HOMEGOING-
Today, I get to go home! Nothing better in all the world than being home,
home in your own surroundings, home with your loved ones, home in your own bed.
Although I am going home today and it will be good, I still am not home with God. That yet eludes me. I used to be home with God, until this dark night crept in and took over and now I wander the darkness seeking that home with God. There haven't even been far off lights in the windows of my home with God to beckon me and lead me closer. Just darkness in which I am shrouded and the Great Silence to whom I pray. How much longer will this continue, I have no idea. But the longing to be home with God is as strong as ever. And the knowing of the home I have had with God will keep me looking, seeking, searching until I find it once again, even if it takes the rest of my days on earth. I pray that this dark night will not last that long, but when I hear of others, who may I, that I should be spared months and years of a dark night? God knows the time and God knows me. So, I just go on trust and belief. Help my unbelief, O Great Silence.
In the meanwhile, I do get a homegoing that soothes my anguished spirit. And it is enough for now.

Greyhound News:
I was going to wait until I could post a picture, but not being home much and a busy weekend, it just didn't happen. Hopefully, I'll get it posted over the next weekend.
Jett is wearing 2 doggie inflatable donuts around his neck and looks like he's ready to go boating!!!
Poor, poor fella!
When we picked him up from being boarded, he had a slight scratch on his left front elbow. We watched it and tried to keep him from licking it. It got worse (from his licking, of course!) We tried to put the plastic bucket collar on him and he simply freaked and got it off by whacking it. The sore got worse.
We took him to the emergency vet (because LH waited too long) and Jett was put on 7 days of antibiotic, and that's when we got the donuts.
Now a greyhound has a unique physique! So the medium donut fit around the neck but, Jett figured how to just reach his sore. Jett could slip out of the large donut, but LH went and got the large one. Now, the large donut is around Jett's neck by his chest and the medium one is behind his ears. Thankfully, Greys have long necks to accomodate both and it works!!!!
Jett just looks pathetic and is always playing for sympathy.
The wound got a bit better but still bled a bit - drops all over the carpet and dog bed. As most dogs and especially greys, Jett uses his elbow tto lay down and to get back up, which aggravates and rubs the sore.
LH had to take Jett to the Vet yesterday and they tested the blood finding bacteria - so still an infection and more antibiotics, but no signs of cancer!!!
LH made a quick run to the store to pick up a couple more cans of Vienna Sausage - the only thing that seems to work for getting Jett to take his antibiotics. We have been through Liversausage, Peanut Butter, KauKauna cheese and even those Pill Pockets, which we had to cut in half to use. I hope he doesn't grow tired/suspicious of the Vienna Sausage otherwise we will be at wit's end.
I'm hoping this sore will start clearing up soon so that Jett can live without his air donuts, especially when the weather's been so hot. He's such an elegant, refined fella and these past 6 weeks have been a pain for us all, but none moreso than Jett.

THE CONTINUING DARK NIGHT:

The dark night of my soul continues. It's been a year already. I shouldn't complain as Mother Theresa's lasted decades.
LH's profile was submitted to a church in the same town where I am presently serving. It is a small town, tucked away, but within a half hour of the region's shopping mecca and 2 hospitals. I had checked out housing on the web and was not impressed with the few choices. But, I figured we could do some upgrades if need be.
I was somewhat despairing on my drive on Friday, even tearful. A whole year of trying, of waiting, of being in limbo and nothing working out.
After I walked in the door, changed clothes, made dinner and we were eating, LH mentions that he got a call and his name is no longer being considered because the church changed their profile and the profiles no longer match.
I was disappointed that yet another position was not working out but there was also a lightness in my soul, as though a burden had been lifted. Obviously, God's future for us does not include us living here. But where God and when? The question clings to the air like last night's fish and cabbage dinner!
The routine still doesn't sit well with me being gone from home most of the week. I miss my boys. I miss making dinner at home. I miss the dishwasher, the airconditioning, pulling weeds in the evening, our couch, the company of LH. Least you think these are mere creature comforts, I miss my spirit, the lovedness, the joy, the humor, of my relationship with God, the Great Silence.
I feel cast off from God's presence and as though God's spirit has been taken from me. That is really the hardest of all to deal with. I wander through my days, weeks, and the world, out of sync, a lost soul, ever seeking, searching, pleading, praying to the Great Silence.
The silence is deafening. Yet, I trudge on, plugging away, praying still, and doing my best. It's all I can do for now, for today.

Saw this MEME at Life's A Beach and thought I'd try it out.

99 Things About Me (Everything that I have accomplished is starred *)

*1. Started your own blog
*2. Slept under the stars
*3. Played in a band - concert band
4. Visited Hawaii
*5. Watched a meteor shower
*6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
*7. Been to DisneyWorld
*8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis- watched one in my garden, I don't touch bugs!
*10. Sang a solo - a advertising ditty - Mmmm, Mmmm, good, that's what
Lenten soup suppers are, Mmm, mmm, good! Nobody really wants to hear
me sing!
11. Bungee jumped - but why?
12. Visited Paris
*13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
*16. Had food poisoning - in college during finals week
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
*18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
*20. Slept on an overnight train - Frankfurt to Basel
*21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
- absolutely not!

*23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - guilty, mental health day
*24. Built a snow fort - and an igloo
25. Held a lamb
- seen them, touched them

26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon - not for me
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - perhaps some day


*29. Seen a total eclipse
*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


31. Hit a home run - I am not coordinated enough!
*32. Been on a cruise - just not RGBP's one
*33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - more than once


*34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - just was there again in June
*35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
*37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - except for this year
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - not for me
*40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - again, why subject folks to my awful singing?
*42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
*43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - well, fast food
*44. Visited Africa - will stay with me forever


*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
*46. Been transported in an ambulance - don't recommend it
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing


50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - how about top of CN
Tower in Toronto, or the formerly Sears Tower & John Hancock in
Chicago, don't they count?
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
- maybe some day

52. Kissed in the rain


*53. Played in the mud 


*54. Gone to a drive-in theater
*55. Been in a movie - I'm thinking home movies
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
*57. Started a business - didn't last long enough
*58. Taken a martial arts class - required for prison work
59. Visited Russia - would be neat some day
*60. Served at a soup kitchen - never peeled so many potatoes in my life


*61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
*62. Gone whale watching- off Cape Cod, gray whale in Port Renfrew VI


*63. Got flowers for no reason - does getting them for myself, count?
*64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving - not on your life!
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - not sure that I can
*67. Bounced a check - only once
68. Flown in a helicopter


*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
- my doll Lena from Greece from my now
deceased Aunt in 1965

*70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - and Jefferson
*71. Eaten Caviar - just because I ate it doesn't mean I like it
*72. Pieced a quilt
- just for a small hanging made of joined squares

73. Stood in Times Square
 - been to NYC

*74. Toured the Everglades - been to the Everglades, didn't tour though
*75. Been fired from a job
- reluctantly resigned

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - been to England just not
London
77. Broken a bone
- thankfully not, tore the quad muscle off my knee though

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - probably won't ever catch me on one
*79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book -does a poem and essay count?
81. Visited the Vatican - been to Geneva & Zurich/John Calvin & Zwingli's
churches
*82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
*84. Had your picture in the newspaper - hometown, in OH, and in Switzerland
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve


*86. Visited the White House
*87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
- just skinned the cow

*88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury

- been called to serve 3 times, but never ended up
serving
*91. Met someone famous
- do Hans Kueng & Walter Wangerin, Jr. count?

92. Joined a book club
- maybe some day

93. Got a tattoo - never
94. Had a baby - unfortunately not
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - have swum in Lake McDonald in Glacier
National Park though, also the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico
97. Been involved in a law suit
*98. Owned a cell phone


99. Been stung by a bee - thankfully not!

WORDS YOU CAN'T SAY IN CHURCH
were going around in my head, as I just said "NO, NO, NO!" I mistakenly hit a button with the side of my palm and poof! the prayers of the people I'd been working on disappeared in a flash and I was looking at a blank page on my screen. I just about had the prayer done too. It was worded just as I wanted it to be. I had crafted it just so. I am furious. I hate this keyboard. It has happened before. How infuriating!!
Makes me wonder why our real mistakes and failures don't just disappear and vanish so easily as the good stuff. I know, there are lessons that need to be learned, wisdom gained, forgiveness received, etc. But, it would be nice if they just instanteously disappeared as they ocurr. That is wishful thinking.
So, now its back to Word and a new blank page to start all over again. I think I'll tackle it after lunch and let the churning of the frustation settle into gentle waves until I let it go into the ocean of oblivion where it no longer matters any more.
Wish I could have really said the words you can't say in church!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO REVGALBLOGPALS!!!
I stumbled up RGBPs 4 years ago and found such wisdom, insight, fun, and delight, that I started in too, just because in leaving a comment, I got tired of being anonymous and wanted to have an identity!
You all have been such an inspiration and have fed and nourished my soul and spirit. What a joy this community is!
After 4 years, I am still am trying to figure out how to do things on the blog. Eventually, I hope to figure out how to capture the button!!!
Anyway, hope we'll all be around for many more years.
And to those whose blogs we miss - come back and share with us. We miss you. We pray that you are well. Know that there's always a welcome for you.
It's good to belong! What a grace you all are!

 

Here's Jazz - the lively, kinda redneck Brindle.

 

Here's our good-lookin', refined, elegant Jett!

FRIDAY FIVE: PETS OR NOT?

1. Did you grow up with pets?
We had a fox terrier mix named Rex who loved to go camping with us
and travelled all over the states. He was a good family dog.

2. Do you have any pets now?
Two greyhounds - Jett and Jazz. A couple of toads who live in the
garden - Tetley and Terra II, a humingbird couple who visit our bee
balm and feeder - Hummer and Mazda, and several gold finches who eat
at our thistle feeder - members of the Goldfarbs- Harvey and Sheila.

3. What is the funniest or worst thing any of your pets have ever done?
Baruch, the Beagle, many years ago, had something in his mouth which
he brought into the house one Mother's Day, while I was getting
breakfast ready before leaving for church. I coaxed him out from under
the piano and lo, and behold, he had a dead bird in his mouth!! "Happy
Mother's Day and look what I got you!!" he seemed to think. Shudder.
It was all I could do to get him to take it back outside and drop it.
He buried it and noticed I was watching him and promptly dug it back
up and wanted to bring it back in. Eventually, he dropped outside the
back door and LH had to dispose of it.
Jazz likes to eat dried poop - whether it's his own of Jett's, I don't
know. That's just plain nasty!

4. Who is/was your favorite pet?
That would be Earl, our very first greyhound. He was my soulmate. He
was all mine. We volunteered at the Children's Hospital for 4 years
until he turned 11 and it got to be too much to stand for 2 hours.
Earl would spoon next to me in bed and knew exactly when I feel asleep
and then would get off the bed and sleep on the couch. In his old age,
we eventually, had to get him to get off the bed. Try sleeping in a
queen size bed with your spouse and a large greyhound who took up as
much space as a person!

5. How did you train your different pets?
The Beagle went to puppy class for 6 weeks and it cost $35.00, in
those days. He learned to sit. That was about it. He hardly came when
he was called - ever with his nose to the ground, except when there
was food involved. The greys were fairly easy. We just let them out
several times and they picked up that they go potty outside. Usually,
they all had one accident of both kinds, but then that was it.
With Jazz, who liked to rip up magazines and catalogues off the coffee
table, we crated him, once when we left the house. The next time we
crated him, he bent several wires of his cage and never went back in
again. He's gotten so he hasn't touched a catalogue in months -
nothing in it for him to order!!

BONUS: Picture of a pet or one you wish you could have.
Since, I'm having trouble being able to post a picture, go to
my June 25, 2010 post and you'll see both my greys!

HOT, HOT, HOT...

It'll be a hot one today, 90+ degrees. Yuck! It's steamy, muggy and the air is thick. The van heats up to 150 degrees in the sun. Ok, a slight exaggeration! But it gets really hot sitting in the full sun.
I get to go home for dinner and days off tonight. Thanks be to God!
Looks like next week will be a long, hot one. Probably, salmon salad and crackers for dinner for the week!

A MOURNING -

This region of OH is in mourning. And yes, anger is a part of it. One betrayal was bad enough. But this latest one, not only hurts and saddens, there is anger at treatment and the flamboyant, egotistical way the news was to be broadcast.
LeBron James has left the Cavaliers. Turned his back on his hometown and went off to be with his friends, shutting out his loyal and dedicated fans.
I cannot blame Gilbert for his letter and words. He expressed what he knew Northeast OH was feeling. And for this he gets fined! Of course, I think it was rather bold talk! Maybe the Cleveland Curse will indeed follow King James. Let him be King somewhere else where he is just one of several stars and no longer feted as the hometown boy made good.
Great Lakes Brewing Company is making a new brew called "Quitness". I hope it doesn't leave as bitter a taste in one's mouth as this latest sports upheaval and betrayal.
First The Browns are taken away, by he who shall remain nameless. And now this, the Cavaliers left bereft and the fans as well.
Oh woe, to those whose religion is sports and who put their trust in teams and who worship the idols of the game. You will be disappointed. You will lament. There will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. You will never be satisfied for it is just a game, a mere game. Get over it and get on! There is so much more to life than the antics of sports, sports figures, and teams. Put your trust in that which will never disappoint and will always satisfy, the Lord our God. He's the team for which you should have such loyalty and root for.
Cleveland will come back again. Cleveland will get knocked down again. And the coach will get fired. And all the good players will get traded or leave. And the whole cycle will begin all over again. Welcome to Northeast OH and their sports team.
For now, mourn. Then move on. There is a whole world out there far bigger, better and greater than sports. Rejoin the Land of the Living and find true meaning that goes beyond the world of sports. God'll meet you there and will wipe away every tear from eyes.

BASTILLE DAY -

Edward Hays notes that when the French stormed the Bastille in Paris, there were only seven prisoners in it and a couple of them were "mad" and kept there for their own and society's safety.
It was on this day 27 years ago, that I was on an alp in the Graubuenden region of Switzerland with a church work camp. We, adults, slept on hay in a barn, while the youth slept in tents, the latrine was next to the pigsty!
The week-long project was to finish laying the water line from a glacier down the alp to a couple of old bath tubs which would serve as drinking troughs for the cows as they spent the summer on the alp. It was an hour's hike from our camp to the worksite!!! (and of course, an hour's hike back after a day of manual labor with every muscle aching!!)
As I recall, it got rather chilly at night and one lay person had a little flask of Kirsch, which each adult was able to have a sip to feel "wonderfully warmed" before slipping into the sleeping bag.
There was a man who stayed in alp hut all summer milking and making cheese. The son of the owner of the cows spent weeks up there as well, leading the cows to the free range pastures and herding back in the evening. He had a short wave radio so that he could radio down to the town where the family home was.
It was near the end of the week, on a lovely, beautiful morning when the pastor told me that there had been a call for me. The farmer's son had radioed down to home earlier that morning and had a message for me. It had come from my grandma in another canton in Switzerland who called the farmer. Grandma, likewise had received a long distance call from Chicago from her daughter (my Mom) with the news: I am the Aunt to a new born nephew!!!! I celebrated with an extra sip of kirsch after dinner and with bit in my evening coffee!!!
So the news originated in the hospital with a call to my parents, then travelled across the ocean to my Grandma in a little town who called the farmer in an even smaller, remote town in the eastern alps, who radioed the news via short wave radio up the alp. Such good news had a long way to travel and I was last in the family to hear about it, but hear about it I did. Happy Birthday C! The news of your birth travelled halfway around the world and up an alp!!!
And here you are, 27 years later, a professional, married and now a home owner. All growed up!!! And a fine man, to boot. Happy fly fishing and soon, snowboarding!!!
Love ya, so much! Your proud Aunt!

BRAND, SPANKIN' NEW!

It arrived yesterday morning and was put in with care - it's my new windshield!!!!
Wow, how nice to drive without any nicks or a crack across the driver's side. Today, I get to take the tape off and hope it'll be good without any leaks.
A small thing in the big picture of the world and life, but nice nonetheless!

Forgetful RGBP'S Friday Five:

a) What's the last thing you forgot?
To call the church secretary to remind her to put little slips of paper
into the bulletins for Sunday. Folks are to write down their favorite
hymn to be compiled for our upcoming hymnsing. Duh!
e) How do you keep track of appointments?
My desk calendar and small pocket calendar in my purse. Works for me.
i) Do you keep a running grocery list?
I do. Have to remind LH to put things on the list as he or I think of
them.
o) When forced to improvise by circumstances, do you enjoy it or panic?
Panic, usually. I'm not much for extemporaneous speaking or
improvising. Althoug, sometimes, my off the cuff remarks, sometimes
during worship service have gone rather well. First, I panic. Then I
try to come up with something.

u) What's a memory you hope you will never forget?
Oh, there's so many of them, it's hard to latch upon just one.
Whenever I have loved and been loved and known its glow, whether
with LH, my family, with parishioners, strangers, in ministry and
outside of ministry. It's so wondrously spacious, gracious, light-
filled and emanating, and fills you to overflowing. Beautiful,
awesome, nothing can ever compare to the Love that is so beyond
yourself and is Christ's within you.

WHY I TAKE MY VACATION -
It has come to light, that apparently there are pastors who don't take their vacation. I know I have complained at the prep work to put the services together while I'm gone and the one upon my return. And it seems like I'm forever putting worship services together. (O, fortunate, Lutherans and Episcopalians, who use a liturgy where some parts are the same from week to week!) However, I know, I am not indispensable, yes, it is a lot of extra work, and yes, there is catching up when one returns, and yes, the possiblity always exists that someone might die or some crisis may ocurr while you are absent and cannot return, nor return in time.
Perhaps, you are much better pastors than I.
But I know myself, and know the healing, recharging, fresh perspective, new eyes and heart and spirit that time away can bring and gives. Even our Lord stepped back and took time apart. What makes us, pastors, think we don't need to or have to or can't take time to?
"Every now and then, go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment...God some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen."
Wise words of Leonardo da Vinci! He was far from being a slacker and knew the value, wisdom, gift and grace which comes from some time away, a time apart. I know this to be true. I come back in a better place with better perspective. I have experienced new things, a different landscape and rhythm to my day or week. And it refreshes, renews, recharges me. And I return ready to meet the challenges and take up that which I put down for just a time.
I pray that my colleagues would listen to these words of Da Vinci and take for their example, Christ, himself. Take a break. Go away even if just for a week or ten days. Allow yourself to set down the responsibilities we take so earnestly and shoulder with so much devotion. Do your congregation and yourself a big favor and take your vacation. RELAX. Rest in the Lord your God. Do something fun, something you've wanted to do. Spend time with your family, your kids, who need you, your spouse who misses you.
If Leonard Da Vinci could find time to do it amid all he did, and saw and experienced the value of it, surely you can too.
Savor some time away, apart. Savor resting with God.

CAUGHT UP -
I'm actually kinda caught up for this week, already!!!
That rarely happens. Usually, there's still a long list of things to do or to begin tackling. Trying to space my visits out so that I will have a couple to do next week.
Since it's so hot today, I'll be making a nursing home visit. You can usually enjoy their air conditioning!!!
I've visited parishioners who don't have a/c on warm days and really got hot. So, I've tried to make visits this week where I know there's a/c, except for yesterday but they live in the woods and had ceiling fans and I survived without too much discomfort.
The secretary here is wearing long pants and a 3/4 length sleeve knit shirt. I'm wearing a neutral printed cotton skirt, white linen short=-sleeved shirt and black sandals. It's going to be like 95 today. I would be sweating away in a shirt with longer sleeves. The vehicles in the parking lot heat up to well over 100 degrees.
Maybe its a psychological thing. Wear long sleeves and it makes you think its cooler than it is!!!! Nope, won't work for me. Anything over 85 is just too hot for me.
In the meanwhile, I'm counting the hours 'til the cool front arrives, tomorrow!!!!

FROM BAD TO WORSE -
The parking lot at the church has no trees around it and gets plenty of direct sun. When I went out to the van for lunch, that 4 inch crack had grown to 4 times its length, thanks to the heat of the sun.
I am now driving with a silvery line just below my line of vision. It is disturbing. Thankfully, it will be replaced. Unfortunately, not until Monday morning at the earliest. Let's hope the next 3 commutes I make will be without mishap or another pebble hitting that may make worse even worser!

EVENTFUL MORNING COMMUTE -
So there I was driving on the interstate for my hour-long commute to the church this morning, when a car pulls ahead of me into my lane. (I am usually in the far left lane, which normally moves a little faster.) When that all too familiar sound strikes, of a rock hitting my windshield. Only this time I don't see the round spot just a 4 inch horizontal blue line from the edge of the window towards the center, midway in the windshield on the driver's side. Had it been an inch or so more over to the left, it would've missed me completely. Looks like there will be a new windshield in my future. I have had more rocks and pebbles hit the windshield of this van than any other van or car I've owned. I know I'm driving quite a bit (more this week, because it is so hot and it is cooler at home than the apartment with its tiny a/c.) But I used to (22 years ago!) drive 400 miles, from central OH to central IL, every other weekend for a year, on interstate and highway behind trucks, semi's, and farm equipment, and never once had anything hit and damage my windshield. Is there more stuff on the roadways now or what?
I never saw anything, just the wack of some small rock or large pebble hitting the windshield.
My insurance agent is just gonna love me!

There was a time...
when I would've been thrilled about GA and all its proceedings. But that was years ago, before all the battles that have worn me down and have sucked the energy from our denomination.
Caterpillar is not the demon. The demon is ruptured relationships that have been ruptured for centuries. But we need a tangible devil and because corporate America is always suspect - therefore, Caterpillar.
I doubt our denomination would be spending all this time and energy on Cat if the bulldozers in question, would have been Komatsu.
For the last twenty years, we've been hashing around the ordination/marriage issue. Look around and see denominations torn apart by this issue. (Episcopalians and Lutherans)Churches have left their denomination and striking out on their own loosely connected networks.
There are two salient points regarding this issue - 1. Benefits - GLT persons are desiring health care benefits with their partners - like married couples. So, it is about money.
2. Acceptance - that their way of life is acceptable in the eyes of the world and the church, regardless of what Scripture says.
I am tired of being backed into a corner by those driving their own agenda and not caring about the whole church.
At this point, I think I no longer care. It will come to be one day, and I will no longer fight it. I trust God's forgiveness in this. I am tired of the energy drain, of the fighting, of being made to feel wrong, of reinterpreting Scripture to say what we want it to say and not what is does say. I am tired.
I just know, that our denomination will tear apart as have the other two and that saddens me greatly. We can do more and witness better to the love of Christ our Lord together than we can do apart and divided. But then, we have a long history of division. It seems almost inevitable.
So, go on then with your bickering, and changing the BOO one word at a time, one line at a time. My prayers are for a united, vital, loving, faithful, enthusiastic church of Jesus Christ with a Reformed theology and heritage and tradition.
I pray for our churches that are languishing, and trying to find their way into and through the 21st century and struggling to be faithful in new ways while still being Presbyterian.
I hope that you will pray for us all as well.

 

View from Zwingli's house!!! Pretty impressive view although in Zwingli's time, the modern house would not have been there! Just a lovely region.

 

The humble, primitive, work intensive kitchen in Zwingli's house. I can't even imagine having to cook this way!!

 

The living room of Zwingli's house complete with set of 4 Bibles. The Bible all the way on the left is the oldest one and Zwingli's translation. It was published in 1565 and printed on the press. Note that the ceilings and floors are all original.

 

Close up of a window at Zwingli's house.

 

A bedroom and bed in Zwingli's house.

 

VACATION - PART III

While in Switzerland, we took a break from visiting relatives to enjoy a day and a drive to Wildhaus, to see Zwingli's birthplace and home. It was well worth a visit. It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time and we finally had a free day to do the easy drive. The house is original as are the floors and ceiling and most of it. The windows were replaced over time and I believe the study desk is from the 1700-1800's.
I had heard the name of Zwingli since I was knee-high to a grasshopper! Since he was the Reformer from Zurich, he was closer than Calvin in Geneva to my family's hometown. Ulrich Zwingli, was Luther's contemporary and even though they met, they never could agree on the theology of the Lord's Supper. I often think that Zwingli was overshadowed by Luther, and then by Calvin. But Zwingli was never excommunicated by the Pope and actually was given quite a bit of latitude by the church and government powers that were. And even though, he said, "Let them eat sausage", on Good Friday, he, himself did not partake. He knew that what goes into our mouths was not as important as to what comes out of our mouths!
Zwingli was a bit extreme in throwing out organs from churches, as well as statues, icons, and colored stained glass windows, preferring the simplicity of the round coke-bottle bottom windows, and keeping one's focus on the word of God, which he translated into German called the Zwingli Bible. We were able to look at a Zwingli Bible from 1565 which although no longer hand scribed was printed on a Gutenberg press. It was a holy thing, to view a Bible he translated and which was used in the years following his death and the Reformation. I have the modern version which is considerably smaller and easier to carry around!!!!
To think that I walked the warped, worn wood plank floors and steps that he did as a child was a most wondrous and awe-inspiring thing. I felt the same way when I stood at the door of the Grossmuenster in Zurich. However, knowing the floor and steps were original made it even more awesome.
It is a small house with low ceilings, the better to keep the heat in, and it was somewhat dark. The roof had stones on it, which is typical for the area and times. 500 + years after he lived, I, a Presbyterian pastor of Swiss ancestory, was able to visit his birthplace and know from where my roots and to feel a connection that spans the centuries.
I'll post a few more pictures.
If you ever have a chance - go and see it. It lies in the beautiful Toggenburg region of Switzerland. And although, it was overcast when we were there, perhaps, you'll have better weather and see the Eastern mountains, and enjoy the music of cowbells clanging as the cows graze on the alps in the summertime. Could there ever be lovelier music to one's ears as that which the cows compose new each day?
The Toggenburg region is also home to Simon Ammann, the Gold medalist in Olympic Ski Jumping.
Be sure and head to the Saantis and enjoy the mountain and views. Gondolas are running in the summer and it is a wonderful alpine hiking area. In the winter, Wildhaus has a Ski and Snowboard School.
Enjoy the other pictures from Zwingli's birth house!

TODAY -
Today, my Dad would've turned 86! Hard to believe he's been gone from my sight for 10 years. I still miss him. I wish you could've been with us for these past ten years, but then perhaps, it was a grace that he did not have to live through these times right now, with a decimated investment portfolio, house of lesser value, the terrorism, economic crisis (course he grew up in the depression), lack of integrity and morality that abounds in business, society, government, the Gulf Oil crisis; and damage and wastefulness, lack of foreplanning and disaster preparedness and last, but not least, LH and I's very tenuous life. It would've siphoned his spirit the way my mom's death did.
So, better he left us when all was well and good and he had peace.
But, there are many times when I would love to ask him a question or listen to his wisdom, and know the security of his being there, and have him around to fix a thing or two or even paint!!!
Dad always said there would come a time again like these present times - of unemployment, loss of income, hard times. And that we would be grateful to have a potato on our plates. Dad was perhaps more right than even he imagined. Mostly, it was an injunction to save every penny, to make do with things, to not replace something that could be fixed, to not live beyond one's means. Values, lessons, wisdom, I still live by today. Although, I admit, I am alittle more loose in making purchases than he was, but never too overboard. Lessons, values and wisdom, that too many in my generation have not heeded and indulged in excesses beyond their means - clothing, shoes, houses, cars, entertainment, etc.. They have carried credit card debt to the point of never in their lifetime having the ability to pay it off or paying hundreds or thousands of dollars more than the item's actual value and cost. We have lived in an age of indulgence and now we are paying the price. We have lived with greed and cheating, lying, and do whatever makes you feel good, and look where it has gotten us. Jobs lost, banks not lending to help businesses to grow, houses in foreclosure, people without health insurance or liveable wages.
I, sometimes, chafed at how hard, disciplined, and penny-pinching my Dad was, but now, I realize the truth he knew, had experienced and lived.
I give thanks to God, for my Dad and for all his goodness, integrity, moral fiber, and his wisdom. Mostly, I'm thankful he loved us and was a Dad we could always look up to, respect, and hold dear to us for the rest of our lives.
And in my heart, Dad is still with me. Happy 86th Birthday!

HOPEFULLY, NOT A LESSON IN FUTILITY!

I am in the process of getting 9 folks to take part in a Readers' Theatre on the Good Samaritan for July 11th. It is the middle of summer when lots of folks are gone, attendence is down, and it is hit and miss as to who is here on any given Sunday. I'm hoping that this will not be a lesson in futility!!! Perhaps, a bit of hope is springing up like those first tiny green strawberries of the season that contain the lusciouness of sunshine, rain and summer days in its wee being as one anticipates the deliciousness of the first ripe strawberry. I am praying that it will be so for this Readers' Theatre.

TRUE TO FORM!
Last evening I was leafing through some Swiss & German fashion magazines that I always purchase each time we go over. It helps with my German and its always interesting to see the ads and read an article or two that interest me.
One of the magazines had one of those surveys on What Vacation Type you are. I dutifully answered the questions as best I could - one question didn't have one answer I truly liked so I made a best out of them, choice.
When I tallyed my score - wouldn't you know it - I'm a Contemplative Vacation Type!!! Obviously not the Adventurer, or Jetsetter.
Again, not surprising, that at my age, I am true to form.
Now, I'm really ready for a more contemplative vacation after the stressful, each day go somewhere and see something or someone vacation.
I suppose it's ok to be true to form, to know yourself enough, to know what feeds your spirit and soul, in what settings you function best.
If only I could get my form a little leaner!!!

SOME DAYS -
Some days, I feel very old, older than my age.
Some days, I feel so much younger than my age.
Some days, I feel just so tired.
Some days, I feel so technologically behind the moon.
Some days, I wish an end to this dark night and to our limbo.
Some days, I am glad to be away from LH.
Some days, I just want to be home with LH and the boys.
Some days, I feel like I don't fit in anywhere.
Some days, I wonder why I am in the ministry.
Some days, I can't imagine doing anything else than ministry.
Some days, I long to retire and wish I had the funds to do so.
Some days, my spirit yearns to be free and do things without the need for pay.
Some days, I am just so lonely.
All days, I pray that LH would find a position.
Some days, God seems so far away, uncaring, unreachable.
Some days, my spirit seems to have left me and I keep searching for it, and longing
for it to return to me.
Some days, I just go through the motion.
Some days, I feel alive.
Some days, I simply wonder what God is up to.
Some days, I just need a hug and to be held, only there's none.
Some days, I feel like giving up.
Some days, I bubble up with hope.
All days, I know God holds me in God's love and care, even when I feel it not.
How are you today?

RGBP'S FRIDAY FIVE - HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME?

We're invited to share 5 things we like or dislike about summer and so are you!!
LIKES:
1. Not having to wear pantyhose!
2. Seeing the flowers bloom and the garden grow.
3. The long evenings to sit on the porch or patio when I'm home.

DISLIKES:
4. Japanese beetle invasion we have faced the last three years and having to dust
with Sevin. Hate having to use that poison.
5. Hot, muggy, steamy days over 82 degees.

 

As I promised, more of Jazz!!!

 

Oooo, I can't stop. Here's a picture of Jett with a bit of Jazz.
More of Jazz in next posting.

 

This is the hat I wore for the wedding/renewal of vows.
Ohh, isn't this fun as I learn how to do this posting with a picture!!!

 

Here's Daphne Duc who now graces our mantel and came from the English Heritage store, all ready with a name to be adopted.

 

Here's the London designer purse I picked up in Wales. The photo doesn't do it justice. It is teal and the photo makes it blue. It's Suzy Smith bag. It goes with nothing and yet everything!!!

VACATION ADVENTURES - (PART III)

We found our way to the Birmingham airport without any driving mishaps, however there was quite a backup that made me wonder if we would indeed, make our plane. Fortunately, we left with plenty of time to spare, and the back up began to ease after 20 minutes. We also had no long wait to get through security, always a plus!
Had a bite to eat - a brie, spinach, cranberry baguette. Rather quite tasty! And eventually, made our way to the gate.
Landed in Zurich around 9:30 pm. My darling LH said we need to get a cab to the hotel. I had thought there were shuttles but he didn't think they would run that time of night. ( I still beg to differ). We paid way too much for the cab ride (but supported a guy trying to make a living). It was very warm at that time of night - 72 degrees!!! Apparently, it had been in the 80's the past couple of days and our hotel had just gotten their air conditioner fixed!!! LH would've wanted to find another hotel had the a/c still been broken. Feel into bed and slept.
Had the most wonderful breakfast of the best croissants in the world, flakey and buttery, and airy, complete with jam, and cheese, and a hard boiled egg. It's been 5 years since I last had such a good croissant.
Took the Hotel Shuttle (free, mind you) back to the airport and got our rental car. This time it was a car not a minivan. Followed the Google directions to my cousin's place and found it without much trouble. Cool.
Got squared away in our quarters and talked with my cousin. He's one of our older cousins. It just doesn't seem we should be this old. All my memories are of 40+ years ago when we were all much younger!!!
We left for Basel and on the way with some time to kill and breakfast wearing off we stopped at an oasis over the Autobahn. Found a potted flower for my cousin, got some bottled water and some landjaeger - Swiss meat stick or actually long and rectangular. Again, it's been 5 years since having a bite of such a tasty treat. Looked in a couple stores and then we headed onward to Basel.
Now my cousin who had grown up in Basel, in a hotel there, told which street to follow to get to where we need to go. Saw the sign and followed it so well, that when the street sign showed the street veering to the left, I told LH to veer to the left, which he did, only too soon and all of sudden, there was a gate in front of us. We had landed in a parking garage!!! It was the Parking Garage of Hotel California - you check in but you can't check it!!
We followed the exit signs which lead us around and down one level, two levels, three levels and then brought us back up again. I thought we were going to be stuck in that parking garage for the remainder of our lives. Finally, the exit dumped us onto the street we were following to begin with. Whew!
Found my other cousin's house okay after that. My sister and BIL joined us as well and we had a lovely evening of warm Brie and grilled beef and horsemeat. No, I did not try the horsemeat. I just couldn't. I've eaten lots of stuff but horsemeat and dogmeat, I can't. LH did try it though. The salad was also very good and the Tiramisu for dessert was wonderful.
It was nearly 10 pm when we dropped my sister and BIL off at the Basel train station and we headed back to Zurich.
On Sunday, we headed to the cousin who's a year younger than I, and who just turned 50. She lives in Germany just over the border from Basel. So back to Basel we went and ventured into Germany. Fortunately, between Google directions and my memory, we found their place. Enjoyed a champagne toast, and brought some small gifts, including wild socks (every woman should have a pair of wildly colored socks at 50!!!), a pink sequined tiara, a "Look Who's 50" button, a stained glass angel, a small book, and a dichroic glass necklace. We had lunch at a wonderful place which overlooks a vineyard with views of Germany, Basel, and France! Had a very filling, delicious lunch. Since my cousin's soul mate is paralyzed from the waist down, he was tired after lunch and needed a rest. So, us two girls, sat in the backyard and chatted the afternoon away.
Too soon, it was time to leave and head back to Zurich.
On Monday, we headed into my Dad's hometown and where my Mom's mom lived and many relatives. We stopped in a couple grocery stores - LH likes a certain mustard in a tube. I was on the prowl for fresh cut flowers, but neither grocery store had any. So we made our way to the garden center/florist. Of course, they had some for a hefty price. Took one of the cheaper bouquets, still expensive.
Stopped at the Cheese store for some very fine variety of tasty, some more pungent cheeses. Then on to my Godmother's for a fine lunch of Salad, Surre Mooche, (beef cubes marinated in wine for a week) and mashed potatoes and gravy. Since she is now 77 years old, she needed a rest after lunch and her kids and grandkids and one sister who all came to lunch. They own their business and so the sons come in for lunch I would venture to say most every day. Chatted with my Godmother;s daughter who has 3 children and with whom we've stayed when in Switzerland.
Then it was on to the little flower shop where I found a lovely pot of mixed colored flowers for a good price to put on my parent's grave and a little bouquet for my greataunt. We took a moment to stop by my parent's grave so I could place the flowers and my grandma's grave. It's been 5 years since I was there last. Then we stopped to see the grave of my godmother's husband who passed away the end of March this year. I know my Godmother is very lonely in the evenings. Then it was on to visit my great aunt who was playing the Swiss National Card Game that afternoon. So, my Godmother took the very long way there and drove to my Mom's hometown which lies on a Lake and up the hill from the Lake. We stopped at a restaurant that has an outdoor terrace right by the lake so we had some 7 up and watched the swan family swim by and the mallards. It was unfortunately, just too hazy to see the alps from there. We did see the outline of a couple of them though. Then we drove further down to the end of the lake and around the other side!!!
When we arrived at the center, my greataunt was still playing cards. My God mother stepped in and took her place, and the three of us went to her apartment where she showed us pictures of her 90th Birthday party from last year. She has aged in the last 5 years, more stooped for a tall woman, using a walker and a cane and more wrinkled. Yet, she is mentally all there, still cooks a bit for herself, sounds like she always has if perhaps a bit more tired. She is the last blood link to my grandmother and mother. We kept the visit short and then headed back to my Godmother's, picked up our cheese and chocolate and headed back to Zurich.
LH was real good and patient, letting us ladies chat in Swiss.
I did fill him in on the drive back to Zurich. He can pick up a few words here and there.
What a grace and blessing to see my Godmother and my Greataunt at least one more time. They are the ones who connect me to my parents, and to the ones who no longer grace the earth but I will see again one day when my earthly life is over. I still remember them. So, wonderful to connect again with my second home, the land of my roots that still flows through me. It has been good to be back.

VACATION ADVENTURES (PART II) -

All things considered, we ate rather well in England and tried many a thing. But why on earth, anyone would want to take a perfectly good pea and make them mushy is beyond me. Leave my peas intact as God made them, thank you very much!!!
The wedding (actually renewal of vows & reception) of my nephew and wife was in a lovely, little old church. Of course, most churches in England are centuries old!!!!
The service was simple, with three hymns, a reading from Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and of course, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, renewal of vows, a short message by the vicar, my prayer for the couple, and the blessing by the vicar. I don't know what the vicar thought as I prayed that my nephew and wife's marriage be a holy adventure, ever fresh like new fallen snow (it was 83 degrees and muggy that day), willing to try new and different trails and have the ability to meet the moguls of life with determination and flexibility. The two of them are both snowboard instructors and met on the slopes of Colorado. It seemed fitting for them and and they smiled and their eyes sparkled with amusement. The vicar, I don't know, because I couldn't see her face!
The reception was held in a Marquee (big, white tent) with chandeliers, a band, and catered. Outside there was croquet with mallets that looked like they were on steroids compared to the ones we play with each summer at the Lake, and lawn bowling.
Cocktail hour was Pimm's and beer.
Dinner was a catered affair of whole roasted pig, potatoes, rolls, stuffing, green salad and salads of all kinds: rice, couscous, pasta, and broccoli. Dessert was a fresh fruit cup - with or without a meringue shell, chocolate pudding, and some cheesecake. Everyone had champagne for a toast and the wine and beer flowed freely.
The food was simply scrumptious and delicious.
The band could have played some more slower, danceable numbers, but, I suppose we are now in the "older" generation!!!
The Loos were posh! Imagine, granite countertops, hardwood floors, modern looking faucets, wainscoated with chair rail, etc. They didn't look like portable potties here - you know the utilitarian blue fiberglass pods that every town puts up for their hometown festival. There was even piped in music - like Frank Sinatra!!!!
By midnight the festivities ended and we had to park our minivan on the street as the Hotel locks its parking lot at 11 pm!!!
The morning brought another English breakfast and a parting of our ways as LH and I headed to Herefordshire and the others stayed a day longer.
It was only good directions on Google and my eagle eyes (ok, not so eagle with trifocals anymore) that got us to the lovely cottage we rented for a week smack in the middle between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye in the middle of farms and fields. The hedgerow street became narrower the closer we got to the cottage, until it went beyond 1 lane with cutouts to pull in to let another car pass, to a more gravel land that tunneled into a wood totally cannopied by trees and then the turn off to the cottage. With the hedgerows so tall and grown, you can't see what's coming like a big potatoe truck right when we pulled onto one street and had to back out!
We noticed that there are lots of pubs in England, but not all of them are open, or serve food, or are open Sunday evening or open when you think they should be. Maybe, we just didn't have good luck. We ate Italian on Sunday night as it was the only place in Hereford serving food. One night, we wanted to try a local pub a couple miles away that had such good reviews from everyone who stayed at the cottage. They were closed due to a technical difficulty (broken stove, perhaps?).
Tried to eat in Ross, but the one place was closed and directed us to another place that was serving. At two evenings, we picked up interesting frozen/refrigerated dinners and heated them in the microwave, because our lunch was larger than we expected and our appetite for dinner was less. They have wonderful frozen dinners like shepherd's pie, tandoori chicken, curried dishes, and even paella. Sure beats chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and corn!!!!
LH likes grocery stores for whatever reason. We hit every major grocery store chain in Britain - ASDA (Walmart), TESCO, MORRISONS and SAINESBURYS. Not to mention SPAR (the 7-11). It does give one a pulse of the country, culture and people by revealing what they offer, how much items cost and what folks are buying and into.
We managed to visit Stonehenge, Salisbury - mostly the Cathedral with the most intact and legible copy of the Magna Carta, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Shakespeares'sights, and lunch at the Old Thatch Pub. Hereford and its cathedral with the Mappa Mundi - a Medieval map of the world and how they saw the world, a small art exhibit, a church that was half restaurant and have church right in the sanctuary, an old tudor house musuem and lots of walking, and a trip through Wales and all of its hills and sheep, and over the Cambrian mountains to the coast of Cardigan Bay where we visited a museum, walked the bay abit, had lunch, and I found a most beautiful teal purse by a London designer.
We never went to London and just enjoyed the English countryside and smaller towns and lovely sights. It was a good week, graced and blessed and we found our way back to our cottage every evening!!! Thanks be to God!

I'M BACK!

I'm back from our trip across the pond and getting over jet lag.
We arrived in Birmingham, England, but our luggage didn't! We were delayed an hour at OH airport due to bad weather in Chicago. When we arrived at O'Hare we barely had time to make our plane. I discovered that although I had been to O'Hare more times than I count while growing up, it has changed over the two plus decades. Things are not clearly marked - how is one supposed to know that the international terminal is 5? No where is it stated! I was livid that O'Hare is not better signed for travelers.
Consequently, I had to go to end of the United terminal, catch a bus to the next terminal - a minute ride across the tarmac. We were told to disembark while everyone was questioning, is this terminal E, F, or G? While the bus driver remained mute texting away. Fortunately, a security person was at the bus door indicating that we were to catch the elevated train to our proper terminal. Thanks a bunch! And what's with the texting during work and not answering people who are feeling lost?
I got the proper terminal and was heading to the gate when I saw the Swiss agent with my husband (we got separated in the long walk in the United terminal). It was 87 degrees, I'm wearing a 3/4 length sleeve sage green cotton shirt, with my LLBean healthy backpack purse (also green) carrying a green carry-on and alternating between wearing my sage green hat and carrying it (due to heat and sweating). The agent meets me and another couple from the same flight to O'Hare and whisks us to the front of the security line and we hoof it to the gate. We are the last 4 to board the plane. Whew! We made it! Too bad the air flow vents on this Airbus plane were non-existent and we were very warm throughout the flight.
After landing in Birmingham, hours later, we go to claim our 3 bags, only they aren't any where to be found. We go to the baggage service window and make a claim. I am tired, hot (it's hot in Birmingham, naturally, because we are there! It is an interesting phenonomen when we travel on vacation to cool spots and it's always hotter than normal. We are true to form there.)and upset, and say, "But I have my dress for a wedding!" The clerk thought I said wedding dress! I said it was a dress for a wedding. He scans the baggage claim tickets, gives us a computer slip with a phone number and tells us to call to check on our baggage.
LH and I, sans luggage, hit the Spar (England's 7-11) for bottled water, exchange some dollars and head for the rental cars. The car he ordered, they don't have and we get a minivan! Great. 2 people with 2 carry-ons, no luggage and a minivan!!!
LH gets acquainted with the van (this can take up to 20 minutes, sigh) And then begins, the stress of finding our way to Lincolnshire.
As always in a foreign country, the signage is different. Fortunately, you can Google your way through England and Europe!!! (before you leave!) I had my trusty Michellin map of England and off we went onto the freeway. LH is stressing over traffic, roundabouts and just driving once again on the other side. I am stressing over signs and reading the map and Google directions!!!! Nearly three hours later, hot, tired, stressed, and wearing the same clothes for two days, we arrive at the Hotel where seated at the outdoor patio, are my sister, BIL and niece having cold beers. We are happy to see them, happy to be there, all in one piece, and then we tell our tale of missing baggage. My BIL, bless his soul, runs across the street to Aldi, and buys 2 toothbrushes and toothpaste for us. We check in, carry our carry-ons to the room and go to Aldi's for deodorant and a razor for shaving face and my legs.
I hop into the shower and scrub away the travel grime and sweat. Did ever a shower feel so goood? Put on the same clothes and head downstairs. Where I am given a Pimm's that my niece ordered and LH a beer, bless her soul!
The wedding rehearsal is at 7 pm with dinner following. I mention that I didn't have to think about what to wear!!!!
The rehearsal is at the church the next town over in a small and very old church, but quaint church. The vicar is retired and filling in the installed vicar and is very lacadaisical about the whole rehearsal, merely saying this is how I'd do it, but the vicar might have other plans. Great!
I am ready to fall asleep in my fish and chips at the restaurant!
I didn't get to present my nephew and his bride their Marriage Survival Kit since it was in the luggage.
Back at the Hotel we promptly fall asleep.
Lesson one - always carry an extra pair or two of underwear in your carry- on. I'm glad I did, along with a T-shirt and a sweater.
LH and I went into Lincoln the next day for sight seeing. AFter an English breakfast, a good night's sleep, and no thought of what to wear, the same thing we arrived in and traveled in, we called the baggage service, who informed me to call back later about our 2 bags. 2 bags? There are 3. Oh, do I know the number of the third bag? I read the number and say how could the clerk not see there were three bar codes, 3 claim tickets and only scan 2? Now, not only is there the stress of what I'm going to wear to the wedding, but which bag may not make it? One of mine with the dress for the wedding or LH's with his suitcoat and tie, dress slacks and shoes?
LH buys a pack of new socks and I got foot powder and anti frizz hair gel at Boots - the CVS of England. The hotel shampoo is drying out my hair horribly. We stop at some stores but with my ample figure nothing in my size. WE enjoy a lunch and hit the department store - also nothing my size. Leave department store totally depressed and as we walk to our parked van, right next to said dept. store, is a specialty size store. Yipee!!! Most of it is casual wear. I find a black/white sleeveless dress and a white shrug. Nothing fancy, just do-able. I can't take part in the ceremony in chinos and a t-shirt. We pass a shoe store that proclaims all widths and sizes. I find a pair of black sandals long enough and able to accomodate my bunions. Poor LH. He is resigned to his chinos and one fresh shirt.
As it is nearly 86 degrees, sunny, and muggy, we forego walking up Steep Hill to the Cathedral and opt to drive and park near the Castle which is just a block or two away from Cathedral. We pull into the parking lot, and another car pulling out, points to us and rolls down his window. I'm musing that I didn't see any indication that we had pulled into the parking lot the wrong way. The guy had an all day parking ticket and as it was just 3 pm, he passed it along to us!!! What a grace after all our stresses. We walked to the Cathedral and looked it over inside and out. Architecturally, one of the most interesting and lovely Cathedral's I've ever seen. Couldn't leave without picking up a wee church imp (the devil they say!). Don't we know about imps in churches!!!!!?
We are bushed and head back to Sleaford. I call about our luggage and am informed it is enroute to the hotel, but no time can be given. Ahhh, I'll have my dress for the wedding and LH will have his duds. In the meanwhile, I wet my hair and freshen up for the open house at the Bride's Mom's house. While freshing up, the luggage arrives. Glory, Hallejuah!!!! What a beautiful sight and thing to behold - mu luggage!!!
I pull out the gift for my sister - a hankerchief, all washed and ironed and embrodiered with "Mother of the Groom". I pull out the Marriage Survival Kit - a white satin drawstring bag I made to hold all the contents. And wearing my new black and white dress with shrug and sandals, off we go to the Open House.
We are relieved, joyous and finally, able to relax and enjoy the time with family and festivities.
Travelling is always an adventure. This was the first time in all of my world traveling that our luggage didn't arrive with us.
I think next year, I'm opting for a week on a beach with nothing to do and driving with our luggage. Lots less stress!!!!
(More adventures to follow)

When Things Go Kaput -

Well, it's been a week of things going kaput!
First, the 'Fridge went out, at just 7 years old! It needed a new relay switch! Go figure - the replacement part is better than the original part!!! Thank goodness for good neighbors who have a freezer chest and room in it to put our frozen goods. LH laments the loss of his corn dogs (Yuck!). They have since been replaced!
Second, our oven is acting up. Went to bake a batch of my scrumptious brownies (as a thank you to our good neighbors) and it took over an hour to preheat to 325 degrees. I'm not sure it even reached that temperature. When I pulled the brownies out at the proper time, they hadn't risen and in the end where super gooey. Not good. Tried it the next evening to bake cottage fries at 450 degrees. It took over 40 minutes to supposedly reach that temperature. It took an hour to heat them enough. Of course, this happened on Friday evening before a three day holiday. Guess who's coming to our house today? Yup, the Serviceman who doesn't have enough to do!!!! Oh, and there was some smell of gas when the oven was on. The stove works just fine and there isn't any gas smell when the oven is off.
Third, on Thurs. evening, I charged up the battery of my 7 year old little digital camera. When I went to take a picture, I had a blank LCD screen. I charged up the other battery, and on Friday, put the other battery in and all I got were blurry purple streaks. Looks like the camera bit the dust. Course, it is 7 years old with only 3.2 pixels so its a dinosauer. But all this meant I had to get a new camera. Found a Nikon Coolpix that runs on AA Lithium Batteries and its red, cool!!!
Then I had to read up on how to use it, there's only a quick start guide. The owner's manuel is on a CD that you put into the computer. Now that's great. Say you're on a trip somewhere in the world and you don't have a computer, how do you access the info? Honestly!!! I had to run off at least one page that explained all the little icons that can appear on your screen. I may need to run off another page or two.
Mostly, I am thankful that these things went kaput now, before leaving across the pond. Could you even imagine the mess and stench of spoiled food in fridge and freezer after two weeks? Yikes!!! The oven will once again be working and I have a camera to take pictures with without hauling the big digital camera with interchangeable lenses.
Now, if I can just finish packing and try to get it in my head that 86 degrees here will not follow us over there. It will be much cooler. Hard to plan for that when one is sweating away.
I have my prayer all ready for my nephew and his wife as they renew their wedding vows with the vicar in front of family and friends. I have the Marriage Survival Kit all packed up. I have the Mother of the Groom hanky, ready for my sister. And all I need is to remember my hat for the dress. Just have to pack up a few miscellaneous items and my purse!! Then the adventure of this trip will begin...and with LH it's always an adventure!!!! How lost will we get from the airport to the Inn? From the Inn to the cottage in cow country GB? Only God knows!! I will try to keep my tongue quiet and only mention how far around the rotary to go - 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4. I am sure we will be going round them more than once.
So, I close my 400th post and pray a safe journey, filled with the goodness of being with family, celebrating a marriage, seeing sights, visiting relatives in Switzerland, having some fun, and returning safely in one piece. Be well and blessed in the meantime. And may nothing more go Kaput!!!

Dumb Things Continued - Feeling Naked

Yes, my streak for the year continues. No, I didn't throw out my Trinity Sunday sermon!!! I left my Bible at a nursing home yesterday and will have to take the long way home to retrieve it as I don't want to lose it or not get it back. And because I'm making that trip across the pond next week. And because I feel so naked without it!! Naked without my travel Bible, the one always with me in the car and that accompanies me on all my visits to homes, nursing homes, & hospitals. IT's not my study bible, but it travels with me everywhere in the van and the comfort of its presence I did not really notice until, alas, I reached for it and it was not there.
Dare I even wonder at the next dumb thing I'll be doing!!!???

HAVE YOU EVER -

Last week I mentioned not being able to find one of my Pentecost sermons. I have now solved the mystery. I threw it out. By mistake, of course. I was cleaning some papers off my desk and noticed I had two red and white Pentecost offering brochures from our denomination. I didn't need two and thought I pitched one. Only it turned out that it was my sermon inside a red and white Pentecost Offering bulletin cover. This sermon was typed on a word processor (obviously its an older one!!!) and I never saved it to floppy disk or flash drive. I've been mourning the loss of this small part of me that is forever in a landfill until it disintegrates into pulp.
One of the dumbest things I've ever done.
Can you top it?

WORD FROM GOD FOR TODAY -

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him, He is ever faithful,

Trust Him, for his will is best,

Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

(source unknown)

SUMMER'S HERE!!

Just as Spring arrived early, so now, has Summer arrived early, it being only the end of May! I am hoping that I can survive the heat with three fans in the upper room I am renting. It does get very warm up there.
It is wonderful that it is not raining after a week of rain.
My Siberian Iris are blooming, as is the yarrow, baby's breath, and very soon the poppies. I've a poppy bush with 19 buds on it!!!! But wonder of wonders, my butterfly managed to survive the winter and is coming back!!!
Now if my tomatoes would grow as good as the chamomile, it would be fantastic!!
So there are moments of brightness, things in which to rejoice even in the midst of a dark night. I try not to think about a month or even three months from now. This dark night is teaching me to live in the moment, in the eternal now, otherwise, despair will overwhelm me. I am one who likes to have some inkling of the year ahead, to have some idea of what to plan for, and simply cannot in this dark night. With neither of us employed or serving come fall, what will we do for healthcare and paying the bills? I am and have been praying that God would make a way for us in this vast, undending wilderness, but I haven't as yet stumbled upon it. I am praying that as the summer unfolds, so will something for LH and the next thing for myself.
For now, I will appreciate and savor the beauty of God's creation, I will hold onto the promise I've witnessed in the butterfly bush which has come back from the dead. I trust the promise of Christ and his power to bring to life, the lifeless and dead. It is all that I can do.

The rhododendrons are blooming with a riotuous color of fushia all over the place.
Full, thick blooms which remind me of God's lavishness, abundance, and generosity. Such a profusion of big, bushy colorful blooms, only God could dream up the rhododendron to reflect the abandon of God's grace in our lives, in the life of the world.
I think that I cannot look upon a rhododendron without sensing and knowing God's abundant, lavish generosity. Thank you, God, for rhododendrons and for reminding me of you.

ALL I WANT -

All I want to do today is sleep. Just so tired. And the grey rainy days aren't helping. To sleep, perchance to dream.....

Revgalblopals' Friday Five - Family Trees

Playing along late as usual!

1. Do you have any interest in geneaology?
Yes, I do. My uncle did a lot of work on our geneaoloy. Too bad it
was all hand written (hard to decipher) and in German.

2. Which countries did your ancestors come from?
Switzerland. That's it, pretty much. Land of alps, watches, cheese
and the best chocolate on earth!

3. Who is the farthest back ancestor whose name you know?
From around the time of Napoleon, on my Dad's side. This ancestor
was the headgroomsmen for a local Count whose castle is still
standing, quaint as ever with a moat in the neighboring town from
where both my parents were born. I've been to the castle a few
times and obviously, with present cousins in the horse business,
training, schooling and been in the Olympics, obviously that branch
of the family has had an affinity for horses!

4. Any favorite saints or sinners in the group?
I'm sure there must be some. Probably more sinners. A grandfather
whose business went bust, who liked to ride the trains and enjoy wine
and cigars and meeting people. A grandmother who raised a brood of eight
with her savings. This grandma was adopted and only in the last 20 years did
it come out that her "godmother" was really her birthmother. (I am sure it
was a young unmarried woman who was the birthmom) A grandmother who raised her child as a widow with nary
much income.

5. What would you want your descendants to remember about you?
There won't be any direct descendants to remember me, as we have no children.
On LH's side none had children either and there branch will die out with
the death of LH and siblings.
I doubt I will be remembered much by anyone (perhaps, my niece & nephew will
think fondly of me.)
I guess to be remembered for having loved God, loved as well as she
could, served as faithfully as she was able, delighted in creation,
knew the joy of her salvation, and loved her greys.

Bonus: a song, prayer, or poem that speaks of family--blood or chosen--to you.

WHAT I DID -

What I did when I went home was a marathon of activities:
- returned home later after a committee meeting
Friday -
- got up at 6:30 am to let the dogs out and give them breakfast.
I also made breakfast, as LH was up and getting groomed for Synod
Assembly
- had my shower
- went to the bank, dry cleaners, two grocery stores
- unloaded groceries at home, fed the boys lunch, ate lunch also
- drove 20 minutes to shopping area to pick up a bronze metallic
rubber duckie for marriage survival kit I'm preparing for nephew's
wedding celebration. I got two for $.67 - such a deal. Stopped at
a dept. store, afterall, I was already in the neighborhood. Found
two t-shirts.
- stopped at discount dept. store, looking for an old fashioned
egg timer. Not to be found - they are all digital and $10.00-
$19.00. Did find a kitchen scale with pounds and grams for partial
wedding gift (I have a recipe box and have written out many recipes,
a recipe card holder, extra recipe cards and plastic sleeves, an
apron she can sew, etc.) Since many of my Swiss recipes are in grams
I thought my nephew's wife could use a kitchen scale with a good
sized bowl to measure off in pounds and grams.
- stopped at office supply store and found special paper on which to
write and print off all the items in the marriage survival kit.
- stopped at grocery store to pick up something frozen for dinner, which
I forgot earlier
- got home, started my laundry
- let the boys out
- planted my tomatoes and basil
- mnade hummingbird food, filled feeder and put outside
- returned a call and now have a funeral service to do, on Tuesday, for
someone I don't know as I am covering for a neighboring pastor out of town.
- reinforced buttons on shirt jacket and capri's
- ironed said linen shirt jacket & a dress
- unloaded the dishwasher
- made the boys dinner
- made my dinner
- still doing laundry
- pulled weeds
- watched some TV
- went to bed, exhausted
Saturday -
- LH up at 6 am, I am up at 6:30 am
- let the boys out
- feed them breakfast
- change into grubbies, hair is wild-looking
- fertilize the front and back yards
- eat breakfast
- shower
- go to town center Herb & Craft Fair, find a couple little things
stop in hardware/gift shop, find an old fashioned egg timer!!
- go home, get grubby again
- finish laundry
- scrub shower stall
- make lunch for the boys and me
- make cole slaw salad for the church potluck brunch Sunday
- pack up clean laundry
- check e-mail
- gather up some books to take with
- load up clothes in the van
- prepare and eat dinner, ok so LH grilled the meat, I did the rest
- did the dishes
- load up the groceries
- drive an hour
- unload the van
- sermon and service preparation for Sunday
- fall into bed exhausted

It was a non-stop weekend, plus with the concern over the funeral hanging over me.
Met with the family yesterday. The son is an episcopalian priest and graduate of Yale Divinity School. Ya, like that's no pressure whatsoever!!! Fortunately, he wants to speak about his Dad and also do the prayer of commendation and benediction.
So, OK, but I still have to do a message. I pray what I offer brings some comfort and peace to him and the family.
Things will just be hectic for the time being. Next Friday afternoon, I will be wheel-less as the van has to go in for service and I need to complete the marriage survival kit (MSK), type everything up, get the SS Teacher's stuff in bags, and the choir director's items in a gift bag. Then, I have to scroll up the graduates' advice list for next Sunday.
Tonight is the funeral service and tomorrow I have a committee meeting at 6 pm and Session at 7 pm.
I've lost my Pentecost sermon and will have to go home to find it. I will leave Thurs at 1 pm, to make up for time two weeks ago and this week and to retype that lost sermon.
I am so ready for a vacation, but that will be stressful too. At least the first couple days, with the wedding and all.
i would look forward to some time off after this interim ends, but LH's comes to an end this month and that means less income and I'm carrying health insurance. Once, my interim is done, I can only pray that LH will have found a position by then or else we will be up a creek. But, I will not concern myself with that yet. First, getting through the next couple weeks, then the trip and the wedding.

-

RAINY DAYS

It will rain again today as it has most of the week. We are fortunate that we have not flooded here as in TN nor have had any tornadoes as destructive as the ones in OK. Prayers are with the suffering folks in both places.
Had a frost the other night. I was so tempted to plant my tomatoes and basil this past weekend, but knew there might be a frost. Sure enuf! LH is learning to tend to this tender, young plants. He will learn to water the geraniums in the flower boxes and the herbs in the garden. He will learn to refill the hummingbird feeder that I will put out this weekend. He is tending to the boys, and making sure Jett gets his antibiotic twice a day after a mishap with Jazz and Jett at the Vet's last Friday.
All the things I used to tend and see to, now falls on LH's shoulders and he is learning. Perhaps, that is not such a bad thing. Maybe there will be a greater appreciation of all I've done and of me, period. I do miss tending to these things, in the evening after supper, to deadhead the geraniums, to water what needs watering, to pull some weeds, to refill the hummingbird feeder and the finch feeder, to mend, to resew or reinforce a button, or shorten a pair of pants, to give the Boys their cookies, and yes, dare I admit, even to clean some things in the way they should be cleaned. Haven't yet fertilized the lawn - either too rainy and once way too hot. Haven't washed the windows yet either. And the wedding is drawing nearer.
First things, first. The windows can always be washed. If I miss the spring fertilizer, I'll do the summer grub control. And the fall one. The wedding stuff, that has to happen now. One day at a time, one week at a time...somehow I will manage and so will LH.
In between the rain drops and tear drops, we do what we can and leave the rest in God's capable hands, trusting God, for all things.

National Day of Prayer -

This evening I will be taking part in a Narional Day of Prayer Service. Although, my contemplative nature would have me think of this as a Prayer service and to be reflective of the 7 areas of concern that need our prayers, it seems that the clergy here have other ideas and it will be 1 1/2 hour worship service complete with a sermon (I'll be timing the length), praise choir, and a laying on of hands for folks who need prayer, (although this is not a healing service per se). This was a bit more than I had expected. My prayers for the media will not be overly long. I'd like to pray that God's Spirit would give us the good sense to switch channels if something inane or distasteful is being shown and for the freedom to not see certain movies, even if they are popular, because of violence, etc. I will pray for freedom and discerning spirits. It will be an overly long service on a school night and I, know there will be some long-winded clergy.
(Sigh) It's been a week since I've been home, and after the service, I will have an hour long ride. I hope to home by 10 pm and see my Boys before heading off to bed.
Is there an extra jewel for my crown in heaven?
All these clergymen live at home and will be home within 5 minutes of leaving the church.
One of clergymen, at our meeting, brought up foul language he's heard amongst teens out in public. He has found a town ordinance that forbids it and is garnering support to take these kids to court. Then he brought up the books they read in school.
Oh no...don't ever tell me not to read a certain book! I read Catcher In the Rye, and I didn't go off spouting foul language because I read it in that book! I have a mind and a discerning spirit. Kids should be exposed to a variety of literature, and guided in ways to be reflective and think for themselves. We are not creating mindless robots nor can we insulate kids from everything in the world. WE are to give them firm foundations and deep roots and then give them wings to explore, discern, think through things, reflect and distinquish the between what is good, and truthful and advances the betterment of ourselves and others and the world, and what is merely trash and not worth wasting time and energy on.
There is a Seminary in this regional area that doesn't allow students to read certain commentaries. I think if I were told that in Sem, I would have left the Seminary. Allow me to read, digest, reflect, discern and be stretched by various views on a text or issue.
I have read most banned books!!!!
But, I digress. Do we really need to take kids to court for using foul language or can we just tell them that we find their language offensive and that civil behavior dictates not offending others in public places. (I suppose I would just get laughed at). What does it say about a church that we will take you to court? That's a way to reach young people? Or shall we reach out to them and show them a better way to be in the world? And understanding that sometimes the use of foul language is part of growing up, rebellion, etc. Not that I advocate the use of foul language, mind you. But, there was a time as a teen, when I would pepper my language with friends from time to time.
It's going to be a long day and a long night. Pray for me to hold my tongue and my temper. Pray that the service is shorter rather than longer.
Thanks.

NOT TRUSTING INTERIMS -

I get that from time to time. Especially when it's about funerals. The family doesn't trust the interim and finds some clergy who knew their parent when...
True, when you come in as interim, you don't have a history with the congregation. But you do get to know them fairly quickly and their families. And you pick up things from parishioners, and family themselves.
The only interim who really sucked at a funeral was the one who officiated at LH's mom's funeral in a tiny, central IL town. I really felt so bad for Lh and all his siblings.
By the grace of God, I haven't up to this point, ever screwed up a funeral or didn't share relevant things about the deceased and the hope of our faith in Jesus Christ.
However, I have not been trusted on several occasions and been passed over. It has happened again. Just because I didn't know the person "when" doesn't mean that with the help of family (sharing stories) that I can't do a very meaningful service.
It's the not being trusted that grates on me.
The first year as an installed pastor, I ran into that as well, and shared the service with a pastor from out of state, long retired for two funerals. Honestly!
When I am retired, I doubt I will perform any funerals at past places I have served. It should be between the pastor, interim or installed, to officiate. I don't feel I have a need to intervene, or not be able to say, "No". I may attend a funeral, but hopefully, we will be far away from places we've served to make it not a possibility.
I won't linger long over this as I am grateful, to be spared one funeral in a very long week. I wasn't able to go home last Sunday and will not get home 'til at least 9 pm Thursday because of the National Day of Prayer Service in our town. So, I am somewhat relieved.
However, for the future, interims can be trusted to officiate well, and good, and meaningfully.

RGBPS' FRIDAY FIVE - FRIENDSHIP

Many of us have friendships - past and present - with these same qualities. And so today we will celebrate Friday with friendship:

1) Do you remember your first best friend? What did you do together? Are they still in your life?
Depends how far back. Had one best friend, Denise, further up the block from us up until first grade when we moved two blocks away and we got split into different class groups - fast, medium and slow. i was in fast and she in slow. Played games outside, all kinds of tag, and with stuff in each other's homes.

2) Did you ever have to move away or have your best friend move away from you?
Yes, after HS, my best friend got married and moved to Kansas. After several years, three marriages, we lost contact.
3) Are there people in your life now that you can call 'friend'?
My best friend from Seminary who lives on the East Coast so we don't see each other very often, although we talk on the phone frequently. Also, my Seminary roommate, who lives on the West Coast and talk infrequently but send email.
My BFF is my sister.

4) What are some of your favorite things to do with your friends?
Visit them. Can't do much when you live so far apart. I miss that. A lot.
Shopping, lunch, just hanging out.

5) What is a gift friendship has given you?
Support, encouragement, understanding, strength, joy. I do miss
my friends. Pretty tough in ministry when so much time and energy is spent
with parishioners. Doesn't leave much time for cultivating and keeping
friendship in the "normal" sense. Far from families and friends, full days
and weeks with only one day off, is it any wonder, clergy are lonely people.