is what my life is now. Working two part-time positions leaves very little free time. My poor old van is really getting a workout and I fear for how much longer, she'll last. Time for an oil change yet again. Plus new tires are on the horizon.
Now I not only have my cell phone to check, but the M church gave me a church cell phone. Great, now I get to carry two phones in my purse as if it wasn't heavy enough with all the things I normally carry. Two phones to check for messages, and also another church email address.
I am using my pocket calendar - shudder if you will thinking how old school - much more now to keep track of everything.
The weeks will be full, my Friday off - either cleaning house or running errands and a wedding next weekend. Thankfully, the rehearsal is on Thursday evening -so I get my Friday off, but have to be in for the Sat. wedding.
I still have to find something to use for Adult Sunday School that doesn't cost an arm and an leg,
and order kids' curriculum for the two boys who come.
I will also have to find something for Confirmation this fall - don't yet know which Bible Story I'm teaching - but I don't have any old resources to draw from.
I don't even want to think about Advent - if I'm still at L church.
Maybe, I just some vacation. I am ready. LH is ready. Three more weeks to wait. Can't wait to go and just relax and read. Even though we can barely afford it and board the dogs for a week. It gets so expensive. But our lodging is free and that's a big plus and getting to see my sister, BIL, niece and hopefully, nephew, wife and new baby will be great! Just three more weeks...
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A STUPID THING
Ever just do something stupid?
I spent yesterday getting my glasses adjusted, stopped at two stores and a grocery store. Got home, fed and let the dogs out, made myself lunch and then rushed out to the other two grocery stores.
God home, put items away and checked the answering machine where there was a message from the council president. Opps! I should've checked the machine at lunch, but was distracted by the dogs and getting stuff for dinner.
I looked up the number in my paper-clipped together directory. I saw the council sheet with President and dialed the number. Got the answering machine and left a message about possibly meeting before music and worship committee this evening. I said I was home the rest of the afternoon and evening. I never received a call.
Still hadn't heard anything this morning before I left for church.
I arrived at church and decided to call her. I looked up the number and realized I called the past council president and not the current one. I left a message with our current council president. She called back 10 minutes later and I apologized profusely and explained the error on my part, and having left a message with the wrong person. \
What a stupid mistake! Next time, I am going to pull the paper clip off and read the names and not just title on sheet and remember that the pink sheet is current council contact sheet and not the white one.
Now we'll have to have a meeting next week.
Sometimes we just do stupid things and pray that God and others are forgiving.
I spent yesterday getting my glasses adjusted, stopped at two stores and a grocery store. Got home, fed and let the dogs out, made myself lunch and then rushed out to the other two grocery stores.
God home, put items away and checked the answering machine where there was a message from the council president. Opps! I should've checked the machine at lunch, but was distracted by the dogs and getting stuff for dinner.
I looked up the number in my paper-clipped together directory. I saw the council sheet with President and dialed the number. Got the answering machine and left a message about possibly meeting before music and worship committee this evening. I said I was home the rest of the afternoon and evening. I never received a call.
Still hadn't heard anything this morning before I left for church.
I arrived at church and decided to call her. I looked up the number and realized I called the past council president and not the current one. I left a message with our current council president. She called back 10 minutes later and I apologized profusely and explained the error on my part, and having left a message with the wrong person. \
What a stupid mistake! Next time, I am going to pull the paper clip off and read the names and not just title on sheet and remember that the pink sheet is current council contact sheet and not the white one.
Now we'll have to have a meeting next week.
Sometimes we just do stupid things and pray that God and others are forgiving.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
FRUSTRATED
It's been a bit frustrating that the church I'm serving has not met its expenses but one month so far this year. I know that many churches have the same problem but usually Easter month is one where income surpasses expenses. Not for us.
Now contracts will need to be renewed for the organist, choir director and custodian. I'm sure the organist will want a raise although the church is not a position to offer one. He will probably move on to another church. It's not like there's an over abundance of organists these days. I will hate to see him go.
It is such a struggle and I feel so helpless.
Then it came to light that a long time member claimed she gave to the church all last year and didn't receive a giving statement. She claimed her giving on her taxes. The financial secretary related that she didn't get a statement because she didn't give anything and she has all the envelopes that were given in offering last year to prove it. They didn't even prepare a box of envelopes for her last year since she didn't give. Then she get asking about the envelopes and they gave her box.
She is not the only one who doesn't give. There are at least 2 others that I know about who don't give.
How can the church meet their expenses (which are really pared down to bare bones) when folks are not giving or aren't invested enough to give. Perhaps in a larger that is not such an issue, but in a small church, every dollar counts. Folks have been generous in extra giving - ie: yogurt parfait sales to fund the school district's special needs children's outings, or Lenten food drive, or Souper Bowl.
I know it's not all up to me, but it wears on me. And I pray about it. And I don't have the answers.
So, I will keep praying and praying for an answer.
Then yet another family has transferred. This time because they like the more traditional service better. The other family who I've never met transferred to a church closer to their home since the mom is elderly.
We have had one couple worship with us regularly and attend the Wednesday morning Bible Study regularly. They have been a blessing. They haven't formerly joined since they are still members of another church further away of the same denomination.
It is a struggle. And so I keep struggling with them. And I try to remain hopeful. And I keep encouraging. And I know that ultimately, it is all in God's hands.
Now contracts will need to be renewed for the organist, choir director and custodian. I'm sure the organist will want a raise although the church is not a position to offer one. He will probably move on to another church. It's not like there's an over abundance of organists these days. I will hate to see him go.
It is such a struggle and I feel so helpless.
Then it came to light that a long time member claimed she gave to the church all last year and didn't receive a giving statement. She claimed her giving on her taxes. The financial secretary related that she didn't get a statement because she didn't give anything and she has all the envelopes that were given in offering last year to prove it. They didn't even prepare a box of envelopes for her last year since she didn't give. Then she get asking about the envelopes and they gave her box.
She is not the only one who doesn't give. There are at least 2 others that I know about who don't give.
How can the church meet their expenses (which are really pared down to bare bones) when folks are not giving or aren't invested enough to give. Perhaps in a larger that is not such an issue, but in a small church, every dollar counts. Folks have been generous in extra giving - ie: yogurt parfait sales to fund the school district's special needs children's outings, or Lenten food drive, or Souper Bowl.
I know it's not all up to me, but it wears on me. And I pray about it. And I don't have the answers.
So, I will keep praying and praying for an answer.
Then yet another family has transferred. This time because they like the more traditional service better. The other family who I've never met transferred to a church closer to their home since the mom is elderly.
We have had one couple worship with us regularly and attend the Wednesday morning Bible Study regularly. They have been a blessing. They haven't formerly joined since they are still members of another church further away of the same denomination.
It is a struggle. And so I keep struggling with them. And I try to remain hopeful. And I keep encouraging. And I know that ultimately, it is all in God's hands.
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
GOOFY DAY
It was just one of those goofy kind of days. A little of this and a little of that all mixed up. I got up fed and let the dogs out, made my breakfast, read the paper, got on the computer to do a couple of things and to finesse the sermon for the memorial service on Wednesday. Made a phone call and left a message.
Filled out the bank deposit slips. Drove to the Post Office to drop off a box for my nephew's birthday and a couple little outfits for the new baby girl. Went to the bank. Went to the store to pick up plastic wrap that I noticed that morning was down nearly to the paper roll. Stopped to fill up the gas tank and made it home in time to yup, feed the greys lunch and let them out and make my salad for lunch.
After which, I looked through the mail that I had picked up as I arrived home. I got back onto the computer for no more than 15 minutes, when the phone rang. My eye glasses were already in after less than a week!!! I didn't expect them til after the 4th of July. So, since I didn't have any major plans, except laundering underwear, I drove 20 minutes to the shopping area and got fitted in my new eyeglasses - both pairs!!! I like them both so much, I don't know which to wear. One is heavier and the other very light weight. I am wearing the lighter ones today. It's been two years since my last exam and I noticed that I was using the mid-range for long distance, the close-up for mid-range and reading. Obviously a sign to me that I needed to get this done.
Since I was in civilization, I stopped at a store and found a shirt. When I came out of the store it was raining and I drove home where nary a drop had fallen.
I let the greys out, cleaned my glasses and checked them out.
LH arrived home and I had a bit more of computer time. Then it was feeding the greys their dinner - lamb & rice with extra rice leftover from Chinese food dinner the night before. I made salads to go along with our chicken and heated up left over stuffing from Thanksgiving Day that had been frozen. The very last of that.
After dinner, was doing dishes - all that doesn't go into the dishwasher, so there wasn't much.
Gave the greys their Milkbones for dessert and when I let them out, I picked some cilantro to make pico de gallo which adds a little something extra to my lunch time salads. Made the pico.
Took the dill down that I had hung up to dry and began stripping the dill - and there was a lot - into an antique Ball jar for which I had to buy new silicone rings and filled nearly the whole jar. There is more dill in the garden. Last year was my Sage year with an overabundance. This year, it seems to a Dill year.
I also made my salad and wrap for lunch today.
I played some fruit ninja on my phone.
I took the 2 bags of last fall and this springs yard waste and one garbage drum out to the end of the driveway for pick up - it all had to weigh less than 30 pounds.
I watched some Big Bang and the news. By the time the weather forecast rolled around I was ready for bed.
I never did get around to laundering my undies. I will do that Thursday.
But it was a disjointed day full of this, that and the other. I will miss that when I begin another part time position as pastor of visitation in 2 weeks. Things will be drastically different and so I am thankful and glad to have had this "goofy day" and the freedom to go and get my new glasses. I doubt that I will have any more such goofy days. They will be structured and busy. But, it will help in paying for my new glasses.
Filled out the bank deposit slips. Drove to the Post Office to drop off a box for my nephew's birthday and a couple little outfits for the new baby girl. Went to the bank. Went to the store to pick up plastic wrap that I noticed that morning was down nearly to the paper roll. Stopped to fill up the gas tank and made it home in time to yup, feed the greys lunch and let them out and make my salad for lunch.
After which, I looked through the mail that I had picked up as I arrived home. I got back onto the computer for no more than 15 minutes, when the phone rang. My eye glasses were already in after less than a week!!! I didn't expect them til after the 4th of July. So, since I didn't have any major plans, except laundering underwear, I drove 20 minutes to the shopping area and got fitted in my new eyeglasses - both pairs!!! I like them both so much, I don't know which to wear. One is heavier and the other very light weight. I am wearing the lighter ones today. It's been two years since my last exam and I noticed that I was using the mid-range for long distance, the close-up for mid-range and reading. Obviously a sign to me that I needed to get this done.
Since I was in civilization, I stopped at a store and found a shirt. When I came out of the store it was raining and I drove home where nary a drop had fallen.
I let the greys out, cleaned my glasses and checked them out.
LH arrived home and I had a bit more of computer time. Then it was feeding the greys their dinner - lamb & rice with extra rice leftover from Chinese food dinner the night before. I made salads to go along with our chicken and heated up left over stuffing from Thanksgiving Day that had been frozen. The very last of that.
After dinner, was doing dishes - all that doesn't go into the dishwasher, so there wasn't much.
Gave the greys their Milkbones for dessert and when I let them out, I picked some cilantro to make pico de gallo which adds a little something extra to my lunch time salads. Made the pico.
Took the dill down that I had hung up to dry and began stripping the dill - and there was a lot - into an antique Ball jar for which I had to buy new silicone rings and filled nearly the whole jar. There is more dill in the garden. Last year was my Sage year with an overabundance. This year, it seems to a Dill year.
I also made my salad and wrap for lunch today.
I played some fruit ninja on my phone.
I took the 2 bags of last fall and this springs yard waste and one garbage drum out to the end of the driveway for pick up - it all had to weigh less than 30 pounds.
I watched some Big Bang and the news. By the time the weather forecast rolled around I was ready for bed.
I never did get around to laundering my undies. I will do that Thursday.
But it was a disjointed day full of this, that and the other. I will miss that when I begin another part time position as pastor of visitation in 2 weeks. Things will be drastically different and so I am thankful and glad to have had this "goofy day" and the freedom to go and get my new glasses. I doubt that I will have any more such goofy days. They will be structured and busy. But, it will help in paying for my new glasses.
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