So last year's 'Superbowl party' was one of my favorite memories of 2013. And I've got to say, though they were very different, this year's 'Superbowl party' is probably going to make the list of favorites from 2014.
After Sunday School yesterday morning, Bro. Nick came in briefly to let the class know that they were going to be having a Superbowl party again this year, after church in the evening. I had wondered, with the youth group having shrunk so, if they were going to do one or not. I was glad to hear it. Last year, basically no one watched the game - everyone spent their time playing games and enjoying being together!
Jaylyn and Jewel are visiting us for a few days, and went to church with us last night. So after church, we went over to the gym and pulled out roller skates and the rip-stick out of the big wooden footlocker, expecting the youth classes to be finishing up soon, and everyone to be coming down to the gym like we did last year.
After the four of us had been 'rolling' around the gym for about 35 minutes and no one had appeared, it suddenly dawned on me that they were probably using the youth room and/or the 'new' game room for the party (there was an unused classroom adjoining the youth room, that Bro. Nick and Lydia have turned into a sort of 'game room' for the young people)! But we were having a great time just the four of us, and realized the party was probably over by this time anyway - and it's always awkward to walk in on the tail end of an event - so we just stayed where we were, deciding to just keep roller skating, and see how the evening unfolded.
In a little while, Julia's mom came down with a practically-empty crock pot of cheese dip, heading to the kitchen to clean it out. When she found us in the gym, dear encouraging soul that she is, she urged us to go on up anyway, get something to eat, and join in the game of Taboo they were into up there. I followed her to the kitchen to help clean the pot, and we got to chat a little while. She told me how Julia's university experience is proving to be pretty difficult, and about a mission trip quilt she and her husband had had made for Julia out of her old mission trip t-shirts. Jaylyn came in, and stood and listened, then Trissy came in and joined the conversation, then Jewel, so we all ended up standing (then sitting) in the kitchen for probably another 30 minutes just visiting with Julia's mom! But she is so sweet and big-hearted - it was nice to get to chat with her for a while!
Eventually we made our way upstairs. Julia's dad was the only one watching the game on a TV in the youth room - the others were all gathered in a rough circle in the game room, involved in an enthusiastic game of Taboo. Except for Joy and Nicole's younger brother, who were playing a football video game in the other half of the room.
Bro. Nick, Law, another girl of the youth group who's graduated but good friends with Abigail, Abigail, a visiting girl, and Piper, made up the two teams (Lydia had had to leave a little earlier to go put their two little girls to bed).
It worked really well as an ice-breaker game. We 'jumped' right in, including Jaylyn and Jewel, and the group got to meet them and they got to meet the group without any of those awkward introductions and now-what-do-I-say-to-be-polite-and-keep-the-conversation-going-? moments. A little later on, Nicole and her husband came to pick up her younger brother to take him home, and ended up staying and playing for a little while! I think everyone had a really great evening - after the four of us got there, we all kept playing until we got through the blue sides of the entire box of cards. We'd mixed up the teams and started on the pink side, when Piper suddenly looked up and asked Bro. Nick half-jokingly, half-seriously how late we could stay before he kicked us out. He chuckled and replied we'd probably have to close down right after 9:30, since it was a school night. Right about that time, Mom called Trissy's cell phone to see where we were - we usually leave the Sunday night college suppers at 9:00, and it was 9:30! We'd completely lost track of time!
Trissy and I spent the night at The Grandparents' (where Jaylyn and Jewel are staying), quietly slipping in the house, getting a snack, making out our beds, and crawling in for the night. Jaylyn and Trissy went to sleep after talking together until probably about 11:00. Jewel and I talked until past 2:00. Yeah, I know, there goes my great sleeping habits. But we had some great discussions, and it was really nice. Now at 8:00 the next morning, after less than five hours of sleep, I'm not sure how well I'll function the rest of the day... :) . But it will be okay - I work a shorter shift at the restaurant today, and then plan to go over to VRCA to help the secretary with paperwork for an hour (registration starts today and she's getting over surgery - there's lots of paperwork, but I always have so much fun helping her!), and the rest of the afternoon can be spent enjoying my cousins and family!
The whole evening I just kept thinking, "Praise God! He is SO good!"
Showing posts with label Bro. Nick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bro. Nick. Show all posts
Monday, February 3, 2014
Friday, August 23, 2013
"5 Small Things Friday" No. 99
Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".
For this week, here is my list:
1. Sight: 'Praying' Hands Shadow
2. Hearing: "You look cute." / Conversation With Bro. Dennis
3. Smell:
4. Taste: Blueberry/Pomegranate Smoothie
5. Touch:
The stories behind the list:
1. Wednesday night as Bro. Nick was teaching, a shadow on the door caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. The door is to the left at the front of the room, and when I turned to look, I saw it was a shadow of what looked like hands folded to pray cast on the door. Bro. Nick, in his earnestness to make some point, had pressed his hands together, pointing them toward his young audience, and their shadow was cast on the youth room door by the lights on the opposite wall. The symbolism made it an image of striking significance. I caught my breath. Oh that the Lord would indeed make this room and this youth group a place characterized by prayer, so that any who go through that door would feel it's power!
2. Sunday I tried something a little different (for me), style-wise. I found belts at Dirt Cheap for a dollar this past week, and (besides getting two narrow brown ones that I've been wanting for months) I decided to be adventurous and get a sortof indigo/perriwinkle blue one too. I usually stick to simple and neutral when it comes to accessories (shoes, belts), so getting a blue belt was a little different for me. But for a dollar, I figured if I ended up never wearing it, I could give it away!
So Saturday I was getting in my closet to decide what I'd wear the next day to church (I don't like having to do that Sunday morning with all the other church preparations going on; I'd rather have at least my clothes ready the night before) and I stumbled upon a light-periwinkle blue cotton print skirt I'd made several years before. I hadn't worn it much recently because the white blouse I'd always worn with it was needing mending (and is actually still hanging up in the sewing-room closet, waiting). But that skirt made me think of the belt. And then I remembered an off-white cardigan I'd gotten really cheap somewhere a few months ago, thinking it'd work with another outfit. It hadn't, but I like cardigans, so I'd kept it. I had an off-white sleeveless top I'd made to go under something else a year-or-so ago too. And beige patent flat shoes I'd bought for Toby and Lindy's wedding. All these pieces began popping into my head when I saw that skirt, and I wondered if the outfit would 'work'. But it was supposed to be hot, and I didn't want to suffer in a sweater, so I picked out something cooler.
Then Sunday morning came, drizzly and a little chilly, and at the last minute I pulled those pieces out of the closet, hastily ironed the skirt and cardigan (it had been smashed between some other things in my closet), and dressed in that outfit. The belt was too long, so I poked another hole in it with Mom's ice pick on my way out the door. I wasn't sure if the 'look' was that great on me after all, but there was no time to evaluate, so off I went.
Later after church, Autumn came up behind me on her way out and picked a couple of loose dark hairs off the back of my light-colored sweater (oh yeah, by the way, I really went out on a limb and wore my hair down - I never do that!), saying, "You've got hair all over you!"
'Oh, thanks!' I said gratefully, turning around, 'Just another reason I never wear my hair down!'
"I feel your pain!" she smiled, dropping the last one. 'My hair does the same thing.' She started to walk on, but gave me a once-over. "You look cute!" she complemented.
"Thanks!" I tried not to seem shocked, but I was so surprised! Autumn doesn't just dish out complements, so I knew she must not be flattering me - she really meant it! It made me feel really good.
/
Thursday afternoon, Bro. Dennis came through the restaurant drive-thru, about fifteen minutes before I was supposed to get off. I was carried back over a year as we made small talk and I handed him his order. It was so natural, I could hardly believe it. Just as if he'd taught Sunday School class a couple of days before, as if there had never been those months of silence and strangeness, like he was who he used to be, the Bro. Dennis I knew... ages ago. He wasn't 'faking' or 'putting it on' just so I'd give him his food and let him go - he was simply, matter-of-factly, carrying on a conversation with me as if nothing strange had ever happened and he hadn't figuratively disappeared from my world, or spoken to me only twice in almost a year. It was a very simple conversation (i.e. 'Hey, I've never seen you here before' 'Yeah, I'd come more often, I just forget. I like the food here better than most places actually' - something like that, you get the idea) but it was so much like old times that my heart was gladdened and my hope was renewed that - one day - restoration will happen.
3.
4. Wednesday evening before church I took Joy, Piper, and Abigail to McDonald's for an ice cream treat. Joy and I got one of the McD's blueberry/pomegranate smoothies they've been promoting this summer. I'd been wanting one since I first saw them advertised right before the Chicago mission trip, and finally got to try it. It was not too sweet, just very blueberry-y and pomegranate-y! Very good!
5.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
A Hodge-podge Collage
It's bedtime. The rest of the house is dark and quiet, but there is a lamp on beside me. I am ensconsed in Dad's big recliner in the living room for the night because I'm trying to organize my room and can't get to my bed at this point. I have a notebook and a pen...
My thoughts are like a hodge-podge collage tonight. Thoughts, colors, people, songs, scenes, events, past, present, future, all layered together and overlapping into a display that, really, is quite beautiful, in spite of the pain that's part of the piece.
Melissa's sadness * "Like An Avalanche" * Law's sweet prayer * Abigail's shirt striped with sequins * Julia saying good-bye * Autumn's joking rebuke that I can't figure out * the black hood of Austin's car * JV kids from last year back this year * seeing my 'brown-eyed boy' in Wal*Mart * "Christ In Me" * music practice last night * 'Multiply' with Joy * Law: "Was that a fat joke Austin?! You did! You just called Kyrie fat." Abigail: "Kyrie, he called you fat! Slap him!" Me: "No!" Austin's look of innocent bewildered confusion * my bedroom I'm wanting to clean out and organize * being behind on my '5 Small Things Friday' posts * wanting to write/journal * Uncle Alvin's family coming to visit * Law's soft shirt and lean hardness when he bumped against my arm * wanting to make things for the fair * hopes for our AWANAs at church * Bro. Nick's lesson tonight - 'Making Decisions for the Glory of God' * Lindy seeming pre-occupied * being hungry and tired * why didn't Archer come to Toby and Lindy's wedding? * not getting to tell Landon 'bye before he left for his year-long mission trip * Passion 2014? * letters to write * hugs from Piper * wearing my hair down * invite pain? reject pain? or forget pain? * "Learning To Be The Light" * VRCA school starting * needing to work on the academy website * What happened to Ashelyn and her husband? * Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie * Bro. Dennis joking like old times at Toby and Lindy's rehearsal supper * ...
My thoughts are like a hodge-podge collage tonight. Thoughts, colors, people, songs, scenes, events, past, present, future, all layered together and overlapping into a display that, really, is quite beautiful, in spite of the pain that's part of the piece.
Melissa's sadness * "Like An Avalanche" * Law's sweet prayer * Abigail's shirt striped with sequins * Julia saying good-bye * Autumn's joking rebuke that I can't figure out * the black hood of Austin's car * JV kids from last year back this year * seeing my 'brown-eyed boy' in Wal*Mart * "Christ In Me" * music practice last night * 'Multiply' with Joy * Law: "Was that a fat joke Austin?! You did! You just called Kyrie fat." Abigail: "Kyrie, he called you fat! Slap him!" Me: "No!" Austin's look of innocent bewildered confusion * my bedroom I'm wanting to clean out and organize * being behind on my '5 Small Things Friday' posts * wanting to write/journal * Uncle Alvin's family coming to visit * Law's soft shirt and lean hardness when he bumped against my arm * wanting to make things for the fair * hopes for our AWANAs at church * Bro. Nick's lesson tonight - 'Making Decisions for the Glory of God' * Lindy seeming pre-occupied * being hungry and tired * why didn't Archer come to Toby and Lindy's wedding? * not getting to tell Landon 'bye before he left for his year-long mission trip * Passion 2014? * letters to write * hugs from Piper * wearing my hair down * invite pain? reject pain? or forget pain? * "Learning To Be The Light" * VRCA school starting * needing to work on the academy website * What happened to Ashelyn and her husband? * Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie * Bro. Dennis joking like old times at Toby and Lindy's rehearsal supper * ...
Monday, April 1, 2013
Easter - 2013
The day began beautifully, with Dad, Trissy and me attending the Easter Sunrise Service in the parking lot of The Grandparents' church. It was a lovely morning - fresh, and a little chilly. There was a deep fog overhead and curling around the trees in the woods at the edges of the church property, but the sun was coming up high behind the mist, making our atmosphere under the fog bright, cool, and full of a sort of 'wondering'.
The dear song leader, who's been at that church since my childhood, led us acapella in the hymn, "He Lives" and our lifted voices sounded small in the lovely space of the outdoors.
The dear pastor then stood to preach. He'd been a missionary in Albania years ago, at the same time Uncle Alvin and his family had been there. They'd become friends, and his family and ours never lost contact. Now he's the pastor of the church The Grandparents are members of. A Godly man, and a tall, big man; he's always struck me as one of those "larger-than-life" types that legends and stories might have been written about in the old days. And what a heart for good and for God!
He used 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 as the Scripture reference, and spoke on "the evidence, the essence, and the effect" of the Gospel.
My (somewhat limited) sermon notes:
"
Bro. _____ ______
Easter Morning - Mar. 31, 2013
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1) The Essence of the Gospel
* What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
* Christians have Hope.
* All other religious leaders (the creators of all the other major religions) are in their graves still.
* We serve a risen Savior!
2) The Evidence of the Gospel
* He was seen of Cephas (verse 5)
* then of the twelve (verse 5)
* then of more than 500 at once (verse 6).
* How many witnesses do you need?!
* Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe (John 20:29).
* Our present-day Salvation is just as real as their encounters with Him then.
* He's alive, and He's still 'in business' today.
3) The Effect of the Gospel
* verses 2a and 10
* What does God want for/from/through you/your life?
* None of us is living out the full effect of Christ in our lives.
"
It was the first "sunrise service" I'd been to in years; probably the first since my family moved from that church years ago. It was so good to experience one again!
When we got back to our house, Trissy and I quickly ate breakfast and hurried on to Victory Rd. - we were singing in the choir for the Easter program, and Bro. Blake wanted all the choir members to be there early. Dad and Mom would come closer to time for the service to start.
It was a good morning. The morning was still foggy, but bright, as choir members arrived one by one. We convened in the choir room, greeting each other and laughing as we found our formal Easter- and Christmas-Program choir robes and slipped them on over our Sunday outfits, adjusting the reversible collars so the mauve side showed and they hung straight. Bro. Blake led us in an acapella run-through of the first song as a warm-up. People began arriving and filling the auditorium, soon it was time to start, and we lined up and filed out into the choir as we do every Sunday morning.
Bro. Blake led the congregation in the hymn "Because He Lives", and then the choir began our presentation. I think it went the best it has of all our practices and everything! It's a great cantata, using strong songs like "What Held You On The Cross", "The Story Goes On", and "Crucified With Christ". The Lord blessed Bro. Blake to direct us, and our voices to blend and harmonize and soar high, and I hope those who heard it received as big of a blessing from it as I did!
When our program ended, Bro. Jeremiah preached a stirring and victorious sermon about how we, as Christians, have joy and victory and fulfillment in life because of "the third day" - when Jesus our Lord rose from the grave!!
One of my co-workers from the restaurant was there with her grandparents (who are members of Victory Rd.) and as soon as I could after church was over, I went to hug her and talk a few minutes, and say hello to her little two-year-old son. I was so glad to see her! I don't think she knows the Lord - she doesn't live like it anyway - and I want so badly to be a Christian friend and example to her. I hope and pray she soon will accept Jesus's love and peace for herself.
Dear Toby was at church, even with his leg in a brace, and though he had to hobble in on crutches. Lindy sat with him and his family, lending her sweet touch and support. Poor guy, his mom said he's been trying to not take so much of the pain medicine, and he was hurting pretty bad by the time church was over. Between him and Russell (who was home for Easter and is practically an adopted member of that family), after church that pew was pretty much surrounded for a while with church members glad to see those two boys back - wanting to say hello to Russell and express sympathy over Toby's knee.
Trissy had found out that Bro. Nick and Lydia didn't have any plans for the rest of the day, so after a brainstorm, a request to Dad and Mom to invite them over for dinner and the afternoon, and a spur-of-the-moment affirmative decision by our parents, Trissy and I swung by their house as we left the church. We caught them about to leave for lunch, but when we presented our proposition, they gladly accepted.
We had two of the local cousins (Uncle Alvin's oldest son and daughter who live only about 45 minutes away. The son's wife was sick, and the daughter's husband had to work, so they weren't there.) and their children and Bro. Nick and Lydia's family all at The Grandparents for lunch. After cleaning up the kitchen, we sat around and chatted and visited and fellowshipped, while all the kids had a wonderful time together playing in The Grandparents big yard, and in the playhouse that Dad built for Trissy and me when we were small.
Bro. Nick and Lydia left fairly early in the afternoon, but some of the cousins stuck around. Evening church services were canceled at both Victory Rd. and The Grandparents' church (which seems absolutely ridiculous to me - the most important holiday in our Christian faith and church services are canceled?! Makes no sense...), so we spent the rest of the day at The Grandparents, just spending time together.
Most of the adults found a couch or chair or a spot on the floor and curled up with a throw pillow and blanket for a nap. The kids that weren't put down for a nap played outside or read or colored quietly.
Sitting at the computer blogging, I looked over and noticed my cousin's almost-thirteen-year-old son had a thick book with him where he was curled up on the couch, and asked him what he was reading. It was "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis, in one volume. We got started talking about books and authors and styles, and I found out some of his thoughts and opinions on different ones. It was a really great conversation! Come to think of it, we had several really fun conversations throughout the day! He helped The Grandmother get the TV in the living room fixed so that they could watch videos and DVDs on it, and it hasn't worked in months; and over lunch he showed me this neat math trick with nine squares drawn on a piece of paper. I remember when that kid was born, and to see him now growing up so smart and with such good tastes is just such a happy feeling!
When everyone started getting up from naps, the kids asked The Grandmother if they could watch an episode of "Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye" (she has the collection on DVD). Soon the house was humming again - some sitting around the kitchen table looking at pictures and discussing Pinterest ideas, some watching Sue Thomas in the living room (I joined this group and sat and crocheted while watching the show), some raiding the kitchen for a snack from the lunch left-overs, and some of the littlest kiddos still napping on the den floor.
It was a peaceful, fun afternoon that faded to an enjoyable evening.
Trissy wasn't feeling good, so as people began getting ready for bed (one of the cousin's and her kids decided to spend the night), I took her back to our house and then went back to help Mom finish cleaning up. On my way back, I flipped on the radio and heard "I Know My Redeemer Lives", one of the songs from one of the cantatas we did at Victory Rd. several years ago (That seems strange to say, "several years ago". Strange to think we've been at Victory Rd. long enough to be able to say it). Probably my favorite of the Easter cantatas we've done. As I pulled up to The Grandparents' garage, that song ended and the next one started. It was "Great I Am". Sigh.
Mom was still talking with my cousin, so I finished gathering our things and loading up our food and all into our van, then sat and listened to their conversation until Mom was ready to go. Not that I was anti-social or anything, it had just been a long day, I'd been missing alot of sleep lately, and I was really tired.
When we got back to the house, I helped Mom unload everything, got a couple of sheets, and sank into the recliner in our living room. I was so tired, I didn't even want to change out of my regular clothes into pajamas so I could sleep in my bed. But I went to sleep with a full, grateful heart, and slept probably the best I have in weeks.
The dear song leader, who's been at that church since my childhood, led us acapella in the hymn, "He Lives" and our lifted voices sounded small in the lovely space of the outdoors.
The dear pastor then stood to preach. He'd been a missionary in Albania years ago, at the same time Uncle Alvin and his family had been there. They'd become friends, and his family and ours never lost contact. Now he's the pastor of the church The Grandparents are members of. A Godly man, and a tall, big man; he's always struck me as one of those "larger-than-life" types that legends and stories might have been written about in the old days. And what a heart for good and for God!
He used 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 as the Scripture reference, and spoke on "the evidence, the essence, and the effect" of the Gospel.
My (somewhat limited) sermon notes:
"
Bro. _____ ______
Easter Morning - Mar. 31, 2013
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1) The Essence of the Gospel
* What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
* Christians have Hope.
* All other religious leaders (the creators of all the other major religions) are in their graves still.
* We serve a risen Savior!
2) The Evidence of the Gospel
* He was seen of Cephas (verse 5)
* then of the twelve (verse 5)
* then of more than 500 at once (verse 6).
* How many witnesses do you need?!
* Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe (John 20:29).
* Our present-day Salvation is just as real as their encounters with Him then.
* He's alive, and He's still 'in business' today.
3) The Effect of the Gospel
* verses 2a and 10
* What does God want for/from/through you/your life?
* None of us is living out the full effect of Christ in our lives.
"
It was the first "sunrise service" I'd been to in years; probably the first since my family moved from that church years ago. It was so good to experience one again!
When we got back to our house, Trissy and I quickly ate breakfast and hurried on to Victory Rd. - we were singing in the choir for the Easter program, and Bro. Blake wanted all the choir members to be there early. Dad and Mom would come closer to time for the service to start.
It was a good morning. The morning was still foggy, but bright, as choir members arrived one by one. We convened in the choir room, greeting each other and laughing as we found our formal Easter- and Christmas-Program choir robes and slipped them on over our Sunday outfits, adjusting the reversible collars so the mauve side showed and they hung straight. Bro. Blake led us in an acapella run-through of the first song as a warm-up. People began arriving and filling the auditorium, soon it was time to start, and we lined up and filed out into the choir as we do every Sunday morning.
Bro. Blake led the congregation in the hymn "Because He Lives", and then the choir began our presentation. I think it went the best it has of all our practices and everything! It's a great cantata, using strong songs like "What Held You On The Cross", "The Story Goes On", and "Crucified With Christ". The Lord blessed Bro. Blake to direct us, and our voices to blend and harmonize and soar high, and I hope those who heard it received as big of a blessing from it as I did!
When our program ended, Bro. Jeremiah preached a stirring and victorious sermon about how we, as Christians, have joy and victory and fulfillment in life because of "the third day" - when Jesus our Lord rose from the grave!!
One of my co-workers from the restaurant was there with her grandparents (who are members of Victory Rd.) and as soon as I could after church was over, I went to hug her and talk a few minutes, and say hello to her little two-year-old son. I was so glad to see her! I don't think she knows the Lord - she doesn't live like it anyway - and I want so badly to be a Christian friend and example to her. I hope and pray she soon will accept Jesus's love and peace for herself.
Dear Toby was at church, even with his leg in a brace, and though he had to hobble in on crutches. Lindy sat with him and his family, lending her sweet touch and support. Poor guy, his mom said he's been trying to not take so much of the pain medicine, and he was hurting pretty bad by the time church was over. Between him and Russell (who was home for Easter and is practically an adopted member of that family), after church that pew was pretty much surrounded for a while with church members glad to see those two boys back - wanting to say hello to Russell and express sympathy over Toby's knee.
Trissy had found out that Bro. Nick and Lydia didn't have any plans for the rest of the day, so after a brainstorm, a request to Dad and Mom to invite them over for dinner and the afternoon, and a spur-of-the-moment affirmative decision by our parents, Trissy and I swung by their house as we left the church. We caught them about to leave for lunch, but when we presented our proposition, they gladly accepted.
We had two of the local cousins (Uncle Alvin's oldest son and daughter who live only about 45 minutes away. The son's wife was sick, and the daughter's husband had to work, so they weren't there.) and their children and Bro. Nick and Lydia's family all at The Grandparents for lunch. After cleaning up the kitchen, we sat around and chatted and visited and fellowshipped, while all the kids had a wonderful time together playing in The Grandparents big yard, and in the playhouse that Dad built for Trissy and me when we were small.
Bro. Nick and Lydia left fairly early in the afternoon, but some of the cousins stuck around. Evening church services were canceled at both Victory Rd. and The Grandparents' church (which seems absolutely ridiculous to me - the most important holiday in our Christian faith and church services are canceled?! Makes no sense...), so we spent the rest of the day at The Grandparents, just spending time together.
Most of the adults found a couch or chair or a spot on the floor and curled up with a throw pillow and blanket for a nap. The kids that weren't put down for a nap played outside or read or colored quietly.
Sitting at the computer blogging, I looked over and noticed my cousin's almost-thirteen-year-old son had a thick book with him where he was curled up on the couch, and asked him what he was reading. It was "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis, in one volume. We got started talking about books and authors and styles, and I found out some of his thoughts and opinions on different ones. It was a really great conversation! Come to think of it, we had several really fun conversations throughout the day! He helped The Grandmother get the TV in the living room fixed so that they could watch videos and DVDs on it, and it hasn't worked in months; and over lunch he showed me this neat math trick with nine squares drawn on a piece of paper. I remember when that kid was born, and to see him now growing up so smart and with such good tastes is just such a happy feeling!
When everyone started getting up from naps, the kids asked The Grandmother if they could watch an episode of "Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye" (she has the collection on DVD). Soon the house was humming again - some sitting around the kitchen table looking at pictures and discussing Pinterest ideas, some watching Sue Thomas in the living room (I joined this group and sat and crocheted while watching the show), some raiding the kitchen for a snack from the lunch left-overs, and some of the littlest kiddos still napping on the den floor.
It was a peaceful, fun afternoon that faded to an enjoyable evening.
Trissy wasn't feeling good, so as people began getting ready for bed (one of the cousin's and her kids decided to spend the night), I took her back to our house and then went back to help Mom finish cleaning up. On my way back, I flipped on the radio and heard "I Know My Redeemer Lives", one of the songs from one of the cantatas we did at Victory Rd. several years ago (That seems strange to say, "several years ago". Strange to think we've been at Victory Rd. long enough to be able to say it). Probably my favorite of the Easter cantatas we've done. As I pulled up to The Grandparents' garage, that song ended and the next one started. It was "Great I Am". Sigh.
Mom was still talking with my cousin, so I finished gathering our things and loading up our food and all into our van, then sat and listened to their conversation until Mom was ready to go. Not that I was anti-social or anything, it had just been a long day, I'd been missing alot of sleep lately, and I was really tired.
When we got back to the house, I helped Mom unload everything, got a couple of sheets, and sank into the recliner in our living room. I was so tired, I didn't even want to change out of my regular clothes into pajamas so I could sleep in my bed. But I went to sleep with a full, grateful heart, and slept probably the best I have in weeks.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Communion
Tonight was I think the most meaningful, beautiful, moving celebration of the Lord's Supper I have ever been a part of.
This was the first time that I know of that Victory Rd. has had the Lord's Supper on a Wednesday night. Usually it's during the night service of the Sunday before Easter Sunday. But this seemed to work well. All Wednesday night classes were canceled, and we all met together in the auditorium.
As they arrived, people greeted each other quietly in the foyer and hallways, and the doors to the auditorium had signs taped to them requesting, "Enter reverently with prayer".
Trissy had gone early to do a Bible study with one of the young girls at the church, so she was already there. When I entered the auditorium after quietly greeting Nicole, Lydia, and a few others standing in the foyer, the lights were dim and those already inside sat silent or talking in whispers. I spotted Trissy and Ava sitting where our family usually sits on Sunday nights, talking quietly, and went to join them. It was almost time to start. Ava left to go sit with Austin and his family, and Dad and Mom came in and sat with Trissy and me. All the over-head lights were off - the only light was from the soft ones on the back wall, a couple up front, and a soft spotlight on the cross-and-dove centerpiece high on the wall above the choir chairs. Bro. Blake's mother was playing the organ; soft, gentle, solemn old hymns like "The Ninety and Nine". The whole room felt so beautiful, so, holy.
Bro. Blake stepped up to the podium and led the congregation in two hymns, "Hallelujah, Christ Arose", and "The Blood Will Never Lose It's Power", with only the organ for accompaniment and his rich baritone for direction. As the last chorus came to an end, Bro. Nick walked up to the platform with his Bible in his hands, and Bro. Blake handed him the microphone and went to sit with his family.
Bro. Nick read clearly and simply the account of the Last Supper from Matthew 26:17-29. When he reached verse 29, I noticed something I don't think I ever had before. Jesus says, "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Until I drink it new, with you. He's waiting for us. Christ, the son of God, is keeping Himself from enjoying the complete pleasures of His Father's kingdom, until we who are His adopted brothers and sisters are there to enjoy it too. Wow.
When Bro. Nick finished reading, Bro. Dennis sang "When He Was On The Cross, I Was On His Mind". So thankful to hear that voice again. So thankful for hope for the future.
Bro. Earl preached a simple sermon and read the apostle Paul's description from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. He urged us that were followers of Christ to pray silently (while he prayed aloud), confessing any known sin in our lives, and asking the Lord to reveal others we may not have recognized so that we could repent of them also, enabling us to take the Lord's Supper with an examined heart and a clean conscience.
After he prayed an earnest, humble prayer, he asked Bro. Nick and five of the deacons to come to the front to help him pass out the bread and 'wine' (grape juice). The pewter dishes gleamed in the soft light. Bro. Earl handed a plate filled with the tiny pieces of flat bread to Bro. Nick on his right. Bro. Nick turned and gave it to Bro. Blake who in turn handed it to Julia's dad. Then another one for Bro. Blake. Bro. Earl handed one to Lindy's dad on his left, and the 'bucket brigade'-style plate-passing was repeated on that side. The four deacons with the four plates of bread then moved throughout the congregation, offering a piece to each member. When all had been served, the deacons walked back to the front and served each other, each man giving the plate to the next man up, and that one holding it for him to take a piece, then passing the plate on, ending with Bro. Earl serving Bro. Nick and Lindy's dad before taking a piece himself.
The process was repeated with the trays filled with the tiny glass cups of grape juice.
I was struck with the beauty of the ceremony and order of the process.
It has always been a solemn thing, the Lord's Supper. Something I don't believe I've ever taken lightly since I've been old enough to understand. Certainly not since I received Christ and have been part of one of these services myself.
But this time, I seemed to feel the wonderful, terrible, incredible significance in a way I never remember before. Hearing again the story of the first one, the "Last Supper" - the last Passover Jesus celebrated with His disciples. The overwhelming sadness that must have threatened to consume Him, as the time to leave got closer. The pure aloneness He must have felt, knowing all would desert Him. Knowing He must face this - the most terrible horrors any human on earth had or has ever come to - alone.
Alone.
Julia's dad, as one of the deacons, held out the plate of unleavened bread. I took one of the tiny pieces and held it as Bro. Earl prayed.
Jesus' words, 'This is My body, broken for you...' The disciples must not have understood that night. Did they? They must not have. It surely would have torn them from the inside out, if they'd known...
The crisp crunch of the plain, unleavened bread.
Julia's dad came back, this time with the tray of juice.
As I sat looking into the rich purple color of that tiny glass of grape juice, tears came to my eyes. 'This is My blood, shed for you... My blood... My blood...'
The life of the flesh is in the blood. He literally gave His life - for me. For whoever would choose to accept His gift.
Of course this was only juice here, but the significance was so terribly and wonderfully real to me that from sheer sympathy I didn't think I would be able to drink it. How He suffered! And we have no idea really.
Bro. Earl prayed again, but when he finished, I really hesitated to drink my juice. Then Jesus's command to the disciples spoke in my head, "Drink ye all of it;" and I did.
The sweet, spicy tang of the purple grape juice, then soft chinks all across the room as people slid their tiny empty glasses into the wooden holders on the backs of the pews in front of them.
Reminding us that Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn when they left their Passover meal, Bro. Earl nodded to Bro. Blake, whose his rich baritone solemnly but joyfully began the first verse of "Amazing Grace" as he began walking down the center isle and out of the auditorium. We all stood and followed, singing.
We left the building quietly, smiling at each other without speaking, and most continued on to their cars and left, taking the lovely solemn experience home to savor.
But a few stayed in little knots of people to chat a few minutes, standing around in the parking lot. Aron's cousin was behind Trissy and me as we exited the church building, and greeted us sweetly when we got out front. Her husband had been invited to preach at another church Sunday night, so we asked how that had gone. Lindy, and then Ava, came and joined our little group, and we stood talking amiably about random little things, like friends do. Toby had had surgery the day before, on one of his knees he'd injured playing basketball. Lindy said he was in quite a bit of pain and acting pretty grumpy unless someone was hugging him. We talked about hugs, how some people are 'huggy' people and some are not, about cats and kittens and Ava said Austin said she could have two of ours if Maggie has kittens, as long as they stayed outside. We talked about the weather, how it keeps getting hot, then chilly again. Ava was wearing leather flip-flops and her feet were cold. About that time, Austin came out of the church where he'd been helping lock up and, after a little more discussion on being cold and how to avoid it, they left to go get supper. As they walked off, I thought of something. I ran to catch up, and when I did, told Ava she should 'borrow' his corn bag when she was cold. She turned to Austin. 'Corn bag! You have a corn bag?!'
'Oh yeah! I do!' and Austin was telling her the story as they left.
I returned to our little group. Aron's cousin had left by this time, and the parking lot was practically empty. Trissy and I visited with Lindy a couple more minutes before saying good-bye with light and happy hearts.
The whole evening was such a wonderful, special experience.
This was the first time that I know of that Victory Rd. has had the Lord's Supper on a Wednesday night. Usually it's during the night service of the Sunday before Easter Sunday. But this seemed to work well. All Wednesday night classes were canceled, and we all met together in the auditorium.
As they arrived, people greeted each other quietly in the foyer and hallways, and the doors to the auditorium had signs taped to them requesting, "Enter reverently with prayer".
Trissy had gone early to do a Bible study with one of the young girls at the church, so she was already there. When I entered the auditorium after quietly greeting Nicole, Lydia, and a few others standing in the foyer, the lights were dim and those already inside sat silent or talking in whispers. I spotted Trissy and Ava sitting where our family usually sits on Sunday nights, talking quietly, and went to join them. It was almost time to start. Ava left to go sit with Austin and his family, and Dad and Mom came in and sat with Trissy and me. All the over-head lights were off - the only light was from the soft ones on the back wall, a couple up front, and a soft spotlight on the cross-and-dove centerpiece high on the wall above the choir chairs. Bro. Blake's mother was playing the organ; soft, gentle, solemn old hymns like "The Ninety and Nine". The whole room felt so beautiful, so, holy.
Bro. Blake stepped up to the podium and led the congregation in two hymns, "Hallelujah, Christ Arose", and "The Blood Will Never Lose It's Power", with only the organ for accompaniment and his rich baritone for direction. As the last chorus came to an end, Bro. Nick walked up to the platform with his Bible in his hands, and Bro. Blake handed him the microphone and went to sit with his family.
Bro. Nick read clearly and simply the account of the Last Supper from Matthew 26:17-29. When he reached verse 29, I noticed something I don't think I ever had before. Jesus says, "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Until I drink it new, with you. He's waiting for us. Christ, the son of God, is keeping Himself from enjoying the complete pleasures of His Father's kingdom, until we who are His adopted brothers and sisters are there to enjoy it too. Wow.
When Bro. Nick finished reading, Bro. Dennis sang "When He Was On The Cross, I Was On His Mind". So thankful to hear that voice again. So thankful for hope for the future.
Bro. Earl preached a simple sermon and read the apostle Paul's description from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. He urged us that were followers of Christ to pray silently (while he prayed aloud), confessing any known sin in our lives, and asking the Lord to reveal others we may not have recognized so that we could repent of them also, enabling us to take the Lord's Supper with an examined heart and a clean conscience.
After he prayed an earnest, humble prayer, he asked Bro. Nick and five of the deacons to come to the front to help him pass out the bread and 'wine' (grape juice). The pewter dishes gleamed in the soft light. Bro. Earl handed a plate filled with the tiny pieces of flat bread to Bro. Nick on his right. Bro. Nick turned and gave it to Bro. Blake who in turn handed it to Julia's dad. Then another one for Bro. Blake. Bro. Earl handed one to Lindy's dad on his left, and the 'bucket brigade'-style plate-passing was repeated on that side. The four deacons with the four plates of bread then moved throughout the congregation, offering a piece to each member. When all had been served, the deacons walked back to the front and served each other, each man giving the plate to the next man up, and that one holding it for him to take a piece, then passing the plate on, ending with Bro. Earl serving Bro. Nick and Lindy's dad before taking a piece himself.
The process was repeated with the trays filled with the tiny glass cups of grape juice.
I was struck with the beauty of the ceremony and order of the process.
It has always been a solemn thing, the Lord's Supper. Something I don't believe I've ever taken lightly since I've been old enough to understand. Certainly not since I received Christ and have been part of one of these services myself.
But this time, I seemed to feel the wonderful, terrible, incredible significance in a way I never remember before. Hearing again the story of the first one, the "Last Supper" - the last Passover Jesus celebrated with His disciples. The overwhelming sadness that must have threatened to consume Him, as the time to leave got closer. The pure aloneness He must have felt, knowing all would desert Him. Knowing He must face this - the most terrible horrors any human on earth had or has ever come to - alone.
Alone.
Julia's dad, as one of the deacons, held out the plate of unleavened bread. I took one of the tiny pieces and held it as Bro. Earl prayed.
Jesus' words, 'This is My body, broken for you...' The disciples must not have understood that night. Did they? They must not have. It surely would have torn them from the inside out, if they'd known...
The crisp crunch of the plain, unleavened bread.
Julia's dad came back, this time with the tray of juice.
As I sat looking into the rich purple color of that tiny glass of grape juice, tears came to my eyes. 'This is My blood, shed for you... My blood... My blood...'
The life of the flesh is in the blood. He literally gave His life - for me. For whoever would choose to accept His gift.
Of course this was only juice here, but the significance was so terribly and wonderfully real to me that from sheer sympathy I didn't think I would be able to drink it. How He suffered! And we have no idea really.
Bro. Earl prayed again, but when he finished, I really hesitated to drink my juice. Then Jesus's command to the disciples spoke in my head, "Drink ye all of it;" and I did.
The sweet, spicy tang of the purple grape juice, then soft chinks all across the room as people slid their tiny empty glasses into the wooden holders on the backs of the pews in front of them.
Reminding us that Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn when they left their Passover meal, Bro. Earl nodded to Bro. Blake, whose his rich baritone solemnly but joyfully began the first verse of "Amazing Grace" as he began walking down the center isle and out of the auditorium. We all stood and followed, singing.
We left the building quietly, smiling at each other without speaking, and most continued on to their cars and left, taking the lovely solemn experience home to savor.
But a few stayed in little knots of people to chat a few minutes, standing around in the parking lot. Aron's cousin was behind Trissy and me as we exited the church building, and greeted us sweetly when we got out front. Her husband had been invited to preach at another church Sunday night, so we asked how that had gone. Lindy, and then Ava, came and joined our little group, and we stood talking amiably about random little things, like friends do. Toby had had surgery the day before, on one of his knees he'd injured playing basketball. Lindy said he was in quite a bit of pain and acting pretty grumpy unless someone was hugging him. We talked about hugs, how some people are 'huggy' people and some are not, about cats and kittens and Ava said Austin said she could have two of ours if Maggie has kittens, as long as they stayed outside. We talked about the weather, how it keeps getting hot, then chilly again. Ava was wearing leather flip-flops and her feet were cold. About that time, Austin came out of the church where he'd been helping lock up and, after a little more discussion on being cold and how to avoid it, they left to go get supper. As they walked off, I thought of something. I ran to catch up, and when I did, told Ava she should 'borrow' his corn bag when she was cold. She turned to Austin. 'Corn bag! You have a corn bag?!'
'Oh yeah! I do!' and Austin was telling her the story as they left.
I returned to our little group. Aron's cousin had left by this time, and the parking lot was practically empty. Trissy and I visited with Lindy a couple more minutes before saying good-bye with light and happy hearts.
The whole evening was such a wonderful, special experience.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sunday, Mar. 3, 2013
I miss Archer. It's just that simple. I miss him alot.
Every Sunday I think it will be okay, that all the other wonderful people the Lord has blessed me with at Victory Rd. will fill my heart and thoughts.
I try not to talk about it much. I don't want people to misunderstand and get the wrong idea about how I feel about him. But my college friends at Victory Rd. are like family to me - almost literally. I've never had such a large set of close, wonderful friends my own age like I have had the past four years in this group. I've always wished I had more brothers and sisters, especially brothers, and especially brothers my age, or older. This group has done much to fill that void. I love all the guys. Each one holds a special unique place in my heart. But Archer and Austin are different somehow. I don't love them more than I love the others, but I love them differently. I feel toward them like I always imagined I'd feel towards my real brother if I had one. Of all the guys, these two are closest to being my 'brothers'.
So, I miss my brother. It's similar to how I felt 2009-2010 when Austin was gone on that almost-a-year-long mission trip to a country hostile to the Gospel. But, he was gone on a mission trip, which made it more bearable. And the plan was for him to be back in a few months. We e-mailed him back and forth all the time. And we Skyped him nearly every Sunday morning before church. When he came back, things fell back into the old comfortable familiarity, and life felt 'right' again.
Archer's just gone.
This morning was really good and really hard, both. Austin played acoustic guitar for the music service, and it was bringing back memories of the couple of months last year (or was it the year before?) when he was playing acoustic and Archer played bass. But no one could ever hear the bass, and Archer wouldn't turn it up or play louder, so finally Bro. Dennis recruited Law to play bass, put Archer on acoustic, and Austin on electric. Perfect. Bro. Dennis even said, 'Why haven't we done this before?'
But then those thoughts also brought back the pain of the fact that Bro. Dennis isn't the music minister anymore. And one of the songs we sang this morning was one Mrs. Renae always sang so wonderfully. I was in the choir of course, and it was so hard to get through that one.
And after church I heard someone discussing the progress of the fix-up work on the house Bro. Mike's family lived in, in preparation for Bro. Nick and Lydia and their family to move in.
Victory Rd.'s face is changing. Trent, one of the younger boys in the youth group, plays acoustic guitar with us on Wednesday nights in Archer's place. He's a nice kid, and a talented guitarist. Bro. Nick's family is settling in and becoming a part of us. In preparation for moving on to wherever the Lord will have him and Noel go, Justice stepped down as teacher of our college Sunday School class, it was put on hold until a new teacher could be found, and the members have scattered into other classes for the time being. In fact, our first Sunday to go to different classes was Bro. Mike's family's and Archer's last one at Victory Rd (Jan. 13).
So my little corner of the world at Victory Rd. now looks very different from what it did a year ago - that time being a sample of what I consider some of the best, most wonderful, and most 'growing' times of my life.
And gradually, I think I'm painfully getting used to it. But it almost seems like getting used to an amputation. I've never had an amputation, and I in no way pretend to understand that actual, physical type of pain. Yet, I almost feel like I've gone through something similar. I keep functioning, but parts of my life are gone. The scar is healing over, but there are blank empty spots where vital parts used to be, and sometimes I find myself cruelly and suddenly re-awakened to the fact that they aren't there anymore. Like that song Mrs. Renae used to sing. It was so unexpected, and I nearly lost control of my emotions, right there in the choir in front of everybody. Or seeing Austin playing his heart out and looking over, and there being only an empty space of carpet where Archer used to stand and do the same. Or asking Bro. Dennis a question and, in his answer, realizing I hadn't heard his voice speaking directly to me in literally months, when I used to be the constant brunt of his good-natured wit and jokes. Or hearing someone say something mildly critical of Bro. Mike's family, and thinking how unfair and inconsiderate it was.
And yet life moves on anyway, and there are good things happening too.
1) Aron's cousin's husband recently realized he feels like the Lord is leading him to preach, and Bro. Earl had him preach the morning sermon today. He spoke on leadership, the Old-Testament transition from Elijah to Elisha, and did very well for his first sermon!
2) Law is constantly surprising me with how he is growing in his Christian walk. It's almost as if, around the first of the year, a switch was flipped, and since then it's been slow, steady, constant progress. Watching his attitude and peace and growth has been the single greatest encouragement to me during these recent hard times of change. Oh how I praise the Lord! I think I understand a little of how the apostle John felt when he wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4) Oh how thankful! Oh how thankful I am!!
3) There are four babies being added to the church in the fall, three of them coming to families among our college group. Aron and Henley, Aron's cousin and her husband, and Justice and Noel. Praise the Lord!
4) My JV kids on Wednesday nights are such a blessing. Some are just silly and don't seem to care really. Yet I'm glad they are at church instead of off getting into mischief. Many of them though, truly seem to desire to learn and grow more. As time has come along, my thought of, "What am I doing here?!" at the first of the school year when the class started, has changed to, "These kids have so much potential - Lord, help me help them!" The questions they ask, the things they remember, their searching longing, and the discussions we have during small-group time, and Ava and Ashlyn's support as my 'assistant group leaders' have been such blessings.
5) I'm enjoying my Wednesday-afternoon weekly discipleship sessions with Joy so much. She is such a sweet girl with so much potential. We've only had three so far (we missed one week since we started), but I have great hopes for the future. How I pray that the Lord would use these times to grow us both!
6) Tuesday night music practices are again one of the highlights of my week. No, Archer is not there anymore, but the others still are, and the young man who has taken his place is willing, talented, good-natured, and brings his own unique 'flavor' to the group. I try not to think of him as 'Archer's replacement' (just as I try not to think of Bro. Nick's family as 'Bro. Mike's family's replacement'), but as himself. When I do that, I really enjoy the new dynamics. The way some of the other members of the group have pulled together, stepped up, taken up the slack, and bravely kept on and not given up has been such a blessing and encouragement. Things threatened to fall apart there for a couple of weeks - I mean, Archer was our leader! - but various members have shifted responsibilities so they could take a little of his, we've 'kept our chin up', so to speak, and I think we're settling in to a 'new normal'.
7) And all the dear people who have not left. My merciful heavenly Friend has seen fit to leave to me so many of my precious earthly friends. Justice and Noel are still here, for the time being - they feel the Lord may soon be directing them to a different place of service. Austin and Ava are still here, for the time being - Austin is seeking a full-time music ministry position. Toby and Lindy are still here, for the time being - after their wedding this summer, they will probably end up as missionaries in a Latin country; a mutual love for missions and Spanish-speaking people are probably their biggest passions. Aron and Henley and little Timothy are still here. Aron's cousin and her family. Autumn, Julia and her parents, Law, Abigail, Piper, and Bro. and Mrs. S., Nicole and her husband and parents and little brother, Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen, my 'brown-eyed boy', Simon, Joy, and their parents, Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie and little Maxwell, and so many others.
"There will always be someone..."
~
Sunday night edit: So, at our Sunday night college supper after church, Justice told us that he and Noel are going to be sticking around for a while. The Sunday School class is going to start up again, and he's going to teach it. He (and Noel said the same thing later) said that it just seems like the Lord keeps closing doors that they thought they might be supposed to go through, and so they'll just stay on here until they feel they have a clear calling to go somewhere else. They're planning to buy a house, and he's planning on finishing up school.
So, we get to keep them a little longer.
Wow. Oh how thankful I am! My Lord is so merciful!
After everyone else had left (the supper was held in the church's fellowship hall this week), it was just Aron and Henley, Toby and Lindy, and Trissy and me left, and we had a good conversation standing, 'on our way out the door', for about half an hour. We talked about the difficulties of trying to sell hand-made crafts in this area, mission trip preparations, concern over Randy, who seems to be going through a strange rough spell, missing Bro. Dennis teaching our college Sunday School class, gladness that Justice is planning to start it back up again, missing Bro. Mike, etc.
It had been Trissy's and my turn to cook, and as we were all getting ready to leave, Aron told Trissy he would take our big tote basket full of food and dishes out to my car for us. I already had it, but must have missed his offer - I'd just remembered we needed to turn off the lights before we left - and hurriedly swung back around to go flip the switch in the hallway. Aron grabbed my jacket sleeve to slow me down as Trissy called to get my attention. As I laughingly handed the big basket over, Aron grinned and said, "Kyrie, you have two speeds: 'fast' and 'wide open'!"
I love my friends so much! It was a hard day, but the Lord blessed me with this nice evening - I'm so thankful for His kindness.
Every Sunday I think it will be okay, that all the other wonderful people the Lord has blessed me with at Victory Rd. will fill my heart and thoughts.
I try not to talk about it much. I don't want people to misunderstand and get the wrong idea about how I feel about him. But my college friends at Victory Rd. are like family to me - almost literally. I've never had such a large set of close, wonderful friends my own age like I have had the past four years in this group. I've always wished I had more brothers and sisters, especially brothers, and especially brothers my age, or older. This group has done much to fill that void. I love all the guys. Each one holds a special unique place in my heart. But Archer and Austin are different somehow. I don't love them more than I love the others, but I love them differently. I feel toward them like I always imagined I'd feel towards my real brother if I had one. Of all the guys, these two are closest to being my 'brothers'.
So, I miss my brother. It's similar to how I felt 2009-2010 when Austin was gone on that almost-a-year-long mission trip to a country hostile to the Gospel. But, he was gone on a mission trip, which made it more bearable. And the plan was for him to be back in a few months. We e-mailed him back and forth all the time. And we Skyped him nearly every Sunday morning before church. When he came back, things fell back into the old comfortable familiarity, and life felt 'right' again.
Archer's just gone.
This morning was really good and really hard, both. Austin played acoustic guitar for the music service, and it was bringing back memories of the couple of months last year (or was it the year before?) when he was playing acoustic and Archer played bass. But no one could ever hear the bass, and Archer wouldn't turn it up or play louder, so finally Bro. Dennis recruited Law to play bass, put Archer on acoustic, and Austin on electric. Perfect. Bro. Dennis even said, 'Why haven't we done this before?'
But then those thoughts also brought back the pain of the fact that Bro. Dennis isn't the music minister anymore. And one of the songs we sang this morning was one Mrs. Renae always sang so wonderfully. I was in the choir of course, and it was so hard to get through that one.
And after church I heard someone discussing the progress of the fix-up work on the house Bro. Mike's family lived in, in preparation for Bro. Nick and Lydia and their family to move in.
Victory Rd.'s face is changing. Trent, one of the younger boys in the youth group, plays acoustic guitar with us on Wednesday nights in Archer's place. He's a nice kid, and a talented guitarist. Bro. Nick's family is settling in and becoming a part of us. In preparation for moving on to wherever the Lord will have him and Noel go, Justice stepped down as teacher of our college Sunday School class, it was put on hold until a new teacher could be found, and the members have scattered into other classes for the time being. In fact, our first Sunday to go to different classes was Bro. Mike's family's and Archer's last one at Victory Rd (Jan. 13).
So my little corner of the world at Victory Rd. now looks very different from what it did a year ago - that time being a sample of what I consider some of the best, most wonderful, and most 'growing' times of my life.
And gradually, I think I'm painfully getting used to it. But it almost seems like getting used to an amputation. I've never had an amputation, and I in no way pretend to understand that actual, physical type of pain. Yet, I almost feel like I've gone through something similar. I keep functioning, but parts of my life are gone. The scar is healing over, but there are blank empty spots where vital parts used to be, and sometimes I find myself cruelly and suddenly re-awakened to the fact that they aren't there anymore. Like that song Mrs. Renae used to sing. It was so unexpected, and I nearly lost control of my emotions, right there in the choir in front of everybody. Or seeing Austin playing his heart out and looking over, and there being only an empty space of carpet where Archer used to stand and do the same. Or asking Bro. Dennis a question and, in his answer, realizing I hadn't heard his voice speaking directly to me in literally months, when I used to be the constant brunt of his good-natured wit and jokes. Or hearing someone say something mildly critical of Bro. Mike's family, and thinking how unfair and inconsiderate it was.
And yet life moves on anyway, and there are good things happening too.
1) Aron's cousin's husband recently realized he feels like the Lord is leading him to preach, and Bro. Earl had him preach the morning sermon today. He spoke on leadership, the Old-Testament transition from Elijah to Elisha, and did very well for his first sermon!
2) Law is constantly surprising me with how he is growing in his Christian walk. It's almost as if, around the first of the year, a switch was flipped, and since then it's been slow, steady, constant progress. Watching his attitude and peace and growth has been the single greatest encouragement to me during these recent hard times of change. Oh how I praise the Lord! I think I understand a little of how the apostle John felt when he wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4) Oh how thankful! Oh how thankful I am!!
3) There are four babies being added to the church in the fall, three of them coming to families among our college group. Aron and Henley, Aron's cousin and her husband, and Justice and Noel. Praise the Lord!
4) My JV kids on Wednesday nights are such a blessing. Some are just silly and don't seem to care really. Yet I'm glad they are at church instead of off getting into mischief. Many of them though, truly seem to desire to learn and grow more. As time has come along, my thought of, "What am I doing here?!" at the first of the school year when the class started, has changed to, "These kids have so much potential - Lord, help me help them!" The questions they ask, the things they remember, their searching longing, and the discussions we have during small-group time, and Ava and Ashlyn's support as my 'assistant group leaders' have been such blessings.
5) I'm enjoying my Wednesday-afternoon weekly discipleship sessions with Joy so much. She is such a sweet girl with so much potential. We've only had three so far (we missed one week since we started), but I have great hopes for the future. How I pray that the Lord would use these times to grow us both!
6) Tuesday night music practices are again one of the highlights of my week. No, Archer is not there anymore, but the others still are, and the young man who has taken his place is willing, talented, good-natured, and brings his own unique 'flavor' to the group. I try not to think of him as 'Archer's replacement' (just as I try not to think of Bro. Nick's family as 'Bro. Mike's family's replacement'), but as himself. When I do that, I really enjoy the new dynamics. The way some of the other members of the group have pulled together, stepped up, taken up the slack, and bravely kept on and not given up has been such a blessing and encouragement. Things threatened to fall apart there for a couple of weeks - I mean, Archer was our leader! - but various members have shifted responsibilities so they could take a little of his, we've 'kept our chin up', so to speak, and I think we're settling in to a 'new normal'.
7) And all the dear people who have not left. My merciful heavenly Friend has seen fit to leave to me so many of my precious earthly friends. Justice and Noel are still here, for the time being - they feel the Lord may soon be directing them to a different place of service. Austin and Ava are still here, for the time being - Austin is seeking a full-time music ministry position. Toby and Lindy are still here, for the time being - after their wedding this summer, they will probably end up as missionaries in a Latin country; a mutual love for missions and Spanish-speaking people are probably their biggest passions. Aron and Henley and little Timothy are still here. Aron's cousin and her family. Autumn, Julia and her parents, Law, Abigail, Piper, and Bro. and Mrs. S., Nicole and her husband and parents and little brother, Bro. Earl and Mrs. Shannen, my 'brown-eyed boy', Simon, Joy, and their parents, Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie and little Maxwell, and so many others.
"There will always be someone..."
~
Sunday night edit: So, at our Sunday night college supper after church, Justice told us that he and Noel are going to be sticking around for a while. The Sunday School class is going to start up again, and he's going to teach it. He (and Noel said the same thing later) said that it just seems like the Lord keeps closing doors that they thought they might be supposed to go through, and so they'll just stay on here until they feel they have a clear calling to go somewhere else. They're planning to buy a house, and he's planning on finishing up school.
So, we get to keep them a little longer.
Wow. Oh how thankful I am! My Lord is so merciful!
After everyone else had left (the supper was held in the church's fellowship hall this week), it was just Aron and Henley, Toby and Lindy, and Trissy and me left, and we had a good conversation standing, 'on our way out the door', for about half an hour. We talked about the difficulties of trying to sell hand-made crafts in this area, mission trip preparations, concern over Randy, who seems to be going through a strange rough spell, missing Bro. Dennis teaching our college Sunday School class, gladness that Justice is planning to start it back up again, missing Bro. Mike, etc.
It had been Trissy's and my turn to cook, and as we were all getting ready to leave, Aron told Trissy he would take our big tote basket full of food and dishes out to my car for us. I already had it, but must have missed his offer - I'd just remembered we needed to turn off the lights before we left - and hurriedly swung back around to go flip the switch in the hallway. Aron grabbed my jacket sleeve to slow me down as Trissy called to get my attention. As I laughingly handed the big basket over, Aron grinned and said, "Kyrie, you have two speeds: 'fast' and 'wide open'!"
I love my friends so much! It was a hard day, but the Lord blessed me with this nice evening - I'm so thankful for His kindness.
Friday, February 22, 2013
"5 Small Things Friday" No. 73
Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".
For this week, here is my list:
1. Sight:
2. Hearing: "Your Great Name"
3. Smell:
4. Taste: Flour Chips
5. Touch: Hot Shower
The stories behind the list:
1.
2. So on my way back and forth from our little place out in the country, to town where I work, go to church, etc., I've become addicted to the Christian music station. I don't enjoy the styles of some of the music, but I can always turn it off if it's bothering me, and I've discovered several beautiful songs in the approximately 30-minute drives back and forth. One of these is "Your Great Name". The music and harmony are breath-taking.
"
Lost are saved, find their way, at the sound of Your great name.
All condemned, feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name.
Every fear, has no place, at the sound of Your great name.
The enemy, he has to leave, at the sound of Your great name.
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man -
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name!
All the weak, find their strength, at the sound of Your great name.
Hungry souls, receive grace, at the sound of Your great name.
The fatherless, they find their rest, at the sound of Your great name.
Sick are healed, and the dead are raised, at the sound of Your great name.
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man -
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name!
Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty!
My savior, Defender, You are My King!
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man -
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name!
"
3.
4. Lydia had a bunch of the youth group girls over Monday night. Bro. Nick is still taking seminary classes, and every other Monday he is gone most of the day and into the evening. So Lydia has had a couple of these fellowship nights when he's been gone. She loves demonstrating hospitality, crafting, playing games, and sharing meals, and is very fun-loving with a great laid-back personality. Trissy and I went Monday night and had a great time. Several of the girls had brought craft projects they were working on and we all sat around in her little living room and visited or crafted or cooked our snack-y supper in her little kitchen. She made flour tortilla chips and they were SO good! I'd never seen them made (and watching almost made me not want to eat them, thinking about how unhealthy they were), but now that I know, I want to try them sometime. Not too often, because they are so unhealthy, but once in a while would be a tasty treat. And so easy!
Get a package of soft tortilla shells, and cut each one in fourths. Heat a pan of oil on the stove until very hot. Drop the tortilla fourths in a couple at a time and let them fry. Lift them out, let them drain on a paper towel, and when they are cool, eat up!
5. Sometimes I'm in the shower and I all-of-a-sudden realize again how blessed I am to have access to hot running water. When I'm tired or sad or cold, few things can make me feel better so fast as a nice hot shower!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
A Super 'Superbowl' Sunday
This past Sunday was probably the most enjoyable one I've had in several months. After all I've struggled with the past few months, it was just a really good day. The hardest part was the youth music group playing for the music part of the service, and it being the first time for us to play on Sunday without Archer.
The church has been doing a series of 'mission Sundays', highlighting different countries Victory Rd. members have taken mission trips to in the past couple of years. This Sunday was Nicaragua, and there was going to be a meal fund-raiser after church for the next Nicaragua trip, coming up this summer. The youth music group led the music service, and Bro. Earl had Bro. Nick preach, since the majority of the church hadn't heard him since he's been here as youth pastor, replacing Bro. Mike. There was a little pain there too, though, thinking of Bro. Mike's family being 'replaced'. But I try not to let myself think about that, and in that way especially. Bro. Nick and his wife, Lydia, and two little girls are such a sweet young family and have seemed to fit right in. He and Lydia are about Austin's age actually, so they have almost seemed to form a link, blending us who used to be the 'college group' (but are fast growing too old to be 'college' anymore) into the positions and roles in the church usually thought of as adult ones, that we have been trying to help fill.
Anyway, since it was going to be a somewhat irregular Sunday, with a meal after the morning service and our 'evening' service being moved up to the afternoon right after lunch, I suppose Bro. Earl thought this would be a good time to have Bro. Nick preach in front of the whole church for the first time.
I don't know if he was nervous, or was afraid to go too long, or what, but he preached a very fitting - and very short - sermon. When we went back up onto the platform to play for the closing hymn, Law caught my eye and with an amused quirk at the corners of his mouth whispered, "Ten minutes." So it had been even shorter than I realized! But Bro. Nick had packed alot into that little bit of time, speaking on 'unity in a church', in a serious but compassionate manner.
Lunch afterward in the gym was delicious and enjoyable, and the money raised went to those who hope to go on this summer's mission trip to Nicaragua. Trissy and I sat with Lindy to eat and it was nice to 'catch up' - we seem to be going in different directions alot at church, and she's one of our closest friends. The little visit was nice.
Somehow people seem to gather in random groups along the rows of tables whenever there is a meal. I don't know why, but those who usually hang around each other at other times, seem to break up and branch out and spend time visiting with others, or smaller groups among ourselves, when we eat together. And that seems appropriate somehow, to be building relationships and nourishing our souls as we nourish our bodies.
After the afternoon service, we all dispersed to our respective residences. But there was going to be a 'Superbowl party' for the youth later in the evening. I'm not into football at all myself (I didn't even know when the Superbowl was, much less who was playing, and I didn't care either), but I wanted to go, for the fellowship and friendship with the other people there. Besides, Bro. Nick had asked Trissy and me if we were coming to help with, in his words, "crowd control" :) . At the time, I wondered how many kids he was expecting to show up, and how unruly he was expecting them to be! I hoped our kids would show him that his fears were unfounded.
In the end, basically no one watched the game, which I though was both funny and appropriate; but we had a great time just spending good time together! The 'party' was held in the fellowship hall across the street from the church, attached to the gym. Someone had fixed hotdogs, and everybody that came was asked to bring a snack or desert or something. Austin's aunt was there with her daughter and her daughter's friend (who both come to Victory Rd. alot, and also went with us to Strength To Stand), and she was teaching Ava how to make sausage balls and bread pudding in the kitchen where some of the adults and older youth were gathered talking and snacking.
As people got their hotdogs, they would come and go, sit in the chairs facing the screen that had been hung to project the game onto, or wander around talking to each other, but hardly anyone was actually paying attention to the game.
I sat for a few minutes, but there was no one to talk to near me, so I went back to the kitchen and stood eating and listening to Lydia, Trissy, and Ava discuss the practice of healthy, economical menu and grocery shopping ideas. I watched a couple of different ladies spread more food on the already-crowded cabinet, and chatted with Nicole and her mom.
I noticed some of the young people were beginning to migrate to the gym in the back, so when I finished my hotdog, I wandered back to see what they were doing.
Somebody had gotten the roller skates out of the long wooden foot locker against the wall. A couple of brave beginners were trying their wings as a couple of veterans and daredevils were flying around the big room. There were two or three just wandering around chatting, and a few kids on Rip-Stiks cruising in and out doing circles and figure-eights among the slower ones. It was a fun, energetic, wholesome picture.
For the rest of the evening I pretty much stayed in the gym. And what a wonderful time!
A few of the little individual incidents and special moments:
-Tasting Piper's pumpkin bread/cake and Ava's sausage balls (both so yummy!)
-Abigail and another of the teenage girls teasing me that Piper would be offended if I didn't take one of her brownies too
-Getting used to roller skates again (instead of roller blades)
-Being around, talking to, and building a stronger friendship with Joy
-Law and young Dolan finding a couple of sheets somewhere and tying them on as capes as they whizzed around the gym on roller skates and Rip-Stiks
-People sharing their Rip-Stiks with whoever wanted to ride at the moment
-Nicole's mom roller skating
-Trissy taking pictures for me
-Everyone (who was in the gym at the moment) pausing and gathering for a minute so Lydia could take our picture:
What a crazy bunch :) ! And how I love every one of them!
-Brave Lindsay trying to learn how to roller skate, Law stopping to try to help her, then calling me over, saying, "Kyrie, show Lindsay how to roller skate" when it wasn't working
-Playing ping-pong with Piper, then later Autumn
-Standing with Piper, waiting on Trissy to get her roller skates tied, while Law did figure-eights around us on a Rip-Stik
-Nicole's Southern, 'country' husband learning to Rip-Stik with cowboy boots on - 'I've always done everything else with boots on!'
-Law taking my place at ping-pong with Autumn when I was tired, me teasingly asking if I could give him my paddle and ball and have his Rip-Stick, then correcting myself and saying, 'Well, not have of course, just use' and him responding seriously, 'You can actually take it and keep it at your house - I don't really have anywhere to ride it at mine'. (!) I didn't of course, but it gave me such a good feeling that he would offer.
-Bro. Nick and Lydia's 3-year-old and another little girl sitting side by side on a skateboard by the wall, watching the action and singling Joy out to cheer for, calling, "Go Joy!" at the top of their tiny lungs as she circled the gym on her Rip-Stik
-Various people playing frisbee and basketball among everything else
-The game of Spoons going on in the fellowship hall in the front, with those who weren't in the gym
-Toby and Lindy 'racing' on their Rip-Stiks
-Sweet Piper trying to learn how to Rip-Stik, and me trying to teach her when I was just beginning to get the hang of it myself, running sideways in front of her as she held my hands for balance saying, "You better not let go Kyrie!"
-Playing ping-pong with my 'brown-eyed boy', then with Abigail as the evening went on and most of the younger teenagers had gone
-Trissy and Lydia calmly sitting and talking in chairs against the wall; easy-going, fun-loving Lydia with her baby in her arms and her foot propped on a skateboard
-Piper bringing Abigail and me each a glass of water as we played our game of ping-pong
-The fun still going on (though at a slower pace) as Trissy and I said goodnight and headed for our house
The church has been doing a series of 'mission Sundays', highlighting different countries Victory Rd. members have taken mission trips to in the past couple of years. This Sunday was Nicaragua, and there was going to be a meal fund-raiser after church for the next Nicaragua trip, coming up this summer. The youth music group led the music service, and Bro. Earl had Bro. Nick preach, since the majority of the church hadn't heard him since he's been here as youth pastor, replacing Bro. Mike. There was a little pain there too, though, thinking of Bro. Mike's family being 'replaced'. But I try not to let myself think about that, and in that way especially. Bro. Nick and his wife, Lydia, and two little girls are such a sweet young family and have seemed to fit right in. He and Lydia are about Austin's age actually, so they have almost seemed to form a link, blending us who used to be the 'college group' (but are fast growing too old to be 'college' anymore) into the positions and roles in the church usually thought of as adult ones, that we have been trying to help fill.
Anyway, since it was going to be a somewhat irregular Sunday, with a meal after the morning service and our 'evening' service being moved up to the afternoon right after lunch, I suppose Bro. Earl thought this would be a good time to have Bro. Nick preach in front of the whole church for the first time.
I don't know if he was nervous, or was afraid to go too long, or what, but he preached a very fitting - and very short - sermon. When we went back up onto the platform to play for the closing hymn, Law caught my eye and with an amused quirk at the corners of his mouth whispered, "Ten minutes." So it had been even shorter than I realized! But Bro. Nick had packed alot into that little bit of time, speaking on 'unity in a church', in a serious but compassionate manner.
Lunch afterward in the gym was delicious and enjoyable, and the money raised went to those who hope to go on this summer's mission trip to Nicaragua. Trissy and I sat with Lindy to eat and it was nice to 'catch up' - we seem to be going in different directions alot at church, and she's one of our closest friends. The little visit was nice.
Somehow people seem to gather in random groups along the rows of tables whenever there is a meal. I don't know why, but those who usually hang around each other at other times, seem to break up and branch out and spend time visiting with others, or smaller groups among ourselves, when we eat together. And that seems appropriate somehow, to be building relationships and nourishing our souls as we nourish our bodies.
After the afternoon service, we all dispersed to our respective residences. But there was going to be a 'Superbowl party' for the youth later in the evening. I'm not into football at all myself (I didn't even know when the Superbowl was, much less who was playing, and I didn't care either), but I wanted to go, for the fellowship and friendship with the other people there. Besides, Bro. Nick had asked Trissy and me if we were coming to help with, in his words, "crowd control" :) . At the time, I wondered how many kids he was expecting to show up, and how unruly he was expecting them to be! I hoped our kids would show him that his fears were unfounded.
In the end, basically no one watched the game, which I though was both funny and appropriate; but we had a great time just spending good time together! The 'party' was held in the fellowship hall across the street from the church, attached to the gym. Someone had fixed hotdogs, and everybody that came was asked to bring a snack or desert or something. Austin's aunt was there with her daughter and her daughter's friend (who both come to Victory Rd. alot, and also went with us to Strength To Stand), and she was teaching Ava how to make sausage balls and bread pudding in the kitchen where some of the adults and older youth were gathered talking and snacking.
As people got their hotdogs, they would come and go, sit in the chairs facing the screen that had been hung to project the game onto, or wander around talking to each other, but hardly anyone was actually paying attention to the game.
I sat for a few minutes, but there was no one to talk to near me, so I went back to the kitchen and stood eating and listening to Lydia, Trissy, and Ava discuss the practice of healthy, economical menu and grocery shopping ideas. I watched a couple of different ladies spread more food on the already-crowded cabinet, and chatted with Nicole and her mom.
I noticed some of the young people were beginning to migrate to the gym in the back, so when I finished my hotdog, I wandered back to see what they were doing.
Somebody had gotten the roller skates out of the long wooden foot locker against the wall. A couple of brave beginners were trying their wings as a couple of veterans and daredevils were flying around the big room. There were two or three just wandering around chatting, and a few kids on Rip-Stiks cruising in and out doing circles and figure-eights among the slower ones. It was a fun, energetic, wholesome picture.
For the rest of the evening I pretty much stayed in the gym. And what a wonderful time!
A few of the little individual incidents and special moments:
-Tasting Piper's pumpkin bread/cake and Ava's sausage balls (both so yummy!)
-Abigail and another of the teenage girls teasing me that Piper would be offended if I didn't take one of her brownies too
-Getting used to roller skates again (instead of roller blades)
-Being around, talking to, and building a stronger friendship with Joy
-Law and young Dolan finding a couple of sheets somewhere and tying them on as capes as they whizzed around the gym on roller skates and Rip-Stiks
-People sharing their Rip-Stiks with whoever wanted to ride at the moment
-Nicole's mom roller skating
-Trissy taking pictures for me
-Everyone (who was in the gym at the moment) pausing and gathering for a minute so Lydia could take our picture:
What a crazy bunch :) ! And how I love every one of them!
-Brave Lindsay trying to learn how to roller skate, Law stopping to try to help her, then calling me over, saying, "Kyrie, show Lindsay how to roller skate" when it wasn't working
-Playing ping-pong with Piper, then later Autumn
-Standing with Piper, waiting on Trissy to get her roller skates tied, while Law did figure-eights around us on a Rip-Stik
-Nicole's Southern, 'country' husband learning to Rip-Stik with cowboy boots on - 'I've always done everything else with boots on!'
-Law taking my place at ping-pong with Autumn when I was tired, me teasingly asking if I could give him my paddle and ball and have his Rip-Stick, then correcting myself and saying, 'Well, not have of course, just use' and him responding seriously, 'You can actually take it and keep it at your house - I don't really have anywhere to ride it at mine'. (!) I didn't of course, but it gave me such a good feeling that he would offer.
-Bro. Nick and Lydia's 3-year-old and another little girl sitting side by side on a skateboard by the wall, watching the action and singling Joy out to cheer for, calling, "Go Joy!" at the top of their tiny lungs as she circled the gym on her Rip-Stik
-Various people playing frisbee and basketball among everything else
-The game of Spoons going on in the fellowship hall in the front, with those who weren't in the gym
-Toby and Lindy 'racing' on their Rip-Stiks
-Sweet Piper trying to learn how to Rip-Stik, and me trying to teach her when I was just beginning to get the hang of it myself, running sideways in front of her as she held my hands for balance saying, "You better not let go Kyrie!"
-Playing ping-pong with my 'brown-eyed boy', then with Abigail as the evening went on and most of the younger teenagers had gone
-Trissy and Lydia calmly sitting and talking in chairs against the wall; easy-going, fun-loving Lydia with her baby in her arms and her foot propped on a skateboard
-Piper bringing Abigail and me each a glass of water as we played our game of ping-pong
-The fun still going on (though at a slower pace) as Trissy and I said goodnight and headed for our house
Monday, February 4, 2013
Recent Happenings No. 4
Randomness. Mmhmm, that's me. Squirrel!
This post is the past month in a nutshell. More detailed posts on each event will (hopefully; eventually) come. But until I get time ("time"? What is that again?) to do the type of more detailed posts I want, this will suffice to keep anyone interested at least somewhat up-to-date on my life of late. And boy, it's seemed like a lifetime in a month...
January began with a bang and never seemed to slow down. The sixth through the tenth, Trissy and I were gone on a church mission/service trip to a neighboring state, to do manual labor at a children's home and ranch. Victory Rd. took a group last January, and we went, and I knew I wanted to go back. The group this year consisted of the three youngest S. kids (Law, Abigail, and Piper), Joy, Autumn, Trissy and me, and four other men and women of the church. Landon met us there for part of the time, and it was so good to spend some time with him! Oliver and his wife were on a trip, so we didn't see them this time.
We helped rip up flooring in two of the houses/doorms, we moved furniture and other belongings - from the houses that were going to be renovated, into the new houses - we did a thorough 'spring cleaning' job, etc. But there was relaxing time also, in the early mornings, on breaks, and in the evenings at the cabin. Pumpkin spice muffins, Mtn. Dew, endless games of "Egyptian Rat Race" and "Taboo" (with our own adjusted rules to fit our mood and number of players :) ), times of S.O.A.P. journaling and sharing, and lots of just talking and enjoying each other's company.
It was the first trip without Bro. Mike. And it was different.
Randomness and other lessons to remember from this trip:
1. Overhearing the 'Only-Christian-music-for-30-days-challenge' discussion on the Sunday afternoon ride over - what a blessing!
2. Games with Trissy, Joy, Abigail, and Piper, and Abigail and Piper doing "John-Jacob-Jingleheimer-Smith" (song and 'introduction') on the trip over.
3. Epic Taboo games Monday night, including a sibling-set against sibling-set (Law and Piper vs. Trissy and me), with the others coming and going.
4. Personal thought, "I hate it when I let other people throw me into inner turmoil. Christ is all that matters. Why can’t I be content?!"
5. "I feel like pulling stuff up and stomping on things." -Piper, expressing her enthusiasm about our demolition work Tuesday.
6. Going to church Wednesday night where Landon attends. Encouraging, old-fashioned sermon where the preacher used alot of scripture and didn't apologize about having his audience use their Bibles so much.
7. Personal thought, "You haven't got to follow the crowd. Make up your OWN mind."
8. Personal thought, "That great moment when God shows you how He's been working in the life of someone you've been praying for - indescribable."
9. Joy, Abigail, Piper, Trissy and me and our late-night hilarious game of Taboo while Joy was giving hair-curls.
10. "Look at that lil' baby foot!" -Law, on Autumn's fist 'footprint' in the condensation on the bus window.
11. Sitting curled up on the couch in front of the fire with Piper and Trissy and Joy, telling each other random things and stories about ourselves.
12. The "I'm Thinking Of A Man/Woman/Place In The Bible" game on the way back Thursday.
After getting back into town Thursday evening from the mission trip, I left about noon Friday going with the youth music group to a near-by state to play for a week-end camp sponsored by the church The Grandparents are part of. Justice went as our driver, since he was on the insurance to drive Victory Rd.'s 15-passenger bus, and simply because anything Austin and Archer are part of just isn't complete without Justice :) . Justice, Archer, Julia, Simon and I went on the bus, pulling the trailer with all the instruments and equipment about noon. Austin and Law couldn't get off work until about 3:00, so they were going to come together when they got off. Ava and Noel went also, since their husbands were going :) , but Ava didn't get off work until later in the evening, so Noel stayed in town and rode with her so she wouldn't be driving alone.
It was a really great week-end. Opportunities to share times of praise with other believers, encourage those listening, and be encouraged ourselves by the warmth and enthusiasm of our audience. Times of bonding - the eight of us. Bitter-sweet times - knowing this was Archer's last 'act of leadership' as head of the group, knowing Justice and Noel are looking for the Lord's next place of service for them and may be moving on soon as well. Times of fun - pretend 'zombie' invasions and escapes, music practice and practice and practice, 'the girls' (Noel and Ava) hunting up a gas station to sooth the boys' Mtn. Dew withdrawals and my longing for something healthy to eat, Simon and Law's (and Justice's) bunk-room acrobatics during free time while the rest of us tried to catch up on some much-needed rest, supper at 'Maria's' Mexican restaurant (that took longer to be served than to eat) and mean jokes (meant more to tease me and raise my protest than anything else) on the way back Saturday night. Precious, priceless, blessed memories.
The next day, Sunday, was Bro. Mike and his family's last Sunday at Victory Rd. before leaving as missionaries to the Philippines, and he'd asked that our group do the music service so he could see and hear us one last time. It would actually be the whole church's last time to witness our group lead the music - Archer would be moving the next day to the university. Dear Austin's charge to us as we gathered to pray before the service began: "Let's play our hearts out. This is for Bro. Mike and for Archer." And we did. For our God - Who is our Reason for everything - for our youth pastor - who had poured his spirit into loving and guiding us - and for our friend - our brother.
I don't think I'll ever forget this weekend. One of the most bitter-sweet of my life. I pray I won't.
The next Wednesday night was my turn to teach the lesson with the middle-schoolers. And Bro. Mike's family's last day here. Lots of church folks hung around after the classes were over, exchanging last-minute conversations and telling them good-bye. Trissy and I went next door to their house and visited a while after everyone else had left. They would be going to the airport about 2:00 A.M., so were not planning on going to bed, and it was just so hard to finally say good-bye. I wouldn't let myself think about it being any other than a normal Wednesday night 'bye until after we left.
Separations are hard, but I'm thankful too - I know both Bro. Mike and his wife have been wanting to do mission work, and now the Lord has opened up the way for them to, and for Camille to go with them. That's a whole nother amazing story!
I'm looking forward to hearing about the adventures this new chapter holds for their lives.
Friday (the 18th), two days later, Victory Rd.'s youth group (including Trissy and me) went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the Strength To Stand week-end youth conference. I must admit, by this time I was so tired both in body and in mind that I almost didn't want to go. I had looked forward to it for months, but then found out that several of our college group and closest friends (not to mention Bro. Mike) weren't going to get to go. And with all the good-byes I'd been having to say the past few weeks, I almost had a "What's the point?" mentality. Which is not like me. I don't 'give up', and I hate defeat. I'm telling you, I was just worn out. And it was catching up with me. But then a thought came to mind: Why was I going on this trip in the first place? Was it because I wanted to be close to people, or because I wanted to grow closer to the Lord? Got my attention and kinda helped put things in perspective. Then the day we left, I saw something that one of the teenagers had written concerning their feelings about the trip: 'About to head out to Tennessee... don't want to go. But, I might as well go with an open heart.' I don't know why they didn't want to go, but what a great attitude! I was so encouraged, and resolved to go with my heart open to what the Lord might do in and for me on the trip.
I was not disappointed. In fact, I fell in love all over again with the pure goodness of God. Three sound, timely sermons from thought-provoking preachers; music - some of which I didn't care for - but plenty that lifted me up and carried me away with it's beauty and spiritual richness; fun and joking and camaraderie I enjoyed with a variety of the members of the group; Bro. Nick, the new youth pastor, bravely and successfully learning to captain the 'youth group ship' through the unpredictable waves of our crazy personalities; wholesome mixture of friendships and interaction between older youth and younger youth, adults and youth, newcomers and established 'regulars', etc.; merry chaos as the sounds and activities of almost 40 people filled the cabin we stayed in, and peaceful quiet (in which you could hear the clock ticking on the mantle) as those same nearly 40 people spent personal time in Bible study and prayer.
So, that's January in a nutshell. I have one more thing to tell about that would still be "this past month", though it was yesterday, the 3rd of February. But it's late and I'm in the living room typing and my mom will be up in a few minutes wondering why on earth I'm not in bed yet :) . So I'll save it for later. I'll end with a small thing that provoked big thoughts for me today.
I'm reading Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" for the first time. With my love of adventure and reading, especially the good old 'classics', you'd think I'd have read that one by now. But I recently 'discovered' the little library at VRCA and have started taking advantage of it. I just finished chapter 20 - "The Gulf Stream" - and the account of the cyclone. As I put the book down, I thought about "storms", both physical and spiritual. At times, I've found myself subconsciously wishing I could know how my strength would hold up during a real storm. One must be careful what one wishes for, even subconsciously. This past summer (the pain of Mrs. Renae's family leaving Victory Rd. and the withdrawal, so to speak, of Bro. Dennis's family), and this past month (the departure of Bro. Mike's family and of Archer, and the possibility of Justice and Noel, and Austin and Ava moving on also) seemed almost to have been samples - tests of strength the Lord allowed to give me an idea; to try my courage. I was/have been appalled at my lack of resilience in the face of these losses. If it hadn't been for the presence and encouragement of others, would I have held up at all? All these thoughts passed through my head in only a moment, but as I asked this last question, immediately in response came a quiet Whisper in my heart, "Don't worry about that 'what if'. There will always be someone...something. I will never leave you alone." And right away a verse came to mind from Psalm 34 that I'd randomly read this morning: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
This post is the past month in a nutshell. More detailed posts on each event will (hopefully; eventually) come. But until I get time ("time"? What is that again?) to do the type of more detailed posts I want, this will suffice to keep anyone interested at least somewhat up-to-date on my life of late. And boy, it's seemed like a lifetime in a month...
January began with a bang and never seemed to slow down. The sixth through the tenth, Trissy and I were gone on a church mission/service trip to a neighboring state, to do manual labor at a children's home and ranch. Victory Rd. took a group last January, and we went, and I knew I wanted to go back. The group this year consisted of the three youngest S. kids (Law, Abigail, and Piper), Joy, Autumn, Trissy and me, and four other men and women of the church. Landon met us there for part of the time, and it was so good to spend some time with him! Oliver and his wife were on a trip, so we didn't see them this time.
We helped rip up flooring in two of the houses/doorms, we moved furniture and other belongings - from the houses that were going to be renovated, into the new houses - we did a thorough 'spring cleaning' job, etc. But there was relaxing time also, in the early mornings, on breaks, and in the evenings at the cabin. Pumpkin spice muffins, Mtn. Dew, endless games of "Egyptian Rat Race" and "Taboo" (with our own adjusted rules to fit our mood and number of players :) ), times of S.O.A.P. journaling and sharing, and lots of just talking and enjoying each other's company.
It was the first trip without Bro. Mike. And it was different.
Randomness and other lessons to remember from this trip:
1. Overhearing the 'Only-Christian-music-for-30-days-challenge' discussion on the Sunday afternoon ride over - what a blessing!
2. Games with Trissy, Joy, Abigail, and Piper, and Abigail and Piper doing "John-Jacob-Jingleheimer-Smith" (song and 'introduction') on the trip over.
3. Epic Taboo games Monday night, including a sibling-set against sibling-set (Law and Piper vs. Trissy and me), with the others coming and going.
4. Personal thought, "I hate it when I let other people throw me into inner turmoil. Christ is all that matters. Why can’t I be content?!"
5. "I feel like pulling stuff up and stomping on things." -Piper, expressing her enthusiasm about our demolition work Tuesday.
6. Going to church Wednesday night where Landon attends. Encouraging, old-fashioned sermon where the preacher used alot of scripture and didn't apologize about having his audience use their Bibles so much.
7. Personal thought, "You haven't got to follow the crowd. Make up your OWN mind."
8. Personal thought, "That great moment when God shows you how He's been working in the life of someone you've been praying for - indescribable."
9. Joy, Abigail, Piper, Trissy and me and our late-night hilarious game of Taboo while Joy was giving hair-curls.
10. "Look at that lil' baby foot!" -Law, on Autumn's fist 'footprint' in the condensation on the bus window.
11. Sitting curled up on the couch in front of the fire with Piper and Trissy and Joy, telling each other random things and stories about ourselves.
12. The "I'm Thinking Of A Man/Woman/Place In The Bible" game on the way back Thursday.
After getting back into town Thursday evening from the mission trip, I left about noon Friday going with the youth music group to a near-by state to play for a week-end camp sponsored by the church The Grandparents are part of. Justice went as our driver, since he was on the insurance to drive Victory Rd.'s 15-passenger bus, and simply because anything Austin and Archer are part of just isn't complete without Justice :) . Justice, Archer, Julia, Simon and I went on the bus, pulling the trailer with all the instruments and equipment about noon. Austin and Law couldn't get off work until about 3:00, so they were going to come together when they got off. Ava and Noel went also, since their husbands were going :) , but Ava didn't get off work until later in the evening, so Noel stayed in town and rode with her so she wouldn't be driving alone.
It was a really great week-end. Opportunities to share times of praise with other believers, encourage those listening, and be encouraged ourselves by the warmth and enthusiasm of our audience. Times of bonding - the eight of us. Bitter-sweet times - knowing this was Archer's last 'act of leadership' as head of the group, knowing Justice and Noel are looking for the Lord's next place of service for them and may be moving on soon as well. Times of fun - pretend 'zombie' invasions and escapes, music practice and practice and practice, 'the girls' (Noel and Ava) hunting up a gas station to sooth the boys' Mtn. Dew withdrawals and my longing for something healthy to eat, Simon and Law's (and Justice's) bunk-room acrobatics during free time while the rest of us tried to catch up on some much-needed rest, supper at 'Maria's' Mexican restaurant (that took longer to be served than to eat) and mean jokes (meant more to tease me and raise my protest than anything else) on the way back Saturday night. Precious, priceless, blessed memories.
The next day, Sunday, was Bro. Mike and his family's last Sunday at Victory Rd. before leaving as missionaries to the Philippines, and he'd asked that our group do the music service so he could see and hear us one last time. It would actually be the whole church's last time to witness our group lead the music - Archer would be moving the next day to the university. Dear Austin's charge to us as we gathered to pray before the service began: "Let's play our hearts out. This is for Bro. Mike and for Archer." And we did. For our God - Who is our Reason for everything - for our youth pastor - who had poured his spirit into loving and guiding us - and for our friend - our brother.
I don't think I'll ever forget this weekend. One of the most bitter-sweet of my life. I pray I won't.
The next Wednesday night was my turn to teach the lesson with the middle-schoolers. And Bro. Mike's family's last day here. Lots of church folks hung around after the classes were over, exchanging last-minute conversations and telling them good-bye. Trissy and I went next door to their house and visited a while after everyone else had left. They would be going to the airport about 2:00 A.M., so were not planning on going to bed, and it was just so hard to finally say good-bye. I wouldn't let myself think about it being any other than a normal Wednesday night 'bye until after we left.
Separations are hard, but I'm thankful too - I know both Bro. Mike and his wife have been wanting to do mission work, and now the Lord has opened up the way for them to, and for Camille to go with them. That's a whole nother amazing story!
I'm looking forward to hearing about the adventures this new chapter holds for their lives.
Friday (the 18th), two days later, Victory Rd.'s youth group (including Trissy and me) went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the Strength To Stand week-end youth conference. I must admit, by this time I was so tired both in body and in mind that I almost didn't want to go. I had looked forward to it for months, but then found out that several of our college group and closest friends (not to mention Bro. Mike) weren't going to get to go. And with all the good-byes I'd been having to say the past few weeks, I almost had a "What's the point?" mentality. Which is not like me. I don't 'give up', and I hate defeat. I'm telling you, I was just worn out. And it was catching up with me. But then a thought came to mind: Why was I going on this trip in the first place? Was it because I wanted to be close to people, or because I wanted to grow closer to the Lord? Got my attention and kinda helped put things in perspective. Then the day we left, I saw something that one of the teenagers had written concerning their feelings about the trip: 'About to head out to Tennessee... don't want to go. But, I might as well go with an open heart.' I don't know why they didn't want to go, but what a great attitude! I was so encouraged, and resolved to go with my heart open to what the Lord might do in and for me on the trip.
I was not disappointed. In fact, I fell in love all over again with the pure goodness of God. Three sound, timely sermons from thought-provoking preachers; music - some of which I didn't care for - but plenty that lifted me up and carried me away with it's beauty and spiritual richness; fun and joking and camaraderie I enjoyed with a variety of the members of the group; Bro. Nick, the new youth pastor, bravely and successfully learning to captain the 'youth group ship' through the unpredictable waves of our crazy personalities; wholesome mixture of friendships and interaction between older youth and younger youth, adults and youth, newcomers and established 'regulars', etc.; merry chaos as the sounds and activities of almost 40 people filled the cabin we stayed in, and peaceful quiet (in which you could hear the clock ticking on the mantle) as those same nearly 40 people spent personal time in Bible study and prayer.
So, that's January in a nutshell. I have one more thing to tell about that would still be "this past month", though it was yesterday, the 3rd of February. But it's late and I'm in the living room typing and my mom will be up in a few minutes wondering why on earth I'm not in bed yet :) . So I'll save it for later. I'll end with a small thing that provoked big thoughts for me today.
I'm reading Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" for the first time. With my love of adventure and reading, especially the good old 'classics', you'd think I'd have read that one by now. But I recently 'discovered' the little library at VRCA and have started taking advantage of it. I just finished chapter 20 - "The Gulf Stream" - and the account of the cyclone. As I put the book down, I thought about "storms", both physical and spiritual. At times, I've found myself subconsciously wishing I could know how my strength would hold up during a real storm. One must be careful what one wishes for, even subconsciously. This past summer (the pain of Mrs. Renae's family leaving Victory Rd. and the withdrawal, so to speak, of Bro. Dennis's family), and this past month (the departure of Bro. Mike's family and of Archer, and the possibility of Justice and Noel, and Austin and Ava moving on also) seemed almost to have been samples - tests of strength the Lord allowed to give me an idea; to try my courage. I was/have been appalled at my lack of resilience in the face of these losses. If it hadn't been for the presence and encouragement of others, would I have held up at all? All these thoughts passed through my head in only a moment, but as I asked this last question, immediately in response came a quiet Whisper in my heart, "Don't worry about that 'what if'. There will always be someone...something. I will never leave you alone." And right away a verse came to mind from Psalm 34 that I'd randomly read this morning: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
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