Praying for Katrina

While I usually like to keep things light on this little blog of mine, that's difficult to do when my heart is so heavy. This past week a dear friend of mine from college, Katrina, was diagnosed with acute leukemia after only a few weeks of some painful symptoms. She found out on Tuesday, and by Friday had already started chemo therapy. She essentially went from being a normal 26-year-old to a cancer patient in a matter of weeks. If I'm reeling from that, I can't even begin to imagine how she feels, or how her husband feels, or her family. It's really pretty mind-blowing.

It's at times like these that my faith is truly rocked. The question that haunts all of us - WHY? WHY does a GOOD GOD let bad things happen to good people? - is violently stirred up once again, and I'm left without answers. I'm not sure there are answers that can satisfy us this side of heaven, because that would require knowing and understanding the mind of God. And if I could understand the mind of God, then He wouldn't be a God worth serving - He wouldn't be my God, my ROCK that I cling to in times of trouble.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

~Isaiah 55:8-9

I write this simply to ask you prayer warriors out there to add my friend Katrina to your lists. Doctors are very hopeful that they have caught this very early and that it is quite treatable, but because this type of leukemia is quite aggressive, the treatments will have to be as well. So pray that her body can withstand the chemo so that she can ultimately overcome this.

Her husband has set up a blog to keep everyone updated on her progress, so if you're interested you can follow it here: http://prayingforkatrina.blogspot.com/.

Giggles!

While I nurse a pretty severe writer's block, I decided to award your patience with videos (and they don't require much creativity - there, I said it.) But a few quick comments before I let you see this one.

First, it's long. But when your baby is really laughing like this, it's hard to turn off the camera!

Second, the camera work is pretty pathetic. I guess I was just so excited that we actually had the video camera running during her giggles I didn't care. But seriously, I could have at least slid those dirty dishes over to the side or something!

Just don't judge me, ok? I do clean my home. And I do dishes all the time. I swear.

Thirdly, I have to swallow my pride to post this one because I'm pretty much making a total fool of myself. On camera. Lovely. Isn't crazy what we'll do just to make a baby giggle? I mean, you've done this too, right? Right? (Just say yes)

Don't judge me, ok?

And no, I'm not insecure.

ANYWAY....enough about me. My sweet girl is laughing her head off in this video and I'm pretty sure it's the absolute best thing I've ever seen! So I'll quit talking now and let you watch. Thank you for obliging me - you may proceed :)



P.S. Apparently writer's block doesn't prevent me from still writing too much.

Intermission

I finally found my camera cord today, so I'm trying to catch up on some videos we've taken recently. While I upload some of her first giggles caught on tape, I thought I'd share this little gem. I didn't even know Dan had recorded this until I was working on uploads today - enjoy!

Motherhood

My dear daughter,

Before I had you, I thought about how hard it would be to become a Mom.

Everyone told me about how much I'd have to give up.

Sleep, dates, alone time, shopping for myself, even showers some days.

Becoming a mother meant sacrifice.

And there are days when the laundry and diapers and nursing totally exhaust me.

Many days.

But then I hear you wake up from your nap.

I hear you happily talking to yourself with that sweet little voice, and the sound warms my soul.

I peak into your crib and you smile with your whole being -

just because you see ME.

It's in that moment that the word "sacrifice" disappears from my vocabularly.

What I've done for you pales in comparison to what you do for me each and every day,

every time you smile from head to toe at the sound of my voice,

every time your tiny little hand finds my own

every time you lay your sweet little head against me.

I've done nothing for you, my child.

You have done EVERYTHING for me.

I Forgot...

My sister posted some great Caroline pictures earlier this week - check them out here if you're interested.

CUSTOMER Service??

I have had a few run-ins with so-called "customer service" departments lately, and I'm becoming a bit put out. Since when is customer service not about the customer at all?? I'm beginning to believe it should really be called "company service" - because it's really all about them. And their money (not mine).


Recently I tried to return a shirt I had purchased for Dan with the receipt - it had never been worn or washed, I had just bought the wrong size. The receipt had expired. What?!? I had bought it awhile back and saved it for a gift, being careful to keep the receipt incase it didn't fit. So that receipt - the one that clearly states how much I spent on that very shirt - was null & void because I had waited too long.

"But I have the merchandise right here, the receipt right here, and the credit card on which it was originally purchased. That's not enough?"
"I'm sorry ma'am, but all I can give you is $13.00 - and that's really more than I should."

"But I spent $20 - you can see it right here on this receipt that apparently is no good."

"I'm sorry, but this is the best I can do."

Argh.


Then on my recent flight home, I encountered another customer service debacle. I had called in advance to make sure I understood all the rules of flying with an infant, and had been told that I was allowed my 2 bags as well as 1 infant item, and yes a bag for her counted. Well, SW airlines apparently changed their minds somewhere between that phone call and when I checked in because that bag that I had so neatly packed would simply not qualify as a baby item.

"But you told me it would. That's why I packed like I did."

"I'm sorry ma'am. You can either pay $50 or try and consolidate."

FIFTY BUCKS?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

No, they weren't kidding. And they even went so far as to suggest I was trying to take advantage of the system. Really?? I'm trying to "take advantage of the system" by flying with an infant...just so I can bring an extra bag?


They got a nice little note from me.

Then yesterday I sat on hold for well over 30 minutes trying to return some phones that we recently ordered (our sim cards didn't fit). I finally got a woman who mumbled so much I had to ask her to repeat herself after every sentence. I gave her the order number - meaning I clearly had the order sitting right in front of my face - home address, phone number, first born, etc. She then asked who she was speaking with.

"This is Kali Johnston."

"The name on this order is Dan Johnston."
"Yes that's correct. He's my husband."
"Is he available?"
"No, he's at work. I'm trying to get this taken care of for him."
"So he's not there?"
I thought we just covered this. "No, he's not."
"Then I'm sorry, but I can't give you the return info."
"Seriously? I'm on the account."
"I see that ma'am, but your name is not on the order so I'm afraid I can't give you any information."
I'm beginning to think that being called 'Ma'am' is just a form of mockery. "Then I guess I just wasted my time. Thanks a lot."

********************************************************************************
I don't typically think of myself as an angry person, but this sort of stuff just makes my blood boil. These big coorperations have put so many rules in place to try and protect their own assets that they simply no longer care about the customers who provided those assets to begin with. Why is everything so difficult?? Except actually purchasing something - now that's easy. It never takes more than the blink of an eye for them to take your money, but getting it back in these situations, now that's going to take some time.

Argh!! I'm getting angrier as I type!

Anyone else feel the same way I do? Anyone have any good strategies that seem to work in these types of situations? I haven't yet resorted to yelling and screaming, but I think that might be next.

Thank you for listening to my rant this morning. And if you're worked up now like me, I'll leave you with a few pictures that will make you smile and bring your temp back down to a nice simmer.

Okay, I feel a little better.

Waiting for Spring...

I took these a few days ago, but that hill you can see through the window that was sparsley speckled with snow is adequately covered again this morning. Part of me is very much enjoying a real winter, but another part is ready to get out of the house a bit more. Oh well, spring will be here soon enough.