So we got a call this morning that Mark's grandpa has passed away. He's not been well lately but actually had a miraculous healing of vertebrae in his spine last week. Mark had talked about going to Colorado for the funeral when Grandpa first went into the hospital. Now Mark feels peace from that expectation. Honestly I would love a road trip right now and we could see my uncle too. Anyways, the funny insight into his grandpa is this: when he fell at home a few weeks ago and was admitted to the hospital, Mark's grandma decided she could not take care of him anymore and moved into a nursing home the next day. The deal is that Grandpa never wanted to go and he was supposed to be discharged to the nursing home this week. I guess he got his wish. Mark laughs remembering how gracious but stubborn his grandpa has always been.

So Levi has had a fever since Friday after a vomiting episode. Yesterday he woke with a draining ear and I feared I had neglected another ear infection. After a brief consultation in the doctor's office, we've got a diagnosis of Swimmer's Ear. That's a relief. And, while I'm at it. Last night we decided to put Seth to sleep apart from us and scream himself back to sleep. So Mark was up most of the night, stuffing that pacifier back in his mouth at 20 minute intervals. Maybe he'll be sleeping through the night soon.

Well, the real reason I began this blog is to comment on this sadness and joy. Sunday we had a farewell party for Stu, a friend in our church who's leaving to eventually move close to his girlfriend in PA (and spend every weekend with her until then). He's just a year older than Mark and has remained a close friend. As I finished plans for his farewell party this weekend, I have just had a deep sadness in the pit of my heart. Stu has intense amounts of energy, passion, and hope. He has devoted millions of hours to the church it seems and has worked so hard to connect with our youth. I feel that we are in a great loss. There are so few young people in our church ...

One reason that I have felt a lot of loss is because another young lady just 10 days younger than Mark is a Ph.D student working fast and furious on her dissertation. Her graduation in May 2007 means that she would also be leaving. However, she told us this Sunday that her department is asking her what kind of money will keep her here at the University of Maryland. :) :) :) :) And she actually wants to be here. So this hope is a healing salve at a sad time of goodbye.

2 other bits. Mark and I go for his ordination interview this week. Whether he'll be ordained this year or next is a question because of new restrictive rules accepted by the General Assembly that become effective tomorrow. It's all a matter of how the requirements will be considered by a new, rather conservative GS.

Finally, we are down to one fish in our tank ... to buy more or let it go is the question.

It has NOT been a month

Nope, not a month since I blogged but it will have been if I type for one hour and 17 minutes and that sure is not going to happen.

So, this month in the Garrett house. Mark refereed wrestling matches on Saturdays, which made things busy but he enjoyed it which was the key! Too bad he'll only get to do that a little bit each year.

Levi - not too much change. Slightly less violence to Seth, which is good. Like 80 million new words but there's still this one that he says all the time and I have no idea what he's talking about (might be more than one and I'm constantly confused). I am most proud of his learning to say "PeePa" (Grandpa) just in time for a quick visit to Grandpa and Grandma Reynolds' house, where I had so much fun scanning old family photos. Oh, he finally calls me something besides "Daddy" somewhat consistently, now I'm "babby" - not Baby, softer A sound.

Seth is as cute as button but is really fat. He may be bigger than Levi was at this age. We've been taking some awesome pictures of him. He gained over 2 lbs in 2 weeks after we started cereal but he's still not sleeping through the night. I'm already anticipating "scream therapy" pretty soon.

So Levi had gotten sick on Christmas Day and last Sunday got sick again. Then I think that Seth got it and then I got it two days ago. Unfortunately this stomach bug doesn't go away easily and I still have a tumbly-rumbly.

Well, some church stuff is positive. One lady left the church with her kids last year and has returned and, while some volunteers were initially intimidated by the return, everyone is ok now. Then we are also going to get an LCD projector soon. I can't wait to put together the worship songs with graphics, etc. Then, we've been thinking of removing some pews to expand fellowship space and the oddest person volunteered to pitch the idea to her group, a group that would normally really object. So last week we roped off pews and forced people to move forward.

Hey, here's something difficult. This older couple just started coming to church in November. He grew up in church. She didn't and actually grew up in Vietnam. He's got lung disease and was admitted to the hospital this week and is in serious condition. We really want to care for her - take her meals, offer rides, visit, etc. She doesn't really understand our intentions and is really wierded out by these parts of church behavior. I hate not being able to minister as I would normally. Overall, I am reminded of how church people often speak a different language, behave in totally different ways, and are just different than others sometimes. I really want church to be relevant in our culture. I'll have to go into this more later because if I start now, I'll never get to sleep and a whole month will pass between posts. Overall, please pray for Jim and Anh.

Before I sign off, how to keep blog-spam off my comments? suggestions?