An Apology

This is an apology to all of my friends that have ever read a rambling email from me. My friends at EY used to make so much fun of me because I just wrote emails as I thought. That is void of punctuation and grammar and capitalization. Believe it or not I actually try to half way do those things on this blog. And besides I secretly think they loved reading my emails. Anyway, today I got an email from a person that was very rambly. Now granted this person was manic but reading that and trying to decipher what they meant made me realize how fun all of you must have had reading those great emails from me!!! So this is my apology!! Notice I did not say I would quit doing it but I will apologize for all past emails and future emails that are fun to decipher!!!

Lori this post is especially for you!!!

The Kennedys

I may not always agree with the Kennedys but there is no doubt they have had a huge influence on America. I was not alive when JFK was shot but I can tell you almost as much about it as people who were alive. My mom describes it very similiar to what for me is probably 911 or the Challenger exploding. I remember when Jackie died - it was right before our band trip to Washington D.C. and I remember seeing the eternal flame over her grave at Arlington Cemetary. Then I remember being at Camp and hearing about John Jr. dying in the plane crash. Everyone knows about the Kennedy curse and the popularity of the Kennedys.
Or so I thought.....
So this week when the news broke that Teddy had passed away I was shocked how many people (some my age) did not know who that was or that he was JFKs brother. I had somebody ask me why are they making a big deal of a Congressman? and believe it or not I actually had (now granted they were 19) but someone say who are the Kennedys? I was like JFK and he was like "yeah don't know him"
Amazing!! and sad very sad...
Well I find Teddy Kennedy's service in Arlington Cemetary important enough to miss the beginning of the Cowboys game and watch live on TV (granted the Cowboys game was being DVRed). Like I said I may not always agree with the Kennedys but I love their love and passion for this country and how they fought for what they believed in. That is so much of what makes them a legend.

An Amazing Promise

So I saw this post on one of my friends facebook walls, "The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you." and I have really been thinking about it. Assuming this came from something longer I googled it and this is what I found:


The Will of God will never take you
Where the Grace of God cannot keep you
Where the Arms of God cannot support you
Where the Riches of God cannot support your needs
Where the Power of God cannot endow you.

The Will of God will never take you
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you
Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you
Where the Army of God cannot protect you
Where the Hands of God cannot mold you.

The Will of God will never take you
Where the Love of God cannot enfold you
Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you
Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears
Where the Authority of God cannot overrule you.

The Will of God will never take you
Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears
Where the Word of God cannot feed you
Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

~ author unknown ~

So I was on call last night. I had to go to Stamford (that is a spot in the road about 45 miles I think North of Abilene; I know its North but it might be NE or NW I don't know) Anyway, I thought a lot about this. The past couple of years have been tough. I've prayed a lot a whole lot for things to happen and while I guess I pray for things to happen my way because it is what I'm asking I also know I want God's will too because I know that is the best. Its just that sometimes what I want and God's will just aren't jiving and I feel like I'm not going to make it sometimes. The verse in II Corinthians about God's grace being sufficient has been formost in my mind the past month and it is taking on a whole new meaning to me. Not only is God's grace sufficient but he isn't going to put anything in my path I can't handle because it is His spirit living in me and His grace will handle it; it is big enough.

I am reminded this with several things going on. Two of my friends have had big huge medical issues with their kids. Mandy's daughter Tatum http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tatumkate and my friend Rachel's newborn http://www.prayingforbabyluke.blogspot.com/ if you want to follow these amazing stories are two stories that are reminding me daily that God's grace is bigger than our wills.

I have been struggling with whether to take some medication for some things going on in my personal life. I hate taking meds. HATE IT!! Especially long term. I knew more about Advair than the Advair company did when I started taking it for asthma. There are a variety of options I have now and I can tell you the possible side effects and I don't like them. I think about Mandy's daughter Tatum. 3 years old diagnosed with leukemia. I know they didn't want her to have to take all those steroids that made her bloated and mean nor do they want to do this next round of chemo where she might lose her hair and who knows what else. So I was thinking about that and thinking that maybe my will of not wanting to take meds is getting in the way of God's grace being able to do something cool because they will help me feel better.

I don't know I think on some degree we all struggle with this. I am stubborn and want things my way. After all I know best I know myself; hmmm maybe I don't know best, maybe my creator knows best...I think my heart is starting to finally catch on that God's grace is big enough that He won't let me go down a path I can't recover from, He will protect me take care of me, sustain me, provide peace.

What an amazing promise!!!

Karlee at Camp Blue Haven

Well I am back in the 100 degree weather in Abilene but after a great session!! As most of you all know I took Karlee with me this year - that is my niece that turned 3 the Saturday before we left. I started getting worried when I got to Plainview Friday night to pick her up and she didn't have much to do with me and her mom and dad started telling me everything to do and they also informed me that she is potty trained with two exceptions. One she still can't get up at night and go yet but they solve that with a pull up so good there. Exception 2 - she does not go poopy in the potty. In fact she spiked up and said "Aunt Beka I don't get to go to McDonald's until I go poopy in the potty" I'm thinking what a motivation I would never bother messing with it but I guess a 3 year old has more appreciation for McDonald's than me. Well as you can imagine I really begin second guessing this cleaning up the poopy in the panties but I'm an expert now and by the end could do it without a mess.

The secret to Karlee's success and happiness is two fold - one lots and lots of princess sippy cups of milk and the DVD player shown above. As long as you put Bambi or the Little Mermaid or Loony Tunes in she was happy. At first she was clingy but soon loosened up. She really was really good loved being around all the other kids and I had fun with her and I think she had fun. She is pretty laid back but takes after me in not being a morning person but DOES not take after me in eating the dirt, mud, play dough etc. Milk and play - a complete balanced meal. Oh and she LOVES going potty in the woods. Already learning the "tree squat" she will one day make a good counselor.

Also, a shout out to Kitchypooh for the letter and stickers and to Joy for the package. Where were the rest of all my friends???!!! ha!!!
Here are some pics of Karlee enjoying camp.

This was silly songs night Yes for you Austin people -free advertising for Temple Inland

Karlee likes getting up in the morning less than her Aunt if that is believable.

Twins day - Karlee wanted to be a tea pot so my mom made us these skirts and we wore these outfits and she sang the song loudly (I was afraid she wouldn't) and we won. She picked a scrap book for a prize over the CBH teddy bear. Shows that you never know what 3 year olds will do.

The kids loved climbing on these 4 wheelers. They liked riding better that just rarely happened. There was lots of begging from Mr. George for a ride on the Mule.

Talent show - I think she sang like 4 songs and was quite the entertainment.

The pictures below are of the big 6 flag like swing at the ropes course. This was what she talked about the WHOLE session and finally the last day the weather was good enough to do it. She loves it and she goes higher than I like to go!!!