Woodlawn United Methodist Church

As Christians we know that a church is not just a building. As children we learn, "the church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people."

Never the less Birmingham experienced a great loss yesterday.

Woodlawn United Methodist Church burned down yesterday. It is so sad even to say. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, but a building that is so much a part of my own history is forever gone.

My heart hurts for my family knowing the memories that building held. Four generations of Jeffs called this church home. In 1927 my dad's grandmother started going to Woodlawn. My grandfather was raised there. My dad christened there. My paternal grandparents were married there like my parents, as well as three of my aunts to my uncles. Both my dad's family, as well as my mom's family were very active in that church for a lifetime of years. Mom always shared memories about that church. She always pointed to where dad's family sat growing up. She talked about passing the church on her way to her grandmother's house even before they attended. She talked about youth activities and special people.

My mom started going to Woodlawn United Methodist Church in the third grade. I can not imagine how many services she attended. Wednesday night suppers, UMYFs, choir, handbells, countless activities as a child and in to high school. My parents starting dating during a Woodlawn Methodist a church retreat.

When I think of Woodlawn my memories are very different than any of my other family members I am sure. I think of sitting in the center of the balcony as a little girl taking in all around me. What a gorgeous church. This was obvious even to a child. The giant wooden doors. Incredible stained glass windows. Larger than life organ. Beautifully stained pews. Even the cushions in the front almost seemed to special to kneel on. I can remember looking over my left shoulder anxiously waiting to see Honey come in with his offering plate. What an example. Grandmother would quietly unroll a pack of mints and pass them down to each of us. What a treat. My Aunt Gail directing the choir or coming back to see our younger cousins in the Children's Christmas programs.

Though none of my family still attends Woodlawn United Methodist now, I know that church in many ways will always be considered as home.

I think about my own life. I think about the memories I have of growing up at Trinity. Being able to go home and see the place that holds so many special times. I also think about the fond memories John and I have of our own church home in Montgomery only with in the first very short three years. I think about the dear friends we have made. I think about the babies born, youth activities and special events. I can only imagine the magnitude these memories will have in 60 plus years. So many people who made Woodlawn Methodist are no longer with us, but that building could have told thousands of stories of dear dear friends, babies, weddings, and all of life's celebrations...it truly was a family. "The church is the people"

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/05/woodlawn_united_methodist_chur.html

"I'm too old for this stuff..."

I am quickly approaching my 27th birthday. Officially my late twenties. I am not funny about age. I am okay with getting older. Birthdays should be celebrated whatever the number may be. In my few years I have already learned life and age is about perspective.

Growing up I thought at 27 life could possibly start getting a little boring... boring probably is not the word, not boring in that it isn't enjoyable, just boring in that I thought 27 year olds would have all the little "life details" figured out and would almost be shifting to some kind of cruise control to ease in to my thirties....and forties... Wrong. I am so encouraged by how my life is still evolving in so many areas.

Last weekend for some reason several places I went there was a reoccurring concept of being old. This is an idea I hardly associated with myself...but it is odd, there are a few things I have noticed all of a sudden....starting to wonder if it comes with the "late twenties"

1. Suddenly college students look young...even seniors...that is scary
2. Bridesmaids look like junior bridesmaids and couples getting married look so young it is almost silly
3. The kids in our youth group view us as actual chaperons...wow. when we started volunteering with the youth at our church I constantly told John that I bet the youth thought it was so cool and so much fun to have young chaperons instead of random "real adults" and parents....that lasted until we went to their senior dinner celebration and one of the seniors toasted to us saying she "never knew old people could be so fun"....ouch
4. John tutors high school kids in math and science. When he was taking on a new student one of the mom's asked him when he graduated high school...her response was "oh you are getting up there then"...yikes
5.This May makes FIVE years out of college...hmm...that means I have been out of college longer than I was in college..strange
6. My peers are now doctors, lawyers and dentists....who knew that kind of time passed!?

My favorite TV show would probably have to be "How I met your Mother". One of my favorite episodes was "I'm too old for this stuff..." (info from BuddyTv)

Neil Patrick Harris) tried to complete every task on the Murtaugh list, a list of the things Ted (Josh Radnor) feels the gang is too old to do (inspired by the Roger Murtaugh, a fictional character in the Lethal Weapon films whose famous catchphrase is “I’m getting’ too old for this s**t). Ted, on the other hand, wanted to prove Barney wrong by completing Barney’s “Old Men List” of the things he is too young to do.

Ted’s Murtaugh List:
1. Pulling an all-nighter
2. Get ear pierced
3. Hanging posters without frames
4. Crash on a friend's futon
5. Eating an entire pizza in one sitting
6. Do laundry at mom's house
7. Put off going to the doctor
8. Drinking shots with strangers
9. Leave an annoying two person message on your answering machine
10. Help someone move out of a sixth floor walkup in exchange for pizza and beer
11. Beer Bong
12. Going to a rave

Barney’s Old Men List:
1. Yell at neighborhood kids
2. Put on reading glasses
3. Eat supper at 4pm
4. Go to bed at 8pm
5. Get up at 4am
6. Take forever to answer the phone

Personally, I think all of us have some pretty good stuff to look forward to! The Old Man list is sadly pretty darn appealing...

A few other things I might add to my own "I'm too old for this stuff" list...
1. Rolling out of bed for a day of errands...this one just settled in recently. A hard one to swallow. It was normal to roll out of bed put on a hat, and maybe a little lip gloss and look ready to go. No more. Still do it? yes, but instead of looking like a fun college student foot loose and fancy free, I now look like a disheveled young adult who takes little pride in personal hygiene.
2. Marathon road trip weekends. While I enjoy the occasional "roadie" I have noticed that scooting to other cities is starting to take a lot more effort. I wouldn't bat an eye at jumping in the car and going to Birmingham and back within in a few hours, or to the beach at the drop of a hat...now it just makes me tired.
3. Having plans every night...it used to be you could almost fight embarrassment if you didn't really have plans for the weekend. Something was scheduled for every night of the week. Now, in my old age, I almost require what we call at our house a "down night" a night full of eating at home, laundry and tivo...sadly this is sometimes my favorite night of the week.

What would you add to the "I'm too old for this stuff" list?!

This time last year

Something about a gorgeous weekend gets me thinking...I was outside for a majority of the weekend and like my Jur, http://lauramielke.blogspot.com/ found myself reflective, and even more so THANKFUL for all the prayers He has answered since "this time last year". So Jur, in response to your post....

While my "this time last year" does not involve any children of my own, there are so many prayers, both big and small that I am amazed how richly the Lord not only heard, but answered them in ways far better than I could have scripted...

I am not a "date remembering" person by nature (sorry Carrie, that may be why History and I never really got along), but as a Wedding Consultant, I could tell you what I was doing nearly every weekend of the last few years. When you work all week ordering, organizing, planning and anticipating a wedding day...those dates tend to stick with you. Even now, dates come again and I find myself thinking about a special couple that married on that day, and hoping they are even more in love now, eating year old cake, or toasting to another year of marriage. But, sadly, as I think about weddings last April, I am brought back to a place that I am beyond thankful the Lord carried me through.

Last April was filled with gorgeous brides, extravagant weddings, and a busy, busy travel schedule. I personally, however, was the closest I have ever been to an emotional breaking point. When I think about details of those weekends, my heart can go exactly to emotions of the day. I was exhausted, emotionally and physically. My heart was heavy. I missed my husband, my family and my friends. My heart ached.

I agonized over the turmoil around me. I carried burdens that were not mine to bear. I allowed my heart to get involved deeply in issues that were not my own.

I was exhausted, and I was HOT. I worked hard. I worked all the time. I worked under tents. I lugged tables, chivari chairs, vases and flowers. When I was not working I was hot. I drove the faithful red jeep...in all her air conditioning-less glory.

I prayed for endurance. I prayed for direction. I prayed for peace.

Endurance, direction, and peace He gave.... In His timing. He gracefully removed me from the daily turmoil. Lightened the burdens from my heart. Part of my "career" path in to the summer would not fall under the category of ideal..but how much sweeter the blessings are now. I am thankful. Thankful for my job. Beyond thankful for my weekends. Thankful to spend time with my husband. Thankful to spend time with friends and family....and OH SO thankful to have a car with air conditioning!

He blessed me not only with new jobs, a few new dear friends, but also introduced new roles in to my life that I am honored to have and that I cherish...this time last year I was not an Aunt. I was not a Godmother. Obviously, just based on blog posts alone, they have brought me so much joy. Children I now love so much, were still, as my mom would say, "A twinkle in their daddy's eye". Prayers for pregnancies were answered. Prayers for swollen feet, blood pressure, and emergency c-sections were answered.

This time last year I was missing Grandmom McFee like crazy. One year later, I still am...but I am also so thankful for one more year with others that I love so much. Thankful for my health and the health of others. Thankful for time. Time to spend with others, and time to think about what a great God hears all of our prayers.

Now, as I think about the prayers I prayed, I think about how they were answered and I am reminded that they were not always answered immediately. What an encouragement to the prayers I pray now. Last year at this time, John and I hoped and prayed he would have the awesome opportunity and responsibility of Shift work. Answered prayer for opportunity, yes. But, as we press on, nearly one year later, tired of the schedule, tired of the hours, I am reminded that it is all a part of His timing...He will faithfully carry us through this as well, and I am sure in ways far better than could be scripted.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Pants. I dread shopping for pants...maybe dread is a bit extreme, but every time I shop, SO many things ALWAYS catch my eye way before pants....the rare pants that do catch my eye always look darling in the tiny sizes on top of the pile, but as I dig and dig...and dig(phew) to get to my size they somehow lose a little charm. Those that haven't lost all of their charm after surfacing from the depth of the pile, typically never receive a second date after our first rendezvous in the dressing room...

Jeans. We all have our own relationships with jeans. relationships... and categories. dark jeans, light jeans, casual, dressy, the jeans you always reach for, the jeans you would want if you might get dirty, the jeans that feel great with flip flops, the jeans that used to fit and don't really anymore but you press on with a longer top, and lovingly folded at the very bottom of the drawer is the pair that does not fit anymore. not even a chance. can't blame the dryer...done...long gone. but for some reason you just don't want to let them go....which brings me back to digging in the piles.

It is funny to me how sizes work... a while back (okay maybe a really long while) I would reach right for my size..put it on. love it. buy it. done....then there is a time when "THEY" suddenly started making the cut a little differently (surely it is the cut!) so I justify buying JUST that pair of pants a little bit larger.. after all..the way a pair of pants fits is way more important than the number right!?!(tell yourself that!)....before you know it ALL of your pants are the dreaded size you had to buy just that once due to the way they were cut? (odd huh!?)funny how that works....then you hit THE SIZE...

the "NO MORE" SIZE

...sadly, in my case, it has not been the no more lattes, no more cheese dip, no more yummy food size in hopes of rekindling the romance with the wonderful pair at the very bottom of the drawer size. for me it is the fine then....i will buy NO MORE PANTS this size size.... with little action this really just accomplishes one thing....fewer pants

Then I think..Ga! I really need some new pants..but pants aren't fun (the cycle continues). If only pants would just appear then I wouldn't have to spend all of my money on stupid pants.

Well this time folks...it happened! They just appeared! And appeared abundantly! John's sister Alyson can no longer wear any of her pants after giving birth to twins in the fall. darn. hate it for her. SO rude of me to draw attention to this matter you think...well, rude...not the case...this Mama is MUCH too SMALL for her pre-preggers attire...therefore her larger and VERY grateful sister in law received the benefit! Never have I ever been so thankful to be in the "no more size"

Alyson THANK YOU! all of your pants are very happy in their new home! ...oh, and that pair, the ones lovingly folded in the very bottom of my drawer have your name written all over them.

Way to go Mo!

... word on the street (and flickr) is this little guy rolled over! Way to go Mo! This picture of Morris and his daddy, Stuart (my brother), makes me happy. I am very partial, but I think he is the most handsome little guy ever!

Good Friday

John and I were so thankful to have Good Friday off from work! My office was closed, and luckily it fell on John's "weekend". Thursday after work we drove to Hartselle to spend time with family. It was an over due visit for sure! We loved getting to spend some "down time" with family, and loved getting to spend time with our perfect nieces. Sadly, we had not seen the girls since Christmas so we were thrilled to give them lots of love!

We took the girls a little Easter "happy" of bathing suits and sunglasses. They will be beach babes in no time for sure! Uncle John did not seem to think babies need sunglasses (what does he know?!)...but lets be honest...every girl needs a new pair of shades with a little bling for the spring!

Savanah liked her new shades a little more than Payton did....but Payton seemed to LOVE all the bright colors and the ruffle on her bathing suit! It is so much fun to see their little personalities coming out...we have two girls as different as night and day! I am so proud to be your Aunt and it is a joy to watch you grow! I am so excited to see who each of you become as you continue to grow in to little girls! If I had to guess based on your reactions to your new "beach gear"... Savanah I am looking forward to RELAXING with you at the beach one day, and Payton we are going to have so much fun being busy at the beach! We love you both and can not wait to see you again soon!

Three favorites

Three of my very favorite things....

1. porches
2. wine
3. good friends