Some serious theology and staying up till 3 a.m.

What do these two things have in common you ask? Why would someone stay up till 3 o'clock in the morning thinking about theology anyway? Well, if you're 12 and you've been preparing for your Confirmation for the last year, you end up at confirmation camp where you study your understanding of your faith AND you stay up till 3:00 a.m....that last part is just because you're 12! I want to declare to all you reading this that 12 years olds are brilliant! I heard some amazing revelations this past weekend when I was honored to act as a leader for this year's retreat. The most refreshing thing I witnessed was the excitement these kids exibited in their getting to declare for the first time...all by themselves...that they are going to be full members of the church. On June 1st the entire group will stand in front of the church and promise to give their Prayers, Presence, Gifts and Service to not only this congregation but to the Christian Faith as a whole. It is their promise to God and themselves that they will strive always to grow, give and serve God in whatever faith family they find themselves. How much fun and how humbling to see 12 year old squirrels take something so seriously and be so moved by this, the beginning of their journey.
On Sunday, we returned to the church at 9:30 a.m. just in time for me to hit the ground running with Sunday morning tasks and opportunities finally arriving at my home at 2:00. I never knew one could take three naps and then sleep through the night...now I do!

A little distraction from the work day

A friend told me today that she is 'jonesing' for a blog entry...Wow! Has it really been since the end of last month?!?! Slacker!

This morning at about 9:20, I was right here at my computer working with a co-worker on a presentation that the whole staff would review at 9:30 so I was under the gun. Apparently some other co-workers were in the hall outside my office yelling at me to 'watch out!' and 'duck!'. I didn't hear a thing as what looked like a purple martin flew into my office, hung a sharp right and flew directly into the wall knocking itself out cold! I missed the whole thing! What you have to understand is that my office isn't anywhere near an outside entrance to the church. This bird did some pretty impressive maneuvering to find it's way in here. Of course you know I'm a big sap for anything live and could hardly stand it when I finally came out of my computer fog to see it laying, wings spralled, on the floor. What to do??? People are expecting the presentation to be ready in just a minute but there's a stunned bird laying on the floor of my office. I did what any career girl with her priorities all messed up would do...I gathered some forces, found a big box and proceeded to have the bird safely removed. After a couple of Lazarus inspired 'awakenings' and a couple more confused flights, he was in the box and headed for freedom so he could tell all his little bird friends about his exciting morning...and mine :)

Anticipation

It is way past Easter but I wait...I anticipate my Eater lily's opening. I know I've planted it in a place that doesn't get enough sun...it doesn't get the love it needs. but still I wait. I wait for it's bloom. We aren't always planted in a place where the soil is good. But we can still bloom...be beautiful...still make a difference. Poor lilly...what will it be even though it's not in the place it should be? something amazing I'm sure...I can only wait for this miracle of bloom. What miracle can you make even if you don't feel you're in the right place.

In Memoriam

On Sunday at 11:00 p.m., my maternal grandmother, Ida Bernice Mills, died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 88. Over the last 3 days I have had an AMAZING revelation. For the first time in my life I have truly understood that the gift of life completely outweighs the sadness of loss of life. This is something that people always say is true but I'm sure I've never grasped it before this week. I am very sad at the loss of my Grandma. However, my memories of her and the things I learned from her are what occupy my emotions.
1. The best meditation and prayer takes place while laboring in your garden.
2. The best water for everything is rain water.
3. No matter what horrible event befalls you, look toward tomorrow and joys it will bring.
4. Every woman should know how to change a tire, build a barbed wire fence and sew a dress.
5. Value your grandchildren.
6. Eat your vegetables (and know how to grow them)
7. Don't have too much stuff.
8. When you get really old it's okay to have chocolate covered cherries and cheetos for dinner.
When I was 7, I learned how to use a post hole digger. To this day, that is my favorite skill even above playing the piano. I think it's because that skill represents her and her way of life. Thank you Grandma for everything.

What a different a night's sleep makes

The sun is shining, my list of things to do is huge and I'm motivated! Thank goodness for sleep and rest. It's another day and it looks like it will be a good one! Tonight we're going on a date to see "Shine A Light", the new Stones movie. Also, thank goodness for patient husbands.

What a crank!

I haven't felt very nice today. This morning when replying to an invitation to a lunch happening next week I said I would bring a big fat rock in a sack! Then I declined a fun girlie invitation to eat Italian food and drink wine. Yesterday, I learned that the weird pain I'm having is due to a rip-roaring bladder infection (sorry, too much information but I don't care). Oh well, I've made plans with my husband to have a quiet night in watching Scrubs and The Office. If I don't laugh at that I must be dead!

God thinks your knees are cute!

Yesterday in Dr. Fiedler's sermon, we were asked to think about how we approach God. When you get a visual of approaching God, do you think of yourself standing there with one hand in your pocket and a Diet Coke in the other saying, "Hey God...Wassup?...Howsit hanging?" Or are you more inclined to approach with a little more awe and humility? I know that when I'm in worship the most meaningful communion with God happens when I'm on my knees. The only thing better would be to be laying flat on my face in prayer but I can only do that at home.

Yesterday, our church dedicated new kneelers for the communion rail. I have to say they are really cushy not to mention amazingly beautiful. A total of 13 families or groups purchased them for the church in honor or in memory of a loved one...then a larger group of people spent two years stiching all 13 kneelers by hand. What a perfect expression of love for those honored, those who stiched and for the members and visitors of this church who will for years kneel in awe of God in our sanctuary.