reverendjaneausten

They do wear each other out. . .We got out of school for ice today so they are glad to have some of us home. I was glad not to drive again! Late nights in Prestonsburg on Wednesday make for sleepy Thursdays.

is it really your responsibility? Yesterday I was driving on a country highway and an enormous semi truck was bearing down the hill 'fast and furious [ly]' in the oncoming lane. This black lab mix was terrified and seemed to not understand about traffic at all. Without thinking (clearly) I checked for traffic behind me, pulled off and turned on the hazards. When I opened my door to call him out of the path of the truck he landed practically in my lap. He gets along famously with our dog and cat, and seems to be a model boarder in terms of manners, affection and even being housebroken. But I know Shannon is right that we do NOT need more chaos than we already have. He took "Roger Dodger" today to two separate animal shelters who could not/would not take him, so tonight he is back under our roof. It is just that when he looks at me with his cognac eyes alight with the "I love you for saving me" look, I just melt. And Graff melts too. We made flyers for the loc...

Poor Seabury had to have a bath and then run around in the snow to get dry. [I know- it seems as though it would not work but I guess her internal heater takes care of it!] Hanging out with Freyja (her Great Dane cousin) is somewhat detrimental to a clean coat it seems. At any rate, she and I send loads of encouraging prayers to our friends at Seabury and Sewanee as they take the GOEs.

Wow- what a whirlwind! The service at St. Mark's was so sweet, even if the music did not work out as planned--that there was any at all is a tribute to Markie's heroic efforts and his rendering of Go Tell it on the Mountain was a real highlight! My first Children's service was so wonderful--the children made it so! There will always be smiles as I think of Alexa and Megan's earnest responses to the questions and Blake's shining eyes as he opened his hand to show me that he still had the Baby Jesus sequestered there. As a best gift, I got a hug from him--my first! I hope not my last. Christmas Eucharist was special too, thanks to the fresh bread that Mary Jane provided. All of her love added in was so touching. Graff and Shannon were wonderful as Crucifer and Server, and Granny Lee sang "I wonder as I wander" in her wonderful way. There were things I would have wished to be different, but the important pieces were in place I think. Then home and a few days ...

They speak for themselves!

Reprinted with Permission, Gary Hall St. Mark’s, Hazard, KY December 16, 2007 [Janey Wilson Ordination] It is a great pleasure for Kathy and me to be here with you in Hazard celebrating Janey Wilson’s ordination to the priesthood. Although Janey was only at Seabury–the seminary in Evanston where I work–for a year, it was an intense year: she managed to do about two years’ work in one year’s time and emerge from the experience still married and healthy and in one spiritual and psychological piece. I have long admired her intelligence and compassion and energy, and I know she is already serving her congregations with grace and wisdom and love. I also know that about the last thing you came to her ordination for was the sermon. So I won’t say a lot, just enough to help us all focus a bit on what God might be up to in calling and ordaining Janey Wilson to the Sacred Order of Priests. I went to seminary in the Boston area, and one year a classmate of mine decided that she would buy a...

Courtesy of my brother Richard who was very dedicated in getting these.