Yesterday night I stood on the curb and watched a church woman’s house burn. The flames engulfed the house, flaring out of control and destroying everything. Smoke could be smelled for miles as it poured from the house. And the sermon of gratitude from the morning took new shape as this woman stood in utter shock. I had nothing to offer this woman but prayer. She repeated for a while that the last thing she was doing in the house before going to the evening church service was cross-stitching Christmas presents for her grandchildren. “I don’t even have my medicines or cold creme.” Then she explained to the fire marshal, “It’s like my brain’s just gone. I’m not even making sense.”

Thanksgiving is a season not of turkeys and cranberry sauce, but of gratitude for all that we have. There was a horrible loss of all possessions, “I only have the clothes on my back,” the poor woman said regarding the next few days stay in a hotel. A friend quickly ran to her house to gather extra pajamas and Pastor reassured that anything she needs will be paid for by her church family. “I lived there for 30 years,” came an unreal-to-me realization that past memories were gone. And nothing that could have been said on that curb would have changed the fact that everything was gone. Everything was gone.

So does this woman have nothing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Everything is gone. Value is held in all kinds of things and I have absolutely no idea what it would feel like to watch so many blessings that were given instantly taken away. Yes, this woman has friends and family to hold her through her loss (Thank you, God). But I really can’t imagine what it would feel like to be put through such a test of gratitude.

It was amazing to witness the Body of Christ working last night, embracing a sister in the midst of tragedy. It was awesome to see the Body of Christ doing what the Body of Christ should… praying and standing beside this sister when all the neighbors had gone inside and the flames were but rubble. And as can be told through the rambling of thoughts and the smell of smoke in my hair, I am still at a loss for complete thoughts and well-poised words regarding the magnitude of thankfulness required even in utter tragedy. How can one produce such gratitude in the midst of loss? Only through the blood of Jesus.

So please take a second to say a prayer for this fellow sister in Christ as she comes out of her shock and lets go of what has been taken. Please pray that she is able to continue to be surrounded by those who love her as she takes healing steps. Please pray that she is able to embrace a greater gratitude for Jesus Christ despite the difficulty and how easy it is to doubt God in all this. Please pray. Prayer has an even greater impact than we will ever know.
thank you.

It feels like years have passed since the alarm went off at 4:30 this morning. Dakota’s road-kill with eyes open position spoke volumes to my inner core. Surprisingly despite the time, I was able to find some productivity stored in the depths of my character that outpoured through group note after group note from 6-7:30 this morning. At 10 my body decided it was time for lunch. And now at 12:30 my body has decided it’s time for a nap. So with a jolt of a froo–froo coffee drink from downstairs (the last of my allowance money) I find myself once again trying to spur on to productivity. Only this time my rebellion kicks in. So Sara Groves is helping to refocus and put me back in the zone I found myself in this morning. Blessed am I, my first intake no-showed. Now hopefully my second intake will no-show and I can find myself homeward bound after only putting in 9 hours of work. What was once a personal attempt to complete “all my outstanding paperwork” has melted into a realistic goal that is being played out differently than the initial attempt. Another quiet Friday, me and the janitor competing for the longevity award (only he appears to have more life than this carcass) and the regular 3 dedicated individuals in the office – 2 newly hired. How everyone else appears to pull off their workload and a 40+ hour Monday through Friday shift without being in existence on Fridays still remains a mystery to me. But alas… back to the repetitious soul-sucking of the office – brightened a bit by Sara Groves’ melodies that cut through thick Friday drag and ironically sing out about, “freedom…”

We got a new (to us) swing last night for baby. Twas fun to go pick it up and promptly put it in the living room upon getting home. This weekend we’ll get a crib. YEAH! It’s white and free. And that is overwhelmingly awesome!

Matt and I have just been recouping from this weekend. Wonderful weekend, but man I tell you it was tiring. I think I got 11 hours of sleep over the youth weekend part, which is semi-doable without another live to attempt to sustain. The youth appeared to enjoy the weekend, be challenged in their faith, and desire change in their walks with God. So it was a highly successful weekend.

I got to hold Danielle again on Sunday. Funny but holding that little 5 week old is so precious on two levels… 1. she’s absolutely adorable and 2. it still blows my mind that someone so small is inside of me.

Alien movements have been quite the normalcy. You should see my stomach go crazy at different times in the day. It’s hilarious! And Matt appears to be enjoying all the activity. Though I must admit, the hip and back assaults can be sometimes painful.

So yeah.. that’s us. We’re doing great. 8 weeks to go! So how are you? What’s new?

Driving home from an errand last night I heard the sounds of a wholed muffler and gas-eating engine passing my car. I turned and looked out the window, giving the other driver the attention they desired when they “altered” their car. And I found great enjoyment as a 4 door sedan with glowing track light under the car and new barrel exhaust pipe passed me filled with four teenage boys. I mean come on man, almost 8 months pregnant, Chevy Cavalier with Celine Dion blaring me was more of a sports car than them.

=)

People entertain me. Especially as the child wasted half the gas tank by revving the engine at the stoplight. Clearly if the child had paid for his own gas for more than the last two weeks conservation would have quieted that engine a little. =)

I love it.