Just Another Magic Monday

Two exciting things happened today!

The first was that I saw my first bluebird. He didn't stick around long enough for me to compare him to the picture in the bird book, but he had a very blue back, and a red chest with a white tummy, so I'm sure that that is what he was. He was very pretty, and it was a lovely reward for braving the cold this morning to dump out the ice in the birdbath and refill it.

The second thing was that the priest from the Episcopal church in Sparta called this morning. He was calling partly in response to an e-mail I sent yesterday inquiring about a piece of music that the kids had enjoyed and spent the rest of the afternoon singing, and partly to see if we were considering becoming members. Since Ed and I had discussed it yesterday, after really enjoying the sermon and feeling "at home" with the congregation, I was able to tell him that we did want to join, so he could start the transfer from our church in Florida. The really exciting bit, though, was that he wanted to know whether T. would be interested in being an acolyte. I said I was pretty sure he would like to, and that we would discuss it, and he said that they would be ordering robes next week, so we could let him know next Sunday. After I got off the phone, I asked T. about it, and he thinks it would be neat! One of his friends at our old church was an acolyte, and I think he wondered why Jason was invited to be one and he wasn't (It was probably because Jason is a year older and much "steadier.") We talked about how being an acolyte is a serious responsibility, and I think he really is ready. I know I'm a bit silly about this, but it is sort of like the first time he was in the Christmas pageant, only without the sheep costume! On a somewhat related note, Father Blanck asked whether I would like to be involved by doing an occasional reading. I explained that I have only once read in front of a congregation, and, although I didn't pass out from fear, it was a close thing. He said that I might wait until I felt more comfortable. Since it took me forty-one years to work up to trying public reading the first time, I think I will probably be ready to give it another go when I'm eighty-two. Maybe.