Mary and Martha: Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

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I love the Bible story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10.  I love it so much that I’ve downloaded 20 sermons about the sisters on my ipod.  I love it so much that I can practically recite it by heart.   I love it so much that I’m making our women’s Bible study group focus on it for 12 weeks starting in September. (It’s one of the perks of being a Bible study leader – you get to pick what to study.) 

Starting sometime in September, (not sure when yet; it’s one of the perks of writing a blog – you get to decided when to write) I plan to post a daily reflection on this little 5-verse, 7-sentence passage.  Let’s just see how much we can squeeze out of this small section of scripture.   For a whole month, let’s explore what M&M might have to say to us.  You are welcome to stop in daily and join the conversation.  (It’s one of the perks of reading blogs – you get to leave comments whenever you want.)

38 Years Ago

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ELINOR BRADLEY BIDDICK

April 26, 1922-August 31, 1973

On this day, 38 years ago, my mother passed from this life into the next.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1972 and died within a year.  I was 13.  It was the first day of my freshman year in high school.

As a teenager, I had written some of my thoughts and feelings down about the pain of losing a mom.  When I was a freshman in college, I pulled out my old journal from 1973 and re-worked the raw words into a creative writing assignment for an English class.  The next week, as I came into the classroom, the professor approached me and asked for my permission to read my essay to the class.  It was the first time I’d ever heard someone else read my words aloud, to strangers no less.  When she finished, it was quiet for a long time.  I think I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since.

This morning I was looking for some papers in an old file cabinet in the basement.  As I opened up a dusty yellowed file, there it was: “You Win, Cancer, You Win”,  English 132 sec. 8,  January 25, 1978.  I had been looking for that paper for years and had given up hope of ever finding it.  I figured it had gotten lost in one of our moves.  But today, of all days, it found me.  Thanks, mom.

*For anyone interested, I have created a Page entitled “The Paper” where the college essay can be viewed.

Restored

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PB and I spent a week up north at a cabin on a beautiful lake. 

 It was just what the doctor ordered.  We slept in late, took naps in the afternoons, and went to bed early.  I think we were tired.  We listened to the loons and the sound of the water lapping up on the shore line.  He went fishing, I read books. 

One day we headed north to a far and distant country: the U.P.  (Upper Peninsula of Michigan)  We discovered they really do say “yous” as in, “How are yous today?”   Although the area we saw was economically depressed, it was rich in natural beauty. 

 

It’s pretty wild up dere in da nort woods.

Just for fun, PB and I set out to find funny signs on our little roadtrip.  These signs probably won’t strike you as being all that amusing, but we laughed our heads off.  I’m sure it had something to do with being on vacation and having no signal on our cell phones.  We thought everything was hilarious, probably because we needed to let go and laugh.  

We’re thinking about retiring someday and buying a church up by the End of the Earth. 

Yous will have to come and see us!

It’s Official

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Yes, the wedding vows have been spoken.  Sure, the marriage certificate has been signed.  Indeed, the crowd sent off the couple amidst cheers and waves.  But it’s officially official when the name goes up on the family Scrabble board.  Dan has made it into the family.  And we are proud to have him join this crazy bunch.  Before August 13th:

The new and improved family Scrabble board:

Notice the change?

In case there’s any doubt…Dan, you have arrived.  What God has joined together let no one rip off the Scrabble board.

Welcome to the fam!

(ahem…boys, there’s room for more)

Wedding Countdown Day 3

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Weddings are major events.  Major events call for pretty toenails.  So the Overlien girls went to get  pedicures today.  Can you tell who belongs to these lovely toes?

        A.    

                                                                                                                                            B.

                                                                                                                        C.

This little bit of pampering was just what we needed.  We had to sit still for awhile and just chat and enjoy being girls.

I’m so glad I’m a girl.  I’m so glad I have two girls.  Boys don’t know what they are missing.  Pretty toes are pure joy.

Wedding Countdown Day 4

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 The best thing that happened today:

PB – Picking up Katie and our grandchild at the airport.

Katie – Coming home and seeing all of Anna’s lingerie.

Sam – None of my patients had a paranoia-schizophrenic episode today.

Anna – Praying with Dan at Devil’s Lake and seeing my sister and buying her a maternity dress.

Dan – Man time with Jake in the garage.

Jacob – Finding out I don’t have hepatitis.

Kelsey – Katie came home and I ate Monk’s food today.

Me – All of the above.  And knowing that usual, everyday stuff happens even four days before a wedding.  And everyday stuff will happen after the wedding.  And in the midst of everyday stuff are many moments of extraordinary stuff.  And I don’t want to miss any of it.