What the church could learn from Trader Joes

I'm a frequent flyer at Trader Joes.  It's on my way home from the gym, and makes me happy every time I'm there.  The creative packaging, fresh produce, beautiful market flowers, friendly crew, free samples, great coffee.  I could go on and on.   It's an errand I always love, and I always leave with a happy heart.  It sounds weird for a grocery store.  

It got me thinking.  

Why isn't the church more like Trader Joes?

Both the "c" and the "C."

I'm disgruntled with both these days.

At Trader Joes...

Everyone is welcome.

Smiles and friendly faces are everywhere.

Coffee is terrific.

You can try a sample, and like it or not...and that's ok.

Gorgeous flowers and bits of nature are in abundance.

Creativity, art, and humor is abounding.

Clever marketing.

"Fearless" Flyers introduce new products with ingenuity and amusement.

Help is in every aisle.

Colors of the rainbow at every glimpse.

Offers to assist on every visit.

Recipes and advice is exchanged freely.

No judgement.

Happy sounds.

Positive, flowing energy.

...and the list goes on......

-Julie

Floating

Some days one just has to go with the flow...
2 a.m. Wake to dog sick on tinfoil
2:15 a.m.  Back to bed after cleanup and time in jammies outside
4:45 a.m.  Turn off alarm.  No way I'm getting up for pilates.
6:15 a.m.  Wake up
6:20 a.m.  Time with Linnea.
6:45 a.m.  Drive Linnea to jazz band
7:05 a.m.  Return, time with Carl and his buddy hanging in the kitchen.
7:20 a.m.  Boys take off for High School
7:35 a.m.  Hop in shower.  Mark wakes girls up.  Get ready.
8:05 a.m.  Mark to train.
8:20 a.m.  Report to 1/2 day sub duty...ELL (Spanish), I have Latin & Swedish background
8:55 a.m.  Sub duty- reassigned to full day of subbing as "Floater"
Spend fifty minutes in each of the following..."floating" from room to room, reading plans as I teach
1.  Help with special needs kindergarten and first graders.
2.  First grade...Calendar and reading
3.  Second grade...ELL...Math
4.  Third grade...happens to be Sofi's classroom. She turns the color of her sweatshirt upon my arrival...bright pink.  Happens to be the job I applied for 5 days before schools started.  It wasn't as awkward as I imagined it might be...
12:40 p.m.  Lunch...race home, take dogs out, make lunch, deal with Halloween party planning...
1:05  p.m.  Head back to school
1.  Fifth grade....Math...Science
2.  Fourth grade...more Math...
3.  Third grade...back to Sofi's class....
3:30 p.m.  Home with Sofi & Linnea, snack, check in, madly clean art room
4:30 p.m.  Tutor in now "clean" art room...just don't open closet
5:00 p.m.  Iz and Carl back from activities
5:05 p.m.  Iz and I take Sofi to soccer, get gas, hang out in mini van with dogs...forgot leashes, fielding calls from Linnea who is making tomato soup from scratch...
6:00 p.m.  Leave soccer and head home, not train as planned, Mark is late...again.
6:10 p.m.  Finish dinner prep, feed kids
6:50 p..m.  Carl & Linnea head to youth group and confirmation...have a ride
7:08 p.m.  Head to train to pick up Mark
7:25 p.m   Reheat dinner, feed Mark, make my dinner (vegan)...eat, spend time with girls
8:10  p.m.  Pick up Linnea and friend from confirmation
8:30 p.m.  Help girls get ready for bed, read.
8:55 p.m.  Head back to church to pick up Carl and two friends.
9:15 p.m.  Time with Carl doing Latin while I clean kitchen with a glass of wine
9:45 p.m.  Send Carl to bed and do this crazy timeline of my day.
10:00 p.m.  Mark heads to bed.
10:03 p.m.  I contemplate all that I would and should do before another day...

Sad thing?
Thursdays are a worse time schedule than Wednesdays.
Yippee!
It's All Good....
-Julie

Quotable Quotes

Izzy has been into my decorating magazines these days.

She tucks "Flea Market Style" and "Pottery Barn" catalogs into her tote bags.

They go along to soccer games.

In the car to pick up Dad.

Off on quick errands.

Yesterday she wanted to bring one to school.

I told her she could.

She said "It would be much more amusing to read it at recess than listen to the screaming and the drama surrounding me."

Oh she cracks me up.

She's trying to train the dogs after school.
With six people giving directions to them, their behavior isn't the best.

Cody (on the right) never listens.

And often Madison doesn't either.

But she tries.
Izzy and I crafting.

 Making pumpkin anything.

These were pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

No eggs.

No dairy.

No gluten.

No real chocolate.

Amazingly good.

Off to deal with the morning drama.

Two girls getting dressed...

Apparently one has been wearing the others jeans.

Oy.

-Julie

My New Cell Phone

Made by Izzy

While I was out at a meeting...

My altoids case turned cell phone

Inside, "Wishes To Mom, Love Izzy"

Six little flowers with beads glued on.
She's quite good with a glue gun.
She asked me this morning if I'd made my wishes yet.
Love this kid.
-Julie

Patio Update

If you stopped by in early June,
You would have seen a pile of sand and a pile of bricks.
Here's a shot of it today from the iphone.
I pulled a few muscles and may have broken two fingers,
But phase one has been done for a few months now.
The "outdoor kitchen" constructed by Mark is almost done.
I'm contemplating pulling out a brick tomorrow in the second level.
And then the fun would begin again...
-Julie

My Little Pumpkin

"Hey Mom, don't I look like a little pumpkin?"

"Yes Sofi, you do!"

3rd grade, age 8

Love that her favorite color is still "construction cone orange."

That's even what she calls it.  :)

She's looking more and more like her big sis.

Linnea's about the same age in the pic behind Sofi's head.

She still plays teacher every day.

She still has to sleep with bun bun, boo boo and blue bear.

She still loves to cuddle.

She'll always be my little pumpkin.

-Julie

Remix- the Clothing Version

At 16,  I wanted a degree in fashion merchandising.

I took a class my Senior year of high school.

I'd sketch clothes.

Create outfits.

Make huge messes in my bedroom.

Purchase more clothes.

I loved it.

I became a teacher instead.

Why?

It was safer.

The school I went to didn't have the degree.

I loved kids.

I loved reading.

I wanted to major in Children's Literature, but it wasn't an option.

So I got a teaching degree.

The profession has changed- a lot.

My mentor used to say the pendulum swings...

and it's swung very far from where it was 19 years ago.

As much as I love teaching, I sometimes think it would be fun to go into fashion.

The teaching market is tough.

I interviewed this Summer.

180 applicants.

Ridiculous.

A local district had 1400 applicants for a kindergarten job.

Crazy.

 My outfits are a little "out there" at times.
I don't care.
They make me happy.
I like to shop.
And I'm very good at thrifting.

I'm often asked where I shop.
My response usually surprises people.
My closet?
It's my little haven away from the chaos of four kids.
I mix and match to my hearts content.
With four kids, I don't shop too often.

If you're local,
"Community Thrift" on Indian Trail is one of my favorite places.
I've been known to spend five hours there at a time.
Just digging.
If you stay long enough, it's a new inventory!

A newer option is "Plato's Closet."
It's a little pricier than a thrift store, but the digging has been done for you.

My favorite store?
Hands down, "Anthropologie."
I can dig in the sales room and find decent prices...
but shopping there is usually a huge splurge.

Instead I go back to my closet, and remix.
Case in point:  Hollister gray knit ruffle tank dress with polka dot skirted bottom.
I wear it with a ribbed tank from Menards.
Yep, the hardware store sells clothes.
Add my Target mustard cardigan and black leggings.
End with my Born boots.
I wear them almost every day Sept.- April
I can change this outfit and wear it with jean capris, or a shrug, or a white jean jacket.

In a future life, I'd love to style people's clothes...
be the "What not to wear" lady.
Or the window designer for a local store.
I did that once.
I was 16.
I designed the lingerie store windows.
For reals.
If they let me do it at 16, I think it's time to give it a try at 41.
-Julie