"We are not the sum of our possessions." - George H.W. Bush

The list of things I didn't get done today would make the most dedicated slacker proud.
I did get the goat barn cleaned with new straw down, just in time for a week of rain that will turn it into a big mess. And Pam and I went into a rehearsal for the Christmas service on the 23rd. We're singing in an ensemble that will join a group of instrumentalists to lead the carols that morning.
Beyond that it was just the normal chores - walking Buddy, feeding the animals.
So why am I SO tired?

My mom's not doing well. My younger brother Mark called this morning to tell me she has a lot of pain in her shoulder which has been rebuilt but has deteriorated since that was done. He took her to an emergency care center and reported back that her shoulder is dislocated (the tendons don't hold it in place anymore so it just sort of hangs there) and one of the screws they used in the reconstruction has come out of the bone and is floating around.
Because of her age and generally fragile health (she turns 96 on Christmas Eve) they won't operate on her to fix any of these issues. She's going to see an orthopedist but they expect the same answer.
All they can do is brace her arm and give her pain meds.
This makes me sad.

So does Lewis's problems. He's our music pastor, a gentle easy-going guy who's easy to like a lot. Plus, he's very good at what he does. Monday he fell off his bike (he bike commutes to the office) and broke one vertebra in his neck and another in his tail bone. He was at the rehearsal but is clearly in a lot of pain. His neck is in a hard brace and he can't turn it at all, so in addition to the pain he's pretty much incapacitated. They have two little kids that he can't lift so Brianna has all the kid chores, has to drive him everywhere.....
Nothing to do in either case. Lew will get better, though they'll decide in another 10 days if he needs surgery. Mom - her cure is going to be the release from this life and the perfection of the next.

If you believe (as I do) that all of this is the result of sin in the world and is NOT what God wanted for us it's easy to really hate sin and its effects.
I want to punch Adam in the nose.

Our small group is doing a white elephant gift exchange at our gathering Monday night. I thought I had some parts left over from the '65 Falcon but I couldn't find any of them so I'm taking a mug with a unique design (a frog for the handle). I wish I had something funnier, more unique, but we're not allowed to spend any money so a mug it is.

I have 10 pounds of potatoes to fit in a 5 pound sack for tomorrow's class. I started a new thing this week to help them avoid just "reading words" as they do each day's reading. I email them what I'm calling a "Look Out," something they should look for as they read. Sometimes it's a phrase that gets repeated and that they should underline at each occurrence. Or a particular important quote they should circle. Or ...
I'm curious to see what feedback I get about that tomorrow. Is it helpful? A hassle?
I'll report back.

Time for a cup of coffee, a PB&J, and bed.