Settle in

We are back. Life started full swing this morning as we both went back to work. We didn't get home until later last night, thanks to Florida thunderstorms. We actually landed in the middle of lots of lightening, pouring rain, and one amazed little girl staring out the window. We had to sit on the runway for a while until the lightening stopped. Apparently they don't want you to walk in the fully enclosed metal walkway during a lightening show. :-)

The conference was really good. Sam, if your reading this, you did a great job planning this. I very much enjoyed the speakers. We were all challenged each night with getting back to Jesus, getting to love. I want to read the Jesus Creed now because Scott McKnight spoke one evening and challenged my thinking. College professors always do. I know, most of you are shocked that I want to read a book, but I have to read it soon because...

I'm going back to work full time in two weeks. YEAH!!! BOO!!! YEAH!!! BOO!!!

That pretty much explains how I feel. The hospice that I work for has an opening for a Psychosocial Specialist (fancy word for social worker) on our side of town. Not having to fight horrible traffic took away a good excuse not to work full time. Our health insurance costs were eating us alive. This job will cut our costs to less then half of what we are currently paying, plus give us better benefits. Chris and I talked and talked. He will still take his day off during the week and keep Natalie home that day. She is already going to day care three days a week, so me working full time only adds one day more. And, she's almost two. I've been working part time for two years, which is what I always wanted to do. Little did I know she would be much more fun now. Just kidding, well kinda. She's always been fun, but now, she has me laughing a lot. So, hi ho, hi ho, it's back to work I go. I keep telling myself that at least it is a job I know I like, with people I already work with, in a city that I am learning more every day.

With all that said, please pray for a smooth transition. Some church stuff may have to go so I can spend more time with my girl in the evening. God, family, etc. People too often confuse church stuff with God stuff. His relationship with me first, he commands my family next, then anyone else He place in my path. Pray that I will discern well who He is placing in front of me to invest in. Thanks!

Finally, I'm going to leave you with a story our speaker, Dr. Sid Bradley told us on the last night. It's still bouncing around my head and affected many of the actions I took today...the story went something like this:
After the ascension, Jesus was sitting in heaven and talking with the angels. They were excitedly discussing Jesus' time on earth. They talked about his birth with the cattle; his talks with his mom; the disciples; the cross; and the resurrection. One of the angels looked at Jesus and asked "what now?" "Now that you are back with us here, how will people know about you?" Jesus explained that he left eleven men, the disciples on earth and told them it was their job to go, their job to make disciples and tell the world about Him. The angel looked rather shocked and asked Jesus, "what if that doesn't work?" Jesus stared at him straight in the eye and said, "I have no other plan."

Go and make disciples this weekend.

we'll be back

Sorry it's been a while. This is just to say we are leaving tomorrow for over a week. So I'll blog and update then. Have a great week!

Allison

A childhood song

My mom sang a song to DJ and me every night before we went to bed. It's one of my favorite songs and I now sing it to Natalie. The lyrics are:

Today has been a busy day,
And a long and tiring one too,
So I must go to sleepy town,
My rest is long overdue,
Tomorrow will be another very, very busy day,
So I must go to sleepy town,
And fall asleep right away,
Yes, I must go to sleepy town,
And fall asleep right away.

The following clip will illustrate why this song was so valid tonight:

Yesterday

Yesterday I sat in a waiting room full of friends and family while Aunt Joene had surgery. "Aunt Jo" as Natalie calls her is actual family. We are so blessed to live near family again. Uncle Robert and Aunt Jo have taken care of Natalie so much for us the last year. They spoil her and love her and we leave her knowing she is so very taken care of. A couple of weeks ago Aunt Jo found out she has breast cancer. The Dr.'s tell us it is very early and she has a good prognosis. I am always amazed by our church family. The waiting room was literally full of people from church. The nurse or Dr. would come in to give us an update and they would always jump a little when the whole room was silenced by their presence. They told us the surgery went well. They will have the results about lymph nodes etc. in 48 hours. Everyone was relieved the surgery was over. It was so neat to sit there and realize how many lives Aunt Jo has touched. "She brought us dinner when my husband was sick", "when my wife was sick", "she helped clean our house", "she always has such a kind, sweet word", the stories and talk were fun. Yeah, that's just Aunt Jo. We finally got to see her close to 9 pm last night. I walked in fully expecting a groggy, tired Jo. But no, the Dr. has given her an epidural for several days to help with pain. She was talking and laughing. She was telling us all to stay because she "likes a good party." One of the nurses had given her a card about jewelry and she was excited to tell Chris she can even shop in the hospital. Yeah, that's definitely Aunt Jo. We finally left hoping she and Uncle Robert could rest. He looked so much better after seeing her last night. His worry turned to some amusement as we all took in her cheerful talk. I could tell he is quite smitten with her. :-) And loves her very much. The whole room loves her. She is strong. Please pray with us that she has a full recovery from the surgery and that this cancer is just something we recall while we go shopping, but next time, we'll take Aunt Jo to the mall.