The reason for the excitement build up!

On my modified run AKA riding my recumbent trike I took a spill and have scrapes all over. Luckily a neighbor came outside to take her dog out. She found me flipped with my feet stuck in the petals. She woke her husband up to throw my broken trike in his truck back to my house. Recently Ben was telling me about his chain being broken and/or coming off. As I was riding, I was just wondering how the chain could fall off.  I thought it was a weird concept.  It’s not so weird now!
I thought I cleaned my wounds well so I went to Starbucks. At Starbucks I ran into Sherry, my friend who is from Okinawa, Japan. She noticed the scrapes  everywhere and offered to go to Walgreens to get Neosporin but I told her I would go home because I had some. When I arrive home I realized I had many types of oral creams but no Neosporin. I got back on the bus to get some, By the time I got black to Starbucks Sherry was already gone however my friend  Joe was there. Joe was there along with Bonnie and Siamak.  I was able to say hello when I received a text from Stephanie, a friend who lives in California. She was in town and wanted to grab lunch!
Over lunch Stephanie and I had amazing fellowship and awesome discussions about life.  We talked about how God has answered major prayers in her life and her mother came to know Christ before cancer took her Home. Stephanie also encouraged me about being persistent in prayer!

Build Up

Build Up

As I  was going for a new adventure Monday morning it dawned on me why the principal talked to me… I have the District 11 Professional Development  bag on the back of my wheelchair! Now that is the logical reason for the principal striking up a conversation with me but I enjoy thinking that it's my amazing smile that displays my terrific outgoing personality that is responsible for her initiating a conversation.

Setting up an area at Starbucks I had reminders going off reminding me of an appointment. I ignored the first alarm as it was 5 hours prior to my appointment. I was almost positive I could  stop by to visit with other “regulars” before my appointment.  Surely enough, shortly after arriving, Bob2 showed up and my excitement began to fester.. Later a lady who smiled back at me like we knew each other entered. After ordering her coffee she confirmed that we did indeed know each other….my excitement grew to explosion level!.  I also met a man who’s profile resembled my brother-in-law’s. This man was Salud who is from  Saudi Arabia. He is here studying computer engineering

Tuesday As I  was going for a new adventure this  morning it dawned on me why the principal talked to me… I have the District 11 Professional Development  bag on the back of my wheelchair! Now that is the logical reason for the principal striking up a conversation with me but I enjoy thinking that it's my amazing smile that displays my terrific outgoing personality that initiated conversation.  After realizing that I met the fantastic Bah’i family minus Devon.

Last night I had an amazing steak delivered by my mother from my brother-in-law along with other amazing food from my sister  :-)  Thinking in a reverse, I also had a wonderful time with  Bid who enabled me to spend more of my life summertime at Starbucks and Peak Place. She has a unique gift of refreshing my thinking. It must be wonderful being retired but still working in the field of education as she educates me everyday :-) This definitely presents the place for a bunny trail but I just want to say that I am trying to be educateable every day (prayers in this area appreciated!

The coffee shop wasn't too busy today although I did see a few friends and did meet a new friend, Joe. After meeting him, he shared that he is also a writer. Joe and I had a nice discussion about writing and were able to encourage each other. Our time was cut short by another appointment, but another meeting was scheduled. I’ve had an awesome helper, but please pray for a job she applied for as she won’t need two jobs if she gets this one. YEAH!

With today’s excitement being low-key, I am praying for a prepared heart as I need rest and/or God has surprises around the corner. I am banking on the former, and hoping for the later. What if this time is just a build up?

Almost Summer's Closing Time

I had been notified earlier this week that I needed to find a way to Church (aka go to Rocky Mountain Calvary). I had listened to bits and pieces of the sermon and fellowshiped Saturday night and went to bed planning to watch the sermon in entirety Sunday morning. As 4:30 rolled around this morning (Sunday) I woke up thinking it was Monday. Not hearing the crazy, early morning, weekday shows on the radio I checked and re-checked the day. Slowly the previous night’s activities came to mind.  I was ready for Church in nothing flat when I became aware that the Holy Spirit was urging me to actually go to RMC this morning. Rolling into Church I was greeted by my favorite people.

As I entered the sanctuary I noticed a “friend.” I thank Jennifer Ulrich for this new meaning of friend-- when I first started assisting at Capernaum, a group of Young Life, Jennifer turned me on to the idea of calling others with disabilities friends. This was hard for me to understand at first much like it is for others, but that’s neither here nor there. My new friend, Jesse and Paul filled me with useful information and unintentionally settled my heart during worship. I relocated to the area I normally sit in during the sermon so I was able to see and focus better. The sermon was absolutely amazing and eased my worries that had been brought up, discussed and prayed for last night.  

Heading home to gather a few items, I was met by a man that I haven’t seen in 2 years. When we first met I don’t think he had a stable job and was dealing with other issues in his life. We went to Peak Place to catch up and he told me that he is now a computer programmer and has put those previous issues away!

Other thoughts that came to my mind when brainstorming about what to write for today included:

• I am the luckiest girl as very recently I have seen Bachan, Grandpa T and many of my immediate family members
• Went on my first trike ride with TRP and got to see Alan, Al and tons of my friends and their families     
• School starts in less than a month and I am so excited to see what God has planned.

Divine Ease dropping?

Divine Ease dropping?

The past few days have been busy,

a whirlwind to say the least.

And then last night my friend came over,

And with him, he brought a feast!

He mentioned he had kimchi

and odds and ends from his place,

As he began heating up the meal,

I had the biggest (internal) smile upon my face!

The first course resembled  a food called goulash,

a wonderful concoction I've not  had since I was a child.

Oh but this was only the beginning my taste buds were already dancing

but this dance was all but mild.

The entree to come was something

I don't remember ever having before,.

According to my friend  there are two reactions--

Either you love it,

or you food will soon say hello to the floor!

The first kimchi I had was spicy, as I am such a wimp.

However the next was so amazing, I was all but inhaling the food--

And told to slow down or I might become a blimp.

It was pretty early the next morning, And God had shown up every step thus far of my day,

When I arrived at Starbucks and begin to set up my “office,”

I was greeted by none other than the amazing Pastor Erik Galloway!

Again I am shaking with excitement and I’m not sure-- I don't know why…

A lady that overheard me talking to a friend and that new friend's sister has a TBI!

The connections were (and are) endless, I began to share what I do,

The lady has a daughter who works for District 11 too!!!

The next person who sat in the chairs,

the chairs right next to me,

Was a very observant neurologist

By my actions it was my brain’s injuries, that he could all but see!

I thought “this has to be it,

I ought to start praying and trying to write a poem”

Much to my surprise God’s plans were different

I would not write until the clouds chased me home.

After my new friends came and left,

A man arrived and sat in a nearby chair,

The man looked similar to many others,

Because this man, he had no hair!

Overhearing their conversation,

the Lord put these two men on my heart.

Come to  find out one of the men is a pastor,

of whose congregation I occasionally was a part!

Now the clouds were coming,

and the rain was on it’s way in.

It is time for me to head home,

And on this poem I will begin.

Future?

I am so excited about how the Lord organizes events of my day. First thing this morning I was sad that I did not get a call to go work out but then I remembered I asked Grandpa T not call as sometimes I need to sleep. Unfortunately I do not know if I my sleep will be interrupted until about three o'clock in the morning. That is when I'm either up for the morning or God wakes me up with ideas of what I need to pray and write about.

After my failing attempts to go back to sleep, I rode my trike only a little bit when, like being stung like a bee, I remembered that my sister and neighbors are having a garage sale (street sale?) and my itch to check it out began-- check it out my memory may be coming around….yeah!! I went to her house and hung out for a while and watched people come and find treasures then leave.  Two shoppers even recognized me from Starbucks!?! Then an awesome friend took me to run errands.  He (Mr Elias) even brought me dinner a while later while I was writing

While at the coffee shop, even though the shop was much more calm than normal (partly because of the crazy rerouting of traffic) I knew I was there for a reason. I was able to visit with a friend, meet some new people, and best of all I was able to have much needed quiet time. My life recently has been surrounded with praises and prayer requests that I needed to lay at His feet but it was too busy to process. Now I’m not saying that requests have to be made at a certain time or place, I just process previous thoughts better given time and when in certain environments and a coffee shop is one of them.

It’s curious how I intend to sit at coffee shops to journal and doors are opened to converse with previous strangers. More often than not these “strangers” uncover areas I need to pray about for them and it reveals areas I need prayer for as well. Ryan, one of these “strangers” was having a good day until he made it to Starbucks and locked his keys in his vehicle. What he had planned to be a quick stop in the coffee shop turned out different. He informed me that his wife works at the airport and I knew that is an a prayer request in itself.       

Finally at the coffeeshop it dawned on me that when Jae told me previously that he was going to hike Mt. Princeton today that I should have written it down under today’s date immediately! --EPIPHANY!!-- When given prayer requests about future events, record them under future date in journal!! I am so thankful for this down time I have been given.

Wonderful Surprise!

Wonderful Surprise!

Starting with a wonderful workout with Grandpa T, I new the rain was coming so I hurried to UBREAKIFIX to price getting my Surface fixed (again) and to ask about my cell phone (again but a different set of questions). Neither were open yet so I went to Barnes & Nobles. Without making it past the first set of doors (there are 2 sets of doors before actually being surrounded by books) I read a preface but then noticed it was time to go to the store.

After UBREAKIFIX suggested that I invest in a new Surface if the chip bothers me or effects the function, sadly I went to Verizon. At Verizon I was put on the waiting list and began visiting with a family who was also waiting. Sharon, Megan or Caleb recognized me or I just started talking because Caleb must have looked familiar but we never did pinpoint exactly how we met.

We learned about a few commonalities between us however our visit was cut short.  I was super excited to learn that they are Christians too. I thought we had met at Capernaum but I do realize I am great at fabricating events in life. I needed to talk with the other store so I was headed on my way.

I was given the same advice at the next store so it’s fine,  The day was so fabulous!!  I’m sure the divine appointment for today was definitely what happened at Verizon.  Thank you so much Sharon, Megan and Caleb for being a wonderful surprise!!!

Off Day?

Off Day?

My schedule did not allow my regular visits to either coffee shop today however I ran into exactly the right person who delivered a message that I know I could use everyday, but God wanted me to hear it today.

I ran into none other than my favorite mail carrier, Vicky who has been on way on a trip. She went to visit her son who had been having health issues suffering from one type of cancer. The health issues ended up being nothing that anyone could have been prepared for.  He went to the doctor for one type of cancer  but when asked her how her son is doing now, she looked at me and said, “he's dead.” brain tumors were found in his death came quickly.’

Not that I would normally have anything to say to someone who has just lost a child and was back at work so quickly, but I was at a loss of words. She thanked me for trying to brighten everyone's day  and told me not to take any moment in life for granted.This may not be a happy and peppy blog, however this is what I was given today, I'm not sure why, but I will nonetheless post it and pray for those who read it. Sometimes what you think cannot be used by God, will be used in more ways than you thought possible-- be ready! Even on a day that I feel "off," I will blog.

Be blessed!