Saturday, October 31, 2009

Giving up before the miracle part two

Two of my friends made comments that I thought were insightful and fitting about giving up before the miracle.

My cousin said, "I don't really like fish". Folks, this has been and will continue to be my concern, what if I don't like the miracle? What if the miracle is in California, New York, Iowa or New Mexico? What if the miracle involves Les being away for many months at a time?

My friend Jake said, "The sad thing is that the vast majority of the 5000 gave up AFTER they were fed." Ginny Owens song still rings so true for me. Here are the words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtNzOpKvPfw

"So if all of these trials bring me closer to you than I will go through the fire if you want me to".

Friday, October 30, 2009

I tend to give up just before the miracle.

If I were one of the 5,000 I would have gone home 3 minutes before Jesus distributed the bread and fish.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

When is enough, enough.

There are so many things in life that can pull the rug out from under you that I am thankful not to be experiencing- death, sickness, disaster. What we are experiencing, although it feels like someone has punched us in the gut, is definitely not as bad as it could be. Unemployment, busted pipes, low funds, questions about future, etc. I feel like my lesson is learning to be still. I tend to throw as many darts as I can at the board and see what sticks. In the past I've learned that this is not only a waste of time but can be destructive to my spiritual well-being.

Right now I'm trying to get a part-time temporary job just to help us get through the next few weeks. Les has 3 jobs on the table right now. We'll see where it goes. We just need one job. We just need one opportunity. We're in such a tough place right now but it could be worse. Enough is enough when it's over.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

It's called customer service, stupid.

I've traveled quite a bit. Stayed in all manner of hotel/motel and have NEVER had the type of experience (or even close to the same experience)I had while at the Deerfield Inn, Erin, TN.

Becasue we suddenly came down with an emergency we had to make last minute reservations. There were no non-smoking rooms available but they did have one room and promised us it would be clean and smell smoke free (impossible to smell smoke free if it's a smoking room, but that's not even high on my list of issues with this place). We made this reservation by phone. When we arrived to the hotel the front desk clerk told us that he had a non-smoking room come available and that we could look at it before we said yes. It was clean, it was smoke free so we said yes. So while my mom went back to the office to pay the money I began to move our luggage into the room. She came back gave me the key and we settled in to the room. A few hours later someone knocked on the door and told us that we would have to change rooms because there was a mistake. We really couldn't have that room after all. As she was telling us this she began to make it sound like it was our fault that we had to move. That it was something we did that caused this to happen. Specifically, move in our things into the open room that her front desk showed her.

The owner of the motel came down offered to help us move. I told her it would take a me a few minutes to gather my things. While I was gathering a family member came to help us move. No problem until I remembered I left some of Jackson's medicine in a cup on the counter. (It ended up being thrown away-although that story is suspect too) We went to the new room. Smoking room. With no Fire Alarm.

About 2 hours later the owner came back with cash in her hand. She said she was giving us our money back. Wow. I thought to myself. She's comping our room for the trouble we have had. The lady told me I had to come to the office to sign a sheet of paper.

She began to YELL at me. Telling me she didn't need this and that she wanted me to take the money. The more I listened, asked questions, and tried to keep my cool, the more I realized she was not giving me a comp room but that she was givign me the money back so we would leave. It seems that my mom had called her and talked to her about what happened and she didn't/couldn't take any confrontation. I also learned that she COULDN'T apologize. She didn't know how to apologize. The conversation exploded from there and she told me she was going to call the police on me. I had to remind her that she is the one that called me to the office. I did not come to the office to start this conversation SHE CALLED ME TO THE OFFICE. In fact, I was pretty calm through the whole thing. Just trying to figure out why she was waving cash in my face. Could I stay, must I go? The problem with going, there were no more hotels in the little town of Erin. This was the only one. Plus, I didn't have a car or I would go into Clarksville to stay. I was stuck. She knew it.

Finally, I had to call my mom and tell her that everything was okay and that she was kicking us out and that she threatened to call the police on me. My mom talked to her and it seemed to settle her down.

The next day we moved back to a non-smoking room (actually twice because the TV was broken in one room) and had only a few more bumps in the road. (Mainly her lack of accounting and the cash blowing in the wind incident from the night before).

Perhaps because it's a small town. Perhaps because there were no other choices for customers. Perhaps because she felt superior. I'm not sure why but this lady and customer service are strangers.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Absolutely need to do something

Why is change so hard? It eats at the core and makes life absolutely uncomfortable. Why can't life just be and let us be. Driving through the South I had such a peaceful feeling. Life just seemed simpler. It's not though and I know that. Problems exist no matter your address. Simplified life is a goal but not wanting to really make the changes that would accompany it.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009




Lauren
Lover of animals, passionate about books, talented, kind hearted, compassionate, patient, a good sister, a heart that reflects Jesus.

Monday, October 12, 2009

A weekend redeemed by family and being home.

Wow! Let me set the stage.

About a year ago, Gail started planning a 60th birthday party for my dad. We decided we would drive down there and then go to the beach after the party in an effort to squeeze in a vacation and visit with family. As the time approached for the party and we began to make plans, Les lost his job and we had to regroup. We decided to skip the beach and the kids and I would fly down there without Les and just spend some time with my dad and my family putting vacation on hold. We purchased our tickets and then waited for the big day.

Fast forward to a week before the party we scheduled Lauren's friend birthday at the cabin with some of her girlfriends and moms. We ended up having to cancel because Lauren came down with the flu. A few days later Emily came down with the same bug and since we were approaching the big party weekend we began to get a little nervous. Finally, two days before we were to fly out Emily's fever broke and we knew we'd be able to go. The morning we flew out I began to feel poorly. By the time we landed in Nashville I had a very high fever and knew I had the flu. It became readily apparent that I had 24 hours to get better or I would miss the party. Thursday night at the bed and breakfast (we stayed here because my dad still didn't know we were in town) I thought I was going to DIE. High fever, chills, cough, headache, devastated that I was going to miss seeing my family. Somewhere in the middle of the night my fever broke- probably thanks to the tamiflu- I decided to stay in a hotel one more night to keep people from getting infected.

And then, Jackson came down with a fever. We were going to miss the party. My husband, feeling helpless in Colorado, decided to drive out to TN to get us. I was going to be able to go to the party and he would stay with Jackson at the hotel. While I missed a ton of the fun activities I still was able to spend some time with my grandma and my dad.

The hotel we stayed out was a nightmare. The lady was like the soup nazi on seinfeld. If you complained or expressed discontent she threatened to call the police on you. Since it was the only hotel in Erin we were stuck. I guess when you have the monopoly on a business you can run it anyway you'd like. Today I am writing a letter to the corporate office and also the fire marshal in Erin.

Les arrived on Saturday in TN and we left on Sunday. The girls are flying home tomorrow. We're all praying Les doesn't get sick.

So in a nutshell that was our trip. I'm sure I'll more to say about things as the week goes on- right now I'm just so exhausted.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Sometimes I can not see God.

Les is unemployed. I am in Tn for my dad's 60th birthday party and I have the flu. My son Jackson is showing signs of the flu and we are holed up in a hotel so we don't infect the countryside.

I haven't seen my dad in 2 years and the last time I saw him he had the flu so I really only saw my dad for about 3 minutes.

On so many levels I'm just through. I'm sick. I feel like crap. I'm in a hotel room in Erin, TN that while it's not a hole in the wall it's not the Broadmoor. The blankets are stiff and not sick comfy like. My son is trying to be brave and say that he's not sick. That we can go to Grandpa's party. Bless him. By this time tomorrow he'll be sick. It's been the case for Lauren, Emily, me and now him. I can't believe this. My grandmother is coming to the party several of my aunts and uncles and my cousins.

I'm in a hotel room. Trying to find God in this. Asking for His rescue and a miracle.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Still thinking about that mouse

I hate mice as I have alluded to in the previous two posts. Let me tell you however, I have reason to hate mice. Let's start about 10 years ago when we were in the Moreno house. Old house, one bathroom, late at night, a little stomach bug going on, me alone on the toilet and BAM! A mouse ran across my foot. I could not scream because my sleeping toddlers were in the next room but let me tell you it was a little traumatic.

Jump forward five years, out in the garage, getting Obi some food out of the dog food bag, insert my hand with the cup to scoop up dog food, and BAM! The mouse ran across my hand and down my arm. Apparently, mice like dog food. We got a sealed container after that. Mice are unpredictable scampers too. They like to scamper right towards you and then dart away. They are stupid, see post below.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

That stupid mouse- part two

Stupid, as in an adjective to describe the mouse's intelligence. Not stupid mouse as in "on no, there's a stupid mouse". You know, we sleep for 8 hours a night. That stupid mouse could have the entire house to himself and we would not even have known. He could have laid back in the lazy boy, popped himself a cold one and flipped through the channels. I would have never known. Yet the "stupid" mouse has to show himself and now, well, he's going to have to be destroyed. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to creepy creatures. What a stupid, stupid mouse.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

There is a mouse in my house

There is a little creature in my house. I saw him out of the corner of my eye. It's that time of year when the critters start moving into warmer places so it is to be expected. I hate mice. I hate them as much as I hate snakes. A truly dreadful experience for me would include an enclosed space, a snake and a mouse.

Thankfully, the snake would eat the mouse and then I would only have a snake to worry about but before that could happen I would completely pass out. The mouse is somewhere in my living room. Probably under the couch. The brave woman that I am decided the best way to take care of this problem would be to call my dog into the living room. My dog who was sleeping in his bed in my room, slowly responded. In fact, not only was he sleeping but he was keeping the girls company because they are both sick. Both sick and both in my bed. Where I am sleeping tonight is still an unknown to me- definitely not in the living room. But that is yet another post.

The dog came into the living room and looked at me and said, "seriously?" Only with him safely by my side did I decide I could get up from the chair I was sitting. I went straight to the kitchen and cleaned it. Nothing like a mouse to motivate you to do the dishes. I swept the floor and vacuumed. I have no idea where the mouse went. There aren't many choices. I'm sure if I sat here long enough I'd see him again. Maybe he exited the house through an invisible door. Yes, that's it. He let himself out, tipping his hat and saying, "I'm so sorry to bother you madam. Please know that I will not return. In fact, I will let all my little mouse friends know that this is not a mouse friendly house and we will never bother you again". I'm pretty sure that's what happened. Right? Otherwise, I'm not sleeping very well. My dog is now sound asleep right next to me. I don't think he would even notice if a mouse ran past him.

I hate mice. Tomorrow I will go to the store and buy one of those mouse trap thingies and pay my daughter $20.00 to empty it.