Monday, April 25, 2011

spring sprung

after a long week of ministry it was about time for some time off. it was a perfect day for some rest and relaxation - weather in the 60's, the sun is out... we've been cooped up so long in the house, it was nice to get outside and enjoy the spring that has finally come.
the kids drew on the driveway with the sidewalk chalk we got. they also blew bubbles and investigated a garter snake. i planted an herb garden and some sunflowers and pumpkins, giant ones... we'll see how they grow.
now were back inside and opened up the windows to let the wind breath fresh air into the house... now i think it's time for a nap :)

Sunday, April 17, 2011

glitter and perfume

i have a funeral to officiate at the church this week. it is a funeral for a long-time faithful saint of the church, beloved by all. this morning my daughters wore to church the beautiful dresses they wore for christmas a couple of years ago for palm sunday. they are lovely dresses except for one thing... they shed glitter all over the place. with every move they made, glitter showered everywhere. with every sprinkle i'm thinking, we cannot have the church sparkling like that for the funeral... my asian genes kick in, and after church and after meeting with the family i returned to the church and tried vacuuming up all the glitter around the church. i felt guilty because just not two days ago on friday, the elderly couple that looks after the church vacuumed the church, and i felt guilty for all the glitter the girls left this morning and i felt that this couple should not have to vacuum up after the mess my kids made.

so with every push of the vacuum, i got frustrated with the kids... and with every speck of glitter that would not get picked up by the vacuum i envisioned the girls twirling around in their dresses, shedding glitter everywhere... and i was upset.

but then i began to think about the woman in the bible who lavishly poured the alabaster jar of perfume upon Jesus and how the disciples got mad at her because she wasted the expensive perfume that they could have sold to feed the poor. but she was praised by Jesus for doing a beautiful deed to prepare him for his death. then i thought about the visiting with the woman who passed and how much interest she had in my kids (she used to be a teacher) and i thought she might have liked the glitter on the ground... it made the drab carpet a little more sparkly. what a beautiful thing they (inadvertently) did, decorating the church for her funeral.

still, i didn't want the church looking like a claires boutique, so i continued to vacuum, a little less annoyed than when a started... and i also wasn't as uptight about it either... i left some there for rosalie :) and i'll smile a little when i see a sparkle here and there during the funeral on wednesday.