"What debt of gratitude is mine"

This was a week to remember....and there are some things that I am feeling especially grateful for as I review the events. In addition to John feeling so much better and having the infection under control, having Marc with us relieved so much of the burden of this trial. Being able to share the burden of caring for John and still taking care of the girls and our home brought peace to my mind and heart. I was simply grateful to have him with me to listen to me cry, to hug me, to have him comfort John, and especially to make me laugh. He drew silly pictures on the whiteboard in the hospital room, played with the medical equipment in the room (he checked to make sure my ears were clear), and joked about a myriad of other things which lightened the mood considerably. I was so glad when he arrived each day to the hospital. The first day he arrived, he should have been arriving elsewhere on a trip for work. Once the doctor decided to send John over to the hospital to admit him to the ER there for further testing, I was on the phone to Marc, who in turn called his work seeking approval to cancel the trip. He was in line to board the plane when I called him and we narrowly missed him turning off his phone. Yes, I am thankful for the miracles in my life.

John is doing much better now, and will see a specialist in the near future regarding his kidney/ureter. There are so many bumps in this road of life, and sometimes upon reflecting the bump that we have just been over we realize that it was a bit scarier than we thought it to be at the time. I know that it is only because of Jesus Christ and the faith that we place in Him that we are able to weather these storms. He carried me through this past week and I feel indebted to Him for His "tender mercies" that attended our family this week. We may not know why we pass through the trials that we do, but He knows all things and will work so that all these things will work together for our good.

Keeping it real

Happy birthday--the dog has diarrhea and it is all over her, the kennel and the garage! After cleaning out the kennel, then giving the dog a bath (who is recovering from being spayed last week) and being literally pulled by the dog twice out of the bathtub, getting soaked in this process, poor Sadie walked over to the pile of laundry on the floor and puked all over it. Ugh. At least it was going to be washed anyway! The other dog decided to pee on John's bed--more laundry and it is barely ten in the morning. At least things can only go up, right?!

Really??

This is funny, too funny!  I am watching the elction returns tonight :( and see Anderson Cooper talking to a hologram.  The caption actually reads, "Will.I.Am via Hologram."  Really?  I had to check the channel to make sure that I wasn't watching Star Trek.  What has news come to now to get ratings?  

Be Kind!

One of my friends just forwarded me a story about the kindness of a group of people to our soldiers.  This reminded me of the kindness of my soldier/airman in my life.  Because Marc never reads my blog I feel that it is alright to tell about him!

Last spring he traveled to a base in a remote area of California for some traning.  Next to the base wa sa small town where he and his coworkers would go to eat lunch and dinner.  While eating lunch one day Marc noticed an elderly woman eating lunch alone in the restaurant.  When he went to pay for his lunch he also asked to pick up the cost of this woman's lunch as well.  He wanted it to be anonymous, but the waitress informed the woman who had paid for his lunch.  She approached Marc to thank him, but also informed him that that very day was the anniversary of the death of her husband and every year she came to that particular restaurant where they had come often when he was alive.  

Marc only told me this to explain why his lunch appeared to cost so much when the charge came up on our account.  I could not have been prouder of my husband or more honored to have such a great example of kindness and service in my life.  If only more of us, myself included, would look for ways to help others, to notice those who arms hang down, those who are lonely and need only a kind word to keep them going.  Maybe we could just smile more today and be more courteous!

Goals

Do you ever have a great idea of something that you would like to accomplish that is a larger task than anything in your normal routine?  Having a goal and accomplishing it is an awesome feat.  The people I admire most in my life have had concrete goals that they have worked hard to accomplish.  One of those people is my little brother, Rob.  He is in medical school right now after many years of hard work to get there.  Ever since we were teenagers I remember that he wanted to be a doctor.  He will see his goal fulfilled in a short year and half.  

I love running for precisely that reason:  it gives me something to work toward, to reach a personal best in something tangible!  I have signed up for another race and training for it feels good.  I hope to someday be faster than I am right now and I will get there if I continue to be consistent in my pursuit of it.  

Now I have made a new personal goal for myself.  This goal I don't want to tell anyone about right now in fear that I won't follow through.  I am excited to do it and am hoping to keep my enthusiasm for it as time goes on.  This goal will help me in more ways than almost anything else.  I have great faith and hope in this one!