Claimed, gathered and sent

Those RevGals are such party animals. So in honor of summer, please share your own beachy memories, plans, and dreams with a "Beach Trip" Friday Five. 1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"? I enjoy being out in nature of all kinds, but prefer lakes to ocean. And even better, prefer a swimming pool. 2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place? I'm not a real beach fan, but as long as there is shade, maybe it should be considered purgatory. 3. Any beach plans for this summer? None that I'm aware of. There is plenty of recuperation and packing for the move to Gettysburg with little, if any, vacation time. 4. Best beach memory ever? Our granddaughter's first steps into the Atlantic when she was an infant. She cried, but it was their first trip to see us in R. I., so it was special. 5. Fantasy beach trip? Hawaii sounds good. ...

Last night Ray and I watched The Perfect Storm , a movie depicting a true story of a fishing crew's battle against the forces of nature. Their ship was minuscule compared to the huge waves that washed over it and eventually destroyed it. Contrasted with their struggle was that of a crew that called out, "Mayday" and were rescued. A while back as I read this passage its significance struck me. Jesus is portrayed as this amazing man who rescues his friends who struggle with their faith or lack thereof. They issued their own "mayday" to the Lord and he responded. Today this hits even closer to home as I struggle with storms of sleeplessness, pain, and emotions. "Lord, my boat is so small and your sea is so big." It sometimes seems like life's circumstances are whipping us around uncontrollably. We are not exempt from life's challenges just because we are people of faith, but God is with us in the small boats of our lives, in the midst of the sto...

Weekly, RevGalBlogPals has a meme for us. This is the first I've actually participated in and is very apt for this time in my life. Let me know your responses to the following. Mine are. 1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person? Primarily a big picture person who doesn't worry about the details, sometimes even though I should. 2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life? Lots of prayer and communication with friends who help me keep on track, particularly if I am comparing myself with others too much and second guessing myself. 3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension ( one....what am I thinking....) "I am a Servant." 4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily? When I'm sitting, reclining on the swing on our deck. I...

Michael Kruse has an interesting post on religious affiliation . How much like the culture should we be? Take a peek and tell me what you think. Photo from flickr. ---------------- Now playing: WFEL 99.9 FM Antioch, IL via FoxyTunes

I came home a week ago Sat. from rehab after knee replacement. It hasn't been easy--physical therapy exercises, pain, little sleep, pain, reading, pain, praying, pain...you get the idea. What sleep I have been getting has been interrupted with pain. Henri Nouwen in The Inner Voice of Love, wrote: There is a deep hole in your being, like an abyss. You will never succeed in filling that hole, because your needs are inexhaustible. You have to work around it so that gradually the abyss closes... There are two extremes to avoid: being completely absorbed in your pain and being distracted by so many things that you stay far away from the wound you want to heal.1. Pain can be all consuming, whereas it is God that should be all consuming. Yet again, I am confronted with that which I am unable to do in my own strength, reminded of who I need to look to . Our faith walk is not always easy, but in the tough times we learn upon whom we can and must lean. That's the lesson for me, what abo...

I am homeward bound as the song says. Despite my initial trepidation, I am rapidly progressing and will be ready to go home Sat. When talk of such an early discharge first arose, I was scared . Even though I was progressing much more rapidly than I did with my left knee, I still had to accomplish a number of feats. Since then, those goals have been met. So the next few weeks will consist of a parade of people through our home: phlebotomists to draw my blood three times a week and physical therapists to work those muscles. Then with greater strength comes the task of packing up to move Aug. 1. Thanks be to God for another chapter of our lives. Picture courtesy of flickr.

God delights in our cooperation with his purposes, but thankfully he works in spite of us. An update on L's situation--progress has been made and her blood work has improved. A weight has been lifted from their shoulders. Thank you for joining in prayer wih us. picture from flickr