The "cpu" is still up and
running, so I am keeping my fingers crossed and writing a longer note that more
fully expresses my feelings of this day.
My blessings over the past year have been
many. At this time in 1999, I was still
in the early stages of recovering from my stroke in September. The doctors and nurses and staff who helped
me through it all were God sent.
I live with two young 'uns who seem to
enjoy fussing over me, even when I drag John out of the studio or Elsa out of
bed for the 4th time in the wee small hours of the morning. They almost always - unless totally groggy -
come into my room and leave with a smile.
They are fun and make my life lively.
The Bryn Athyn community has blessed my
life for almost all of my life. There are so many ways I am blessed by it, from
the wonderful recordings of the Contemporary Service which I love to listen to,
to the rides that dear Ginny Tyler arranges to take me to appointments, to the
friends who she sends to be my chauffeur du jour and whose generosity and
friendship are so very special, to the wonderful people who embody the word
community and kindness.
A big and unexpected blessing this year has
been my involvement with an online group of men and women who are exploring the
role of women in the ministry of the General Church. The discussions I have heard and participated
in online have kept my noggin stepping lively and the get-togethers I have
attended have always left me with a sense of peace and trust in the Lord.
I was blessed by the circle of women who
get together every other Wednesday for discussion about topics of
interest. They are older women -
although all are younger than yours truly - and the discussion is always
interesting. I had not been to the get-togethers
for over a year, but did go last month when they invited Sonia Soneson Werner
to come talk to them about the current discussion on the role of women in our
ministry. I was so proud of them for
asking her, I was so proud of her for going and I was so lucky to be there to
hear my friends' willingness to listen to the unknown and to share their own
experiences and their feelings about it.
It was an unexpected and profound blessing.
The "dist list" that started my
online life - New Church Women on the Internet - continues to stimulate and recharge me
every time I read a new posting. Each
and every one of you is dear to my heart.
The wonderful circle of women who gathered
at Tonche and showed me such kindnesses throughout the women's retreat weekend
was a delightful blessing. What an unexpected bonus it was that both of my
daughters were there with me.
Among my greatest blessings this year has
been my relationships with my children, each of which is more clearly defined
than ever. That has brought me a deep
sense of peace.
My blessings include two new grandchildren
- Kimberly and Chad. May their marriages
to Scott and Whitney be blessed with all the happiness true married love
offers.
This group - my Mindwalkers - continues to
be a blessing. When I was confined to the big chair in the living
room, I could always get up and about through this list. Just knowing each of you is out there makes a
tremendous difference in my life and - this might sound strange but it is true
- in my energy. I truly do believe that
this has done more than I can imagine in helping me recover more of my energies
than I would have believed possible.
My faith, my Creator and my constant love
for my dearly missed Pete are my greatest blessings and the foundation of all
others. I am a lucky lady and I know it.
Love to you all and my thanks to the
computer for not going walk-about before I sent this.
The Lord upon you send His blessings -
Grammie Kay
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