#97 Why God planted us in Kentucky

I have been feeling kinda useless lately. Perry gets to go to work and I do things around here for him. But I just wanted to be needed for something more. Well, God put me to work today. Here is another reason God planted us here in Kentucky.

Today I went to Dillard’s in the mall and got a “free makeover”. Yeah, they wanted me to buy stuff but I told them I was unemployed. I pulled a twenty and called Perry to see if I could buy him a coke. I really wanted him to see my new face. Lots of color! So I went to his office and he asked me if I had heard about the MAF workers who were in a car accident. I haven’t seen it yet.

Well, a couple who live in Michigan were driving through Lexington on their way to Florida. They were headed to a recruiting fair. They were in Ecuador for 21 years. They lived in Nate Saint’s house! They had a car accident yesterday at 3:30 pm and are in the hospital here. MAF needed someone to help them. I thought I could do that! They needed someone to locate their car and get things out of it. I went to the hospital to find out what kind of car and how they were doing. I walked into John’s room and he said “MAF sent you, huh?” They knew help would come. His wife, Sherry, was in surgery for a broken wrist. John has a lot of face injuries. He looks bad. But he still had his sense of humor.

We talked about what he would like to get from the car; power cord to computer, phone and maybe the gps and his golf clubs. He told me about the car and I called Perry so he could try and find it. I called MAF to let them know how things were going. They told me where the car was located. It was in an impound yard about 30 miles outside of town. MAF got permission for me to head down there and pick up a few things. I wanted to get there soon because it is suppose to rain again and the windows are broken.

Now here are the really awesome parts! I told the tow truck driver that they were M’s and he teared up as he told me that his in-laws are M’s in China. His wife and he go on short terms all the time. He took me to the car and helped me get into it. I thought he might only let me get a few things but this guy opened everything and helped me. He is not allowed to get anything out of the car but he lifted the big things so I could get to the little things. The phone was destroyed but I got the sim card. I got everything out of the trunk even his golf clubs! The stuff in front was mostly covered in blood so I left a lot of it there. I did find the power cord so he can have contact again. I found his passport, camera’s, medicines, address book, pictures of g’babies, their bibles and all of their suitcases.

I now believe in the saying that “stuff in your car can be weapons in an accident”. The tool box was in the trunk but there were tools in the front of the car. And a cooler with soda cans; soda can in the front windshield. I am going to be more careful with what I carry in the car.

In all of this, God kept reminding me that it could have been just as easy as been us while we traveled across the country. Pray for this couple, John and Sherry Lemmon. Today God showed me that I am needed here.

**John and Sherry were released last night from the hospital. Their children are taking them to Michigan to stay with John's sister. She lives in a one story house and due to their injuries; that will work out the best. They wanted to thank everyone for their prayers.
I want to thankful you all for your kind words of encouragement to me.

On my way to 800 Aprons!

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/02/26/1649570/apron-exhibit-highlights-domestic.html#storylink=misearch

Many of you know that I enjoy wearing aprons while I am teaching. Awhile back in the newspaper, I saw this article. Her family donated her aprons to a college close to us. I am going down there next week to check out the exhibit.

So... I got to thinking, my sister made me most of my aprons. When I got settled here, I unpack, cleaned and mended 53 aprons. I had a great idea! I could pass this lady! I called my sister and told her I needed 748 more aprons. She laughed and told me to get on it. She then told me that I had nothing to do so I could make my own. Guess what, I got a box in the mail yesterday. It held material to make 4 aprons and she sent the pattern. She was serious. So here are the newest materials.

 

I needed some more Easter ones.

 

 

Another Easter

I will post some more pictures after I visit the exhibit. I'm thinking that I should take one of mine and show them a great apron! (Or I should just get a job and quit thinking...)



I finished one for her friend who lives here.



You gotta have a Peanuts one!





Jungle Theme



 





I made it to Berea College.



#58 - My Mo apron

 



Unique with the towel attached





Pretty Cheeky, I love it!

 



Great idea on how to display



He lifts me up!

It has been rainy and cold here for the last week. I realized that I needed to get out and away from this computer. There are only so many resumes you can do in one day. I admit I have been a bit grumpy. The praise song "He lifts me up when I am down" kept running through my head.

The forecast for today was to be in the 60's. There is a pretty tree right outside our door that has red blooms on it. I have been wondering what it was and how I could figure it out. So I headed to the Arboretum today. It was wonderful! I found my tree. It is a Red Maple.

 

There were some things in bloom today. The grass is all green and lots of birds. I can't wait to see it next week after we get more sunny weather. So enjoy these pictures. The Lord knew I needed to see His blessings in nature today. And He did a brilliant job of it.



Carved tree man





This is a ground cover



And when I got home there was an email asking me to interview next week at the local school district. YEAH!

Magnolia trees

Security

I thought when we left Kabul  that I would not have to think about security all the time anymore. Well, I guess I still have to face it even in the states. As I have been going around to schools to drop off resumes. I noticed that you have to be "buzzed" in by the office staff. Okay, that seems like a great idea to me. I can see why they do that.

Today, I subbed at a school in the local district. It is right in the middle of a neighborhood. The neighborhood looks good. As the teacher explained her procedures, she told me about the release procedure at the end of the day. A bell rings and you release the walkers to go. You need to have the TV on so you can see when the buses pull up out front. As you read the numbers on the bus, you release those students. And during this time, students are called to the front of the school by their car number. Each family is assigned to a number. After 15 minutes, you release any students still in your care to the office.

Flashback to Kabul: Carline - It is the worst time of the day. The object is to get children safely to their bodyguards or families and get them out of there. This could be a good time for an attack. Families are assigned car line numbers. Staff are assigned week long duties to be out there with the students and to keep them calm and quiet. HA! I hated car line duty. My stomach and head hurt just trying to get these students out the gates with the right person.

Today brought it back freshly to my mind. We have come to realize that you don't realize how much stress affects you until you are out of it. When I left the school today, I felt the need to do something normal. So I stopped by the store and picked up a few things. Then I drove home and just did stuff around the house. It wasn't until after dinner that I realized what had me so uptight. So after I had a chat with my Father, I went back to the store and got some ice cream. You know ice cream really does help the healing process.  :)