Rebecca, I have become a big fan of adolescent literature - here are my favourites from last year. "Notes From the Dog" by Gary Paulsen, who is consistently good: a laugh out loud, ache in the gut tale of the summer friendship between an awkward teen and a young woman with breast cancer. Did I mention it features a garden? Another couple of crackers in this genre are "Angry Management" by Chris Cutcher, which features a surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of an evangelical; and "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, another laugh out loud story which also manages to be entirely non-sentimental about the issues of racism, justice and poverty that it raises.

In the "late night page turner" category, "Simple Genius" by David Baldacci takes the honours. Although I find that when I re-read one of his, I barely remember what happened. Which probably says more about me, than it does about him.

In the "old friends" category, highlights were "Airman" by Eoin Colfer; "Nation" by Terry Pratchett; and "The Private Patient" by P.D. James, which I'm really hoping is not her last novel.

I hope you find at least one to whet your appetite from among this selection - support your local library! And remember, just because you start a book, you don't have to finish it. In that category this year was "Foreign Body" by Robin Cook - complete and utter tosh.

Up next - the best books of the last ten years...

MLK Jr Day 2010

2010-01-18T11:22:00.001-08:00

MLK march 2010
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We wrapped up warm and headed downtown to join the thousands of Lexingtonians who chose to mark the day by marching together in honour of Dr King, and to be reminded that there is still much work to do. It was Maggie and Seth's first time to join a march, and when I got back to the house with Seth we watched clips of the march on Washington, and Dr King's "I have a dream..." speech. It was particularly poignant for us as we now call Lexington's Martin Luther King neighborhood home.

Best Books - 2009

2010-01-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

I (Sean) have been keeping a reading log for 10 years. For some reason I read more books in 2009 than any year previously - 83, for a total of more than 25,000 pages. For those of you who enjoy reading as much as Rebecca and I do, here are the books I enjoyed most from among those 83.

The most important book I read in 2009 was 'The Transition Handbook' by Rob Hopkins. Having become increasingly informed of the looming crisis "peak oil" presents, I wanted to read this book, which friends had recommended as a hope-full response to what seems an insurmountable reality. It chronicles the history of the "Transition Movement" (which began in the U.K. and is now spreading globally) and also provides hands-on advice for what it will take to make the transition from oil-dependence to local resiliency. I highly recommend this as an introduction to this vital issue that continues to remain 'off the radar'. (See also the excellent documentary "A Crude Awakening.") In a similar vein I also enjoyed Bill McKibben's "Deep Economy."

My favourite biographical work was "Drinking: A Love Story" by Caroline Knapp, a non-sentimental, and wryly humourous account of her 20 years as a high-functioning alcoholic. Also in autobiography (in the "I did something for a year and wrote about it" category), I thoroughly enjoyed "The Year of Living Biblically" by A. J. Jacobs.

In the "books about the Book" category, I loved "Genesis: The Story We Haven't Heard" by Paul Borgman. Dr Borgman is a professor of English at Gordon College, who has spent 25 years wrestling with the Genesis stories with his undergraduates. His exploration of the Abrahamic narrative is particularly excellent, and there is insight and profound pondering on every page. Highly recommended. I also found Sandra Richter's "The Epic of Eden" excellent - a very helpful introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures.

An 'honourable mention' goes to Rob Bell's and Don Golden's "Jesus Wants to Save Christians" - which i re-read in 2009 for a small group study.

That wraps up my favourite non-fiction books I read last year - the fiction recommendations will be up next.

Campsie Place - January 8th 2010

2010-01-08T12:11:00.001-08:00

Campsie Place - January 8th 2010
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

It has not been above freezing since we came home, with little hope of that any time soon. Our Houston-acclimatized bodies are feeling it! Our narrow side street has been inaccessible to the city ploughs, which makes for a pretty picture, but slick footing underneath. Maggie and Seth were excited to see snowdrifts, but disappointed to discover that it's not "fun" snow - so cold it's just powder. We hung the final curtains last night, and i finished putting that plastic wrap stuff over the south facing windows. There's still an arctic gale blowing through the kitchen cabinets - the tile floor sucks the heat out of our feet. We've plugged the draughts best we can, but with the thermostat set at 60, the heat still stays on most of the day. Welcome to winter!

Family photos

2010-01-03T18:31:00.001-08:00

Rebecca & Seth
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Our dear friend Geoff Maddock took some beautiful photos of us a month ago, and we've finally got around to uploading some. We have a lot of catching up to do on the blog - watch this space!

Waking up to snow

2009-12-05T07:58:00.001-08:00

Waking up to snow
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Maggie and Seth (and us too) were excited to wake up to their first snow ever. They insisted on going outside to play in the 1/4" of snow. Watching them revel in scraping up enough snow for a snow-peanut, and making a snow angel on the pavement (learned from a book, of course) was a delight - oh to be thrilled by such simple things...

Cousins - Thanksgiving 09

2009-12-01T16:57:00.001-08:00

Cousins - Thanksgiving 09
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

See below for details!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

We've had a wonderful week with family, and have been mindful of all we have to be thankful for. Our sister-in-law Erin's parents came down from Minnesota, and we shared several meals with them, and a hike in Red River Gorge to Gray's Arch on a stunning autumn day. The litluns held up remarkably well, and had a big time scrambling up rocks and climbing along narrow ledges and through small spaces to reach the base of the arch (see more photos at our Flickr account).

In preparation for Rebecca's family driving in from Illinois, we spent 3 days turning the third bedroom from the 'holding area' for all our unpacked boxes into an actual guest room. We also hung pictures and photos, swept floors, cleaned - partnering with God in the ongoing work of bringing order to chaos! It's quite astounding the difference having an ordered space makes to our overall sense of well-being.

We joined the Martin/Bailey/Watterson clan for brunch on Thanksgiving morning before driving back to Lexington for Will & Lisa Samson's community Thanksgiving feast, enjoying time with them, their friends and neighbours, and Communality friends and family. The food was quite spectacular, and we finally got to meet Claudia Burney and her family, who are good friends with the Samsons, and who Sean connected with somewhat randomly through Facebook before both our families moved here.

Friday saw the Martin clan descend on our home for brunch burritos, books and games before a hike at McConnell Springs, and then heading downtown for the Lexington Christmas parade. We drove out to Wilmore on Saturday for one last meal together, and began to make plans for Christmas in Greenville - the first time the cousins will be together for Christmas. But between here and there is Advent, which we began in darkness at the High Street House on Sunday night, as once more we wait for the Light of the world to be born in us anew...

Relinquishing

2009-11-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

For the past three months we have been gathering at the High Street House with folk from Communality to share a bowl of soup and to share our stories. We have received these times as sheer gift, as we continue to get to know the people we are choosing to do life with here in Lexington. There has been lots of laughter, many beautiful and/or goofy photos, some tears, a few revelations of the "I can't believe I didn't know that about you" kind from those who have been family together for years, along with much courage as people have shared painful and difficult chapters of their story, some the writing of which has yet to be completed. After hearing from two people each week, we sit them on the missionary chest that serves as an altar for our community, and then spend some tender time in prayer for them, with gratitude and blessing for their story as it gets caught up in the unfolding Story of God.

Last night we heard two more beautiful stories, both of which offered the precious gift of vulnerability. I found myself thinking about them as I lay my head on the pillow last night and again as I rose to run this morning. Both of these stories are being shaped by relinquishing, by letting go of something.

A young woman shared the damage that the perfectionism she had internalized had wrought in her life and of the freedom she had found in making the decision to walk away from formal education as a bright and motivated student who was paralyzed by the fear of failure. Relinquishing expectations and opportunity has begun to heal the harm perfectionism has caused her. She concluded with eloquent tearfulness, as she described something else that has caused her pain over the years of which she is being invited to let go: her perception and experience of a profoundly masculine God. This belief has led her - as a young girl and as a woman - to question what it means for her to be made in the image of God: something which God intends to lead to wholeness and identity security, but which for her has led to feelings of somehow being "less than" simply because of her gender. As she opens herself to experiencing the femininity of God, she is continuing her journey towards wholeness and shalom.

The second story we received has also been deeply shaped by relinquishing and was told by a young man who is a relative newcomer to Communality. His two decade search for a life and community that embodies his evolving understanding and experience of the God of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures has led him into voluntary homelessness in Lexington. He shared his experience of being invited by God to be homeless for a season, to relinquish the security of home and the stuff to which he finds himself deeply attached. I found the gentle and authentic spirit with which he told his story compelling and it has continued to cause me to reflect on my own need for security and control, and the comfort I find sitting in the midst of my books, something which he has specifically chosen to relinquish.

The gift of story is profound and one for which I am deeply grateful as I seek to live more faithfully into the Story of God.

(I found the image for this post online, but was unable to identify the artist for which I apologize.)

Autumn

2009-11-18T07:22:00.001-08:00

Staghorn Sumac
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We've been enjoying the colours of autumn for the past month. The depth of hue of reds and oranges and yellows has been a delight to the eye, and we've been reacquainting ourselves with Kentucky flora, such as this Staghorn Sumac, and the Ginkgo trees that Maggie and Seth love. The sun has shone in blue skies and the air has been crisp in the morning, warm in the afternoon. We feel gently eased into the Kentucky climate - a mild summer, a warm autumn, and the first cold drizzle of winter today.

Most of the leaves have now fallen - some will provide a warm covering for the roots of their trees as protection against the cold of winter, and will nourish the soil as they decompose. Others will be raked, bagged and carried away, and mulch will be purchased and spread around to mimic the Creator's design with a 'tidier' aesthetic...

Revisiting one of my favourite videos - enjoy!

2009-11-17T06:22:00.001-08:00

The men in black

2009-10-25T06:58:00.001-07:00

The men in black...
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Last weekend I spent a rowdy and wonderful evening with four friends who span 25 years of my life. I first heard John Smith speak at Greenbelt in 1983 (I think) - his preaching profoundly changed the way I thought about Jesus and the life he invites us into, and in many ways John set the course for the way my life has unfolded. I met Matt Russell at Capernwray Bible College in England in 1986 where, after a wary beginning, we became firm, and then best friends. Matt has shaped my life in more ways than I will ever know. Greg Leffel I met in 1998 when I began graduate school at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, and became part of the experimental grounded missional community that he and John wanted to have a go at - Communality - which we have returned to 11 years on. Greg is one of the the brightest people I know, and I will continue to learn much from him. I met Travis Reed in Houston six years ago. He is the creative genius behind "theworkofthepeople.com" - providing visual liturgy and provocative film for the church on mission. He also makes me laugh more than any other person I know.
We spent 4 hours talking, laughing and creating another pub memory together - caught on film, of course, by Travis. The only thing missing was other dear friends of more than a decade here, Geoff Maddock and Billy Kenney.
Good times.

Seth turns 4

2009-10-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

Seth & birthday cake #4
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We celebrated Seth's 4th birthday a couple of weeks ago, with a shindig at the Ferrell's home, joined by Jeremy, Erin and the boys. We played lots of games on the lawn, some dug up from Sean's childhood ('pin the tail on the donkey', 'musical statues'), others from Rebecca's outdoor education background ('pin the clothes peg on someone', 'giants, elves, wizards'). Lots of laughter, and a beautiful butterscotch sponge cake a la Nigella Lawson.
Seth is a delightful little boy, and has a variety of states of being. He loves to run ahead of us when we're walking somewhere, climbing on steps, or walls, and laughing out loud.He has a rock star mood, when he plays air guitar with a very serious face, then cracks himself up. Or his construction mood, when he's concentrating hard on building a tower with wooden blocks or 'Wedgits', which he got another pack of for his birthday. He is into cutting paper with his scissors, spending this afternoon drawing and coloring ghosts, cutting them out, then sticking them to the walls with scotch tape. He enjoys being with Maggie about 96% of the time and we love watching the creative play they engage in.
We are deeply grateful for the gift of Seth in our lives.

Apple goodness

2009-09-25T12:54:00.001-07:00

Apple goodness
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Last weekend we made a tentative first step towards 'putting up food' for the winter. We've been steadily eating our way through the 50 pounds of apples we picked at Reed Valley Orchard on Labor Day - including a delicious spicy apple pie courtesy of Delia Smith, renowned British chef and owner of my home team, Norwich City Football Club.
So, we have apple butter and apple chutney to put in the freezer, and dehydrated apples for the pantry. We'll return to Reed Valley in October to pick Fuji, Gold Rush, Granny Smith and Arkansas Black varieties, and see what we can do with them.

Roots & Heritage Festival

2009-09-12T11:29:00.001-07:00

Roots & Heritage Festival parade
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

This weekend we're enjoying the nationally acclaimed Roots & Heritage Festival right here in our neighborhood. Things kicked off last night with live music on the main stage, just down the street from our friends the Maddock's home, and within easy listening distance of our bedroom, as we tried for an early night! This morning we sat in glorious sunshine for the parade, getting a feel for some of the community organizations in the East End as they marched, rode and drove by. We grilled hot dogs and burgers in the Maddock's drive, and gave them away as the crowds passed, collecting donations for the East End Fund - a community fund for home renovations, tree planting, street signs, and other ways to develop the local community. Two stages of live music tonight, lots of vendors, and joy on the streets of our new home - great stuff.

U2.com > News > Going 'Crazy' Tonight

2009-09-10T18:36:00.001-07:00

U2.com > News > Going 'Crazy' Tonight

Posted using ShareThis

Less than a month till Geoff and I see the boys again - magic.

Scroll down to watch the video at the bottom.

One month in...

2009-09-03T18:19:00.001-07:00

Seth & 'Sugar' the chicken
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Maggie and Seth started at the Co-operating School this week, and so we have had our first experience of a week with some kind of structure to it. Rebecca and I have spent two afternoons together, beginning to reflect on our first impressions of Communality as it is today. We sat in Shillito Park on a beautiful afternoon today, and dusted off our worship 'design' gifts to craft a (hopefully) meaningful communion service that explores the gift of meaningful work, the importance of rest, and justice issues that Labor Day gives us pause to reflect on. We are really looking forward to leading worship together again, and the opportunity to be creative in our worship of the Creator that a smaller community provides.

We are getting a feel for our neighborhood as we walk and bike around it. It has been many years since we've ridden, and we are re-acquainting ourselves with muscles we had lost touch with. The weather continues to be unseasonably cool, and we are relishing the brisk mornings that greet us. We are one step closer to raising chickens, beginning some hands-on learning that Seth in particular is really enjoying. Small seedlings are breaking through the rich soil in our plot in the community garden, and we continue to enjoy the bounty from the Maddocks' backyard. (See entry below.)

I got to spend my first afternoon with Seth's class yesterday, and became acutely aware of how far I still have to go with honing my communication skills with small children. If you have a specific response in mind, don't present it as an option, Sean. '"How about we stop splashing each other, ok?" may not be the best directive for 4 year olds at the water table. I am already in awe of Mrs Littrell's ability to speak with clarity consistently, and am really hoping some of it rubs off on me quickly. Seth and Maggie have certainly been presenting us with lots of opportunities to practice, as they continue to adjust to the huge transition we have undergone.

Seth and Maggie both got sick last week, and Seth had a febrile seizure - which we thought he had grown out of. We are going to talk to a paediatric neurologist next week to make sure there's nothing else going on. They're both full of beans again, bouncing off the walls at their first Chuck-E-Cheese party to celebrate Isaac's 6th birthday on Tuesday. Communality had its last picnic of the summer this past Sunday, and we were struck at just how many little kids there are in the community now - the most striking change we've observed. Maggie & Seth are navigating the waters of friendship with new peers, and seem to be going back and forth between paddling well with others, and knocking them out of the boat.

Local food

2009-09-03T17:54:00.001-07:00

Pavlova treat
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Rebecca, Maggie & Seth made pavlova this morning, for afternoon tea in the community garden with the Maddocks, who just returned from the Greenbelt Festival in England.
Meringue made with eggs from our friends the Brown's chickens, whipped cream skimmed off the milk from a local dairy farmer, and topped with raspberries from the Maddock's backyard - a delicious, local treat.

Settling in

2009-08-19T10:46:00.001-07:00

Raven Run Sanctuary
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

One of the gifts our move to Kentucky has brought us is to be living close to Rebecca's brother Jeremy and his family: aunt Erin and cousins Jed, Caleb & Andrew. We spent a delightful couple of hours this past Sunday hiking the trails at Raven Run sanctuary and sharing a picnic lunch. They joined us later that afternoon at the High Street House, where we met with our new community for the weekly gathering and to be welcomed with a potluck dinner. We continue to be deeply grateful to have been sent out with love by our Mercy Street family, and to be received with love by our Communality family - an uncommon experience and a profound privilege.

We have the living space of our new home sorted out, but the guest room is not quite ready to provide a comfortable welcome to anyone. Maggie asked us today why we had stopped unpacking boxes when we still had so many. Maggie spent 3 days at Kindergarten last week, but we really struggled with her being there for more than 7 hours each day. In looking for a pre-school for Seth we discovered the Lexington co-operative school, which has been here for more than 50 years, and which has a kindergarten that meets for 3 hours a day. We really enjoyed our visit, and so enrolled both M & S. School meets from 12-3 each day (Seth stays home on Fridays), and Rebecca and I will have the opportunity to spend several days a month volunteering in their classes - part of the co-operative nature of the school. We are very much looking forward to the opportunity of spending time with Maggie & Seth in their classroom this first year in Lexington - an opportunity we recognize may not present itself again.

The leadership of the community have been gracious in affording us the time to settle in to our new life here - we have our first meeting with Greg & Billy tomorrow morning, followed by a meeting with all the leadership (or as they like to say, "the people with responsibilities") on Monday. We are eager to begin to find a rhythm to life here, and to discover what our partnership in the missio dei will look like...

Lexington, Kentucky

2009-08-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

We got internet service in our new home today, and so I thought I'd end the day with a brief update on our transition from Houston to Lexington.

Our last week in Houston was a blur - more details to take care of than we anticipated. But thanks to the exceedingly gracious hospitality of Bonnie & John McMillan we survived. One highlight of the last week was Seth finally gaining confidence in the swimming pool, thanks to Gigi's (Peggy Hennek) steadfast 'coaching'.

Our last night on the Street was overwhelming. We were showered with love by the community that we have had the privilege of belonging to for the last 7 years, and who are sending us out with their blessing and support to live and serve and "keep the main thing the main thing" here in Lexington. It was a bittersweet time, saying 'a dios' to so many people who we love, and who love us and who we have experienced much of God's grace with in the messiness of our common life over the years. People were so generous, kind and thoughtful with their words and gifts and we left deeply humbled by the evening, and deeply aware of how much we have been blessed during our sojourn "keeping it weird" at Mercy Street. There really aren't words right now.

We set out early Sunday morning for the 2 day drive North-East, which was relatively uneventful (at least compared to the same drive the week before in the U-Haul with Geoff). We arrived late Monday afternoon, and enjoyed the first of many meals with the Maddocks - mostly made with vegetables picked from their garden just beforehand. We have been slowly unpacking, making lists and taking care of the myriad details a move entails. We've enjoyed being pedestrians again, and went to our first pot luck tonight with some local food enthusiasts - cheese grits, ummmmm. We catch glimpses of what our life will become here, which offsets the chaos of our home, and weariness from lack of sleep and the sheer pace of the last few weeks.

Maggie and Seth have jumped into their new situation with both feet, and love spending hours and hours with Isaac and some of the other kids in the community. Rebecca and I are bone-tired, and decided yesterday that it feels like we're visiting on vacation - hanging out with friends, sharing meals, doing some fun things - rather than this being our new home. I imagine the reality of all that this transition means for us will sink in in the days and weeks to come.

We look forward to becoming much more intentional with the blog as this new season in the life of our family begins...

Cousins

2009-07-10T15:11:00.001-07:00

Cousins - Colorado 2009
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

The good news is I (Sean) woke up feeling much better this morning, and have been able to get out and enjoy our last day with the Martin clan. We spent several hours at a beautiful stream-side park in Frisco, and finally managed to take a photo of all 7 cousins. We've enjoyed morning visits from a velvet-clad buck - this morning I was sitting in the hot tub at about 7:30 when he strolled by just a few feet away. Maggie and Seth are enjoying the diverse wildlife we're encountering - the deer is their favourite. Tomorrow we say goodbye to the Martin clan, and drive back to Crested Butte to overnight with Sean's friends, the Hegstroms. Then on Sunday it's a 5 hour drive to Durango, Colorado for the last week of our vacation - staying with friends from Mercy Street.

Our dusk visitor

2009-07-09T16:18:00.001-07:00

Fox - dusk visitor in Silverthorne
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Most nights we've spotted this fox, but last night he/she(?) decided to come hang out by the hot tub for awhile. She came up to the back door at one point, so our guess is people have fed her in the past.
We're having a great time hanging out - enjoying the weather with more hiking and biking, and a visit to a kids pool with water slides that was a smash hit with the kiddos.
Sean is still sick - was diagnosed with "walking pneumonia" yesterday - we're hoping the Z-Pack kicks in soon!

Silverthorne, CO - on the trail

2009-07-06T15:37:00.001-07:00

Colorado 2009 - on the trail
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We made it over the Continental Divide on Saturday and arrived safely in Silverthorne for a week with Rebecca's family, after enjoying the 4th of July parade in Crested Butte. As of today, Seth is in great health, Maggie seems to be over conjunctivitis, Rebecca is slightly improved, and I am feeling somewhat less lousy, but now have conjunctivitis. But it's another beautiful place to be sick in!
The seven cousins are having a blast getting reacquainted, and today we took a leisurely 4 hour, 3.3 mile hike along Lake Lilypad trail overlooking Frisco. Another stunning day - a highlight was watching a beaver swim around the lake while we ate lunch. Maggie and Seth were stars - a long hike with no complaints or requests for rides.
The house we're all staying in is a tad more luxurious than we're accustomed to! We look out over the mountains, and can step out the back door and into the woods - or the hot tub, which is Maggie and Seth's new favourtite thing. Sean and Jeremy were soaking in it last night and watched a fox slink past just a few feet away.
The kids seem rested now, but Rebecca and I have little left in reserve. It's good to be with family.

Colorado trip '09

2009-07-02T11:08:00.001-07:00

I was having trouble uploading from Flickr

Crested Butte '09
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

- now it is working. See below for more on our trip!

Crested Butte '09

2009-07-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

We're a week into our Colorado trip, and enjoying the gracious gift our friends Todd and Angela gave us of a week in their place in Crested Butte. We pulled out of Houston last Thursday (102 degrees) and have woken up here to about 40 degrees each morning. We spent Thursday night with Uncle Dave, Aunt Sharla and Stella in Arlington, then drove through Texas, just getting into New Mexico Friday night. We arrived in Crested Butte late Saturday afternoon, with just over 1100 miles on the trip odometer.Crested Butte is absolutely stunning. We spent Sunday and Monday hiking and biking and walking Elk Street, enjoying Fat Tire Bike Week. CB is a very bike-friendly, if not bike-based culture. We enjoyed a fantastic pizza at the Brick Oven Monday night, and were beginning to settle into vacation mode after a stressful last few months. Tuesday morning saw Sean and Seth feeling lousy, and we ended up at the CB medical clinic yesterday - Seth with an ear infection, Sean with some kind of upper respiratory virus, and Rebecca with her ongoing cough/cold. So, we've pretty much laid low for 3 days - although, if you're going to be sick, we can think of worse places to be sick in! But we hear the trails calling, and it's hard not to be able to explore more of the area.We're driving into Gunnison this afternoon to get out of the house and pick up a few things, and will hopefully check out "Colorado's best coffee and chai" at Camp4 Coffee.The scenery truly is breath-taking, and the weather deliciously cool in the morning and evening. We've added some new bird species (including a golden eagle roadside on the way here). Check out the photos on Flickr.We're hoping to kick the bugs ahead of Saturday, when we head up to the Breckenridge area to spend a week with Rebecca's family.

Extreme shepherding!

2009-06-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

Trying to sell our house and preparing to move hasn't left much time for updating the blog - but here's a video that made us smile in the midst of the busy-ness...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

2009-04-27T10:13:00.001-07:00

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

A beautiful visitor to the backyard this morning on his way north - first time we've spotted this bird.

Dad's visit Part I

2009-04-26T13:40:00.001-07:00

Stan & Suzie's visit
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Sean's dad arrived for a visit last week, and was delighted to see our good friend Stan's RV parked outside when we returned from the airport. Stan & Suzie stopped by on their way home to Lubbock, and we enjoyed catching up with them in their new RV.

The boys are back!

2009-03-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

Although I am still in the 'growing on me' stage for the album overall, there are some standout tracks on 'No Line on the Horizon', including this. Waiting for tickets for the October 14th show to go on sale!

Rolf Harris

2009-03-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

I introduced Maggie & Seth to "Jake the Peg" today - one of my favourite songs growing up. They laughed out loud at his 3 legs, and we all got tongue-tied singing "The Court of King Caractacas" - another gem. Rebecca and I talked about childhood memories like this, and wondered where the entertainers are today that the whole family can sit down and enjoy together.

If this is your first "Rolf Harris experience" - enjoy!

Mexican Flame Vine

2009-02-27T18:58:00.001-08:00

Mexican Flame Vine
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We planted this vine 3 years ago, and have always been excited to see the occasional bloom on it. Suddenly it is full of blooms, and we have a beautiful view through the sun porch of a sea of white jasmine with a riot of orange behind it.

magic wands and cowboys

2009-02-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

Maggie's preschool class is currently studying cowboys/girls in preparation for rodeo month here in Houston. We have two cowboy books from the library that they/we have been reading non-stop...interspersed with another book called "The wizard, the Witch and the Magic Chicken."

I overheard this dialogue between Maggie and Seth as I was hanging out the laundry in our backyard this morning:

Maggie: Let's play cowboys. I will be a cowgirl and this is my magic wand.

Seth: uh-huh.
a few moments later....
Seth: I am the bad guy and I take sticks from other people's gardens. And this is my sack of cash.

Maggie: We need Papa to be the 'cookie' (which she tells me is the cowboy name for the trail cook) and drive our wagon train.

Caution - small children!

2009-02-23T19:54:00.001-08:00

Caution - small children!
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We spent a large chunk of our sabbath at Brazos Bend State Park yesterday - about an hour SW of Houston. It was a cold, bright day, and we hiked (strolled) around a couple of the lakes there. We saw several alligators sunning themselves, all on the opposite bank of the lake - although they do often wander onto the trails. We also enjoyed some great birding - identifying 6 new species from our 'twitcher's guide'. For those interested in such things, they were: Anhinga, Blue-Winged teal, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Pied-Billed Grebe and a Scarlet Tanager (we think!). Check out the photos on Flickr. A wonderful day, which also included some down time by a small lake to enjoy a good book.

House finches

2009-02-17T19:35:00.001-08:00

House finches
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We've enjoyed lots of birds feeding on the sunflower seeds we collected last autumn. This month we've been feeding finches (house and gold), house sparrows, blue jays, a red breasted woodpecker and doves, pigeons and squirrels beneath the feeder.

As well as the birds we're enjoying the beautiful scent of jasmine and satsuma blossoms wafting in through the screens during a beautiful season here in Houston.

The Garden

2009-01-02T19:16:00.001-08:00

Garden
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

And here's one of the beds the bounty came out of.

Backyard bounty

2009-01-02T18:59:00.001-08:00

Backyard bounty
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Rebecca fixed a feast for us tonight - a roast vegetable salad. Here's what came out of our mere 60 square feet of winter garden and onto our plates: 3 kinds of lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, broccoli, carrots, radishes, green beans, nasturtium and (roast) beets. To this we added roast sweet potatoes (not ours!). Then there was the delicious pesto we spread on the rosemary bread, made from backyard kale, beet greens and swiss chard, mixed with some parmesan cheese and toasted pecans. A meal that springs from one of the benefits of the Houston climate - year round gardening.

Schnecken

2008-12-28T20:08:00.001-08:00

Schnecken
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

After a lengthy absence (our house was broken into and we only replaced the computer accessories earlier this month - thankfully they left the computer) we hope to post a little more often now! May the sweetness of the season fill you and yours - here are our traditional Christmas morning schnecken to get the blog rolling again.

South African lily

2008-10-22T07:16:00.001-07:00

South African lily
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Three years after planting this lily, we are reveling in the sight and scent of these glorious blooms. It truly is stunning.

Square foot gardening

2008-10-13T04:26:00.001-07:00

Square foot gardening
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We're trying something new for our Fall garden. Rebecca read an old copy of the gardening guide by Mel Bartholomew and was intrigued by his method: very intentional planting with (supposedly) minimal tending and maximum yield. Sounded good to us, so we ordered the revised edition and planned and planted our two vegetable beds in the backyard. It is a lot of work up front - we have planted 68 square feet with: onions, broccoli, kale, swiss chard, spinach, bok choy, lettuce, carrots, beets, pole beans, quinoa, radishes, nasturtiums and marigolds. We renewed the beds with 2 trunk loads of cow manure we brought back from the ranch - and compost from our bins. We're eager to see if Mel delivers on his promise!

The streets of Houston

2008-10-13T04:13:00.001-07:00

Pitner Road post-Ike
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

This is our street, taken 2 weeks after 'Ike' - and it looks like every other street in the city. Piles of downed trees and limbs outside every house. Our neighborhood is still only somewhat cleared. I read somewhere that it will take 4 months to clear the debris. We went to the Houston Arboretum yesterday and it was sad to see so many downed trees.

Seth turns 3!

2008-10-13T03:56:00.001-07:00

Seth turns 3!
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We celebrated Seth's birthday last week, all week! Rebecca baked him a Victoria sponge cake and the Henneks joined us for a birthday dinner. We gave him his first real football and a goal - he plays in (very) short bursts for now.
Seth is an absolute delight - he loves his sister, he loves playing with Maggie, enjoys art, dancing, his new firetruck, building with blocks, his 'motorbike' (tricycle), adventure walks and climbing. He is a cuddler, especially after naps and for books. He has a great smile. He loves his cowboy boots. And eating. He intends to be a fairy ghost for halloween.

Maggie's first fish

2008-10-13T03:47:00.001-07:00

Maggie's first fish
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Here's the first of several 'catch up' entries. During our week at the Hobson's ranch we fished on several days - catching on a couple. This is a very proud Maggie with her first ever fish - a small catfish. Check out more photos from the ranch at our Flickr account

POST - IKE

2008-10-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, after 15 days without electricity, we finally got power back on Sunday. We had spent the first week out at our friends the Hobson's ranch in the sticks, and then home to sweat it out in faith that the power would come back on. After our faith dwindled shortly therafter, we moved in with Marty and John Shroff for a delightful 4 days. We still have no phone/internet - once we do, we'll post more. We are grateful to have come out of the storm virtually unscathed, knowing the havoc Ike wreaked throughout the area, and the tragedy that continues to unfold...

England in August

2008-09-01T20:01:00.001-07:00

King's Oak
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We spent 3 weeks with Sean's family last month - had a wonderful time catching up, eating and visiting many of the beautiful and fun places in Norfolk. We're just about over jetlag, and trying hard to catch up with life here in Houston. Check out the photo set over at Flickr.

The Alarm

2008-06-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite bands - great video my mate Mark in England passed on. Mike and the boys in action in Milan back in 2003. Enjoy!

Hello!

2008-06-16T09:07:00.001-07:00

House finch
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have had lots of visitors to the feeder over the weekend, including this house finch. Other guests have been house and song sparrows, a juvenile cardinal and red bellied woodpeckers. And the ever -present squirrels get the fallen seeds.

China - one way you can help rebuild...

2008-06-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

All eyes seem to be on China - either with anticipation of the Games, concern for human rights, and of course, concern for the terrible loss of life and infrastructure caused by the recent earthquake. It's easy to feel helpless when wanting to respond to this tragedy - what can we do to make any difference? Our good friend Billy, part of Communality in Lexington, KY, recently sent the following email with a tangible way to express solidarity and love for one village. Read on, and then, maybe, act...

Friends,

I hope that you are all doing well. I wanted to let you know about a project in which our foundation is currently engaged in Sichuan Province, China. We're trying to help rebuild a primary school in the village of Bai Hua in the aftermath of the earthquake that leveled hundreds of schools and killed thousands of children. Through our investment director Jon Carnes we have already held talks with the provincial government and expressed our desire to help rebuild the school. Jon's company Eos Asia (who manage our endowment) have a large investment in a commercial cement company in the village and thereby a long-term commitment to the area. We want to help this village rebuild and attain healthy functioning. Anyhow, we've completely revamped our website over the past couple of weeks in part to prepare for this effort. We've got it set up so that people can learn more about the initiative (and our other work) through the site and even make donations online if they so choose. As much as anything the people of Sichuan Province need your prayers. This project gives us one way that we can also act together in a direct manner. We'll be posting updates on the progress of the project on the site once it commences.

Thanks so much for your consideration and for all of the hard work that you do for the cause of justice in the small ways that matter most. Keep going in it......

Billy

We've added the link to the 'Destinations: Sites' list below. Stop by for more info - and maybe leave a gift.

Peace,
Sean

garden produce

2008-06-07T11:46:00.001-07:00

garden produce
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

I went to the community garden this morning after a 1/4" rain yesterday and picked this bounty. The first ripe cantaloupe and heirloom tomato are the highlights...

Seth

2008-06-01T19:44:00.001-07:00

Seth - liking his slick hair
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Just had to post this - Seth's curls are out of control, so when we brushed his hair after a bath the other night, he kept checking himself out in the mirror - and obviously liked what he saw. He has his mum's hair and eyes - but unfortunately his father's teeth. Still, he's a good looking lad!

Community gardening

2008-06-01T19:40:00.001-07:00

'Gypsy' peppers
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We're having mixed success in the community garden at the moment. Some of the pepper plants are doing great - others put on lots of flowers, but little fruit. The tomatoes are huge - but are being assaulted by some kind of larvae. We're spraying them with a bacteria recommended by 'Urban Harvest' that is supposed to only attack the larvae - we'll see. The beans are on the way out - squash has already been uprooted and composted. We have lemon cucumbers finally - yup, cucumbers that look like lemons, but taste like...cucumbers. And canteloupe. We have big canteloupe. Although the two largest 'disappeared' while we were gone at Chapelwood's family retreat over the weekend. The sunflowers are towering and beautiful, and we continue to enjoy an abundance of fresh cut zinnias around the house. See 'Flickr' for more photos.

The colours of May

2008-05-27T19:20:00.001-07:00

Pink Jacobina Justica
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Despite the lack of rain, there are all kinds of blooms in the garden at the moment. Some are year round companions, some are old friends whose acquaintance we're glad to renew, and others are new, like this one...

Community gardening

2008-05-15T18:51:00.001-07:00

Seth in community garden - May
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have been eating fresh squash, green beans, cucumbers and lettuce at most meals for the past 2 weeks or so. The tomato plants are full of fruit and flowers, the first peppers are coming on, and we have one canteloupe! We're also enjoying a dining table with multi-coloured zinnias - and looking forward to our first giant sunflowers. Life is good!

Sabbath grace

2008-04-27T18:57:00.001-07:00

First fruits
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Today has been a beautiful spring day in Houston, something we're not used to saying at the end of April. Our sabbath began at Edith Moore sanctuary, where we met our friend Tracy Kleinhans, a fellow Mercy Streeter and member of the Houston Audubon Society. This was our first time in the sanctuary, and Tracy was our guide. We hoped to see some new birds, but although we could hear them, we did not see too many. We did get to add one new bird to our sightings - a Grey Catbird. It is a lovely spot, and one we look forward to returning to.
After lunch and naps we headed to the community garden, where the weeds have been sorely neglected. We spent 3 hours weeding, taking flowers off pepper plants (trying to get the bush as large as possible early on) and watering (no rain to speak of for a month). We also harvested two large bags of swiss chard, and the first squash and beans. So tonight we enjoyed "eggs in a nest" (see Flickr), steamed beans and squash and cornbread. The eggs came from our friends Kevin and Camella - they have 2 hens and brought a dozen over earlier in the week. The first of what we hope will be many truly local meals. And Maggie and Seth fell asleep in about 15 minutes, which means Rebecca and I will be able to watch an episode of Doctor Who Series 3 before our heads hit the pillow tonight.
Sabbath grace indeed.

Happy Birthday Maggie!

2008-04-21T19:26:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Maggie!
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We invited a few friends over to celebrate Maggie's 4th birthday yesterday. The pinata was a big hit, as was "pass the parcel" - one of my favourite games from childhood. The raspberry/ vanilla/ chocolate ice cream went over well also. It was a beautiful afternoon, Matt and I got to stand over a grill for the first time in a long time, and it was wonderful to have the backyard full of kids (both little and not so little).

Community Garden I

2008-04-17T20:11:00.001-07:00

DSCF4569a
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Our friends Paul and Peggy have been gardening for years, and have great soil. We have been the grateful recipients of squash, beans and tomatoes over the years. They're too busy this year, so asked if we'd be interested in a little community gardening. Of course, we said 'yes'! They've planted a few tomato plants, beans and spinach, but gave the bulk of the garden to us, and our friends Thule and Kelly. Here's the freshly tilled plot in late January, waiting for planting.

Community garden II

2008-04-17T20:08:00.001-07:00

PICT0012
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

And here's what it looked like this morning. We have swiss chard ready to pick, beans (climbing and bush) doing nicely, squash and cucumbers putting on flowers, tomato and pepper plants coming on, canteloupe and carrots (struggling), and zinnias and sunflowers.

Maggie's birthweek

2008-04-15T18:47:00.001-07:00

Maggie fishing
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Maggie turns 4 on Sunday, and so we are celebrating her this week. I had had a full weekend, and hadn't seen much of Maggie & Seth, and so while Rebecca had an 'organizing the house' day, I took M&S out to the Hobson's ranch. We stopped at a 'BassPro' store on the way, and picked up their first ever fishing rods (Maggie chose the 'princess' model, Seth the "cheese" model (Spongebob)). It was an absolutely beautiful day, and we enjoyed every minute of it. Maggie fished for a solid hour, and only stopped because she was hungry. Seth lasted about 5 minutes, then spent the rest of the time figuring out how to start the 4 wheeler. Maggie had lots of bites...but no fish. And as my dad is fond of saying, "that's why it's not called 'catching'."

Maggie continues to delight us with her imagination - she is a storyteller, that's for sure. We're throwing a 'bring your favourite childhood party game' birthday party for her on Sunday, where those who love Maggie here in Houston will gather to celebrate her and eat charred meat and ice cream cake.

Deaths mar seal hunt

2008-04-11T06:31:00.000-07:00

This was the headline in 'The Week' news magazine for a piece on the death of 4 hunters during the annual 'clubbing baby seals for fur' season. Sadly ironic.

Hope springs eternal

2008-04-08T05:03:00.001-07:00

Hope springs eternal
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have several self-seeded tomato plants coming up - but this one is a mystery! It is growing in the crack between our side door step and the path.

Houston in April

2008-04-08T05:00:00.001-07:00

Houston in April
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We spent the weekend in the garden, enjoying the beautiful weather, and working till our muscles ached. Lots of digging, transplanting and planting. Seth and Maggie now have their own garden with veggie, herb and flower seeds sown. The tomato plants are about 4 feet high already, and we've been eating garden lettuce for 3 weeks. See Flickr for more photos.

jasmine in bloom

2008-03-12T09:18:00.003-07:00

jasmine in bloom
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

...and now we're enjoying the beautiful fragrance as the breeze carries it into the sun porch

jasmine

2008-03-02T10:43:00.001-08:00

jasmine
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

we're eagerly anticipating the scent of jasmine as the first of our bushes is about to blossom

A way through the woods

2008-02-25T18:56:00.001-08:00

A way through the woods
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Thanks to our wonderful friend Brenda, who came and loved on Maggie and Seth all day yesterday, Rebecca and I were able to go on an afternoon hike at Lake Houston Park. It was a stunningly beautiful day, and we enjoyed a 7 mile hike in (for us) a new park about 45 minutes north of us. We enjoyed the quiet of the piney woods, broken only by the keening cries of a pair of red tail hawks, the caws of a crow, a few frogs and the occasional grunt of a Harley downshifting off in the distance somewhere. We spotted raccoon and deer tracks, and left plenty of our own on one particularly muddy stretch. It was a much needed and life-giving afternoon - with the delight of having another place to explore in the future

Anonymous beauty

2008-02-18T17:41:00.001-08:00

Unknown, beautiful plant
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We found this plant in a pot under a bush when we moved in 3 years ago. Rebecca planted it in the bed around the magnolia tree, and 3 years later it has spread and puts out these stunning 12" blooms every February. We have no idea what it is - but would love to find out, if anyone recognizes it.

Ash Wednesday

2008-02-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

"...praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out."
As I read the texts I had chosen for Mercy Street's observance of Ash Wednesday, I thought of the Eleventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous. In Luke 4 we read the account of the temptation of Jesus that follows his 40 wilderness days and nights, one of the traditional texts read at the beginning of Lent. As Jesus begins his long journey to the cross, the deceiver tempts him to choose an easier, softer way. At one point he quotes scripture in an attempt to lure Jesus into a highly visible and dramatic public act: "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from [the pinnacle of the temple]; for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge to guard you...on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Angels show up again in Mark's far more sparse account of Jesus' time in the wilderness: "And he was in the wilderness 40 days being tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to him."

Our third reading was also from Luke's gospel, chapter 22 - Jesus' temptation at the end of his long journey. As he kneels in the garden, the posture of surrender, and asks his Father to take this bitter cup from him, he states "yet not my will, but yours be done." And then an angel shows up once more, "...strengthening him. And being in agony he was praying fervently." And then at some point he rose from prayer. Just like that. The wrestling was over, the agony passed. As he rouses his friends Jesus repeats his exhortation, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

I was drawn to the angels in these narratives, or, more specifically, the role they play. In the garden, the angel strengthens Jesus to continue praying for God's will to be done. In the desert, the angels minister to Jesus in the midst of temptation. How different from the role the silken words of the deceiver portray - rather than strengthening Jesus in the very midst of the struggle, these angels will miraculously enable Jesus to avoid the struggle, so that he won't even stub a toe, let alone sweat in agony as he wrestles with temptation.

Which angels are we inclined to ask God to send? 'Guardian angels' to protect us, to deliver us from temptation (so that we do not have to wrestle between self-will and God's will)? Or, as I do indeed wrestle with my will, as I struggle to surrender, do I look for the angel that will strengthen me to keep struggling - not deliver me from the struggle? Do we pray to be delivered from temptation, or do we pray "only for the knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out?"

Tim sets off...

2008-01-28T19:05:00.001-08:00

Tim sets off...
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Rebecca's cousin Tim stopped by for a short stay last week. He shipped off his bike to South Africa, then flew out on Saturday to wait for it in Durban. He's planning on spending the next 18 months or so riding around the globe (and his route should pick up most of it!!) You can follow his progress at his blog (see our linked blogs). Maggie and Seth loved having Tim here - he spent a lot of time playing with and reading to them - Maggie keeps telling us she will see Tim when she's 5!

Aren't they a little TOO friendly?

2008-01-28T18:59:00.001-08:00

Aren't they a little TOO friendly?
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Wow - where did January go?! I took Maggie and Seth out to our friends the Hobson's ranch over a beautiful weekend earlier in the month. We had a big time hiking over the fields with the ranch dogs, hanging out with the cows, feeding the donkeys and star gazing around a log fire (see Flickr for more pics). Rebecca stayed home for a little down time and some much needed house organization!

Martyn Joseph at Hyde Park Studios

2008-01-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

The backyard in January

2008-01-01T11:18:00.001-08:00

Camellia
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We have some beautiful blooms in the backyard at present - one of the best gifts of the Houston climate. I picked some peppers yesterday for an omelette - the bushes are still flowering, and putting on new fruit. We have our first freeze tonight, so we'll cover what we can and see what survives!

TI66ER resurrected

2007-12-29T07:09:00.001-08:00

TI66ER resurrected
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Thanks to the good people at Mancuso Collision the old gal's back on the road - and barely recognizable from the everyday hack she's been for 16 years! A shiny new paint job, sparkling chrome - I'm feeling a little pressure to keep her clean now. But I'm sure that feeling will wear off soon.

Luke 2:008

2007-12-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

I talked about the shepherds at Mercy Street last weekend, and have continued to think about them, and who they might be today. Thanks to nativity sets and Christmas pageants the shepherds have taken on a romantic air - adorable children holding fluffy lambs and whacking each other with their crooks - it's hard not to have a fond spot for them. But in first century Palestine, they were viewed a little differently.

Shepherds often were small landholders, whose land could not support their families. So, they hired themselves out to their wealthier neighbours, to get the cash they needed to buy what they could not provide for themselves, and of course, pay taxes. As we know from Luke, they spent the night in the fields, watching over the flock. Which meant they weren't at home, watching over their families - a highly dishonourable situation. They were also viewed as thieves, as the flocks grazed on other peoples' land as they moved around. At best they were viewed with ambivalence - most often they were viewed with deep suspicion. Because of their reputation, they were not able to bear witness in legal cases.

Luke begins the Christmas story with the powerful and prestigious - Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome, and Quirinius, governor of Syria. But the angels sent by God to announce the "good news of great joy for all the people" came to the shepherds. While Caesar slept in his comfortable bed in Rome, and Quirinius stirred under his furs in Syria, the news of the Christ came to peasant shepherds in an insignificant corner of the Empire.

So, how would this play out today, in the U.S.? Who would the shepherds be? Who are the underclass, those viewed with deep suspicion as they move from place to place to try and support their families back home? I wonder if Luke would tell it something like this:

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from the CEO of Burger King that no wage increase would be given to tomato pickers in Florida (this happened while his lobbyists worked hard in D.C. to overturn previous wage gains). And there were in the same country, migrant workers sleeping in shacks, keeping watch over their meager possessions by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, i bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people'..."

While the rich and the powerful sleep in their Starter Castles in New England, and under their 1000 thread sheets inside the Beltway, the good news comes to migrant workers picking tomatoes in Florida. They are the recipients of a divine visitation, and thus the recipients of God's favour. As they return from the fields to carry this news, who will receive and believe their report? Who will believe these unlikely messengers of an unlikely baby born in an unlikely place? As always, Luke invites his reader to step into the story, and answer for ourselves. How will we?

Feeding seagulls

2007-11-25T13:33:00.001-08:00

Seagull - gimme some
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

One of the highlights of our week was feeding seagulls off the back of the Bolivar Ferry - remarkably few pecked fingers, and just a few narrowly missed splats!

Sandcastle

2007-11-25T13:26:00.001-08:00

Sandcastle
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

At the beginning of the month we spent a wonderful week down in Galveston's East beach thanks to the generosity of the Wise family, who let us stay in their beautiful condo. We caught the last of the warm weather, and spent time on the beach every day, beginning with a long walk first thing in the morning. Seth and Maggie had a big time in the waves, and making sand castles is a new favourite thing to do. Check out more photos at Flickr.

Jingle Bells and Veteran's Day

2007-11-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

Having just returned from vacation late last night, Rebecca headed to Kroger today to pick up some food necessities so we could feed Maggie and Seth dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow (shopping being something we try hard to rest from on Sundays - and pretty much any time when we don't have to get something). Over said dinner, Rebecca asked Maggie if she could remember the song they'd heard at the store - which she could. Jingle Bells.

Now it's bad enough that all the Christmas stuff has already been out for a couple of weeks - but "Jingle Bells" before Thanksgiving?! And on Veteran's Day/Memorial Sunday? We paused before lunch to remember those whose lives have been lost in war, and prayed for peace. (Maggie wanted to know why people were hitting each other in wars - after I fumbled with an attempt to explain Memorial Sunday, and war in general, Rebecca saved me from myself and translated my efforts into 3 year old-ish, to Maggie's satisfaction).

I love holidays. I want to anticipate them, savour the build up - especially the new holiday I've gained from living in the U.S. But Kroger has apparently decided that we can just skip Thanksgiving (unless they're offering the convenience of buying turkeys for both holidays at the same time). Maybe if it hadn't been Memorial Sunday today I would have just shrugged at Rebecca's comment and kept eating the Freschetta pizza we settled on for dinner. But Jingle Bells as the soundtrack for Veteran's Day? I don't know about that...

Peace.

Satsumas

2007-11-04T10:32:00.001-08:00

Satsumas
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

We're looking forward to tasting the first harvest from our 4' satsuma tree - we've been enjoying the last of the sweet peppers and bush beans this week.

Barnyard buddies

2007-10-31T20:39:00.001-07:00

Barnyard buddies
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Maggie & Seth enjoyed their school pumpkin patch and really enjoyed getting to hold candy in their hands - some of which was redistributed as kids came trick or treating in the neighborhood - just say 'no' to (excessive) sugar.

bike + bike

2007-10-28T19:59:00.001-07:00

Wrecked jeans
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

After 16 years of owning and riding my '84 Ironhead Sportster, I finally had a wreck. And despite the proliferation of SUVs and pickups in H-Town, I was hit by a...bicycle. My new friend Alvin was cutting across a 4 lane street on his bicycle pre-dawn on Thursday, and although he beat the Metro bus in the right lane, he hit me in the left lane about a second after we saw each other. I laid the bike down, and slid down the road with it on top of me (see jeans) and Alvin's bike on top of mine. Thankfully neither of us are badly injured, although he has torn a couple of ligaments in his ankle. I just have some nice road rash, and a few bruises. I'm waiting on news about the state of my bike - lots of cosmetic damage, smashed clutch, dented tank - I think the insurance company will total it, but I have hopes that I'll get it back on the road. We'll see...
I was mad for about 5 minutes after the wreck, but then I started feeling a bunch of compassion for Alvin, and my anger diffused quickly. We've talked several times since the wreck, and are going to drink some coffee together sometime this week. I started playing the 'if only I'd...' game a couple of days ago, but no one wins that one, so I stopped sharpish. Maybe it's just one of those things. I'm hoping something unexpected comes out of all this - and that it's a good something! Again, we'll see...

Martyn Joseph

2007-10-28T19:37:00.001-07:00

Martyn plays for Maggie and Seth 10-07
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

After opening for Martin Sexton on the first 10 dates of his tour, Martyn dropped by for a couple of days before heading back to the UK to tour with his new album 'Vegas'. He did a show to an enthusiastic crowd at Taft Street Coffee, and we're hoping he comes back our way next February. His biggest fans in Houston are definitely Maggie and Seth, and they want you to buy 'Vegas'. Now. Because it will make you get up and dance. And you won't be able to get "Vegas...hmm, mmm. Vegas...hmm, mmm" out of your head.

The family

2007-10-13T13:58:00.001-07:00

Our family - June 07
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

Thanks to Geoff Maddock's expert tuition this afternoon, we're on our way to becoming blog-competent. flickr account opened and ready to go - here we are, earlier this summer in Greenville, IL.

Western Meadowlark

2007-10-13T13:19:00.001-07:00

Western Meadowlark
Originally uploaded by the gladdings

we like birds. here's one we made earlier...

Tilling the ground...

2007-05-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

If you've wandered into the backyard, the soil is being prepared as we inexperienced gardeners learn what millions of others seem to do effortlessly. Stop by again later!