Neighbors' input sought on uses for Adams School

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=123504

The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization has actively sought community input on the topic of the Adams School re-use over the last year. In October 2006, the MHNO held a brainstorming session about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the site. In addition, community members were asked to begin formulating a vision for this 1.5-acre site located in the heart of our neighborhood. Recurring themes on the vision for Adams School included live/work space, a community center, community gardens, a produce market, park/plaza/piazza space, a playground, artist studio space, and a space for community nonprofits. The importance of this space being a part of our community is integral to our discussions. As we look to the future use of Adams School, we envision a space that strengthens our community, maintains the current diversity of social and economic groups, encourages self-sufficiency and enriches our neighborhood. In fact, the MHNO was formed almost 30 years ago to nurture and protect these values. We encourage neighbors to continue to present their ideas to the MHNO and to attend our meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at 92 Congress St., where the Adams School Re-Use Committee will present its recommendations and be looking to us -- to you -- for input again. We will continue to debate the future of the former school until we find the best solution for our neighborhood.
Colleen Bedard
President
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
Portland

from Rachel

http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php

memories

I just saw the YS job advertised in The War Cry. (But heard about it first online -- from Mary Parks! You go, girl!)

I'm filled with memories of ten and a half years ago. (Was it really so long ago??!!) There was a full-page ad in The War Cry for someone to begin work on the National Book Publishing Plan.

Tim was already working free-lance for National Pubs, writing music reviews for YS (then called Young Salvationist, of course!). I practially had to beg him to ask Lisa, the YS editor at the time, about it.

Tim got the job, and a month and a half later, we had moved to Alexandria, Virginia! I think about one year afterwards, Lisa's husband went to Training (and she accompanied him as a cadet-spouse), and Tim stepped into his dream job as editor of Young Salvationist magazine!

In that capacity, he went to WYI in 1999, where we spent a week under the leadership of Stephen Court and Danielle Strickland. Which caused us to go to Training ourselves in 2000!

Will you please pray that NHQ will hear God's voice and make the right decision in who to hire for this position? Please pray that those who should apply will be brave enough to take the step!

And pray that my heart won't grieve over dreams lost (even though given up willingly!), but will instead rejoice over unexpected gifts. And of course -- dreams come true (living overseas was my dream since I was a little girl!).

PS 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

PS 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
PS 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
PS 37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
PS 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him....

We've got our Corps Camp (various people from our congregation, from toddlers to pensioners with teenagers in between!) this coming week, then a week back home, then Regional Music Camp, which we are mainly responsible for. We needs lots and lots of prayer coverage!

Thank you, friends.

Evelyn

Evelyn's Birthday!

Two days before Evelyn's birthday, we went to Tartu for a big Hansa Days festival. It also gave Peter a chance to spend time with his friend Laurie. We took them to a playground so that they could have fun together. (Remember, you can click on the pictures to see a larger version.)
At the playground, they even discovered dinosaur fossils.

Elizabeth with Laurie's little brother Tristen.

Peter hanging around.

On Evelyn's birthday, we had our own family celebration at lunchtime. We had a cake made with American cake mix and frosting. Peter was fascinated by it.
Some of the cards and flowers she received. And you can tell by Peter's face that he couldn't wait to try the frosting.

Peter helps Evelyn to blow out the candles.
In the evening, we had a big birthday celebration at Lootusemaja (Hope House), the Army's homeless day center. Jubilee birthdays (30, 40, 50, etc.) are cause for big celebration in Estonian, and you always throw yourself a big party. More than 40 people came to share in Evelyn's big day.

Major Aino Muikku, our new regional commander, presents a gift to Evelyn which many of the people at the party contributed toward.

It was a beautiful Estonian wool sweater, which will be perfect for the long winters.

Another view of the sweater.

One wonderful Estonian tradition is that on birthdays you present the birthday person with a flower and a greeting. It's hard to tell from this dark picture (that's Evelyn hugging Toivo on the left), but there was a line of people streching out the door waiting to greet her. It was very moving to see.

Inge, the director of Lootusemaja, greets Evelyn with a kind word and a generous hug.

One of our pensioners gives Evelyn some wildflowers.

Liis greets Evelyn with the traditional flower and handshake, saying "palju õnne" (meaning "much happiness").

Teele gives Evelyn a beautiful arrangement of flowers.

Svetlana sang a song for Evelyn as she presented her gift.

One of our pensioners gave Evelyn a hand-stiched Bible cover.

By the time everyone had given Evelyn their greetings, Elizabeth's arms were overflowing with flowers.

Some of the guests enjoy the beautiful weather while they wait to eat.

The candles are lit on Evelyn's birthday cake (which took a while).

Evelyn with Mare, who baked the cake.

Elizabeth helps Evelyn serve the cake to the hungry crowd.

The birthday crowd outside of Lootusemaja at the end of the party. For more pictures, click here.

Chris & the SAT!

from Chris's blog:

I promised to enlighten you as to what my SAT scores were. Well, there's three parts to the SAT scoring. So I'll tell you a third of my score. My favorite score. I got 580 on critical reading! YAY! That's good in case you don't know. That's above average. I'm above average. I'm a genius! Well maybe that's going far. But whatever. My mom got 580 on this part of the SAT too, and she's no idiot so that makes me feel A-okay. Or maybe B-okay. I don't know what the difference is. Anyway. That's all major excitement.

One other thing, speaking of my mom and her brilliant scores (therefore also making my score brilliant because it was the same as hers) yesterday was her birthday. And we all had a big fun party at Hope House. Quite exciting.

nutrition!

http://www.askdrsears.com/store/detail.asp?pid=14

The Family Nutrition Book
by Dr. Sears

I bought this book 4 years ago, just before my Aunt Joann died of cancer. Part of the incentive for writing the book was the cancer scare that Dr. Sears had a few years ago.

It has sat on my shelf (moving to Tartu and then to Tallinn with me!) for all this time, not really being looked at. Well, I just finished reading it and it is wonderful! I highly recommend it!

My incentive for finally reading it now was the low-fat diet that our doctor has put us on. It has lots of good ideas!

So, if you're looking for someplace to start eating a way that will lead to better health, try this book! (Um, don't eat the book, just read it!)

Evelyn

come to my birthday party!

http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=VYHPDXQIPSBPSEPTMVOD&li=iq&src=email

water

I encourage you to drink 1/2 ounce of water for every pound of your weight. So, someone weighing 150 pounds would need to drink 75 ounces of water per day.

Some people shoot for eight 8-ounce glasses of water.

I'm personally going for 2 liters.

Caution, it's not good to drink more than 3/4 ounce of water/fluids for every pound of your weight. Too much water is not a good thing either!

PS 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.