I heave been made aware that you are not worshiping the icons or the saints. I find the orthodox definition of worship (to my knowledge) to be very correct. 

My issue with praying for the deceased is that they are beyond our reach having been loosed from this mortal coil, too use a cliché. I see them as not involved much in our affairs until heaven and earth are remade when Jesus returns. 

That's an interesting point that they might pray for us. I honestly hadn't considered that. I'll have to mull that over for a while. 

It makes me a bit uncomfortable to think about praying to people to intercede. Prayer doesn't seem like it should be directed to anyone but God. 

 LOL! Jumble away. I've spent the morning with my sister and neice. She's not yet two. I get it. 😁 Thank you for responding. I enjoy it. I do have a lot to learn about orthodoxy as I never had much experience with it, though I spent significant time in Lutheran and catholic schools, so I'm most familiar with those sects.