Good Intentions - January 23-29

Monday, Jan 23

The Disciplines reading this morning is Micah 6:1-6.  This first part of this chapter is one of those Old Testament passages that makes me scratch my head and wonder why. But the reflection essay highlighted the importance of remembering. Remembering can help bring together past, present and future and make a coherent story of life.  An analogy is made to the remembrance of the communion table which brings together past, present and future, transcending time and space.  Remembering who and whose I are, where I come from, how I got here - all critical to knowing myself and knowing where I might go from here.

I had home tuff to do today, including yoga and banking business.  And I got a pedicure with the gift certificate from the Matzeks.  Smooth pink toenails are a treat!

Sunday, January 29

I started the week with such ambition to record my daily scripture and reflection along with events of the day. I even put my notebook at my bedside so it would be handy in the morning when I read Disciplines.  You see where that went!  The notebook lay there, untouched, all week, so I'm remembering this week.  The remembering of the week brings me pleasure and reminds me that life is made of lots of small moments. Maybe looking back over the week isn't such a bad way to journal.

Tuesday's reading continued the Micah passage and included one of my guiding verses, one I keep before me every day, Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy (act kindly) and walk humbly with my God." However, I didn't spend too much time reflecting and none writing. (I need to get going earlier). I had to be out the door at 9:40 on my way to Lenoir City Elementary. Denise and I were back at work cataloguing books, and yakking for 2 hours. We hadn't worked on this project since late October.  We hope we are almost through, needing one or two more sessions after today to finish. I always enjoy seeing old friends at LCES.  We were surprised as we worked by the school board and superintendents staff walking through on a tour (for National School Board Appreciation Week.)  I had hugs and good words with friends from that group, too. When I left the school, I had a short drive across the highway for lunch with another group of friends. Susan R, Bonnie L and Mary M.  I see Susan and Bonnie regularly but I hadn't seen Mary for months.  She seemed glad that I had reached out to her and we had a great visit, catching up on lots of news.  Her, unfortunately, isn't all good.  Her husband is undergoing infusion treatments for cancer and so she has been staying very close to home. 

Wednesday was date day with Bill.  We went to lunch at The Cafe in Loudon.  Our lunches, soup & sandwich for Bill and soup & salad for me, were good, but a little pricey for what we got. After lunch, I visited Jim A at River Grove and Bill went to the courthouse to pay the taxes. At home I spent another afternoon working on Good Samaritan projects. I am working on writing the United Way grant for "Pack the Pantry," AND on putting together an analysis and report of the two Needs Assessment surveys we did in the fall, 60 Volunteer responses and 94 client responses. The challenge is to present the data in an easy to understand format which will inform our task of updating the GSC Strategic Plan.

Thursday was another busy day with Yoga at 10:15 at church. Kathy went with me again.  The class is fun and a good body stretch. Lunch after was at Shoney's, haven't been there in an age. We were home early and I had most of the afternoon to work on my GSC projects.  Today I changed the presentation format.  I'll have options of which to present to the executive committee in a couple of weeks.

The BIG EXCITEMENT of the day was going to the Lady Vol vs. UConn women's basketball game at Thompson-Boling arena, thanks to Bonnie and Jeff Locket.  I was at Bonnie's house at 4:30.  We picked up two of her friends along the way, Ronnie and Roscoe. We went to Bonnie and Ronnie's favorite pre-game sports bar near campus, Fieldhouse Social, which is an experience in itself for those of us who don't get out much.  The burgers were great.  ESPN Game Day was being broadcast from the arena, and when we got to our seats (row 4!) they were set up right in front of us. The large crowd was loud and fired up for the rivalry match.  The game was intense, and would have been great except that we were outplayed and scored fewer points than UConn.  After all, they are ranked #4 nationally and we aren't ranked, so we were definitely the underdog.  The most impressive aspect of watching the game live and up close was seeing the physicality of the women. They played hard all 40 minutes, neither team giving an inch to the opponent. I didn't get home until midnight - what a night!

Bonnie, Roscoe & Ronnie at Fieldhouse Social

ESPN Game Day - Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, ?, Andrea Carter

My Friday calendar was empty except for picking up eggs.  A couple of weeks ago I made a new connection for fresh eggs, courtesy of Jenny G.  Bill and I drove to their homestead just off Highway 70 in Roane County, about 17 minutes. Their place was beyond the paved county road, up a steep gravel driveway to a beautiful new house at the top of the hill.  Two dozen fresh eggs @$6/doz were waiting.  We enjoyed the drive along Paw Paw Plains Rd, remembering old friends from many years back.  The day was clear and bright, but too windy and cool to enjoy being outside, so I continued working on my GSC projects.  For Friday supper, we had leftover air-fryer fried chicken, peas and broccoli for supper with a special treat of fried eggplant.

Saturday was another sunny day, but warmer and not so windy. After a hearty breakfast, I finished my Sunday School lesson and emailed it out to the class members.  Housework finished the morning. I wanted to work in the yard in the afternoon. Taking advantage of the balmy weather, we got the front door beds cleaned off and shrubs trimmed.  Then I tackled the front bed of the house with the weed-eater while Bill cleaned gutter and used the blower to clear the back roof of accumulated debris (ladders, oh no!).  After resting a while on the sunny deck, Bill cut down some privet hedge below the pool site. I cleaned up flower pots.  Beer and wine on the deck completed the afternoon.  BiBimBap was on the menu tonight. WOW! very good.

And that brings me up to today, Sunday, where I started.  Today's SS lesson was on the Beatitudes, a favorite topic of mine.  I recalled some of my 2017 sermon, Blessings.  Pastor Linda spoke on the Micah text.  She emphasized that we are supposed to be concerned about social justice.  Today's weather is as unpleasant as yesterday's was pleasant.  Football and journalling all afternoon.  Maybe I'll do better keeping up next week.