ear infections July 30, 2008

hello again! this is day two of the new blog and I think i like this thing!

ok, so i’ve been sick for the past 11 days. this seriously stinks. I have a double ear infection and mild tonsilitis. Seriously, the pain is awful. especially in my ears!! but at least I’m on antibiotics, right? they seem to be helping. today is by far my best day in these 11 days. i have more energy and i’m not nearly as tired. plus i seem to be back on my brain game. This illness has taken it out of me! I couldn’t think or talk straight and it was sooooo annoying!

now, along with this ear infection is the lack of hearing in my right ear. it hasn’t “popped” from altitude or anything else since I was on a plane last Friday coming home from vacation in St Louis. It hurt like the dickens then and I know that whenever it does decided to pop, it’ll hurt then! But, because it hasn’t popped, it feels like its plugged up. like a huge wad of cotton is stuck in the ear preventing any sound from entering my ear and flowing to my brain for processing. So, it feels like I’m deaf. which sucks. But, i must say, that when you’re confronted with the question of if you’d rather be blind or deaf, i definitely have to say that i would rather be deaf. I can handle being deaf. I can handle not being able to hear. it would suck not to hear music, but it would be ok, since I already know how to talk. being deaf and mute, yeah, i couldn’t handle that. but, i honestly cannont imagine life without my eye sight. Can you imagine not being able to see the beauty of Yosemite Valley as you drive through the tunnel? not seeing your husbands face? not seeing the joy of your children as they grow and learn and become? not seeing the nature that God created? not seeing love? seriously… talk about something that would suck. so, let’s just say that I have a whole new appreciation for my eye sight, and my hearing. I don’t want to be deaf, mind you, but if i could still sing. and somehow have someone tell me if i’m singing the right notes, that would be ok. But, i don’t ever want to be blind and not SEE the glory of God that surrounds me.

so what do you think? Deaf or blind?

joy July 29, 2008

Ok, so many of you know that on May 21st of this year, the family of Christian recording artist, Steven Curtis Chapman, suffered a heart breaking tragedy. Here’s the official press release from his website.

MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME NASHVILLE, TN…5/21/08… At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles

tragic…. just awful! I can’t imagine losing my own child in this way. Will Franklin has to be hurting sooooo badly. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling.

Well, in the recent months and weeks since this tragedy, the family has been doing some amazing things. Steven and his sons (Will Franklin (17) is the drummer, and Caleb (18 ) is a guitarist) have gone back on the road doing the summer festivals and shows. They have been able to share some amazing stories of faith and the grace of God despite our grief. I am constantly in awe of this family and how they are sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of Salvation and eternal life in Him, to a whole new audience of people through this tragedy. Maria’s life is certainly not in vain.  Here’s a few YouTube clips of what Steven said at  his recent concert appearances, just about 6 weeks after losing Maria.

wow. i mean. WOW. seriously. Who does that?? Who can go back on stage 6 weeks after losing a child, and still be able to proclaim the goodness and grace and Gospel of our Savior? Only a man of great faith. Only a man that is standing on the strength of the Strong One. Only a man who knows loss, and yet knows an even greater joy. Joy in the Lord through knowing that Maria is safe in the arms of her Savior. WOW.

This story continues to inspire me in my daily walk of faith. Faith isn’t easy. Life isn’t easy. It’s not an easy journey to walk in faith knowing that life is short and our culture and world and society tells us NOT to believe in an eternal loving and life-giving Savior.  I am daily reminded as I read the updates from Jim Houser, SCC’s manager, that life is short, but I know that when God calls me home, I can rest assured in the presence of His arms and love. I am a redeemed Child of God. I am a loved Daughter of the Almighty King. I am a forgiven person. And because of that, I can have joy.

it is my prayer for you, that you too would meet and see and believe and know the almighty love of your Almighty Savior.

:) July 29, 2008

ok, so i really have been wanting to start a new cool blog lately. so i did! i imported my blogger blog to word press because it’s cooler. So enjoy.  I’ll write a real blog in a bit.

Hello world! July 29, 2008

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