For the one or two people who still check this blog now and again, I wanted to let you know that I haven't stopped blogging. Things got a bit crazy for awhile, and to be honest, in the midst of it all, I sort of forgot to blog. It just popped into my mind one day, and I realized that it had been a few months since I'd written something. Oops. My bad.
It all started in mid-December when we were sorting food for our Christmas food baskets that would be distributed to families around Aumsville. We had partnered with the local elementary school and our church had responded generously--not only donating food and money for local residents in need of food during the holiday season, but also donating 118 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I was like a proud momma. I was also blown away by individuals who were willingness to give, even when they might be struggling themselves. Our Mt. View family continues to amaze me time and again.
But we were sorting food, and it was raining, like normal. We can get some pretty windy storms through here, but this one was different. It started hailing pretty heavily, and the wind was almost shaking the building. Teresa, our Administrative Assistant and I ran to a window to check out the storm, and the tree across the street was almost blowing sideways! I even said, "Wow! That's like hurricane winds!" Little did I know. We shrugged and went back to sorting our food.
About 10 minutes later another lady who was helping got a phone call from a family member saying a tornado had gone through Aumsville. We were shocked! We hopped in our car and drove the 4 blocks to where it had gone through, and sure enough, one building was gone, roofs were missing, houses were moved off their foundation, and trees were snapped off and toppled. In an incredible stroke of good fortune, it had taken out one building and within a matter of feet, had hopped over the water tower, city hall, and the fire station. The response was amazing, and our church became a red cross coordination center for a week or so. This led us right up to the week before Christmas Eve.
It all started in mid-December when we were sorting food for our Christmas food baskets that would be distributed to families around Aumsville. We had partnered with the local elementary school and our church had responded generously--not only donating food and money for local residents in need of food during the holiday season, but also donating 118 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I was like a proud momma. I was also blown away by individuals who were willingness to give, even when they might be struggling themselves. Our Mt. View family continues to amaze me time and again.
But we were sorting food, and it was raining, like normal. We can get some pretty windy storms through here, but this one was different. It started hailing pretty heavily, and the wind was almost shaking the building. Teresa, our Administrative Assistant and I ran to a window to check out the storm, and the tree across the street was almost blowing sideways! I even said, "Wow! That's like hurricane winds!" Little did I know. We shrugged and went back to sorting our food.
About 10 minutes later another lady who was helping got a phone call from a family member saying a tornado had gone through Aumsville. We were shocked! We hopped in our car and drove the 4 blocks to where it had gone through, and sure enough, one building was gone, roofs were missing, houses were moved off their foundation, and trees were snapped off and toppled. In an incredible stroke of good fortune, it had taken out one building and within a matter of feet, had hopped over the water tower, city hall, and the fire station. The response was amazing, and our church became a red cross coordination center for a week or so. This led us right up to the week before Christmas Eve.
*tornado pictures from kgw.comChristmas Eve was a great time of worship, but it takes time and effort to put together another service, especially two days before regular, weekly worship. And to top it off, Mark was sick. He woke up Christmas morning, having preached two services the night before, with absolutely no voice. He spent the day writing me notes, and I had to call up our youth pastor on Christmas Day to let him know he was probably going to have to preach the next morning. I am thankful he responded with a great attitude, and we worked it all out. Mark was so sick he actually missed church, which takes a lot.
And then the traveling began.
I went to Wisconsin the week after Christmas to see my family. I got to see my sister, which makes twice in one year and was definitely a gift. We had a great time together, and it went by too fast. I had to get back to Oregon so that Mark and I could head out to The Gathering, a Wesleyan pastor's conference that happens every four years. We got to see so many people, which was the frosting on the cake, since all the sessions and breakouts were really good as well.
And then the traveling began.
I went to Wisconsin the week after Christmas to see my family. I got to see my sister, which makes twice in one year and was definitely a gift. We had a great time together, and it went by too fast. I had to get back to Oregon so that Mark and I could head out to The Gathering, a Wesleyan pastor's conference that happens every four years. We got to see so many people, which was the frosting on the cake, since all the sessions and breakouts were really good as well.
Wisconsin snow...NOW it feels like winter!
Paul Baloche leading worship at The GatheringI returned, and after a month of craziness, it took a few days to get back in the groove of things. It wasn't long, though, before I had my ordination interview (yes, pending I pass my current class, I will be getting ordained this summer!), and school started again. And it was several weeks into my semester that it dawned on me that I hadn't blogged a single word of anything that had happened since November.
So, I have not given up on blogging. I am still here...just busy! I hope I will not fall into silent mode again, but I guess I won't make any promises. I'd hate to make a promise and not keep it. But I will do my best to show up here now and again, and if by chance it takes three months again, just know I am probably just sitting in front of my computer and writing assignments on preaching and I'll be back soon.
So, I have not given up on blogging. I am still here...just busy! I hope I will not fall into silent mode again, but I guess I won't make any promises. I'd hate to make a promise and not keep it. But I will do my best to show up here now and again, and if by chance it takes three months again, just know I am probably just sitting in front of my computer and writing assignments on preaching and I'll be back soon.
