Let the fun begin!

I always want to write in my title before I begin writing, and that's tough. So sometimes the titles are often a tad facetious or ironic, and that's what is happening a bit today.

But I have to begin with yesterday. Or really, many days before that, but I've struggled with what to blog lately because Scott has completed his gig at the Lowman Home and I attended graduation, which was nice and put closure on a long 11 weeks of ministry to the elderly.

Scott had his first funeral a week ago, and to this point the blog has been fun and light and airy, but the experiences of late seemed a bit too sad and dramatic to blog about. A bit over a week ago, one of the members of our church, a 14-year-old youth, was devastated by the death of her dad in a car accident in Great Falls. The youth have grown close at Mt. Dearborn with leadership by a couple who are very committed to serving, and this investment in the youth has paid off, as they rallied around this child and her Mom.

When Scott realized who the girl was, he said she always gives him a big hug after church, and he has felt very encouraged by this gesture each week. Forget grown-ups, we all know that to win the affection of children is priceless. He visited the family, helped with arrangements, and led a service that included two other pastors.........and.........a ton of Harleys. That's right, motorcycles. The deceased was a restorer of vintage bikes, and you can imagine the following of fans he had. Although I was not able to attend the funeral, I regretted not being able to see the huge number of bikes parked across the street, and the diverse group of folks packing into the church to celebrate this man's life. Standing room only with a tough, somber crowd. There is no better testament to one's life than how many come to your funeral! Scott and I did ponder the fact that Mt. Dearborn has a number of elderly members, most of whom are quite well and spry, yet this man was only 50. It's never what you expect.

And a week later, another death. A young man of 47 passed away last night with a terminal illness. His mother is our pianist, and his father a member of the choir. So on Wednesday, Scott gets even more practice learning to honor and celebrate a life no longer lived. This cannot be easy.

So that brings us to yesterday. Yesterday was an example of what I expect this journey to be like, and it was a doozy. I hope my recitation and remembrance of yesterday does not sound whiny because I'm not complaining. I'm just tired, but heck, aren't we all?

Saturday, August 23......
7:10 am, I arrive at the office. We have our First Year Scholar Retreat, taking 48 kids to Heathwood Hall for a ropes course, and half day of sessions. We've got a fun day planned.
8:45 amish, our day begins, and the scholars begin their teambuilding activities and it's fun to see. All is well, smooth......and it's not even too hot outside.
10:30 am, Scott and Kate take The Mimi to the doctor. All week her breathing has been much tougher than usual, and we are waiting for an appointment with the pulmonary doctor, against which she has fought for a while, "I don't NEED another doctor." But she relents, yet needs some short-term relief.
10:45 am-ish, Scott calls to say he received a call that a church member has been transported to Richland Memorial and has only hours to live.
11 am-ish, Novella drives me to my car which is at USC where I meet up with Scott for the Kate Hand Off. She's happy to be coming to the retreat, although Mimi is still at the doctor's office with plans to call Scott once she's done. Little does she know the call will be relayed to me for pick up. Kate and I head to the retreat where she ends up helping with lunch with Novella and Ali, while Margaret and I stay at the high ropes site.
12:20 pm......No call from Scott......and when I do reach him, he has not heard from The Mimi.
12:30 pm, I leave and head to Doctor's Care, find Mom in the examining room, and I'm able to speak with the doctor and discuss a plan for getting her some relief. A Detrol shot and some meds should do the trick. But because Mom has been there so long, and hasn't had lunch, she experiences low blood sugar, so our stay there is extended a bit more while she downs crackers and water. Once through the Rush's drive through, she's sucking on a chocolate milkshake and feeling better. Got her home, settled......
2:30 pm-ish, I am back at the Retreat! Novella says Kate has been angelic, and that's reassuring. We finish the retreat, head back to the office, and we're waiting to hear from Scott, who has been at the hospital all this time. I can see now why accepting this job is helpful since there is no coursework at the seminary on such visits, such as "Death Vigils: What To Do, How Long to Stay." Truly, hours can mean days........this is tough and tricky and no one wants to leave a family in such a situation.
6 pm, Scott is en route home, and I am thinking Kate and I are not going to Great Falls tonight, because we're all too weary, but because Kate knew she'd be getting babysat by Elizabeth Howe, WAILING ensued at the idea of not going that day, so I quickly decided otherwise. We all eat a quick bite of Moe's -- even the The Mimi -- and gather ourselves to leave. I shower, thank goodness. If we arrive in time, we'll visit a Sunday School party.
7:45 pm, I've dropped off Mom's detrol prescription I previously had forgotten to get, and head to GF as Scott and Kate had already started that way in the little honda.
8:30 pm, Scott and I are en route to the party, and enjoyed this break of fun and laughter. Much needed.
11:30 pm, We're all in bed.

Sunday..........Alexa and Harman and Simran visit us for 11 am worship, girl time playing and lunch at the parsonage. Their visit was so welcome, and the first of our friends to see this new journey in person, and not just from the comfortable confines of my blog.

Okay, well Scott needs his laptop back, so this must abruptly end.
Peace Out!