Today was a happy and sad day. This morning it was with great joy that I was installed at my new church. It was so awesome that people from where my mom lives could bring her down for the morning. The church had a pantry shower for me and I must say it was awesome. I dont think Ill have to buy toilet paper, paper towel and a few other things for a long time. It really will help me. At the service, I got emotional and started crying which caused the lady from the synod office who was there to also cry. Then I was presented with a beautiful painting at my reception entitled, “Let Your Light Shine Before Others” which they said that they knew I would do! Again I started crying and then giggling, I proceeded to tell them how my friends at seminary and etc used to give me a hard time because I cry at Hallmark commercials. After that, one of the guys from the call committee came up to me and gave me a little ego boost. He said, “Tara, we were so totally impressed with you. You have such an enthusiasm and joy for life and that is catching.” It was a happy and good day. It also was a happy day because one of my bestest friends from seminary was ordained today. I must say though it also was sad because it would have been awesome to have been there to share in her day with our other friends M and M. L and my other friend C drove all the way to ND for my consecration service in April so I really would have like to have been there to share in her day. But oh well like my friend H says. “Only Hermione has something to allows her to be in two places at once…well sort of.” L, I hope you had a blessed beautiful day today and know that I was thinking of you. Its weird to think that after all this time, Ive grown so much in my faith and as a women of God. My friends L, M, and M were a big part of me finally coming out of my shell and claiming my identity as a diaconal minister. They were the ones that encouraged me a long the way, celebrated with me in my joys, and comforted me in my sorrow. I truly feel that these three individuals really helped me to open up about my mom’s illness but more importantly, just loved me for me and that has made the biggest difference in the world. I hope I havent given you three too big of an ego boost now! Thanks for everything and may GOD BLESS you all in your ministrys.