Stuff

I couldn't think of a creative title for this blog as I do not yet know what I will be writing about. Therefore, I title it "Stuff" because I will probably be writing about a variety of topics.

First of all, I wish I could thank personally every single person who showed up in support of me/my family at the benefit on Saturday. Obviously this is not possible since I was not there and don't even know who all showed up. I must confess, up until this point I have remained completely silent about the benefit. I told Alysia and Steph that I pretty much wanted to be left out of the loop on it. I am pretty sure writing about the benefit on this blogsite would have made me a eertifiable beggar. Really, not writing about it was just a way to maintain some semblance of dignity in this whole thing. Since it's over (and I'm done "begging"), I feel free to write about it. I can tell you all that my family certainly felt overwhelmed with support from the variety of people who showed up. Forget the well-wishes and the financial support, it was just good to know that such a plethora of people are praying for us.

I cannot close this without talking a little about Stephanie, a.k.a. Steph, a.k.a. "Stiffy" to those closest to her. Steph and I go way back. All the way to middle school. She was "going with" the boy I was destined to marry. Suffice it to say, I hated her with a passion. We continued this tumultuous relationship all the way through high school (She maintains I was a judgmental "good girl". I that she was a bad-girl jock. I "prayed" for her regularly. Which, in the land of senior high youth group really translats to I "talked about" her regularly (unless, of course, you are a more mature "Christian" than I was). Anyway, after high school, Steph and I both ended up at Bethel College. She roomed with Jen Hunsberger, my long-time best friend, so we were forced to get along. After awhile, I think we both grew to find the other quite tolerable. So tolerable, in fact, we end up partnering in Shupe Dormintory's first-ever half-naked rollerblading expo. Okay, we were pretty much the only two in the expo and the other girls in the dorm didn't really appreciate it (especially Kelli and Mindy since we had to seek refuge under their covers when Janet Seeker came looking for us), but it was basically the only cutting-edge thing we could do without getting kicked out of BC.

Steph and I wound up living together for the remainder of our Bethel careers. I consoled her as she barfed over our Egle toilet because of the intensity of the pain from her ACL injury. She consoled me and helped me find refuge at the Staples' when we got kicked off campus for a week. Even though we haven't always stayed in touch as regularly as either of us would like, we're always able to pick up where we left off. I think that says something about a friend. For those of you who don't know, the idea of this whole benefit was birthed by Steph (and Eva, I think). Jacquie told me that, when she talked to Steph on Sunday, she said she felt like she had been "run over by a truck." I can relate to that. I worked so hard to organize the St. Mark Youth Group's Senior Banquet, that it took a full week for my mind and muscles to recover. So... Stiffy, I want you to know that I truly appreciate all your hard-work and effort. The fact that you would give so much of yourself for me is quite humbling.

Okay.. on to another topic. I really appreciate those of you who have been praying for my physical well-being. I must confess, however, there is one type of sickeness that far exceeds the effects of nauseau/vomiting. That, my friends, is homesickness . Although I have had a string of visitors, nothing compares to home. Nothing beats sleeping in your own bed, comforted by your own pillows, surrounded by your own smells. Everyone keeps telling me "only three more weeks...", but I just really want to come home now.