IN THE GROUND

my niece, macalister, was pretty obsessed with things going "in the ground" for a while after their alpaca, midnight, died. she used it as a euphamism for death..."mom, when i go in the ground, i want you and daddy to be with me." how very ancient egyptian of her.

today we put marty in the ground. her graveside service was cold and sad...i spoke all of the beautiful things that i could - Scripture, prayer, eulogy - and we cried and said goodbye. no one wanted to leave...

finally, we left her casket there...yellow and pink flowers covering the top. it was all very sterile looking from the outside. but when i looked closely, i could see the dirt carved away...under the beautiful casket, beneath the chrome lowering mechanism....there it was, the ground.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Marty. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, of sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints of life. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our sister, Marty, and we commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless her and keep her, the Lord make his face to shine upon her and be gracious unto her, the Lord lift up his countenance upon her and giver her peace. Amen.

MAY ANGELS GUIDE YOU IN

my beautiful friend, marty, died last night at 11:35 p.m.
the last few moments of thanksgiving she decided to fly. she let go of her feeble body and is now PRESENT with God.
i miss her desperately...i cannot imagine how her husband of almost 40 years feels. i'm so thankful to have known her and know that her ministry of intercession from the presence of God will be amazing....
goodbye dear friend...may angels guide you to His glorious presence.

we were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. -Romans 6:4

KEEPING VIGIL

i've been keeping vigil near the bed of a wonderful woman in my congregation all afternoon/evening. two weeks ago we dished and laughed on her couch...two months ago we scurried around the church kitchen....and now she lays dying in skagit valley hospital. unbelievable....
pray for marty's family.
pray for me.
Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

MY NEXT 30 YEARS

yesterday i turned 30. so far, my 30s feel great...i feel grounded and as though my age finally backs up my maturity, job, etc. somehow i feel some of the pressure of the 20s sloughing off...i feel that i already have more grace for myself. inspired by tim mcgraw, here are some goals for my next thirty years:
-forgive myself as quickly as i forgive others
-learn things that i've always wanted to learn (more gardening - master gardner status?, cooking white sauce, identifying birds)
-take more time to savor life
-conquer fear
-sing more
-cultivate my friendships
-READ as much as i want ;)
-get better at yoga
-pray more
-be more responsible
-share JOY

and - as a nod to the man who inspired this post...here are tim mcgraw's plans for his next 30 (hopefully he is off to a good start):

Tim McGraw My Next Thirty Years lyrics

I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years
Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years
My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doing here
In my next thirty years
Oh my next thirty years, I'm gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I'll remember my next thirty years
My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years