Updates

It's been awhile since I posted. Lots of weirdness with computers and internet access. It's a very long and boring story. At any rate, I'm finally posting again.

So, here's what's been happening in my world of late: I spent last weekend in Berkeley at another ordination. Congrats to KAG! It was a lovely service, and I'm so glad I got to be there with her for this milestone. KHR was also there, so the bishops of Region 10 were together again. 2 times in 2 months might be some kind of a record for us at this point. So, the weekend was beautiful, gorgeous, and I didn't have to wish that either of them were there!

As for my own call process, mid-February came and went with no word from the church I have been talking to. I finally heard from them, and they want to talk with me some more. Seriously, a 4th interview??? I'm very confused.

The church that I have been supplying at for the past year would like to call me, which is a nice affirmation. They are a great congregation, and I think I could do some good ministry there, but they can only afford part-time at the moment. I'm a bit leery of having to get another job to supplement being a pastor, but I'm trying to be open to where the Spirit might be leading.

The nieces are all good. Having all 4 in the same town is a lot of fun. They are all so cute and crazy in their own ways, and they make me smile a lot.

Moving Day

My sister and brother-in-law moved into their new house today. They have lived on the other side of the state for many years, now, but recently decided to move closer to both sets of grandparents. My job was the "hardest" one of all in the unloading of the trailer: I got to play with my youngest niece, who is 2, so her parents, my dad, and brother could get everything unloaded. It was such fun! We read books and played Ring Around the Rosie and slid on her slide. The we "helped" unload, too. I held her, and she would take something really light from the trailer and we'd take it in the house. Sometimes I would take something in my other hand, too. She was very proud of herself for being big and helping. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon. Not so great for sermon production, but I got it done, so I'm not complaining.

In other news, it is now officially past mid-February and I haven't yet heard from the call committee. Very frustrating. Nor have I heard from the synod office since the first of December. Also frustrating. Blah. If only playing with nieces came with dental....

Mmmm....Chocolate

It's Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, a time to rid one's house of all of those things that might temp us away from our Lenten fast. Or, for me, it's a day to eat chocolate until I throw up. OK, I've never actually thrown up on a Fat Tuesday, but I do like the excuse to eat lots of chocolate. In fact, I had it for breakfast. I had some for a snack. And I'm about to have some with (OK for) dinner. Yum! Every year for almost 15 years, now, I've given up chocolate for Lent. It turns out it's the one Lenten discipline I can actually stick with. Spiritual practices are, apparently for me, like New Year's resolutions. I always have good intentions, but my follow-through pretty much stinks. I always think this will be the year that my prayer life will improve, or that I'll actually read the daily devotionals I have for the season. I do pretty well for about a week, and then it's back to business as usual. And yes, I realize that giving up chocolate isn't exactly much of a fast, but it seems to be the one Lent-ish sort of thing that I can actually accomplish. Probably this says more about me than I actually want to contemplate. In the meantime, I need to write a sermon for tomorrow. Something about Ash Wednesday and Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Probably I should be preaching this sermon more to myself than to anyone else...

Phlegm

Oh yes, isn't that an exciting post title? I think my head cold has turned into a sinus infection. I'm not entirely sure how I get so lucky. Don't worry, I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say, it's very exciting in my life right now with the nose blowing. Also, have you ever tried to write a sermon with stuffed up sinuses? I know this isn't an isolated incident, but I'm wondering if anything I wrote today actually makes sense since I'm fairly sure I either wasn't in my body at the time or my head was floating above my body while I was writing. Something weird, anyway. And that is my random post for the day. I think I need a nap...