Never Quit Trying!

I have just watched the most amazing video called "Are You Going To Finish Strong?" by Nick Vujicic. There are times when I get discouraged and tend to whine a little, at least to myself. Then something comes along that puts everything right back into perspective. This video did that with a BANG! I recommend viewing it!!

...and two weeks later, it's tornadoes!

Here I was just complaining about ice and the Oklahoma weather throws us some tornadoes in February! I think I'd better quit complaining right away.

The past two weeks have certainly been dramatic and very tramatic in more ways than one. With uncertain and rapidly changing climates in our government and economy, our daily lives are definitely reflecting the weather changes here in Oklahoma.

Last week, we experienced "downsizing" when suddenly and without any warning or chance to say goodbye, we lost some members of our "Christian Family" community of employees. Each one was very special and had a special testimony and Christian witness and many, many friends here. It not only hurt to lose them but it also made us feel vulnerable and betrayed in some way. Someone has said the word "downsizing" is a much less emotional word than "layoff" but it certainly didn't seem that way to the ones who were told to leave or the ones who remained and had to deal with the loss. I know we will all adjust and move on with the help of the Lord, but it's just hard to accept.

This week, the atmospheric conditions on the inside were certainly reflected on the outside with the first tornadoes of the year...in February! It was very chaotic and disturbing arround here and again there was loss for people to deal with in the form of damage to buildings and homes and greater still in the deaths of eight people. Again, there was no chance to say goodbye! I did not know any of those people but I do know that no words will make it better or less emotional for them. I do pray God will help them to find comfort in the love of friends and neighbors and strangers who come to help in the recovery!

So, are there lessons to be learned here? The answer is, there are always lessons to be learned. In situations like this we are often amazed by how much we have taken for granted and quickly realize what is most important to us and what we can easily do without.

It also helps to remember that even in chaotic and uncertain times, some things never change. God is always there when we need to go to Him. Hopefully, we haven't been taking Him for granted.

Ice is for Tea!!

The weather has been very much in the news the last few days. Icy road conditions are my greatest fear since I have a 1 hour commute each way every day. It has been very icy since Monday afternoon.

I came to work on Monday morning prepared to spend the night since ice was moving in and I didn't want to deal with it the next morning when I had to be here at 8 A.M. to teach a class. They shut down the campus at 3 P.M. and canceled classes for the next day (Tuesday)...and I was stuck here.

Fortunately, I have a big office and a comfortable(?) couch, access to food, kitchen and rest room. Conditions didn't improve enough so they canceled classes for Wednesday as well. I'm still here. However, I do have cable TV, Internet and the whole building to myself. Not bad...and don't forget the comfortable(?) couch!

Well, it's Wednesday afternoon and the sun is shining and some of the roads are melting even though the temp is still in the 20's. I know I could stay with my son a few miles away but icy streets are worse than icey roads. I'm safe from crazy drivers here in my office. I could go home but the roads are going to freeze again when the sun goes down and it is dark at 5:30 in the morning when I leave for work...so I'm staying here again on that comfortable(?) couch.

Mark my words, though! after class tomorrow and as soon as the roads have melted again I AM GOING HOME! I intend to work from home on Friday.

Ice does not belong on roads...only in Tea!

It was Daddy's Birthday!

My father's birthday was on the 23rd of this month! It's hard to believe that he has been gone for 9 years already! He would have been 89. I think about him every day. I came across an article recently that I wrote when I was at his funeral in Sandersville, GA. If you are interested, you can read it here. Papa was a very special man and he always wanted to leave his children a legacy. I think he meant a monetary legacy but instead he left us so much more than that. We are all very proud of the "Old Time Preacher Man" and always enjoyed laughing at his stories (and quite often at him!) Everyday, I smile or actually laugh out loud at some memory that pops up in my mind. Papa left us with a legacy of loving the Lord and a longing to meet him on the "Hallelujah Side". I hope I can leave some of that behind for my children, too.

Nitrous Oxide, Anyone?

I've never had much (or any) experience with "drugs" and "trips" or anything like that. I've never really been interested in going down that road. However, I do insist on Nitrous Oxide whenever I have to have anything painful done on my teeth...I am very much a wimp when it comes to pain and the voluntary inflictions thereof.

So, today I had my first root canal done and they were considerate enough of my emotional state to put the mask on my face when I first entered the "room"! After a while they asked if I was feeling the effects and I replied that I wasn't sure so they turned it up. It wasn't long before I really was at the maximum and really was feeling the effects...and it was great! Everytime I started becoming a little too concerned in my mind, I made sure to take serveral deep breaths and the concern just "went away"!!

I remember thinking a bunch of thoughts, at least I thought they were a bunch of thoughts, and thinking that I need to remember this when it is over. Like, how it felt after several really deep breaths...very much like being on a merry-go-round when you are hanging on with all your strength and the world is going round faster and faster and there are little colorful globes floating around in the air! Or like, trying to keep track of what was actually going on and at the same time asking myself if I really wanted to do that. Or wondering, did that hurt? Or what was that?

Then suddenly, it's over and the dentist is asking if my head is clear yet, and I realize that it actually is...at least as much as usual.

Anyway, it was great not really being there for the whole ordeal. I recommend it to anyone.

Just Getting Started

Well, you have to start somewhere! It seems like I'm always a little late getting started but I guess the important thing is to start. It just takes me a little longer than I'd like.

I got a late start on finishing my degrees...all after 55 years! It seems like my career is just starting and it should probably be winding down by now. Life is just speeding up for me! I love it!

More later.