I can't help it...

...I love this city.

The festivals, the art, the music...

and so much of it is free!!! 

I hope that if you have visited our fine city before that you find it to be a great city. If you don't, I invite you back to give it a second chance.

Or if you haven't been to visit at all, please come check it out!

Art Prize is a great time to come visit, but so is every weekend in the summer. The fall and spring are amazing too. I love winter, so if you like snow and cold, you're also welcome to come visit but be prepared, you will be handed a shovel.

Below is a very small sampling of this year's Art Prize.

 Sticktuitiveness

 This quilt is actually made of wood...! How amazing is that? I heard about it from a friend and I'm so glad Bill and I went to find it. It's incredible.

 The chalking I wrote on the side of our Administrative building.

The Komodo Dragon made out of buttons. Suspended from the ceiling. 

What is art? Well, I've been thinking about that. The difference between an artist and anyone else is doing. An artist doesn't just look at something and say, "I could do that." An artist goes out and does it. So whatever the artist creates is art. This is my opinion. Not an official definition. 

Just thought I'd let you know.

we made it a verb

"Art Prizing". It's what you do in Grand Rapids during Art Prize.

There is a lot going on downtown. We went out and about with the Youth Groups on Sunday night.

This weekend is the Lot Party hosted by our church! (If you live in Grand Rapids, check it out! Here's a link for more info.)

I have taken pictures (and had pictures taken of me) but it's too late and my battery is dying. Perhaps tomorrow you'll see some photos...

Of course you will! For now, I'm going to go try to wash the chalk dust out of my eyes...

city vs country folk

This is my third Annual Conference for the West Michigan United Methodist Church.

It is held each year at Calvin College.

I have learned a few things and will continue to learn more each year.

First, I know which dining hall offers ice cream. And it's not just that soft serve stuff. It's the real deal. Hudsonville ice cream from our own "backyard". I had mine today before I ate my salad thank-you-very-much.

Second, the other lay members from our church are awesome. As I talk to them and get to know them more, I find out more about them, and they're just neat!

Third, I scare people. Today, there is a group who has rainbow stoles. Everyone is encouraged to take one (and either return it at the end of conference or keep it and make a small donation) and wear it proudly. It is to show our support of gays and lesbians in the church. Our contingent agreed that those were a good idea and we each picked a stole. Then, at lunch, a woman asked me about them. I gave her the card that came with it and she read it very carefully.

I have to remember this: I'm more of a "city" girl than "country" at this Conference. And, as Bill pointed out in this post, I am clearly identifiable as such.

City livin' means more liberal. At least it seems that way.

So when this woman from a church of one hundred members asked me about my rainbow stole, I very kindly explained my position. I did not force her to agree with me. I did not try to twist her arm. I simple said, I am trying to do what Jesus taught which is to love one another. It is not my place to judge. I love all of my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

She sort of mumbled something about how this is a touchy subject and then excused herself.

That's okay. Lunch was over anyway.

We'll see what happens tomorrow...