Adios, Amigo!

Today is M.'s last day. I'm not as sad as I thought I would be. It's not that I won't miss him - I most definitely will. But, I'm really happy for him. I hope this new opportunity will be an awesome experience. And plus, I'll still get to hang out with his family and have quality bonding time with miss B. (It just doesn't get much better than that!) "All things work together for good...."

At Peace With All

When Paul said, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18), what did he really mean? How much are we supposed to give of ourselves? I find it hard to believe that Paul, of all people, meant for us to "not make waves" and do whatever we can to make people happy. How do we know when to let others push us and when to push back? What does peace really mean in this context? Hmmmm.... I welcome your thoughts.

Survival

Well, my dreaded appointment at the dentist this morning has come and gone. My jaw hurts a little from the pressure, but this cavity-filling thing is a cinch compared to the other stuff I've had done in my mouth. Two and a half years of braces. Numerous teeth pulled. Odontogenic keratocyst. Wisdom teeth. Getting a teensy-weensy cavity filled is a breeze!

Kidding aside, I really have so much to be thankful for. I could have lived "back in the day" and had to floss with horse hair or get teeth pulled with pliers and no novacaine (do they actually use that stuff anymore?). Instead, I've been able to have consistent dental care throughout my life and have (nearly) perfect teeth. Thank you, God, for providing the little things I so often take for granted.

Tragedy Strikes

The day has come when what I have worked my whole life to achieve has been destroyed in an instant. I have a cavity. I'm nearly 24 and I've never had a cavity. I've always been proud of my cavity-lessness, and now, it's all over. Never again will I be able to proclaim that I have no cavities and that my teeth are totally perfect. I am flawed for life. (Do you suppose they could fill it with gold so if I'm ever short on cash I'll always have something on hand...or...in tooth?)

Hallelujah!

My sister called on Thursday with super exciting news....My brother-in-law got offered an amazing job! He applied and interviewed quite a while ago but didn't hear anything and his previous job couldn't keep him beyond the end of January. God's timing is perfect and he starts this new job in about a week. Sweetness!

Home

Our Hudson is home! The time from July until now seems such a blur of prayers, tears, worries, and rejoicing and now - finally - it seems the worst is over. Hudson and his Mom stopped by my Mom's work to say hello. It was the first time she'd seen them since July and although Hudson didn't remember her, I have no doubt he'll be smiling and flirting with her again in no time! Smile. Thank you all for your continued prayers. Please pray for Kendra and Hudson's transition to being home again and the older boys' adjustment to having Mom and brother full-time. Pray for continued strength and healing for Hudson. He still has the tracheotomy tube in place, as well as a feeding tube and other hurdles ahead to overcome. But, so far as they can tell, he is cancer-free and has no signs of brain damage due to the surgery or treatments! Praise God from Whom all mercies flow!

Sad Day

Today, my friend and coworker, M., announced that he is leaving. It has been such a blessing to work with him and I am totally crushed. Actually, I told him that I'm mad at him. I'm not really, but his absence here will certainly be felt. His heart for the Lord, his love for his family, the care he shows his patients, his humor and easy-going nature - all will be greatly missed. Thank you, M., for being such a joy to work with! It has been such a blessing to get to know you and your family over the past year and a half. Not once have I heard a harsh word from you even when I've screwed things up at work! I appreciate you and S.'s friendship and I look forward to hanging out and watching the kiddo in the future. It's a stinkin' good thing you're not moving or you'd be in such big trouble! Smile. May the Lord go before you at your new job and may it truly be a blessed and rewarding experience!

Contentment

Today I feel surprisingly content. I didn't dread work like I normally do on a Monday morning and I feel pretty happy about where I am in life right now...at least today. I have a decent job, great friends, wonderful family, an inspiring class, a church I love. And, I'm coming off the "high" of a week of skating. Smile. Life is good.

Saturday, SB and I woke up at the ungodly hour of 6 o'clock to "beat the crowds" down to the Convention Center to skate on some world-class ice. We arrived at 7am to discover there were no crowds to beat. In fact, we were the first ones there! As a result (and undoubtedly because we're two adorable redheads), we won the door prize...a 2002 U.S. Olympic vest for me and a U.S. Figure Skating CamelBak for SB. There were no sightings of Scott Hamilton or Nancy Kerrigan (as I had originally been told), but I have no doubt that the autographs of Mirai Nagasu and Caroline Zhang that now adorn my ice skates will someday be worth millions...well, maybe thousands, at least. Sigh. I've had my brush with fame for the year, now. Wink.

Pictures of the two gorgeous ladies mentioned above will follow soon. Mirai and Caroline even agreed to pose with them! (He he!)

I Was Right!

This morning I saw the results of the junior ladies skating championships (the same ladies SB and I got to watch on Sunday). As I predicted, Mirai Nagasu (the cutie pie pictured in my previous post) finished on top! The other star of the evening, whom we both loved, was Caroline Zhang who earned the silver medal. What fun! I wouldn't be surprised if, within the next couple years, both young ladies went on to win at the World Championships or some other international event. (Then we can say, "We knew them when....") Their futures are bright!

Skating Heaven!

Last night, my friend SB and I went to see the junior ladies short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Our city has the proud privelege of hosting the event this year and SB and I were able to go to the event for free (thanks to two patients who blessed us with free tickets!). It was amazing! I don't know quite what I expected - maybe little kids skating around - but it definitely exceeded my expectations.

This cutie skated to first place after the short program and was an absolute joy to watch! Her music (from "Swing Kids") was perfect for her spunky personality, which was very evident in her skating. I wish I could see the final, but I have no doubt that she will be up at the top! What fun!!!

It just might work out for SB and I to catch another event (ice dancing) after our "Perspectives" class tonight, too...if we can get tickets. I sure wish I had planned way ahead and bought the whole package so I could enjoy skating all week! Note to self: if you don't know what the heck you'll be doing in 2 years and you hear about an event like this that far in advance, plan on going anyway! Even if it doesn't work out, somebody will buy your tickets from you!

Watch It!

You may notice that my previous diatribe about work has been amended. My very wise sister advised me to watch what I say about work in my blog, just in case it got back to my coworkers. So, I will attempt not to say anything incriminating about my job. ("...If you can't say anything nice....")

I Spoke Too Soon

Yesterday turned out to be a pretty lousy day at work. So, today I decided to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" and remind myself why some people have it way worse than I do. As nice as that is to think about, it doesn't help much when I remember that Monday will come whether I like it or not. At least my friend Holly will be back from her short vacation. I've missed laughing with her this weekend....

On a much happier note, our Hudson seems to be improving more and more every day. The last MRI revealed no tumor and, if all goes well, he should be able to return home in about a week! Finally, an end to this drawn-out, difficult ordeal seems to be in sight. God is so gracious. Thank you all for praying. Please keep it up!

Crisis Averted!

I came to work this morning expecting things to fall apart. This isn't an uncommon expectation with my job. Thankfully, it looks like some adjustments are going to be made that will be agreeable to the majority of people. I want to believe that things will work out with this job. I love the people I work with (most of them) and I want everyone to be happy and enjoy what they're doing. This isn't too much to ask, is it? I don't think so.

What's the Deal??

Is it Friday the 13th? Was there a full moon last night? Today has been such an off day. Patients have been crabby. Patients have been late for their appointments. Coworkers have been grouchy (partly because patients are late for their appointments). It's a stinkin' good thing it's Friday!! All I want to do is plant my little hiney on my couch, watch TV, and do absolutely nothing. (Either that, or I want to play another aggressive - and potentially dangerous - game of "walleyball" and hit something!)

Hope For Hudson

Our sweet Hudson continues to improve little by little. The swelling in his tummy has subsided and he's even sitting up again. Please continue to pray!

God is Gracious

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for Hudson. Your prayers are working! His liver has begun to function again and the swelling in his abdomen has started to go down. Please continue to lift up Hudson and his family. Perhaps our prayers make a greater difference than we will ever realize.

Pray

Our sweet boy Hudson is in need of a miracle. Within the past several days, he has been transferred to ICU. The doctors have said his body cannot handle additional chemo and radiation treatments and his liver is failing. We're all hoping the Lord, our Great Physician, will perform a miraculous healing. But, most importantly, please pray that God's purpose in this will prevail and that He will give all of us the strength and faith to accept His will, no matter what.

The Light Has Come

"Rail not at the darkness,
as though night has the final say.
Take gladly the True Light come
and press back the shadows.
Not even mortality is the final end.
Death's hand has been out-grasped,
and the veil from top to bottom shorn.
Where blackness once prevailed,
the Sun of Heaven has shone
to make us see beyond -
beyond the finiteness we know
to the splendor
of the Hidden Tomorrow
of Holy Brightness."

~C. Robert Pearson

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It's cold here in Washington...the kind of cold that numbs your throat and freezes your nose hairs when you breathe. I don't mind it, though. The cold means that our snow will stick around a while. Smile.

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. The Lord kept me and my parents safe driving over passes in this wintry weather and, in spite of the fact that my parents hit a massively-huge bull elk on their way home on Sunday (well, technically, he hit them...but he didn't have insurance), they themselves are home safe and sound.

Yesterday proved to bring an answer to my prayers (and cries!) regarding work. I was offered a job working for a physical therapy office that I worked at previously. Some significant changes are taking place there that should prove to make it a much better place to work than before. I'm so looking forward to being in a more supportive environment working with people who love and appreciate me and who I consider to be friends. Ironically - yet certainly known by God ahead of time - I received a nasty letter from my current employer today (after I had already given my notice) which merely cemented my decision to resign. God's timing is definitely good.

On a much less happy note....our sweet boy Hudson is not doing well. In talking with my Mom today, she said he is physically the worst he's been since this whole ordeal began. Please pray that our faithful Father will have His will in Hudson's life.

Congrats to My AWESOME Bro-in-law!!!!

My fabulous brother-in-law is officially a lawyer in the State of Texas!! Here's a picture of my bro and sis outside the capitol in Austin. Ya'll look smashing! :D