let the craziness begin...

oh, how i love the church seasons. and with pentecost almost over, advent is about to begin.

which makes me really glad that i was able to run away last weekend. the last weekend before all hell breaks loose. well, not really hell, but i do like to use that phrase...

sadly enough i had gotten a call on my birthday morning in which my friend megan informed me she had the flu and i could not stay with her as my midway stop on my trek out west. stupid virus. i still love her, and i'm happy that my sister was willing to let me show up a day early.

so after spending a lot of time on the road (11 hours each way, roughly) with a few of those battling snow, i made it to the black hills of sd where my sister, brother-in-law and niece live. i arrived much later than i wanted to, but i was glad to get there. even if i had to drive through snow essentially from dickenson, nd to just south of buffalo, sd. and i'm grateful for those who answered phone calls from me on my long trek since i find one of the best ways to stay awake is to be talking to someone.

i was extremely happy to get to see my immediate family this past weekend. i love them and i love how crazy we all can be. and hickish, much to the dismay of my sister who now lives in new york and is used to a different culture. which does not include wearing camo in airports, mullets on stuffed antelopes, or having wood chips be considered "classier" than kitty litter. oh, how i love south dakota.

we had our thanksgiving meal. i was in charge of manhandling the giant, 23 pound turkey. and the stuffing. and bread (homemade dinner rolls, of course).

saturday night i went out with those over 21 (two sisters and their significant others). we went to piedmont to a saloon. not a bar, a saloon. because bars don't belong in the west with the cowboys and ranchers. this bar was the classy one with the stuffed animal with a mullet. and a fantastic live band. no joke. this band had an amazing singer. and one cute guitar player.

sunday i traveled the distance back to bemidji. and i realized that i drove 1430 miles from my house and back. which is a lot.

then i get up monday morning, report for duty (aka show up at work at the church), and get to business. last minute invitation to go to a women's meeting that had an auction. working on getting an information letter ready for a youth gathering taking place this weekend. intern committee meeting. community symphonic band rehearsal. then finally back to my house for a short break since i also am prepping to lead a bible study tomorrow afternoon as well as reading a book for a book discussion on wednesday. and realizing i need to start working on my sermon for sunday since i am gone much of the weekend at the gathering.

so sunday i preach at three different services (two at church and one at a nursing home/assisted living). of course, this sunday is the last week of pentecost and officially christ the king sunday. then we have thanksgiving next week, and i'll be preaching at a community thanksgiving service at bethel but is a combination of the three elca churches in bemidji. then advent begins. and i start leading adult bible study as well as helping with noontime advent services.

and all this adds up to a craziness that will not be slowing down anytime soon. but i'm okay with that since i prefer busy over bored. as long as i can get everything done that i need to.