As previously reported, my mom has moved.

Looking at these two pictures, you’ll see it was quite the downsize.

My mom refers to her new purchase, built in the 1970’s, as her Granny House.

5 blocks away stands the 1917, wrap-around porch, corner lot “grand lady”. This is my childhood home, where my parents lived for 50 years.

Yes, the new house is very nice but one of the biggest draw-backs for 2 people is space.

My mom expected me to have short visits from time to time but this is turning into a bit of the long-haul.

I have a back room we have labeled The She-shack.  It holds my mom’s WOW computer, her desk chair and my pull-out bed but that’s about it.  When you squeeze me, my mom and our China rescue, Bridget, into the She-shack for our separate computer-ing, it gets a bit crowded.

Plus the house noise seems to be amplified quite a bit from different areas of this completely uncarpeted dwelling.  From every room, you can hear the TV, NPR radio broadcasts, kitchen cabinet and door bangings, the washing machine and dryer whirring, the dog barking at folks walking by, footsteps (even in socked feet) …. All these add even more of a distraction when I’m trying to concentrate on doing Amity work, writing and editing articles, formulating new lesson plan videos for China, holding a virtual meeting or just when I need a bit of meditative “down” time to refresh and re-energize.

And there is just no way to spread out and feel somewhat organized.

A stroke of genius

As my mom and I discussed this dilemma, she suddenly came up with a brilliant idea.

“Why not ask  the church council if it’s possible for you to have a small area in the building (a Sunday school room, perhaps?) for your personal office space?  You know, the pastor’s former study, which is now the prayer room, would be perfect. ”

I followed through with this suggestion.

With the generous, unanimous support of my hometown church’s Marshall First UMC council members, permission was given.  I now have a small space of my own in what was originally built as the pastor’s study (in use from 1909 — 1982), later changed into a prayer room, then somewhat moved into a storage area, and now it has become my sweet little office.

Although our church is not yet open to the public, aside from worship on Sunday, the go-ahead was announced for me to use the room without the worries (due to Covid) of coming in contact with staff on a regular basis.  I have a key to the back door which leads me directly to my office door.

I wear my mask upon entering the building (mandatory).

But after that, I am free to remove it.

Since  I am pretty much isolated on the other side of the church, there is no need to mask-don 100% of the time.

I have already set myself up.  As you can see below, it makes for a cozy setting and a great work environment.  I love it!

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Thank you’s Abound

How very grateful and blessed I am to have this little niche of my own.  Thank you, my home church, for this treasured room.  I will use it with the same Christian love you have bestowed upon me to pass on to others during my service to missions here, in this place.

Here’s wishing you, as always, 平安 (ping ahn, peace) for your day.