Busy Weekend

So far the 'restful' Labor Day weekend is turning out to be rather busy. The Cathedral hosted a Diocesan event focusing on the various outreach done by churches all around. We had exhibitors from El Paso to Los Alamos and Farmington to Alamogordo and even Clovis (who had 2 tables to showcase their outreach).

This was the first time something like this was done and the organizers hope it's just the first of many. While I'm not directly involved in the outreach ministries at the Cathedral, I was in charge of coordinating the food for the weekend. It was fun, but tiring.

Considering the media focus on the differences in the Episcopal church at large and locally, it was impressive to see over 1/2 the churches in the diocese participating and even move amazing to walk around and see the wide variety of outreach being done from small towns to big cities. Some of the smaller churches are doing more than bigger congregations. From local ministry like a food pantry, to sponsoring missionaries to Africa, to building houses in Juarez, to offering tutoring--the amount of dynamic outreach happening is, as I said, impressive.

The title of the conference was "Matt. 25" and that was the focus--how we are as parishes, individuals and as the diocese, and national church are living out that Bible mandate. An event like this helps everyone look beyond the differences and see that truly we are all trying to minister to the poor, the hungry, the prisoner, etc.

We can get so caught up in the little things that bother us that we miss the broader panorama of the true ministry happening. It is important to come together and share ideas in order to go forth empowered for ministry in new and exciting ways.

"Down in my Heart"

"I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart...down in my heart to stay."

When I read my daughter's blog this morning I was reminded of that children's song. She shared how our granddaughter, Sarah, said she thought Jesus was 'flying around in her heart'. Isn't that a delightful metaphor for what should happen to each of us.

I don't know about you, but sometimes if feels like Jesus gets grounded by too much other clutter in my heart. Things to do, worries about this or that, frustrations or even outright anger, etc., etc. All those little things pile up and very often I don't feel that there is much room for Jesus in my heart and certainly not room for Him to fly. God's love is even more vast than the wide vistas we saw at the Capulin volcano, but too often we focus on the tree in foreground instead of the distant places God is calling us to.

How simple is the faith of a child. Sarah knows that Jesus is flying around in her heart and in her innocence she has all the room in the world for Him to do that. I would pray that anyone reading this would be able to find "the love of Jesus, down in your heart, today"!

Night at the Zoo

Last night we (Ken and I and the Nortons) went to the zoo for their member "Feast with the Beasts" and to celebrate Logan's 2nd birthday. All the 'usual suspects' were around, along with a trio of baby (well, more likely teen-age) peacocks.

The whole hippo family was out and 'daddy' was playing with a big red ball--pushing it around the pool with his head while the others followed him.

Ruth brought along brownies for the birthday dessert. We had them just before leaving the zoo. It was a fun time.

I think Grandpa had as much fun as Logan.

Affirmations

This morning I got to thinking about how many of God's promises use 'active' verbs. Below are just a few that popped into my head.

God says--I will...

Give you the desire of your heart

God says--I know...

The plans I have for you--to prosper you

God says--I have...

Carved you in the palm of my hand

God says--I will...

Never leave you or forsake you

God says--I come

That you might have life--abundantly

God says--I create

In you a blessing

God says--I hold

Out my arms to you--on the cross

God says--

You are My Beloved

Beautiful Morning

This morning the sun is bright but it's not yet too hot. The welcome rain the past few afternoons cooled the air so that I actually needed to get a shawl outside. It's fun to sit out and watch the birds at the feeders. Up until this summer I've never been much of a 'bird person'. This year I've discovered that they have a lot to teach me.

I'm entranced by the birds who have been visiting the feeders. It is interesting to watch the sparrows line up along the wire below their feeder when it is first filled. I'm reminded of a deli counter. "Now serving number 5". Sometimes one will get impatient and fly up to try and get at the feeder. This results in great twittering and everyone flys around before settling back to wait.

Don't we all get impatient, just like the sparrows, when we don't want to wait for God's timing. We ask for guidance and then go right on doing our own thing. Like the sparrows who try to get at the seed ahead of time, our impatience just slows everything down.

I know that God has "plans to prosper", as Jeremiah says but I don't like to wait until the time is right. Over the summer, God has sent me birds to remind me that I do have to wait for the right time but that through it all, God does supply all I need.

Dinner with Friends

Cursillo has been an important part of our life since 1991 ('92 for Ken) when we first attended a 'weekend'. Part of the follow up for Cursillistas is a Reunion Group that meets weekly. For the past 17 years I've been meeting with from 3-5 other ladies and Ken has his own group of guys. We tried meeting together once-not such a good idea for a variety of reasons.

Currently there's a lot of overlap. The husbands are in one group and wives in the other. Last night the 2 groups got together for dinner at the lovely Placitas home of the Boltons. The fellowship was delightful, food great, and the after dinner lightening show across the Rio Grande Valley was spectacular.

I wish I could have captured some of the incredible lightening strikes that lit up the sky, but instead, I'll share a photo of the group of us gathering for dinner. It was also, serendipitously, the 34th Anniversary of Gay & Steve Crouch so we shared their celebration with them--or they with us.

It is amazing to look back at the past 17 years and realize how much the support of the other members of the Reunion Group has been through multiple life changing experiences by each and every member of the group. In that support the true ministry of the church is found and felt.

Family Trip

This past weekend we attended the wedding of our neice. The ceremony was in Vigil, CO (just west of Trinadad). Because it was cheaper, we stayed in Raton and hopped over the pass the day of the wedding. It was nice to see Ken's brother and family.

On the way up to Raton we stopped at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. There we saw several deer--a couple of bucks and many does with fawns. Most of them were in the trees along the road, but one popped across the road as we approached.

The day after the wedding, we visited the Capulin Volcano. It was sort of on the way home...at least it was in the general area of Raton, being only 30 miles east. It was interesting to hike around the top of the cone and then down into the center. I did realize how 'out of shape' I am since I was panting a bit after the climb. Of course, I could blame it on the altitude. It was over 8,000 feet at the top, after all! You can see for miles and miles--clear to OK and CO--probably TX and of course NM depending on which direction you look.

It was nice to be home and certainly the cats were glad to see us. They are always concerned that their food dishes are close to empty by the time we return from a long weekend. Since Ruth was also out of town over the weekend, both sets of cats were feeling quite abandoned.

Grandchildren

The Blackwells were here for a visit this past week. We had a lot of fun. I got chalk paws for William to tramp around in, but the girls liked them better.

One day we went to the Aquarium and Botanic Gardens. The sting rays were a big hit and so was the giant ant in the "Underground Garden". Walking in the ever hotter day got to be a bit tiring for little legs, though.

Afterward, we went to Tingley Beach for a picnic --which the ducks and geese benefited from, because everyone thought it was great fun to toss them bread (and a couple of potato chips, too).

On another day we went to the Aquatic Center for a swim. I had never been. It's very nicely laid out for children and families, with both an indoor and outdoor area with fountains and slides. There's also an Olympic pool, but we didn't venture into that area.

Of course we had to go shopping for school clothes. I didn't recall how strenuous that can be--getting everyone in and out of the car, finding just the right size and so forth. Still, we found some bargains.

We also took time to do some crafts. Each child made a card for Mom the night she went to Ruth's for bunco. They also made paper dolls and William decorated his own 3" racing motorcycles.

On Saturday we set up the little pool so everyone could splash around. That turned out to be fun, although the water didn't warm up as much as we expected in the sun. The girls lips were turning a bit blue before they decided to hop out and warm up.

After the swim, all 3 Blackwells helped Grandpa, Aunt Ruth and Logan 'wash' Ruth's Vue. The front bumper got a good washing from 3 sets of little hands. William took on the job of washing the rear of the vehicle.

Overall, a fun and busy time for everyone.