and while smiling have spoken my name.

ten cool points if you know the name/words/something identifying about the title. hint: it's part of hymn.

'cause sunday I joined Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. It's the first church I've joined all by myself, and up until yesterday I was a member at Trinity in Oklahoma, which, clearly, made attending difficult.

I'm really excited! It worked out nicely too, since after church they had a how-you-can-get-involved science-fair-style thing in the fellowship hall. I'd love to join the choir, but since they have two services I'm not so sure I want to--I'm not keen on being there for two services every Sunday. I did sign up for more info for that, though, and I'm also looking at joining the bell choir since they don't play as often. We'll see.

and, fun stuff? I got a PG-UMC coffee mug full of candy, a PC-UMC sticker AND a PC-UMG cookbook. I made out like a bandit. :) Some of the recipes look pretty yummy, and if they are I'll share.

and THEN I got to go to Uno's, and THEN Katie and began cutting the strips for my quilt. I think it's going to be beautiful. We both really really like the fabric. I had fun talking to her, comparing our cukes and having tea--in the british fashion. Very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to more quilt work soon! It's therapeutic!

oh, and now is as good a time as any to tell the mother teresa thing from a few weeks ago. so, I went to hear this speaker for NWFD--molly barker from girls on the run. she was talking about girls and self esteem, and how at some teen-ish ages girls start being more concerned about "fitting in" and what's "cool," and less interested in pursuing their hopes and dreams and passions and skills. and these girls deny a skill or ability or dream or idea they have-they stop raising their hand in class, stop being confident and start being self-conscious. and this program is all about not doing that. they encourage the girls to do what they can do, to excel, to dream to reach for the stars...and to realize that when you're doing what your meant to do, THEN you will be the most beautiful.

and that's when she brought up mother teresa.

it seemed to molly (and I think a lot of people would agree with her) that mother teresa did what she was *supposed* to do. and she noticed that when people saw/talked about mother teresa, no one was thinking "ew, she's old." or "my, she needs botox." or "goodness, she could lose a few pounds." No, all they saw was how beautiful she was, how wonderful and strong and true, because mother teresa was being mother teresa. she was embracing who she was, and she was using the gifts that she had been given.

it really hit me when she pointed that out--because it's so true. and what an excellent perspective.