Eclectic Waters

We decided that this is the world’s solution to tears. Forget about crying, complaining or whining. If you’re having a bad day, if your boyfriend is cheating on you. Don’t cry about it, don’t call your best friend! Instead find a comfortable spot in your living room, kick up your feet, and pull out your laptop. For additional comfort add chocolate.

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I won’t be here on Saturday to drive with Kathy and her family to the airport to watch her disappear as she walks past customs to claim her x-rayed luggage. I will be in the mountains on a small group leaders retreat with church. Being in nature will do me good, but I’m sad to miss the “official” leaving of Kathy. Instead I’ll be saying goodbye to her tomorrow afternoon when she drops me off at the church at 4pm.

I told her I would cry, and then changed my mind. “Actually, I probably won’t cry. I’ll cry later.”

“Don’t cry.”

Pause.

“Okay.”

We walk past New York and company.

“We should make a bumper sticker: Don’t cry. Blog!”

If bumper stickers are meant to capture a slice of truth - this one does. Just see how many people are creating new blogs each day.

Tonight I held a newborn baby. He is three days old. I drove over to Carey’s and sat holding Manuel as she puttered, ran an errand to the store and fed her other two youngsters.

It never ceases to amaze me how small newborns are. His hand hidden in mine. His head fit in my hand as his body stretched along my forearm. It was fun to sit in on her family life and catch up with each other.

In a week of loss, this was a welcome bright spot.

New life.

My brother loves Weird Al. I’m not a fan.

But the other day I found this spoof, not by Weird Al, on the new Hey there Delilah song and since it continues to make me laugh, I thought I’d share it.

Click here “Hey there Khalilah”

And my other favorites by GoRemy

McDonald’s: The Rap

Turbo Tax: The Rap

I am currently delightfully short on cash but don’t really care - my bills are covered - even if I only have about $20 in the bank. I bought Kathy’s car and am looking forward to being able to drive to the park to run, or to take off for excursions and errands without needing to find someone to drive me.

But this week my heart is aching because Kathy will be leaving. In this short time we’ve become bosom friends, as Anne with an e would say, and she is leaving a big hole in my life and heart. But our friendship will remain - Christians never say goodbye - and I look forward to the new shape our friendship will take.

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Kathy leaving reminds me of the many goodbyes I’ve said over the years. Usually I am the one leaving - heading towards adventure and newness. Now I am the one staying - left with pieces of fabric where the patchwork of her life used to fit. I think I like leaving more -

Kathy and I are both having to trust God to lead us into this new season… although she is facing more unknowns than I am.

The adventure continues.

Kathy walked to the front her church. She will be the first full time missionary they are sending. After explaining her mission organization, the country she will be working in and the story of God leading her to Africa, the pastor came forward. He invited the elders and deacons to the front of the church to pray over Kathy.

A sea of bodies surrounded her, symbolizing their committment and dedication to supporting her - to being her wall of protection as they pray for her.

Afterwards the pastor held her hands and he and an elderly gentleman sang a song of blessing over her. I held back my tears.