Welcome New Member, Patricia Watkins

On Sunday, June 11th, we welcomed our seventh new member this year. Although she said she did more scratching out than writing as she put her notes together, those in attendance were treated to a lively and informative introduction as Tricia told us a bit about herself and her decision to join the Unitarian Fellowship of Longview. Later, I asked her for her notes so that I could share that introduction with all our friends and members. Here are her oft-revised notes:

I was born in 1973 in Irving, Texas to Ann and Clarence Maberry. I was baptized Methodist and raised that way more or less, though mine was not an extremely religious family. Mom is a somewhat relaxed Methodist and took us kids to church on Sunday (when she could) and Dad didn't go to church (I was always told, due to a rough Baptist upbringing).

I learned a lot from my Sunday school teachers and the different pastors I came in contact with, and some of that will always be with me and influences me even now in my daily life. I always had an inquisitive mind so, as I grew up, I kept searching for THE ANSWERS - you know, to all those really important things like: Why are we here? What's the meaning of life, love, laughter? and Why is there air? I didn't have much luck getting answers to those questions and a whole slew of others from the Church, so I kept searching for someone who could answer them or a way to find the answers myself and then I could help others to know the answers.

I wandered around for quite a few years and figuring that if Methodist pastors didn't know the answers maybe some of the other religions did. I studied quite a few other Christian religions and learned some really good stuff there, but never enough. I started checking into other religions several years back after I had some really serious moments of doubt.

Six years ago I realized that Christianity was not the right fit for me and that I was trying to mush myself into a mold that I didn't fit into. Kinda the square peg in the round hole sort of thing. I

This is a path that I truly was on all my life and have been living without realizing it. Now I have been knowingly living this path alone for six years, and though my family is supportive of me for the most part, they are not Pagan for the most part either, so it has been a lonely six years, though a happy time because finally I have a label for myself that fits.

I'm not a "shouting from the rooftops" type of Pagan but I don't hide my beliefs either. Some months ago a friend of mine mentioned that there was a church in the area that accepted Pagans. I was very skeptical but I decided to check it out. After reading up on the UFL I decided to come and see if you all were really what you said.

I have to say I have never felt so accepted anywhere in my life. I felt so much love from the first day I walked in that "acceptance" doesn't even really cover it. I admit I tested you and wore my Pagan jewelry to see what reaction I got and the first thing I got was three compliments on my Pentacle earrings. I was told very quickly that you have a Pagan group that meets here and was practically drug over to meet Holli. I have to say from that moment you had me hooked, but I still had to hold out a little bit and see how you treated my son Todd. So I brought him the next week. And that was it for me! You all loved me and accepted me and encouraged me to express myself and, even more importantly than that, Todd loves it here and you all have given him so much already by accepting our family with all our various paths. Thank you!

Carol Peaster

06-13-06 -- I went outside this morning to put on my gardening shoes that I had recently taken off and left in the carport. When I picked up my shoe, here's what I found:

Obviously, Mother Wren was in a hurry to lay that egg. We're trying to find her nest so we can deposit it where it belongs.

06-14-06 -- We found a nest in our garage with three little wren eggs, so we added this "bonus" egg. At least it will have a chance to be incubated. Mother Wren is apparently spending the nights in our garage, and comes out for food and water when we "open up" in the mornings. She might have gotten shut out some evening which would explain the egg in the shoe... when you gotta lay an egg, you gotta lay an egg.