The BEST Day

After the "terrible-no-good-very-bad-week," I was prepared for yesterday. I did not have my hopes up, and braced myself for bad news while continuing to keep a positive outlook for everyone else.

The day started out well enough. Harrison Barnes announced that he would, in fact, return to UNC for his sophomore season! This puts a starting line up of Barnes, Zeller, Strickland, Henson, and freshman McAdoo...which is a NBA front court, if I've ever seen one! Can you say #1 preseason ranking and 2012 national championship? My dad has already put in his name for the Final Four lottery!

The day continued well with a Krispy Kreme doughnut! Is there really anything better than sugary soft fried dough?

But the appointment I'd been waiting for finally came at 1:30. The doctor took his time, as they all do, but the smile on his face as he entered the room and the words ~ "it's benign" ~ the relief came rushing like a wave to rid my body and soul of worry and angst.

The excitement continued as I called my recruiter in San Diego. He greeted me with the words, "Congratulations, and welcome to the United States Naval Chaplain Corps." Really?! My packet has officially be signed off, and the next stop is officer development school in Newport, Rhode Island!

The day concluded with pool side laughter, a celebratory dinner with drinks, and watching the Bellagio fountains choreographed to "God Bless The USA!" How appropriate!

I am thankful for so many friends who prayed me through these last couple of weeks of waiting and gave me laughter amongst the nerves. I am even more thankful to God for the continued blessings He rains down on my life each and everyday. This is one amazing life, and I am so thankful to be a part of His journey!

UNC-Duke Rivalry

Today should have been declared a national holiday! Any day UNC plays Duke should be an official day off. There was no school work accomplished, none of my chores completed... All day, I counted the hours until the biggest rivalry game in the history of college basketball.

Sure, UNC is a young team. Sure, UNC has lost the last two in the series. Sure, we only have one point guard now that the other point guard up and transferred. BUT...it's still UNC versus Duke, and I will be cheering "TAR"..."HEELS"...for the next two hours!

My dear hubby is gone, and thus, I am left to watch the game on my own. Yes, I could have ventured out to any of the local sports arenas to catch the game...  However, I tend to be a little rowdy and emotional when it comes to UNC basketball. Thus, the beer has been chilled, the pizza has been ordered, the 60-inches of high definition is auto-tuned to ESPN... I am READY! It doesn't get better than this!!!

Early Morning & Smart Cars

Friday was a crazy traveling day. When arriving at the airport and seeing that my 7:00am flight was delayed four hours, I was tempted to cancel the trip and stay home! However, I persevered and went on with the day. After arriving in Dallas (instead of Denver), only to see my next flight delayed, I began to laugh, as it was truly turning into somewhat of a comedy! The kicker came in the Nashville airport. My ride had left several hours earlier, and to make it to the conference, I needed a rental car. No big deal, right? I simply asked for something small and cheap! (Mental note: Never do that again!) I walked to spot #76 in the garage, and this is what I found... A blue and silver smart car. Have you ever seen something so small in your life?! And I would be driving this in the dark, on the interstate, and then on a gravel road in the woods? Being the adventuresome one that I am, I met the challenge... Three hours later, I arrived at my destination with only slightly frayed nerves and thankful to be out of the small car!

Today began when the alarm went off at 2:00am. After a quick jump in the shower, packing up the bags, and loading that very small smart car, I was on the road by 2:30am to get to the Nashville airport for a 5:45am flight home. Driving a smart car, especially when you're used to a Xterra, is quite the "treat". It drives more like a box on wheels. It does provide much time for prayer, as you are constantly praying to God that you will not die on the highway! Thankfully at 2:30am, there is not much traffic.

Above all, I am thankful to be back home with my husband. With the early morning and the time zone differential, I was on my couch in my PJs by 10:30am...just in time to catch Duke basketball loss! Between that and the UNC win yesterday, and the impending excitement of the road trip to San Diego tomorrow, I can barely contain myself!

Grace & peace!

Catching Up...

With the atrocious amount of writing required of my classes, I have fallen behind on the Thanksgiving Project! Many thanks to the beautifully observant Carrie Delisio for pointing this out to me!

Thus... this will be the "yesterday" post, and I will write today's thanksgiving later today.

Many things brought an attitude of gratitude today...

First, I have finally caught up with all of my classes. 500 pages of reading, check. 6 400-word essays written, check. Approval for one research paper and one project, check. I was slightly overwhelmed by the amount of work that so quickly piled up after just a few days in Haiti. Now, I feel caught up, and I am so thankful to have found a routine to balance my studies and other responsibilities.

Second, as you know, I am a huge Tar Heel fan. UNC fell behind by 14 points early on in the Miami game last night. It looked as though we were doomed, as the baby blue boys usually give up. Last night, they fought and clawed their way back to a tied game as halftime sounded. They caught up, and it was beautiful. They came out blazing in the second half and won the game. Between the Florida/Georgia game the night before and the UNC/Miami game, my basketball need has been met!

Third, I am thankful for time with my husband. We were able to catch up and share a bonding moment over my chaplaincy recommendation! (Who knew he would have to write something, too?!)

Finally, I am thankful for the upcoming weekend! Not only will there be a trip to Nashville for a Living Waters Retreat, but upon my return one of my most favorite families will be in San Diego! I plan to hop over to see them....AND meet with the Naval Chaplain Board for my final interview! Oh, it will be a good weekend.

Thus, thank you, Carrie Delisio, for reminding me to be thankful...each and every day! You should have a post dedicated to YOU :)

Tar Heels

As I went through my day today, I was mindful of my attitude of gratitude, and since this was my first post, I really wanted it to be honest and meaningful. Now that the day has come to an end, the one thing I was most thankful for today was the University of North Carolina bowl game win over University of Tennessee!

Pretty lame, you may be thinking! Let me explain...

In less than two weeks, I will be venturing to Haiti once again. This will be the first time I have gone to Haiti as a team leader. In the past, I have been the "utility player", filling in wherever the team needed me, which often changed minute-to-minute. This time, I have formed the team, planned the trip, coordinated the efforts and have taken on the a nickname of "the glue" as I try to hold everything together.

I am thankful to have several of my dear friends accompanying me on this trip. Many I have traveled with to Haiti before, and others will be seeing the poorest country in the western hemisphere for the first time. It is a team made of veterans and rookies, friends and family.

My best pal, Tim, will be traveling with us. Tim and I first met in 2006 at Clean Water U in Oxford, Mississippi. We bonded over a day trip into town, visiting Ole Miss, and drinking Blue Moon at the Library in the town square. Our friendship has continued since, as we constantly email about our two greatest passions -- God and Sports!

I was thankful to stay with Tim and his wife Teresa on my road trip from Virginia to Nevada in November. We chatted over dinner, looked through pictures of Haiti, and watched Monday Night Football. A little wager took place that evening -- I was pulling for the Redskins; Tim took the side of the Eagles. The winner would have to put up the tent of the other in Haiti come January. As you may know, Michael Vick had a huge game, and the Eagles pummeled the Redskins.

Soon after, the Appalachian State Mountaineers would be playing the Florida Gators. I went to ASU, and Tim is a HUGE fan of Florida. Thus, we went double or nothing. ASU wins, we were even. Florida wins, I would be putting up Tim's tent and carrying all of his luggage. Despite Florida's less than stellar season, they came away with a victory. I was toast.

Thankfully, the football bowl schedule came out. UNC and Tennessee were set to meet in Nashville on December 30. I am a die-hard UNC fan; Tim lives in Tennessee. He conceded a triple or nothing bet. UNC wins, we would be back to even. Tennessee wins, I would be a slave to Tim the entire Haiti trip.

For anyone who watched the game, it was heart wrenching. Three points separated the score for most of the game. UNC was ahead until the final minutes, when Tennessee scored a touchdown but missed the extra point. Again, three points separated the score. UNC could not score. Tennessee could not score. UNC had the ball back with seconds remaining, and through a stroke of good luck, UNC managed to send the game into overtime with a field goal. In double-overtime, UNC came away with the win. (It was much more dramatic that this, but my pulse has barely returned!)

While I was mentally prepared and ready to be Tim's servant for a week in Haiti, I am thankful that I do not have to be his servant. The more I thought about it, though... isn't a leader truly a servant? Our ultimate example of leadership -- Jesus -- was a servant. He washed the feet of His disciples. He served the bread and the wine to his followers. He did not come to be served, but to serve.

So in the end, will I still serve Tim? Absolutely. I'd do anything for him, or any of the others, to make their burden lighter and to ensure their trip is meaningful and positive.

Am I still thankful that the Tar Heels came away with a victory? Absolutely! Tim can put up his own tent!

Grace & peace.