Thanks for Addressing the Problem

On Sunday, when my sweet husband was ready for dinner he had a particular craving for a certain "fast food" place in town.  It's odd that when one is sick that there can be a disappearance of any food cravings at all... or there can be really odd ones.  This request wasn't entirely all that odd and when the husband is sick I am quick to oblige just about any whim.

So, I order and pull to the first window to pay the nice gentleman that took my order.  I could tell the he was suddenly quite busy and it was a taking a bit longer than usual to process my card.  No worries.  I am in no huge rush.  As I was waiting to get my receipt and card back I look forward only to find that my order is being dangled out the window as though I was a donkey and it the desperately wanted carrot.  I continued to wait and my order was continually dangled to and fro only to know that my food was also cooling down considerably.  I was a bit astonished to say the least.  But it would not end there.  When I was finally through with my payment transaction I pulled forward only to be greeted by a fairly large man who snapped, "Well, I have been waiting for you."

I didn't really know what to say as I was taken aback by his complete rudeness!  I told him that I was at the first window PAYING.  He didn't really seem to care.  He kind of tossed me my bag, I asked him if there was sauce in the bag.  He indicated there was and then closed the window before I could say one more thing.

Fuming.  That would be one word that I would use to describe how I felt.  As soon as I got home I told my sweet husband what happened and then I got on the phone and relayed the story to the manager.  He assured me that he would address the problem immediately and that he would like to treat us to lunch or dinner and to come in on particular days and ask for him.

Yesterday, I went in looking for the manager that I had spoken with on Sunday.  I apparently was talking to a manager and he told me there was no such manager by that name.  My blood pressure started to rise as I thought that I had just been "had" by some other employee.  I again relayed the story to this manager and another manager on duty.  It was then that he did know the manager that I had first mentioned and that the other manager was new and that he was still getting used to a new set of names.  At that I was just glad that I wasn't the victim of yet another rude party.  These managers were certainly apologetic and they complied with what the original manager had promised.  I ordered the exact same meal from Sunday and they were shocked that I didn't want more!  They were trying to give us desserts (which I am not a huge fan of anyway) and much more.  I should have taken advantage of the free drink but opted not.

In it all, they were very nice and I was treated with care.  I think that if those "cravings" come again we will not be leary to go back.

ER Record

Matt and I had to make a "quick" trip to the emergency room this weekend.  Don't worry we are fine now.  However, "quick" is not always synonymous with "ER."  So, before we headed there we packed a bag of some books and things that would most likely keep us busy for the anticipated 5 to 6 hour wait we had in front of us.

When we got there, they took us right into triage where we actually saw a doctor straight away.  Then to another room to wait for about 10 minutes and finally to our little room in the back where we would wait on results. 

After it was all said and done.  We were in and out in one and a half hours!  Unbelievable!  It has to be some sort of ER record, right?  That would beat the urgent care on most days.  We were thankful for God provision and headed home to rest and recover.

"On Modesty and Going to Church" or "How We Present Ourselves to the Lord"

The Church has been complicit in teaching that there is no propriety to dress.  We used to dress to the nines on Sunday morning.  In the 1960's, that began to change - students and surfers and Jesus freaks began turning up at church in jeans and sandals.  That's all well and good - I'm not suggesting the church copy five-star restaurant and post a maître d' at the door to hand out jackets and ties to men who show up in T-shirts.  Everyone, even those who disdain or can't afford spiffy suits, should be welcome in church.  But perhaps we have erred on the side of casual.  I've noticed that I worship differently when I'm wearing more formal, fancy clothes.  I'm more inclined toward reverence.  I'm readier to meet a king.  The prayers I pray when I'm wearing my pj's are, not surprisingly, often more intimate, and there is a place for pj prayers - but that place may not always be church.  We Christians in our institutional churches so want people to come worship with us on Sunday morning that we hesitate to impose a dress code upon them.  And yet what appears welcoming, what seems hospitable, may in fact be a failure.  It's God, after all, that the people are coming for, and helping them dress appropriately may be part of preparing them to meet Him.

         -Lauren F. Winner, Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity, pg 76-77 

"There was no 'choice'."

These were words that brought great encouragement to my soul today as I stopped to talk to a particularly lovely woman today who had a sweet almost-one-month little blessing boy with her.  She was familiar and her story first came to me on March 31 as I watched the news.  You can watch the two-part (fairly short) story here...

StoryTellers: Life or Death Part I
StoryTellers: Life or Death Part II

I knew that this family lived here in Maricopa but never did I think that I would actually run into her.  Or that I would have my wits about me enough to recognize her.  OR that I would actually go up and talk to her.  Today presented such an oppotunity in a not-as-crowded-as-usual market setting.  She was leaving the dairy section and I was headed there.  I saw her face and the almost unmistakeable red hair-- her story flashed through my head.  I saw her little boy and my eyes welled up with tears.

I thought to myself, "If I happen upon her later I will stop to talk to her."  I decided that if I did see where she was I would just go talk to her.  In the baking aisle our encounter took place.  It was sweet to hear more of her story.  I thanked her for choosing life.  She said when she knew that she was pregnant, there was no "choice."  I about lost it right there in the middle of the store.  She is a sweet, humble soul.  She starts her treatments in May... and we will pray.

Driving Distractions

While driving on the Loop 101 on Friday afternoon Matt and I saw an unusual sight...

...A silver mail box affixed to a wood post...

Not so odd until you know that the mail box is smack-dab in the middle of highway CONSTRUCTION!  It's true.  There it was in the midst of all that was going on and we flew past it at about 65 MPH in the thick of traffic. 

We laughed and looked at each other to confirm that we had both just seen what we thought we had seen.  Goodness.  Then we laughed as we joked about what the address might be...

Construction Site 529
Between Indian School and Thomas-ish
East Valley
Loop 101, AZ  85000

HA!  It was entertaining and yet another moment in which I would like to figure out how to snap a photo of it without getting mauled by a car or have a variety of "waving" from passers-by.

"Faith Persevering in Trial" or "I Waited for the Lord"

I waited patiently for the LORD;
         And He inclined to me,
         And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
         Out of the miry clay,
         And set my feet upon a rock,
         And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
         Praise to our God;
         Many will see it and fear,
         And will trust in the LORD. 
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
         And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
         Which You have done;
         And Your thoughts toward us
         Cannot be recounted to You in order;
         If I would declare and speak of them,
         They are more than can be numbered.          
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
         My ears You have opened.
         Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
Then I said, “Behold, I come;
         In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
         And Your law is within my heart.” 
I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
         In the great assembly;
         Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
         O LORD, You Yourself know.

Psalm 40 1-9

This Psalm has brought great comfort as of late as we wait for the Lord to show us what He has for us in the coming months.  It's a wonderful place to be and to see the small (and the BIG) things that God is doing.  We will rejoice in them and praise Him for His works.  He is the God of all comfort.  We find peace in knowing these simple truths.  Simple, yet so complex for the human heart and mind to comprehend.  We are in a good place and these are exciting times.  So, while we wait, we will pray, love others, declare His righteousness, and seek to do our best in obedience to Him.