Just the Truth, Ma'am

What a wonderful reminder I had this weekend of gratitude for Godly community and the gift of people who speak truth into our lives and our privilege of speaking into the lives of others.

Last Wednesday I got a phone call from a friend who was in a miserable, dark place in her soul. My dear Lianni had hit a really tough spot. Tough enough that reality and some truths about God and family and friends and life were all twisted up. Tough enough that I said, "So, you getting on a plane to come up here or am I coming down there? You pick. Right now."

She flew up Saturday morning. How generous God was to arrange a three-day weekend when time to talk, pray, confront, pray, decompress, pray, cry, pray, sleep, pray, laugh, and pray was so desperately needed.

One of the things that just amazed me was that so much of what we talked about was just truth. Liann loves the Lord so, so much, and is educated and experienced and intelligent and open, but lately the the truth about some things had just gotten lost and replaced with horrible distortions of reality. Distortions that were cutting her to the quick. Darkness that was making it feel impossible for light to come in and bring hope.

Almost from the first moments of conversation in the airport, and actually even from the phone call on Wednesday, Liann started to feel better. But, quite frankly, I was not saying anything particularly brilliant or insightful. All I was telling her was the truth. Truth about God's care, human relationships, her value in God's eyes, how deeply she is loved by those who know her, and some truths about herself. I was just a voice that was blessed to remind her of things she already knows, but somehow they had gotten buried or lost. And of course, a little layer of grime covering up truths makes a perfect ground for Satan to start piling on miles of muck and confusion and creating quite a pit. Man, what a thrill to watch the simplicity of God's perfect truth blast a way open so quickly.

After I dropped her off at the airport Monday morning, I started to get all choked up on the drive back to my office. I thought back to last March when I felt so very lost and took shelter in Newberg at the home of friends who heard my hurt, and told me to come out there. They gave me permission to get off my "service is all I know how to do and what can I do for you to bless you and show God I love Him" ride, and be open to be loved and tended to and healed. God opened a space of time for me to hear truths I didn't know I needed, be refreshed in the Spirit, shake off some grime, and see new windows of light for the first time in ages.

How precious to have had the opportunity to be the home of respite this weekend for God to act and move for my amazing Lianni. I am overwhelmed at the blessing our friendship has been to one another over the past 15 years, and how God has used us in one another's lives to reveal Himself, both through some incredible highs and lows, and just through everyday moments. We are so not worthy, but He is so stunningly gracious.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.--John 1:16

Me Copying Christina's Name Thingy

It's partly a load of hooey, but just for the joy of Liann reading the first sentence of the second paragraph, I am posting it :)

Okay, and the last couple sentences in the fourth paragraph, too ;)

What Kathie Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

The Visit

Liann says it would be fun for people to see pictures from Tony's visit. If you find this anything other than fun, please alert her immediately :)

Tony checking out the MAF training airplanes and hangar.


At the Mission Inn for a lovely evening of dinner and lights with Mom, Dad, Michael, and Joanna.


Me and my adorable sister-in-law. Dang--does Joanna ever take a bad picture?

The kids at the Mission Inn. I am digging my bro's fuller beard and longer hair!

Tony feeding and petting bat rays at Sea World. He loves animals, so he was in seventh heaven. I think he videoed the entire dolphin show.

Tony discovering that there are tall guys in America, too. We couldn't resist a picture with my good, super-tall buddy Dean and my sweet, super-short Mommy :)

At Holly's house, with excellent food and great company. If you get a chance to have Paul Bunyan make Christmas candy for you, take him up on it! He rocks!

Me and my handsome Popsey.

Hilarious. Christmas Eve at my grandmother's, where my always helpful Grandma Quack-Quack introduced Tony to Tony. Never mind that Tony had been staying at Tony's house for a week already :)

Tony and the boys dressed up in some of their Christmas haul. Notice the missing tooth on the left?

Here's a matching missing tooth on the right! Merry Christmas, Tooth Fairy!

The Real Reason I Blog

Because Baby Plucky just makes me laugh. I can't help it! I have been waiting forever for this to be on YouTube so I could post it--happy, happy, joy, joy!

Sorry, Mom. I know you raised me better than to think this is funny :)

Garlic and Cayenne

A word about my delving into home remedies for a sinus infection the past two days--SMELLY!

I got a cold that transitioned into my now-standard sinus infection every time I get the sniffles. One of my colleagues has a wonderful wife who makes all kinds of delicious, good-for-you food, so she and one of their daughters dropped off some soup and bread and oranges and zinc tabs to me at the house yesterday. The wife happened to mention that garlic is a natural antibiotic; she recommended taking a clove, slicing it up, crushing the slices between my back teeth and swallowing. Repeat every two hours. Six hours and three cloves later, I could barely stand the smell of myself. I stopped taking any more at 5:00 PM; I had to greet at church this morning and I was terrified that if I kept ingesting more, no one would make it inside the doors. Or they would think they had arrived at a deli instead of church.

My friend also told me about taking cayenne pepper for opening sinus passages, so I picked some up on the way home from church. One cup of boiling water, 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, half a teaspoon of cayenne and a dollop of honey later, this fascinating, tingly sensation started creeping up the right side of my head (the least congested side) and making its way across my cranium. It made me giggle a little. And a note about drinking cayenne pepper--keep stirring the drink between swallows. The cayenne doesn't actually dissolve, but rather all sinks to the bottom. Whoo-hoo!

I also dumped another half teaspoon of cayenne into my serving of soup this afternoon. Good heavens--I am one hot chick.

AND--some little elves came and shoveled my driveway while I was at church! We got a decent heap of snow last night, and this morning was quite the icy drive--I actually slid right through a 4-way-stop intersection on the way to church. Thank God no one was coming. When I got home, my driveway had been completely shoveled--the only house on the cul-de-sac!

Last but not least, for those of you who knew Marie and Tracie from the Bible study in Running Springs, or Razzbearies, or ACES, I had the fun of talking to Marie last night for almost two hours, and I somehow talked her and Tracie into starting a blog! Too cool! The new link is on the right--Tikkun Olam "For the Betterment of the World". They are doing great in Las Vegas and send their love!

Slickery

That's my cool new couch. Slickery. All these furniture places around here were having happy little end-of-the-year sales, so I bounced out and bought a new leather couch and chair. And, yeah, you can curl up in the corner of the couch and be really comfy, but unless you have a blankie or something to cuddle with, you'll eventually slide a little on the leather. I bet in the summer that won't happen :)

If you have been having trouble finding me, it's because I went under the radar after the holidays. It was a terrific, special, wonderful time to have Tony here and to travel to California, but it was also the busiest, most taxing holiday season I have ever had. I didn't want to miss a moment of it because I knew it was a unique experience in my life, and in the lives of my family and friends, quite honestly, but it about kicked the feet out from under me by the time Tony flew home on the 27th.

The short version of the Tony-Kathie story is that we will remain very close friends and colleagues, but we will not continue to pursue a romantic relationship. I feel a huge peace and leading from God about this, but it's still hard to watch Tony's heart hurt and of course I have some sadness myself. I think now that Tony has been back home for a little bit, he is in better shape as well--like a good introvert, the decision was a little tougher on him at first than it was me. But at the end of it all, we do both feel this is God's leading, and that's what we want most.

We had lots of good talks and he had an awesome time with my family--ALL my family, grandparents and Sorensons included, the epitome of chaos. But it's the exact holiday chaos and fun I look forward to, so I am glad it was enjoyable for Tony, too. And he got to spill his broken heart to patient Holly--more than once. So, of course, I did her dishes--duh :)

Tony and I were able to share with one another a long list of blessings and things we learned about and grew in as a result of our relationship this year. God certainly used each of us in special ways in the other's life--including me actually being able to say aloud now, "I think I would like to be married. Hmmm. Who knew?"

So, all you little dears who have been praying surreptitiously for years can do it overtly now. Knock yourselves out ;)

I give thanks to God for a gift over this past year that opened my heart to new things. And TONS of thanks to friends and family who were amazingly supportive during every variation of my emotional state possible. When I said to Liann this week, "I wonder if I am processing all of this change all right. I have had moments of sadness and pondering, but I haven't really melted down. I hope I'm processing okay," she said, "Good grief, you processed ALL YEAR! You're fine!"

Whew. I am fine. And happy on my slickery couch.