A walk down memory lane--ELUM

It's Sunday morning and soon I'll be getting ready to go to Riverchase UMC. I was thinking this morning about my old church, East Lake UMC. Since we don't have stained glass windows where we meet, I find, at times, I miss them so much! I know it's not about the "things" that surround you---but still, there is something about the stories that stained glass windows tell that "get you in the mood" when you walk into a church that has them! I know I've posted pix before of the beautiful stained glass windows there, but I am going to again! It brings me such a feeling of rembrance; comfort; nostalgia; joy when I look at them. As a child, I would stare at the windows if I were bored or sleepy and when I did, I would feel instantly immersed in the story of the windows. I had my favorites and I still do! When I made these pix I went to the balcony and shot some up in the back up there. Some I had not studied so intently as I did those downstairs. They seemed "lost"  way  back  in the dark recesses of the upstairs balcony and yet, when I "found" them again, I felt as if I had discovered a new secret! I sat down up there---surrounded by the light the windows made (I shot these pix at JUST the right time for the sunlight to come thro!) and smelling the musty smell of the well worn wood of the pews and just breathed in and out of the ambiance of the moment. To be honest, I didn't want to leave! It was an "A-HA" moment for me! Taking me BACK and propelling me into the future as I suddenly remembered how grateful I am! To have been a part of such a wonderful church and how it set into motion for me my own journey with Christ. The foundation was set , even if I didn't realize it at the time! As I reflected  while sitting in the quiet of the upper recesses of the balcony that morning,  I so remembered when they were putting them in! I was a child and I remember how expensive they were , even then! How long it seemed to take and how wonderful when they all got in and how proud everyone in the church was! And then, when we had a huge HAIL storm, the first thing everyone said was, "OH NO! What about the windows at East Lake?!" If I remember correctly, I don't think there was any damage. It was this HUGE hail storm and the hail pieces were the size of golf balls! In my young mind, I think they looked like basketballs! HAHA!....It's nice to walk down memory lane and know that I had the privilege of going to such an incredible church family that I am still tied to many of the folks there now! What peace and joy. Kind of like the Christmas message!!!!!!!