Prayers for Jim

Today is a glooming, dreary day here in Salem. We are glad to have the needed rain, but it is still feels depressing and sad.

Admittedly it is more than the weather the hangs heavy over my head.
Our friend Jim was to come today and now can't.

Jim had a mountain biking accident yesterday, fell and broke his neck. I have no medical knowledge and have to rely on my understanding of secondhand information.

But here is what I know...

Jim broke his neck at C6. I know he has movement in his limbs, but his right side was tingling and numb last night.
He is having surgery today.

I am praying loud and hard!

Drift or Paddle?

Some people might wonder what took me so long....
Others might be empathetic....
And a few will never understand, but simply be glad....



One year ago today I took a good friend to the airport and said good-bye.

That simple good-bye felt like the last few strands of my lifeline had been cut.
It was my lifeline to what was familiar, what was comfortable, what was home.

It was time for me to sink or swim.

In the first few days after we moved I felt more like I was sinking than swimming. I felt more often like I was under the surface fighting to get my head above water. Several months after that I felt water logged, and my fingers we quite shriveled, but I was able to catch my breath.

Now it has been a year. It feels more like I have found a boat to crawl into. I am out of the deep water and drifting now. I am able to enjoy the beauty around me. I am waiting to see where the tide takes me.

There are still stormy seas that rock my boat; rock my world. It is still scary at times and I worry about what might capsize me and throw me back into the deep water, But that comes with life no matter where I have been. I am now able to see that there are also great adventures all around me.

I am beginning to like this place.

I am anxious to see where I will be, how I will feel a year from now.
Will I still be drifting? Will I like where the tide has taken me?
Or
Will I have a paddle and take a more active role in where I go and what I do?

There is adventure in taking the journey however it comes. There is also adventure in setting one's own course.

For now I am comfortable, dry, and content to see where this tide is taking me.

Office Space...

(My old office space)
Three months ago I began transitioning into the position of Program manager at our Habitat affiliate. This meant inheriting Jeanne's former space. I would have been happy to stay at my little corner desk had Jeanne stayed on and not moved to New York state.

But that is a different story.

Many of you have perhaps worked in an 'office space' before.

I haven't.

Or I should say, I haven't until I began working at Habitat for Humanity.

There are aspects to this that are very much like the movie of the same title. But even more so I find similarities between my experience and the television program The Office.

Whatever your work environment might be, I hope you at least find some humor in your day.
(My new office space.)

Praying for my brother/Sonny

It is so hard to be half way across the country when someone you love is hurting and you can't be there with them.

Not that I could do much in Kearney except pace up and down the hallways of Good Sam Hospital. But at least I would be close by.

Instead I am 1600 miles away pacing up and down the hallway, trying to distract myself by balancing the checkbook and paying bills. I am doing just about anything til I get word of how Sonny is doing.

Sonny isn't my brother by blood, but he is my brother by sweat and tears, heart and soul.

I love ya man and I am with you in spirit and prayer!

Higher Ground 2007

It has been nearly a week since I finished my 9th year of Higher Ground and I haven't even had time to blog about it.

We had a good staff this year and a great (but small) group of participants, nearly half as many youth as what I usually work with.

I will admit to feeling a bit awkward about how I fit into everything since I didn't direct and Sonny wasn't there to for me to lean on when I needed some big shoulders. I suppose deep down I was hoping Higher Ground could be the one familiar, comfortable place I could return to, kind of escape to, but it wasn't.

The week went well, and ultimately I found the smaller number allowed for more free time. I do enjoy working with youth, so everything considered it was a good week.

It seems as though challenge and change will remain to be the theme for my year no matter where I go or where I work.


Today....

Our offices for Habitat for Humanity moved to 1220 12th St SE.

More Change and More Challenges to blog about!

Just a couple photos

Twilett Williams and me on day 2.

















My tools of the trade...

Where to Begin?

The last half of the month of May went by in a whirlwind for me.
I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to go to Gulfport/Biloxi for the Blitz Build with Americorps and Habitat for Humanity.

The experience was so many different things in so many different ways. I have been thinking about it for the past week trying to find a way to share my experience in words.

I am on my way to Nebraska today for a visit with my older kids and grandson and to work a week of Higher Ground Youth Retreat at Fort Robinson. It is finally quiet and I have time to reflect on the past couple of weeks and my experience.

My challenge is knowing where to begin. I haven't been able to decide. Do I begin with my uncertaintly and doubts about going? Do I start with how hard it was to leave Jeff, the kids and all that was going on at work?

Or do I begin with arriving at D'Iberville and the camp surroundings and what it was like to sleep in military tents on cots? I thought about sharing with you about the incredible volunteers that live at and run the all volunteer camp where we stayed. Especially Johnny who lives and works at the camp since losing his home in the storm. Johnny doesn't get paid anything, but for working at the camp he gets a tent and a cot.

A logical place to begin seems to be sharing with you about the home we were building, a small, but decent 3 bedroom for Twilett Williams and her two kids Jasper, age 9 and her daughter age 2 (whos name escapes me right now).

I wanted to tell you about how Twilett took two days off from her job as a hairdresser to come and work along side us and how she couldn't stop thanking us for our work. She shared how hard it has been to get ahead especially after losing everything in Hurricane Katrina and how appreciative she was for our taking time to come down and build with her.

As I thought about starting with Twilett and her story, I then thought I should tell all twenty future homeowners story. They were equally important. But also important is the incredible effort of the Habitat affiliate in the Gulfport/Biloxi area and the Americorp program that works so hard day in and day out every week to keep up pace with the incredible need for decent, affordable housing.

I wish I could begin by showing you the devastation that lingers even after nearly 2 years. And how the Casinos are the first things to pop back up along the Gulf coast looming large on the barren coastline with bright lights beckoning to tourists.

I could also start by sharing with you the wonderful young people I met and worked alongside, the young 20 somethings that I shared tent space with, stood in lines for meals with, rode the bus with, visited New Orleans with, and played kickball with on what was once a softball field for local youth and now is part of our volunteer camp.

I have a 100 + photos that could help tell the story if I could just decide where to begin. So while I think about that let me just say to my sister, Chris.... Thanks for the gloves! and to Dad.... Thanks for giving me your toolbelt!

Photos to come later, when I am back on my computer at home.