Gathering Graces 6/10/2018

*Pastor Dave delivered a very good sermon titled A Hub for Hope, focusing on how we as a church can give hope to those in our community who are contemplating suicide.  Our pastor is a Chaplain in the Army, and has had extensive training in dealing with soldiers and veterans regarding suicide.  One thing he shared that is easy to remember, is that we are holding the ACE, and when talking to someone who we suspects wants to end their life, we ASK them if they are thinking about ending their life, we show we CARE about them, and we ESCORT them to someone who can give them help.  Really, the whole of our pastor’s message was all about having a relationship with the person you are talking to, and let them know you do care.

*As Christians, we do believe we have the answer.  Simply put, we believe Jesus is the answer.  Jesus, who helps us realize that He is there for all who are weary and heavy laden.  He will give rest.  He does love us.  To me, accepting the fact that the Creator of the universe loves me unconditionally, and has given my life purpose was something I could and wanted to accept easily.  I often look at the stars at night and remind myself that I was created out of the same love that created the moon and stars.  To me, that thought is awe inspiring and humbling.  Some of my thoughts are shared in Psalm 8.

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

*After church Molly, Travis and I drove up to KHS to pack up some of the items from my office.  I was glad to have Travis there to assist with taking down the lights that were strung around the ceiling in my office.  It took him about five minutes to get those lights down.  It probably would have taken me 15 minutes!!

*After leaving Kellogg today, Molly and Travis were attending a baby shower over in the Coeur d’Alene area, and they texted the hosts and asked if they could bring some food....which, of course, was the  leftover food from our Friday night party.  I was very excited to be able to box up five bags of chips, hot dogs, hamburger patties, hot dog and hamburger buns, pasta salad, Pepsi, and a few cans of Busch Lite, and they were delivered to a group of people who could also enjoy them, since we are unable to eat any of that food.  I really didn’t want it all to go to waste, so the timing was perfect!!

*Apparently Kellogg was struck with a rather big storm that swept through, bringing wind and hail.  I was completely oblivious to this event, because, at the time, I was napping.  I usually don’t sleep that soundly, especially when I take a nap.  But I did today.  I did hear Paul outside the bedroom window working on putting up trellises for around the bathtub where the roses are planted, so the three climbing roses have something to climb up.  So when I got up from my nap, and went outside, Paul shared with me about the storm.  We did get some branches drop in our yard, but fortunately, there was no hail damage to any of our plants.  But the wind was so strong that it uprooted a tree in front of Christy and Everett’s house.  There have been two times where we have had strong winds since having our birch tree in the backyard cut down, and we are very thankful we had it cut down, and that the strong winds did not blow it down.

*Around 6 p.m. we drove over to Bill and Debbie’s house for family dinner.  Paul and I toured Bill and Debbie’s backyard and were impressed with all the work they have done cleaning out flower beds, and planting vegetables.  We also loved the work that was done in their bathroom, and their new closet in their bedroom.  Their home is getting very close to being done.

*We took separate cars to Bill and Debbie’s house so Paul could leave early and go up to KHS and get his grading done from his classes.  The grades are due at 8 a.m. Monday morning.  I departed a little later from Bill and Debbie’s house, and, when I got home, realized I still had some steps to get.  I felt like walking, so I put on tennis shoes, and headed out the door for a walk around town.  I headed up the hill behind the Staff Houspe Museum, and walked around our old McKinley Avenue neighborhood.  I circled around, through the clinic parking lot, back down the hill, and then walked along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, through the Kellogg City Park.  I enjoyed seeing the Community Garden, and the different personalities of the items being grown in each individual raised bed.  I saw a man and his black lab walking through the baseball field.  As I was reaching the end of the park, Paul called to see where I was.  He had returned from KHS, and I told him to come down Bunker Avenue and join me in the rest of my walk.  So he joined me, and we continued down Bunker Avenue, circled around and through the Gondola Village, and then back home, which helped me meet the goal of 10,000 steps for the day.