Life is Busy

Ah, so much going on all of the time. Well, if you haven't heard, I've gotten a new job. I'm now officially going to be the social worker for pediatric oncology/hematology at the Brody School of Medicine. It's a big step up for me in the field of social work and I'm looking forward to the new experiences. I had to hand in my two week notice and Monday and that was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. God has definitely been challenging me this year with change and building my character. I'm such a comfort zone person and he's stretched me in moving churches and now with this job - two very major things in my life. My current coworkers were super supportive of my move and I'm so honored to have worked with them. The new job begins on December 19th, very soon!

My dad went to the ER on Tuesday, his blood sugar bottomed out at 39. He's doing a lot better but is still at Martin General hoping to get everything regulated. Joey came to see him and that made daddy so happy. Joey got daddy laughing a couple of times, it's such a sweet laugh - daddy has the kindest face. Joey has this effect on daddy, it's like as soon as Joey walks into the room daddy gets this look on his face like he's trying to hold in a laugh...an irrisistable grin. It is a beautiful site to behold! Hope daddy will be coming home tomorrow.

Christmas time

Steven and I have gotten a heads up on the Christmas decorating this year. We actually completed all of our decorating just 2 days after Thanksgiving. Our tree is so beautiful. I think that picking out our Christmas tree is probably the most fun activity and most looked forward to activity of the year. We got the tree home and discovered that our vision was a little bigger than our house. We had to cut the top off of the top of the tree to get it to fit in the living room. You can tell that we've finally settled into our home this year b/c we bought garland and red bows to decorate the front porch. It's been a great, festive weekend of Christmas preparations. Steven is such a good sport about decorating, he really loves it - which I'm truly blessed to have a husband who doesn't mind helping. And he's truly blessed to have a wife who hates to shop. We're going to work on our shopping list tonight and I hope to get everybody taken care of in a day or so, I might even try online shopping this year.

Also - saw RENT today with my bestest friend, Andrea. The music was awesome and I would totally love to see it on Broadway. There are so many shows that I'd love to see on Broadway, but I don't see a trip there happening anytime soon. Ah, how I wish I had the money to sweep Andrea and me off to the Big Apple to take in a few Broadway shows. After the city that never sleeps I'd want to go to California to be on the Price is Right. All my biggest dreams involve show biz in someway. Ah, I'm such a daydreamer.

Birthday bash

Had a great weekend celebrating my mom's birthday. My brother and I spent the whole weekend at my folk's house - mama absolutely loved it. It was sweeeeeeeeeet! I tried to get some video of mama and daddy, just to get some good memories. It's a shame that I've waited this long to get good footage of daddy. Daddy's so far gone now, it's pitiful. But, he did say he loved me, Joey, and mama and I got it on tape - it was awesome. And, Joey made daddy laugh Friday night, I didn't get it on camera though. It was so great to see his smile. I want to remember every moment like that. Worked on Meredith's garden today. That's one garden that I'll never complain about working in. Lots of good memories this weekend, lots of good times.

Amazing sadness

This weekend I had an unfortunate and yet amazingly beautiful experience. What was this experience you may ask? The funeral of a child of two very dear friends of mine. I say child, but he was 32 years old - it doesn't make it any easier though. The next question you may be asking is how I could say it was an unfortunate and yet beautiful experience. Well my friends, this funeral was what funerals were meant to be. It was a time to acknowledge our deep sense of loss, a time to rejoice over the life that this man lived, and a time to acknowledge God's ultimate sovereignty over the situation. I didn't know the man who passed away, I'd never met him and yet I left feeling like he'd been a dear friend. We may have never bet, but nonetheless he was my brother...my brother through the blood of Christ. I rejoice because I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is experiencing glory far beyond my imagination as we speak. The funeral was such an inspiration, it inspired me to look into my own life and ask myself, "am I living in a way that's impacting people for my Savior?" The funeral inspired me to ask myself, "am I treating Jesus like he's my friend right now or is he just my acquaintance?" I think that these questions are questions that the deceased would have desired people be impacted by. Something else that I've really pondered since the funeral yesterday is how amazing it is that in the christian life the deepest of sorrow can coexist in your heart with the greatest of joy. I don't that's possible for anyone outside of the christian life. It would be so easy for bitterness to well up out of the entire experience but instead the Lord reassures me that this suffering has a purpose, it is making us more like Christ. Does it make the sting of the sorrow any less? No. I can't explain how it all works, but I continue to trust Christ and hope in eternity. This family will experience grief for the rest of their lives...I will experience grief for the rest of my life as I continue to miss my sister, but nonetheless, it doesn't shake my faith in my King. What a blessing to have a true Rock to stand as the waters of sorrow rise. Praise God for his gift of a Comforter.

Do I have a great husband or what?

Can I just say that I have a wonderful husband who sacrificed his whole weekend of studying to spend time with and take care of my family. Yes, that's right, Steven had tons of studying but instead he chose to go back and forth to the hospital to see my dad, celebrate my grandmother's 84th birthday, and play with my 2 little cousins. That's a good man for you right there. I love him!!!

Heavenly Dream

I had a heavenly dream last night, it made me cry and smile at the same time. The dream had my dad in it and he was healthy. All I remember is my dad was walking up a flight of stairs. Daddy didn't have a walker, no diapers, no balance problems...he was himself. He was wearing his old blue jeans, a red flannel shirt, a black cap, and his brogans (the boots all the farmers wear). His face was full and round, he had the "Griffin gap" (the gap in his front teeth), his face and hands were red like he'd been farming, and he was his old big Joe size. I just remember him walking up those stairs with a giant grin on his face and he opened his arms. As soon as daddy opened his arms I hugged him and he held me so tight and actually picked me up off of the ground. We didn't speak. We just hugged. And that was my dream. Isn't it heavenly? Ah, how I wish I could see him like that now.

Somber

I know most people choose to use their blog to share jokes, funny things about their life, and everyday things but I like to blog because it gives me a chance to vent. I'm having a blah week. My dad (who suffers from Huntington's disease) is getting worse. He's fallen 3 times in the last 3 weeks and is slowing disappearing. What I mean by the disappearing is that he's trapped in that sick body and my dad can't be himself. He can't talk, he can't interact, he can't maintain a thought for more than 10 seconds - it's horrible. It's so depressing to watch. Most the time I can handle it, you know, it's just become part of life. This is just one of those weeks when it hits me. People are slowly not coming to visit anymore, they don't know what to say, they can't stand to see him like this, and it's just uncomfortable for them. I can't blame anyone, if he wasn't my dad it'd be hard to face too. I can hardly remember him before this disease took over. I know he was a huge man (in strength, stature, and heart). It's hard to believe that just 6 years ago he was still working a full-time job, driving, cooking...walking without a walker. Ah, heaven will be such a celebration for me. To see my dad walk, jump, dance in complete freedom. To see his eyes completely clear and hear him really talk to me. Not to mention I'll get to see my Savior, who made it all possible.