A Very Bloggy Survey

Okay folks. I can use some help here. I have to give a presentation on Wednesday about women's on-line communication. I've spent of a year studying this primarily looking at discussion boards. And although I haven't done any quantitative or qualitative research on this blog, I have seen first hand just how important communication is as I've watched my own blogging friendships form. So I thought I'd provide a short survey for you my bloggy friends.

So how about answering the following:

1) How long have you been blogging?

2) How often do you blog (includes both reading and/or writing posts)?

3) How many friendships have you established through blogging.

4) Overall how close are you with your blogging friends on a scale of 1-10 (where 1= I really don't know this person to 10=I know everything there is to know about this person)

5) Overall how close are you with you real life friends (friends you did not meet through blogging)--use the same scale listed in #4.

6) On average how much personal information do you share with your blogging friends on a scale of 1-10 (where 1= very little to 10=everything)

7) On average how much personal information do you share with your real life friends? --use the same scale listed in #6.

8) What advantages or disadvantages do you see to establishing blogging friendships?

9) What other forms of communication do you use with your blogging friends? (e-mail, IM, text, twitter, facebook, myspace, phone, face-to-face, etc.)

10) Is there anything else you'd like to add about your blogging experience?

You can respond anonymously or with your blog name in the comments. Or if you'd rather, feel free to e-mail me at profbaugh@yahoo.com.

Either way, thanks in advance for your help and if you could send a few of your readers this way to answer these questions, I'd be tickled pink!!

Gratefully,
~Cheryl

Ding dong the van is dead!

It's official. Our minivan is dead. I don't know much about cars, but this one is beyond fixable, unless of course we're willing to spend thousands (yes I said thousands) of dollars to fix it. There's something broken in the engine. That means either tearing the engine apart and hoping it can be fixed or putting in a new/rebuilt engine. Neither options seems good considering the age of the minivan. On the other hand, we aren't in a position to purchase a new vehicle. So what are we going to do? Your guess is as good as mine folks. Right now we're praying about it. Trusting God to show himself in a mighty way. In the meantime, we've borrowed Matthew's car again for the week.

Please, please, please keep us in prayer.

Trusting God for His provision,
~Cheryl

What's Your Pirate Name?

Okay, I'm a sucker for quizzes like this. My friend Maureen posted a link to this over on her blog, "I am Toddler Hear Me Roar!" I thought you might like to find your own "pirate name." Enjoy!

~Captain Ethel Cash

My pirate name is:

Captain Ethel Cash

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

A story in pictures

Can you guess what happened????

Help a Professor out!

Hi bloggy friends. Did you notice the new feature on this blog? Look over at the right sidebar at the top and you'll see a new section called Profbaugh readers. I noticed some of the other blogs I read used this feature and thought it would be fun to add to my blog, too.

So here's how you can help me out. Simply click on the "follow this blog" under the Profbaugh readers. Then you'll be added to my sidebar.

What's really cool, is that I'll be able to see you, to put a face with Profbaugh readers. And y'all know that I'm very, very visual. So this would help me tremendously.

So what do you say?? Want to help a professor out?

Can't wait to see you, my bloggy peeps.

Much love,
~Cheryl

Change

Image clipped from enjoytheart.com

Change. I don't like it very much. In fact, I might be as bold to say that I hate it. Yet, I'm also aware that change is at the core of our walk with Christ.

I read the following on Stephanie's blog today that really garnered my attention:

God did not deliver us (forgive, save, restore) to stay in the same spot. He delivered us from something to take us to something.

Earlier this week in a conversation with my pastor Matt, I was reminded that our desert experience should always be one of movement. Sitting down and being stagnate are not part of God's plan. And although the current season of my own life is not one I'd label as a desert experience, it is one characterized by movement.

Thus, I've made a decision. Instead of fighting, struggling, and "hating" the changes I'm facing, I'm going to embrace them and move forward. No, that's not quite accurate, I'm going to celebrate them, because they are part of what God has planned for me. As I ponder that, frankly I'm excited!!

Yes, it's time for me to stop complaining about the manna and savor the provision of my sweet LORD.

That's my intention and I'm sticking to it.

How about you?

Crazy for Christ,
~Cheryl

Every Day I Pray

I came across the following prayer from "Every Day I Pray" by Iyanla Vanzant. It's really speaks to my current season of life. And although this prayer is certainly not uniquely "Christian" I'm praying it in the name and power of Jesus Christ. So in an attempt to be authentic, I thought I'd share it with you.

P.S. For all my Siestas yes, I have completed "Breaking Free" (three times).

Much love,
~Cheryl
******************************************************************

Dear God:

Please help me live in this right-now moment. Show me how to stop running from the past and hiding from the future.

Help me to be present with the goodness, the joy, the beauty, the peace that is available to me right here, right now.

Let me know that I no longer need to beat myself up for the things I did not do or did not complete.

When I start judging myself for how dumb I've been, all the stupid mistakes I've made and the behavior patterns that have cause so much pain in my life stop me!

When I am reminding myself that I'm not good enough, smart enough or ready to move forward, please change my mind!

When I am giving myself excuses and using delaying tactics that keep me from taking the next step, move me forward, in spite of myself.

Help me to sop running, waiting and hiding.

Help me to remember that everything I need is present right where I am in this moment.

Help me to let go of the things that are dragging me down and pushing me back.

Help me to see beyond the obstacles and challenges that I imagine to be blocking my way.

Help me to relax, to surrender, to step into the peace that is here right now!

Let me feel the peace of your presence and the power of your love, right now.

Help me move into this moment without any fear of what it holds or anxiety about what lies beyond.

God, I need you right now!

I know that every word I have spoken has reached a special place in your heart.

For this I am so grateful.

And So It Is!

The night the lights went out at Profbaugh's house

Well this morning started out with a bang at our house. You see our power must have gone off some time in the wee hours of the morning. I was up very, very late--working. So imagine my surprise this morning when my daughter walked in to my bedroom about 8:55 and said, "Don't you have classes this morning?"

Talk about a shock. I think I literally bolted out of bed. You see I do have morning classes. My first one starts at 9:00 am. I ran to the phone, called the university and had them break the news to my 9:00 am class, that I would not be there. I'm sure they were heart broken. Okay, folks you need to let me have at least this one illusion this morning.

I quickly went into overdrive at home, got dressed, make-up on, hair moused and headed out of the house.

I made it to campus with 5 minutes to spare for my 10:00 am classes. I'm sure my students were happy to see me (again, just give it to me this morning).

So where does this leave me? Resolved that I must buy a battery operated alarm clock!

Much love,
~Cheryl

Deeper Still

Check out this short clip of Travis and the praise team at Deeper Still in Vegas Friday night. Oh my!!! How I wish I were there. I could use some good praise and worship right about now. I hope this helps you get your praise on!!

Enjoy,
~Cheryl


Untitled from on Vimeo.

An Unexpected Call to Ministry

Today I'm guest blogging for Mandy at MandyThompson.com for her series on "Everday Doers." The following is part of that series.

I’m typically a very private person. I don’t share information readily and certainly find it challenging to open myself up, warts and all for the rest of the world to see. So imagine my horror in June 2007 when I felt the Lord urging me to start a blog. Of course, I thought at first He must be kidding. This must be some kind of joke, right? Yet, that still small voice persisted and got louder and louder until there was no denying that yes, this was exactly what He was calling me to do.

I learned a long time ago it’s best to be obedient. So I bit the bullet, created Profbaugh’s Blog and went about writing my first post. Since that time the ministries opportunities have abounded. It hasn’t always been comfortable. And yes, I’ve found myself stretched in ways I never thought I could go. Yet, the Lord knew exactly what He was doing with that urging over a year ago.

I’ve had the opportunity to mentor, to pray with, to listen to and cry with, to encourage, to teach and most of all to connect with others in truly intimate ways. And conversely I’ve been ministered to, impacted in ways I would have never expected and challenged beyond my wildest dreams to move and grow. Honestly, when I truly survey what He has done through this simple blog, well frankly I’m just amazed and humbled to be part of His plan.

What’s the upshot of all this? Simply this that ministry happens day in and day out, all around us. God is at work, has been at work and continues to be at work. If we will just listen to and follow His call, no matter how “out there” it may seem the most amazing things can happen.

So here are my questions for you. What is God calling you to do today? And more importantly how will you respond? The choice to follow is always yours. I can guarantee one thing. You’ll never be sorry answering His call.

So as Mandy has so aptly written on her blog, “Don’t live there, do something!”

Rainy Season

One of my BFFs, Lisa sent me a link to a blog that really describes where I am spiritually right now. Here are the lyrics of a song, called "Rainy Season" from that blog:

Overcast
In my eyes
With the tears about to flow
As they rise
And I question all I know
So the feelings come
And the feelings go
In my storm

(Chorus)
It's just a rainy season
Sweeping across my sky
It's just a rainy season
And I don't need a reason to cry

Hurricane
Out of sea
Should the tempest dare to blow
Down on me
As I tread the undertow
So the waters ebb
And the waters flow
In my storm

(Chorus)

Circumstances
Like the changing of the wind
May whisper bitter secrets in my ear
Second chances
Will call my name again
It all depends on what I choose to hear

(Chorus)

The song is called "Rainy Season" written by Stephen Crumbacher. Taken from Eccl 3:1 & 4 "There is time for everything, and a reason for activity under heaven: (4) a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time dance," and Rom 12:15-16 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

So I guess this is one of those seasons of my spiritual life. I just hope and pray that I can hear that still small voice as I move out of the rain and into the Son.

Much love,
~Cheryl

Ministry Funk

Ministry. It's such a simple little word, but also one chalked full of opportunity, possibility and love. I've read some absolutely amazing accounts of ministry the past couple of days, including Fran's church which opened it's doors to 125 displaced New Orleans residents. And I've cried many tears of joy at just how sweet people can be as they serve one another in the name of Jesus.

Why is it then that I find myself today in a full blown ministry funk--not really wanting to do anything or even seeing any opportunities? I don't know if that's really a term, but if not it should be. Maybe it's better labeled as a bad attitude, one that has yet to be touched at the deepest depths by the Holy Spirit. Or maybe it's just a sign of my physical body which has been for the past week or so pretty sick. If so, then maybe my ministry funk is just a temporary state of being. I hope so, because this isn't a comfortable place to be in right now and certainly not one that's worthy of a Child of the God (or heiress if you were in SA and heard Beth Moore's message).

So where does this leave me? Well, I guess I'm praying for a healthy dose of the Holy Spirit to chase away the darkness. In the meantime, I'm left hanging here, stuck in a funk and too tired to do anything much to fend it off.

Our Day One San Antonio Aventure (part 1)

My brave, wounded hubby!

I can't believe that it's actually been a week since I landed in San Antonio!! Oh my. The adventures I had that first day are certainly blog worthy. So, I thought I'd steal away a few moments of your time and let you know what really happened that first day.

Bill and I made it to the St. Louis airport with time to spare. So far so good. Unfortunately, Bill had a luggage related accident. He caught his finger in the handle as he extended it to pull the suitcase. It pinched his finger and took a chunk out of it. Immediately it started bleeding. As best we could we managed to bandage it and we headed toward our gate. Once on the plane, I assumed his finger would have scabbed over and stopped bleeding, but no. It was still bleeding, just as much as it was when it first happened.

We landed in San Antonio, successfully rented our SUV, and immediately began looking for a hospital. Yes, his finger was still bleeding. Luckily with the rental car came a general map. It showed one hospital--Methodist hospital. So that's where we headed. I've got to say that we found the hospital with no problem, however finding the ER was a different story. I've never been to a hospital where the ER was hidden so well (and believe me with three kids, I've been to plenty of ERs). Eventually, I dropped Bill off at the ER, parked the car and found my way through the maze to the ER. Bill was already in an exam room. The assistant and doctor were very nice. With a pressure bandage, a prescription for an antibiotic, and a hundred dollars (ouch!!) less in our wallets, we finally headed out of the hospital.

This was our introduction to San Antonio. No, it wasn't quite what I expected, but it did provide for a good story. Right?

Tomorrow I'll post about part two of our day one. Yes, there is more, but I'm tired and it's late.

Nighty night Siestas!! Tune in tomorrow for part 2

Siesta Meet-ups

One of the things I was looking forward to the most was meeting my fellow bloggers in person. Oh the anticipation!! And I have to add, I was not the least disappointed when they "hugged my neck" (yes, I'm getting used to the southern lingo).

with Amanda Moore Jones


with my new best bud, Travis Cottrell


with the twenty-somethings, Abby(unshackled), Lindsee (Lindsee Lou), and Shelly (to know him)


with sweet Bev Brandon


I was so happy to finally meet up with Nancy (Nancy's Monoblog). We spent the last half the conference texting each other just trying to "connect." Don't you think we look like sisters???


with my fellow communication teacher, Kristi B. We're double trouble. Watch out classrooms here we come!!


Standing in line with a fellow siesta.


with Lisa (the preacher's wife)


with Teri (facedown) aka "the rev"

Siesta Fiesta Lunch

I'll start by posting some pictures of the luncheon of the Siesta Fiesta. See if you recognize any familiar faces.

a table full of hungry Siestas


Here's our waiter taking orders.


Here's a smiling Holly (crown laid down)


Kim and Patty planning (as usual)


My hubby, Bill the lone Miesta at the Siesta lunch.


Teri (facedown) relaxing after her meal


Me and Lisa (the preacher's wife)


Stephanie (Ocean Mommy) enjoying the after lunch conversation.


Kim (Connercolesmom) and Darlene (have you seen my keys) chatting


Me and Teri (Facedown)


Lisa (the preacher's wife) and Holly (crown laid down)

I should be sleeping, but. . .

I should be sleeping right now, but frankly I'm just too excited. Today was the first day of the LPL Siesta Fiesta. Bill and I arrived yesterday (Thursday) and were immediately bombarded by all the southern accents just outside our hotel door. I knew without a doubt is had to be some fellow Siestas and oh boy was I right!!

To say that I've had a blast so far would be an understatement. Seriously, this has been a great adventure for me. I've hugged so many fellow bloggers, I've lost count. Oh, and I got to meet Travis Cottrell and Amanda (Moore) Jones. I even have the pictures to prove it. Now all I have to do is figure out how to load them on this computer. Yes, technology is not my forte. Thank goodness I have teens at home who are good at this stuff!!!

I can't wait for tomorrow for part 2 of Beth Moore's message. What a blessing this has been so far (even with Bill's ER visit--but that's another post).

Time for bed. I can hear it calling my name.

Much love,
~Cheryl

A Franciscan Benediction

On occasion I stumble across something that really speaks to my heart at the moment. This is one of those things. It's from a Franciscan Benediction:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

So just how is God blessing you today??

Much love,
~Cheryl

Upstream or Downstream?

Mark Driscoll talks about "Culture and the Church" in this clip from the Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast.



So what do you think??? Upstream, downstream, or somewhere in the middle??

Looking back at Starting Over

Have you ever had one of those moments, where your emotions come out of no where? Well tonight has been on of those experiences. I was innocently watching a couple of you tube clips of my favorite show of all time, Starting Over which went off the air back in 2006.

Oh my, the tears just started flowing. I'm not quite sure why. But BOOM there were tears that quickly moved to the "ugly cry" as Oprah calls it. I tell you, it was not a pretty picture.

In case you've never heard of Starting Over, it was a daytime reality show. I actually auditioned for the third season of it, but didn't get picked. Looking back, I was NOT ready to be part of something like this, especially as public as the process was. For Pete's sake I'm still working on authenticity after seven months of working with a life coach!

Here are a couple of compilation clips from Starting Over. If you've never seen the show, take a minute and watch them. And then send me some kleenex!!

P.S. Thanks Deb for posting these on your discussion board!

Back to School? No way!

Time is ticking away fast as I type this. In little over a week my classes start. As I sit here I wonder just where the summer went. It seems to have buzzed by with little regard for my own sense of time. Wasn't it just yesterday that the Spring semester ended and I anxiously awaited the coming summer? Alas, that time has come and gone and I find myself facing another start of the school year.

This time of year is not my favorite, I'll admit. I don't like change very much. I think I've posted about that dislike before. But, it's more that simple change, it's about the hectic lifestyle that seems to overtake my household when school starts back up--homework, grading, activities, practices, early mornings and late evenings, eating on the run and the list goes on. Just thinking of it makes me tired.

Regardless, that end of summer, start of the school year is looming on the horizon. There's not much I can really do to stop it. I guess the challenge is to not miss all the wonderful moments in the midst of the busyness. Yes, the more I think about it, that is the key.

So wish me (and my family) luck as we move forward to another school year.

Much love,
~Cheryl

Bernie Mac Dies

The following is from the Associated Press:

Comedian Bernie Mac died at Northwestern Memorial hospital in Chicago early Saturday morning. He had an inflammatory lung disease and had been battling pneumonia. Mac was 50 years old. (Aug. 09)

I wasn't a huge Bernie Mac fan, but nonetheless I feel a loss of sorts. I'm not quite sure why, but his death has hit me pretty hard. Maybe it's because of his age. Maybe it's because he was a Chicago native. Regardless, tonight this King of Comedy is on my mind.

So here's to Bernie Mac, who made me laugh! May his family and friends find comfort in the fact that his comedy will live on for years to come.

Bernie, you'll be missed!

Sunset Fatigue

Larry Meyer describes one of his most recent reads, "The Life You've Always Wanted," by John Ortberg. One of the things that slapped him in the face was the concept of Sunset Fatigue.

Since my previous post was on time, I thought this was an interesting follow-up.

Do you see yourself in any of the categories? Come on, sharing is good for the soul. Can't wait to read your comments.

Slowing down in the fast lane,
~Cheryl

clipped from swerve.lifechurch.tv Hurry up and Slowdown Sunset Fatigue is when “we are just too tired, or too drained, or too preoccupied, to love the people to whom we have made the deepest promises.” The book says you have Sunset Fatigue when one or several of the following are true about your life: 1] you find yourself rushing even when there’s no reason to; 2] there is an underlying tension that causes sharp words or sibling quarrels; 3] you set up mock races (“OK kids, let’s see who can take a bath faster”) that are really about your own need to get through it; 4] you sense a loss of gratitude and wonder; 5] you indulge in self-destructive escapes from fatigue: abusing alcohol, watching too much TV and escaping into music.

Time Flies and I Walk.

I can't believe that the summer is almost over, at least from a collegiate standpoint. I just submitted my summer grades. Now I have two weeks (only two weeks) from today until the Fall semester begins. Just where did the time go???

I guess I say this every August, or so my hubby reminds me, but this year seems more pronounced. The time really has just flown by. As Beth Moore said in the Louisville Simulcast, "I look in the mirror and I don't even recognize the woman staring back." Just where does the time go? As I put in the title of this blog, "Time flies and I walk." Can anyone else relate?

This brings me to some profound questions (tee hee). What do you do to protect your time? Is it possible to slow it down? Hum, lots of questions but no answers. So help me out here. Post and let me know what you think.

Much love,
~Cheryl

Right brain? Left brain? No brain?

Have you ever wondered why I post so many pictures? If so you need to read the result of my brain test below. It confirms what I've known for a long time, that I'm a visual learner. I read about the mind bender's brain test at my friend Lisa's blog. Here are my results:

Cheryl, you possess an interesting balance of hemispheric and sensory characteristics, with a slight right-brain dominance and a slight preference for visual processing.

Since neither of these is completely centered, you lack the indecision and second-guessing associated with other patterns. You have a distinct preference for creativity and intuition with seemingly sufficient verbal skills to be able to translate in any meaningful way to yourself and others.

You tend to see things in "wholes" without surrendering the ability to attend to details. You can give them sufficient notice to be able to utitlize and incorporate them as part of an overall pattern.

In the same way, while you are active and process information simultaneously, you demonstrate a capacity for sequencing as well as reflection which allows for some "inner dialogue."

All in all, you are likely to be quite content with yourself and your style although at times it will not necessarily be appreciated by others. You have sufficient confidence to not second-guess yourself, but rather to use your critical faculties in a way that enhances, rather than limits, your creativity.

You can learn in either mode although far more efficiently within the visual mode. It is likely that in listening to conversations or lecture materials you simultaneously translate into pictures which enhance and elaborate on the meaning.

It is most likely that you will gravitate towards those endeavors which are predominantly visual but include some logic or structuring. You may either work particularly hard at cultivating your auditory skills or risk "missing out" on being able to efficiently process what you learn. Your own intuitive skills will at times interfere with your capacity to listen to others, which is something else you may need to take into account.

Honestly, this is pretty accurate for me. So take the test and let me know what you think and of course, come back post. Can't wait to hear what you have to say.

Women of Substance!

I'm popping in here for just a short minute. It's late and I need to get some sleep before I have to be back at church by 7 am to set up for day two of the LPL (Beth Moore) Simulcast from Louisville.

Let me tell you Siestas Beth really brought it on this evening, even to our small group at our little country church. And Travis and his team were wonderful, engaging and most of all true worshipers. Oh my I just got goosebumps thinking of the worship at the end of tonight's session!! This was a definite God Stop Friday (thanks Patty)

Beth is speaking from Luke 8:1-15 and while I don't have the time or energy to share all of what she said tonight, I do want to leave you with one short phrase--"women of substance." Just let that sink in for a minute, because you my bloggy friends are "women of substance" if you are in Christ!

She pulls this from the phrase in Luke 8:3b "These women were helping to support them out of their own means." Of course, this indicates that these women had some wealth, however Beth went on to clarify that we are "women of means" or "women of substance" (King James version) in the Spirit. We need to have the confidence and competence that we can truly live as fully in Christ as "women of substance."

Okay, that's enough for tonight. Perhaps someone else has had more energy to post at length than I have. Please, please, please keep the 70,000 women (yes, you read right--70,000 women. Can I have an amen or two?) who are receiving the LPL either at Louisville or through the simulcast in your prayers for tomorrow. And, if I can be just a bit selfish. . . please pray for the small group of women at my own church, Real Life--that the Holy Spirit may fully use Beth to impart God's Word directly into our hearts where we can hide it away and that we leave tomorrow and really live The Word.

Love y'all lots,
~Cheryl