And the world just stops...

Two families,
one son whose age is still counted in months,
one daughter whose age can be counted on her one tiny hand.

Two mommies,
two daddies,
two doctors,
two hospitals,
two cities in
two counties.

Same thoughts,
same fears,
same prayers,
same tears,
same smiling face for their child,
same weak knees outside the room,
same locked down position at the bedside, just waiting.

Today I heard about these two families. The first already has a diagnosis of cancer, kidney, tumor, surgery. The second story is just unfolding. No diagnosis yet, but ugly xrays, and suspicions and a specialist on his way.

What on earth could be more heart stopping than someone telling you, or suggesting to you that your child...tender, vulnerable, and fragile is sick? Really sick. Sick where you are given percentages, sick. Sick in a way you don't know how to describe or explain it to them sick. Sick in a way that you are desperate to deny. Sick in a way that threatens to destroy you at any moment, except that though it would be easier to give in to being destroyed you are like feet-in-cement standing so that your baby can feel the strength when she holds your hand and looks into your face.

And parents have it, all that strength, because its what we do, come up with every last ounce of life if that's what it takes...for their child. Because everything else falls away. All the pressures and daily parts of life, the cell phone calls, text messages, emails, work demands, food, money......suddenly powerless, meaningless, gone.

The world just stops...

But...God watches. He knows. He's moving. He's acting. He's orchestrating. He's planning. He's been preparing. He's not surprised. He was not caught off guard...No, He is "On" Guard.

The world may have stopped, but heaven is in full motion. He is not just acting. His heart is full of compassion. His mind has full knowledge. He is acting according to His will and His will alone. No one and nothing messes with the kingdom without His understanding and permission. There is no wolf in sheep's clothing to Him. No one is left unprotected. He is mighty enough, strong enough, knowing enough, and loving enough to battle any enemy that threatens. I don't care what its name is, what percentages are attached to it, what the past has said or what the future predicts...HE IS STRONGER. Because HE IS the I AM.

HE IS MORE AMAZING, MORE POWERFUL, MORE WONDERFUL and will, even more so than these parents, summon ALL THE STRENGTH He needs to BE STRENGTH so that when those parents, HIS children, grab for HIS hand to feel strength and look to HIS face to see hope...THEY WILL FIND IT AND NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

Their worlds have stopped today. Don't let yours. Pray without ceasing for the healing of two of His favorites.

The Bison Award

OBU- Oklahoma Baptist University- The Bisons

The Bison Award. An award given to someone who exhibits great strength in the midst of battle, a never-give-up fortitude equal only to the weight of its enormous will to stand, even in the worst of storms.

Yep, that's the place! Shawnee greeted us with the best looking - best hugging, California boy we had ever seen east of the Rockies! We got a tour of the beautiful campus, state of the art Wellness Center, well stocked cafeteria, and amazing early american historic looking buildings all decked out in red brick. The humid weather makes everything green and the overcast misty days made me wanna sit with a cup of "hot and bold" and read a good book cuddled under a blanket. Alas, there was little of that, as we had a couple of college kids to visit and I wouldn't be distracted by anything that required me to take my eyes from them.

We were invited into the coaches' office..."Y'all come on in an' have a seat" with that smooth southern accent. Ah ha! "You're the one who was talking my West coast boy across the country! Don't be tryin' that southern sweet talk with me, ya hear!" Thanks to a well timed caution from a wise young woman before I left, I threw no shirts, and talked about how grateful we were for all that they had done for the Pitcher.

I didn't mean it, but I said it, lest he blame me for anything bad that happens down the road.

The Pitcher showed us all the new places he spends his time, most involving weight machines, running shoes and red dirt.

They do a good job keeping the place all spiffy and professional looking as to lure these young innocents away from home. No doubt, they've engaged in family break-up maneuvers before this one.

We saw their local hang outs and dang if they haven't one-upped us with a drive through Starbucks! Think of the treat that would be on a snowy day when you decide to put down your good book, peel off the blanket and venture out for some gourmet "hot and bold"! And in Shawnee, you could afford the $4.00 java because gas prices make me ashamed to say I even drive a car in California.

Just because I love an adventure, I have to notice all things different. Here are my top 11 things (what? everybody does 10) that make Shawnee a great destination.

You're welcome.

11. You could hear a tornado warning at anytime!

1o. 30,000 people...at least 30 churches, mostly Baptist and Church of Christ. Just the idea that a town any size wants 30+ churches!

9. Dollar stores out number Starbucks at least 10 to 1.

8. Antique stores with thrift store prices.

7. Buildings made of brick, walkways made of brick, streets formerly brick, now paved over with asphalt...should be a crime.

6. Everybody greets you. Not just a nod, but "How ya'll doin' today?" smile.

5. Only 30 minutes from Hobby Lobby, where they are "closed on Sunday so that their employees can go to church." Hallelujah

4. Fresh baked cookies and fresh made coffee in the hotel lobby EVERYDAY...ALL DAY!

3. Driving anywhere in the city in 3 minutes or less. ok, 4 minutes with traffic, if both of the other cars are in your same left turn lane.

2. Shopping the entire mall in 2 hours. Could be done in less time, except that the two anchor stores Ross and Dillards have amazing deals.

1. The Pitcher and Sasa are there, well, temporarily.

Can I just say that we did more eating than we did anything else? When the Pitcher is at home, he would graze as necessary. When we are in his town, where our hotel room doesn't include a pantry, we must get to food more often and in larger quantites than my digestive routine is used to.

Need I remind us, to always pack a pair of sweat pants for the flight home?

So the week came and went. The Deeds would say his highlights were getting a donut from the breakfast bar at the hotel EVERY morning. Getting to talk about that plan and get permission from his mommy, at bedtime EVERY night. Then telling me "DD, I dot a donut" afterwards.

Having cereal with Unca Wyan, making a present in the bathroom for Sasa, and the sleepovers & pillowfights. Dot would say getting to see her "puddy pal" and getting 50% off at hobby lobby!

D and I would say getting our arms around the Pitcher again, seeing his new, (albiet temporary, yes ha), life, school and apartment. Seeing how easily he handles anything that comes his way and how comfortable he is with his decision to take on his own adventure helps us adjust to being home.

Leaving to come home??? I won't even go there.

Except to say...ME! I'll take the Bison Award.

An award given to someone who exhibits great strength in the midst of battle, a never give up fortitude equal only to the weight of its will to stand, even in the worst of storms. (ok, I totally made that up, but it could be true.)

The homecoming negotiations have ceased for the moment. Believe D when he says "that this mama's heart is quiet only on the outside". There is a storm going on alright, but for now, I will loan my Pitcher to the Bisons of OBU.

And at least for today, I guess D and I will hunker down and just try to wait this one out.