Surviving the Storms

I received an email from my sister this morning. She said they had some rain in Iraq and there’s flooding everywhere. It’s cool and breezy. And if she closes her eyes it reminds her of home; the smell of rain. I found so much comfort in that. Just as I am sure she found that comfort of being able to visit memories of home with the closing of her eyes for a brief moment. It’s also comforting knowing that if I close my eyes right now at home and feel the coolness, the breeze and smell the rain, that she and I are sharing the same moment, thus making me feel closer to her. Dang, I really miss her.

I started a new job. I am training to be a technical support agent for DirecTv. Yes, I will be one of those people on the phone that may get cussed at and screamed at I just have to be nice and take it. It’s okay, I can do it. It’s just real stressful at the current time with all of this new information invading the brain cells that were only being used for school work and family time and the rest of my life. Trying to take it all in, I feel at times that I have no more room to learn anything else. Some things that should be easy for me to understand have become difficult. Not woth work, but with everyday life. But I come home of the evening and find comfort in my family. Even if I am being knocked down at the door with a million questions and school papers to sign, and upcoming field trips that need money; I still find somfort in the those times. (I might not realize the comfort until after the fact, but I really do need those moments.)

I have friends online. Imagine that! Some I talk to daily, some I talk to occassionally. Quite a few have been there for me in words of support and comfort lately. I have appreciated every bit of it! It means more than I can say to have friends there in times like this. They give me that extra push to keep me going.

I have my best friend in the entire world. I have only been able to speak with her once this week because of this crazy schedule right now. It was last night. That was when she told me that her dad went back to his oncologist for his routine scan and they found the spot on his lungs was shrinking and would be gone soon! WOOHOO! But they also found a couple of spots on his liver and in the lymph nodes around the abdomen. They are trying a different cancer drug to see if it works. I pray that it does! How can I comfort my best friend? Only by being there to listen and be the support she needs to lean on. Through all of this, she is still a comfort and support to me also! In between us, the circle never stops, and I can’t imagine my life without it.

T, my online friend for years now, has been a great support this week also. Her words rang so true the other day when I made it through all of this crazy traffic and stupid difficult drivers without freaking out! She told me just days before that it wouldn’t take me long to just drive through it with no problems and learn to beep at them, pass around the slowest ones, find the detours of desire (okay, that’s my wording of switching lanes to pass the difficult people around me)…being a country girl, I don’t see traffic like that very often. And when I do, I’m usually not driving. An online friend mentioned last week how he misses that kind of traffic compared to the Indianapolis traffic he drives in now. I am not ready for Indy unless I’m looping around it. Keep me on the Interstate or Highways and I am okay, just don’t put me in the middle of the stupidity difficulty.

WBGL in the mornings has a Focus on the Family flashback …that has become part of my morning ritual onthe way to work. The stories, verses, and calmness is a great start to the day. So once again, another comfort.

This morning I read a blog that I subscribe to. The writer just had a miscarriage and was trying to come to terms with what it meant and how it affected her in many more ways than she could imagine. Having been there numerous times, I know what she’s going through. I know how she feels. But I couldn’t find the words I wanted to be able to express to help comfort her.

Sometimes, there isn’t anything that can physically, mentally or emotionally comfort us. Sometimes, it’s only time that can do the job. I find most of my comfort in prayer, but what about those that don’t? What can be said or done to be the comfort that someone needs? Empathy and Rapport. That is something I have learned from training this week. Something I’ve always known, but I took a deeper look at it this week. Amazing how the circle never stops.

of “freedom” – not really. It’s really like one more week of rushing to get everything done. One more week to get many, many assignments finished. One more week to sit here at the computer almost nonstop to halfway function as I complete this homework.

Then it’s off to Terre Haute every single morning. Walking into the classroom at 7:30 (I must be there before – must be early – that’s just how I am). 4:30 (sooner would be great) class will dismiss. After a long day and 170 miles later, I will walk into the door at home to happily collapse on the couch w/ my kids for a few minutes before they go to bed. I know I will join them not long after, to wake up the next morning to start all over again.

I think I will mark it all off on a calender. 6 weeks – that’s it. That’s all it will take.