Dash

I started this post this morning waiting at my surgeon's office for my surgery follow up.  I wrote about how the surgery went well and about all the work I have yet before me to get this hand functioning.  And how frustrating it is, but how I know God has this!  And then I started writing about Sharon, because she and her family has been in my thoughts without pause.  And now I've just deleted everything to start over.

I am blessed.  I don't deserve 10 fingers, or even 2 arms.  But by the grace of God, I have 2 arms and 9 fingers.  I have legs and I am healthy.  I have 3 wonderful, healthy children and a husband that loves me just as God calls him to.  I am fortunate enough to have more income than 95% of the people in this world (and you do too if your household income is more than $35K).  I am a talented recruiter and somewhat charasmatic juggler.  Well, I juggled once in high school anyway.  The point is, what am I doing with my dash?  Gene Stallings spoke at an event I attended yesterday and he talked about our dash.  The dash is the symbol that has the most meaning on a tombstone. It's the symbol between your birth and your death.


Today, we say goodbye to an amazing woman who did a whole lot with her dash.  Sharon Washburn went home to receive her eternal reward today. 

Isn't she beautiful? Always thinking of others, Sharon covered up the ridiculous glove I had to wear just after surgery for this photo.  This was taken 8 days ago.  It seems like 8 years ago I miss her so much already.  I'm not worried about Sharon.  She was so excited about the people she would meet in heaven.  Abraham, Jacob, Moses, friends and family that had passed from this earthly world.  She was so amazing, it's no wonder Jesus could wait for her no longer.  But I know she will miss her husband Mike and her precious daughters, Randi and Taylor.  Please pray for them.  It would bring me great joy to know my blog readers pray for her family, even if you don't know her.

I believe God wrote this chapter in my life a billion, trillion, gazillion more years ago than I can even fathom.  I pray that I keep my ears and eyes open to follow His plan as best I know how.  He has big plans for my dash.  This I know without a doubt.  I'm sharing my story in our class at The Hills Southlake Campus on Sunday.  The good, bad and ugly.  But it's mostly good because God's plan is good!

Life Skills

I'm having surgery on Thursday to release a tendon in my hand that is stuck in scar tissue.  Although it's outpatient and relatively minor, I will be under general anesthesia.  So, now my mind wanders to all the things that can go wrong, even in minor surgery, which then leads to thoughts of my family functioning without me (even if just for a few days).  I'm afraid the people I love most might be lacking some basic life skills:

Replacing the toilet paper.
First, remove the spindle from the wall mount.  To remove the spindle from the wall mount, grasp one end with your index finger and thumb. Gently pull the spindle toward the other end to release it from the mount. If you find yourself yanking the spindle, take a deep breath and try again. Slide the toilet paper roll onto the spindle and insert back into wall mount. Although a paper towel roll is much larger, do not be intimidated. Follow the steps above and you shall find victory!

Using the laundry hamper.
Although the hamper does not have any buttons or blinking lights, it is very useful. Simply lift the lid, place your dirty clothing in the pile, and gently close the lid. The lid will not snap at you or bite you. Do not place food or drink items in the laundry hamper.

Flushing the toilet.
Much like making the bed, I do understand the argument, “I’ll just be using it again later so why flush it?” This argument is reasonable if you live somewhere really dry like Saudi Arabia or Arizona with the fear you will soon run out of drinking water and need to scavenge some from the toilet. However, we live in the good ole state of Texas where we freely frolic in toilet water so while I will thank you for your conservation attempt, feel free to flush away.

The stove.
The stove has more uses than a resting place for book bags, science projects or your chip bowl. Did you know it gets hot? And that heat can warm up food? Simply push the knob down and turn. Don’t be alarmed or confused by the clicking noise. The clicking sound is not a timer, a rat in the wall, or the sound your Call of Duty UMP 45 Vector makes just as you blast the enemy to unrecognizable bits. The clicking sound lights the stove. Then simply pour your food into a pot, and wait for the magic to happen. For the “how to use a can opener” tutorial, click here.

Trash can uses.
We are not saving our popcorn boxes, chip bags or juice bottles to house our pet locust. Once you’ve consumed a food or drink product, it is perfectly acceptable to remove the bottle from the refrigerator, the bag from the pantry, or the half consumed cheese stick from your night stand and place it in the trash can. Directions to the trash can: Walk to the kitchen sink. Look 2.3 feet to your right. Open trash drawer. Drop trash in trash can. Close trash drawer. If your item rolls off the top of the overflowing trash pile and on to the floor, please do not kick it under the cabinet for someone to discover when a pack of ants have set up a tent and built a small fire next to their food source.

Eating off the floor.
Home: OK every other Thursday after housekeeper comes. Eat at your own risk every other day of the year.
Home patio: OK if the item was dropped within the hour and the ants are blown off.
Public bathroom: In the stall, not OK. Outside the stall, not OK. In fact, please do not take food in a public bathroom, ever.

Juice and soda consumption.
Just because it's not milk and contains sugar doesn't mean the entire bottle or 12 pack needs to be consumed in 24 hours from purchase. Unless it reads: BENADRYL. Then by all means, drink away!

Clippings.
Discard of your nail clippings as to avoid a puncture injury to unsuspecting feet passing by.  Plus it's just gross.  If you walked into the bathroom to find tampon wrappers and armpit shavings lying everywhere, you might find it bothersome.