Eric and I took a spontaneous late night trip to visit James, Kelly, and Halle Smith last night. We didn't get home until almost 1 am, but it was worth the drive. What a beautiful baby girl! A nice way to begin a new week--a trip to Mt. Vernon on Sunday night and a trip to Bluffton on Monday night to see newborn babies.
I've been fighting a cold or allergies for the last week and I'm getting a little tired of it. My chest is sore from coughing. The boys seem to be fighting it too, but I think their bodies fight it a little better than mine because of all that Juice Plus! Hopefully we'll all be back to normal soon.
Our gathering tonight was a little messy. Find a plate in the dishwasher and grab something to eat (a very good potluck!) Four really hyper children--one pretending to be a horse, one biting her mother. A new picture book about a butterfly brought as a gift by a Miss Kelly for Riley that was read to everyone. Two babies with dirty diapers, both of them wanting to climb all over Lianne. Somehow in the midst of it we read Matthew 6:25-34. Riley ended the evening with prayer. Most of it was difficult to understand--but I did catch--"Jesus, you are kind. Jesus, change our hearts. Now it's Lianne's turn to pray." I can't say that much was "accomplished." But I can say that we are trying to figure this whole thing out as we go. Trying to learn what it means to be the church together. Obviously Riley doesn't know that church is "supposed" to be neat, organized, and quiet (he was the one pretending to be a horse). And when I think about that I realize that we really are heading in the right direction. After everyone left I received an email from Dawn. She was thanking us for "hanging in there" with her. I wrote back and thanked her for hanging in there with us. I think we are beginning a really exciting journey.
it's past my bedtime. goodnight.
you got things "accomplished"...whatever that even means. that gathering sounds a lot like ours-- a little jumbled, a little crazy, but still meaningful and nice. riley's got it right, we need God to change our hearts and now our minds to remind us that church doesn't have to run smoothly and on time, but we ARE the church and that's what's important.
this most made me miss your gathering. i need to come back again soon.
--kelli
Anonymous said...
7:34 AM
Thank you so much for coming to visit. It was a blessing to be with you, to be prayed for by you, to be blessed by your presence.
I was just meeting with three close friends today about a new weekly gathering we are beginning soon. The question of what will we do with children was brought up. I assumed they would be in the center of all we do, say, pray together (even if they are acting like horseys). I think we all aligned with that, but thought the moms should have a say. I love the things Riley doesn't know about church, but I like the things he does know even better.
James said...
10:30 PM