Just about 20 years ago, Greg and I moved back to California from North Carolina. We’d spent 6 years in that lovely state, but after finishing our degrees there (PhD for him from Duke and MSW for me from UNC), we decided that we wanted to be closer to family because we had a baby on the way. 

When we had mostly settled in, we came to church at St. Andrew’s because my dad was the appointed pastor at that time. This decision didn’t involve a lot of thought on my part because my dad had almost always been the pastor at the church I attended (with my 6 years at Duke Chapel being the exception). Of course, we would go to the church where my dad was serving. 

School has started in our area. My own children started school this past Monday and Tuesday with only a modicum of grumbling. With the beginning of school, the shape of our days has begun to transform from the slightly less structured timeline to one with more form as we add in school drop-offs and pick-ups as well as the smattering of extracurriculars they participate in. 

With the return to school, I have been thinking about math – subtraction in particular. It seems to me that many of us are very good at addition but less adept at subtraction.

I had the loveliest dinner with a friend last night. It always takes a little bit of time to align our two schedules as we are generally busy people with families and other responsibilities to attend to. But in a stroke of luck, we were able to get together and catch up. 

It was great to hear what’s happening in her life, to learn about her latest adventures in her job, marvel at the things her kids are up to, her plans, etc. And I got to share what is new and exciting in my life as well as what is old and boring. 

Someone was in my office not long ago lamenting that they weren’t sure where things in their life might go. She was looking for more assurances that her hopes and desires would be met but, as much as I wished I could offer that, I couldn’t do so honestly. Life has too many twists, turns, and surprises for all of us and I have no idea what that will be or where things will take her. 

She told me of her unexpected journey thus far and how looking back made it even more curious. A few years ago, she had no idea that her current career path was even a possibility and now here she was, half-way through the training it would require. She commented that she was learning to trust God’s guidance but found it tricky to do. 
 
I wondered whether the whole of this particular journey she found herself on would have been too much to take in at the beginning. Perhaps if the whole path had been illuminated, she would have shied away from even starting it. 

On the way to her art camp for the morning, Hazel asks if tomorrow is the Fourth of July. I tell her that since today is the third, tomorrow will be the fourth. She then asks me what is so special about it and why we have a holiday. (Don’t worry, she’s only just finished fourth grade and with it, California history; next year in fifth grade she’ll dive into US history.) 

We chatted about what it meant nearly 250 years ago for people to sign a document that said they were not interested in being a British colony any longer. We also talked about the word independence and what that meant. 

For me, this week has contained many events, people, and plenty of things to get done. It isn’t too surprising since it is the week before Vacation Bible School (VBS), but I found it to be busier than average.

In the middle of a VBS task (because that list is the longest right now), someone interrupted me. Once I’d helped them with the question they had for me, they asked another question which was, “It’s so much work; tell me – why do you keep doing it?” What a great question!

Pastor Karl and I spent a little time recently planning for the rest of the year and a little into 2026. We put all the important dates on a big calendar. Onto the calendar went many of the things we know will do at church (like Christmas Eve, which is on Wednesday this year). 

I like to plan and I like to have a plan. Maybe I like planning because it moves my brain into the future and what could be which is exciting to me. Maybe it’s because I’m decent at it. Or maybe it’s just because I love knowing what is generally going to happen, or what we think might come to pass. Whatever the reason, I do like a plan! 

Two weeks ago, I escaped my regular routine and headed to parts east to visit friends. I love seeing these friends and I appreciate being away for a bit. I was excited to be heading out and eager to meet up with these dear people from my college years. 

About 45 minutes into my first flight, one of the flight attendants asked for any medical personnel that might be willing to help to come forward as there was a “medical situation.” After a moment, a gentleman got up from across the aisle from me and walked to the front where he was soon followed by a younger guy a few rows up.

It is Monday afternoon and my ten-year-old daughter, Hazel, and I are doing our homework. She has math homework (she’s on fractions now and says it’s “really pretty easy, Mom” with a slight eye roll). She pauses to ask what my homework is and when I tell her I’m thinking about what to write about for my article in the View, she lists a few ideas for me and wonders why I am not instantly writing them down. 

I suggest that the topic of pandas does seem interesting, but it’s not quite what I’m looking for at the moment. She says, “Oh, right – it has to be about God. So, you can write about how we can connect with God. Like it might be having a pizza with a good friend. Write about that.”