My family

Many of you have been wondering how my pseudo brother Ben is doing now that he’s back from the Middle East and out of the armed services.  Well, I talked to him yesterday and we had a quick, but great conversation.  The best part of our relationship is that we can talk about the important stuff, laugh together and tease each other, all in a short amount of time.  Plus Ben ended the conversation with the “I love you sis.”  That always gets me.  And chokes me up.  I’m so glad that he is home and safe.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that sometimes the best family that a person has is a family that we create out of important people in our lives, and not necessarily our blood, biological, or the family that raised us.  I’ve been so blessed to have created a new family for myself as I grew up.  It’s a combination of friends, both old and new, family that I’m actually related to by blood, and people from my church.  What I consider to be my family has people from a couple of weeks old to people who are in their eighties and above.  I have white people and people of color in my family.  I have straight, gay and people who are on different places of the sexuality spectrum in my family.  I am called “Aunt,” “Mentor,” “Auntie,” “Friend,” “Cousin,” “God-Daughter,” “Sister” (by more than 3  people , and more other names than I can think of now.

So as I begin this Lenten Season of reflection, I’m thankful for all of you that are part of my family.

What is your calling?

That is the question put forth from the new Bible study that I joined this week.

What is my calling?

I’ll get back to you when I have a clue.

“I believe…”

When I hear those two words two very distinct and VERY different images run through my head.

1) The Apostles Creed, said in my church every Sunday (except when we say one of the other creeds.)  The Apostles Creed basically lays out what we, as Christians, believe in.  So when I hear “I believe,” I think of the things that I believe in my heart as a way for me to live my life.

Here is the version that the ELCA Lutherans use:

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

*or “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use.

2) The second thing that I think of when I hear “I believe” is Larry the Cable Guy and the rest of the Blue Collar Comedy Gang.  Except that you have to say it a little bit different.  Say it “Ah-eye, bl-eve..” and follow it up with something like what Ron White said “[I believe] if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade, and try to find someone who’s life has given them Vodka and have a party.”  (I love that one!!!)  To watch the full “I believe” here it is from youtube.

Okay, but what got me on the “I believe” tangent?  Well, I woke up extra early today (a Saturday) and was watching the Saturday Today Show on NBC, and they did a segment on the fact that in South Carolina, you can now buy a licence plate with a cross on the left side of it, and under the numbers it says “I believe.”  Now I want to share my faith with others, but I want to do it on a personal one-on -one level, not because I can show it off on my car.  (I also don’t have any decals on my car.)  I’m also thinking that I’m a hypocrite, because I had a yellow magnetic ribbon on the trunk of my car that said “Support our troops.”  Because I have family and friends in the military.  I guess I didn’t have any problem wanting to show my public support for the troops, but why don’t I want to show my faith???  To see the plate click here. 

Prayer Shawl

After a horrible day yesterday.  (In addition to having one of my back teeth break in two (I think I swallowed the half that broke off! And of course it’s a holiday weekend so I can’t see a dentist until Tuesday) I cut my left thumb while cutting up a tomato for a sandwich and it still hurts!)  I decided that making it to church had to be a top priority today.  We started on our summer schedule, which is one service at 9am, which I absolutely love.  I can get up for 9am.  8 not so much, and the 10 service goes on and on and I sometimes don’t leave until noon, so this 9am is great.

Unfortunately the father of our Associate Pastor/Minister of Music had a stroke this week and Pastor Pat is with her family (prayers for the Potter family please.)  So we got a treat today.  Our regular Pastor, Pastor Julie played the organ and her husband, also a Pastor, Pastor Hans filled in as the presiding minister.  Pastor Hans delivered a great sermon on God always being there for us and that we don’t need to worry so much.  I almost started to cry a couple of times, especially when he talked about being sick and worrying about getting better.

After the service, Pastor Julie said that she had something for me.  My mom (who also goes to the same church as I do) and I went to Pastor Julie’s office and Pastor Julie gave me this absolutely beautiful handmade knitted shawl.  We have this wonderful ministry at Immanuel.  Many people get together and knit these prayer shawls for people in the church and the community who are going through tough (and also good like marriage) times.  The church has been praying for me and they wanted to give me something tangible to remind me that I am not alone.  I was so overwhelmed that I started to cry and was at a loss for words (which for me is a shocker!)  Pastor Julie said that each shawl ends up having some special meaning between the knitters and the recipient.  When I unfolded the shawl, I immediately noticed the colors, the two outer panels are gray and the middle panel is red.  The colors of my hometown in Wisconsin.  In high school we were the gray hounds and our colors were red and gray.  I said this to Pastor Julie, and she said she was getting goosebumps, and one of the knitters who had joined us, heard this as well and Sandy got goosebumps.  It’s an incredible link.  No one here in Massachusetts could know the importance of red and gray in my life… except God. 

For those of you who have doubts about the existence of God, this could not be a cosmic coincidence.  Or luck of the draw.  It is God and I am so thankful.

Here is a picture of my prayer shawl.

Here is the prayer that came with it.  By Sandy Mann May 2006

“Prayer for Healing

Guided by God’s love for us, this shawl is knit for you.

Healing, strength and peace, to bless upon your spirit true.

Wrap yourself in warmth and love, entwined in every stitch.

Prayers said to God above, please heal, mend and enrich.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, intoned throughout the shawl.

Triune blessings knit within it, best wishes from us all.”

My Birthday

So many thanks to all of you for your kind wishes on my birthday (which was this past Sunday.)  And as a friend of mine Loki says, I’m one year younger than older than dirt.  (Because he is older than dirt and I am a year younger than him.  You do the math.)  Unfortunately because of the pneumonia, I had to stay at my house, but my parents brought in my favorite food: Chinese from the Golden Panda.  I had Veggie Lo Mein and my absolute favorite Chicken and broccoli.  I got some cute cards, one especially from 5 year old Varnai, who wished “her Auntie Karen a happy birthday.”  It was done in red crayon.  Too sweet.  All of your phone calls and e-mails have been so much appreciated, I cannot tell you.  I also got a prayer letter from Immanuel.  That I hung on my fridge.  Again, thanks to all for your lovely sentiments!

Christmas 2007

I had a great Christmas this year.  This was the first Christmas in many, many years that I didn’t sing in the choir for Christmas eve (I also skipped singing at the 11pm service too.)  And guess what?  I actually got to enjoy the service at Immanuel and being there with my family and then seeing all of my friends after the service.  I think that having not to rush around and be at church at certain times and rehearse made life a lot easier.  I thoroughly enjoyed the church service of lessons and carols.  Then I went to my parents house for a traditional Swedish dinner of meatballs, lingonberries (the equivalent to cranberries,) creamed potatoes, carrots, Swedish Bundost (a kind of cheese) and then cookies.  I was so good.  I skipped the cookies (and ended up losing 3 pounds this week yeah!)

On Christmas morning, my parents came over to my house (after we all slept in !!)  And had Swedish pancakes and sausage, opened our presents.  Hey, Santa found my new house even!  One of the sweetest gifts I received was from my Godparents and I’ve know about it since April.  My godparents are in their 80’s and they had formal pictures taken at Easter and there’s a lovely picture of my Godmother Darlene and my Godfather Jim.  My godmother had a 5×8 picture made for me and she found a beautiful frame to put the picture in.  It’s something that I’ll treasure forever.  Especially since the tag read “To Karen, from your loving Godparents.”  That’s definitely what they are, my loving Godparents.

I hope you all have had a Merry Christmas and I wish you all a very wonderful 2008!

My Brother Ben-Day 1

Today my little brother Ben is being deployed to Iraq, and it’s scaring me out of my mind!  I am so proud of him and his Marine unit, but we’re going to miss him so very much.  I’m planning on keeping tabs on how long he’s gone.

For some of you, you’re thinking, hmm KM doesn’t have a younger brother named Ben, she only has a brother Dave, well Ben sort of adopted himself into my family about 7 or 8 years ago.  Dave was away at grad school and my parents needed someone to help with the lawn care and doing projects around the house and Ben was a teenager at my church, and needed a job.  Very quickly Ben began calling my parents ma and dad, which has stuck ever since.  So I sort of got rid of a Dave and gained a Ben.  I think I got a great deal out of it.

So Ben and I began referring to each other as brother and sister, sharing pieces of ourselves with each other as siblings do.  When his daughter Hailey was born my folks and I were at the hospital within hours to greet my new niece (and their first “grand child” )  We’ve had the pleasure of watching Hailey grow, now into a beautiful 6 year old.

So I leave this post with a prayer for Ben:

 A PRAYER FOR THE ARMED FORCES

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace, strengthen them in their trials and temptations, give them courage to face the perils which beset them, and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
  http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/more_prayers.asp?paid=70&faid=68

Days my brother Ben’s been deployed=1

The aftermath

Well, my friend has decided to return to her husband and they both are going to see a different marriage counselor and try individual counseling.  Other than provide emotional support right now, I don’t think there’s anything else I can do.  She has a plan should things turn bad again.  I think all of us are simply exhausted right now.  I know I am.  My support has come from my pastor, who is an incredible pastor and a wonderful human being.  Immanuel is very luck to have her.

I need some sleep, and a chance to ruminate on everything that’s gone on in the past couple of days.

Oh, did I mention that my dad is going in for hernia surgery on Tuesday.  Prayers for him.

Watch how you dress

I had one of those unbelievable coincidences this morning.  On the first Sunday of every month, the choir gets the day off and anyone who wants to sing makes up the “First Sunday Singers” (or FSS.)  I got to church early so that I could sing with the FSS and after we rehearsed before the service, I looked for a place to sit.  I saw my mom sitting under one of the fans (very important because it was in the 90’s and Immanuel is NOT air-conditioned ) and I decided to sit with her.  As soon as I sat down, I started laughing.  We were dressed exactly alike, or as much alike as a grown woman can with her mother.

We were both wearing light yellow striped shirts with cute light blue floral designs and light blue bottoms (me in shorts and mom in a light blue skirt.)  After church EVERYONE came up to us and made smart-alack comments about how cute we both looked.  Mom laughingly explained that what made it even funnier was that I (meaning KMH) is such a type A person that I pick my clothes out the night before and she (meaning mom) just grabs clothes in the morning.  I told everyone that from now on I was going to call her in the morning and make sure we didn’t show up as “twins” again.  Sometimes you just need to laugh at the little things