Car 54...

Where are you? Well, it has been a while since I have updated my blog so here it goes. Life has been a strange kind of busy lately. Not the kind where you are running around yet feel like nothing is getting crossed off the list. It has been more of a "I kind of feel like I am the girl standing there and everyone is flying by me so fast that you can't even make out their faces" kind of busy.

I don't really feel like I am standing still, but time is passing all around me. It's like I woke up from the past 11 mths to find that a large amount of time has passed, but part of me is still back 11 mths ago. The other part of me feels like there is an incredibly large gulf that divides January from where I stand and I can't even imagine that all of that horribleness was going on in my life.

It is a feeling of being torn between knowing that it all happened and realizing that not only did it happen, but I went through it and am coming out of it-scared and scarred- but coming through.

It makes me think of the tunnel that used to form outside of locker rooms at high school sports. Everyone held up their hands while screaming and excitement ensued to a huge buildup when the team, like Greek gods, entered the field. Once the last member of the team was through, the human tunnel disappeared and people walked away almost forgetting why they had just made fools out of themselves to welcome the team.

At times I feel like I am running onto the field. Like I am the one the human tunnel has formed for. My own personal cheerleaders are there to make me feel welcomed. And at other times it is like I am the idiot walking away. Not feeling ashamed or beaten down, but uncertain of what just took place. Unaware of the significance and not fully understanding how that event will mold me or shape me into someone later in life.

I suppose that we all must play both roles and it helps us to see the necessity for the other, but when looking back at what has transpired it is sometimes difficult to distinguish which role I was in.

Learning about myself

Over the last few days I have realized a few things about myself. I feel the situations over the last few months and my reliance on God has allowed me to grow and learn a lot about myself.

The past few days have been really showing me how I have grown into more of the person I want to be and makes me wonder how long I was acting like a person I don't want to be.

I see the areas I have matured in and am happy that God has allowed the struggles in my life to teach me and to stretch me to grow. I would never wish to go through the pain again, but coming out the other side polished is nice.

Prayer Needed!!!

Hey all, please be in prayer for my friend's parents. They were in a bad car accident over the weekend and are in the hospital. I know this must be a difficult time for my friend so please also pray for her.

You know that when we pray God can do great things, so please pray for healing, comfort and whatever else the family needs right now.

Thanks!

Thankful

I don't like Thanksgiving. Too much work for too much food and too much clean up, but I do like the idea of giving thanks.

I woke up this morning and just felt very thankful. We don't need a day to give thanks, we need our life to demonstrate our thanks. So, even though it is a few weeks away, take some time and think about what you have to be thankful for.

Things I am thankful for (in no particular order):

• My job that I LOVE!
• Meeting new people
• Rocky
• My relationship with God
• The promise of future happiness
• Friends
• Family
• Great music for worship, inspiration and "letting loose"
• So many things-too great to list

Democracy?

I don't know about you, but I can't wait until Tuesday. Now before you think that I am a government junkie I need to explain. My desire for Tuesday does not stem from an inner urge to vote for a party or to change my community. My longing for Tuesday is so that all of the political commercials and mud slinging can quite down and give me some peace.

Don't get me wrong, I think the right to vote is something we should all take advantage of. Men and women have died and picketed and fought against racism and sexism in order for us to have these rights. The fact that we take them for granted is actually disrespectful to those who dedicated their lives to establishing and keeping democracy in this country. Before I get off on that soap box, let me switch gears.

Like the majority of the country right now I am sick of the political lies and twisting of the truth and name calling. Is there any race that hasn't been riddled with the behavior found most commonly on the playground at an elementary school? What is it about voting that brings out the worst in some people? Where are the facts? Where is the truth amongst the lies? Why is there a legal proposal about doves? Does any of this make any sense?

The fact that some individuals get so wrapped up in this crazy war of words astounds me because that world just has no appeal to me. A world of corruption, lies deceit and all the deadly sins doesn't seem my cup of tea. How did this become associated with one of our basic rights?

Whatever way it happened we have ended up with candidates spending more money and time on their commercials than on their plans for repairing the economy and "turning Michigan around." On Tuesday, make your voice heard and vote for what you believe and just know that on Wednesday I will be celebrating no matter if my candidate wins or not because it means I will not have to hear anymore commercials-that will be the day!