Nothing better than a good cup of coffee. We took the kids on rainy afternoon adventure to hike thru IKEA. Everyone was complaining how tired their legs were by the end of the store. But hey, meatballs and fizzy drinks and special treats were the pick me up.
Ska Vi Fika – let me know if you need a coffee break, I will join you there.
I have started my training walks again. Time to get the winter weight off and enjoy the outdoors beauty. Around every turn in the PNW the blooms are a popping! From the smallest to the largest, every bloom tells a creation story.
Merritt and I are planning to walk the Camino in Portugal. We aren’t sure when, but we are working towards it. Just 656km or 407 miles. We got this.
We love spending time loving our city. And sometimes you even run into someone you know in a city of millions. Pretty cool. When buying treats from vendors, they become an extension of our family as they remember our last time there. A stop at an artsy hotel lobby for meaningful conversation. A shared cup of apple cider. Random purchases at H-Mart. A secret favorite spot for the best chocolate chip cookie. People watching. Sun soaking walks. Art finds. All of it good to lift the spirit and reconnect with the community that God is creating here. Yes God created this community and we get to be a part of it. If I had more time and more money, I would stop in every single store/shop/stall to share in life together. A taste of heaven. Do you see it?
I am so proud of Merritt and all of his hard work with music. Up early every morning and the first kid to school for band rehearsal. They recently held an evening concert with Decatur High School and a special traveling band. The evening was awesome! Talent abounds. I could not tell the difference between the “experts” and the “students.” Decatur has a really special group right now and will be performing with the states best at the Paramount later this month. Merritt was excited for it so we got some tickets to that Jazz festival event. Music is good for the soul!
To pray you open your whole self
To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon
To one whole voice that is you.
And know there is more
That you can’t see, can’t hear;
Can’t know except in moments
Steadily growing, and in languages
That aren’t always sound but other
Circles of motion.
Like eagle that Sunday morning
Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky
In wind, swept our hearts clean
With sacred wings.
We see you, see ourselves and know
That we must take the utmost care
And kindness in all things.
Breathe in, knowing we are made of
All this, and breathe, knowing
We are truly blessed because we
Were born, and die soon within a
True circle of motion,
Like eagle rounding out the morning
Inside us.
We pray that it will be done
In beauty.
In beauty.
+ Joy Harjo
I remember as a child watching the Olympics with focused attention. I was totally drawn into the athletes personal story – their hard work – and both the joy of victory and agony of defeat. When I was able to visit the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, it only added to my interest. Being an athlete in high school and college, I carried that Olympic Spirit into my sports and even bought the jackets and t-shirts to represent. The Olympic Rings representing shared teamwork and team spirit to life each other higher than we could go individually.
Tonight we as a family watched the Figure Skating championship, and the fluttering heart, tears in eyes, and standing ovations all flooded back. Our spirits electrified to give each other and life our best shot.
Reading the bio’s of the athletes and where they have come from and what they have overcome, simply incredible.
Alysa – thank you for your Olympic Spirit! All joy for you in this golden moment in time.
Today was a precious day as we received word from them for the first time since we were together last summer. Sisay is loving soccer and school and Abebech and Temsegan are working to rebuild their lives after some very hard times. We were able to assist them in getting a Bajaj for transportation and taxi work. Little by little the bird builds the nest and little by little we build up our lives – better together.
Thankful to be in touch and watching each other grow. What a gift.
MULTIETHNIC & INTERSECTIONAL NETWORK
This network is a resource for ELCA congregations/ministries to become more multiethnic and intersectional. They assist in mentoring congregations/ministries on how to be warmer, more welcoming and better at creating a sense of belonging. In partnership with others, concrete, actionable, replicable steps for ministries to become a better embodiment of their neighborhoods is shared. Together we explore and create resources to train and educate each other to live into makers that reflect God’s diversity of all humanity. In partnership, we utilize all of the resources that already exist to share best practices and ideas. A phenomenal network that equips us all to flourish!
This past February, we were blessed to be invited and to participate in this life giving ELCA network that is bringing Holy Spirit inspired vision to our local congregations. With over 100 of us from throughout the US, we were gathered for a 3-day event at Peace Lutheran, in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma.
God has planted our churches in all kinds of contexts. In these places we are called to bring full neighbor love to the community. Through shared story, Biblical witness, and powerful worship, we were built up for the work that each is called to do.
One afternoon, we took the time to walk the Hilltop neighborhood, where we learned that back in the 90’s this area in Tacoma had the 6th most violent neighborhood in the nation. We stopped to reflect and pray at this small monument that was built by the competing drug gangs of the time. Even in the midst of violence, God reminds us of our true human identity – “No matter our chosen path – “ALL LIVES ARE PRECIOUS.” From the time that it was built until today, this monument has not been defaced, but rather, honored by all who pause to reflect, remember, and grow. Just like at Grace, with our year-long focus on Identity, Belonging, and Purpose, we dial into God’s vision and voice and that makes all the difference in the world. This is one of the ways that we can be faithful to God’s call to being church today! Thanks be to God!
As part of the multi-ethnic and intersectionality conference, we walked the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. Back in the 80’s, this neighborhood was sixth in the nation for drug violence and death. The community and gangs came together to build this small rock monument and placed the plaque that says, “All Lives are Precious.” A reminder that no matter the chosen path of life every life matters. Oh if we would just embrace and live that way. I am thankful for the 100 who gathered to work together for 3 days as we equipped each other for the work towards a better world.
Johnson 2025 Sabbatical 