Dear friends,
Very quick and couldn't do the pix. I'll figure it out though~
Lots of traffic!
Got WIFI by accident on side of road.
Talk more tomorrow!
Love to all!
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Day 277 I'll Pick Up the Cold Cuts at the Eastham Superette!
Dear friends,
My sore feet are up! There's still a bit more to do but my "dogs are barking" and I needed a little sit down after a day of errands and packing.
We've gone to Cape Cod every year since David was 2. I went as a young girl too. Our summer vacations are the subject of some of our sweetest memories. In fact, the picture of us on this blog page was taken last year at First Encounter Beach in Eastham. When Stephen woke up from 8 days in la la land, unable to move, just extubated, he looked up at the ceiling to see a poster of pictures from the Cape of his kids (put together by the now newly married Beth A.) When he smiled at that poster, I felt like everything would somehow be ok. About 5 minutes in, when I knew he recognized me, after he asked if Hannah was all right, I told him he was going to get better and that he'd put his feet in the sand at Coast Guard Beach this August. We repeated that challenge many times as he moved through Albany Med to Sunnyview, to home care, to fixator removal, to walking, to outpatient rehab where he is still working hard today. By the mind bending grace of the Great One, and a stubborn work ethic on the part of my husband, we will indeed make our way tomorrow to that peninsula sticking out of Massachusetts. Our morning walks to to the beach will be paced a bit differently, but there are no words to express my gladness that we are going to walk past Buttonbush trail, and Doane Rock, and then over the salt marsh bridge to the sea. My dear friends, I feel as if you have all been with me on this trail, and you will be in my heart as we walk that "road within our road". This trip is so much more than a vacation this year; it is a living symbol of all the Great One has done for us. May He be forever praised as King and Lord of All!
Please keep our fellow bloggie, Hugh R. in your prayers. You'll remember Hugh and his wife Joelle as our friends with the beautiful Brooklyn brownstone who opened their doors to us when we celebrated our anniversary. Hugh's dad just died after a long bout with cancer. The Holy Spirit is called "The Comforter." May these dear folks find His presence in their sorrow.
North Eastham or bust, tomorrow, very early. Gotta get over that Sagamore Bridge before it's backed up to the moon. I will try to find some WIFI when I get there, but I can't make a guarantee for Saturday. I'm going to work on it though. There's got to be a Starbucks somewhere, (not in Eastham, and that's actually good) and I'm a gold member, so I'm sure they can hook me up!
Thanks to my wonderful house sitter for taking care of my kitties, plants and birdies while I'm gone. And to my neighbors too for watching out for us. As soon as I can, I'll send you some photos from the loveliest place on earth. It is so NOT November. God Bless the summer. Like medicine to a weary soul.
Love you, love you, love you.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
P.S. Mostly just the cooler left to pack. First thing in the morning!
My sore feet are up! There's still a bit more to do but my "dogs are barking" and I needed a little sit down after a day of errands and packing.
We've gone to Cape Cod every year since David was 2. I went as a young girl too. Our summer vacations are the subject of some of our sweetest memories. In fact, the picture of us on this blog page was taken last year at First Encounter Beach in Eastham. When Stephen woke up from 8 days in la la land, unable to move, just extubated, he looked up at the ceiling to see a poster of pictures from the Cape of his kids (put together by the now newly married Beth A.) When he smiled at that poster, I felt like everything would somehow be ok. About 5 minutes in, when I knew he recognized me, after he asked if Hannah was all right, I told him he was going to get better and that he'd put his feet in the sand at Coast Guard Beach this August. We repeated that challenge many times as he moved through Albany Med to Sunnyview, to home care, to fixator removal, to walking, to outpatient rehab where he is still working hard today. By the mind bending grace of the Great One, and a stubborn work ethic on the part of my husband, we will indeed make our way tomorrow to that peninsula sticking out of Massachusetts. Our morning walks to to the beach will be paced a bit differently, but there are no words to express my gladness that we are going to walk past Buttonbush trail, and Doane Rock, and then over the salt marsh bridge to the sea. My dear friends, I feel as if you have all been with me on this trail, and you will be in my heart as we walk that "road within our road". This trip is so much more than a vacation this year; it is a living symbol of all the Great One has done for us. May He be forever praised as King and Lord of All!
Please keep our fellow bloggie, Hugh R. in your prayers. You'll remember Hugh and his wife Joelle as our friends with the beautiful Brooklyn brownstone who opened their doors to us when we celebrated our anniversary. Hugh's dad just died after a long bout with cancer. The Holy Spirit is called "The Comforter." May these dear folks find His presence in their sorrow.
North Eastham or bust, tomorrow, very early. Gotta get over that Sagamore Bridge before it's backed up to the moon. I will try to find some WIFI when I get there, but I can't make a guarantee for Saturday. I'm going to work on it though. There's got to be a Starbucks somewhere, (not in Eastham, and that's actually good) and I'm a gold member, so I'm sure they can hook me up!
Thanks to my wonderful house sitter for taking care of my kitties, plants and birdies while I'm gone. And to my neighbors too for watching out for us. As soon as I can, I'll send you some photos from the loveliest place on earth. It is so NOT November. God Bless the summer. Like medicine to a weary soul.
Love you, love you, love you.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
P.S. Mostly just the cooler left to pack. First thing in the morning!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Day 276 Packing and Having a Laught at Myself
Dear friends,
Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods:
* Cooked a huge pot of spaghetti sauce. Some for the freezer. Some for the Cape. Some for the house sitter.
* Got my 1 cent pens and filler paper at Staples after spending a fortune on binders for Miss Rejoice, Girl Wonder.
* Relished your emails with well wishes for our upcoming vacation.
* Finished a mountain of thank you cards. (Now, if I can only make it to the post office!)
* Got the key to the cottage from Corinne A. Still pinching ourselves about this whole house-on-the-beach thing. Thank you again, Cindy and Bill!!!
* Up to my neck in lists, packing, and cleaning. So far, I have not wrecked any valuable relationships in the process…
* Joe’s band finishes recording their album tonite. They are playing at the Altamont Fair on Thursday.
* Eureka. David finally took a shower after 5 days.
I forced myself to sit down for a few minutes with the Great One today. No matter how busy I am, I don’t want to miss my true life on any day. I know all too well that any day could be my last day. So slowing down to actually consider God's agenda, instead of just plowing through my own, doesn’t make me smart or wise, only self preserving. The "all about me" thing is really sickening. What a relief to enter in to the bigger picture, and get out of my small, silly, selfish ponderings. It's really quite hysterical, when you think about it, how seriously we can take ourselves! As my friend Dick W. puts it, we're like a spray out of a hairspray can. Vapor. Here one minute, gone the next...
I’m having a bit of trouble concentrating tonite, what with the 4 million details running through my brain. I have got to get to the library to pick up my Father Brown mysteries.
Looking forward to a few lazy days with my kids and my sweetheart next week. I think I’m going to catch up on some sleep I’m due from November. I hope the sun shines, but if it doesn’t I can’t complain. I’ve had more blessings over the past 9 months than anyone could ever hope for. Of course there is a plan to go parasailing! And I’ve got to get my once a year lobster with clarified butter.
I’m not sure where I’ll find WIFI at the beach, but I will find it. If you don’t hear from me on Saturday, it’s only because I couldn’t find a connection in the time frame I had.
Gotta go, I’m just about out of gas. T minus 2 days and counting.
“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
~Jacques Cousteau
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods:
* Cooked a huge pot of spaghetti sauce. Some for the freezer. Some for the Cape. Some for the house sitter.
* Got my 1 cent pens and filler paper at Staples after spending a fortune on binders for Miss Rejoice, Girl Wonder.
* Relished your emails with well wishes for our upcoming vacation.
* Finished a mountain of thank you cards. (Now, if I can only make it to the post office!)
* Got the key to the cottage from Corinne A. Still pinching ourselves about this whole house-on-the-beach thing. Thank you again, Cindy and Bill!!!
* Up to my neck in lists, packing, and cleaning. So far, I have not wrecked any valuable relationships in the process…
* Joe’s band finishes recording their album tonite. They are playing at the Altamont Fair on Thursday.
* Eureka. David finally took a shower after 5 days.
I forced myself to sit down for a few minutes with the Great One today. No matter how busy I am, I don’t want to miss my true life on any day. I know all too well that any day could be my last day. So slowing down to actually consider God's agenda, instead of just plowing through my own, doesn’t make me smart or wise, only self preserving. The "all about me" thing is really sickening. What a relief to enter in to the bigger picture, and get out of my small, silly, selfish ponderings. It's really quite hysterical, when you think about it, how seriously we can take ourselves! As my friend Dick W. puts it, we're like a spray out of a hairspray can. Vapor. Here one minute, gone the next...
I’m having a bit of trouble concentrating tonite, what with the 4 million details running through my brain. I have got to get to the library to pick up my Father Brown mysteries.
Looking forward to a few lazy days with my kids and my sweetheart next week. I think I’m going to catch up on some sleep I’m due from November. I hope the sun shines, but if it doesn’t I can’t complain. I’ve had more blessings over the past 9 months than anyone could ever hope for. Of course there is a plan to go parasailing! And I’ve got to get my once a year lobster with clarified butter.
I’m not sure where I’ll find WIFI at the beach, but I will find it. If you don’t hear from me on Saturday, it’s only because I couldn’t find a connection in the time frame I had.
Gotta go, I’m just about out of gas. T minus 2 days and counting.
“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
~Jacques Cousteau
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Day 275 The Great Race
Dear friends,
According to Smitty, the Mets are ahead of schedule with their end-of-the-season implosion. It's tough to start out strong and then collapse. (I will explore that theme momentarily). I was kind of hoping they would win the world series this year, just for Stephen, right there in the end of October, nearly a year from that horrific accident. Steve was saved from death, dismemberment, infection, and a host of other things. But the Mets in the series, now that would be a miracle!
It may be hard to believe, but many moons ago, when I was a resident of that grand metropolis about 150 miles south of here, I was a long distance runner. I was NOT fast. My best race, however, was a little doozy called the Trivera Twosome. In that race you teamed up with a partner, combined your times, and divided them by two. It was a 10 mile jaunt around Central Park. My partner was a fellow from Ireland, a bartender in a pub, who was long, lean and very fast. Hobbits are not fast. They plod. Well, I made my personal best minute-per-mile time in that race, for 2 reasons. One, I wanted to do well for the sake of my partner. Two, I ran with a woman who was a track coach for the Prospect Park Running Club in Brooklyn. That woman pushed me so hard for the last 4 miles of that event, I thought I would die. I mean, I was desperately sucking air into my lungs, thinking I would collapse at any moment. "You can go a little faster" she said. She kept saying that. She did not let up until I crossed the finish line, and looked with wonder at my time. Meanwhile, Runny Pants, my partner, did his worst ever time, sporting a tremendous hangover. (He still beat me by miles). So what's my point here?
The pilgrim road is described by the Apostle Paul as a race. The Trivera Twosome isn't worth a hill of beans, but the eternal race is worth everything. I picked up a few things during my running years. Here are some of them.
1 - Only the Great One knows when you're giving 100%. Someone else may look much better on the outside, but God sees the heart, and knows the true motives and efforts thereof.
2- You'll run better with a friend. This highway is not for travelling alone. We're talking a very long race, requiring endurance and perseverance. My "coach" not only helped me run a better race, she ran a better race by helping me.
3- Take the water provided at the rest stops. Our "water" is the words in the Great Book.
4- Pace yourself. It's no good to be gung ho for the first few miles, and then peeter out. Better to get your pace, steadily increase, and finish strong. Do not do what the NY Mets have done!
5- Stay on the road that is mapped out. I have run in many races and have seen people actually try to take a short cut by cutting through a patch of woods. This will disqualify you. Plus, I never could understand how a cheater could enjoy the finish line experience.
That's it for my sports analogy for tonite. I am the world's worst athlete. My father used to say to my athletically talented brother "you got the talent and she got the drive". Well, my brother has drive too, but he was right about the talent part. At this point in my life, I doubt I'll be crossing any more earthly finish lines. But there's one race I'm determined to finish strong. I don't trust myself at all to have the endurance, wisdom or talent to get there. But I've got the best Coach money can't buy. And if He says I'm making it to the end, then I'm making it to the end.
I love running with all of you. Many of you are running with limps, pains and sorrows I can't imagine. Endure friends! The Great One is vested in your breaking the tape.
And know that I will be running with you, and will remain...
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
"Let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, scorning the shame..."
Hebrews 12:2
According to Smitty, the Mets are ahead of schedule with their end-of-the-season implosion. It's tough to start out strong and then collapse. (I will explore that theme momentarily). I was kind of hoping they would win the world series this year, just for Stephen, right there in the end of October, nearly a year from that horrific accident. Steve was saved from death, dismemberment, infection, and a host of other things. But the Mets in the series, now that would be a miracle!
It may be hard to believe, but many moons ago, when I was a resident of that grand metropolis about 150 miles south of here, I was a long distance runner. I was NOT fast. My best race, however, was a little doozy called the Trivera Twosome. In that race you teamed up with a partner, combined your times, and divided them by two. It was a 10 mile jaunt around Central Park. My partner was a fellow from Ireland, a bartender in a pub, who was long, lean and very fast. Hobbits are not fast. They plod. Well, I made my personal best minute-per-mile time in that race, for 2 reasons. One, I wanted to do well for the sake of my partner. Two, I ran with a woman who was a track coach for the Prospect Park Running Club in Brooklyn. That woman pushed me so hard for the last 4 miles of that event, I thought I would die. I mean, I was desperately sucking air into my lungs, thinking I would collapse at any moment. "You can go a little faster" she said. She kept saying that. She did not let up until I crossed the finish line, and looked with wonder at my time. Meanwhile, Runny Pants, my partner, did his worst ever time, sporting a tremendous hangover. (He still beat me by miles). So what's my point here?
The pilgrim road is described by the Apostle Paul as a race. The Trivera Twosome isn't worth a hill of beans, but the eternal race is worth everything. I picked up a few things during my running years. Here are some of them.
1 - Only the Great One knows when you're giving 100%. Someone else may look much better on the outside, but God sees the heart, and knows the true motives and efforts thereof.
2- You'll run better with a friend. This highway is not for travelling alone. We're talking a very long race, requiring endurance and perseverance. My "coach" not only helped me run a better race, she ran a better race by helping me.
3- Take the water provided at the rest stops. Our "water" is the words in the Great Book.
4- Pace yourself. It's no good to be gung ho for the first few miles, and then peeter out. Better to get your pace, steadily increase, and finish strong. Do not do what the NY Mets have done!
5- Stay on the road that is mapped out. I have run in many races and have seen people actually try to take a short cut by cutting through a patch of woods. This will disqualify you. Plus, I never could understand how a cheater could enjoy the finish line experience.
That's it for my sports analogy for tonite. I am the world's worst athlete. My father used to say to my athletically talented brother "you got the talent and she got the drive". Well, my brother has drive too, but he was right about the talent part. At this point in my life, I doubt I'll be crossing any more earthly finish lines. But there's one race I'm determined to finish strong. I don't trust myself at all to have the endurance, wisdom or talent to get there. But I've got the best Coach money can't buy. And if He says I'm making it to the end, then I'm making it to the end.
I love running with all of you. Many of you are running with limps, pains and sorrows I can't imagine. Endure friends! The Great One is vested in your breaking the tape.
And know that I will be running with you, and will remain...
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
"Let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, scorning the shame..."
Hebrews 12:2
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Day 274 All Sparkly and Shiny
Dear friends,
Well, my car is clean. The good folks at Cole Collision gave me a gift certificate for detailing way back in December, and I finally got around to using it. They even shined my hubcaps! I didn’t expect that. I would have been completely delighted if all they had done was remove the dried food and soda stickies from the vinyl. It smells really, really good in there too. (Multiple trips to the dump can do a number on the aroma in a vehicle…) I’ve been informed by a few people (Smitty included) that it might have been smarter to wait until we returned from the beach to have the car cleaned and vacuumed, what with sand and all, but I’ll suck up the sand next week. It will be a pleasure to drive to the ocean without something sticking to my clothes. Remember when my car was completely trashed? I don’t think I’ll ever forget the coffee cups, parking validations, food wrappers and other miscellaneous trash from the days I lived in that van. When it’s time for a new car I will cry. That vehicle and I bonded in the strange way men typically relate to their cars.
Speaking of clean, my bathrooms are sparkling. I was drenched in sweat after disinfecting both those bad boys. I always get this way before vacation. It’s almost like that nesting instinct momma’s get before their children are born. (Before Joe was born, I cleaned the huge windows on our front porch in Albany. I took them out first! Then I carried a dresser upstairs from the basement. Steve was not amused…) I have added incentive this year since I have someone staying at my house while I’m gone. Hopefully Cosette and Domino will be civil to one another in our absence…
I got a little prayer answered unexpectedly, and it made my day. Joseph is working full time this summer, and we didn’t think he would be able to come to the beach with us. But he was able to get Monday and Tuesday off, so we’ll bring him with us and send him home on a bus from Hyannis. That little prayer between me and the Great One was a special request, and I was ready to be ok with it if the answer was no. It wasn’t looking too likely for a while, but my baby called me from work today with the thumbs up, and the complete blessing of his boss. Can you see me smiling across the cyber miles? After all we have experienced over the past 9 months, the good, the bad and the ugly, I only wanted my whole family together for a little while to celebrate life together at the Cape. So there it is. Another application of grace that I certainly didn’t earn. But that’s the way it is with God. It’s not about “You deserve it”. It’s about “I love you.” And He loves us even when the answer is no. (Still feels great though when the answer is yes!)
When we return from my favorite place on earth, I’ll be concentrating on the Smith Family Thanks You dessert night coming up October 23. Put it on your calendar, friends! You deserve a whole lot more than a slice of cake, but won’t it be great to celebrate together? I can’t wait!
Clean car, clean bathrooms, and thanks to Jesus, a clean heart. The first two of course matter little. The last one, well, that’s an indescribable, unearned, and priceless gift.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Well, my car is clean. The good folks at Cole Collision gave me a gift certificate for detailing way back in December, and I finally got around to using it. They even shined my hubcaps! I didn’t expect that. I would have been completely delighted if all they had done was remove the dried food and soda stickies from the vinyl. It smells really, really good in there too. (Multiple trips to the dump can do a number on the aroma in a vehicle…) I’ve been informed by a few people (Smitty included) that it might have been smarter to wait until we returned from the beach to have the car cleaned and vacuumed, what with sand and all, but I’ll suck up the sand next week. It will be a pleasure to drive to the ocean without something sticking to my clothes. Remember when my car was completely trashed? I don’t think I’ll ever forget the coffee cups, parking validations, food wrappers and other miscellaneous trash from the days I lived in that van. When it’s time for a new car I will cry. That vehicle and I bonded in the strange way men typically relate to their cars.
Speaking of clean, my bathrooms are sparkling. I was drenched in sweat after disinfecting both those bad boys. I always get this way before vacation. It’s almost like that nesting instinct momma’s get before their children are born. (Before Joe was born, I cleaned the huge windows on our front porch in Albany. I took them out first! Then I carried a dresser upstairs from the basement. Steve was not amused…) I have added incentive this year since I have someone staying at my house while I’m gone. Hopefully Cosette and Domino will be civil to one another in our absence…
I got a little prayer answered unexpectedly, and it made my day. Joseph is working full time this summer, and we didn’t think he would be able to come to the beach with us. But he was able to get Monday and Tuesday off, so we’ll bring him with us and send him home on a bus from Hyannis. That little prayer between me and the Great One was a special request, and I was ready to be ok with it if the answer was no. It wasn’t looking too likely for a while, but my baby called me from work today with the thumbs up, and the complete blessing of his boss. Can you see me smiling across the cyber miles? After all we have experienced over the past 9 months, the good, the bad and the ugly, I only wanted my whole family together for a little while to celebrate life together at the Cape. So there it is. Another application of grace that I certainly didn’t earn. But that’s the way it is with God. It’s not about “You deserve it”. It’s about “I love you.” And He loves us even when the answer is no. (Still feels great though when the answer is yes!)
When we return from my favorite place on earth, I’ll be concentrating on the Smith Family Thanks You dessert night coming up October 23. Put it on your calendar, friends! You deserve a whole lot more than a slice of cake, but won’t it be great to celebrate together? I can’t wait!
Clean car, clean bathrooms, and thanks to Jesus, a clean heart. The first two of course matter little. The last one, well, that’s an indescribable, unearned, and priceless gift.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Monday, August 9, 2010
Day 273 Amiable August
Dear friends,
Top ten excellent things about the month of August:
10. It is not February.
9. It's the month Jesse Owens stuck it to Hitler at the Munich games in 1936.
8. Steve's twin brother John married the sweet Bettianne in 1989.
7. Ice cream is the food of choice.
6. It is still, despite what everyone keeps saying, summer!
5. Those $50 sandals are $20 ($12.50 with a coupon).
4. You are 3 months away from shut down on my blabbing.
3. November brought breaks and bleeds, August brings health and healing.
2. American Idol is not on TV. (Sorry to the fans - just my opinion!)
1. Three words: Coast Guard Beach.
Just for fun, here's a picture of the one, the only, Jessica D. She's featured here eating ice cream at our Meadow Lane mansion, bringing with her that boundless joy which marks her person. She brought it with her to Albany Medical Center and Sunnyview Hospital too, back when
it wasn't August and that indomitable good nature was so desperately needed, especially by Miss Rejoice. Jessica is going to a training base next month with Youth with a Mission in Ukraine. No doubt the people of Eastern Europe will never be the same once they meet this beautiful young woman, who displays the cheer and good will of the Great One!
it wasn't August and that indomitable good nature was so desperately needed, especially by Miss Rejoice. Jessica is going to a training base next month with Youth with a Mission in Ukraine. No doubt the people of Eastern Europe will never be the same once they meet this beautiful young woman, who displays the cheer and good will of the Great One!Enjoy the rest of August, friends. T minus 5 days to lift off for the summer vacation we've been waiting for since Stephen woke up in the SICU lo those many months ago. Now you know I'll be posting a picture of Frankenfoot in the sands of Coast Guard Beach! And I will be thinking of you every day, as I always do. I am praying for you, friends. You certainly have for me.
Speaking of prayer, the situation is desperate for a man one of our dear bloggies, Laureen, brought to my attention. His name is Graham Stump, and he is a father of 2 young children. He sustained a traumatic brain injury (I don't know how - accident, stroke?-) but regardless he is not expected to wake up, and if he does, without a miracle he will be dependent on technology to survive. My heart is broken for this dear man's family. Please take a minute to bring him before the Great One. Also Steve's uncle (we love you Uncle Tom!) cares very deeply about the soul of a friend of his. Prayer is talking to God. "It don't got to be fancy". I'm telling you, with all the needs out there, we need a running conversation with the Great One. What good Father doesn't love to talk with His kids?
You guys are truly the cream of the crop. Enjoy August. It ain't over til it's over.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Sunday, August 8, 2010
9 Months Since Crash - The Power of Change
Dear Friends,
I can barely sort out the kaleidoscope of emotions I have run with on this beautiful summer day. Why I wear mascara to church I’ll never know. I look like Tammy Fay Baker by the end of the service.
Tom Little, a man I have had the honor of speaking with a few times, was killed on Friday by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was an eye doctor there for many years going to the poorest Afghan villages to literally bring light into darkness. He and a group of other compassionate medical folks were returning from a clinic in the remote mountains (where this kind of help is desperately needed) headed back to Kabul when they were gunned down as “spies and proselytizers”. Well, they were never able to speak about Jesus because of the laws of that land, but their lives were living epistles of the gospel in a place where love and mercy are sorely needed. Send up prayers for Tom’s wife Libby and their 3 girls. All of you who read here know that the Great One is supreme at turning disaster into triumph. As for Tom Little, he has his reward. He did what the Great One called him to do. All of us won’t die as martyrs. But we can live our lives, right where we are, for something bigger than we are. We can get out of our selfish cocoons and reach out to someone. You don’t have to look far for someone to love. Across the desk. Across the street. Next to you in bed…
Pastor Greg gave a sermon today on change, and I tell you the truth when I say it was like being hit by lightening. It was as if God Himself took the microphone and spoke directly to me, unsettling me and confronting me with that beautiful blanket of grace over the whole encounter. I was positively undone by the word of God. First, I was smacked with the grief of the change I am already processing. Sometimes it hits me like a ton of bricks. I go days, weeks, months thinking I have adjusted (and I have), but find there is a deeper place of acceptance and flexibility I must dive down and grasp. Then there is the prospect of the changes I think are being asked of me, and my faulty courage to actually make them. To stay in “the way it always has been” when all the signs point to moving on, is akin to moldy bread, rotting meat and spoiled fruit. What was once good and sweet has lost its flavor. It’s time to get on with it, or a part of us will die. P.G.’s wise council to be proactive in seeking God ahead of the change is being implemented by me right now. I just remembered, if you would like to hear this sermon for yourself, you can listen on the website (there’s a link right here on the blog). We need courage at the sticking point. God has it in limitless supply.
Here are a few things I’m rejoicing over today:
Pastor Dave the Humble and Sister Laurie are back from vacation! Hooray, hooray. With all the blubbering I did today I missed my chance to welcome them back with a big ole’ hug. I’ll get my chance…
Miss Beth A., (now Mrs. Beth A.) is the daughter of Judy the Good and Mark the Lion Hearted. She got married today! Mazel Tov Beth and Ray! I’m so very happy for this matchless family. I can’t wait to see the pictures of Judy (who is more of an Eddie Bauer kind of girl) in her fancy duds. The bride must steal the show. But I’m sure her momma turned a few heads too…Love you like crazy, Judy!
Precious Ryan W., an old friend of my son Joseph’s, came to visit from Florida yesterday. He’s 6 feet tall now, but I remember him in kindergarten. And I remember him selling rocks at Sacandaga Lake with Joseph as his side kick. And I remember my oldest son giving up his kindergarten graduation balloon because he felt so bad that Ryan’s floated out of reach. Joseph, that’s who you truly are! I’ll try to keep it in mind when I’m ready to lock you in the cellar…
Friends, it is 9 months today since the crash that started this blog. I am a changed woman because of it. The crash and the blog. The Great One specializes in change. Look at the seasons. Look at metamorphosis. Look at the tides. He’s with you in all the changes. So take heart. Be of good courage!
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.” ~Mark Twain
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
I can barely sort out the kaleidoscope of emotions I have run with on this beautiful summer day. Why I wear mascara to church I’ll never know. I look like Tammy Fay Baker by the end of the service.
Tom Little, a man I have had the honor of speaking with a few times, was killed on Friday by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was an eye doctor there for many years going to the poorest Afghan villages to literally bring light into darkness. He and a group of other compassionate medical folks were returning from a clinic in the remote mountains (where this kind of help is desperately needed) headed back to Kabul when they were gunned down as “spies and proselytizers”. Well, they were never able to speak about Jesus because of the laws of that land, but their lives were living epistles of the gospel in a place where love and mercy are sorely needed. Send up prayers for Tom’s wife Libby and their 3 girls. All of you who read here know that the Great One is supreme at turning disaster into triumph. As for Tom Little, he has his reward. He did what the Great One called him to do. All of us won’t die as martyrs. But we can live our lives, right where we are, for something bigger than we are. We can get out of our selfish cocoons and reach out to someone. You don’t have to look far for someone to love. Across the desk. Across the street. Next to you in bed…
Pastor Greg gave a sermon today on change, and I tell you the truth when I say it was like being hit by lightening. It was as if God Himself took the microphone and spoke directly to me, unsettling me and confronting me with that beautiful blanket of grace over the whole encounter. I was positively undone by the word of God. First, I was smacked with the grief of the change I am already processing. Sometimes it hits me like a ton of bricks. I go days, weeks, months thinking I have adjusted (and I have), but find there is a deeper place of acceptance and flexibility I must dive down and grasp. Then there is the prospect of the changes I think are being asked of me, and my faulty courage to actually make them. To stay in “the way it always has been” when all the signs point to moving on, is akin to moldy bread, rotting meat and spoiled fruit. What was once good and sweet has lost its flavor. It’s time to get on with it, or a part of us will die. P.G.’s wise council to be proactive in seeking God ahead of the change is being implemented by me right now. I just remembered, if you would like to hear this sermon for yourself, you can listen on the website (there’s a link right here on the blog). We need courage at the sticking point. God has it in limitless supply.
Here are a few things I’m rejoicing over today:
Pastor Dave the Humble and Sister Laurie are back from vacation! Hooray, hooray. With all the blubbering I did today I missed my chance to welcome them back with a big ole’ hug. I’ll get my chance…
Miss Beth A., (now Mrs. Beth A.) is the daughter of Judy the Good and Mark the Lion Hearted. She got married today! Mazel Tov Beth and Ray! I’m so very happy for this matchless family. I can’t wait to see the pictures of Judy (who is more of an Eddie Bauer kind of girl) in her fancy duds. The bride must steal the show. But I’m sure her momma turned a few heads too…Love you like crazy, Judy!
Precious Ryan W., an old friend of my son Joseph’s, came to visit from Florida yesterday. He’s 6 feet tall now, but I remember him in kindergarten. And I remember him selling rocks at Sacandaga Lake with Joseph as his side kick. And I remember my oldest son giving up his kindergarten graduation balloon because he felt so bad that Ryan’s floated out of reach. Joseph, that’s who you truly are! I’ll try to keep it in mind when I’m ready to lock you in the cellar…
Friends, it is 9 months today since the crash that started this blog. I am a changed woman because of it. The crash and the blog. The Great One specializes in change. Look at the seasons. Look at metamorphosis. Look at the tides. He’s with you in all the changes. So take heart. Be of good courage!
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.” ~Mark Twain
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
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