A Sweet Sunday

It has been a perfect Sunday, starting as usual at our wonderful church on this gorgeous sunny day. I always love being on worship team when my boy Craig is on the drums, so that was a joy this morning. Add to that the unexpected pleasure of visiting with my sweet, beautiful friend Etta from Prineville. Then home to the usual Sunday family dinner.

Eric was quite an eye-catching sight when he walked in the door. He recently did some clothing shopping at the estate sale of an elderly chap with whom he used to visit at the service station. Very spiffy. I sent some Shout stain remover home with him because Eric and light-colored clothes have not been very compatible in the past!


He had forgotten that today's plan was some guy time working on the Bronco in the beautiful afternoon sunshine. Fortunately the jacket was removable.

They "work" together quite well.

A good time was had by all, and the Bronco started. They even sat in it with Zeek.

Meanwhile, I pursued one of my favorite hobbies in the back yard. I spent all day yesterday working outside, and we all know that we must not work on Sunday.

Will had some time to enjoy the fruits of his labors from this past week, what he calls "the world's second ugliest chair". It was "the world's ugliest chair" before he lowered the arm rests. I believe a coat of paint will remove it from any ugly chair lists. What a great use for the old deck timbers!

While I lounged on my chair in the warm sunshine, I spoke with my little brother Doug on the phone. He said he wanted to take his car for a spin and would be out to visit soon. I reminded the boys that Doug has had his beautifully restored Mustang since he was in high school, and Nick hopefully said, "I wonder if a 1992 Corolla will ever be a classic?" What a dreamer!

Church, family, friends, sunshine, health, love and laughter. I count my blessings.

Satisfaction Not Guaranteed

Today was the exciting, fun-filled monthly after-school dance at the middle school where I am employed. We love all the noise and drama that accompany this event. It costs a dollar to get in and a dollar for a piece of pizza and drink. As students were leaving, a small 6th grade boy came in the office and politely asked to speak to the principal. After being told he was gone, the boy said, "Well, one of your staff members behaved in an unacceptable manner, and I would like my $3.00 refunded!"

I had seen a teacher having an intense conversation with this young man earlier outside the office. Turns out he was doing a "seizure" dance and this teacher was explaining to him that it was inappropriate to mock people's physical disabilities.

So I'm thinking the next time I prepare the permission slips I need to add a disclaimer at the bottom. "Come at your own risk. Satisfaction is not guaranteed. Refunds will not be granted if you are not satisfied."

A Time of Mourning

Monday morning as we headed back from a wonderfully relaxing weekend of camping, I was plotting a blog to share some of the more entertaining moments and photos from this time spent with great friends and dogs. Then my cell phone rang, and the news it brought wiped out every other thought from my mind and heart.

Those of you who don't know Courtney Ayer have probably read the newspaper stories about the death of her 2-year-old son Dylan in a tragic accident Monday morning. Their family attended our church for several years before departing with the group last fall to start our sister church, the Grove, in North Albany. In a church of 500+ people, you just don't get to know everyone, and I didn't have the good fortune to meet her until just a few months ago at the first retreat planning meeting. By the time it was over, I was greatly looking forward to getting to know her better in the coming meetings. What personality! What a great sense of humor! What a giving, helping, caring person! I really missed out by not making her acquaintance sooner.

Later a meeting was held at her house, and when I called her for directions, to our amusement we learned that we live in the same neighborhood! In the winter I can see her house through the trees. It was a delight to visit her home, a comfortable and fun place for her two little boys to play. I enjoyed watching them romp around like my little boys used to. She obviously adores them and frequently shared funny stories about them. I can relate to that.

But on Monday, a parent's worst nightmare happened in an instant, and the world will never be the same.

When something like this happens to a friend, we feel so helpless and want so badly to do something, anything, to help. I knew that they had family and close friends with them, and I prayed for them all day with a heavy heart.

That evening I joined a group of about 30 people from the Grove at a home to pray for their family. The shock, pain and grief felt by these friends who love them is enormous, but I imagine it's only a small reflection of the agony Dylan's family is going through. It was a privilege to join in the heartfelt prayers, the tears and the hugs that were shared. What a blessing to know this amazing group of people who love Jesus are supporting, loving and caring for this grieving family.

I still can't even grasp the horror and anguish of suddenly losing a beloved child. I don't know how one resumes the routine of life when it has been savagely ripped apart. I don't know how to help my friend and her family. I wish we would all wake up and find out it was just a horrible nightmare.

I do know that I dearly love my friend Courtney and her family, that I weep with them and hold them up in prayer. I know that the only way to get through something like this is to cling to God, the God who tells us he is the God of all comfort, who comforts us as a mother comforts her children.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

I pray that Courtney and her family will feel the overflowing comfort of Christ in this time of mourning.

When I was 14 years old, my mother went home to be with Jesus. I remember being angry with people who reminded me how wonderful it was that I would see her again in heaven some day. At the time, I just wanted her in the here and now. But as the raw edge of the fresh grief softened with time, the hope of a fantastic future with Him and our loved ones who have gone before us became a great comfort.

Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Some day.