hello. the weather in portland has left things in a tentative mood. each day something is canceled. tonight there was meant to be a party for the teachers i work with in early childhood at church. they have become dear friends and i am really bummed that the threat of freezing rain, or rain freezing, has kept me home. the next two nights we have christmas parties planned, but i'm still waiting to see what the weather will do. jon has had three straight days of no school, a welcome break from all the work this first year of teaching is proving to be. i have been working downtown at Portland Monthly, waiting in the snow and cold wind, riding the bus. it's ironic that when jon gets a suprise break, I take a hiatus from housewifing. next week is our planned vacation and if we make it out of portland, we'll be in california Saturday evening with Jon's family.
so, today I fact-checked my first piece. i'm not sure what i can say, because i signed a confidentiality agreement. to be vague, it was for the pour department. i learned about a certain type of beer that i didn't know existed. i showed jon my notes and he seemed impressed. and so far, i'm excited for this internship. a little apprehensive for its newness, but glad for its potential, though potential always feels so tentative.
Wednesday, December 17
Monday, December 15
has it been seven months? sheesh!
Oh the weather outside is frightful.
But the fire is so delightful...
First, I offer my sincerest apologies. After graduation I started thinking, I'll post again when the next big thing happens. So, when I got a great job or found out I was pregnant, I would blab it all over this little blog of mine and let the world know. Neither of which have happened so this blog has been left fallow, for a long time. Again, sorry. Though, I'm not convinced you've been hurt by this. I more so got bored seeing the same pictures of the coast each time I tried to visit your blogs using my links. So, here's what has been happening:
This summer Jon and I both worked chump jobs. When I graduated from seminary, working at Starbucks got a whole lot more frustrating and annoying. I would spend the first hour or two when I opened muttering to myself about how much I hated that place. It's really easy to hate everything at 4:15am. In July we went down to California to see family and to meet our new nephew Elias and niece Leelah. And I celebrated my birthday and turned 25. In August we went out to the MidWest to see family and friends. It was lovely. While we were there Jon had a phone interview with the North Clackamas School District and got hired to teach 8th grade Social Studies while we were parked in a Goodwill parking lot in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I don't think we bought anything there, but we left with a real job. As soon as we got back to Portland, Jon started working and has been working pretty constantly ever since. I, on the other hand, quit my job at Starbucks and became a housewife. I've been cooking dinner and doing dishes ever since.
Except for today. Today Jon has been sitting pretty because it was a snow day and school has been called off for tomorrow, too. Last winter we didn't get much inclement weather. This year, we've got nearly a week of promised snow. For those not in Portland, Portland can't handle the snow or ice. The city shuts down. At least most of it. The odd thing is, now that Jon has a couple of surprise days off, I'm off working. I've been interning at our church, Imago Dei, in the children's ministry department since this summer. It's been a good yet hard learning process for me to balance being faithful in the ministry opportunity I have now without much certainty about what will come out of it. A couple weeks ago I scored a second unpaid internship at Portland Monthly magazine. It's a grunt work, fact checking internship and I'm giddy with excitement. Most of my college magazine friends paid their internship dues to Meredith publishing and are off being editors. I retreated to seminary after graduation and will be paying my dues now for three months. We were shown a tracking sheet for articles today and I got excited, remembering my Drake Mag days. Hooray for being back in the magazine world. So, today I had an orientation at Portland Monthly while Jon was at home snow daying it up.
Next, I'm planning to apply for an internship with the Zissou Society. I'll let you know how it goes. And hopefully I'll start posting again. In the past few months as I've been looking to get back into writing and editing, when I had a chance to write, even cover letters for jobs, it was (to sound New Age) a renewing and energizing process. When I don't write, I forget that at least part of me is a writer and at least part of the time I should be doing it.
Thanks for being forgiving and for reading. Hopefully there will be more to come.
Friday, May 16
coast!
my family is in town. we went to the coast yesterday for what was the clearest day i've ever seen on the oregon coast. we also toured the art museum and japanese gardens the day before, but i forgot the camera. oh well. i'm graduating today, which means a lot of pomp and circumstance for me, sitting for my family and shopping and eating in between. 
Sunday, April 27
let's play..."What's Lynette Researching Now?"
I can't tell if you all are sick of hearing about my research or are so deeply intrigued by it that you neglect to post, as the prophet Ezekiel could only sit in silence for seven days having seen the Lord (although the comparison is thin). Either way I'd like to dig my head out of a few primary resources and bring to the surface a little gem I'm going to call Theological Bedtime Stories. Travis, you'll like this one.
Right now I'm researching for my very last academic paper. From here on out I'm only accepting cash and publication rites for my papers rather than grades. The title is something like "the development of the veneration of the saints in the 3rd and 4th centuries," although the real title will be properly capitalized and contain at least one pun. So for the past few days I've been following some suggested primary resources and reading the likes of Origen, Tertullian and Augustine. It's been a balance of both gratingly boring and somewhat intriguing. One intriguing aspect was reading firsthand a story my theology professor would tell us in class, over and over again. I can see him very vividly, though in my mind there is a bit of a theological fog around the room, waving his hand in the air and saying "Away with the Atheists." You see, a long time ago in a land a far way from here there lived a man named Polycarp. He was highly esteemed in the Christian community in Smyrna and equally highly loathed by those who were not Christians. He was also a very old man. Now persecutions broke out in the early church and people were tortured and subsequently martyred for confessing themselves as Christians. Polycarp had tried to hide out in several farms outside the city and there prayed fervently and received a vision of how he would die. His pillow was in flames marking his own end. When he was caught and brought into the stadium he was told to renounce Christ by saying to the believers, "Away with the Atheists." Now at that time Christians were persecuted because they would not sacrifice to the emperor who was believed to be a god, and the god of the empire. Because they would not sacrifice they were called Atheists. When called to commit this act Polycarp turned instead to those in the stadium cheering his death, held up his hand and shouted, "Away with the Atheists." And now without properly citing I'll quote a bit verbatim from "The Martyrdom of Polycarp."
"But when the magistrate persisted and said, 'Swear the oath, and I will release you; revile Christ, ' Polycarp replied, 'For eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?'"
In my mind I'm trying to combine my last paper with this current one and figure out how to tell these stories if not to the kiddos at church at least to my children when the day comes. This morning I taught our 3-year-olds at church to point to themselves and say, "I am the church." I'd also like them to know who else is part of the church and what they did. People like Polycarp of Symrna.
Alright, enough rambling. Back to work.
Right now I'm researching for my very last academic paper. From here on out I'm only accepting cash and publication rites for my papers rather than grades. The title is something like "the development of the veneration of the saints in the 3rd and 4th centuries," although the real title will be properly capitalized and contain at least one pun. So for the past few days I've been following some suggested primary resources and reading the likes of Origen, Tertullian and Augustine. It's been a balance of both gratingly boring and somewhat intriguing. One intriguing aspect was reading firsthand a story my theology professor would tell us in class, over and over again. I can see him very vividly, though in my mind there is a bit of a theological fog around the room, waving his hand in the air and saying "Away with the Atheists." You see, a long time ago in a land a far way from here there lived a man named Polycarp. He was highly esteemed in the Christian community in Smyrna and equally highly loathed by those who were not Christians. He was also a very old man. Now persecutions broke out in the early church and people were tortured and subsequently martyred for confessing themselves as Christians. Polycarp had tried to hide out in several farms outside the city and there prayed fervently and received a vision of how he would die. His pillow was in flames marking his own end. When he was caught and brought into the stadium he was told to renounce Christ by saying to the believers, "Away with the Atheists." Now at that time Christians were persecuted because they would not sacrifice to the emperor who was believed to be a god, and the god of the empire. Because they would not sacrifice they were called Atheists. When called to commit this act Polycarp turned instead to those in the stadium cheering his death, held up his hand and shouted, "Away with the Atheists." And now without properly citing I'll quote a bit verbatim from "The Martyrdom of Polycarp."
"But when the magistrate persisted and said, 'Swear the oath, and I will release you; revile Christ, ' Polycarp replied, 'For eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?'"
In my mind I'm trying to combine my last paper with this current one and figure out how to tell these stories if not to the kiddos at church at least to my children when the day comes. This morning I taught our 3-year-olds at church to point to themselves and say, "I am the church." I'd also like them to know who else is part of the church and what they did. People like Polycarp of Symrna.
Alright, enough rambling. Back to work.
Saturday, April 19
Nintendo Wife, Nintendo Strife
Every Sunday I call my parents who live in Wisconsin. Every Sunday my Mom answers and pretends to be surprised that I am on the other end. Both my Mom and my Dad, on a typical day will proceed to talk my ear off for upwards of 2 hours. I enjoy hearing what their weekend activities and how the dog or grandson is so cute and how I have to see it or him. I'm partly to blame for the unbalanced conversation because when they ask how things are for me and what I've been up to I never seem to have a long or interesting answer. This past week I had class and work on Monday, worked Tuesday and then was writing a paper for the rest of the week. Nothing to call home about. Jon on the other hand has been busy. Mostly he's at school, teaching punk students about the New Deal(s). But when he's home and near craigslist.org he's wheeling and dealing. Today he bought two NES consoles. This week he's sold and spent games and consoles equally upwards of hundreds of dollars. I'm a little proud of him. It's got to be one of his spiritual gifts. I'm also a bit mystified by it all. So, I decided to you in on what the Sanchez: Portland Division family has been up to. Jon's collecting and selling all things Nintendo. I'm shooting him confused looks and starting to look at the Nintendo franchise forming in our home with a hint of jealousy. What did you do this week?
Wednesday, April 9
from the likes of research
So, I want to share a bit of my research with you. I spent a good five hours at the library today looking through a few different commentaries and trying to figure out what exactly we can learn about children in the gospel of Matthew. I have a fear there is not much to be said. I worry that I've chosen a topic on false pretenses and while my topics usually expand beyond expectation as I research I'm looking at the narrowing of this one. I'm trying to get out of the metaphoric rut of the other commentators who see Jesus using children as an object lesson rather than uplifting children as children. We'll see what I come up with by Monday.
Until then I wanted to share a quote from Ulrich Luz's commentary on Matthew. In this quote he is commenting on how Matthew 19:13-15, when Jesus lays hands on children to bless them, is often used to support infant baptism. He finds no grounds for supporting the practice in this or any other New Testament passage. Fair enough, but what struck me was his comment on the involvement of children in the church and what it's going to have to mean if we follow Christ's words and turn and become children.
Here is what Luz says:
“However, in the perspective of our text I would like first of all to encourage our churches to include children, not only in separate rooms and on separate occasions but also precisely in our main corporate worship—and to include them not as passive participants who it is hoped will keep quiet but as persons who as children help shape our worship and make it more spontaneous, lively, and in a positive sense perhaps somewhat more chaotic. In the second place I would like to encourage our churches to rediscover the reality of blessing not only for children but also for others—and to do that not merely in corporate worship.”
This gives me plenty to think about, more for practice than for a paper. I work with kids every week, little kiddos who I try so earnestly to order and teach and get on a schedule. So often they are spontaneous and chaotic. I can't quite figure out what its going to mean for me to become a child, especially at this point in my life when I feel forced to become an adult and have a few kids of my own.
Until then I wanted to share a quote from Ulrich Luz's commentary on Matthew. In this quote he is commenting on how Matthew 19:13-15, when Jesus lays hands on children to bless them, is often used to support infant baptism. He finds no grounds for supporting the practice in this or any other New Testament passage. Fair enough, but what struck me was his comment on the involvement of children in the church and what it's going to have to mean if we follow Christ's words and turn and become children.
Here is what Luz says:
“However, in the perspective of our text I would like first of all to encourage our churches to include children, not only in separate rooms and on separate occasions but also precisely in our main corporate worship—and to include them not as passive participants who it is hoped will keep quiet but as persons who as children help shape our worship and make it more spontaneous, lively, and in a positive sense perhaps somewhat more chaotic. In the second place I would like to encourage our churches to rediscover the reality of blessing not only for children but also for others—and to do that not merely in corporate worship.”
This gives me plenty to think about, more for practice than for a paper. I work with kids every week, little kiddos who I try so earnestly to order and teach and get on a schedule. So often they are spontaneous and chaotic. I can't quite figure out what its going to mean for me to become a child, especially at this point in my life when I feel forced to become an adult and have a few kids of my own.
Thursday, April 3
senior apathy
The Sanchez family is thoroughly stressed out. Jon has been spending his week first at a massive education job fair then suffering the mixed blessing of being called back for an interview. I have been working full days, early mornings, late nights. I have a first draft of a paper due Monday, which I have two pages of research to contribute. Really two pages of scripture references that need to be researched. We need a break but are instead looking ahead to one last month of school work. The beginning of May will signal our release from a year of us both being in school, a year that is showing its wear.
My senior year of college I had multiple conversations with my rooommate Becca about being apathetic. Overachievers our whole lives, we were both trying to the learn the skill of second best. We weren't good at it and were better at convincing ourselves we didn't care anymore. On finals week, with most everything else done, I woke up early every morning to read philosophy. The class was studies on epistemology, the study of knowing or how we are able to know. I had arranged to take the class credit/no credit so earning a good grade wasn't really an option. I just needed to pass. Still I woke up early and read and prepared.
And now, I can't get myself to research. I talk about the paper I'm working on. I think about it. I can't get myself to sit down and do the work, though. I want to ask of my professor what Max on "Rushmore" asked the principal. "Couldn't we let me just slide by, for old time's sake?" I want to be done with seminary. I want to come home from work and not have one more nagging responsibility. I think I would be content with being a really good part time housewife. Part time because with no babies I have to keep my day job. For a while there I was getting pretty good at delegating chores to myself.
I guess I need to remain hopeful. I told Jon we would eventually look back on these years as the best. He disagreed. Our best years, he said, will come when we are dead. There will be good things in all of these years: school, church, kids, jobs, retirement. But the best is yet to come beyond it all. So I am stressed. I am struggling and I'm hopeful. Still, I could use a little kick in the pants. Get back to work, Lynette. You're not going to get an A in blogging.
My senior year of college I had multiple conversations with my rooommate Becca about being apathetic. Overachievers our whole lives, we were both trying to the learn the skill of second best. We weren't good at it and were better at convincing ourselves we didn't care anymore. On finals week, with most everything else done, I woke up early every morning to read philosophy. The class was studies on epistemology, the study of knowing or how we are able to know. I had arranged to take the class credit/no credit so earning a good grade wasn't really an option. I just needed to pass. Still I woke up early and read and prepared.
And now, I can't get myself to research. I talk about the paper I'm working on. I think about it. I can't get myself to sit down and do the work, though. I want to ask of my professor what Max on "Rushmore" asked the principal. "Couldn't we let me just slide by, for old time's sake?" I want to be done with seminary. I want to come home from work and not have one more nagging responsibility. I think I would be content with being a really good part time housewife. Part time because with no babies I have to keep my day job. For a while there I was getting pretty good at delegating chores to myself.
I guess I need to remain hopeful. I told Jon we would eventually look back on these years as the best. He disagreed. Our best years, he said, will come when we are dead. There will be good things in all of these years: school, church, kids, jobs, retirement. But the best is yet to come beyond it all. So I am stressed. I am struggling and I'm hopeful. Still, I could use a little kick in the pants. Get back to work, Lynette. You're not going to get an A in blogging.
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