Childhood Friends

Facebook has brought many old friends back into my life over the last year. I have so enjoyed connecting with each of them again. It's interesting to see how many stayed in Beaver County and how many left. Some are still in Rochester and are sending their children to the school we attended. Others have moved a little ways away and others, like me, have crossed the country.

My brother's funeral in July allowed me to reconnect with one of my closest childhood friends. Monica had heard from her brother that Bub had died. She called around looking for Nanny or me (and found both at Nanny's). We grew up next door to each other and looked at the other as a sister. Mom and I moved into our house when I was but 2 years old (it was the beginning of May 1968) and Monica's family moved in next door at the end of May. She had two older brothers; they all called my mom, Aunt Martha. I really don't remember much of my childhood that Monica wasn't someway involved - good or bad. Ya'll don't need to know about the bad....

One of the stories about us that I told my daughter (in encouragement to help her brother stop biting - M is getting really bad about it) involved Monica and I. We were walking home from the bus stop (her job was to get me home safely). For some reason I bit her on the arm. She came crying home and told my mom the story. Mom's response was for her to bite me back; let me know how it felt. Monica didn't want to do it and Mom told her to or Mom would bite Monica (yes, Monica's mom was part of this entire episode). To this day, I don't remember if Monica bit me back and now it is too late to ask. Monica had a heart attack and died the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

I don't know all the reasons why God had Monica come back into my life for such a short time. I know it gave me more opportunity to share His Word and the gift of salvation with her. And so, as I enter into my mourning at times, I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength. I know that He has appointed these times in my life. I know that He is in control and will carry me through any thing He chooses to send my way. I just need to trust in HIM and Him alone!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Busy Time of Year

As the holidays approach, life gets busy. Add to it a holiday job working retail and it gets crazy. I wasn't scheduled to work at Macy's until next week but they called me in early. Last year, I worked part-time (15-22 hours) most weeks. This year, by switching to a bigger store or signing on earlier, I got full-time (25-35 hours). I love people and have enjoyed my week so far. I'm due into work in an hour and a half. My blogging lack this week has been due to working. I forgot how hard it is to be on my feet for 8 hours. I also feel that sometimes I have nothing to say and just rattle on and on about mundane things. I'm trying to watch what I say, verbally and in writing. My postings may have a gap of time between them, but hopefully, they will be more meaningful.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Watch for an upcoming post about our recent women's retreat and lessons learned. Gotta process it all before writing.

A Fish Story

Remember the person who could always tell a fish story? My brother was one to tell a great story, especially about the one who got away. Here's my brother with one of his real catches. Bub was always good for a story, a laugh, and just plain fun. He was such a tease and tortured me as a little sister; there are 17 years between us in age. As we go through our first Thanksgiving without him (I haven't been home for this holiday in 9 years), I will treasure the memories of the many family members who have gone on before me. I will treasure the moments we had together. Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and I am thankful for the friends and family God has given me. What fish story are you thankful for?

November

Well, time seems to be slipping away. I cannot get over that one-third of November is over as of tomorrow. Christmas is six and a half weeks away. I haven't started steady at Macy's yet. In fact they have me listed as Not Available next week. Gotta call and try to get that fixed.

Our annual women's retreat begins Friday! YIPPEE!!! Looking forward to hanging out with the girls. Pray for Glen as he is having multiple children (our two and three others) for the weekend. Thanks, Danny and Ben, for helping out. You men are such a blessing!

I haven't posted Halloween pictures or other photos I've recently taken. L is spending more time on the computer. I guess it's time to get the laptop hooked up to wireless and have more than one computer Internet available. I'll get to this soon.

Thanksgiving is coming quickly. I have a lot to be thankful for. God has been gracious to me time and again and I never give Him enough credit. We'll be having dinner at our house with many guests. What are your plans for this time?

Married to the Ministry

I have my blog listed as part of the M2M ministry at Lisa's The Preacher's Wife website. It's a fun way for other pastor's wives to connect. Here's my entry!

1. First Name. - Cora, after both of my grandmothers who were both named Cora and were both born on May 1st. I was born in October....

2. State and Country of Residence. - California, United States

3. Husband’s Ministry Title. - Senior Pastor

4. Length of time in Current Ministry Location. - 4 and a half years - this is our first pastorate after graduating from The Master's Seminary in 2005

5. Children? If yes, give gender and ages. - Two children - a 9 year old girl and an almost 3 year old boy - an adopted sibling set who are Native Alaskan

6. Number of unique homes in which you’ve lived during your marriage. - nine, five homes and four apartments. One sticks out because it was a parsonage that kept falling apart - my dog even tore the back porch off the foundation and the kitchen ceiling crashed to the floor one morning!

7. Cook Sunday lunch or eat out? Cook Sunday lunch (usually in the crockpot) and then TV or nap time - hubby usually returns to church after an hour or so home with us. My favorite days are the Sundays he cooks!

8. Typically on time for Sunday School or not? Ours is called Family Bible Hour. Usually I am on time or early - especially if I'm in nursery or teaching a women's class. However, the kids and I have a tradition; if they get ready early, we head to the local donut shop for breakfast. If they run late, no breakfast at all (at least for them)....

9. Favorite TV Show. - I love Nick at Nite and TV Land - Home Improvement and I Love Lucy are my two favorites to catch whenever I can.

10. Something you watch/like/do that you would never tell the church people. (Except now you just did…lol) - play the nickel slots at the local casino - give me $10 and I'll play as long as I can :)

11. Most annoying church-related pet peeve. - expecting my husband and I to do EVERYTHING!

12. One thing you need to throw away but can’t bring yourself to do it. - my teddy bear. It was a Christmas gift from my mother the year before she graduated to heaven. Teddy is over 20 years old and is falling apart - and yes, sometimes I still sleep with him, especially when Glen isn't home.

13. The one food you can not live without. - Milk or white chocolate...Is there any other food in the world? My current favorite is the Hershey's Milk Chocolate. I've had a long time addiction to Snickers.

14. Parsonage or have your own home? We rent a home about a block from the church. My dream is to someday own a home about a 30 minute drive from the church.

15. Freak when the doorbell rings or always ready for a visitor? Our policy is that the first time you are at our house you are a visitor, after that you're family. Therefore, I'm always ready for a visitor. We have an open door - come see us. However, if the door is closed and the blinds are closed, don't bother knocking. We won't answer if we're home.

Also, Lisa just wrote a new book. Here's the trailer for the book. I'm looking forward to getting my copy!

Today's Reading

From my reading of Scripture today:

Psalm 63:1-8
¹O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
²So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
³Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
⁴So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

The phrase, a dry and thirsty land, really caught my attention. Lately, I've been feeling like a dry and thirsty land, especially in the area of being a Proverbs 31 woman. I feel like I've let my husband down by expecting so much out of him; that I haven't been the supportive wife I should be; that I've not really put forth my best effort in being an efficient housekeeper/cook. I feel like I've let my kids down - that I don't want to homeschool them or spend time with them. I look forward to time when they aren't around....but most of all, I've come to the conclusion that I've let down my Lord - this hurts worst of all! I've skimmed and skimped on my devotional life. I've spent the last week not reading, praying, or studying. I blamed it all on being sick. I've gotten by on the minimal...then Sunday afternoon, I realized my issue was with me not being faithful since God is always faithful. I was the one who choose the dry, thirsty land. I had stopped doing the things God has asked of me. But I remembered His goodness, His faithfulness, His love and care, and, most of all, His forgiveness. And so, today, my soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me!