Weekend Getaway: Minnesota

Hello, hello!

I hope this finds you and yours well and staying as warm as possible!

This weekend, I took a fairly spontaneous trip to Minnesota (St. Paul area) to visit a dear friend from college.  She has had so many new and exciting things happen in her life in the recent past, and I decided to just make the trip up there to see/experience it all first hand!

So, after teaching lessons Friday evening (got done at 6:30), I headed out - armed with Google and AAA maps (no GPS for this girl), a road trip care package from my brother (complete with our favorite road trip snacks and a mix CD), Nicholas Sparks' newest book on CD (from the library), and a double-shot vanilla cappuccino smoothie from Scooter's.

The drive went really well and pretty fast, both going and coming back.  Since it was mostly dark both times, I didn't see too many sites on the road (not that there were many to be seen, anyway).  On the way out, though, I was driving through Iowa and saw a bunch of red lights blinking in unison across the horizon.  At first, I thought it was an airport, but couldn't figure out which one, because I was in the middle of nowhere...in Iowa.  I don't know how it finally occurred to me that they were the windmills, but that's what they were!  There were soooo many, though, and it was kind-of creepy to only see all those hundreds of red lights blinking simultaneously out there in the distance.

After arriving a little after 2 a.m., we proceeded to have a most lovely weekend together!  And as my mother's daughter, I documented it with pictures.  ☺

Saturday's brunch at The Good Earth included salmon with potato hash and poached eggs and pumpkin pancakes with applesauce and dried cranberries.  All the food here is made from organic and mostly local ingredients.

 Then, we made a trip to St. Olaf college where my friend did part of her master's program and where my cousin is a senior!

(for all you relatives out there...)

What a stunningly beautiful chapel!  (This is one of many windows there - pictures don't do it justice)

My cousin works at a cafe on campus where my friend used to go with other grad students a lot (though they hadn't met till now), and he made us drinks before we left.  This was my Pumpkin Spice Latte.)

A picture on the campus of Luther Seminary (where she also attended).

A delicious meal was prepared for us by my friend's thoughtful and talented boyfriend.  After supper, the night continued with lots of great conversation and a came of Scattergories.

One of the "new and exciting" things I went to experience was a litter of 7 kittens.  Need I say more...?  ☺

For now, their names are Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, and Ti.

Such a good (and young!) mama kitty.

Her sweet dog, Rondo, is pretty great, too!  I got to experience giving him a bath before I left on Sunday.

Since my friend is a (talented, organized, amazing) music/worship director, I took my trumpet and was able to participate in Sunday's All Saint's Day service.  It was so great to see her in her element (and hear her play organ!!), and also such a blessing to be able to be part of it all.

Afterward, we ate at a cafe that doubles as a bike shop - pretty cool...and also yummy!

A lot of people thought I was a little crazy for making this trip alone, but I really didn't think twice about it.  I figured there is no time like the present (and it was the only weekend between now and Christmas - when the kittens would be finding new homes - that worked), so I just went...and I'm so glad I did!  It was a really wonderful trip, and I feel like I got to do and see everything I wanted to.  Of course, there are lots of touristy things we didn't take time to do or see, but that doesn't matter - it's the real and meaningful "attractions" that matter most.  ☺

Also - I never shared my Halloween costume with you all!  I was originally going to dress up as something completely different (an idea I'm saving for next year, so not sharing now), but then I found this priceless sweatshirt-turned-cat-cardigan at Goodwill, and couldn't not be the Crazy Cat Lady.

That's all, folks!  Hope you have an exceptional week!

Home without a kitten or a Minnesotan accent,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

having student evaluations done!

This is what Charlie's doing right now.

Martin Luther.

Hi there!


So, in honor of Reformation Day, the sermon at church on Sunday was all about the life, teachings, and music of Martin Luther.  It took a sermon like that to remind me just how monumental Luther's actions were.  I feel like we should be reminded of what he did more than once a year, because it was kind-of a big deal.  : )


Can you imagine sticking up for your beliefs in a way that so drastically and completely changes the course and vehicle for the beliefs of others for generations upon generations to come?!  (I know there are plenty of others who have done so over the course of history, but I'm going to stick to Luther, for now.)  I wonder how fully he understood/realized the implications of his actions at the time.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Luther's "actions," here's an explanation in a nutshell: He believed salvation cannot be bought with money or earned through good deeds, but rather, it is freely given by the grace of God.  This was a new concept in his time, and it went against the Roman Catholic Church's teachings.  Luther stood firm in his beliefs, though, and went public with them, resulting in his excommunication.  Subsequently, he went into hiding and too this time to translate the Bible from Latin to German, making it much more accessible for the people.  Basically, he initiated the Protestant Reformation.  Wohoo!


This all led me to another thought: Why do we have so many denominations within the Protestant church?  I know, of course, there is plenty of explanation to be found in history, research, and others' commentary - some of which I have heard/read - but I'm looking to dig deeper.  Are these divisions something Satan caused, or were they prescribed by God?  Were they meant to cause conflict and bitterness among believers, or were they created to allow for a variety of traditions, music, etc. for believers to choose from and ultimately find their niche?  Maybe there is commentary on this, too, that I should seek out.  For now, though, I'm just speculating "out loud."


I don't believe in a hierarchy of denominations, mostly because I don't know the answers to the questions above.  All I know is this: We are all sinners and are saved by the grace of God through the death of His Son on the cross.  The choice of whether or not to accept this grace is ours to make.  Upon accepting this gift of eternal life, our life on Earth should be a reflection of God's love and mercy.


I'll leave it at that, for now.  I hope none of this offended anyone - it certainly was not meant to.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on any and all of this, as usual.  At the very least, I hope it made you think a bit...and maybe be thankful for Martin Luther.  : )


On a lighter note, here's a student story for you: 
After taking pictures in our Halloween costumes, one of my students said, "There's two kinds of cheeses: the kind you say when you smile for a picture and the kinds you eat.  I like the kind you eat best.  cheddar jack is my favorite, and then just plain cheddar.  What's your favorite?"  This was the kiddo, by the way, who dressed up as Beaker from the Muppets.  Best. costume. ever.  Here's a link to his picture on Boo at the Zoo's contest site (I think you might have to copy and paste it): https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383428_10150335277191160_57153231159_8401525_1582657471_n.jpg 
AND here's a link to the video he sang/acted out for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpcUxwpOQ_A


Take care,
Kensy


P.S. FYI - voting for the costume contest ends tomorrow (Friday).

Favorites of the day:

freshly-washed flannel sheets, towels, and PJ's

sunshine

best friend visits : )

Happy Halloween!

The long-awaited costume pictures are here!

A Queen Bee and a Spelling Bee!  : )

Charlie the Angel...haha

: )

I'll let you know the results of the costume contest as soon as they're released!  Until then, enjoy the day and the treats that come with it.  : )


Buzzingly,
Kensy


P.S. Happy Reformation Day, too!  So incredibly thankful for the life, music, and teachings of Martin Luther.

Favorites of the day:

getting to see my students in costume!

wearing leggings and flip-flops to work

candy corn and peanuts