Living Dangerously

Conversation:

H: Here is your ice cream knife. Uhh...Be careful!

A: What?

H: They were out of spoons, I thought we could improvise!

A: Didn’t they have forks?

H: Nope

A: We are living dangerously folks!!

H: You have to learn to be flexible, in life, and when life hands you ice cream you just figure out a way to eat it! (See what I did there? I turned a poor parenting move into a life lesson!! Lol!!!)

A: Yup, when life gives you ice cream you’re thankful because life didn’t have to give you ice cream, but it did!

#LivingDangerously

Church

Sometimes I don’t have words for what the Lord has placed on my mind and in my heart so I create...meme or a collage or painting...whatever...

Today a collage:

Whatever it is God has placed upon your heart to do, do it! 

What a day!

Disclaimer: I haven’t proofread for typos and grammar...I’m just too tired!! I’ll die of embarrassment later when I reread this and see them! 😁 (I am my mother’s child!)

Such a crazy day!! I’m so tired! 

Started early with the boys dropping me off at Hospital A, worked there then presented at the financial presentation where we were in over time so I got cut short, not that I mind the lack of interrogation re: my data, but it had me a little flustered and I’m not sure I said all that I wanted to and I’m pretty sure I said at least two things that I didn’t want to!

Then the boys picked me back up and I dropped them off at home. Heading to Hospital B I saw an accident just after it happened and figured I’d better stop. I have to say though, I struggled stopping knowing how much my days are scheduled out and that stopping meant that I’d not be getting something done. Then I talked sense into myself that this was the most important thing I could be doing, right now!

I was one of the first one’s to stop and lo and behold my neighbor is crawling out of the upturned truck!!! He had an angel on his shoulder for sure, wow!! After checking him over and EMS arriving I went and found his wife to ensure her he was okay.  I phoned ahead to Beaver and Austin and they came and sat with her for a while and help her problem solve a bit. 

Meanwhile I was back on the road again thinking through my day...only to come across a dump truck that was on fire, billowing copious amounts of smoke and still driving!!  He started to pull over but kept driving it was so strange!! Deciding to pass but not able to see the road ahead I cautiously speed by with hazards and headlights on expecting it to BLOW any minute.  I was ahead of him now and help was in sight, phew!  

Okay, mind back on what I needed to do first when back in the office....

I exited onto the highway and was halfway to my exit when a loud noise started coming from  right side of the car. Thinking it was likely the problematic AC blower we just had replaced I continued on. Turns out it was the wheel well cover that came unhooked and was sticking out and rubbing on the tire...okay not bad!! Lots to do moving on! 

Quick prepare myself for next meeting...text my friend...freak a bit... then walk in calmly and present. Run back to my office throw together my almost completed slides together (just kidding I had NOTHIN!! But what I pulled together was impressive!! Lol!) print, sort, stable packets, stop to answer staff questions, then run! Present, learn, done. 

Then back to my office, not quite...walk someone lost back to front of hospital, answer 3 waiting text messages and sink down into my office chair tackle to seemingly self-replicating 711 emails!!

Quitting time was met with my manager team at the door waiting to walk with me to my car! Sam surgically removed the offensive flapping plastic stuff jutting from the wheel well, my secretary took photos, we all laughed and got in our cars....phew! 

More and more lately my days are just so hectic and I’m dodging assorted obstacles of all shapes and sizes including some that present with all sorts of associated risks.  

More and more I’m reminded that it is:

Not my strength 

Not my wisdom

Not my peace

Not my endurance

Not my achievement 

Not my grace

Not my skill

Not me at all, it is HE through me!

We verses got me through these days:

Galatians 6:9 Do not grow weary in well doing for in time you will reap the harvest, if you do not give up. 

2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 Cor 15:58  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I’m writing this as I sit here on my bed next to a 5 gallon bucket which is catching the drips from the AC that froze and then thawed and rained down over then end of the bed... I realized what was taking place because the dogs were having a blast jumping all around on the bed while I was reading. I kept getting little splashes and I thought eww, she must have just gotten a drink...then I got really wet and it was quite Cold!  Nope, this was no water bowl drool, she was enjoying the water running from the vent turned shower head that formed when the AC thawed. Surprise!! Lol!! 

What a day!! 

Went back and snapped a pic for his wife who wanted to see what the car looked like. 

Princess

While she holds her crowned head high, she pays close attention to the crowns of other princesses and helps righten them, should they slip. You see, true princesses build others up, has their backs, encourages and loves! It’s that way of our royalty, impressed upon us as daughters of 

The King of Kings! 

September 1, 2018

1) Today my Gram turns 100!  Love you Gram, miss you dearly!

2) Six month ago today we said “see ya soon” to my Dad. I miss him!

Six month’s ago today...I sure miss you Dad. There are times when I can barely breathe due to the overwhelming sadness that comes over me. I would never selfishly wish you back from heaven but it feels like I have to wait forever to see you and talk to you again.  But there in the midst of grief the Holy Spirit comes to bring comfort and I’m flooded with many great memories and the peaceful reminder that you are Finally Home and ache gets less and there’s room again for me to breathe. 

As I work through the sorrow I think of how blessed I am that you are my Dad, that you showed me how to love and serve the Lord, and instilled in me love, respect, and compassion for all of God’s creation. I hold close in my heart these values and the memories I have of times together, bring joy and it makes the in-between more bearable. 

I love you Dad!

Creating Change

My team recently saw amazing results of their hard work and even broke a record. I stopped to think about how we got there and I believe that Meme, while having Christ the center, is what got us there. 

One Year Later...

Grateful

When you care for kids who come from tough places they often have food issues. We’ve been learning this delicate dance now for four years; and believe me, we’ve seen good progress! But when 4 years in the kiddo still mentions how good it’s gonna feel tonight to “go to bed with a stomach full of good food” it’s a heartbreaking reminder of how deeply these scars run.

He almost always thanks us after he eats a meal, and sometimes before. Yet we are the ones who are grateful. Grateful for the tremendous blessing it is to be chosen to help make a difference. 

#Family 

Mother’s Day

Good But Overwhelming

Good but overwhelming!

Austin, my date for the “formal” awards celebration  tonight was experiencing quite a lot of anxiety. He was exited to dress up and go and it was all good until he saw the silverware! I was laughing and chatting and then I look over....he was about to implode. I quickly asked what was wrong, he sat there shaking his head, “I don’t know what to do.”

Thinking this is good for him, but man I guess I should have prepped him for this. I was mid-conversation so I hand him my phone and said, “Okay, no biggie, just google it!” He sat there googling what silverware to use first.

I glanced back over and noticed he was really distressed. I quietly explained the pieces and we started on the first course. He said, “I’m just going to watch you...” A coworker sitting with us said to him I don’t know either, I just use whichever one gets the food to my mouth the quickest! 😀 He relaxed a bit more after that.

When the main course came out he dove right in! I wondered if he even noticed the mashed potatoes were purple and then there it was! He turned with a little snort and said, “I’m not sure if they’re purple because they are poisonous or someone just thought it’d be fun, but they’re good!” Lol!

I sat there thinking about the comment, “I’ll just watch you and do what you do!” Wow, such a great reminder of the responsibility we have as parents; they are watching, learning, and mimicking! When you’re not sure what to do look to someone you trust and copy them.

Lord help me in the example I’m setting as it serves to mold the future.

First Place

First place!! 🏅 

Austin and I did a 5K today. We came in under our goal, but pretty much dead last. After lots of pep talks along the way and promises of an extra donut he finished, and I am proud of him, actually of both of us! I was determined to set the example of pressing and finishing! (I am so out of shape, so even a dinky 5K took determination).

It rained the whole time, which I found refreshing. I told Austin the only way we aren’t finishing is if it storms, but I’m not gonna lie, I did pray for lightening at one point so they’d pull us off the course, lol! ⚡️⛈

My good buddy and encourager (and Marathon Runner) Britt, finished and then walked to meet us and walk with us the last half mile! 💜  Beaver met us at the finish with clapping, cheers, and photo taking! 

At one point I said, “Austin, we are going to finish, at least I am, and it would be a lot more fun if we remain positive” he replied, “my feet positively hurt, I’m positively hungry, and I’m positive that frog there is in heaven.” In the end he agreed he had fun, now we have to practice up and do another! 

We decided that our theme would be Matthew 20:16a “The first shall be last and the last shall be FIRST!”  And taking artistic license, WE FINISHED FIRST!! 🏅🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

15 going on 50!

I feel like I should write a “15” letter but the “10” one still fits so well.  In fact, not much has really changed, right? It’s just than now we have kids (we thought they could trust us with those??! 😊), new jobs, moved to a new state, we eat crab more often, and we live the RV Life on the ocean!!  WOWZER who would have thought? I love that you support my dreams. Aspirations, and quirky whims!  I love the Dad that you are, to Austin and D and the fur-kids, and I love that you continue to seek ways to inspire hope and instill a sense of belonging and normalcy for those who are struggling on life’s journey. It’s a fun ride…most of the time…so I guess I will stick with you for now!!  Here’s to another 15! XO, me

Andrea Nylaan of Florida is Missing