I’ve been quiet on this blog the last few weeks. After our Synod Assembly and a few more days up in Spokane I flew back to the Treasure Valley and because of some miracle in the calendar have been here for 3.5 weeks. I emailed friends and colleagues asking to get walks, lunches, and coffee dates on the calendar. Everyone has genuinely asked, “How are you?” and my answer sometimes got stuck in my throat. That’s because I am doing well and have been filling up my cup with time with friends and hikes in beautiful Southern Idaho and concerts and community events and yet I know so many people are hurting. Friends near and far who work for the federal government have lost or could lose their jobs. Refugees who thought they found refuge have not. LGBTQ+ friends and strangers have experienced hateful rhetoric and legislation. And the West Ada School district cannot get off the front page. More than all that, and that’s a lot, I worry about our democracy. I think it will hold, but I’m less sure than I ever have been. How am I? I am deeply concerned. I am also deeply proud of our ELCA congregations and ministries and our ecumenical partners continuing to share God’s love and mercy in their local contexts. And I have hope because we are not in this reign of God stuff alone. So here are some highlights from the last few weeks:

Faith Funders Event hosted by King of Glory Lutheran and organized by LEAP Housing–an event to raise donations and charitable investment dollars for the affordable housing to be built by LEAP on KOG’s property.

Idaho Conservation Voters Boards and Commissions Fellowship program: The fellowship program seeks to get more women, people of color, and LGBTQ people on local boards and commissions. As a woman serving on Nampa’s Building Design Review Commission I was invited to tell about 15 people (think speed dating) about my experience on the commission.

So many hikes and walks with friends in and around the Treasure Valley and Southern Idaho. Here I am with Ariel Agenbroad, who works for the University of Idaho Extension in Ada County. We partnered a lot when I was the pastor at Trinity, Nampa and it was so fun to catch up.

Sundays at Faith, Caldwell (home church) and Immanuel, Boise (confirmation Sunday) and a Saturday evening at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

Lutheran Community Services Northwest Boise District was awarded a grant from the Idaho Women Community Foundation (a very competitive grant process) and I was able to join them at the banquet.

So many meals and meet ups with ecumenical friends: Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Nazarene, UCC, Disciples of Christ, and yes some Lutherans too.

Nadia Bolz Weber came to Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise and this was a very fun ecumenical event. Nadia gave her testimony/story AND we all got to sing together–so life-giving.

Speaking of music, I went to the spring concert at Cathedral of the Rockies, where they sang pieces by Rene Clausen, heard local band Orale at Caldwell’s Indian Creek Plaza, and attended the James Taylor concert right here in Nampa!

The Treasure Valley Cluster pastors and deacons had a retirement celebration lunch for Pastor Paul Malek.