Category Archives: Personal Issues

Oregon: The Good, the Bad, and the Emotional

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OK… just got back from Oregon. In true ::Meditatio:: style, here’s my rundown of it all.

The Good
[+] Seeing parts of my family again that I haven’t seen in more than 15 years.
[+] Seeing some old neighbors again, especially since I’m essentially an adopted daughter. 🙂
[+] Meals with 12-20 family members.
[+] Banana coconut frappucinos every day.
[+] $tarbucks and breakfast in bed on Sunday. (Thanks Mommy!)
[+] Playing in the surf in Lincoln City.
[+] Bush Park in Salem (where my former neighbors retired to and where they are uber-involved in things).
[+] The C terminal at Sea-Tac.
[+] Playing in Ritner Creek with two very adorable little boys.
[+] “Desire of the Everlasting Hills” by Thomas Cahill. (Re-reading it for the first time in 6 years.)
[+] Family picture slideshows.
[+] Climbing over gates and through blackberry bushes to get to the house where my grandfather grew up.
[+] My brother’s reading of High Flight.
[+] Making it through “Let All Things Now Living” at the memorial service without crying.
[+] Blackberry green tea frappucinos from $tarbucks.

The Bad
[+] Being allergic to the entire state of Oregon.
[+] Wicked PMS.
[+] Grass pollen.
[+] Stupid meth makers who have forced states to require the signing over of one’s life to get a flipping box of Claritin.
[+] Prickliness of blackberry bushes.

The Emotional
[+] Saturday morning.
[+] Speaking about my grandfather and the letter I was putting in the tacklebox.Â? (My grandfather’s ashes were buried in his tackle box. Believe me, it was very fitting.)
[+] Listening to various family members speak on Saturday morning, especially my cousin’s kids.
[+] Sitting with crying family members.
[+] Watching planes take off and land at Sea-Tac this morning. (My grandfather was a pilot for the U.S. Navy and then for United Airlines for 30+ years.)
[+] The poem my cousin Sari wrote for the funeral service. (She couldn’t read it so it was placed in the tackle box.)
[+] Everyone taking a shovel full of dirt and placing it on the box.
[+] Saying good-bye to everyone yesterday.

'Ich liebe dich Opa' is 'I love you Grandpa' in German

On the Road

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I’m at the Red Lion Airport Inn in Portland.Â? I’ve been in Oregon since Thursday for my grandfather’s burial service.Â? It’s been wonderful to see family and hang out but I’m really looking forward to getting home tomorrow and seeing my kitties.

Will post tomorrow once I’m home.Â? My mind is racing so I’ll probably have reflective schtuff to post.

A Collect for New Year’s Eve

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From the Lutheran Book of Worship:

Eternal Father, you have placed us in a world of space and time, and through the events of our lives you bless us with your love. Grant in this new year we may know your presence, see your love at work, and live in the light of the event which gives us joy forever — the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve and please stay safe tonight!

Personal Prayer Request Answered

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I met Melissa on probably my second or third day of college as she lived down the hall from me. She was a year ahead of me but I ended up getting to know her because she invited me to go to church with her and she also was part of Intervarsity. She’s one of the few people I’ve kept in touch with since graduation.

When all the chaos started happening this week, I called her to see if I could stay with her or something because I was having to come up to northwestern Washington (where she’d moved) to deal with my family crisis. She called me back and told me she could pick me up at the train station (she actually volunteered to drive to Sea-Tac!!!!) and I could stay with her if I needed to. All I ended up needing was a ride from the train station and she also got to meet my family (who I think probably hugged her to death when they met her).

A couple days later, she called and asked if we could hang out while I was up here. My grandfather was doing well, so I said yes and we arranged to go out to dinner and talk.

We ended up going to Applebee’s tonight as well as going to the mall and doing some shopping. I honestly can’t remember the last time (if ever) I’ve gone shopping with friends and we had a really good time. We got some good conversation in and just being able to spend the time with her seriously blessed me because I miss her (she is literally the world’s sweetest person) and I’ve missed doing things with godly women my age.

So… my personal prayer request of community was answered… in a really quirky “only God would answer it this way” kind of sense.