I've Been Quiet for a While

I don't know if anyone has noticed that I've been quiet for a while.

There are many reasons but the main one is that I'm set to host an (in)RL Meet-up at my home on Saturday, April 27th.

Do you know the back story to the (in)RL Meet-up? Instead of the website (in)courage planning a conference and women having to travel to one specific location, their idea is to have hosts sign up and meet in their locale. This happens mostly in homes but if large enough crowds sign up then they figure out a more amenable venue such as their church.

As I'm writing this the numbers are 1,591 women have signed up in 497 cities. These aren't all U.S. cities either. Amazing!

It's an opportunity to view videos covering this year's theme of "The Challenge to Stay in Community."

Last year I waited for someone to volunteer to host a Meet-up in my area.

It never happened.

So this year I decided to volunteer to host and not miss out on the opportunity to meet women in my area for this event.

This is a big deal for me personally because I'm opening of my home to really eight strangers.

In anticipation of the Meet-up I've been cleaning my home....you know the nooks and crannies where dust bunnies lurk and I've even gone outside to battle my amazing weed collection.

That is a benefit to hosting....the house will be cleaner looking than it's been for a while. Ha!

Are you comfortable opening your home to strangers?

Easter 2013

Wonderful Husband, the Teacher and I attended the 7:00 a.m. Easter Service at the United Methodist Church. It was early, lovely, and celebratory! It could be our new Easter tradition.

Happy Easter!

The day began with sun and just in time for the Easter gathering, the clouds rolled in, the sky began to drizzle, then rain lasted the rest of the day.

The Toddler Easter Egg Hunt was held inside this year since the weather didn't cooperate.

I wish I could have captured (on video) the Young Adult Outdoor Easter Egg Hunt. Ages 23 - 34. Too funny watching "the kids" scamper around the backyard in the rain!

I deemed this Easter "The Year of Crying." You can hear it during the Toddler's Egg Hunt. There was crying during the Young Adult Egg Hunt too. (One of toddlers, not the Young Adults.)

Then I had to include this picture of the younger generation:

Too funny!

Grandparenthood is the best season of life so far because after all the Easter excitement...we went home to our quiet house.

How was your Easter?

Holy Week 2013

*What I am reading this week:

The Triumphal Entry, Jerusalem, Sunday (Palm Sunday)
Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-19

Jesus clears the temple, Monday
Matthew 21:12-13

The authority of Jesus questioned, Tuesday
Matthew 21:23-27

Jesus teaches in the temple, Tuesday
Matthew 21:28-23:39

Jesus anointed, Bethany, Tuesday
Matthew 26:6-13

The plot against Jesus, Wednesday
Matthew 26:14-16

The Last Supper, Thursday (Maundy Thursday)
Matthew 26:17-29

Gethsemane, Thursday
Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus' arrest and trial, Thursday night and Friday
Matthew 26:47-27:26

Jesus' crucifixion and death, Golgotha, Friday (Good Friday)
Matthew 27:27-56

The burial of Jesus, Joseph's Tomb, Friday
Matthew 27:57-66

The Resurrection, Sunday (Easter)
Matthew 28:1-10

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!

Easter blessings to you and yours!

*from my archives - an annual reading tradition

Google Reader July Shut Down

I've heard "the whispers" online and googled to make sure that what I was afraid of was really going to happen.

Sure enough, Google is shutting down its Reader on July 1st.

Yikes! That's how I keep track of the blogs that I have followed over the years!

I thought I'd send you to Kristen (We Are That Family) to read her easy suggestion on how to load your Reader page into Feedly.

I did it last night and although it's a bit different from what I'm used to, at least I won't be "left out in the cold" (missing the blogs I follow) when the Reader shuts down.

There are other alternatives so take time to explore them....just don't wait too long.

St. Patrick's Day

also known as our daughter's birthday!

Wonderful Husband was out of town so I met our daughter, her family, and her in-laws for dinner at:

P.F.Chang's China Bistro

By the way, did you know that this upcoming Wednesday is the First Day of Spring?

Here is what this morning looked like from my front porch in PA:

Clumpy snow. Are you kidding me?

The snow melted as the day progressed.

Hooray!

Our granddaughter, Youngest Sweetie arriving for dinner.

Happy Birthday Young Sweetie and thanks for the dinner invitation!

Too Much Technology?

I read the following essay from Tiffany Shlain entitled "Tech's Best Feature: The Off Switch."

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/03/techs_best_feature_the_off_swi.html

Tiffany wrote:

"Just as we discover -- the hard way -- what constitutes too much sugar or too much alcohol, I believe we are only beginning to truly understand the effects of too much technological stimulation on the brain. As we rush into this era of hyperconnected human evolution, we need to evolve and adapt to be mindful of what we are doing online and when we should get off."

I've been pondering where technology is leading the younger....and older generations too.

I remember working on a computer for the first time and how it seemed to make my world spin like a top. All this technology was rushing toward me at a lickety-split pace.

Now I have days when my computer at work seems to move in slowwww motionnnnn. My brain has been re-trained to expect fast results and sometimes technology doesn't seem quick enough.

That also carries over into other parts of my life as I rush into and through the grocery store...then need to "re-program myself" to stand patiently in line, pay for my items...then I walk quickly toward my car.

I live a life of fast and slow and only during the slow do I have the time to see God, His blessings, and have relationships with others.

Have you ever made the decision to turn off technology for a specific amount of time?

My Church Decision

The reasons I began this adventure to find a new church were:
A need for life application from the sermon, 
stronger leadership, 
more Christ, 
and a need/desire to be a part of a faith community.

****
Near the end of 2012, we received a pledge card from our Presbyterian church in the mail.

I believe that pledging is important so that the church can develop a budget for the upcoming year. So after much internal debate, I called the Financial Secretary to tell her that we would not be pledging for 2013, explaining that we have been searching for a new church, and actually had not been to this church since May of 2012.

Coincidentally? Later that day I arrived home to a message on our answering machine saying that although we had not participated in the pictorial directory at the church, there were some openings over the next few weekends, and to call and make our appointment.

So.....I made another call to say that we were not going to participate since we were not currently attending the church.

Later that day (not coincidentally) I received a nice email from the pastor asking if we would like to meet with him, if a discussion would be helpful.

I had to laugh because I knew that Wonderful Husband was not interested in a meeting especially since looking for a new church had been my idea. But just to make sure, I did discuss it with him and yes, I was correct.

I made an appointment with the pastor telling him that it would only be me attending since I initiated the idea of visiting other churches.

The meeting with the pastor went very well. I explained why we had been visiting other churches (see bolded list above). But I also told him how thankful we were for the years we've attended the church. The Sunday School classes that our children attended, youth programs, Women's Bible Study, and the many people of the church who had impacted all of our lives. I thanked him for his Christ-like grace in reaching out to our unexpected (yet blessing of our) granddaughter and really left the meeting filled with peace.

Peace in explaining our decision to him and peace in moving forward (with his blessing) toward our next church.

****
Initially I was going to use the title "Our Church Decision" for this post but after having a discussion with Wonderful Husband, he has decided not to join the United Methodist church with me. He will be sitting beside me on Sundays but will wait until he retires and we relocate to join a church.

I could go into my explanation of his decision but that is really his story to tell. 
Maybe one day he'll start a blog and explain?
Nah, probably not. Ha!

****
I have been attending a weekly Bible Study at the United Methodist church and after Easter my plan is to meet with the pastor and ask how I can become a member of the church.

****
I am very thankful for God leading me through this journey in finding a new church. He has been faithful in directing my steps and my decision and I am blessed.

****
If you're interested in reading the entire series, I've linked all my posts below.

The series recap:
From Thought to Action
Wonderful Christian Women
United Methodist Visit
Non-Denominational Visit
Presbyterian Visit
Lutheran Visit

Thank you for following along.

Have you ever changed churches or thought about it?

I'd love to hear your story.