Scrapbooks and a Revelation.

I'm back in the saddle with the scrapping! I've been trying to upload the new cover I did tonight for the family reunion book, but am practicing with this one I did for the "Childhood Memories" circle journal. But so that this entry is not a complete waste of eternity, I will add this thought:

"iF You WaNT a ReVeLaTioN, You aRe iNViTiNG THe LoRD To WReaK HaVoK oN YouR LiFe. He WiLL Do WHaTeVeR He NeeDS To uNVeiL CHRiST iN You!" N.V.

Neat Fun.

Is anyone doing, or willing to do something fun today? Even if I can't do anything, I want to hear about the fun things other people are doing! I have to work this morning, and I need a pick me up!

Buzzy and Susie are here for Market, and will be in Dallas the next four days, and I was thinking I might go out and spend some time at Market, just to see what it's like, but I don't want to slow them down. I'll just see how things pan out tommorrow or Monday.

So come on, all you fun lovers! Let's make some happen! We all need a pick me up around now!
Your sis. Sarah

Sarah's Disease, or C.I.

I have decided to take the plunge and self diagnose. I know it's dangerous to do such things, and as a nurse, I should know better, but I am not only going to diagnose myself, I am going to invent the disease. It is called "Chronic Irritation" or for laymen: "Sarah's Disease."

My Symptoms include: anger, frustration, silence, shouting, wailing, gnashing of teeth, exhaustion, with the occaisional presentation of nausea and tears. I know it's bad, because everyone is making excuses for me! Yikes! (But isn't that lovely of them anyway? I have such great friends and family...irritating at times, but such is the lot of my disease process.)

I had a week of nice relaxation, when it went into remission for a while, with only occasional flare-ups, but this week the condition is exacerbated, and the symptoms are hard not only on me, but on everyone who comes near me.

I feel ill in general, but I am never quite sick enough to justify taking off work, or going to bed, so I just keep running, and the result is a very short temper, and major intolerance for anyone who is speaking to me. The other symptom, which is very serious in that it is so unique to my history, is "getting my feelings hurt." In the past this has only occurred with my husband and my mother, but it seems to be growing like a tumor, and happening more and more frequently with my extended network. It is this problem that finally turned on the lightbulb for me, and made it clear that this was more than just stress-related.

For a while, I was in denial, and assumed that people were "Irritating" but have come to accept the fact that I am, indeed "Irritated." As this condition continues untreated, symptoms can develop including, but not limited to: apathy, disconnectedness, depression, overeating, and dependence on Chocolate. These symptoms may also worsen to a dangerous level at certain times of the month.

So what is the cure? I am hopeful that medical research will come up with one soon, so that my children do not look back on their childhood and remember their mother as a short tempered, wailing harpie! If there are any other C.I. patients out there, maybe we should start a support group....perhaps we could get national funding!

Then again, support groups and national funding can be so IRRITATING!

Destin-y!

I have just had such a wonderful week, and I hate that I haven't written about it yet, but I just have such a wretched headache. Must be something about the re-entry from the beach in Florida to the heat in Texas. Or maybe it's just psychosomatic from working again. In any case, I am doing my utmost best to overcome it. Destin was so wonderful....so restful...so blissful. I would never have thought that there could be such peace in a house containing 9 related adults and their 10 children. The weather was fabulous, and we are all tan(with the exception of Bill!) and fat (again with the exception of Bill) and SPOILED! Sure signs of a perfect trip!

Home at Last

This is a poem Annette wrote in my circle journal (don't you WISH you had one!)

Home at Last

To an Open House in the evening,
Home shall men come.
To a place older than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the Place where God was homeless,
And all men are at Home.

-G.K. Chesterton

Moments of Life and Death

I LOVE my life! I know, I grumble alot, but really, I wouldn't trade living in the church right now for anything. I just got back from a weekend in Philadelphia with the saints there, which was so wonderful. What a privilege just to stand in their midst and look at their faces and know that She is still in Landsdowne. Oh what a bright torch she is burning high up on that mountain!
On the flight home, the weather was some of the worst I've ever encountered while flying, and I really thought I might not make it home. While losing and then regaining altitude at enormous speed, like the sky was drowning in rain and was trying to take a huge gulp of air and us with it, I decided what my last deeds on earth would be. First I would write a note. I planned to put it in my mouth so that it wouldn't burn up or be lost or anything. Then I would try to use the phone to call Bill and tell him and the kids that I loved them. I would shout to the people on the plane that Jesus Christ is all that matters. Then I would hang on and brace myself for the end. At that point I had several thoughts. One was: "I'm glad I got to see Philly before I died!" I felt strangely peaceful about it all, and marveled at that. I shed a few tears (it was truly a horrifying scene out of the window, and I have NO fear in me at all of flying. ) I broke out into a horrid sweat, and prayed that if I lived through the night, may He please keep me from vomiting! But there was something in the middle of me that was resting. There in the very center of who I am, there was no fear, no regret. Just Christ.
So here's the note that never got placed between my molars, by the grace of God!

Dear Bill, Bo and Emma.
I love you very much.
Jesus Christ is all that Matters.

Sarah Heroman May 29th, 2005

Camping

Went camping this weekend, well, just for Friday night. It was hot, but not unbearable, and just a bit too much work for the fun. Friday evening was great, cooking hot dogs, hanging out with friends, swimming in the lake, eating and drinking and making merry in general, but I think that it's overrated as an activity. I spent the day yesterday putting away gear, doing laundry, trying to clean up the dirt that got everywhere, and by 1:00 it was time for Bo's soccer game. When we got home from that , we were all drop-dead tired and fell asleep. So today I still have more laundry to do, and more putting away to do. It's alright, it's just the way life is. It just sometimes seems unfair that if you want to relax a little, you have so much more work to do later to make up for it. So why bother?
The kids had a great time. That's why.