To Do

My to do list at work is 12 items long...that's just the things I can remember that I want to accomplish at work...doesn't include packing. 38 hours until departure time...agh!

In other news, I just knocked over the trash can in my office, throwing little hole-punched circles of paper on to the floor. I could pick them up, but I'm going to leave them as an experiment. Will they be gone by tomorrow? Or by the time I return to my office in January? Or will I return to little circles of paper on the floor? Stay tuned!

My day

Today I wrote the following list for R-Girl...

My Day:
7:45-11:45 church (with Mississippi meeting in the middle)
12:30-2pm Young Adult Group
2:15-4pm Finish decorating Train Guy's birthday cake (a garbage truck)
4:15-6:30pm Church Christmas Celebration
6:30pm-8pm Train Guy's birthday pizza dinner

Here's what I remember about today:

• Opening the door to the church for the custodian who forgot his keys to the church at home, who only had 15 minutes to spend cleaning.
• Walking into the church only to see that those who had rehearsed the day before for the Christmas Celebration had not bothered to return the Sanctuary to it's natural state for the worship service. Lovely.
  
• Keyboardist showing up 15 minutes before church started 'cuz the roads between her house and church were closed...glad she kept trying!
• Having everyone in the worship service take a deep breath in and exhale out all the rush of the morning...it just felt right.
• The prayer of Church Member A as he prayed for the Mississippi Team. I got teary. And Church Doc's prayer for the team to stay healthy. :)
• Laughing around a table with Young Adults, sharing a meal and stories.
• My aching feet and back.
• Singing O Holy Night with a room full of people who were not hesitant to sing. I would have closed my eyes and reveled in the moment but I couldn't remember the chords to the song! Not so good when you're playing guitar.
• The moment of pure harmonious bliss at the close of the Worship Team's special song...sweet.
• The smile on Train Guy's face when he really saw his garbage truck cake (picture to come sometime). Worth all the worry.
• Lil Bitty...enuf said. (Her mom will understand.)
  

But I have to say, the moment that I cherish the most today came in the form of an email that said "Are we ready? RCA". Yes, Ben, I'm ready...only 4 more days.

The basement

My office at church is located in what has been termed by some "the basement". The bottom half of the church is tucked up against a hill, so one whole side has no windows at all. Someone once said that adults don't like using the downstairs because it's "the basement"...a place best suited for youth and children. Which made me laugh. Before the big church remodel the basement was where our fellowship hall was...and the really good kitchen that was big and lovely and had plenty of room for cooking and plenty of cabinets...oh, sorry, sidetracked by history.

Anyway, in "the basement" is where my office resides. It's lovely because it's out of the way of the regular flow of traffic, usually quiet and allows me to blast my music as loud as I want without bothering a whole bunch of people. I like my basement office.

The summer is a wonderful time to be in my office as opposed to the rest of the church. It usually doesn't get warmer than mid-70's (it's a basement!) while the upstairs of the church gets into the high 90's. Yuck. But the winter time...the winter time is when my poor little hands freeze! Especially on Wednesdays when the kid's program is running and the downstairs door is open, which causes a draft into my office, which I never notice right away until I realize that I'm freeeeeeezzzzzzziiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg. Can you feel the chattering of my teeth and shaking of my hands?! If I could just remember to shut my door, my little space heater would get this office nice and toasty, more ovenish than freezerish. But alas, time and time again, I forget.

Despite the cold, I wouldn't trade this office for nothing...well, unless the powers that be saw fit to get A/C and turn the attic into an office...now THAT could be fun! Hmmm.... :)

Anticipation

In my possession are the "keys" to Rental House A in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
On my computer are words to prayers, meant to guide us as we work.
In a folder is my airline ticket information.
In the youth checking account is money to help cover the costs of our team.
11 days.
Anticipation is burning in my soul.
I'm almost ready.

Christmas tree!

Yo Momma, Train Guy, Adventure Boy and I headed out to the Christmas Tree farm yesterday. We tromped all over the place searching for just the right tree, encountering many other people and their dogs, lots of prickly Christmas Trees (a strict no-no in our house!), some that were too small, many that were way to big and lots of potentially wonderful trees. It took awhile but we found just the right one...Train Guy was the first to spot it. We all took turns cutting it down, which was hard work but worth it! I guess I should have taken a picture of the decorated tree, but honestly,by the time the was hot cocoa made, crooked part of the trunk was cut off, lights and ornaments were on, I was too tired to even lift the camera...but we had fun!

Adventure Boy and I took a self-portrait. I forgot the camera was zoomed in but the more I look at the picture, the more I like it. Sweet memories.

My desk is overflowing with papers.
My brain is overflowing with things to be done.
My mouth has overflowed with things on my mind...
causing heated conversation...
for which there were apologies and finally understanding.
Chaos seems to be threatening to pull me under,
just when I feel like I've found a small amount of peace.

In the midst of chaos comes small moments.
The smile and compliment from church member M,
saying "Job well done on Sunday's message".
A recognition of the work that God is doing in my heart...
in his heart too.
The hug from church member B,
and the words "I pray for you."
A quick text with M relating moments of the day.
Laughing with A.
Grande Nonfat White Mocha with Whip...
paid for with a gift card...praise Jesus!

Small moments are good,
reminding that the chaos will soon ease...
into another type of chaos? Who knows.
I find myself longing for a day,
a day on a plane, heading toward a place
that has captured my heart,
to people that have captured my heart as well.
I find myself longing for a day,
a day to reflect and celebrate,
to push aside the chaos and rejoice.

"The angel said, 'Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master."--Luke 2:11 The Message

Out of the mouths of 6th graders

Tonight was our annual Christmas Card Extravaganza. Every year we sign a bunch of Christmas cards to send to the church members and friends, as a Thank you and just a goodwill gesture. Middle School was up first...they signed 80 cards...pretty impressive. In the middle of pack one of the boy's yells "give me that card back, I signed my name wrong...I forgot the 'e'...that would mean my name was 'wad'." Oh, the innocence of 6th grade boys.

I think I will be checking the spelling of the names before they are mailed. Just sayin'.