Ruth Everhart's Blog, page 19

Service of Thanksgiving & Remembrance for the Life of Nicholas Huizenga

held at Church of the Servant, June 22, 2016

My father wrote the liturgy for his memorial service many years before his death. Working with it now, I felt very close to him, for I have planned and conducted so many funerals. Years ago Dad asked me to send him a list of suitable scriptures. He did a good job choosing —  one reading is very typical for memorial services, the other reading was not on the list — an unusual but appropriate choice.

As I prepared to post this liturgy, I wondered what it was like for my Dad to type out certain lines of text, such as the Prayer of Committal with his own name listed. Knowing him, I am sure that the typing brought tears to his eyes — tears of joy at the thought of being reunited with his Creator/ Redeemer/ Sustainer at last, and tears of grief at leaving my mother and all of this wonderful world. It is a source of comfort to all of us left behind that he was so firm in his faith and sure of his salvation. It was also a kind and generous act for Dad to prepare his own liturgy, saving us the last minute flurry of trying to get it right. His final illness went by very quickly and it was an overwhelming experience for all of us, as he died at home. There was a lot to manage physically, medically, emotionally, and spiritually. I was glad for the way the events went, I’m just acknowledging that it was a very packed span of days. I still feel a bit stunned.

The memorial service was held mid-week, and attended by more than 200 people. As my nephew commented, everyone should live so well that they make it to age 90 and there are hundreds of people who mourn your passing.

There were eight or so musicians who volunteered their time to play a variety of instruments, including strings. My sister Susan Joy Cleveland played in the duet. As she said, “I can play the violin and cry at the same time.” The singing was superb. Say what you will about the Dutch Reformed denominations, these folk know how to sing. I will paste the whole liturgy below the photo. See if you can spot the quotations from the Heidelberg Catechism and the Puritans’ Valley of Vision.

Rev. Jack Roeda preaching at the Memorial Service for Nicholas Huizenga, 22 June 2016

Prelude, ending with violin duet: I Know that My Redeemer Liveth

Lighting of the Resurrection Candle (by Timothy Scott Crane)

Greeting

Leader: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which passes all understanding, be with you all.

People: Amen.

Gathering Hymn “And Can It Be” Lift Up Your Hearts 695 verses 1 & 4

Affirmation of Faith

Leader: When we were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we were baptized into his death and buried with him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Those who believe in him, though they die, yet shall they live.

People: Those who believe in him, though they die, yet shall they live.

Leader: We have come to praise and thank God for his grace and love in the life of Nicholas Huizenga. It is fitting we should confess our common faith.

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

People: That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Assurances

Leader: The Word became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory full of grace

and truth. (John 1:14)

People: No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. (John 1:18)

Leader: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

People: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. (John 6:51)

Leader: “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:23-24)

People: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25)

Leader: Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

People: Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

Leader: The dying thief said to him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

People: Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Hymn “My Jesus, I Love Thee” Lift Up Your Hearts 366

Remembrances by Timothy Huizenga, Ruth Everhart, Susan Joy Cleveland

(posted in full elsewhere on this blog)

Hymn “We Will Extol You, God and King” Lift Up Your Hearts 562

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7 (read by Benjamin Huizenga)

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

New Testament Reading: John 6:60-69 (read by Hannah Everhart)

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Homily “Passing Through the Waters” by the Reverend Jack Roeda

Hymn of Response “Blessed Assurance” Lift Up Your Hearts 363

Prayers of the People (written and led by Sarah Wesorick Loiselle)

Almighty God, you who have knit your chosen people together into one communion, the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: give to your church in heaven and on earth your light and your peace.

Hear us, O Lord.

Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your loving care, so that, casting their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love.

Hear us, O Lord.

Give courage and faith to Nicholas’ family and friends, that they may know the consolation of your love.

Hear us, O Lord.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

You have brought me to the valley of vision

Where I live in the depths but see you in the heights;

Hemmed in by the mountains of sin

I behold Your Glory

Let me learn by paradox

That the way down is the way up

That to be low is to be high

That the broken heart is the healed heart

That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit

That the repenting soul is the victorious soul

That to have nothing is to possess all

That to bear the cross is to wear the crown

That to give is to receive

That the valley is the place of vision

Lord, in the daytime, stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter your stars shine.

Let me find your light in my darkness

Your life in my death

Your joy in my sorrow

Your grace in my sin

Your riches in my poverty

Your glory in my valley

Our Father, we praise you that this was the living testimony of my grandfather, Nick Huizenga. We thank you for being gracious and compassionate and promising to draw near to the broken hearted. We are thankful for our grandfathers life and your mercy to him. Please be with us now as we grieve his absence, however. Help us to remember that he is with you, as Psalm 116:15 says “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

(all joining) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Thanksgiving

Leader: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither

the present nor the future, nor any powers.

People: Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Committal

Leader: Since God has called our brother Nicholas from this life to himself, we commit his body to the earth, for we are dust, and to dust we shall return. But the Lord Jesus Christ will change our mortal bodies to be like his in glory; for he is risen, the firstborn of the dead.

Though we grieve, we are comforted; though we mourn Nicholas’ death, we give thanks for his life; and though we are sorrowful, we proclaim with joy God’s gift of eternal life.

People: Amen.

Leader: Into your tender hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your beloved servant, Nicholas. Acknowledge, we pray you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your everlasting peace, into the glorious company of the saints who dwell in your light. And may your kingdom of peace come quickly.

People: Amen.

Closing Hymn “For All the Saints” Lift Up Your Hearts 254

Benediction

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Obituary for My Dad, Nicholas J. Huizenga

September 20, 1925 - June 19, 2016

Nicholas J. Huizenga

Nicholas John Huizenga, of Grand Rapids, MI died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on June 19, 2016. He was 90 years old.

Nick is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Huizenga (nee Katte); their children, Mary Lynn (Roger) Wesorick of Wyoming, MI, Timothy (Annette) Huizenga of Chicago, IL, Ruth (Douglas) Everhart of Sterling, VA, Beth (Rich) Huizenga-Murillo of San Francisco, CA and Susan (Bennett) Cleveland of Grand Rapids, MI; 13 grandchildren; and 11(+) great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Gertrude Huizenga of Lansing, IL, and his three brothers, Bartel Huizenga of Visalia, CA, Gerald Huizenga and James Huizenga of Highland, IN. He is survived by his four sisters, Annamae VanDrunen of Lansing, IL, Kathryn Rottenberg of San Diego, CA, Carol Kapteyn of Lansing, IL and Joan Vredeveld of Ann Arbor, MI.

Nick was born on September 20, 1925 in Highland, IN. After graduating from Chicago Christian High School in 1943, he received an army deferment and worked on the Zandstra farm. He began studies at Calvin College in September of 1945, and was drafted in October. He served his country for 14 months, then returned to his studies. In his last year at Calvin he met the one and only love of his life, Joan Katte. After graduating, he taught for one year at Highland Christian School (Highland, IN). In August of 1951 he married Joan in Sunnyside, WA after hitch-hiking across the country to ask her parents’ blessing and having many adventures along the way.

Nick was a career educator, serving as a teacher and principal at various Christian schools in the Chicago area, and as an administrator at Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL). In 1967 he became the principal of Eastern Christian Junior High School (Prospect Park, NJ), a position he held for 20 years, until retirement.

In 1987 the couple moved to Grand Rapids, MI where they became involved at Church of the Servant. Nick was generous in volunteering. Nick and Joan co-edited a newsletter for the Committee for Women in the Christian Reformed Church, which worked to open the doors of ordination to women. They also traveled extensively: Europe, the Middle-east, the American West, Alaska, Central America, China, Thailand and their favorite trip of all, three weeks in Africa in 2004.

Nick had a lifelong interest in history, and in later life became especially involved in collecting and writing the stories of his family and church denomination.

His children will remember him as a man of devout faith, commitment to Christian service, quiet intellect, an often surprising sense of humor, and a love for playing pinochle.

At his 90th birthday party last September, Nick referred to himself as “a grateful old man.” In a document which he titled “Final Words” he quoted the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism. Q: What is your only comfort in life and death? A: That I am not my own, but belong body and soul in life and death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 on Wednesday, June 22, at Church of the Servant. Visitation will begin at 10:00 at the church. Rev. Jack Roeda will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Nick’s life and to witness to the resurrection. Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to the Church of the Servant, World Renew, or The Christian Learning Center.

Private burial will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI.

Nick’s grandchildren include: Daniel Wesorick, Sarah (Wesorick) Loiselle, Leah (Wesorick) Boone, Benjamin Huizenga, Margaret (Huizenga) Jedrey, Esther (Wesorick) Levo, Jared Wesorick, Hannah Everhart, Jacob Wesorick, Clara Everhart, Olivia Murillo, Timothy Scott Crane and Joanna Murillo.

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Life Doesn’t Have Chapter Breaks

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Remembrances of My Dad, Nicholas J. Huizenga

at Church of the Servant, 22 June 2016

Nicholas J. Huizenga

REMEMBRANCES by Timothy, Ruth, and Susan Joy from the Memorial Service, 22 June 2016

by TIMOTHY HUIZENGA

My Dad lived both a conventional and unconventional life. He remained faithful to what he saw as the best parts of his tradition while sometimes pursuing a different path.

Conventionally, he remained a lifelong member of the Christian Reformed Church and maintained devotion to Joan, the one true love of his life. He sent his children to Christian schools and devoted his life to the cause of Christian education. He went to church twice on Sunday (as long as churches held two services) and encouraged his children to do the same, and he always wore his Sunday best. When his tradition told him to observe the Sabbath by not mowing his lawn or allowing his son to play baseball, he followed those rules.

But sometimes he departed from convention. He was a lifelong Democrat when most in his faith community voted Republican. He was an early supporter of civil rights when many in his community were not. He broke with tradition by advocating for inclusion of women in leadership in the CRC, and in recent years he support full participation for gays and lesbians in the life of the church.

My father saw the value in maintaining traditional values and beliefs while at the same time being open to new ideas. He did not just adhere to Christian ideas because he was raised in them. He embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ and the vision of the Kingdom of God with his whole being, and his life reflected the passions of his heart. My Dad and Mom found a home here at COS and I am grateful to the faith community for the challenge and nurture they have experienced here.

I could tell many stories which illustrate my Dad’s many fine qualities, but he was not in favor of lengthy memorial services — so I will tell just one. Near the end of my senior year in high school I was suspended from school due to an impetuous though rather mild protest. My Dad should have got really mad at me. Here he is — principal of a Christian junior high school and his son is suspended from the senior high school — a major embarrassment to him. Well, he did get mad at me, but only a little bit. He did not care about his reputation but he did care about me. He was a forgiving parent.

Anything good I have done in my life is due in large part to the influence of my Dad — and you cannot ask for more than that of a father.

by RUTH EVERHART

I’m Ruth, one of Nick’s four daughters. Even though he’s gone, I’m still one of Nick’s daughters.

I’m a writer — it’s one of the qualities I inherited from my Dad — so I find myself searching for the right words to describe him. How would YOU describe Nick Huizenga? One of the folks from Church of the Servant told me he was: Funny. Opinionated. Kind. Three words I might add are: Impatient. Adventurous. Generous. I hope you’ll share three more words with me, and with each other, perhaps at the lunch after the service. I’d love to know how you saw my Dad. Because people are so complex, aren’t they? You know a person your whole life, and discover you hardly knew them.

I can say this much about my Dad: He was a man of single focus. The subject of the focus might shift, but for that moment, one thing was all that mattered. It might have been something he was reading about, something that caught his fancy — a historic building, say, or better yet — a historic church. It might have been the game of pinochle he was playing — which he undoubtedly thought was dragging just a bit. RAP RAP RAP “Whose turn is it?” That might be what I hear him say in my dreams.

This past week while my Dad was in the process of dying — a time that was the perfect length, by the way, and an incredible blessing — while he was in the process of dying, one of my nieces, Meg, posted on Facebook: “Grandpa always sought the truth even when it meant revising his previous opinion.” I was glad Meg knew that about her grandpa. Because she’s absolutely right— my Dad was always on a quest for truth.

My earliest memories — the 1960s — include hearing him debate issues of racial justice. Dad had roots in the Chicago suburbs and as “white flight” negatively affected the Christian schools in that area, he saw it as more than a school problem. He saw it as a justice problem.

In the 1970s the Christian Reformed Church was tearing apart over the role of women. On that subject, Dad was open-minded to a degree that shocked many. His views got him in some trouble. He only strengthened them over time.

In later years, he had surprisingly progressive ideas about homosexuality. A decade ago — perhaps even longer ago — it made sense to him that if a Christian loved someone of the same sex, they should have the opportunity to be in a covenantal relationship. Amen!

The truth is that Nick had a generous spirit — and all the other complexity of him seems to gather under that one truth. Perhaps a better way to express that is to call it moral courage. My Dad had tremendous moral courage.

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: Whatever you do to one of the least of these, you do also to me. My father took Jesus’ words to heart and applied them broadly. I know that the outreach ministries of this church were one reason my parents joined Church of the Servant in 1987 when they moved to Grand Rapids in retirement. I am so grateful to this congregation for giving them a church home. Everyone needs a place to belong, and this was their place.

I myself left the Christian Reformed Church some thirty years ago. When the attitude about women in leadership loosened up my Dad would say: Why don’t you come home to the CRC? I told him that if I could attend a church like COS, that might be possible. But I have a new home now. I feel a bit guilty saying this out loud in this place — do I dare say it? I’m a Presbyterian.

Recently I’ve written a memoir. It’s largely about that journey of me finding a new home. The memoir begins with a traumatic event that shaped all the events that followed. Because of that traumatic event, some parts of the memoir are difficult to read. As I wrote it, I worried that publication would cause pain to my parents. In addition to the trauma, there are passages that shed a less than flattering light on the CRC. And Dad was attached to his denomination. Dad loved God first, and he loved my mom, Joan, with all of his heart — she was absolutely the love of his life. And he loved us children. But he also loved the Christian Reformed Church.

Even so, he found the space to support me in writing the memoir. That’s what I mean when I say he was generous. I don’t mean he tipped well. After all, he WAS Dutch.

Sunday June 5, turned out to be the last time my father attended worship. Jack Roeda had read an advance draft of my memoir, and on that Sunday, his sermon on the healing of the Centurion included reading a passage from my memoir. My parents were in their usual spot in the front row — and I have no doubt that they shed some tears as Jack preached. They esteem him highly — so for him to use MY words in a sermon was perhaps the most affirming thing that could possibly have happened. It was a gift from God to my Dad and Mom and me — bringing my story full circle.

There were many other gifts this past week — it was a week of final gifts. I could tell you about the gospel choir that another niece, Sarah, brought into my parents’ living room as my father lay in a hospital bed. I could tell you about the opportunity for some of my siblings and me to be at our father’s bedside as he took his last breath. I could tell you about the ways we have supported our mother, and she has supported us.

But mainly I wanted to testify to my father’s generosity of spirit and moral courage —so that you can be inspired by those things, as I am. I am grateful to God that I have been, and always will be, one of Nick’s daughters.

by SUSAN JOY CLEVELAND (to be added)

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Women Pastors Unite!

what to do when people make snide & hurtful comments

One of the joys in my life is being a “Matriarch” AKA “Mentor of Clergywomen Everywhere.”

Over at RevGalBlogPals, I and a number of other matriarchs respond to a classic question — what to do when parishioners make snide comments in the presence of others?

Unfortunately, it is a very common scenario for women in ministry. And what a shame! I know for a fact that clergywomen are just doing their best at a very hard job which is uniquely undervalued.

Click to read what I and the other . What would YOU suggest?

If you’ve ever been the person making the snide comment, I would love to hear about that experience too! What were you thinking?

Please pass along this resource to any women pastors you know. She probably would benefit from belonging to RevGals!

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“The Damage is Done, No One Can Undo It.”

thoughts on the letter written by the victim of rapist Brock Turner

By now you have no doubt read the details of Brock Allen Turner’s rape conviction at Stanford, including the letter his victim wrote.

I took special note of a couple of sentences:

“You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, until today.” (near bottom, page 8) 

“The damage is done, no one can undo it.” (near top, age 10)

Please read her words in their context, I am not trying to strip them of meaning. I believe I understand what she is saying. Similar sentiments caused me to title my own story “Ruined.” The damage of rape goes to the very question of a victim’s worth, and it is damage that cannot be undone.

At least, that’s how it seemed to me. At age 20 I was raped at gunpoint by someone who broke into the home I shared with friends. When that long night was finally over, I felt like my life was effectively over. And in many ways, it was. That particular life was over. I had to rebuild an entirely different life.

Which made me furious. Why should another person’s act — which was inflicted on me against my will — completely change my life? Why should one act have such ruining power?

It shouldn’t, of course. And yet sexual assault has a uniquely destructive power. Our bodies are more than containers for our selves. And our sexual parts, with all their generative power, are at the very center of our selves.

The new life I eventually built for myself included seminary and a career in the ministry. In hindsight I realize that I was pursuing answers to the questions no one seemed able to answer — questions of identity and meaning — questions which are always religious in nature.

Who am I? How am I connected to you? Why did this happen? Was I, in fact, ruined?

Some thirty years later it felt like time to pry those questions open again. So I wrote a memoir.

What do you believe? Do you believe that rape takes away a person’s worth? Does it cause damage which can never be undone? I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Enter to Win a Free Copy of RUINED

Goodreads Giveaway

Would you like to read an advance copy of my memoir? No strings! Goodreads is giving away 20 copies!

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Targeted at Target

a conversation with a stranger

Yesterday I was at Target comparing brands of facial cleanser. I am super-cheap about this kind of stuff.

A woman said “Excuse me.” She was in her thirties, I would guess, a woman of olive complexion and dark hair, with an infant strapped onto her chest. She said, “I ask you in the name of Jesus.”

I must have looked confused, because she repeated it twice more. Finally I got it, and said, “Ask me what?”

She gestured to her shopping cart, which had 4 cans of Enfamil in it.

“Do you need money?” I asked.

“No! No! I need help buying these.” Her English was broken.

“Do you need help with your food stamps or something? With WIC?”

“I no have papers. I no ask for money,” she said. “I ask for my child.”

“Do you want me to take these to the register and buy them for you?” I asked. “How much do they cost?”

“Forty,” she said.

“Jiminy crickets this stuff is expensive!”

The baby started to squirm. She pulled a small bottle out of her bag. She proceeded to feed the baby, looking apologetic.

“Is that your baby?” I asked. “Can you nurse it?”

“No, I have Crohn’s disease,” she said. She gestured toward her breast, inviting me to notice that it was not full. She and I had full eye contact with each other. She looked tired and worried. The baby had a full head of dark hair, but was probably only two months old.

I thought: Maybe she is scamming me.

I thought: OK, maybe she is. I can live with that.

I told her: “Let’s go,” and put 2 of the cans in my cart. I wheeled to the register and paid for them. The clerk gave me a good coupon with the receipt — $7 off the next purchase of Enfamil — so I gave it to her, along with the receipt. We were both all teary-eyed. I said, “God bless you,” and she said, “Thank you Jesus.”

Then I was afraid she would ask more of me and I ducked back into the store. But I couldn’t stand it — I had to come back out and see what she did next. She put the coupon away very carefully into a wallet. Then she pulled out a scarf to cover the baby’s head, and went out into the sunny day. She walked with just a bit of a waddle to the very far corner of the parking lot, to where a minivan was parked under a tree. She put the baby into its seat, then drove away.

I have no idea what I expected to happen.

With tears rolling down my face, I texted my husband: “At Target. Spent $80 on baby formula for a stranger.” The phone immediately binged with his response. “Sounds good.” (Which is why I’m tagging this, “Why I still love my husband”)

I couldn’t think why she approached me. Then my hand went to my neck, to the small Jerusalem cross I wear on a chain.

I don’t think that wearing a cross ever cost me anything before.

What would you have done?

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Stranger Than Fiction

Memoir Sampler

Here’s a great opportunity to read the first three chapters of my memoir for free!

The folks at Tyndale House are giving away a sampler of three chapters of six memoirs. Do you see my cover peeking out at bottom right?

I’m thrilled, but also a bit nervous. If you download and start reading my memoir, I think you’ll see why!

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DIY Update

Get Noticed Theme Goes Live!

I’ve been doing some back-end work on this blog so I’ve “gone dark” a time or two. Hopefully everything is straightened out now. I purchased a new blog theme called “Get Noticed Theme” from Michael Hyatt, which has lots of bells and whistles. There’s lots to do yet. I still need to create and add a new header, for instance.

But I’ve added an email list signup (which means I have to learn Mail Chimp). I would love it if you signed up for my email list! I’ll be creating a freebie to give away in connection with my book launch, and you’ll be the first ones to get it.

Since I began to blog in 2007, I’ve had a DIY approach. That may be an obsolete approach! But DIY has an appeal, doesn’t it? It’s the same impulse that had me sewing my own clothes in high school, and putting a coat of paint on old furniture when Doug and I were first married. DIY combines the impulse for thrift with the allure of mastering some new skill, all in the service of creating something new and beautiful. Or at least usable. It’s been ages since I sewed my own clothes or painted something, but I do tinker around with technology.

What whispers into your ear in the DIY department?

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