Basking in the sun while under the covers

The sun streams across the bed helping to warm the room as the day is getting started. I can hear geese or some other birds honking away outside. My sister, Jill, asked me if that means winter is coming and I said, "I certainly hope not!" Enough! Presently it is 42 above zero which, while yet cold, is 12 degrees warmer than the 30 we had several times this past week. We are expecting the warmth to come back for a few days, 70's or close to it, before it again drops down temperature-wise.

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Well, about last night.....Judy C. rode over to Mimi's with me for our lovely dinner. Debbie S. was already there waiting for us, pleased she had not gotten lost. She drove around the Town Center a bit, looking for the restaurant, and said she found many good places out there. Debbie announced she wants to come back again, maybe once a month (or every 30 days) to check it out! The others arrived and we placed our orders. I had my meatloaf, boxed up half of it to bring home. We might have been on time for the concert if the waitress would have been more prompt with our bills and the processing thereof. I had to lead the caravan to the church, since I use the short cut of UNF, and got us there just prior to the first tones from the band, Koine.

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As Cary met us at the door to the church, he told us they had not begun yet and said we should cover our ears. Oh, great! I had to stop at the ladies' room but the rest went in to find seats. There were plenty of seats available, sadly so, because this was a fund raiser event for Haiti relief. As I came in, the band started and they did rock the house. They were true to their word, playing hymns we knew and sharing the Good News between songs. After the first hymn, there was applause and the lead vocalist joked that the typical Lutheran sign of approval was the arms crossed on the chest---yes, that was me! I was not comfortable applauding in church for a hymn but it also felt not right not to! What a conundrum! I really enjoyed the pianist and the vocalist, and some day I might not mind the karaoke sing-along format. In fact, when we first came to Good Shepherd, the pastor would have songs on the screen from the overhead projector, for a sing along before Sunday school and Bible study. What does anyone else have to say about this? I will admit to being somewhat stodgy in my thinking, but what about y'all?

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During a break, Joel H. showed a video taken at the orthopedic center we are 'adopting' as he had been there doing surgeries last fall. The video was a tear jerker, heart-wrenching, of the horror these injured folks are facing and the medical staff barely able to hold it all together. After using the restroom, I stepped into the kitchen area to see what Harold was working on. He had a huge, long box stacked to the top with crutches and canes. Thank you, Lord, for the sharing folks! I have offered to bring the clothing, shoes, and other donations over to Victory in the next couple weeks for Joel to take with him when he goes down again, with a team, to Haiti to work in the orthopedic center. I must tackle my closet and gather items. Justin has bags to donate as well, clothes now too big for him. It is the least we can do, while the best we can do is remember all those involved in prayer, both the victims and the rescuers!