He is Risen

He is risen, indeed!

I feel obligated to write a profound Easter post.
Today I got tired of jargon.  I'm not even sure if I can write a post without using it.  How can I express what God means to me without sounding cliche or religious?

He makes my life exciting... the way He unfolds it bit by bit in just the dose I can handle it in.

He knows EVERYTHING about me. Past. Present. Future. So He's really the only one who always knows exactly how I feel and why. That's so comforting to me. Because I know how deeply He cares for my pain, loneliness  sorrow, disappointments and how much He celebrates my joys and dreams and passions.

And then, there's how He leaves me little surprises... little secrets... little things that only He and I would understand. Sometimes through bible verses. Sometimes through money. Sometimes through text messages I get from people. Sometimes through a crazy person on the bus. Sometimes through a thought He'll give me. Whenever this happens, I smile (or even softly laugh out loud) a little.

I guess today I just felt like my life is built on that fateful event that occurred all those years ago. Because He conquered sin and death, my life can be rebuilt.  Am I starting to sound "religious" yet? Because I don't mean it. What He did is so much a part of my life. Every day. It's not something I just think about once a year. It's entwined in everything. EVERYTHING.

Thank you, Jesus for how you changed everything. For everyone.

Tired

I can't say I feel like blogging right now.

Also (and unrelated) I just finished the last active day if my Lent devotional on my bible app.. But it won't tell me I'm finished because I can't "complete" today's off day! I JUST WANT MY BADGE!

Charlie worked today. Has to work tomorrow, too. That's 7 days in a row going into a new work week. Not okay with that. (At least we get to go to church?)

safe

mrph.

what to say?

i had a fairly emotionally draining day.  i went to a seminar entitled, "Sexual Assault Fundamentals Education" or SAFE. it was a 5 hour seminar put on my the med school to inform people on how complex and entwined sexual assault becomes for a victim.

did you know 1 in 4 women will be raped in her life?

did you know that if you are raped before age 18, you are 2-3 times more likely to be victimized again?

did you know that SA victims are more likely to have multiple medical conditions? not because it's in their head, but because it changes their bodies.

my favorite speaker was a man who works at primary prevention (preventing rape from happening) by addressing men. he was... dynamic and powerful.  he spoke about how we live in a culture of rape. and how, if we can't see the objectification of women in our society, it's not because it's not there. it's because it's too common for us to recognize. which is a problem.

i'm sorry.  this is another heavy post. it was heavy to listen to for 5 hours. but good.

Bus Rides

I love bus rides.
It's the closest I come to living in the South.

Well, parts of it.  It's like putting the South into the inner city.  Which is a pretty amazing combo.

TODAY:

1) I saw a 300-400 pound cross-dresser who looked exactly like Pink. Well.  As close as she could come.

2) There was a woman behind me who had her daughter (maybe 4 or 5 years old?) sitting across the isle from her.  The mom's monologue directed at her cute little daughter went a little something like this:
"You go-on embarrass yo-self on dis bus. Set yo ass down.  If I hafta come ova theeeeeya, they goin' have ta call the pole-ice on me. It's too early in tha mernin' fur alla dat."  Because the daughter was hot on the bus and wanted to take her coat off.

3) And then a man sat down in front of me who would start to laugh hysterically (into the air. at nothing) every once-in-a-while.  When he exited the bus, he stepped into the traffic and crossed the street.  Lucky man didn't get hit.

Yep.  It's like being back in New Roads.  Just all contained in one enclosed space.

Oh yeah

I need to blog.
This weekend I need to write a welcome post for Asher.  He's just the sweetest little newborn.

Today I felt proud and disappointed. I don't want to go into it on here. But I'm sure you all know what it's like to pray for something and to believe for something and to want something good for someone so badly, but it not unfold like you wanted it to.

Even though you know He's still got good coming down the pipeline.

And it's not all that bad.  Just not quite the dream you had dreamed.

Cryptic?  Yes. Soooorry.

Racoons

Caleb is so cute.

Well, after 5 days, 4 nights, 3 daddy cereals, 2 waffles, 1.5 poopy diapers, many peepee diapers, several inches of snow, one state-trooper warning (for going 73. and having tinted windows. come on.), lots of coffee, good sister talks, a couple of mush-mushes, tons of pictures, and a thousand hugs and kisses later... I'm home again.

It was just the best trip.  I had such a good time with Susan and her growing family.

PS. I know the boy is 50% Alan and 50% Susan. But comeon. He's 100% Papa Steve.

Good-Byes

I am really, seriously going to miss hearing, "Good MORNing Aunt Seph-ie" every morning from a big, smiling, snuggly Caleb.
And then snuggling with him on the couch for 10 minutes before he wakes up enough to eat breakfast.
And holding a sleeping newborn.
And hanging out with my big sis.

It's been a good, good visit.