Back to the south... the mess that's left

    Earlier this month I went back to the area devastated by Katrina.  I had been there six months before and I knew what to expect.  The shock of "it can't really be this bad... not in America.." had worn off. This time I could wrap my mind around the monumental task that lay ahead of me.  It was better than 6 months ago but still horrible.  Over a year after the storm it's still a mess.  Those who have returned, and there are many who haven't, rebuild- that's the new normal.  It will never be the same but I can help with what I can.  The economy is a mess, the local goverment is backwards, but I can attack mold, I can pull down flood soaked dry wall. I can sweat and work hard, I can push and pull and exhaust myself.   People displaced,  families in white FEMA trailers, Volunteers in mold suits, ruble and beauty... the new normal... it's surreal.  I said I was over the shock but maybe not fully.

What do I see this time that's different from the last time?  I see an area that is bent but not broken.  I see more Hope.  I see strangers from all walks of life, all ages, all beliefs, working hard to make it better.  Those who are seeing all of this for the first time don't realize how bad it was.  Those who have never seen it, those still at home, don't know how bad it still is.  With images of broken homes on top of crumpled cars, even still there is hope.  Those who believe and have faith in the Lord hold to Him as the only thing that stands after the storm.   Others without Christ find something to believe in... the human spirit, the will to survive, but even they must be struck with the fact that there has got to be something bigger than human effort that we can cling to.  I saw this in amazing contrast as I worked side by side with people who want to do good, but maybe didn't have any belief in Jesus to cling to. There were some amazing conversations with people who are seeking and with others that are still very hard.  I wonder what they think about this storm and if they see God in this?

Here are a couple of images that I captured to help tell the story.. I hope you can hear it. 

Chasing Plastic

A weekend without Ultimate is like a weekend without sunshine.  I love the sport, I'm not very good at it, but I love it.  The running around, the comradery, meeting new people, sprinting for 2 hours straight, the funky tan lines, and even the injuries.  Weird I know.  All you have to do is play hard, keep moving to get open, and don't forget to drop and defend on a turn over.. easy enough.

I was retelling the story of my latest injury from this weekend and started to think about my ultimate season in the form of one of those credit card commercial where the final tag line is "priceless."  My Ultimate frisbee commercial went something like this...

An old pair of shoes from when I used to be a runner... $85
official 175 gram Disc... $7.95
trip to the emergency room and ENT specialist $726.50
Another head injury a month later and no trip to the hospital... $0
Ice cream afterwards to take away the pain... $5.46
Earning the nickname "helmet" and bouncing back to play another game... priceless!

I'll miss this season when its done, so much fun left to be had and so little summer left to play in. anyone ever play Ultimate in the snow?  I'm up for trying, game on! 

One Hundred and Fouty Thousand

The faithful little car that could turned over to 140,000 miles tonight on the way home from small group.  Right before my very eyes at the corner of Summit and Kimball my Saturn reached this prestigious milestone.  It's so strange to see all those 9999s turn to 0000s and I noticed it the very moment of.  It was a very special time.

When I think about all the life that's happened both inside and out of the car in the last 8 years I get a little sentimental.  Who would have thought I'd stil own this car?   I bought my used saturn in Denver with just over 18k on it, now after one big move to the midwest, a road trip to Maine, a road trip to Philly, multiple trips to Nashville, 6 years recruiting for a college, 2 and a 1/2 years commuting to harvest and at least 5 significant out of state speeding tickets, my little car keeps plugging away...

Here's to you Goldie, you've been a good car.  

No More Chen Chen

I spent this weekend helping my dear friend Heidi Chen become Heidi Fisher!  It was a beautiful wedding all the way around and such a sweet spirit covered the whole event.  Weddings sometimes are harder on me than some of my married or seriously dating peers, but I never felt, not even once, that tinge of  "happy for them, but sort of sad for me."  Since Heidi and John met in a bit of an unconventional way and its so obvious that they belong together I'm encouraged, and reminded that God can bring two people together at anytime, in anyway he pleases, in his timing, and his way.  No matter who the couple is, or how they meet, it's God who turns one heart toward another and causes that deep covenant love to happen.  It's a miracle wrapped in a mystery but you know it when you see it.

we had a great time at the wedding and the reception where we were treated to a traditional 12 course Chinese wedding feast.  I made it through course 9 and the wedding cake then I was out.  How do the Chinese people do it and still stay so thin? The crazy cousins danced the night away, there were costume changes and new friendships were formed as people talked over the lingering meal, all in all a typical Heidi Party- but the best one yet!

Thanks again Heidi and John for the privilege of celebrating with you and congratulations!

Happy Birthdday

My parents are in town this week to help celebrate my birthday.  I haven't been with them on the day of my birth since I was a mid-twenty something.  It's interesting how easily it is to slip back into the role of being the child after living independently for many years with little parental involvement.  I'm having so much fun and being pampered like the youngest, only girl child, that I am is a refreshing vacation from adulthood and independent living I've become so accustomed to.  

We're having a great time and I'm glad they were willing to come to town to celebrate with me. Here's a couple of pictures from our trip to the Museum of Science and Industry today... yeah for play!!!