Seven Levels of Torment

Why is it that when we're tired everything seems bigger, more ominous and menacing? (Don't answer that. I know the reason. It was rhetorical. Good grief...you're so eager to show off your knowledge.) Today was one of those days. Short, restless night = stressful day trying to stifle that perpetually annoyed feeling. OK, to be completely honest, the whole day wasn't like that. (It just seems like it because I'm tired.) There were some wonderful interactions with old friends, great conversations with kindred spirits, but there were also some crazy people and some stressful moments. Thus, when I received notice that I had been TAGGED, I felt like I had entered into some bad reenactment of Dante's Inferno. Seven random facts? What? You've got to be kidding me! I don't even know seven things about myself right now! (See, I told you I was tired.) However, one thing I've learned about being weary, one should usually never go with one's first response. It most often is, in my case anyway, over the top, emotional, and possibly not the best option. Thus, the weary email to my dear friend asking to be "excused" from the game. (Sorry, Tara.) Well, I've gotten a second wind and have decided to wring out seven random facts from somewhere. (I can even make them up if worse comes to worse.)

1. My middle name is Joy because the first thing my dad said when he saw me was, "Joy, joy, joy." *feel free to say "awwwww" or become annoyed with the sentimentality - as you so desire*

2. I don't know how to skate (roller or ice).

3. I once spent the night alone in the Cincinnati airport due to snowy conditions. (Thanks, Kimberly, for the memory.)

4. I enjoy the original versions of stories much better than their Disney counterparts.

5. I really love Boston Baked Beans. (I used to buy them for 10 cents a box when I was a little kid.)

6. I listen to a lot of NPR on the weekends (Car Talk; PHC; This American Life; The Splendid Table; Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me; Sound Money; Weekend America; Rick Steves; etc.). Yes, some of them are wildly liberal and make me absolutely furious, but they also make me think. And I think that's important!

7. Just about every time I've had heart problems, I've told my friends I thought it was just a fluke. (14 heart caths, 7 stents, 3 bypasses, & 1 cracked sternum later, I think maybe it was for real.) Thanks to another good friend for this insight.

Yay!! I did it!! And I'm glad I did. So there, you nasty, tired, decrepit, old bad mood.

You know, there's one other thing that can cure a bad mood pretty quickly. Allow me to share it with you.


See what I mean? Have a great one!!

The Days are Just Packed

For any of you dyed-in-the-wool Calvin and Hobbes fans, you will recognize the title of my blog as the title of one of their comic book collections. I personally am a dyed-in-the-wool fan (whatever that means), so I knew that useless bit of trivia. Anyhoo, that title probably best describes my life as of late. My weeks are jam packed, and by the time I get a moment to breathe, the last thing I feel like doing is attempting to write compelling and amusing phrases with the intent of bringing mirth mingled with thought provoking profundity to the masses. *sits back in awe of the last sentence* So, there you are. I finally decided to steal this moment before chapel to at least let you know of my harried existence. ("We are here! We are here!" - Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Suess) If you can't tell by now, I am suffering from what psychologists term "flight of ideas", in which the subject's mind can quickly flit through a variety of thoughts without any seeming connection between them. That's how I feel this morning. So...how about that Bengals and Brown's game yesterday? Cincinnati fans are ranting and raving this morning. ...See what I mean?

So, as you can see, meaningful words elude me, and I'm afraid I am about to begin spouting meaningless cliches. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" Oops! Sorry, I warned you. I'd better close now before anything else happens. I'm signing off now from GBS, "where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average." (Garrison Keillor)

Labor Day

Happy September! It's Labor Day weekend, and that's just what I am doing - laboring. (Well, not actually at the moment. Right now I'm writing this post...but I am doing it in the office.) It has fallen my lot to work this weekend. I've actually gotten LOTS accomplished last night and today, and true to form, I am wildly self-impressed by it. :) *knowing smile by all family members reading this*

(I was just interrupted by some students at the window. We had a great discussion on adopting personal standards and boundaries for our lives. One never knows what a moment will bring!)

Anyway, school is officially under way. We had a wonderful revival last week with Rev. John Manley. God really helped him to preach close, penetrating messages with a lot of love, humor, and transparency. What a blessing! Since I have a personal interest in how our revivals go, I was so blessed and thankful to watch God working on our students. It is so incredible to watch tender hearts respond quickly. I hope and pray that this signals a semester blessed with hearts that are open to the voice of our Heavenly Father.

I have been reading this week about our great High Priest who made the ultimate sacrifice for us - once for all. The High Priest who is able to perfectly identify with our humanity, our pain, our temptations. The High Priest who loved us long before we loved Him. The High Priest who even now intercedes for us. On this Labor Day weekend, I remember that the great labor it took to reconcile God and fallen man is complete. The work is done, and we all may reap its benefits. No more striving and struggling on our own. We may rest in His ability, His strength, and His love. What great news! Maybe we should tell someone! :)

Hot, Hot, Hot.

"Hey look, it's that Vernon girl."

"Wow, she's been gone for a really long time. She's even lost her tan."

"I know. Sad. I wonder what great excuse she'll give this time about being gone so long."

"Who knows, probably something lame, like she's been so busy."

"Ha! Lame."

"Yeah, lame." *snicker*

Greetings from the smoldering city of Cincinnati. Today my car thermometer registered 105 degrees. I know it really wasn't that hot, but it sounds impressive doesn't it? They say the heat index has been 100 degrees or more the last couple of days. (Whoever "they" are. "They" say a lot of things. Not sure if all of them are true.)

The last couple of weeks have been truly wild with the preparations for and arrival of the incoming freshmen at the old Hilltop. My days have been spent moving furniture, cleaning rooms, sweating uncontrollably, assigning rooms, matching up roommates, praying for grace, entering data into the school computer system for billing, giving pep talks, praying for grace, checking out forlorn faces, answering a myriad of questions, praying for grace, and...last but not least...watching God answer my prayers in a quiet and beautiful way.

It is an amazing thing to tap into the strength of our Heavenly Father; to go through impossible days and find out that it truly is possible to operate in His Spirit and maintain a rest of soul amidst the madness. And the learning continues. I hope this lesson lasts. Sometimes I seem to have to learn and relearn over and over again. *sigh*

One other really neat thing I've been doing is spending time with my buddy, Carson. Those of you who have been on this journey with me for a while have already been introduced. He is a pretty cool guy. I am hopelessly, helplessly smitten. I think he is amazing.


And one more for good measure. Here is complete relaxation - with a really proud grandpa!


OK, I'm done. Life is good. It's hot, but God and technology provide air conditioning. (I really like my air to be conditioned.) So, dear friends, stay cool, drink lots of water, and may your air always be conditioned...or fresh, as the case may be. Fresh is good too.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

Well, at last the pall of reality has settled, the fairy dust of summer vacation has cleared, and behold I am back on the Hilltop again. Not that being back on the Hilltop is a BAD thing. Oh no, dear friends, it is a hallowed place, beloved by many. (Former haven of our exalted founder, Martin Wells Knapp, blessed be he.) However, my return signals the resumption of my responsible life as an adult, ready to mete out justice and wisdom and tackle the pressing issues of our day (things like curfew, skirt lengths, and chapel attendance). Ah yes, summer is over. *sniff*

However (she says again, as if she has no other transitional word), the summer was wonderful while it lasted - actually a direct answer to prayer. After a bit of a rocky spring, I did ask our Heavenly Father if He would like to give me a healthy summer, free of those nasty little hospital visits, and He did! I know He is never obligated to do things like that, but it is so nice to have those blessings when He chooses! Yay for healthy summers!

The end of the summer was blessed by a flurry of activities with friends. To name a few, there was a shower for my cousin Phil's future bride, Dana. It was a really nice occasion with old and new friends alike. (Side note: my mom made the cake. It was beautiful!)

Seeing my mom's cake for Dana brought up the painful realization that I hadn't had one of my mom's birthday cakes in many years. *smile* I'm never home on my birthday. So, I whined until my mom made me a birthday cake. No, my birthday's not for a few weeks yet. But I WAS SO HAPPY! I loved my cake so much. Not only was it beautiful (note the little blue flowers around the edges). IT TASTED GREAT! Every heart patient's dream. :)

We had some special friends over to celebrate my Unbirthday. I have known Marie & Carmelo for many years. They are pretty much in the "family" category by now. It was a great evening, complete with homemade ice cream. *gazing off into the distance in fond remembrance*

It was also very special to be able to spend an evening with several of my high school classmates. Reminiscing brings lots of laughter, and catching up with current news is always nice. We always seem to bring up some of the same stories, but they are just as funny or funnier every time they are told. We had a really nice evening together.

Yes, it has been a fantastic summer, a time to rest, recharge, and renew. I return to "real life" with a bit of anticipation and an excitement to see what God will do for my girls and me in this new school year. If you have any extra prayers that you're not using right now, send them my way. I long for some of my girls to truly meet Jesus this year and have their lives transformed forever. I want to see God do things that ONLY He can get credit for. I know He can.

You know, I think it's going to be a good year. :)