Our Last Moments Together...my couch 'n me

I have been a "pretty sick momma" the last few days. Oh, I knew it was coming on. I should have made a trip to Walmart and purchased some "Cold Eez," when I felt the first signs of the sore throat and running nose in the middle of the night. But alas, I didn't. As always, God brings out the good in something that Satan meant for bad. You see, I have spent the last three days on the couch. Yes, the 14 yr. old couch that I talked about in my last blog.... the two kids, two cats, 4 moves couch. It may sound a little strange to you, but the sentimental side of me thinks that it is kind of sweet that God used the old couch in its last days of serving the Hesterfamily for me to lay my sick body upon. She has served me well and I have been especially grateful for her well-worn cushions and familiar fabric to carry me out of this "bug" I've had.

**Side note: What is it about being sick that makes you instantly think "I wish my mom was here?" Even at 38 years old. (By the way, feel free leave a comment that you can't believe a person who looks as young as I do, is really 38. :) ) I could have really used a piece of toast cut into fours, lightly buttered, and a glass of OJ with crushed ice on the side. :)

Received "The Call"

For those of you who have been following our "furniture saga," your sleepless nights are finally over!! :) (Only true friends lose sleep over another friend's issues :) ) After waiting for our furniture since April 11, we now have a confirmed delivery date of next Thursday. We are pumped about it, as it has been 4 moves, 2 babies, 2 cats, and many get-togethers since we have had new furniture for our Living Room. However, the pessimist in me wants to say "I'll believe it when I am sitting on it." We have just been waiting THAT long.

Macy's was upfront with us. They said it would be July (i.e. 10-12 weeks from purchase) before we would see it. So, we have been getting the room ready, like over anxious, expectant parents waiting for the arrival of their first child. I need to finish the window treatments, but other than that, it is ready and waiting.

I talked with our "interior decorator" last week and she did confirm that Macy's would compensate us in the form of a Macy's gift card for the inconvenience of the delay. If we are not satisfied with the amount, we can supposedly negotiate.

My question for you is: How much should we ask? How much is sufficient for the amount of time we have waited? My fear is that we will get the furniture and forget about all the "agony" it took to get it here.

I'm on a mission!

Ever had a GOOD experience at Walmart? Take some time to think about it. It probably is buried somewhere deep in the annals of your mind. Those good experiences are so few and far between, it may be difficult to come up with one. Long lines, rude cashiers, rotten produce, bare shelves....you get the picture. But a few weeks ago, I actually HAD a good experience at Walmart. The cashier smiled AND greeted me. She bagged my groceries carefully, and tied the bags at the end so the items wouldn't roll all over the van. She helped me load them into the cart, and carried on a little conversation while doing so. As I wheeled my cart out to the parking lot, I was dumbfounded. Had I actually received what generations before me refer to as "customer service??" I think I had.

I loaded my groceries into the van and thought to myself, "This experience cannot go without being noted....it must recognized by someone other than myself." I looked down at my Walmart receipt and noticed a phone number at the top. I reached for my cell phone and made the call. I told the manager of my positive experience and she seemed just as surprised as I was!!! She assured me she would make sure my cashier was commended properly at their next floor meeting. I was excited for MY cashier. :)

So, I am on a mission now, to formally recognize good customer service when I receive it. So far, I have spoken with the managers at Red Lobster and Target. Their tone initially with me is very "bristled." They are expecting a verbal assault. But within seconds of me sharing, their facial expressions lighten, and they seemed genuinely grateful to hear something positive. And it's fun to make someone's day a little brighter. Heading to O'Charley's today for lunch with a friend. Wonder if a conversation with the manager is in my future today??

So THIS is what He was thinking!

After "googling" today, we learned that our new friend is called a "Cecropia Moth" and is perfectly harmless. He is apparently the largest moth in North America.

Since we found him yesterday, he has already began to spin a cocoon. Absolutely amazing!!!
This is what he will look like when the process is finished. How could I ever have "questioned" God's creativity in creating??

A Creation of God?

As I walk further on this journey with God, my appreciation for His creations has changed dramatically. When I was young, I could visit the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, catch a glimpse of Lake Michigan, without a hint of admiration for the Creator. Yesterday, Faith found this "whatever it is" in the backyard on the way back from the creek. After all the screaming and shrieking was over (by yours truly), I couldn't imagine what God was thinking, when He created this one. I say that most respectfully, of course. :)

**Side note- Unfortunately, the size and scale of this thing is lost in the picture. It is literally the size of a small hot dog in length and circumference. The yellow and blue "spikes" have little black "whiskers" coming out of them. Attractive, isn't he?

**Another side note- After seeing this creature, no one (and I mean NO ONE!) wants to venture in the backyard anymore. Hopefully, that will change.

Feeling a little like Fred Sanford

Not trying to belabor the subject of putting a garage sale together.....but as I was pricing things in the garage last night, I could have "sworn" I heard the Sanford and Son theme song playing softly in the background. With over 8 families participating, looks like it could be "The Big One!"

With a sale of this size, you just might hear me say, "Elizabeth, I'm comin' to join ya, honey!"

A Member of the "Pack Rat" Pack

Remember the "Brat Pack" from the 80's? Don't pretend you've forgotten!! You know you watched their movies (i.e. Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire, etc.) over and over again at Friday night sleepovers when they first came out on VHS. (Will someone please tell me when VHS became an archaic word?) Anyway, I have been wondering lately if I might be part of the "Pack Rat" Pack of the Early 2000's. Let me invite you to be a fly on the wall of a brief conversation I had with my husband last night.

Setting:Kitchen Table

Time: After Dinner

Props: Laptop, various glasses of ice water to beat the heat, and a copy of This Old House magazine on the table top

Husband sits down at table to check the actions of the Hesterfamily email account for the day on the laptop. Sighs heavily when opening the inbox.

Husband: "Is there any reason why we need to have 146 messages in our inbox. Can't we delete some of these? I don't know how you can stand this."

Wife: ponders for a moment the thought of deleting some, then responds " I had no idea I had that many, but what if I need them for something later?"

Husband: "What could you possibly need these for later? Some of them are 3 weeks old."

Wife: "Well, you never know. I might need to refer to them later for some reason."

Husband: Sighs again, realizing there are more important battles he will probably need to fight later and drops the subject, closes the cover to the laptop, then utters "What's for dessert?"



Conversation over.



This Friday, I am having a garage sale. If I continue to be a member of the "Pack Rat" Pack, there will be nothing in it. Tonight, Gregg and I have plans to attack the basement (once again), and see what we can get rid of to put in the garage sale. I can envision the conversation we will be having when we are down there.

Setting: Basement

Time: After dinner

Props: Various boxes, shelves stocked with "stuff," purple Rubbermaid containers to make us appear organized

Husband sits down on a chair (purchased from another garage sale), opens a box, begins to look through it, and sighs heavily.


Husband: "Is there any reason why we need to have 15 books on "How to decorate classroom bulletin boards" when you haven't taught full time in 12 years?"


Wife: ponders for a moment the thought of "getting rid" of them, then responds "Well, you never know when I might go back to teaching some time."


Husband: "Don't you think you might want some updated information, if and when you go back to it? You don't want to be a teacher with "out of style" bulletin boards, do you?


Wife: anxiety builds at the thought of being "out of style" (words she never wants to be associated with) "Of course not!! Put that box over to the side. You know, by the other boxes that have the stuff in them that I need to think about getting rid of. I just am not sure about those yet."


Husband: Sighs again, realizing in his mind there are more important battles to fight later and drops the subject. Closes the box and utters to himself, "At this rate, we will have nothing in the garage sale."


Do you know of any support groups for husbands of "Pack Rats?" I think I might know of one who would really appreciate it. Come to think of it, the next time Gregg and I have this conversation, I know exactly what I will say to him. "Honey, it's a good thing you married a 'Pack Rat.' It simply means I will keep you forever." Sweet, isn't it??? :)

A Tale of Two Connies

Today, the Lord ushered into Heaven one of His most faithful servants. He welcomed with open arms, a child of His whom had fought tenaciously a four year battle with cancer. In all my adult life, I have never witnessed such a fighter, using every weapon she knew possible to use in fighting the battle. First, she started with prayer, because she knew from experience there was no other weapon in her arsenal that could yield her better results. Then she summoned an army to join her in implementing that powerful weapon of prayer. It didn't take her long at all to find many willing volunteers for that task. They were swarming around her, just waiting for the chance to lift her up before The Father. She had a way about her that drew people to her. Her love for Christ was just that infectious.



After setting up her protective perimeter of prayer, she then sought the "earthly healers" to do what they do best, providing a medical strategy to fight the battle at hand. She made use of every opportunity before her as she sat in waiting room after waiting room, anticipating her next chemo treatment....for there might be souls among her who didn't know Jesus as their personal Savior. She wondered sometimes while fighting the battle if that was the reason she had the cancer to being with....to lead others to Him. If that was the case, she didn't mind at all. She knew how different their lives would be if they just had Christ walking through their own cancer battles with them.



Sometimes she would grow weary in battle. But when she did, she would recall the faces of her 3 children and her loving husband and muster up the energy to fight a little harder. It was worth it, because she knew how important it was to be there for them every minute she could. There were special events she missed out on, as a treatment or two would wipe out any extra energy needed to be mother and wife. She hoped her family understood that her heart was with them every time they ventured out without her, it was just that her affected body needed to stay in bed. If she was careful how she spent her energy, she would have it left for the really important things. Like when they came home from school and needed a shoulder to cry on. Or when something exciting happened in their teenaged lives, that only a mother could appreciate and cheer on.



Through the years, the battle grew too intense and the energy level began to wain. She had an honest moment with her husband and told him, "I just want to go home, John. I am so tired." He told her what a courageous battle she had fought thus far, and in his heart of hearts he knew she would be saying goodbye to him soon. They were the best of friends, and it had been so difficult for him to see her heart, body, and soul endure as much as it had.



So today, around 1pm, Connie Powers raised her "white flag" to this battle and said "I surrender." But it wasn't raised in defeat! The white flag was in response to her stains being white as snow before her Father. The white flag represented "victory" because the battle was already won a long time ago, on a cross where her Savior died. With Jesus, Lord of her life, Connie had come out the winner, no matter how her earthly battle concluded.



Side Note: In 1991, a very similar story was being lived out in the state of Michigan, by a 40 year old mother of two, and her dedicated husband of 20 years at her side. She lossed the same earthly battle as Connie did, but gained everything in meeting her Savior at an early age. She was my aunt and the one who led me to know what it meant to have an authentic relationship with Christ based on her living testimony. Amazing thing about these women besides their incredible love for the Lord. Both of their names are Connie. Must be something extra special about these Connies that the Lord really desires to have them with Him, instead of here on earth. And as much as that breaks the hearts of those that love them so, having known both of them, I can understand a little bit of why God just couldn't wait to have them all to Himself. They were just that special.

I think I am going to throw up....

Words you definitely don't want to hear from your child as you are trying to enjoy a quick breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Toledo, OH, on your way to Cedar Point. Ever feel like it is hard to know whether your child is REALLY sick or not? Clearly, I should have known. A intuitive mother would. First, there was the mention of a headache from the backseat of the Tacoma while tooling down 75N, followed by tears, and then all color draining from her lips. Still, I wasn't "getting" that it was serious.

Entering the Cracker Barrel, it was truly the Providence of God knowing exactly where we would need to sit for our future rapid exit (the table closest to the Hostess Stand). I demanded that my daughter eat something (I must live up to my reputation as a good mother) and gave her "THE LOOK" across the table that clearly signals "I MEAN BUSINESS." She picked and peeled apart a biscuit fresh from the ovens of CB, complete with whisps of steam whispering "eat me" billowing from it. It didn't take long at all for her to appear next to my chair saying the dreaded words "I think I am going to throw up." "Look Faith," I began my reply, but before I could lay another ounce of guilt upon her for "ruining" our CB breakfast, she threw her hands over her mouth, and shot a quick look of panic into my eyes. Before I could even put down the glass of H2O I had in my hand, I grabbed a napkin in the other, and darted for the bathroom, yelling "Excuse me" to all the businessmen who were standing in line waiting for their tables and their first cups of coffee of the day. ( I wonder what was going through THEIR heads as we zipped by.) I wanted to stop and look at her, just to see what "stage" she was in re: the throwing up "process" but I knew we didn't have that kind of time. We made it to the bathroom, where she threw her head over the sink, and .....well, you can guess the gruesome details that happened next. After she was through, I expected her to look at me and say "I TOLD you I didn't feel good." But she never did, she just stood there saying "I'm sorry" with tears streaming down her cheeks. Now, why is it that it takes me standing in a public bathroom, rubbing my daughter's back while she completes a process that NO ONE enjoys, feeling about 2 inches tall, in order for me to BELIEVE she is truly sick?? Mother-guilt like that can make a person like...well...ummm...for lack of a better way of putting it, feel like "throwing up."


BTW... you may be wondering if we ever made it to Cedar Point. The answer is "no." What kind of mother do you think I am?? :)

Outside my comfort zone

For a long while, I have been toying with the idea of having my own blog page. But each time I thought about it, I would talk myself out of it, reserving the right for those who were more hip and computer savvy than me. However, lately I feel like there is so much I would like to write about...so much on my heart and mind...I just need the "write" :) forum to do it in. I have played around with writing since I was "knee high to a grasshopper." Back in those days, you had to be a published writer to ever have your voice "heard." I am grateful for the opportunity to experiment with this creative "path of prose" and hope that you will enjoy it as well. Maybe this blog page will only serve as God's tool to allow my heart's expression to be exposed only to myself. I have no expectations (hard to believe) and will just see where it takes me.