S.A.B.B.A.T.I.C.A.L

I am on a sabbatical from my congregation. Amazing isn't it? The presbytery offered several of us "disaster zone" preachers up to eight weeks of time away. We may use the time as we wish with an educational or retreat experience somewhere in the mix.

I woke up this morning thrilled to be free of sermon writing for four Sundays. The rest of my sabbatical will come later this year. We all felt that we couldn't leave our people for two full months so we are splitting the time up.

I am to rest and do things differently. I'll travel a bit, get out my retablo making things, clean the gutters (I like this!), make stuffies and cook complicated meals. I have time!

When first approached about taking a sabbatical, I thought how rare this experience will be! Preachers in small churches don't get time away unless they are very ill or caring for an ill family member.

I have time to read, look, think, visit with friends, count clover and nap.

See the kitty? I'm that kitty.

St. Casserole

Today

Today is many things which may be complex. Tomorrow is big scheduled church meeting.

When you pray, would you pray for me that I might see my brothers and sisters as Christ's own, be reminded of our Hope and see the way through many broken areas?

Your friend,

St. Casserole

Oh my goodness! Has it been five days since my last posting?

I'm finished with Mardi Gras, in the midst of electrical and landscaping work, planning a sabbatical and now sitting in Lent.

Hey, would someone hold my purse? I'll be right back.

St. C.

RevGal Friday Five

From reverendmother, this week's Friday Five:

I am downtown on retreat this week. Most of the retreatants are from out of town, so I get to experience this place through the eyes of visitors. So in the spirit of tourism:

1. What is one place you make sure to take out-of-town guests when they visit? (you can be vague to preserve your anonymity if you like)

The Disaster Tour. This means driving on the beach road to show how horrific hurricane damage as far as the eye can see in both directions. My commentary goes like this:
"this is where we went to a "Toast to the Coast" in a big beautiful home and grounds. Gone. This is where I taught for two semesters. Gone. This is where my friend's home was. Gone. This is where the tennis courts were. Gone. This is where the media huddled after the storm. You can see why they chose such a devastated site. This is where they found our sailboat. Amazing that it went so far, isn't it?"
From October '05 to March '06, I got so emotionally sick giving this tour that I HATED every minute. The only time I got through it during that period without freaking out was when Songbird and I did it. She was so sympathetic, in the healing way, that I felt better afterwards.

2. When visiting another city or town, do you try to cram as much in as possible, or take it slow and easy?

If we are exhausted, we go slow. If we are rested, we go wild. If it's NYC, I go full speed, regardless.

3. When traveling, where are we most likely to find you: strolling through a museum, checking out the local shopping, or _________________?
Traveling with Mr. C. means art galleries, design stores and coffee shops. Travels with P. in NYC means we eat and shop. If I'm alone, I ferret out the thrift stores, charity shops and flea markets. Not many people enjoy digging through junk the way I do.

4. Do you like organized tours and/or carefully planned itineraries, or would you rather strike out and just see what happens?
If I want to see a general area, tours are good, at times. Otherwise, I just strike out. Getting lost is part of the pleasure.

5. After an extended trip, what do you find yourself craving most about home?
Seeing family and sleeping in my own bed. My home shower is better than any shower any where else.

You've heard about the salmonella scare with Peter Pan Peanut Butter?

We have a jar, with the correct numbers, in our pantry. Half-eaten.

LD disposed of it.

Yuk.

Coulda Been Sick,

St. Casserole

If you and your church or group plan mission trips, consider coming to help us in the Katrina Zone.

We've made progress with getting some people back into their homes but many are stuck in FEMA trailer waiting for govt. or insurance grants.

People with more money live in the few apartments or rental homes which survived.

The roads are clear but debris remains.

People have tapped out their resources. The insurance companies balk. The govt. grants are slow, even after all this time.

We need so much more help. Volunteers keep coming but we need more.

I guess people think we are back to normal now.

Not. So.

Yours,

St. Casserole

He's there and happy!

Heard from LS who says he's having a GREAT time!

Relieved!

St. C.

no word from LS yet.

delivered him to the airport on time.

sure he is ok, asleep probably.

wish we'd hear from him.

Doing great,

St. Casserole

Today I will do my best to keep focused.

I will not seep tears or stand around feeling anxious.

I will be brave.

I will focus on the tasks before me.

I am the parent of a college student. He will fly to Paris tomorrow. He will live in France for a semester. He will be thousands of miles away from his Mama.

I will not be able to grab him from danger, fix things for him or see his handsome face.

I will be brave. I will trust God to take care of him. I will be brave.

Stalwartly,

St. Casserole

Count Down to Valentine's Day

Mr. C. can hardly practice law these days because he's working on my Valentine's Day Extravaganza.

I'm ready for the Big Day for him and LD. LS will be out of the country so he's out of luck.

There's more to Valentine's Day than sweetie-pie-honey-bunch gooey lovey stuff with your Sweetie.

Valentine's Day is a great time to tell people that you appreciate them.

Today's Valentine's Warm-Up is: write notes to a few people who are on the edge of your daily radar but who make your world brighter. A former teacher would love to hear from you. That church member whose clear lovely voice you hear above congregational singing needs recognition. The vet who helped Fido through the infection, the neighbor who has a beautiful yard, the friend who lives far away but stays close in your thoughts, the cleaning staff at the children's school: all these would love to hear from you. Your note doesn't have to be a treatise on love. Write simply about what they do that you like. Take note of their contribution to your life.

Email and cell phones aren't the only way to communicate. Get out that stationery and write a few lines.

Yo Mama,

St. Casserole

Un-informed Sports Commentary

• Why in 2007 would you play a Big Game outside? It's raining, for gosh sakes!
• What's it like for the people in the stadium who paid $600 + for tickets to sit outside getting drenched?
• Is it getting on everyone's nerves to hear Peyton Manning discussed every four seconds?
• What about the other players? What are they, chopped liver?
• If Peyton's dad expressed even a teensy weensy interest in being Governor of Mississippi, he'd be elected in a heartbeat. Just sayin'...
• No Super Bowl snacks in our house. I'm missing the semi-obligatory Velveeta Melt with Canned Chili with Fritos Scoops!
• Love the Coke commercial.
• How'd they chose Prince for the Halftime Show? What's with that?

St. Casserole, not your regular NFL sportscaster

this is bothering me

as a junker, I come across good stuff to make into something else.

can you help me think of a new use for bedskirts? I find great fabrics made into bedskirts. how can these be repurposed? i don't sew 'cept for stuffies.

hep me out here

st casserole, temporarily free of caps and punc-s

Learn Something New Dept.

Furniture shopping with the young adult volunteers.

This is not a cocktail table. This is not a coffee table.

This is a BIBLE TABLE.

New concept!

St. C.

I shut down this week for two days. Didn't leave the house unless I needed to ferry LD to school and activities. Didn't think about what I could be doing. Just. Shut.Down.

My schedule allowed this because by God's good mercy no meetings glared out on the calendar.

Further, my family is busy and if I stay below the radar, I don't think they noticed except that my bathrobe got a bit musty.

Retreat at home.

Into the desert without leaving the winter tropics.

Quiet time with the kitties and Sister the Dog.

Gray winter weather for days gets to my interior. Stopping to live the quiet just helps.

Today is bright sunshine. Yippee!

Tomorrow is Souper Bowl, the Lord's Supper and our Annual Congregational Meeting. I'll be ready, happy and bright-eyed.

St. Casserole

Thank you, Molly Ivins, for making us laugh, understand and keep going.

Your life made a difference in mine.