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Today we bought a car.  A 1998 Dodge Neon. 

Not a new car.  In fact one that has a familiar feel.

Last year we borrowed this car while the owner was overseas.  She’s planning to be overseas again for two years.  Just made sense to give the car away — or sell it — which made even better sense.  Only one minor $11.00 two-minute fix-it and things were ready to go.

So, Jill doesn’t have to get up at 7:00 in the morning to drive me to work.  And I don’t have to worry about rides after evening meetings when she needs the car.

All in all, a good deal.

Today we (the good wife and I) headed 30 minutes south of town for another funeral.  Effie was a new face to us three years ago.  We spent some time with her at the Heritage Manor.  The visits always included questions about ourselves and what we were up to.  We would ask her state of affairs, but she always tempered her answers with gracious words, even if there was obvious pain and suffering.

Effie’s son, Dennis, led a service of remembrance.  I was called on to provide a final prayer.  Then, around tables (for that was the setting for the meeting) we got to meet some new acquaintances.  People from the local area.  Nunweiler, Becker, Lindemann.  All good German names of families from generations back.

Just before the service we popped in to the local seniors manor.  One of  our friends now resides there.  Doreen visited with us and then took us for a tour of the facility.  We were royally introduced as her pastor.  As we left, she hugged and kissed us (OK, she kissed my wife).

These are times of remembrance.  Of memories of the past, and of the present and for the future. 

Another day awaits me tomorrow.  Who knows what that will bring?

I enjoyed a funeral today. 

Some people wonder if there are good funerals.

Yes, there are.  Where you know the person, their heart and their story.  And the story is consistent with their life.  One that follows Jesus.

Perhaps in a quiet way.  Perhaps in prayers only heard by the wife.  Perhaps in relationships with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that is pure fun, includes teaching and love.

That’s what we saw and heard today.  Sheldon had that certain ability to be quietly gracious. 

Kind of makes you want to be like him.  Not a bad sign of a life of rightness!  The family heads back to Swift Current tonight.  Gene, his wife, will spend a few days at home, then head to one of her children’s — perhaps for the summer.  Mostly for a break. 

And we’ll pray for her and the family.  That God will strengthen and keep her in all her ways.

Not quite sure what exposures I used, but the kite was flying high!  Not sure that it was even attached to a string.

The kite flight was a part of our church picnic.  At one point we probably had more than a dozen kites vying for a space in the air — and not a large space to boot.

Not until later in the afternoon did we realize we had disturbed a kildeer and her nest.  Just in case  you are wondering, we did find the nest and protected it from harm.  Meanwhile, the kildeer did it’s best to attract us away from the nest, even appearing to be hurt, and to puff out all its plumage.