Saturday, November 25, 2006

Dear God,

Sick. At 2:00 a.m. I woke up sick, stomach gurgling, doing flip flops. I picked up my sleeping bag, moving myself away from my two young granddaughters who were asleep in sleeping bags next to me. I tiptoed downstairs, then placed my bag on the couch. I tossed and turned, knowing what would soon happen.

While I tried to dismiss the yucky feeling in my stomach, I could hear my son-in-law heaving in the upstairs bathroom. I could only imagine him holding on to the sides of the toilet, clinging for dear life. I was certain I was close behind.

Within minutes the toilet became my best friend too. Heaving, closing my eyes, letting go. When I wasn't vomiting, I was seated on my "best friend." Not so much fun. I was very grateful for two toilets in the house.

As the sun rose my youngest daughter walked up the basement steps and into the room where I lay. She didn't look good. "Mom, I'm really sick." She said. "I'm sick too. Josh has been throwing up since 1:30 a.m." I told her. In minutes we decided to make the five hour trek home. Jill was sure she would vomit at some point and thought she should drive until she got sick. I was just as sure I would have to make close runs to the bathroom. We got the two granddaughters ready, one 14 months and the other 6 years. Then we started out...the car a complete disaster, sleeping bags, pillows, bins of Christmas ornaments, various items of dirty clothing, diaper bags, Christmas books, used water bottles, buckets for vomiting, wet wash cloths, a briefcase, Christmas envelopes and stamps, sacks of craft supplies, purses, toys and kids.

The girls were hungry so we stopped at Burger King. As they opened their breakfast sandwiches, I hung my head out the window, my stomach rolling.

All the way home we stopped at restaurants, fast food joints, and gas stations. I can tell you the color of every bathroom from Canton, Michigan to Brownsburg, Indiana. I can even tell you the one who was out of toilet paper. Jill never did get sick. But Lucy in the back seat cried often of a sick or hurting tummy. What a trip!

As I drove to my home from my daughter's house, I smiled amidst the mess. We had experienced a fabulous Thanksgiving. Our time together was super. We laughed so much, played games, made crafts with grandkids, ate, talked, planned for Christmas and more. I don't know when we've had a better time. All this amid the chaotic vomiting and diarrhea! God is good.

Every moment is
an opportunity for God.
God can take
the undesirable
and find a way
to bring about good.
Living in the light
is about trusting God
in the middle
of the unexpected.
We can learn
to laugh at ourselves,
to be open,
prepared to change,
then change again.
From holding
a vomiting five year old
to clinging to a toilet
while vomiting myself
is a good time
for God to be present.
Hallelujah!

Love, Andrea