Happy New Year!

"Go for long walks,

Indulge in Hot Baths.

Question your Assumptions,

Be Kind to Yourself.

Live for the Moment,

Loosen up, Scream.

Curse the World,

Count your Blessings,

Just Let Go, Just Be."

(Carol Shields)

This quote is on my new favorite coffee cup that I bought for myself and also for a friend for Christmas. There are many more "deep", "spiritual" thoughts rolling around in my mind....but frankly, I doubt you really want to hear them and honestly I have many more questions than conclusions to offer. So I will use these words that for whatever reasons I am liking! Holiday seasons can be internally tricky for me and seemed a bit more so this year, although all in all it was a good time. But despite my "issues" I feel the presence of a God who is concerned...who teaches me...who speaks to me...who loves me despite my unworthiness. I know that will continue in the coming year. (Probably the "issues" will too:)!)

Happy New Year....May we all be blessed (everyone)!

"O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend on us, we pray.

Cast out our sin, and enter in;
Be Born in Us Today!"

(Philip Brooks, 1868)

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Merry Christmas to All of You....my friends...

(and just a few favorite pics with family and friends

of these days leading up to Christmas)

Snow!!

It snowed here yesterday...unbelievable! Definitely the most I've ever seen in La. I posted alot of pics on Facebook (yes, it is much easier there!) but thought I should at least post a couple here. It was beautiful!! but quickly overwhelmed this area....we are not equipped...lots of power outages, wrecks, and still no cable. Oh well, it was still a cool "snow day!"

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A Friday Fill-In:

1. Friends are irreplaceable.

2. Thinking you can control health is foolish; it's fragile.

3. I'm ready for a lack of responsibility.

4. "Burberry" is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is some of Mom's (one I love says Noel and it hangs over the kitchen table every year).

6. Take some chocolate chips and Eagle Brand, mix it all together and you have easy, delicious fudge. (yum, I'm in the mood for some!:)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to staying warm in this frigid La snow:) and grocery shopping (oh joy...), tomorrow my plans include picking up Brent at the airport in New Orleans (he's doing a Christmas concert for us this weekend) and Sunday, I hope to have a decent crowd at church for the concert!

Joy In The Desert

I was privileged to hear two wonderful messages yesterday that spoke to my heart in this Advent season. Observing Advent is not necessarily something I always do well...but I have done so with more depth since my involvement with my Catholic job. Yesterday's Scripture readings included Mark 1 (the part about John the Baptist) and 1 Peter 3: 14 "Therefore Beloved looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless." I've mostly heard this text applied to the Second Coming...but I love it used in an Advent context. Is my heart prepared to welcome the Messiah? Is it a dwelling place of peace...pure...blameless? Fr. Ed had some very quotable lines in the homily: "Going into the desert requires leaving behind the props we often use to bring meaning to our lives. Props like false hopes and false securities. The wilderness of the desert opens us up to God's initiative. Preparing, simplifying, detaching from props and possessions opens us up to rediscover our need for forgiveness and total dependence on God." (my take on his words!)

Then Pastor Cragun spoke on focusing on the true reasons for joy and the choices we must make to make joy our theme in this Christmas season. Recognizing that He is the only source of true joy...and recognizing our need to remain close to Him is our only hope to not be swept away in pursuing false happiness. (again my take on his thoughts!)

Somehow the two concepts have met for me. Journeying to the desert in Advent is surely necessary....but it is also necessary to linger there with a sense of joy! Joy that my very act of consecration is enabled by His Spirit, Joy that He is fully sufficient to provide grace and forgiveness, and Joy with the knowledge that this journey will end at the Manger. Our Emmanuel is present!

Considering Facebook....

So I've made the plunge....what do I think: (just a few thoughts!)

~It's easy to do...and easy to become addicted to...and easy to develop (shall we say) a very lightminded attitude toward. Little effort is required...the expectations of what you post seem pretty limited.

~It's fun!...fun to explore...fun to share...fun to "be light" rather than overthinking everything as seriously as I am sometimes wont to do.

~It does seem to be quite a bit showy....does everyone out there have side careers in modeling...i don't know!...certainly an interesting dynamic...

~It really does reconnect you! Within about an hour of joining I was on the phone with my dear cousin Mark (a wise and talented man who understands technical stuff too!) and I've also easily connected with my best grad school pals and other old friends...wonderful!! And quite a few of my family are also FBookers....so I'm loving all this....but trying to keep it real....

~but I still prefer blogging I think....maybe because it's more comfortable...but also because i think it's more thoughtful....

~at any rate, I'm glad I got down off my high horse and did it!:)

After the Big Weekend....

I believe The BHC big Celebratory weekend went very well. I know for sure that it has been a busy few days....Thanksgiving, New Orleans, helping out on all the "details", company, and then Sunday itself (with the Sanctuary Dedication and 50th Church Anniversary services) ....all add up to feeling quite worn out today. But it was a special day...the kind that brings a lot of emotion and a lot of hope. There is a strong sense of the responsibility we all carry to share the Gospel....of the many souls who so need the Lord. It is certainly our greatest hope that the new worship facility will bring glory to God and serve to meet the heart-needs of those hurting from sin. We sang this song in the Dedication Service (to the tune of "Come Thou Fount.")

"God We Sing Your Glorious Praises"

• "God, we sing your glorious praises
• as we tell your awesome deeds;
  you have fashioned all creation,
• and you meet each creature’s needs.
  We rejoice in how your people
• tasted your great faithfulness;
  graced through every generation,
• we your mighty acts profess.
• We remember, God, your covenant
• which extends from heaven to earth;
  how Christ’s death and resurrection
• conquers sin, renews our birth.
  Thank you for this gospel message
• which inspires your church to preach
  grace to every generation
• in our deeds and in our speech.
• 
  Lord, we offer you our worship
• as we celebrate your grace
  which you shower on your people
• gathered here and every place.
  Blessed by water, Word, and table,
• we your church, now pledge to share
  grace through every generation
• in our witness, work, and prayer."

Honestly, I did a terrible job of taking pictures over the last few days....that's one thing that tends to go when my plate is full. I missed alot. Hopefully, I can get some good ones from Kayla and Liz at some point. Here are just a few of the ones I like...and I think you can see the new sanctuary in some.

Two Adorable Kiddos...(Landon and Katy Joy)

Poor Dylan was so sick....the cutest pitiful little guy you'll ever see...

Sweet Baby Kyle's 1st trip to La.!

With "the boys"... With our cousins Pam and Michelle who I'd not seen for years...so good to be together again! Cousins....Aunts & Uncles....It was such a privilege to have the Edgar Bryans as our guests for the weekend (former BHC pastor and parents of fellow-blogger Heather:)We were honored that mom's Physical Therapist Kari came to the afternoon service, so Mom took the occasion of having two "walking helpers" to walk the aisle without using a cane.....amazing.This pic. just makes me laugh!...
This is how I look at the end of a long, long day....after many tears and with a full heart.

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(Unrelated: I am now an "official facebook lurker".......it is freakin me out!!!!!!)

For Beth....we really wish you had been here too!

(Kayla and me with dear Mr. Jerry and Mrs. Mary Jane....saints.)

(yes, Kayla is holding a cane....she is fine.....:)!)

It was a bit of a crazy day...my Uncle Dwight's face sums it up! (with his sweet wife Mrs. Yolanda)
But my cornbread dressing and creamed spinach were a hit, the fried turkey was yummy, there was plenty of family members to go around, and we got a good start getting things ready for our church's big celebrations on Sunday....so a good day.