Happy Little Trees

It’s storming today. A tropical storm that is now depressed decided to visit us here in H-town. Everyone here gets a wee bit nervous at the approaching of a storm. But in a way, it’s kind of like a bonding moment. During these times, Houston storm veterans can tell stories about the big storm in ’83 reminiscing like it was an old battle. Others get proud and scoff at the Houston newbies that get frightened by a few feet of water over the road.

Whatever the case, my own opinion is that I will pack up and leave if there’s a big storm. I might not take my jeep this time—maybe a Segway, bicycle, or a riding lawnmower, which could prove to be faster modes of transportation. But I’ll gather up some granola bars, a little cash (if available), and some t.p. and make like a baby and head out. And if I’m lucky, perhaps I’ll get another press release of my adventure. (scroll down after connecting link for the amazing story)

We got a new cafeteria at work. It’s got shiny new signs and new food bars including the trendy pasta bar. I was excited when I saw Catalina dressing on the salad bar. I love that stuff.

Yesterday, I got my food, and then found myself feeling like it was my first day of high school as I gazed around the room for a table. Every table was filled. I finally found a lonely table in the corner. And sat alone. And ate my food. Alone.

I eat alone quite a lot. I honestly like having time to be alone during lunch at work. Then I can eat really fast, and read the rest of the time. But I know there’s a huge stigma about eating alone. And I felt really weird yesterday eating alone. I didn’t have a book, and the advertising display on the table only contained about 10 words and an uninteresting picture.

Sometimes being alone is something that is really good. It gives you time to listen to something beyond yourself. It is a very calming experience. Othertimes it’s--well, just lonely.

In college, I had a good friend named Ernie who is from Malaysia. The first time he met me, he thought I was very annoying, and honestly, I probably was. I had just gotten back from a summer in NY State, and I was a little bit off kilter. While trying to get away from me, Ernie fell into a hole, and twisted his ankle, but didn’t want me to help him because he just wanted to get away.

Seconds later, I was asked by a campus policeman to drive some guy’s truck who was suspected of drunk driving. Since I had just learned to drive a stick shift, I jumped at the chance to practice. Wow. A day in my life can sometimes be strange.

Anyway.

Afterwards, Ernie and I wound up meeting in circles again, and became great friends. Ernie is one of the most unique individuals you’ll ever meet. He’s got a great personality, so great that he became the king of our campus of over 12,000. Now Ernie is back in Malaysia, and we keep in touch from time to time. He never ceases to amaze me with his business and personal endeavors. He’s an amazing person. I miss Ernie, and hope I can go visit him in Malaysia one day.

His latest project is being part of a TV show called The Firm. It’s Malaysia’s version of The Apprentice. I looked it up on google and this is what I found: click here.

I have another Malaysian friend who is coming to visit this weekend. She’s now a D.C. resident, but her family is still in Malaysia. I can’t wait to ask her if they know about Ernie’s show. I love crossed-connections.

My dad was a cancer patient at MD Anderson about 7 years ago. That’s why I originally moved to Texas. Then, I fell in love with HFBC as they encouraged and loved me, and decided that this needed to be my home. Since that time, my heart has been softened to people hurting because of cancer. I’ve been a volunteer at MD Anderson for years, and have waned from my duties because of other issues in my life overtaking my time. Lately, I’ve been missing my time with cancer patients and their families.

A few weeks ago, I got a call from one of my dad’s old high school friends from Kentucky telling me his wife was diagnosed with leukemia. They came to visit MD Anderson while I was visiting Kentucky, so I missed seeing them. I got an e-mail from them asking me to please visit a patient and his family if I had time. I made time, and I was blessed. This family let me do my favorite thing while ministering to them: we went to Target. The highest price this ministry had on my life was the cost of my merchandise.

Please pray for Cody, 19, who is healing from surgery on a brain tumor. He’s in ICU with fluid in his lungs so he’s sedated in an effort to keep him calm while the machines get the fluid out. His family is still waiting for him to officially wake up.

When I went to pick them up, the family identified me to other people in the lobby by having red hair. Cody’s girlfriend also has red hair, and was glad to see another redhead in Houston. Who knew that God could work through red hair and a red target? God is good. All the time.

-I was just hit in the head by the toilet paper dispenser in the work bathroom stall. It clunked very loudly. The other two ladies in the restroom didn’t know what in the world I was doing in there. Apparently a faulty T.P. installation.

-I carried my bible openly through the med center when I went to lunch. I needed to read it, and didn’t have a purse large enough to conceal it. I felt really strange walking around carrying it and couldn’t figure out if I should hold it cradled to my side church-girl style, or let my arm hang down with a pinch grip on it like a freshman boy carrying an algebra book. It reminded me of the same feeling like when I’ve held a new boyfriend’s hand in public for the first time. You can feel every nerve in your hand tingling, and you feel like everyone is watching. The word is a powerful thing.

-God keeps speaking to me about being humble. I feel like a big life lesson is approaching, so I keep checking my zipper and my nose everyday.

-I miss my days-of-solitude. I used to have one once a month, and I haven’t had one in several months. I gotta carve out some time. On my last one, I went to Austin, and then got stuck on the side of the road with car trouble, but God took care of me, so I can’t let that be my excuse.

-My friend, Emily, has very cute kids and I got to take pics of them while I was home. W.H. has eyes just like her. It’s so bizarre to see a mini-me of your best friend. W.H. was taking swim lessons. He kept wanting me to get a shot of him underwater. A. is her baby girl who is into pointing, and really wanted to swim, too. She just turned two.

Last week, I got to go home to Dundee to say good-bye to our home and the town.

My mom put so much work into our 180+/- year old farmhouse, making it such a great home.
The town originally was called Hines Mill and Mr. Hines lived in our house. Through the years, the town built up around our house, so we were in the center in the exciting town of 100 (now 99 since Mom is leaving).

My mom loves flowers, and somehow became fascinated with lawn décor. The day I saw flowers growing out of my little red wagon, I thought she had gone too far.


My favorite place in Dundee was down the old creek road. My mom has recently become fond of the old railroad bed.

She and a friend would walk down the road in the middle of the corn fields. My mom drove me down there on Monday to see if we could see the corn maze. It’s the talk of the town. She said I probably couldn’t see it unless I was in a helicopter, so my picture is just of corn.

The maze is supposed to be in the shape of a goat—which is our town’s symbol because it sits on top of our Masonic building. And no, it’s not a Satanic town. We love Jesus there.

I have a strong affection to corn fields. I know it sounds strange, but I really like watching it grow. Thank goodness my experience working in corn ended in the 1980s when my granny moved from her house with a huge garden. The Dundee corn looks really good this year in spite of drought-like conditions.

I’ll miss walking around Dundee, but there were times when I was bit scared of running into a coyote, a copperhead, or a crazy redneck kicking up dust in his pickup and spitting chaw. I won’t miss those times.

This past weekend, I got to spend some time with old camp friends at Camp Hollymont's 25th reunion. There were lots of cute babies and husbands that kind of stood around in the shadows, and it was so great to see everyone there.

I have great memories of camp. It was one of the best experiences of my life. My old campers who came were now graduates of college, and not just middle school--which was really bizarre. They have grown up to be beautiful young women.

I had several girls come up to me and say, "I'll never forget when you wrestled with that blow-up alligator on stage." For some reason, I cannot recall this event, which kind of scares me about what else I'm blocking out of my memory.

Here's my Hollymont Posse:
Whoops! That was my Barbie collection that I cleared out of Mom's house! Here's the Hollymont Ladies: