mini minister girl

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Had 2 funerals this past weekend, my Uncle Russell's and my aunt Dot's. It was amazing to see cosuins and aunts I hadnt seen in many years. My aunt's son Michael is a big, strapping man now. I havent seen him since he was a teen. He had made a box to hold his moms ashes, and it was resting at the gravesite after the ceremony. He was standing there, lost in thought, just quietly saying goodbye I guess. Suddenly, Ciarra tugged her hand out of mine, and I turned to see her standing beside Michael. she looked up at him, very quietly said "are you sad?" and then put her teeny little hand in his huge one and started to pray. It was otherwordly.

She said a very few words, and I dont know exactly what she said because she whispered, but it was "Dear God and Jesus" something. Then she turned to this 6 foot plus many man and said as clear as a bell "I can give you a hug to make you feel better. Dont be sad, your Mom is with God and Jesus now." She hugged him very close, and then turned and left him there, he looked at me in sort of shcok, like "what the HECK?!" with a huge smile on his face and tears in his eyes. It was a very strange, powerful encounter.

What's most odd about it is that I wasnt shocked by it. She has done things like this a few times, she has this odd THING about her that just seems so self confidant and strong in cases of death. She is POWERFUL, like this little mini minister person. I am in awe of her ability to comfort people.

To me, it is a very overpowering feeling of kindness, love, goodness. I feel honored to have it near me, but it is so clearly NOT mine, not guided or taught by me, it just IS.

Matthew 11:25-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light

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July is here

I heard on the news this morning that we have not had 2 days of sunshine back to back since APRIL 15th!!! At the end of June, they said we had had rain for 28 of 30 days. It is now July 8th, and we have had ONE day without rain since then. Sigh. Todays high is 54. No pool, no AC needed yet. Just blah. But...life goes on.

My Mom and stepdad are here from Florida for my Uncle Russell's funeral. We leave to drive up North for that tomorrow. It will be hard to say godbye to him, I loved him so much. My aunt Dot died 6 days after he did, we will bury them beside one another in the family plot. I will be seeing relatives I havent seen in 30 years. Kinda exciting, kinda scary.

Things that have happened in the last month.

-we went out to eat at weathervane and Vern tried to pay the bill. he and Jim chased one another around the restaurant (really) for 15 minutes. Jim won.
-Jesse seems to have a girl. she is gorgeous. I found myself having the "talk" with him as we drove him to her house last week. Yikes. He doesnt completely admit shes his girl, but she texts him constantly, shes been here and he at her house. I am old, but it hasnt been THAT long.
-Kristin has decided to go back to college. Financial Aid, anyone?
-Ciarra turned 11. we had her party at her summer camp. she had a great time, and so did we.
-Ciarra learned to kayak, and is pretty darn good at it.
-My darling Sarah got married, and I took her wedding pics. Beautiful bride, the apple of my eye too.
-Rob and Wendy and Hunter came for a visit! It was wonderful seeing them, but heartbreaking taking them to the airport afterwards. Home is here, in maine. I hope they can get home soon.
-Someone very special to us did something very unlike him last fall. He was defending his child, but he made a terrible decision. he went to prison recently. we miss him more every single day. He will not be out until 2012.
-We finally sold my Grandparents old house. The closing is tomorrow. yay. Finally done payingfor that thing!
=we went camping in the Rangeley mountains. I finished a long hike to a waterfall, but it was TOUGH.
-I am working on this extra weight of mine, God give me the strength to make the right choices.