Friday, September 28, 2007

looking for something to do?

Tomorrow's supposed to be a beautiful day, and if you're looking for something to do here's a suggestion. You could come check out the Mouns Jones Festival (in the Pottstown area). It's a very small historical village in Berks County and they will be holding a 'country fair' including demonstrations from such artisans as a tinsmith, chairmaker, a lady dicussing various herbs and other interesting things. And of course, as with any good festival, there will be food aplenty for sale. Also, the highlight for me (and the reason I know about this whole thing) is that my daughter will be involved in 3 performances of colonial dances. Tickets to get into the fair are $2 for adults (kids are free); to see the colonial dance performance, which includes a dessert served in the Historic White Horse Inn, tickets are sold on a first-come first-serve basis (and seating VERY limited)for $7.50. The fair is from 10-4, with the dessert/dance demonstrations at 12, 1:15 and 2:30 pm.

If you can't make it, watch for the pictures I'm sure I'll be posting!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

so bogus!!







confession #2

Confession #2... I have bad motives. Well, not even bad motives always, but definitely wrong motives. Bad connotates 'evil', and while occasionally my motives are selfish, (which would be sinful), sometimes they are 'good' motives, but not right motives. Have I thoroughly confused you yet? Let me explain.

Over the past few days I've been trying to get gut-level honest with myself in my motivation for many of my prayers that I feel have been unanswered. One example of this would be my prayer about our insurance situation. Our situation is this...we have none, and haven't for the past almost 2 years since Todd stopped working full time at H2O. We've been praying that God would provide some way for us to have insurance. In and of itself that is not bad, but here's where my motive is wrong. Why does this lack of insurance stress us out so much? Fear. My prayers for insurance are driven by fear. Fear that something will happen and we will not be able to pay the necessary medical expenses. Isn't it strange how I can ask God, and believe for, him to provide INSURANCE, but I don't have the same kind of faith for health, safety or provision?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying insurance is bad, or that I wouldn't take it if I had the opportunity. But maybe God will not let me have that luxury until I'm settled within that HE is my source, no matter what. (I'm also realizing that we, especially in America, really don't have a good concept of the difference between something that is a need or simply an added blessing in our lives; but that's another topic altogether). I'm also not saying we should purposely live in unwise ways or recklessly. I know all the conventional wisdom for situations like these. However, at the same time, I think there are certain things specific to Todd & I, and the way God is working in our lives, that he is using because he has a much bigger goal in mind than our temporal comfort. It's not that I don't think God wants us to live happy, comfortable lives...I just think he is less concerned about that and more concerned about our relationship with him. He wants a deep, trusting love relationship; not a shallow, good-as-long-as-I-get-blessed relationship. Huge difference. I've too often lived in the latter...and he's kicking me out and saying "time to move on"!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

confession #1

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange was happening to you. ~ I Peter 4:12

Whaaaa....????

OK, confession number one...I have an attitude of thinking things in my life - especially because I'm a christian - should be good, happy and blessed!! And when things DON'T go that way, I tend to get cranky. Oh, sure, I can usually put on a good face for a while, and talk about 'enduring', but COME ON! What am I really 'enduring'? What God's been revealing to me is that much of what I feel I'm 'enduring' is really little more than annoying and frustrating matters that really are of zero eternal value. This is actually a hard thing for me to acknowledge, accept and admit. There are certain things (like our own church building to be able to start walking out our unique vision for Koinonia House, as well as an office for my dear husband where he can pray/study/work in quiet) that I have prayed and prayed for. (Well, to be completely honest, I've prayed, then slacked off, because it feels like God's just not answering.) And not that I'm saying the vision of Koinonia doesn't have eternal value...I know it does, but I need to stop putting so much stock in the methods and allow God the freedom to do it however he wants...my ideas MIGHT actually not be his!! Imagine that!!

However, I'm beginning to step back and look at the big picture on a lot of things. First of all, maybe we haven't been faithful enough with the small stuff we've been given, so God is actually saying, "no, not yet" to the bigger things. Maybe I've been so consumed with 'vision' that I've owned it, taken it right out of God's hands and tried to run with it myself. Haven't really checked back in with him - in the getting quiet for an extended period of time and LISTENING kind of way - to see what HE says the next step should be, instead of trying to figure things out myself. And I'm actually feeling good about these revelations...I'm not beating myself up or anything...I think God is taking me to a place of re-examining his promises and realizing they are usually an "if, then" kind of deal, and I've wanted to skip over the "if" and expect him to hand me the "then". He's teaching me things...I'm growing through the not getting my prayers answered immediately. Oh, I'm learning so much, I feel like it's hard to sort through it all and express it in words. I am, maybe for the first time, finding true JOY in looking at my frustrating, unchanged circumstances and being amazed at the wealth of things I have the opportunity to learn! (Kinda weird, I know. ) Oh, and in case this sounds 'high and lofty' I'll just add that there is most definitely a difference between joy and happiness. My JOY is rooted in seeing that God IS still at work and he hasn't abandoned me. I'm exploring things questions like "What if this is what God has called me to, and it NEVER changes? What will my response be? Is my RELATIONSHIP with him enough, that I can be satisfied if none of my other prayers are ever answered in the way I desire?" Those are some tough things. But I'm coming to the conclusion that if I cannot answer these with "Yes, Jesus - YOU are enough" - what value is my faith, really? Do I actually BELIEVE the things we say, teach and CLAIM to believe? There are many, many scriptures that I don't particularly want to be hanging on the fridge to claim for my life - but aren't those just as much a part of the Christian life as the 'good' ones?

Hmmmm...maybe in some future posts I'll share some of these verses that I am thinking of, and what God is saying to my heart about them.

I need to get saved

I have been reading an excellent book on prayer...specifically unanswered prayer. The book itself has had a profound impact on me, and joins the list of my absolute favorite books, such as Captivating and a few (very few) others that have left a permanent mark on my thinking.

God is using this to show me many, many things about myself - the true reality of what's inside me and how I live. I have gotten so frustrated with different situations in my life that I've been ready to give up, walk away (from the situations), feeling like God isn't listening and has no interest in helping me. In actuality, God has been leveling some pretty heavy-duty revelations my way. Much of what seems like unanswered prayer or maddening silence is really an in-depth work in process, and also, some answers are being revealed that are not exactly what I would hope they would be. As I process all of these things, and as Todd and I were talking them out the other day, we came to this conclusion...we need to get saved! That's right...we need a born-again, conversion experience! Now don't misunderstand...I'm not saying we haven't experienced this already, but the state we are currently in leaves us looking at so many things we need to change, and feeling completely powerless to do so. We know all of these changes can only come from a true change of heart, and frankly, we just can't muster it up. Isn't that exactly the state we are in when we first come to Jesus? In need of a complete heart overhaul, and not one that comes out of anything within our own power. All we can do is offer our hard, headed-in-the-wrong direction hearts and ask God to replace them - convert us. And that's the spot I find myself in now. So if I truly believe that God can take the hardest heart of a complete unbeliever and make all things about that person new, can't I also believe the same for myself? We can, as Christians, tend to float along in life thinking, 'been there, done that, I'm good to go...' and we don't take time to really reflect on how (or IF) our lives line up with our beliefs. I've been doing just that in the past few weeks, and find that I'm coming up extremely lacking. So, step one...humble myself before a life-changing God and ask Him to take all this mess and make something new, good and fresh out of it.

In the next few posts I will attempt to share with you the things God has been revealing to my heart and mind. Warning: consider this 'confession time' - and some of it's not pretty.

Monday, September 24, 2007

embracing vulnerability

I was asked to write an article for the 'ministry women' section of our church network's leadership newsletter. I thought I'd preview it here:

In scripture there are three specific ‘headship’ relationships. I Corinthians 11:13 tells us “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” In each of these cases, the head is in place to offer strength to the one in the more vulnerable role. In relation to God, Christ, when he walked the earth, and in order to fulfill his role as savior, took on the vulnerable position. In relation to Christ, man, still here on earth, while Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, is too in the place of vulnerability. In the same way, women, in relation to men, are more vulnerable. While one role may seem more valued – often by worldly standards the one of strength – in kingdom mindset, it takes both the strength and the vulnerability to bring about the fullness of God’s plan.

While on the surface it may appear that the person with strength is the ‘out in front’, or more necessary one, if we look at roles in the context of these three relationships, we see that one cannot accomplish the task alone. This should encourage us as women, to draw our strength from Christ’s model of vulnerability, as we embrace our position. Let me point out though, that this does not exclude or negate women as leaders. Quite the contrary. Also in each of the above relationships, the vulnerable one is called up to a place of shared authority and reign alongside the head. It actually calls women to do something that can, at times, be almost terrifying…allow ourselves to be fully vulnerable AS leaders. Usually leadership roles are the most costly; it cost Jesus his very life as he lived out his vulnerable role of servant leader on this earth. When we allow ourselves to be tender, transparent and completely vulnerable as leaders we chance exposing all our shortcomings and flaws and open ourselves and our families to public scrutiny. But it is through fully embracing our positional authority of complementing strength with vulnerability that the grace of God, and in fact his very nature, is displayed to the world.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

gripped my heart

There were many things that gripped my heart this week while we were away. One, repeatedly, was the magnificence of the ocean. These lines from the song "Praise Adonai" kept running through my head...
Who is like Him
The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Of course there was also the beautiful sunset we saw from the boardwalk, and the sheer joy and sense of contentment I felt at watching my children and husband playing together against the backdrop of ocean and sand.

But there was a moment when my heart was gripped with sadness at the volumes that were spoken about the state of marriage in our time as we passed this office. Such a distortion of the image given to represent Christ & the Church.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Clemmer Family Vacation

Well, we're back home from OC, NJ...so sad to see vacation come to an end. I'm trying to convince Todd that technically we are responsibility-free through Monday, but once you're back staring everything in the face, (or it staring at you...)it is admittedly harder to relax.

Anyway, we had a GREAT time away as a family. We've decided that we need to make family vacation a priority and are trying to think of creative ways to make some extra cash to designate specifically towards it for next year. The place we stayed in was great; about 1 1/2 blocks from the beach, fully equipped with all the comforts of home including dishwasher and washer/dryer (which my husband was so wonderful to keep up with all the laundry while we were there, so when we got home today it only took me about an hour and a half to have everything unpacked and put away, with no mountains of laundry waiting for me!!). We had tons of fun on the beach, at the aquarium and the zoo, walking the boardwalk every night, hanging out in the arcade, playing games (hide-and-go-seek is so much fun in a new place - especially one with TONS of closets!!)and just generally being together. While it was tons of fun, we are coming to accept the simple fact that vacation with 4 kids is not exactly RELAXING (or at least not what WE think of as relaxing!!) Oh, well, from what I hear, we should enjoy FUN now, and look forward to RELAXING a few years down the road (we'll need it after all this fun!!). I guess rather than give any more details, I'll just post a 'photo journal' of The Official Clemmer Family Vacation '07. Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

quick update from OC, NJ

Hi from cool, but sunny, Ocean City, NJ. We are on vacation right now, so I haven't had much opportunity to post. We have a weak/intermittent internet connection here, so I'm not sure if I'll even make it through this post. But I wanted to give a quick update...

Our prayer/healing service last Thursday night was so cool. We just worshiped, our guest speaker, Jonathan Kuisch, from Suriname, shared his testimony and prayed for people for healing. It was a completely laid-back time (so opposite of all the hyped-up 'showy' stuff that really wigs me out...)and several people were healed instantly of things such as asthma and hearing loss. The pastor of the brethren church where we meet was prayed for for a ringing in his one ear that has been accompanied by diminished hearing and was healed that night. My 3 month old niece was prayed for for a belly-button hernia, and by the time they got home it had shrunken to half the size. God is so good.

I spent the day Friday packing and getting ready for vacation. It went amazingly well, and I was basically pulled together enough by late afternoon to have dinner with a friend. We actually left pretty much on time on Saturday (about 1/2 and hour later than we were shooting for, but still got to the place at the exact check-in time)and there was no fighting or arguing involved in any of the vacation preparation! I think this might be a first for our family. Our time has been fun and relaxing, and, while I thought I'd want to do a lot of blogging, I think it's somewhat of a blessing not having a good internet connection. The break is nice and forces me to do things I normally wouldn't - like read, snooze, play games with the kids or sit and do nothing at all!!

So far we've hung out on the beach, did the boardwalk on Sunday night (man, it was COLD!!!), watched Pride & Prejudice with Kate while the boys napped, last night had family game night, and today we went to the Atlantic City aquarium. Fun stuff!!

So, I know I'll have lots to share, including some good pics, but it might not be til after we get home on Saturday, depending how things go!

Love and hugs to those of you I'm normally in contact with; hope you're having a good week.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

there are 13 of me!!

I clicked the link below on a blog that I read and found out there are 13 other people named Jessica Clemmer in the US!! How weird is that? There are no other Kaitlyn or Bryce Clemmers, but there is 1 other Seth Clemmer, 1 other Lucas Clemmer and 6 other Todd Clemmers. Wild. How 'bout you??



HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are
13
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

currently reading

"God on Mute - Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer
by Pete Greig

AND

Men and Women in the Church
by Dr. Sarah Sumner

Both - sooooo good!!!!

prayers and healing

This week has been quite up and down in circumstances, but I've felt steadily refreshed and renewed in my faith. Not because lots of good things are happening, necessarily, but because I feel like I am connecting with God. But here's the strange part; I feel like God has been rather silent. I don't feel like I'm getting a lot of answers to the plethora of questions my heart is pouring out. But somehow I feel like I'm being heard. The book I'm reading has helped open my eyes to some things. There's been people and random things come across my path that encourage me and speak directly to some of the very issues I've been praying about. There has been no answers, but I feel like they are small signs that God is giving me that tells me He is hearing, and He's involved, but for whatever reason, it's not time for my answer. So I must keep knocking.

Which brings me to another event this week. We are having a prayer meeting tomorrow night, specifically praying for those who need healing. We've invited others to come. This is a really stretching thing for me. I've grown up seeing the hyped-up, 'televangelist' style faith healers that have really been a turn-off to me. It has frustrated me to see something real and true turned into something to gain wealth, fame and left people feeling hurt and exploited. I am well aware of how the world views these 'types' of people. I've many times shared the view. In some ways it's hard for me to shake off that mindset. But at the same time, I truly believe that God heals. He healed countless times in scripture, and I know He heals today. I was healed of asthma myself when I was 10. My cousin, as a tiny infant, had cancer throughout his body. He spent much time at Hershey Medical Center having surgeries and treatments. And then, God healed him, miraculously. The doctors were astounded. The cancer was simply gone. That was about 20 years ago. You would think I would have amazing faith when it comes to believing for healing. And yet I struggle. I struggle with questions of is it always God's will to heal? If yes, then why don't we always see it happen? What are we supposed to do then? Keep asking? Accept infirmity? I don't have concrete answers. But here's what I believe: I believe that God does heal, and is willing to do so. I also know the reality of the fact that not everyone is healed. But I believe that when God so chooses NOT to, it is for a reason and He will give the grace and the peace to know that, to accept it, and the grace to deal with it. Not saying it will be easy, not saying it won't hurt. There are no pat answers. But I believe that until we have a sense of what God is saying or doing in a situation, then we keep asking. If I base my beliefs and actions on scripture, then I don't see a single reason NOT to ask God to heal. The only time that I'm aware of when God didn't heal was when Paul asked God to remove his "thorn in the flesh" and God did indeed answer Paul's prayer, just not by doing what he asked for. But God answered Paul and said that He would provide the grace Paul needed to deal with whatever the "thorn" was.

So, all that to say, I've been timid, actually going back and forth in my mind whether to even post about this. Whenever I thought, "I should post about the prayer meeting", I'd have a niggling at my mind that if I say we are having a 'healing meeting' people will think I'm a wacko - one of 'those' types. What would keep me from sharing this? Fear of what people will think of me, based on the things other people have done. Well, that's a pretty poor reason to not share something that I really believe in and am excited about. The fact is, I serve an all-knowing, all-powerful God, who is a good Father. He has healed in the past, and He heals today. Tomorrow night, we are gathering for a time of worship and coming to Jesus, just as the crowds did when Jesus walked this earth, asking Him for a touch. There are people in our church, (some of them children), friends, co-workers that need healing for their bodies, answers for their situations - some kind of touch from the Father. If you are also standing in a place of need I invite you to come too, and we can stand together, in a place of prayer before the throne of God.
If you would like any more info about the service tomorrow night, leave a comment; if you don't have a blogger account, you can comment anonymously and leave your name and a way for me to contact you. The service will be at 7 pm at the Stowe Brethren in Christ Church, Glasgow Street, Stowe.

Looking forward to God moving in a big way. Watch for a follow up post.

Monday, September 10, 2007

more Mr. Lewis...

OK, 2 more, because they are REALLY good:

"What seem our worst prayers may really be, in God's eyes, our best. Those, I mean, which are least supported by devotional feeling. For these may come from a deeper level than feeling. God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when he catches us, as it were, off our guard."

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."

(Both quotes by C. S. Lewis)

a very wise man once said...

C. S. Lewis quotes to ponder:

"A creature revolting against a creator is revolting against the source of his own powers--including even his power to revolt...It is like the scent of a flower trying to destroy the flower."

--A Preface to Paradise Lost

"At this very moment you and I are either committing [selfishness], or about to commit it, or repenting it."

--The Problem of Pain

"Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger."

--The Problem of Pain (200)

"The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is the hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ."

--Mere Christianity

And my personal favorite:

"'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'"

--The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe




Sunday, September 9, 2007

lamenting

One thing that I don't like about myself is that I'm a bit of a complainer. I'm usually sarcastic about it, but generally there is an underlying truth to whatever I'm shooting my mouth off about. It's not good. But at the same time, I'm not the type of person to 'put on the happy face' too well. (I occasionally try, but I'm not very successful at it). I actually think that is a good thing; I want to be real and transparent. So, how do I deal with my inner complainer? I've been contemplating and talking to God about this. It's an interesting thing God has been speaking to my heart. See, in some instances I see in scripture, grumbling and complaining really didn't please God, and people suffered for it. Such as:

Numbers 14:26-29 "The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall--every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.

At others places, like the Psalms for instance, we see much complaining and lamenting:
Psalms 142:1-2
I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him.

Psalms 64:1
Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy
I tell my trouble.
Psalms 56:8
Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll-- are they not in your record?
AND, in this verse, it's even said to teach your daughters to lament and wail!! (I think mine came with that talent built right in, as did I!)

Jeremiah 9:20
Now, O women, hear the word of the Lord; open your ears to the words of his mouth. Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.


So what's the deal?? Is complaining wrong or not? Here's the conclusion I'm coming to: God wants us to be real with Him; he knows our deepest thoughts and feelings anyway, right? He's not afraid of us saying what we really feel. But he wants us to say it TO Him, I think, as opposed to ABOUT Him. Notice in the verses in Numbers, it says the people were grumbling AGAINST God; in the others, the complaints and laments were directed TO God.

Lately, I've been in a desert so to speak. I feel like I've tried to muster up faith for things, only to be disappointed when they didn't happen. I've asked God to do things and he hasn't. I've endured situations, only for them to continue to drag on, or worse, end badly. I'm kind of at a point of feeling like "what's the point?"...and in my utter frustration, I'm driven to God with nothing to say, other than that. At first I struggled with feelings of shame; certainly it must be irreverent or disrespectful to say those kinds of things to God, right? But I've found more and more, especially over the past year, that life is really a journey, and God is so intimately with me on it, that NOTHING I can say will drive Him away. It's like when I've had a crappy day, and I back the truck up and dump it on Todd. On a good day, he will know that it's not him I'm railing against, it's the situation, and he can let me dump, and then hold me at the end til I'm all cried out. And God is infinitely more secure than my dear husband, so He can certainly endure my tirade and still remain unchanging and steadfast in His love. What does that verse in Romans say?

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And I think I will add "neither complaining or frustration" will be able to separate me from the love of God!

Hang in there my fellow frustrated ones. When there's nothing left, there's Him, and really, that's all we need. I know that sounds trite, but I think until I fully realize that NOTHING of this world will satisfy, He will have to keep stripping things away until I come to the realization that there is "only ONE thing that is needed."


In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I am alone,
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I come to die,
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

"Give Me Jesus" - lyrics by Fanny Jane Crosby



Friday, September 7, 2007

'the dress' part 2

It seems the matter of the lost dress may be resolved! We called our credit card company after getting absolutely nowhere with the store. (They said there was nothing they could do to help us). We talked to the credit card company, explained what happened and said we wanted to dispute the charge. They said it wasn't a problem, and apparently based on the fact that we've had the same card for years, always paid on time and never disputed anything before (and we weren't even disputing the whole charge amount, just one item) they just automatically credited us for it!! Thank you Lord!! We really can't afford to just be throwing out money!

As it turns out, the bride's mom ended up getting the same dress...so obviously, her being a much more important role in this deal, I said that was fine, I'd just return it. Maybe I am simply not meant to have this dress!! (What are the chances that we'd independently buy the exact same dress?!?!) At this point she's not sure that's her final decision, so for the moment I'm gonna hang onto it just in case. In the end, if I do get to keep it, I got it at a discounted price because when I bought the second dress (or the same one a second time, I'll never know for sure...) they gave me 25% off!! I'm just happy we aren't out the $$$$ with nothing to show for it!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

I'm addicted to online quizzes!!!!

Well, this confirms it. (Random online quizzes are always accurate, dontcha know?!?) Vacation...here I come!!

You Are 71% Burned Out

You are very burned out.
You need a huge break from your responsibilities, starting as soon as possible.
And you need this time to reevaluate what you really want out of your life.
Because you're working hard and going no where... and that would burn anyone out!

hiding? maybe a little...

Hmmm... it's been over a week since my last post. Thank you to those of you who checked in on me, knowing that I tend to 'hide' when I'm feeling down. It's been partly that (and unlike Eeyore, I try to keep a lid on spreading my gloom), and partly just being incredibly busy. But, all the busy-ness is making me nearly drool at the thought of our upcoming vacation in just over a week!!!! (The emotional 'downswing' is, as I'm finding often to be true, bringing more of my bad attitudes out for me to deal with...oh goody.) Anyway, I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth, I'm just trying to figure out how to do all I have to do and still maintain some form of sanity.

There's also the fact that not much 'blog-worthy' has happened in the past week or so. I did have a chuckle yesterday when Luke (2 yrs) announced to me that he had a "geelfriend". I said "You have a girlfriend?!? Who is your girlfriend?" I expected him to say Abby, an adorable one year old daughter of good friends of ours at church, but was surprised when he said, with a big grin, "Aunt Betsy". I passed that on to Aunt Bets, who was tickled to be bestowed with such an honor (even though I'm pretty sure that there's laws against that type of thing, even in Virginia! ;o) ).

Anyway, not much else interesting to say at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.