December
It’s been over a month since I’ve given myself the opportunity to sit and write here. At 7am I’ve already been up for a few hours and part of me, despite my usual cups of coffee, is beginning to feel it. I was supposed to be on the road and headed to Philadelphia by now to reconnect with two of my besties, Shay and Stephanie. Shay is in from Minnesota for the first time since we graduated from seminary; we were going to spend the day at Stephanie’s who lives outside of Philly. But, it is January and it is snowing, and though Al Roker who is on in the other room says it will probably stop in just a few hours, I am having to find other things to do with my caffeinated time than get on the road to see two of my loves.
So here I am.
A few quick updates:
My experience at the MFC was certainly positive. Though my interview began just over an hour later than scheduled, and despite the unsettling deer and pheasant dance wallpaper on neon color squares and striped carpet aesthetics of the hotel we interviewed in, I received a ‘one’ and upon the completion of my internship here in Annapolis will be in Preliminary Fellowship with the UUA. This was the goal of all goals and I still cannot believe that after five years and one hour’s interview, here I am. The process is certainly never over but I am restfully grateful to tuck this part of the process away. I am pretty sure that my ordination will be scheduled for September at my home church; a thought that gives me butterflies.
On the 24th I did the 5:00 family Christmas Eve service. Friends, Tara, Emily and Emily’s sister and mother were here. It was the first Christmas I was away from my family; the first Christmas Eve I did not sing Polish Christmas carols or hear my father sing Silent Night while playing along on his guitar; the first December I went without pierogies; the first of a lot of new traditions and new understandings of family. So, with that said, it was a gift to have people I love with me, even if it wasn’t the usual suspects.
I bought a fake Christmas tree, Tara helped me decorate it with construction paper and bows. A few days before Christmas I received a carepackaage from my Mom with my old ornaments from my grandparents and my home church as well as my grandmother’s town figurines and little angels that I set up; a Christmas runner and some hay that I put under it to represent Jesus’ bed in the manger, just like we do at home. It made this place my home and in some way connected me to my family in a way that can be missed when I am with them.
The Christmas Eve service went very well and in fact, I had fun doing it. I’m not always confident speaking to the children from the pulpit but perhaps this Christmas Eve awoke something inside of me I want to explore and unfold that I hadn’t expected.
In between returning from the MFC and Christmas, actually the day I returned from Chicago, I was given the opportunity to apply for my first choice job though I wasn’t entirely prepared with everything I’d need to hand in; meaning, I had nothing I needed to apply. Thrown together with what I could get, I was given the opportunity to interview. A week and a ridiculous amount of stress-eating later, I have been given the opportunity to Pre-Candidate the first weekend of February. Maybe because the coffee is wearing off, or maybe because it is working and I’m just so tired despite it, but I can’t explain how excited I am about this possibility, and about the process I’ve already been through leading up to this point.
In the last few weeks I met with, and showed myself to, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee; I’ve applied to my first job that could turn into a career; I spent my first Christmas without my given family and continued traditions that reminded me that I will never be without them. Work continues to be busy but rewarding; I have begun running just over five miles at my fastest pace and have set a goal to run a half marathon in April; Owen continues to make me laugh and smile and remind me that I am not the only thing that exists in my world; my college friends and I brought in the New Year together; I have begun cooking with new confidence and excitement than ever before; I haven’t eaten meat or poultry since the New Year.
These are just a few things that have taken my attention; not nearly all. I guess the only update I can really give is, it’s been a busy month.
The sun is coming up. Even at 5:45 the sun seemed to creep up with more confidence as it reflected off the snow. Its a blue grey outside; still and quiet. Owen is at his usual spot looking out the window. I wonder when the next time will be that Shay and Stephanie and I will be together. Maybe I should have gotten on the road. Maybe I should have just taken it slow; drank some more coffee; taken a nap even when I got there to prepare for having to come back only a few hours later. But here I am at 7:30am; the Catholic Church bells are ringing.
