New church "home"

The Tarletons have found a new church home. Although it doesn't feel like "home" yet, I'm sure it will with time. Once again the Lord placed me in a new church that I was very resistant to at first (Go back and read blogs "Transition Team" part 1 & 2 for THAT explanation!). Florence Baptist was the first church that Rodney visited while he was living alone in the Kroger-provided apartment. Even he admitted maybe the services were a bit too "polished" for his liking and it was definitely too crowded; but he was intrigued with the fact that they had a fully functioning videography ministry (He had always had to start one in our last three churches!) and something just kept drawing him back there. When the girls and I visited with him, we agreed about the "too polished" comment and you could almost not find a place to sit and you DEFINITELY couldn't find a place to park if you were not a visitor AND got there early! I didn't want to go back but Rodney reminded me that it was never the music program or even the preaching that brought us to a church....it was always the Sunday School. We have always joined a church despite their music and sometimes despite their preaching; we would fall in love with the church family that we met when we would visit their Sunday School. I told Rodney, however, that I didn't even want to visit Sunday Schools till we were certain where we would be living permanently. After all, I didn't want to attach to a people, then move 20-30 minutes away. We've always believed in serving in a church in our immediate area when possible, then you will be serving YOUR local community and building up Christian fellowship in YOUR area. So I persuaded him to start visiting other worship services within 15 minutes of Florence. Some of my previous blogs documented a few of these visits; we visited about six other churches. These visits did help us to focus in on what we really did want in a church....and what we did NOT want!

Once we knew we were going to live in the nearby Walton community we started visiting Sunday Schools. I didn't even allow the first Sunday School to be Florence Baptist! But once we DID visit Florence Baptist's Sunday School, we were blown away. This is a huge church body...about 1200 attend Sunday morning worship....yet we were not allowed to be a nameless face in the crowd. Pastor Pete (pastor of young adults and media) met us at the door to the education building and had other youth take our teens to class and sit with them. He directed us to a warm, fun class where we were immediately made to feel welcome. Our small group teacher, David, went out of his way every time we showed up to make us feel special. Pastor Rodney (Senior associate pastor) took a special interest in us and still stops us weekly to see if we are getting plugged in. We've been visiting all the small groups of our age and each group has been very friendly and accepting. Dang it! The Lord was doing it again! He was drawing me into a church I hadn't even liked! Sometimes I think God is up there, ribbing one of his angels, saying "Watch this hard-headed one, Gabriel...watch her put up a fight again...every time!"

One by one, my objections were being knocked down. Sure, they were a large church...but they went out of their way MORE than the smaller churches to make us feel welcome. The services were a little more formal, polished, maybe even rehearsed-feeling than we liked....but the music WAS good and we always enjoyed Pastor Tim's (senior pastor) messages. The parking was atrocious and the building was crowded but they were about to move into a new huge, spacious building with plenty of parking in a couple of months just....now get this...9 minutes from our new home....ok, ok, that IS my community now *sigh*. I still felt resistant...it wasn't what I had in mind. But there was that incredibly tall steeple of the new building just mocking me every time I drove that way....which was every other day! One day, as I was driving by again, I felt the Lord say to me "This IS the one, Joy." As my eyes followed the steeple, I finally said "Ok, Lord, wherever you want me." I don't know why I always make it so hard. My husband never agonizes like I do...it is always an easy decison for him.

We just joined 3 weeks ago and attended this past week the new member's informational luncheon. Obviously, the staff of this church has read the book "Simple Church" by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger because this church patterns exactly their model church! Their process and strategy are the same: Know (worship), Grow (small groups), Live (Service), and Share (sharing/evangelizing) the Truth. As a member you are expected to do all four...which is how it should be...don't join a church if you aren't ready to work shoulder to shoulder with fellow Christians to build the Kingdom! Rebecca is already making friends in the 6th grade class; Rodney will be approaching the media pastor about his area of expertise, videography, in the next few days; I have already been practicing with the choir and will be singing with them for the first time this Sunday (backing up Clay Crosse, a well-known Christian music artist of the 90's!); Rodney and I already have talked to Pastor Phillip (worship pastor) about helping with their passion plays and other major dramas; Michelle, Rebecca and I will be helping with their VBS in June. We are trying to begin to integrate into the life of this church.

It is still difficult though. Michelle doesn't really feel welcomed by any of the older youth; even though she is an eleventh grader, the only ones making her feel welcome are the ninth graders. It is hard to go from being the lead singer, lead actress, congo player, and one of the leaders of the youth to a new youth who is really nobody in the youth group. I feel her pain. Nobody really knows us here. It is like our slate is wiped clean and we have to start all over again. Like we have to "prove" ourselves again. When people see our faces, they don't think: videography, crisis pregnancy center, youth band, drama, singing, home school guru, Sunday School teacher, etc. They just think "new people". We really don't have any friends here in Cincinnati area at all yet...so it is still very lonely. But hopefully, that will change soon.... now that we have made the big step of choosing a new church home...or did WE really choose it?

The Littlest Rebel

I'm raising a rebel. Actually, I think I'm raising four rebels, but who would've thought that my sweet, innocent youngest offspring would take to it with such obvious glee? When I started mentioning out loud that I might attend the Cincinnati Tax Day Tea Party, I really wasn't sure I would go. But once Rebecca heard that she could make her own sign and march through the streets of the city loudly protesting the government, there was no way she was going to let me back out. Her eyes shone with excitement. She was constantly reminding me to purchase the cardboard for the signs and the night before the march, when we began to choose our political statements and make the signs of protest, Rebecca could not contain her excitement. Her hopes were slightly dashed when I explained to her that she would NOT be allowed to throw tea bags at City Hall (littering) and that I would NOT allow her to write some of the things she wanted on her sign ("We don't want to look like ABSOLUTE crazies, Honey.") Reluctantly, she toned down her rhetoric and choose "Don't Destroy My Future!" as her signage mantra. She figured it would elicit more sympathy for one that looked as young as she.

The next morning, as Michelle, Rebecca, and I stood for over an hour on the Fountain Square with 4000 other protesters in the cold wind, Rebecca almost lost her resolve as she shivered and leaned on me. But then as we started marching through the downtown streets of Cincy, she perked up. Spurred on by the anti-protesters yelling at us from the street corners, she made sure she was on the edge closest to them and shouted "USA, USA, USA!" louder and more forcefully. Many photographers were intrigued by this fiesty little protester with the obviously handmade sign and she was very happy to pose when asked. I'm sure she is on quite a few blogs today!

When we reached City Hall, we were positioned halfway back in the crowd and behind a tree; this just wouldn't do for Rebecca. She asked permission to get a little closer. I said, "Sure, as long as I can see your sign." In a few minutes, I realized I COULDN'T see her sign anymore. That is scary in a crowd of thousands. But after a quick glance around the tree, I see her. She is in the very front, sign pumping up and down, and has joined the loud chorus yelling at the mayor in hiding: "You work for us! You work for us!" Uh, oh....I think I may have created a monster.

The police were telling us we needed to go; they needed to reopen the streets again. As I motioned to Rebecca to come on, she started complaining, "Mom, no! The mayor hasn't come out yet! We need to make him come out!"

"Becca! Look at this angry crowd. Do you REALLY think he WILL stick his little toe out that door?! Come on child, let's go."

Reluctantly, she trudged back to the car with us and hundreds of other protesters, signs now hanging limply at their sides. We watched the coverage that night to make sure it was covered fairly; local coverage was fair and balanced ;).

We were satisfied that we had participated in something good - something to at least make government perk up a bit. We know it is just a small thing, that much more needs to be done. My family does believe in the adage: All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. If we sit back at home and say "Well, it is hopeless." then it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. So we are glad that we did participate in a very American pasttime - speaking against what we consider bad government. But Rebecca is still upset I wouldn't let her throw tea bags.



PS...The above photo is from the website of MSNBC. The two young protesters in the right-hand corner are Michelle and Rebecca!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30224109/

Hummingbirds...

My Mom said she just saw the first hummingbirds of the season in Georgia. I read that hummingbirds come to the Cincinnati area around the middle of April. In anticipation of their arrival, I have purchased a hummingbird feeder and am deciding the best place to put it so I can watch my favorite little birds.

Last spring, right after Kroger's General Offices had expressed interest in my husband taking a new position, God used one of these tiny little hummers to teach me a lesson. We knew there was an excellent chance that we would be sent to Cincinnati...away from, not only my friends and family, but also from the ministries I had help start in Jackson, GA. I was fretting over not being able to see what would happen to Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center. I mean, what would they DO without me? I had been one of the three founders, then the chairman of the board, then the director. I arrogantly wondered how they would survive and was indulging in some self-pity that I would not be there to observe the day to day activities and to "watch" over them. Then God sent the hummingbird.

It was a rather warm day in late March, just as the wisteria vines were in bloom, and the janitor of First Baptist Church of Jackson opened the lobby doors to let in some fresh spring air. A tiny hummingbird had flown in and zoomed to the second story windows. By the time the girls and I saw him, he was already getting tired and trying to rest on the window slats which were quite beyond our reach. Rebecca and her best friend, Katy Jordan, stayed on the second story landing watching him so they could tell me when he got exhausted enough to start falling within reach.

After two hours, they came running into the youth room where I was listening to Michelle, DJ, and Madelyn practicing for youth band that night. "Momma, come quick!" The little thing was buzzing around the landing. When he finally flew very close to the floor, I threw Rebecca's jacket over him then gingerly picked him up. We all took the elevator to the first floor and went outside to find a place to let him go. But when I opened my hands, he acted like he was almost dead already. I laid the little fella on a large leaf of a gardenia bush in front of the church but he just laid there on his side breathing hard. I told the girls that maybe he just needed to rest and that he was too frightened but I knew from my study of hummingbirds how much energy they use to fly and how they HAVE to eat every few minutes when they are flying constantly....so I knew he didn't have the energy to fly away.

I went back into the church and told this to my good friend, Trish Jordan (Katy's mom). She suggested taking a styrofoam cup and breaking off all but the very bottom and mixing up sugar packets with water and trying to feed it. Great idea! I went back out with my little cup of sugar water. The little thing was still laying on its side with labored breathing. Rebecca and Katy watched in amazement as I cradled the leaf and bird in my left hand and tilted the cup bottom just enough to stick the long, slender beak into the sugar water. Even though he didn't even have the energy left to even open his eyes, he almost immediately stuck his pipe-like tongue into the water and started drinking. His tongue, however, was the only thing he moved; I was thinking how sad it would be for the girls to watch this beautiful creature die after all their diligence. Then, after 10 minutes, he sorta sat up and continued to drink and started opening his tiny eyes. My arms were cramping up from staying in the exact same position for 15 minutes. Without warning, he suddenly started flying! He hovered for a few seconds right in front of us and chirped at us several times as if to say "thank you", then flew into a nearby bush!

It was an amazing feeling! All three of us cheered. I told the girls we better get out of his way so he could hurry up and recover and get home ....he only had a couple more hours of light at best. But the girls wanted to stay. "We need to make sure that he is going to be OK....we need to watch over him." I told them that we had done everything we could do to help him. Our part was over; the rest was up to God now.

God had allowed us this marvelous little miracle...how many people get the opportunity to nurse a hummingbird back to health? But we could not expect to be there the rest of his little life. Our part was exciting but small. Later, I thought about how this related to my stint at Life Choices. I was given a wonderful opportunity to play a part in starting something meaningful. God had put me in that spot at just the right moment to play that part. How many people get to start and even direct a crisis pregnancy ministry? But, obviously, it wasn't my lot to "watch" over it for the rest of its "life". My part was over; the rest was up to God now.

My library!

These photos are of my new library in my new home in Walton, KY! This room was suppose to be the dining room, but who needs to eat when you can READ?! It actually ended up being a library/music room because it also houses my piano, 2 harps, the electric training keyboard, a guitar, and many small instruments I collect. My wonderful sister-in-law Anna held on to my piano for the 12 years that I lived in Jackson, GA because it would not fit in the house there. When we moved here she let me have it back. This was very exciting for me; the piano was given to me by my Mom and Dad when I expressed an interest in learning to play as a teenager. Rebecca is interested in learning to play the piano and Michelle has expressed interest in learning to play the harp again so now we have a double purpose room...a library and a practice room! My husband bought and put together these bookshelves this weekend. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised at all when I tell you that these four large bookshelves do not hold all my books; I still had to take 3 boxes of books upstairs to store. In addition, I am storing three boxes of children's books in the basement for my future grandchildren. Rodney says "That's it...you cannot buy anymore books when you can fill up a library and still have overflow." He says that but he knows it is sheer folly to think I will never buy another book. Maybe we can strike a deal; maybe I can give away an old book for each new book that I purchase. I don't know....it is too painful to even think of such things.

April Fooled......again....

Today is the 26th year that my husband has gotten me with the same old April Fool's prank. All it takes is just one good prank for me....you can use it over and over...as long as you play to my habits. Rodney always rubber bands the spray attachment at the kitchen sink open because he knows that the first thing I do every morning is wash my hands at the kitchen sink. He sets up the spray attachment to hit me with water right around my face or shoulder area....it rarely misses. Last year my routine changed slightly. I would go to the computer, check my email, THEN go wash my hands in the kitchen sink and proceed to have my coffee with honey. AhHA! I saw on an email that it was April Fool's Day! Well, he wouldn't get me this year...this year I KNEW what was coming. Then I got a phone call or something that distracted me. Guess what I did when I got through...yep...you guessed it - I turned on the water at the kitchen sink to wash my hands. *sigh* Ok...it gets better. I was so angry at myself; I jerked my soaked shirt off and threw it into the dryer, mumbling about my ridiculous husband, washed my hands in the bathroom while I was back there, then proceeded to drink my coffee and honey. Stupid husband. In the meantime, I was hurrying my kids out the door. My friend, Trish, had come to pick them up for a class; her son, Dallas, was talking to me as I was rushing the girls and getting myself ready to go out the door for work. Oh yeah.... I better fill up my water bottle so I'll drink water at work today....and.....splash...yep....my shirt was soaked again. I had failed to take the rubber band off the spray attachment. Two hits with one prank. Dallas hit the floor laughing so hard. I didn't even have time to dry my shirt; I had to change outfits. WHY?! How could I BE so absentminded.

OK...fast forward to today...April Fool's 2009. New house, new traditions. He was NOT going to get me today. I remembered the night before. I went down while he was still in the shower and REMOVED the band (he had changed to a easy velcro strip this year). I proceeded to gloat while I drank the morning coffee with him. Then he took the trash to the road while I went upstairs to brush my teeth. When I came down he told me to replace the kitchen trash liner and he'd see me tonight. We kissed and he left. I replaced the trash liner then....of course....went to wash my hands in the kitchen sink...where he had...of course...replaced the velcro strip. Luckily my current work uniform is a nifty polyester shirt that I easily brushed the water off of as I took his name in vain and stamped out the door for work. Just wait till next year....27 years is the charm.