As my wife said in her last post, we’re looking to move locally in the next few months. Going through this process has highlighted to me how much I truly enjoy living in Southeast Michigan – and that, over the past ten and a half years, I have become a Michigander. I’ve lived in North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Ontario, but I consider Michigan my home.
Being a Michigander means more than drinking a Vernor’s and eating Better Made potato chips (BBQ flavor, of course) while making a Michigan Left on my way to a Tigers game. It means enjoying the four seasons, the changeability of the weather, and sunny summer days without humidity. It means finding beauty in the kind of buildings they don’t make any more while finding regret in the condition of many of those buildings. It means living in a place large enough to have all the advantages of a big city while living in a friendly place - where people will let other drivers cut in and those other drivers wave back in appreciation.
Sure, things aren’t perfect here in Michigan. Our political leaders of all parties have failed the state – how Michigan needs a strong leader like Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels! The city of Detroit is particularly dysfunctional, fed in part by those who use racial divisions for their own gain. And the state of our economy is well documented. But even given that, I don’t want to live anywhere else.
This week I had to drive down to Brownstown Township for work. The drive back to the office up I-75 takes you past the oil refinery and the heavily industrial area at the junction of the Rouge and the Detroit rivers. And then you reach the crest of the Rouge River Bridge, and presented to you from left to right is the skyline of the city of Detroit, culminating in the Renaissance Center on the Detroit River, the Ambassador Bridge, and the city of Windsor.
Last month we went to a performance of “Woodward Wonderland”, a celebration of Detroit’s holiday traditions performed by the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. The opening song is the Christmas song “Oh What A Beautiful City.” Looking at the city of Detroit presented before me from the Rouge River bridge, I can’t help but think to myself, Oh, what a beautiful city!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Be a neighborly neighbor
The other night we were talking about neighbors and how nice it would be to land somewhere where we got along with the neighbors (we're hoping to make a local move in a few months so we can get into a bigger house), actually I think I said that I thought it would be great if we could meet the neighbors before we decided to buy a place :). I also said that I hoped they would be the kind of people that I could borrow a cup of sugar from, and the hubby replies "who even does that anymore when you can just run to Meijer's at any hour??" and I said "me!".
True story, almost two years ago I actually called my neighbor and asked if she could spare the remainder of the sugar that my recipe called for, as I was making a cake for my co-worker's birthday the next day. It does seem kind of silly in retrospect, but I just needed a little, and I remember it wasn't too late at night (8:30ish?) but because I thought I had all of the ingredients I was literally in the middle of making the cake and simply didn't feel like getting into my car and running to the store. Also I'm guessing that I was likely in some not-so-stylish version of my home comfies (read: stretchy pants). My neighbor was probably a little surprised by the request, but was only more than happy to oblige. That plus I returned her plastic container a couple days later with a teeny little flowering potted plant in it (remind you of the bundt cake scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?? LOL) and it was a pleasant neighborly interaction all the way around. When I first moved in I was a single gal and her husband had given me both of their cell phone numbers, in the years past she has watered my flowers when I was out of town, and he once helped fix my garage door.
Also a couple months back one Saturday morning I realized that the car pulling out behind me followed me throughout the short drive to the yoga studio, and after class I introduced myself to the driver who said that he and his wife (who he specifically mentioned was Korean, huh?? :) and daughter had recently moved in across the street from us, and now when we see them out for a walk, it's an easy hello.
I'm not going to pretend that I'm always in the mood to engage in neighborly chit-chat, but there's probably no doubt that befriending people in your close environments can make all difference. In the winter it can be hard to muster up much more than a friendly wave, but as soon as the warm weather hits, I'm going to be sure to introduce myself to our new neighbors!
True story, almost two years ago I actually called my neighbor and asked if she could spare the remainder of the sugar that my recipe called for, as I was making a cake for my co-worker's birthday the next day. It does seem kind of silly in retrospect, but I just needed a little, and I remember it wasn't too late at night (8:30ish?) but because I thought I had all of the ingredients I was literally in the middle of making the cake and simply didn't feel like getting into my car and running to the store. Also I'm guessing that I was likely in some not-so-stylish version of my home comfies (read: stretchy pants). My neighbor was probably a little surprised by the request, but was only more than happy to oblige. That plus I returned her plastic container a couple days later with a teeny little flowering potted plant in it (remind you of the bundt cake scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?? LOL) and it was a pleasant neighborly interaction all the way around. When I first moved in I was a single gal and her husband had given me both of their cell phone numbers, in the years past she has watered my flowers when I was out of town, and he once helped fix my garage door.
Also a couple months back one Saturday morning I realized that the car pulling out behind me followed me throughout the short drive to the yoga studio, and after class I introduced myself to the driver who said that he and his wife (who he specifically mentioned was Korean, huh?? :) and daughter had recently moved in across the street from us, and now when we see them out for a walk, it's an easy hello.
I'm not going to pretend that I'm always in the mood to engage in neighborly chit-chat, but there's probably no doubt that befriending people in your close environments can make all difference. In the winter it can be hard to muster up much more than a friendly wave, but as soon as the warm weather hits, I'm going to be sure to introduce myself to our new neighbors!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Mid-week funny
Monday, January 25, 2010
Help for Haiti
As coverage continues on the devastation following the earthquakes in Haiti, many stories of hope have arisen through the tragedy. I got an email last week from one of my contacts in the Detroit office of the American Red Cross, and she shared the story that a man came in on Friday to donate $100 towards their relief efforts - only unusual in the fact that his coat was duct-taped, his shoes had holes and he took the bus to get to their office! May our hearts be broken by the same things that break God's heart, and may you feel moved to help your fellow man in need in whatever way you are able, even if just through prayer.
P.S. You can text "Haiti" to the number 90999, and after you confirm the reply text that is sent, $10 will be added to your next cell phone bill and donated to the International Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti.
P.S. You can text "Haiti" to the number 90999, and after you confirm the reply text that is sent, $10 will be added to your next cell phone bill and donated to the International Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Today is special
We've all heard these kinds of "tips for living", but the reality of it is that some of them are actually things we should follow in our daily lives, despite how hard it can be to live up to them! No doubt you also received some motivational-type resolution list email forwards from others starting out the new year, but I thought this one was good enough to share.
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Friday, January 8, 2010
On Unclehood
This weekend, as we were watching our niece and nephew, Kieran told me, "Tito Bart, you pretend to be my uncle." I told him that I was his uncle, and in a brain fart, told him that "Tito means Bart."
Tito means uncle in Tagalog, and I am proud to be Kieran and Tanith's uncle. When I first met them, Tanith was only five months old, and Kieran was two. Kieran turned five this past week. Tanith sits in my lap when I read a book to her, and l beam with pride when Kieran looks out the car window and spells the name of the gas station. My wife met him at McDonalds, and his first question was, "Where's Tito Bart?" I'm so glad that I've become a part of their lives. Happy Birthday, Kieran!
Tito means uncle in Tagalog, and I am proud to be Kieran and Tanith's uncle. When I first met them, Tanith was only five months old, and Kieran was two. Kieran turned five this past week. Tanith sits in my lap when I read a book to her, and l beam with pride when Kieran looks out the car window and spells the name of the gas station. My wife met him at McDonalds, and his first question was, "Where's Tito Bart?" I'm so glad that I've become a part of their lives. Happy Birthday, Kieran!
A church - with a steeple!
On a much more joyous note, on Sunday we had our first service in our official capacity as the occupants of the newly-acquired and first permanent building for our church, Genesis, in the Church on Main formerly known as the First Baptist Church of Royal Oak! (Pictured is the new sign, the Olive Branch is the still-affiliated daycare that is run in out of one section of the expansive 40,000 sq ft facility.) The short version of the backstory is that we have been a portable church since the beginning and after the pastors cultivated some relationships that seemed to be coincidental (we know now better!) we are now proudly stationed in Royal Oak just north of downtown on Main St in a beautiful brick building - and, yes, it actually has a steeple that you can see from a distance as you approach Royal Oak.
The Barton & I served as greeters at one of the entrances and got to welcome many of the attendees, which included a mix of friends new & old and several folks who joined us from the former First Baptist congregation that we have yet to meet formally. When we arrived early to pray with the rest of the greeters, worship team and pastoral staff, the energy in the place was palpable. I personally shed a tear on more than one occasion that day (and got an unsolicited tissue handed to me by our pastor's wife, thanks Carmel :)! So on top of the usual promise that a new year brings, I'm hopeful that we can capitalize on that energy and all take up the challenges ahead that will come with caring for a new building and continuing to nurture our church body.
Thank you, thank you to our God, my faithful Father, your faithfulness never ceases to amaze and humble me...
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