Where to Begin?

It surprised me when I looked at the calendar and realized how long it's been since I've posted. There's been a lot going on so I'll try to update you without rambling on too much. 😊 

I took the header photo picture of Beth in front of the Brattle Book Shop when we were in Boston for Diana and Peter's wedding back in September of '21. We decided to go for a walk and when we got out of the hotel, decided to just go around the block. Then we came across this cute little book store.

Right after my last post I flew to San Diego to spend some time with my sister. We try to get together a couple times a year but as we get older it seems to be getting harder. We do our best to make it happen though.

While I was there she put her dog Nalla down. She was a German shepherd and had lost the use of her back legs. She was 12 years old and there was nothing that could be done to help her so it was time. It was really hard but I was glad I was there. Got to say good-bye to Nalla, and was a little distraction for my sister.

In spite of that, we played games, took walks around her small mobile home park, and laughed a lot.

I took this when they visited us in 2020

Bougainvillea! 

We don't have this in Seattle and it's so nostalgic when I visit San Diego

Parcheesi! This was our mom's favorite game

After I got home I realized I never got a picture of my sister and I, so here's one from when I was down there last year.

My flight home was delayed so I walked in the front door a little after 10pm Saturday night. Hadn't planned on going to church the next morning but had a meeting in the afternoon so ended up just going to that. We were preparing to host a large pastor's conference and each team was meeting to go over last minute instructions and training. For the first time in seven years, I wasn't part of the custodial team! I got to help with 'catering', which included serving the meal at the dinner Wednesday night, then making all the box lunches for the attendees and volunteers the two following days. Custodians are mainly independent and it was so much fun to work side-by-side with others!

The dining room ready for the Pastor's Dinner

Some of the servers waiting to bring out the salads

We left a little after 9:00 Wednesday night and were back there at 6:30 Thursday morning to begin making the box lunches. Our team leader said we needed to make 340 lunches - each day. That's a lot of sandwiches! We made a large assembly line and it took us about three hours to get them all done. Then we packed the boxes with a liner, sandwich, fruit, chips, cookie and napkin. All packed with prayers that the Lord would touch each heart and meet the needs of every person attending.

Saturday I sat in my recliner the entire day! We were told later that there were pastors and spouses, plus church staff from 115 churches at the conference. We continue to pray the Lord would encourage those pastors and staff members as they go back to their congregations and cities.

There's more to tell you but I'll close for now. I'm catching up on laundry today (we got the day off) and all those little things that just pile up after a while. 😊

Have a great week!

Afraid We'll Pick Up Right Where We Left Off

 Hi,

It's been a very quiet week around here. I looked through my phone to see what pictures I could post. I have:

Dirty linens that were delivered to us at work from the rental company. I need to take care of that on Tuesday.

Our garage roof. It's a flat roof and I have to get up there a few times a year to clean off the pine needles from our neighbors tree that clog the drain.

New instructions for how to turn the house lights on in our Sanctuary at work. They got a new light board and there's no 'house lights' button for cleaning. 

So, no real pictures to show you. But I do have these - 

Seeing the news stories about President Carter building houses after he left the White House was amazing! Made this even more special - 

And then this one -

We had a Kids Ministry Training Lunch yesterday, where we all eat together, then break off into our teams: Preschool teachers, 1st-3rd grade teachers, etc. And I met with the amazing Special Connections Leaders. Each of them have a heart for kids with special needs and are excited to get started.  I've created the leaders handbook with topics like What is a Disability; Characteristics of Disabilities, De-escalating Potential Situations along with basic information about check-in procedures, snack time... I've sent it off to our Media/Communication team and should get it back in a couple weeks. 

As we get closer to re-opening I found myself getting really nervous. I can't believe it's been a year since we closed the class! I realized that I was afraid we'll pick up right where we left off, with kids biting and kicking and throwing things... I confessed it to the Lord and poured my heart out to Him. Then I started to come across things like the one above and was reminded that He's right here with me. This is His ministry, His desire for our church and He's already got a plan. There's nothing to be afraid of, I trust Him completely.

Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid.

John 14-27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  

 

So, we reopen on February 16. We've got a team of seven leaders so far but we're always looking for more. We'll only have class during one service to start and when we get a few more leaders, we'll be able to open the class for both services each Sunday. That's our goal and I know that'll meet a huge need. The 16th is comin' up fast!

An Odd Season

Hello! Things have been... odd around here lately. For me anyway.

Since I stopped being Custodial Supervisor I've got time on my hands, but haven't wanted to do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g. I keep up with the dishes and laundry and... but I'm spending a lot of time just watching Christmas movies. I'm trying to give myself a little slack, knowing this quiet season won't last forever. :)

(Internet Photo)

I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to the Harvest Party at church. Not to announce it or ask the new Lead Custodian E, if he needed me, I was just to show up. As I walked in the door our boss was there. He took me aside and said E was struggling with some personal things and would be going home early. So I ended up being Supervisor that night. I love it when the Lord goes before us and solves an issue before we even know there is one. He is such a good God.

This is photo of just one of our classrooms for the Harvest Party. This was the maze room for those 6 and under!

Almost every day Beth comes home and sits in her recliner. While we were at lunch today she said she was going to take a nap in it when we got home. :)

Please vote. We are privileged to live in a country where we get to choose our leaders. I'm praying a lot for this upcoming election. Especially for peace in our cities, no matter who is elected. I also pray the Lord would put in office whomever He needs at this time in history. Oh Lord we need you! 

A Difficult Decision

Fourteen years ago I felt the Lord tell me to start a Sunday school class for kids with special needs. I've been leading this class almost every single Sunday since then.

We began with one student and grew from there. Chuck, Diana and Beth all helped for the first few years and as other teachers joined, they were able to step back. We've been in three different classrooms, each new one having more amenities than the last. Each new room was a better fit for the students we had at that time.

Most students were younger grade school age and over time would grow mentally and emotionally where they could attend the typical classrooms.

The years before covid we had 5-6 leaders and up to 10 students at a time. Most of the students had mild autism and participated in the Bible study and crafts, snack, etc.

(This was taken in 2018. The classroom looks so different now.)

Post covid - everything changed. Only one teacher came back after covid, and the students mental and emotional state is different. The students have behaviors that are very complex. They come into the room, pick up the first thing they can get their hands on and throw it across the room, shattering it against the wall.  Or they give an ear-piercing scream and wipe everything off the table because another student took something they had planned to use. Or they crawl under the large round table, lay on their back and using their feet begin pushing on the table causing everything on it to slide to the other side, triggering the other students to scream or yell... 

This ministry is for the parents as well, allowing them to bring their kids to a safe, quiet space so they can spend a couple of hours in the main service worshiping and being filled with the word of God. We try hard not to contact them during service but lately we're doing it more often than we'd like. Last Sunday we put up with a lot of poor behavior from one student but when they tried to bite the other teacher, that's when I called the parents.

I find myself just standing in front of the door all morning (many are runners) and I just observe the students and try to stop behaviors before they happen. How do I 'teach' in that environment? The kids will throw tantrums, and kick and sometimes you're in the way and get kicked. I'm not even sure I understand the behavior, where it stems from, what triggers it, let alone how to deal with it. I've heard that students all over the U.S. (and maybe around the world) are struggling with the aftermath of covid and I get it. I just don't know how to address it.

I'll be honest, I've been trying to lead this class under my own power for many years. I haven't prayed like I should: for the other leaders, the students, their families. I haven't been regularly seeking the Lord for guidance... and I'm weary. I'm burned out and exhausted. I find myself dreading Sunday mornings. Not surprising.

So I've made the decision to close the class for a time of restructuring. I've got to spend some time in fasting and prayer, seeking the Lord for HIS vision for this ministry. He's already shown me three areas to focus on: recruit volunteers, provide training, and change the room a little to accommodate the students we have now. I've added things over the years but I still have a lot of things for four- to nine-year-olds. Now the average age is nine - fifteen. 

Please pray with me that I follow the Lord's leading this time; that people who have a heart for kids with special needs will volunteer; for me to find specialists to come in and train us to lead post-covid students; and for the next fourteen-plus years to be even better than the first!

Me, Beth and Kathy - she was the first non-family member to join me in this ministry.

This and That

 Hi everyone - 

 

We've been keeping busy around here but thankfully there's been nothing too overwhelming.

 

Beth and I made cookies. Chocolate chip cookies! I usually keep them in a cookie jar and they become hard so I add a piece of bread to soften them up. This time I was too lazy to get the jar from the back of the cabinet so I grabbed a rubbermaid container, snapped the lid on... and those cookies have stayed so soft! Just how we like them! I guess the cookie jars just don't have a very good seal. Now I know!

This is all that's left today

We're already starting to decorate for Harvest Party on Tuesday. The last few years we've done a Trunk or Treat but this year we're back inside. When I first heard that, I was a little nervous thinking of all those people - the set ups, the mess - but custodians are able to come in on their day off so I've scheduled one custodian per floor to keep the trash cans empty and check on the bathrooms... and now I'm excited about it! Our theme is The Farm - can you tell? :)

 

I lowered our flags at work in honor of those killed in Maine earlier this week. It's so heartbreaking - another senseless shooting. My heart and prayers go out to all those affected by this.

 

Earlier this spring we started to hear pastors and speakers all over the country talk about a 'shaking.' Tim Sheets got a word from the Lord about 'shaking starting in 3 months.' That put it right around the end of September. One of our pastors got a word that said, "The time for preparation is over. The shaking as begun." Gina Gholston, Larry Sparks... so many talking about "It's time!" "The shaking has begun!" And across the nation and the globe:

 

San Diego had a hurricane

Eastern WA had devastating fires

Flooding in New York

Category 5 hurricane in Acapulco

Earthquake in Afghanistan

The war in Israel...

There was also this word: "The physical attacks happening to Israel will begin to happen spiritually to the churches." It seems the shaking really has begun. 

 

We had a Sacred Assembly this last Sunday, taken from Joel 2 when Israel was under attack and it's enemy seemed too great to overcome - "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." "Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly." And that's exactly what we did.

 

 

We combined both services into one, set up chairs in the foyer, in classrooms, the Commons, and got every person into the building for one service. We had a time of worship, of prayer, repentance, communion, anointing. There had to have been more than 2000 people there and every single person was anointed. It was such a holy time, repenting and calling on God. I truly believe He is in control and we don't need to be afraid. Just trust Him. He knows what He is doing.

 

Doing devotions in preparation for the Sacred Assembly

 

 I saw this on IG the other day -

 

 

I think about you often and hope you're doing well during this season. May you find the Lord's favor and may His goodness go with you each and every day.
 

What A Way To Start

I go down to a main road and turn right to get to work. I turn left to go to the waterfront. Both are about a mile from my house.

The last few days I've felt a calling to go down to the water. You ever have that? Where you just get this feeling to do something that's out of your routine?

I had to go to work early this morning to unlock some doors and on the way home I felt it again. I believe it was the Lord, calling me, urging me to peaceful waters.

So today I went.

It was 7:30 in the morning and very few people were out. It was so quiet and peaceful. I walked around for a little bit and listened to the silence.

 

As I was getting ready to leave I noticed the sky turn an amazing shade of turquoise. The deeper blue above and then right in the middle... it shined! It was spectacular and I had to thank the Lord for bringing me down there. What a glorious way to start the day!

Off to a Good Start

There doesn't seem to be a lot happening around here right now. That's what I was feeling when I sat down to write this. But then I got to thinking about it...

Sharaya's roommate recently got married and moved out of the house they had rented. Then the owner decided to sell it. I don't know how it is where you live but here in the Seattle area rents are expensive! They're so high that renting a one-bedroom apartment costs more than the mortgage payment on our house! So Sharaya and Ally moved in here so she can continue to save up for a house. Sharaya and I were watching TV last night and it just felt so good having them here. You guys know, your kids grow up, move out and start their own lives (as it should be, that's what you hope for!) but it's hard! You miss them and wonder about them - a lot - and so I'm glad they're here for a while. They made us pancakes for dinner the other night. And, I'm a cat person so I've loved having Moxie and Maya around. 

 

Chuck developed a new spot on the top of his head (I never noticed it actually) and at his appointment with the dermatologist last week he decided to do a biopsy on it. They said it was precancerous. But it's been removed and all is well. (I'm having a hard time being convinced.) This means his body is still making cancer, right? Deep breath. I've been told that once you have cancer it never really goes away. There's always a possibility it can come back, so I just have to trust that the Lord will take care of him. For today though, this was caught and removed. I am thankful for that!

In fact, Chuck is in Denver this weekend helping his sister. She's the one who had the stroke 20+ years ago and is paralyzed on her right side so he's gone to help change light bulbs, clean out a bedroom, and sort through part of the garage. He said they spent the first day just talking. His siblings have never been very close so I'm glad they're getting to spend some time together.  

Diana and Peter got a puppy! Her name is Poppy and she's a Great Pyrenees / German Shepherd / Bernese mix. She's SO cute! Can't wait to meet her!

So, I guess there was more than I thought. The good news is I've been at peace about so many things that I don't feel stressed. The Lord has been impressing upon me lately that He is my Rock. My sure and solid foundation in this ever-changing, crazy world. And that's made all the difference.

I pray you are well and that 2022 is off to a good start for you! 

Heaven on Earth

When we were heading to the airport a couple weeks ago I opened the front door and Ally was behind me, then Sharaya, Chuck, we had our luggage... and I whispered, "Stop! Stop! Stop!" 

One of the baby birds was perched precariously on the edge of the nest! I put down my suitcase and tried to get my phone to take a picture but he flew away. The other birds were hunkered deep down in the nest and I knew by the time I got back from Pennsylvania they'd all be gone.

And I was right. The nest was on the ground and there were leftover twigs and sticks hanging from the wreath. The Junko family has moved out. It sure was fun watching them grow!

Sharaya and Ally came over for dinner on Saturday. After we ate we played Uno, and then went out back to sit and talk and play some more.

 

Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. We had food trucks out in the parking lot for people to have lunch after church which meant me and my crew arrived at 7:30am to cone off the parking lot and set up the round tables and chairs. It was a very early start but it is one of my favorite Sundays of the whole year! We have many Internationals at our church and they each carry a flag from the country they were born in. One by one they walk through the Sanctuary and then they go up on the platform and say, "Vietnam exalts the name of the Lord!" "Nigeria exalts the name of the Lord!" But they say it in their native tongue. Nation after nation after nation, there isn't a dry eye in the place by the time it's over!

Waiting in the foyer for their cue to start

A friend of mine took this picture

People wear their national dress. The church is filled with so many nations, tribes and tongues. It truly is heaven on earth.

In Memory Of

Chuck's mom died on February 22nd. She was 90 years old and had lived in a convalescent home for about 7-8 years but she seemed fine. A social worker told us she had gone into Mary Ann's room about 10:30am and she was in good spirits. They talked about her new roommate and she was excited to meet her.

Then around noon a nurse went in to check on her and found her unresponsive. It's kind of shocking to all of us. How one minute she could be just fine and then suddenly she's gone.

We all flew out to Denver on the 25th and got to spend some time with Rose, Chuck's sister. Rose had lived with Mary Ann her entire life until she went into the convalescent home. She's always been a strong-willed, stoic kind of personality but this has hit her hard. She was so glad to have us all there and we spent hours reminiscing, looking through pictures, all those things you do when you lose someone so close.

Chuck and I cleaned out his mom's room then brought everything to Rose's place and we all sorted through things. 

When we went out there in October to help Rose after her surgery, we made arrangements to see Mary Ann. Rose is paralyzed on her right side due to a stroke and it's just too hard for her to get around so it had been a couple years since they'd actually seen each other. Due to the pandemic we had to meet outside and if I remember right they said it was the first time Mary Ann had been out of bed in over a year. I'm so glad I snapped some pictures!

This is a little bit of what Chuck wrote on Facebook ~

The Lord brought her through many trials and delivered her many times from things that happened to her in her life. She was widowed at 30 with 4 kids 10 and under plus a 10,000 chicken egg ranch. She survived cancer and Covid 19. She did the best she could and asked God to help her with the rest. Her faith is what brought me to the Lord. I was her youngest and I will miss her greatly.

I'll see you on the other side Mom. Chuck

 

                                    Mary Ann Bacon Anderson

December 27, 1930 - February 22, 2021

                            

We flew in late Monday night and Chuck had more cancer surgery on Wednesday. I'll write about that in my next post.

So how are you doing? Holding up okay?