how firm a foundation

This morning when I looked out our front windows I could see the boom that's used to deliver concrete on a pour site. The site is First Baptist Church Chappell Hill's new multipurpose building about 1/4 mile south of our house. It's a sign that I wasn't sure I'd ever see. What a thrill!

See, over the last 10 of the 15 years that we've been here, Steve & I have been dreaming--along with others in the church--of a facility that could serve the community more fully. After a master planner volunteered to map out the entire 16-acre site for phased development, a 3-year fund-raising campaign was completed. Steve and the planning team found an architect to develop the drawings for a Phase 1 multipurpose building. The team has met, discussed, researched, followed through, developed a budget, communicated. Mostly, we've prayed.

And now, after 10 years, this day has come.

I wish I could say that the road was clear and smooth to this destination. But it has been bumpy at best. I made mistakes, and lots of them. Often my patience wore so thin; my judgemental attitudes threatened to tear holes in the weakened fabric of my faith. Some discussions with nay-sayers reduced me to tears. I grieved that disagreements turned to murmuring discord. Some people pulled up stakes and left. I often sat in planning meetings with the question plastered in bold capital font across my mind: how can we possibly accomplish this?! The task loomed very large indeed. Then the Lord would remind me that it was His job to accomplish--not mine.

And so, along with red iron, electrical lines, and plumbing pipes, there is joy and hope and gratitude in this foundation. Joy for a 'concrete' statement of the intent to move forward. Hope for what God will do with the dream that I believe God has given the leaders of this little country church. And gratitude to my Lord God, Who gently teaches me that He is my firm foundation.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is so much fun.

I get to work behind the scenes, helping get the kids registered and in the right group; counting noses to report to crafters and snack providers; general go'fer things.

One year I met the preschool teacher in the hall every time I turned around. She had a little guy in her room who needed Mama, so we passed tissues and damp rags to cool his weepy eyes. I called home while holding him and petting his sweet little red head. There was also the chunky pre-teen fella' who got a 'stomach ache' conveniently every day at recreation time. We sat in a cool room (where his 'stomach ache' usually subsided enough to have at least one or two helpings of whatever snack was available) and he told me the most amazing scientific facts about germs. If it were possible, I think he'd be a doctor by age 18. I do love being with the kids. Last year one girl asked me, with both words and her huge brown eyes, to pray for her big sister who was serving in the Army in Iraq.

All the VBS songs have lots of arm movements and are very aerobic in nature. Of course, being a Baptist event, there's no dancing; but almost. Oh, and here's a head's-up: when the recreation leader needs dice to designate a number 1 through 6, it's called a "numbered cube!"

VBS is so much fun! It's like being thrown in a huge jar and shaken around for 4 hours. After "Toady's Wild Ride" each morning this week, I'll have a lot to look forward to: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk; a nap in the sheer luxury of a quiet, cool room; and getting up tomorrow morning to do it again.

new to facebook

When I joined FaceBook, I noticed pretty quickly that I had entered a new culture. I needed some help, and so I turned by email to my sons, my niece and nephew for advice:

To My Closest Advisors

I am in a FaceBook Fog.

Since I'm new to FB, I have some burning questions.

1. I received at least a dozen email notices that "Stephen Bingham has tagged a photo on your FaceBook page." What does that mean? Is it like Freeze Tag? Am I IT? Is that a good thing? Am I supposed to do something? Please advise.
2. The Comment Box: is there FB etiquette for comments? (how do you spell etiquette . . .?) Okay--manners! Is a one-line comment the best thing (i.e. cool)? Can I jump into another comment stream, or is that considered rudely interrupting another conversation? If only one-liners are cool, is there a place on FB for longer conversations, or do we just resort to good ol' email?
3. These Relative designations: how far away from the gene pool do you go? For example, what to do about husband's sister's husband's children by first wife?! Will they feel snubbed if I don't identify them as relatives; or will they feel like I've overstepped my boundaries by claiming them related?

Who knew there would be such sensitive issues to overcome on a public forum for mundane introspection . . .!

Please give me advice on these issues before I embarrass someone who I really am related to and get shunned by a host of new "Friends." :~z

I know I can trust all of you to give me the straight skinny.

Much love--Mom/AuntS

the turn of a phrase

Loving words the way I do, I chose "By the Way" as my blog title. The phrase turns as I say it or think about it.

Of course, there's the colloquial statement, "Oh, by the way, here's something that might interest you." Just incidental stuff. btw.

Then there's the facet: "Reflecting as I pause by the way on this life journey, let me share an event, story, or memory." I hope to document my path--both past and present.

Turn the words another degree or two and discover yet another meaning. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life." Though I stumble a lot, I desire to live by the Way--that is, according to the habits and life of my Lord. And so, this blog will be a spiritual journal as well.

"Show me the road I must travel for You [God] to relieve my heart." Psalm 143:8b