The Gift Of Life

 35 years ago today, I was driving from one summer job to another on 635 in my mom's Cadillac. It was raining, and the last thing I remember was a car in front of me swerving. It was a Corvette.

I woke up to someone pulling on my arm, a bright light and PAIN! When I opened my eyes, I saw a lot of glass and a lot of blood. I could faintly hear someone calling to me, and in a foggy haze; the light turned into a firefighter. The first thought that entered my mind was "THANK YOU JESUS FOR SPARING MY LIFE!" The second thought was "I hope nobody is dead".

A cement truck had plowed into the back of my mom's Cadillac pushing me into the car in front, through 3 lanes of traffic and into the median wall. There were 10 cars involved in this accident.

As I was being wheeled into the ER, my mom was there. I remember wondering how she got there so fast, but it actually took a while for me to arrive at the hospital. She was walking beside the gurney, and the first thing I said to her was "Did I kill anyone? Was it my fault? I'm so so sorry about your car." She reassured me that it was not my fault and nobody had died. I was the one with the most injuries. I had severe head trauma but was very lucid, and I remember thinking things could have turned out very different.

There were a lot of stitches....a lot....and a lot of recovery. My body has not been the same since that day. There were a lot of facial gashes and injuries, head trauma, glass removal, dislocated shoulder. My nose was sliced completely in two (I'll spare you the photos), and there is a piece above my right nostril that is still missing resulting in two different shaped nostrils.

I slept on the couch for months, so I didn’t have to get up the stairs. One night I remember waking up in the middle of the night and seeing my dad sitting at my feet. He was crying softly, and again I just felt so thankful that my life was spared. Things could have turned out so different.

It took almost a year before I was finished with physical therapy and surgeries, and recovery was hard; but I was so GRATEFUL!! That day changed my perspective. I don’t know if I really appreciated the gift of life until that day. I don't think God causes bad things to happen, but I think there is an opportunity to see light and glean goodness. I’ve seen this through my own loss but also other people’s loss.

I've been praying for a family for a long time with a precious little girl, named Indy Llew. She has Down Syndrome and also cancer. That little lady is a bright bright light in the world while suffering most of her little life, but you wouldn’t know it. She is pure joy! Her parents have shared her story asking for prayer but also because she is changing the world. Through her, God has worked some amazing miracles in people's hearts. Today Indy passed, and my heart has been so so sad for us all. I cannot imagine the pain her family feels. I kept thinking about how things could have turned out different for her too. I don’t know why some people survive and some don’t. What I know is that time is a gift....make the most of it. You have one life to live...mend things that need to be mended, be kind, generous, encouraging, share your gifts, laugh a lot, keep learning; and LOVE like crazy!

FREEDOM

To say this last year has been a struggle for me would be an understatment. My mental health, the mental health of many I love, overall health, work, finances, church, missing people, all of it has been hard. I've felt like a fish out of water floundering around for the last few years, not sure where I belong or fit in, but this past several months have felt like I'm gasping for air and further away from finding solid ground or a fish tank, ocean, lake, etc. I have not been sure how to move forward or how to move at all. At the beginning of 2021, by many things I read and heard, expectations were high for a more "normal" year. To be honest, that did not provide comfort for me but more anxiety. I have never dealt with anxiety like I have over the last year. Sure, I've had moments of anxiousness and some legitmiate moments of panic; but I have not dealt with this consistently until this 2021. This past Sunday was our first in person contemporary church service inside of our church in over a year. Our pastor delivered a very meaningful and impactful sermon regarding the topic of worry and anxiety. It spoke to me as I'm sure it did to many. Because The Bible tells us not to be anxious does not mean we automatically flip a switch and are feeling peaceful and calm. What this scripture does provide for many of us is hope and the truth that we are covered by the love of Jesus. A few years ago, I decided to be intentional in reaching out to people when God laid them on my heart. I've done a fairly good job of sticking with that, but there are sometimes when I thought to myself...I'm not ready. But the more I opened my heart to Him, the more I realized that it wasn't about me being ready; but instead about being obedient. In 2021, I've reached out every single time God has led me to do so. I've had many wonderful responses of gratitude from people....some who I have not been in regular or any contact with in several years. Sometimes it was hard and uncomfortable, and sometimes it was easy and felt like second nature. But it has been a blessing every single time....no matter the response....because it was something I knew I was supposed to do. Something I've learned about myself is that freedom lies in obedience,even if it is hard and uncomfortable. I don't know what this year holds, but I know that Jesus is our hope! He is steadfast, and He walks with us through everything, even if we don't feel it. 

 Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Phillipians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Matthew 6:25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

March 3rd! The Best Day of 1997!!

This is TWENTY FOUR!!! Happy Birthday Addison Jo! I adore you!

No Power or All The Power!

 Today is Ash Wednesday.  It is also the middle of one of the worst winter storms Texas has seen.  The roads are dangerous, and millions of households are without power.  Due to these circumstances, our first in person church service since October, has been moved to virtual.  As disappointed as I am, I completely understand why.  Not only is it dangerous to drive, but we are being asked to conserve energy to help get power back to the millions who are without.  We spent 45 hours over the last 2 days with no power...not even a flicker. Because we don't have gas stove, fireplace, etc.; our house was 28 degrees inside...which was a lot warmer than outside, but it sure didn't feel like it.  We made the decision to vacate....it wasn't safe for us or our pets.  We were so blessed to have many reach out and offer assistance:  food, showers, hot drinks, groceries, generators and places to stay.  We ended up at some friends' house, who live not far from us, but never lost power.  We met them a few years ago, when Addi was nannying her twins.  So although we know her and call her friend, Neil and I don't know her that well.  We humbly and graciously accepted the invitation.  She fed us, let us shower, provided each of us a bed to sleep in; and she let us bring our dogs.  In a time such as this, it was a gift.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude especially when there are people who have lost their lives and have no place to go.

Our power came on late last night, and we headed home this afternoon.  I think she was going to open up her house to others who are doing without as soon as we left, and she made sure we knew we were welcome back to shower (we don't have hot water) or if the power went out again.  I promised we would pay it forward.  God took that promise very seriously, and on our way home; Addi received a message of a friend in need.  A pipe broke leaving her house in 6 inches of water, while she is out of town, and her husband is home alone to try to figure out how to get all of their stuff out of the house in freezing temps and 3 feet of snow.  Neil and Addi loaded up the water pump and headed over as soon as we got home.  

  Through the last 24 hours, I have been frustrated, frightened and angry.  It is 2021 in one of the richest countries in the world, but people have died due to lack of electricity and preparation by our state.  It makes no sense.  However I have also felt deep to my core gratitude and witnessed the amazing beauty of service.  God reminded me that we are not in control of much, but we can control our reactions.  So earlier as I began to share an article, that pointed out all the ways our state has let us down during this time, I felt the nudge in the direction of gentleness instead.  I do believe there needs to be some accountability for  those who have suffered loss of life and property, and I will support them.  However I don't think adding fuel to that fire will make it any better for them.  I believe my role is to encourage, love and offer assistance in the best ways I can; as well as, continuing to pray for our state and country.  It's been through a lot lately too.  So yes Jesus, I hear you when you say we are not in control, we don't always understand why you allow things to happen, but we know the ultimate power comes from you.

God At Work!

 Do you feel unseen, invaluable, insignificant? Do people always seem to make plans that don't include you?  Does it seem nobody notices when good things happen for you or bad things?  Do people turn up the music or turn on the garbage disposal when you're on a zoom call? Do your dreams seem unimportant? Do your needs go unnoticed?  Do your loved ones forget to tell you goodnight or goodbye or good morning?  Do your co-workers turn out the light at the end of the day not noticing that you are still sitting at your desk? Do people tell you their goods and bads but walk away without asking about yours? Does it seem nobody has time for you?

I've been in a time of deep reflection and self care and something I've been working on is remembering that I am a treasure to Jesus.  Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with the elephant of anxiety sitting fully on my chest, and I'm not sure why; but I think I'm figuring it out.   I think God is at work telling me that He sees me, and I am important.  I don't think God causes this anxiousness to happen, but He uses that time of unease to bring me to a place where I have to consciously force myself to regain peace.  Sure I've been anxious from time to time in my life, but I've never experienced it like this.  So when it happens, I get up, take some deep breaths, get a cool drink of water and remind myself that I am okay.  I am okay.  And then for the first time that I can ever remember after waking up in the middle of the night, I am able to fall soundly back to sleep.  God at work! He is good! I am a treasure!

February 5th, the best day of 2001!

                            THIS IS TWENTY!!!!  Happy Birthday to my Drewby Lou!!

                                                                            I adore you!

 

CELEBRATING SUPERMAN

 Yesterday was Superman's Birthday.  He's not usually big on birthdays, but he was a little more into it than usual.  Birthdays are my favorite thing ever, because celebrating another year of life is a gift.  The kids got him gifts, a cake, balloons and ice cream.  The girls wrote him Happy Birthday posts on social media, and of course I did too.  I'll admit that sometimes I envy him, because he is obviously their favorite. But I'm also really really grateful they treasure their dad as much as they do, because he is one to be treasured.