Turn off your brain

I don’t really know what I want to write about today. I just know that I have a longing to write about anything — anything, that is, that is not designed to raise a single penny. Not even for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I love what I do. So much so, in fact, that Roberto often chides me and says “can’t you ever stop working?” or, my favorite, “can’t you ever turn off your brain?” No, in fact, I can’t. My brain stays on, usually at full speed, all the time. Even in my sleep. It’s probably not healthy. I know several experts who would say most decidedly that it is a terrible thing this active brain of mine. But I, for one, am rather fond of it.

I remember even as a little child asking my friends and family if they could turn off their brains. If they could just stop and think of nothing at all. And do you know that some of them could? I was fascinated. So I tried it. I failed. It was most distressing to me. I simply could not do it. If I wasn’t pondering, wondering, or dreaming, I was thinking about how to turn off my brain. I could think about that a lot. But I could never do it. And I still can’t.

When it comes to my work, I have a very difficult time turning off, slowing down, or changing gears — though I am making improvements. I love what I do. I thrive in it. It is my work, my hobby, my pleasure. I also try very hard to control it. Family is more important, for example. And I absolutely love my time with family. It’s my time to recharge, to find balance, to slow down. But even then, there is no off button.

Lately, work has gone splendidly. The business is growing. I feel deep inside me that everything is about to take off. The momentum is building. And so is the suspense. Sometimes I feel desperate. I think, “I have no idea what I’m doing here.” I can’t run a business and care for my family. I am quite inept at both. But the truth is, I love it. The challenge. The frenzy. I simply don’t know how to live any other way.

Is there another way?

Roberto is very good and taking ahold of me and pulling me back a step or two. Slow down, he says. Enjoy what you have. Turn off your brain. He’s only marginally successful, but I appreciate him ever so much for trying. He is my balance bar on this earth. He reminds me to keep my heart focused above, my feet walking in obedience, and my ambition tied to the Lord’s. He is a wonderful man.

And he is part of the reason why I have decided to hire an assistant. Yes, I am taking a giant leap of faith and looking for my first employee of sorts. As much as I thrive on it all, I cannot do it all. I need some help. So I posted an ad on Craig’s list for a Copy Editor/Writer. The position is very part time. And very diversified. In addition to copy editing and writing, the right person will need to keep my life in order. (That should require some over-time.) S/He will help me manage my schedule, keep projects flowing, and assist with database entry. Oh, and all in 10 hours or less a week.

So I posted the ad. And waited. Would anyone reply? I checked the site obsessively for 30 minutes to see if the ad was up. Finally, I had to move on to something else. I do work for a living, you know.

Suddenly, there it was. My first applicant. And she wasn’t half bad. Yay! Then another one. And another one. I now have 30+ applications flagged in my inbox. They are the competent ones. (Sorry folks, if you have a misspelling or grammatical error in your cover letter to be a copy editor, I’m not biting.)

And there you have it. Elizabeth Turnbull’s life in a nutshell. Someday (hopefully soon) I’ll be back to write about Daniela and how she is absolutely thriving. She made all A’s this last quarter you know. Well, all A’s except for Theatre Arts which was a giant misunderstanding that I better not go into since this is not that kind of blog and I’m not sure I can contain myself. So let’s say, “She made straight A’s in everything that counts.”

And maybe, if I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll post about Roberto. He has big plans for the future. I married an artist, but I am married to the next mathematical genius. Have I mentioned lately how much I love him?

Yes, someday I’ll write about all of those things. But for now, I’ll have to be content with what I have written here. I have job applications to evaluate, you know.

Voting

There we were on Saturday morning. Huddled in bed and reading through the voter’s guide. Roberto and I had (finally) made up our minds for the presidential election. And then we remembered all the other people on the ballot. So we sat together in bed and talked about the candidates. It really wasn’t very difficult to choose. And we are so glad we did. These are the people who impact us most directly. In some ways, they are more important, though admittedly less sexy, than the presidential candidates.

Then it was off to the polls. We bundled up (it wasn’t that cold), dragged Daniela out of bed, and headed to wait in line. We waited over an hour. And all the way we gave thanks to see so many people waiting with us. We met a lovely woman in line. She was a walking trivia book and Daniela thoroughly tested her knowledge. 

Roberto and I felt as if we were two children heading to the fair. You see, this is not just any election. This is one for the history books. Yes, we will make history one way or another. Either we’ll have the first Black president. Or the first woman vice president. Yes, we will. But that isn’t what makes this election so important.

No, this election is a Great Election because this is the first time in his life that Roberto has been allowed to have his vote count. This is the first time that Roberto has voted. Ever. And this is his first vote cast as an American.

I’m not one for stars and stripes on my car, credit card, or really anything else except for special occasions. We are not zealous patriots. In fact, we think of ourselves more as worldly citizens than very much belonging to any one country. But this, my friends, was a big moment. And even we could see it.

Roberto voted. I voted. And Daniela cast our ballots. This election is one for the history books.

A Fall Picnic

I have been treading on leaves all day until I am autumn-tired.

God knows all the color and form of leaves I have trodden on and mired.

Perhaps I have put forth too much strength and been too fierce from fear.

I have safely trodden underfoot the leaves of another year.

~ From “A Leaf-Treader,” by Robert Frost.

There’s Magic in the Air!

We have entered on of my favorite times of the year. Summer has slipped quietly out the back door to make room for fall, who is moving in gently but swiftly. I love the change we can feel in the air. There’s a busyness about as animals and plants prepare for winter, but it’s a joyful sort of productivity. And it’s contagious. I feel renewed and eager to tie up loose ends. Nesting has hit our home full force.

Even with the long to-do list, I found a quiet moment this morning to remember our family trip to Disney. We had such a lovely time. Faye tried her best to rain us out, but we would have none of it. Here are a few photos so you can share with us.

 

A friend in need

Sometimes God takes us to a place to meet a person who is going to change our life, a person who is going to help us grow in faith, compassion, and love. Nearly two years ago, God led Roberto and me to a Bible study where he did just that.

 

We walked into a tiny apartment to meet our Bible Study group. James and Annmarie, friends from Church, invited us to join their weekly study. When we arrived, we met Tim and Laura. And then, we met Butch. There he was, seated in front of the TV. A muscular black man with tattoos down his arm. He smelled of cigarette smoke. And one gold tooth flashed when smiled. 

 

“Hi, I’m Butch.” Of course you are, I thought. I could imagine no other name that would better suit him. I’d later learn that Butch’s real name is Oneil Felder. He stopped using Oneil as a child to avoid the inevitable afterschool playground fights with the unsuspecting kid who thought it would be cute to call him “Oatmeal.” (Butch doesn’t do “cute.”)

 

I would soon learn that Butch’s heart was a big as his muscles. And the only thing tough about him is his name.

 

Butch was a “guest of the state” as we like to say. He was in prison serving out a 12-year sentence when we met him. James and Tim, the founders of our Bible study, are active members of our Church’s prison ministry. They became faithful friends to Butch and helped lead him to the Lord. His transformation was gradual, but total. Butch now loves the Lord and seeks to serve Him in all he does. Now he is even a licensed counselor for others who are facing similar difficulties!

 

Butch was released in March of this year and has been diligently working to rebuild his life. He started out with nothing, but we were able to help him modestly furnish his first apartment and get his feet on the ground. His biggest challenge has been finding a steady job. Almost every full-time, stable job that is available to him requires a driver’s license, something Butch does not have.

 

That’s where you come in. Butch lost his driver’s license before he went to prison. And now, to reinstate it, he must pay a total of $625 in fines. When we visited Butch on Thursday, he had $0.35 to his name. He’s been out of work for nearly a month, despite following leads daily. He needs help to pay his tickets, get his license, and find a job. 

 

A Chapel Hill heating and air company is holding a job for Butch as a driver on one of its trucks. This would be a full-time job for him and place him in an excellent, stable position. But only IF he can get his license!

 

We did the math and it will only take about 12 gifts of $50 each or 24 gifts of $25 each. Any gift will help. Most of all, the support will be an encouragement to Butch and remind him that he is not alone in his struggles.

 

Checks can be made out to Elizabeth Turnbull and sent to our home. You can also give online through my company’s PayPal account: www.tbullgroup.com/payonline.  I will help Butch get the money orders he needs to pay the fines at the various offices scattered throughout the Triangle.

 

Roberto and I give thanks regularly for our friendship with Butch. The Lord has used him to soften our hearts, grow our trust in the Lord, and open our eyes to the need in our own backyard. His faith is simple, genuine, and runs deeper than I could imagine. Each week, he teaches us something new about our walk with Christ, about what it means to truly live on faith alone. Now, we want to give something back to him.

 

Please join us in our commitment to pray for Butch — his successful transition is a beautiful testimony of God’s grace. He is regularly discipling other men who have recently been released from prison and helping them to grow in their faith. One of the men Butch has counseled was just baptized in our church! 

 

You can also help us spread the word by sharing this with friends and family who might want to help.

Many thanks in advance for your prayers and support for Butch. Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you have any other questions about Butch or how you can help.

A Prayer…

Lord,

If we are alive today in spite of
hurricanes, hunger and sickness,
we should say,
“Thank you, Lord.
We must be here for a purpose.”

-From God is No Stranger

Educate Me

That’s the idea I have for a column in an A&E publication or music magazine. I have no music tastes what so ever. Well, perhaps that’s a bit exaggerated. I don’t like acid rock and I try to avoid explicit lyrics. But other than that, I’m a blank canvas.

Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoy music. I have it playing often throughout my day. And I just finished loading 21.7 hours of songs on my new iPhone. I think music is great.

But I have no personal sense of what makes music great. I can’t really tell a good song from a bad song. Or a talented group from a mediocre group. And I definitely have no idea about current trends. What’s cool? What’s not? Who’s the next up and coming star? Who’s yesterday’s one hit wonder? Don’t ask me. I couldn’t even name 1 song from the top 40 if you offered me a large sum of money. But at least I know there’s such a thing as a top 40.

I’m not really proud of my musical ignorance. One of my dear friends says I’m a culture snob and just won’t be bothered with such nonsense. But I don’t think it’s that. It’s really truly that I simply have no clue. I find some music I like (which is just about everything I hear), I download it, and I listen to it. Over and over and over again. Until someone gives me something new.

Enough is enough.

It’s time I learn something about music.  I’d love to write a column where music-savvy readers educate me about what makes great music and the artists behind it. Alas, I don’t have any editors knocking on my door. So I need you to educate me. Tell me what’s hot, what’s not, and what I absolutely can’t miss. And please, for the love of all things musical, put it in context. Give me something to work with. I’ll listen to the music you suggest and write about it from time to time. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll start to develop my own tastes. It’s a long shot, but it’ll be a fun ride.

You can email me or post your comments below.

One month

That’s how long it’s been since my last post. And I can’t believe it. Truly, I thought it had been “oh, a week or so.” That is the best indicator of the pace at which we live. And I don’t think it’s just me, or my family. I think this entire country lives at warp speed. I’d like to slow down a little. But truth be told, I’m not sure I know how. Maybe that’s why God gave me Roberto. He reminds me to do things like breathe, eat, and go to bed. He’s a good guy to have around.

Our summer, which at one point seemed infinite, is almost over. It, too, chose to move at warp speed. Summers need a Roberto.

We leave on Friday to head to Orlando with my parents and (maybe) my brother Andy and whoever else decides to tag along. This year’s annual family vacation has dwindled a bit in numbers, but we will be there with bells on. What’s not to love about a free week in a luxury resort with some of the people you love most in this world?

Only six months ago, Daniela joined us from Cuba. So much has happened since then. She has become a rising 6th grader, is joining 2 youth groups, and today, she carried on a 15 minute phone conversation with her friend Kyra from school — in English. So proud.

Travel has been high on our list of priorities for Daniela, and we’ve had the chance to do several fun excursions with her. We’ve been to Lynchburg to visit Grandma and Grandpa, to the beach to freeze our tails off in the water, to Richmond with my friend Kezia, to Raleigh to visit the science museum, to Charlotte to see Frantz and tour the Van Wingerden’s giant greenhouse, and now we head to Orlando, the sacred gathering spot for all things Disney. I’m not sure who’s more excited — Daniela who has always dreamt of Disney, or me, who has long dreamt of taking her children to Disney. We have big plans to ride all the roller coasters (Roberto says he’ll “hold our stuff and watch”) and Daniela’s been saving her money for a giant spending spree. We’re also going to visit Epcot and Sea World. The resort only has 11 pools, so I can’t imagine what we’ll do in our spare time.

I’m sure there will be many fun photos to post soon, so stay tuned. Good things are coming — at warp speed, apparently.

Beausol Locavores

That’s what Farmer Harry calls those of us participating in his CSA (consumer supported agriculture). Our family signed up to be part of this elite group of locals who buy a share of a farmer’s harvest. We are halfway through the season, and we love it. We love it so much, in fact, that we have become CSA evangelists of sorts. We tell everyone about this very good news. You can learn more about Beausol Gardens by visiting their LocalHarvest page. And you can learn more about your local CSA options by visiting LocalHarvest.

Though our shares aren’t always huge, they are consistently enough. And they are absolutely delicious. One of our favorite perks about the CSA, apart from getting farm-fresh veggies at a terrific deal, is that we are learning to eat with the seasons. I make my meal plans after I pick up my share, not before I go to the store. It requires a little flexibility and a bit of ingenuity at times. (What does one do with 2 lbs of tomatillos, for example? If you know, please tell!) But we wouldn’t trade it for the world.

We have even been inspired to start our own home garden. In addition to our Beausol Gardens bounty, we have harvested zucchini, cucumbers, and beets, and we have tomatoes, yellow squash, watermelon, and cantaloupe on the way. (I’ll post photos and write more about this when the garden has been weeded and is suitable for “public viewing.”)

One of our fellow locavores started a blog for other Beausol Gardens members to share recipes and tips. Even if you aren’t in, it’s worth a visit from time to time. After all, zucchini from the world around will make zucchini bread, though I’m sure it won’t be as delicious as the Beausol bounty!

Haiti & Beyond

That’s the title of an e-newsletter that was passed along to me earlier this week. It’s written by my family friends, former principal, and the parents of my high school banquet date: Bill and Dorothy Smith. They are missionaries in Haiti with the Assemblies of God Church. God’s hand is visible in all that they do.

You can learn about their work and get to know a little about them by visiting their blog (now listed in my blog roll). You can also sign up for their e-newsletter.