Welcome December 2010

"Christmas is a time of little time.

How we get there is a mystery.
Racing madly mall-to-mall, we climb
Into fields of sunlit harmony.
Shopping, cooking, clearing walks and yards,
Trimming house and tree while working, too;
Making phone calls, wrapping, writing cards,
As all worn out we do what we must do
So that this day of joy might joy renew."
- Nicholas Gordon

Thanksgiving Fair

Life tends to be unfair. Now, I don't know who came up with the notion that life should be fair (I'm sure it's an American idea), but most of us buy into it, hook, line, & sinker.

Well--surprise, it isn't!

I know you're shocked.

I am always shocked when I beat my head against the unfairness "wall". Oh my, & I whine with the best, & complain, & carry on like a 5 year old:( And I'm long past 5.

My latest tirade: I have to work all Thanksgiving week. And Skye is coming home. And Keith's niece Molly is visiting for the week. This is her first visit in years--who will entertain Molly? When will I see Skye? I've really missed her this summer & fall:( And they both are craving home cooked meals...well, so am I!

But, many people work all week. I'm not the only one--Not. At. All.

And it will turn out ok, I'm sure.

I can see Skye & Molly in the evenings. They can meet me for lunch. Seth & Kelley can have them over. Cameron can drop in. I will have Thanksgiving Day off. Plus a BIG THANKS to my DIL, Kelley, (& Seth) who has offered her house for the feast on Thursday:)

Bless your heart, Kelley:)

Then Keith can gather the troops Friday & Saturday.

I'm not sure why it's worked out that my co-worker Jane & I are carrying the load next week, but our manager Yvonne & co-worker Toni need to spend time away, cuddling with grandchildren. There's nothing in me that can argue that loving on grandkids is less important than my schedule.

My kids are adults & they can do fine without me (did I really say that)??

Attitude is a decision.

Pray I will have a thankful attitude as I celebrate Thanksgiving this year:) Because I am so grateful for my countless blessings:)!

A Trip To Visit Janie & Tour Boston

I

Early last Friday morning Cameron gave us a ride to RDU to catch a flight to Boston. It's rare Keith & I fly, so this was a real treat! Before boarding, we ordered breakfast & read the newspaper while watching the sun rise across the runway :)

We were flying to the Boston area to visit a dear friend who we've known since 1972. Janie was one of the girls in our church youth group back when Keith & I lived in Stone Ridge, NY, in '69-'73.

Last December Janie & her friend Louise had a "wild hair". For Janie's birthday they decided to take a Jetblue special ($29 for 24 hrs.) to Raleigh to visit us! We hadn't seen her in 34 years! It was a "wild" time in more ways than one since Keith ended up in the hospital for emergency surgery the very evening they arrived!! After the exciting 24 hours in NC, Janie kept inviting us up to her neck of the woods, & finally, finally, we decided to go:)

Rain greeted us at Logan Airport. We grabbed our luggage & picked up our Dodge Charger rental car. Our plan was to see some of the city sights & surrounding countryside. Not an easy feat in a strange city, but Keith's Droid GPS helped figure it out. We drove by MIT & Harvard, & along JFK Ave., before touring the coastline north of Boston. Even with overcast skies the water & clouds & ocean were dramatic, & the scenery was beautiful!

By late afternoon we checked into our Norwood Courtyard motel, where I immediately took a little nap. Around 7pm we met Janie at her house where she introduced us to her new friend Michael & her son David. She suggested a local restaurant in downtown Norwood for dinner. We enjoyed catching up with one another's news & quizzing Michael & David. Before departing we agreed to the Saturday "tourist plan" which would begin the following morning at 10am.

Saturday's destination was Cape Cod, with Janie at the wheel & Michael riding shotgun. The scenery was nothing like what I had pictured in my mind! Instead of sandy, windswept landscapes, the Cape was covered in thick fall colored hardwoods, with narrow windy roads that reminded me more of mountain scenery than island coast views. Saltbox houses tucked in among the trees everywhere. And the beaches were sand & dunes & seaweed covered, not rocky like the northern beaches around Marblehead & Glouster.

It was at least an hour or more to Chatham from Norwood, the "elbow" of the arm of Cape Cod, where we ate lunch at a local bar. Janie & I had delicious lobster salads:) Both the "boys" wouldn't touch seafood--good grief, what they do miss:(

Afterward we checked out the gift shops, bought some fudge, then called it a day on the Cape & headed back. We said goodnight to Janie & Michael, all happy to spend the day together, yet exhausted & ready to rest.

Sunday morning dawned cloudy & gray like Friday, & Janie had a plan. Thinking ahead she had collected metro passes from friends so we could travel around the city free:)! On the way downtown to park at Mass General (where she works), Janie gave us a tour of the suburbs of Brookline & Newton, both filled with beautiful tall hardwoods & "McMansion" homes. Everywhere there were majestic trees; in the medians, filling the parks, blanketing the subdivisions!! Countless parks around Boston:)

The day was windy & chilly. After getting to Quincy by metro, the 4 of us stopped to watch an Australian street performer. Michael & Keith were 'volunteered' to help entertain. The performer was amazing, & oh so funny!! A fun way to begin the day:)

Shopping was next on the agenda. We browsed a while, then bought gelato & coffee:) After winding up "my" shopping spree, we took a short ferry ride to see the USS Constitution--burr, a cold ride:(!!

The Constitution is a beautiful ship but small:) Hard to believe she could weather the huge Atlantic Ocean. (We had to be searched to get on board!) After crossing back on the ferry, we caught the metro to begin our trip home.

Dinner with Louise, Janie's friend & neighbor, was at 6pm:)

Louise served us a delicious meal. She enjoys dinner parties & we enjoyed her cooking:) Louise introduced us to her friend Billy, a school classmate that has reconnected with her after many years, just like Janie & Michael:) Another neighbor, a friendly, spry, older gentleman, joined us for dinner as well.

It was a sweet evening, a fitting close to an awesome weekend:)

After many hugs around we said goodnight, & goodbye, to all:)

It was beginning to sleet, time to leave.

PS. Monday morning sleep in was heavenly. I could hear the wind howl ever so often, & more sleet had fallen. We took our time, enjoying breakfast & finally checking out before noon. On our way to the airport we stopped for a while at the local LLBean store.

At Logan, after checking through security, we bought a hot lunch & sat in front of the large windows in the retaurant, watching the planes take off & taxi in. The rain continually drizzled down the large glass panes.

By the time our flight was called the rain had become steady.

Our time in Boston was over--but sweet memories remain that will always be enjoyed:)

Seth & Kelley met us at RDU, where the sun was shining....home, safe & sound:)

Until the next time, Janie:)

God bless you & yours:)

Oh Fall, where did you go, etc.?:)

1. I am upset that summer has us in it's grip here in NC:( The high today was 85, with sweltering humidity:( Fall is my favorite time of year, yet warm weather is stealing autumn!!

2. I have worked 3 days in a row this week, & 2 of those were subbing as manager. Let me go on record: I do not prefer to be in charge.

3. The WIC Retreat in Blowing Rock last weekend did "rock":) So anointed! The Lord lavished us with His Presence:)

4. Skye graced us with a short visit last week/weekend:) I wish she would have stayed longer, but know she's carving out her own place. Tough for me.

5. Love working during the holidays:) Our store was decorated for Christmas last Thursday, & it's wonderful to look at the pretty decorations & hear some of the Christmas songs:) Next week I begin putting out Christmas cards--a HARD job, yet enjoyable.

6. Unexpectedly I have off tomorrow:) A gift. I am feeling so wiped out this week. And I need some quality time with my Care Receiver!! So we're meeting for lunch at Panera's:)

7. Unhappy about working all through Thanksgiving (except Thanksgiving Day) weekend, but my DEAR DIL has volunteered to host our lunch gathering--that's so sweet! That helps:)

8. The McFarlands would prefer not to exchange Christmas gifts anymore; I think I'm ok with that. And I think my sister's family probably would like to drop that tradition also. Paring down is a good thing. It's taken me years to concede that:)

9. I love my Peace Bible Study sisters:) I simply love them:) My encouragers.

10. Wyatt had a bath today. He's much more lovable when he's clean & smells less "houndy":) He's my bud:)

11. Love my new Kindle! Reading "Same Kind Of Different As Me" again. It's just as good as the first time, maybe better!!

12. 9 days till Keith & I fly to Boston. I'm excited:) A long weekend in the Northeast, with our friend Janie:) Whoa!

13. Oswald Chambers & C.S. Lewis are heroes of mine--2 of those in the Heavenly Hosts who are cheering me on:) Isn't that a good thought?

And, my mama & daddy are cheering too--encouraging my brothers & sister & me at the same time:)

Wow:)

October

Oak Island

Last Friday Keith & I packed up & traveled east to Oak Island to visit friends Judy & JE:) If you're a Whisper Space follower, you'll know we've done this for the last 3 years:)

October on Oak Island is simply a pleasure:) 

Biking around the streets & along the ocean in cool fall weather is hard to beat. Add to that catching up with old friends (Judy & I have known each other all our lives) & it's extremely nice. Add to that Judy's hospitality & cooking, & it's superb!

Icing on the cake--October beach/sound sunsets:)

Bless you, J & JE, for another memorable weekend:)

Confession Of a Selfish Heart

I wrote this last summer. I confess it's a hard one to share:

I read Todd W.'s blog today. He is our youth pastor, someone I really admire. It spurred me on to write about something I learned recently about "Who Am I?"
A few weeks ago a deacon from our church extended an invitation to a grieving family to have Peace host a funeral for their son who had died suddenly in a tragic accident. They didn't have a church family & must have wanted a church service. A kind offer, one I whole-heartedly agreed with, & was even pleased we could help in any way possible.

But---that meant Comfort & Care would be involved. My friend L. & I coordinate C&C. L. was going out of town for her first weekend away all summer, which left me to make sure things were put into motion.
It was a holiday weekend. I had finagled a day off & thought of all the things I wanted to do with "my" time--especially a bike ride with family:).
A fellow C&C friend offered to organize the Reception meal; a wonderful gesture, a God send! Lord, I vote she gets stars in her crown for this one:)

But, my heart was definitely divided, &, all the while, I hated feeling that way. But that dark heart made me count the hours I'd be involved.
Here was a family suffering through the WORST thing a parent can face--the death of a child/a young man & I'm hoping to get home by noon:(

Enfolding this family in such a way (by our pastor leading the funeral service & C&C preparing a light reception) was such a comfort to them.

Friends brought in enough food to feed an army (& that was added to the food D. had gathered & bought), even enough Caribou Coffee for an army! So amazing, such love for this young man who lost his life so suddenly.

As I served tea & soft drinks, the family & friends of K. blessed me time after time with testimonies of their son, brother, cousin, friend, co-worker. I wish I had known K. I cried for him & all those who will forever miss him.

We didn't get home till mid afternoon. Our bike ride didn't happen. Hubby & I were bushed. Emotionally exhausted:(

So, you ask, "who am I"?
I am a miserable sinner the Lord uses in spite of myself, in spite of my selfishness. He wouldn't let me get away with being self-absorbed this time.
That is a redeeming thought--to realize God can minister through us no matter what we're focused on, no matter if we're selfish to the core, no matter how reluctant we serve.

I wish I had gone into K.'s Reception with a tender heart, full of love for this aching family.
I mean, that's what counts in life, what we do with each day for those around us, not what each day holds for me, me, me!
Thank God for His redeeming power.

And J. & H., I am so glad you wanted a church funeral for your son, & that you allowed Peace to be part of God's comfort to you.
We are all the better for it.
God is our Comforter, Hallelujah!

And our Redeemer.

A Trial In Our Community

      (Photo of downtown Raleigh)

This week I've entered another world.
I've spent two days, Tuesday & Thursday,  in downtown Raleigh, sitting in a very chilly Wake County Courthouse courtroom watching a sorrowful, convoluted, sordid story unfold.
If you read this 'novel', you would not believe it.
And there's more to come.....

Almost two years ago a precious family from our church suffered a great tragedy--their 17 year old Eagle Scout son was murdered. Not only murdered, but killed by 4 'friends'. Not only murdered by friends, these people were high schoolers. And not only just any local high schoolers, they were attending the high school 1/2 mile from me--where my kids spent their high school years. This group of kids hung out at the Plaza where I work. One of the boys, the one on trial right now, worked 4 stores down from where I work. The plot was discussed & hatched all around my 'world'--Target & Lowe's, Wendy's, Blockbuster's across US 64 from me, etc.

It's hard to wrap my mind around all this---the manipulation, the deception, the lack of responsibility, the cruelness, the lack of remorse, the lack of truth, the lack of adult supervision/concern....should I go on?
Drugs, jealousy, romance, sex, depression, all here.
All of this from children.

But, at the same time, I simply can't separate the pity I feel for these teenagers. They lived in a world they perceived as hopeless. I have no clue what their family dynamics were, but I sensed from their testimonies most of them felt unloved & outcast, that no one cared for them. So they clung to one another, trusted one another even when it was foolish to do so.
Now, in 2010, as their trials begin, these teenagers have been living in jail about two years. Makes me ill to think they are living daily in a place of oppression & darkness within our prison system, trapped in a world of evil begetting evil.
(I fear we've failed at restoration & rehabilitation in our penal system in the 21st century)
What desperation.

Lord, help us comfort our friends & remember the dear son & brother that died.

Lord, help us not to forget these sad children & their families whose lives will forever be changed--& pray for hope & redemption.