Laodicea and being needed

I've been pondering Laodicea since Wednesday night. We're studying the Revelation given to John and have gotten to the seventh church. The teacher brought a couple of insights to the study that have me thinking.

The first thought that caught my particular attention did so because of my interest in education, first as an involved parent, more recently as a part-time educator. Our teacher (Larry Shyers) pointed out that Laodicea is kind of like the mediocre student in a class: not noticed, thinks he/she is fine, happy to blend in; when teacher does a mental head count she can't remember this one - "who am I missing?" From my children's grade school years I can remember in a PTA meeting a plan to reach out to these neglected students. We have programs for gifted and "special" but not much time or special effort for the average ones. They exist in the church, too. They are happy to attend on Sunday morning, maybe occasionally another service or event. I know that elders and preachers would love dearly to know how to turn these pew warmers on! God wants them excited. How do we accomplish this? That is a whole ‘nother discussion, and one that is addressed in depth in many other blogs.

Another problem with Laodidea was that they thought they were self-sufficient, needing no one. Laodicea was a trading crossroads and had every physical thing they could possibly need. They didn’t need anyone’s help. Wow! This is America. This describes Americans. We pride ourselves in self-sufficiency. But neither Christians nor non-Christians are self-sufficient. We need the Lord! We are not and cannot be "good enough" and we need to remember this. We also need each other. And we need to know we are needed. That's one problem with pew warmers. They don't feel needed. Folks don't really "buy into" or get excited about the Lord and the work of the Church until they know they are needed.This one hits home with me currently. I feel sort of in limbo, drifting with the current.

In our many years of ministry, particularly in the two churches with whom we worked 17 and 10 years, I've pretty much always felt needed. As the wife of a minister, I've always been aware of needs, more than I could handle most times. Sometimes I'm the best one to fill a need. Sometimes I'm the only one to fill a need. Often it would be useful and wise to recruit someone else to fill that need.

(In a future post, I plan to address what it’s like for a minister and his family to “be fired” and part of that relates to being no longer needed. But I’m saving that discussion. It needs a lot of thought and care to put in print, so to speak, such sensitive commentary.)

Right now I'm in an odd place. I feel not needed. I haven't found my niche here in our "new" congregation. Oh, I feel welcomed and useful, but not really needed. Jobs I've done in our previous churches are filled here. I was very involved in ladies' class, the hub of women's ministry, in previous churches, but ladies' class here meets while I'm working so I’m not really “in the loop.” My work schedule prohibits some areas of service that I’ve done before. So I’m kind of floundering, treading water, until I find how God specifically wants to use me here.

(Allow me to digress for just a paragraph. I dislike be introduced as the minister’s wife. I’m not sure why. I think it’s because I want my own identity apart from “the wife of the minister.” What does that title communicate, anyway? I married a minister because I wanted to be closely involved in the work of the church, but that doesn't define who I am. And I don’t want anyone to have a particular expectation of me because I’m married to the minister. In the same way that our children were always told that certain behavior was expected because these were our standards as Christians and not because they were the minister’s children, I want people to expect or not expect certain things of me because I’m a Christian, not because of my husband’s role in the church.)

During our year-long search for Bob’s new preaching job, I did a huge amount of researching and searching out churches; preparing packets to send; traveling to churches with him, being "interviewed" and researching potential new homes; and trying to help keep my husband encouraged. Now we're settled into our new home and new church and everything is running fairly smoothly. That was a big, time-consuming, urgent, important job. But it’s done.

A friend with whom we correspond has asked in two letters, "What are your new and/or biggest challenges and opportunities there?" And I haven't answered the question because I don’t know. I don't know what my challenges and opportunities are here. What do I have to offer in this particular church and community? I teach Bible school, but so do a lot of others and before I came here, someone else taught the class. The curriculum is a published one. I’ve gotten pretty lazy about preparation since it’s largely done for me. I'm having a hard time being excited about teaching. Attitude alert!

I thought perhaps when God led us here I would have new opportunities, personally, to teach someone(s) the gospel. That would be very exciting. I've been the mostly-silent partner in many studies with Bob, but I’d love to teach someone(s) myself. However, I’m not very good at starting the conversation. I guess I hoped God would drop those opportunities in my lap. But I haven't made any connections leading to studies. Am I missing your leading, Lord? Make me more aware.

As a substitute teacher, I don't feel I do anything special. Beyond maintaining order and deciphering the teacher’s plans, it’s not very challenging. (Well, day to day, it can be challenging, but overall, I don't feel I make a difference.) That’s why I decided a few years ago to pursue a full-time teaching job. I really do believe that teachers can make a difference in children’s lives. I hoped when we relocated to Florida that I would finally get that teaching job I’ve been seeking. I hope that God is just preparing the right job for me in the way He prepared us here and the church here for us. Currently I'm praying that if God doesn't want me to teach full-time, He reveal this clearly (but I pray this reluctantly, because I don't really want God to tell me that He has something else in mind for me). I'm still hoping and praying for a teaching job . . . and I'd appreciate your prayers on my behalf in this, too. I guess if I don't have a teaching job by the end of summer, that will be a pretty clear answer, since Florida supposedly needs teachers. If they don't need them desperately enough to hire me . . . . Just in the past week I've gotten hints (from Him?) that there might be a job in my future, so I'm feeling a bit more hopeful.

As I composed this, I was reminded that I do have a job to do right now. I'm coordinating an area mother-daughter retreat this weekend. One of my gifts is organization, so I'm sure God is using me in this. However, I’ve been kind of easy-going about the retreat until very recently because the expectation that was communicated to me was not particularly high. I also believed that the only reason I was asked to do it was because I was “new blood” and the previous coordinators were tired of doing it. So I haven’t been excited enough about our preparations. I think that attitude was a mistake. I hope there’s time enough in this last week of preparation time for God to still use it as mightily as He is able, in spite of my poor attitude. I’m praying that my lack to this point won’t prevent God from using it to His glory. I think I need some deeper prayer time before this weekend, don't you? I've been so busy organizing and planning and preparing that I haven't prayed about it nearly enough. I know the speaker will be excellent, that she has been in prayer and in the Word in preparation. Hopefully God will use our little committee to be a springboard to revitalize it. I think I've short-changed God to this point. Laodicea, that’s been me. Pray for me in this, too, please.

Okay, I really don’t intend this to be a pity-party! Really, truly. I DO solicit your prayers, but I my intention was just to share what’s going on in my life. The Laodicea discussion kind of woke me up. I haven't posted much 'cause I hadn't had much to say. I decided to put these thoughts out there in cypberspace so that I can have some clarity. Dee inspired me with her post about depression, http://deeandrews.net/2007/01/23/white-water-rafting-through-the-narrows/, so I thought I’d be really honest, too. Don't think I'm soliciting sympathy - poor, pitiful me. I'm really not. I'd appreciate your prayers, though, for insight and motivation (and a job!)

It was my birthday and I partied . . . . sort of

Thanks for the birthday wishes. It was a fun few days.

Bob and I enjoyed Epcot, which I decided is an "older folks" amusement park. No roller coasters at Epcot, which is mostly okay with Bob and me. But Disney's Magic Kingdom is more our speed overall, I think, a good midline between Universal or Six Flags with their heart-pounding coasters and where you feel like a wimp if you don't do all the coasters and staid Epcot where most of the "rides" are large group rides that move slowly on tracks, much like Magic Kingdom's Small World. At Magic Kingdom there are moderate coasters like Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain which I can handle. I know we will repeat Magic Kingdom. Epcot is just a bit too tame to thrill and probably won't get a repeat.

Epcot has two parts; it feels like it's creators couldn't decide which direction to go. There's Future World where the rides are and seems to be geared toward being educational. We most enjoyed the test track, where a group experiences a simulation of a car's test for a various items like breaking, manuevering, and a "high speed" curved track (I think it reached 60! whoohoo!). It was fun, though fairly tame. We DID really enjoy "Soarin' ", a simulated hang-glider ride. Again, we were with a group, but once the "glider" was raised and moved forward toward the screen, you almost forgot the other passengers and felt like you were soaring over California. Other rides included an Ellen Degeneres hosted educational ride about energy and a ride through "time" about the evolution of communication. There was a boat ride which moved through experimental greenhouses which was pretty interesting.

After thoroughly experiencing the rides, we moved on to the international experiences. Canada, Great Brittain, France, Germany, Morocco, China, Japan, the US, and Mexico are the countries I remember. Each region has a sit-down restaurant (think $$$) and "fast-food" offerings (no free samples), souvenir shops selling items representing those countries, buildings representing those countries, and entertainment. In China we enjoyed acrobats. In Canada we thoroughly enjoyed Celtic rock music by "Off Kilter." Bob even bought one of their CDs. All in all, I'm glad we experienced Epcot, but I doubt that we'll do it again unless someday we purchase Disney annual passes. Some folks in this area have annual passes and enjoy the entertainment and/or impromptu meals at the regional restaurants. One really good thing about the day was the lack of crowds. We were there on a Thursday with "iffy" weather. There were a few school groups and some families, some couples, etc. Our visit to Magic Kingdom during Christmas break was MUCH more crowded! We didn't feel rushed or pressured at Epcot at all. We didn't wait longer than five minutes for any ride.

On Saturday Loni and I enjoyed the Central Florida Highland Games, capped off with a ladies' night out at the Cheesecake Factory.

The Highland Games were so fun! I'm sure we'll make an effort to do it again and bring Bob and maybe others along. Of course, Florida's mild winter day was great. The park where the event was held was very nice with trees and shade, grass, water and paths. There were clan booths (Mom informs me that our family has roots in Jackson, Crawford, and Elliott clans - there was an Elliott booth) and vendors selling jewelry, clothing, food, etc. Food! Loni and I enjoyed fish and chips (there was also Haggis and Scotch Egg) and -- attention Lisa and Trey -- Loni bought a fried Mars bar! More than half the men had on kilts, including the ones tossing cabers, stones and hammers. There were bagpiping and drumming groups, Highland dancing, and border collie demonstrations. I recommend that you visit Highland Games in your area if you have opportunity! (This is Loni enjoying the fried Mars bar.)

Our ladies' night was fun, if initially frustrating. I do not recommend Cheesecake Factory for groups. You cannot make a reservation. I won't go into excruciating detail. Most of our group did manage to get seated together but it took begging and intervention from the manager to accomplish! We had fun but will try a different venue next time! We ended up at Coldwater Creek, though, and several of us made purchases from the clearance area (the only way to afford these clothes!). I wore my new jacket on Sunday, thank you very much. (Diana wore her jacket and Denise wore her new necklace, too. I don't know if Robin has worn any of her new purchases yet, or Jennifer.)

So 2007, my 53rd year on this earth, is off to a pretty good start. This blogging is pretty fun. Thanks, family and friends, for encouraging me to join in. Even more fun is reading YOUR blogs and following links to blogs and other things you find interesting. Thanks for staying in touch, for your kind thoughts and good wishes, and for sharing yourselves. Your prayers for our continued transition, our job situations and my job hunt are much appreciated! Thanks!!

Oops! Wrong link to Malia's great birthday quotes!

Here's the right link, I hope: http://maliakcarden.blogspot.com/2007/01/3three-on-one1.html
Enjoy! (And thanks, Malia, for nice thoughts and comments!)

It's my birthday and I'll party if I want to!

No, not today. It's tomorrow (thanks to all who have already sent me cards! You are really on the ball!). But I expect to be gone all day, from early morning to late evening, so I won't be blogging. Bob's present to me, which I requested, is a day at Epcot. And I plan to party, Disney-with-my-best-friend style! Friday I'll bake myself my favorite cake and let my DH and DD take me to dinner. II do have to work Friday and Monday, but I gave myself my birthday off. Guest teachers can sometimes do that.) Saturday DD and I are thinking about going to the Highland Games, and Saturday night is Gals Night Out at the Cheesecake Factory (I'm more enthused about the outing with the girls than the cheesecake which -I know, I know, I'm strange - I don't care for.)

Malia, whose birthday preceded mine by a week, has some great quotes on her post about birthdays. http://maliakcarden.blogspot.com/2007/01/thanks-yall.html . Unlike Malia, as far back as I can remember, I liked the timing of my birthday. It was far enough removed from Christmas to be separate, but I could ask for my birthday what I didn't get for Christmas. This year, since the grandsons and their parents came to town, I got Disney Magic Kingdom for Christmas and will get more Disney for my birthday. Whoohoo!

I don't think anyone but family reads my blog, but in case you aren't family and are curious, I was born in 1955. Yup! Almost qualified for a senior discount! It's only a teensy bit hard for me to admit my age. I like what my spiritual sister, Linda Carr, said a few years ago when someone asked her age and someone else shushed the inquisitor, "I don't mind telling how old I am. I had nothing to do with that. Just don't ask what I weigh!"

Don't read this blog right before bed!

Today the weather was so gorgeous, pretty amazing for January. We're certainly enjoying Florida winter. BUT tonight we were greeted at the door by this enormous spider! Loni and I were fascinated, although I was pretty creeped out, too! But back in the fall I accompanied a class of fourth graders on a field trip to Trout Lake for an ecological trip. At the end, during lunch, we were entertained and informed by a great speaker who loves spiders and tried to convince us that they are our friends. Ahem. So I'm reluctant to kill all spiders, especially if they are outdoors rather than in. And not knowing which of two spiders our friend is . . . one of them eats cockroaches, which I think I dislike even more than spiders!

So, like Lisa (who requested helpl in identifying her many-legged house-dweller), I'm requesting that anyone who reads this blog and can help identify this spider, help!!! Is it a wolf spider (venomous but not terribly dangerous) or a huntsman (eater of cockroaches)? Here it is. I should add that it's body is about 1 1/4 inch. Leg span was probably 2 inches or more. Yuck!

Loni, here is snow for you!

One of the things on Loni's Christmas wish list was snow. I wish I'd have thought of it sooner, but I could have at least given her a snow globe. I love snow globes. But thanks to a new blogging friend of Lisa's (I was checking out her thirteens - something new to me), I found a site where you can create a snowflake (and see flakes created by others). So, Loni, this is for you: http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/. Enjoy!

Manatees and alligators and herons, oh, my!

After dropping Trey at the airport, we made a day trip to Blue Springs to see the manatees. We were told last night that someone that day had seen 8 or 10, but we were amazed and pleased to see many more than that! There are numerous springs in Central Florida where millions of gallons (in this case 100 million) of fresh water come from underground each day. The manatees are attracted to such places when the rivers turn cool; the springs are a consistent 72 degrees year round. The water is crystal clear and beautiful. (The air temp was great today, too. After a brief cold snap, the air was in the low 70s with a gentle breeze.)

We also saw, for the first time since moving to Florida, a couple of alligators. Here's a shot of one (on the far bank, thankfully).

And comfortably preening itself in a tree was this large bird, a heron, I think. (I'm not very informed yet about Florida flora and fauna.)

Tomorrow I think we may see some more animals of the domesticated kind: human sized mice and dogs, and probably some fantasy creatures like princesses, too. Can you guess where we're headed?

Toto, we're not in Jersey anymore!

Yesterday was mostly quiet, just four of us opening packages, lazing around, baking cookies, eating brisket and fudge. UNTIL . . . I checked the weather forecast, intending to call Lisa to tell her what clothing to pack. What?!! Tornadoes in the area? To our northwest, south, headed right for us! Off went the Christmas music! On went the TV! By the time we were aware that we might need to take shelter, the immediate threat was past. But folks in our area were in need of prayer. And tornadoes (tornado-like winds) did property damage in towns all around - to our west, south, east. It was fascinating in a "deer-in-the-headlights" sort of way to watch the television show rotating cloud readings as they moved past.

Our first Christmas Day in Florida won't be forgotten.

Lisa and her family and my parents are enroute to Florida. The weather has cooled, from highs in the 80s and humid to highs in the 60s and drier. What do we have planned? Tomorrow: meet David and Malia Carden (from Tennessee; we know them from New Jersey and Camp Manatawny. They are visiting Malia's family in Tampa) for breakfast probably at Cracker Barrel. Open gifts and eat turkey and trimmings meal, Bible class tomorrow night. Thursday: take Trey to the airport (bye, 3, sniff, sniff) and see manatees or Shuttle. Friday or Saturday: Disney's Magic Kingdom. Sunday Dad preaches in Kissimmee, Bob in Mount Dora, Lisa and family head home.

Then Loni and I have yet another week off from teaching to enjoy!! Yippee!

How Jersey are you?

Family, this one is for you!

You Are 66% New Jersey!

You've definitely got some Jersey in you. Congratulations, it's a great thing to be. However you're score could certainly be a lot higher!

How New Jersey Are You?
Make Your Own Quiz

And Tracy, you got me started - I was reading the old posts I missed in your blog! It's your fault I'm addicted. Must log off now, must bake, must wrap, must clean, um, maybe just one more quiz . . . .

113 of me!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 113 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

DVD - Invincible (Go Eagles!)

If you haven't seen Invincible yet, rent, borrow or buy it soon. It is a really good, feel-good movie! (And we enjoyed the Philadelphia Eagles connection, too . . . .) It's a Disney movie, rated PG with no language or situations to be wary of (well, in one scene the kissing couple moves into the front door of a rowhouse together, but nothing further is implied; and many of the scenes are in a bar where the character and his buddies hang out and he works part time).

Fern & Jerry Hill

Today is the 50th anniversary celebration of two very special people, Fern and Jerry Hill, founders of Timothy Hill Children's Ranch.

Jerry and Fern are widely and well-known in our fellowship and beyond, true and loving servants of the Lord and His kingdom. They established the Ranch in memory of their firstborn son who had a dream of opening a children's home/ranch for children and who was killed in an accident while still a child. Not only have the Hills established this ranch and are passing the torch to their sons, they teach and encourage on Long Island, NY and throughout the country.

They have been friends and encouragers of ours since our early years in New Jersey (wow! We have been privileged to know them for 25 years!) If you don't know them or the Ranch, check out the web site http://www.timothyhillranch.org/. Fern's book, Graduation to Glory, about Timothy's short but influential life, could be a manual for raising children. Fern and Jerry are wonderful speakers, together or apart. Fern is one of the most hospitable people I know, and I think Jerry remembers everyone he's ever met. These are incredible people, and I'm grateful for how they've touched my family's lives.

(These pictures are from the Ranch website, borrowed without permission. I was visiting the site today and discovered that today is the celebration. I just had to share this with you. I love these folks!)

Joseph's mite

One of the first members we met, and anyone meets, at Mount Dora is Joseph. Mount Dora has official greeters every week who rotate in the duty, but Joseph is "on duty" every week with an outstretched hand, a big smile, and a slightly garbled "Hi." I don't know how old Joseph is; it's hard to tell. His speech is hard to understand. He rides a bike to and from worship and is there whenever the doors are open. I ask him how he is and he shrugs a little and says, "Some pain." Truth is, he's in pain pretty much all the time, but (perhaps because he's one of society's fringe folk) he doesn't get much attention for it. He has some sort of job, I think, but it doesn't provide much. The folks here at MD are more aware of Joseph's needs so I haven't been too nosey. But the reason I write about him is because of something that occurred tonight.

I saw him this morning bringing grocery bags of wrapped gifts into the foyer. I didn't know what that was all about but didn't feel the "need to know" - maybe not my business. But tonight I saw him carrying some and offered to help him carry them wherever he was taking them. He accepted my offer to help and asked me to read the labels to tell him who they were for. As I assisted, I began to understand that Joseph had brought these gifts for the members. Each grocery bag contained one or more individually wrapped, tagged, and bowed gifts for various members of the church here. What? How did Joseph earn the money to buy whatever was in these bags? How did he buy and transport them to his home (by bicycle)? Who helped him wrap and label (and read the names from the directory?) each gift? (I know he has friends in the community who assist him in various ways as folks from the church do.) Some recipients, with a gentle, grateful smile, called him Santa Joseph. Soon it was time for worship and I excused myself to take my seat. He thanked my afterwards for my help.

I am reminded of the widow's mite. From my abundance, I have purchased and will wrap, bow, and label gifts for my family. I tried to stay within my budget, but I didn't have to sacrifice financially to give to my loved ones. From his limited means, Joseph gifted his spiritual family. I'm sure he sacrificed, but I sensed in him a quiet joy to have an opportunity to give. The modern day widow's mite. Something to think about.

Who Knew?

Snow in Florida - Who knew . . . that there would be snow in Mount Dora, Florida? Yes, there is snow in Mount Dora, Florida - trucked in from elsewhere, I've been told. On Saturday, area children had the opportunity to sled and slide on snow in Donnelly Park, the center of Mount Dora. And when Loni and I were at Curves this afternoon (Monday), looking out the window toward the park, children were still digging and making snowballs from the remnants, which is totally amazing considering that it was in the high 70s here today! (These are pictures of the park, but not of the snow. Floridians really decorate for Christmas, but hey, it's warm out. Perfect weather for spending hours decorating outside, and you need all these lights and decorations to enhance the holiday mood. I just wish I had a photo of that roof with those flamingos pulling the sleigh!)

Yes, today I had the windows open in the house and the car windows down, even this evening, and it was great! This is my kind of weather! Yeah! Oh . . . um . . . sorry to those of you in colder climes, um, you can boast next summer about your perfect weather while I'm sweltering in 90s and 90% humidity, okay? Just let me revel in this while I can, please? This is my trade-off for the four seasons and missing leaves and snow (from inside the warm house) and spring and reasonable summers. So, I'm going to enjoy it while it's here! Who knew?

Garbage Disposers - Who knew . . .that pasta is bad, bad, bad for garbage disposers? Who knew . . .that unclogging the sink clogged by pasta could be such an ordeal? Who knew . . . that fruit pits and grapefruit rinds are good for garbage disposers? Who knew . . . that you should run the (cold!) water for a minute after all the food was disposed of? Who knew . . . I could reach middle age (ahem) and not know how to operate a garbage disposer? Our landlords warned us when we moved in not to put grease in it, but that was a far as the instruction went. I told them that we had never used one! My mother told me that grapefruit finds were good for it. I knew to use cold water. But my knowledge and instruction were lacking!! Cleaning out the fridge last night, at bedtime, I thought, "Pasta is nice and soft, perfect through the disposer." NOT! First went the pasta, no problemo. Followed by the sauce, problemo!! Sinkful of tomato sauce/water - yuck! And who knew . . . that my husband could get it unclogged this morning and still leave for work before 8am?! What a guy! (Okay, okay, so he, the cabinet floor, and the kitchen rug got sprayed with chopped up pasta, and I got to clean the cabinet liner and replace the undersink contents and wash the rug and mop the floor before I went food shopping. However, the pipes and sink were clear, the kitchen cleaner than before the incident, and I learned some valuable lessons!) Who knew?

Christmas preparations in Florida

Hanging the lights - Sorry, Lis, that you're freezing in Virginia. We hung the lights today and I got a bit of sunburn. It was so nice today although it was chilly yesterday, by Florida standards. Yesterday was in the 50s and windy; I wasn't really dressed for the chill. Today was back to warmer temps. This morning Loni and I wore jackets to Curves, long sleeves late morning to buy our Christmas tree (see below), and switched to short sleeves to put up the house lights in the afternoon. It was probably in the high 60s or even low 70s. I'm liking Florida weather! Sounds nice to y'all, too, doesn't it? Down here they wear winter jackets, gloves and scarves in weather like yesterday's and this morning's. We probably will in a few years, too. Today, in between other tasks, I even did a little weeding and planting. I planted a poinsettia in the front flower bed. Lowe's is selling hanging baskets still. The downside of this still warm weather is that the wasps are still making nests, too; Bob had to spray in the eaves so he didn't get attacked.

It's always "fun" (a bit of sarcasm in the voice - hear it?) to hang the lights. I understand why some folks leave them up year-round. They are so pretty, though, that it's worth the trouble. We plugged them all in first indoors and thought we had way more than we needed. Not so! Just enough. Our previous house was a ranch style house; this one has gables which Bob had fun going up and down and all around! He's such a good sport.

Buying the tree - There are tree farms in central Florida, but we have a particular kind of tree we like that doesn't grow in Florida (or New Jersey), Frasier Fir. (They are the softest needled trees with pretty strong branches and arranged nicely for ornaments to hang well.) They sell cut ones at the local tree farm, but they sell them at the Publix grocery store, too, and at Lowe's, both around the corner. Why go all the way to a tree farm to buy a cut tree when you don't have to? We settled on Lowe's.

Finding a place for a tree in our house - There really is no place for a tree in our house. I measured and moved and removed furniture. I discovered that IF I moved a chair from one corner (by a doorway, the only doorway into the computer room; we could block it if we were willing to go in and out through the window!) to another spot where there's room for it (but not really), and IF we could find really skinny tree, it would fit in that corner. We did. It's taller than any tree we've ever had and very slender. It's not bad. I'll try to post a pic after it's decorated. For such a lean tree it's really quite full.

Fresh Florida fruit - Last week I told you about the just picked strawberries we bought, and this week I ate a grapefruit from a tree in our back yard! (It wasn't so sweet, but I think it was the variety of grapefruit and how fun to eat one right off the tree.)

A wreath for the car - While at Lowe's I bought a wreath to hang on the front of the van. Loni thinks this is quite weird. (I should have listed this as one of my weirdnesses!) While I was in the house hunting for wire, Loni and Bob hid it, messing with my grey head. (I'm going to retaliate by sneaking wreaths on Loni's Eclipse and Bob's pickup! Sh! Don't tell!)

More to come? I'll post more Florida Christmas prep as events occur, if they're interesting. I wish I could post that we watched the shuttle launch. We could have watched it! We tried Wednesday night but it was scrubbed. We forgot that it was rescheduled for tonight. And apparently the nighttime launches are pretty cool. We did see a rocket launch last month. The shuttle is said to be much more spectacular.

Have a wonderful Lord's day!

Tagged! Weird, who me?

So Lisa passed this along to Bob who tagged me (and Loni and Trey both posted their weirdness, too). But I checked out Malia's (who tagged Lisa) and she called it a meme. I didn't understand Wikepedia's definition, so I'm still not sure what a meme is.

1. My idea of cleaning includes reorganizing. It is hard for me just to clean and not reorganize in some way, trying to improve how things fit and look in my house. I like to organize and to be organized, although you couldn't tell it sometimes from my house and personal spaces.

2. Christmas music - must start playing it the day after Thanksgiving, or even the afternoon of Thanksgiving. Trey must have inherited this from me because he was complaining before Thanksgiving that I wasn't playing it yet. I have, hmm, how many CDs of Christmas music? (more than I can listen to in the brief season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just counted - that would be 40!) and must add to the collection each year. Which reminds me . . . haven't purchased any yet this year and it's December 2nd! I usually buy the Hallmark Christmas CD for sure but don't plan to this year. Not an artist I care for.

3. I hate getting a haircut because it never is what I want (except way back when my friend Teri cut it. Loni and I would drive 2 hours back to north Jersey for Teri to cut our hair!). I have a great hair, hair lots of women would love to have and often comment on (today it was a stranger in the Panera Bread bathroom). It's thick and wavy and graying gracefully, but I rarely manage to get a cut that works with my hair. Right now it is way past needing a cut but the last one was so bad that I dread trying it again! Gotta make that appointment (um, not tomorrow, it's Sunday, and not Monday, they're all closed, but Tuesday!! gotta remember to do it!).

4. I love the outdoors, if the temperature is right. I love being outdoors when the weather is nice (60s, 70s, 80s with no humidity) and there are no mosquitoes. I like strolling/shopping outdoors, walking outdoors, easy hiking outdoors, even weeding and yardwork outdoors if (the big if) the temperature is right. My idea of sightseeing/vacationing is outdoors walking rather than driving or being indoors. Beach, mountains, plains, canyons. Fresh air and the beauty of nature. I prefer having windows open, rather than AC or heat, if it's nice outside. So Florida might work out after all (hehe -- if I just stay indoors from May to October).

5. Like Lisa, I love to read, esp. fiction. (It took her and her siblings a long time to catch this from me!) I can get so lost in a book that it affects my mood. If the characters aren't getting along or the main character is unhappy, and I have to stop reading at that point, that's the mood I'm in, for a while at least. I read a lot and I read quickly, but I don't remember details of what I've read. Loni is much better at recalling plot details. I can hardly remember the title or characters in a book when I move onto another. Another reading weirdness about me is that if I want to learn something, I'm much more likely to get a book or look it up on the internet than take a class, watch a video, or ask someone to teach me. If, after I get a teaching job someday, Lord willing, I have the opportunity to continue my education, I really should pursue something about reading - teaching reading or doing media science.

6. I'm a picky eater. I don't like cheese, watermelon, mayonnaise, lima beans, sweet potatoes, any soda except cola non-diet, coffee. a long list! The reason I like to cook is so that I can cook what I like, the way I like it. I love chocolate but I'm selective: Hershey's, M&Ms, Milky Way Midnight - the cheap stuff. No Godiva for me! I only like some chocolate cakes and brownies, so I'll usually decline if I didn't prepare them. I like to travel and would have liked to be a missionary, but food would have been a problem. I rarely taste anything I don't recognize at potlucks. Sorry, friends.

I'm sure my family would have listed other weirdness about me, but these are what occur to me to which I'll admit.

Florida PLUS!

Plus! Fresh strawberries, picked this morning here in Florida, bought at a road-side stand, in December! (They were kind of bruised up, though. I've been told you can pick your own around here, but I haven't seen a sign inviting me to pick some. Maybe if I pick my own, they won't be so bruised. It's pretty bad to pay $12 for half a flat and have each one be bruised more than a little. But they sure are SWEET!)

Negative - Florida doesn't do good tomatoes. We moved from Jersey just as Jersey tomatoes were getting ripe and I MISSED IT! Boo hoo. I keep buying tomatoes from the stands around and they're just almost ripe and I think they come from TN or someplace, but not from here.

Plus (if you like grapefruit) - FL has good ones and they're just getting ripe. We have a grapefruit tree in our backyard and they will soon be ripe (I think).

Negative, maybe - I'll be checking this out soon. There are Christmas tree farms but the descriptions of the trees don't sound like any Christmas trees I've ever seen. We shall see . . . . soon.

Plus - putting up Christmas lights in shirt-sleeves. Negative - haven't done it yet. Bob was sick on Thursday, his day off, and it was drizzling when we got home this afternoon, Bob from his retreat and Loni and me from shopping.

Thankful Thursday

I've read on others' blogs that some blog "Thankful Thursday," a nod to Thanksgiving and a way of expressing profound and ongoing thanksgiving to the Father, Son, and Spirit for countless blessings. So I thought it appropriate to start the same on THE thankful Thursday. I'll start with Abraham Lincoln's words (borrowed from Malia) proclaiming the first national Thanksgiving observance:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

(Lincoln had such a gift verbal expression!)

I'm thankful for:

my family (loving husband, Bob; daughter, Loni and son, Trey, who are home with us today; Dad and Mom, who drove the long hours from North Carolina to be here today, too; daughter, Lisa, son via Lisa's marriage Dan, grandsons Nathaniel, Jeremy, and Derek)

extended family in California, New Jersey and Texas

our new church family in Mount Dora who has been so gracious, loving, accepting and has become so dear

our church family throughout the world, especially in Tabernacle (miss you!) and Randolph, New Jersey

holidays, especially the winter ones

God the Father's sacrifice of His precious Son; Christ my Savior's willingness to die so that I can live in fellowship with Them forever; the Holy Spirit Who indwells me, comforts me, guides me

for my relationship with the Godhead Who brought me/us through the most painful year of my life so far with grace, peace, patience, and assurance (and support, too, from His Body)

Trey's here!

Trey arrived safely from Harding. We met Katelin briefly. We've enjoyed a good visit so far, showing him the local sights and going to the movies last night (Bond - Casino Royale - best Bond so far, although I would have preferred it without the torture scene). The church enjoyed meeting the "phantom" son, and we've enjoyed stories of his Europe experience. Today after worship we had a leisurely (i.e. slow) meal at Outback. The weather is very cool for Florida - 60s daytime, low 50s or maybe 40s at night. Sorry, Trey, hopefully there will be warmer weather at the end of the week when we go to Universal.

Gotta defrost the turkey tomorrow and mail a birthday card for Bob's mom's birthday. Loni is looking forward to a 2-day week! Oh, and it's time to get serious about Christmas shopping!!

Church connections

Tonight Bob and I were blessed with several instances of church interconnectedness; you know, where you meet someone in the church who knows someone you know . . . .

First instance: we attended the fund-raising chicken dinner at the Mount Dora Bible School. Susan Jenkins does public relations for the School and Home (and she's perfect for the job, an outgoing sweetheart!). Bob teased her about her accent, and she commented that she was a Texas girl. Me, too, I said (although my Texas connection is long ago, birth to about 12). She was from Ft. Worth. Dallas, I said. As we chatted, she said that she went to Fort Worth Christian School. Did she know Garland Johnson, I asked. Yes, and she knows the Jordan family, too. I explained that the Johnsons and Jordans were part of the Exodus Burlington Massachusetts church planting my family was part of in 1967. Garland Johnson was her PE teacher (after the Johnsons moved back to Fort Worth). Pam and Janelle Jordan were my age; we were in youth group together. Pam and Janelle, after their family's return to Fort Worth, went to school with Susan and are her age, too. She and I were friends with the same people at almost the same time. Small world in the Lord's church!

After the chicken dinner, there was a Southeast Gospel Hymn Sing (southeast of what? Well, I'm not sure. I think maybe Miami just might be further southeast in the US than we are. I need to inquire further on this topic). Anywho . . .

Second instance: a lady sat down in front of us, introduced herself, said she'd been looking for Bob and Pat Bliss. Her daughter knew us from working at camp or something. Well, she is Malia Carden's (http://maliakcarden.blogspot.com/) mother, Diane Ramsey. We know Malia from working together at Camp Manatawny in Pennsylvania. (She is married to David and they live in Tennessee. David grew up in New Jersey -- another connection, my dad was one of the ministers of his home church, Garretson Road/Bridgewater. Because of David's Manatawny history, he brings his wife and children to work at Manatawny each summer.) Malia's parents live in Tampa, and they came to Mount Dora for the singing. When Diane told Malia where they were going to be tonight, Malia said, "Look for my friends" or something like that.

BTW, Malia's father sang with a quartet during the evening - fabulous! (Our acappella singing group in Tabernacle, One Voice, called itself One Voice because that was our goal, to sing as "one voice." We didn't quite. This group does! And their harmony - Ramona, you'd be envious!)

Third instance (a little long and convoluted - try to follow along): one of the group, Rick Bonk, led singing for a good bit of the time we were present. He's got a great voice and led a bunch of my favorites, including "Days of Elijah." While introducing Rick to the group, James Moore from the Bible school mentioned that Rick's children were enroute from Harding. My antenna went up. Okay, a lot of Harding kids are enroute to various areas, including parts of Florida, and including this very region, tonight for Thanksgiving break. Trey, our son who is enroute tonight from Harding, is traveling to Florida (for the first time) with his girlfriend Kate (we don't know her last name yet) and with her friends, a married couple. What are the chances? Could they possibly be traveling together? Rick tells us that his two children traveling home are his daughter and son-in-law. Could it be? Further inquiry from us to Rick - anyone traveling home with your daughter and sil? Hmmm, a girl - yeah, her name is Kate, and - yup! her boyfriend, our son Trey!

Three instances of the Lord's small, small world in one night! Too fun! (Oh, and I almost forgot, Malia's cousin and wife worship with our daughter, Lisa, and her family in Blacksburg, VA. Make that four!) What a family is the Lord's church!

Speaking of the Lord's church, allow me to digress. I've been thinking about "the church of Christ" and how to regard it as something other than a denomination. "We" in the church of Christ claim that we're not a denomination, but we use the name "church of Christ" (big C, little c, which one is correct?) as a title even while arguing that it's not a title and suggest that it's the only correct name even while admitting that there are other names used in the New Testament. Here's a thought. How about, in our conversation with each other, just calling it the church (italics for emphasis)? You know, the Roman Catholics refer to their organization as "the church," and I believe they're incorrect in that claim. THE church is the one Christ established, the one which "we" try to be, and the one whose pattern we attempt to follow. What would it do to our attitude and mindset if we called ourselves, thought of ourselves as, simply, the church? And maybe it would generate conversation with others, church and unchurched. Just a thought. Ponder it. Comments welcome, requested.