I noticed yesterday that I had only posted once this month. That's not a whole lot of blogging, even for me, but a lot has been going on, so I thought I'd check in.
The biggest change is that I moved to Salem, Oregon almost a month ago. This was not a sudden move (I'd been planning it for years, actually), but moving tends to take a lot of time and energy regardless of how long I know about it in advance.
My new home is a lovely little cottage, which is right down the street from Alivia and Peggy's house. I think it's going to be a lot of fun living near the two of them. Peggy has been in Africa the whole time I've been here so far, so Alivia and I have been hanging out quite a bit.
Being in Salem also means that I am back at my home church, Freedom Friends Church. It has been wonderful to see everyone at Freedom Friends and they have all been welcoming me home.
I started a new job just about two weeks ago. So far, it has mostly been orientation, but I am starting to work on real work. I think it will be a good place to work and everyone there seems very nice.
I think the next few weeks and months will be mostly more settling in, getting used to new people, places, and systems. There are a few things coming up that are noteworthy, though.
The second week of September, I will head back to North Carolina for the fifth School of the Spirit residency. After so much change, I am looking forward to seeing my classmates' familiar faces! I will also be participating in a panel during the residency and, God willing, will be speaking on "the other" as a prophetic role.
On October 23, Marge A will be leading one-day workshop called Supporting and Grounding One Another In Our Ministries: Committees for Clearness and Support, Peer Groups, and Spiritual Friendships at the Multnomah Monthly Meeting meetinghouse. I will be serving as Marge's elder for the workshop and I think it will be really good.
Well, Ashley, it feels like it's been nearly a MONTH since I last read any Quaker blogs!! Here it is, nearly a month after you posted this, and I have finally had a chance/took the time to catch up with you and others.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the SoS residency was, and how Marge A's presentation--and your part in it--turned out; I wonder how things are now that Peggy is back in town?
(I wonder when I'll get back to blogging more regularly myself!)
Blessings,
Liz Opp, The Good Raised Up
P.S. I've been wanting to help bring a workshop to my part of the country like the one Marge offered: can you help put me in touch with her? You can email me at lizopp AT gmail DOT com. Thanks!
Hi Liz,
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you, as always. While you are taking a break from reading blogs, I seem to be taking a break from writing . . . It is hard now that I am back to writing for work to do any other sort of writing.
The School of the Spirit residency was wonderful, as always. Every time I go, I feel challenged and spiritually nourished. It takes me a while to process the residencies, though, so sometimes I don't get around to writing about them here.
The workshop with Marge is still coming up. There are a lot of people registered already, so I think it should have a good turnout. I'll be sure to ask Marge how she would feel about doing a workshop in your part of the country.
I think everyone at Freedom Friends is pretty happy to have Peggy back. It's also great to have her and Alivia right up the street--they feed me frequently!
I don't know if you caught my earlier comment, but is there any chance that you will be going to North Carolina Yearly Meeting Conservative next year? I think I'm going to be there and it would be neat to meet in person one of these days.
--Ashley