Reality of this weekend

This was the original list of things I had hoped to get done - the type in red is what actually happened. All things considered I am fairly impressed I got as much done as I did. I did also have a house showing Saturday and met with a family regarding the funeral I did today.

• Laundry - DONE
• lights - DONE
• darks - DONE
• sheets - DONE
• towels - DONE
• rugs - DONE
• deep clean the bathroom- DONE
• bleach everything down - DONE
• vinegar the tub (we have a jetted tub which we rarely actually take advantage of but they said to run a vinegar solution through the tub every so often to clean it out) - DONE
• deep clean the living room- DONE
• can you say doggy hair palooza - DONE
• write some snail mail - Didn't get to this sadly
• I have four snail mail letters I am hoping to write
• I LOVE sending snail mail
• Baby Gifts
• Apparently after the countless weddings I have attending in the past several years my friends are now moving onto babies rather than weddings
• and I like to make baby gifts
• I am hoping to make some:
• pacifier clips - got two made
• headbands -I didn't get to it
• hats - I made two baby hats
• fabric alphabet - DONE - this took longer than I anticipated but LOVE how they turned out in the end 
• appliqued onesies
• Make freezer food - Didn't get to any of this - stink!
• I want to freeze a couple batches of cookies just to have on hand for potlucks and other such things or when guests show up unexpectedly
• I want to make some freezer burritos for quick meal options
• I want to freeze up a couple of loaves of bread as well
• banana, pumpkin, and who knows what else
• shutterfly
• finish Summer Ministries - DONE
• catch up on 2013 - I am caught up through June so now to do July and August (I am WAY pokey when it comes to shutterfly - it takes me forever)
• start my wedding album - It is started - it isn't very far along but it is started - picking out the theme took a while as well - I also had to upload a bunch of pictures which I got done
• Run errands around town
• deposit my paycheck - DONE
• pay bills - DONE
• pick up my wedding dress from the cleaners (which has been done for a couple weeks but I keep forgetting) - DONE
• return some random things to Menards - DONE
• parts of projects we bought too much of or didn't need
• Watch movies while cleaning and doing projects
• I have Anna Karenina coming on netflix - DONE
• I am borrowing Les Mes from a friend - didn't get the movie from a friend - this is still on the list
• and I plan on going to the library Friday while I am out and about just to make sure I don't want something else too - I didn't get a movie I got a couple of books instead
• I also have netflix live streaming (I love this feature) -  I just discovered "Orange is the New Black" LOVE IT! Totally recommend this show
• I also am planning on going on a couple of good runs and getting a swim in - I was only able to get one run in due to it being monsoon season here apparently - I did also get in two super long swims

I am calling this weekend a success for sure! I love having introverted days where I can just cross stuff off a list and get it done! I did also have a camping trip with thirty or so people from my congregation. We had such a marvelous time despite the ridiculously HOT weather.

How was your weekend? 

What did you do this weekend?

I sing.

This week I lost a colleague who has faithfully served a small congregation north of where I serve. She was an older woman but one of the most faithful women, it has been an inspiration to call her colleague and friend. The tradition in my tradition is that all the local clergy vest and process at another colleagues funeral and the bishop preaches. The family chose to have the cross process in the front, followed by the clergy, then the casket, and the family brought up the tail.

As we processed in many of the members of her congregation as well as her family still stood in shock, she died rather suddenly and unexpectedly, behind the cross was 28 clergy members, as we processed in we sang "How Great Thou Art." We processed in the shadow of the cross singing to the best of our abilities and sang the truth of our faith, we sang while others wiped tears, while others stood in uncertainty of their own congregation and if they would be able to call another pastor, we sang and joined in the choirs of angels professing that which our colleague believed so firmly in.

It is humbling to serve the church, it is humbling to know the great God we serve and love.

After a beautiful worship service it was humbling to hear the family of our colleague, her congregation and friends, come up to us and thank us for being present, for singing when they didn't have the voice. I often forget the power of the congregation, the power of the ones assembled, we sing, I sang, we join the choir of angels and sing when other's can't. I sing because I have a voice, I sing to share the story, I sing to worship the God I love, I sing to be transformed by the message. I sing off key. I sing when I can and at times others must carry the song for me.

Sing your song, join in the choirs of angels, carry others, be carried by the body of Christ, sing a song of love.