Vanilla vs. Rocky Road

At times, I crave that chocolaty, peanut and marshmallow goodness, but sometimes just plain old vanilla is so much nicer.

As most of you know, since you all know me so well, there is a hidden meaning behind my ice cream analogy.

Once again...as most of you know - My life is more hectic than a roller coaster that has multiple tracks and can't decide which one to take. It involves a lot of whiplash, pulled muscles, messy, wind blown hair, and usually scrapes and bruises. AKA Rocky Road

Wait...just one second. Where exactly has anybody seen a roller coaster like that? Yeah, you're right. No where. My imagination is running wild. I have no intention of catching it...ever.

Anyway, back to the ice cream analogy; So Vanilla vs. Rocky Road

I got to thinking about how freaking hectic and chaotic my life has been. We've had a whoping 2 nights at home this week. TWO! Don't we live there?! Shouldn't we be there a touch bit more? Ehh!! Nope. Not at all.

I'm beginning to crave the simple, vanilla, calm and plain things of life. If my life were calm and smooth, I could add nuts, chocolate, fruit, and whipped topping as I please. As it is the nuts, chocolate, fruit, and whipped topping just jump in my ice cream all by themselves, and laugh at me.

Maybe I should filter my ice cream....Uh, I mean, my life. But then again, if I did that, said filter would remove all the creaminess and smoothness. I would just have melted cream and sugar...and a bit of vanilla flavoring.

I'm pretty happy with the Rocky Roads in my life. They make my head hurt sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It helps me throughly enjoy the Vanilla.

Irrational Emotions

It's my professional opinion that laughter, tears, screaming, and bouncing up and down is what happens when we are too emotionally overwhelmed to express them rationally. Over this past weekend there was quite a bit of laughter, tears, screaming, and bouncing up and down.

One of my closest and best friends, Justine, got married on Saturday. She has been there for me through thick and thin over the last 4 years or so. We met at my brother-in-laws high school graduation...and honestly, I was quite certain she didn't like me very much and my first impression was that she was a tad stuck up. Then I got to know her...rather quickly. We're rather inseparable now-a-days.

When Chris and Justine got engaged I nearly popped from excitement. Justine had been waiting for a man to treat her right for some time. That same night, Justine asked me to be a bridesmaid for her. Oh course! So over months of planning, organizing and getting ready the big day was finally here.

After hours of decorating the reception hall and ourselves we made our way to the church...that's when the water works started. They didn't stop for any length of time until after we left the reception. I've never cried so much in my life. The wedding was perfect for them. Just perfect.

Justine looked gorgeous. Just stunning in her lovely dress. I'm pretty sure Chris stopped breathing for a minute when he saw her walking down the isle. I got goosebumps and started bawling. So did everyone else. Every direction I looked someone was teary eyed. Their first dance, the father daughter dance, the speeches, all started us crying again.

Since that fateful day of meeting my lovely friend, she stood by me while I pledged my love and loyalty to my husband, she was one of the first to meet Isaiah, she held my leg when Jayme made her grand entrance, I stood by her while she pledged her love and loyalty to her husband. I can't wait to see what else we get to go through together. And I'm so blessed to witness the wonderful love of Chris and his lovely bride.

Thyme

On Wednesday, while driving to work the lady in front of me hit something...looked out her window to see what it was and kept driving. I saw a little fluff limp to the side of the road. I stopped to make sure whatever it was, was okay. It was a little orange kitten. He looked just like our cat, Rocky, then we first got him. He hissed at me when I tried to pick him up. I grabbed a blanket out of the truck and wrapped him up. I went to put him in the truck. I was planning on taking him back to the office to see how badly he was hurt. He apparently wasn't wrapped very well.

As soon as he saw teddy he scratched his way out of the blanket, and pooped whatever he ate that morning,and blood all over me. So I ended up dropping him. Which of course hurt him worse. He hid under the truck...I couldn't reach him. At all. I called the office and Mom came to help me. We threw the truck in neutral and moved it. Got him wrapped up...better this time.

We took him to the office and called a friend that works at Animal Humane. She told us to bring him down and she'd check him out. They ran x-rays and found that his pelvis was completely shattered. She showed me the x-rays. That would explain the blood. Poor thing. They had to put him down. Knowing this little kitten for just a couple hours, I was already beyond attached. By the time I got to my next stop for the day, I looked like I had been in a boxing match.

Who knew such a tiny kitten could create such hysterias. The lady at the front desk at Animal Humane asked me if I wanted to name him. Naming him would make it worse....much worse. I still don't know why it affected me so much. It felt like I had this big hole in my chest...Oh odd. Anyways, I couldn't just leave him without a name. Mom wanted to name him Sunflower since he was so orange. But since we knew him for such a small amount of time I thought Thyme (time) was more appropriate.

This little kitten created such a huge feeling of compassion in me. His little green eyes said so much. "I'm mad at you for dropping me." "I'm glad you didn't leave me out there to get eaten" and after Jackie gave him some meds his little green eyes seemed to yell "Thank you!"

Heres to you, tiny Thyme. So orange and so tiny with pretty green eyes. you taught me a valuable lesson. So...Thank YOU!

All Stitched Up

Friday Jon and I went to Cliff's with the GAM (God And Me) kids from church. We had an absolute blast! Afterwards we had a little camp out. After dinner we did Praise and Worship. After all the rowdy songs I found myself a little corner to sit and talk with God. It's easiest to talk with Him during those times. I can hear Him so clearly.

I don't remember what song was on that made my mind start racing. I started thinking about all the things in my life that have been difficult. The times that have been hurtful. About all the sad times. The heartbreaking moments.

Then I started thinking about wounds. Nasty cuts, scrapes, broken bones. Probably because I found it rather fortunate that we made it through the whole day with a bunch of middle schoolers without anybody getting hurt.

As the playlist continued God started speaking to me. He told me that in order for things to heal smoothly and beautifully, I have to let Him heal me. I have to let Him clean and stitch me up, or there's going to be nasty scars...ugly, bitter scars. I have to follow his direction...His care plan or the healing process will take longer and be more painful.

So...God has stitched me up. I'm following His at home care plan, and the healing has begun. I have an ever present source of encouragement and love. These wounds will heal...smoothly, and the scars left over will fade into lessons learned.