Hokies in Hooville

It has been a long time, I know. So long, in fact, that there are just way too many things to post. Here are just a few highlights:

praying with a young couple waiting for their infant daughter to go into surgery, nurses named Ruth and Naomi, waking up and being able to see and wiggle my toes - and NOT throwing up!
hearing that my surgery "went swimmingly", morphine, Sandra and her lavendar lotion
Trish and her red velvet cake, sleeping 2 hours and feeling like it was 8, feeling the prayers of so many, thing grabbers and butt wipers, wonderful, filling, healing vegetable soup (x3), 2 church families, baby boys, lunch with Sue, getting out of the house, Rob's singing, being wanted, accepted and missed

I went to the funeral home today. A lovely lady from Cloverdale who suffered from ALS for almost 2 years died yesterday. She was one of the first people I visited. I had heard some of her story from Glenn and felt that I should take her a prayer shawl when I visited, so I did - a baby blue half-granny square. Sheila loved it. She had many blankets and quilts she used over her legs, but none of them quite fit around her neck and that was where she got cold the most, she said. Every time she came to church, she had the shawl around her shoulders. Today, when I saw her, she still had the shawl. Johnny, her husband, said it has brought her such comfort that it was right that she still have it with her. Held within the arms of God both in this life and the next. How awesome is that?

Whatever happened to the hugabunch?

Once upon a time, I believed the best hugs in the world came from a loving man named Lefty Hoal. I still think Lefty's hugs were wonderful, but now I know that hugs just as wonderful can come from some of the most surprising places...

frail, aging men and women who hold you tight with all their strength
the bedridden friend who holds your hand and doesn't want to let go
the aging patriarch of the church who "confesses" he didn't want anyone to fill the position you now have
the young girl who is so full of love for everyone she seems to burst
the length of yarn woven into "arms of God" to surround me anytime I need a hug

Love, compassion, acceptance, comfort. All can be found in that simple but awesome thing, the hug.

Who are you?

Today has been full of images - images of Jesus, images of the church, and this from J's blog after he recently got a haircut.....

"in the eternal instant between catching our reflection in the mirror and the inevitable reconstruction of our self-image, when our index of self-knowledge is ripped from our minds and we must quickly re-write the entire opus, we are given the rare opportunity to reflect critically on ourselves and evaluate who we are. whether or not we do so is a choice we make only after the moment has passed – after we have returned to the security and warmth of our familiar self-image, often unedited and unredacted, only slightly re-indexed. even so, we return to ourselves with the knowledge that we are constructed beings, as well as with the insight that with a little more effort than simply clutching to the familiar we can reconstruct ourselves in profound ways. more often than not, however, we simply allow the opportunity to pass, brushing off the entire experience with the ritual liturgy of uncritical indifference: ‘hey, i look different. i’ll have to get used to this.’ and the congregation responds with: ‘it looks good,’ or ‘it will grow back.’ amen."

Love came down at Christmas

having both of my girls home, Lowell Wine's vast knowledge, travels and experience and his recognition of me as a "pastor," being part of 2, count 'em - 2, congregations, Martin's singing of "Mary did you know," having an office, Christmas traditions - old and new, seeing Jeff and knowing he is with Sandra and Tommy on Christmas morning, babies in the family, babies in church, the totally awesome concept of the child, brother, high priest, savior and lord who is the Son of God and God

According to Lowell:
"Women have a choice. Men don't."

"Lot's of people have knowledge, but some of them never gain wisdom."

"I had a few scary times, like when I was chased by a moose. Luckily, I could manouver around the trees of the forest better than he could."

"It was a universal worship service. I asked what I needed to do to be a part. I was told to put some rose petals into the flame. I did, and began to worship. I don't know if I was doing it right or not, but they all accepted me as part of it."

"It all started when I was about 40 years old. I thought about what my mother always said, "Lowell, you are made up of 3 parts. You are physical, mental and spiritual. You need to take care of each part in order to be a whole person...I would walk at least 20 miles a week, sometimes 15 in one day...I taught statistics, very mental...my photography was very spiritual for me."

God bless us...everyone

Rob's 50 years, Dickens of a Christmas, citrus-y smelling trees, all white decorations on Jojo and Bobby's tree, learning that messages can come together over time and we just have to be patient

and the soul felt it's worth

Friday:
Mac and Bob's veggie sandwiches, RSO and area choral groups performing O Holy Night, ballerinas in toe shoes, hundreds of people singing carols, relaxing

Saturday:
listening to Rob share, pecan waffles, children who listen, share and care, the cute little boy who told Santa he only wanted a penguin then seeing his face when he got one, remembering what it is like to be with preschool and elementary age kids, really good crab cakes, banana split ice cream

The baby comes to see the baby!

quiet time at home, time with my aunt Kathleen and cousin Tammy, roasted tomatoes, shared paths of motherhood and individuality, affirmation from one who means so much to me, coming to understand just a smidgen about God's time

Are we dancing yet?

sausage gravy, mother/father God, memories of Bill Shell at Thunder Alley, pictures on the wall, paperwork done, Sanner Kay's 56 years of life, Annika and her little pink socks, Jennifer, Mother

"You are a catalyst."

christmas sweaters and Hokie scarves - together, children's stories that actually work like I planned, Hope found in sermons, children and unscheduled meetings, creative and sharing women, chocolate chip cheese cake, promises of the yet-to-be

What on earth am I doing?

My "position description":

Provide, plan and coordinate, develop, assist, facilitate, secure, teach, serve, participate, foster, maintain, attend, engage, arrange, take, attain, become

I like the fact that the last verb is "become." Hints to the fact that what I am not in the beginning, I will become.

The table of grace

sunshine warm on my face, returned phone calls, prayer shawl and VT quilt naps, Robin's hugs, an evolving office, hot tea

What's scary?

2 pastors trapped at a funeral home during visitation by this...

"I was in the service, got out and I knew I was supposed to be a preacher...but God didn't want me to be a preacher...I found out what I was supposed to do...it's really too deep to go into here. I'm a messenger of God, that's it. I've written 3 books, I'll get them to you, you need to read them...There is only one bible - the King James...blessed by the angel Gabriel...If you're reading something else, you might as well be reading Tom Sawyer...If I go into a church that has something other than the King James, I gotta get out of there. It's scary, you know?"

Some of the roses along the way...

Ashley, B, Leah at the infamous "dog fountain" downtown.

Ashley, B, Leah attempt to bring the caboose to a screeching halt

while Bruce hangs on for dear life!

Henry has had enough!

Trish and Alec playing "Who's Who?"

Paul David & Mary looking at old family photos.

Who will the next little one be named after?

Russell, Ann, B, Jerry Ann, Blaire, Brad at the

"Annual Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Dinner at Macado's"

For all these gifts, we give you thanks

my girls at home, annual t'giving dinner w/"my kids," Thanksgiving breakfast, new faces at 1st, familiar worship without responsibilities, "great" kids, mother's unexpected acceptance and acknowledgement, sisters, Rob's eloquent statements, in-laws, restful sleep

Those other blessings

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.

- Author Unknown

Thanksfully good!

being reminded that we have more in common than i remembered, friends who make themselves at home, shared tears, sharing crochet stitches, Darrell, Sheila, Jim, Diane, VT football, Susan's catering, fall, sunshine through leaves, backyard gazebos already decorated for christmas, puppies, children who want to share...and share...and share...

Lil sis and middle sis

compassionate nurses, no spinal injections, country music through huge earphones, the first snowflakes of the year, time with Sandra

Antietam

The road above is "The sunken road" also known as "Bloody Lane."

My first thoughts when I saw it..."yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."

The Dunker Church

Applebutter 2007

'Neath the familiar towering spire

While Mike faithfully manages the roaring fire

"Bucket Boy" Bill 'splains how it's done,

And mom and daughter are glad it's only one!

The crew and Mason take a well deserved break,

The cool air makes Katie D's replacement shiver and shake

"Bumping rumps in church!"

banana wheat pancakes, Friendship Class singing, youth led worship, my very own traveling communion kit, prayer shawls, hugs and the combined tears of happiness and sorrow, lunch with Ezekiel, Leah and wedding showers for the rich and famous, the church building in use 7 days a week, Rob's echoing to me my own word of advice, "Breathe."