Thank you so much for your continued prayers for Dave and his family, I know they are making a difference.
Dave came out of surgery for his knee and hand just fine, but remains in ICU. They have determined that he is in a coma. He is holding steady, not getting worse but not getting better either. He's going on a week now. Please continue to pray for Dave's continued healing. Pray that his brain is able to repair itself after this massive head trauma. Pray that his body continue to heal. I cannot thank you enough for all of your prayers.
Again, feel free to pass this prayer request on to your friends, family and any prayers chains you know. Dave needs all the prayer warriors he can get. I greatly appreciate all of the supportive comments everyone has left, I know Dave has people all over the country and the world praying for him, and that is a powerful thing.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, August 7, 2008
PhotoStory Friday: Heaven's Light
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
"Heaven's Light"
I took this photo back a few years ago at the San Diego Mission with my family. We were getting ready to leave, and my brother and I happened to peak through this gate, and found this beautiful piece of paradise. A long stretch of grass bathed in sunlight, surrounding this beautifully adorned cross. I discovered later that I had managed to capture the beauty of the sunlight bathing this serene scene. This has long been one of my favorite photos that I have taken.
It seemed particularly appropriate as I am finding my faith again. I took a slight hiatus, simply didn't make it a priority. But God works in mysterious ways, and though we may not always understand His plan, He does have one. This photo shows faith and beauty to me.
(fair warning: it gets long after this point and I won't be offended if you don't read beyond this part. Bit of a day, and I just needed to get some stuff out of my head. It decided to spill out here as I was typing.)
It also provides me a sense of peace. Which is something I can use tonight. It was several years ago. I was at my aunt's, watching my cousins the day before their birthday party. I'd taken the train up the day before the party to help set things up and to keep an eye on the kids while my aunt took my uncle to get something done on his eye. The phone rang, not an unusual occurrence, one of my cousins answered it. It was my dad, and he wanted to talk to me. I will never forget the way he began the conversation. "Hi, everyone's okay, there's no need to worry." Pause. Long pause. The longer the pause, the bigger the but that comes after it. My mom had been in an accident with my littlest brother, on their way to pick up my other brother from school. My littlest brother was thankfully completely unharmed, they think he was asleep when it happened. He made friends with the firemen. (it happened right outside the firestation) My mom was in the hospital with a severe concussion. She had been going in a mental loop for hours. She kept asking the same questions. My Dad and my Grandpa were with her, the boys were with my Grama at their house. It was a bad concussion, and they were keeping her overnight for observation. They (obviously) wouldn't be coming to the party the next day. My dad told me I didn't need to/shouldn't come home. In hindsight, it was probably a better idea...I wouldn't have left and I'd have missed my classes and all that nonsense. And I wouldn't have cared.
I got to talk to my mom the next day after she'd left the hospital. They stopped at my grandparents, and she felt safe there, so they all spent the night there, where my mom was doing okay. (my grandparents are the most amazing people you will ever meet) It was hard to talk to her, but I put on my brave voice for her. She sounded tired and small. Her head hurt and she was in pain. But I was relieved all the same to hear her voice for myself. I wasn't old enough to drink (and I'm one of the people who actually waited until her 21st birthday to take a sip of alcohol) but I felt the need to be destructive and careless when I got home that night. My roommate at the time (and a wonderful friend still), understood, in her way. So, as a remedy, we watched the most violent, action packed movie we could borrow (which, incidentally, was one or two of the Bourne movies...yeah, I know, I live wild) and drank incredible amounts of Dr. Pepper. (yes, what a rebel, right? If I'd been 21 I'm sorry to admit I probably would have been drinking something slightly stronger)
Believe me when I tell you that I am one of the happiest, calmest, optimistic people you will ever meet. Sunshiny disposition and all. Knowing that, believe me when I say I have NEVER been so angry in my life. I several times was so angry I was shaking. The woman who ran the stop sign going over 40 mph and slammed into my mom's van, had the nerve to LIE to the police. And the moronic officer BELIEVED her. My brother, who was about 4 at the time could have told you it was a PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE story, if you actually opened your damn eyes and looked at the accident scene. And said officer tried to question my mom. In the ER. While she was strapped to a board with a SERIOUS head injury. While my grandpa and dad were I think checking her in. And then questioned her honesty and integrity because she couldn't answer simple information like what day it was. Later, they sent another officer, an angel, to re-measure the scene. Like my four year old brother could have told them, he reported the truth. (which he said he didn't even need to do, because it was obvious what had happened) I have never really wished evil on anyone. But I wanted so badly to see the bitch who had run the stop sign going well over the speed limit, given my mom and concussion and endangered my baby brother at the same time, and had the nerve to LIE about it! I wanted to see her, and look her in the eye, and punch her out. To be honest, I still wouldn't mind doing so. Given the chance, I think I'd throw my first punch ever in my life. A few inches, maybe a foot, and she would have hit my mom's door straight on. I saw the pictures. My mom has no memory between leaving my grandparent's house and being in the hospital many hours later.
Why is this coming up now? It's been nearly 3 years or so since this happened. Well, today my mom had a bit of a panic episode. And I know they all downplayed it when they talked to me. She was in the parking lot next to the hospital to go in for some normal test or whatever. And my grandpa had to come and get her and take her home. My dad was in with a client and couldn't answer his phone. She told me on Google talk while I was at work this afternoon. (after my grandpa had brought her home and stayed with them until my dad got home) She tries so hard, but she still has a lot of after affects from the accident. All because some woman was speeding and couldn't be bothered to stop for a big red stop sign. She gets migraines now, and gets horrible pain in her body sometimes. Incapacitating. And she has two very active little boys to keep up with daily. (they're very good though, and I know they are extra helpful when she's having a tough time) She's always gone to the chiropractor since she was in a head on accident with a drunk driver when I was tiny. (I wasn't in the car) But that used to be once every month or two. Now? Sometimes she has to go twice a week just to function. And she tries to lighten it up, play it off, but she wasn't okay for a while after the accident, and sometimes she's still not okay. And it makes me SO angry. Not as angry as I was at the time, but still pretty bad. Because that bitch broke my mommy. Childish as that sounds. She did. And I hate it. Yes, the rational side of me knows that punching the woman who did it in the face would not make my mom any better, and it probably wouldn't make me feel too great either. But I still want to. Given the chance, I think I might. Or at least slap her very, very hard.
Most days my mom is fine. She seems to go in cycles, she knows it. It just makes things very hard, and she hates it. She knows that it sucks, and it's not fun to live with. She doesn't like being broken, but she doesn't know how to fix it. I hate that she has to learn how to deal with it. She shouldn't have to. She shouldn't be broken. I probably won't know how bad today's panic episode was. But even from the sugar coated versions I've gotten, I can tell it was pretty bad. I really kind of want to go home right now. But I have work in the morning and it takes 3 hours to get home, and me missing work wouldn't help her. It would only stress her out. I get to see her next weekend at least, which helps. This is probably one of those moments I need to just breathe, pray and go to sleep. I don't like being angry. But I am. Every time my mom hurts because of this, I get angry. Because it was completely avoidable. And none of it is her fault, but she's the one who has to live with it. And it's not fair. I know life is unfair. But this sucks.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this post to become a novel, I didn't mean for it to go this long. The photo makes me feel peaceful, so it seemed appropriate for today. It's just such simple beauty.
It seemed particularly appropriate as I am finding my faith again. I took a slight hiatus, simply didn't make it a priority. But God works in mysterious ways, and though we may not always understand His plan, He does have one. This photo shows faith and beauty to me.
(fair warning: it gets long after this point and I won't be offended if you don't read beyond this part. Bit of a day, and I just needed to get some stuff out of my head. It decided to spill out here as I was typing.)
It also provides me a sense of peace. Which is something I can use tonight. It was several years ago. I was at my aunt's, watching my cousins the day before their birthday party. I'd taken the train up the day before the party to help set things up and to keep an eye on the kids while my aunt took my uncle to get something done on his eye. The phone rang, not an unusual occurrence, one of my cousins answered it. It was my dad, and he wanted to talk to me. I will never forget the way he began the conversation. "Hi, everyone's okay, there's no need to worry." Pause. Long pause. The longer the pause, the bigger the but that comes after it. My mom had been in an accident with my littlest brother, on their way to pick up my other brother from school. My littlest brother was thankfully completely unharmed, they think he was asleep when it happened. He made friends with the firemen. (it happened right outside the firestation) My mom was in the hospital with a severe concussion. She had been going in a mental loop for hours. She kept asking the same questions. My Dad and my Grandpa were with her, the boys were with my Grama at their house. It was a bad concussion, and they were keeping her overnight for observation. They (obviously) wouldn't be coming to the party the next day. My dad told me I didn't need to/shouldn't come home. In hindsight, it was probably a better idea...I wouldn't have left and I'd have missed my classes and all that nonsense. And I wouldn't have cared.
I got to talk to my mom the next day after she'd left the hospital. They stopped at my grandparents, and she felt safe there, so they all spent the night there, where my mom was doing okay. (my grandparents are the most amazing people you will ever meet) It was hard to talk to her, but I put on my brave voice for her. She sounded tired and small. Her head hurt and she was in pain. But I was relieved all the same to hear her voice for myself. I wasn't old enough to drink (and I'm one of the people who actually waited until her 21st birthday to take a sip of alcohol) but I felt the need to be destructive and careless when I got home that night. My roommate at the time (and a wonderful friend still), understood, in her way. So, as a remedy, we watched the most violent, action packed movie we could borrow (which, incidentally, was one or two of the Bourne movies...yeah, I know, I live wild) and drank incredible amounts of Dr. Pepper. (yes, what a rebel, right? If I'd been 21 I'm sorry to admit I probably would have been drinking something slightly stronger)
Believe me when I tell you that I am one of the happiest, calmest, optimistic people you will ever meet. Sunshiny disposition and all. Knowing that, believe me when I say I have NEVER been so angry in my life. I several times was so angry I was shaking. The woman who ran the stop sign going over 40 mph and slammed into my mom's van, had the nerve to LIE to the police. And the moronic officer BELIEVED her. My brother, who was about 4 at the time could have told you it was a PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE story, if you actually opened your damn eyes and looked at the accident scene. And said officer tried to question my mom. In the ER. While she was strapped to a board with a SERIOUS head injury. While my grandpa and dad were I think checking her in. And then questioned her honesty and integrity because she couldn't answer simple information like what day it was. Later, they sent another officer, an angel, to re-measure the scene. Like my four year old brother could have told them, he reported the truth. (which he said he didn't even need to do, because it was obvious what had happened) I have never really wished evil on anyone. But I wanted so badly to see the bitch who had run the stop sign going well over the speed limit, given my mom and concussion and endangered my baby brother at the same time, and had the nerve to LIE about it! I wanted to see her, and look her in the eye, and punch her out. To be honest, I still wouldn't mind doing so. Given the chance, I think I'd throw my first punch ever in my life. A few inches, maybe a foot, and she would have hit my mom's door straight on. I saw the pictures. My mom has no memory between leaving my grandparent's house and being in the hospital many hours later.
Why is this coming up now? It's been nearly 3 years or so since this happened. Well, today my mom had a bit of a panic episode. And I know they all downplayed it when they talked to me. She was in the parking lot next to the hospital to go in for some normal test or whatever. And my grandpa had to come and get her and take her home. My dad was in with a client and couldn't answer his phone. She told me on Google talk while I was at work this afternoon. (after my grandpa had brought her home and stayed with them until my dad got home) She tries so hard, but she still has a lot of after affects from the accident. All because some woman was speeding and couldn't be bothered to stop for a big red stop sign. She gets migraines now, and gets horrible pain in her body sometimes. Incapacitating. And she has two very active little boys to keep up with daily. (they're very good though, and I know they are extra helpful when she's having a tough time) She's always gone to the chiropractor since she was in a head on accident with a drunk driver when I was tiny. (I wasn't in the car) But that used to be once every month or two. Now? Sometimes she has to go twice a week just to function. And she tries to lighten it up, play it off, but she wasn't okay for a while after the accident, and sometimes she's still not okay. And it makes me SO angry. Not as angry as I was at the time, but still pretty bad. Because that bitch broke my mommy. Childish as that sounds. She did. And I hate it. Yes, the rational side of me knows that punching the woman who did it in the face would not make my mom any better, and it probably wouldn't make me feel too great either. But I still want to. Given the chance, I think I might. Or at least slap her very, very hard.
Most days my mom is fine. She seems to go in cycles, she knows it. It just makes things very hard, and she hates it. She knows that it sucks, and it's not fun to live with. She doesn't like being broken, but she doesn't know how to fix it. I hate that she has to learn how to deal with it. She shouldn't have to. She shouldn't be broken. I probably won't know how bad today's panic episode was. But even from the sugar coated versions I've gotten, I can tell it was pretty bad. I really kind of want to go home right now. But I have work in the morning and it takes 3 hours to get home, and me missing work wouldn't help her. It would only stress her out. I get to see her next weekend at least, which helps. This is probably one of those moments I need to just breathe, pray and go to sleep. I don't like being angry. But I am. Every time my mom hurts because of this, I get angry. Because it was completely avoidable. And none of it is her fault, but she's the one who has to live with it. And it's not fair. I know life is unfair. But this sucks.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this post to become a novel, I didn't mean for it to go this long. The photo makes me feel peaceful, so it seemed appropriate for today. It's just such simple beauty.
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Monday, August 4, 2008
Miracle Monday: Subtle Ways
I had a theology professor once in college who said something that has stuck with me and played a role in my life. I forget the exact context of the conversation, the topic of the class that day. The class itself was Christian Ethics...quite an interesting class, very thought provoking. But what he said was powerful. He said that when we pray for someone, God does not just reach into their lives and do a complete 180. He works more subtly. He may cause them to hear something or see something, or have a friend talk to them or even ask a simple questions that gets them thinking. It's these little subtleties that can become life changing.
I've always liked that idea, it goes along with God reaching out through the people around you. Why am I going on about this? Simple. I'm pretty sure I had one of those moments last Sunday. My good friend B texted, a very simple "mass tonight?". I hadn't been in about two weeks. I also didn't have any reason not to go. So I agreed, and I went. And it was wonderful. We had a great community when we were in college, but we really are separate from that community now. We're no longer students, so we're welcome, but not really involved. The church we went to was wonderful, and they have a great young adult community. I was excited, really excited to be back at mass, and it instantly felt right, it felt like home. And I've missed that. I've been a bit absent on the faith side of things recently. (note: after the bf and I dwindled on going to mass...we started having problems..not immediately, but soon after. Coincidence? I think not)
B and I went to the young adult dinner social after mass last weekend, and had a great time. We started with this new young adult women's book club last Monday. I'm so incredibly excited. And it's a GREAT book. I love this wonderful group of women already, and I can't wait for tonight's meeting.
It's a little, subtle miracle, but for me it's life changing. I'm feeling more alive than I have in a while. I think I've found what I've been looking for. And all it took was a simple text from a good friend asking "mass tonight?"
I've always liked that idea, it goes along with God reaching out through the people around you. Why am I going on about this? Simple. I'm pretty sure I had one of those moments last Sunday. My good friend B texted, a very simple "mass tonight?". I hadn't been in about two weeks. I also didn't have any reason not to go. So I agreed, and I went. And it was wonderful. We had a great community when we were in college, but we really are separate from that community now. We're no longer students, so we're welcome, but not really involved. The church we went to was wonderful, and they have a great young adult community. I was excited, really excited to be back at mass, and it instantly felt right, it felt like home. And I've missed that. I've been a bit absent on the faith side of things recently. (note: after the bf and I dwindled on going to mass...we started having problems..not immediately, but soon after. Coincidence? I think not)
B and I went to the young adult dinner social after mass last weekend, and had a great time. We started with this new young adult women's book club last Monday. I'm so incredibly excited. And it's a GREAT book. I love this wonderful group of women already, and I can't wait for tonight's meeting.
It's a little, subtle miracle, but for me it's life changing. I'm feeling more alive than I have in a while. I think I've found what I've been looking for. And all it took was a simple text from a good friend asking "mass tonight?"
Inspired by Miracle Monday hosted by Beth over at A Mom's Life. (I'm excited to have something to participate with this week. I love reading her Miracle Mondays.)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Fly Me To The Moon
I met the parents. I also met the family friends who are like grandparents, and most of the non-university desert group. The verdict? Everyone likes me. :) I'm so excited, it was a great weekend. Got some quality "me" time on Friday and Saturday morning before we drove out to see his desert friends' baseball game. A couple of them coach a little league team. It was quite a fun game, lots of laughs, even though we lost by a run or two. The important part is that the kids had a great time, and that's what really matters. We spent a few hours just hanging out at his friend D's house, they showed me some video from their desert trips. Hopefully I'll go out with them next season. My cousin and I may join on some river trips, as it is now "river season". Sounds fun to me. :)I got to drive the bf's truck a little on the way home. I drove it offroad too (shh, don't tell my mom) It was lots of fun. Drifting is a different experience when you're the one driving and the truck is ridiculously long. (F250 crew cab, extended bed) I even got to satisfy a ridiculous sushi craving too, which was amazing. Since we were near his house, we went by the place just around the corner and took it back to my apartment. It was SO delicious. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
The clouds lifted and the sun shone Sunday, which made for a great trip to the Farmer's Market. I got lots of delicious things to eat. Bananas, cucumbers, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, tangelos, mushrooms, kale and avocados. And I got spinach and strawberries at Henry's on the way home. I've been living mostly on fresh produce, it's absolutely delicious! (don't worry, I'm eating plenty of protein too) I was a little bit nervous while we were walking over to the car show to meet the parents, but I needn't have worried. They were wonderful! We had a lot of fun looking at classic cars, and his parents treated us to lunch at the diner afterwards. It was delicious. I tied a cherry stem from my Shirley Temple into a knot with my tongue. (but didn't tighten it enough so it came undone pretty fast)
After a delicious lunch we walked down to the book fair/art fair/flower show that was going on in the park down the street. The bf and I both got a few books. Total? $6. Not too bad considering we got 6 books. I can't wait to read mine, I just have to finish the library books I got last week on my walk with my friend B. I'm FINALLY reading the 7th Harry Potter book. I went so long without spoilers, until I edited my friend's thesis about a month ago. It was a great thesis, but now I know what happens in the end of the Deathly Hallows. But I didn't mind, because the paper was amazing. (just don't tell him he spoiled me, he'd feel terrible!)
The weekend wrapped up with 7pm mass. The bf came with me, and later suggested that we go together every weekend, which let me tell you, is a BIG deal. It's super exciting. :) Mass was interesting. There were some sirens outside, and partway through Father Mike's homily, Monsignor walked VERY quickly up the aisle and whispered to Father Mike, who then told us we would continue, but first he needed everyone to gently file out of the chapel and go up to the parking lot. Then the alarms started. We could see smoke and sparks over the roof of the building. Turns out some idiot freshman caught a couple palm trees on fire from the bridge between the two sides of the res halls in the two buildings. Luckily there was no structural damage, but it was quite an ordeal. After hanging around in the parking lot for a good 25 minutes, we continued mass in the main Church housed on our campus. Father Mike began with, "so, back to the question, why are we here?" Cue laughter. "To escape the fires of hell." We about died laughing. At the end of mass he said that no one could ever say he never gave a fire and brimstone sermon. Cue clapping and laughter. Quite the eventful mass, definitely came home with a story...and plans to go to Church with my bf every weekend. Too cool. Seriously.
The photo, as you might have guessed, is from the car show Sunday. I liked the way it looked like it might fly off at any moment. There were a lot of cool cars, and everyone was super friendly and chatty. It was a beautiful day, and his family really liked me, which means a lot to me. Oh, and we're 2 weeks official today. :)
Photo specs:
~taken April 20, 2008
~setting: full auto, flash did not fire
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Rays of Light
I went to the San Diego Mission with my family last year for a research project. We were getting ready to leave, and I just happened to peer through a gate at the side of the courtyard. This was what I saw. The streaming light was unintentional, but it made me fall instantly in love with this picture. It feels so peaceful, surreal even. The cross was towards the middle of a rolling, lush green lawn, the perfect place for a picnic, had there been the opportunity. I think that sunrays through the clouds make it look as though God is looking down, watching us. Here there are no clouds, just the rays of light shining across the lawn.
Photo Specs:
~taken December 29, 2006
~setting: auto, no flash
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