I have history with the Eastern Orthodox parish in my hometown of Vancouver, Washington. When Mom was looking into Orthodoxy, the closest parish was in Milwaukee, Oregon. The Vancouver parish was founded well after Mom moved to California to live with us. Still, even after Mom left, there were reasons for me to return. ThatContinue reading “The Vancouver Church”
Tag Archives: church
Lenten Services
It’s been interesting reading my newest manuscript and comparing how much life has changed and how much more it has stayed the same in the last ten years. I read a couple of stories from my Syra’s Scribbles manuscripts about the beginning of Lent and attending the Cannon of St. Andrew. There were years ofContinue reading “Lenten Services”
Grandma Life
Best day ever. Mike’s mom Coryn told me I looked like I was glowing. I felt like I was glowing with the love, joy, and sheer happiness that holding my grandson brings me. I’m so glad Esther, John Ben, and Misha were able to visit us this summer. Esther and John Ben planned to bringContinue reading “Grandma Life”
Church Building
Adjectives can’t fully describe our new church building, but my two favorites so far are Matushka Ingrid’s “Glorious,” and LouAnne’s “Breathtaking!” It’s the most beautiful place I have ever worshipped, and yet during our first liturgy, my thoughts drifted to the people who weren’t there. There were a lot of people missing in the crowdContinue reading “Church Building”
Now That You’re Here
Our spring break trip to Albuquerque had a different feeling than visits back home over the past eight years since we moved away because in the eyes of everyone here, we are back! On Sunday when Coryn walked into church before us, she told me that there were disappointed looks on the faces that turnedContinue reading “Now That You’re Here”
Moving Home
This June after eight years in Texas, we will move back to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We made the decision ahead of the cold front that put our lives on hold for an entire week. A pause granted to us to sit with our thoughts and feelings. After the whirlwind of considerations and determinations came theContinue reading “Moving Home”
He is Risen!
Holy Friday On our way to church on Friday the kids regaled each other with stories of candle mishaps in the past, most of them about Mom who had a knack for dropping her candle or falling asleep with a lit candle in her hand leaning at the right angle to set the person inContinue reading “He is Risen!”
God’s Unconditional Love
I flew seven hundred and eighty miles to Atlanta, rented a car, and stayed in a hotel in Macon, Georgia all to attend a Lenten retreat at a small Orthodox Church where they had flown a missionary into town just so that he could tell me that God loves me unconditionally. That’s how much GodContinue reading “God’s Unconditional Love”
Syra's Scribbles 