I got this from my friend Nikki’s blog because I’ve been in a blah, blah writing mood lately.

35 Odd Things About Me

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? Yes, but, only if it’s home made.

2. Do you own a gun? No, not even a toy gun.

3. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks? coffee, just fresh brewed coffee

4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? See question #3

5. Do you do push ups? Is this a trick question?

6. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? Not big on jewelry

7. Favorite hobby? I have three: gardening, cooking and interior decorating

8. Do you have A.D.D? No, it’s worse, I have OCD

9. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? See question #8

10. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: My feet are hurting in these boots; a cup of coffee would be nice right now; I can’t wait to see my husband and children

11. Name 4 drinks you regularly drink. Water (my fav), coffee, sweet tea (have to keep a handle on this one) and that’s it, even more odd is that I’ve never had a soda in my life. I know. I told you it was odd!

12. Current worry right now? Right now? Nothing, but tomorrow is another day.

13. Current hate right now? It’s not a hate thing, but, I strongly dislike leaving my children with others during the day while I work for something as crazy, but, essential, as money

14. Favorite place to be? With my family or at church

15. Do you like to travel? I did, but, now it’s about babies

16. What color shirt are you wearing? Heather gray

17. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Nope, cotton is the best

18. Can you whistle? Yes, but it’s been a while

19. Favorite color? Oh, that’s an impossible question to answer because it depends on my mood

20. If you could, would you be a pirate? Well, if it means sailing on calm waters in mild weather 24/7, okay.

21. What song do you sing in the shower? I don’t, I’m usually fending off two children.

22. Favorite girl’s name? Elizabeth Anne

23. Favorite boy’s name? Jackson Ramsey

24. What’s in your pocket right now? I have a dress on, with no pockets

25. Favorite bedsheets as a child? Oh, I wouldn’t remember that, but, my sister would.

26. Worst injury? Stitches on my nose (tripped coming down the hallway with a paper bag over my head in an attempt to scare my sister, can you say, “stupid idea?”)

27. Do you love where you live? Yes, but, I wish my parents were closer.

28. How many TVs do you have in your house? two

29. Who is your loudest friend? I’m married to him, ha ha!!!!!

30. How many pets do you have? one sweet golden retreiver named Maggie

31. Does someone have a crush on you? Oh yes, we’re definitely still in that stage.

32. What is your Favorite Book? The Bible

33. What’s your favorite candy? M&M’s

34. Favorite Sports Team? Another trick question?

35. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? When did Elizabeth come crawl into bed with us?

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Life has been hectic lately and I think little Jackson has gotten caught in the middle. 

It started three weeks ago with an ear infection in his left ear.  A week and a half later he developed one in his right ear. Then the very next evening, he had a tussle with a table that left his bottom lip gashed open which sent my sweet little family to the emergency room.  Sans Brian.

A lot of people have been asking me how Jackson is and I’m happy to say that he’s great.  The stitches have dissolved for the most part.  A few of you have asked me how I am, thanks, I’m okay too and more certain than ever that God is helping me work through my faith and here’s how I know.

When it happened, Brian was at the church.  No surprise there, but I couldn’t get in touch with him.  As a matter of fact, he didn’t get my message until 3 1/2 hours after it had happened because he had a prayer event that night that started promptly at 5:30.  It was supposed to have ended at 7:30, but, for those of you who pray, you probably understand what happened.  It was a good prayer time, obviously and I’m glad for that. But, when Brian finally arrived, just ten minutes after we had made our way back to a room finally, hearing how great it went was the last thing this overanxious mommy wanted to hear.  Catch my drift???

It’s not that I thought that this emergency was more important than corporate prayer time, after all, it wasn’t life threatening, it was only stitches, but it was an emergency for goodness sake.  Combine that with the many other times that Daddy has unfortunately missed out on things, all in the name of Jesus and well, you can gather what I struggle with from time to time.  It’s times like this that I question what I thought life would be like when God spoke to my heart and told me I would be a pastor’s wife.  Please don’t misunderstand me, it’s an honor and I will always consider it an honor that my husband does what he does, when he does it, how often he does it and for Whom he does it for.  It’s just that, well, it was hard, mentally, because of the nature of the situation and physically to handle both babies in an emergency room, by myself. 

I know God was there.  I know He moved in the details to get my sister there in a timely fashion to scoop up Elizabeth and take her back home so that I could focus on Jackson and less on her running around like a three year old, literally. 

I know He was there because I was surrounded by three of the sweetest families whose children were far worse off than Jackson was and although none of them could speak English, I have discovered that sometimes, words are unnecessary to convey that you care. 

He was there, He was just there. Reminding me in a very personal way that I was not alone.  And so I did the only thing I knew to do, which was to minister to the other families.  I held and rocked a precious five month old child whose temperature was pretty high.  I couldn’t understand enough of what the mother was saying to me, but, I could see in her eyes that my desire to hold her child made her not feel so alone. 

Jackson and I giggled with and helped entertain a six year old little girl whose parents were trying desperately to keep her awake.  She had taken a pretty bad fall and obviously, it had caused a concussion.  She was sleepy and yet, it was crucial for her to stay awake. 

Then there was the young family with an older son and two younger twin boys.  Oh yea, there were cheerios all over our little area and mom was chasing after them with Dad’s belt.  She was as petite as me and yet she had on four inch heels and spandex leggings that she poured herself into.  Just to give her the benefit of the doubt, I’d like to think she was planning for Saturday night date night with her young husband when she put those clothes on as opposed to an evening with her entire family at the local emergency room.   I helped that young mother with her boys by giving them that “look” that any mother, any where, at any time can give, the one that says, “You may want to think twice about that…”  

Even so it occurs to me that even in our modestly, so-so darkest hour, Jesus comes along side of us when we feel so alone to lift us up and remind us that He is there.  In a very instinctual way, sitting there with my son, I felt compelled to be His hands and feet to those families.  Jackson was fine.  He was sitting there beside me, content as could be, in spite of looking like he was hiding an orange in his mouth, but he was really okay and seemed fine with Jesus doing His thing through his Mommy. 

And that’s what truly made it possible to be there without Brian.  Don’t get me wrong, I was glad when he arrived, truth be told, I was probably more glad when my sister left with Elizabeth, but, had it not happened, I know God would have sent help another way. 

In retelling this story, I have laughed because I don’t think in my wildest imagination, I could have formulated a worse case scenario than to be alone with both of my young children in an emergency room setting, but, oh my, to see His faithfulness, in every day situations, the mundane and the urgent.  To know that He is enough.  I hope that in all the wonderment of the Holy Spirit hovering over that hospital that night that He found what He was looking for, faith in me and in the others.