Definitions

Sometimes to learn the meanings of words it's helpful to see them used in context:

• Mushroom: When all my family get in the car, there's not mushroom.
• Shoulder: My friend didn't know how to drive so I shoulder.
• Texas: My fren always Texas me when she’s wondering where I'm at!
• July: Ju told me ju were going to wash the car but July to me! Julyer!
• Chicken: My wife wanted me to go to the mall but chicken go by herself.
• Wheelchair: We only have one piece of pizza left, but don't worry wheelchair.
• Chicken wing: My wife plays the lottery so chicken wing money.
• Body wash: I want to go to the bar but no body wash my kids.
• Cheese: My sister says she will, but cheese crazy.
  
• Budweiser: That woman go into the store, budweiser car still running?

Lighting Candles

Youth ministry has a slightly different tone over here in England.

I've been involved in youth work for years. So I was happy to assist at the parish here while in the neighborhood. Certainly there were similarities with back home, like the enthusiasm that accompanies getting a group of kids together.

But some things aren't replicated in States. Our gathering took place in a renovated barn . . . built in the 1600's. The stone walls and oak rafters have seen a few more generations than any youth center I've been in back in America. While the ping pong, foosball, and pool tables with the piano on the side were added by the owner a bit more recently, the green meadows surrounding the farm were still being grazed by sheep and cattle as they had been for centuries.

Also surprising was stepping into the kitchen--and having the whole group singing happy birthday around a candlelit chocolate cake: they had connections to know it had been my birthday, and I had no idea that was coming.

And it was a good cake.

New Insights from New Clairvaux

If you've been wanting to learn more about wines, and wanted to be able to identify a red table wine, the Trappists at Vina can help you. Leave it to the monks to simplify things.