Yesterday

Yesterday was my first real day off in a long time. And, it was wonderful. I slept in, read in my Bible for a while, had a good conversation with Mom, Skyped with you, cleaned (aka got to enjoy a clean house), then enjoyed some fun with the girls. It was Chrissy's birthday, so we celebrated.

First, we went to Emiliano's for Tapas and Sangria. Mmm... It was so delicious and fun. We discovered during the night that each of the six of us represented a year in the twenties. The youngest of us was 24 and the oldest, 29. After supper everyone came over and we had blueberry desert and cupcakes. Then, we enjoyed some girl talk for a bit and Chrissy opened presents. It was a nice way to end a perfect day off. Today back to clinic, but enjoyed some tennis with Kendra afterward. Now, I am looking forward to Charleston this weekend!

3 a.m.

Sometimes I am leaving for a birth at this hour. Sometimes we are having a baby at this hour. Sometimes I am getting home from a birth at this hour. But, last night I was lying awake in my bed at 3 a.m. because I had a Starbucks frappacinno at 9:00. Guess whose idea it was? Mine. Not only did I get a frappacinno but the whipped cream and caramel icing. Good thing I declined when he offered extra caramel dripping!

Laura got into town last night. We were to go on the Art Walk downtown. We ended up changing our minds for a couple of reasons. So, I showed her the stadium- it was amazing as usual. We looked at the movies, but decided Monsters vs Aliens was more of an at home, not $9 maybe we'll like it, maybe not movie and the Solist was too late. So, we walked down to Starbucks. Usually I ask for decaf. They have worked it out in the past. But last time they gave me a yucky "cream based" drink that I did not like. So, why not get what I want? I figured I might be up a couple of extra hours, but at least I would like my treat. As the hours rolled by I remembered the last time I ordered caffeine at night and layed awake for hours. Needless to say, I won't be doing that again for a while. We ended up to a later start today, but enjoyed ourselves. Mmmm... I might lie down for a wink or two.

Sherah Part Two

So, I wanted to tell you about my visit to Publix on Tuesday. They were having very good deals. I was happy with my selection and made my way to the register. I handed my two Publix bags to the bag boy. The man at the register tallied up my foods. Then, he helped the bag boy to put my food in the bags. Next thing I know, the man at the register asked me if I would like the milk in the bag. I looked up to see him slipping the gallon of milk with the gallon of water. My first thought, was "NOOOO!" I casually said, "oh, that might be too heavy for me in the same bag." As I was finishing my sentence, it seemed to me by his face that I may be offending his judgement. So, I added, "if you put anything else in." He said that he would not add anything. I had the advantage this time of knowing that it would be heavy. Plus, I had a buggy to place my bags in. I smiled and explained that I had tried that once before and it didn't go so well. He smiled. I was thinking, "if he only knew." Not sure if it was the thick straps on the bag or my heads up from the previous 2 gallons-in-one-bag situation, but it was not too heavy this time. Now that I think about it, it was definately that shoulder straps on the bag. Just thought you'd appreciate the story!

The Sound of the Trumpet

I found strength in Nehemiah's story this week. He mourned, fasted, prayed. He approached the king, though afraid, he boldly made his requests and "because the gracious hand of God was upon him, the king granted his requests." Others joined him for the work and they were greatly opposed. They mocked and ridiculed them. His answer: The God of heaven will give us success... and you don't have any share in it, he told them. So many people came together. Progress. So, "they" (the bad guys) became angry and "greatly incensed." In front of everyone they made fun of God's people and His work. Nehemiah prays and the people work with all their might!!! But their strength is giving out, there is so much rubble that they cannot build the wall. Plus their enemies say they will kill them and end their work. Then, their neighbors tell them "ten times over" that they will be attacked no matter which way they turn. Nehemiah tells them not to be afraid. Fight for your brothers, sons, daughters, wives, homes.

The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely seperated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us! Nehemiah 4:19-20

So, they continued in the work. Half of the men with spears from first light of day til dark of night. They worked by day and guarded by night. Their weapons remained on them at all times. Accusations and threats are made. Nehemiah responds that nothing of the sort is happening. They are making it up. The enemies tried to frighten the people thinking, "their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.

But I prayed, Strengthen my hands. (6:9b)

A man was hired to intimidate Nehemiah and have him to run away. He would not go.

So, the wall was completed on the twenty fifth of Elul, in fifty two days. When all the enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Day by Day

School is busy right now, but I am having fun. I had a birth during the night Wed/Thurs. Chrissy came over for supper on Thursday night. We had a nice supper and time catching up. Then we walked around the Duck Pond. Afterward, I went over to Kendra's to help her to pick out an outfit for a first date. It was fun being excited for her and talking.

I went to the Love and Respect conference at church this weekend. It is supposed to be for married couples though Alex encouraged the body that it was not just for couples. I found myself leaning over to Chrissy the week before at church and telling her I would go if she did. Next thing, we were going. To our surprise our friend, Michael, was there too. So, we all sat together and spent lunch break together. We were all so tired afterward.

Then, yesterday afternoon we went contra dancing! Yes, I know that you are happy about that. You should come when you visit. It is a lot of fun. I think it is more fun than ballroom dancing because it is more of a group activity. You dance with many people during one dance. We had a lot of fun. I did better than I thought I might, though I got really lost on a few of the moves. I need to learn what some of the calls mean before next time! We plan to go in a couple of weeks again for Chrissy's birthday.

Lonely Day in Jacksonville

No, I was not in Jacksonville today:). This is from my journal on 08/26/06. It was an encouragement for me tonight. I hope it encourages you too. (please excuse my grammer, as usual)

There is a place I go to find assurance and strength when I have run out of life. When the joy and purpose have been used up or given up I find myself with Him. At first it seems the place of despair because of my great and thirsty need. Now, I realize it is the best place because it is where I meet Him and He fills me. This is the place where others can draw from when I am unable to minister. Because it is from His understanding and strength and perfect wisdom and very compassionate love that they will receive. I have been to the place of Jesus, the wells that He has dug in the dry places of the Valley. They are for others to drink from and be refreshed and strengthened and encouraged to continue on their journey. Perhaps that well this afternoon is a new well of understanding and validation for the deep hurting who are overlooked and misunderstood... or maybe it was a reminder. Either way I am glad for the wells. How I love the refreshments of His hurting or (being) troubled, especially to go together to draw from Him. Have your way.

He sends the springs into the valleys, which flow among the hills. Psalm 104:10.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimmage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; every one of them appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7.

For Mr. Obama

These are the last words of David before he died:

When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness of rain that brings the grass from the earth... (2 Samuel 23)

So, Mr. Obama, I pray that you may turn to the Lord to lead you as you lead us. I pray that you may rule in righteousness and in the fear of the Lord. The Lord be with you. The Lord have mercy on us. Whatever happens next... He has the final say.

Oops

Tonight I wanted to eat pizza for supper (easy and tasty). I also needed to go to the grocery store. So, I bought a handful of healthy goodies. I bought a few staples. I bought a hillarious card for Sarah Case. On the outside is a picture of a chocolate bunny. The front of the card say, "no offense, but I am not coming to your house this year." Then you open the card and it says, "i've heard what you do with chocolate... Happy Easter!" And the song "Another one bites the dust" plays in the background. Yes, it was expensive, but I splurged since it was Sarah. Anyway, back to my story... They had some good deals. So, I make it over to the pizza isle and the California Pizza Kitchens were having a good sale- it said 2 for $5. I grabbed a couple then headed to the checkout. Usually I tally up prices as I shop, but this time I did not. I knew generally that I was in price range. But, when I checked out it was much more expensive than I had realized. So, I got to my car and looked over the receipt. The stinkin' pizzas were $6.99 each!!! "Ooohhh," was my first thought. How did I think there was a sale when there was not? It did not matter to me at this point. They may be worth that much (which is why I never buy them) but they were not worth it to me. I felt silly going back in, but I told myself better to feel silly than to spend an extra $10 on food. So, I took them to customer service with my receipt. I told her I had made a mistake and thought these were on sale, but they were not. I did not want to spend this much. I would like to return them. She put the money back on my card. Then I walked back to the pizza isle, thinking I would get a Publix pizza. That was my supper, after all. So, I decided to check out the CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) just to see how in the world I got confused. Sure enough, it said what I had thought. So, I am standing there trying to figure out what wrong with a puzzled look on my face. I was just realizing that $1 off of $6.99 was NOT 2 for $5. Then, the manager showed up with my boxes to return them back to the freezer. She realized that they actually were advertized as 2 for $5. Long story short she gave me the two pizzas for $5. I have a feeling whe changed the sign after I left. As I was paying for it, the whole situation was making sense to me- my deal was a mistake. Maybe I should have turned down the deal since someone was losing money on it. But, I did not realize at the time to decide that. In the end, I decided to just enjoy my deal and trust that everything would work out for Publix. Being an optimist, I am hoping that the incident helped them to correct an error in their business and that my reward for confronting the situation was $10 off on pizza!