Pre-Inauguration Day

Two columns I have found interesting the last two days in light of tomorrow's transition of power.

http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=20486

http://seanandmandychapman.blogspot.com/2009/01/some-great-thoughts-in-my-opinion.html

Will the real MLK please stand up

Today is MLK day. I think it's great that the entire nation has set aside a day to honor my mother. To celebrate MLK there is no mail, government offices are closed, banks are closed, many schools (except those in west Michigan) are closed, etc.

It just seems they would have scheduled MLK Day closer to her birthday!

Here's to you, Mom, the real MLK.

Sunday

I'm sick. I didn't sleep well last night--started in the recliner, went to bed, went back to the recliner and ended up back in bed. Since I was scheduled to play the keyboard this morning, I went to church even though I really didn't feel like it or want to.

The sermon title was Marital Strife based on Esther 1. Todd put the blame on King Xerxes for alcohol abuse, anger, and abdication. Xerxes abdicated his responsibility for the problems by pawning off on the wise men what to do and making a law that wives had to honor their husbands. He of course went to Ephesians 5, but for one of the first times I can remember the emphasis was on husbands love your wives as Christ love the church and not on wives be submissive. As a single woman, I appreciated that.

However that wasn't the best part of the service that needed to be posted.

The two pastors' wives sang In Christ Alone as a duet. It was worth making the effort to be there.

"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001
Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Saturday

Despite my sinuses really hurting and my general not feeling well, I ventured out to my friends' to do some computer work--the price I pay for not paying for internet at home. Today was their church's annual fundraiser for an annual mission trip to an orphanage in Colima, Mexico. Each year they have a cook-off with a different food theme--there's been chili, soup, appetizers, anything, and this year side dishes for a pig roast.

At the table tonight one of the entrants said he has told the organizer that he won't accept the prize "if" he wins. Now he's safe to leave and think he probably won, but the prize just went to someone else.

Soup's On

This week was a first. I've followed a recipe to make soup, but over the weekend I saw a recipe for hamburger soup, but I had chicken to use. That recipe said add tomato juice, but I wasn't sure about that with chicken so I added chicken broth instead. The recipe called for celery which I didn't have so I put in celery salt. Then I put in the carrots, potatoes, and onion the recipe called for. The carrots were in the freezer from this summer's garden. I saw some garden green beans in the freezer too so I threw them in. Then I through in some rice. While in the pantry I saw a can of northern beans so I threw that in as well. The beans and carrots certainly add color, and the soup itself is pretty good.

I am impressed with myself.

Drainage

It’s that time of year again—time for the neti pot. It’s not a fun way to begin and end the day, but if it helps ward off this sinus issue that has started I can do it.

Red Jacket Party

Last night was my big Red Jacket celebration at the MK meeting. Becky did a great job of making a big to do of it all and more than sufficiently honored me. I said she set the bar pretty high for celebrating red jackets and that was her intent. Renae went as my guest, Shelly came as well. Nancy Hanna showed up about half way through as she thought the celebration was going to be near the end instead of at the beginning when it was. At least she was there for cake.

My recruits and other team members gave me "red" gifts. Shelly gave me a red basket with heart candies, Becky gave me a red candies, a red backpack clip in the shape of car in case I want to work for the next level, red batteries, a red key chain with a panic button (she said it would call her for those times when MK life is overwelming), and some other things, Kelli gave me rich hot chocolate in a red tin with a wish that I get rich with MK, Lydia gave me candles to light up my life with MK, and Katelyn gave me red hots because I'm red hot with MK. Julie gave me a red rose--red for the jacket, green leaves for the money you can make in MK, thorns because the road won't always be easy, and a rose scent for the sweet smell of success.


Becky and me

Me with the cake:


Renae with me.

With my recruits: Shelly, me, Lydia, Katelyn

Me with some of the decorations: