Wednesday September 8, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Sun rise was beautiful this morning. It drove me to read Psalm 19 with great joy. Devotion with Will and communication with family at home.

I was so happy that my co-workers ate the Chili I cooked for them. They made my day. Sent out an invitatin to all those who lost loved ones since Jan 2020 to come to Grief Support group meetings. Cathie made beautiful card for me to send.

One more person joined the Church in the afternoon. Max and Linda and Marcia on the phone as elders voted her in. God is good! Will Joined me in the evening at Pastor Steve's Lecture. We went to eat dinner after that. Life is good. God is great. I am grateful.

Tuesday September 7, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning.

Good long day of work and communication with family. Evening meeting was cancelled. So, I went to the grocery store and bourth 6 lbs of ground beef and some canned beans. Went to dinner with 2 dear friends. I Came home and cook Chili for the staff tomorrow. I made a small pot of it with 4 Habenera pepper for the 2 young men, James and my self.

I wrote devotional for tomorrow's recording. God is good and I am grateful.

Monday September 6, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Will - as he was tired from his trip selpt in. More time for me with God! We had a leasurely day as it is a holiday and we don't work today. We had devotion, we talked about our lives and we cooked chicken and sausage gumbo together. So relaxing and fun it was. We also talked with my family on video chat. Life is good.

As the pot of Gumbo was large, I really wanted to go around and share with some church members but I told myself,I am going to keep holiday as others do was one of my learning during the sabbatical. So tempting to go around and visit the sick. But I kept to my own new " rule of life." God was good in helping me today.

later in the afternoon, we went to a paint store. We went on to our favorite St. Armand's circle. I visited "Oh My Gauze" store for the first time in about 5 years. Found 2 things to buy and then on to the "Ben and Jerry" I had my sweet ices. Shorbet,I think it is called. So delicious!

Home and ate Gumbo again for supper. God is good I am grateful.

Sunday September 5, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning was short as I was nervous about preaching and teaching new members class. I communicated with family on the way to Church. They are well and I am thankful to God.

God was wonderful. I preached 3 times to 3 different groups of people without coughing or any impediments. At 12:00 PM with the help of Linda C I taught a new membrer class to 8 people. 7 joined the Church, the youngest one will attend confirmation class. God is so good to me and to all of us. I give thanks. At 1:15 PM I joined the Grief support group at lunch in a restaurant.

I stopped at Trader Joe's to buy a pot of orchid, a new home card and a bottle of Champaign to take with me later to Jan and Ralph.

I died as I arrived home. I woke up at 5:00 PM, got myself ready and went to Jan and Ralph at their new home. It is lovey as every. They are happy there. We had a Salmon dinner at the dinning room. We saw Dave a watercolor artist. He invited us to his home which was really a galary. So beautiful of his paintings.

Will came home around 10:00 PM from brother Jame's memorial service in Columbus, OH. Life is good. I give thanks to God.

Saturday September 4, 2021

Quiet time with God.

Will left for the airport to go to Columbus, OH for his brother Jim's memorial service.

I was lasy all morning and made lunch and ate alone at home. And then went to Church for Katy's memorial service. Many people came as she was well loved. I did not do any ting but cry. Laurie did a good job at the service.

Came home and practice my sermon several times. Talked with Will on phone. Talked with family on messager chat. All are well. Thanks be to God!

Friday September 3, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning.

I worked all day yesterday on my day off. I did not even metntioned how many pastoral calls I made at requested. So, I went in late to day. I arrived at the office by 10:30AM. Nice and lazy morning, actually my bones will not move well till about 9:30 AM. Vey funny. Work through lunch and went to see the cardiologist at 3:00 PM. Thanks be to God my heart is ok. Dr. Fox decided to take over my blood pressure high problem. Thanks be to God for that as well. We celebrated our good hearts by going to a real early dinner at the Marina Jack's

Thursday September 2, 2021

Quiet time with God was good.

Started working on my sermon after breakfast. When I like the draft now version 4 or 5 it was 12:25 PM. I asked will to edit english while I cooked a quick delicious lunch. First real food cooked in our new kitchen. We ate- still in Pajamas.

After lunch I looked at my sermon, edited it a bit more. And declare it done!!! It was 5:34 PM. Thanks be to God for the inspiration. My bottom was soar for sitting. This was the hardest work day since August 16th. I am thankful to God for my professor Hermon Waejen who was my dissertation guide. I re-read much of my DP today to write my sermon. Syrophonecian woman and Jesus!

We showered and took off to find good dinner but did not really. I am thankful to God.

Wednesday September 1, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning.

Worked on my upcoming sermon again. Devotional recording. Business in ministry is good. Catch up with family via video chat briefly. They are well. I am thankful to God.

I had my first meeting with Steve, my supervisor since I returned from my sabbatical. It went well, as he was kind as always. I came out from that meeting. Told that Katy died last night. I cried. Cathie was kind to hold me like a child while I sobbed. Katy was a good friend. I mourn for her death. She was talking about rehab. God sometimes surprises me and I don't like the surprise. This was one of those.

Wednesday Night Life Lectures by Dr. McConnell kicked off well. 37 in person and more online. 108 attendence total. Great start in the pandemic.

Late dinner with friends and Will at Bone Fish. So fun. I even had a glass of wine.

Good day. God is good I am thankful.

Tuesday August 31, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Psalm 122 today. Checked in with family. They are well. Thanks be to God!

I took some pictures around the house. Communicated with hospitalized members via phone and texting. Katy did not text me back today. I wonder if she was ok. I worked on my sermon. Still did not like it.

God is good and I am thankful.

Monday August 30, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Breakfast with Will. Devotion and check in with family far away. Many meetings anticipated and un - unticipated happened. A good full productive day. Much good was done. I give thanks to God.

Some more conversations with Virginia's niece on her service. Her husband's and their only child who died at birth. What an honor that I will get to do. I am truely humbled. Many thanks I give to God for my coworkers especially for Cathie and Jackie whose help make my part very easy. I thank God for them. I am thankfu to God for all his blessings in my life.

Sunday August 29, 2021

Queite time with God was short today as I needed to leave for Church early. The Fall Kick Off was wonderful. Laurie did a great job at planning and organizing all of us. After cleaningup my talble at 12:38 I joined the widows and widoers ( Singles) group at lunch. A good visit we had. I left at 2:00 PM and Emme and I went to Atu for sopping. We both found a blouse and a matching costume jewellery. It was fun. I came home at 3:45 PM. Went to the pool with Will for an hour.

We met Piglet and David for dinner, Lovely visit as always. I called on a few members who are not well. A good long day ended. I am thankful to God.

Saturday August 28, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Coffee and breakfast with Will followed by devotion. I read and wrote a devotional for Wednesday's recroding. Not quite good enough but its a first draft. I looked at the sermom again too and did a few more tweeks on it. I love quiet mornings.

We decided to drive up to Bradention and teh bill for our new kitchen. After that we stopped and ate at "Flavour of India" So good. People from Kerela in India are there. They are Mar Thoma Church members. So wonderful people and foods too.

I called on a few Church members as Will drove me around. Served communion to some. Called on phone some too. We had a death in the membership. Talked with her niece a biIt on the phone. It had been a wodnerful day personally as well as a work day. God is good. I mam grateful.

Friday August 27, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning.

I read the scriptures for up coming Sunday and wrote a draft of sermon. Communicated with family and thank God that they are doing well.

Lots of good work done today at the office. A young woman with a 5 month old baby joined the Church. I got to hold the baby while I taught the mom new member class. Life is good. I thank God.

Wonderful evening at home with Will.

Thursday August 26, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. My first day off since I return to work on the 16th. Will's day off as well. Nice breakfast together after I checked with my family far away. All are well and I give thanks to God. We had devotion.

I had my heart ultrasound. So fascinating thing to watch as the tecnician let me see inside my heart on the monitor. I pray that the result will be good. We picked up my heart calsium test result. It is 0. That is what the cardiologist wanted. Thanks be to God. So, we went on to Yummy house to celebrate with dimsum.

Pool time at home in the evening.

God is good. All the time. I am grateful.

Wednesday August 25, 2921

Quiet time with God in the morning. Psalm 116 today.

I love this gift from Judy. She knows me well. God is good and I am thankful.

Tuesday August 24, 2021

Quiet time with God. Psalm 133 today. Communicated with family in Myanmar. I thank God they are doing better everyday.

Another productive and joyful day. It was much better pace than yesterday. I made coffee for anyone who would dirnk it. Such fun!

I got to visit an old friend with communion and served communion to 3 more people in the same building. I am grateful to God and humbled with great joy too. Got to talk with several people about life and Small Groups and Bible studies. I am thankful for Pastor Melvin who called on our homebound membres.

End of the day I got to dine with a new friend Stu, Piglet, David and Will. And I got to eat an authentic Carbanara made by chef Maritcio himself. God is good and I am grateful.

Monday August 23, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Drafting a devotional for Wednesday's recording. Made a list of people for our new visitation pastor to visit today. Devotion with Will after breakfast. Psalm 15 today. I broke my rule by working an hour before breakfast and devotion. I will do better tomorrow.

Off to work. I had a lovely conversation with Stu, one of our new visitation pastor on my way to work. Got a lot done today. A long fulfilling 13.5 hours day. Sarah returned and I got to hug her for the first time since April. I have missed her so. This little sister and collegue. A litte standing up meeting on Small groups for young parents in my office with Carol, Conner and Sarah over tea. Matt came for a little conversation and tea later. I made a list of people to call on for our other new visitation pastor Melvin, tomorrow and I called him and had a good conversation with him. I love my life. Many meetings and worship planning.

Home by 9:15 PM. Will grilled salmon and steamed zuchini for me. Very tasty. I communicated with my family in Myanmar without voice by via pictures. They are doing well. Thanks be to God. God is good I am thankful.

I was so tired. But grateful.

Sunday August 22, 2021

Quiet time with God was brief this morning as it is my first Sunday back from sabbatical. Will and I prayed in the car as he drove me to my Church before going on to his own. Worship services were good as I remembered them. Laurie preached a wonderful sermon. Genevieve was back from School. All was well and I am grateful.

I went to lunch with the Grief Support Group or now known as Juile's Groupie. So great to see and catch up with each of them. Will joined us. After lunch we went to St. Armand's. I found 3 things I needed. I napped in the car seriously. My whole system was shocked agin after 3.5 months of quietness. I love the people. I love the Church. I love God. I am grateful to God.

Saturday August 21, 2021

Quiet time with God in the morning. Sunrise was beautiful today. Communicated with family in Myanmar. All are well. Thanks be to God! Leasurly morning with Will over coffee and his breakfast. We had devotion on Psalm 134 again as it is so wonderful.

Prep pork tenderloin for cooking later. Worked a bit as it is my work day. Left for Sophie's for lunch at hoon with Piglet and David. Went to visit Bob who is under hospice care. He knew me. I read to him Psalm 121 and prayed for him. His children were there too. I visited 5 other members on the phone. Assigned a SM to one. I cooked pork tenderloin, stir fried vegetables and rice for a friend/church member who is not well and delivered it to them. I hope they can eat it. My prayers for his healing.

Dinner was leftovers from last evening. Delicious! Nice evening. I wrote my prayers for tomorrow's worship service. Well, written yesterday morning but edited tonight.

God is good. I am grateful and look forward to first Sunday after 15 weeks of sabbatical.

Friday August 20, 2021

Quiet time with God in the monring. Devotion with Will after his breakfast and my coffee. Checked in with family in Myanmar via messanger. All are doing better and I give thanks to God.

Worked at home till 10:40 AM and took all the ripen Habenera peppers from my plant for co-workers to work. I then went to meet Cat at a Cafe to thank her over brunch. She has worked all throught the summer while I was gone. She took me back to the office. Will picked me up for my heart CT scan. Uneventfully done. Now we wait for the result on how much calsium my heart has on it. Lord have mercy upon me.

Worked the afternoon at the office. Made many calls including to the sick. I then wrote a pastoral repport. Cat too the cards to my Shepherding Flock to the post office on her way home. I worked on my goal. I don't think I did a good job. I sent it to my supervisor as a first draft.

Mexican dinner with Will Jackie and Andy. Most delicious. I saw pretty flowers blooming and took pictures of them.

Home at night. I dream of Jeannie. God is good and I am grateful.