A month already?

It's kind of hard to imagine that it's been almost a month since I've had something to "say" and I really still don't have much to say. It's the dead of winter and I'm dreaming of spring. In just four short weeks Henry and I, along with some others, will be heading to the island of Haiti. I've had all my shots, got my prescriptions, my mosquito repellent and net and all the "stuff" we're advised to bring. I'm as ready as I'll be, I reckon. At this point I'm just looking for that trip to be over, so I can plan for spring. Easter, planting, new chicks and kids and all things "new" on the farm. Not to be wishing my life away or anything, but spring is just well, a time of rebirth.

So, this week my oldest turned 34. He asked me if his turning 34 made me feel older. Funny, that question. When he turned 21 I thought I was old, but not now. Leastways I don't feel any older per se. I feel like I've been old a while. What's funny is watching him age. And I don't mean "ha ha" funny. I mean, weird funny. While babysitting his children on his birthday while they went to a Caps game, I think I called Blake and Luke Justin or Rex at least once. I look at them and see shades of their daddy or uncle. Now that's weird. Some of you know the book called, "Love You Forever". I think Rebecca gave me my copy. It's the most sappy book in the world, but, I can see it being a book that I'll think about more and more as I age ~ "I'll love you forever and forever my baby you'll be", or something like that.

Another "highlight" of my week. HA! Doing a duty that has left me with some real deep thoughts these last days. Wondering why there has to be power struggles in churches. Now this particular time it doesn't have to do with "my" church, but with another. Nevertheless, no church is immune to power stuff. Someone hurts another's feelings or someone feels their "place" is threatened and like children who grabbed a toy, they seek revenge or spread gossip, or just harbor ill will. The devil claps his hands in glee. And Christians fall like dominoes and all that's left is a husk. The Spirit is just gone. Who needs reason or The Spirit when we can have power? And lest you think for one minute it doesn't happen in small churches, or home churches or whatever churches... It does... You ain't looking.

Another highlight? A young woman with a cervical pregnancy having to take chemo to shrink the deceased child. Or a very young mother to be learning her soon to be born child may have a serious birth defect? How bout another mother who was just turned in to social services because her 8 month old baby weighs in at 10 pounds? That's my world and some have said I have too much drama. Deliver me from drama. But pray for these folks and many more unmentioned. You might give a prayer of thanks if you aren't burdened with this kind of drama, but a "shepherdess by default" always has drama, I guess.

But the good stuff. Three baptisms today. How teary I get when those folks who I know are sincere, are dunked under that water into the death of Christ to arise as whole, new creatures. Today it was a young woman, 16, (Our Alex aka Zannie), a young man approaching 30 and an older man. The celebration afterwards with a meal was so special. Baptism, when it's real and honest, is a wonderful thing to behold.

I received some good tea from Strand this week along with a Tiger tea caddy that will be perfect to be able to have some good tea while in Haiti. I have five or six small samples of goodies to try and I can't wait to try them all. At the moment I'm a bit stuck on their Princeton Blend which is a wonderful Ceylon blended with lemon and orange zest. It's simply lovely. If you are unaware of them, just check out www.strandtea.com.

Well, the wind is getting up outside and it's pushing 11 pm. Busy day tomorrow with school work with Zan and the husband going for his knee shot.

Until next time, I leave you with a quote from Patrick Henry that great Virginian and champion of liberty, "the liberties of a people were, nor ever will be secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them."