Home...Now what?

Now what? Was one of the comments at the end of Dr. Sharon Watkins sermon last Friday... and now that I'm home I'm feeling a bit of "Now what?" It was a great week. The final closing service and communion celebration was truly that... a celebration! WONDERFUL music from the Assembly Children's Choir as well as the world-traveled Indianapolis Children's Choir and the adult Assmbly Choir who sang with emmy-award winning Christian singer, Donald Lawrence and everyone was up on their feet waving their hands and clapping. Christian folk singer Carrie Newcomer shared beautiful music as well as the Assembly praise band under the wonderul, inspired and invigorating directorship of Bill Thomas. The talented Congan musician who played the Congo drum carved out of a huge log called us to worship again on Sunday and was followed by the rhythms of a Samoan praise band from a church in Indianapolis. I wanted to get a little video of one of Donald Lawrence's songs with the choir, but my camera batteries died and I didn't have replacements with me. DUH.
Connie and I left after the closing service and decided to drive straight back Sunday night. Her husband, a trucker for a major national trucking company was on his was TO Indianapolis and we were able to meet him in Bloomington, Illinois at a truck stop as he was heading south and we were heading north. Met their Spaniel, Taz, that rides along with him in the truck. Sweet, sweet dog. Got back to Vinton about midnight, by the time I unloaded my stuff from her car and loaded my own (good thing I wasn't flying and having to pay extra for extra weight for the stuff I brought home) it was 12:30 when I got on the road again for Stanhope. I got home about 3 a.m. this morning.
It's good to be home, good to see my son again, good to have Marshall back with his tail wagging that he missed me. But all the way back I was singing one of the final songs, "Revive Us" and praying that the energy I received in Indy would follow me home and revive my spirit... not just when around 6000 others praising and praying, which is easy... but when it's just me. Revive me for that which I have been called to do. Revive me from the depression and tiredness that seems to surround me in spite of my best efforts. I was revived in Indy... may God's spirit come SUDDENLY and often and zap me with a bolt of energy when I need it and for the work yet to come. I hope the "now what" is answered and I have the knowledge to hear it and the energy to do it. Revive us with your fire! Revive ME with your fire!

SUDDENLY!!!

Suddenly there was a loud noise from God like a mighty wind!!! Suddenly the angel appeared! Suddenly the waters parted! Suddenly.... the General Assembly was revived with the spirited words of Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas of the Mississippi Blvd. Christian Church of Memphis, TN and we were shouting and crying and waving our hands and standing and shouting Amen and Hallelujah! Suddenly, without warning is how God comes into our lives. It's been a glorious day at GA!
A resolution to change how resolutions, and how many issues, can be brought before the GA was hotly debated. Some felt they were trying to allow more time to truly delve into issues. Others thought they were trying to silence some voices and 'censor' what was discussed. Another resolution regarding our outreach in friendship to the people of all nations who are challenged, enslaved, in crisis, war. To pray for them as they prayed for the U.S. in 2001 and showed us solidarity in our grief. The resolution calls for us to light candles and pray for our brothers and sisters around the world every year on September 12... the day that the world held vigils, lit candles, and publicly prayed for all who died on 9/11. We also passed a HUGE change in the Order of Ministry, allowing licensed ministers to follow an ordination track of education without going to seminary.
I finished my second day of 'going green' workshops, and have some initial ideas to bring home and information to share.... but I told them that no way no how was this Iowa girl going to tell folks to grow less corn and feed cows green grains (alfalfa, etc) not corn so there's less methane.
All topped off with an amazing, roused off of our feet worship including inspiring music from the Assembly praise band, a praise band from New York, the youth assembly choir and the adult assembly choir, AND an amazing singer from Indiana and a liturgical dancer from Chicago. And I was moved to tears when ministers were asked to stand... new ministers and retired ministers went forward and the rest stood in place and then they asked everyone to put their hand on the shoulder of a minister near them while they prayed. A laying on of hands for all.
Tomorrow I can't wait to see what will happen with the closing worship and concert that is planned! Hallelujah! Amen! SUDDENLY! Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

WOW! Friday

Another big day! Our business meeting had the usual reports and resolutions but we also commissioned our missionaries and honored a young man who had finished his missionary service. We also met the global visitors and dignitaries from all over the world that are worshipping and sharing with us. There was one issue about procedures that was a bone of contention with some and we ended up voting by standing vote instead of voice vote since it was so close... and they ran out of time to even let us know the vote. But I guess the resolution was rewritten as we were given a new copy tonight as we left and will vote on it tomorrow.
This afternoon i attended a learning track on being a green church. It started with the author of the book Serve God, Save the Planet and then I attended a session that spoke on our connection to the earth and a session on our connection with the Food We Eat. OK... that speaker made me angry as she, whether she meant to come across that way or not, started a little bit with a bit of bashing of corn fields, corn fed cattle, high fructose corn syrup, and pork producers...also somewhat implying that the pork industry had something to do with H1N1. I wanted to walk out of her lecture, but I had to stay to get my CEU credits. Most of her presentation was OK, but I was so angry (and I'm sure my expression and body language showed it) that I didn't always hear other things she said.
Tonight Dr. Watkins spoke, including many illustrations from her trip to the Congo and our need to care, not about just ourselves and what is happening here, but around the world, too. There are so many things that I have learned that disturb and challenge me (in a good way... not like the afternoon speaker)... like what sacrifices are being made in the Congo so that we can have our cell phones. The teens attending GA sang a great version of the rock song "Shining Star" which fit into the worship theme beautifully. The whole service was very uplifting, even the portion where the names of those saints who have gone on to glory since the GA of -07 were scrolled on the jumbotron. We were singing "This Little Light of Mine" as the names rolled. Their light will continue to shine in the work they passed on to others.
I thank God for all of them... I thank God for the energy of our youth... I thank God for all of you who are sharing your talents... I thank God for friends who share and support. We are One in the Spirit, We are One in the Lord... no matter where we live and love and laugh. Somos Uno! Disciplos de Cristo! We are One! Disciples of Christ!

Thursday at GA

My, my, my has it been a long day. Business meeting was at 8:30 this morning and we've been on the go ever since. The Assembly had a resolution condemning war to vote on, but it was 'referred to' two general units to look some more and reword because some felt that it was hurtful to our military folks. I can assure you that was not the intent. But it was enough to cause great dissent and so sent back for re-write. We won't get to vote on it again during this Assembly. We also heard reports from the General Units of the larger church and voted down a resolution to back to alternating GAs being in October instead of always in July. It messes with camp youth, but October does to. It was a very close vote, but the GA will stay in July. Before the business we began with a great study on Genesis from an Old Testament professor from Phillips Seminary, Rick Lowery (he also happens to be married to our General Minister and President Sharon Watkins) who is sooooo good at teaching the scriptures.
Tonight's worship was more subdues than last night's as it dealt with the next part of Genesis with Cain and Abel and our humankind's need to confess and repent. There was a very powerful time of prayer and repentance and folks could light small candles around the meeting hall and pray with one of the regional pastors along the side if you wanted. It was very moving.
I've bought enough books to keep me reading for the next 2 years until the next Assembly. Books on racism, the church's response to global creation stewardship, children's ministry, the "new" Disciples identity as it is being newly defined, a book celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Disciples "Declaration and Address" by Thomas Campbell, and much more. I've had an opportunity to re-connect with so many friends, sometimes just for a moment, sometimes for a meal. They are now serving in Illinois, Kentucky, other parts of Iowa, Tennessee, and some friends from right here in the Upper Midwest that I hardly ever see any more! It is a reminder that the GA is truly a "Family Reunion" of God's great and vast family. I've even reconnected with my cousin who is a seminary student and a pastor of a church in Erie, Kansas.
So now that really, really comfy bed and the three big, puffy pillows are calling me. It's the 2nd night in a row I'll be in bed by midnight! There's something wrong with this picture! :-) Tomorrow afternoon is the first day of the learning tracks and break-out sessions and Dr. Watkins is preaching in the evening worship.
Pray for each other! I'm praying for you! God bless!

Wednesday Activities at GA

This afternoon was an awesome State of the Church address by General Minister & President
Sharon Watkins including an amazing video presentation using the opening texts from Genesis. Our emphasis is the new mission statement of the denomination, promoting unity to a fragmented world. And they are doing a lot to promote that we are truly part of the world, including speakers in the video from the Disciples of Christ in Puerto Rico and The Disciples of Christ in the Congo.
Tonight the worship service included singing Jesus Loves Me in three different languages, Spanish, Korean and English. We also sang All Creatures of Our God and King as a group of rhythm folks from the Congo came in playing their huge, interesting drums and other rhythm instruments. Tonight's preacher was Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale from the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Atlanta and her church choir sang a song, too. I wouldn't want to be any preacher or singer who would have to follow them. Powerful, Powerful, Powerful. And I'll tell you more when I get back, but I want you to know that the next time someone says to you, "You are a piece of work!" Tell them thank you. We are created by God to be in relationship and to be stewards of all God's creation, bringing it all together as one... people and the earth. The symbol of the GA is a tree. The leaves of the tree are hands in shades of green and our offering tonight were our commitments written on green paper hands... and I tried to upload a picture of the communion table that is so creative and so beautiful, but for some reason it won't load. I'll try again tomorrow or sometime... but, the offering table is hand created to look like the bottom of a tree trunk... everything about the table is symbolic, and written prayers are going inside throughout GA. By the way... they say it's for sale if a church would like to buy it. The opening rate for it is about $8900. :-) Just wonderin' if Jerry would like me to put our name in.
There's a time change here... we're on Eastern time so as I type it's 10:30 in Stanhope, 11:30 pm in Indianapolis and time to go to bed! It's an early start tomorrow

We're at General Assembly!

My friends and fellow pastor, Connie W and I made it to Indianapolis last night! We stayed in a "cheap" hotel on the outskirts of Indy last night, after checking out where the convention center and our assembly hotel were....right in downtown Indianapolis. As we drove in this morning, we had to drive right by Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, which is only about 2 blocks away from our hotel. I'm not used to this 'lifestyle'... the valet unloaded our car and brought our bags to the room (we had to tip him, of course), I'm paying for internet access, and our room is so beautiful and upscale I'm almost afraid to sleep in the bed. :-)
This afternoon we attended the opening business session which included the State of the Church address, more on that later. We also saw a small part of the exhibitors because we kept getting stopped by people we know. The exhibit hall is an every day experience. I have the 2009 chalice for my collection. Now we're resting between sessions and will soon head back across to the convention center (across the street) for evening worship. Will write before going to bed.
Blessings to you all!!! Thanks for the traveling prayers!

Getting Ready to Go to GA!

Well, I think I'm pretty much ready. The laundry has been done, the suitcase packed, Marshall's bag has been packed (toys, food, tie-out). He's staying with Bob & Annie while I'm gone. My 'back up' is in place and know that God will watch over her and everyone in the Parish... shoot... they'll probably thrive without me. :-) I've checked pretty much everything off my to-do list except for a couple things that can't be done until just before leaving. I'm excited about going to General Assembly. It has been described as the Disciples really huge family reunion. I know I will see many old friends who are serving in other churches around the country and will also make new friends. I know there will be thought-provoking discussion and debate about many of the issues during the business sessions... because that's who we are as Disciples. Always up for a debate... thank you Alexander Campbell. I know that I will be mentally and intellectually enriched by the workshops offered on Friday and Saturday afternoon. I think I'm going to follow a Learning Track on Spiritual Practices... but there are so many workshops to choose from I haven't made up my mind yet. Most of all I know that I will be spiritually fed and energized... sometimes to the point of shouting AMEN and sometimes having goosebumps and sometimes to tears... in the amazing worship services together with some of the best of the best Disciple preachers speaking. I'm also looking forward to getting to know my travel-buddy and hotel roommate, Connie, who is the pastor in Vinton. We have only met a couple times... but after a week together we'll get to know each other a LOT. I don't even know if she's a night owl like me. But... it's all an adventure and I can't wait! I'll keep you posted on my travels and experiences!

Relay for Life

Boy was this a busy weekend! It was Watermelon Day in Stanhope, we had Angel Food Ministries distribution day, so that meant going to Ames to pick up food (that's a whole 'nother story!) and distribute the food at the Parish, I did a graveside funeral, the gals hosted a bridal shower at the church and then I spent almost 2 hours talking with the bride and groom to get to know them and get wedding logistics nailed down. But the most important thing I did (with due respect to everything else), at least for my heart and soul... was participate in the Hamilton County Relay for Life. I was greatly honored and humbled to be asked to offer the opening prayer Friday night, but that was such a miniscule thing compared to how I was touched by the whole event... especially the tears in my eyes during the survivor lap, especially when friends Laura, Mara, Betty J, and Arlene went by...and walking the track during the luminary service with all the lights out except for the candles lit inside the hundreds of luminaries lining the track. As we walked in silence, a local radio DJ, Pat Powers, read off the names of people whose names were on the luminaries (either in Memory of or in Honor of). I tried to pause briefly in front of luminaries for friends...Margaret, Doris, Charles, Jeannie Mac, Arlene, Laura, Mara, Amanda, and others... and, of course, to say a prayer of thanks in front of a luminary for dad.

But it was a lot of FUN, too! Our team captain, Miriam, was so organized, not just with our team, but also as a member of the Relay planning team.

There was dancing and teams had fundraisers, like our 'track your laps' cords with a bead for each lap around and bowling, and selling purple wrist bands, a pie auction, selling candy, and much more. at 11 there were fireworks.

Oh yes... another inspiration in the evening... one of our youngest 'team members' ... Amanda Ostrem, was also the Honorary Chair of the event. Amanda is just 4 years old and just came through a horrendous couple years fighting a very aggressive form of leukemia. You'd never know it from the energy and spunk this little princess has. The picture is of Amanda giving a princess wave during the survivor lap, riding on her dad's shoulders.

As of Friday night, Hamilton County had raised over $50,000. Final totals aren't in yet. THANK YOU to everyone that helped with the team and our fundraising events, especially those friends and family who supported me for the event and to help eradicate this awful disease that has touched us all. Oh... and by the way... from over 4 miles in laps, plus 30 minutes of non-stop dancing (thank goodness for the 60 degree temps). Plus other walking and standing from 5 pm to midnight. Yes, when I got to bed at 2 am my lower half was screaming "What have you been doing!!!???" but I'm OK now... mostly. :-)

Better than I thought

The 4th of July is over and it wasn't as bad as a thought. I had my cheeseburger and corn on the cob and potato salad. I watched the History Channel all day long that was running a great series called "The Revolution" and I love early U.S. History. Then Marshall and I got in the car and headed for the fireworks in Ames. We got there about 7:30, so drove by and scoped out the parking lot which had several people having picnics and 'tailgating', but not too many early birds. So we went thru the fast food drive up and drove by the bandshell park. Everything was done and everyone had disbursed! I was surprised. The streets of Ames were amazingly quiet. So we went back and found our parking spot, shared dinner and then went for a walk to see some of the folks gathered. It was so much fun to walk around and 'people watch'... and when you have a big beautiful golden on a leash people automatically say hi and children want to come up and pet him. Families had picnics, youth were throwing footballs and baseballs back and forth, some families had board games going on in the back of pick up trucks, kids in their p.j.s, one group playing a bean bag toss game, kids on scooters and every nationality (it was Ames after all) you could imagine. And... of course... lots of sparklers, snakes, roman candles, bottle rockets, large sparklers, and various other legal and non-legal fireworks people were setting off. The parking lot displays were a pretty good prelude to the big show. The Ames display finally started at 10 and it was great. Marshall was very aware (but not scared of) all the fireworks and noise around him, but then laid down and slept through the actualy fireworks show. Guess it didn't spook him much. :-)
So, all in all, what I thought was going to be just another 4th to dread it turned out to be a pretty good one. I'm already planning on going back next year... and inviting my family and maybe some friends to bring their coolers and a picnic and lets have our own party in the parking lot. Who knows.

4th of July

Well, it's the 4th of July. I have a love/hate relationship with this day. At one time in my life it was my absolute favorite holiday (next to Christmas). On the 4th you could count on the whole family being together at Mom & Dad's house, maybe grandparents (in my younger days), maybe visiting aunts and uncles and cousins. But our family would all be together for the day. We'd have a traditional day... grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, a big stock pot on the stove filled with sweet corn, a big bowl of Mom's yummy potato salad (basic potato salad, no extra stuff, no pickles, no fancy spices, no mustard, just potatoes, eggs, onion, salt, pepper and mayonaisse) and of course carrot sticks and celery and chips. We'd have bowls of hand-picked black raspberries from the backyard all sugared up and making their own syrup in the fridge, a chocolate cake frosted with white frosting sitting on the counter. Sometimes Mom was creative with strawberries and blueberries or something in her cake decorating, sometimes it was just left plain... waiting for the birthday candles for my sister-in-law, Patty's, birthday. I always thought it would be cool to have fireworks and sparklers for my birthday every year. Best of all, we made ice cream. Not the electric ice cream makers of today, but Mom made a creamy bowl of goodness with eggs and vanilla and cream and just the slightest hint of lemon to enhance the vanilla flavor and pour it into the hand-crank freezer drum. Dad and my brothers would put it all together in the maker with the ice and salt, top it off with an old rug and we'd all take turns turning the crank. Younger ones first while it was still pretty much liquid, then the older ones or stronger ones as the concoction froze. It was a victorious moment when it was declared done, but also a temptation as we all wanted to eat it right away, but had to release it back to Mom to wrap up and put in the freezer. Our taste buds would have to wait. It was hard, even though the extra hours in the freezer would be worth it once we dug into it and it had had time to blend flavors together even more.
After enjoying our BBQ meal eaten outside around the picnic table(s) we'd clean up and play a lawn game or just chat. In my older years there would be a bottle or two of wine coolers or beer or wine brought out to share. Then as the sun started to go down we'd gather up our lawn chairs and blankets and walk the 3 blocks to the Iowa Veterans Home where the fireworks were shot off and we'd all take turns deciding which vowel sound to make next... ooooo..... ahhhhh.... eeeeeee.....OOOO... then laugh. After the grand finale it was back home to light sparklers and have our own ground displays, sing Happy Birthday, cut cake and bring out the ice cream. Top it all off with chocolate sauce or the syrupy black raspberries (or maybe a bit of both). It was a truly wonderful holiday. A day to celebrate, a day to leave any worries of the world behind.
But today it is a day I have come to dread in some ways. In the years since the "glory days" of my youth my father has died, we have all grown older and had families, my brothers both live in Missouri, as does my nephew and his family. My niece lives in Texas withher family. iI have divorced. My mom has remarried but has no desire to go to the fireworks which for many years got moved out to the college campus, where we had to fight to find a parking place sat in our cars and then waited for an hour to be able to finally get our car out of the retreating traffic in the lot. My own son grew old enough that he preferred spending the 4th with his friends at all the festivities (by then we'd stopped the family event).
I am reminded of an essay in a book of writings on Iowa called Family Reunion. It was written by an English Lord, married to an Iowan, in the form of a letter to his brother back home in England. He began the letter by saying something to the effect of "It's the 4th of July today... a day that I, as a Englishman, want to stay in bed, put my pillow over my head and wait for the day to be over." That's sort of how I feel about this day. Like the dear Lord Patrick Acton, this is a day to remind me of what I have lost in some ways. No parties, I often have spent the night watching the fireworks on TV (which are spectacular, but not quite the same), no family gathering. Oh... I was invited to my cousins at the last minute because my Mom mentioned something to them, but for some reason I don't want to go. I love them, but maybe I'm still just too stuck wanting a past that cannot be retrieved.
So today I'm going to try something new... or old. No, I didn't get the supplies to make ice cream, altho I thought about it. But I did make a bowl of Mom's potato salad last night. And I have sweet corn in the fridge and hamburger patties thawing. They'll have to be cooked on my little George Foreman since my Weber grill bit the dust last summer, but I'll have my own little 4th of July party. Then I'm hoping to put Marshall in the car and go to Ames to see their fireworks. We'll see how he does with fireworks. He sleeps through storms, so I'm betting he'll be fine.
Tomorrow we're doing an "old fashioned 4th of July weekend" community church service in the park with our Lutheran friends and I (the staunch supporter of separation of church and state) have looked at patriotic decorations for the park and tables and am looking forward to the morning of patriotic hymns and a brief glimpse of something from the past to hang onto for the future.
Isn't that why we go to church, though? We come together to belong... to be with family, to celebrate and cheer and sing as well as cry together and pray together and celebrate and hold onto something even bigger than one country's independence. We bring our losses, our sadness as well as our joys and our celebrations to a place of holiness, no matter where it might be, to stand before and with our fellow Christians and our Lord and Savior. We come to honor and build upon the traditions of the past, to grasp onto something that was, but also to build on that past to find hope and new beginnigs in the future.
So it's not going to be such a bad day ... or weekend... afterall. I might even do the things I must do today wearing my red, white and blue and singing my favorite Schoolhouse Rock history songs. I'll have to take my head out from under my pillow and move onward and forward in God's hands.

Weddings

I promised to post a picture from the wedding on my next post, so I'm sharing my favorite picture from my son and daughter-in-laws wedding last fall. Sorry I didn't post pictures right away after the wedding... but I wasn't blogging back then. As you can see, it's not one of the "posed" pictures it was one my brother caught as they were coming out of the church and it's my favorite for several reasons: the joy on their faces is pure and complete and not posed for a picture, the bubbles with their shine and rainbows highlighted the fun and joy of the event, and their pastor is looking over them in the background. It is a picture of pure love and joy and beauty. It's the first picture I see in my row of pictures leading up the stairway. That day was so filled with love, so MUCH fun for everyone who was there and truly a day of happiness and celebration.

Our Annie is a gift from God to the family and I am so happy to have her in my life, in Bob's life and in our family. She beautiful girl that is grounded, very smart, funny, responsible, and money savvy. She has 'settled' Bob in a way I didn't think could happen, and yet they also have so much fun together. They come from similar backgrounds and family values. Most of all she makes him so very, very happy. He loves her so much. God truly blessed us all when God brought Annie back into our lives again. Our families have crossed paths off and on since high school, including Sara and I being pregnant with Bob & Annie the same summer, commiserating with each other as we waddled together to the slo-pitch diamonds to watch our hubbies play. I've often said that God smiled down and thought, "They have no idea how important these 2 babies are going to be to one another some day." And now we know and rejoice.

One other wedding picture I'm sharing is from a wedding I was honored to officiate at recently at Iowa State University under the iconic campanille with the Bells of Iowa State ringing. After a momentary worry about the rain clouds, the wedding went off as scheduled and the cloud cover actually kept the summer heat and humidity at a more tolerable levels. This pic was taken by the grooms aunt. Thanks Dalene. It was a highlight in my ministry to be asked to be a part of this couple's special day. They are also a couple that have been 'in the world' for a few years since their graduation from ISU so don't come to this part of their lives together with starry-eyed images of what marriage is. Seth & Willow are a beautiful couple who, both alone and together, are doing what they can to make a difference in their world and share their lives with many others. I wish them a life time of happiness.

To all of you who God has gifted with the precious blessing of marriage, I pray that you will always keep God as a part of your relationship. It is God who created us, created love, and created us to be together, helping and love and supporting one another. God bless you all in your commitments, whether they are newly made vows or from years of doing the work of making marriage work.

I'm so bad at this

You'd think someone who loves to write and read would be better at blogging! But I never think to get online to add to my blog. I guess I should just get into a discipline of daily blogging a little bit. Then I wouldn't get so far behind. But then... sometimes I go several months without checking my Facebook account and then find all sorts of messages... and I might go 3 days without checking email (altho not very often!)

So I'm posting a picture or two to update you on Marshall. In my next post I'll also post a picture from the wedding last September. I can't believe my son & daughter-in-law are going to have their 1st anniversary in just a few months! They are so cute together.

As you can see, Marshall has grown a LOT this winter! For the first 7 months of his life he gained about 10 lbs a month. He's pretty much come to his full height (I think) or he's slowed down a lot. THANKFULLY. He's now about 93 lbs and about 27" at his shoulder. He loves to sit at "his" window in the living room and survey his kingdom when he can't sit regally outside. No one can come to my house (except Bob) without Marshall letting me know... or walk by, or mow the neighbors yard, etc. Good watch dog. And big enough to intimidate if he's barking at you. But he's just a big softie... A little girl at the church started calling him Marshmallow when he was very small... and he's generally so mellow that it's actually a very good nickname.

The black dog in the second pic is his "cousin" Skeeter, my oldest brother Chuck's dog. He's a Beauceron (french sheepdog) Labrador mix... and Marshall and Skeeter are the same size now. They had a great time together when I went to their home for part of my vacation last month. Watching them play, wrestle and run together was so much fun.

OK... That's it for right now... I'll post again VERY SOON. I promise.