bringing in the sheaves...

So I was out for my power walk this morning and had my iPod on, lost in the music and was startled a bit by what I saw out of the corner of my eye: Walking wheat. All in a matter of seconds I was startled and then humored as I saw the set of pant legs extending below the six-foot bundle of wheat. I'm not sure what they're called, but one of those tall clumps of wheat people use in their landscaping was being prepared for spring by a lawn care guy and all I could see was the wheat moving across the grass. I'm guessing it won't strike you as funny as it did me, but I laughed pretty hard as I walked past. Seriously, the thing was probably 6-7 tall and 4 feet around. Completely hid the guy as he carried it to the truck. I then started my playlist over again and proceeded to listen to the soundtrack from the Passion of the Christ the entire hour I walked. I cleared my head of all things unworthy of the cross and to my surprise it was one amazing experience on this overcast morning down the back roads west of my subdivision. By the time the resurrection music began it was all I could do not to look like a complete idiot sobbing and twirling in the street. It was glorious. Not what I normally choose for pump-me-up power walking but it was amazing. Once I got past the sheaves...

well. how the heck are ya?

I remember being annoyed, impatient, cruel and disappointed when checking for updates on Lowery's blog in days gone by, and finding months passing without so much as a crumb tossed our way. I remember being equally annoyed, impatient, cruel and disappointed when I gave up checking for a week or so only to find I missed it when he did post. Even now I can feel the blood beginning to boil as I resurrect those feelings of betrayal and well, addiction I suppose. Then I see my February date below and realize I once again must swallow my pride and admit it's hard to blog consistently when one has a life rapidly off and running, and apologize for chiding him unmercifully for leaving us stranded in blogland.

I feel as if I have abandoned my little angels on the side and owe her the biggest apology of all. She was the truest friend through a difficult couple of years and I'm still a bit surprised at how much she allowed me to dump on her shoulders, often times leaving it behind me as soon as I hit publish.

I can't completely allow myself to give her up, but from the looks of it I might as well. I just never seem to have that much to say these days and going back to work certainly didn't help. That said, I thought I might at least just throw out some updates on our lives in progress here in River City.

Kevin: He's a funny duck. Worried a great deal right now about the gross receipts tax they're trying to pass. With justification. I'd like to keep my house. He's mourning the passing of winter and is bemoaning the upcoming pool and lawn maintenance. He loves me. So that's pretty cool. We've begun a new habit: sitting on our front porch, coffee in hand, sharing the Whig when he gets home from work. If I miss the happy hours window, we're not opposed to ending our evening there as well. After three attempts to discourage the sparrows from setting up house in my front door wreath by pulling their perfectly formed little nest out of the wreath and hurling it on the front lawn, he has relented and left the fourth one alone at my persistent request. Funny how night and day we are: he swears at the sight; I worship. Funny too, how thin the line between the two. His Salukis did pretty well again this season, but they didn't make it past Kansas, due as I am told, to my disturbance of the perfect karma he had created in the room prior to my delivery of a well-intended snack on his behalf. It was down hill from there. Like I said. He's a funny duck. Speaking of ducks, I hear they lost as well. Sorry Gilligan...perhaps Ang ruined your karma as well...

Loretta: The job is going well. Actually, great. It will be a year in June and yet my eyes still water at some point during every staff meeting, or in the midst of an ordinary conversation, or some moment of worship in the midst of a Wednesday rehearsal. The warmth of His blessings are simply stronger than ever. Of that I am grateful and to be honest, a bit surprised. Shame. on. me. The pace will continue to pick up as the Macomb campus progresses, although aside from praying it along it hasn't required as much from me as it has others. I am excited about His potential in all this. He is on the move. I'm playing every weekend these days. A little deja vu, but it's a blast. Having Saturday rehearsal and service adds a great deal to the commitment, especially as summer arrives, but I'm grateful Kevin allows me to serve in this way. Makes the three services from years past seem like a piece of cake. It took some time to get used to the freedom of not serving on a weekly basis, but I admit, I got used to it, yes, I did. Took an equal amount of gumption to get back in the groove, but it's worth it. Always is. Kevin and I have both allowed some of our lost poundage to catch up with us. I tell you: sit still for one little second, okay winter, and voila...fat rolls. To my horror, the lost pounds assembled in random places like never before. I'm still wearing my clothes but feeling the seams. Started walking again this week, so hopefully we're at it once again. Loving this stage of life. (I'd love it more as a size 12...) but loving it all the same. We're healthy and happy. Still procrastinating with dad's estate. Veronica and I have been spending Friday mornings for the last month or two sorting through things. But we are just going to have to pick up the pace and get it done. Over.whelm.ing. Some emotionally, but mostly just the size of it all looming over us. It will be a great relief to get to the other side of it all.

John and Shawna: John is doing great. I'm just so very proud of him. His work with the small group studies gets better with each taping. Each time our small group gathers around the TV, I struggle to pay attention to what Nathan is teaching because I'm blown away by their creativity and the beauty of the study. As I said, God is moving. For the last couple months a random group of us have been meeting to pray every day. Some times it's just for a few minutes, others for an hour or so. Just depends. I have been blessed that John and I are both among the pray-ers. Listening to his heart in this way, on a nearly daily basis, is a window into his heart that few if any MIL's I know of, have. Once again, the eyes water.. Shawna is as lovely as ever. I simply enjoy that girl. She keeps my hair looking better than it ever has, and as word of mouth spreads, she has her hands on many of the heads around here. I miss hearing her sing but am looking forward to some upcoming weddings we are doing together over the next couple months to get my fix. They both stay busy with Fuel, volleyball and small group. They got a kitten two months ago. So.cute. Looks just like Tigger. We get to baby-sit and although Kevin whines about it...he's smitten as well. Her name is Ada, after Lake Ada up north. Since we found Tigger there many Minnesota moons ago, the name was perfect. Their house is amazing. They still have some projects ahead of them but it looks great.

Well, I have a rehearsal to head to so I'm going to wrap this up. Blessings on your corner of the world...rest assured they are abounding here as I write. Praying your Easter season finds you in the midst of a Sunday and not a Friday, but from experience they both have their own beauty...