Amazing Family

Mike succinctly recorded all of our travels over the past weekend.  I realized last night that I have been in 5 airports this past week and taken 7 flights.  Only God could have allowed the details to work out so easily.  Amazingly all of my flights were direct flights (no layovers!) and had few delays!

It was such a blessing to spend time remembering my grandma, who was a pillar of faith in my life.  I was honored to assist with her funeral and share thoughts about her life.  I was so glad that Mike was home from camp and able to join me and then together celebrate the life of his grandpa.  I can't imagine walking that road alone!  It was hard enough being away from him when we both received the news about our grandparents deaths.  We were definitely reminded that we come from a strong heritage of faith and have incredible examples to follow of what it means to serve loudly and quietly!

This title has a double meaning because I was not only reminded about my amazing biological family but about the amazing chosen family of faith we have here at home.  I was totally blown away by the cards, gifts, calls of concern, food, lawn mowing, and so much more that has been shown to us over the last week.  I knew I loved this church but it was just a LOUD reminder of how much this is home for us.   We can't imagine being anywhere else!!!  As long as Reidland will have us, we will be here.  We truly believe that God has put us here and love working alongside our family here.  THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

In addition, last night I witnessed an incredible event.  Many of the volunteers that help with our high school group served our students in a powerful way.  They began their class playing some silly games in the grass.  Then our leaders did this for the kids...... 

What an incredible example of service.  These adults had huge smiles on their faces as they showed our teens that they are willing to get down and dirty for them.  They don't ask them to do anything that they aren't willing to do.  I just love this church.... they aren't afraid to work, to serve, and to love!

A New Chapter

My grandma's body gave up on Wednesday. Her heart was really strong and held on several weeks longer than any of us expected. As timing would have it, we were all supposed to gather in Pennsylvania this weekend for a wedding. The first great-grandchild is getting married and we are celebrating with her. Grandma would want us to celebrate and enjoy being together. So this weekend we will celebrate with Cassie and go home next week and have a celebratory service for my grandma. The weekend can't help but regale stories and sayings from years past.

A new chapter will begin as we all begin to navigate life with our memories but learning how to live without her daily presence in our lives.

Your prayers are coveted this week.

Siner family

My maiden name is something that I am extremely proud of. I had a difficult time when I married Mike giving it up --- so I didn't. I know that many people feel like a woman keeping her maiden name is a symbol of a feminist, liberal, etc.... I don't deny that there is a part of me that is these things, but for me I struggled with giving up the name that had defined me for so many years. That name held a lot of meaning for me and still does, thus why I couldn't give it up. I don't often make a big deal about the fact that my legal name is Sara Siner-Darling, I do go by this professionally and am proud of my Siner heritage. The Siner family has contributed so much to the person I am today. One of the people that shaped me is my Grandma. Mildred was a deeply spiritual woman. I wrote about her a few weekendds ago but I can't help but keep writing.

One moment that I will never forget is a few moments we shared together when we were visiting a few weeks ago. I took the overnight shift on Saturday night and before my aunt arrived on Sunday, she woke up and asked what day it was. When I told her it was Sunday she told me that I needed to go to church. Our faith has been something that we shared together. I took that opportunity to spend some time reading scripture out of her Bible. Her Bible is rich with notes that she has recorded over the last 60 years. As I began to read scripture to her she joined me in reciting the words I was reading. She didn't need to see them on the page because they were written on her heart. Tears streamed down my face as we worshipped together that morning. Those moments of worship together were some of the most powerful ones I have experienced. It was in those few minutes that I felt apart of thin spaces. Thin spaces to me represent moments that it is obvious that God is present and moving. Heaven and earth meet. Spending 2 1/2 days in my grandma's room was a thin space. The notes and pictures represent years of loving and caring about others. Her life was lived in quiet, powerful ways. She served in ways that many would never know. She served her family through prayer, cards, hugs, meals, and allowing God to shape and form them.

I only hope that I will honor her memory in similar ways.