You know, God is pretty amazing. He is in control of the large and the small, the "important" and the minutia.
I decided about two months ago that I wanted to purchase another Bible. I just bought a new one last Spring because it had wide margins to write in, but it's a newer version (Holman Christian Standard) and I don't want to memorize that version. My pastor preaches out of NASB, and I memorized NASB when I was in Christian school back in the day.
My "school" Bible is falling apart; chunks of the New Testament started coming loose when I was in college. At first it was kind of cool - I could take out the section with I Corinthians and hold it next to a section of Hebrews, easy cross-referencing - but now that I don't carry a backpack every day, it's likely I would lose sections carrying it back & forth. SO, I decided to buy myself NASB.
Since this purchase fell more in the category of WANT than NEED, I decided to shop for my "new" Bible on Ebay. I opted for a thinline, leather-bound Bible; the hardcover ones I have are quite heavy, and I know that I'll appreciate having a little less weight to haul around, ESPECIALLY once we get a baby. :-) Anyway, I purchased a secondhand Bible that had the previous owners name engraved on the front. No biggie for me. Bible + shipping was under $20, so I was happy.
Well, once the Bible arrived, I was surprised to discover that it was relatively new - the inscription to the previous owner was dated in May of 2008, right around graduation season. Nevertheless, I toted it around for a few weeks, contemplating how I could personalize it for me instead of "Chris B", whose name was already on it.
My mom gave me a great tip for removing the engraving, but before I did that, I decided to Google the original owner just to make sure he didn't want the Bible back. I figured he must have given it away or sold it for me to get it on ebay, but JUST IN CASE he lost it, I though it would be good to try to contact him.
I was surprised when he replied to the message I sent him on Facebook... he had lost the Bible over a year earlier and had given up on finding it. He said he had bought another Bible of a different version, but that the Bible *I* had was special to him because it was a gift from his Dad and his church. He was amazed that (a) the Bible had turned up and (b) that I actually contacted him and offered to send it back to him! I agreed to mail it to him (which took two tries... another long story...), and he sent me a cashiers check for $50 (he came up with the amount... not me). Later this month, I'll be going back to Ebay to shop for a new (un-engraved) Bible for myself.
Thank you, Lord, for showing me (and Chris!) how you care about the little things in our lives. Thank you for using me to bring joy to a stranger; may your word continue to enrich BOTH of our lives.
Jul 6, 2010
Jun 28, 2010
A sad day
I have been remembering the events of last year on this blog, but the present has a sorrow of its own.
My dear cousin Char (pictured on the right) and her husband were devastated yesterday by the death of their daughter, Maddie (center). This picture was taken in March when they were all down to visit us for Spring Break. I am thankful for the joyful memories we made that weekend - will continue to treasure them - but we are mourning today.
I know that God is good ALL THE TIME, even though I don't understand why 5-year-old Maddie died so suddenly. He is my source of peace, He is my strength. I am leaning on the everlasting arms, and leaning hard.
My dear cousin Char (pictured on the right) and her husband were devastated yesterday by the death of their daughter, Maddie (center). This picture was taken in March when they were all down to visit us for Spring Break. I am thankful for the joyful memories we made that weekend - will continue to treasure them - but we are mourning today. I know that God is good ALL THE TIME, even though I don't understand why 5-year-old Maddie died so suddenly. He is my source of peace, He is my strength. I am leaning on the everlasting arms, and leaning hard.
I know I belong. :-)
I have been living in this town for 5 years. Today, I feel like I belong. Why, you ask?
Well, at my local Publix this afternoon, the number of people/families that I saw or visited with (8) was greater than the number of items in my cart (7). If I count everyone's children, I saw... 15 people that I know!!
Kinda cool, for me. This place is feeling more like MY town today.
Well, at my local Publix this afternoon, the number of people/families that I saw or visited with (8) was greater than the number of items in my cart (7). If I count everyone's children, I saw... 15 people that I know!!
Kinda cool, for me. This place is feeling more like MY town today.
Jun 24, 2010
One year ago -- Part 1
July 4 is coming up, and it is bittersweet. So many things happened one year ago around this time.
Near the end of June, my dear sister was advancing in her pregnancy, and she had some pain in her abdomen that was severe enough to warrant a day-long stay at the hospital. She was given instructions to "take it easy", which is practically impossible with two toddlers around. My mom was not able to go up and help. Here at home, David's parents had just moved to town and had been in their apartment for a little more than a week (rather than living in our house as they had done for the previous 3 weeks), and we were starting to settle into our new "normal". David agreed that it would be a good idea for me to go spend a week with Mel & Patrick and the kids, and hopefully help a bit.
I had such a nice week in TN; Mel was feeling a lot better by the time I arrived, the pain was more under control, and we were able to do fun things like go to a big playground and the local water park. It was a busy week, but it was a FUN kind of busy. I enjoyed kisses & hugs, baths & bedtimes stories, and time with my sister. I even enjoyed changing my nephew's diapers! On my way back home I got the phone call about David's sister.
I was driving to my parents' house, a convenient stop-over between Mel's house and mine. David's brother called my cell phone and told me that his sister was in the hospital. She had been diagnosed with cancer in her lung and elsewhere, Stage IV, and was told that it was terminal. Due to her low body-weight and general fatigue, treatment would not be possible. Hospice care would be arranged as early as possible; her condition was growing worse by the hour. We had found out she had gone to the hospital a couple of days before and was not feeling well at all, but we had absolutely no idea it was that serious.
I had the presence of mind to pull off the road while Lynn told about Diane. I remember exactly which parking lot I was in, and the last time I drove by it, I was flooded with the memory of that conversation and the one that followed--I had to call my husband and and tell him that his sister was dying. I believe it was Friday, July 3.
Thankfully, it was only 30 more minutes before I got to my parents' home. They hugged me while I cried, encouraged me, and prayed with me. We knew it would be a difficult journey, and I felt ill-equipped to handle it, but I committed myself anew to relying on God's strength. The morning of July 4, I headed home.
Near the end of June, my dear sister was advancing in her pregnancy, and she had some pain in her abdomen that was severe enough to warrant a day-long stay at the hospital. She was given instructions to "take it easy", which is practically impossible with two toddlers around. My mom was not able to go up and help. Here at home, David's parents had just moved to town and had been in their apartment for a little more than a week (rather than living in our house as they had done for the previous 3 weeks), and we were starting to settle into our new "normal". David agreed that it would be a good idea for me to go spend a week with Mel & Patrick and the kids, and hopefully help a bit.
I had such a nice week in TN; Mel was feeling a lot better by the time I arrived, the pain was more under control, and we were able to do fun things like go to a big playground and the local water park. It was a busy week, but it was a FUN kind of busy. I enjoyed kisses & hugs, baths & bedtimes stories, and time with my sister. I even enjoyed changing my nephew's diapers! On my way back home I got the phone call about David's sister.
I was driving to my parents' house, a convenient stop-over between Mel's house and mine. David's brother called my cell phone and told me that his sister was in the hospital. She had been diagnosed with cancer in her lung and elsewhere, Stage IV, and was told that it was terminal. Due to her low body-weight and general fatigue, treatment would not be possible. Hospice care would be arranged as early as possible; her condition was growing worse by the hour. We had found out she had gone to the hospital a couple of days before and was not feeling well at all, but we had absolutely no idea it was that serious.
I had the presence of mind to pull off the road while Lynn told about Diane. I remember exactly which parking lot I was in, and the last time I drove by it, I was flooded with the memory of that conversation and the one that followed--I had to call my husband and and tell him that his sister was dying. I believe it was Friday, July 3.
Thankfully, it was only 30 more minutes before I got to my parents' home. They hugged me while I cried, encouraged me, and prayed with me. We knew it would be a difficult journey, and I felt ill-equipped to handle it, but I committed myself anew to relying on God's strength. The morning of July 4, I headed home.
Jun 22, 2010
Tales from the road
We survived our week-long trip to PA with the elder Latonas. It was a good week, and there were no major problems, until the airport delays on the last day. (UGH!!!) Since everyone else shares the funny things their kids say during trips like this, I decided that I could share some funny stories about the parents. They know we love them.
Day 1
After landing in Pittsburgh, driving in the rented BLUE DODGE CHARGER for an hour, and stopping for lunch: We had our lunch and paid our check, then I went to the bathroom with Mom for one last pit stop. On the way back to the dining room, she took a wrong turn and went out the back door of the restaurant. I ran out the door after her, hollering, "Mom, where are you going?!??" She said, "I'm going to the car. It's the black one up there, isn't it?"
Meanwhile, at the front of the restaurant: David had watched me run out the back door after Mom, and he headed out the front to check on Dad, who was smoking a cigarette. After the cigarette was done, Dad started to walk down the sidewalk to our car. David said, "Dad, where are you going?!??" He said, "I'm going to the car. It's the red one right here."
More Day 1
In the hallway of the hotel, as we were heading out to dinner, Mom said: I hate to say this, but I wish I was back at home!!!
Day 2
In their hotel room: On the afternoon of day 1, we left a sheet of paper on the dresser stating our room number and the approximate time we would be leaving to go have dinner.
In our hotel room the morning of day 2: [knock, knock, knock] David said, "Is someone knocking on our door?" I went to check, and when I opened the door, Dad was knocking on the door of the room NEXT TO OURS. He had come to tell me that mom couldn't figure out how to turn on the water in the shower, and that she told him to come get us in room 111 (we were in 109) so we could come and help her. When I went to turn the water on for her, she was quite frustrated, as she had been trying to get the shower on for over 10 minutes and couldn't figure it out.
More Day 2
After 3 hours on a plane to Pittsburgh, 2 1/2 hours in a rental car driving to Altoona, and an overnight at the hotel in Altoona, we checked out of our hotel and continued on our journey to Lucinda. On the way out of town, Dad said, "Oh, we're going this way to Pittsburgh?"
Day 8
In the back seat: Dad complained that it was too hot. He started to take off his sweater, and he opened the rear a/c vent (for the first time the entire trip). Mom said, huffily, "Why are you doing THAT if you're HOT???"
In the front seat: We exchanged raised-eyebrow glances, knowing full well that when you are hot and you want to be cooler, you open A/C vents and take off your sweater. Hmmm....
Day 8 was particularly long; our 5:20 flight from PIT to ATL was delayed because of thunderstorms in Atlanta. We sat on the plane for over 2 hours (wheelchair assisted people get on first and get off last) with Mom & Dad huddled in sweaters & blankets trying to escape the A/C, and eventually the plane had to go back to the terminal, and we all had to get off. David got off first while I waited with the parents. He got us some dinner, and we hurriedly ate at the gate before they put us back on the plane. We departed PIT at 9:00pm.
In Atlanta at 11pm, I zipped off the plane first and was thrilled to see that our connection home was delayed from the original 8:30 departure time to 12:11am. I asked for the wheelchairs so they would be ready when Mom & Dad & David finally came off the plane, and got the gate info for the next flight. We hurried to that gate, 2 concourses away, pushing Mom & Dad's wheelchairs ourselves and toting the carry-ons & rolling suitcase, since there were not many wheelchair-pushers on duty that late. We got to the gate at 11:45, and the video board at the gate did not show a departure time of 12:11... it showed 11:38. AAAAACK!!!!! I begged David to ask an agent if the plane had really left, and as it turned out the plane was still sitting there since a crew was not yet available to get the plane away from the gate. We quickly and thankfully boarded (with 3 other VERY thankful people).
Back home (around 12:30am), a strong storm had come through and damaged the tunnel/ramp used for passengers to board the plane, so the only way to get off was the steep & narrow steps. We had to wait for the staff to bring a lift with which they brought Mom & Dad down from the plane one at a time. By the time I got into the terminal, David had found our car, found our luggage, and loaded it in the car. I was SO ready to go home.
In the wee hours of unplanned Day 9, at about 12:45am: As we were getting in the car Dad said, "So Dave, are we gonna go get coffee and a doughnut?"
Day 1
After landing in Pittsburgh, driving in the rented BLUE DODGE CHARGER for an hour, and stopping for lunch: We had our lunch and paid our check, then I went to the bathroom with Mom for one last pit stop. On the way back to the dining room, she took a wrong turn and went out the back door of the restaurant. I ran out the door after her, hollering, "Mom, where are you going?!??" She said, "I'm going to the car. It's the black one up there, isn't it?"
Meanwhile, at the front of the restaurant: David had watched me run out the back door after Mom, and he headed out the front to check on Dad, who was smoking a cigarette. After the cigarette was done, Dad started to walk down the sidewalk to our car. David said, "Dad, where are you going?!??" He said, "I'm going to the car. It's the red one right here."
More Day 1
In the hallway of the hotel, as we were heading out to dinner, Mom said: I hate to say this, but I wish I was back at home!!!
Day 2
In their hotel room: On the afternoon of day 1, we left a sheet of paper on the dresser stating our room number and the approximate time we would be leaving to go have dinner.
In our hotel room the morning of day 2: [knock, knock, knock] David said, "Is someone knocking on our door?" I went to check, and when I opened the door, Dad was knocking on the door of the room NEXT TO OURS. He had come to tell me that mom couldn't figure out how to turn on the water in the shower, and that she told him to come get us in room 111 (we were in 109) so we could come and help her. When I went to turn the water on for her, she was quite frustrated, as she had been trying to get the shower on for over 10 minutes and couldn't figure it out.
More Day 2
After 3 hours on a plane to Pittsburgh, 2 1/2 hours in a rental car driving to Altoona, and an overnight at the hotel in Altoona, we checked out of our hotel and continued on our journey to Lucinda. On the way out of town, Dad said, "Oh, we're going this way to Pittsburgh?"
Day 8
In the back seat: Dad complained that it was too hot. He started to take off his sweater, and he opened the rear a/c vent (for the first time the entire trip). Mom said, huffily, "Why are you doing THAT if you're HOT???"
In the front seat: We exchanged raised-eyebrow glances, knowing full well that when you are hot and you want to be cooler, you open A/C vents and take off your sweater. Hmmm....
Day 8 was particularly long; our 5:20 flight from PIT to ATL was delayed because of thunderstorms in Atlanta. We sat on the plane for over 2 hours (wheelchair assisted people get on first and get off last) with Mom & Dad huddled in sweaters & blankets trying to escape the A/C, and eventually the plane had to go back to the terminal, and we all had to get off. David got off first while I waited with the parents. He got us some dinner, and we hurriedly ate at the gate before they put us back on the plane. We departed PIT at 9:00pm.
In Atlanta at 11pm, I zipped off the plane first and was thrilled to see that our connection home was delayed from the original 8:30 departure time to 12:11am. I asked for the wheelchairs so they would be ready when Mom & Dad & David finally came off the plane, and got the gate info for the next flight. We hurried to that gate, 2 concourses away, pushing Mom & Dad's wheelchairs ourselves and toting the carry-ons & rolling suitcase, since there were not many wheelchair-pushers on duty that late. We got to the gate at 11:45, and the video board at the gate did not show a departure time of 12:11... it showed 11:38. AAAAACK!!!!! I begged David to ask an agent if the plane had really left, and as it turned out the plane was still sitting there since a crew was not yet available to get the plane away from the gate. We quickly and thankfully boarded (with 3 other VERY thankful people).
Back home (around 12:30am), a strong storm had come through and damaged the tunnel/ramp used for passengers to board the plane, so the only way to get off was the steep & narrow steps. We had to wait for the staff to bring a lift with which they brought Mom & Dad down from the plane one at a time. By the time I got into the terminal, David had found our car, found our luggage, and loaded it in the car. I was SO ready to go home.
In the wee hours of unplanned Day 9, at about 12:45am: As we were getting in the car Dad said, "So Dave, are we gonna go get coffee and a doughnut?"
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