Welcome to Dana's blog!

Saturday morning

I'm a recovering perfectionist. I tend to be a very neat and orderly person. So imagine how far I have come that I got into my van w/only a vague idea of my 'route' for my 2+ hour trip to a place that I have never been. It didn't bother me. But then, in hindsight, I think it all manifested itself in the crab cake epidsode. Since I had a nice long drive all by myself, I had lots of time to think. Think about how much I've changed int he past 5 years.  It was a nice time for reflection and to think about how the day might unfold. I had a vague idea, but I've never been able to 'serve on team' so I was walking in blind. This was all fine w/me (the control freak). To be able to just be told what to do and when to do it. To not have to think and plan and orchestrate and handle crisises, etc. To not be in charge. What a nice feeling. I liked it!LOL

My mom seemed rather upset that I was taking the recycled jug of water so I did stop and buy some A&W Cream Soda. I love that stuff and almost never have it. So what's left will be a nice treat for the kids and I this week. I woke up at 3:30 that morning so I was tired and caved!LOL

Upon entering the church where we were having the meeting (and I was on time!), I found my way to where the meeting was and signed in and was told to find the blue folder w/my name. great assigned seats. I'm not a big fan of assigned seats. That means loss of control!LOL But I figured God must want me to sit by someone/s for a reason. I see a lady sitting next to me and she's working in the kitchen too. We make a bit of small talk while I debate if it would be rude to hit the snack table at 9am. I had been up 5.5 hrs by then. But they called the mtg to order and we had intros. Wouldn't you know, the lady sitting next to me has served on MULTIPLE retreats and worked in almost every area at least once (some many times). Whew, a veteran by me. They jump right in and I realize very quickly that I am just flat out CLUELESS. So at our break (Snack time--they have lots of those!LOL), I told her that I was not lazy or inept, but just didn't have the foggiest idea what was goign on. So she and 2 other ladies (who over heard me) clued me in and we ate. I told her I remembered taht part quite well!LOL The next 'session' started and it was so great. I heard lots of testimonies throughout the day and it's always just amazing to hear the stories of these ppl. I met so many fun and new ppl (I didn't know a soul at this place)! One lady was giving a talk and I could just tell she homeschooled. The ladies around me commented on her 'style' and I said I'll bet it's cuz she HSls. Sure enuf, we found out taht she does!LOL She's totally SPASTIC tho! I went over to talk to her (she didn't know the author of the Five Love Languages and I actually did!LOL) and right in the middle of her sentence she just stops and says, YOU ARE SO PRETTY (Did I mention she's LOUD?LOL). I said YOU ARE WAY TOO ENERGETIC!LOL

But I was thinking about how ppl say they don't 'need' church. I understand that on some levels. But OTOH, I really think they are missing out. Sure a very minute number of ppl probably can do w/o church just cuz of how they are made. I get that. But for the vast majority I think church is soooooooooo important. I mean despite the incredibly long day I'd had, I was sooooooo refreshed! To be surrounded by ppl w/such a strong common thread is fantastic. And this was just a MEETING! This wasn't even the weekend! Altho I'll be in the kitchen and wont' interact w/alot of ppl (which will be hard for me), I know it will be so rewarding. To be able to literally SERVE ppl. (we cook and serve!LOL) I mean isn't that what Christ was all about? Loving and serving? That's what this whole weekend is designed to be about. Sure, it's hard work on some levels, but I love this type of thing!

And the neatest part is that we are all SO DIFFERENT! The 'veteran' sitting next to me? One of her dd's has had lots of infertility and is 5mo pg and will have to have a hysterectomy immediately following the pg, I was able to relate to that on a very personal level. Her other dd has a very rare cancer and is getting ready to go thru a stem cell transplant. Again, I was able to relate to her about my mom, who had a stem cell transplant 14 years ago. I have other stories I could share, but that would make this even longer!LOL But it was just so amazing to know this was all planned and orchestrated by Him.  And while my role might seem very insignifcant, I'm taking it seriously and know that it will be used for His glory.

Untitled Comment

10:09, 2006-Mar-13 .. Posted by torismom

Hey Dana, it's torismom from the costcutting board. I've just started reading your blog and wondering about your "weekend" and then I remembered you are Methodist (I think) and I am and wondering if your weekend is Walk to Emmaus? I don't remember you posting about walking so I may be totally off but the part about all the food sounds like my weekend and just serving on the team (we call it teaming-here they call it working and drives me bonkers, it's not work it's service). Anyway, I might be totally off base but just wondering. If so, DeColoras!!