Rousing time with the kiddos

I'm just back from having dinner with the very lively Kallie and Keanna.  There are very few dull moments when herding those two.  Who gets to put the sugar into pappa's decaff or salt the chips, or even sit on the same side of the table with pappa.  Very interesting.

Nikki is busy over in Pleasanton Fairgrounds at the Twin's sale, a very glorified yard sale that has grown to encompass two buildings there with thousands of items for sale.  Nikki says it is even more organized and bigger than ever this year. One can dress a child for a whole lot less buying there than at a store at the mall.  Nikki won't be home until late tonight and then must be back in the morning at 7:30 to start work again so her sleeping will be limited tonight.

Tomorrow I'll take the girls to Sabbath School and then lunch so Steve can help a friend with a big project.  We'll have fun and enjoy our time.  But I notice that after awhile they are sure glad to head home to see mommy and daddy.  Tonight Keanna was talking about how nice it is to have two parents and about how hard it would be if there was only one parent.  That girl amazes me with her reasoning and skills.

It must be spring, here we go with Daylight Savings Time on Sunday and my front yard is overgrown with weeds, just calling for my attention but who has the time.  And to make that point my friend at Property Sciences called this evening to ask if I wanted to take on three more orders.  One is in Gilroy but friend Art is in Loma Linda, just might get to catch up with Pam when I do that one.

Over the years Sabbath has always meant something but what a series of changes in how I "keep" the Sabbath.
In childhood the weekly bath was scheduled just before Sundown on Friday and tensions seem to rise as everyone tried to get ready for the Sabbath, we were pretty much legalists back then but didn't know it.  In Academy Sabbath was marked by cinnamon rolls picked up on Friday night, kept in the window over night and eaten on Sabbath morning so kitchen staff would not have to work.  Mrs Whisbey made the worlds best cinnamon rolls and it was a great tradition.  While at Laurelwood academy I learned a lot about music and choir trips and singing opportunities filled weekends.  Sabbath nights were always special with gym nights or banquets or something going on.  Sometimes there were movies but someone was always ready to put their hand in front of the projector if anything really good came on, you know kissing and stuff like that.  Boys and girls each had their own sidewalks and only rarely did we get to walk together but of course there were the woods and they were less likely to be patrolled but the risks were way to high for me.  I had no other place to go if I lost the academy.

In College someone took record of who was at services and you needed to show up for several a week or the axe fell.  Sabbath took on a much more relaxed reality in College but once again singing trips, the Fellowmen group, pro musica provided great opportunities for Sabbath enjoyment.

Come seminary we were assigned to a little church near the University in Berrien Springs Michigan.  The Niles church became our Sabbath home and we loved the people, the preaching chances and learning how to minister to the folk.

Once out in the real world in Sacramento Central Sabbath became a very busy day with youth services, youth afternoon activities to the community, bike rides along the American River, trips to Tahoe to Lammerdings cabin, trips to Leoni Meadows which was just getting started as a church gathering retreat center.  Sabbath became a hard work day.

Then there was Tracy where being the pastor meant being there nearly every Sabbath, at church that was, holding elders meetins or planning sessions, teaching Sabbath School classes and of course preaching.  Then there was Sabbath afternoon bike rides along the canal, weekend campouts, hosting guest speakers and enjoying famous potlucks with church members and guests.  Sabbath became a full blown hard work day and the family suffered, Nan endured mostly silently and did all the kiddo things by herself.

Then there was appraising and freedom of any duties on Sabbath, what to do, well join a choir, first the Roger Peden choir and then the Adoration Singers.  So on many Sabbaths it was pretty clear what to do, drive to the church wherever it was and sing your hearts out, eat whatever happened to be offered, then do it again in the afternoon and limp home that evening.  It was a great time with a super group of people, friends for eternity.

Then Nan began to grow more weak and we dropped choir, spent less and less time in church, pews and tumors don't mix, then there were wheel chairs and walkers and we tried to bring Keanna whenever we could until Nan was no longer able to handle it.  After she was gone it was hard to be in church, alone, hurting, feeling displaced, unsure, faith wavering.

For the last few years its come down to bringing the girls to their Sabbath School programs which they love and then due to their schedules and expectations I drive them to lunch and then home.  Sabbath has become a time of kiddos and rest, of trips in the motorhome to spend weekends with Jason and Jo and the glorious beach.

But through it all Sabbath has not changed.  It remains one of the most wonderful gifts God has granted his family.  A time to drop all the rat race stuff and spend time with Him, His children, family, nature when ever possible and just rest.

How has your journey with the Sabbath been over the years?

Thanks for thinking with me tonight.

Love

tim