road to recovery (Matt. 25:34-40)

It's been 4 weeks today since I fell and broke my foot.

A very long 4 weeks, and this adventure is still in the beginning stages.Doc said it's two more weeks -at least- before I can start putting any weight on it. There was some talk of maybe being able to drive by the end of April. There's a lot of days and weeks between now and then. Thankfully, I'm getting pretty good at taking this journey one day at a time.

So, I'm pleased to report I'm on the road to recovery. And I've discovered there are some truly beautiful souls on this road.

Today, for instance, a teacher I barely know gave up 3 hours of her off-time on a snow day to run a very important errand for me. She's recovering from a nasty cold. Her husband, whom I've never met, joined her. Beautiful souls.

Since it is a snow day, I've had time to think. I thought I ought to update this blog (it's been 10 days, and my goal was weekly).

I've never seen my freezer
quite so full!

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking all day about how to express my gratitude to the wonderful people in my life, and I just can't find an answer. I don't have the words. How do I recognize the sacrifices of the servant-hearts that set aside their own needs for a time to help make my life easier? How can I show my gratitude to the partners who took on extra work and responsibilities to free up someone to help me? How can I ever explain how much it means to me not to face this little speedbump alone? How do I show my appreciation for the helping hands that cleaned and organized my house, filling it with good food and good cheer? How do I acknowledge the patience of the wonderful, beautiful children who joyfully did their parts to lighten my load?  How do I explain the way the cards, flowers, gifts, e-mails, and phone calls help beat back the frustration and discouragement?

My dad & mom. My sister & brother-in-law. My niece & nephew. My sister's mother-in-law. A couple of aunts. An uncle & a cousin. My grandmother. My students. My co-teachers. My principal. The pastor & his wife. My wonderful family. My dear, dear friends. So many people. So many blessings. So much to be thankful for!

I can't begin to express the depths of my gratitude. So I'm going to stop trying. I'll just say one more "THANK YOU." And then I'll share this passage of scripture that's really been on my mind the last couple days. It's longer than usual, but definitely appropriate.

^{Matthew 25: 34 -40} 

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Thank you. Thank YOU.  Thank you. 

I am thankful for you!

Blessed! (Eph 2:10)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
- Ephesians 2:10

As I prepare for my big adventure, one thing has become very clear to me. God's got a lot of hands here in the Puget Sound area. I've been blessed in so many ways, by so many people, over the last couple weeks, that I haven't had to sweat this move much at all yet. And I've been very busy enjoying everyone's company.

So... I'm publishing this little bitty blog just to thank all the wonderful people who helped me out. And to let you all know that I haven't forgotten the blog. I've just been busy enjoying every minute of friend-time that I could squeeze in. Too busy to sit by myself in a room and write. In fact, my computer has been pretty much offline for 3 weeks, and I've been mainly relying on my smartphone to stay connected. (God bless the inventors of SmartPhones!).

I'll get back to better writing, with more details, as I get on the road. In two days. Two days! I can't believe how quickly the time has passed.

Keep me in your prayers!

The Gift of Time

I need to tell you something. Do you have a moment?

You might not like what you hear. Will you listen anyway?

Are you still there?

Okay...here it is...

I'm not planning on giving gifts this year for Christmas. Not to anyone over the age of 16. (Okay, 10, really, because there's really only three people I can think of in my life between 10 and 16, and I don't really know them well enough for personal gifts). 

So. Not buying Christmas gifts for anyone over the age of 10, then. 

How do you feel about that?

Did you - just for a moment - feel a little "gypped?" (Well? How would you spell it?)

Why? What did I give you last year? Can you even remember? Did that gift that I spent time thinking about, shopping for, wrapping, and delivering actually mean so very much to you?

I doubt it. Not because I think you are ungrateful, but because I can't really remember what I gave most of you. 

What I do remember is the time we've spent together this year. 

I've enjoyed helping you purge your closet. Getting out with you. Watching your kids so you could get out. Sharing a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, a plate of nachos, a slice of cheesecake. Skyping with you. Praying with you. Sitting with you at soccer games. Solving a murder. Watching a movie. Trying new recipes. Trying sushi. Trading books. Trading stories. Going to a play. Texting you from the airport. Sharing your grill. Driving with you to doctor's appointments and oil changes. Walking on the beach. Watching fireworks. Watching the rain. Walking and talking. Talking about walking. Planning and dreaming, and sharing life.

I can't find a gift that expresses what you mean to me. And this year I'm not going to try. I'm choosing to change Christmas. 

I hope you won't think of me as a Scrooge. I'm not doing this to pinch pennies, although, yes, in these lean times, the pennies do matter. But making smarter choices with my money this year has helped me really realize that you enjoyed that candle or box of candy or bottle of soap mainly because of what it represented. Yes, my friend, I know you do - in fact - believe it is the thought that counts.

I'm telling you this now, because I'd like you to take me off your Christmas shopping list as well. Please. I don't want gifts. This year, for Christmas, I'd like to focus on the time we can spend together. Instead of spending time shopping and wrapping, let's spend that time visiting together. Let me help you wrap your kids' gifts or hang your lights. Come to my place and watch a movie or have some cocoa. Let's enjoy each other.

Let's make Christmas as much about people and relationships as Thanksgiving is about food. After all, isn't that what God intended with his great gift to us? Jesus came so that we could be welcomed into Heaven, into God's home. The very best gift you could give me would be to visit my home. I'd love to have you! If that doesn't work, send me a card. Just a card. Tell me about you and your life since last we talked. 

Don't worry... I'm not swearing off shopping. Heavens no! I plan to spoil you completely rotten for your birthday. After all, that's the day God gave you to the world!  ;-)