Solitude of sorts

My weekend of solitude is almost over and I sure have welcomed it. Solitude even amid 6 hours of Christmas shopping, a church service, a few hours on email, the cell phone, Facebook, and video chat.

Many things have risen to the top - regrets revisited, mourning, discovery, planning - and all of it covered by grace. At the beginning and end of the thought, the tears, the dreams, the remorse, the wonder, is grace. What a sweet place to start and end.

For the past year I've been trying to get away for a weekend of silence and it never happened - it finally found me on Claremont Court and I am grateful.

Christmas memories

As I'm writing this post I'm listening to Pandora internet radio which I just discovered yesterday - (what a fun discovery! ) Currently I'm listening to Perry Como sing Christmas songs. He was one of my mom's favorite singers and I remember listening to him at home when I was little. Makes her feel a little closer!

Every year when it's time to decorate the tree I get out this box filled with angel ornaments which were part of mom's collection. After she passed away we girls split them between us, keeping the ones we had given her.

Christmas is so tied in with memories of her life and death. She loved Christmas and all the trimmings so much! She made it so special for our family. Every year for many years she would make me and Nancy a new floor length flannel nightie with ruffles at the neck for those chilly Michigan winter nights. We loved that!

Another sweet memory as an adult was our annual tradition of reading "A Cup of Christmas Tea" together. We heard this read on Focus on the Family in the 1980's and we both loved it! (My mom gave me my love for words!) We each had our own copy and we'd find a quiet moment sometime during the holiday season and read it out loud.

Mom's last Christmas on earth was spent in the hospital receiving chemo treatments for acute leukemia. I finished my radiation treatments for breast cancer in time to spend the last 10 days of her life with her.

That last Christmas morning I didn't go to church with Dale and the boys, but went up to the hospital to see her. She said my arrival that morning was the best present ever. She always made me feel that way. We read the Christmas story in Luke 2 together and also the daily devotional in "Our Daily Bread". She prayed - how I wish I could remember every word of that prayer! I read "A Cup of Christmas Tea" to her. We went for a walk around the oncology unit and did a little housekeeping in her room. Every minute was hallowed and special.

Later that day, after the traditional party at Nancy's house, a bunch of us kids and grandkids went up to her room and sang Christmas carols around her bed and prayed. Sacred moments.....precious memories.......just a few days later she would be with dad and Jesus.

Angels, Perry Como, flannel nighties, songs, Scripture, poems, laughter, tears, hugs, prayers, and so much love.

One night when I was leaving the hospital I hugged her and said, " I love you mom, but you know that." And she hugged me tight and said, "I'm glad we've said it all along."

And now the tears are flowing and my heart is aching......the hurt is in proportion to the love and the love was great.

Christmas Caroling!

Last night our small group went caroling to the apartment complex where Rena Farmer, Gwen Green's mom lives and we had so much fun. We sang on all five floors and a few of the residents would peek outside their doors to listen. We are NOT the most melodious group ever but the hardwood floors made for great acoustics so that helped!

Rena is a sweet friend and it was wonderful to spend some time with her! After caroling we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner as a group.

December has been packed full of fun celebrations!

Small group party

When I think back on our small group Christmas party this past Saturday night, I think of how much laughter there was :-) We are becoming so comfortable with each other as our masks slide off a little bit more each week. Paul and Diana hosted it in their lovely home in Hixson. The food was absolutely delicious and so was the fellowship. The presence of these folks in our lives has filled in that missing piece of the puzzle of having meaningful relationships with adults at New City and we are grateful! Peggy by the cute kitchen Christmas tree
Tom & Bryant

Chris cracking up over his "white elephant" gift

I was glad to put that little whatever back in the pile this year after receiving it last year :-)

Bryan & Nancy brought (and I received) coconuts - the kind of coconuts that go with a grass skirt - I was so embarrassed! We're all cracking up at Eddie who's standing behind me going "put it on, put it on!" I did NOT put them on!!!! Guess what I'm bringing to the party next year?! Guess how much I hope Eddie gets them?!

My good good friend Shirley! Love this woman!!

The fishing buddies

Our sweet hosts for the evening

Another example of the stellar gifts!


Bryan got a little too excited about his snow in a jar :-)

Fun, Fun Night!!

Merry December at Chatt YL

Our whole staff and spouses went out to eat for our Christmas party tonight - we had yum food at Outback and exchanged presents after sharing what we were looking forward to this Christmas. Great time together!
Today was Babs' 24th birthday and we surprised her with dessert and a sereanade of "Happy Birthday"! She is one of the sweetest people I've ever met!

Earlier this week we had to mail out a year end letter to donors and I had lots of help from leaders who were all done with their exams. I was so grateful for the help!

This is my tacky little fiber optic Christmas tree in my window at work - a leftover treasure from this past spring's rummage sale :-)

It has been a wild semester but filled with so many blessings! I'm looking forward to Christmas break and time with family and friends up in Michigan. I sure am thankful for this job and look forward to the year ahead!

"Quieting"

It's the theme this week in the Blue Book - the book that starts my day in the GTCA. And I know that God's timing is perfect once again as He looks at my hurried, harried heart that feels like there aren't enough hours in each day to accomplish what I need to do for work

ski trip
wreath sale
year end letter

and the other parts of my life

encourage Shirley & other friends going thru hard times
do Christmas cards, shopping, decorating,cooking
catch up on the laundry and housecleaning
prepare for core group and church small group

Psalm 23 is the Psalm for the week and it's full of quieting words

lie down
quiet waters
restoration
guidance
anointing
dwelling
comfort
presence

I continue to seek the balance of Mary's heart/Martha's hands ~ not seeking in a desperate way but with a gratitude that I even desire it, that I even know I need that balance.

Ready to walk into another week this Monday morning..... to just breathe and remember that everything always gets done and "it will be all right" (to quote the man I live with who was born with that balance I seek:-)

Thankful that God collided the "Quieting" chapter with my life on December 8, 2008. It's so like Him to love me like that.

Christmas Party Weekend!!

It's been a fun weekend with a couple of parties - one with Big Brother Big Sisters and one with Young Life. On Friday night Dale & I took Victoria and Lakresha and Destiny (we had the two extra girls because their Big/our friend Anne was in a wedding) to the BBBS party and they were lots of fun to hang out with.

Last night we had the YL leader/staff/committee party - a big surprise of the night was having Allen Levi there to sing for us! I absolutely love those YL leaders and they're some of my favorite people on earth to spend time with!

Very fun weekend - thank you, Lord!!