It has been a week of keeping my mouth quite closed, but not necessarily in a way I would have chosen. Funny thing about it, we don't usually choose the bumps in the road and how they come along. If we did, would we really sign up for it? Would I choose to say, "Yes! Give me that to deal with, because I know on the other side I will have learned something and things will all "work out" in the end.:" But if I'm really honest would I say, "pick me?" I wish I could say I would. But my flesh is weak, and I don't like hardships any more than the next person.
I posted this on Christmas afternoon with the following family pictures:
"May we keep our eyes and ears wide open to receive the most blessed gift of Christmas."
It's easy to post the beautiful smiling pictures, because we always want to put our best foot forward, right? Who doesn't want that? To look at those faces smiling back saying in that moment, everything was so good.
In a few hours from that post, we had parked just outside the Davenport. We were meeting up with Ben's Aunt Faye and Uncle Scott. We had a nice, short visit and this is what we found when we got back to our car:
In that moment you just think, "Really? Someone would do this to ME??"
- What was in there that someone wanted so bad?
- What was taken?
- Is everything replaceable? What was taken that is irreplaceable?
- Do we call the cops? Will they ever catch the person?
- How can someone be this desperate?
- Why didn't they take more?
- It's 20 degrees out here and how am I supposed to get my family to our destination without freezing?
- My kids are crying. What do I tell them?
- How are we going to clean this up, it's 7:30 on Christmas night?
- Where's the nearest gas station?
- Really, someone didn't see this happen? We were just outside the Davenport!
You can only "freeze" so long and then you have to take action. Thankfully, Ben called the cops to report (not that it does any good), we got the girls in their seats (which were untouched, thankfully), threw as much of the glass into the street as possible and headed off to find a gas station.
We about an hour away from our destination so we had to figure out some way to get the window covered so we could travel the rest of the way to the Christmas house. (We rent a big house with my family every Christmas instead of exchanging presents--we love it! See blog post from beginning of the year.)
First attempt: Duct tape a plastic bag to window. We quickly figured out this doesn't work when traveling along the freeway as I am trying to hold everything tight so it doesn't get completely sucked out the window. Ben yells "Is it too loud?" I yell back, "what?" Yes, maybe too loud.
Meanwhile we have sweet Audrey bawling her eyes out behind us so sad that they had taken Mommy's bag with all her stuff in it. Picture it--trying to drive down I-90 with garbage sack taped to passenger side window, trying to calm the girls down.
I finally say we have to pull off and try something different.
Next attempt:
Close a bed sheet in the door. Brilliant. Why didn't we think of that? Now we could make our way down the freeway in a bit more peace. The girls were exhausted, upset and hungry. Meanwhile, me, 26 weeks pregnant is trying to just keep it all together.
This is a first time experience for me. I have never had anything stolen of mine (that I can remember.) That night, I happened to have quite a few things stolen that can be replaced but a handful of things that cannot. Of those is my favorite travel Bible my Grandmother gave me the year I graduated. It has been on all my mission trips with me. I pray it finds its way into the hands of someone who has yet to find Jesus.
There were quit a few teachable moments with the girls. They just couldn't understand why someone would do that. I tried to explain, but silently in my heart that I did feel a bit violated, if I may say so.
It's a reminder that this world is not our home, and that our possessions are just that---possessions that we can't take with us. Life is a mere vapor. May I daily be reminded of that to keep my perspective eternal. (Maybe without the break-in). :) But if need be, so be it.
The timing was kind of interesting as we had just celebrated Christmas that morning with the girls and we had talked about how we didn't "need" any of the things we would be getting. We talked about donating some of our things we already had. Not sure if this counts since we didn't voluntarily give it away, but it did all kind of bring a smile to my face.
We arrived at the Christmas House, putting it behind us (after spending the next day cancelling credit cards/changing passwords/cancelling checks/etc), looking forward to a week together with my family. We so enjoy our time together. This is the 8th year we have spent this week together like this. A week of meals together, outings, watching movies, playing games, and just being together. Often we ski, or go to a water park, or something along those lines.
But, 24 hours later....this was my reality...
Keeping it real here folks. No more picture perfect smiles. Instead, sitting in an urgent care with my mask on after they asked "do you have a cough?" Trying real hard to keep my aloha on. (But feeling more like the kid on the sign behind me.)
Of course my oxygen levels were going to drop trying to breathe through that mask on my face. My husband was back at the house with our two sick girls, so my dear sister took me in. She was so good at keeping me distracted. Bought me water, cough drops and kept the family updated.
After a little over an hour, we were finally taken into a room. She takes my blood pressure and asks if I'm normally low. I say yes, but asked her what I was at she responded with 99/58. Wow, not normally THAT low. :) Baby was moving great though and had a fantastic heart beat.
Now came the fun part. Getting swabbed to see if I had the flu. Two nurses came in, masked and ready to attack. Telling me they were each going to do one, but not at the same time. Let's just say I figured out quickly which one was still training.
30 minutes later, the Doctor came in and I was given the news that I tested positive for BOTH Influenza A and B.
Merry Christmas to me! This explained the fact that I had been unable to physically get out of bed for 2 days. It takes a lot to get me down, but apparently that's a symptom of the flu.
I spent most of the remainder of the week in my room, trying to contain the bug. Unfortunately, it is very contagious and most everyone else has gotten some sort of sickness. Of which I do feel horrible about.
You know what's beautiful about it though? We are all in it together. Everyone has pitched in and helped. My husband has been a rockstar, taking care of me, and our sick girls and helping with meals. Now it's caught up to him, and he's come down with it. My family hasn't kicked us out, but instead told us we should stay so they can help take care of us.
Insult to injury-just as I felt good enough to be "on duty" for the girls, and let Ben get some good rest since he was sick, I'm also cleaning up puke from the girls gagging on their coughs. Ah, the beautiful realities of life.
I am overwhelmed by the love and care from my husband and family. I am reminded that sometimes God's love comes out in the most tangible ways. In the bringing of food, the refilling of my water bottle, poking their head in to see if I need anything, helping take care of the girls.
I was able to go outside today and get this picture with my girls.
It will be a reminder to me that God does heal all our sicknesses (we aren't there yet, but making baby steps!), except for the one that might take us home. It's a reminder that there is always beauty to be thankful for. A reminder that there is so much more behind the smiles in a picture. There are stories to know. A reminder to not take my health for granted. A reminder to always look for the silver lining. A reminder to be still. To not rest in my own strength.
A new year begin tomorrow. A new fresh white piece of paper that is just waiting to be written on. The story of 2018. I know I usually tend to take a stab at writing the story the way I think it should go. May I never forget my lessons from the past, but boy am I sure looking forward to a new chapter beginning. Once again, I am reminded to let go and let the true author take the pen and write HIS story.
May I remember the lessons of Be Still. Surrender. Abide.
May 2018 be full of less of me and more of resting in HIS strength. Less striving. More brokenness. More remembering that He IS working all things for our good. More receiving the grace he so lavishly gives.
Happy New Years!
We about an hour away from our destination so we had to figure out some way to get the window covered so we could travel the rest of the way to the Christmas house. (We rent a big house with my family every Christmas instead of exchanging presents--we love it! See blog post from beginning of the year.)
First attempt: Duct tape a plastic bag to window. We quickly figured out this doesn't work when traveling along the freeway as I am trying to hold everything tight so it doesn't get completely sucked out the window. Ben yells "Is it too loud?" I yell back, "what?" Yes, maybe too loud.
Meanwhile we have sweet Audrey bawling her eyes out behind us so sad that they had taken Mommy's bag with all her stuff in it. Picture it--trying to drive down I-90 with garbage sack taped to passenger side window, trying to calm the girls down.
I finally say we have to pull off and try something different.
Next attempt:
Close a bed sheet in the door. Brilliant. Why didn't we think of that? Now we could make our way down the freeway in a bit more peace. The girls were exhausted, upset and hungry. Meanwhile, me, 26 weeks pregnant is trying to just keep it all together.
This is a first time experience for me. I have never had anything stolen of mine (that I can remember.) That night, I happened to have quite a few things stolen that can be replaced but a handful of things that cannot. Of those is my favorite travel Bible my Grandmother gave me the year I graduated. It has been on all my mission trips with me. I pray it finds its way into the hands of someone who has yet to find Jesus.
There were quit a few teachable moments with the girls. They just couldn't understand why someone would do that. I tried to explain, but silently in my heart that I did feel a bit violated, if I may say so.
It's a reminder that this world is not our home, and that our possessions are just that---possessions that we can't take with us. Life is a mere vapor. May I daily be reminded of that to keep my perspective eternal. (Maybe without the break-in). :) But if need be, so be it.
The timing was kind of interesting as we had just celebrated Christmas that morning with the girls and we had talked about how we didn't "need" any of the things we would be getting. We talked about donating some of our things we already had. Not sure if this counts since we didn't voluntarily give it away, but it did all kind of bring a smile to my face.
We arrived at the Christmas House, putting it behind us (after spending the next day cancelling credit cards/changing passwords/cancelling checks/etc), looking forward to a week together with my family. We so enjoy our time together. This is the 8th year we have spent this week together like this. A week of meals together, outings, watching movies, playing games, and just being together. Often we ski, or go to a water park, or something along those lines.
But, 24 hours later....this was my reality...
Keeping it real here folks. No more picture perfect smiles. Instead, sitting in an urgent care with my mask on after they asked "do you have a cough?" Trying real hard to keep my aloha on. (But feeling more like the kid on the sign behind me.)
Of course my oxygen levels were going to drop trying to breathe through that mask on my face. My husband was back at the house with our two sick girls, so my dear sister took me in. She was so good at keeping me distracted. Bought me water, cough drops and kept the family updated.
After a little over an hour, we were finally taken into a room. She takes my blood pressure and asks if I'm normally low. I say yes, but asked her what I was at she responded with 99/58. Wow, not normally THAT low. :) Baby was moving great though and had a fantastic heart beat.
Now came the fun part. Getting swabbed to see if I had the flu. Two nurses came in, masked and ready to attack. Telling me they were each going to do one, but not at the same time. Let's just say I figured out quickly which one was still training.
30 minutes later, the Doctor came in and I was given the news that I tested positive for BOTH Influenza A and B.
Merry Christmas to me! This explained the fact that I had been unable to physically get out of bed for 2 days. It takes a lot to get me down, but apparently that's a symptom of the flu.
I spent most of the remainder of the week in my room, trying to contain the bug. Unfortunately, it is very contagious and most everyone else has gotten some sort of sickness. Of which I do feel horrible about.
You know what's beautiful about it though? We are all in it together. Everyone has pitched in and helped. My husband has been a rockstar, taking care of me, and our sick girls and helping with meals. Now it's caught up to him, and he's come down with it. My family hasn't kicked us out, but instead told us we should stay so they can help take care of us.
Insult to injury-just as I felt good enough to be "on duty" for the girls, and let Ben get some good rest since he was sick, I'm also cleaning up puke from the girls gagging on their coughs. Ah, the beautiful realities of life.
I am overwhelmed by the love and care from my husband and family. I am reminded that sometimes God's love comes out in the most tangible ways. In the bringing of food, the refilling of my water bottle, poking their head in to see if I need anything, helping take care of the girls.
I was able to go outside today and get this picture with my girls.
It will be a reminder to me that God does heal all our sicknesses (we aren't there yet, but making baby steps!), except for the one that might take us home. It's a reminder that there is always beauty to be thankful for. A reminder that there is so much more behind the smiles in a picture. There are stories to know. A reminder to not take my health for granted. A reminder to always look for the silver lining. A reminder to be still. To not rest in my own strength.
A new year begin tomorrow. A new fresh white piece of paper that is just waiting to be written on. The story of 2018. I know I usually tend to take a stab at writing the story the way I think it should go. May I never forget my lessons from the past, but boy am I sure looking forward to a new chapter beginning. Once again, I am reminded to let go and let the true author take the pen and write HIS story.
May I remember the lessons of Be Still. Surrender. Abide.
May 2018 be full of less of me and more of resting in HIS strength. Less striving. More brokenness. More remembering that He IS working all things for our good. More receiving the grace he so lavishly gives.
Happy New Years!
