in the land of carnivores but not of it...for now

When I was in seminary and the conversation would turn to age - people would always guess that I was 28. It would never fail - that was the age people believed me to be in MA. Perhaps it was the setting - I was in seminary and young people don't normally do that. Perhaps it was my friends - some were older but some were also younger. Perhaps it was the way I dressed - khakis, fleece, button down shirts. I rarely wore t-shirts or sweatshirts in public unless they had a crest on them.

Now that I am getting closer to that ever fateful age - people keep guessing under my real age. I suppose I should be lucky that I seem to be suffering from some sort of Benjamin Button syndrome but I think more is happening here. Perhaps it is the setting. I am now a youth pastor and my setting is usually in my office that is currently a mess of supplies, toys, and random objects such as teeth, guitars and a bongo drum. Perhaps it is the people I surround myself with - teenagers. They might have rubbed off on me a little... Perhaps it is the clothes I wear - band t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, jeans 6-7 days a week... Perhaps the fountain of youth is merely being in close proximity with youth.

So yes, my birthday came and went last week and my favorite parts included a homemade gift from my dad, frying an egg in my new pan from my mom, walking into my office filled with pink balloons from DeVern and Jen, and getting a surprise lunch from the church staff at the Millstone. I am a truly blessed girl.

Lastly, as you might have heard - it's Lent again. To continue my crazy ways - I have given up meat this year. So far so good - but I am grateful for the breaks on Sunday. I had a Frisco burger from Hardees and I almost drooled looking at it. That's just ridiculous! I did, however, make my first batch of really good pancakes on my new griddle. Turns out I am a really unhealthy vegetarian!

That's all I've got. What are you doing for Lent?