He has known the Lord for 77 years. What a legacy! And what a privilege to be one of his granddaughters.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Grandpa
Grandpa is about to slip into eternity... It looks like it will be a matter of days until he is in the presence of Jesus. That is an awesome thought. We are all filled with such grace and joy because we know where he is about to go! Grandpa is 93 and has dementia, so he doesn't respond much when we try to talk to him or ask him questions. His body is shutting down, he's not eating or drinking anymore, and he is sleeping almost all the time. Today he'll be transported home from the hospital, and hospice care will begin. Mary and I are in Lexington now, and we are hoping to be able to stay here until he passes.
He has known the Lord for 77 years. What a legacy! And what a privilege to be one of his granddaughters.
He has known the Lord for 77 years. What a legacy! And what a privilege to be one of his granddaughters.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Another Shelving Project Update
Jeff (and I) have been sick lately (we're both all better now), so the shelving project went a weekend or two without much progress.
This past weekend, however, it started to become 3-D! It's so fun to see it take shape. I'm told by the carpenter that this little section took a long time to construct, because he's figuring out how to do it as he goes along. The next sections of shelves will go more quickly since he'll have the process already figured out...
This past weekend, however, it started to become 3-D! It's so fun to see it take shape. I'm told by the carpenter that this little section took a long time to construct, because he's figuring out how to do it as he goes along. The next sections of shelves will go more quickly since he'll have the process already figured out...
Bathtime for Allie
So a week or so ago Allie needed a bath.... She had needed one for some time, so one Saturday I took it upon myself to clean her (and Jeff took the opportunity to take a few shots documenting the experience). And it's actually really fun! We give her a bath in the upstairs hall bathroom. She's not allowed upstairs typically, so whenever we try to get her to come up, she knows exactly what's coming. Then she cowers under the table until we coax her out. I've learned to just pick her up and head upstairs -- always making sure I've let her out first so she doesn't pee all over me (which she tends to do when she's nervous)...
So I carry her up the stairs and into the bathroom and I shut the door (or else she will bolt). I put her down while I get the water running and the shampoo ready... Then I coax her into the tub, which she usually does on her own (with enough coaxing, that is). And then.... the poor thing just stand there and shakes while I suds her up! And yes, I make sure it's warm water!! She just shakes when she's nervous. All the time I soothingly tell her what a good girl she is... and laugh at her...
After the suds are all washed out, I turn the water off and begin to towel her dry. (This is when Jeff snuck into the bathroom with the camera.)
She's so sweet!!
...and so pathetic in her wet curly hair.
Down the stairs I carry her...
...back to her little spot in the kitchen. She couldn't figure out why her bed was missing, even though we told her it was in the washing machine. We were hoping this towel would do in the meantime...
After a bath she usually just lays there, completely still, snuggling in her spot until she is dry. Too cute!!
So I carry her up the stairs and into the bathroom and I shut the door (or else she will bolt). I put her down while I get the water running and the shampoo ready... Then I coax her into the tub, which she usually does on her own (with enough coaxing, that is). And then.... the poor thing just stand there and shakes while I suds her up! And yes, I make sure it's warm water!! She just shakes when she's nervous. All the time I soothingly tell her what a good girl she is... and laugh at her...
After the suds are all washed out, I turn the water off and begin to towel her dry. (This is when Jeff snuck into the bathroom with the camera.)
She's so sweet!!
...and so pathetic in her wet curly hair.
Down the stairs I carry her...
...back to her little spot in the kitchen. She couldn't figure out why her bed was missing, even though we told her it was in the washing machine. We were hoping this towel would do in the meantime...
After a bath she usually just lays there, completely still, snuggling in her spot until she is dry. Too cute!!
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Episcopal Church
Ok ~ so a little more about St. Peter's Episcopal Church from last Sunday...
This is one thing that really impressed and surprised me: On the inside of the bulletin (well, it's more of a booklet, since there are so many readings and such to follow along with), this is what it said:
Prayer Before Worship
Use the time before the liturgy, when the church is quiet, to pray.
Here are some things to pray for:
1. Jesus' powerful, healing, life-changing presence
2. Those gathering to worship, that they meet God today
3. Our guests, for whom this is all new, that they feel at home
4. Our clergy, that the Holy Spirit speak powerfully through them
5. All the ministries of our church, that God will guide and empower them to transform people's lives and the world
Can it get any more genuine than that?? I love it!
And here is their vision, printed on the back of the booklet:
To be a City on a Hill that Cannot be Hid: Praising God, Seeking the Lost, Welcoming All, Growing Together, Sending Servants, Changing the World.
One of my favorite parts of the service was the "peace be with you" time of greeting one another. We were genuinely and warmly and even enthusiastically welcomed by folks who just had the love of Jesus coming out their pores. How neat to find that in a liturgical setting!
Is anyone else as surprised as I am to find these things in an Episcopal church?
This is one thing that really impressed and surprised me: On the inside of the bulletin (well, it's more of a booklet, since there are so many readings and such to follow along with), this is what it said:
Prayer Before Worship
Use the time before the liturgy, when the church is quiet, to pray.
Here are some things to pray for:
1. Jesus' powerful, healing, life-changing presence
2. Those gathering to worship, that they meet God today
3. Our guests, for whom this is all new, that they feel at home
4. Our clergy, that the Holy Spirit speak powerfully through them
5. All the ministries of our church, that God will guide and empower them to transform people's lives and the world
Can it get any more genuine than that?? I love it!
And here is their vision, printed on the back of the booklet:
To be a City on a Hill that Cannot be Hid: Praising God, Seeking the Lost, Welcoming All, Growing Together, Sending Servants, Changing the World.
One of my favorite parts of the service was the "peace be with you" time of greeting one another. We were genuinely and warmly and even enthusiastically welcomed by folks who just had the love of Jesus coming out their pores. How neat to find that in a liturgical setting!
Is anyone else as surprised as I am to find these things in an Episcopal church?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Metamorphosis
You know, I (Sylvia) have been going through somewhat of a spiritual metamorphosis over the past ten years or so. I grew up in my dad's church - Community Christian Fellowship (aka The Fellowship). Those of you from that era of my life know the simplicity and genuineness of that wonderful body of believers. We loved the Lord, and we loved each other. We got rid of meaningless extras and focused simply on what we believed the Bible called us to and sought a genuine encounter with God.
In 2001 I moved down to West Chester and started going to Covenant Fellowship Church, which is part of Sovereign Grace Ministries. I learned more about Reformed theology and was saturated by their focus on the cross.
In 2004 I began my year-long China adventure. Surrounded by believers from all over the world at the international church in Shanghai, I grew in appreciation for the ways other Christians lived out their lives of faith. Although the services were all in English, from time to time we sang songs in other languages ~ and how neat it was to all sing to the same God, embracing our cultural differences! I remember looking around in my cell group one time and noticing that gathered there were believers from the U.S., Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Africa, France, New Zealand, the Philippines ~ and I might even be missing a few! It was a rich time of learning and growing with people I never would have had the opportunity to fellowship with had I not gone to China.
When I came back to the States in late 2005, I went to live with Mom & Dad. By that time they were running the B&B in Lexington, VA, and were attending the VMI Chapel, so I went with them. What a fabulous, genuine fellowship of believers! Some VMI cadets came, of course, but also a faithful contingent from the community to support what God was doing on post. I eventually grew into the role of song leader which was a wonderful opportunity for me to grow in my musical gifts under the warm, encouraging, joyful leadership of the Chaplain.
When I left Lexington in 2008, I went to live with Mary & Rob and began attending a small charismatic church nearby. During this time is when I began dating Jeff, who comes from more of a conservative background. Growing together with him involved finding a church we both liked in his area. So, some Sundays I was at the church near where I was living, and some I was with Jeff, exploring different churches in northern Virginia. (Neither of us really liked the church he had been attending, although he had had legitimate reasons for going there. It was time to move on, though, once I was in the picture.) Throughout our "church shopping" process, I was faced with working through the issues of what make a particular type of church worthwhile attending, which church environments were healthiest for me, which lined up with biblical truth, etc. While I loved the people at the charismatic church in Maryland, I became very frustrated with the way charismatic churches in general do things. I started to question their approach. One Sunday I just sort of hit a wall. I had had enough and left thinking how much I'd like to visit a liturgical service somewhere, just to get a taste of what's on the other end of the spectrum. I longed for awe and reverence ~ qualities lacking in many churches today, in my opinion.
Jeff and I did visit an Orthodox Presbyterian church... which was exceedingly boring. (Surprise, surprise.) So I more or less gave up on the liturgical idea, and Jeff and I eventually settled on Blue Ridge Bible Church here in Purcellville. Its forte is the people; we walked in and immediately felt like part of the family. There is real love, real fellowship, real body life. But unfortunately, there are some things about the church which we can't align with. We're seeking to put those issues aside as much as we can in the interest of maintaining fellowship with them... but the issues are sort of getting bigger. So, on the Sundays that I don't serve on the worship team, we sometimes visit other churches.
Today was one of those Sundays. This past week we were researching churches online, and I said that for a while now I've wanted to visit an Episcopalian church - I wanted to see what a liturgical service was like. Because of known issues within the Episcopal denomination, we were both skeptical. But we found our local Episcopal church's website and were pleasantly surprised! Not only did they seem to embrace an evangelical and a real we-want-to-encounter-God approach and a desire to grow, but the rector has a video right on the website's homepage addressing one critical issue we had been on guard about. He boldly, yet graciously, distanced himself from the denomination in order to stand fully on what the Bible so clearly declares.
So we went there this morning... and wow! What a refreshing new experience! There was too much starch in the rector's collar, but other than that...... :) There was an attitude of reverence throughout the worship service; but at the same time it was a relaxed atmosphere, surprisingly. We saw genuine, joyful love among the people. And we were warmly welcomed and engaged in meaningful conversation afterward. And the best part was - the message was really short! Hee hee...
Jeff and I haven't suddenly decided to become Episcopalians or anything (although Jeff may still be one from childhood... lol), but our wheels are turning. We've witnessed a totally different way of having "church", and I must say, it was a pretty neat experience! I've got more to say, but I'll save that for another post.
Thanks for reading!!
:)
In 2001 I moved down to West Chester and started going to Covenant Fellowship Church, which is part of Sovereign Grace Ministries. I learned more about Reformed theology and was saturated by their focus on the cross.
In 2004 I began my year-long China adventure. Surrounded by believers from all over the world at the international church in Shanghai, I grew in appreciation for the ways other Christians lived out their lives of faith. Although the services were all in English, from time to time we sang songs in other languages ~ and how neat it was to all sing to the same God, embracing our cultural differences! I remember looking around in my cell group one time and noticing that gathered there were believers from the U.S., Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Africa, France, New Zealand, the Philippines ~ and I might even be missing a few! It was a rich time of learning and growing with people I never would have had the opportunity to fellowship with had I not gone to China.
When I came back to the States in late 2005, I went to live with Mom & Dad. By that time they were running the B&B in Lexington, VA, and were attending the VMI Chapel, so I went with them. What a fabulous, genuine fellowship of believers! Some VMI cadets came, of course, but also a faithful contingent from the community to support what God was doing on post. I eventually grew into the role of song leader which was a wonderful opportunity for me to grow in my musical gifts under the warm, encouraging, joyful leadership of the Chaplain.
When I left Lexington in 2008, I went to live with Mary & Rob and began attending a small charismatic church nearby. During this time is when I began dating Jeff, who comes from more of a conservative background. Growing together with him involved finding a church we both liked in his area. So, some Sundays I was at the church near where I was living, and some I was with Jeff, exploring different churches in northern Virginia. (Neither of us really liked the church he had been attending, although he had had legitimate reasons for going there. It was time to move on, though, once I was in the picture.) Throughout our "church shopping" process, I was faced with working through the issues of what make a particular type of church worthwhile attending, which church environments were healthiest for me, which lined up with biblical truth, etc. While I loved the people at the charismatic church in Maryland, I became very frustrated with the way charismatic churches in general do things. I started to question their approach. One Sunday I just sort of hit a wall. I had had enough and left thinking how much I'd like to visit a liturgical service somewhere, just to get a taste of what's on the other end of the spectrum. I longed for awe and reverence ~ qualities lacking in many churches today, in my opinion.
Jeff and I did visit an Orthodox Presbyterian church... which was exceedingly boring. (Surprise, surprise.) So I more or less gave up on the liturgical idea, and Jeff and I eventually settled on Blue Ridge Bible Church here in Purcellville. Its forte is the people; we walked in and immediately felt like part of the family. There is real love, real fellowship, real body life. But unfortunately, there are some things about the church which we can't align with. We're seeking to put those issues aside as much as we can in the interest of maintaining fellowship with them... but the issues are sort of getting bigger. So, on the Sundays that I don't serve on the worship team, we sometimes visit other churches.
Today was one of those Sundays. This past week we were researching churches online, and I said that for a while now I've wanted to visit an Episcopalian church - I wanted to see what a liturgical service was like. Because of known issues within the Episcopal denomination, we were both skeptical. But we found our local Episcopal church's website and were pleasantly surprised! Not only did they seem to embrace an evangelical and a real we-want-to-encounter-God approach and a desire to grow, but the rector has a video right on the website's homepage addressing one critical issue we had been on guard about. He boldly, yet graciously, distanced himself from the denomination in order to stand fully on what the Bible so clearly declares.
So we went there this morning... and wow! What a refreshing new experience! There was too much starch in the rector's collar, but other than that...... :) There was an attitude of reverence throughout the worship service; but at the same time it was a relaxed atmosphere, surprisingly. We saw genuine, joyful love among the people. And we were warmly welcomed and engaged in meaningful conversation afterward. And the best part was - the message was really short! Hee hee...
Jeff and I haven't suddenly decided to become Episcopalians or anything (although Jeff may still be one from childhood... lol), but our wheels are turning. We've witnessed a totally different way of having "church", and I must say, it was a pretty neat experience! I've got more to say, but I'll save that for another post.
Thanks for reading!!
:)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Back Pain
So for a long while now (I guess maybe since Jeff and I have been married), I've been experiencing on-and-off lower back pain. Sometimes it seems like I've injured it because it hurts so badly, and then I have to wait forever for it to heal. In general it just seems weak and prone to muscle injuries. 
Lately it's been worse than normal, so I was doing a bit of googling about lower back pain, and I was reminded that sleeping on your stomach can hurt your lower back! I did learn this some time ago but obviously forgot and didn't do much about it. I typically sleep on my stomach all night long... that's pretty much my favorite and only sleep position. I love it! It feels so comfy and secure. But apparently my back doesn't like it... For the past two or three nights I have slept only on my sides, and, would you believe it, my back feels significantly better! Not all the way better - I guess that will take some time - but better! It's almost torture to not allow myself to flip onto my stomach, but I guess I'll get used to it... :/
So am I getting old? Is that it??
(Or maybe a new bed would help?)
:(
Lately it's been worse than normal, so I was doing a bit of googling about lower back pain, and I was reminded that sleeping on your stomach can hurt your lower back! I did learn this some time ago but obviously forgot and didn't do much about it. I typically sleep on my stomach all night long... that's pretty much my favorite and only sleep position. I love it! It feels so comfy and secure. But apparently my back doesn't like it... For the past two or three nights I have slept only on my sides, and, would you believe it, my back feels significantly better! Not all the way better - I guess that will take some time - but better! It's almost torture to not allow myself to flip onto my stomach, but I guess I'll get used to it... :/So am I getting old? Is that it??
(Or maybe a new bed would help?)
:(
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