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.