Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Our Crazy Life

I don't have time to post much, but I thought these things were worth noting.

-I have been involved in a campus-wide, week-long game of tag called Humans vs. Zombies for the past few days. Over 300 campuses around the nation have been involved in the game at some point this year. This sounds crazy but basically one person starts out as a Zombie and tries to tag humans to turn them into Zombies, who then have to go tag other humans. Humans wear bandanas on their arms; Zombies wear them on their heads. This is how you know who is playing. RUF actually started this event, but now over 800 people on campus at OU are playing. I have never seen anything like it on campus, and it has been a great way to meet new people, simply because all types of people are playing.

-We are for sure staying in Norman.

-We received our hospital bill from when Andrew had his seizure. A $14,000 visit only ended up costing $1500, thanks to insurance. You never find out how good (or bad) your insurance is until you actually have to use it. And at the end of the day, we would have paid any amount of money so that Andrew would be okay.

-Starting in August, Andrew will be taking 10 hours of classes on Mondays at the Southwestern Seminary extension campus in Shawnee, about 30 minutes from our house. Professors travel up from Fort Worth to teach the classes there.

-I have two job offers, one at Roosevelt Elementary in Norman (in an autism classroom) and one at Winding Creek Elementary in Moore (in a classroom for students with moderate learning disabilities). I need to decide where I will be teaching by the end of the week.

-We have looked at 7 houses in the past day and will be looking at 2-4 more today in an effort to buy a house by Friday before the first time homebuyer tax credit runs out.

All of that said, I have literally been wide awake the past few nights because my mind is racing. Life is going about 90 miles an hour and I cannot believe all of the things that are happening. God is so good.

In Christ alone,
Mary Rachel

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Eyebrows

9:00 a.m., Blanchard Elementary Special Education Classroom:

Me: Good morning, Ryan! What would you like to share with us today?
Ryan: My Thomas (the Tank Engine) shoes!
Me: Great! Ryan has Thomas shoes, Thomas shoes, Thomas shoes. Ryan has Thomas shoes, Thomas shoes Thomas shoes. Thanks, Ryan!

Me: Justin, what would you like to share today?
Justin: My football shirt!
Me: I love that shirt, Justin. Justin has a football shirt, a football shirt, a football shirt. Justin has a football shirt, a football shirt, a football shirt. Thanks, Justin!

Me: Brandon, what would you like to share today?
Brandon: My eyebrows.
Me: Ok great. (What??) And why would you like to share your eyebrows?
Brandon: Because they are blonde and hairy and kinda look like caterpillars.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Things Change

About 2 weeks ago, we were basically 102 percent sure that we would be moving to Fort Worth at the end of the summer. Now, we are about 95 percent sure that we are not.

The reasons for this decision are hard to explain, but the biggest reason is probably our church. Both of us had been dreading the idea of leaving this place which we feel is just getting off its feet. As it turns out, there is a campus of Southwestern Baptist Seminary (the same one that is in Fort Worth) in Shawnee, Oklahoma, which is about 30 minutes from our house in Norman. Andrew could complete most of his seminary degree there while we stay here and be part of our church and community. Another huge reason for staying is that I have had much more success in searching for jobs here than in Fort Worth. I had an interview in the Norman area last week and have three this week. Two of the jobs for which I have interviewed seem like they could be great possibilities. There are several other small reasons which have contributed to our "almost decision" beside the ones I just mentioned. I am saddened to think of the people we will be missing in D/FW but also excited as I think of the opportunities God seems to be providing here, in Norman. I hated Norman for the first three years I lived here. Now I hate the thought of ever having to leave.

Andrew's health continues to improve as he recovers from his seizure. He is working full-time and seems to be suffering few side effects from the medication. Occasionally, he is still dizzy, but this only occurs when he moves his head a certain way. No more seizures since the hospital visit!

We got to go to one of our favorite places this weekend. We went to Doug's (our RUF campus minister) parents' house in Ozark, MO with some fellow RUF'ers. The highlights of the weekend included shooting potato cannons, sitting in the hot tub, riding the four-wheeler, eating at Lambert's, and having a bonfire. We especially enjoyed just talking with great friends and having time to read and relax. Doug's parents are so generous to open their beautiful home to us a couple of times a year, and we always look forward to those times of refreshing.

Three major things have happened in my life this week:
1. I decided not to run the OKC Memorial Half Marathon. This is actually a huge decision for me. Lately, I have been running because I feel compelled to do so instead of because I want to. So, I sold my registration and am trying to have no regrets.
2. I put in my two weeks' notice for my tutoring job. Although I have been enjoying this job lately, I simply do not have time for it. I am far too busy, and this is one thing I have been needing to cut out for awhile. My friend, Julia, is going to pick up where I left off, which is wonderful because I do not feel guilty about quitting.
3. I got accepted to work as a camp counselor for a week-long leadership camp for high school seniors with special needs in June. You can check out the Youth Leadership Forum here. I feel honored to be accepted for this position and am already excited about the week! I actually did not think I would be paid when I applied for the job, but as it turns out, I will have a very generous compensation, which is a nice surprise.

Sometimes life happens so fast I can hardly keep up.

In Christ alone,
Mary Rachel

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Perspective

I find it amazing how much events such as the one which occurred this week can change your perspective on literally, almost everything. I have realized several things over the course of the past few days:

One
We have some really incredible friends and family members. I have always been aware of this fact, but the situation at hand reminded me of it to a greater extent than ever before. The amount of calls, visits, messages, offers for help, and prayers we received were humbling. I don't know if it is quite possible to understand how much people love you until something bad happens.

Two
The gospel is perhaps even more true in suffering than it is in the everyday happenings of life. Or at least, I think about it more during trials. Though this week has been hard, I have constantly been reminded of God's love and how He has blessed us in so many ways. Things could have been much worse, and through Andrew's physical healing, we have both been reminded of the fact that God is in the constant process of redeeming His people and making them more like himself.

Three
Insurance is expensive but so worth it (and money really doesn't matter anyway). I grit my teeth every time we have to shell out hundreds of dollars for a service we hope we never have to use, but when we do need it, I am so thankful for the hundreds and thousands of dollars it saves us in the end. Andrew's trip to the hospital may still be costly, but I would gladly pay any amount of money to make sure my husband is ok.

Four
I spend a large chunk of my days thinking about things which are completely worthless: what I have to do tomorrow or next week, how this shirt or pair of jeans looks on me, the amount of money in our bank account, etc. Over the past few days, I have not had much time to think about such things, and this has been both refreshing and eye-opening. Although I have been stressed, my mind has been more clear than it has been in weeks.

Five
Some things can just wait. As many of you know, I never stop. I am constantly running errands, going for a run, or cleaning the house. I overcommit myself and consequently end up tired and frustrated frequently. Because I was at the hospital and taking care of Andrew this week, I was forced to slow down and basically cancel everything I had planned. To my surprise, the world did not stop spinning. My teacher was not mad that I had to miss student teaching. My classmates were not angry when I missed a meeting on Wednesday. The house did not magically become filthy because I had not cleaned it. I did not lose my ability to run long distances or gain ten pounds because I skipped a couple of runs. And I'm sure there is still a teaching job available for me somewhere, despite the fact that I did not attend a job fair at OU. At the end of the day, the most important things are that I have a husband who loves me and is healthy and serve a God who knows what I need much better than I do.

In Christ alone,
Mary Rachel

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Andrew

While I was at student teaching this morning, I got one of those phone calls you always dread getting. Andrew had had a seizure at work. Andrew hasn't had a seizure in over 20 years. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where I found him. He broke a bone around his eye and also broke his nose, but thankfully he has been responsive and hasn't lost his goofy sense of humor.

The doctors don't know what happened. The CT scan showed that he does NOT have swelling or any tumor on his brain, which is definitely good news. However, these things usually do not happen for no reason, so they are keeping him in the hospital overnight to monitor him and run more tests in the morning.

It would be a lie to say that I am fine. I am worried and kind of feel like I got hit by a bus today. But, I am trying to rest in the knowledge that this was no surprise to God. One thing that has encouraged me throughout this is the outpouring of love we have received from so many friends and family members. Thank you, everyone. Please keep praying.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

The Power of the Cross

Happy Easter!

As a quick update, we have been the recipients of so many blessings lately. One thing I have been especially thankful for is the fact that spring always comes after winter and that God does renew the earth. The green trees and grass outside have been so refreshing. Also, my parents brought up my new car this weekend. It's a 2005 Corolla with less than 50k miles on it. It's perfect and practical, and we are both SO relieved to be rid of the huge money pit (aka VW Beetle) that had been sitting in our driveway for sale for the past 8 months. We got to see both of our families this weekend- mine came up for Tim's birthday, and we went to Andrew's parents' for Easter/birthday lunch. This weekend was relaxing, and we both were able to spend some time with sweet friends throughout the weekend. Student teaching is going somewhat better as I am becoming more accustomed to my new placement and am learning a lot from my master teacher. I'm not exactly enjoying it, but it is bearable. And, I just got an email from the principal of a school in Fort Worth that I didn't even visit when I went there last weekend. Apparently, another principal who I have been emailing gave her my name (?!) and thought I would be a good candidate for a job teaching students with autism. Blessings abound.

The truth about Easter is that we should celebrate it every day. What a glorious thing we have to celebrate! Church this morning was so good. Our friend, Cliff, has been teaching Sunday school lately, and I have been learning so much through his teaching. The resurrection is beautiful and I am inadequate to describe the way it changes everything, so I'll just leave the words to this song we sang this morning. Christ is risen indeed.

The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day
Christ on the road to Calvary
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought, ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees; now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death; life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross
Son of God, slain for us
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

In Christ alone,
Mary Rachel