ANNUAL VISIT TO INDIANA....

...to stay with my sister, Jacq. To relax. To laugh, reminisce, cry if needs be. Sisters are something pretty special. At least mine is. She just accepts me. The whole me. Whatever size or shape or attitude or weird phase I happen to currently espouse. She just loves me. It is the most wonderful gift of the whole world.

SOooo, I have pretty much wrapped up my current responsibilities at church. Today we hosted an Open House so that we might come face to face with others that share our space. We have a Haitian Baptist group that has been worshiping at our church for over twenty years, The Temple of Deliverance who has been worshiping at our church for three years. We worship at different times and this was an opportunity to get to talk with one another and share some of our story. As Episcopalians we are blessed to be able to share our space with such diverse worshipers. There are also three AA groups, a Mental Health Support group, Literacy Volunteers, and other community groups.

Our church is also in the process of assisting one of the local Methodist churches in their annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. This is their tenth year and as with many congregations their numbers have dwindled over the years and so we decided to be a part of that with them. It is coming to the place where many churches cannot do alone what they did in the past. And how simple to join forces. I hope that we can do more of this community work.

Packing, of course. I sent a box of clothes ahead as I will be in IN for two weeks. And getting the house ready for Thanksgiving. I return the day before the PA family comes up for the holiday. The dining room table and chairs are arranged and the table linens and decorations placed. I even had the inspiration to make and freeze a scrumptious Sunday Italian Gravy for our Friday or Saturday meal. It is going to be great fun and I am going to be refreshed and renewed from my visit.

Two more days. I am so excited. Our Vestry meeting is Monday evening and I fly out on Tuesday. I am the Parish Clerk and as part of the Vestry I really want to be at every possible meeting. We are at a critical stage. The make or break stage. The, when are we going to have to close the doors stage, so I want very much to be part of the decision making.

Two more days.