Memories.

 That's all that's left of another Thanksgiving trip to Georgia.  Memories and there are plenty of them...all good.  So there will be some pictures on this post.  Once again the monastery visit was a good one.  The only thing that would make that better is if more of the family could have been with us.  But we'll take what we can and it's good.  Saturday was our last day together.  Rick left in the morning to visit with his son and family who live in Nashville Tenn.  Jared and family left EARLY Sunday morning on their race to Michigan.  That's a very, very long trip to make in a day.  We left Conyers around 9 and Worshiped at Rossville UMC.  A church that took North UMC confirmation youth and adults in at least 30 years ago with leadership given by Nancy Baxter for a week of work and fun in the Atlanta area.  Sunday's visit brought back many good memories.  
The church seats over 2000 people.  Covid impacted the number a whole lot but the choir loft had about 60 members showing up.  Choirs seem to do that often. A lot of great music and preaching.  We saw about 3 masks, not including ours in the count.  We continued to be careful during the entire weekend.  It's just a different part of the country I guess with different perspectives.  I would say the monastery was very, very careful. .  

We spent the afternoon, evening, and overnight with a good friend Jo Pierce who sang in our North Church choir for many years with her husband Kent.  Jo now lives in a retirement home in Rossville, Ga just north of the church near two of her five daughters

.  It was great to connect with her again.  It was talk, talk, talk.  Jo can remember everything about everything.  So good to see her again.  I would add that she told me she is 89, driving yet meaning she is driving friends as well when they need her.  Her living facility is filled with many friends.  We left for home this morning at 7:30 arriving in the driveway around 6.  That was a day of a whole lot of sitting.  Happy to be back in Indiana.  

The monastery three ponds were 

reflecting their fall colors.  A few geese were swimming across the pond when I took this picture.  

The picture below is of Eli, our youngest grandson with a few geese he was trying to friend.  They turned the other cheek.   Sounds like monastery prayer is needed.  

Now back to thinking about what needs to happen here at home.  There will be phone calls to make.  Things to check on and getting back into the grove called living a life of purpose.  

The church year has begun again with Advent.  We missed that first Sunday at North but attending Rossville UMC filled that need.  I need markers along the way and the church year brings those for me.  

I don't do much on facebook but I have friended our organ playing friend Martin.  His rendition of Mary, did you know...It's so Martin and brings me wonderful blessings popping into my head at the most unusual times.   

How can I keep from SINGING!