Not REALLY My Idea of a Date
I was happily getting ready to fix fajitas for supper last night. I went out to the patio room where the chest freezer is to get the steak and some cheese so I could get started. I took all the stuff off the top of the freezer, opened the lid and got out the food and shut the lid. Well, I must have disturbed something when I got the cheese out, because the lid wouldn't shut all the way. Well, I had already put everything back up before I noticed it, so instead of taking it all off again, I just lifted the lid and slipped my hand in there to move the cheese over to the middle. Well, unbeknownst to me, there was a broken light bulb in the lid (that's normally covered, but the cover broke a while back). Actually, I DID know about it. My niece Emily had told me about it a while back. I THOUGHT I had told my Dad, and I THOUGHT he had taken care of it. Well, evidently I didn't tell him, so he had no idea it was broken. Well, the light bulb is gone now, but not before I sliced my hand open on it. And I mean SLICED. The ER nurse said it was so clean, it looked like a scalpul did it. It was deep enough that it took a few seconds for it to start bleeding, but when it did, it was DARK red. I was freaking out, but rather calm through the whole thing. My sister Bridget had just left, so I called her first to see if she could turn around and come take me to the hospital and leave the girls here to help my Mom with Adri. Then I called Ben to tell him to step on it and get home asap! Luckily he's still new enough at his job that he can leave for home at 5pm and not leave anything undone. As things turned out, Ben got home just as Bridget and I were headed out to the car, so he ended up going with me to the hospital.
It was actually kinda fun. My adrenelin was really high still, so I was in a really silly mood. We sat in the waiting room, Ben holding up my arm, and watching their tank full of tropical fish. They had two clown fish—an adult and a baby, so we had no choice but to name them Marlin and Nemo. Then there was another little red fish that seemed to scoot everywhere, so Ben named him Scooter. He was funny. He seemed to only want to use his tail fin instead of his side fins, so he kinda swam like he had an outboard motor on his butt. And he would pluk himself down in the little crevices in the rock and just sit there. He'd start at the top and then "hop" down stairstep-like. He was really funny. Then there was a really pretty magenta and florescent yellow one. He didn't do anything; he was just pretty. It was then that I realized *gasp* I was having fun with my husband!!!! It's not that he's not fun...I have just been under so much stress lately that I haven't been able to let go enough to have fun. It was an amazing blessing.
Back to the gorey details. They took me back and shot my hand up with numbing medication. I'm not usually one to flinch at needles, but that sucker HURT!!!! Then Ben told me I squeezed like a wimp, so I hit him. Then an EMT came by and scrubbed out the wound&mdashand I mean S_C_R_U_B_B_E_D!!! You know, like you would scrub a pan with baked on grease. I kept looking at it thinking, "I am SO glad that thing is numb." Someone came by and took xrays to make sure I didn't have any glass left in there, and then they came over to stitch me up (they gave me six, but probably should have been 8 or 10, Bridget said). That was actually kinda cool to watch. After that, they bandaged me up and sent me home with all sorts of cool toys and a bottle of percoset. I had the best night's sleep last night!!!!
So now I'm home trying not to slam my hand into anything. I never realized just how much I use my left hand!!! But most of all, I'm taking comfort in knowing that I won't always be constantly frustrated with everything and eventually will be able to have fun with my husband again. Soon....
Such Wisdom
My comments are below this post.
Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed
August 1, 2007 | By: John Piper
Category: Written Posts by John Piper, Current Events, Don't Waste Your Life
At about 6 PM tonight the bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. I am writing this about three hours after the bridge fell. The bridge is located within sight of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Most of us who minister at the church cross this bridge several times a week. At this point I don’t know if any staff was on the bridge. Desiring God offices are about a mile from the bridge.
There are no firm facts at this point about the total number of injuries and fatalities. When we crossed the bridge Tuesday on our way out of town, there was extensive repair work happening on the surface of the bridge with single lane traffic. One speculates about the unusual stresses on the bridge with jackhammers and other surface replacement equipment. This was the fortieth anniversary of the bridge.
Tonight for our family devotions our appointed reading was Luke 13:1-9. It was not my choice. This is surely no coincidence. O that all of the Twin Cities, in shock at this major calamity, would hear what Jesus has to say about it from Luke 13:1-5. People came to Jesus with heart-wrenching news about the slaughter of worshipers by Pilate. Here is what he said.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Jesus implies that those who brought him this news thought he would say that those who died, deserved to die, and that those who didn’t die did not deserve to die. That is not what he said. He said, everyone deserves to die. And if you and I don’t repent, we too will perish. This is a stunning response. It only makes sense from a view of reality that is radically oriented on God.
All of us have sinned against God, not just against man. This is an outrage ten thousand times worse than the collapse of the 35W bridge. That any human is breathing at this minute on this planet is sheer mercy from God. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall on those who do not treasure him above all else. He causes the heart to beat and the lungs to work for millions of people who deserve his wrath. This is a view of reality that desperately needs to be taught in our churches, so that we are prepared for the calamities of the world.
The meaning of the collapse of this bridge is that John Piper is a sinner and should repent or forfeit his life forever. That means I should turn from the silly preoccupations of my life and focus my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection on God and embrace Jesus Christ as my only hope for the forgiveness of my sins and for the hope of eternal life. That is God’s message in the collapse of this bridge. That is his most merciful message: there is still time to turn from sin and unbelief and destruction for those of us who live. If we could see the eternal calamity from which he is offering escape we would hear this as the most precious message in the world.
We prayed during our family devotions. Talitha (11 years old) and Noel and I prayed earnestly for the families affected by the calamity and for the others in our city. Talitha prayed “Please don’t let anyone blame God for this but give thanks that they were saved.” When I sat on her bed and tucked her in and blessed her and sang over her a few minutes ago, I said, “You know, Talitha, that was a good prayer, because when people ‘blame’ God for something, they are angry with him, and they are saying that he has done something wrong. That’s what “blame” means: accuse somebody of wrongdoing. But you and I know that God did not do anything wrong. God always does what is wise. And you and I know that God could have held up that bridge with one hand.” Talitha said, “With his pinky.” “Yes,” I said, “with his pinky. Which means that God had a purpose for not holding up that bridge, knowing all that would happen, and he is infinitely wise in all that he wills.”
Talitha said, “Maybe he let it fall because he wanted all the people of Minneapolis to fear him.” “Yes, Talitha,” I said, “I am sure that is one of the reasons God let the bridge fall.”
I sang to her the song I always sing,
Come rest your head and nestle gently
And do not fear the dark of night.
Almighty God keeps watch intently,
And guards your life with all his might.
Doubt not his love, nor power to keep,
He never fails, nor does he sleep.
I said, “You know, Talitha, that is true whether you die in a bridge collapse, or in a car accident, or from cancer, or terrorism, or old age. God always keeps you, even when you die. So you don’t need to be afraid, do you.” “No,” she shook her head. I leaned down and kissed her. “Good night. I love you.”
Tonight across the Twin Cities families are wondering if they will ever kiss a loved one good night again. Some will not. I am praying that they will find Jesus Christ to be their Rock and Refuge in these agonizing hours of uncertainty and even loss.
The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2). They may drown you. But I will be with you in life and death.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-38)
Killed all day long. But not separated from Christ. We go through the river. Not over it. He went before us, crucified. He came out on the other side. He knows the way through. With him we will make it. That is the message we have for the precious sinners in the Twin Cities. He died for your sins. He rose again. He saves all who trust him. We die, but because of him, we do not die.
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25)
Talitha is sleeping now. But one day she will die. I teach her this. I will not always be there to bless her. But Jesus is alive and is the same yesterday today and forever. He will be with her because she trusts him. And she will make it through the river.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the glory of the Lord. (Psalm 118:17) That was a verse I used quite often in college when I was convinced that I wasn't going to make it through the semester (which was quite often). A Philosophy and History of Education test (that I hadn't studdied for) was SO miniscule compared to what I'm going through now. Silly me [rolling eyes]. I may not have enjoyed that trial, but God brought me through it. I don't particularly like this one either (and I must say it's "suck-age" rating is FAR greater than the P&H test), but He will walk me through it. Not around it...not over it. Through it. And in each cotton-pickin' communistic step of the way, He will be right beside me. Telling me not to call it that. ;-)
Psalm 71:20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again.
That Was a Mean Trick, Poppie!
My Dad has false teeth. He thought it would be entertaining to show that to Adriana durring dinner tonight. So now she walks around the house doing the sign for "please" and then pulling on her two front teeth. She wants us to please help her take her teeth out. My Dad has a sick sense of humor.
Also, I ran across this website tonight—
www.simpsonizeme.com. Pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things, but it gave me a smile for a half hour. So now I present to you, my readers, the Kuiper-Simpson Family: Ben, Brandi, Adri and Rosie.
I photoshopped everyone together. And you'll never be able to see it, but I wrote "No, I will NOT fix your computer." on Ben's shirt. I know. I need serious help....
Oy Freakin' Vey!!
We just spent the day moving the furniture in the basement from the main room into the newly painted (yes, I said PAINTED!!) bedroom. And then my brother and Ben moved 18 sheets of drywall around the house (they were in the shed) and down the basement stairs. Monday my uncle and brother will be coming over to start hanging drywall in the main room (which will be kinda like our living room). That should take a day and a half, and then I THINK my Dad is going to hire someone to tape, mud and sand it, because the person who was doing it is tired of doing it. All of this has to be done by the time my Dad goes in for his second hip surgery on August 27th. The really cool thing is that Ben and I were able to set up our other two computers (our Dell desktop and my Mac G3 desktop) that have been lying dormant in that basement since last September. Yes we have four computers (5 acutally...my iMac is currently being loaned out to my sister's family). Yes we're geeks.
In other news....
Ben was laid off from his job last Wednesday. This came as a TOTAL shock to both of us. He was given absolutely NO warning that this might happen. As far as he and his boss were concerned, everything was going just fine. It was the owner of the company who made the decision. Actually, when he called Ben in, he said he called everyone together in a meeting and they "all agreed" that it was best for Ben to go. Yeah, well, that's not what Ben's direct supervisor said. And the owner has done this to two other people before Ben too—in just the exact way. One of them, Ben's friend Bill, was told that everyone met together and decided that he was "too devicive" to continue working well with the team. Well, Ben said there was never any meeting that HE was in where that happened. The other guy didn't even know that he had been let go until the insurance company called him and told him he didn't have insurance!!! He was on vacation or something, I think. So this was SO not Ben's fault this time...and it was done SO underhandedly. He did it right at the time when Ben was supposed to have gotten a raise AND when the new insurance plan was to take effect. I hope he enjoys his month-long ski trip in Aspen at Christmas and his two week pacific deep sea fishing trip next summer. The good news, though, is that he had an interview on Friday afternoon and has another intervew on Monday morning.
And because of how and when this is all hitting us, we have decided (after MUCH head pounding and prayer) to file for bankruptcy. [sigh] There. I said it. The girl with golden credit is bankrupt.
Let me take everyone aside for a moment, though and set down a few "ground rules," so to speak. This is my blog. I blog the things that are going on in my life...the things I do and think. Yes, I KNOW this will be on our credit for the next 10 years. We are painfully aware of how this will be affecting our lives. No matter what your intentions, please don't beat us up any further and tell us we're doing the wrong thing. Trust me—we have looked at every possible option, talked to everyone we can think of and prayed all we can pray. These are the only cards we have left in our hand. And lest you think we think this is a "quick fix" and we'll go merrily along living the same way, we're not. We have been living credit card free for the last 8 months. We know how to live without them now, so we won't be going back.
So anyway...that's where we're at. We have a meeting set up this Wednesday with a lawyer that comes highly recommended to us. We got a butt-load of paperwork in the mail today. Don't ask me how I'm going to get all that information filled out with a toddler running around and trying to do work for my Dad. Maybe I'll start dipping into those pesky unused 8 hours at night that I don't do anything with.
