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.