The Church Lady , Mr. Felix, and The Almost Bluegrass Band

Early last year, around February, my friend Lorri’s husband took over directing the praise band at our chapel. Before I could stop myself, I told him that I could play the piano (and even read music!). The next Tuesday, and for about 75 Tuesdays after that, I found myself jamming with a group that became known as “The Almost Bluegrass Band.” 

We have counted among our number a guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, a violin, a fiddle, a bass guitar, a flute, an electric guitar, a clarinet, a trap set (that’s drums, for the uninitiated), and a piano--but never all at once. We have at least one additional vocalist, and sometimes as many as seven. And this past Christmas, much to my dismay, I discovered that I actually CAN sing and play at the same time. So then our leader (known by my children as “Mr. Felix”) actually expected me to DO THIS. I managed, as long as we had a spare microphone.

Every Sunday for about a year and a half we led our chapel congregation in worship. Some days this is easy, like when all the songs are fun and I actually remember to play all the chords. Some weeks it was difficult, like the time we played a song called “Deliverance” on the day my family was celebrating my cousin’s Deliverance into heaven. There were triumphs, in particular this past Easter when we played and sang an Easter Hymn medley I arranged. (Mr. Felix was fully justified in giving me the nickname “The Church Lady.”) I FINALLY got to hear what it sounds like with vocalists. And a drummer.

And then there was today. We’re moving in a few months, and our life is about to get really hectic, so it’s going to be next-to-impossible to make it to rehearsals. So today was my last Sunday with the Almost Bluegrass Band. And we sounded AWESOME. I know that the reason we play and sing is to honor God. But it is really nice when we know that we do a great job. “Be Bold, Be Strong.” “That’s Why We Praise Him.” “The Days of Elijah.” “My Savior, My God.” “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us.” “People Need the Lord.” Honest songs, songs we love. About the God who loved us first.

Felix presented me with the “game ball” (a.k.a. guitar pick) from tonight. Of course, I cried (you’re not surprised, are you?).

I can’t believe that I’m looking at April 22 in the rear-view mirror. Where is the brake on the car called Time? 

When we get to our new duty station, I hope I can find a new place to play. It won’t be another Almost Bluegrass Band--there is only one of those. But the music is far from over.

My Keys, My Car, and Lego Yoda.

I accidentally cleaned my car out today. Now I know people don’t usually clean out their cars “accidentally,” but there were special circumstances.

I also lost my keys today. This is not a shock to anyone who has actually met me in person. But these two events, the losing of the keys and the accidental cleaning of the car, are related.

Most of the time when I lose my keys (it happens quite often, despite all my desperate attempts to actually hang my keys on the hook WHERE THEY BELONG)...anyway, this usually happens when I am trying to LEAVE. Today I lost them on the way IN the house. I came home in the car (having driven with said keys), saw my neighbor, handed him something that I had for his family, and then sat back down to get the keys so me, my kids, and all our stuff could go in the house.

No keys in the ignition. Gone.

What...? Where...? How...? But I didn’t go anywhere! I must have dropped them. So there I am, on my knees in the street, pulling EVERYTHING out of the car. Tote bags, backpacks, leftovers, heels that I have been wearing for too many hours, and then floor mats, the required Day-Glo safety vests, and trash. I even stuck my hand under the front seat, and that is a very scary thing to do, my friends. Everything got frantically tossed into the yard in hopes that I would unearth that jangly silver cluster adorned with Texas and Lego Yoda.

No keys.

On the plus side, I did find 20 euro cents and the book of Christmas CDs I’ve been looking for since...Christmas. (I know, I know, it’s April. Sheesh.)

With my brain careening rapidly towards Full Tilt panic mode, I prayed, “Dear God, help me find my keys, because they were just here and I didn’t even do anything or go anywhere!” After more tossing and gingerly feeling under seats and even folding up the back seat--which made absolutely no sense, but neither did losing the keys when I hadn’t even left the car when they went missing--I was at a loss. I slammed the seat down, stood up--

and there they were. Sitting on top of the car. Mocking me. 

Sigh. The lesson? Lego Yoda says it best: “When lose keys you do, pray first you shall. Then keys shall you find.”