It's the Weekly Recap!

*Sunday I had computer woes. I spent the majority of the afternoon sacked out in the fat chair enjoying my second biggest time waster ever...surfing online for vacation destinations. I'm not sure if my computer overheated (it gets really hot sometimes) or what, but it shut down. After much prayer and several attempts, it restarted, but it failed to auto-recover the four hours worth of work I'd done Friday night. I elected not to get mad about it...nothing I could do anyway. Lesson learned in SAVING.

* Monday I enjoyed every last minute of my holiday. I already posted about it, but I got to hold a baby, eat Panera for lunch, and go shopping, shopping, SHOPPING!!! It was such a perfectly wonderful day. I'm sorry it took me eleven years to experience the joy that is Labor Day!

* Tuesday I got to join Lynne for a whole show! It was so fun! We did a show on our favorite quotes - and I also had my first on-air tears. Good grief. I knew that particular quote was a risky one to try out loud but I THOUGHT I could get through it. I thought wrong. But I dearly loved the show. And that night I got to have dinner with my friend Jenny. Have I mentioned how much I miss her? (Here's something YOU all missed...and you should be glad. As we were saying goodbye in the IHOP parking lot...the wind and my skirt created a Marilyn Monroe-esque moment. WOOPS!)

* Wednesday I donned my best Opie Taylor look and went to work. Don't believe me??
While at work, I played receptionist for half a day. My fifteen year theory that the receptionist is the most important, least thanked, and hardest working individual in any given office was solidified yet again. Oh Diane...how DO you remember all those things every day? You are my hero!

*Thursday was my first sticker stop at work. I already posted about it, but I'd just like to say again that I LOVE MY JOB!!! It was so fun to get to hang out with the girls and meet people...and wear a hat! Super long work day - but super fun! * Friday started out rough. I had bedhead hair (after freshly washing it...NOT GOOD), got stuck behind a school bus, didn't have my face on when I got to work...you get the picture. But it improved! :) I got to have pizza and Bible study with Marie after work, and we had the BEST talk. And in random news - I think I "arrived." Have you heard of Pinterest? My cheesy tortellini post was pinned! Shut right up!

* Saturday was a writing day!! I've not had time or inspiration to write since my Brown County Writing Retreat with Rachel this past June, but somehow this week, I got some ideas! So I scheduled a writing day (treating it like a "real appointment" in my day planner) and after my morning manicure, I made coffee and hunkered down with my computer and my thoughts! And then I got up and cooked...chicken lasagna that was SO GOOD you'll be seeing it here. Made a yummy dessert you'll see this week...and a batch of peanut butter cookies for Phats. :)

Books I'm Reading: Not much time to read this week. I did read in Jesus Calling and also started Renee Swope's new book, A Confident Heart.

Favorite God Moment of the Whole Week: I've been feeling pretty distanced from God lately, and one night I shot out a (truly pathetic) prayer of desperation about a situation that was hurting my heart. In the grand scheme of life, it doesn't matter at all. In the history of my prayers, it probably goes right up there in stupid-ness along with praying for fog delays when I was in high school. But God answered me in about an hour, and it was just such a boost to me - to know He IS listening and He DOES care - even about the stupid stuff.

Update on Last Week's Goals: Well...I did it! I made it through all the new things at work last week without completely falling apart! Only cried once and that had a root cause of exhaustion, which was SO not work's fault. I got through my two on-air days without wanting to throw up, I survived pretending to be the receptionist, I enjoyed the sticker stop...a good week!

Goals for the Coming Week: Part of my God-disconnectedness (like that word?) stems from lack of effort on my part. I get caught up in the busyness that is my life and I don't take the time with Him that I should. This coming week will be every bit as work-busy as last week, so my goal is to make concerted time to spend with Him.

9/11

I don't normally write about current events...world events...call it what you will. But tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and I wanted to do a post about that day to remember its significance.

It's with a fair amount of embarrassment that I admit to you I was unaware our nation even possessed buildings called Twin Towers. Seriously. Had no idea.

The morning of 9/11, I was in a division meeting. Once a month (or was it once a quarter? I don't remember now) all the employees from Admissions, Financial Aid, Marketing, and whatever other departments fell under the umbrella of enrollment management would get together for a carry-in breakfast and an update on what was happening within the division. As people gathered to eat, I heard one of the Admissions counselors talking about planes hitting one of the Twin Towers. I had no idea what he was talking about, or where it was.

That was really all I heard about it until later that morning. I accompanied a friend (who was my on-again-off-again boyfriend's sister) to the doctor. She didn't want to go by herself, and I had vacation time to use, so I took a couple of hours and went with her. While she went in with the doctor, I sat in the waiting room and watched TV...and that was the first I really got to see what was happening - but even then it didn't sink in.

That afternoon, I had a dentist appointment, so while I had my mouth mutilated (aka teeth cleaned), I sat with my head smashed against the chair, eyes glued to the TV above me. While I was in the chair, the word came that gas prices were skyrocketing (probably to a price we would now consider a real treat), so my dentist advised me to get gas on the way back to work.

(I didn't. I didn't want to sit forever in line on company time.)

Back in those days I was a demonstrator for Stampin' Up! and that night I had a party scheduled in Kokomo. I asked the hostess if she wanted to cancel, but she said she thought we could still meet. The guests were mostly family anyway. They showed up - and most said they welcomed the diversion to leave the TV for a while.

I did stop and pay $2304829304830 for gas on my way home from that party, and when I finally got home that evening, it hit me. Something so horrible, it was beyond my comprehension, was taking over our nation, and I felt very unsafe, even in my little middle-of-nowhere home.

My parents were on vacation in Michigain, the aforementioned on-again-off-again boyfriend had been sent out of town for work, my roommate worked nights, and I remember just curling up in bed and crying out of fear more than anything else. I worried that something else would happen that night, and I'd be all alone - and no one would be able to get to me.

It took a while for the whole scope of what happened to soak in. Because I'd missed so much of the initial coverage, I began watching documentaries and news magazines nonstop - to try to understand what had happened. And I never could wrap my mind around an attack of that magnitude.

I can't believe it's been ten years...and that I remember it so clearly.

Where were you that day?

Sticker Stop...Lima Style

Ready for a work adventure?! Yesterday was another first for me...my first sticker stop!

The station has window stickers for people to put on their vehicles...and we just got newly designed stickers. So the sticker stops provide a way us to get to meet some of our listeners and give them a sticker for their vehicle(s)!

The forecast for my day was...rain. Knowing that my hair grows to look like Monica Gellar's in the Bahamas, I went out the night before and purchased my first hat. PREPARED for rain! I was part of a team of four people. Marsha, Cindy, and Sheryl were my sticker stop-mates. We were Lima bound! My first time to Lima (which was a little over an hour from the station), so I thought it was photo-worthy.

Our sticker stop took place at Tom Ahl Auto in Lima, Ohio. We parked our van on the corner and people pulled up into the parking lot to get their stickers.
Check this out! Hat (because it was sprinkling), sunglasses (because it was bright), station shirt (to make me official), jeans (because my job is cool that way), and an apron (to hold the stash of stuff)!

Mom asked me yesterday morning, "Do they know you've never washed a window before?" MOM!!!!!!! Okay I deserved that. So Sheryl took this picture to prove I washed a window, thankyouverymuch. (We washed their windows and put the stickers on for them - and removed their old stickers if they had any.)

It did start to rain, but we persevered! My friends Cindy and Marsha, picking up prize drawing forms.

Who is too vain for a poncho??? Actually I'm too hot blooded for a poncho. I'd sweat to death! Cindy and Sheryl were wise and donned them. I just put on my hoodie and dug out my umbrella.

I loved everything about the Sticker Stop (even cleaning the windows, but don't tell anyone) - but meeting the people was the best part. Cindy and I posed with a couple of our friends.

All in all, we were so happy with the way the weather turned out. It could have been so much worse. We had about five minutes of actual rain. The rest of the time it either sprinkled or did nothing at all. We got to meet LOTS of great listeners and friends, and I enjoyed it.

On our way home, we got to have dinner together, and that was fun too. These three are very sweet and I appreciate the way they have welcomed me in!

Happy Birthday to the Mama...

SOMEONE has a very special birthday today!!
I won't tell you the number, but it's an "important" one. You know, the kind that really deserves a big party, but my sisters and I were threatened within an inch of our lives if we threw one. Since we're fond of life, we decided to obey.

There's a first time for everything.

She may have won on the party, but she isn't winning on the public photo slide show! (She'll never know. She doesn't read the blog. And you all don't have big mouths, right?)

I have a good Mama. (Even when I pick on her.) She has loved me through thick...
...and thin. :) She has always been quite a champion and supporter of me, which I really appreciate, since I sort of showed up late and threw a wrench in the plans of life.

She puts up with my quirks...like excessive photo taking...

...though not without some argument, sometimes.

Actually I think she hates the pictures. She always says, "They look just like me!" (Well, her or Wilson on Home Improvement.)

Though we have had our struggles about it, she has allowed me to grow up into my own person - even if said person does things that exasperate her, like wearing dresses that "need a dickie" and adding ridiculous flowers to her hair. :)

I can think of no bigger supporter of my career change from Financial Aid to radio. I told her my goal was to make her just like Mark Lowry's "Mama." She asked that I not tell QUITE as many stories about her as he does about his mom. Good thing she doesn't read the blog, huh?

She started early in "training me up in the way I should go" - and I credit her with some of my good habits - like daily devotions and creative Scripture memory. And it was her idea to bring back some water from the Jordan River...which I used in my baptism earlier this year. So glad she did that!

And as a gift to her today, I will not show any of the "bending over under the Christmas tree" pictures - though you have no idea how much I want to.

Happy birthday, Mom! I hope it's a wonderful day filled with much cake. I'll eat the icing.

My First Labor Day (Holiday)

* Before I get started on today's post, I just can't help saying....DID YOU SEE?? Two months, people! Two months!! Evil DST ends!!!! *
Okay. Now to today's news. This past weekend was my first EVER Labor Day weekend off work, and I decided to make the most of it. So Monday morning, I got up at the crack of nine, got ready, and headed here: Skinny caramel macchiato, please! (That way I can justify getting a grande instead of a tall. HA!)


Then I drove over to Kokomo where I got to meet the sweetest new thing...little Maggie. Her mom is my friend Sarah, who is the maker of those fantastic cupcakes I love so much. Maggie is five weeks old. Darling. She slept on me for about an hour! Finally she was in need of lunch and I couldn't help her with that, so I left to go in search of my own lunch. I wanted to go somewhere I can't go ordinarily: Panera! I didn't know they had a drive-thru, but when I found that, I got right in line. Ham and swiss on rye minus the rye. He asked what I wanted instead and I said, "ANYTHING but rye." I pulled into a parking lot (deepest apologies to my friend Marie who hates it when people do that), rolled down my window to enjoy the gorgeous day, and devoured my sammich and pickle, while I read my email.

THEN I headed for my friend Kari's house. I got to see her scrapbooks and catch up with her a bit. Funny thing happened on the way to Kari's...I was driving down 31 in Kokomo (if you're not from around here - it's a 4 lane divided highway) and I had my window down a smidge. I NEVER have my window down, ever. Messes up my hair. I heard a vehicle come up beside me and a voice say "HEY LADY!"

I about wet my pants. Great. I'm going to get SHOT in Kokomo by a disgruntled driver. I very nervously looked over...and it was my friend Sandee! She said, "Where are you going in such a hurry?" I said, "To see your daughter!" So we drove down the highway talking as though we were born in a barn and talking cross-vehicle on a four lane highway was perfectly normal.

After visiting Kari....time for a snack!
And then....oh be still my beating heart: The minute I walked inside...oh the beauty. I wandered about and just breathed the air...and made a significant wish list. Oh Hobby Lobby. How I love thee. How I miss thee.

Half the fun of a shopping trip is showing off the finds. Think you can handle it? I bought JUST a few things.... Not many, really, when you think about it... Okay first of all, I have to show you my favorite find of the day. I don't know whether or not you know this about me, but I'm pretty sure I have a broken body thermostat. I'm ALWAYS hot. I keep my house at 65 degrees. I had to leave church two Sundays in a row because I got so hot in the sanctuary, I felt sick. I have to take off my shoes when I engineer Mid-Morning because the studio is too hot for me.

As you can imagine, shopping for winter clothes is a REAL TREAT. I can't wear anything thick, and I certainly can't do layers. Thin, three quarter length sleeves are about all I can handle. Even that is questionable. So I never get to wear cute cardigans because - hello! heat stroke!!

Imagine, if you will, my joy when I walked into Kohl's and found these amazingly thin, SHORT SLEEVED cardigans. I told Mom it reminded me of that verse "You have heard my cries and seen my tears." Finally! Bekah can wear a cardigan! (They were 50% off so I bought two. LOL!!) I made the mistake of setting foot in a TJ Maxx. Dangerous. I absolutely adore this find. They're lamps. Aren't they cute??? I want to do my guest room (in my new-yet-to-be house) in black and white, so this was my inaugural purchase. Meanwhile I think I'll make use of them in my room. They might not entirely match but...details. Too cute to box up. Found this in the Hobby Lobby - for my office at work. The harvest thing is a little box and the pumpkin is wooden. I think they'll make a good addition to my work space. Speaking of cuteness for the future guest room - in black and white - this rug. I stuck my hand in it (yes IN) so you can see how thick and wonderful it is. I can think of nothing better to put my feet on as I get out of bed in the morning. (I may become a guest in my own home.) My current black heels got a hole in them (2 years ago) and I've not been able to find satisfactory replacements...until today! So I snatched those up and of course it was a BOGO event, so I got some new running shoes. Mine are okay for a few more weeks yet but they'll need replaced soon and I figured I might as well have the spares on hand!Now I know the difference between the old Labor Day routine and my new one. I used to earn money on Labor Day. Now I spend it.

And I love every minute of it.

Fall Wish List

I thought about putting up my fall decorations over Labor Day weekend...because I had the time. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I wanted to savor a little more summer.

Nevertheless, fall is rapidly approaching and as one of my favorite seasons, I decided to make a wish list of fall hopes.

* Fire Pit Fun! It's been so blessed hot all summer that I haven't been able to utilize my cute little fire pit (other than the one night when Ronda and Jonathan came over to have a hot dog roast). Since fire pits are not nearly as fun when used alone, my goal is to have some friends over for hot dogs and s'mores.

* Pretty Leaf Hunts. Of course Brown County is always the ideal location for that, but I'm not sure I have time to make it down there this fall. Though how much fun would that be...to stroll through Nashville and look at leaves on the side! :) Even if I don't make it down there, I'd love to take a good drive in the country to check out the pretty leaves once they hit.

* Pumpkin Patch! Last year, Rachel and I went to a local orchard and picked out some pumpkins - and we had a lot of fun and some good laughs doing that. But I would love to go someplace a little bigger. Julie Crandall told me about Steele Farms up by her house and it looks like a fun place to go. I think I'm going to try to get there!

* Chili, Movies, and Hot Chocolate. For those nights that are nasty cold and rainy (not that this would EVER happen in Indiana), I think the best plan is to make a pot of that pizza chili I recently discovered, watch a chick flicks with some friends, and drink hot chocolate.

* Candy Corn and Peanuts. Yes, I do think about things other than food, I promise. :) But one of my favorite fall snacks is candy corn and peanuts. Oh YUM.
These are the good things about fall. I won't think about things like...raking leaves. :)

Magazine Miscellany

One of the perks of my new job (there are many!) is that I get to read a lot of magazines. I've never felt so in the loop in all my life!

One of my strange magazine-reading quirks is that I feel I must answer all the poll questions out loud...as though they printed them because they really wanted to know my thoughts. So for today's blog post, I thought I'd answer them for you! Answers to all your burning Bekahland questions. :)

Has anyone ever thought you were pregnant when you weren't? Yes. About ten years ago, a woman who worked in my building nodded at my stomach when I walked in the door and said, "You're really blossoming!" She had me confused with another girl at work who really was pregnant. Still, I don't think I need to explain to you why I never wore that dress again.

What level of SPF do you wear? 30. When I remember to wear it. I only think of it when I'm on the beach...never just in daily life.

What is one lesson you learned in school that you'll never forget? I took a speech class in college, taught by a rather unorthodox (but in my opinion, fantastic) professor. He threw away every rule of speech-making I'd ever been taught in high school. His philosophy was to just know your topic. Don't make note cards. Don't rehearse. Just know your stuff. That way if something goes differently from what you expect, you'll be able to stay on course. I had no idea public speaking - or radio - would be in my future, but that advice was the best lesson I learned in 4 years of college.

What's always in your refrigerator? Ranch dressing, chocolate syrup, and lots of cheese. Not to be consumed simultaneously.

What is the craziest thing you've done while sleep deprived? I don't think I've done anything crazy in the name of sleeplessness, but in the last five months, I have pulled one all-nighter and 2 "near all-nighters" (2 hours of sleep each on those nights). THAT is crazy. I'm too old to pull stunts like that!

What do you do to make your mornings less hectic? Now that I commute, I have to plan ahead! I set the coffee pot the night before, and I pack my lunch the night before, too. Having coffee within 30 seconds of waking up helps make the rest of the morning less hectic. And it makes me far more pleasant.

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Sunday was a true day of rest. I needed it! I took one of those naps in the afternoon that you just can't wake up from...try as you might. It was absolutely heavenly. I spent the day reading, scrapping, and watching TV - namely 9/11 specials that have already started to air. They fascinate me - no idea why.


* Monday morning was...well...a Monday morning at my house. Braeya sleeps in my bed, and every morning, when I get up, she gets up too and goes to the kitchen with me to get breakfast. Then she plays while I eat. Not Monday. She stayed in bed, and this is how I found her when it was time to make the bed.
I put that picture on the WBCL Facebook page and during the afternoon, I heard Ross tell people to check it out. Braeya's radio famous! :) Not bad for a cat!

* Tuesday night, as you already saw, was my first ever ball game! I had so much fun taking in my entire first baseball experience (and I managed not to get hit by any wayward baseballs - though one player tried really hard to hit us - more than once).
* Wednesday I got my first taste of the end of the month (Jamie-less) at my new job. Wowza. BUSY!! It was very overwhelming...making me ever that much more grateful for Lynne's compassion. I ran into some wildly frustrating computer problems and she was so sweet about it...telling me not to worry. Bless her heart.

* Thursday was...a new month and therefore...a new picture! I know you've been anxiously awaiting. Phats...here you go! Thursday evening, Rachel came over to hang out - and we made milkshakes and watched multiple episodes of "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant." That show freaks me out. But it was much fun to have a relaxing evening at home with Rachel. I miss her!

* Friday was a red letter day!! We got an hour's head start on our weekend, which was a super treat! And Lynne and I got the sweetest note from an author she interviewed earlier in the week. The author thanked me for putting her at ease as we prepared for the show, which was the nicest compliment. Makes me feel like I'm doing something not only right...but worthwhile! And she included this bookmark, which has the perfect words on it:
(In case you can't read it, it says, "God delights in turning the pages of our lives so that He can write exciting new chapters." - Roy Lessin)

And when I got home, the UPS man came to visit. When I went to the door, he said, "I sure am delivering a lot of textbooks today! I said, "This is no textbook - this is a SCRAPBOOK!"

PLUS - my parents surprised me by replacing my kitchen faucet. (All in the name of a marketed house.)

* Saturday was a glorious day at home. For as much as I like to be on the go, I adore being home. I slept in until ten, did a lot of reading, worked around the house, did some chores, and watched the Little House on the Prairie marathon on Hallmark. Sigh of happiness.

Books I'm Reading: Continued reading in Jesus Calling each day. FINISHED reading Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies - a book that releases officially in October. Absolutely fell in love with it. It made me want to write...such an inspiration! STARTED AND FINISHED two other books: Tending the Soul, which is a collection of short devotionals written by several popular women's authors, and A Woman's Walk in Grace by Catherine Martin. Found several challenging parts in that book!!

Favorite God Moment of the Whole Week: Friday night, I sat down to read and pray, and I realized that my journaling hadn't been as intense as I typically like for it to be. That's usually a sign that I'm not spending enough time with the Lord. But this time I realized I felt so close to Him...so much so that I couldn't even put the thoughts on paper. I loved that thought.

Update on Last Week's Goals: I managed to keep an open heart this week...and I'm so thankful. I wasn't sure how well I'd do, but I kept reminding myself over and over that He has proven capable of writing my story, so He can handle all the details.

Goals for the Coming Week: Busy, busy work week coming up! Despite having a day off, it might be one of my busiest weeks yet. I want to be able to handle all the newness and challenges well. (I am going to be on the air two days in a row, I get to go on my first remote event since the parade, and I am helping to cover for someone on vacation one day. Lots to figure out!)

30 Days of You and me: Day Twenty-Five

I think this one may end up being more about you, because it's definitely pretty short about me!

The topic for today is tattoos I want.

The answer?

NONE!!!!!!

My parents are not fans of tattoos, so it was never anything I even considered as I grew up. I always associated tattoos with sin. (True story!)

Then I moved in with Angela. Or rather...she moved in with me. She and her tattoos moved in with me. I can't remember how many she had when she moved in, but I remember the day she got a new one across her back. She couldn't wait to show me. Because of where it was located (between her shoulder blades), she couldn't reach it to put the ointment on it.

So guess who got that job?

Not even kidding - I thought I was going to face eternal wrath for putting that ointment on her - as though it somehow condoned the ink.

But it did soften me a bit concerning the sinful nature of tattoos.

And then I dated (ever so briefly) a guy who had tattoos. I was so grateful they were hidden by his shirts, so Mom never knew. (And she doesn't read the blog so she still won't know unless you tell her! Ha!) Dating someone who sported tattoos broke down my wall a little more.

But I remain highly unamused by the prospect of pain from any source, so I have firmly declared I shall remain tattoo free.

How about you? Thoughts on tattoos??

My First Tin Caps Game!

Actually, a more accurate title would be My First GAME. It's a sad, but true fact about my life. Aside from a few high school games I attended (both at my itty bitty public school and my BFF's ittier bittier Christian school) and a few IWU basketball/volleyball games, I've never been to any game of any kind in my life. Well. Until now.

My friends the Crandalls (of Anne of Green Gables fest fame) invited me to go with them and a friend of theirs to see the Fort Wayne Tin Caps at Parkview Field. Didn't have to ask me twice! Sign me up!
The stadium is pretty new and I'd heard it was a nice one - with a very good view of the city skyline. Granted I had nothing to compare it to, but I was pretty impressed! And MAN - what a perfect night for a game. Not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, not too still, not too sunny, not too cloudy...you get the idea.

I have no idea who this guy is. We were trying to figure out the major league team associated with the Tin Caps. Camera zoom to the rescue! The answer? The Padres!!

I loved our seats. They were field box seats - which I thought looked like cattle pens. (Much nicer than a real cattle pen, I'm sure.) We had our own table where we could sit and talk...and a waitress brought us our ballgame buffet. (We had a little smorgasboard of seasoned waffle fries, popcorn and nachos, and then we all got hot dogs and chips too. I felt that I got the entire experience.)

We had the best time laughing and talking (the game wasn't particularly high scoring, so we had plenty of time to be entertained between runs).

The players gathered for a little conference on the pitcher's mound. We assumed they were planning an end-of-game rally. We assumed incorrectly.

I also appreciated the entertainment....like this human bowling ball game!

What a very fun night...I'm so glad I went. And here is the proof that I really was there! Final score...uh we lost. 5-1, I think. To the Lansing Lugnuts, no less. Wouldn't you like to answer phones for them? "Lansing Lugnuts. How may I direct your call?"

PS - I'm not really wearing a jacket in August. It just looks like it. Good grief.

SSMT: Verse 16

Sometimes I just need a good kick in the seat of the pants. I'll admit it. So that's why I'm grateful for this new verse. It both kicks and comforts.

So then, those who suffer according to God's will

should commit themselves to their faithful Creator

and continue to do good.

1 Peter 4:19

I would like to say that I don't consider myself to "suffer." Last week I saw my former roommate, Angela, who is living with terminal cancer...and she doesn't know how much time she has left. To me, that's suffering. I think of those who face persecution for their faith...and to me, that's suffering. I think the best I face is a strong annoyance.

But I once heard Nancy Rosinski (a hospital chaplain) say that the pain in front of you right at this moment is the greatest possible pain - because it's yours. So in the same way, the suffering in front of me right now is legitimate suffering because it's mine. If it hurts me...challenges me...it's my form of suffering, and God cares about it.

But look at this...the phrase "according to God's will" means "His gracious disposition toward something. Used to designate what God Himself does of His own good pleasure." My "suffering" has been picked out by God. Graciously picked out by God, even. It's been chosen for me because He knew I could handle it - with His power behind me, of course.

So my job is to commit myself to my faithful Creator. Faithful, in case you were wondering, means "worthy of trust, belief, or confidence." Yep. That's my Abba. Faithful.

And while I'm committing and waiting through the suffering...my other job is to continue to do good. Even when it hurts. Even when I don't want to. Even when I'm tired.

That's the part that kicks me. It's hard stuff. But the comfort is that He's behind it all. He picked out the suffering and He is worthy of my trust and confidence as I work through it.