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I was looking through my facebook memories today and this one popped up. I didn't even remember writing it ....

As I was thinking about the bad stuff of the day from 9/11 and yet how much it bugs me to think on the bad stuff, my mind turned to another time that we honor & celebrate the bad stuff: Easter.
Then I had to ask myself what was different about celebrating/honoring 9/11 with the "never forget" but that Easter didn't cause that feeling for me. What is the difference?
After all, during Holy Week, most Christians do not shy away from celebrating Palm Sunday, reading about the moment that Jesus rode into Bethlehem on a donkey and then end with shouts of "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
For the entire next week, we let those words soak into our minds and hearts. We wash each other's feet on Thursday and end with the Altar and all of the sanctuary stripped of anything that tells us "Jesus is here." And we feel that, right to our core.
What if we left it right there? What would we become?
I imagine that we would hate the Jews who wanted Jesus dead. We'd think that Judas deserved every bad thing that came to him, including his own death by suicide.
We'd end with anger and hatred and sadness.
But we don't leave it there. We remember the redemption that happened.
The women found the stone rolled away. They saw the tomb empty - where was their Rabbi? They were heartbroken and left to go home. But Mary Magdalene stayed behind and found the gardner and asked where they had layed Jesus - she would take him away if they wanted her to.
And the person that she thought to be the gardner turned out to be the Risen Lord. He had risen! He couldn't be conquered!
That was the redemption. That was the Good News. That is what we truly celebrate when we "never forget."

So today, perhaps we can use the redemptive moments of 9/11 to remember to tell everyone that we see "God bless you." And to our family and friends, "I love you, and I'm so glad that you're in my life." And count our lucky stars for those of our loved ones who are alive and still with us.
Because that is the redemption of 9/11 that causes us to be better people; people who had their hearts broken yet healed because of the love of our family, friends, and God.
We can have terrible things happen, and we still rise. Because we are made of the same stuff as God, because we have a measure of His Divinity is us too.

♥ Melody

"After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, 'Drink this, all of you'" (from the Book of Common Prayer)

A few months ago, I went to an EfM Mentor training (what is that?). It began on a Friday at 1 p.m. and went through Sunday at 1 p.m.
On Saturday, after we'd done our training for the day, we went to supper, walking to a restaurant downtown.
Our trainer was an Episcopal Priest.
After we'd finished our supper and was getting ready to go back, she asked if we'd like to do communion right there at our table in the restaurant. She told us that if anyone felt uncomfortable and objected, we would not do the ceremony. We all agreed that we'd like to.

So she bought more bread that we'd eaten as an appetizer, and she bought a glass of wine. She improvised with the linens, and she started the liturgy (for the Holy Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer) from memory --

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

When she got to this line, I felt electricity and such a powerful feeling, because we, too, had just finished supper - 

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."

The rest of the liturgy followed, and then very thoughtfully each of us gave the bread and wine to each other, feeding each other just as Jesus's disciples had done in the upper room.
It was such a solemn experience that took my mind to how it must have been to have eaten that Last Supper with the Lord. It was such an absolutely powerful experience.

♥ Melody

Blakely's Blessing Day

Steve, Michael, and I went to Blakely's blessing yesterday. It was held outside in Evon and Gerardo's backyard.

It was a lovely ceremony and nice luncheon. We sat with Grandma Howe and visited - reminiscing about her days as a Mormon Missionary in Hawaii.
Just at the end of the luncheon, the black clouds rolled in and the rain downpoured, freaking Michael out. He wanted to immediately go to the car and get in, so our exit yesterday was easier than normal! Poor Mike got soaked and wanted Steve to change his shirt as soon as they got home.

I took a little more time and drove around the house we'd seen for sale close by the pond - just a couple blocks away. Only time will tell what will happen with that. The house itself is very plain - just a red brick rambler, but the YARD! It is all behind the house, making the lot deep, and it is covered with mature trees, ensuring privacy. I just may have to have a realtor take me through!

Afterward, I came home and we ate and watched tv, which is the perfect end to a Sunday.

♥ Melody

June's Grandma's Tuna Noodle Salad

June's Grandma's Tuna Noodle Salad

Cook 1 lb of Ditalini noodles as directed, and then stir in -
2 cups mayo
1/4 cup cream or milk (I used half & half)
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2 or 3 cans of tuna (I used 2)

salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1 tsp of salt and 1/8 tsp of black pepper)
Stir together well.

If it is too dry after it sits, stir in a little more mayo. I am told it is even better after sitting overnight in the fridge.

5 years at St Mary's Church

Yesterday marks the day of my 5 year anniversary at St Mary's Church.
5 years before, on a Friday, I went to Al Anon in the library St Mary's Church.
I was intrigued by the red front doors and the stained glass windows, and I really wanted to see the stained glass from inside the church proper, but the doors were locked that day. I resolved to go to church that Sunday and see them from the inside, and I did. I also did research on what the red doors symbolized (old time sanctuary) and what The Episcopal Church's doctrine was - it was the inclusive church I was looking for, and I've been there every since.

It is interesting to me that St Mary's Church has been in that same spot since 1907, but until that day I never realized that it existed, though it is only 6 blocks (on the same road, no less!) from the house I grew up in from 13 years old on. I must have driven by it hundreds of times!

Who would've thought when I showed up hurt and wounded from addiction and loss of my religion that day in 2014 that 5 years later I would be starting an EfM group as the mentor, using that same room in the library.

♥ Melody

Potato Salad

Potato Salad
(4th Printing - 1980 Betty Crocker's version, altered a bit for my preference)

2 lbs potatoes (about 6 medium)
1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 TBS vinegar
1 TBS mustard
1 tsp salt
2 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)(optional)
2 or 3 green onions, chopped (optional) (or 1 medium onion, chopped)
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped

Boil potatoes, let cool. Cut up into bite size pieces
Hard boil eggs, let cool. Chop into small pieces.

Mix mayo, vinegar, mustard, and salt. Add potatoes, celery and onions. Stir in eggs. Cover and refrigerate.