I've Been a Bum!

I'm back! Yes, I've spent too much time not writing here, but with all the emotions I've felt over the last 4 weeks, it was probably best not to write.

The four of us spent a good day in Dover today with Mom. And Aunt Linda was there too. We six went to our favorite Cindy's for lunch and it was good as usual. Then we spent the afternoon just hanging out. I took a nap! and David hung a curtain rod for Mom. Then got back home around 7:30.

I've been staying pretty busy lately. I'm going in to church on Tuesdays and Thursday to work on the bulletin and newsletter. Then I've had a little freelance writing/editing from a friend that has been fun to do.

The job search is pretty slow. I met with the transition placement guy that LifeWay pays for. I've had to revamp my resume and learn the new mentality of job searches. And I've spent hours online searching every job site I can find and various companies in Nashville. A couple of jobs did come up this week that I applied for, but haven't heard anything yet.

Nat completed her 2nd week of work at the ENT office. So far, so good. She likes it well.

I'm thankful we had a good trip today and for safety on the road. I'm also thankful for God's providing. About one day a week I struggle with things and question why and how. But I know He's in control and I have to wait.

Till next time.

It's a new world!

Well, things have changed. God is in control and I'm trusting.

LifeWay deleted about 100 jobs last week, including mine. I had been there over 14 years. Perhaps I can go back someday!

The news came on Friday and I stayed the day, instead of leaving early upon getting the news, as offered. Saturday, David and I went in and packed up much of my stuff, which was too, too much. We filled the car! You forget about how much stuff you accumulate over the years, plus a lamp or two, and 5 years of seminary books.

Then I worked all day on Monday. The work was at a good stopping place and the rest of my team was out of the office this week. So I worked the day, emptied the last couple of desk drawers, and said my goodbyes.

I have many, many friends who I'll greatly miss. This will make reasons to try to connect with folks socially, every now and then.

In the meantime, I'm sleeping in some (except that I still wake up at 4:45 a.m.), stay up late some (I'm naturally a night owl), and bumming some. I've had several phone calls from friends, checking on me, and many emails of encouragement. I am blessed! I hope to spend a little time doing some stuff at the house--you know, those things one has trouble getting to. And I hope to find some projects at church to help with.

Thankfully, after a few days of processing, the Lord has given me peace about everything. He is in charge and will order my next steps, as He has the last steps. As one of my writers encouraged me: "God is our Provider and the God of great surprises!" Like a kid at Christmas, I'm ready for my next surprise!

I'm praying for the several others who're experiencing job loss. Also, for little Kennedy, who I've written about before. She's fighting a new infection of some sort that complicates other conditions.

I am so thankful for God's hand! He is Abba Father!

Till later!

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone is enjoying this Independence Day! I love having the day off!

I've about decided that I have been suffering from Patio Furniture Envy. Now, for the first time in all these years, I'm the owner of real patio furniture. I'm a regular person now!

I guess over the years, my outdoor furniture matched the potential of the outdoor space.

First, I think in my single years I owned a matching set of aluminum and woven web lawn furniture--a chair and a chaise lounge. My space back then was a wooden balcony in my apartment complex. The set just hung out out there until I'd decide to chill on the balcony sometime.


I brought this set into marriage, and when it fell apart (the set, not the marriage!), I bought a plastic-ribbed chaise lounge--one that could be flattened for those periods of sun worshiping that was so "in" back then. It didn't last long either, but not necessarily from use. During this time, we had another small wooden balcony at our Erlanger apartment, then had the backyard with garden at the farmhouse-in-the-suburbs in Florence. Though the backyard wasn't conducive to entertaining and sitting, we did spend a fair amount of time on the front porch, where there was an old-fashioned porch swing! Most excellent! Even though that house had limitations in space and age (a 1920s Sears kit house), I think I enjoyed that place the most. Maybe it was because it was our first real house (not apartment).

The next furniture we owned were two white plastic-coated wire mesh stacking chairs--popular back then. At that point in the mid-80s, we were in our newly built brick ranch in Burlington. There we had this most excellent brick patio that David made with his own hands. He'd be out there digging in the sand and placing those bricks, while 2-year-old Zach poked around the yard, playing. Those chairs fit the bill for a time, then rusted and fell apart. Also during this time, David's siblings and families gave us a stationary bench swing. We enjoyed that on the front porch!

I think the next time we bought patio furniture was maybe to have a couple of the above-mentioned aluminum folding lawn chairs. One had to have something to take to a church picnic!

Our move to Lawrenceburg brought us to the 1920s bungalow house that was never finished, complete with no back door, but a side door. The floor plan just didn't work for having much going on in the back, except for the swing set. Life was hectic at that house, but the neighborhood was great for front-porch sitting. We had a nice large, covered front porch, and had the swing there for a time. I can still see Natalie riding her pink and white Big Wheels up and down the sidewalks.

Our Gallatin house in Tennessee had our first deck, with potential for outdoor activity. But the back of the house faced west and there weren't mature trees to block the setting sun. It was so hot in the summer. The swing was in storage, plus the corner lot exposed the yard to major neighborhood traffic, so we never pursued outdoor life there.

Now in Hendersonville, we have a patio surrounded by tall trees. The old patio is quite sad in appearance, with a few cracks in the concrete. Personally, I'd rather have a deck with a screened area. But until that happens, we're going to make an outdoor space with what we've got! At our nearby big-box store we found a nice wicker-type love seat and chairs with cushions, plus a glass-topped coffee table. Plus, it was name brand and half off! I know we'll be spastic about keeping it protected from weather and bringing it inside occasionally, but it is definitely time for this purchase.


Last night David constructed the two chairs and we sat on the patio watching our town's fireworks display tonight from somewhere in the backyard! Just one mosquito bite, that I know of! I'll have to get some citronella candles for this outdoor living!

So, on my long list of outdoor furniture, that's one marked off. Next will be the screened porch with outdoor dining furniture, then maybe someday some Adirondack chairs under the trees!

Till next time!

I'm thankful for our country's freedom! And praying for Kennedy, who's recovering from spine surgery!

R

Nearly All Day at Church

Well, it is Sunday night again, and I'm just now getting back here. The week has been not one of my best, as it was an extreme roller coaster. I felt pretty blue much of the beginning of the week, but bounced back up fairly well by Wednesday. I'm definitely having to rely on the Lord!

We spent many hours at church today! We went in early for the 8 a.m. service, so played/sang for 3 services instead of just 2. We grabbed a great lunch at Demos with Natalie, then was back at church by 3 p.m. Had patriotic services at 4 and 6, with snacks in between. It was good, but we were glad to get home!

The house has been quiet this weekend. Zach went to Washington DC for a long weekend, visiting some friends from college. He's due back tomorrow night.

Yesterday Natalie went with us yesterday to visit Mom. She's doing pretty well. We did our normal visit to Cindy's for lunch, then back to her house, but this time by way of Fred's and Piggly Wiggly. Wes's daughter Terri and her four children were on their way up from Texas for a visit. So Mom needed to stop for a few things. Our visit was short again, but we had a good time!

Nothing much else is going on. I dread going back to work tomorrow, as always, but at least it is only a 4-day work week. I look forward to better days!

Tonight I'm praying for Kennedy, who has spinal surgery this week. She and her whole family are in Philly for that. Even her dad is in from Afghanistan.

I'm thankful tonight for progress in the healing of Erik, the little boy who nearly drowned a few months ago in an unknown well at his daycare. He's doing well and amazing his parents and rehab staff.

Till next time!

Another Sunday night

Well, I had meant to write before now, but it just didn't happen. The week has been long and hard, and full of disappointments. But I won't go into them here.

Natalie had a disappointment too. She flew out of town on a long-anticipated trip to visit an old friend, but the situation there with this girl was unacceptable and Natalie chose to come back home the next day. She felt cheated about her little vacation, and I don't blame her. But she made the right decision.

Saturday David and Zach drove to Louisville for a concert. So Nat and I met at church for a different concert. But we didn't care for the group that much, so left early and went for ice cream! That was nice!

Today we had an extra choir and orchestra rehearsal to prepare for next week's Patriotic Celebration. It went well. I always enjoy this type of music, particularly the marches. They are always a challenge to play, but fun.

I dread Monday mornings, so I dislike Sunday afternoons and nights! I spent some time Friday night reading an old diary, written during my senior year in college. I didn't like Sunday afternoons then either. It was weird reading this diary. It was only for about 10 weeks, but interestingly covered the time when my dad died. I somehow didn't write much on my feelings, but mostly the mechanics. Not that insightful.

I feel somewhat stifled. I don't know that this blog is the best idea. I have much I want to say, but just don't feel the freedom. This is primarily only an exercise in talking around the elephant in the room. But I suppose there is some benefit.

Today I want to ask for prayer for the sister of a friend. She's got cancer again, after surviving breast cancer a few years ago. Not sure what kind of prognosis she has.

I am especially thankful for God's traveling mercies lately. In the last two weeks, we've had round trips to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville, then Nat's flight to Minneapolis...all without incident. Zach has a trip to DC planned this next weekend, so I pray His cover of protection will remain.

Till next time...

Lazy Weekend

Yes, I admit it: I accomplished almost nothing this entire weekend. David and I caught up on some TV and caught up on some sleep. I feel a smidge guilty, but needed the rest. The past month has just been crazy.

Today was a great Father's Day. Church was good. The choir and orchestra did "Thou, O Lord," which always gets to me. Today I remembered how Bro. Glenn would sing along to the song, and I remembered how we all miss him.

After church the family ate at Cheddar's, David's pick. I tried their Philly steak sandwich for the first time. Great!

My children are blessed with their father, as I am blessed to have him as a husband. I'm so thankful God put him in our lives!

My niece is having a life crisis, or at least experiencing something we'd consider a crisis. Unfortunately, I can't help but trace some of the trials that my sisters and their children have gone through to the sins of my father. I'll never understand all that he did and the reasons he had, but know that his choices created baggage in each of his children's lives, and now their offspring. And those choices led to his early death and caused his absence in my life today. I ask your prayers for my niece and that she'll come back to the Lord.

I'm still waiting for the Lord's reveal in other areas. The waiting is more and more difficult. I pray He'll sustain me.

Today I'm praying for the Burgess and Chapman families who lost children in the past six months. I know today has been hard.

I praise the Lord for His provision and love. He is my All in All.

Later!

Wow, it's over!

Well, my time in Indy has come to a close. I've enjoyed it, even though my feet and knees hurt from the shifts of standing in the booth. I met several new folks, some old classmates from seminary, and even saw two guys I hadn't seen since high school and college. Crazy!

My all-time favorite thing of this time is the luscious stuffed chair in Starbucks. It has a magical affect on me, enveloping me in relaxation. I've been blessed to get to use this chair several times in the last two days. The hotel's free internet service is only in the lobby, so one has to come down to use it or pay for use in the room. But there's just something about this chair...like, when you stop and think, you realize you could take a nap right where you are, and you weren't even thinking of a nap before sitting down.

The rains and floods up here have been terrible. Several communities have lost homes and crops from overflowing rivers and creeks. I learned today that some of our SBC folks got stranded on I-65 trying to get up here, while roads were in process of flooding or being closed.

These last days have been good. I've needed the chill time and down time for my brain. There has been too much stress lately and I've overextended myself too.

Nat is still struggling with the job thing. She keeps getting interviews, but that is as far as it goes. She needs to find something soon! I pray it is around the corner!

David is in Cincinnati still, visiting family. He saw one aunt yesterday and another today, both of whom he hadn't seen in quite a while. Plus, he's hanging out with his siblings and getting caught up!

Zach is holding down the fort, but enjoying a quiet house to himself. When David contemplated not going away, Z pushed hard 'cause I know he wanted his own vacation from us!

Better go! I pray for those folks who can't take a break from whatever heartaches they have. I'm blessed to have health and good stuff!
R