Sunday, January 21, 2007

In Laws, Continental Breakfast, Flat Tires, and Cheap Chickens


Bryan and I have just returned from Missouri. This was our first trip to Missouri and one that was unforgettable to say the least. I should start out by saying that the point of the trip was to be a part of my nephew Jeremy's graduation from Army boot camp. We are extremely proud of him. He worked really hard and not only finished, but he was the honor graduate for his battalion. There is a picture of him with Bryan and I. It would be safe to say that was the only uneventful event of the trip.
I'll start at the beginning. Bryan and I were traveling with his parents. (Those of you who know Bryan's parents are probably already laughing, because can imagine what may come next.) I will spare you some of the details and get right to the good stuff. We flew from Greenville to Cincinnati and Cincinnati to St. Louis. After arriving in St. Louis we took a shuttle to the rental car facility. Our mode of transportation for the week was a very nice mini van. Though I am not usually a fan of mini vans, this one was top of the line. Navigation system, DVD player, and heated seats, etc. While waiting for the car to be ready, we watched a light snow fall. It was SNOWING!!!! Keep this in mind, it will be important later.
On the way out of Saint Louis Bryan found a Cracker Barrell and we stopped for dinner. This a very normal and very, actually ridiculously, common thing for Bryan and I. (Just ask the Powdersville CB wait staff. They say we come every weekend.) My in-laws go quite often as well, but the waitress had to think they had never been there or anywhere for that matter. My father in law chose not to wear his false teeth into the restaurant (or anywhere else for the week). He mumbles a bit anyway, but the lack of teeth make him even harder to understand. My mother-in-law decided that she had never seen a Cracker Barrell menu before. After 39 minutes and much deliberation, my father in law said, "this is the same menu as every other Cracker Barrell you have been in! Just make up your mind." The poor waitress... a bunch of southerners in the Mid-west. She probably couldn't understand a word any of us said, especially with no teeth. We had to seem like the biggest rednecks. The waitress finally quite talking to my in laws and addressed all questions and comments to me and even handed me the bill.
Before leaving CB, I asked an employee where the closest Walgreens was, she quickly stated, "the corner of Bowles and 141." Ok, thanks...Like I know where that is! Help me out sister. I must have looked quite puzzled, as she looks at me and says, "are you from here?" Sure, I am... I am the only mid western girl who sounds like she just stepped off the set of Designing Women. I never expected that reaction. Actually, I was kind of flattered. People usually talk about how cute my accent is when I travel. I have never been mistaken for a local anywhere outside of upstate SC.
Well, back to the snow. When we arrived at Walgreens I had to look. I just had to know. Yes, they had bread and milk. Plenty of bread and milk. WHAT... snow on the ground and plenty of bread and milk. I couldn't believe it. On top of that, people where driving like normal humans. No crazy, I've never seen snow before in my life, people driving the roads of St. Louis. Well, that is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more stories from the road tomorrow.

Saturday, January 6, 2007

A New Year, A New Attitude

As most people do this time of year, I have been reflecting over the past year and thinking about the coming year. For those of you who have known me for a while, you know that 2004 was the most emotional year ever for me. Very suddenly and unexpectedly I lost my Grandaddy and one of my best friends from high school plus three other major events all between August and November. 2006 brought some closure for me. Leslie's murderer fianlly went to trial and should be sentenced this month. As for my Grandaddy's death, time does heal things. A new perspective does also.

I remember sitting with my Grandma at the hospital that October evening and she agreed to let the hospital harvest my Grandaddy's organs for donation. I was so angry. How could she take that away. I couldn't bear to think of him not being whole and complete when we buried him. I never shared my feelings with her and I really struggled with that. Bryan was the only person I chose to share that with. It was all that I could do to not scream out and try to stop her as she spoke to the hospital staff. It is truely amazing how God's hand works in everything.

I was very adamant that I would never make that choice and that I didn't want my loved ones to make that choice either. We should return the way we came. It never occured to me that one day my world would be rocked again, but in a totally different way. Just this week I was thinking about how God has changed my heart on this and I am so sorry that I felt that way. I was never able to tell my Grandma how I felt, and now I know why.

In 2005 a family walked into our lives and changed everything. They are continuing to change everything! As God would have it, circumstances brought Bryan and Sammy together. Soon, we were able to meet Melissa and Isaac. Who would have ever guessed that this family would impact us in such a huge way. After spending more and more time with them, we learned about Isaac's helath conditions. We even jumped "on board the I-Man train" to help raise money for Isaac's medical care in 2006.

This is where my cluelessness comes in to play. Here I was getting involved in advocating for this little guy to have his second life saving transplant. Never once did it occur to me that these transplants would not have ben possible without a family being willing to donate. In February of 2006 I signed a donor card. But again, I never considered that hospital incident. As a matter of fact, it was just this week. Though it was not Isaac that received from my Grandaddy, it was someone. It was someone's mom or dad that had to make that decision for Isaac to have a chance. So Grandma, thank you for being wiser than me and thank you for listening to the Lord's leading. I know that my Grandaddy is still with me in my heart, but he is also with someone else giving them life. Thank you Lord, for showing me how clueless I am. Thank you for opening my eyes to appreciate the beauty of a giving heart. Thank you for unslefishness.

So, I have a new attitude and a peace in my heart for 2007. Hopefully, this will be the first of many new attitudes this year. Welcome 2007!

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Take That!


Ok, so here it is... My first take that. This first one is going out to Sammy Clary.

Sammy this is just for you...Take that. Who are you calling a sissy?!?!?