Adventures of the Supersized 6

So we had plenty going on today. I was up early and took my mother in love to work. Which it is always nice to chit chat on the drive. And I enjoy doing what I can for my in law's since they do so much for us. Then I was to take my van, Ruby to the shop. I had a grocery list of things that I knew she needed in addition to the regular stuff. I had been given a quote by the dealership for just the replacement of the O2 sensor and I was cringing at the thought of how much all my repairs were going to cost. But I didn't have time to stress over that, I was due for a huge biology lab test. I had been stressing over this test for a few days, studying like mad. This instructor was ver demanding and very picky about details so I had to be in tip-top form. I am not sure if it was the extra studying, or my grasp of the material covered but I sailed through the test with great amazement. On my way home from school I heard that Ruby would be ready after Aaron needs to leave, but before I need to get the kids. Hmmm.... Nikki to the rescue. She and Abby took Annika and myself to pick up Ruby. To my surprise I did not need the brakes I thought I would need, nor the alignment that I was expecting. All of Ruby's ills were fixed and then some and I walked out paying less than the dealerships cost for one of the 4 things that my van got today!! That was amazing! Ruby runs like an champ, or should I say princess now. She is a girl car ya know. Now I just need to give her a bath.

So we come home and the phone is ringing...physical therapy appointments...check...Occupational therapy appointments...check...dentist...check. Boys are bugging me to help with homework...check. They run off into the living room and I hear " Oh my Gosh!!! Annika don't move!!!" I go in and all I see is RED!!! Everywhere!!! When we came after school I put her down and she was holding the clear finger nail polish which I took from her when I picked her up and took into the living room to watch her beloved "Backyardagains" while I did all the phone talking and homework helping. She must have either, A) had the red polish in her other hand and I did not notice, B) She stashed in her pocket, or C) Used her mind powers and materialized my polish from the kitchen into her (RED) hot little hands. I got the "carribean red" off of pretty much everything but there is some in the run and a little on the couch. So I don't know how to get out of fabric. But at least it doesn't look like there was a horrible accident at a nail salon in my living room.

I guess I caught her RED handed.

Oy!


TLM

I had an apointment with my advisor to make sure I was all set with next semesters classes and my entrance into the Respiratory Program in the fall. To my dismay I was told that the program was full for the fall and I would be placed on the waiting list. Waiting list? I worked my rear end off to make sure I had all my pre-reqs done and now I am going to have to wait? How fair is that? As it turns out the University of Cincinnati does not hold the credentials for the program, it is rather a joint venture between UC and Cincinnati state. There are 25 slots (at each school) for the program each fall. Since Cincinnati State holds the credentials their students are going to recieve the slots at BOTH schools if needed to fill the program. So those of us at UC are in this catch 22. Those who have been in LONGER get preference as well. So even though I have known what I wanted to be when I grew up and I have worked hard to earn a 3.8 GPA with 15 credits a semester while raising 4 kids and being a wife, I get bumped by someone who has been lollygaging along for a year longer than myself and said " Hey, I will look at Respiratory Care...", and they get in the program. Even though I got little to no "advising" from the advisor, I am going to I suppose bump someone out of the Medical Assisting program next year so I am not paying for my student loans while I am on the waiting list for a year for the Respiratory program. It will take me 4 years to get a 2 year degree, but I will have 2 degrees when I am done. Go figure.

Two steps back= a step forward.

Oh how I love December. It is the one month of the year that is full of excitment all 31 days. You wake from a tryptophan enduced slumber to the most wonderful time of th year. This year our Christmas holiday was a bit different than the ones we usual have. This year we learned a very important lesson from the least likely of places, Aaron's aunt Mary, or Bug as most in the family called her. The story is that her dad called her doodle-bug and from there she became Bug. Now if you every met Aunt Bug you would never have to ask "Have I met Bug?" because she is the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression. I heard many stories about Bug before I met her. I knew that she never did a think without going all out 110% of the way. She was very passionate about everything she did. I knew that she loved to drag people behind her boat. She loved to be on the lake, and she was very talented at water skiing. But she wanted you to water ski too. Whether you knew how or not, you were skiing. She had discovered her faith in Jesus Christ and she had a relationship with Christ that was 110%, and she wanted to share that experience with all as well, she truly wanted everyone to experience all the wonderful things that she did. She loved to be with people, and she loved to talk with anyone about anything that she may, or may not have in common with them. She had friends of all kinds and backgrounds. And she never forgot a thing. She even talked with Aaron about things over Thanksgiving dinner that he had forgotten all about. But no doubt the reminder of those things are now a comfort. Those shared interests and those moments with Bug. Aunt Bug passed away on Christmas night. The same night that Aaron and I sat watching our children bask in the wonder of their loot, But was taken from our presence and into that of our Lord. It was a hard December since they had performed the surgery to remove tumor's from her brain and her pituatary gland just 4 days after we shared Thanksgiving with her. She never recovered and the week before her death the doctors had declared Bug brain dead and removed life support. But in true Bug style she woke two days later with things left to say. Miracle? Yes! God gave her the extra time to resolve a few last details. And although I may never know what those details are, and it really doesn't matter it was a miraculous sign all the same. God blessed her family with her presence for those 4 extra days. I wonder what those 4 days are worth to Bug's children. I know what it meant to my father in law, Don.

Bug's funeral was really a celebration. She lived a lot of life in her short 55 years, but she shared enough for two life times as well. What if we all gave ourselves 110% to our relationship with Christ? What if we all gave an effort of 110% to sharing that with others and wanted them to experience that at 110% as well? Bug was a character, and she left a lasting impression. But what if we could leave the impression of Christ on everyone we pass in our daily lives? Are people going to say that about you at your funeral?

Are you going to known for being 110%?

TLM