Monday, June 24, 2013

On campmeeting and answered prayers

In the history of my denomination, campmeeting is significant and important.  It was a time of preaching and singing.  Of fellowship and friendship.  A time when the church body would move to a campground and "tent".  They brought their ice blocks, livestock, and all other items necessary for living.  As time passed, many campgrounds ended their meeting time in the summer, and other things changed.  Like electricity and plumbing.  Our local church campground, now has electricity in the "tents" (cabins), although no air conditioning - thank goodness for the invention of the box fan - and there is a bath house with toilets and showers.  But with automobiles, most of the congregation now lives in their homes and drives to the campground each night during the meeting time.

This is the week of campmeeting.  Since 1832 this meeting has occured annually - with the exception of a year or two during the Civil War.

The preaching is special - visiting pastors.  The music is special.  It is a time of introspection and renewal as a church.  And also personally.

I can recall several times kneeling at that altar and having friends surround me with their hands and their love and prayers.  I can recall answered prayers and the peace that followed - and sometimes it wasn't peace, but it was at least an answer.  I can recall being one of those people surrounding a hurting friend.  But answered prayers don't just come kneeling at the altar.  It can come sitting in a chair on the stage right before singing.  It happened to me last night.

Last night, I had a solo in the second choir piece of the evening.  It is one I had sung before and I knew it very well.  Right before the offertory prayer, my head started to throb.  So much I thought I would faint if I stood up.  Folks, this is 5 minutes before singing.  I didn't even hear the offertory prayer - I was praying silently to God to help me be able to stand up and sing that solo.  Right after that, the beautiful lady sitting next to me grabbed my hand and held it during the remainder of that prayer.  I don't know that she knew I was hurting but I knew she was praying for me and that it would be okay.  And it was.  My head was still hurting but I am fine and grateful to the Lord for praying friends.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Parenting

I've realized something:  parenting is hard.

Especially when it is your own parent that needs parenting.  Boo.  I knew this day would come someday.  It came a lot earlier than I had hoped.  It actually started around 2002 or so when my mother's health really started to decline.

Now my sister and I are in the position of making care decisions for my dad.  Since she lives with him, little sister gets the brunt of the burden.

He tells us he is glad we now get along... um... we have gotten along quite well for a pretty long time.  Guess he didn't notice.  But if we agree on a care decision, we are "ganging up" on him.  OOOOO KAY then.

We are doing the best we can and I think we can be proud that we are honoring him by not leaving him to fend for himself.  Improving the health of a 76 year old with cognitive issues, a very enlarged prostate, an iron will, and no appetite for real food is proving to be a challenge.  Thankfully, the rehab center where he is staying is supportive of our decisions and honest about his challenges.

It has been a day.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Music through my son's eyes

So Andrew and I are at AtlantaFest this week.  This kid loves Christian music.  It is his passion - I actually prayed about this a few years ago.  Let me explain.

We are a family of introverts.  We like people but in short bursts and we have to charge up before and recharge after by being alone.  When you combine being an introvert with also being shy (me and Andrew), you become a great people-watcher that other people just can't quite figure out.  On the outside we may look uninterested and aloof, on the inside we are doing cartwheels.

Oh yeah - I was going to explain about the prayer.  Andrew doesn't get real excited about anything - or he doesn't show it anyway.  He is VERY good at a LOT of things, so his options career-wise are pretty good when he makes up his mind what that will be.  A few years ago I began praying that God would give him a passion about something.  Anything.  I also prayed that God would bring him a challenge.  He did.  But that's another post.

Andrew learns very quickly.  Lucky him.  I envy his nearly photographic memory.  But he showed a great aptitude for music and a love of performance of any kind - stand up comedy, concerts, MC of shows, drama.  But the passion is contemporary Christian music.  But not just the music.  He wants to know about the artists, their beginnings, what instruments they play, where they live (that sounds stalkerish but it really is just how he processes info).

So, I've been sitting (in the back safely away from the crowd) with Andrew at AtlantaFest, learning about his music and listening to some music that I definitely will learn to love.  I can tell he gets excited when he pulls out his camera :)

I know this isn't my mother's style of Christian music, but I know she is in heaven jumping for joy over the fact that she has a grandchild who loves the Lord and the music he inspires.

My kid is a Jesus Freak and that is so cool.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Time with my son

I'm getting some really nice time with my son lately.  He is 17  and some months, gifted academically and musically, a good friend, and has an incredible memory for the things he is interested in.  Like me, he is an introvert and pretty shy.  He LOVES the stage - put a microphone in his hand and watch him go.  Not singing (yet) but he can improvise like crazy and keep you interested.

He hates driving.

Maybe "hate" is a strong word, but it has taken pressure, guilt, and manipulation to convince him to learn to drive.  That, and his permit expires in October.  So he has decided to bite the bullet and learn.  Surprisingly, he has not taken to it.  He has been harder to teach than his sister, but in the end I think he will be okay after he gets his license and inherits DH's old pickup truck.  So driving lessons has given us some great opportunities to learn from and more about each other.  He has relaxed in the last two days and his driving is much much better.

He has this passion for music.

He loves contemporary Christian music - many genres of it, too.  He knows more worship music and more ABOUT worship music than anyone else I know.  So, today we are going to AtlantaFest and have a 4 day pass.  I am going into his world of music and hopefully will learn something from him.  Pray that my heart is softened to the messages I will hear and to my dear son's passion.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Tap, tap, is this thing on?

Hello to all both of my readers.  Thought I'd update you on some things:

  • I made the show choir.  Now to memorize music and accept the challenge.
  • My pastor of 12 years has been moved to Nashville, TN.  While sad, I feel that this is definitely of God and my new pastor will be able to shepherd this flock.
  • I went to Washington, DC.  I loved it.  Cool city and just did not have enough time to do the things I wanted to do.  Mount Vernon was my favorite day of the whole trip.
  • The idea that teachers do not work in the summer is a myth.  I have a stack of work I have successfully managed to avoid.  So, I will have a couple of mega-work days in order to be ready for day 1 of pre-planning on July 31.  After six years, I will not be teaching Calculus, but I have two new classes to teach, in addition to one I taught last year.
  • I haven't had my vacation yet.  No, DC was not vacation (for me).  But it is coming and it will be in the mountains.
  • Teaching my son to drive is way harder than teaching my daughter.  
  • Gluten is not my friend.  I'm not super sensitive to it, but I cannot lose weight if I eat it.
  • My dad has been in the hospital and is now in rehab.  He must gain weight to go home.  
So that's the update.  Tune in - I might actually write something again someday.