ENCOURAGED IN HEART

This morning I had a double header…I visited both of our son’s schools in one morning.

I’d like to think of myself as a “tough gal”.  I’m an Armed Forces veteran. I was in federal law enforcement and arrested and interrogated some sketchy folks.

Ah, the good ol’ days.  Back when I asked the questions and they gave me the answers.

The interrogations began at Jake’s school .  I sat in my small lemon-colored plastic chair and traced stencils of a Statue of Liberty craft.  As the students and I bonded over construction paper and glue sticks, the rapid fire questions and statements began.

“Are you a wizard?” No, I’m not…I’m Jake F’s Mommy. “Do you believe in Bloody Mary?  Bloody Mary scares me. Do you think Bloody Mary’s real?”  No, Bloody Mary’s not real.  When I get scared I pray to God. God helps me not feel scared. “When my little sister gets hurt, she says some really bad words.  I don’t know where she gets those bad words from. I think she gets those bad words from my parents because they say really bad words when they get hurt.”  “I think Santa is my Mom and Dad because I saw them put presents under our tree before.”  “If you’re in the bathroom alone and think about Bloody Mary, she’ll come to you.  She’s real. She scares me.”  Bloody Mary isn’t real.  Sometimes friends say things that aren’t true. “I want to stop thinking about Bloody Mary.”  (As she belts herself in the head with her hand.)  Don’t hit yourself honey, you’re going to get hurt. “Wait, how’d you know my name?”  You wrote in on your craft. “I don’t think we should talk about Bloody Mary anymore.”  I think that’s a really good idea.

I departed Jake and his 24 classmates to transport the highly sought after “Mr. Frog” and “Sonic” to their first public appearance, AKA: Cal’s class.  Cal was SO excited to share his “three pets” (he’s now counting the snail-maid) with his classmates. After Cal gave a brief overview, Cal’s sweet teacher asked, “Does anyone have any questions?”  There were only a few.  “Where do you keep them?”  In our kitchen. “Do you keep it in your bedroom when you’re not playing with it?”  No, I keep it in the kitchen. The majority of questions were focused on an overall concern with the Fink family’s choice to where we locate our frogs, in our kitchen.  I felt the need to justify our actions to a room full of four year olds.  Well, Cal’s room is dark and his playroom is chilly.  We’re supposed to keep the frogs in a partially sunny room.  The kitchen has sun and isn’t too chilly.  We have them on the desk in our kitchen.

I’m left with one remaining question that is…

HOW ARE OUR TEACHERS SANE?

God bless each and every man and woman that chooses teaching as their profession.  I adore Jake’s teacher and Cal’s two teachers.  All three are kind, fun and Christian!  I know how blessed we are!

The reason I ask the above question is that after the “double header”, Cal and I went on a lunch date to Panera.  It was in the Panera parking lot where I most efficiently locked my keys in the car.

Only three hours in the combined two classes and I lock my keys in the car.  Lord only knows the damage I would do to mankind if left an entire day in the war zone, I mean, classroom!  The good thing is that according to MapQuest, we live only .83 miles from Panera.  We’ve walked there before, just didn’t plan to do so today.  So Cal and I had a fun walk back home where, from the comforts of that same home, I’m now typing this post.

God bless the mental stamina of our teachers!  And Dave, come home soon so we can go get my sexy minivan out of Panera’s parking lot!

This is just TWO much…

TWO love birds with TWO sons on earth that now have TWO African frogs that need TWO pellets of food each TWO times a week!  If only our kids could thrive on that feeding schedule!

I proudly introduce “Mr. Frog” (Cal’s) and “Sonic” (Jake’s)…

Ever since our dogs Romeo and Juliet died one year apart, the four of us have grieved and longed for a new pet.  The boys bounced back quicker than Dave and me.  We promised at the end of this summer, we’d talk again.  Don’t you know on the first day of school, Cal inquired, “Can we get a pet now?”  The boy regularly puts his pants on backwards,

but can archive the “get a pet in three months” memo? And for the record, he’s been taught many times which way is the correct way. I only let him go out this way thinking it would bother him enough to put them on the correct way…but, guess who it bothered more?!?!? One hint…not Cal!

Dave and I lamented for months, “Should we get a new pet? Are we ready for a new pet? What kind of pet would we get?”  It seemed the common denominator for both the Finkster and me was “the poop factor”…and you know we already have issues with that one.

Dog? Too much poop.

Snake? Not in my house…ever!

Rabbit?  Pellet poop…no way.

Hamster? Tiny poop and far too much of it.

Cat?  Too much attitude…and poop.

Frogs? PERFECT MATCH!

Sonic appears to be a cosmic spazz while Mr. Frog…well, that webbed fingered friend appears to need an intravenous line of espresso.  Our amphibian’s street name is Mr. Chillaxin’.

(Guess which one is which?!)

I panic stricken-ly tapped the tank three times last night thinking, “AH…I needed to do a late night Mr. Frog look-alike replacement run!”  On the third tap..he got on with his leaping/swimming self and I breathed a large sigh of relief!

As for the poop thing (why does my computer offer this graphic?!?)…the snail inside has maid duty, not this Jersey girl and that is a very good thing!

Seeing the boys delight when they woke and found their new frogs Sunday morning well, it just made me feel so hoppy (GONG!) and think of the verse, Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Wondering, what kind of pets do you have/had and what did you like/not like about them? (You can add or omit the poop factor if you like!)

Day five of five is near completed.  I do anticipate some powerful worship tomorrow morning as I re-commune with Java the Hut.   The first sip tomorrow just might go down in the history books as “the Hallelujah heard round the world”!  

I have missed coffee many times this week.  Normally I have one cup a day.  Sometimes two, rarely three and on a crazy day, four. 

I am quite proud to report that I did not miss coffee during my private time today.  I remembered that I should have missed it as I cleaned up from the breakfast stampede.

I did however long for it as I drove to my mammogram today.  It was a chilly, overcast, rainy kind of morning.  I passed the Dunkin Donuts (where my brain quickly remembered the free latte coupon I have), the Starbucks, Manhattan Bagel, McDonalds…all acceptable coffee oasis-es.  As I continued to sip from my water bottle I thought maybe I picked the wrong week to do this fast, a cup of coffee sure would comfort me right now…

Then I remembered the fresh hugs and inquiries at my Mom’s group last night, the bible verses in my wallet sent to keep my heart encouraged, the love , comments and prayers from friends and family.  God has provided comfort all around me, it doesn’t need to come in the form of a liquidized java bean.

I know myself enough to know that if I’m not on guard, breast exams can be a time where anxiety quickly seeps in.  I know the root and the root is fear.  Fear that I would suffer the same breast cancer fate as my mom and grandmother.    I felt my soul get more anxious the closer I got to the hospital, so I shot up a quick prayer.  I then called Dave and Nancy, my amazing accountability partner.

This week was not about a fast and today was not about a lump, the mammogram, or the appointments that led up to the mammogram…it’s been about experiencing an intimacy with God.  And that intimacy is a whole lot bigger than that little lump.

I wrote the majority of this post in the waiting room.  I’m learning how to wait “well” and worship God (not fear) while I wait .  Writing for me is a form of worship.  So, I had the smashogram.  Then waited.   Then, more pics.  Then waiting.  Then a new technician wanted to do another ultrasound, because the one from one month ago needed to be double checked.  Then the radiologist needed to bond the wand to my breast for another 20 minutes.  So many pics, what’s next…Glamour Shots?!

The great report is that all looks well. The radiologist believes the lump might be a lymph node and wants to do another photo shoot in six months.  After I hear that plan confirmed from my surgeon, I’m good to go!

On a day when I could have gotten dramatically uptight and emotional, and had no coffee to comfort me, I realized again that I have the ever present comfort of God.  The past five days have not just been about water, vegetables and fruit…it’s been about experiencing God, and focusing on Him when anxious, weary, craving or just being. He is my Have-All-Be-All, my Comfort and my Strength.

Finishing “The Challenge” last month was a celebration of physical training.  Finishing the fast this month is a celebration of spiritual training.  To complete both required emotional training AKA: not letting my emotions override and have me hit the eject button prematurely.

Speaking of not letting my emotions take control…please pray for The Finkster’s safety.  He just asked if he could get me something.  When I looked up at him like   He responded,  “like a lettuce leaf or a carrot?”  I smiled and told him to, “quickly, step away from the woman…”