Aunt & Ants

In happy news I became an aunt on Sunday! My new niece, well first and only niece I have, was born in Williamsburg, VA. Her name is Gabriella Marie Sexton and she was 5lbs and some ounces and 18inches long- according to my mom. I am excited- we are going to go see them in a few weeks.

Also speaking of ants- I have come to the realization that I am indeed a magnet for ants- they love me and they love biting me.

So Sunday was our first Sunday back in our church since October. I have been up to the church several times since October- mostly in the last month to help with clean-up from construction. But this was a Sunday- and everyone was there- life had entered the building in full force with excitement and hesitation.

I found myself taking a deep breath at the door before entering- telling myself- here goes nothing. It almost felt like ripping a band-aid off- just plunging right back in. The building is so beautiful and some wonderful changes and updates have been made- the people are more beautiful than ever- bonded together by something only we can feel, but now trying to continue to struggle forward in our own lives as well as our ministry as a church.

I was in the nursery Sunday- with a whopping 16 kiddos! I was actually glad to be in there instead of service. Kids have a way of keeping you so busy you really don't think about what's going on around you. I can still so vividly recall the details of that October morning -- what I was wearing, lighting the candles in front of the baptistery- what conversations I had- I would be a complete fake if I said that I wasn't a little weirded out about sitting through a service in that room again.

It is an amazing thing that what was once broken can be pieced back together again in a new and fresh way- but what is more amazing is that what has changed is still the same. I find it somewhat impossible to even place into words what it feels like for me to walk down the halls of UBC now- it is almost dreamlike, there is a silent peace to it- like time has slowed down-- all I know is I am glad to be back even if it means dealing with emotions I thought I had long passed by.

Communion

Today Adam and I, along with the Carney's served communion during service at UBC. I love serving communion- although sometimes I feel like I should workout before because my arms get tired while holding the plate/bowl/bread combo. Anyway....

I really enjoy serving communion because I feel like I am inviting everyone to come eat at my house- It is so exciting and almost emotional for me- to be able to offer something of such meaning to such a large group of people many of which are my friends whom I consider family- but also those I don't really know at all.

Having people over to my house is something I really enjoy- over for dinner is even better- there is something so beautiful about sharing my personal space with someone else, being able to serve them and make them feel at home. And, I, like Matt Singleton feel that lots of relationships develop over meals. This is why I love serving communion- for me it is like a smaller yet larger version of inviting someone into my home.

I also enjoy watching to see how people take communion- some people take large pieces of the bread while others barely any- how some couples come together and other separate- it is interesting to see how most people just keep taking from the one loaf even when there are 3 others- some people are big dunkers while others just dab. It is just such a great experience.