Thank You, God

As you listen to this song, I want to share an experience I had today while driving the FedEx truck down a dirt road. 

A bald eagle flew off a tree beside me and slowly flew just in front of my truck at about a few feet above me.  Then as Chris Tomlin sang “I will rise”, the eagle slowly rose up and flew over the field next to me.  This happened for about a fourth to a half mile.  The only reaction I had was to pull over and thank God…..

 

My First Book Review:

Ok, the other day I was talking to a good friend and fellow avid reader.  Of course we were talking about books we were currently reading and books we had just read.  She strongly urged me to blog on these books, especially since two of them were fairly new books and they weren’t my usual historical fiction (which most of my friends call “your little house on the prairie books”.  Can’t help it, I like historical fiction.)  After looking online for an outline of what to say in the review, I am ready for my premier review……

One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling

Laurraine Snelling

As Christmas Eve quickly approaches, one mother waits anxiously for her husband to return from an overseas business trip, so they can celebrate their last Christmas together before the twins head off to college.

“Two mothers end up more closely connected that they could dream…and yet they are strangers.

However, the other mother barely notices the Christmas festivities since her daughter is waiting desperately for a new heart and prays for a miracle. God’s miracles are sometimes bittersweet.”

 

My Thoughts:

First, I have to admit that Lauraine Snelling is one of my favorite authors.  She writes Christian Fiction and I think I have read every book she has written as it comes out.   Having said that, I enjoyed the dual storyline in this book.  As Nora deals with death, and Jenna celebrates life,  Lorraine flipped back and forth between the two mothers to give their perspective of the events as they were happening. 

Both mothers at the beginning of the book had the desire for a perfect Christmas for their children.  I could relate to this.  Christmas is such a joyful and special celebration, and to have one perfect Christmas to create the fond memories is every mother’s desire.  But an accident changes both of their plans; one in a good way, one in a bad way.

As the story unfolded, I was kept guessing on how the story would play out.  I like to guess the storyline as I read, sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m wrong.  In this case, I was both, and neither.  This book was rather emotional. I laughed at the joy in the book and cried as it dealt with death and serious illness.  The issues of cremation vs burial and organ donation were discussed.  I have to admit I have rather strong opinion on both issues.  Although I did not agree with the decision of cremation vs burial made in the book, I think I understood the reasoning, I think.

As the book progresses, you are drawn into the process of a family mourning  and the tendrils death effects each family member.  As they cope differently, one being that Nora spirals deeply into depression.  Jenna starts out living day-to-day and slowly opens to the fact she can make plans for the future.  She comes to the realization that there is a promise of a future for her with her daughter and for herself personally.  I liked the mirror of two mothers and two young adult girls and each story line their individual reactions and emotions.

I would have like to see Nora’s reaction to the letter at the end of the book.  As a person that wants to know what happens next, I would have liked to see Nora and Jenna, and Christi and Heather meet or make contact with one another.  Leaving that door open does leave it open for another book.

 

I Remember….

Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of the suicide attacks on The United States.  It’s a haunting feeling to live through the day of an anniversary of a tragedy.  I drove past the Brainerd Fire Station and they had all of the fire trucks parked in front of the building, shiny and gleaming in the sun.  They had the ladder on the ladder truck extended to high heaven, with a huge American flag flying from it.  I got choked up.  Then I started to rethink that day.   I was at work at The Office Shop and we found out via the internet.  Unbelief.  We turned on the tv in the conference room.  More unbelief.  It was hard to work, we tried to pretend to work.  It was a fake effort.  I don’t think we sold a single pen or paperclip that day.  We didn’t want to do anything, and any customer we called, didn’t want to do anything either.  Unbelief.  It was a numb feeling.  Although none of us personally knew anyone in the areas hit by the planes, we still were numb.  I still cannot believe so many lost their lives.  You just pray for a lack of suffering.  God was present that day, so many stories emerged about God at work.

I had a different feeling the day of the Luby’s Massacre in Killeen, Texas.  The tragedy was more personal.  On October 16, 1991, I was living in Killeen, Texas.  I worked in a business office for a chain of stores, and we planned on taking our boss to lunch for Bosses Day.  We were going to take him to Luby’s, but he was late.  We heard there had been a shooting at Luby’s.  We were supposed to be there.  God had intervened.  We finished the day working, not knowing how tragic the event was. I found out more on the way home.   Al was doing some advanced military training in Alabama, so I tried to call him to let him know I was ok.  No phone lines available.  I tried to call my mom.  No phone lines available, they were jammed with the huge amount of phone traffic.  When I finally got through on a line, it was to my mom.  It was the same time the 6 o’clock news came on….  my first views of the day’s events.   I broke down on my mom’s answering machine….   “Mom, I’m ok.  It’s just horrible……(crying, sobbing)”  She had no idea what was going on when she heard the message 4 hours later, until she watched the news.  Later that evening, I was able to leave a message with the CQ (charge of quarters) where Al was  going to school.  The message was “Tell Al his wife is ok.”  Simple enough.  No one could mess up that message.  Nope.  The message was too simple.  The CQ didn’t bother to tell Al.  Three days later I was finally able to talk to Al.  I told him  I had left a message.  When questioned, the CQ said he did get the message, but didn’t think it was important enough to tell Al.  It was then explained to the CQ that his wife lives in Killeen, and asked the CQ if he knew what had just happened in Killeen…….  The simple message was not so simple any longer.  To this day, I feel for the lives lost that day, and the lives changed by a man who never gave a clue to his reason for the day.

I sat on the floor of our tiny rented house.  It was an old farm house in Germany.  I was in front of the tv with the volume on low, and blow drying my hair.  I couldn’t believe was I saw, so I quickly turned off the dryer and turned up the volume.  The United States bombed Libya……  I ran upstairs to wake Al.  At the same time, the phone rang.  The Americans we being called to base, and Al was on Red Alert.  The operation lasted only a few minutes, and by the end of the day, we went home to our own beds.   All was done.  The muscle was flexed.  I don’t think anyone living in “The States” even knew anything happened on April 15, 1986.

I had started to pack my suitcases.  Just a couple of days till I was on a plane to Germany.  Al had found a house and I could finally join him.  The tv was on and I was getting ready for the day.  I had stayed up late reading.  I had acclimated myself to the time change, so I would stay up half the night reading, and sleep almost until noon.  I was about to move to Germany to be with my husband.  The buzz on the tv was focused on the teacher that was going into space.  The Challenger space shuttle launched on January 28, 1986.  I was watching the launch, then stared in disbelief as it exploded before my eyes.  It’s not supposed to do that.  My thoughts for the rest of the day flipped between the shuttle member’s families left behind and whether I would still be able to fly in two days.  What if there was debris  in the sky we couldn’t fly through…. (I know stupid thought).  

So much can happen in just an instant.  God is in control.  I know that whatever may happen, God is with me.  And I know that should something happen to me, God will call my name and I will be with Him.

Because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”  Hebrews 13:5b-6

 

What I Have Learned…..

I like Facebook.  It is a fun way to wind down in the evening.  I can sit on the couch, watch TV with Al, and “play on the computer. ”  It also gives me a chance to keep up with friends and family.  I have even connected with cousins that I haven’t seen in thirty years!!   (Shout out to Bryce)

I have learned so much about myself.  Besides being a dork (thats good); I also have learned I have a wide variety of friends and family.  From my church friends to my son and husband to dirt track racers to that one kid that is into cars.  I just like looking at the progress of this project cars, I’ve never met him, but sure would like some of the cars he has.

I also like taking the goofy quizzes.  So far, I have taken quizes and found out:

Which Bible book am I?  Hosea

Which Jeff Dunham character am I?  Jose the Jalepeno

Which Metallica song am I?  Broken, Beat and Scarred

I got 93% on the kitchen gadget quiz…

How country are you quiz…  only 50%

My Native American name is    Strong Heart

My red neck name is     Rhonda Sue

I had my fortune done.  It gave me 1 Corinthians 13:13 ….. ”And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Jesus, in his wisdom, spoke the truth. For it is by faith and hope that our love exists. To love is to lay it all down and submit, just like in faith and hope, but it is harder to submit to love than in faith and hope. “

So what have I learned from all of this??  I spend way too much time on Facebook!   I doesn’t matter, it’s pure fun and a chance to stay connected.  So to all my Facebook friends, see ya later!

 

O The Radio

I spend most of my day driving. 

I was asked by 2 different people today, how many miles do I usually do…. about 200.  So of course, what do you do for that time? I listen to the radio. I get such a kick out of Tim Norton on The Pulse, 100.1FM.  He can be such a dork, and other times I am talking to him, telling him to “preach it brother”.  He has gotten on some pretty good topics.  I must look pretty funny talking to myself, when I am really talking to the radio.  (One more chink in my armor of sanity – but who really is sane?)   www.100thepulse.org 

By the middle of the afternoon, I am pretty much musiced out, so I change and Listen to “Chris Fabry Live” on 102.7.  His program is “a conversation over the back fence.”  It’s such a personable show that covers topics wide ranging.  I have laughed, cried and grown spiritually listening to Chris and his guests.  Chris is like a neighbor; you know what is going on with his family and you feel their ups and downs and pray for them.  The topics discussed have been so wide ranging that I never get bored. From spiritual issues, church issues, personal topics, and even current events.  I don’t think I have ever changed the station because I didn’t like the topic.  I have even called in to the program.  He said he could just see me driving around in my FedEx truck.     www.chrisfabry.com   I am currently reading Chris’s book “Dogwood”.  Pretty good read so far, it’s one of those stories that has twists and turns, and if I was one of those people that read the end of the book to find out what happens, I would do that…..but haven’t because I’m not one of those people.

 

A 12 Year Milestone

It will be hard to type this blog; but I have been thinking.  I get to think quite a bit while driving the FedEx truck.  This time my thoughts wandered to the fact that we hit a milestone this past week.  It has been 12 years since my Dad passed away. 

May 23, 1997 – It was a Friday – Memorial Day Weekend.

Dad was diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) that had metastasized into his lymph nodes (and the rest of his body) the first weekend in March.  Three months later he was gone.

Alot has happened since then.  Molly and Kirsten are all grown up and are mommies now, so is Jodie and Lindsay.  Kelly wasn’t even a daddy then.  Add eight grandchildren.

I sometimes morn the fact none of his grandchildren will know what a great person he was.  Even Greg will not know much about him, except the information that Kelly, Jodie, Lindsay, Molly, Kirsten, Al, Tracy, Terri and myself share with them. 

He was a common person with common sense; and never forgot where he came from.  He never thought of himself better than anyone.  Labels and tags didn’t matter to him, but who you are on the inside is more important. 

A common saying he had was:  “Work 8 hours and sleep 8 hours… but not the same 8 hours.”  How can you beat that??

 

Miss ya, Dad…

 

Aha!!

I recently had an “aha” moment. You know, those times when you hear something, and think to yourself, “aha, I get it”. Well, it was one of those moments.

I made the connection between our valleys of life and the trials that God gives us. It is during these times that God is testing our faith. Is this also what He did with Job?? God and Satan tested Job’s faith by taking away everything…. All of his livestock and servants were taken away, then Job lost his children and their families – everything gone; and finally Job‘s health was struck with sores and scabs from head to toe. Next, his friends came to “help” him. Job did not find solace in their concern. I would say that Job was in a deep valley. But through it all, Job held fast to his faith in God. He never cursed God, just the day that he was born.

As we go through life, we experience valleys. God doesn’t promise an easy life either before or after we decide to make him our life leader, He just promises He will be there with us. God tries our faith. I know that I have asked myself “why is God doing this to me?” I should correct that and say I know that I have whined…. I will try to recognize during these moments that God is testing my faith, like He did with Job.

 

My Name Is Joelle

 My name is Joelle.  Pronounced with two syllables:  Jo – Elle.  I denied the similarity of  my name to the name ‘Joel’ my entire life.   ‘Joel’ wasn’t special, it was ordinary, so I thought.  Besides, I only knew one person with that name, and I really didn’t like his personality.  I just knew I had an unusual name that was French.  A French name; that was special, it was unique, it was …different.

Along came the Internet……  With the onset of the Internet, I was able to research my name a little more.  In researching my name, I found out that it was the feminine form of Joel.  Now that I am a Christian, I liked this, a Hebrew name.  It wasn’t ‘Sarah’ or ‘Rebekka’ or ‘Mary’; but it was a biblical name.  I also found a meaning to my name.  “God is willing” or “Jehovah is God (Lord)”   Wow. 

So next on my research of my name was to read the book of Joel.  I have read the book of Joel from the Bible several times.  I like it.    But as I read the book, one verse stood out to me, spoke to me in my life.  It rang true to my testimony.  Joel 2:13  – “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” 

Rend?? What does that mean?  So I like to read it from The Message” to make it simpler:

“Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe.” 

Wow!!  Now it hits home to me personally and a deep connection was made between myself and The Bible.   My testimony starts with – come back to God.   He’s good… but then again, isn’t it written in Psalm 139:16b:  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

Yep, Joel is a pretty good name.

 

Chinese N Chat Spring Fling

A couple of weeks ago winter was bringing everyone down in the dumps.  The number one comment I heard from friends, family and strangers…. I’m sick of winter.  My mind went into overtime while I was driving.  Time to get the girls together and have some fun.  What woman doesn’t love Chinese food, so let’s get together and catch up.

I sent messages to all the “girls” that I knew.  Meet at the China Garden, and wear flip flops or sandals!!

Five of us showed up, and it’s funny how the thin threads of how people know each other.  CarolAnn and Julie already knew each other.  Jennifer and Julie know each other, and Jennifer already knew Tracy, my sister-in-law. 

The food was great, of course.  Three hours later we finally left.  Stomachs full, but not talked out. 

It was an evening that resembled the “Ladies Night Out”.  Talk and fellowship; talking about what is going on in our lives and catching up on what happened over the winter.  And now that I’ve had some time with friends, I feel revived and refreshed.  I spend my days alone in the truck or at our shop with guys.  So the opportunity to get with “the girls” and talk girly stuff was great.  So now I believe we’ll have to do it again.

 

Use Me, God

All  followers of Christ have one prayer in common.  Use me, God; not only at home, but on the job also.

After having 2 jobs that I know that God provided for me, I am now working for my husband.

The first job God provided me was at The Office Shop.  The circumstances which I found out about the job, and I was pursued 2 different directions for the same position, I know it had to be God telling me, “this is where I want you”.  The second job God provided me was for Edward Jones.  I answered an ad in the paper that wasn’t supposed to be in the paper, and I was the only person that answered it.  Yup, God at work.  What reason He had at each of the jobs, I will never know until I reach Glory. 

I have decided to work for Al.  I like the idea of now working for someone else and to have a direct effect on his business.  So I repeated the prayer,  I just wanted God to use me.  My question to God was how will He use me while I drive around delivering packages.  

First, I am the face of Jesus.  A cheerful smile and an upbeat attitude to each person I deliver to.  A happy greeting and leaving with a wish for having a great day. 

Second, know that God is with me all day.  I have to trust Him.  As I go thru the day, God is protecting, and directing me. 

Third, use my gift of mercy.  You would think that having the gift of mercy would make me want to be in the health field.  WRONG!!  Not only do I have mercy, but I have a high level of empathy that makes me mirror other people’s physical pain.  If you are hurt on your finger, my finger hurts also.  But, now that Minnesota does not have a Meals on Wheels program, I am able to deliver meals to the elderly.  The meals are delivered from a company called Mom’s Meals.  So, every other week I visit the elderly and deliver a large box of fresh meals.

Fourth, prayer.  I can pray for friends and family.  I can also pray for the people that I deliver to.  One lady I delivered to went to the hospital for a few days.  I prayed for her, and told her so when she returned home.  What a reaction.  She couldn’t believe someone would do that.

What else does God have in store for me??  Only He knows.