First things first, some of you will be happy to know that I will be continuing on as a Tennessee resident and will not be joining the "land of fruits and nuts" at this time. I myself was glad to hear it. I'll be getting in 3 hours later than original but when we are talking about just under 32 hours from the time I leave until I get home, what's 3 more hours, right?! OK, I'll just keep telling myself this and see if it works!
So now onto bigger and better things, well maybe. I must say that I'm really glad that my vacation dates overlapped with the Office Christmas Party dates this year, so not only did I hand over the planning to the marketing department (I did offer to stay involved and help, but they didn't seem to want me, so I bowed out), but I don't have to feel obligated to attend either. Last year I planned most of it with the girl in Marketing and I thought it was very nice and well attended. However, we did change some things from the year before and there were quite the number of complaints. They even started so early that they hindered the planning itself to some extent. We were all set to have it at one of the old plantations in the area in their barn and stables, which is set up for holding events. Well someone, found out about it and said they wouldn't attend then because it was a plantation and used to have slaves. I was floored, I couldn't believe that someone really had those feelings! I never did determine if that was the case or we just had people that didn't like the idea and were trying to cause trouble. So we moved it at the virual last minute and didn't have room for dancing even, because we were lucky just to find a place that was still available on our date.
Well then, this year I started on it very early and we had decided last year what we wanted to do and where we wanted to have it, so I reserved the date we made our donation and had the caterer reserved, etc. The only thing I was still working on when I realized I wouldn't be here was the music. Well, now it is at a completely different place (they said there wasn't going to be enough room at the originally chosen venue) and I think that means they had to cancel the caterer and go with the venue's own food service. I also heard through the vine that there will be comedy entertainment and CD's spinning for entertainment. Well, like I said I haven't paid too much attention since I know I can't go.
Until this afternoon when a concerned employee came to my office and told me who the entertainment was and that they are a "drag queen". Oh boy, now what do I do. I'm not really in on this and have no idea what's been going on. Since my boss (the CEO) will not be back in the office before I leave on my trip, I pondered what to do. Finally I asked the girl in marketing if we could chat. I told her that someone had come to me with concerns that maybe this had been misrepresented and they hadn't know the full scope of what they had approved. She assured me that she had told my boss the full story and left the decision with him. OK, then that's all I wanted to be sure. She was frustrated that people are complaining already especially since it isn't public knowledge. She said that it is a couple of people who do comedy and impersonations, and that some of the impersonations may be men dressing up as women, but that the person who arranged for the show has assured her that it is in good taste.
Again, all I have to say is, "I'm really glad I won't be there to have to worry about it." I'll be in a plane over the Pacific in my last three hours of the longest flight of my life into LAX. Oh well. I'm much more comfortable at small parties with friends or my Sunday School classmates. I'm hoping to catch those after I return. I know you can't please everyone, but where do you draw the line of what is "tasteful" or "appropriate"? It may seem like an easy question to answer, at least for yourself personally, but unless you can take the heat I wouldn't recommend large event planning!
OK, so the laundry and last-minute purchases have begun. The list has been made for over a week. I have work to organize, finish and delegate. I have a project to finish at home. I have to stop by to say good-bye to my nephews. If I had a place to put them I'd start putting things aside with the suitcases. Oh well, all in good time. 85 hours from now I will step off a plane to see my parents!!
Tuesday, November 15
Thursday, November 10
Reconfirm
Does this sound redundant to anyone else? OK, but I know it's a good thing to do and being the detail-oriented, semi-perfectionist that I am, I'm not sure I could let myself get away with not doing it. However, I've never found it any fun... If you are just reconfirming plans with friends or family, they usually think you're nuts because you've discussed it so many times, how could you not remember what the plans were.
If you're reconfirming airline flights however, this can be a whole nother ball game!! Now, I will admit that most of the time with domestic flights I don't bother to reconfirm with a phone call to the airlines, but if the reservations were made more than a month or two in advance I will look up the flights online just to make sure the times haven't changed. With the exception of our Bahamas trips (which everyone knows is a beast of a completely different nature with all of its own set of rules that apply to there and nowhere else... no worries mon!) I really had not done much international travel until starting 3 years ago. So now, I'm having to change some of my habits.
SO, today I began calling the 4 different airlines I'll be using in my 2-week, 6-country, round the world trip coming soon to a suitcase near you! Oh sorry, got carried away, anyhow, called Delta and confirmed my flights going, there were only minor changes of 5 minutes or so on one of them and I also was able to get my seat assignment. When I asked about the flights for the last portion on the return (LAX through Cincy back home) I was told those were on another airline and they couldn't confirm or do seats. After some hesitation and thoughts toward beginning to panic, I looked from the travel agency printed itinerary, what I was using to make the calls, to the actual tickets/receipts and realized she was correct, those flights showed on the China Airlines ticket which begins in Bangkok to Taipei to LA to Cincy to home. OK, no problem, thank you for your help.
Next up, Air France. No problems there only I can't do the seat assignments they must be done at the airport. Again no problem, it's only an hour and a half flight each way (Paris to Nice and back) so I'll deal with it later. Oh also, of course I'm having to ask each airline for their baggage limit policy so that I can make sure I meet the strictest. Thank you, France, have a good day.
Now on to Thai Airlines. I have to reconfirm my flight from Paris to Bangkok, again all goes smoothly and they assign my seat as well. Now, even though my parents have picked up my round trip tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and they are on a separate confirmation number I have that info and ask about my seat assignment. They look it up and tell me that it's domestic and no seat assignments at all, first come, first serve. OK, works for me. You better believe, I'm a great note-taker because there is no way I'm going to remember all this in my head!! Thanks Thai Airlines, see you next week.
OK, last call, China Airlines. No problem on first two flights, slight change on the time leaving Taipei, but not an issue.
Baggage limits?
Good.
OK, seat assignments?
At the airport only or 24 hours in advance online at their website. Great, could you tell me that address. So I wrote down the address, where to go and the confirmation number I'd need to do so. Will I even be where I have access to a computer 24 hours before my flight? I have no idea, but my motto is better to have too much info than not enough!
OK, great now, what about the flights from LAX through Cincy to home?
Oh, we don't have access to those they are not on China Airlines.
I'm sorry, could you repeat that?! (which he did and darned if he didn't say the same thing). I proceeded to tell him that the ticket I had in my hand for China Airlines, all one ticket, was from Bangkok all the way back to my home city. He said that I'd have to talk to my travel agent because he doesn't have access to that information.
OK, so what your are telling me is that when I get off the plane in LA and go to the China Air counter, because that's what my ticket says (even though, remember, that the printed itin says Delta), that they will not be able to check me in. He again repeated himself saying that was correct and I'd have to talk to my travel agent.
OK, thank you very much for your help, I will give them a call.
NOW, I hit the panic button!! I have an itin that says it's Delta and a ticket that says it's China and they both say they can't confirm it! This is a big problem... I'm not a California girl by any stretch of the imagination and I don't think I'll be able to keep my job if I have to commute from LAX!!
So, I call my friend Julie at the travel agency...
Yes, she does remember me! Go figure, I only talked to her multiple times daily for a 2-week stretch trying to get the reservations and then the tickets in hand to start with! So she pulls up my info and I explain the above to her. She says that part of it is that there has been a change in this last part. I'm now going from LAX to Atlanta to Cincy to home, and of course that means an added 3+ hours before arriving home. OK, so I can deal with that. She assures me that I do have confirmed reservations and there is room on the planes for me, which I don't doubt, but I need to know who to talk to in LA and what to show them so that I can get on these reserved flights! She said she would do some checking and get back with me, her opinion is that the China Air gut didn't know what he was talking about. OK, so 20 minutes later she called and told me that they are working on it and she will let me know for sure tomorrow (the whole everyone-around-the-world-is-on-different-time-zones issue, gotta love it). In the meantime, she is going to send me a brand new itinerary that shows all the updates, beautiful! That would be great and very helpful!
So now I'm waiting to hear from Julie tomorrow, to know for sure that I will continue to be a resident of Tennessee when I return and not become a beach bum!
If you're reconfirming airline flights however, this can be a whole nother ball game!! Now, I will admit that most of the time with domestic flights I don't bother to reconfirm with a phone call to the airlines, but if the reservations were made more than a month or two in advance I will look up the flights online just to make sure the times haven't changed. With the exception of our Bahamas trips (which everyone knows is a beast of a completely different nature with all of its own set of rules that apply to there and nowhere else... no worries mon!) I really had not done much international travel until starting 3 years ago. So now, I'm having to change some of my habits.
SO, today I began calling the 4 different airlines I'll be using in my 2-week, 6-country, round the world trip coming soon to a suitcase near you! Oh sorry, got carried away, anyhow, called Delta and confirmed my flights going, there were only minor changes of 5 minutes or so on one of them and I also was able to get my seat assignment. When I asked about the flights for the last portion on the return (LAX through Cincy back home) I was told those were on another airline and they couldn't confirm or do seats. After some hesitation and thoughts toward beginning to panic, I looked from the travel agency printed itinerary, what I was using to make the calls, to the actual tickets/receipts and realized she was correct, those flights showed on the China Airlines ticket which begins in Bangkok to Taipei to LA to Cincy to home. OK, no problem, thank you for your help.
Next up, Air France. No problems there only I can't do the seat assignments they must be done at the airport. Again no problem, it's only an hour and a half flight each way (Paris to Nice and back) so I'll deal with it later. Oh also, of course I'm having to ask each airline for their baggage limit policy so that I can make sure I meet the strictest. Thank you, France, have a good day.
Now on to Thai Airlines. I have to reconfirm my flight from Paris to Bangkok, again all goes smoothly and they assign my seat as well. Now, even though my parents have picked up my round trip tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and they are on a separate confirmation number I have that info and ask about my seat assignment. They look it up and tell me that it's domestic and no seat assignments at all, first come, first serve. OK, works for me. You better believe, I'm a great note-taker because there is no way I'm going to remember all this in my head!! Thanks Thai Airlines, see you next week.
OK, last call, China Airlines. No problem on first two flights, slight change on the time leaving Taipei, but not an issue.
Baggage limits?
Good.
OK, seat assignments?
At the airport only or 24 hours in advance online at their website. Great, could you tell me that address. So I wrote down the address, where to go and the confirmation number I'd need to do so. Will I even be where I have access to a computer 24 hours before my flight? I have no idea, but my motto is better to have too much info than not enough!
OK, great now, what about the flights from LAX through Cincy to home?
Oh, we don't have access to those they are not on China Airlines.
I'm sorry, could you repeat that?! (which he did and darned if he didn't say the same thing). I proceeded to tell him that the ticket I had in my hand for China Airlines, all one ticket, was from Bangkok all the way back to my home city. He said that I'd have to talk to my travel agent because he doesn't have access to that information.
OK, so what your are telling me is that when I get off the plane in LA and go to the China Air counter, because that's what my ticket says (even though, remember, that the printed itin says Delta), that they will not be able to check me in. He again repeated himself saying that was correct and I'd have to talk to my travel agent.
OK, thank you very much for your help, I will give them a call.
NOW, I hit the panic button!! I have an itin that says it's Delta and a ticket that says it's China and they both say they can't confirm it! This is a big problem... I'm not a California girl by any stretch of the imagination and I don't think I'll be able to keep my job if I have to commute from LAX!!
So, I call my friend Julie at the travel agency...
Yes, she does remember me! Go figure, I only talked to her multiple times daily for a 2-week stretch trying to get the reservations and then the tickets in hand to start with! So she pulls up my info and I explain the above to her. She says that part of it is that there has been a change in this last part. I'm now going from LAX to Atlanta to Cincy to home, and of course that means an added 3+ hours before arriving home. OK, so I can deal with that. She assures me that I do have confirmed reservations and there is room on the planes for me, which I don't doubt, but I need to know who to talk to in LA and what to show them so that I can get on these reserved flights! She said she would do some checking and get back with me, her opinion is that the China Air gut didn't know what he was talking about. OK, so 20 minutes later she called and told me that they are working on it and she will let me know for sure tomorrow (the whole everyone-around-the-world-is-on-different-time-zones issue, gotta love it). In the meantime, she is going to send me a brand new itinerary that shows all the updates, beautiful! That would be great and very helpful!
So now I'm waiting to hear from Julie tomorrow, to know for sure that I will continue to be a resident of Tennessee when I return and not become a beach bum!
Wednesday, November 9
On my mind...
So there's a lot on my mind lately - I know you're all surprised - and today there was a partial scripture that kept rolling through my mind. I've learned not to ignore these things it's usually for a reason, however, since I'm also not necessarily good at remembering the references that go along with them I invested many years ago in a full concordance. So I've spent the last 20-30 minutes looking for what has been just out of reach all day. You'll be happy to know that I found it - if you don't have a good concordance, you might think about getting one, they really are handy!
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want do do -- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Paul's writing in Romans 7: 14-25
This is one of those passages that has always been confusing to me (I mean have you ever counted how many times he uses the word "do"), I have to read it very slowly and break it down. It's one that has often come up in studies over the years, but one that I never really connected with. For some reason though, today I think I got a small glimpse of it. Maybe partially because it's hard to describe my current inner struggles, that I get how confused and frustrated Paul must have felt when he was writing about this inner struggle of knowing what's right, wanting to do what's right, but not doing it. Oh, dear God if you would help me to beat this in every decision I make. For so many times, I know the right decision and do the wrong thing in spite of it. Forgive me, Father.
I also happened to find two other passages during my search for the above that really spoke to me vividly tonight. They are both in James, 3:17-18 and 4:6-10.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
...
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Oh it sounds so simple... resist and the devil will flee. What truth in that statement, do you know that he has no choice? If you resist him in the name of Christ he has to go. It doesn't say "argue with"... it doesn't say "fight to exhaustion with"... it simply says "resist". I didn't look this up in the Hebrew or Greek or even in Webster's but to me "resist" gives me the picture of a simple "nope, not today". If only I could remember that it's that simple in the midst of it!
And he gives me more grace. Though I don't deserve any to start with, this implies that it isn't a first helping. I don't know about you, but most of the time I can use all the grace I can get. I'm not sure I understand the statement about grieving and joy turning to gloom, it doesn't seem to fit, but I'll think on it. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them. Maybe it's connected in some way to the last statement, in that no matter where I'm at emotionally, if I humble myself before Him, He will lift me up and I need no other than that.
Well, I think I should probably end there for now. It's getting on towards bedtime. Thanks for checking in - I'd love to hear from you, please feel free to comment! Have a great day tomorrow and remember to rejoice and be glad, for it's the day the Lord has made!
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want do do -- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Paul's writing in Romans 7: 14-25
This is one of those passages that has always been confusing to me (I mean have you ever counted how many times he uses the word "do"), I have to read it very slowly and break it down. It's one that has often come up in studies over the years, but one that I never really connected with. For some reason though, today I think I got a small glimpse of it. Maybe partially because it's hard to describe my current inner struggles, that I get how confused and frustrated Paul must have felt when he was writing about this inner struggle of knowing what's right, wanting to do what's right, but not doing it. Oh, dear God if you would help me to beat this in every decision I make. For so many times, I know the right decision and do the wrong thing in spite of it. Forgive me, Father.
I also happened to find two other passages during my search for the above that really spoke to me vividly tonight. They are both in James, 3:17-18 and 4:6-10.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
...
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Oh it sounds so simple... resist and the devil will flee. What truth in that statement, do you know that he has no choice? If you resist him in the name of Christ he has to go. It doesn't say "argue with"... it doesn't say "fight to exhaustion with"... it simply says "resist". I didn't look this up in the Hebrew or Greek or even in Webster's but to me "resist" gives me the picture of a simple "nope, not today". If only I could remember that it's that simple in the midst of it!
And he gives me more grace. Though I don't deserve any to start with, this implies that it isn't a first helping. I don't know about you, but most of the time I can use all the grace I can get. I'm not sure I understand the statement about grieving and joy turning to gloom, it doesn't seem to fit, but I'll think on it. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them. Maybe it's connected in some way to the last statement, in that no matter where I'm at emotionally, if I humble myself before Him, He will lift me up and I need no other than that.
Well, I think I should probably end there for now. It's getting on towards bedtime. Thanks for checking in - I'd love to hear from you, please feel free to comment! Have a great day tomorrow and remember to rejoice and be glad, for it's the day the Lord has made!
Friday, November 4
This day... 16 years
November 4... this day has become a milestone day for me. It started 16 years ago today... that afternoon my life changed forever in a way I would never have suspected. Then for several years after that, November 4 was a very hard day for me. I tended to just back inside myself and keep away from as many people as possible and just get through the day, wishing it had never happened and that November 4 had never become an anniversary to me.
Now I can't tell you exactly when but sometime over the last 10 years or so, it has become a day that is still an anniversary to me, but that I can reflect on and see how many blessings I have that I might not have ever known if I hadn't turned down that path. So many lifetime friends that I wouldn't have known had I not chosen to get on a horse that morning. The opportunity to witness first hand what the power of prayer can do in my life. To really know by the number of visits and cards how many people in my life truly cared about me and my family - yes, we all have those people, but sometimes we take for granted how many of them there really are. Spiritual growth in my own life that came from a place where it was either grow and learn or lose it completely. The opportunity to be sunshine and light to two olders ladies whom I shared a room with in the hospital. To this day I still remember Margaret asking me each night to sing the Lord's Prayer as we were ready to fall asleep... and let's face it, laying in a hospital bed after what I'd gone through I did not have my best voice ever, but it meant something to her that's all I needed to know. And of course the many times since that day that sharing this story has helped me relate to someone or to share my faith with them.
For those of you reading this that may not know, on this day 16 years ago... at the age of 20, recently moved into my own apartment (in Indianapolis) since my parents had moved to Dallas, Texas on Halloween and I was determined not to move again, holding down two jobs... I was thrown from a horse while riding with people we knew from church and exploded a vertabrae in my back. Immediately I was in more pain than I could ever describe and couldn't feel or move from my waist down and was terrified that it was permanent. Praise God, it was not!! The long story made short... after 7-8 hours of surgery I spent 23 days in the hospital (the first 4 of those in ICU) and then at the beginning of December I was flown to Dallas where I began a long recuperation period. Just after the first of the year I found out that my full time job (I was on disability and they were waiting for me to return) would be gone as of June 1 because the company had been bought out and they would be closing our office. At that time I finally accepted the fact that for reasons never known to me, the Lord wanted me in Dallas. By that summer, I was all moved and back to work full time, this time in the Dallas area.
There are days I still wonder what my life would have been like had this tragedy not occured and I had gone on the path I'd started. But unlike then, I no longer think these thoughts with regret and bitterness. The Lord has so many times gently reminded me that He knows what is best for me and that some day I may know the reasons He sent me where He did. But even if I never know, I'm OK with that now. This is my Jonah experience, and I pray every day that since I learned this lesson the hard way, just like Jonah, that I would always be attentive to His call on my life and never refuse to listen to Him again.
One other piece to this whole story that I must relate to you is that my parents are true saints! I don't really know what they truly thought about the fact that I refused to move with them initially, but they treated me as the 20-year-old adult that I was and supported my decision to stay in Indy. They helped me find a place to live, they helped me work out a budget so I knew how many hours of part time work I needed to make ends meet. They helped me move for the the 5th time in just over 2 years (I had attended college for the 2 previous years) and helped be get settled before they left for the great state of Texas.
Then after my accident, my mother was at my bedside that night and back again to talk with the doctors before surgery the next day (my grandparents were with her as well). The only reason my father was not there was because on a Saturday night in a town they had only been in for 4 days there was nowhere to leave the dog and cat and he was supposed to have flown to Tampa for business on Sunday, which had to be changed. Sunday night after surgery, my mother and grandmother sat with me alternately through the night in ICU (yes, we bent the rules). Then out of the 23-day stay there was only one day my mother was not sitting there with me throughout the day. She and my nurses helped me relearn how to walk, she read to me, watched TV with me and while I napped (which I seem to remember was quite often) I'm sure she was not far.
When I went to Texas, initially for a recovery period, my parents made many sacrifices. They took care of me physically, they took care of my finances, they had my grandparents pack up my apartment and store it and my car, they dealt lovingly with me as I went through an emotional roller coaster that I hope you never have to ride. And finally, once I realized I would be in Texas permanently I lived in their home for the next 3 years! Grown children are supposed to move out, and my parents had always looked forward to that, they weren't like some parents that wanted to hold us back and keep us kids forever.
I know that parents are parents for life and that they did these things because they love me and wouldn't have thought of doing anything differently, but that makes it all the more special to me. I thank the Lord often that I have parents who love Him, who love each other (37 years and counting) and who love their children and grandchild with the kind of love that God has given them. The kind of love with no strings attached. The kind of love that does not expect anything in return, but rejoices when there is. The kind of love that heals, helps, and makes me smile! So, Mom and Dad, in case I've never said thanks for all you did in this particular situation, and for the uncountable other times that you've taken care of me because you love me, thanks, and I love you!
Now I can't tell you exactly when but sometime over the last 10 years or so, it has become a day that is still an anniversary to me, but that I can reflect on and see how many blessings I have that I might not have ever known if I hadn't turned down that path. So many lifetime friends that I wouldn't have known had I not chosen to get on a horse that morning. The opportunity to witness first hand what the power of prayer can do in my life. To really know by the number of visits and cards how many people in my life truly cared about me and my family - yes, we all have those people, but sometimes we take for granted how many of them there really are. Spiritual growth in my own life that came from a place where it was either grow and learn or lose it completely. The opportunity to be sunshine and light to two olders ladies whom I shared a room with in the hospital. To this day I still remember Margaret asking me each night to sing the Lord's Prayer as we were ready to fall asleep... and let's face it, laying in a hospital bed after what I'd gone through I did not have my best voice ever, but it meant something to her that's all I needed to know. And of course the many times since that day that sharing this story has helped me relate to someone or to share my faith with them.
For those of you reading this that may not know, on this day 16 years ago... at the age of 20, recently moved into my own apartment (in Indianapolis) since my parents had moved to Dallas, Texas on Halloween and I was determined not to move again, holding down two jobs... I was thrown from a horse while riding with people we knew from church and exploded a vertabrae in my back. Immediately I was in more pain than I could ever describe and couldn't feel or move from my waist down and was terrified that it was permanent. Praise God, it was not!! The long story made short... after 7-8 hours of surgery I spent 23 days in the hospital (the first 4 of those in ICU) and then at the beginning of December I was flown to Dallas where I began a long recuperation period. Just after the first of the year I found out that my full time job (I was on disability and they were waiting for me to return) would be gone as of June 1 because the company had been bought out and they would be closing our office. At that time I finally accepted the fact that for reasons never known to me, the Lord wanted me in Dallas. By that summer, I was all moved and back to work full time, this time in the Dallas area.
There are days I still wonder what my life would have been like had this tragedy not occured and I had gone on the path I'd started. But unlike then, I no longer think these thoughts with regret and bitterness. The Lord has so many times gently reminded me that He knows what is best for me and that some day I may know the reasons He sent me where He did. But even if I never know, I'm OK with that now. This is my Jonah experience, and I pray every day that since I learned this lesson the hard way, just like Jonah, that I would always be attentive to His call on my life and never refuse to listen to Him again.
One other piece to this whole story that I must relate to you is that my parents are true saints! I don't really know what they truly thought about the fact that I refused to move with them initially, but they treated me as the 20-year-old adult that I was and supported my decision to stay in Indy. They helped me find a place to live, they helped me work out a budget so I knew how many hours of part time work I needed to make ends meet. They helped me move for the the 5th time in just over 2 years (I had attended college for the 2 previous years) and helped be get settled before they left for the great state of Texas.
Then after my accident, my mother was at my bedside that night and back again to talk with the doctors before surgery the next day (my grandparents were with her as well). The only reason my father was not there was because on a Saturday night in a town they had only been in for 4 days there was nowhere to leave the dog and cat and he was supposed to have flown to Tampa for business on Sunday, which had to be changed. Sunday night after surgery, my mother and grandmother sat with me alternately through the night in ICU (yes, we bent the rules). Then out of the 23-day stay there was only one day my mother was not sitting there with me throughout the day. She and my nurses helped me relearn how to walk, she read to me, watched TV with me and while I napped (which I seem to remember was quite often) I'm sure she was not far.
When I went to Texas, initially for a recovery period, my parents made many sacrifices. They took care of me physically, they took care of my finances, they had my grandparents pack up my apartment and store it and my car, they dealt lovingly with me as I went through an emotional roller coaster that I hope you never have to ride. And finally, once I realized I would be in Texas permanently I lived in their home for the next 3 years! Grown children are supposed to move out, and my parents had always looked forward to that, they weren't like some parents that wanted to hold us back and keep us kids forever.
I know that parents are parents for life and that they did these things because they love me and wouldn't have thought of doing anything differently, but that makes it all the more special to me. I thank the Lord often that I have parents who love Him, who love each other (37 years and counting) and who love their children and grandchild with the kind of love that God has given them. The kind of love with no strings attached. The kind of love that does not expect anything in return, but rejoices when there is. The kind of love that heals, helps, and makes me smile! So, Mom and Dad, in case I've never said thanks for all you did in this particular situation, and for the uncountable other times that you've taken care of me because you love me, thanks, and I love you!
Thursday, November 3
Projects and other tidbits
So much going on. I've begun thinking about Christmas gifts... I've figured out what I'm going to do, which is a step in the right direction, there is an easy part (just buy what I need and put it together) and a creative part (this will take a little more time and forethought). I may try to get the easy part done before I leave on my big trip, then when I come home I'll have the time to enjoy the creative part. There are a few people I need to get shipping addresses from too.
I'm supposed to be working on a quilt and have not made much progress on it. This past weekend I really just vegged out, because I hadn't had the chance to do that in quite some time. I watched some TV, a movie or two and finished one book and almost a second one. This weekend I'm hostessing a baby shower for a friend and we are going to make her baby announcements. This is their third child and second girl so they don't need much and we had the idea to do this so we could still have some time celebrating with her! So I went out last night and got the final few things I needed for the announcements. We are also going to have some snacks, so I've decided what I'm making and have my grocery list prepared.
I'm participating too in a scrapbooking ornament exchange with some friends that I usually get together with about twice a month for scrap night. This is my first "exchange" ever in the scrap world and some of these ladies are many-yeared veterans at all this stuff. So I've been trying to think up my idea that is something I'll enjoy making, means something to me and that will be worthy of trading with these accomplished paper handlers! I think I've got the basic idea down, now I'm just mulling through the particulars. We are having a scrap night tomorrow night as a matter of fact so I'll be taking the stuff for the baby shower to make the templates and may work on this project a little too. These are due by the end of the month, but I have to have mine done by next weekend because of my own schedule.
Last Friday night I took 2 of my nephews to a place called Third Coast Clay at the Factory in Franklin and we made pieces for their parents for Christmas. They had a really great time and so did I! I'm looking forward to picking up the pieces and seeing the finished product. It's the first time for the boys to be able to surprise Mom and Dad with a gift and I'm looking forward to watching them give them on Christmas!
OK, so when I write it all down, it doesn't sound like as much, but you add in working every day and I feel busy :o) Anyway, those are some of the projects I'm currently involved in. After Christmas I'll post a picture of the gifts for you to see, but some folks who may read this are going to be getting them, so I don't want to prepost! I will also definitely post pics of the quilt too.
The other big thing on my current list is beginning mental preparation for my big trip.... 2 weeks to go. I can't believe I've almost made it through the 8 months without seeing my parents accept in pictures, the Lord is good. We are all very much looking forward to our reunion and time together over Thanksgiving. Sooner than you think, I'll be back and telling you all about it! Anyway, there are things that I need to take to them, there are things that I need to take with me for me, I have to pack for 2 different climates, etc, etc. So I'll be starting my list probably over the weekend.
Well, time marches on, so I'll get back to the things at hand...
I'm supposed to be working on a quilt and have not made much progress on it. This past weekend I really just vegged out, because I hadn't had the chance to do that in quite some time. I watched some TV, a movie or two and finished one book and almost a second one. This weekend I'm hostessing a baby shower for a friend and we are going to make her baby announcements. This is their third child and second girl so they don't need much and we had the idea to do this so we could still have some time celebrating with her! So I went out last night and got the final few things I needed for the announcements. We are also going to have some snacks, so I've decided what I'm making and have my grocery list prepared.
I'm participating too in a scrapbooking ornament exchange with some friends that I usually get together with about twice a month for scrap night. This is my first "exchange" ever in the scrap world and some of these ladies are many-yeared veterans at all this stuff. So I've been trying to think up my idea that is something I'll enjoy making, means something to me and that will be worthy of trading with these accomplished paper handlers! I think I've got the basic idea down, now I'm just mulling through the particulars. We are having a scrap night tomorrow night as a matter of fact so I'll be taking the stuff for the baby shower to make the templates and may work on this project a little too. These are due by the end of the month, but I have to have mine done by next weekend because of my own schedule.
Last Friday night I took 2 of my nephews to a place called Third Coast Clay at the Factory in Franklin and we made pieces for their parents for Christmas. They had a really great time and so did I! I'm looking forward to picking up the pieces and seeing the finished product. It's the first time for the boys to be able to surprise Mom and Dad with a gift and I'm looking forward to watching them give them on Christmas!
OK, so when I write it all down, it doesn't sound like as much, but you add in working every day and I feel busy :o) Anyway, those are some of the projects I'm currently involved in. After Christmas I'll post a picture of the gifts for you to see, but some folks who may read this are going to be getting them, so I don't want to prepost! I will also definitely post pics of the quilt too.
The other big thing on my current list is beginning mental preparation for my big trip.... 2 weeks to go. I can't believe I've almost made it through the 8 months without seeing my parents accept in pictures, the Lord is good. We are all very much looking forward to our reunion and time together over Thanksgiving. Sooner than you think, I'll be back and telling you all about it! Anyway, there are things that I need to take to them, there are things that I need to take with me for me, I have to pack for 2 different climates, etc, etc. So I'll be starting my list probably over the weekend.
Well, time marches on, so I'll get back to the things at hand...
