My 50th Birthday

This year, I celebrated a birthday milestone. On December 18, 2007, I turned 50 years old. While I had awaited this with great expectation, I had planned very special treats for various friends in the past and often pondered what they might do in return. I had imagined some great surprise, a big party or a special guest at the celebration; William Peterson (Grissom, CSI) was the best one I could think of.

While I pondered all this special attention to be made on me, my friends had something much more subtle in mind. We had a small, low-key celebration a couple of weeks before at Steve and Margie’s house. Cake and a couple of presents, but I couldn’t believe that that would be all there was to it. Turns out, it was and it wasn’t. I guess I still don’t get it. With my birthday being so close to Christmas, it is better to do this earlier in the month, so that everyone could be there. Steve, Margie Jim, Linda, Mitch, Rick, Becca and Eva all sang “Happy Birthday” and Becca and Eva helped me to blow out the 50 candles! We had to do it twice, so they could take pictures.

But even with that sweet gift from my friends, I still thought something even grander was in store. Silly me! On the Sunday before my birthday, last Sunday to be exact; my son Josh treated me to lunch and a movie. We went to Ditto’s, one of my favorite restaurants and saw “I am Legend” starring Will Smith. I didn’t want to go to one of the larger theaters, so we went to Baxter Avenue for the matinee. He would not let me spend any of my own money; he even bought me a cup of coffee after the movie while we waited for our ride. You have to understand that this is my 22-year-old son, who up until this fall had not had much of a job to speak of. Now he is taking his mother out for her birthday.

Now you would think I would be satisfied with that. But the tale is not over! On Tuesday, the actual day that I was born, my birthday, I was still contemplating this marvelous celebration. Up to and even when Jim came to pick me up from work, I was still not sure of what was happening. The best way to describe it is, it is like the story “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Tales of sugarplums danced in their heads!

Steve had told me a few days prior that he and Margie had wanted to take me out to dinner for my birthday. Okay, that was a nice thing to do. What I didn’t expect was that it would turn into a family celebration. When he picked me up, I asked if he had decided where we were going or was that going to be up to me. He said we were going to the Old Spaghetti Factory, downtown. And by the way, all four of the boys and the in-laws, well one of them anyway, plus children were coming, too. Okay, but I still wanted to know what surprise was in store for me.

We got to the restaurant and had to wait for a table, of course. Bit by bit the kids started showing up. Even Jim was there. What I hadn’t really considered was that the grandchildren were going to be there.

Much to my surprise, Joel showed up with both Haley, his stepdaughter and his new son, Caden, 4 weeks old. Now, Caden and I had not met and what a wonderful birthday surprise. I guess you can say this was one of the best birthday’s I have ever had. Haley, Caden and I just had the best time ever. While the rest of the adults ate and talked, we sat and made faces and played and were just silly. It was just what I needed.

Peace Camp 2007

I am now attempting to give you an update of this years Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America's Summer Conference or "Peace Camp" as it is so affectionately called. I was introduced to this back in 2000. This year it was held on the campus of Berea College in Berea, KY Now, I won't miss it! It has become just another part of home to me.

It was a great week and so good to see everyone. It is like this big family reunion and there are always some relatives that you have never met before. We had lots of good music thanks to Sy Kahn and Alecia Pagan and Ray Two Crows Wallen.
There were interesting speakers on some very interesting subjects. I went to one where Glen Stassen gave us some interesting ways to talk about bringing peace to our world. I also went to a writing workshop with Rita Nakashima Brock and learned about how to write your memories. We were also treated to a reading by Kentucky author, Wendell Berry. While I have heard Mr. Berry speak in the past, I have never read one of his books. That is going to change!

The other real important thing that we learned about last week was the status of the gulf area. Victims of Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita are still suffering and are in need of assistance. We met with three pastors from New Orleans who are working to bring attention and help to their community. The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America has been working with these pastors to help rebuild. While we were at the conference, one of the member churches agreed to join in support of the effort in the Gulf Area.

Just as an aside, my church, Highland Baptist, sent a team of workers down to Chalmette this week to help with the rebuilding effort. This was something that was planned outside of the conference, but I was glad to be able to share with the pastors of our efforts.

I guess my favorite part of Peace Camp is the fellowship with my friends there. Sometimes we just sit around and talk, sometimes everyone brings their instruments and snacks and we have a sing-a-long. I don't think it is a surprise that this would be my favorite. If you know me, then you know how much I enjoy family and singing and the building of relationships. The snacks don't hurt, either!

You know us Baptists gotta have food!!!

All in all the week was very exhausting, it always is, but this time was so different for me in that I felt more like I had come home. Last year I was so sick and didn't feel up to doing much. I really didn't enjoy things as much as I did this year. I am so grateful to God that I am feeling better and have more energy.

Listen, sometime in the near future, my son Josh is going to be posting a video on his MySpace page from the Churches Supporting Churches group. When he does, I will make sure that a link will be available. We will also have some pictures from the week, itself.

Next year it is scheduled to be in Montreal!!!

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

You know that saying, we have all heard it at one time or another. I am witness to the fact that it is true and there are times when things happen that help you to realize that fact. I had such an experience this weekend.

I am is some ways a supermom. Anyone who knows me, knows that truth. It is the truth for a couple of reasons. First, there were things about the way I was raised that I didn't think were right or fair and I wanted to do better, that is normal. The second is that both of my children are special needs. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD/LD in the first grade. My son was diagnosed with ADHD/EBD at age 5. Since rarely does the apple fall far from the tree, it was also apparent to me that this was something that my family has had to deal with in one way or another, always.

This second reason has caused me to feel the need to educate myself to help them get the services they need. It has also caused me to become very defensive and protective of them. Because I know that being overprotective is easy to do and almost a natural reaction to the situation, I have also worked very hard to be as objective in making the decisions I have made.

As a part of this learning process, I have come across people who did not understand what it was like to have children with these types of disabilities. Both family and friends had often wanted to give their "help", most of the time, unsolicited. Now this brings us to this weekend.

Some of the people who were not very understanding and gave me a hard time were members of the church I attended. This weekend I saw one of those people. Someone who I had respected when I first came to that church. this person eventually became someone who I dreaded seeing and over the years I have held some hostility for, because of the conflicts we had over my son.

I was very interested that during the service on Sunday morning that when this person , who had been asked to pray. In that prayer, was mention of forgiveness and reconciliation. I really heard that this person was trying to talk to me. I went to talk to them, after the service. That person said something to me that I thought I would never hear. I heard words of praise and support for all the work that I had done to support and help my son. They also offered prayers of healing and wholeness for my daughter who struggles.

Needless to say, I was flabbergasted and in tears. I have only been able to tell the story and Praise God since that moment. I have been thinking a lot this year about how there are so many changes going on. This incident was more proof to me that 2007 is a year for change for me. I believe that God is moving in my life.

An Update

Wow, it has been awhile since I have written! It took a lot longer to get through that surgery than I expected. I am so glad to be through with it and now I can tell you, it was all worth it.

I spent a lot of time getting ready to have this hernia surgery. It took me over a year to start the process. I was going to do this before Dad passed away and then he got sick and I had to wait. After that, I waited, for over a year. Almost too long. I was very sick when I finally had it done. I was so sick. I could barely walk, breathe or stand. I had little energy and was constantly in pain. This is a warning to those who put things off. I have learned that if you put health issues off too long you are doing nothing but putting your life in jeopardy.

Today, I am feeling so much better. I have more energy and the pain I had in my back is nearly gone. While I am not 100%, I am so much better. I can walk and stand for a much longer period of time and I have actually lost some weight. I know as time goes on thing will get even better.

Most of all, I give all glory to God for seeing me through this time. I complain a lot about my situation, but I know that He has provided for me everything I need. There have been times I have thought that I could handle things on my own. More and more I know that God is in control and that things run much smoother when I listen to Him.

Surgery

I have been deep in thought this past week. I am preparing for surgery and one of the effects it has had on me psychologically. I find myself thinking about many things. Not about death as you might think, but about so many other things in my life. I have been thinking about my children and how they have turned out. I have been thinking about my job and who is going to do the work I do, while I am out. I have also been thinking about the world situation and how I was so saddened by the spectical of Saddam Housein's execution. Now I know there are people who will not understand my feelings, but I was saddened, none the less. If you have anything you would like to say...please let me know.