Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Church Interviews And Other Smithellany

In an earlier post I mentioned that Steve was scheduled for an interview next Monday night at a church near the coast. And I was good with that. Just Steve being interviewed, I mean.

I get nervous at the very thought of being part of an initial Pulpit Committee interview and so I was extremely and incredibly happy that Steve would be going by himself while I stayed behind to iron (or is it press?) clothes and do other non-stressful tasks. (Like hemming pants backwards.)

However, since I last wrote about the interview, the invitation has now been expanded to include his wife.

That would be, um, me.

Actually, as it turns out, I was going to be in the area anyway since Steve is preaching (and I'm singing) at another nearby city on the coast this Sunday morning. So it makes perfect sense for me to go with him on Monday night.

I guess.

Although I'd rather be ironing.

Because ironing doesn't make me nervous. Ironing doesn't bring with it any long term ramifications for my future home, my future friends, my future city, my future church, or my future job.

ALL of those things will hang in the balance on Monday night.

It's just a wee bit nerve wracking. Not to mention nerve
wrecking.

Sarah will also be coming with us to the interview since she'll already be along for the Sunday service. (Nate is staying at home because he has to work.) Naturally, she won't be in the interview itself--although she would definitely charm their socks off. She'll just meet everyone and then hole up in a Sunday school room to read or listen to her iPod. Since Sunday school rooms are second homes for pastor's kids, she will be quite happy there.

The fun part of the weekend is that we only have responsibilites Sunday morning and Monday night; the rest of the time, we can just hang out and do touristy things. We weren't able to take a vacation this summer so at least we can squeeze some vacation type activities into those couple of days. I may even break out ye olde bathing suit and splash in the ocean. (Probably frightening all the little sea creatures who will scurry worriedly away in my wake.)

The church is putting us up in a lovely hotel and giving us a certificate to a great restaurant so that will be fun to get to act like fancy schmancy tourists for a few hours. Actually, I'm not quite sure what fancy schmancy tourists act like but I'm sure I can figure it out.

On another subject, I'd like to thank everyone who dropped by the comments section and weighed in on the subject of pressing vs. ironing. Andrea actually looked it up for us and shared an official definition.

"Pressing is a sewing term. When you iron, you move the iron back and forth. Pressing is when you set the iron down on the cloth and quickly lift it back up. According to the website, ironing can stretch the fabric and change the way it lies. That can affect the way a garment looks when it's put together."



Who knew?

Thanks, Andrea, for the info. And thanks to everyone who contributed a comment; it's always great fun and quite enlightening to read what you have to say.

And speaking of the comments section, here's another comment on a more serious note. Sheri Holthe wrote:

My family has been trying to sell our house now for almost a year with no offers even being made. I am starting to question if God wants us to move? Is He making it clear to us that we are right where He wants us? The only reason we are moving is because it would put us on the right track for getting out of debt (we are in serious debt).

My husband & I both thought that God would want us out of debt but it just doesn't seem to be happening. Do you ever question if God's plan and your plan are the same and how do we know? I just thought I would throw it out there since you are in the same house selling boat we are in.

That's a great question.

I don't think there's one person alive who has not, at some point, wondered whether he or she was doing the right thing or going in the right direction, especially when things took longer than expected to come together.

Steve and I were talking about that very thing on one of our recent walks and he referred to scenarios like that as being similar to a chess game. In chess, you may have a long term plan in mind, but you can't put it into effect until certain other pieces are moved into place.

Steve commented that in our particular situation, maybe God was still moving the pieces around the board (so to speak) and everything just wasn't in place yet for the final plan to be revealed and put into effect.

As I said in an earlier post, we're looking at our situations through a knothole in a fence while God is seeing them from the equivalent of the Goodyear blimp. He can see ALL the moves necessary to bring about His will and His plan while we only see a very limited picture.

The Bible says that our ways are not His ways; by inference, our timetable is not always His timetable. For people like our family, and Sharon's family--I'm grateful that He sees the big picture, the whole picture, and He is very much in control

Let me close by saying thank you to those of you who have been praying for my dad. After going through two difficult surgeries in less than two months (in addition to having three teeth extracted) he has had a hard time bouncing back and has been in and out of the hospital for ten weeks.

Yesterday, he seemed to be in a little less pain and had a bit of an appetite for the first time in a long time so he was discharged to a nursing home that offered skilled nursing care.

However, my sister just called a minute ago and said that last night he was in such extreme pain again that he was taken back to the hospital by ambulance. From what I can tell, there may be another surgery coming.

It's been a very stressful time for my mom; she's had a seizure disorder for many years (she also has a Pacemaker) and stress is one of the things that triggers seizures. They've been married for fifty-three years and have stood with each other through the worst kinds of storms and the best kinds of joys. It's hard not being there with them in the midst of these present difficulties.



For those of you who have been praying, it might be nice for you to be able to put a name with a face so here are a few Grandpa Campbell pictures.


Nathan "helping" my dad unload musical eqiupment back in the olden days.



A few years later . . .


A few more years later.


May your day be filled with summertime happiness!

8 Had Something To Say (Just click here!):

Kilgore Kids said...

I think you are right, sometimes I have to slow down and say this must be right where God wants me to be, even though I may not understand why. Safe travels for your weekend trip and good luck with the interview. Praying for your dad and a speedy recovery.

MaryH said...

Prayers for your dad - dad's are so special - I lost mine in 1998 - I hope your dad's pain is resolved quickly and he can get some comfort and rest and regain his health.

Becky, you will be wonderful at the interview - just be yourself - I remember how nervous my sister-in-law was at interviews she had to attend along with my brother when he was applying for superintendent of schools positions on the East Coast. So, the nerves are understandable but don't underestimate yourself and your ability to communicate (you know how to use words brilliantly and with so much heart and soul) and to let people see the wonderful person that you are. I think you should take Sarah in with you if it is offered - a glimpse at your beautiful daughter and a view of your family should be all it will take to make the interview a complete success, then...

To get to go to the ocean! I am so jealous - I love the beach and the ocean - so why am I living in the Midwest....???....because family is here - otherwise, I would be living in a little cottage somewhere by the sea....dream on, dream on.

And, I didn't get to blog in on the "press" or "iron" - as my former sister-in-law always told my daughters...."If it isn't worth ironing, it isn't worth wearing!" They live by those rules to this day - so we have an ironing board out all the time in the spare bedroom upstairs.

I used to iron my dad's handerchieves and pillow cases and sheets and undershirts when I was a child - I wasn't trusted with the "real" ironing chores and the clothes that were sprinkled with water and rolled up and stored in a plastic bag until they could be ironed later in the day - what great memories.

Anonymous said...

Sharon & Becky,

I wholly believe that God is moving the pieces around and that He'll provide more than what you're both willing to settle for and you'll stand in awe of His blessings.

I grew up in a family home - no apartments or RVs! Very stable. When my son was about 5 months old my husband left the marrige. New baby and single! I longed to give him a house home where rules were more lenient about room color and the yard was open for adventure.

We desperately needed out of the apartment we were in due to other tenants. I prayed and waited for that new fresh, safe apartment. I looked at houses (not on my salary), I looked at trailers (wouldn't let a skunk live in what I could afford).

Alas, when my son was 16, we moved into a house we built with Habitat For Humanity. The town we moved to required the houses to be set on a minimum of 1 acre and had to be expandable. It's my mansion on earth and, thanks to this town, more than HFH homes usually get.

All He kept said to me was to be obedient. I received that word from Him when my son was about 6 or 7.

God is going to come through for both of you. He will continue to make a way during the difficult present circumstances while He continues to work "behind the scenes" to bring an awesome blessing to you. I know because He loves you all just like He loves me!

Love,

Guerrina

Jenny said...

I bought a house several years ago that was fit for me as a single teacher. After I got married and we started thinking about children, we decided to sell our house and look for a "forever" home. Amazingly enough, our house sold very quickly. However now we're in a situation where we can't find one to buy. We're currently camping out in an apartment waiting for the right house to reveal itself to us. It's hard to be in this middle ground, and reading about your family's journey has kept my mental strength up. I keep wondering if there's a reason that we haven't found one yet, if we're going to find out that this isn't the place we were meant to have our "forever" home. It's scary, and I don't do scared well!

Best wishes to your parents ... mine live on the west coast and I live on the east coast. They're still young and spry at the moment, but I know as they get older it'll be difficult to have 3000 miles between us.

Jenny

Marysienka said...

Best of luck for the interview! I'm sending good vibes your way :o) You can do it!

I'll keep your dad in my thoughts. Being a daddy's lil girl, I couldn't imagine my life without this man. Good luck to him (and your mom) as well.

Renee

Pam D said...

What a handsome dad, Becky. Thanks for giving us a visual to use as we pray. I know you've had pics of him on your blog (or Sarah's site) before, but it just helps me to be able to "see" the person for whom I'm praying.
And how in the world could anyone not be charmed by you? You are absolutely delightful and such an asset to Steve (as he is to you). Rest in the assurance that God DOES know where He ultimately wants you, and whether or not this is the place, He has a purpose for this trip. It amazes me when I can look BACK and see the way things fit together when they've fallen into place. Definitely like a jigsaw puzzle; when the pieces are all scattered on the floor, it just doesn't make sense. But as each piece goes where it needs to be, things get clearer and clearer, until finally, it's finished. The pieces may be all out of place right now, but I trust that God has His eye on where each piece goes and is carefully putting them in the right place, even now.
BIG hugs to one of my very favorite people... and singers.. and pastor's wives... and bloggers... and FRIENDs....

Unknown said...

Becky-
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your response. I thank God for helping me find your site so long ago...I can't even remember how I came upon reading about Sarah (hmmmm). My husband will be able to see and appreciate the Chess analogy (he loves chess). Thank you again and my prayers go out to you and your family.

leeanne said...

Becky, you will be GREAT at the interview! YOU will be the one to 'charm the socks off of them'. Good luck, and we will all be waiting to hear how it goes!

Prayers for your dad.(And Mom).I hope his pain will be controlled soon, and that your mom will not be adversely affected by all this stress.

Once again, I must tell you that your faith and witness are like fresh air for my soul. Thank you!!