Grace

Tonight we had a cool meeting, although it made me homesick.  We have 50 publishers here from Miami working unassigned territory for four days and they put on our school tonight.  It was so nice to have four new sisters in the school!  We had a bald brother do the Bible reading, and he read the way I read, so I loved it.  The first talk by sisters was so wonderful, spontaneous applause burst out afterwards.  And the brother who conducted the school (also tall and bald, oh my, I had a lovely meeting because they weren't the only two) said that the school started in 1942 at Bethel, then in 1943 in congregations, but the school did not get beautiful till 1959 when it was opened for sisters.

Bald and some kind of wonderful.  Whew.  And that is how it is in the south, in Oklahoma and Arkansas, a hall so full you are hard put for a seat if you come late, and the singing fills the space, and there is black and white and accents too.  I don't know where the brother was from with the highlights, but my guess is Cameroon.  And they were all so nice, coming up an introducing themselves and asking our names.  I was ready to go back to Miami next Tuesday. 

Except on Tuesday, Lana is getting her tonsils out for sure.  Last time she caught a cold and they postponed her operation.  Me and a tech-savvy brother here have combined forces to present her with a video library of Disney hits to keep her occupied for her recovery.  I can't wait to give it to her Sunday at the meeting.  Do you think she will wait till after the surgery to watch some of them?  Probably not.  Anyway, I bought Lana some pretty cool glittery shoes at Target about two weeks ago, that's right, on clearance, and tonight when I got in my car after meeting, the girls had turned off the dome light so that when you open the door the car remains dark.  So Lana and her lovely mother left me a present, only I didn't know who left it, and I sat on it.  Happily, my big behind didn't do any damage except to the package - it's a gorgeous Lilly and Lavender reed diffuser air freshener.  It's got two white lillies on it too, and I just redid my room for that spa look, all white and pale blue and green, and it's perfect.

Even if it was yellow with purple polka dots and smelled like roses I would be happy.  But it is so the right thing from the right persons.  That's nice when it all comes together.

Last night, after blogging, I started crying.  I kissed the girls goodnight, so very busy trying to meet all their needs and be understanding that I hurt one's feelings over the daddy DNA remark.  And afterwards I was trying to fall asleep and thinking I wish someone was trying to meet my needs.  I know, Jehovah does, and I'm grateful, but you know, a human being would be nice.  I don't expect my daughters to do it.  I am not asking for a husband.  But my mother cares nothing for me either.  It's like wow, who's got my back?

So tonight after the lovely meeting I drove through the Rambler, an ice cream place in Windber, and got a baby orange-pineapple in a waffle cone and Kim got a brownie blurry and Carly got the orange-pineapple in a cup.  They change flavors every week although chocolate and vanilla are always on the menu.  A baby sized scoop is all I can handle.  A large will feed a family of four.  I am waiting for the week that they have mango again, but the orange/pineapple was pretty awesome.

I am working on grace this week.  It was kindness last week, and maybe after last night with Carly, I should have kept working on that one a little longer.  Grace is a certain brand of kindliness, and I mean it from the point of view of honorable, with a degree of calm and graciousness.  Appealingly charming.  I don't know how likeable I am and I want to set a good example now that I'm approaching the part of that scripture about the older sisters calling the younger ones to their senses from the other side.  I've been the callee.  I'm approaching the age when I need to qualify for caller.

Speaking of age, Abel will be another year older tomorrow.  It always bothered me to be two years older, and I know that is just a stupid cultural hangup especially in view of the prospect of eternity, but for two months and one day each year I'm three years older.  Ouch!  I was waiting for the attention of the brother helping me burn dvds tonight when Abel swung around and began talking to me.  I nearly called him Abel instead of his real A name.  It didn't hurt.  Is it possible he can tell I'm no longer all tangled up and he talks to me again?  I don't know.  Who can tell with men?  I have a train of thought about how Jehovah views women, but it's a long one and I will save it for another blog.  I have to get going tomorrow on food for a Miami get together on Saturday.  If I don't bring something, they might actually try to fill these wonderful bald brothers up on gobs and pieroigies. 

Every night I think up something to thank Jehovah for.  All kinds of things.  The moon.  Jell-O.  Music.  Grass. Chihuahuas.  Daughters.  The color green.  A certain article in a publication.  Becky in Saipan.  Ruth in Arkansas.  Sherry and Tom in Oklahoma.  Freckles.  Pico de Gallo.  Pianos.  Skunks.  The list could go on all night.  Some nights I already know what it will be, and sometimes I have to think of something I am glad to have.

Tonight, there are so many things, and I was trying to pick just one.  Then I decided why limit myself?  Come taste and see that Jehovah is good!  Tonight I am thankful for Miami, for baldness, for the scent of lavender and lillies, for orange/pineapple ice cream, for daughters, for Abel, for Sister Scully and Mister Scully who came visiting from EH, for Lana and her tonsils that only have a few more days left to live, and for you, for reading this blog.  I pray for grace and for blessings for you.