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Last Night's Christmas Service

  I'm pondering the festive glow of last night's Christmas candlelight service.  The pastor's sermon,  "You Are Why Jesus is the Reason for the Season," encouraged us to embrace the greatest gift of all. The joyful carolers, excited worshipers and smiling choir filled my love tank to overfull.  New believers lined up for water baptism during praise and worship! I still feel the excitement of the massive congregation  clapping and cheering when these new lifers, one after another, rose from the water. After church, we took advantage of the cute photo booths on campus.  The church's outdoor cafeteria served us cookies on snowflake napkins to go with our hot chocolate! Why is this magical service so early in the holiday season?  We all must adjust since Sunday services max out in this place with eager attendees.  The new Thursday evening service fills up the sanctuary as well.  It is exhilarating to witness revival in South Tucson with all these...
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Baby Died

  Leave it to Baby to exit this world on an exciting Eclipse Day.   Talk about a grand departure!   I remember well the day I drove to the pet store.   It was 40 years ago and our youngest enrolled in kindergarten.   The house seemed too quiet all of a sudden.   I needed a friend.   I remember praying before I shopped for a bird.   Not a fragile parakeet this time, but I asked for a strong bird whose sounds would fill up our empty rooms.   I chose a young cockatiel and the family named him Baby.   Baby was a little too loud, but funny to have around especially when Tom came home from his job with the phone company.   He wore a pager back then and got in the habit of turning it off, back on and off again before setting it down by his wallet and keys.   Baby echoed the pager call perfectly and made us laugh every time.   I figured Baby, such a perky bird, would last a long time, but never expected him to hit the typica...

Hello August

  We’re smack in the middle of summer but I will pause and count my blessings this season.   Our arid Arizona days have turned into monsoon rains and we are refreshed.   Triple digits are put on hold for a while and cooler desert mornings  allow me longer hours of yard work, especially after the messy, wild storms.   We’ve always grown hollyhocks, but for some reason, they went dormant the last two years.   I remember Tom on his sickbed reminding me to water the seeds he planted near the fence and, like a crazy lady, I watered what seemed like empty dirt all last year.   Was he confused, maybe?   Come spring I saw the fluffy, green leaves sprout all along the fence line.   I got excited when the different colored flowers opened.  You never know what you're going to get! As I watered, I thought of the Scripture verse about “calling forth that which is not as though it was.”   Hmm, I should apply that one to several areas of my li...

Remembering

  A gal at church asked me how I feel about Memorial Day coming up earmarking the first year of my husband’s death.   “Oh, I don’t know how I’ll feel,” I responded.    Grief is funny that way.   It’s hard to predict with its pattern of strong days vs. fragile days, but I felt touched by her concern.   In fact, my take-a-way of this past year, when I think about it, is feeling deeply loved.   Family and friends have been so encouraging. The kids and I continue to carry on their father’s passionate legacy of love of God, country and family.   Our flag waves tall in our front yard with colorful flowers planted beneath it just as he designed.   He feels near.   Happy Memorial Day, dear ones, and stay safe this weekend.   May we always remember those who gave their lives for our freedom in this great country.