Wednesday night, Matt and I both jumped out of bed simultaneously. The front of the house- where Asher and Valerie sleep sounded like it was being pelted with rocks. There was lightening and loud thunder every couple of seconds. It all passed remarkably quickly- the violent part of the storm- but being from Kansas, I was going from window to window looking up into the sky, trying to determine if I needed to wake up Valerie. Asher was already awake- and slept for the rest of the night, in our bed. The next morning, I heard one of my collegue's home was hit hard by what is now being called a microburst. Like me, she ran to her two daughters' rooms at the loud storm at 3 am and said, all the sudden, she could see the sky. They ran to the bathroom and her husband got her third daughter and they remained there until the storm passed. 25 of their apple trees were also destroyed. They will be living in a hotel (with a pool, woot!) for the next several days until the girls' room is all shored up, then repairs will take place while they are living in the home. Patrice said, suddenly, my priorities were very clear. I am so grateful she and her family are all safe. Patrice and I went to grad school together too, incidentally.
Then there is Sergio and Sarah's youngest daughter, Sophie Grace. Sophie got sick 3 Fridays ago and died suddenly Sunday morning. Talk about sobering. I know these friends of mine will be holding desperately to their faith, secure in the
knowledge that they will see Sophie again. There was fasting and prayer in hopes that her funeral could be held the weekend after her death so that family and friends could attend. Despite all odds, those prayers and fastings were not vein, Sophie's funeral, indeed, was held while her family/friends were still in California. The family has only been there a year and it is a tough time for them now that all family and friends have left. Please keep them in your prayers. Sergio and I were in grad school at UVA at the same time too... Weird huh.
Stay tuned for more...
This is Tina. She was my TA two years ago. Today, she stopped by to ask me to sign her yearbook (such a cutie). While waiting for my gel pen to dry, I asked her questions I had wanted to for a while- that is, about her family history. Tina told me her parents are Iranian and rebelled agaist the Shaw and had to send her to the US with their friends- her life was as in danger as her parents'. As her life has unfolded, she has been raised by close friends as her parents- particularly her father has been working from Europe to work on a plan to overthrow the government through diplomacy. I asked her how her mom got the idea to rebel and she told me the people are very aware of the corruption and viciousness of the government. I told her that their dream was that all people would have freedom and choice. Surely, seeing Tina graduate with honors and start a job as a scientist working in vaccine development must be such a symbol of hope to her parents. It just touched my soul. I felt to honored to learn these things about Tina. She is featured on my work website pretty heavily right now. She is a special girl.
I was so happy to see this book in my mailbox today. A gift from my department chair as a token of appreciation for my first full-time year. It helped me to feel special and like I am making a difference. I am so grateful for that.
These things- have spoken much to me this week. The things that matter most are family and friends and making a positive impact on peoples' lives. Things are scary in some ways, ways that cause me to cry suddenly and without warning, but I know more and more what I value the most. For these lessons, I am absolutely grateful. I am thankful for the things that have caused me to really take a long, hard look at myself and my life in order that I might be compelled to be my best self.
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