I’m so glad to see you here this morning! I don’t think that email notifications for blog posts are working right now so if you didn’t get your normal notification, that’s why. As I mentioned in Friday’s post, I am having a variety of wonky blog issues lately. (If you DID get a notification, please let me know in comments.)
Yesterday was our first service back together in eleven weeks so that was a really big day–a big day that, unfortunately, Steve and I both missed. (Long story, but I ended up having to take him to Urgent Care yesterday morning. He is home and fine but it was a crazy morning.)
Since everything happened rather suddenly, I was suddenly juggling caring for him while reorganizing the service, lining up our youth pastor to preach (with 2 hours notice) bringing in another guitar player (our regular player was out of town), and deploying Sarah to rush over to the church early to get all new music/screen lyrics re-organized since the substitute guitar player didn’t know the songs we had planned to sing. Of course, the band was missing a keyboard/vocal (me) and a bass player (Steve) but they pulled it all together beautifully.
As a special side note: the guitar player we pulled in is a teenager Steve has been giving free lessons to for three months. Yes, three months. She has taken to the guitar in an amazing way and was completely up to the task of standing up in front of a congregation with very little notice and playing an entire worship set. (Go, Hope!) It was just gratifying to think that because Steve had taken the time to mentor a young person, she was ready to step in and play when he couldn’t.
On the way to Urgent Care, I got a call from Sarah saying the computer was messing up and the screens weren’t working. Just the kind of thing you want to hear on a morning like that!
She eventually got the problem mainly fixed with a few other issues remaining that be I’ll troubleshooting this week. It was also our first Sunday to live stream so she was working with the sound guy on that, plus running into the adult Sunday school room to start the video camera in there so that those who weren’t yet comfortable being in church would be able to join online.
I was so thankful for her and so proud of her. As she and I were eating lunch, she was telling me all the stories and happenings from the morning. We were both struck by the fact that three key players on the team that morning were all under thirty: a 27-year old speaker, a 25-year old media tech, and a 15-year old guitar player. So gratifying to see the next generation finding its place.
last week Steve and I were invited to the 89th birthday party of one of our members. Roger has been attending the church for forever. He lives with his sister (close in age) in the house that their family has owned for decades. (He never married; she is a widow.)
It was a lovely evening for a party and one of our first social get-togethers since the quarantine started. You don’t realize how much you miss occasions like that until they are gone.
Roger held court on the porch while his friends gathered around in the yard.
I loved how the sun shone right down on his sign.
Everything went fine and dandy until my husband got into an altercation with Miss Pat.
Things got a little intense there for a while but they managed to work it out.
Steve and Miss Pat have teased each other ever since we arrived almost eleven years ago; Roger loves to participate in their ruckuses whenever he is close by. In fact, he has prided himself over the years on coming up with a little insult for Steve every Sunday, always delivered with a mischievous and delighted grin.
As thankful as I am for the younger ones that I just wrote about, I am extra thankful for these elderly folks who are living the latter years of their lives with humor and joy and courage in the midst of difficult physical challenges. (Roger has just been taken to the hospital with kidney issues and congestive heart failure.)
We need people from all the generations–each generation appreciating and learning from the other.
Steve and I are not quite at the elderly stage but when we get there, we will have had the examples of so many who have gone before and lived long and lived well.
Of course one, of our favorite long-livers is a certain Ken Smith.
We had a video chat with him the other day.
Like Pat and Roger, his sense of humor is still intact, even though his world has shrunk from flying fighter jets at the speed of sound to living in the confines of four walls and a weary body. But his smile and his spirit haven’t faltered.
We talked with him about ten minutes before he started to get tired. As we got ready to sign off, Steve prayed a beautiful prayer over him, one generation blessing another.
I’m so thankful for all the generations, on all sides of us. And I’m thankful for son/dad prayers, for laughter, for sun-splashed southern evenings surrounded by stalwart friends who have already walked the miles ahead of us on this difficult, precious, bumpy, and blessed road called life.
What about you? Have you been able to get together yet for any social gatherings?
What do you appreciate the most about the generation ahead of you? OR the generation behind you?
I had a comment written and poof! Off it went to outer space.
I’ll try again…
I’m hoping that Steve is on the mend and will be better! So sorry you had to miss the service, but this Sunday will be great for you.
And that party looks like a lot of fun. Steve and Mrs. Pat look like they have a special relationship.
Continuing to pray for the Smith’s.
Have a great weekend!
Krista,
Well, I think your comment unpoofed itself! 🙂
Yes, we are definitely looking forward to Sunday. It’s been way too long since we’ve been together with our congregation.
And you’re right. Steve and Mrs. Pat have way too much fun together!
I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t able to make it to church. I pray that Steve is better.
I guess I’m glad that I don’t have a world renown blog, because tech is not my thing. I sure hope that everything is back to normal soon!
Steve and Mrs. Pat have a special relationship, I suspect!
Praying for all the Smiths!!
Krista,
Replied above.:-)
I received a “test” notification 3 minutes after your email about notifications not working, so hopefully all is well now. How wonderful to see Steve and Sarah enjoying a video chat with Ken! However, I’m exhausted reading about what a hectic Sunday morning you experienced. I’m so glad Sarah and company were able to pull everything together and so neat that Steve’s teaching Hope guitar blessed the whole congregation. How neat to gather to celebrate Roger and that he was able to enjoy it (and your picture of the sunbeams hitting his sign was spectacular!). Prayers that Steve is doing okay after his trip to urgent care. Sending love and hugs to all your family.
Sue Ellen,
Yes, I am hoping that the “test” notification going through was a very large step in the right direction. I’ve spent 12-15 hours on blog tech stuff last week and so I am extra excited about every small accomplishment!
Thanks for taking the time to comment on so many parts of the post. I appreciate you!
I apparently am so used to getting your notifications that it didn’t even dawn on me that I hadn’t gotten them the last couple weeks.
I was born pretty much in the middle of the Baby Boom years. So guess the generation before me was the Silent Generation. That included both my parents. A lot of that generation lived through The Great Depression. Many fought in WWII and the Korean War.
Roger must have been born around the same time as my mom as she turned 89 Saturday.
No real social gatherings. We did have a couple men in our neighborhood play some music Sunday night but I was in isolation in prep for my surgery tomorrow.
Phyllis,
Hmmm. I’d never heard that generation called the Silent Generation before. Very evocative and poignant. Those folks went through some really, REALLY tough times.
May you feel God’s peace tomorrow during your surgery.
I had tears pop into my eyes when you posted about Steve and you all talking to his dad and praying before you went off the phone. But, loved seeing the birthday party too. I was to a graduation party 2 weeks ago for just a short congratulatory visit. It was for 2 young men that were both in my daycare 18 years ago as infants. Love going to those celebrations. Our church is going to open this Sunday now, but I am not sure about going yet…Just a wee bit nervous with my daycare that I need to keep healthy for and I am high risk with my mechanical valve, which my RN best friend so kindly said to me, that if I got Covid I would be toast…Thanks I told her, I love ya too…hahaha! So glad you’re back here, I did re-sign up for the notifications, now I’ll probably get doubles. 🙂 Wendy
Wendy,
If you get doubles let me know and I can probably delete one.
How amazing to get to see two young men graduate who were in your daycare! What a satisfying job you have to be planted in a place where you get to see babies turn into young adults.
I don’t blame you for being extra cautious right now. Blessings to you.
I did get your TEST post, but, of course, nothing came up. Will have to go back and see if their is more about Steve and why you had to take him to see the doctor. Thankfully Sara was up to the task and was able to get things together for Sunday a.m. Our church will be gathering (thankfully) on June 21st. ince it is such a large church, there will continue to be 2 classic services, but this time 8:30 and at 10:30 – for time so folks can get out and not crowd each other. Contemporary service at 11:30 and there is also one one Sat. night. Folks have to reserve a spot so it doesn’t get too crowded. So glad we will be together – apart!
Sharyn,
No worries–the test post just had the word “test” in it to see if a notification email would go out. And it did. Hooray!
I’m glad you have in-person services to look forward to soon. You really appreciate each other all the more when you haven’t had a chance to worship together in so many weeks.
I am just beginning to feel better. Take care.
Ann,
I just saw your picture on FB. That bruise has stayed around a LONG time! I know you are ready to feel back to your old self again. Sometimes, extra healing just takes a little extra time. Hugs.
Good post!
Steve,
Always glad for a chance to get to write about you!
(Still no notifications)
We haven’t really had any social gatherings yet. We continue to get together with our friends to go golfing but we keep our distance.
We have also been able to go spend some time with our kids and their families. Much needed!!
It’s great to see people overcome the isolation and to gather and celebrate their friend!
I admire the older generation for the lives that they have lived and the hardships that so many had to endure. I also admire the younger generation for the tenacity they must possess to get by in today’s world. Things move SO quickly and living expenses are astounding especially where children are involved.
Lee Anne,
Thanks for letting me know about the notifications. I THINK they might be fixed as of today but we shall see!
That’s the nice thing about golfing; it is pretty easy to stay distanced and yet still enjoy each others’ company and the outdoors. What a great hobby!
I love your attitude about finding things to admire about the generations around you. Every generation leaves a gift.
The pictures of Dad and Mrs. Pat having a tussle made me laugh! They’re so funny together.
Sarah,
Yeah, I love to see them together. They’re quite the pair.