The Sun Is Shining And Life Is Whirling

It's a beautiful day on the Oregon Coast!  The sun is out and it is warmer than yestersday.  We have all needed some sunshine and here it comes.  But it is funny that though the sunshine is out it is still a whirlwind of a day.  That would be because of my job.

I do love my job.  I love my friends at work and I love the work I do.  I work for the City.  I work for the City Manager.  I work for the urban renewal agency.  Right now we are working on the budget.  Budgets can be a bear and of course everyone knows this because of what does or doesn't happen at the federal and the state levels.  We are just a little city and it is still a whirlwind.  Trying to make all of the pieces fit is hard and sometimes it is even harder.

Right now we are trying to figure out my job.  That makes it a bit more stressful for me since it is my livelyhood we are looking at.  Not only that but my job was not an issue until today and the budget needs to be ready in just a couple of days to present to a committee.  Arghhhhhh.  I'm not worried but I do feel sorry for my manager who has to have it worked out and ready to present.  Not only that but he and I will need to discuss it prior to that and come to some kind of agreement concerning my wages.

I will spend the next couple of days looking at this from my perspective and then on Monday we will look at it from his perspective and hopefully we are both on the same page or close.  Today things are in a whirl but I am hoping by then everything will be peaceful.  Time to wait and see.

I wonder if the sun will be shining or if the rain will be back.  Whatever will be will be.

Palm Sunday

Church was beautiful this morning.  The Triumphal Entry of Jesus in Jerusalem was the topic of the morning from worship through the sermon.  It always amazes me how the Holy Spirit moves and aligns the worship part of the service with the teaching part and nobody even compares notes beforehand.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a baby donkey.  He did not come in on a huge, white stallion waving a broad, gleaming sword before his followers.  He rode in on a little, baby colt.  He could not have come into town more humbly.  The people shouted "Hosanna to the King!"  The people shouted at the man they knew was coming to save them from their oppressors.  They knew He was going to overthrow the Roman government that had caused them so much grief and hardship.  Little did they know what the week ahead would bring.

This week I will think about the week Jesus had.  I will think about the price He paid.  I will think about what happened after He died on the cross.  Humbly He died for me and for my sins.  He is my King!

Baby Showers and Birthday Parties

There are months and months that go by without a baby shower or a birthday party.  Then they come in one day.  And at the exact same time frame.  Figures. In preparation for these 2 events I have thought about both. 

A new baby coming into a family is so exciting, most of the time.  Whether planned or unplanned it is a huge event and it can be scary.  This new baby coming to my friends is their first child.  A girl.  I know she will be a joy and bring them happiness unspeakable.  She will bring some tears in the years ahead also.  The parents are strong in the Lord and will be able to handle all that comes their way.  This little family will be blessed for God is with them.

The birthday party is for a wonderful 6 year old boy I have watched grow all these years. Though he is shy and quiet he a light in his family already.  His dark, dancing eyes and bright, brillent smile light up a room and a heart.    He will have a wonderful testimony one day as the story of him and his mother coming into the lives of my best friend and her family is incredible.  The hand of God moved and they were here.  It is a beautiful story.

I do love baby showers because I love babies.  They are faith, hope and love all rolled up into one beautiful, little bundle.  I do love birthday parties especially for the children.  The excitement they bring into the lives of family and friends and the joy of watching them grow is fulfilling, inspiriational and incredible.

I am blessed to be a part of both of these events today!!

April 15 and still raining!

So here it is April 15 and raining...still!  I decided today to create this blog and write.  We each, at one time or another, feel the need to express ourselves.  There are people who jump out of airplanes as an expression.  There are others who climb the highest peak they can find.  Others create something beautiful. 

I live in Oregon.  You have probably heard it rains in Oregon.  Oregon is really green at least where I am, on the coast.  We get about 90 inches of rain a year.  That's a lot of rain!  And then when it is not raining it is cloudy and grey.  But on the days the sun is shining the colors are magnificent!  The blue of the sky is the exact shade of blue God intended it to be.  The many shades of green are amazing.  The colors of the rivers are from almost navy to turquoise.  The colors of the Pacific Oceans as well as the shores of the beaches are incredible!  The mountains in the Coast Range are rugged and impressive.  I absolutely love it here! 

But it rains!  I write on rainy days.  My expression of me.