Tag Archives: family

The Leader of the Band

Posted on by under The Stories

This post was created in response to Rochelle’s post: Friday Fictioneers.

Read some great flash fiction tied to the prompt below by travelling here:

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/

Here is our weekly photo prompt

Copyright - Bjorn Brudberg

Copyright- Bjorn Rudberg

Opa waved me over from his seat at the edge of the dining room.

I rolled my eyes as I swallowed the last of my cognac to steel myself for the ordeal.

He handed me the guitar as I sat down beside him. He took up his mandolin.

“Play.” He croaked.

I began in E. I think he thought it was G. Our mismatched keys were echoed by cheers of patrons, throughout the bar, who had known his musicianship.

He was gone the next morning and for months after I couldn’t bear the sound of beautiful music.

Windows On My World

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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As I race through Holy Week I wanted to take a few moments and give you a glimpse through the window into my world using Cee’s Share Your World forum.

Lots of bloggers go to “Cee-Land” to share bits and pieces of their lives through Share Your World; So if you want to grab a hold of the tail of the blogosphere and discover tons of other fun bloggers pop on over to Cee’s blog when you are done here.

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/04/14/share-your-world-2014-week-15/

 

Here are this week’s questions to self-discovery:

For your blog do you basically use Windows or Mac, laptop, desktop, pad, or phone?

For writing my blog I use my desk top Windows almost exclusively. when reading and commenting I am generally on my Kindle.

 

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a boy I wanted to be a naturalist. But from eighth grade on I was pretty certain I wanted to be a pastor and a writer. I am one of those few fortunate given the privilege to realize his dreams. I love my life.

Did you grow up in a small or big town? Did you like it?

I grew up in a small town called Winchendon. My Grandad, my Dad and my Mom were all involved heavily in civic organizations and town politics. My folks owned a restaurant that was sort of the hub for local gossip and I started working there when I was fourteen. My graduating class was 72 kids. I absolutely loved the small town experience  and wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 

About 80. I’ve been called an old soul, but I think I’m pretty spry for an eighty year old.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach our church’s membership class and to host our town’s community garden planning meeting. I am so looking forward to Good friday,  Easter and to celebrating my daughter’s 24th birthday! Oh and I am looking forward to the spring snow melting away. Here is what I woke up to this morning.

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Beautiful but soooooo wrong!

 

 

Book Crawl

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

I am so glad that as they have grown my children have gained an appreciation for books.

This year as a Christmas gift I gave my girls a book crawl and this weekend was the weekend for it.

Friday night I picked up James, my daughter Melanie’s fiancé in CT and brought him back to MA.

We met at my ex-wife’s house for dinner and to make plans for the wedding. Once my oldest daughter got home from work we headed to my house for a long winter’s nap before our Saturday drive.

On Saturday morning we left Winchendon at 8:30 A.M. and headed South.

Our first stop was Tatnuck Booksellers in Westbourough. I found a comfortable chair and opened my Kindle to read while the kids poked around.

They found nothing at bookstore number 1 but at bookstore number 2 in Worcester we hit pay dirt.

James at Annie's Bookstore

James at Annie’s Bookstore

Melanie in YA section at Annie's

Melanie in YA section at Annie’s

Amanda is a quick shopper. Melanie and James are consummate browsers. After two hours Amanda had a bag full of books and Melanie and James were still weighing their options. So I took Amanda on a walk back into childhood.

Me and Amanda reading Dr. Seuss.

Me and Amanda reading Dr. Seuss.

By the time we finished we were all famished. I was truly ready for a cup of coffee

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Then it was on to Niantic CT for a crawl through the Book Barn.

Amanda at the Book Barn

Amanda at the Book Barn

James and Melanie

James and Melanie

Since James and Melanie both had to be back at their respective churches for ministry on Sunday morning we wrapped it up at the Book Barn and then I dropped James back off in Oakdale CT (he is a children’s minister in Norwich CT) and then we shot up to Haverhill MA for Melanie’s house (she is a children’s minster in Saugus MA). Amanda and I got in just before 11 and settled in for a good night’s rest before our ministry calls at Cornerstone (Amanda does children’s ministry at Cornerstone and I had to lead worship)

It was a great 14 hour day. One old wrinkly minister and three young eager ministers now each have ten more books to read!

Share Your World With Cee Cee: Am I an introvert?

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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We have been given some fun questions regarding introversion this week. To find out how Cee’s other contributors responded go to

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/01/27/2079/

Here are my thoughts:

 

Do you recharge your energy by going out with friends for a good time or by spending with quiet time alone?

I spend a lot of time with groups of people. While I do have a few friends that I can gather with to recharge, many times when I am in a group I end up doing ministry work. I think this has more to do with who I am than with the demands of the people. That said I usually find it necessary to withdraw from society and to hide in order to recharge.

What is the most number of blankets you’ve ever had on your bed?

I think six.

You are invited to a party that will be attended by many fascinating people you never met. Would you attend this party if you were to go by yourself?

I would absolutely attend by myself.

Do you like talking to people on the phone? Or do you prefer voice mail or email?

I do prefer e-mail because it helps me to be more concise and thoughtful in my use of words. Many times though a face to face is the only way to go. You cannot communicate tone in an e-mail.

 

I think this pastor falls on the side of introversion. How about you?

Share Your World 2014 Week 2

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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It’s time for another webisode of “Share Your World With Cee Cee” !

If you are just tuning in to Lillie-Put for the first time ” SYWWCC” is a weekly exercise in self-revelation hosted by none other than the world-famous Cee Neuner from Portland Oregon. Each week Cee asks us four questions (some simple, some probing). We answer.

Why don’t you check out all of Cee’s contributors and learn something of them when you are done learning about me. Simply go to        http://ceenphotography.com/2014/01/13/share-your-world-2014-week-2/

Now on to today’s questions!

If you had to move to a country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

Oh! there are so many choices. I love the landscape of Iceland and I would really love to get to know the” Land of the Midnight Sun” a bit better; But I know people in The Netherlands now, so I know I would be welcomed there and while the sun doesn’t shine until midnight,  in the summer it is still light until 10 P.M. . Austrailia or New Zealand have also always held a fascination for me ! What about Ireland? I could totally live there or maybe the Scottish highlands or the Lakes region of England…Wales, Wales is nice. Maybe I’ll just stay where I am and travel to all these places for vacations!

Music or silence while working?

I like to listen to “Whisperings” an internet piano station while I work.

What is your favorite color?

Cerullian blue at least that’s my favorite today. Tomorrow it might be taupe.

Do you have a bucket list? What are your three items? A bucket list are things you want to do before you die.

Hmm. I would like to sit on a tropical beach before I die, ride a horse through a mountain pass and publish a few books. I am not too concerned about getting all this done before I die though. I plan to be resurrected and then I’ll have time and eternity to have these experiences.

Share Your World Week 47

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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It’s week 47 of sharing my world in 2013. I am not sure exactly what happened but we are not finishing off the year with week 52. Somewhere we misplaced 5 weeks! How odd. Anyway my answers are below and our other “Sharing Friends'” answers can be found at

http://ceenphotography.com/2013/12/30/share-your-world-2013-week-47/

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Just now the more appropriate question is , “how do you like to spend a snowy day?”

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I don’t often have the luxury of calling it quits because of the weather,  but when I can I like to curl up with a coffee and get lost in a good book! We are scheduled for 6-12 inches of snow on Thursday and I am probably going to be driving into Boston at some point on that day.

What is the weirdest or strangest thing you saw or heard or did this week?

This week I  officiated at a funeral for a man I had not seen in  20 some odd years. He was the father of some friends from my youth group years, who have since moved to the west coast. As we were watching the family video at the closing of the service there was a picture of the man sailing a sail boat just in front of my grand-parents lake house. It struck me how small our world is that this man I barely knew somehow touched upon the lives of my grand-parents.

What item, that you don’t have already, would you most like to own?

I saw a three burner crock pot in Wal-Mart the other day. I would love one of those! It would make church pot-luck so much more interesting!

How many times you have moved in the last ten years?

I have moved once in the last ten years.

Share Your World 2013 Week 46

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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Cee has given us some great questions to answer this week. I am a little behind because of the Christmas woosh but at least I have finished week 46 before week 47 starts! When you have finished reading my answers to Cee’s questions stop on by her site to see how others responded.

http://ceenphotography.com/2013/12/23/share-your-world-2013-week-46/

Name one thing not many people know about you.

My first instrument was the flute. I have played for 38 years. But I seldom get to play it in public as I am most often paid to play the piano.

What is set as the background on your computer?

Right now a blank blue screen is set as my back ground but I have two favorites that are usually displayed. The first is a field of lavender in Provence and the second is a  picture of the glacial ocean in the North Pole.

Have you ever gone scuba diving? If you haven’t, would you want to?

I have never been scuba diving. I am not sure I would be up for such an adventure. Big fish really do scare me.

What made you smile today?

Watching my cousin wrap her arms around her sister as she grieved the loss of her daughter. There is something profound about the human capacity to comfort the wounded.

Christmas Woosh!

Posted on by under For Family & Fun, Photography

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Dear Readers,

I am sorry I have been so long away from the writing desk. The Christmas Holidays have turned into a Christmas Woosh.

It has been such an enjoyable. powerful, difficult week of ministry. The experiences  have left me  little time for putting fingers to keyboard. I just checked my dashboard and I have logged a little more than a thousand miles of driving since last Sunday!

On Sunday I led worship as Pastor Risto gave his last sermon before leaving for Canada for his Christmas holiday. You can find that sermon here

http://cornerstoneag.net/2013/12/22/the-invitation-to-and-from-the-manger/

 

After service and  Cornerstone’s  cookie fellowship my sister and I drove through a light snow to pick up my daughter Melanie and her fiance James at their pastor’s home in Cambridge.

James Franklin and Melanie Lillie

James Franklin and Melanie Lillie

We dropped the kids off at Melanie’s mother’s home for their family Christmas which was scheduled for the 23rd. That gave me the time I needed to finish up my shopping and wrapping ( yep I had last-minute stuff to buy).

On the 23rd Brenda and I drove to Lynnfield MA to visit with Brenda’s boss who is in the U.S.  for her year of itinieration.

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Judy  gave us a tour of her home, Beth Shan, and took us to lunch at Kouzinas Kitchen in Saugus.

On the 24th I was privileged to preach the Christmas Eve service and then we all (that is Me, Mom, Brenda, Amanda, Melanie and James) nestled in for a long winter’s nap after nachos , Christmas Stolenn and eggnog of course.

Christmas was as Christmas always is a day of celebrating and eating. I made pumpkin pancakes and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, lasagna for lunch and leftovers followed up with pumpkin pie and berry pie for supper.

Yesterday I drove James and Melanie to James’ home in Oakdale CT  so they could be with his family for a few days.

Today I have just come from officiating the funeral of a distant cousin. This last event sort of puts all the running of the season in perspective. The holiday is wonderful in and of itself but all the traditional celebration means nothing if we lose the reason for the season. When all the veneer of frivolity is stripped away and we are left facing life as it really is, full not just of life but of death, what truth do we have to speak into that dark night of the soul?

The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.
3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
    and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest
    and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior
    and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
    They will be fuel for the fire.

6 For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen! Isaiah 9:1-7

 

 

Share Your World 2013 Week 45

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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Oh boy! This week Cee has given us some questions I can really sink my keyboard into! After you are done here go on over to Cee’s place and take a gander at what her other subscribers have said. Better yet try answering the questions for yourself!

http://ceenphotography.com/2013/12/16/1391/

 

This week’s questions:

What was the most important event in your life last week?

I think the most important event of my life last week was the launch meeting of  New England’s first Special Touch Chapter. We have chosen the name Special Touch R.E.A.C.H. (Respecting Everyone’s Ability to Choose Hope) for our group. We had 39 people out to our first annual Christmas party ministering to the disabled. Considering the day, that threatened a foot of snow I would say that shows great support for this  work! If you are interested in learning more about Special Touch check out their website here!

http://www.specialtouch.org/

Who was your favorite singer or music group in high school?

I loved David Meece. I think “We Are the reason” was one of my favorite songs.

 

Name the foreign countries you’ve been to.

I  spent some time ministering in England in 1997 and then in Mexico in 2004.

I am not sure Canada counts. Although, my pastor who is Canadian needs a green card to minister in the States so I guess it does. I have been to Canada.

Since my sister lives there I have visited The Netherlands twice and while crossing over the Pond I stopped in Iceland and Ireland.

I hope to take my daughter for a vacation to Ireland after she graduates college.

Does your first or middle name have any significance (or were you named after another family member)?

My first name is Joseph and my middle name is Elon (pronounced EEE- lawn). I am the fifth in line with that name (my son is the sixth) and the name Elon goes back, in my family, at least seven generations to just after the Revolution.

I used to hate the name. Even the principal of my High School misread it at graduation and announced me as Joseph Ellen Lillie. After I did a word search on it, though, I grew into it a little bit. The names together mean “He shall add strength”.