Author: tinamhunt

ESFP with a dash of ADD. Lover of the Word and words. The cup of my life is neither half empty or half full--it overflows! I'm blessed to be a blessing and I'm here to share the journey.

A Letter to My Daughter

Today my older daughter turns 30. Still struggling to wrap my brain around that one. As I thought about that, I remembered her birth day and wrote her a letter…

Hi.
Last night I was thinking about you, about your birthday, and about your birth day. You so didn’t want to come out! You were late. The doctor decided since I was having serious bronchitis that it was time to induce. They hooked me up to a pitosin drip around 4:30 in the afternoon and then broke my water about 6:15PM.

At that time the hospital in Norwalk didn’t have birthing rooms. The labor and delivery area was set up with around 8 beds, separated by curtains—no real privacy. I decided right there and then that I wasn’t going to be screaming or yelling during delivery.

Since it was Monday night, your dad and I decided to watch one of our favorite shows, ‘That’s Incredible.’ I will never forget that because that night they had a story on there about a woman in a Central American country who had over 50 children. There were several multiple births, but even still, I struggled to imagine it. But I sure wasn’t going to follow in her footsteps.

The only other show I remember was some war movie your dad was watching that I finally got him to change off of because I couldn’t stand the noise of the gun fights or all the blood.

The only “assistance” I got was a pain shot, not an epidural. It didn’t help much. At around 4:00AM I wanted to start pushing, but wasn’t cervix wasn’t ready, so it was like you were just banging your head. It’s why your poor little head was so bruised. You looked like a really ripe peach. I felt so bad.

Finally, at 8:42AM you made your appearance. You were the biggest baby in the nursery. Everyone loved your chubby cheeks. You were also one of the best babies in the nursery. Instantly you made me the proud Mama!

The way the OB dept. was set up I had to share a room. The lady I shared the room with got a big kick out of telling people she was sharing the room with a minister. She had her baby by c-section and she weighed around 7lbs. One time when they brought us our babies they tried to give me her baby, as if I wouldn’t know my baby. I had memorized everything about you. No one could have slipped one up on me.

The other thing I remember is just sitting in my bed and talking, singing, and praying over you. And weeping, tears of joy and thankfulness. I felt so blessed. And I still do.

I don’t know how you are 30. I don’t feel old enough for you to be that old. But I treasure each year we’ve had together and hope we get 30 more. We’ll carry on the scrabble tradition, games, laughter, and lots and lots of love.

Love you tremendously and fiercely #1,
MMMT (Stands for Mom, Mom, Mom, Tina–I’m not always the easiest person to get the attention of…)

Blowing Away the Dust and Swiping All the Cobwebs

Wow. I’ve never stayed away this long. I am without excuse. I’ve been trying to make Facebook work (T Wilson-Hunt) and then my computer began making crackling-like-I-may-be-getting-ready-to-die noises so it was in the shop. I’ve been reading and writing. I had a week where my blood pressure was weirdly low and lethargic barely describes my lack of ability to function.

But I should have come and let you know that life was hitting me: wave upon wave. I was staying afloat, but I had taken on quite a bit of water. I’m sorry. I don’t want to not be here. AKA: I want to be here. I want to reflect on my life, share the insights…I need to because it keeps me accountable.

So, what’s been happening? A couple of things stand out to me.

First, I got to meet up with a couple of old friends last weekend that I had never met. Say thank you to the internet for that one. Several years ago I started reading a diary on Opendiary.com that was written by a gal who at the time was living in Washington, DC. She ended up marrying her Prince Charming and they moved to Memphis. After he retired from the military, I helped him with a resume. It meant that we added the dimension of phone calls to our contacts. We also sent emails and supported each other with prayer.

Somewhere around the beginning of the year she posted that she was going to be running her first half marathon at Wright Pat AFB in Dayton, Ohio. That was close enough to me to drive and meet up with them. I determined that nothing was going to interfere with meeting her then. This is how committed I was to this: when I visited my mom in January we talked about when I would be coming back to visit. Her husband was planning a trip to Alaska to visit his son this past week and she thought it would be nice for me to visit while he was away. Knowing that the race fell right in the middle of his trip, I begged off and went in August instead.

So on Friday afternoon, I drove across state to Dayton and found myself knocking on a hotel door and meeting old new friends. It was odd, because it didn’t feel like I was meeting up with someone new, but instead connecting with good friends.

This was my first marathon experience. The atmosphere was electric. I positioned myself near the finish line and cheered wildly as she ran by me! When it was over and we were walking around my friend put it quite sweetly: we’re like a Reese’s Cup, we go together naturally and smoothly. She’s the rich chocolate and I’m the nutty peanut butter.

Something else happened that afternoon that touched me deeply. Julianne headed us toward a tent where they were giving massages. She thought that would feel good after running 13.1 miles. But when we got over there we found that it cost $15 for 15min and there was a 30min wait. She decided to pass. As we stood by the edge of the tent a guy who had completed the marathon on a recombant-esque bike followed by a spotter walked up to the tent. I had been moved during the race as he passed by me. Now as I watched him I was even more impressed. I do not know what caused his gate to be so haulting, but it seemed laborious to me. Julianne mad the comment that if they didn’t give him a free massage they were just a bunch of bums. Without thinking I replied, “I’ll pay for it.”

I walked over and asked his spotter if they would comp him a massage and he didn’t think so. I then asked if he thought the marathoner would allow me to pay for his massage. He looked surprised, but told me that he didn’t think that he would turn it down. I went over to the man who was now kneeling on the ground. I knelt down in front of him and asked if he would allow me to pay for his massage. He looked at me incredulously and accepted. I handed him the $15 and he gave me his card. And then I walked away. (His name was Greg Damerow and his website is http://wrenchtheparacycle.blogspot.com/)

There was something special in the moment. I had tears in my eyes as I walked away and Julianne had them in her eyes when I got back over to her. She hugged me.

This week has been good. Not real productive but a couple of doors have opened…I’ll write about them later…hopefully as they pan out!

What Moves You to Move?

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What would get you up off you comfortable chair, walk across a space, and let someone know that what they were doing could kill them?

Do you love people? Do you consider yourself a believer or follower of Christ?

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I went to my favorite coffee shop tonight to write. This shop is in a very upscale and popular grocery store. While I was sitting here writting one of the teenage workers came and sat near me. She had a 20oz bottle of Dr. Pepper and a white bakery bag. She opened the bag and pulled out this ginormous cream filled donut with colored sprinkled covering the slathered on icing. I felt nauseous watching her snarf down the donut and wash it down with her sugary soda pop. I kept thinking, “Someone should tell her to stop. That’s so unhealthy.” She wasn’t a heavy girl, but that’s a slippery slope to be on–I know. I often quipped that I never had a problem that a donut couldn’t solve. Death by sugar. Plain and simple.

Maybe that doesn’t prompt any conviction for you. But my heart is sure heavy right now. It’s never comfortable to have my easy life rattled…and I know that this kind of rattling preceeds God’s invitation to move more deeply into partnership with Him. There’s no way to believe and sit on my butt.

What do you think? What is God inviting you to join Him in? Will you sit or move with Him?

25 Things About Me

For fun….Little known facts about Tina
-I am the oldest child, but because my brother was the long awaited male child I demonstrate quite a mish-mosh of first and second born traits.
-I dreamt of being a ballerina when I was a little child, probably because I could do the best spins in my patent leather Mary Janes on the linoleum in the side room. Sadly, my mother felt I was much too uncoordinated and denied me lessons.
-I loved riding my bike through the cemetary when I was old enough to just go riding where I wanted (probably junior high).
-I watched Dark Shadows when I was a kid and bought the trading cards with milk money I squirrelled away. I wonder if that’s why I liked riding bike through the cemetary.
-I worked several summers while in college and even after I was married at Cedar Point Hotel Breakers.
-I’m not allergic to poison ivy, but my brother can get it from the air. At least that’s what I’ve been told.
-Today I sneezed eleven times in a row. I think it was from the cayenne pepper I put on my mixed nuts.
-I love to laugh and make people laugh.
-One of my early jobs was at McDonalds.
-I have played God. Actually, I had the role of Zeuss in our college production of JB.
-I was also the Stagemanager in our production of Our Town. I think I got the part because no one else wanted to memorize the lines…
-Though I hate doing housework, I actually cleaned house to make money many years ago. These people had 3 long hair cats and two long hair dogs. And if I had a dollar for every gegaw and chotzke I could pay off my school loan.
-I have three masters degrees and I started work on a D.Min.
-I played tennis in college. I wasn’t very good, but they needed someone to fill the roster.
– My mother only had one job when I was growing up, and that was as a library aid in our small town. I loved going to work with her and reading.
-I can’t do Sudoko. It makes my head hurt. I try occasionally and then get flustered and quit, vowing to never waste time like that again…until the next time.
-I was fourth runner up to Miss Teenage Columbus in 1974. I was presented an award for third place at BRMCWC for Articles for Print. I want to win.
-I have won the Super Bowl Championship in our Fantasy Football League–a couple times!
-My house has four mature maple trees along the one side and across the front. I love the feel of being surrounded by trees.
-I don’t like raking or blowing all the leaves, but I do enjoy making a pile for my grandson to jump in.
-I can’t talk without using my hands. Someone held my hands once and I started moving my shoulders. When I am trying not to say something (like in a class)I will sit on my hands.
-I love flavored coffee, escpecially hazelnut, but it has to be decaf.
-I love to burn scented candles. My favorite is Angel Whispers by Glad.
-I do not take tests well. I failed my oral exam for my second masters (M.Div) so badly the head of my committee suggested that we consider that the exam never happened and they would give me a new committee the following fall. I passed then. I also failed my counselor exam the first time I tood it. The room was all darkened and there was a screen thing I had to use, and I had to be still and quiet. Nightmare for a techno-phob with ADD. Since I knew what to expect I passed it the second time.
-Someone contacted me this week about writing devotions for a church related publication. I really like that people are thinking of me as a writer.

Book Review: Nothing to Hide

Nothing to Hide, A Roland March Mystery
Author: J. Mark Bertrand
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 328

Nothing to Hide
This book is part of a series by this author. I’ve read reviews of the other books and while this book is able to stand on its own, it does follow the other books sequentially. I was able to catch the spots where the author linked back to previous story lines, but it wasn’t ever too much information or too little.

In this book, the author jumped back and forth, however to a back story several times throughout this book. All the information was pertinent to the current story, but I am just not a huge fan of this format. At times I found myself wanting to move on, and we dropped back in time. I get that the flashbacks, if all told at once in the beginning, probably would have spoiled the surprises as the story unfolded.

I will admit that I had to read the first few sentences several times before I “got it.” If your first lines are supposed to grab, then I’m not sure these succeeded. If I hadn’t committed to finishing, I would have been hard pressed to get past the first few pages.

But I did. And it was ok. I’m not one to try and figure things out, so I stayed with it to the end. I was surprised. That’s good.

If you liked the previous books by this author, then you will probably like this one. If you like surprises, then you might enjoy this. If you struggle with violence and gory stuff, this might not be your best choice.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Bethany House blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.

It’s Not the Heat…It’s the Humidity

A couple weeks ago I visited my mom in Arizona. I love so many things about being there.
I never would have guessed I could fall in love with the desert, but I do find it beautiful. I
especially love the high blue skies.

This last trip I was there during their “monsoon” season. Things were so much greener, but the
sky was less blue. My mom explained something she had learned from the local weatherman.
He told the tv audience that the sky became paler the closer it got to the the horizon because
of humidity. I love that my mom shares these things with me. At 75 she still has things to teach
me. I tucked the little tidbit away in my mind.

The next week I was introduced to a new author, Sibella Giorello. As I read her book, “The
Stones Cry Out,” I came across this phrase, “the humidity leached the blue right out of the sky.” I
smiled. If I would have read this two weeks eaier and I wouldn’t have had clue as to what that meant.

Timeliness. Like the character I was reading about, I don’t believe in luck, or coincidence. This was just
another God-wink where I was reminded ever so softly and subtly that there really is Someone
in control.

How has God reminded you lately of his watch care in your life?

I Forgot to Tell You….

I just realized that I had failed to mention something huge that has been unfolding for me. On July 19, I entered a contest to write a book. The details are here.

Well on Monday July 30 this announcement was made! I’m one of the finalists. I’m in some pretty amazing company.

And I’m writing my first book. Book. I’ve written devotions, newsletters, articles, and monologues. I’m writing a book. I’ve already outlined the chapters for the synopsis. I have about 20 write. Except I already turned in the first and today I was finally able to crank out the lion’s share of the second chapter.

I have been so blocked in my writing since the beginning of my visit to my mom’s. When I got back Saturday, 8/11, I thought that everything would fall back into place and I would become a writing machine. Not. Ack. I have a book to write.

Today I sat in the quiet at work (quiet is something I have a lot of since I care for an 89 year old woman with dementia who doesn’t want me there so she doesn’t speak to me very often) and began to ponder deeply what this block was all about. I’m a trained counselor afterall, so I should be able to figure this out. A counselor and a pastor—so I can check both heart and head! And that I did.

I worked my way through several possibilities, finally I landed on fear. Fear? Where did that come from? I’ve been so excited about this. Then I began to feel something uncomfortably familiar. It probably should have dawned on me earlier in the week since I had two very different but oddly similar conversations with each of my daughters. For them the issue was parenting. They’re both such perfectionists…I can’t imagine how they got wired that way being the children of two first born parents, one strongly melancholy and the other equally strong as a choleric. (Sigh…).

What should I have realized? I was being blocked by fear and not fear of failure, even though it might look that way given the strong writing talent that I’m up against. No. For me there has always been this infuriating fear of success. I can’t explain it. I don’t want it. I have been stifled on more than one occasion by it’s ugliness. Well, today, I decided ENOUGH! I determined to push right past the block of fear and show myself and my daughters that it is okay to succeed.

As soon as I wrote those words in my journal, it was like a dam burst–I couldn’t write fast enough. Wouldn’t you know I’d leave the computer home today? Page after page, word upon word. Until I ran out of time and had to continue the process at home.

Is it enough to say that it felt amazing? Probably not. I had thought I was going to ride bike tonight, but I doubt I’ll leave this seat except for necessities…and maybe for So You Think You Can Dance…it is quite inspirational to me.

So I’m off to work some more on my book. I have a review that I wrote while on vacation that I need to post and another book I’m reading and quite enjoying that I’ll post the review on Monday.

Life is full and good. How about for you?

Unexpected Book Review

I love to read. I love to find new authors. Those are two of the main reasons I have signed up with several publishers to do blog reviews. Of course, getting free books also is a pretty powerful incentive.

Writing reviews has also increased my interest in how others review books, so I find that I am reading more reviews. Last week while I was on vacation I read a review for a book by Sibella Giorello, The Stars Shine Bright. The reviewer was quite positive about the book, and it’s place within the series, but it was one of her final statements that really caught my attention. To paraphrase, she suggested that it would pretty awesome if Giorello’s character Raleigh Harmon teamed up with Steven James’s Patrick Bowers.

I have been jonesing for the next Patrick Bower installment since I laid down my copy of The Queen. I was intrigued to find another author so closely compared, so I went to barnesandnoble.com and hunted up this author. I was quite pleased to find that the #1 book in the Raleigh Harmon series was on sale for $3.99–the amount remaining on my account.

I started reading the book yesterday. I finished it today. I want the rest! Now. And I have to agree with the reviewer I read last week: I think Raleigh and Patrick would make an interesting team.

I intend to read more in the series, but if the subsequent books are of the same ilk, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. I’ll let you know for sure, but would also be interested in what you think if/when you read them too!

Book Review: Relentless Pursuit

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Relentless Pursuit
God’s Love of Outsiders Including the Outsider in All of Us
Ken Gire
Bethany House Publishers, 2012
171 pages

Let me begin by telling on myself. I’m the kid that cried whenever Rudolph got to the Island of Misfit Toys. I have always felt like I was on the outside looking in. So to read a book addressed to outsiders was both validating and encouraging.

Way back when I was in high school creative writing, I was introduced to Thompson’s poem, The Hound of Heaven. I was a relatively new believer at the time, but I remember writing a piece that compared the poem to Psalm 139. I was impactful then, and Gire’s handling of the topic and material not only brought back the old thoughts, but gave me even greater insight to consider.

I was interested in reading and reviewing this book from the perspective of what it had to say to those outside faith. What ended up surprising me was how much it had to say to those on the inside with pieces and parts of themselves still outside God’s care and forgiveness.

I appreciated the Gire includes the stories of Thompson, C. S. Lewis, Eugene O’Neil and Dorothy Day, and Annie Lamott along with his own. I felt as I was reading and going briefly through the study questions at the end of each chapter that I was being invited to add my story to theirs. Another thing that he does very well is draw from scripture, both the Old and New Testaments. He is quite learned regarding so many topics, but he doesn’t come across in a expert way that would be offish to the reader, either as an insider or an outsider.

Two things that Gire mentions, somewhat in passing, really stood out to me. The first is a quote that Gire uses by Brene Brown from The Hustle for Worthiness stopped me completely. In it she says, “we stand outside of our story.” The entire quote seems to explain Gire’s understanding of what it means to be an outsider. The other is his reference to the Runaway Bunny. I could pay off most of my credit card debt if I had a dollar for every time I read that children’s classic. But I never made the connection with running away from God. It works though and I will remember it for a long time.

For me, the highpoint of the book was Gire’s handling of the topic of shame. I have read many books on this topic, from Bradshaw to Wilson, but there was something in Gire’s presentation that makes it less overwhelming. For example, he describes coming to terms with his ADD—yet another issue I could relate to. The way he presents his journey reminded me of another book read long ago, Making Friends With Your Shadow.

This is not a long book, but it is deep. It is inviting, but not simplistic. It is personal, but also relatable. I recommend it. It is set up with study questions, but I think it would take a very close and trusting group to deal honestly with this material—or hopefully they would be by the time they were done.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Bethany House Publishers blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.

Book Review: Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?

Does this Church Make Me Look Fat?

Marketing Copy:
What does it mean to give church a try when you haven’t really tried since you were twelve? At the end of her bestselling memoir Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen had reconnected with her family and her roots, though her future felt uncertain. But when she starts dating a churchgoer, this skeptic begins a surprising journey to faith and love.

Rhoda doesn’t slide back into the dignified simplicity of the Mennonite church. Instead she finds herself hanging with the Pentecostals, who really know how to get down with sparkler pom-poms. Amid the hand waving and hallelujahs Rhoda finds a faith richly practical for life–just in time for some impressive lady problems, an unexpected romance, and a quirky new family.

Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? is for people who have a problem with organized religion, but can’t quite dismiss the notion of God, and for those who secretly sing hymns in their cars, but prefer a nice mimosa brunch to church. This is the story of what it means to find joy in love, comfort in prayer, and–incredibly, surprisingly–faith in a big-hearted God.

My Review
I finished this book a couple of days ago. I’ve talked about it with a friend and with my husband. I’ve started this review a half dozen times, and scrapped every one of them. There are parts I really liked. But all in all, it was not easy to like. And yet, I would recommend it. Now you know why I keep scrapping the reviews.

This book is good. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it at first. It’s a bit “edgier” than most of the books I read. It’s gritty and real. The author uses big words. I was glad I was reading it on my Nook so that I could just tap the word I didn’t know and look it up—but there were words that weren’t in its dictionary, either.

This book stretched me. I usually pick up a book and if I like it, I read it straight through. This book wouldn’t let me do that. It made me think. I found myself cheering at times, laughing out loud, and all teary at others.

This book takes the reader on a journey, and it’s not always pleasant or pretty. But it’s real. I could relate to her faith journey. I especially thought the discussions of her struggle with sex and tithing were worth the price of the book in themselves. These were not simplistic handlings of controversial topics, but nuts and bolts, real person questioning, and coming to resolution.

Over a decade ago, I was the interim pastor at a Mennonite church. I could see some of what the author has written might ruffle a few feathers, and possibly offend some. On the other hand, I know several people who struggle with issues with the church and their faith journey and I think this book would give them some things to grab onto and wrap their minds around.

This book is tight. Everything in there belongs. It’s real. It’s not fluffy. And how can you look fat when you’re beautifully transparent?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rhoda Janzen is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Mennonite in a Little Black Dress and the poetry collection Babel’s Stair. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and teaches English and creative writing at Hope College in Holland, Michigan

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.