Anticipation

Well. We've had a productive December. Nigel's had root canal and bridge work done. And we are getting our own place.

We have been half-heartedly house hunting. One morning on the way to the plane for a day's flying we passed a sign for a new subdivision. We created a radius in which to search that would give us equal driving distances to work. This new place, Hidden Creek, is in the magic circle. So, we went and looked. We spent the next week discussing and on the next weekend put down a deposit to hold the house and began the process of "dickering" with the builder and paperwork for the mortgage company.

We came to an agreement with said builder and have been approved for the mortgage. Hopefully 5 Hidden Creek Drive will be ours on February 29, 2008. This, by the way, is Nigel's birthday.


Our Christmas presents to each other are the house and airfare to England. Yep, we're going to England. On 9 Jan for two weeks. Yes, I know it's the dead of winter and we'll freeze our whoo-haas off but Nigel needs to do some transferring of funds and address changes and stuff like that which must be done in person. Fine by me... I'm going traveling!

Sister-in-law Karen has scheduled me for two days with her for sightseeing and Mum has promised to teach me to knit. Not to mention I need to do some interviewing for genealogy purposes.

We have alot to look forward to in the new year. I hope all my loved ones have a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Welcome to the United States of America

The seven most anticipated words in our lives. Well, after "I do" of course.

These seven words begin the paragraph which told us that Nigel's application had been approved and he is indeed now a permanent resident of the US. Yes, Nigel is now the proud owner of the Green Card.

This is just one more thing to be thankful for this year. We have had a year of changes and are thus far very happy with each one.

I hope everyone has had as wonderful a Thanksgiving as we have had.

Happy Birthday Lysander!

Happy Birthday to Lysander.

My feline companion of four years is 6 years old this month. I adopted him while I was living in Mississippi. He had been abused and abandoned in his early years. Lysander was skinny and very fearful, a real "scairdy cat." He has kept company with me, consoled me, and entertained me in four states now. He has accepted Nigel as part of our family (thankfully, as I'd like to keep my husband) and consents to being picked up and cuddled by the new man. Every time we go on a trip and leave Ly with his "grandparents" he gets spoiled worse that what I can do. I am just now getting him used to his normal feeding routine again. When I first got him he wouldn't talk to me; now he is as mouthy as they come. He hid from me in the beginning as well. Now, he won't let one of us out of his sight. He's always under foot, in lap or watching just within reach. When I first found him at the shelter, I was told his name was Fudge. Not good enough. He needed a new name for a new life. A noble name. Lysander is named for three favorites: an ancestor with a name I love (William Lysander Jackson Reid), a lover from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (a favorite play from a favorite playwright), and an ancient Greek naval hero (a favorite subject-history). And with a nod to Nigel's hobby of aviation, add the Westland Lysander (a WWII spy plane). So in this month of black cats, here's to my favorite furry friend. Happy Birthday dear pussy cat!

Party Time!

The weekend I was on my honeymoon was also the weekend of my 30th high school reunion. I hated to miss that. I so wanted to see old friends and reconnect. I found out about it too late and we had already made our travel plans. Maybe the next one. But the upside is that a couple of friends have emailed me and I have reconnected to special people.

But back to parties...
I was thinking this morning about parties, the one I missed and the ones I've attended. I remembered a mediation I wrote a couple of years ago about parties and thought I'd share it here. Hope to see you at the next party!

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I like parties. I love old-fashioned parties where people are singing and dancing, telling stories and jokes, hugging on each other and slapping backs. Parties with an abundance of refreshment and laughter. Parties where all ages are welcome. Not many people have parties like this anymore, well, except for the occasional wedding reception and family reunion.

I once read a book by Tony Campolo called “The Kingdom of God is a Party.” I think it must be. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 15 there are three parties that occur. In this chapter are the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Not party material? Read on.

In the parable of the lost sheep some poor lamb goes missing. Sheep are not the smartest animals on the farm. They will wander away. That is why a shepherd is needed. But in this story the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. When he finds the lost sheep he gathers all his friends and neighbors together for a party. “Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:1).

The parable of the lost coin shows us a woman with ten silver coins. But she has mislaid one. Ever lost money? I have and like the woman of the parable I put on all the lights, move furniture, and go through dressers and pockets and books and cabinets. When the woman finds her lost coin she calls her friends and neighbors, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin” (v.9).

And finally in the story of the lost, or prodigal son, a father frantic with grief and worry sees the son who ran away coming down the road. He runs to his child, throws his arms around him and with tears of joy streaming down his face kisses him and holds on tight. Loath to let go of his returned child he calls to the servants with orders, “Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (v.23).

We are God’s children. We all have been or are the lost sheep, coin, and son. Can you imagine the party thrown in Heaven when one of God’s lost is found, when a child finds his or her way home? I have been to some great parties, but the parties Jesus and the angels throw over “the found” must be fantastic indeed. These are parties I cannot wait to attend. And can you imagine how wonderful it will be when you are the guest of honor?
It is our call to help the lost to be found and in a way have a reason to give Jesus a cause to say, “Look! Come and rejoice with me for he who was lost is found! Let’s have a party!”

Honeymooners

Six months and three weeks later, we finally go on a honeymoon. We both needed this break, honeymoon or not. The difference between a holiday trip and a honeymoon? Staying in an expensive hotel (The Renaissance) eating out, doing touristy stuff and taking silly pictures of each other and together. Oh and doing honeymooner stuff in said hotel room. The weather was perfect, clear, sunny, and only mid 70s to 80 temps. Nearly everything went according to plan. And we are well rested and still very much in love. I think we shall have a honeymoon every year.

The downside is coming home with a head/chest cold that surely came from one of the many hacking airplane companions going up to Philly. We got home on Tuesday and before Wednesday morning I was miserable. At this writing, I am on the mend but still feeling a bit yucky.

Where did we go? Oh yeah... Philadelphia. We toured the PA countryside and ventured into Delaware and New Jersey.

My least favorite part of the trip was breakfast at a Denny's in Vineland, NJ. At the table next to us was a Hispanic family. Mama, Papa, and two daughters (about 8 and 13). Their waitress was also our waitress. While we got fairly good service, they got none. It seemed she was going out of her way to avoid this little family. They were seated before us but we had given our order first and was served before the "waitress" had even acknowledged them. They could not get refills on their coffee and by the time I was nearly finished they still had not received their breakfast! As you can imagine I was fuming, I was outraged!! I, too, began to look for someone to help this family. I could not see a manager of any description and the "waitress" (who did no waiting) ran past their table. Finally, the father managed to get a different server and ask about their orders. I saw the woman talking with the "waitress" and the other servers, but no one came to the family's aid. By this time I had lost my appetite and just wanted to leave. The family also began to leave but no one would take their money for even the coffee and hot chocolate they had managed to obtain. Out came my pen and pad and I began to write a scathing letter to the manager (knowing full well he/she might not read much less do anything or care). Nigel had pity on me and finished so we could leave. By this time I was struggling to hold back the tears of anger. No. We did not leave a tip for our so-called-waitress. I handed my letter to the cashier asking her to see that management got it. I'll never know if that happened. What I do know is that I am ashamed to know that racism is alive and well in America. And it ain't only in the South folks. Yankees are just as heartless and rude. This little family is just like millions of families across America. They deserved the same respect and service we all desire. Just because they were Hispanic (and just like the Blacks in the past) they received disdain. I had hoped that one day bigotry would die. It won't. And I am left with a really bad perception of a small town in New Jersey.

Early Thanksgiving

An update on Nigel's residency status:

We went to Atlanta... and this week the term HOTlanta applies... for our appointment with immigration. We got there an hour early because we were tired of trying to kill time and I had hoped that by showing up early we could be seen earlier. Nope. At 10 minutes past our appointed time we were called back. We knew the last name would be mispronounced... it often is... as so were listening carefully for the oh-so-English name of "Nigel". I guess USCIS sees an awful lot of Hispanic people, the name was pronounces like Miguel with an N. "Nee-guel Alley-mer." Oh Lord. It could only be us and it was. We sat with the young lady, after being sworn in and answering her questions, for a grand total of 15 minutes and then we were free to go. What? Four hours of driving while I suffered a server allergy attack and neither of us having any sleep for two days for just 15 minutes? Yep. The good news is that she was ready to sign off our case as approved then and there and the green card would come in two weeks. No more appointments, no more waiting. The bad news is there was a background check missing and until that came she couldn't approve the file. So the card would probably come in 6 weeks. But still no more appointments and only a little waiting. With the extra 6 weeks the process, from the time USCIS got it to receiving the card was only about 5 months. Not bad I think. We don't mind waiting a little longer... we received the travel permit and the work permit last week. So when Thanksgiving comes around we will A LOT to be thankful for this year.

Unsavory Thoughts

I cannot eat my own cooking. This is not something I am particularly proud of. I like to cook. Now that I am married and have someone to cook for I have been enjoying learning new recipes and tweaking old ones. However... more often than not I soon suffer from either intense heartburn or I spend the rest of the evening in the throne room. And I don't mean with Elizabeth. How unfair! My darling husband it seems has a cast iron stomach and has suffered no ill effects. But... he is not exactly quick to "dish" out compliments. So how can I know if I'm a decent cook if he won't tell me and I can't eat it myself? This stinks. I also love to eat. The upside is if I quit cooking and turn to a new hobby, I 1) could lose weight, and 2) don't have to clean up the kitchen. Hmmmmm...

Thoughts to chew on

Part of my position with the church is to help create a sort of instructional manual. In my conclusion I write about mentoring and wanted to include some inspirational quotes. I found so many. Here are a few of my favorites...

God has not called us to see through each other, but to see each other through. ~Author Unknown

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can. ~Sydney Smith

The difference between a helping hand and an outstretched palm is a twist of the wrist. ~Laurence Leamer, King of the Night

How far that little candle throws his beams!So shines a good deed in a weary world.~William Shakespeare

Who Would Notice?

This question was put to me the other day: What if for one day, 24 hours, Jesus were to become you? Not what would I do if I were Jesus for one day, but what if Jesus became me? One morning my cat would wake up Jesus at 5 am and He’d get ready for work, my work, with my co-workers and clients. He’d do my shopping and drive my car. What if Jesus lived my life with His heart while my heart took the day off? It would look like me but it would be Jesus’ heart, Jesus‘ attitude. Would anyone notice the change?

My first reaction was, “Great, my heart needs the time off.” But as I considered the last part, would anyone notice the change? Would they like me better with Jesus’ heart? Ah ha! That is the whole point of the question. As Christians we are instructed, in Philippians 2:5,” Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” To have the heart of Jesus. The heart of Jesus was forgiving, compassionate, honest, merciful, giving, and listened. This seems a far cry from our own hearts at times; does it not?

Here is a surprise. We already have this heart. This heart of Christ. Here is a promise made by God to us, if we have given ourselves to Jesus He has given Himself to us. Jesus has made His home in our hearts. Who could say it better than Paul in Galatians 2:20, “Christ lives in me.”

Have we forgotten this promise? Have we forgotten that we asked Jesus to take up residence is so delicate a dwelling? Let us remember and then let us allow Jesus to have 24 hours to run our lives. And then let Him have a week, then a month, then the rest of our lives. Would anyone notice the change?

Disappointment

After all my work yesterday most of it was lost. I am sick with disappointment. The family site I created at myfamily.com with loads of pictures and the beginnings of stories is all gone. After getting it together I invited family members to go to the site as members to add comments, stories, and pictures and maybe even correct some of my info. As soon as I clicked on invite I was directed back to a brand new family site page. A brand new empty page with no pictures, comments, events... nothing. I spent another hour looking for it and sending an email to "My Family.com" for help. I found nothing and have heard nothing.

I have decided not to recreate the site. I will focus on building the family trees at Ancestry.com and offline on my pc and will develop the stories and pictures there with the documentation. And I will also spend more time writing and putting stuff here. Since I'm pretty sure no one actually looks at this site it will become my attempt at keeping a journal.

Nigel wants to create an aviation site with his pictures and documentation and add a travel log page to it. I can help him with that maybe.

Go Against the Flow

I once had a T-shirt that I wore until it was thread bear. It had a cartoon depiction of all kinds of vicious-looking fish swimming together in one direction. Just right of center swimming in the opposite direction is the Ichthus or what is known as the Jesus fish, the symbol of Christians. The picture illustrates what Paul is telling us in Romans 12:1-2. Swim with the sharks and go against the flow.

We are urged to become living sacrifices. This sounds serious doesn’t it? If we are Christians, we are holy. That means we are set apart for the Lord. We need to not just “talk the talk, but walk the walk” that is to live our everyday lives in God’s will. In today’s society this is not easy. We become easy targets. But we cannot hide away, we must be willing to become a sacrifice and swim with the sharks and piranha. This is our spiritual act of worship.

Once we have begun to swim in the world’s sea it will difficult not to follow one school of fish or another. It is difficult not to follow the world’s image. Through prayer, worship, bible study, and fellowship with other Christians we can renew our minds, that is, getting rid of old bad habits and focus on those lifestyles that are pleasing to God. We are still swimming along but now we are going against the flow. Now we can truly discover and approve what God’s will is.

We can become radical Christians. I like the idea. Swim with those sharks but go against the flow and learn the will of God.

Computer work

I have been hard at work today on this desktop o'mine. I have been updating the family trees at Ancestry.com with data and pictures and the family site at MyFamily.com (Alymer, Price & Company) and finally decided how I want to use this blog. I will try to update with news about us and from time to time add one of my writings (a story, meditation, essay or something). Maybe a picture or two.

It has been a fun day on the computer for me and especially since Nigel is sitting next to me on his computer doing his aviation thing.

Employment Update

Well finally! I have a job. After two months of resumes, applications, interviews and staffing agencies I am finally gainfully employed. And wouldn't you know it...with two jobs.

Job number 1 is through a staffing agency. They have assigned me three days a week to a trucking company. Please... of all the places I never thought I'd work, a trucking company is one. But it's money coming in. Barely. My glamorous job is calling for employment and education verifications. I am constantly amazed at the jobs people leave to become truck drivers. At the same time, I am not surprised at other types of people who become truck drivers. And the qualifying schools are as varied as the students. But I am most surprised at myself at being surprised at how many people lie on job applications. Do they think employers don't check? Of course they think this. Don't even get me started on criminal backgrounds... . So before you think to ask; no, I don't want this to be a career. Nooooo way!

Job number 2 is right up my alley. As you know, I was a Church and Community Worker for the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) of the United Methodist Church (yeah, you should see the resume title). I had to take a leave of absence when I got married and moved to Georgia because there are no assignments available in GA. But my dear friend Becky (the Deaconess Mother Superior, if you will)submitted my name to Mission Personnel as someone to consider for Consultant to the New Missionary Recruitment Campaign (see email link below). I was considered, interviewed, offered and I accepted. The position will only last about a year and I probably will not be really busy until the end of summer through the end of the campaign. So I will continue to work the short-term temporary jobs from Randstad for a little while. Even at trucking companies.

But, I am working! I'm paying my taxes and earning money.

Honey... back later. I'm going shopping!

Now for that link: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/missionaries/

Finally!!

Well, here's the thing. We don't have video of our wedding. Not a problem... not a problem. I did not really plan on having video anyway. So, what I've done was to put some of the pictures together with the song my friend September Fisher sang and created my own little video. The song is "Grow Old With Me" written by John Lennon and recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter. There are tons... and I do mean tons of pictures from the photographer and many of the best ones from family and friends. If you want to see them all, you'll have to come for a visit. Until then here is a sampling which is found on youtube. So just click...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIFmf2nxnhc

New Beginning

Well, here is something new to try. Seeing as I have been miserable at keeping a journal in the past I must say I have been fairly good at emailing (yes, yes, I know). So, I thought this might be a melding of the two. Maybe. Actually I thought this might be a good way to show off pictures and give some news and you could find it here in case I just forget to tell you something. You know how I am. And I am getting more forgetful as I get older (What's your name, again?)

As they say "Watch this space." I am attempting to embed the wedding video that I created and have been unable to send to you. Maybe I will be successful here. Once I get going on the genealogy front I'll try to embed a link to the tree. Nigel may stop in with a picture or comment or two. Or not.

So, I'll try to be faithful. Although I am sure I will not be as faithful as my friend Becky who in the space of one year has gotten married AND had a bouncing baby boy (yes, if she weren't so nice and lovable she'd be easy to hate).

And with that... welcome into my head.

Wear seat belts, keep hands and arms in at all times, and feel free laugh and comment.