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September is the new August

My dear friend has this...well, it's not a saying, it's more a fact that most people in her life know. August is busy, crazy busy, and just plain crazy. The two of us talk to each other several times during the week - sometimes more than once per day - but in August, you can see the proverbial tumbleweeds rolling across the dusty, western type streets. Communication is at the lowest possible, all that is heard are the necessary cries for help and extra prayer to get through the day.

I realized today that my September is similar to her August. However, mine is not just one month. It is stretched to include the last two weeks of August. I just want summer to be over - isn't that awful?? (It is still too hot, so even though some people are starting to be sad that it's fall, it still feels like summer to me - when it's 93 degrees, I just can't call it fall, sorry.) I am so busy, it's crazy. It all needs to be done, it's not worthless (for the most part), but it's crazy busy. And, of course, there literally isn't enough time in a day. Some days I actually contemplate grabbing the blanket from the back of my chair, and the sweater too, and curling up on a pew in the sanctuary for awhile before I have to get back to work. I have actually been asked (several times over the past few years, and by more than one person) where my room is, where my bed is, if I live there (in jest, of course, but seriously? this has to be an issue...) It's shocking that I've had a few posts now in the last couple weeks, but of course, I've not been sleeping well...

So, there are only 2 things keeping September in a positive light:
1. my birthday
2. my niece's birthday

That, and, of course, the fact that God is truly in control.
Even (and especially) when it's crazy.
Bring it on.
Wondered by Kara at 8:24 PM 1 thoughts What it's about: church, family, friends, God, Hot, work

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Musings on my Strange Soft Spot

*before you get any wrong ideas, read thoroughly. please.*
**it may get long...you have been forewarned.**
(ok, wow, I could write a book, apparently. plan to take breaks unless you have 10-12 minutes to spare.)

I have always had a heart that goes out to those kids (well, people) with special needs (especially kids; but when we face it, those kids grow up, and they are some of the sweetest people I've ever met as adults) or who have a disability of some kind. I have had very little interaction with these folks. Because of that, I am (a bit?) nervous around them. It has nothing to do with them, though. I think (when I try to examine the inner workings of my mind) that it's because I'm afraid I'll hurt them or offend them, which I want desperately not to do.

When I was in college, a friend babysat regularly for a family whose youngest (of 3) had Down Syndrome. She was the most adorable, precious, sweet little girl I'd ever seen/heard stories about. I couldn't get her off my mind.

I worked in the bookstore on campus, and one week that year, we had a clearance sale - and staff got first pick. I randomly found a book of pictures - pencil drawings, portraits of these beautiful people - many of whom had disabilities of some kind, several with Down Syndrome. I read the intros and poured over the pictures for hours that weekend. Literally. Their faces are an open book. No hidden agenda, it's all right there. Rarely do you see such intense interest in anything once a person is above the age of ... well, 3 or 4. Rarely do you see such pure joy - especially over the simplest (and yet most amazing) things. I love that book. It's on a shelf in my home, and I stumble on it from time to time and pour over it all over again.

Yesterday night, when I was exhausted, but unable to sleep, I browsed through the Netflix Instant Viewing library of documentaries (I had talked to a friend about documentaries this past weekend, and thought I'd see if there were any I wanted to watch sometime). I found one about a guy with Down Syndrome, made by his childhood friend when they were older (and still good friends). I added it to my queue thinking I'd watch it "someday." Tonight, I jumped on Netflix (ah, happiness) to watch a little something before getting ready for bed. I hadn't thought about watching a documentary. I was thinking 'half-hour cartoon/show/something stupid' to unwind. But nothing hit me right. I kept going in circles, unable to make a decision...except I kept coming back to Up Syndrome. So I decided to start it (on Netflix, it's about an hour long). I watched about 15 minutes before I had to make a statement on Facebook about how wonderful it is, complete with the link to the trailer. I watched 35 minutes before I could make myself turn it off to attempt the other stuff I needed to do. While watching it, I went in my room for a blanket/sweatshirt (windows open, breezy, I was cold), and I saw the shelf. That shelf. I pulled the book. I poured. The inspiration hit. I started writing.

I went back and forth.
Do I write this?
How do I do it so I don't offend anyone?
How do I make myself clear on what I do/feel/think, when I'm still not 100% sure that I've got it all figured out?

Isn't that the point of this whole thing? To wonder about stuff? To get out the feelings, the thoughts, the ideas?

YES. Yes, it is.

Most people know I have a HUGE soft spot for kids. I love them. They are hilarious, they are sweet, they are funny. They can be crazy, rude, disrespectful (I mostly blame the parents, but sin, of course, is a large factor too), naughty. But they are precious. They see so many things so simply. I can connect with a child so quickly, so deeply. When they hurt, it makes me hurt. I want to make everything better for them - not easy, better. I want each child to grow up strong, faithful, knowing that God is so much bigger than even they can imagine - and they can imagine much more than most of us.

Kids with disabilities like Down Syndrome (or any - physical, mental, emotional - for that matter) strike me the same way - and yet differently. Their lives are so much more complicated in some ways, so much more simple in others. The life experience they've been dealt is a direct result of sin in the world - what did they do to deserve it? No more than I did to be where I am.

Again, when I was in college, there was this great place where many developmentally disabled people live and work. They also work in several of the businesses in the area, including the local Panera, McDonalds, and on campus at the dining hall and the student center. One of my classes required time in a small group (3 college students, 3 friends from this place, and their 2 helpers) 2-3 times per week for the majority of the semester. I can only remember one of their names, but they were amazing. The sweet girl was so quiet, but if you got her going on something she liked, man, she could be occupied for hours - she'd even get up enough courage to tell you almost a sentence and a half about it. Daniel on the other hand, was by far the most outgoing. He wanted to make sure you knew as much as he did about everything around him. He told us about each day at work when we saw him. He told us about shooting pool and how to make sure the balls went in the holes. He loved to walk from the cafeteria to the rec center. The days he was not smiling were few and far between.

Ok, so back to my statement about being nervous around these special people. I have realized as I wrote this that I have had more interaction than I thought. There was also a handful of little kids at my church (nursery through early elementary) that I had (minimal to weekly) interaction with over the past few "ministry seasons" (years). One LOVED to tell jokes of any kind, especially the kind that make no sense whatsoever. One was a sweet infant who smiled more than any other baby I've seen - including the one I'm biased about. One was always jumping and running to his classroom to learn about Jesus. So awesome. Maybe part of my issue is that it's still a new person - someone I don't know yet. I have some shyness in that way (regardless of age or gender or anything else), and it can present itself in a stand-off-ish, I'm-too-good-for-you, or I-don't-know-how-to-handle-you kind of way sometimes (so I've been told). I think this is magnified by the reasons I listed earlier. I really don't want anyone I am interacting with to feel rejected, on the fringe, like an outcast, or that their being included because "I have to." I want them to feel loved. To feel wanted. To see God through me.

Pray for these people. They are often misunderstood. Pray for their families. They have been through much together. Pray for others around them, that interactions would be positive, not negative. Pray for the church, that it would not have a reputation of neglecting these important souls. Love these people. It's one of the best things you can do.

I recommend looking at the pictures from the book (see link above). I recommend watching at least part of the documentary if you can find it (link above, another one here.)

One last thought. I have contemplated through the years the idea of adoption. Since college, that thought has included the thought of a special needs child. Now, I know I am no where near ready to do any kind of adopting at this point. I don't know if that is even something God wants for me. It scares me to think I could be a parent to a child (naturally or otherwise) with such needs that I know so little about. But I would rather figure it out, leaning on God (with my future spouse; I don't really think I'd like to parent alone if I had the choice), and loving that child to the best of HIS ability. It is a ... thing ... in my heart. I don't have a good word. I don't know if it's a desire. All I know is, I love to love kids. I love to help them learn and grow. I love to see them making sense of things, figuring it out. I love seeing them singing praises to Jesus (I'm getting a lump in my throat just thinking about it). If God wants me to be the parent of a child who has extra hurdles to jump, I don't want to be closed to the idea. I want to embrace it, that sweet child, my family, and Him, and see what amazing things He can do.

All praises be to the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, He is wonderful!
Revelation 19
Wondered by Kara at 11:18 PM 0 thoughts What it's about: Bible, books, documentary, down syndrome, friends, prayer

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Please read this, it'll do you good

as it did me.
(click here)
good writing, interesting as always.

don't have a long attention span/a lot of time?
start immediately after the lists, read to the bottom.

then listen to this:
Meteor Shower, by Owl City

favorite lines, courtesy of Adam:
I am not my own
For I have been made new
Please don’t let me go
I desperately need You
Wondered by Kara at 9:41 AM 0 thoughts What it's about: faith, God, music, owl city

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Going into Monday...

As I prepare to head to bed, I thought I'd better get these -ahem- thoughts down before I forgot. Because I think I'll need to remember them a few times this week.

I serve a great and mighty God, Who has gone above and beyond anything I can even imagine - I can't even come close to actually comprehending what He's done for me - and how much He loves me. He has given me gifts (relationships with people, helping others, singing, playing the piano, listening, praying, I could sit and think of more, but let's move on) that I can use better than someone who hasn't got those gifts from Him. My responsibility is to do the very best that I can in this world, in the situations that present themselves on a weekly, daily, hourly (minutely?) basis. As long as that is my goal (glorifying Him by using the gifts He's graciously given me), there is no such thing as failure. No matter what does or does not get accomplished in this place, in the world, in my life, my job, my relationships with others, if (IF) I am truly doing my best FOR HIM, I cannot fail. He won't let me fall and smudge His Name. I do not (absolutely do not, no chance, no question about it) have enough strength or force of will to do that day in day out - sometimes even hour or minute in or out - but He does.

Therein lies my confidence. My ability to persevere. My ability to continually pray to the One Who is my Rock, my Strength, my Guide, my Protector, my Savior, my Peace. Because of these things (promises He's made to me - not that it'll be easy, but that He will never leave my side), I can be content in Him. It doesn't mean I have to like the situation(s), but I have to trust Him, have confidence in Him. And because I know that He's the One in charge, I can be truly fearless in the fact that I am His, He is mine (!), and He knows what's gonna happen even when I don't (which is almost always). Peace that transcends understanding. Contentment.

Glory to God, forever.
Wondered by Kara at 10:57 PM 0 thoughts What it's about: Bible, friends, God's will, prayer, strength of God, work, worship

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

It's a good time for a pick-me-up

And these things did the trick:
1. conversation with a wonderful friend
2. prayers of that friend, and another, both of whom love me
3. dinner and conversation with my dad and my youngest brother (on his first night back from the uk)
4. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (stupid, silly, wonderful
cartoon -thanks to Hulu)
5. The Smurfs (classic) (thanks to Hulu, again)
6. Little Dorrit, BBC version (always the best)
7. finishing Blue Like Jazz (hoping to anyway)
8. all of this with windows open (day 2), no air on all day
(freshness, joy)
9. the idea of a donut breakfast in the morning...

Hopefully, it'll last me through... Friday, when I get to see yet another friend, whom I've not seen since May!

Headache? Yes.
Surviving? Because God is good.
Wondered by Kara at 9:41 PM 0 thoughts What it's about: family, friends, hope, love, reading, television, tough day

PIck up the Phone

This is my new ringtone.
Recently (re)discovered Hoops & Yoyo.

*happy sigh*
AND, they have an app - not just for the ever-ahead-iPhone, but also for my Droid.

*happier sigh*
followed by
*huge grin*
Wondered by Kara at 8:56 AM 0 thoughts What it's about: happy, hoops, phone calls, yoyo


Yes, this post is a shout out

to the fabulous Alicia.

I just can't help it.
this is the best, and i'm pretty sure our life's goal will now be to make her/my plan (see this post, and my comment to it) work out. and soon.

*sigh of contentment*

*eye-rolling of knowing-it'll-be-hard-to-make-happen (and doubt)*
Wondered by Kara at 1:40 AM 1 thoughts What it's about: friends, plans, travel

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The missing posts

Yes, they exist... but this isn't it.

I will post soon, giving details of events gone by, vacations taken, and general thoughts...beware...they could get long... (!)

This is just a (little) note to assure that I have not (as some might believe) gone missing, or anything of the sort to scare or alarm you.

Sit tight, we're in the (next) busy season (Reason #1, and thus partial reason for not posting much). Reason #2 is that my computer has decided it doesn't like to work. At least not long enough to make it worth trying. So, I'll be saving oodles of money to make it happen... sometime... Until then, I'll either fight it or write snipits during my "break" at work.

The promise to return has been given. Trust it. ;)
Wondered by Kara at 12:47 PM 0 thoughts What it's about: fall, missing, posting, promise, vacation

what I'm listening to right now... ReadIt1st via kwout choose a different language! Sarah's Key
by Tatiana de Rosnay North and South
by Elizabeth Gaskell past wanderings check it