For today’s Friday Five, please share with us five spiritual practices or disciplines from your experience. They can be ones that you have tried and kept up with, tried and NOT kept up with, ones that you flirt with at various times, or even practices that you have tried and found are definitely NOT your cup of tea. Let us know what’s worked for you…and not

1. Praying through my friend’s list on Facebook during Lent–A friend started this spiritual practice last Lent and I decided to do it with her. Because I enjoyed it so much I decided to do it again this year. It is so fun and really helps me stay disciplined because I don’t want to let them down!

2. Journaling–Since I am a writer, this is important to me and allows me to stay focused on what I want to pray about etc. It helps me to put my thoughts on a page and allows me to have a conversation with God through my words…if that makes any sense to you all.

3. Silence–Silence is a good thing during worship. Some of my favorite moments in the Diaconal Ministry community have been when we have been worshipping and allowing for silence. Powerful stuff!

4. Lectio Divina- Just not my cup of tea! Not sure exactly why but it’s something that I don’t seem to get a lot out of!

5. Self-Care—Something that was embedded in me at seminary and something I definetey need to do….time for myself whether that be getting my hair down, spending it with friends or family, being silly, etc. I also have found a new love…Zumba! So much fun and such a great workout!

I dont know about you but I am so ready for Spring!

Name 5 things that are springing forth, possibly including :

what you hope for–I hope for God to bring that special man into my life so I can finally have the things I yearn for so deeply; family, etc

what you dread–the impending flood of the Red River. Throwing sandbags, etc each year gets to be so tiring. Ill do it but I think we are all tired of it and dread its coming!

what you observe—The snow is melting, sandbag stations are busy preparing sandbags to protect homes from the rising Red River. The sun is shining and we are finally hitting double digits above 0! Yay!

what is concrete—God’s grace and love for God’s people

what is intangible—where Ill be a year from now, five years, ten years etc

1. The earliest recollection you have of a family car
I remember the van we used to own when I was little. It looked like an ambulance; almost the exact same color but with no lights. We took many family vacations in that van. I also remember my mom’s orange chevy nova! You could hear that car coming a block away!

2. The first car you drove when you could (legally) get behind the wheel yourself.
The first car I legally drove was a 1991 White Ford Colt.

3. A memorable road trip—
The trip my friend Heather and I took about 10 years ago or so. We decided to take a roadtrip. It was a blast! We left from Dubuque, IA and headed for our trip. We first stopped in Bella Vista Arkansas and spent some time with my aunt and uncle and cousins. My aunt even took us into Bentonville where we explored the Sam Walton museum and a DaySpring outlet store. Then after a few days there, we headed for Ft. Smith where my friend Heather had done her internship. We spent a day there and then headed off to Chandler Oklahoma to see my friend’s aunt, uncle and cousins. We even got to drive and explore Route 66. Her aunt and uncles took us into Oklahoma City where we visited the Oklahoma City bombing site. Then after a few days, we headed to Kansas where we spent some time with Heather’s college friend and then we headed back to IA. It was so much fun!!!! Heather gave me a hard time because I hadn’t traveled much so I always made her stop by the “Welcome to this state.”

4. The car you drive now. Love it? Hate it? Love it! My uncle found it for me. It is a 2001 Olds Alero.It was owned by an elderly lady who hardly drove it and took fantastic care of it. It just hit hte 60,000 mark the other day!

5. An interesting story that involves you and a vehicle. (No, I do not have a dirty mind!)When I worked at SuperAwesomeBibleCamp, sometimes we were sent off to do day camps. We got some interesting vehicles. One time my friend Ben, another counselor and myself were sent off to do daycamp. We hadWe a great week but where given a rather older station wagon. On the way home, we got a flat tire. We pulled off to the side of the road. The spare tire was under all the luggage so we had to toss all the luggage onto the side of the road so we could find the tire. Once we got to the tire, we found out it was a lock-system so we had to search for the key. But needless to say, the key wasnt were the car manual told us we would find it. We got pretty frustrated but eventually found the key. A car stopped to see if we needed help but we told them we were fine. Eventually Ben got the tire changed, luggage back in the car, and we headed to camp. It was a crazy trip. Ben blamed my stuffed monkey on the flat tire because everytime something went wrong, we blamed the monkey because he said the monkey was cursed. There is even another great store about a vehicle and day camp…Ill have to tell you all about it sometime!

What are some things you appreciate about the season of Lent? Perhaps you would share 5 of them with us. And for your bonus question feel free to share one thing you could do without.

1. Lent is an awesome season. I love that some of the most special days are during Lent especially Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, etc. Maundy Thursday holds a special place in my heart since it is the text of Jesus’ washing his disciple’s feet which is what Diaconal Ministry is all about!

2. The Bible Studies we offer during Lent. I like that it helps me to take the time to dwell in God’s Word which Im not always the greatest at.

3. I appreciate that we dont have Confirmation during Lent. It’s nice to have a break but more importantly, it reminds our Confirmation families to take the time to worship together. I love seeing them at our Lenten worship services.

4. Ash Wednesday “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” It may be a dark day but also reminds me of what Jesus did for me. It also helps me reflect on both life and death. Last February I found tears falling from my face as I put ashes on the foreheads of my parishioners. In that moment, I couldnt help but think of how Ben Larson had been killed in the Haiti earthquake while on J-term there with his wife and cousin. A powerful moment!

5. Lenten suppers that our youth put together

I really cant think of anything I dont appreciate about Lent. Maybe if I had to pick, it would be when Easter and Lent are later than they usually are.