I'm glowing

The word “nuclear” usually tends to conjure up thoughts of Hiroshima, mushroom clouds, and all around malady. So why is it I am able to sit calmly while being injected with radioactive material? Well, not totally calm. Some shadow of horror must have crossed over my face upon seeing the small locked metal (lead?) box with the familiar radioactive symbol carefully displayed on the side being opened with the purpose of injecting the contents into me, for it was enough to give the technician pause and ask if I was OK? OK? OK? As images from the movie K-19 Widow Maker threaten to suffocate me, I simply pretend I’m Sidney Briscoe & reply, “Oh yes, I’m fine.” Of course, this imaginative scenario must end here otherwise I’m required to flip out of my chair, kick box the technician, download time sensitive data from computers to my right, rescue my one true love faithfully by my side, and escape unnoticed out the obscure exit door at the end of the hallway. Whew! Actually, I was fine. I’ve always been mesmerized by the medical field and I was really fascinated by the whole thing. Isn’t it amazing to live with such incredible technology? I’m not sure how long this testing has been around, but could people in the 1940’s actually imagine a day when you would want (well want isn’t exactly the right word, since to have the test you must first be having a medical problem which requires the test in the first place, and no one really wants to be sick…anyway) radioactive material injected into you for the purpose of medical diagnostics? So what’s all the drama about? That small, seemingly insignificant organ, the gall bladder; of which I am becoming all too familiar.

Oh the fat that makes you contract,
butter, nuts, eggs, and cheese!
Why must you demand a life style change!
Must I submit to a surgeon’s knife,
for simply enjoying the pleasures of life?

Oh yeah, the drama continues……

Birthday Blessings

Honestly, I think mothers should receive gifts from their children on the child’s birthday. She is the one who toiled and labored to bring me into this world and grow me into a successful contributor to society. So thanks Mom! I was thinking of you today. But it is very special to have your life celebrated by those who love you and call you friend. So thank you Tim & kids, you made my day very special. You know just what I love. (Swedish Fish!) And thank you to everyone else for the pampering, kid watching, gift giving, sweet birthday wishing week and weekend ahead. I am truly a blessed woman of God! “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand.” Psalm 139:17 WOW!

Ok, so about the name

Well actually this wasn't my first choice. It turns out my original idea wasn't so, ehr, original. But it is appropriate. A few weeks ago I was sharing with a confidant that I had pretty much given up on praying (in that joking, but I'm really serious kind of way that people do). Rather than experiencing the intimacy and refreshing that's expected when one spends time in prayer, every time I began to pray I would just end up crying & just generally winding up exhausted, and my prayers were (seemingly) to no avail. And I just couldn't handle it. (Now before you start thinking I'm super spiritual or anything you must keep in mind I was only 10 wks post-partum at the time and still on a hormone roller coaster; still am.) Anyway, I had begun to simply offer up something like, "bless the day, keep everyone safe, help my life glorify You" then quickly switching on the TV or busying myself with a task (any new email?) before any depth of thought might try to overtake me. Silly I know, but true enough. Then came a beautiful day last week. I picked up the bible in the middle of the day and was drawn to Psalm 127. I place I like to go when I don't know where to go. Then perusing around the page I stumble upon the very familiar but forgotten passage of Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy." Cool, but even better was verse 6, "He who CONTINUALLY goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall DOUBTLESS come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Yahoo! The tears were/are not in vain! (Though I must warn there is a difference between seed bearing and self-pity tears.) Whenever I picture this scripture I always imagine a group of pilgrim like people coming down a dirt road off the side of a field heading home after a long day of harvest carrying the hay and singing songs of joy and laughing along the way because of the great blessing of the bountiful harvest. But that's only a picture of the second part of the verse. To get to that place, that same group of people must have toiled & sweat & thirst and generally worked hard - for many days on end mind you, to get to that one day of reaping. Isn't it interesting that we are always after the joy, but forget about the pain that often must come first? In fact I don't think the joy of that day would be so great if it weren't for the depth of work that came beforehand! So, I've determined in my heart to be a joy reaper; no longer afraid of the hard work of toiling (weeping) any longer. Care to join me?

No "N" in the alphabet!?!

9:30 pm and everyone is tucked and settled. Only a few things to do before baby wakes for last feeding and then my hubby and I can turn in early too. Soooo, you can understand my slight dismay upon hearing my 5 year old cry out, "MOM!" from his room. Praying it's not a bad dream resulting from the steady diet of "The Complete 1st Season of Sponge Bob - Disc 2" we reluctantly let him ingest all weekend, I poke my head through the door.
"What do you need?"
"Mom! N's not in the alphabet!"
Now mind you, I am tired. Apparently he is not. And becoming aware of the fact that N is not in the alphabet has left him incredulous and requiring immediate consolation.
"l-m-N-o-p" I say.
The look of dismay is slightly relieved, but he must put it to the test. "a-b-c-d-e...."
"Say it s-l-o-w" I say. "It's in there. l-m-N-o-p."
Wide-eyed realization sets in and assures me the day has been saved.
Shine those freshly manicured nails (thanks Melissa!) on my shoulder. Supermom has done it again.
P.S. Happy Anniversary Jon & Jackie!