"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.

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 * ...

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 94

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: D-Now Pictures / Austin

2. Hearing: Autumn, Julia, And Julia's Mom Laughing

3. Smell:

4. Taste:

5. Touch: Hug From Julia

The stories behind the list:

1. Months before he left, Bro. Mike gave me a plastic box full of youth group pictures to sort and organize. We'd been having some conversation about the pictures around the youth room (he always tried to have a bulletin board or display out with pictures of the latest youth event or mission trip Victory Rd. had been involved in), and I asked what happens to all the pictures when they got taken down to be replaced. He replied that there was a box full of them somewhere. I expressed disappointment that they were just stuffed in some box instead of people being able to enjoy them still (me being the history buff that I am). Long story short, I volunteered to go through them and see if I could get them put into albums, and Bro. Mike was happy to let me. Well, since then, I haven't had much time to work on them. It turned out to be a little bigger and more involved project than I had invisioned, and the plastic box has been sitting in a corner for several months. This past week I decided to tackle the project, and it has been a neat experience.
I came across the envelope that had all the pictures from D-Now in 2011. My, how time flies. I spent a long time going through that stack of photos, re-living memories, studying faces, thinking of all that life has brought to the people in the pictures since that time. Looking at many faces that are gone from Victory Rd., and studying some that are now leaders in the youth group.
It was a bitter-sweet experience, going through those photos. But mostly sweet, knowing the God that was great then is great now, and still may have wonderful surprises in store for those lives.
/
Austin came to the restaurant Wednesday to get lunch for the lawn-care crew he works with. It surprised me when he came around the corner, and his big grin and teasing really gave me a pick-me-up.

2. Trissy and I were some of the last to leave church Wednesday night because of the visiting we like to hang around and do. When we finally headed outside to leave, Autumn was still parked there, talking with Julia and Julia's mom at their car, so we stopped and chatted and joked with them a little bit. All of us were needing to leave, but it seemed like every time we'd 'finish' the conversation, someone would say or think of something else to tell, and we'd keep going.
Finally we said good-byes and Trissy and I went to get in my car. I slid in, adjusting myself in the seat. When I turned around to reach out and pull my door shut, a little 'shape' was perched on my steering wheel, staring back at me unblinkingly in the half-light. I jumped and yelped, and an erruption of ecstatic cackles exploded from the three ladies parked on the other side. I realized almost immediately what the 'thing' was - a giant black and gray horned beetle, probably two-and-a-half inches long and an inch wide. I'm not afraid of beetles (even giant ones), but the unexpectedness of seeing 'something' on my steering wheel, about ten inches from my face... Well, I think I had a right to be startled!
My mind was working in a whirl, trying to figure out if it was real or rubber, if Autumn and Julia had brought it back from their recent mission trip to Central America, and what made them play the joke on me - I actually felt quite honored (you'd have to understand these two girls - they'd only play a prank like that on someone they really liked)! Autumn was by this time beside my driver door, laughing hysterically. I got back out, laughing and congratulating them on their cleverness, and she reached in and plucked the beetle from my steering wheel.
Law had found it and somehow it had come into Autumn and Julia's possession, and they decided it was too good of an opportunity to pass up - they needed somebody to prank! They noticed my windows were rolled down a little and they tried the door. When they found it unlocked, I was chosen as the 'victim'. And you know the rest of the story! Evidently they had been waiting all that time in the parking lot, just so they could see my reaction!
We said good-bye again and left, laughing the way back to the house, my evening made!

3.

4.

5. When Julia went on that mission trip to Central America, I gave her some money and asked her to pick me up some souvenirs. There have been teams or individuals from Victory Road taking mission trips to a country in Central America since 2010, and I wanted a couple of specific items like ones they'd brought back before. Julia said she could get them for me.
Wednesday night when she came in the room before class and saw me, she threw up her hands. 'I forgot to bring your things!'
'It's fine!' I assured her. 'Just whenever you can get them to me is fine. Hey, and I want you to keep the change and save it for your trip next year,' I said as she gave me a hug (which is rare - she doesn't just give out hugs). There had been about $30 worth of things she hadn't been able to get for me because she'd been sick on the day they were going to do their main souvenir shopping.
She shrugged it off exclaiming, 'I won't keep track of it 'til then!' She's planning to be down there for the whole summer next year, and I knew good and well that she'd be starting to save for it soon.
'Sure you can! Put it in a bank account or something!'
The conversation moved on with other people in the room, but before she left (it was her turn to take care of the babies in the nursery this week) she whirled and gave me a long, super-tight-squeeze hug - the kind I'd only seen her give to people I know are really special to her - and I wondered if, in her own way, she was thanking me.

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.

Newsletter 2012

Below is a 'newsletter' of sorts I sent out to my friends and pen-pals this year, catching them up and filling them in on a few of the goings-on of my life in the past year. Much of it will mean little to most of you, but I included it here on my blog for those interested, and for my own record.

"
Dear friends,                                                                    Dec. 20, 2012

I thought when I finished college last fall that somehow I would have ‘time’ again. Time to pleasure-read, time to write letters, to journal, to go for walks, to craft to my heart’s content, to study subjects other than school requirements, etc. What a myth! While I have been freed from late-night studying for tests and from stacks of impossible homework assignments, all that ‘free time’ that was supposed to materialize never showed up :) . I say all that by way of hopeful explanation for the neglect I’m sure some of you feel for my long letter-writing silence, and to warn you that it may become regular for my letters to be very few and far between :/ . I usually don’t like the idea of a mass mail-out – though those letters are just as heart-felt, they somehow seem not quite as personal as receiving a hand-written note with your own name at the top. But, I am learning that if I put off writing until I can write a personal letter to each of my dear friends, none of them will get anything! So here I am, doing the end-of-the-year-newsletter mail-out. Please be assured though, that each of you are personally thought of and loved as I type :) . So, on to ‘news’.

2012 has been a year of learning for me. Come to think of it, I could truthfully say that of the two years before it, for I spent them in learning of not only a spiritual and personal, but also an academic sort. But in the spiritual category, 2012 has seemed to be the ‘final test’ at the end of the semester. Seems like all the Lord has taught me 2009-2011 has been put to the test. I myself have been put to the test. My trust in the Lord’s power, my faith in His wisdom, my hope in His unfailing love, and my submission to His plans have all been tried. I was given success, realized dreams, and answered prayers. I was also given betrayal, hurt, and tears. Trials I had prepared myself to face never showed up, and instead I was presented with a series of entirely unexpected situations that have shaken me brutally. But praise God for the lectures and repeated lessons of the years before, and because of them the test, though hard, was not impossible to take, and I believe I made a passing grade. The fact that the Teacher is always available certainly is the greatest comfort!

With the Lord’s help, I did finish junior college last December, and ‘officially’ graduated in May with a technical degree in Web Development. As of right now, I do not have any plans to go on to a university.

I continue to work as an after-school employee at Victory Road Christian Academy, the Christian private school started by Victory Rd. Baptist Church – the church I am a member of. There are good days and bad days, but I love these kids so much! I can see so much growth in them, and they have taught me so much as well. My prayer is that I can be a Godly influence and use my time with them in the best possible way – they are so alert and eager and soak up whatever is going on around them. I want to always keep good examples and wholesome options present before their amazingly observant eyes and ears.

In September I took another small job, working at a little restaurant owned by a couple in the church. It’s uncomfortable at times, as I work closely with others who are not Christians and act like they are not. But it is a great witnessing opportunity and I am trying to build friendships with them. Two of my co-workers came to church a couple of weeks ago, and I was so excited – it was a big step for them. I love the fact that I am in constant contact with other local people. Even if I don’t have an opportunity to talk with them very long, at least I get to smile and wish them a great afternoon or a Merry Christmas. People notice a smile, and I love when one of the many hard or sad faces that comes by asks why I’m so happy. To get to tell them about the One Who gives real joy is the ultimate satisfaction.

Twice this year I have had the opportunity to go on state-side mission/service trips with Victory Rd., and since another mission trip to Trinidad was out for this year, Trissy and I both went on these two. In January we went to [a neighboring state] to a children’s home and ranch near [the state's capitol city]. It was cold, but it was a great time of hard work and also of fellowship and bonding with the other church members who went. In June we went to Illinois and an area near Chicago to help a church there. Again, lots of hard work, and lots of wonderful memories of time spent with church family. This trip may very well be the highlight of my year. I had hopes and even expectations for it, but the Lord gave me abundantly above what I even imagined!

When school started back in the fall, I was asked to help teach the junior-high class at church on Wednesday nights. Not being much of a teacher, I was hesitant to jump in, but there was a need for more help in that area and even before I was asked, I felt like the Lord was encouraging me to consider getting involved. Besides, for years I’ve had a great love for teen-agers and desired to be able to minister to them somehow. This wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind, but it would be good to get out of my ‘comfort zone’ a little. It has been very different than I imagined, even to the point of discouragement. Several times I’ve thought, “What am I even doing here?” But sticking with it, the Lord has showed me at least one young thirteen-year-old reason I think He has me there, and I myself have begun receiving great blessing from it.

Speaking of teenagers and my desire to minister to them, one of the great joys and sorrows of this year has been a young friend in the church. Satan is trying – through discouragement, misunderstanding, and bad advice from so-called ‘friends’ – to destroy the spirit and testimony of one of the young people of Victory Rd. The desire to serve and please the Lord is there, but difficulties and struggles are hitting hard and fast, knocking down good intentions and belittling the efforts of others to help. The highs and lows and ups and downs – the past few months especially – have been exhausting and discouraging for those who love this dear young person. Please pray for all involved, at least now as you read, but continued prayers would be SO appreciated! Pray for courage and spiritual strength for the teenager, wisdom for those who are trying to help, and ultimate great victory over Satan’s evil plans – for the glory of God.

And if you would, as you pray, please pray for Victory Road Church as a whole. The Lord has been using us in great ways, and I guess Satan decided he wanted to get busy and mess things up. We have faced a lot of hardship this past year. Ridiculous but effective attacks from inside have been the most harmful and hurtful. Thank you for all prayers!

Well, my time is running out and so is my mental energy :) . I’m sure I have hardly scratched the surface as far as all the opportunities the Lord has given me and all the things I have been involved in this past year, but I’ve tried to catch you all up on a couple of the highlights that have been the most influential on my life :) . I have no big job or career, I’m not in college any more, and I’m not married – things that I think many, if not most, people measure a successful life by. But I find my life very fulfilling. I love my two little jobs, the people, and the opportunities involved in both. I love my church, the precious dear friends in it, and the opportunities and doors the Lord has opened to me through it. Of course there are things in my life that I am not happy with, but no one could appreciate perfection if there were no such thing as flaws. So, if my life was ‘just perfect’, meaning, ‘just as I’d have it if I could’, I’d soon begin taking it for granted, forgetting the God Who gave it to me, and growing soft and weak. I hope I learn from the difficulties in my life, grow closer to God because of them, and become stronger through the struggling.

A very Merry Christmas to all of you, dear friends! Thank you to those who have kindly continued to keep me updated on your own lives :) . I hope the Lord has been proving Himself as mightily to you, and more, as He so mercifully has to me.

Closing with a verse that has come to mean a great deal to me in recent months,

'Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.'

Joshua 1:9 

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Your friend,

-Kyrie<><
"

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 59

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: Simon And Law / Piper: "It's 'Pepper'! Get it right Joy!"

3. Smell: Shoe Polish

4. Taste: Ham Sandwich

5. Touch:

The stories behind the list:

1.

2. I tell about listening to Simon and Law practicing Tuesday night in THIS post.
/
On the Chicago mission trip, for some reason I adopted "Pepper" as a nickname for Piper, and still call her that every once in a while. And though I don't think she particularly cared for it at first, Wednesday night when I called her that, Joy overheard, but misunderstood. So in a few minutes, Joy said something to Piper, but called her "Popper", and Piper - rolling her eyes with that unique teasing bossiness - came right back at her, "It's 'Pepper'! Get it right Joy!"
It was absolutely hilarious!

3. Thursday we (The Grandparents, Mom, Trissy, and me) went to the northern part of the state to a Bible conference. Our family goes way back with alot of the folks who go to it every year, and we always look forward to it. Wednesday night I was polishing my shoes, getting ready for the next day. The house was quiet - I think everyone else was in bed - and the smell of the polish took me back to memories of Dad and Mom polishing our shoes years ago, getting ready for church on Sunday morning. Besides that, leather shoe polish just seems to have such a wholesome smell somehow.

4. Thursday night on our way back from the conference we ate ham sandwiches in the car that some of the ladies up there had put together real fast for us. The Conference lasts almost all week, and usually the people who go stay in the dorms on the little campus there. But we haven't gotten to do that for several years - since The Grandparents' health has gotten where they need special help. It's just too difficult for them to stay and spend the nights there. So, for the past several years we've just driven the three-or-so hours up one morning and stayed 'til late afternoon, then driven back that same evening. At least we get in on part of it that way!
So the ladies who cook, when they heard we weren't going to be able to stay for supper, went to the kitchen and quickly made us some sandwiches to take with us.
That sandwich was one of the best I've ever had I think. It was made with a wonderful big biscuit and pieces of real ham. We were hungry and tired and disappointed to not be able to stay longer, and that sandwich was just "what the doctor ordered", as the saying goes.

5.

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 40

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: 'Blue Sunday'

2. Hearing: Sunday Morning Music Service

3. Smell: Fireworks

4. Taste: Watermelon

5. Touch:

The stories behind the list:

1. In Sunday School this past week, Trissy and Autumn were the only ones that did not have on a blue shirt or top. When class was over and we went to sing, every musician and music leader, except the piano player (and not everyone in the choir), had on a blue shirt. I looked out from the choir over the congregation, and probably 1/4 to 1/3 of them had on blue tops! It was hilarious! I've started calling it the "Blue Sunday".

2. Sunday morning's music service was again a special blessing this week. Each song in the selection was a special one, from toe-tapping Southern Gospel hymns, to the excellent new prayer-like song, "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)". Some of my personal favorites too :) .


3. After class Wednesday night, a bunch of the gang went over to Aron and Henley's to shoot off fireworks. It was a nice time of relaxation and fellowship. Another church family had come out too, and it was fun to watch the kids get so excited about the fireworks! After shooting off 20 or so, the air had that particular fireworks smell.

4. Mom's sister and her family came over for a few days' visit, and we enjoyed that rare treat. The whole family came: Mom's sister and brother-in-law, and their grown daughter, her husband, and their two little kids. They bought a watermelon the day before they left since they weren't actually going to be here on the fourth of July. Oh my, that was so sweet and wonderful!

5.

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 33

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: A Gold-laced Sunset

2. Hearing: After-class Wednesday Night Prayer Time

3. Smell: Gardenia Bush

4. Taste: Henley's Peanut-butter-cup-chip Chocolate Cookies

5. Touch: Ava's Engagement Ring

The stories behind the list:

1. I'm not usually a big fan of sunsets. I prefer sunrises. Beginnings, not endings, I guess. But this week I witnessed a sunset that absolutely took my breath away. I was on my way back to our house one evening (don't remember where I'd been... probably music practice), and as I passed a field close to where we live, I looked over at the setting sun, and it was dazzling. The sun was just behind the top edge of a spreading group of dusky blue clouds, but it's rays were reaching up and turning the long stretch of the upper edge of the clouds a shimmering gold. That's really what it looked like - gold with the light shining on it. The picture was gorgeous. That stretching expanse of dark green field, and those slate-blue, billowy-textured clouds, trimmed in brilliant golden lace.

2. After class on Wednesday nights, we always have a prayer time for whoever would like to stay and participate. It usually ends up being a group of the college kids. But what sweet times we've had! Treasured memories of those earnest voices, lifted to the Lord in thanks and/or supplication. Seldom have I felt my love for my friends so strongly, as when I hear them pray.

3. Our gardenia bush is blooming. The sweet summery smell sweeps me off my feet every time I pass that part of the yard.

4. Dear Henley made cookies for our Thursday night college Bible study class last night. They were chocolate cookies, with peanut-butter chips in them. Henley is a good cook anyway, but these cookies were exceptional!

5. Austin had Ava's engagement ring at church Sunday night at the college supper, so that whoever wanted to see it could, before he gave it to her. Mom thought it was cheating Ava just a little - the gang getting to see it before she did, when it was for her. But I thought it was neat - our college group is very close, we're each others' brothers and sisters in a sense, and he was including us in this landmark time of his life.
The ring is beautiful - a dainty style, the main diamond set in the center of a smooth-cornered square of other tiny diamonds. Ava loves sapphires, and one of the reasons Austin picked this ring is because under the diamonds (you can only see it if you look at the ring from the side instead of the top), a sapphire is hidden.
A special significance, from him to her.

'Everything...'

I have such a mix of emotions running through me right now. So many random and yet related things have happened the last few days, and I am whirling inside with my feelings about them. Yet, at the same time, I have that indescribable 'peaceful anxiety' Jay Austin talks about on the movie Flywheel. Here are some of my thoughts on everything.

This 30 Hour Famine thing - alot of what I'm feeling I owe to it. It starts this afternoon and there is still so much to do. I wonder if Archer got any sleep at all last night. Poor guy looked like he was just functioning in automatic at Bible study yesterday evening.
This has really been a huge bite for him to chew, but I can see (Trissy mentioned it as well) that he has grown up a little bit more since he took on this project. Lots of responsibility involved, and though he's undoubtedly equal to that, it has still been alot of pressure on him, with school and a job, not to mention wanting to spend time with his family, as well. I've been proud of him - though I'm still not fully sure how I feel about this whole 30 Hour Famine thing, I've been proud to see Archer's character and heart displayed so sweetly, yet with his own signature approach and brand of passion.
I pray that God will use this event to help grow him into the great man of God that he could be, and that it seems he is already well on his way to becoming.
Archer looked so overwhelmed when he left last night from Bible study, Trissy suggested we have prayer for him before we drove away. She prayed the sweetest prayer. All I could have said was, "Dittos" and my prayer would have been just exactly what I wanted to say!

Mom's oldest sister and her husband are also coming to visit today from a couple of states over. They both suffer from poor health and various ailments, so when they get to make the trip, it is quite a treat. The only thing this time is, Trissy and I will only get to see them for a couple of hours before we head to the church for the 30HF, and they leave tomorrow while we'll still be at the church. We didn't even know they hoped to come until a couple of weeks ago, so the schedule clash was unavoidable. We're trying to get ready for them, plus the Famine, not to mention the disappointment of missing most of their rare visit.

I've had four Etsy sales in the last two weeks. I'd only had three sales before that, in the over-a-year that my shop has been set up.

One of the college girls from church who had her (very nice Nikon D3100) camera with her at Strength To Stand, had promised to get me copies of the pictures, but still hadn't. I got to really wanting to see them again earlier this week, so I texted her and she said she'd take the card to church Wednesday night and I could transfer the pictures to my laptop. She forgot, but went back to her house, got the whole camera, and sent it to my class by another girl, so now I've got it at home with me! What's so great, is that she is my 'secret sister/prayer partner' this year at church, and one of the gifts I'd wanted to give her was a camera strap cover. But I had no idea what the measurements of her camera strap were, and had no idea how I could get them without her knowing about it! Now that strap has basically been handed to me to measure on a silver platter.

Yesterday at work, Simon and Joy (his younger sister) came to afterschool for a few minutes and Simon played basket ball with one of the little boys while Joy chatted with me. She comes out frequently to visit and keep me company, and - though she's more than ten years younger than me - she is so sweet and I really enjoy having someone more mature than just the little kids to talk to :D . Anyway, after a few minutes Bro. Blake came by to get them. He called to Simon something about Law waiting for him. Law and Simon are really good, if not best, friends. Law and Abigail and Piper used to go to VRCA, and Simon really missed him when the S. kids started being home-schooled instead. Of course they all still go to Victory Rd. though, and the boys get together at other times too. Joy told me they were going to spend the afternoon kayaking at the reservoir.
Later, after I'd left work, the sun was behind me and in the faces of those I was passing as I turned off the main road through town onto the one leading out of town, back to our 'neck of the woods'. There was a little string of vehicles waiting to turn back into town at the stop sign. I noticed a gold suburban-like vehicle with a green kayak and a red kayak strapped to the top, and looked down at the people inside. Sure enough, it was Simon and Law in Law's new vehicle (well, new to him - it's not new new), heading home at the end of the afternoon. The sun was in their faces, their green eyes were shining, and Law's right hand was draped over the steering wheel, his head bobbing in time to music as his chin rested in his other hand, propped up by his elbow in the open window. I waved hard as I passed, but they were lost in their own little world. That picture though, was such a blessing. Even if I hadn't known those boys, I would have loved it. They looked so carefree and youthful and wholesome and old-fashioned - two youths on their way home from an afternoon jaunt, enjoying the carefree days of summer.

So, good things are happening. Little sweets dropped into my life by my God Who loves me, possibly as a way of saying, "Hey, don't worry. I love the people you love, WWWWWAAAAAYYYYY more than you do, or ever could. I've got them - it's okay. And I love you."

One of the songs Austin picked out for our music group to do this week was "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)", one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. So powerful, both in lyrics and musical composition. It has this sweet, haunting, Celtic-y sort of sound. Mom commented that it would sound good with a penny whistle, which I have and am trying to learn to play, but I'm already playing the keyboard and the keyboard part is tricky enough! We practiced a long time Tuesday night, trying to get all the timing down, and all the kinks worked out. The other guys love to tease me, but they're so patient and forgiving with my mistakes too, encouraging and instructing where I need it. I'd never been really nervous about playing with them (I'm not the type that gets stage fright), but I was nervous about playing that song. Even though it wouldn't be the end of the world if we messed up, the keyboard was the main part, and if I messed up, it would make them look bad. I just didn't want to let them down.
Well, Wednesday we did the song, and no, I didn't fall on my face and it wasn't terrible, but I didn't come in at a couple of spots just right, and it wasn't perfect.
As Austin passed me when we went back to our seats, he whispered, "Good job." I think one of his spiritual gifts must be encouragement :) . The others never said anything one way or another, whether they forgot, or didn't get a chance, or what, I don't know. I did my best, but I still felt bad. With more practice, maybe I'll do better if we do that one again - I just hated the thought that maybe I'd let them down.

So anyway, that's a few thoughts on everything that is happening lately. Good things, disappointments, but everything works together to bring good. I've got to hurry off to make sure I've got everything I need for the Famine. Looking forward to seeing what God does through it. I thank the Lord for this peace that I'm sure is coming from Him in the middle of all this! Hopefully I can understand and learn the lesson.

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 30

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Simon And Law Coming Back From Kayaking

2. Hearing: Joy Chatting With Me

3. Smell: Mom's Hair Stuff

4. Taste: A Hot Grilled-cheese Sandwich And A Home-made Muffin

5. Touch: Wednesday Night's Game

The stories behind the list:

1. After I'd left work Thursday afternoon, the sun was behind me and in the faces of those I was passing as I turned off the main road through town onto the one leading out of town, back to our 'neck of the woods'. There was a little string of vehicles waiting to turn back into town at the stop sign. I noticed a gold suburban-like vehicle with a green kayak and a red kayak strapped to the top, and looked down at people inside. It was Simon and Law in Law's new vehicle (well, new to him - it's not new new), heading home at the end of the afternoon. The sun was in their faces, their green eyes were shining, and Law's right hand was draped over the steering wheel, his head bobbing in time to music as his chin rested in his other hand, propped up by his elbow in the open window. I waved hard as I passed, but they were lost in their own little world. That picture though, was such a blessing. Even if I hadn't known those boys, I would have loved it. They looked so carefree and youthful and wholesome and old-fashioned - two youths on their way home from an afternoon jaunt, enjoying the carefree days of summer.

2. Joy, Aron and Simon's younger sister, Bro. Blake's daugher, comes out frequently to visit and keep me company at after-school. Bro. Blake's wife is a teacher there and sometimes stays over for a while to do work, and though Joy's more than ten years younger than me she is so sweet and funny and I really enjoy having someone more mature than the little kids alone to talk to :D . Monday she stayed longer than usual and I really enjoyed our visit. She kindof rambled about random stuff, but it was so soothing to hear her cheerful young voice and clever comments. She even taught us (me, and the younger kids sitting around listening to our chat) a song a little brother and sister couple from church had made up. It was really cute and clever! Here are the words, with the verses sung to the first part of the tune of "The Brave Old Duke Of York" - I guess they made up the chorus' tune:

Verse 1:
I woke up Saturday morning,
I looked up on the wall -
The 'skeeters and the bedbugs
Were playin' a game of ball.

Verse 2:
The score was six to nothin' -
The 'skeeters were ahead -
The bedbugs hit a homerun,
and knocked me out of bed!

I'm singin'

Chorus:
Eeny-meeny and a
Miny-mo.
Catch a wiffle-waffle
By it's toe.
And if he hollers (hollers, hollers),
Let him go,
With an
Eeny-meeny, an' a
Miny-mo!"

3. Mom has this hair product that she uses on her hair after she washes it. It smells just like the community center where we used to have our meetings when Trissy and I were in 4-H. We spent hours in that building with our 4-H friends, learning so much good stuff. Don't think I'll ever forget that particular scent. Brings back so many wonderful memories every time Mom does her hair :) !

4. If you know me well or have been reading this blog long, you know I love random, snacky suppers. Friday night Trissy and I went up to visit The Grandparents for supper and to spend the evening. Mom was gone on a two-day ladies' retreat with a group from the church, and Dad was studying. Trissy had the idea of taking some muffins out of the freezer, and making grilled-cheese sandwiches for supper. We all really enjoyed it. The Grandmother kept going on and on about how tasty it was - and boy could I agree!

5. After class Wednesday night, we usually have some type of group game to close out the evening. This past Wednesday we played a really fun one, and I decided to use it as my 'Touch' thing for this week.
The group puts their chairs in a circle, with one person standing in the middle, and no chair for them in the circle. The person in the middle is holding a small object like a button or a bottle cap. They must take the hand of someone from the circle and begin leading them around, still inside the circle. If it's a girl, she takes a boy; if it's a boy, he takes a girl. The person chosen reaches out and takes someone else, they take someone else, and so on, until there is a little boy-girl-boy-girl 'train' walking around inside the circle of chairs. This can go on for as long as the leader wants, even until everyone is picked and the chairs are empty. The thing is, at some point they drop their little object (we played with a white bottle cap on light-colored carpet). The first person to notice the leader has dropped their bottle cap lets go and dives for a chair in the circle. When that happens, it becomes a mad race to get to a chair. Remember, there is one less chair than people, so the person left without a chair is the leader for the next round.
It might sound kindof goofy, but it's alot of fun - not to mention great exercise!

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 27

Note: Yes, I know I am weeks behind on my "Five Small Things Friday" posts. Just FYI, I have drafts for each of the missing weeks that just need to be finished and published. I'm working on it :) .

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Maxwell Laughing

2. Hearing: 'Hallelujah, What A Savior' On Wednesday Night

3. Smell: Craft Paint / 'Fantastic Friday'

4. Taste: Vanilla Frosting

5. Touch: A Little Hand

The stories behind the list:

1. Last night we had a choir rehearsal for our Easter cantata at Victory Rd. Mrs. Carrie was sick and couldn't come, but Bro. Dennis brought little Maxwell anyway, to the delight of pretty much everyone :) . One of the women was tickling his feet, and he was laughing like he thought it was the funniest thing on earth! It seems like he is usually so solemn and focused on absorbing everything, and if he was cute before, he is delicious when he laughs!

2. One of the songs we picked out to do Wednesday night was 'Hallelujah, What A Savior', but when we were practicing Tuesday night, the key was really high, even for Julia (she's a pretty amazing soprano). And she didn't know the song very well either, so the whole thing was kind of shaky. Even Wednesday, when we practiced again before class, she couldn't figure out when to come in at a certain point. We were all kind of discouraged I think. She listened to a recording of it again, and said she thought she might have it, but we hadn't been through the song all the way through once, and it was time to go to class.
The part she was having a hard time on had only one chord, so when we did that song and got to that part, we just kept playing the same chord until she jumped in. It wasn't at the right spot exactly, but with all the trouble we'd been having, she did a really good job and it flowed seamlessly.
Even though it wouldn't really have been that big of a deal if we'd fallen flat on our faces, that feeling of having worked together and done a good job was still a really good one.

3. I was painting an art canvas as a gift for a friend yesterday (more on that later) and all-of-a-sudden when I opened one of the bottles of paint, the smell of it brought back memories of my time in grade school with the homeschool support group we were members of where we lived then. It met on Fridays and was called 'Fantastic Friday' :) . So many good memories... Little friends. Kind teachers. Field trips, science fairs, reading programs and spelling competitions. And art/craft time. Probably one of my favorite parts. That paint smelled just like the art room at Fantastic Friday - so good!
And no, I don't sniff paint. Why do you ask?

4. I'm one of those strange country people who 'swears' by home cookin', but once in a while betrays that tradition and falls for something boxed or canned from the store. The vanilla frosting out of the plastic cans is the best icing in the world. It can beat any powdered-sugar, butter-cream, almond, cream-cheese heirloom icing recipe ever home-made. Just saying. And Wal*Mart's brand is better than Pillsbury.
Last week was Justice's birthday and he and Noel came down for a quick visit Sunday. Henley (who is a cake decorator) was commissioned to make a cake for him for our Sunday night college fellowship, and had some of that icing left over. She sent it home with us. Score!

5. This past week we had some family come visit from out west, including three darling little great-cousins. The middle little girl - talk about being grown at four! But so pretty they made you want to squeeze them :) ! I was 'taking a nap' one of the afternoons they were here... well, actually, I was trying to take a nap one of the afternoons they were here. I never got very far :) . Even though I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep, little fingers snuggled up into my hand and stole my heart.

S.O.A.P. Journaling - Introduction

Last Wednesday night in the young people's class, Bro. Mike reminded us about a little method of Bible study he had talked to the class about the Sunday night before (the youth have a separate class from the adults on Sunday nights as well as Wednesday nights, but I go in with the adults on Sundays so had not heard about it until Wednesday). He called it 'S.O.A.P. Journaling' and encouraged the ones who had not gotten one of the hand-outs to get one and try it out in their personal devotion time.
I got one of the bookmark-sized papers and read over it, and though I have not actually done it entirely yet, it looks like a very good and helpful method to use, or at least to incorporate into one's personal Bible study time. I hope to start soon.
I thought maybe when I start it, I would record my journalings here on my blog. As an introduction (and in case anyone reading may want to use it themselves), I am posting the instructions and suggestions from the little hand-out:


S.O.A.P. Journaling

Journaling is an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us through His Word. It’s also a useful tool to use at a later time, to reflect on and review some of the spiritual "nuggets" that you have received. Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and some very important lessons! It may be helpful to create a log at the front of your journal that helps you find a particular journal entry in the future that spoke to you. You could include: Date/Passage/Main Idea/Topic/… along with the page #. May God’s Word rule and reign in your heart as we learn together to live the Word and be more like Jesus.

S – SCRIPTURE – Select the passage of Scripture for today’s reading. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal. It may not be an entire verse. It may be a phrase or even a single word.

O – OBSERVATION – Who was this passage written to? Why? What was their response? What instruction has been given? Ask as many questions as you can about the passage and surrounding context. What is the author’s main point or emphasis on this particular scripture? Paraphrase what you believe the main point of this passage is saying.

A – APPLICATION – Ask yourself how the Scripture and Observations applied to the people who were in the context of what was read. Now ask yourself, "What can I learn from this and how does it apply to my life both in the past, present, and future?". Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write down how you would obey this scripture in your life today. "I will..."

P – PRAYER – This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out and ask by His Spirit that He would empower you to be faithful to His Word.

~Acknowledgments: Wayne Cordeiro

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 25

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Paper Raindrops In My Window

2. Hearing: Laughter And Prayers

3. Smell: Cut Grass

4. Taste: White-Chocolate-Dipped Cookie Dough Balls

5. Touch: Breeze In My Hammock / Mom Covering Me With A Sheet

The stories behind the list:

1. Online I found an idea for raindrop garlands to hang in the window. So I dug out my scrap paper and cardstock, selected three shades of blue, cut out random sized and shaped raindrops, and sewed a simple line on the sewing machine, inserting random drops into the line as I sewed it. I made three strands of raindrops, each a different length. I borrowed three suction hooks from Mom, stuck them to my bedroom window, tied loops in the tops of my strings of raindrops, hung them on the hooks, and 'ta-da!' I have perpetual rain! Those little paper raindrops make me so happy :) !

2. On Wednesday night after church we have a prayer time that anyone is welcome to stay after class and attend. It's usually just the college-age young people and Bro. Mike that stay, but we have such sweet times of laughter, sharing, and prayer together. It had been several weeks since Trissy and I had been able to stay, and this Wednesday night was especially refreshing and sweet.

3. I love the smell of fresh-mowed grass!

4. Someone at church gave us some cookie dough balls that were dipped in white chocolate. I was pretty much the only one of our family that liked them, but that was fine with me :) ! They were SO good!

5. This week I finally got my hammock hung. I got it at a garage sale a couple of years ago I think, for about $1, and it's practically brand new. I just hadn't gotten it hung out yet! So this week I did, and I spent a little while one afternoon reading in it and enjoying the fresh spring breeze. But even with the breeze, it was pretty hot and I'd hung the hammock between trees that were too close together, and I couldn't get comfortable, so I went inside. Everyone else was laying down taking a short nap and I knew I had a few minutes still before they would be up, so I just kindof collapsed on the living room couch :) . As I was laying there, almost asleep, I heard Mom come into the room, and in a moment I felt a cool sheet coming down on me. It gave me such a cozy feeling :) !

A Typical Week

Just for fun, and because life is always changing, I thought I'd record a rough schedule/description of what a typical week in my life is like right now. Of course there are variations from day to day and week to week, but below is a 'skeleton schedule' if you will, of my weeks at this point in my life.

Monday -
Chores and helping Mom, then if all the chores are done, free time (crafting, internet time, etc.) until time to get lunch. After lunch, clean up, then finishing chores if they weren't finished in the morning, and (if there's time) a short 'power nap' until time to leave for work. Off for town by 2:30, to get to the school by 3:00. Work at VRCA after-school from 3:00 'til 5:30. After leaving work and dropping off the other after-school worker (whose car is out of commission right now) at her house, go to meet Dad, Mom, and Trissy at 6:30 at our Hispanic friend's house for Bible study with her and her three young children, until 7:30. Supper, and family or free time until bed, around 9:00.

Tuesday -
Chores, random duties, and project or free time until lunch. Get lunch ready and on, eat, clean up. Then same as morning until around 5:00. Try to exercise with Dad and/or Trissy sometime during the day. Get ready to go to music practice with the youth music group at the church. Leave for town at 5:30. Music practice at 6:00. Ending time varies, depending on if we are learning a new song, and how hard it is, but we typically get done between 7:00 and 7:30. Back to the house, supper and family or free time until bed.

Wednesday -
Pretty much the same as Monday, except after work, I head over to Victory Rd. for Wednesday night church. At 6:00, the youth music group runs through the night's music again, and has prayer asking the Lord's blessing on our playing and singing. Music, then class from 6:30 until 8:00. Youth prayer meeting after class is over, ending anywhere from 8:45 to 9:30. Trissy and I don't always get to stay though. Head back to the house, supper and family or free time until bed.

Thursday -
Off to town early enough to pick up the pastor's (of the church The Grandparents attend) twin sons and get to the church by 7:00 for Thursday morning devotional breakfast. After breakfast, usually Mom has given us a Wal*Mart list, and we go grocery shopping, trying to get back to the house as early as possible. The rest of the morning and afternoon are pretty much the same as Tuesday, until about 5:30. Then eat a light snack or supper and get ready to leave at 6:00 for Thursday night college Bible Study at 6:30. Bible study from approximately 6:30 until approximately 8:00. Head back to the house, supper and family or free time until bed.

Friday -
Pretty much just like Monday and Wednesday, except that after work I leave town. Friday night is 'Family Night' and we usually spend supper and the evening up at The Grandparents' house. Alot of times we'll have a country 'breakfast-for-supper' supper, like grits, scrambled eggs, home-made biscuits and gravy or jelly, bacon or sausage, or waffles and peanut butter and syrup. After cleaning up the kitchen, we'll usually listen to an audio, watch a movie, or someone will read a book out loud to the rest until about 9:00. Help The Grandparents to bed, then back to our house down the lane at about 9:30, and to bed as soon as possible.

Saturday -
Pretty much just like Tuesday and Thursday, except don't go anywhere unless it's a random event. Try to have Sunday dinner done, or at least well on it's way.

Sunday -
Get up moving quickly if I didn't get my clothes laid out and ironed the night before. If they don't have to be ironed, and if we don't have to cook or finish cooking Sunday dinner, get to stay in bed a little later than other mornings. Home-made milkshakes for breakfast - quick, healthy, and super yummy - and out the door as close to 9:00 as possible, to get to Victory Rd. for Sunday School at 9:30. Stop to help The Grandparents to their church on our way to Victory Rd.
Sunday School from 9:30 to 10:30. Music service from about 10:45 until about 11:20. Preaching until 12:00. Stand around and chat with people after services if we have a few minutes, but The Grandparents are usually out of their services and waiting on us to help get lunch. Go up to The Grandparents for lunch. Usually done and cleaned up by about 1:45 or 2:00. Back to the house for a Sunday afternoon nap. Trissy and I get up about 3:30 to eat a snack and head back to the church at 4:00 for choir practice at 4:30. Choir practice until about 5:30. Dad and Mom get to the church about 5:40. Evening church services from 5:45 until about 7:00. Get to do more visiting with people after church in the evening than in the morning. Trissy and I head over to either Aron and Henley's or another young couple's house for the college-age Sunday night supper/fellowship. The whole group is paired up, and each week is another pair's turn to provide supper for everyone. We rotate around and it's alot cheaper than going out to eat, and we still get to have supper together every Sunday night! Aron and Henley and the other young couple (Aron's cousin and her husband) take turns hosting it, since they have their own houses. Usually everyone disperses between 8:00 and 9:00.

And so ends a week full of adventures, disappointments, surprises, wonderful blessings, and whatever else makes up life.

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 23

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: A Wren On Our Burning Barrel

2. Hearing: Law's Prayer

3. Smell: Our Woods

4. Taste: Chocolate Mint Cookie

5. Touch:

The stories behind the list:

1. I love wrens. I love their pert quirky friendliness. I love how they are so small, but have such bold, daring personalities.
Monday I was in my room and happened to look out my window at the garden and the old metal barrel where we burn papers. There was a cheeky little wren perched on the edge of the burning barrel, bobbing up and down and giving a little opera concert to the world, if it wanted to listen.

2. Tuesday night (my second music practice with the youth music group at Victory Rd.) before we got started, as each one was arriving there was good-natured teasing and such as everyone got into their places and got ready to practice. When everyone was there, Austin called the group to order and started to say, 'Ok, let's start with...' and I think he was going to say which song. But Law, who evidently was still feeling mischevious, interrupted him and finished the sentence, "Prayer!" which actually was appropriate :) . So Austin just kindof smirked and said, 'Ok Law, that's a good idea. Why don't you pray for us before we get started.'
For some reason, most people are uncomfortable praying out loud. I guess it's because it feels like everyone's listening in on your conversation with God.
Anyway, evidently Law is one of those. He kindof made a little bit of a face, but he knew he'd gotten himself into it :) . But he prayed such a sweet prayer! And in it, it caught me by surprise when he said, "... thankful to have Kyrie as a new member of our band. It's good to have her. ..."
He went on, asking the Lord to help us play for Him. That prayer warmed my heart and encouraged my spirit more than I can say.

3. We have a spread of young woods behind our house. I call them "young woods" because it was just pasture when we first moved here. But now the trees are certainly big enough to be called "woods".
I went on a walk Tuesday through them. I love the outdoors anyway, but the smell of the pine and the grass and the fresh air on that walk was positively theraputic.

4. Someone had brought a plate of chocolate mint cookies to church Wednesday night, for people to eat before class time. The parents had picked up the last children from after-school at Victory Road Christian Academy late, and so I had to scurry to get from work to church on time. I didn't even have time to eat a snack or supper, and I was so hungry! I grabbed one of those chocolate mint cookies and ate it on my way to class. It was SO good!

5.

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 2

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".
For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: A living evidence of an answered prayer.

2. Hearing: A happy wren's evening song.

3. Smell: Bacon cooking at Waffle House.

4. Taste: Cool clean water after a 2.5 mile walk/run.

5. Touch: A child's hand in mine.


The stories behind the list:

1. Every year, on a Wednesday night in October, Victory Rd. meets at the college's football field / walking track instead of at church. We have a devotional on the bleachers, then the rest of the evening is spent eating supper, visiting, and walking/running on the track. The walk/run helps raise money for Life Word broadcast ministries.
This past Wednesday night was our walk/run. At one point I took a break and climbed up the bleachers to watch those on the track down below, and I saw Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie were walking together. 'Strolling' is a more accurate word, though, since Mrs. Carrie's size is preventing her from moving very fast anymore :) . Bro. Dennis loves to 'work the crowds' and usually manages to seem like he's everywhere at once, but this time he was just walking with her. It was such a beautiful picture - him slowing down for her, the two of them chatting away as they walked, and the obvious evidence of answered prayers and new life. As I watched them, my heart overflowed with thankfulness, joy, and tremendous gratitude to the Lord for His goodness, compassion, and kindness - to them, and to those that love them!

2. I was washing my car Saturday evening, enjoying the fresh fall air. Suddenly a wren started singing at the edge of our yard. He was singing his little heart out, and it sounded like he was just so happy he had to praise the Lord :) . It made me glad.

3. As I got off work the other day, the Waffle House next door to the Academy was warming up for the supper crowd. It smelled SO good!

4. Wednesday night at the walk, I walked and ran a total of 2.5 miles. That's not that much, but a big drink of cool fresh water was so refreshing afterward! So many people don't have clean water at all - the Lord has been so good to me, even in things like clean water that I take so for granted sometimes.

5. During a huge part of my time on the track, one of my little after-school girls trotted along beside me. Her and her two brothers usually get picked up from school and taken straight to the church and dropped off for class on Wednesday nights, but since the church was meeting to walk this night and there was no class, they had come ahead anyway with the group of kids on the church bus. Their family situation is so sad and mixed up. I try to be a friend and a good influence during the time I have them at after-school, and I've gotten pretty close to them I think. She followed along beside me chatting away lap after lap, and she's only nine or ten. Once as we were walking along, she slipped her hand into mine. My heart ached for her and all others like her, but I was so thankful to think that maybe I could make a difference in her life.

Oliver's lesson - "Discipleship: Getting Alone With God"

Two weeks ago on Wednesday nights Bro. Mike (the youth pastor) started a series of lessons on True Discipleship and what it means to really follow the Lord with your whole heart and life. I was really glad, 'cause that sort of thing is not put much emphasis on any more.
There are a couple of young men who have surrendered to preach in the youth group, and Bro. Mike is having them take turns with him teaching the lessons. Oliver is 17, medium height, gentle and fun, with short jet-black hair and dark eyes that burn with the passion in his heart whenever he is teaching or preaching. Justice is 21, not real tall, and kind of stocky, mature and responsible, a born leader, with unruly chocolate curls, sky-blue eyes, and a wonderful, boyish sense of humor.
So this past Wed. was Oliver's turn, and he taught on True Discipleship: Getting Alone With God. It was so good! He used Matthew 6:6, and 1 Kings (I don't remember the exact reference. I'll go look it up later and fill it in) as his scriptures. He talked about how so many times we run and rush and run and rush, and pack way too much into our schedules, and then we don't take the time to just stop, be still, and listen to the Lord speak to us. Cause He's not going to try to yell over all the hubub in our lives. When He speaks, He speaks in a still, small voice. It's our responsibility to make sure we take that time that we need, and that He tells us to, to just "recharge our batteries", so to speak. It was so thought-provoking, and just really good and "deep". You'd just need to have been there.