I have to say, this has been a very roller coaster"ish" week. Thankfully, there have been lots more ups than downs.
I am going to share something only a handful of people know and those of you who follow me on facebook are going to be a little shocked that I haven't shared it there. 4 years ago last May, I was in Springfield. I had went to a gym on the edge of town and on my way back to my hotel, I stopped at a Starbucks. Two cars ahead of me in line was a Chrysler Sebring hardtop convertible. I had never seen one before, but fell in love. After some research, I found out that the Sebring was being replaced by the Chrysler 200, but there was still a hardtop convertible. I wanted one. I started looking for a different car a year ago. I had decided to replace my van with a Ford Edge. I wasn't excited, but I needed a vehicle, and here was one. Then I started realizing that for the same money, I could get a Chrysler 200 Convertible. I have been searching for one since my birthday in August. I had it narrowed down to Black, Charcoal, or Red. I really wanted Red but historically, "resale red" was about $2,000 higher than the other two. I was looking within a 500 mile radius and two weeks ago tonight, one showed up in Columbia, MO. It was priced right, and beautiful. I had just found out Amy's dad had died and I knew I wanted Robert to checkout anything I bought before I bought it. I knew it would be the 20th before I could see about it. I called the dealership who wanted me to put a deposit on it, I decided if it were meant to be, it would be and said no. It was meant to be. My very own hardtop convertible pulled in the drive at 12:15 Tuesday morning. I kinda hated that I bought it on the anniversary of my dad's death. But a very dear friend pointed out that it was a good thing, and that my dad would be proud of the things happening in my life. I chose to think my friend is right.
Anyway, I have been on vacation this week, kind of. I was at the office from 6:30 Tuesday morning until 6:30 Tuesday night, trying to get a special project done. Wednesday I spent the whole day with my mom, with only a few things work-related involved. Then came Thanksgiving. I stayed home, Mom and Robert came down. but I stayed home. and then I did it again yesterday. Anyone gasping yet? I have not stepped foot off my property since 8:00 Wednesday evening. I got two phone calls yesterday morning, the first one from Robert, at 6:50, on his way to work. I had vowed I wasn't doing the Black Friday thing this year, I really had nothing to go for. I did most of my bargain shopping Thursday morning online. So, he says, "where are you?" I laughed and said, "in bed". He couldn't believe it. (my normal alarm is at 4:00) He really thought I would cave and go shopping--or go to work. At 9:30, my friend and IT Guy, Mike called, and his first words were, "Are you at work?", he too was shocked when I said no, even though I had told him I wasn't going to step foot in the building these 4 days. I might have done a tiny bit of work Wednesday night at 10:00, but thanks to Mike, it was done sitting at my house, and took 10 minutes, instead of 20 minutes to drive to Greenup, 10 minutes of work, and 20 minutes to drive home. Anyway, I haven't been resting so much as regrouping. I have had friends going through some things this week and wanting to ever be the "fixer", it is hard when you can't fix some things. Being there to listen and just being present, and praying for them, as they work through things is the best you can do in situations like that, and I hope they have felt all of that.
I often think of the passage in the Bible where Jesus "regrouped", He had just heard John the Baptist had been beheaded. He got on the boat and He and the disciples left, going to someplace private. The people followed, walking around the giant lake though and when He got off the boat, and saw them there, He knew it was time to get to work. Yes, he fed multitudes that day, but after that, he sent the others on to the boat, and He went to pray. Very clear to me again, regrouping. You know He was grieving the loss of John the Baptist, He knew better than anyone that John was put on this earth to be the forerunner for Him. We read these stories all of our lives, but do we every really just contemplate how Jesus felt about John's beheading? He was family, he was a friend, and he was beheaded because of the Christian standards he possessed. I love the example Jesus gives us here though, take your time to regroup, but when you see people in need, get to work. Oh, the whole scripture passage I am referring to is in Matthew 14, feel free to read it here.
So, I have started my Christmas decorating, and my Christmas shopping. I am making my lists for Christmas gifts, and cards, and things I want to do. I have so many things coming up this week. I have a study group for CCAP Thursday (which WILL be a blog topic one of these days) and then we have Friday. Next week's blog will be coming from our anniversary trip to St. Louis. There is such a story behind us getting to take this trip, and I will tell it next week.
As we enter into this Christmas season, takes some time to regroup, refocus and be ready for the days ahead.
I am leaving you with Chris Tomlin's A Christmas Alleluia. I love this song to just sit back, breathe deep and take it in.
Have an awesome week!