Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Recovery
Just wanted to let you all know that I'm recovering nicely from surgery yesterday. I got some good sleep yesterday and now I'm ready for my all-day staff meeting. No rest for the wicked, I suppose.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Answered prayer
An amazing thing happened today.
As many of you know, my mom's sister, my Aunt Kathy, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a few weeks ago after a visit to Mayo Clinic. The doctor who called her with the news gave her a grim prognosis. We were all devastated.
Many, many prayers were said. Last week she went to UAMS, one of the nation's leading hospitals in the treatment of the disease, for testing.
This afternoon she met with the doctor to talk about treatment and found out she doesn't have cancer after all. They're not quite sure what happened with the initial diagnosis. I choose to believe that one of the nation's most prominent hospitals wasn't that far off, God just had bigger plans for her. He answered our prayers in the most absolute of ways.
Yes, sometimes His answer is no, but sometimes it's a resounding yes.
As my nephew Taylor so eloquently put it when I texted him, "Go Jesus." Indeed.
As many of you know, my mom's sister, my Aunt Kathy, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a few weeks ago after a visit to Mayo Clinic. The doctor who called her with the news gave her a grim prognosis. We were all devastated.
Many, many prayers were said. Last week she went to UAMS, one of the nation's leading hospitals in the treatment of the disease, for testing.
This afternoon she met with the doctor to talk about treatment and found out she doesn't have cancer after all. They're not quite sure what happened with the initial diagnosis. I choose to believe that one of the nation's most prominent hospitals wasn't that far off, God just had bigger plans for her. He answered our prayers in the most absolute of ways.
Yes, sometimes His answer is no, but sometimes it's a resounding yes.
As my nephew Taylor so eloquently put it when I texted him, "Go Jesus." Indeed.
Prayers for the Bears
I didn't sleep much last night. Around 9:40, I got a phone call from a 501-area code number I didn't recognize. As usual, I didn't answer since I didn't know who it was, but upon listening to the message, I heard that something tragic had happened on the UCA campus.
Evidently my cell phone number is still programmed into the UCA Crisis Alert system, and a prerecorded message told me that, if I was in a campus building, to lock the doors and detain all students. A few minutes later a friend texted me to tell me that there had been a shooting on the UCA campus.
My first thought was of friends there. Were they in the wrong place at the wrong time? My second thought is that things like this don't happen in my backyard.
UCA is a safe campus. I would never have been scared to walk around at night there.
My friend Erin, who's a student at UCA, called to tell me that she was safe. I was immensely relived, but still in shock.
Details are still not being released, so I have no idea what premeditated this act of violence. Two UCA students are dead. One "person of interest" is in custody, with three other suspects still at large.
I laid awake for hours, thinking about the state of this country. Violence and hatred are in our backyard, in places I used to work and live. A week ago, the Anne Pressley attack, and now this. It makes me feel completely vulnerable.
The only thing to do is pray. Pray for the victims. For the wisdom of the police department and others working on the case. For the family and friends of those who lost their lives. For a world gone mad. And for the peace of the Savior.
Evidently my cell phone number is still programmed into the UCA Crisis Alert system, and a prerecorded message told me that, if I was in a campus building, to lock the doors and detain all students. A few minutes later a friend texted me to tell me that there had been a shooting on the UCA campus.
My first thought was of friends there. Were they in the wrong place at the wrong time? My second thought is that things like this don't happen in my backyard.
UCA is a safe campus. I would never have been scared to walk around at night there.
My friend Erin, who's a student at UCA, called to tell me that she was safe. I was immensely relived, but still in shock.
Details are still not being released, so I have no idea what premeditated this act of violence. Two UCA students are dead. One "person of interest" is in custody, with three other suspects still at large.
I laid awake for hours, thinking about the state of this country. Violence and hatred are in our backyard, in places I used to work and live. A week ago, the Anne Pressley attack, and now this. It makes me feel completely vulnerable.
The only thing to do is pray. Pray for the victims. For the wisdom of the police department and others working on the case. For the family and friends of those who lost their lives. For a world gone mad. And for the peace of the Savior.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sleepy weekend
I've been home for 48 hours and asleep for about 30 of them. Today I cleaned the house a bit and did some laundry, but other than that, I've spent most of the past two days snoozing.
The few hours I have been awake I've been missing Boston, wishing I were walking down the streets of Cambridge, eating lobster bisque and watching the crew on the Charles River. I guess the only solution is for Tom Brady to marry me and move me to Massachusetts.
The few hours I have been awake I've been missing Boston, wishing I were walking down the streets of Cambridge, eating lobster bisque and watching the crew on the Charles River. I guess the only solution is for Tom Brady to marry me and move me to Massachusetts.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Fabulous Fenway
Quick post. I've been awake since 4:30 CST, so it's past time for bed. I spent most of the day in the airport or in an airplane, but I'm back on Arkansas soil and in my own bed.
I saw Fenway today! I actually got to touch the Green Monster and was nearly on the field. One more thing off my bucket list.
More tomorrow. For now, enjoy the pic!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Fenway, Steinway, Dumb chick
So tonight, I was eating dinner beside my new friends from New York. They're really nice and friendly (totally not the New Yawk stereotype), and we were discussing that our flights are about the same time tomorrow. One of 'em has a total NYC accent. Imagine Janice from "Friends."
NYC: "Wanna share a cab to the airport?
Me: "Actually, I want to stop at Fenway on the way."
NYC: "Oh. I've heard of that. Fenway Hall, the famous concert hall?"
Me: "No, Fenway Park. The famous baseball field where the Red Sox play."
NYC: "Ah. I thought a Fenway was a type of piano."
Me: "No, that's a Steinway."
See, just because she's from New York doesn't mean she's smarter than me. Granted, she probably didn't get lost on the way back to the hotel, but she knows less about sports.
NYC: "Wanna share a cab to the airport?
Me: "Actually, I want to stop at Fenway on the way."
NYC: "Oh. I've heard of that. Fenway Hall, the famous concert hall?"
Me: "No, Fenway Park. The famous baseball field where the Red Sox play."
NYC: "Ah. I thought a Fenway was a type of piano."
Me: "No, that's a Steinway."
See, just because she's from New York doesn't mean she's smarter than me. Granted, she probably didn't get lost on the way back to the hotel, but she knows less about sports.
Maine lobster in Massachusetts
Meet Larry, the beautiful and delicious lobster I had for dinner. He was alive in the tank when I got there, and dead in my tummy when I left. I also enjoyed some great crab bisque while Larry was in the sauna.
The experience was marred a bit by my getting lost yet again on my way back to the hotel. In the dark. Carrying a $400 handbag. Oh, I was perfectly fine, but as a girl who's not used to the big city, it was intimidating. Granted, everyone else in Cambridge was walking, but it made me nervous nonetheless. And there was not a cab to be found.
But now I'm back, ensconced in my hotel room, dreading the flight tomorrow. I plan to get up early and watch the crew teams out on the river, but we'll see. I can't believe my time in Boston is already over!
Howdy from Hah-vahd
One of the nice things about being in Cambridge is that I'm practically staying on the Harvard campus. During our lunch break I took the shuttle to Harvard square, where I ate a lobster roll and clam chowder. Not so surprisingly, I got lost on the way back, but at least I got in my three mile walk for the day and, more importantly, I was wearing flats. It was gorgeous! I was surprised by how large the campus is.
Harvard is just as beautiful as advertised, with ivy covering the brick walls.
Unlike the University of Texas, Harvard actually lets you look at their football stadium. Hmm... could it be that football isn't the most important part of college? This is one of the coolest stadiums I've seen. Very old school.
Bloomberg, part of Harvard Business School
The Charles River
Harvard is just as beautiful as advertised, with ivy covering the brick walls.
Unlike the University of Texas, Harvard actually lets you look at their football stadium. Hmm... could it be that football isn't the most important part of college? This is one of the coolest stadiums I've seen. Very old school.
Bloomberg, part of Harvard Business School
The Charles River
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Boston tea party
I'm positively giddy. I just drove by Fenway Park. Saw the Green Monster. As I write this, I'm looking out at the Charles River, eating sushi and watching the World Series. And drinking tea. Don't you have to drink tea when you're in Boston? As I rode from the airport and saw the skyline of Boston for the first time, I could hear the theme to "Boston Legal" in my head. It's such a beautiful city!
To be fair, my day has been less than stellar. The flight from XNA to Charlotte was packed, and the lady behind me had a two-year-old who kept kicking my seat and an infant who kept crying. That was a L-O-N-G two hours. The plane from Charlotte sat on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for clearance, but I did finally make it to Boston just past seven.
I've always heard that people in New England are rude, but my cab driver offered to give me a "very personal" tour of Boston tomorrow. Um, no. But I do have a 90 minute break for lunch and I'm thinking of heading over to see Fenway up close and personal. Then it's off to Harvard Square for dinner. The leaves have turned and it's autumn in New England.
I can't believe I'm in the same city as Tom Brady! Yeah, he could be someplace else and wherever he is he's probably hanging out with this supermodel girlfriend, but still, I'm in Boston! It's 45 degrees right now. Brrr....
To be fair, my day has been less than stellar. The flight from XNA to Charlotte was packed, and the lady behind me had a two-year-old who kept kicking my seat and an infant who kept crying. That was a L-O-N-G two hours. The plane from Charlotte sat on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for clearance, but I did finally make it to Boston just past seven.
I've always heard that people in New England are rude, but my cab driver offered to give me a "very personal" tour of Boston tomorrow. Um, no. But I do have a 90 minute break for lunch and I'm thinking of heading over to see Fenway up close and personal. Then it's off to Harvard Square for dinner. The leaves have turned and it's autumn in New England.
I can't believe I'm in the same city as Tom Brady! Yeah, he could be someplace else and wherever he is he's probably hanging out with this supermodel girlfriend, but still, I'm in Boston! It's 45 degrees right now. Brrr....
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Off to Beantown
In just a few short hours, I'll be on my way to Boston. Home of Tom Brady. In the fall. Can't wait!
I'll be two miles from Fenway Park and two miles from Harvard. You know what they say, sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Fecal matter
This morning, I got up before daylight to head to the hospital health fair and represent the Cancer Support Home for my pal Trace. It's such a great organization and I'm happy to do what little I can to help.
So I'm sitting outside in the freezing cold, feeling very lucky to be one of the few people in America with insurance, as hundreds of locals stood in line for an hour to get a free health screening. A few people stopped by my booth, asking me questions about at-home colon tests (See: medicine, things Lori should never talk about). I know it's something about fecal matter, but I don't want to think about it.
Two ladies came by to pick up one of my brochures about the importance of a healthy diet and exercise in the role of cancer prevention (something I needed to read as well). One says, "You know, we really should take better care of ourselves and eat better." The other one replies distractedly, "Yeah. Hey... donuts!"
They threw down my brochures and headed for the Krispy Kremes. Sigh. Who brought donuts to the HEALTH FAIR?!?
Alas, I did not eat one. I am strong. I am woman. If putting down the Krispy Kremes keeps me from an at-home colon test, it's worth the sacrifice. And my thighs would agree.
So I'm sitting outside in the freezing cold, feeling very lucky to be one of the few people in America with insurance, as hundreds of locals stood in line for an hour to get a free health screening. A few people stopped by my booth, asking me questions about at-home colon tests (See: medicine, things Lori should never talk about). I know it's something about fecal matter, but I don't want to think about it.
Two ladies came by to pick up one of my brochures about the importance of a healthy diet and exercise in the role of cancer prevention (something I needed to read as well). One says, "You know, we really should take better care of ourselves and eat better." The other one replies distractedly, "Yeah. Hey... donuts!"
They threw down my brochures and headed for the Krispy Kremes. Sigh. Who brought donuts to the HEALTH FAIR?!?
Alas, I did not eat one. I am strong. I am woman. If putting down the Krispy Kremes keeps me from an at-home colon test, it's worth the sacrifice. And my thighs would agree.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Inappropriate, party of one
As a result of my not-at-all embarrassing mammogram last week, I got to endure a biopsy this week to determine that the huge mass in my left breast is, in fact, a benign tumor. Many of you have been faithfully praying for me and checking on me and for that, I am eternally grateful. This whole experience has made me realize how very lucky I am to have such awesome friends and family.
It's also made me realize that I find humor in really weird things. During the past month, I've been examined by no less than five doctors, and I've lost what little bit of dignity I had left.
Today I went for a surgical consult. Yes, the tumor is benign, but it's growing rapidly and so I'm having it removed.
The surgeon brings along some sort of student. Intern, resident, random pervert, I'm not sure. Anyway, that means there are three people in the room while I'm getting my consult. Surgeon is giving the play-by-play to the student about doing a "corkscrew" method of breast exam (as opposed to the more popular "radio knob" method that most men use). He then starts to describe the tumor to the student, telling him how to tell the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant one.
Me, being the good sport that I am, say, "Do you want to feel?" to the student. He looks like a kid at Christmas and says, "You don't mind?" I reply, "Heck, I've been felt up by 15 people in the past three weeks. What's one more? Are there any random people walking down the hall who want to violate me?!?"
Doctor and nurse can't stop laughing at this point. I'm sure there's some sort of "wildly inappropriate" notation on my chart.
The surgeon later told me that he will try to do something cosmetically pleasing with the incision, but that some women were not happy after the surgery because there will be a scar. I said, "Well, I was going to pose for Playboy in January, but I suppose that's out."
I guess the blessing of this whole ordeal is that a few guys have gotten to second base with me the past few weeks. But none of them bought me dinner.
It's also made me realize that I find humor in really weird things. During the past month, I've been examined by no less than five doctors, and I've lost what little bit of dignity I had left.
Today I went for a surgical consult. Yes, the tumor is benign, but it's growing rapidly and so I'm having it removed.
The surgeon brings along some sort of student. Intern, resident, random pervert, I'm not sure. Anyway, that means there are three people in the room while I'm getting my consult. Surgeon is giving the play-by-play to the student about doing a "corkscrew" method of breast exam (as opposed to the more popular "radio knob" method that most men use). He then starts to describe the tumor to the student, telling him how to tell the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant one.
Me, being the good sport that I am, say, "Do you want to feel?" to the student. He looks like a kid at Christmas and says, "You don't mind?" I reply, "Heck, I've been felt up by 15 people in the past three weeks. What's one more? Are there any random people walking down the hall who want to violate me?!?"
Doctor and nurse can't stop laughing at this point. I'm sure there's some sort of "wildly inappropriate" notation on my chart.
The surgeon later told me that he will try to do something cosmetically pleasing with the incision, but that some women were not happy after the surgery because there will be a scar. I said, "Well, I was going to pose for Playboy in January, but I suppose that's out."
I guess the blessing of this whole ordeal is that a few guys have gotten to second base with me the past few weeks. But none of them bought me dinner.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Mountain party
Yesterday Scott and Alisa hosted a party on Nebo for Mike and Shauna, Thomas and Amy, and me (plus everyones' kids). Scooter made some fantastic gumbo and we sat out by the fire and talked. It was so much fun!
Isn't Madison precious?!?
Scott and Alisa
Preston, Madison and Joe
Race for the Cure
On Saturday I participated in the Race for the Cure in Little Rock. I've been wanting to do it for years, and I'm so glad I did. It was one of the most amazing, moving experiences of my life. Nearly 46,000 women participated. It was wall-to-wall people, so packed in that it took us 90 minutes to finish the 5K.
If you ever have the chance to do a RFTC, do it! It's life-changing!
This is Estella and me, before the race
Big crowds
My favorite sign of the day (you may have to read it twice)
If you ever have the chance to do a RFTC, do it! It's life-changing!
This is Estella and me, before the race
Big crowds
My favorite sign of the day (you may have to read it twice)
Happy birthday, Mondo!
Belated birthday wishes go out to my cousin, Lonnie. Hope you had some Texas-sized fun!
(There you go, Memaw, an embarrassing pic of your son.)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Under pressure
Well I suppose today was a bit better than yesterday considering nobody tried to put any body part in a vice, but it was still filled with a lot of pressure. The metaphoric kind, not the literal kind.
So I had a stinky morning and came home for lunch to feel sorry for myself. It was tough considering I'm on day two of my 48-hour fruit fast, but alas, I did not succumb to chocolate. I did, however, succumb to a long talk with God, during which He told me to get over myself. (That's just how God rolls, I'm convinced. I don't think He always talks to us in KJV lingo.)
My afternoon was much better. Less talking, more action. But also more meetings.
Tonight I'm doing laundry, ironing and packing to hit the road again. I'm relying on the hospitality of friends for the next four nights. Tomorrow I have LBC, then speaking at a board meeting, then back to LBC in the afternoon. Tomorrow night I'm driving to the Fort for a Chamber dinner with Ashley. I'll be crashing at Vance and Sorne's.
On Friday I'm driving to the Rock to have lunch with Ann, then Brent and I are going to Cold Stone to celebrate his natal anniversary. That night Joe's meeting Estella and I for dinner, and we'll be getting up early on Saturday to walk in the Race for the Cure in Little Rock. I've always wanted to do the Race and never have. I hear it's indescribable and I'm very excited.
Saturday afternoon/night I'll be driving to Nebo to stay with Scott and Alisa. On Sunday afternoon my ol' Tech friends are coming up for gumbo and good times. Then, late Sunday evening, I'll be driving to Rogers to stay with Kelly so that I can be at a 7 a.m. meeting on Monday.
Good grief. When did my life become so crazy? But I love it. And I'm grateful to have good friends (with spare bedrooms) to share it all with.
So I had a stinky morning and came home for lunch to feel sorry for myself. It was tough considering I'm on day two of my 48-hour fruit fast, but alas, I did not succumb to chocolate. I did, however, succumb to a long talk with God, during which He told me to get over myself. (That's just how God rolls, I'm convinced. I don't think He always talks to us in KJV lingo.)
My afternoon was much better. Less talking, more action. But also more meetings.
Tonight I'm doing laundry, ironing and packing to hit the road again. I'm relying on the hospitality of friends for the next four nights. Tomorrow I have LBC, then speaking at a board meeting, then back to LBC in the afternoon. Tomorrow night I'm driving to the Fort for a Chamber dinner with Ashley. I'll be crashing at Vance and Sorne's.
On Friday I'm driving to the Rock to have lunch with Ann, then Brent and I are going to Cold Stone to celebrate his natal anniversary. That night Joe's meeting Estella and I for dinner, and we'll be getting up early on Saturday to walk in the Race for the Cure in Little Rock. I've always wanted to do the Race and never have. I hear it's indescribable and I'm very excited.
Saturday afternoon/night I'll be driving to Nebo to stay with Scott and Alisa. On Sunday afternoon my ol' Tech friends are coming up for gumbo and good times. Then, late Sunday evening, I'll be driving to Rogers to stay with Kelly so that I can be at a 7 a.m. meeting on Monday.
Good grief. When did my life become so crazy? But I love it. And I'm grateful to have good friends (with spare bedrooms) to share it all with.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
When it rains, it... well, you know the rest
Ever since Eve bit into that apple in the Garden, women have been suffering. Cramps, childbirth, bloating and moodiness are all part of the female mystique. And then, just when we think we've got it all under control, we get to do the really fun stuff: stirrups, weird gooey substances, and random people getting way too personal. Welcome to womanhood, ladies!
As someone with a family history of breast cancer, I got to start one of the greatest female joys, mammography, at a very early age. Most ladies get to wait until their 40s to experience the thrill, but today I experienced my fourth one at the tender age of 36. And it doesn't get any more fun.
I arrived at the clinic 30 minutes early, according to instruction (and contrary to belief, not all women are perpetually late) to fill out multiple forms about the size, shape, and history of my knockers, Thank goodness for HIPAA, lest more strangers get to read about it. Needless to say, I was the youngest person in the waiting room by at least two decades. Bessie and Bertha beside me discussed all of their friends who've died. Yeah, that's what I want to hear right before a mammogram.
Finally I was escorted to a dressing room to disrobe from the waist up. I asked, "Do I leave the gown open in the front?" Obviously I'd yet to unfold the baby pink contraption which was, I was soon to discover, technically a poncho. A very short poncho. So great... I get to walk throughout the clinic in my black dress pants, wearing a pink poncho not long enough to disguise the muffin top spilling over my belt. Bessie was beside herself when we passed in the hall.
Thankfully the technician did introduce herself before proceeding to violate me in 32 different ways. Don't you just love it when they tell you to lean forward, grab a steel bar with one of your hands, and then clamp one of your breasts in a vice? Yeah, I saw today, it actually said I had 12 pounds of pressure on each side. And then, just when you think you can't get any more uncomfortable, they tell you to not move and hold your breath. Just before I passed out from the pain and lack of oxygen, I get a "step back" reprieve. So I wait while she sees if her picture was good enough, all the while wearing my poncho as a pink superhero cape. Who am I, Squashed Boob Girl? Here to fight crime with breasts like a pancake? But the good news is that we only had to take a mere eight scans before I got to return my poncho to its original position, two inches above my waist.
I was then escorted back to my personal dressing room, where I got to thumb through three-year-old fashion magazines. Two hours later, more fun was had in the ultrasound room where another stranger squirted goo all over me and touched me with her cold hands, after which she invited in another lady to do the same. (Note to Jen... buy some gloves. Nobody likes a radiologist with cold hands.)
Ah, to be a man. I know they have the urologist, but something tells me that would be easier.
As someone with a family history of breast cancer, I got to start one of the greatest female joys, mammography, at a very early age. Most ladies get to wait until their 40s to experience the thrill, but today I experienced my fourth one at the tender age of 36. And it doesn't get any more fun.
I arrived at the clinic 30 minutes early, according to instruction (and contrary to belief, not all women are perpetually late) to fill out multiple forms about the size, shape, and history of my knockers, Thank goodness for HIPAA, lest more strangers get to read about it. Needless to say, I was the youngest person in the waiting room by at least two decades. Bessie and Bertha beside me discussed all of their friends who've died. Yeah, that's what I want to hear right before a mammogram.
Finally I was escorted to a dressing room to disrobe from the waist up. I asked, "Do I leave the gown open in the front?" Obviously I'd yet to unfold the baby pink contraption which was, I was soon to discover, technically a poncho. A very short poncho. So great... I get to walk throughout the clinic in my black dress pants, wearing a pink poncho not long enough to disguise the muffin top spilling over my belt. Bessie was beside herself when we passed in the hall.
Thankfully the technician did introduce herself before proceeding to violate me in 32 different ways. Don't you just love it when they tell you to lean forward, grab a steel bar with one of your hands, and then clamp one of your breasts in a vice? Yeah, I saw today, it actually said I had 12 pounds of pressure on each side. And then, just when you think you can't get any more uncomfortable, they tell you to not move and hold your breath. Just before I passed out from the pain and lack of oxygen, I get a "step back" reprieve. So I wait while she sees if her picture was good enough, all the while wearing my poncho as a pink superhero cape. Who am I, Squashed Boob Girl? Here to fight crime with breasts like a pancake? But the good news is that we only had to take a mere eight scans before I got to return my poncho to its original position, two inches above my waist.
I was then escorted back to my personal dressing room, where I got to thumb through three-year-old fashion magazines. Two hours later, more fun was had in the ultrasound room where another stranger squirted goo all over me and touched me with her cold hands, after which she invited in another lady to do the same. (Note to Jen... buy some gloves. Nobody likes a radiologist with cold hands.)
Ah, to be a man. I know they have the urologist, but something tells me that would be easier.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Mountaintop
It's been a rainy Monday, so there's not much to report. I do, however, have some pics from my trip last weekend. Mount Magazine was just gorgeous.
This is Alisa and me
This was the view from outside my window Friday morning
After the fog burned off... beautiful!
The lodge
More lodge
This is Alisa and me
This was the view from outside my window Friday morning
After the fog burned off... beautiful!
The lodge
More lodge
Friday, October 3, 2008
Yet I will hope in Him
Lately, it seems that bad things keep happening to good people. The world is full of unfairness and suffering, and it's easy to wonder where God is in all of it. How can He allow these things to happen?
I'm reminded of Job, one of God's most faithful servants, who lost everything. Yet he remained faithful. I envy Job his faithfulness, because my first reaction is seldom to trust God, to know He's in control, but rather to question Him and to feel very distant from Him.
God allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him, and Job responded, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15). Job surely didn’t understand why God had allowed bad things to happen, but he knew that God was good and continued to trust in Him.
How I pray for faith like Job. Or to be like Paul and Silas, shackled in jail, singing God's praises. Because when things seem the worst, that's when we should praise Him most.
I'm reminded of Job, one of God's most faithful servants, who lost everything. Yet he remained faithful. I envy Job his faithfulness, because my first reaction is seldom to trust God, to know He's in control, but rather to question Him and to feel very distant from Him.
God allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him, and Job responded, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15). Job surely didn’t understand why God had allowed bad things to happen, but he knew that God was good and continued to trust in Him.
How I pray for faith like Job. Or to be like Paul and Silas, shackled in jail, singing God's praises. Because when things seem the worst, that's when we should praise Him most.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Like putting lipstick on a kid
Having come from humble beginnings, sometimes I marvel at my good fortune. But I also worry that I will, at some point, start to take my life for granted. I'm sure that Donald Trump thinks of new towers as "just another building," and Paris Hilton must grow weary of the paparazzi, but I still feel like Alice down the rabbit hole a lot of the time.
Today I had sushi with my pal Ashley for lunch, went to get a pedi (black... isn't that fun?), and then drove down to Mount Magazine for my conference. I checked into my king suite with the spacious views of the valley below from my balcony (see previous post). After tonight's dinner meeting, I got to visit with my BFF Alisa, then I languished alone in a whirlpool tub built for two. Obviously my life isn't perfect, but it's pretty amazing.
Seriously, when did I become such a brat? I don't even feel guilty. Well, not really.
I'm also grateful that I got to see a lot of my family earlier this week. Monday night I met my dad and the kids at Chance's baseball game. They lost, but then we went to McDonald's and he got over it pretty quickly. Hope found the lipstick in my purse, so she was looking pretty cute.
Today I had sushi with my pal Ashley for lunch, went to get a pedi (black... isn't that fun?), and then drove down to Mount Magazine for my conference. I checked into my king suite with the spacious views of the valley below from my balcony (see previous post). After tonight's dinner meeting, I got to visit with my BFF Alisa, then I languished alone in a whirlpool tub built for two. Obviously my life isn't perfect, but it's pretty amazing.
Seriously, when did I become such a brat? I don't even feel guilty. Well, not really.
I'm also grateful that I got to see a lot of my family earlier this week. Monday night I met my dad and the kids at Chance's baseball game. They lost, but then we went to McDonald's and he got over it pretty quickly. Hope found the lipstick in my purse, so she was looking pretty cute.
Reason #437 why I'm a brat
This is the view from the balcony of my room at Mount Magazine Lodge. I'm here for a work conference. It's not all fun and games, however. I am on a conference call, listening to faculty talk about pedagogy. But at least the view is nice.
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