There are still good guys

My friend Gideon is one of those guys.

He is from Cameroon, which is on the west coast of Africa. I met him through my friend H, whom he tutored in Chemistry. She invited him over to dinner to meet her family and tell them about life in Africa. Since she knew my heart for anything African she invited me and a friendship began. He has tried to teach me how to throw a punch, cooked an African meal for me and mademe watch a horrible 4 hour long African movie. I've tried to show him some more American-fare - like swimming in a pool, eating out in restuarants and my favorite -the American musical!

Gideon is here in the states to become a doctor. Most of the time he is working or studying. In fact we went a year without getting together because he was so busy. Recently, we finally re-connected. We went for a walk and he stopped to pick the leaf of a plant. He crumbled it in his hand and smelled it. He told me it looked like a leaf they use at home to stop bleeding, but it wasn't the same plant. He once told me about falling out of a tree and breaking a bone. There was no doctor, no cast. You just set the bone and rub something it on it and it heals. A few minutes later he stopped at another plant and told me it looked like a wild strawberry plant. Both just looked like green plants to me.

At the end of the evening I was telling him how I was disappointment about attending an upcoming wedding alone. He offerred to see if his cousin might work for him that evening so he could go with me. I thought, "this is perfect. I'll have someone there with me and he'll get to have a night out, have fun and dance." Unfortunately, his cousin was going to be out of town that weekend. I resigned myself to going alone again.

A week later Gideon called to tell me he wasn't giving up yet. He would keep trying until he was out of options. My heart was so touched that he was still trying. Honestly, I think he was excited about going. Even though I was praying for a miracle that somehow he would get the night off, I didn't really think it would happen...

Then....

At the beginning of this week, he texts me to see if I have found a date already and would I still like him to take me. I can't believe it! I was on the verge of happiness. And then the let down. His uncle will cover for him but only until 10pm.

This presented a dilemma. Wedding starts at 6pm and is over an hour away. For Gideon to be home by 10 means leaving at 9pm, which would be right in the middle to end of dinner. We would miss all the fun. I was completely torn on what to do... I went back and forth. I asked advice. In the end I had to tell Gideon it just wasn't going to work, but I appreciated all his efforts.

I wish it could have been simple and we could have gone and just had a fun night. But what an amazing friend I have! Yes, indeed, there are still good guys in the world.

Fleeced

Have you ever tried "putting out a fleece" just to find it soaking wet and disinegrated? How do you interpret that?

Let me back up for those of you who read this that aren't familiar with christian lingo and explain the concept of putting out a fleece. In the Bible there was a guy named Gideon and God told him to take get some guys together and go fight this huge army. Of course Gideon was like "Are you serious, God?!?" Just to be sure he wasn't hearing voices that should have him committed he decided to put a fleece outside his tent that night. He asked God to keep the fleece dry if God really wanted him to do this. The next morning the fleece was dry. Gideon still wasn't sure. Could have been a coincidence of the weather or something. So he put the fleece out a second time and asked God to make dew appear on the fleece. The next morning the fleece was damp and everything around it was dry. Then Gideon knew God was directing him into battle.

Over the last couple months I have had my own fleece out, in a sense. It's been a little disappointing. Probably because I had predetermined what I wanted the answer to be and like a typical spoiled human I also wanted the answer to come in the way that I had chosen for it to come. God isn't on board with my plans so it seems. He took my fleece and turned it into a wet blanket.

The easiest response is to get discouraged and disappointed. Should I give up? Nope. Maybe I just need to find a sheep shearer and get an actual fleece. It might be easier to interpret.

Who Knew?

For all of you who have been on my case about an update, I am finally getting around to it. Over Memorial weekend I traveled to Myrtle Beach, SC for a get away. I didn't have any expectations, took no time to look up possible things to do, or put any of my typical thought and worry into conversations to have. It was a glorious worry free couple of days.

I was able to stay with my dear friend Michele (thanks again M!) God definitely led the weekend and provided me with a wonderful mirror into my life and how far I have come. The things he made unique about me and the places he has changed me into a better, happier person. I saw just how soveriegn God is and that nothing we do or fail to do will keep hime from His purposes. The conversations I had with not only my friend, but with her friends and family were so life-giving and encouraging. It didn't even realize that times like that were missing in my life until they were restored. It was such an unexpected blessing. My heart was full!

The whole weekend I only took this one picture of myself.

I was home for one day before heading off to my second vacation. Time at my grandparents with my dad and sister there too. We went on a hike and up to Sleeping Bear Dunes. I took more pictures there. You can see the cool ones over at Overlapping Differences. But every trip I take, there has to be at least one slurpee picture.

Now I am back to the daily grind. I came back to work to find one person was let go. We packed up the office and moved into a new building. It's a new phase in every way and I'm excited to see whar God may have in store.

Last night I went to a church to hear some friends talk about where God is leading them in aviation ministry and meet a new friend of theirs. In the worship time and later talking to him, I again had that feeling of experiencing something I had been missing and didn't even know it.

Now I know and I don't want to let it go.

Ain't no kindaho in Chindaho

Life has been full of activity this month. And fortunately packed with kid time. The first weekend was my cousin/godson's 1st communion. Because of the way the church runs it's program I was somewhat trapped into taking communion, although I have never done so in a catholic church before. As far as I know there were no casualities due to it :)

Austin

D.J.

Austin and I

The following weekend I watched Austin and his brother Kevin who turns 13 in just a couple of days. Spending time with them is always a joy and we laugh unceasingly. Quite often we make up our own jokes and then continue to build on them. Austin is Mr. daredevil, go at full speed all the time. (Have you seen Bolt? Picture Rhino's energy in a 7 year old boy) Kevin is more laid back, quiet and extremely creative. For Mother's Day he made 54 origami hearts, wrote something on each one and organized them all in a heart on the table for his mom. We went bowling one afternoon and I lost to both of them.... with bumpers! Bowling has never been my thing. They were gloating over the fact that they beat me.

Milo

Sometimes I just can't resist

Finally, today I ran my first race ever. A 10k. My goal was to finish in under 1:15. Last weekend I sprained my ankle playing tag with the boys, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to run. Thankfully it healed in time. The weather was cool and thankfully it didn't rain. The only bad thing was it had poured all night so the trail portions of the race were mudpits. And at one point I thought I got off the course and so I backtracked a little but it turns out I was on the course. So I did end up running a little more than I needed to. The last 2 km were hard, my legs felt like rubber and my head hurt but I pushed on. But I still came in right at 1:15!

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernest Henley

Sometimes life just beats us up. There's more rain than sun. More hurts than highs.
These words touch a deep place. But on our own we won't make it through. I am not the master of of my own fate nor captain of my soul. I gave that spot to the Maker of the Universe. His direction and foresight are incredibly good! It's because of Him that I harbor an UNCONQUERABLE SOUL.

Life's strorms will not win the battle over me!

My Own Movie Melodramatic Moment

Yesterday after a great but intense workout at the gym, I still wanted to go out for a walk. Mostly just to "be" outside. I had a brilliant idea. I would walk to the park and sit outside and read for a little while and then walk back. So I packed a bag and threw on my flip-flops. I intentionally didn't wear sneakers so I wouldn't run.

I got about halfway to where I was headed when I realized the sky ahead of me was getting dark and the wind was picking up. So I smartly decided to turn around and head home. About a 1/2 mile from my house the rain begins and I begin to run. The wind and rain pick up, I pick up as much speed as I can manage in wet flip flops. At some point I decided to just lose the shoes and run barefoot. Sopping wet hair all in my face. And I have this feeling like I'm in a movie scene.... the angry/tramatized/deeply in love heroine running through the rain.

Except all I was running for was because I had a library book in my non-waterproof bag all my windows were open - car and house!

And as only a great movie moment would, as soon as I got everything closed up and out of my drenched clothes the sun came right back out!

Today I'm staying close to home.

Where are the peeps!?!

Despite my healthy eating habits, I was expecting my mom to buy me peeps for Easter. She always does. I even have her trained to slit the plastic so they start to get stale for me to eat them. This year no peeps! None! Zip! Not one yellow chick or pink bunny.

Instead she bought these cute marshmallow kabobs with butterflies and bumble bees and doggies. While I appreciate her effort. Marshmallows covered in sugar are not all the same. They were not peeps! It's like stopping at the gas station, getting a slush and calling it a slurpee. Not the same thing, people! I went into momentary peep depression. (I am fully aware of the fact that I could just go to the store and buy them for myself, but then I can't justify eating them by saying someone else bought them)

Thankfully, the peep tragedy was short-lived. As I so generously donated my "kabobs" (cause it wasn't worth the calories for the imposters) My coworker generously offered to bring in the remaining 2 (already stale... YES!) peeps from her son in exchange. Thus the peep tragedy has ended.

All morning 2 yellow chicky peeps have been calling to me. I have held out to make them my lunchtime dessert. Soon they will be no more and I'll be waiting for next year. I'll be sure to tell my mom it's peeps or nothing, please.