Rory and Ivar dressed alike for church yesterday. It was adorable. And then when we got to church, Rory's dad was wearing the exact same thing. There were pictures taken on phones, but my camera was out of battery (you've got to be kidding!). You'll have to trust me, it was even more adorable.
I also got a picture taken yesterday because this is the last time you'll see me in this sweet little dress. The zipper broke while I put it on, and I was stuck in it until later in the afternoon when Rory used a pliers and a whole lot of brute force to force the zipper back down. It was a cute dress, but it's time to turn it into a pillow or something now...
Each week of September I had some sort of speaking engagement. It felt great to get back in the game. I spoke two Wednesday nights at Cedar Valley on Living your life as a good story, and it turned out really neat. The talks were loosely based on Donald Miller's book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, which I really, really love. But as I worked on the material and the stories I would tell and the writing prompts I would assign the talk really became my own. It felt good and I was grateful for the opportunity.
I also went with my folks to Shepherd of the Valley's senior retreat at Camp Wapo. Ivar came along and charmed the socks off of everyone, as he does, and also brought the median age down by decades.
I decided to speak on Heaven at the senior retreat and what we know of Heaven based on Scripture and personal stories of walking with a loved one to death's door. There were stories shared in that room of sitting beside a loved one...a parent, a sister, and for some a child, as they breathed their last breath. These stories made every hair stand up on end, telling of a holiness that is beyond our comprehension. There were lots and lots of tears shed, and a sweet remembrance came over the room: we really are eternal beings. Heaven is our actual home.
When that talk was over Rory called to hear how it went. The words, "so good" or "great" didn't fit at all. All I could say was, "full. It was so full." The moment felt thick with the Holy Spirit, like the peace of God filled all of our hearts for the very same hour. It was a moment of community and stories that I never ever want to forget.
And then last week I had a board meeting for Mount Carmel Family Bible Camp. This wasn't a speaking gig, but I am finding that serving on this board takes up just as much mental mind space! We are in the midst of calling a new executive director and have a huge transition ahead. I have spent much time praying, writing, worrying and then praying some more as we proceed to call such an important servant to fill this position at Mount Carmel.
So folks, that's where I've been. I've missed this blog a lot. I use this space as a life diary and baby book of sorts, so to fall behind is like a triple guilt trip: baby book, journaling and blog slacking all rolled into one.
It's good to be back.
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