You know you've been really sick when...

...a fever of 100.3 feels normal.

Stay well everyone - and do your best to avoid the flu. It's AWFUL!!!

Gratitude

This song has been on my mind a lot lately. I hope you enjoy it, too - and Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

"Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Total Car Annihilation 2009

Well, we've finally got some news. Thursday morning at 7:30 I was fixing my breakfast when a loud knock called me to the door. I opened it to discover three San Jose police officers on our doorstep. (Surprise number 1). I'm thinking, "Holy crap - what kind of a parking ticket IS this???"

Policeman #1 wished me a good morning and asked what kind of car I drove.

"A silver Matrix," I said.

The reply: "Not any more."

He then asked if someone in the household drove a grey Volvo. I responded that my husband had a grey Volvo. The response to that one was a grimace (from all three officers) and the comment "You're going to want to come with us and see this."

I call out to Robb, we grab our coats and walk out to the street with our company of San Jose's finest, where we saw surprise number 2. My car, completely annihilated and smashed up against Robb's, which is also looking somewhat smashed and generally off. Oh, and it was also up on the curb and quite cozy with a tree.

Turns out some guy driving a RAV4 was quite sleepy and ran into my parked car at 35 - 40 mph. My car smashed into Robb's Volvo, which smashed into the tree and a pickup and pushed the pickup forward about 6 - 10 feet. We're talking IMPACT.

The "sleepy" (possible extenuating circumstances, more on that later) driver was okay, just airbag-bruised. Robb and I are okay, just car-less. Right now we're just grateful that:

1. We weren't in or near our cars when this happened.

2. "Sleepy" is insured.

3. I'm free from my lease. Not that I had a problem with it or that I didn't like my car, but I'm trying to find the positive here and I guess it's nice to be free from that contract 18 months ahead of schedule. I guess.

So, we're all well, but I thought I'd share since we finally have some "big" news. Thanks to everyone who sent prayers, good thoughts, and positive energy our way. We love you all!

Halloween '09

Thanks to Google Image Search I came up with a costume idea, so here are a few pics of myself and my students. Happy Halloween everyone!