Nerves

My nervousness has begun!  Less than 8 days... exactly one week from tomorrow I will walk in my first ever Indy 500 Mini- Marathon.  This has been a journey in the making since last November when the goofy idea popped into my head and I convinced myself to sign up early (before I could change my mind).

"Have I walked enough?  Am I ready? What if this...or that?"  - these are the question that now pop into my mind.

I've got the jitters.  "Will the slow bus scoop me up?"  "How will I ever do the last 1.1 miles?"

Sigh.

Gotta go walk so more!

See you at the finish (I hope!)

Confirmation 2012 Class

Here they are... our amazing Confirmands with Jesus at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in Speedway, Indiana.  All of these bright smiles after little or no sleep... and one of their two worship experiences that morning.  We were on our retreat.

Our staff teased me, again, yesterday at our lunch celebrating another wonderful Lent/Easter season about my annual 'love feast' for confirmation students.  "Every year you say the same thing, Michelle!"  I do value our confirmation students year after year and my precious time learning about them as they ponder the nature of God in Christ.  I won't threaten our youth director, by saying I desire to do youth ministry all the time, but I will confess what aspects of youth ministry that I am privileged to participate in... both stretch and affirm my spiritual gifts.

Yet, I have taken the time to ponder what it is about this year's class... that draws me in.  Could it be the large number of poets and writers in the group- helps me have an affinity with them?  Or the amazing number of musicians helps me connect with them so easily?  Or could it be the fact that those who have been a part of Calvary since their birth... reflect the past 12 years of my ministry with our congregation?  None  of these thoughts, while true, explains fully my tears as I put together their certificates and Bibles. 

Maybe I won't ever know the why... but I do know that God is invested in these young lives.  These students are His Church now... and what great things the Holy Spirit can work through them in the next six years before they graduate!  The ramifications of their faith impact for a lifetime stagger the imagination!

Mostly.. there is a sweet, sweet anointing of God's Spirit upon this class!  I love them so much.  And am very proud of them... but I sense on another level... how much JOY these young people bring to our God!  

Jesus is proud and excited about these confirmands!

And that is awesome.

Since Easter...

...I've been busy!  As I am sure everyone else has too... my busyness looks like:

• walking more and more miles.  Which takes longer and consumes more time!  The other day I walked so long and so far I ran out of things to pray and ponder! 
• interviewing confirmation students!  One of the best highlights of our Confirmation program.  Andrew and I have the best fun listening to how God has been at work in the lives of 6th and 7th grade students!  WOW- has God been busy!  Total spiritual rush!
• listening to great piano music as our daughter performed in her 2nd annual piano recital yesterday.  She just grows in confidence and poise.  Reminds me of my years as a music major in college when I was "forced" to attend so many recitals a year.  What a gift- to be required to sit and listen to great music performed well!  I miss those days...
• checking on my mother who has a prolonged hospital stay last week.  She is home and on the mend... we hope! 
• helping my daughter in and out of her dance recital costumes!  She performs this week at a local nursing home/assisted living community and then has her BIG recital the first Sunday of June.  So much glitter that it gets stuck on everything.  Love it!
• organizing food and what not for my mother in law as she finishes her radiation treatments and begins her chemotherapy.
• yard work is coming with the annual planting day and our mulch will be delivered soon.
• making summer plans... for childcare, swim lessons, vacation, preaching schedule, etc. 

But you know... I really cannot complain about too many things!  I am blessed beyond measure.  My health and mind are good and this body of mine is getting in shape with each mile!  God is good!

Resurrection Re-Cap

Holy Week and subsequently Easter resonated deep for me this year. 

As a young person growing up I often spent this holy day and holiday with my Lowe Grandparents on their farm in Lizton, Indiana.  This was my first Easter without both of them... as they enjoyed Easter together in the kingdom to come.  What a joy that must be for them!  And how grateful I am for all my Easter memories of these two wonderful, loving people. 

So I wept throughout our opening hymn on Easter morning to the organ, brass, handbells, and the amazing voices lifted in song!  I was almost too emotional to offer the invocation... but then again, I have been told by more than one parishioner that it is a gift to witness your pastor moved to tears in worship. 

As the mother of a young grade school student who still treasures the surprises of the Easter Bunny and the trappings of egg hunts, treasure hunts and easter goodies- this Easter was a joy again!  Her delight to follow a trail of weird and wacky clues which ultimately led to her discovery of the purple princess crown Easter Basket was contagious!  And she still was finding filled eggs on Monday morning after Easter... the egg hunt continued for 24 hours plus...

So I laughed it up and enjoyed it all... soaking in the wonder of "being in wonder"!

As the daughter in law of a woman who is facing her third round of treatments for cancer... I was moved to tears throughout Easter... aware of the fragility of life; aware of the deep pain and sorrow illness brings; mindful of the hurting hearts of those with whom I love; and simply grateful that my God and our God is bigger than brain cancer... or any illness or any sorrow. 

Because He lives... we live also.  That is a promise that continues to re-shape how I live my life of faith. 

This Walk is Dedicated

In less than a month my shoes will be laced early on a Saturday morning for the longest walk of my life... (longer than that crazy walk Eric and did in downtown Paris back in 2006).

My goal was to do something BIG, FAT and SCARY.  And yes, I have been terrified of the 'slow bus' all along.  It's swivel door opening to swallow me up because my pace was too slow.  As my training increases, I am beginning to sense that I might actually accomplish this wacky goal.  (Not sure if I will ever do it again)

Hey, I did 9.6 miles last weekend and lived.

I just may finish this thing and NOT be eaten by the slow bus.

We received news this week of the return of my mother-in-law's breast cancer for a third time.  Cancer has metastasized to her brain (large tumor in frontal lobe), collarbone and kidney areas.  I have decided to dedicate my mini-marathon walk in her honor.  She is doing something BIG, FAT and SCARIER than the rest of us by choosing yet another treatment plan.

By golly, the slow bus is the least of our worries.

Mom Knight, this walk is dedicated to you!

And She Wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And to think, I presumed, I was doomed to lose our March Madness bracket challenge.  Ha!

Won it!  By a single point from the final game!

That's two out of the last three years, baby!

Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!