and so it begins...

hi.
my name is jennifer.
and i'm a pastor.
and a harry potter fan.

no, not a fan... if i am honest, i have entered the realm of harry potter geek. i probably need to find a meeting to attend.

i have read all seven books... i didn't catch on until after The Goblet of Fire was released, but Order of the Phoenix was shipped to my home arriving the day it was released... i have pictures of myself and family sitting on the couch reading it the day it arrived (yes, this is what i take pictures of) and i went to midnight book releases at Barnes & Noble for the final two books.  the waiting was AGONY, but in the end, well worth it.

i even lead a week long church camp for 5th and 6th graders that explores where hp and faith intersect.

in fact, that is exactly my point of entry to Harry Potter and to most things that capture my interest in pop culture: where does faith intersect this... (fill in the blank... song, movie, experience, etc.)?

what you'll find here are my thoughts about these intersections, both with faith and with God.  often related to Harry Potter... but sometimes i might deviate. :) 

i've recently returned from a trip with my kids to the ULTIMATE destination for potter fans

(no, not london... i'm hoping someday, but check out the picture below):

we'd decided to take a book trip, one for each kid, to completely different destinations... and then they teamed up and laid it on me:

"mom, we want to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!"

and i thought... are you kidding me?  seriously?!?  SIRIUSLY???  i am SO in! that would be great! 

so that's where we went.  and quite frankly, it was fabulous.  i had a drink at The Hog's Head, ate at The Three Broomsticks, had butterbeer while waiting line to go to Olivanders' (where we did see the wand choose the wizard) and just sat enjoying the atmosphere of the place.  if you're a fan, i highly recommend it.

so that's probably enough for a first post.  i'll post again soon.