Quarterlife Discussion

I had a cool opportunity to share about a Quarterlife Crisis on Dr. Ed Stetzer's blog today. Thanks so much for the opportunity, Ed. Come on over and join in the conversation!

Innovations

I subscribe to this monthly newsletter from Trendwatching.com. It focuses on a particular theme each month and shows upcoming trends and issues happening in the world right now. I found this month's theme to be particularly interesting, as it focuses on innovations, featuring 67 innovations of various businesses and companies worldwide.

Some are humorously creative such as these rain boots from Britain that will charge your mobile phone using the heat generated from your feet. I'm guessing that these would not be as effective to the Alaskan market?

Some are creating a whole new way to do something that's been around for thousands of years, such as this little microchip tablet that can be attached to your tombstone, allowing users to learn more about you through a cell phone app. Can you imagine what Egyptian Pharoahs would have done with this?

My favorite, though, are those that have creatively thought how to improve and help the lives of others at little extra cost or effort to those involved. This company has created ATMs that give $1 of the $2 banking fee to a charity of the user's choice. And this group has sought to improve the slums of Rio by teaching and paying locals to paint these homes in an entirely new way.

Creatively thinking of "same old things" in new ways is an incredible gift and one for which I have tremendous respect. Should we be thinking of some new innovations about the way in which we do church?

Year One

I tried to figure out how I could somehow change the date of this post, try and make it a few months ago so I don't feel so badly about my blog neglect.Poor, little Leewards. I'm so sorry. I gave her a little make-over to try and make her feel better. Make-overs always make me feel better, anyways.

It's impossible to try and catch up on several months, so instead I thought I'd give a few reflections in honor of the most recent celebration in the Leach family, Gabby's first birthday.

Here's a list I'm entitling: "Thoughts From the First Year of Mommyhood"

1. All-nighters with a baby are very different from college all-nighters or leading middle school all-nighters. There are a lot more messy clothes, stinky smells, and loud screams. Hmmm, on second thought, maybe it's not so different than a middle school all nighter. And Gabby was a lot cuter, so maybe I came out ahead with baby all-nighters.
2. I never knew that watching someone breathe could be so entertaining.
3. I fell in love with my husband even more watching him be a dad.
4. I've realized that one of my favorite things in the whole world is watching someone learn something new for the first time. I get to experience this almost every day now. It's no overstatement to call it a miracle.
5. You can never have too many Cheerios.
6. I can't think of too many other people in the world who could puke all over me and I'm more concerned about their health than the puke on my shirt.
7. There's no way I can ever thank my parents enough for all that they've done.
8. I will never be able to figure out the intrigue of my iPhone, what makes Gabby want to eat it, and how she can find it anywhere within a 10 foot radius of her little body.
9. Toys are interesting. The boxes that they come in are even more interesting.
10. How can Gabby come from my body and not like chocolate milk?

I'll include a few pictures from her first birthday party. We did a theme of elephants, "Gabriella-phants" to be exact. I got to live out a life-long dream of cake decorating, and can't wait for future opportunities.