Rain, rain, go away!

Another day of nearly constant rain, as we had yesterday for the Rally. Just a few moments ago I switched my TV station over to The Weather Channel to see if there was something I should know as the winds went wild, waves rolling over the breakwater, and rain slamming against my windows. But, nope, nothing to see here, move along. Suddenly it became night time and I cannot see the waves any longer, but sure can hear the wind!

As I mentioned the other day, Pastor H. was going to preach today using my selected funeral chapter from Philippians, so drove back to Victory for worship. The late service was having a baptism and we sang the hymn at early service from CWS. Always perfect! The epistle reading and sermon text were from Philippians 4. He did a good job with the text, reminding us how St. Paul was in prison, encouraging others to rejoice. The passage (4:8), posted on my Facebook page, is about thinking only of that which is right, true, noble, trustworthy, and praiseworthy. It is not simple to do but well worth the effort.

Then he went on with the other passages I love about being content in all things. Pastor mentioned those marching on Wall Street, how the‘discontent’ has been spread to other cities and towns. It isn’t as much “anti-greed” as it is “anti-contentment”! “For I know what it is to have plenty, and I know what it is to be in want…I have learned the secret of being content in all things”. One of my favorite ThanksLiving Day sermons was based on this passage. *sigh*

At the beginning of the sermon, Pastor mentioned Steve Jobs death earlier in the week. According to some, Jobs has touched and improved nearly everyone's life these days with his products. Pastor rattled them off but did not mention the only one I use, which is iTunes, but on my PC. Jobs would talk about his latest roll-out, the next product coming onto the market, what the future held, but never once did he mention his own future. He did not discuss what awaited him when he died, although he knew he was dying. The tragic thing is, the man who touched everyone else's life was not touched by His Savior. Jobs instead chose a different path, Buddhism, and we know now what his future holds. The king of communication shunned the King of all Creation….

For pre-service music, Rachel played “Jerusalem, the Golden” and when I looked up at her, she gave me a little wink. How perfect a hymn to accompany the theme of the day. Rejoicing for what awaits us and finding contentment while yet here!

My eyes! My eyes!!!

It was just an awful sight to behold…a football game easily within the realm of victory for the Jaguars when poof!, it was dashed in a rather splendid fashion. The final play of the game, where the Jags stood a chance of pulling ahead, final seconds….The ball was hiked to the quarterback, who threw it to another guy, who tossed it to another guy, who threw it back to the quarterback, who went backward down the field, and dropped it. Meanwhile, the opposing team grabbed the ball and ran it in for a touchdown. Wow! What a disaster for our team! The TV announcers were astounded and exclaimed, “That play will be reviewed!” and the other guy said, “….for years to come…” Good-bye, Jack DelRio, it’s been a real hoot!

The WI and FL Facebook friends are comforting each other with the good news about the Brewers and local high schools winning their homecoming games. Tonight we in Jacksonville are treated to watching the Packers play since they are up against another southern team, the Falcons. I hope the WI streak continues for the Packers!

Thursday at Bible study, Pastor Hoyer mentioned getting an e-mail from the wife of his dear friend from their Calgary days. Mrs. Schultz was reporting the declining health of her spouse, saying he may not be long for this world, being helped with a respirator for breathing and so on. Living now in WI, her husband expressed his dying wish from the hospital bed: “I have heard enough about the Brewers; I have heard enough about the Packers; now just give me the Word…” What a powerful testimony and sentiment he expressed. Nothing else really matters as we prepare for the wedding feast, except to have the proper robe to wear.

I shared this story with Linda J. this afternoon and she was moved by it also. We talked about how this brought to mind a portion of “The Bucket List” when Edward is trying to persuade Carter into joining the big adventure. “How do you see it playing out, Carter? You go home to some sentimental processional into death, with everyone standing around watching you die while YOU try to comfort THEM?” That is rather backward but I know that is often the way it goes. Not that I have spent much time at anyone’s death bed, not even with Hospice, but it’s easy to see how that could happen. Making small talk about sports and traffic and all that, and not really talking about the ‘one thing needful’. Pastor Schultz taught me a really good lesson with those words.

When my father-in-law was near death, the family took Sharon, my blind sister-in-law, to the hospital in Green Bay so she could say good-bye. She was asking for a Bible or a hymnal, wanting someone to read from it but no one had access to one. If Justin had been there, at least he’d been able to pull up passages on the Internet using his iPhone. (More about iPhones in a future posting…) All Sharon could do, then, was attempt to recite Luther’s Morning Prayer from her damaged memory. “Don’t tell me about the Packers; don’t tell me about the Brewers; just give me the Word!”

Quack, quack, quack!

It’s been raining nearly all day, off and on, complete with occasional wind and not even a peek of the sun. In fact, I believe it rained half the night, too, as it seemed I was awake much of that time.

Part of the reason for my unsound sleep was from my cough and the other part was likely because I had set my alarm on the phone, a sure thing for losing sleep. After I got home from lunch with Judy C. yesterday and sat at my desk, a cramp of some sort shot through my upper leg. Immediately I leapt back to my feet, thinking I sat wrong or something, but periodically the jolt would return. During the night it signaled me more than once, not as severe as the first one and as of now, seems to have subsided. That was a bit scary!

Janet arrived on schedule this a.m. and I led her to Victory, driving most of the time in the rain. At times it was very heavy downpours and we were quite glad to arrive there safely. She hopped into my car to wait for a break in the storm, and then Cary, my Trivia partner, came out with the umbrella to walk us in. We felt badly for those LWMS participants coming from long distances in that wretched weather.

It was great to see many familiar faces, and the Ladies of Victory did a fabulous job preparing for the Rally. Our speaker was the pastor’s wife from Tallahassee, who had served with Kingdom Workers in Taiwan after graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran College. After the business meeting, we had a genuine ‘first’ for an LWMS Rally---we were able to Skype with the missionaries serving now in Taiwan! It was a full 12 hours later there than here so they stayed up late to talk with us.

Our lunch was nice but I had to chuckle about it---Gretchen and I got in line together, dished up our salad, a roll, and she took fruit, and then went to the dessert table. Where’s the beef? I was not aware what was on the menu since it didn’t matter really, so only took a small taste of the salad. Later, Anne H. sought me out to see if I had enough to eat, saying, “I know you are a bit of a picky eater…” I showed her where the chicken salad had been on the plate and the ladies sitting with me confirmed that I had some chicken salad. Thanks, Anne, for looking out for me!

The ladies served us on plastic plates which looked just like your mom’s fine china (lower case ‘c’ there…) and the eating tools were also plastic. Sure fooled me! The plates were being kept but the artillery was being disposed of. I had read a few months ago how Stephanie had taken the plates home with her after a function, washed them all, and then brought them back to church for the next event. One could sure see why she did that, they are so nice!

After lunch we had a hymn sing where we could pick a favorite, and Anne asked me to request “In Christ Alone”, stanza 4, if we had to pick. She said I was her plant in the audience! We did that hymn, then “Beautiful Savior”. Judy C. requested “Go, My Children” which took me out. Having no tissues, I walked across the aisle where I saw a clean napkin on the table to mop up with. It was very nice and I am thankful Rachel can play on the fly like she does.

Before the event actually got underway, though, I had some tears. Bonnie, from Palm Coast, came up to me and said she had something for me in her car. It was a small box of books. Evidently, after the memorial service last week, some of the family had brought in a couple boxes of books to donate to the church. Marian’s confirmation hymnal with the name inscribed on the cover, a catechism from MLHS days, and her Bible. Bonnie knew that I would like to have those items, if no one else did, and I was blown away getting these mementos. How I would have loved getting the Small Catechism, the little brown one from my school days, but am pleased to have the Large Catechism from Marian’s school days! Thanks, Bonnie!

After the Rally, a lady came up to me and asked, “Are you the lady who had the leak?” I remembered sitting near her a year ago at the Rally and we had compared notes on condo floods. She reported having had her neighbor’s toilet overflow (fresh water) not long ago. I told her about hearing my neighbor’s toilet running last week one day and having to wait until the baby woke up for feeding before they made it stop. I told her I am sensitive to the sound of water dripping and she admitted being the same way. It can happen in a private home too, having a leak, but for some reason, it’s worse in a multi-family building. Or that might be why it’s worse, it affects more than one family!

On the way home from Victory, I stopped at my friend, Chrissie’s house. She is recovering from her surgeries and, with me having this stupid cold, we did not hug and such. We waved across the room, basically. I gave her the bracelet and earring set I had made at craft night at Victory last year to commemorate breast cancer awareness. She loved it, and showed me the book about jewelry making on her side table. Chrissie is all about the hand-crafted items and her hubby helped her get the bracelet on before I left. Her friends and church family are bringing them prepared meals regularly and someone was coming after I left with dinner for the family. What a great gift that is for her family, under the circumstances. Thank the Lord for good friends and for excellent surgeons, taking care of Chrissie this way!

It speaks for itself....

Sunrise October 7, 2011

What an incredible day thus far!

Today’s mail, instead of bringing me a check, brought me a very nice, hand-written letter from one of the young ladies, Nicole, who stayed with me this summer. I was blown away! She included with her note a photo of herself, her junior class picture at Rocky Mountain Lutheran High in Denver.

Mike C. told me last weekend that the teacher who accompanied the kids has said the young folks still talk their time here, and me (I guess I was a hit!). To top it all off, supposedly Nicole’s family moved into a new home and she told her teacher there is a room for me, with my own bathroom, when I go to visit there. How thoughtful of them!

Nicole told about their homecoming events coming up soon and how the student senate, of which she is part, is planning dress up days that week. The theme of the dance is ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and the décor sounds quite fun, like giant playing cards and other icons from the book and movies. Made me smile like a Cheshire cat myself!

The mail on the weekend brought another nice note from a friend of Marian’s in WI, her former co-worker, thanking me for keeping her informed when Marian was still alive and forward. Marcia had asked me to get the funeral plant for her, which I did, and gladly so.

*

Bible study was fantastic, having a new face join us this week. Beth, whose daughter, Hannah, passed away last year from a brain cancer, had off from work today and decided to come. Sunday will be the one year anniversary of Hannah being relieved of her suffering, and it was a bit difficult sometimes to keep the tears at bay. Sometimes, we both failed, but the comfort found in the Word soothes the spirit. The new booklet we began is about the ministry of the Keys and will be most interesting a topic.

After class I said to Beth, “It occurred to me it was a year ago that I had a terrible cold and could not sing in the choir at Victory for the funeral.” And now, I have one again, only not so serious. I told Beth that the only hymn I could sing was the closing one, “Abide With Me” which is one I normally cannot sing without choking up. The others around me were not members but were teachers and hospital staff, so they HAD to hear the message of this wonderful, comforting hymn. We hugged and hugged before she left and I hope I see her on Sunday when I go back over there.

I am going to Victory on Saturday for the LWMS Rally and after seeing the service folder for Sunday, must go back for worship Sunday. The sermon text is Philippians 4, my funeral chapter. His sermon is not the entire chapter but selected verses, some which helped me get through my personal struggles. Pastor said I will get a preview of my funeral then, and I said, “It might be an audition!” We had a good chuckle over that one! The only problem is I have to go for the 9:00 a.m. service since we have an ‘emergency’ meeting at GS after the service. No worries, I can make both, but won’t get to hang with Stephanie because she attends the Bible study which takes place at the same time as the early service. Oh, well, at least I get hear my funeral sermon…

I have a p.s. to add here: Via Facebook, I got a notice from my friend, Chris, with whom I used to paint, with a caution. She told me that the new movie, "Courageous", now in the theaters, has a child dying in it, and she wanted to give me a heads' up, in case I was going. The trailer for this movie aired before the movie "The Help" so I was aware that a child died, but how greatly I appreciate Chris warning me, to save me upset. Like I said last week Thursday, I have the best friends!

A reprint of my posting of Lisa's birthday (I updated her age and number of children!)

Today marks the 38th anniversary of the birth of my niece, Lisa. Growing up in a family with six girls plus my mom and having my grandma integrated into my life, I knew nothing of what it was like to not have females in my life. When my older sister, Lynn, told us she was going to have a baby, my sister, Lori, and I were in the sewing room of our family's home, jumping up and down with glee. I was a senior in high school at this time. It quickly became a "we" situation because in our family, sharing was important! My memory about exact dates and times is vague but I do know that Lynn could not be at my cousin's wedding because she was in labor. BUT I do remember being among the very first people to hold that little monkey baby when she was born!

*

Lisa was quite dark in color when she was born, hairy as could be, and the most beautiful thing I ever laid my eyes on! My former spouse was my boyfriend at this time and we just could not get enough of her. We went to Copp's the day she was born, when Copp's was still a department store, and bought her outfits and necessary baby items. We bought her a little sweater outfit which is what she wore home from the hospital. I think it was mint in color and with her coloring---gorgeous! (Her two sons wore the same outfit home from the hospital, too, as a tradition)

*

Our lives would never be the same, the sun rose and set on that child. When Lynn's husband rejoined the service, going into the Navy, it tore our hearts from our chests to say good-bye to them as they left for Norfolk. They had stopped at my house in Milwaukee, as I was married at this time, on their way to Norfolk, and after they left, I threw myself across the bed and sobbed my heart out.

*

Lori, my former spouse, and I drove out to see them at Easter, enjoying our time spent on the East Coast, seeing them and the sites around Williamsburg, VA, etc. That year at ThanksLiving we girls and Mom chipped together to fly Lynn and Lisa home, and surprised my dad. He was asleep in the chair and we put Lisa on his lap. He opened his eyes, and ta da!, there is our little dolly, Lisa. We had an airport in Manitowoc at the time, prop planes, but sadly, no more. The next January, Roger and Lori borrowed my brother-in-law's truck and drove out to pick up Lynn and Lisa, to bring them home for good. The husband did a Dear John thing, so the family to the rescue!

*

We rallied to help Lynn out with Lisa, by this time I had moved back to Manty from MKE, and could pitch in where I could. Lynn got a job through a temporary service at the area technical school, working in the mail room. She did so well that she was hired permanently and is presently there at LTC about 33 years! Lynn is an administrative assistant and works in public safety training, etc. To help Lynn out, Lisa was cared for between her aunts and eventually went to day care. Still the most adorable child you would ever want to meet. My brother-in-law, David, asked Lisa once, "What is it like to have people hang on your every word?" I really don't think she had a problem with it!

*

During the summers when Lisa was not in school, she would often spend her days with us where she was trained on office etiquette. Lisa loved to play with the typewriter, the big clunky type we used back in those days. Since our building business was run from our home, she had to learn the proper way to answer the phone, take messages, and so on, and did a good job at it. Later should thank me for the training as she would be complimented on her skills, both phone and people ones!

*

Where I went, Lisa went, and we spent good time together. Memorable for me, if not for her. And memorable for my sisters and Mom who also spent a good deal of time with Lisa. When we would go to the Mall, I would meet and chat with people, much to Lisa's chagrin. After years of enduring this, she asked me, in exasperation, "Do you have to talk to everyone????" Yes, I do! She would cringe when I sang along to the music in the grocery store and would duck down in the seat when I used the windshield cleaner when driving down the street. Yes, Lisa, I was quirky! And she loved every minute of it!

*

Fast forward through her dance recitals, Christmas programs, her confirmation and the party (at our house), her cleaning and eventually babysitting for me...She visited us often when we moved to Florida and, then, she was getting married. Oh my! Here it gets tricky (sorry, sweetheart.....) because the same year she was getting married was the same year problems came to light in my marriage. She had always wanted my former spouse, who had been like a daddy to her, to walk her down the aisle, and it was touch and go there for a while whether he would be in the picture or not. He did "give the bride away" at her wedding while I had the privilege of singing for the service.

*

Now Lisa is the mama of three darling boys and the wife of Noah, a wonderful husband and daddy to his boys. She was the only granddaughter/niece for a full twelve years, spoiled beyond measure and loved beyond measure. And today, we celebrate her birthday!!!

A clean desk is the sign of a messy mind

I have heard it said that a messy desk is the sign of a messy mind but now, even after my desk is cleaned off, I still have a messy mind. Lots of stuff swirling about in the folds of my brain. Do not mistake swirling for confusion, however; simply much to consider.

Today, in the wee hours, 3:50 a.m. to be exact, I found myself awake, needing to take a walk. “Redeye” was on TV and it was fun to see Greg Gutfeld at this hour, his normal hours, as well as on The Five at 5:00 pm. I like him very much on The Five, bringing some humor to sometimes tense conversations. It didn’t take long to fall back to sleep.

The soreness is still in my throat and now have added a little cough for good measure. Not like I had last Christmas, at least, not so far. Terri T. told me she has a sinus infection and since I was with her on Sunday….No, I won’t let her take the ‘blame’ for this as my sinuses are fine.

On the news this a.m. there was footage of huge riots and protests, and I had trouble figuring out if it was Greece or the USA. The particular scene I glanced up at was actually Greece but sadly, it could have been Wall Street. When one reads the placards and signs being waved in NYC, they are primarily concerned with money and who has it. I have not seen one sign or protester complaining about the basketball players or other athletes bargaining for millions of dollars.

The other day there was a music mogul with the protestors, Russell somebody, who first gave a speech, the one I mentioned when the kids chanted back to him everything he said, including, "Thank you all for coming out today!" He then sat and meditated with some of the Buddhists and yoga people. His net worth is $350 million dollars---I wonder if his fellow people on the line knew this. Or cared. After all, he looked like he was their ‘class’.

If he had walked around and handed out $100 bills to everyone there, would they accept it or refuse the money? After all, are they not opposed to people having money? Isn’t $100 money? Or would they hand the money to the person next to them, since they are all about sharing the wealth? If he is opposed to wealth, why does he charge people for music? Why don’t the musicians work for free?

There was a chart I saw on-line that showed what people who live at the poverty level, as determined by the government, have as far as assets. Yes, the very poor have assets. According to the 2005 census, one of the figures which caught my eye was the high percentage (well over half) of those in poverty with more than one TV. Almost all have at least one car, have A/C in the home, and yes, those with boys also are likely to have a game system.

If you look at the protestors on Wall Street, many are recording the goings on with their Apple iPhones and their iPads, or other electronic devices in near proximity to their person. They won’t lay their phone down and walk away from it, leaving it for someone else, because it is ‘theirs’. Sharing the wealth ends with the cell phone or laptops.

On another note: the other night at Ladies’ Group, we ladies and the pastor sat around the table, waiting to see who else was coming. One lady announced, “Amanda is on her way home…” Who? Amanda who? Someone from church? No, she was referring to Amanda Knox, the young woman who had just won her appeal in Italian courts regarding her murder conviction. Interesting...