Appointed Time

I feel as if my blog is going to become nothing but a place for me to vent now.  Not that I plan on letting that happen, but that is how I feel at this present time.  Needless to say, the last couple of days have really flared up my pregnancy hormones.

Let's see.  Yesterday, I fueled up my car, and was also going to get it a bath.  However, the HEB I fill up at, the car wash is always at work, and for this reason, it breaks down constantly.  I have never had an issue with it until the first time I tried to use use it, which happened to be a few weeks ago.  I drove up only to have to back out the way I came because it was "closed for maintenance".  Yesterday, I bought the car wash at the pump, went to enter the code, only to see on the screen that it said closed.  I was peeved.  This was the second time that I had tried to use the HEB car wash, and once again, it did not work!  What good is something if it is constantly down?!

When I arrived home, I immediately called, respectfully filed a complaint, and thankfully, got a free wash AND my money back.  I don't know if I really care about the free wash.  Not that I don't appreciate it, but I don't want to go to get one, and then the machine be down again.  Plus, my husband said to not bother and use it in the future because of the experiences I have had with it.  I think to him, even though the machine clogs up from the heavy mud from oilfields, it is a bunch of junk to him because something like a car wash machine should be more heavy duty than what it actually is.  It is constantly being used (non-stop).....

Then today, we get the mail, and I have some lab results from my doctor.  One is the blood work from the "gender reveal" and down syndrome (NORMAL), and the other is supposedly the other blood-work which checks my hemoglobin, white/red blood cells, RH factor, etc. (ABNORMAL). That however, was not supposed to be done until my next appointment....(???)  My doctor did not draw blood my very first appointment in May of 2015.  He did though, in June.  When I saw the results, I did not understand, so I called, but because my doctor recently switched from having a private practice to a group practice, I can no longer:

1)  Talk to my doctor over the phone...only to the nurse.

2)  Receive results over the phone.

But am forced to:

1)  Make an appointment with my doctor just to talk to him about any questions/concerns I may have, or receive results of lab work, etc.

2)  Feel as if they are withholding information from me.

           ----  It is my right to know at any time I want or need!  I am sorry, but I should not "need" permission or appointments to just talk with my doctor.

Oh, granted!  I understand why there are precautions being taken.  People's identities have been stolen, information without permission has been given out....the list goes on.  However, from the patient's perspective, it is ridiculous and unacceptable!

Now, that said....whatever is ABNORMAL, my doctor is not too concerned about it.  "He said"(more like the office and paperwork") it could/would be discussed at my next appointment which is in a few weeks.

I absolutely LOVE my doctor.  A good doctor is hard to come by nowadays.  However, I DESPISE his new group practice, and in my personal opinion, he should return to having his own private practice.

As a result of his switching over to a group practice, my doctor has not only had to replace several AWESOME nurses and receptionists, but probably has lost patients as well to another OB/GYN.  I, as one of the patients, because of the unsatisfactory treatment  today, am caused to want to change health care providers.  I hate not being able to acquire information, which is my right to know.  Plus, whenever there is any type of "drama", I tend to be a worry wart and freak out.

Now that I have calmed down a bit, and vented to my husband, I realize that my husband has a point.  Maybe because there is a possibility of blood-work being done when it shouldn't have been done, that is the reason for why it came back ABNORMAL.  It could be something simple as my iron levels being low.  Either way, it is nothing to be overly concerned about.  Otherwise, they would have had me come in right away.  It is NOT life threatening!  But still, not being able to go about things with my doctor as I used to, is still annoying and frustrating!!!!

.................AARRGGHH!!!!!!

The Respect Of Privacy

Why is it that people have to be so inquisitive, and place their noses into places where it does not belong!?

I am sorry.  I may not have the correct attitude here, but I just need to vent, plus it gives a little more insight as to why I tend to be on more of the private side, and what some of my pet peeves are.

A little background first...

I may have hinted at it a little earlier on, but I was brought up that family "business" (could be issues, etc.) stayed within the family.  Now, I don't totally agree with that philosophy.  For one reason, that just pushes people away who want to be there for you, in whatever the case, and causes you to be an island.  However, people do not need to know every little detail and aspect of your life either.  There has to be some boundaries.

That said...

My husband and I are getting ready to have a privacy fence put up.  One reason is obvious....we want the privacy.  My husband, not that he dislikes our neighbors, does not care to be outside when they are outside themselves, hosting company.  I believe it makes him feel like he is intruding in on their personal life a little bit, and inviting himself to the party.  I can understand.  No one wants a "party crasher".  The second reason is because we have two dogs, and one of them...well, is a jumper.  My husband even extended the height of our back gate, and the animal still jumps over!!!!!

As a side-note, we currently live in the house that my in-laws owned, and my husband grew up in.  We about 3 years ago, bought it from my mother-in-law.  My mother-in-law, when we moved in warned me that this particular woman was very...inquisitive.  The more I see of this behavior, the less respect I have for the person.  Anyways, so because we need the fence badly, we had a friend of ours come give us an estimate.  Afterwards, my husband got to talking to our "inquisitive" next door neighbor.  From my husband's perspective, he did not enjoy the conversation. During the conversation, they asked my husband if we were concerned that our children would drown in the kiddie pool we have.  My husband told her:  "No.  Momma is always right there."

We were both aggravated.  Later, my husband talked to his accountability partner, and his reaction, he said would have been:  "No, but apparently you are!!"  In other words, my husband's accountability partner not only sided with us, but he does not care for people who are just plain nosey, and it was his way of saying:  "Mind your own business."

Now, please do not interpret what I am saying in the wrong way.  My husband I love that other people love our children, and care about them, but we do not know this neighbor like we do some of our other friends.  Plus, in the past, we have been caused to feel as if we are incapable of caring for our own family, which we most certainly ARE NOT!!!!

To Our Very Inquisitive Neighbor....

I understand if you need or want friends, however, this is not the way to go about it.  PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!!

The Black Sheep

Why do people have to have double standards????

Yesterday, I was sitting outside on our swing in our back yard with my husband, keeping him company while he was painting our "new" trundle bed we received for our kiddos.  Across the highway is another subdivision.  When I happen to look over to my right, low and behold, I observe a man who was bare chested, working in the yard.  Yet, his wife who was watering the lawn, had a pair of shorts and a shirt on.

Why is it okay for men to go around bare chested, yet women have to be fully clothed, and when they aren't, they are called out on it!?  I totally understand that it has been accepted for a long time, but that does not make it to be morally correct.

My husband and I, as we were raised, are trying to do the best we can to instill in our children, God given morals and values, and to teach them the difference between right and wrong.  Why would we want our children to look upon a man or woman that is immodest?!  We don't!  And, because we don't, we do not allow them to wear anything that is immodest.  For example, if they are outside swimming, our children (girls and boys) have both swim shirts and swim shorts on.  None are in skimpy attire or bare chested.

I realize we are the black sheep of the world, but we as disciples are the minority of the world (Matthew 7:14).  Just because the world accepts it does not mean that Jesus or His disciples do.

What Is Family?

Me...I was over-sheltered.   My life consisted of home, school, and church, with a few friends mixed into the middle every now and then.  So, community comes hard to me.  Wherever I lived, it was like I was in the community, yet I wasn't.  I lived in the community, but yet I wasn't involved with what was going on.  The best way for me to describe with a visual is this way....

Take two boxes, 1 large and 1 small.  Cut a window like shape in both boxes (Outside the two boxes is the whole world).  Place the smaller box inside the larger one, lining up the "windows".  Now, take me.  Place me between the two boxes in front of the "windows" cut out.  Next, take some other people, and place them in the smaller box, leaving them in a community type setting.  It could be at a coffee shop, play date, etc.  Take a step back, and take a good look.  What do you see?  If you said you saw a person who was isolated, that is correct.

I was isolated.

There were many times where I went places, like my cousin's wedding, 8 months before mine, and I wanted to dance.  However, because of my parents' beliefs (no trash talk against my parents), I wasn't allowed to.  It caused me to feel left out.  How can I be a part of community, developing much needed relationships, if I am not allowed to be a part of activities that are not necessarily sinful??

Anyways, that is just the background.  I realize I have said it before, but just as a reminder, I do not plan to go into detail on my family dynamics.

I will be honest.  For quite a while, I lost my way.  I got off track.  BUT, thank the Lord, He has placed people in my life (y'all know who you are) to help me get back to where I need to be.  I fought those friends for quite a while.  I fought God.  I fought my husband.  None of it worked.  My way failed.  It wasn't until something happened with one of my family members, which caused me to "Hit Rock Bottom", as they say, that I really began to let people in and rescue me from the "swamp" I was sinking so deep and quickly in.

I am not yet where I need to be.  However, I am not where I used to be either.  The "ironic" thing to me now, is that all families have issues, including mine and my husband's.  There are some that are totally close, some literally living within the same neighborhood, and have community with each other, then there are those that are the total opposite, as far as living conditions/arrangements are, yet are still close, and make it a priority to be in contact etc.  Finally, there are those families that used to be close, but due to issues and moves to different cities, etc., there are those who are "family", yet not family.  In other words, they don't really make it a priority to remember each other's birthdays, or to to make it a point for reunions, etc.  By blood, they are family, but relationship wise, no one really knows each other.  Sadly, my family falls into that category.  It didn't used to be that way (or was it?), but because every one holds onto the past and their anger, I have witnessed relationships dissolve right before my eyes....

Which brings me to what I am about to say.  What is the definition of family?  What makes family...family?  One definition is being blood related, another is being adopted into a family.  I know one family in my church who is a foster family.  That same family has been blessed to be able to adopt one little boy as their own. Another family is currently in the process of adopting a little boy from the other side of the world.  Those definitions are both correct.  There is nothing wrong with them, but for me....

My life definition of family is not just about whether someone is adopted or is biologically related.  Family means to be in constant relationship with them.  Getting to know what they like, how they act, what they are going through, etc.  Community.  No matter whether it be good or bad.

I am in no way, shape, or form, perfect at this.  Neither is anyone else I know.  That is why it is called community.  God uses us to sharpen each other.  Not just as an individual, but as a child of God too.  The more we delve into Him, whether it be by reading His Word, listening to music, etc., the more we learn about who Jesus is.

Family is all about relationship.  For me, my family consists of people that I have relationships with, such as my church family.  Because I am developing those relationships, pressing into them, and vice versa, we continue to grow closer in a special way.

Relationship is KEY.

Righting Wrongs

As I sat there waiting to pull out, I studied the traffic.  "I don't want to be stuck in this!"  As I was deliberating on what move to make, I decided that the best course of action was to back up, and turn round.  Then, it happened.  Although us cautious drivers out there try to be extra safe, even we ourselves, have accidents sometimes.

As I was backing up, I had knocked over someone's mail box.  I was not too happy about it.  I was pretty bummed.  Every time it was brought up, and the more I thought about it, the worse I felt.  And not being able to tell the property owner when it originally happened, did not help things.  It made feel as if I had just committed a crime of "hit and run".  Especially when the Sonic's construction crew across the street, I later learned, saw what color and type of vehicle had caused the mistake.  It seriously got to the point where I literally told my husband I wanted to drop the topic because it just dragged me down.  Speaking of my husband, as a side note, because I had a previous commitment, my husband went back and took care of the knocked down mail box.  He later told me that the owner had thought it had happened for a reason.  Because of the construction across the street, she no longer liked where it was at, and placed it on the other side.  That way, there would be no more knock downs.

We try to teach our children that when they make a mistake, they need to correct their wrong.  Even if it is later in the day.  As adults, my husband and I try to be honorable people who are trustworthy.  And, because we want our children to have the same values, we try to set the example.  Running from problems and mistakes does not help things.  It just makes things worse. 

Teaching Tools

A mother wants to raise her children the best way she can, and knows how.  I am not going to go into my own family dynamics while growing up, but I will say that the way I was raised...well, my obedience was demanded of me.  In some ways, it was easier for my parents.  They never had to actually think ahead of us kiddos.  We were therefore taught that any other type of obedience was not obedience at all, but disobedience.

As a student teacher, one of the tools I learned is that if the students, themselves, were not focused on where they needed to be, concerning the lesson that was trying to be taught, the ideal thing to do was to use that as a learning opportunity and a teaching moment.  Then, a few minutes later, redirecting them to the actual lesson.

The same is with raising a family.  Now, granted, the last few days have been a little frustrating, but after giving it some serious thought, I realized that more than likely, I had gone my "own" direction, neglecting to consult my husband first.  Not only that, but despite the fact that I do not want to raise my children the same way I was raised, the true issue was not that I was frustrated with my children concerning their behavior, the true issue laid in the fact that I was frustrated I was fighting the way I was raised with how I WANT to raise my family.  Both can not win.  There will always be a winner.  There will always be a loser.  No wonder why my kiddos are acting up!!!  They are receiving mixed messages from myself and my husband!  If my husband I are on the same wave length, the children's' behavior will settle down because they have noticed that Mommy and Daddy can not be pinned against each other.  If we are not, then we receive the opposite reaction of what we truly want.

Yes, children should be obedient, but we all have different ways of learning.  I learn in a visual/kinesthetic way, but someone else may learn by books, etc.  The same is with obedience.  If we are flexible, and give where we can (in other words, saying "Yes." more than "No."), the kiddos wont feel as if they have been controlled all day when something majorly important comes up, and the answer has to be "No.".  In short, there will be no fight.  I personally, am not perfect at this.  It is a constant daily lesson I learn and struggle with.  However, that does not mean I do not demand obedience.  It just means that we get to our destination a little differently than expected.

Stories Of My Life

I am not so big on sharing private stories in my personal life, I always felt like it was something for other people to just be nosy about, that it was not any of their business, but  at the same time it just depends on the story, and whether I want to share, etc.  With that said……..

With my 4th baby, it really starts a month before he was born.  Last month, we had the inside of our house renovated.  During that time, my attitude, due to being close to having my baby, and hormones raging, began to change from that of having energy to that of being grouchy and tired all the time.  Not to mention, being very uncomfortable.  It is, however, all worth it.  If it was not, I would not have 4 children, currently, and planning more.  Anyway, a couple weeks after the renovations were completed, we had our church mission team go to South Africa for a week, and my husband’s high school reunion.  The week our mission team left, I was ancy because my doctor was out of town, and I did not want to have a stranger deliver me.  Well, nothing happened, for which I was thankful.  The following week, at my prenatal, my doctor reassured me he was on stand-by for me, and gave me “permission” to go into labor the coming week.  That following Saturday, we went to my husband’s reunion I mentioned earlier, and I had told him several times earlier in the day that if he and his friend jinxed me, like they were talking the previous Sunday, and my water broke while we were there, I would slap the both of them.  Needless to say, they survived the possibility of being slapped…my water did not break.  However, later that night at home, I began to feel sick.  When I went to the bathroom, and puked, my water broke…at 2:00 a.m.  At about 3:00 a.m., because my contractions were very close together, we left for the hospital, to which we got to about 30-45 minutes later.  Since this was my first baby after my miscarriage last year, I was scared that something bad was going to happen, even with having faith and a sense of peace come over me that nothing would.  My labor with baby #4 had similarities, and non similarities to that of his 3 older siblings.  With baby #1, I was screaming to get him out,  With #2, I had some complications, and almost gave up pushing.  With #3,  I pushed 3-4 times and had back labor.  Back to #4…just like with #1, I screamed to get him out, plus I was saying mean things to my husband, which I had never done before (ie.  “Shut up!”, “Do not tell me that!” {not to push}, etc.).  Unlike with #2, I had no complications, and like #3, I had back labor that traveled around to my hips/vagina area, and pushed very few times (2-3 times).  I really thought that my doctor was going to miss the delivery because I wanted to push so bad, but the nurses were telling me “No.”, and to breathe through them.  That….was very hard to do.  No worries though, I made it through them, and my doctor delivered my 3rd little boy at 12:22 p.m., after nearly 10.5 hours of labor, in room # 5, the same room his big sister was born in.  He is very healthy.

I am now expecting Baby “#5” (I miscarried in May of 2012), and we are very excited…IT IS A GIRL!!!!!!

I realize more and more that I am totally blessed “More Than I Deserve”, and I am truly grateful to the Lord for blessing me and my entire family.

“Lord, Once again…THANK YOU!”

Surprise, Surprise!!

My due date was September 19nth.  My baby girl came on August 16nth…her big brother’s birthday.

I started bleeding Friday due to losing my plug, and was hurting.  We went in…they said I was 2 centimeters, 50% effaced, and was told they were just bad braxton hicks. I went home, but had horrible scream wrenching pain Saturday morning. Neither my husband nor I realized I was in labor due to being told the above information the previous night.  A shower and bath did not help at all, and due to the pain, I was literally wanting an epidural, which would not have been able to get because I was not in labor….or so we thought.  I started to go get ready to go back to hospital….my water broke. I then felt like I had to go #2, but didn’t realize my baby was starting to come until I felt her head. My body took over, and I personally, did nothing. My body pushed once…hubby delivered at home, but it was not planned!!  LOL!!! All within 3-5 min of water breaking.  The ambulance came, but due to my hospital rejecting me, we were transferred to Otto Kaiser Memorial, and then to Methodist.  Otto Kaiser was not, and is not, equipped for situations such as this one.  They said that it was medically necessary to airlift our daughter to the other hospital because her sugar level was low due to not latching on right after birth.  However, when the team got there, they informed us that if they had known we wanted to ride with her, they could have come by ground.  That frustrated us to no end!!

At Methodist, the most frustrating part was that we were receiving mixed stories on when we would get to go home.  However, with each step, God was there, and we totally saw his hand at work in everything.  From the car seat test to taking over the feedings to finally coming home within a week of being born.

All the praise and glory goes to God, and we get the joy!

With Baby #6, because of our fear of having another unexpected home delivery, I was induced 6 days before my due date.  At about 5 pm or so (I would have to look up the time he was born, our 4th son was born in Room #3.

With Baby #7...also a boy, he tried to come early...at 32 weeks to be exact.  My doctors got the contractions stopped, but it wasn't until after he was born that we discovered as to why I was bleeding.  Apparently, instead of being in the center of my placenta, his umbilical cord was on the edge.  So, every time he would move, the cord was pulled, and I would then bleed.  The first doctor I had after I was transferred to another hospital, declined to give me medical treatment for the headache I had.  So when I finally did get something to help with the tremendous pain I was in from the covering doctor, I had a huge dizzy spell because they gave it to me at a speedy rate.  I changed doctors due to "medical negligence".  Fast forward to 4 weeks later.  I did make it to 36 weeks and was able to deliver my son with my ob/gyn of 6 going on 7 years.  15 hours and 15 minutes later, along with an epidural, baby was born.

Than you, Lord, that hat he was healthy and had no immature lungs.

Too Late

I have never heard of stories like this before, until the other day, but some old “friends” of ours saw my husband at work the other day.  They told him that last month was a hard time for them.  Her father had died, but what made it really hard was that he had died…….unsaved.  They had tried witnessing to him, but he wanted none of it.  On his death bed at the hospital, they said that he was screaming out in pan and from the heat of Hell!  It was as if he was in between Points A and B.  I asked my husband, if he had wanted to, if he could still cry out for mercy and get saved, but hubby said he did not think so because the man was so set in his ways that God had given him u to a reprobate mind.

How scary is that?  When I heard the story I was creeped out.  Oh yes, I know where I am going, but if I didn’t, and was unsaved, a story like that might just be what the Lord would use to bring me to his salvation.

Don’t wait until it is too late,  All you have to do is…

A - Admit that you are a sinner.

B - Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

C - Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

I have never heard of stories like this before, until the other day, but some old “friends” of ours saw my husband at work the other day.  They told him that last month was a hard time for them.  Her father had died, but what made it really hard was that he had died…….unsaved.  They had tried witnessing to him, but he wanted none of it.  On his death bed at the hospital, they said that he was screaming out in pan and from the heat of Hell!  It was as if he was in between Points A and B.  I asked my husband, if he had wanted to, if he could still cry out for mercy and get saved, but hubby said he did not think so because the man was so set in his ways that God had given him u to a reprobate mind.

How scary is that?  When I heard the story I was creeped out.  Oh yes, I know where I am going, but if I didn’t, and was unsaved, a story like that might just be what the Lord would use to bring me to his salvation.

Don’t wait until it is too late,  All you have to do is…

A - Admit that you are a sinner.

B - Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

C - Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

                                    

John 3:16-18,36

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God….He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

The Meeting Place

It was December 24, 2006.  Christmas Eve.  Sunday School had started, but that did not stop my husband from coming.  He had been fighting with the Lord on whether he should attend or not, for he did not want to come to our fellowship just to meet girls.  A little side note here…some friends of his had told him that one of the elders at this church they had visited, had a daughter about his age.  Finally, as always, the Lord won.  When my husband walked in the door, literally, every body stopped and stared.  My hubby voiced that he thought he would come and join us, which of course, he was welcomed to do.  The whole lesson was started all over just for him.  At break time, everyone surrounded my husband.  Everyone…being my nephews and niece.  I hid behind my dad, but I knew immediately that the “guy” that just walked in, was the one that my Lord had chosen or me before the creation of time!  While we were talking, he asked about the game square we had on the floor for our AWANA program.  Because he thought it was something we had for cult purposes, we laughed and explained it to him what it was for.  After learning the true use, my hubby explained that if it had been for cult related purposes, he would have turned around and left….just as fast as he had walked in!

I had stated I knew immediately that my hubby was going to be my hubby the moment he walked in the door.  “How did you know?”, you ask?  Well, I am happy to tell you.

When I and my sister were little, our dad told us that we should start praying for our husband’s salvation because he was probably alive “right now”.  Both my sister and I took it to heart, and both our husbands were saved soon after we started praying for them.  However, I did not take to heart what our dad told us until I myself, was saved.  Afterwards though, I started praying with all my heart.  The result…my husband came to know Christ when he was 16 years old.  I then was led to pray that he would bring my husband into my life.  Each time after that, when we had a visitor come to church, I asked the Lord:  “Is this the one?"  The answer was always "No”.  Until….I met my husband’s best friend.  Oh, yes, the answer was in a way, still the same, but in a way, different.  Instead of being “just "No.”, it was “No, but soon."  So, I kept waiting, and praying.  Then Hubby came.  I of course asked the question again.  This time…."YES!”

When I told my hubby the above story, I asked him:  “What would you have done if I had come up to you that first day, and said that I was your future wife?"  He responded by telling me that he would have thought I was crazy, and backed off, and said hello and good-bye…all in one sentence.

To this day, we joke about it, and…probably always will.

We started courting in April of 2007.  To spare you the long story, and to avoid disrespect of others involved, I will shorten it up….

Our courtship was very controlled.  My hubby and I, once we got to know each other, were not allowed private time together.  It was so controlled that all our emails had to be Carbon Copied to our chaperone, and if our conversations were not heard, we would have to repeat ourselves.  Oh! And….we were not even allowed to talk to others about our relationship…even with our immediate families, and when asked, we were not to lie, but not divulge either!  What!?  How on earth do we do that!?  We got to the point where we just were totally hones with others who were interested.  The end result was me having to leave that controlled situation and live with my brother and sister-in-law for the 6 months leading up to our December 2008 wedding.

Needless to say, it was an awkward and frustrating time, but exciting at the same time!  Because we knew that we were doing what the Lord wanted us to do!

Through The Glass Darkly

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and when I say a lot, I mean a ton!  About three weeks ago, we sent our mission team to Bela Bela, South Africa, and not that I am unsupportive of spreading the Gospel, but I was bummed, and honestly, my attitude was not 100%.  When I questioned myself as to why my attitude was semi-raunchy, what I discovered was that I was bummed because most of my friends were on the mission team, and were now out of state for a short time.  Plus, Satan was whispering in my ear, causing me to feel like some on the mission team thought that they were entitled to go.  However, after I realized te error in my ways, I corrected my attitude with the Lord’s help.

The Lord knew I was going to be lonely.  Sunday, the day after our mission team left, I made a new friend.  Her mom has terminal brain cancer, and with in the last week, she has really opened up to me, saying she is concerned with how her dad is burned out with caring for her mom, although she understands why he does not take a break.  He wants to spend every minute that he can with her because she may no longer be here that much longer, AND he is scared to trust anyone…even if the help is offered.

I myself, am working on trust issues due to being hurt multiple times.  Truthfully, I do not really care for my story.  I have in the past, questioned why my story IS my story, but now, after making a new friend, and talking to her for several hours this entire this week while the Africa team was out, I am beginning to see through a glass darkly, and am beginning to understand why my story IS my story.  Because of my background, and the help I have received to move on, I am able to offer some insight as to why people are feeling the way they do, and “acting the way they are”…like with my friend’s dad.

Conclusion:  The Lord Is Awesome!!!!