More Noise

It is quite obvious I am sleeping in too late. This morning again I was awaken by noise. To my defense it was 7:15 a.m. - I was not wasting away my day.

This time the noise was the familiar sound of roofers on the house directly behind us. Since our Mother's Day hail storm most of our neighbors have gotten new roofs. (to be noted our insurance company denied our claim and now isn't returning my phone calls for an appeal - but that is another blog!) All these roofers mean lots of echoing of pounding throughout the day. No big deal - unless you're our dog.

Rocky does NOT like pounding. I had to pull him out the door on a leash this morning to "do his business" because the scary noise was so close. You'd think he would have had fun barking at the men on the roof. I have also prevented him from crawling under our bed on a few occasions already this morning. Being a dog of course he does not know that the noise is no where near him - or can do him no harm. (Of course I also imagine if someone wants to break into our house all they have to do is pound on wood and it will take care of our dog. Oh my what will he be like if our roof does get fixed!).

His fear did make me wonder what things I am afraid of that can't hurt me at all. The sounds or situations that make me want to crawl under a bed. Certainly the economy, gas prices and parenting can make us all want to run for cover at some point. If we focus on the "noise" it can all be pretty overwhelming - it's at those times I need to remind myself where I am - safe in God's arms. No need to be afraid. Bring on the noise!

A Rude Awakening

With summer quickly wisking away, I decided to linger a little longer in bed and enjoy the quiet of the house.

That thought was quickly broken by the sound - the LOUD sound - of a horn blaring. Not the simple sound of a car horn. No, this sounded like a train or an ocean liner was coming down my street. I expected to see Captain Stubing if I headed out the door. As our dog ran in with one of those "Timmy's in the well" looks, I decided to see what this continuous noise was. Eventually I saw that it was not a ship but a large dumptruck that decided our house was the perfect spot to park and blare. Lucky us!

And so my day and week begins. What will it hold?

(As I write this one of my children walks in with a glass of juice and asks me to taste it - with my judgement obviously blasted away by the horn I comply. Yep it went bad - and now I'm feeling a little sick. Can't wait to get out of bed!)

Conversations Heard in the Orthodontist's Waiting Room #2

I do not intentionally try to listen in on people's conversations. However, at this visit when two friends greet each other from across the room and hold a conversation it is hard to concentrate on the magazine I have already reread a few times.

This time the topic was family and everything they were doing this summer. It was quite obvious they were dedicated to their children with fun family vacations, 3 week camps, special prep courses for college, special sports camps, classes before entering high school. I realized these women could truly afford orthodontics.

The mixed message I heard this time was one mom saying how she enrolled her son in an art class for credit since he won't have time for it during his next four years. She then went on about how the class was a joke and how the teacher didn't teach art at all (apparently she must be attending the classes with her son). His assignment was to draw 3 dogs and 3 horses. She had bought him a book on how to draw. Was this to help bridge the gap between his class and learning? No, it was for him to trace! So as her freshman son sat next to her dutifully tracing away; overhearing his mom go on about the joke his class is and how no one in the family is artistic, I wondered what lesson is actually be taught and learned.

Convesations Heard in the Orthodontist's Waiting Room

It seems like I spent half my life in the waiting room of the orthodontist. During those minutes and hours of waiting I over hear (thanks to very loud and not very discreet talking and the annoying use of cell phones) many conversations. So I thought I would share them with you on an ongoing basis, so perhaps if you are one of those people who talk loudly in a waiting room, you might be compelled to think twice.

There was the time a woman talked for over a half hour on her cell phone as if it were her personal office. When she finally hung up you could see the rest of the waiting room parents relax their shoulders in relief. When her phone rang and she picked it up within seconds of hanging up, two women across from started to snicker like two teenage girls. I think we bonded.

Today's topic I didn't want to hear - toilets and the need to flush them and the brands that don't cut it. Sadly this was a conversation between two mother's in the waiting room, so I had the privilege of hearing both sides.

Rejoicing for Dawn

My friend Dawn Sheveland passed away on Friday, another victim to Pancreatic Cancer. She fought her battle well.

Dawn and I have been friends for 15 years - most of them when we didn't live in the same city. When we lived and ministered together we didn't really have a classic friendship - she was our senior pastor's wife and I was the wife of the middle school pastor. Dawn was my example of a pastor's wife - not the stereotype - but her own person, loving and serving God how she was wired. She opened her home to us other pastor's wives every month where we could vent, share, cry and pray for each other in a safe place. That foundation was the springboard to our friendship.

When she moved away and things got tough for us in ministry, I knew she would be a safe, non-judgemental counsel. Dawn always understood and always had the right things to say to encourage me to press on. She impressed me with how quick she would respond to emails - always no more than a day. Our emails then grew from just ministry issues to sharing about our families and our lives - our friendship grew. Her love for Jerry and her family was always so evident. Her sheer delight in her grandchildren was always felt - I was amazed I would have to "ask" for pictures.

Dawn's diagnosis of cancer didn't slow her down. She continued to travel as much as she could. Her emails were always hopeful. She never spoke of dying, never shared prognosis or stage of cancer. I just knew. I only sensed the progression of the disease from knowing the chemo was not working, and knowing the evilness of the disease. Her emails did not come as quickly and became only a few words. I'm glad I was able to tell her what a great friend she was before she left us.

Our last meeting, I realize now was such a God thing. We met in the San Diego airport, we were flying in, I'm not sure if they were flying in or out. Either way, there we were at an international airport and found ourselves next to each other to talk and give a hug for just a few moments.

Dawn always rejoiced in her savior. She is now pain free celebrating with Him, while we that are left mourn her passing. She always signed her e-mails "rejoicing" no matter what. I know that was not only her salutation, but they way she lived her life. I will miss her.

Rejoicing for Dawn

Telling the Truth

As parents we teach our kids to tell the truth; to be honest; to avoid gossip or share things that are untrue. We teach them not to say things about someone that will tear down their character. Somewhere, thanks to the internet, this line seems to disappear when it applies to adults.

It seems each week I received a forward from someone (especially fervent in election times) stating "truth". It came from a trusted friend, or I'm assured that it was checked out. I have to say of all the probably hundreds of forwards I've received NOT ONE has been true. Not one!

When I receive a forward now, my first response is to just hit the delete key. Sometimes, in a weak moment, I read them and then check them out at either www.truthorfiction.com or www.snopes.com. I then cut and paste a response back to my sender to do a small part of stopping the rumors. I know it won't help. When did it become okay to share lies and rumors about topics and people, simply because we don't like them or agree with what they stand for? Isn't the real truth and facts enough to support our views?

It's then I realize we live in an age where CNN reads random people's emails on air as if they are authorities worthy to be quoted. It is also the age where anyone can blog their ideas for the world to read and repeat - hmmmmmm I guess I'm a part of that one. Don't quote me :)

Church at it's Best!

This last Sunday would have to go down as the best day of church ever! Our church held the first annual "The Church Has Left The Building" a day designed for us to go and BE the church to our community. We gathered at 9:30 a.m. for a service that felt more like a celebration rally. We sat in our teams divided between local elementary schools and a ranch for inner city kids. At the conclusion we were sent off, over 800 of us, to these schools to work in the heat and humidity to make improvements to the schools. Adults and kids ages 3 and up all participated at we raked, shoveled, weeded, pressure washed, planted, painted and worked tirelessly - many past our 3 p.m. end time. Some schools raised money to buy plants and supplies, other materials were donated by local businesses. The results were schools sporting flowers, trees and shrubs all freshly weeded and mulched. One school had an entire dirt track laid in, another benches and an arbor were built. Even a first time visitor joined in swinging a pick ax to break up concrete at a school. What a great - exhausting - day!

I can't help but wonder if that is how the first church met the needs of their community. Gathering together as a rallying point then launching out to their community to serve - I can't wait to do this again!