Joey: I really want to go campin' and fishin' for my bachelor party.
Me: I thought it was camp-ING and fish-ING.
Joey: No, when you go, it's camp-ING and fish-ING but when I go, it's campin' and fishin'.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Riv5KforMX
Two years ago, Mike Potter brought up the idea of a Riverview 5K. In December 2006, we discussed doing this 5K the following spring/summer. But there was so much going on. Riverview was focused on raising money for the new building and sending people to Mexico. The 5K idea was tabled. Then, last fall, Mike shared the idea of having a 5K to raise money for the Mexico mission trip to either myself or Shelley.
I loved the idea.
I started dreaming up the possibilities in January. I scheduled a date and started spreading the word. I shared the ideas with JR Miller, one of the leaders of the mission trip. He said they were on board and that this race would raise money to purchase a van for the orphanage Riverview visits in Mexico.
The promo was done (and was awesome). People were signing up for the race. Jenny Cole went out and got food and prizes donated. Kirsten started sending me volunteer information. I remember early on someone said, "even if we raise $300 the race should be worth it."
I recall smiling at that statement. My faith in what God was going to do was deep and I just had this feeling like the Lord was going to show up big time.
I went to Running Fit, a store in Northville, and asked them to donate bib #s. They gave me 40. I had to go back a month and a half later for more. i was nervous about not having enough. They gave me another 40. I had about 25 people showed up. Whenever someone would drop off the list, two more would register for the race.
God was up to something wonderful.
The week of the race was intense. I spent every night on it, going through e-mails, signing up registrants, making sure the volunteers were covered and the responsibilities were clear. I heard a rumor the weather was supposed to be crappy. I smiled at that, too. My faith was strong.
The pre-planning really paid off. Joey and I were not running around all Friday night trying to get stuff done. In fact, we had a nice dinner with Jim and Jamie. I even spent some time talking with my cousin through a difficult decision in her life. I went to bed at ease.
Saturday morning, I woke up and pulled the curtain back. The 6:00 sun was rising and I could see the pink sky. "Red skies in the morning, sailor's warning." But again, I just knew God was going to bless us. I had no clue how big, though.
I got to the church and set up. I met Zack when he showed up to volunteer. The two of us decorated the church in a Mexico theme and then got a chance to talk a bit. I found out he had finish line experience and I quickly put him in charge of it. God was filling holes I didn't even know I had. Ruth and Jen showed up along with others. They stood at the registration tables and waited. Jamie came and took her position as the greeter. Jenny arrived with the food. Mark was out setting the course and Joey was setting up the water. We were a well oiled machine. So many volunteers showed up, I didn't have places for them.
"Where are the runners?" I joked.
"Yeah, we have way more volunteers then runners," someone said.
"Wait until 9:00-9:15" I said. They were going to all come at once. I just knew it.
And they did. The cars pulled in and people flooded the lobby. The registration table could barely keep up with the line of people registering. WE RAN OUT OF BIB NUMBERS!!!! We had to make some with paper. I couldn't believe it...then again, I could. I kept thanking Jesus for giving me the faith and encouragement.
Just before the race, I retreated to the bathroom to pray. I spent a minute with God and then walked out to the parking lot. I was in awe of what God did. There were so many people! After my pre-race speech (on a ladder--that could have been better), the race started. For the most part, things went smoothly. I think they were a little nutty on the finish line but the race course and water stations were awesome. Our traffic control and time keepers did a fantastic job.
I finished in 27:45. I just beat Paul but I think he let up at the very end. It was thrilling to see people I don't normally see run.
In the end, the 5K raised about $1,500. Ha! I'm still in awe of what God did. It was His race after all and we followed Him in faith. I also learned A LOT about being a race director. There are several places to improve on and I pray God gives me another chance to do so.
I loved the idea.
I started dreaming up the possibilities in January. I scheduled a date and started spreading the word. I shared the ideas with JR Miller, one of the leaders of the mission trip. He said they were on board and that this race would raise money to purchase a van for the orphanage Riverview visits in Mexico.
The promo was done (and was awesome). People were signing up for the race. Jenny Cole went out and got food and prizes donated. Kirsten started sending me volunteer information. I remember early on someone said, "even if we raise $300 the race should be worth it."
I recall smiling at that statement. My faith in what God was going to do was deep and I just had this feeling like the Lord was going to show up big time.
I went to Running Fit, a store in Northville, and asked them to donate bib #s. They gave me 40. I had to go back a month and a half later for more. i was nervous about not having enough. They gave me another 40. I had about 25 people showed up. Whenever someone would drop off the list, two more would register for the race.
God was up to something wonderful.
The week of the race was intense. I spent every night on it, going through e-mails, signing up registrants, making sure the volunteers were covered and the responsibilities were clear. I heard a rumor the weather was supposed to be crappy. I smiled at that, too. My faith was strong.
The pre-planning really paid off. Joey and I were not running around all Friday night trying to get stuff done. In fact, we had a nice dinner with Jim and Jamie. I even spent some time talking with my cousin through a difficult decision in her life. I went to bed at ease.
Saturday morning, I woke up and pulled the curtain back. The 6:00 sun was rising and I could see the pink sky. "Red skies in the morning, sailor's warning." But again, I just knew God was going to bless us. I had no clue how big, though.
I got to the church and set up. I met Zack when he showed up to volunteer. The two of us decorated the church in a Mexico theme and then got a chance to talk a bit. I found out he had finish line experience and I quickly put him in charge of it. God was filling holes I didn't even know I had. Ruth and Jen showed up along with others. They stood at the registration tables and waited. Jamie came and took her position as the greeter. Jenny arrived with the food. Mark was out setting the course and Joey was setting up the water. We were a well oiled machine. So many volunteers showed up, I didn't have places for them.
"Where are the runners?" I joked.
"Yeah, we have way more volunteers then runners," someone said.
"Wait until 9:00-9:15" I said. They were going to all come at once. I just knew it.
And they did. The cars pulled in and people flooded the lobby. The registration table could barely keep up with the line of people registering. WE RAN OUT OF BIB NUMBERS!!!! We had to make some with paper. I couldn't believe it...then again, I could. I kept thanking Jesus for giving me the faith and encouragement.
Just before the race, I retreated to the bathroom to pray. I spent a minute with God and then walked out to the parking lot. I was in awe of what God did. There were so many people! After my pre-race speech (on a ladder--that could have been better), the race started. For the most part, things went smoothly. I think they were a little nutty on the finish line but the race course and water stations were awesome. Our traffic control and time keepers did a fantastic job.
I finished in 27:45. I just beat Paul but I think he let up at the very end. It was thrilling to see people I don't normally see run.
In the end, the 5K raised about $1,500. Ha! I'm still in awe of what God did. It was His race after all and we followed Him in faith. I also learned A LOT about being a race director. There are several places to improve on and I pray God gives me another chance to do so.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Grandma Part 2--God is Faithful
It was Sunday (January 20) and we were standing in Grandma’s hospital room. They were releasing her the next day but there was still a question of where she would go. She couldn’t go home yet. She needed to rehabilitate her leg. My mother mentioned Courts of Holt on Willoughby Road. I had been there while in high school and also when Joey’s grandmother stayed there a short time. No way. No how. My grandmother wasn’t going there. The people there were falling apart. They were crazy. They were sick and yelling. The place was depressing. It smelled. I delicately expressed my concerns.
The next day was MLK Jr. Day. For the first time in Valassis history, we had this day off (more like, by the grace of God, I had the day off). My mother called me that morning and explained that Courts of Holt had an open bed and grandma was being released at 1:00 p.m. I told my mom I would go check the place out. Praying continually, I pulled into the parking lot. I bowed my head with one final prayer: please, Lord, show me this place is going to be okay to keep her in. I took a deep breath and entered.
It wasn’t gloomy at all. A giant bird cage thing stood in the lobby with colorful little birds. People watched the birds in their wheelchairs (or they just slept in their wheelchairs). I found the manager and she immediately knew why I was there. “Let me show you where your grandmother will be staying.” She took me down the hall and then at the nurse’s station we turned down another hall. I voiced my concerns. I didn’t want my grandmother to stay here. The woman responded, “she can’t. They is temporary. This is until she gets her leg healed. This is for rehabilitation. Would you like to see the rehabilitation room?” I nodded. What could it hurt?
Well, remember that prayer I prayed asking God to show me everything would be okay? I walked into the rehab room and as the manager talked, one of the physical therapists turned around. “Marge!” I shouted with joy. “Holly!” she shouted back. She walked over to me and hugged me. I lost it and started crying. It was like hearing God say, “I told you I would take care of you. I told you to have faith and you did. Don’t forget I love you.” See, Marge is the woman I met in 2006 while running the Autumn Classic. She had painted the back of her shirt to read, “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.” I have prayed with Marge before and have been seeing her at more and more races. I told her what had happened with grandma and she assured me all would be well.
“I prayed for God to show me this facility would be okay. You’re the answer He gave me,” I said.
“He is faithful and this place will be great for grandma,” Marge said.
With chills inside of me but a warm heart, I left for the hospital to prepare grandma for her trip.
The next day was MLK Jr. Day. For the first time in Valassis history, we had this day off (more like, by the grace of God, I had the day off). My mother called me that morning and explained that Courts of Holt had an open bed and grandma was being released at 1:00 p.m. I told my mom I would go check the place out. Praying continually, I pulled into the parking lot. I bowed my head with one final prayer: please, Lord, show me this place is going to be okay to keep her in. I took a deep breath and entered.
It wasn’t gloomy at all. A giant bird cage thing stood in the lobby with colorful little birds. People watched the birds in their wheelchairs (or they just slept in their wheelchairs). I found the manager and she immediately knew why I was there. “Let me show you where your grandmother will be staying.” She took me down the hall and then at the nurse’s station we turned down another hall. I voiced my concerns. I didn’t want my grandmother to stay here. The woman responded, “she can’t. They is temporary. This is until she gets her leg healed. This is for rehabilitation. Would you like to see the rehabilitation room?” I nodded. What could it hurt?
Well, remember that prayer I prayed asking God to show me everything would be okay? I walked into the rehab room and as the manager talked, one of the physical therapists turned around. “Marge!” I shouted with joy. “Holly!” she shouted back. She walked over to me and hugged me. I lost it and started crying. It was like hearing God say, “I told you I would take care of you. I told you to have faith and you did. Don’t forget I love you.” See, Marge is the woman I met in 2006 while running the Autumn Classic. She had painted the back of her shirt to read, “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.” I have prayed with Marge before and have been seeing her at more and more races. I told her what had happened with grandma and she assured me all would be well.
“I prayed for God to show me this facility would be okay. You’re the answer He gave me,” I said.
“He is faithful and this place will be great for grandma,” Marge said.
With chills inside of me but a warm heart, I left for the hospital to prepare grandma for her trip.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Something I just read in a magazine....
"you can get married and if divorce is really necessary then you can do it. religion shouldn't be involved with this. it is your choice to get married and divorced, not god's decision."
Whoa.
Whoa.
Treats
I’m a smart girl. I really am. Joey, for the most part, has to agree on this point. I’m smart because I finally understand Hemi and he understands me. After an almost two year long struggle with peeing and pooing outside of the litter box, Hemi and I have an understanding. We went through hell to get there, too. Joey and I tried so many things. The first was to get the kitty pheromone to relive Hemi’s anxiety (yeah, I still don’t know why he has so much anxiety—he’s a cat). That was working but expensive…and to fill the whole house with it…wasn’t going to work. We purchased all sorts of sprays, changed the litter, put up tin foil to dissuade him from going in the same spots and we finally put him on Prozac. But then the Prozac ran out after two refills and the vet wouldn’t give us anymore. We were back to square one and as much as Joey kept that litter box pristine, Hemi objected to it if there was a trace of anything in it. Stuck up and anxious.
One afternoon over Christmas break, Joey was at wresting practice and I was sitting at the computer. Hemi looked at me and then pooed on the carpet, right in front of me. It was all I could do not to throw him across the room. Seriously. I felt a trust had been broken because I never actually saw him doing any of this. The war was on, but the way Hemi looked at me…it seemed like he knew he had a problem but just couldn’t stop himself. I swear I heard his little voice start singing...
“I’m Sorry by Buck Cherry”
One afternoon over Christmas break, Joey was at wresting practice and I was sitting at the computer. Hemi looked at me and then pooed on the carpet, right in front of me. It was all I could do not to throw him across the room. Seriously. I felt a trust had been broken because I never actually saw him doing any of this. The war was on, but the way Hemi looked at me…it seemed like he knew he had a problem but just couldn’t stop himself. I swear I heard his little voice start singing...
“I’m Sorry by Buck Cherry”
Oh I had alot to say
Was thinking on my time away
I miss you and things weren't the same
'Cause everything inside it never comes out right
And when I see you cry it makes me wanna die.
I'm sorry i'm bad, i'm sorry i'm blue
I'm sorry about all the things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back
I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds
And baby the way you make my world go 'round
And I just wanted to say i'm sorry.
This time I think i'm to blame
It's harder to get through the days
We get older and blame turns to shame
'Cause everything inside it never comes out right
And when I see you cry it makes me wanna die."
I read some more online and talked to God more about the situation. Sometime in January, it clicked. Treats. We don’t give the cats treats but the vet had suggested we give Cain and Titan a treat when they came in from the backyard. Why? Because at the end of last year, Cain refused to come in. And sometimes he wouldn’t just NOT come in but he would take off running the other direction and Joey would have to chase him down. So, we started to reward the dogs for coming inside when we told them, too. I thought, “maybe this can work with a cat.”
One problem with this was I never saw Hemi going in the litter box…like ever. So, I gave him a few treats in the bathroom where his litter box is located. He knew this was now the treat room. Next, any time I saw him sniffing around the litter box, assessing whether it met his standards or not, I would give him a treat. And then, I was sitting at the computer and I heard scratching…finally! He hopped out of the box and I gave him a treat along with lots of praise. Later that day, I walked into the bathroom, Hemi followed me, hopped into the litter box hopped out, looked at me and meowed. Treat. He got back in the litter box and got back out, looked at me and meowed. Treat. I called Joey and explained what was going on. Now, we could only give him a treat if he actually went #1 or #2.
I read some more online and talked to God more about the situation. Sometime in January, it clicked. Treats. We don’t give the cats treats but the vet had suggested we give Cain and Titan a treat when they came in from the backyard. Why? Because at the end of last year, Cain refused to come in. And sometimes he wouldn’t just NOT come in but he would take off running the other direction and Joey would have to chase him down. So, we started to reward the dogs for coming inside when we told them, too. I thought, “maybe this can work with a cat.”
One problem with this was I never saw Hemi going in the litter box…like ever. So, I gave him a few treats in the bathroom where his litter box is located. He knew this was now the treat room. Next, any time I saw him sniffing around the litter box, assessing whether it met his standards or not, I would give him a treat. And then, I was sitting at the computer and I heard scratching…finally! He hopped out of the box and I gave him a treat along with lots of praise. Later that day, I walked into the bathroom, Hemi followed me, hopped into the litter box hopped out, looked at me and meowed. Treat. He got back in the litter box and got back out, looked at me and meowed. Treat. I called Joey and explained what was going on. Now, we could only give him a treat if he actually went #1 or #2.
After two months of this, Hemi has caught on and he’s finally doing this with Joey, too. The first time was disastrous because Joey has not kept his cool in the past. So, when he walked in on Hemi using the Tinkle Bank, he waited until Hemi got out and then Joey started to praise him. Hemi freaked and took off while Joey chased him with a treat. But now, everyone is on the same page….with peeing. We are still working on the pooing issue.
I reminded Joey what the procedure is when catching Hemi in the act (outside of the box). Firmly say no, pick him up and put him in the litter box. Do not yell, do not scream, do not chase him, do not light hair on fire with anger. Last week, Joey walked in on Hemi using the bedroom carpet as his litter box. He handled the situation well. Hemi really is understanding. It’s kind of funny though because he wants that treat so bad, he’ll wait until one of us gets there and runs to the litter box. Now the first thing we do when entering is follow him to the litter box right away.
Joey is shaking his head. He just can't believe I had trained Hemi to go in his litter box. Chessie is shaking her head, too. She can't believe Hemi has trained me to give him a treat just for going in the damn thing.
Next up: Try to figure out how to put the fat cat on a diet without harming the skinny cat.
I reminded Joey what the procedure is when catching Hemi in the act (outside of the box). Firmly say no, pick him up and put him in the litter box. Do not yell, do not scream, do not chase him, do not light hair on fire with anger. Last week, Joey walked in on Hemi using the bedroom carpet as his litter box. He handled the situation well. Hemi really is understanding. It’s kind of funny though because he wants that treat so bad, he’ll wait until one of us gets there and runs to the litter box. Now the first thing we do when entering is follow him to the litter box right away.
Joey is shaking his head. He just can't believe I had trained Hemi to go in his litter box. Chessie is shaking her head, too. She can't believe Hemi has trained me to give him a treat just for going in the damn thing.
Next up: Try to figure out how to put the fat cat on a diet without harming the skinny cat.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Grandma
I haven’t written about this and I’m not sure why. Maybe because I’ve needed time to process it all. Maybe because I’ve been too busy going through it. Maybe I’ve been too lazy.
On January 15 around 5:30ish in the morning, a woman delivered the newspaper and found my 80-year-old grandmother lying unconscious just inside the door. The day before, my grandma had received a local anesthetic to get some teeth pulled. She insisted she was fine so my sister left her in her own home.
Something went wrong. We still don’t know what happened. I received the call as I got ready for work. They said grandma was unconscious but in the Sparrow’s ER. My mom and sister told me to wait so I went to work. I stayed a few hours and then left for Lansing. Grandma was put into a room by the time Joey and I got there. My cousin Jennie was with her. Grandma seemed weak but she knew who we were. After a few hours, we left. I went to work the next day and around 1:00, my sister called me again.
“Grandma isn’t doing so well.”
I left work again and raced to the hospital. In the parking ramp, I prayed. I prayed for my grandmother. I prayed I would get along with my uncle. I prayed for strength. I got to the fourth floor and as I walked down the hall, my two uncles were walking toward me. I flashed back to when my grandfather was in a coma. These two uncles had told me he wasn’t going to wake up. My heart was pounding.
Uncle Brian: Grandma isn’t looking good.
Uncle Chuck: She took a turn for the worse.
When I saw my grandmother, they were wheeling her out of the room for tests. I almost cried. She looked horrible, like she was a second away from dying. Pale, weak…she reminded me of when grandpa died.
The family went down to the cafeteria to talk. We just weren’t sure what was going to happen. In my heart, I prayed again.
Uncle Brian and I were standing in the hall outside of grandma’s room waiting for her to return. We were making jokes, laughing at each other and really getting along. Grandma returned and seemed a lot better. She began talking to us…but we then noticed her brain was somewhere else. She was seeing people who were dead. She thought she saw a picture of her brother and my mother on the wall. We all knew she was hallucinating, showing signs of dementia and maybe having a mini stroke. Before I left, I told my uncle I had prayed for he and I and for grandma.
“You must be her angel then because she has turned around since this afternoon.”
I left the hospital and went to the Mason vs. Holt wrestling meet. It was the only match I had wanted to see all year. Joey’s former school wrestling his current school. Before I left Joey’s house for the meet, my sister called. “I don’t know if grandma is going to make it through the night. I’ll call you with updates.” I went to the meet anyway and was ready to leave if I needed to. The match was intense and Mason took an early lead. Steve Sommerlot attended and it was cool to see him get so involved in the matches.
After Holt won, Joey and I went back up to the hospital. Grandma was going to pull through. My cousin Jennie slept in a chair next to her that entire night. If she wouldn’t have, I would have. I learned when the last grandma died that I didn’t want this grandma to be alone.
Thursday around noon, I went up to the hospital. My great uncle was there. He is my grandma’s youngest brother. She was 16 or 17 when he was born. He often jokes that she is his real mother and it is the biggest family secret. She laughs at him. It was good to see the two of them interact. Gary really picked her spirits up. Her mind was clearer and we finally knew what was wrong with her: urinary tract infection and a fractured fibula.
She was going to be released to the hospital but where would she go? We needed a place for her until she could go back home. The only place available was a place on Willoughby. I had been to that place in the past but there was no way I was letting her go there.
More to follow....
On January 15 around 5:30ish in the morning, a woman delivered the newspaper and found my 80-year-old grandmother lying unconscious just inside the door. The day before, my grandma had received a local anesthetic to get some teeth pulled. She insisted she was fine so my sister left her in her own home.
Something went wrong. We still don’t know what happened. I received the call as I got ready for work. They said grandma was unconscious but in the Sparrow’s ER. My mom and sister told me to wait so I went to work. I stayed a few hours and then left for Lansing. Grandma was put into a room by the time Joey and I got there. My cousin Jennie was with her. Grandma seemed weak but she knew who we were. After a few hours, we left. I went to work the next day and around 1:00, my sister called me again.
“Grandma isn’t doing so well.”
I left work again and raced to the hospital. In the parking ramp, I prayed. I prayed for my grandmother. I prayed I would get along with my uncle. I prayed for strength. I got to the fourth floor and as I walked down the hall, my two uncles were walking toward me. I flashed back to when my grandfather was in a coma. These two uncles had told me he wasn’t going to wake up. My heart was pounding.
Uncle Brian: Grandma isn’t looking good.
Uncle Chuck: She took a turn for the worse.
When I saw my grandmother, they were wheeling her out of the room for tests. I almost cried. She looked horrible, like she was a second away from dying. Pale, weak…she reminded me of when grandpa died.
The family went down to the cafeteria to talk. We just weren’t sure what was going to happen. In my heart, I prayed again.
Uncle Brian and I were standing in the hall outside of grandma’s room waiting for her to return. We were making jokes, laughing at each other and really getting along. Grandma returned and seemed a lot better. She began talking to us…but we then noticed her brain was somewhere else. She was seeing people who were dead. She thought she saw a picture of her brother and my mother on the wall. We all knew she was hallucinating, showing signs of dementia and maybe having a mini stroke. Before I left, I told my uncle I had prayed for he and I and for grandma.
“You must be her angel then because she has turned around since this afternoon.”
I left the hospital and went to the Mason vs. Holt wrestling meet. It was the only match I had wanted to see all year. Joey’s former school wrestling his current school. Before I left Joey’s house for the meet, my sister called. “I don’t know if grandma is going to make it through the night. I’ll call you with updates.” I went to the meet anyway and was ready to leave if I needed to. The match was intense and Mason took an early lead. Steve Sommerlot attended and it was cool to see him get so involved in the matches.
After Holt won, Joey and I went back up to the hospital. Grandma was going to pull through. My cousin Jennie slept in a chair next to her that entire night. If she wouldn’t have, I would have. I learned when the last grandma died that I didn’t want this grandma to be alone.
Thursday around noon, I went up to the hospital. My great uncle was there. He is my grandma’s youngest brother. She was 16 or 17 when he was born. He often jokes that she is his real mother and it is the biggest family secret. She laughs at him. It was good to see the two of them interact. Gary really picked her spirits up. Her mind was clearer and we finally knew what was wrong with her: urinary tract infection and a fractured fibula.
She was going to be released to the hospital but where would she go? We needed a place for her until she could go back home. The only place available was a place on Willoughby. I had been to that place in the past but there was no way I was letting her go there.
More to follow....
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Comfort Foods
I actually wrote this on 8-3-06 but...did I not publish it?
I was watching a show called "The Secret Life of Comfort Foods" on the Food Network. One of the most comforting foods, according to them, is meatloaf. We never ate meatloaf growing up. I'm not totally opposed to it but it's not something i make. This episode made me think about my comfort foods. Here they are in no particular order:
Hot Vanilla Decaf Chai
Mashed Potatoes
S'mores
Chilli
Double Decker Tacos
Honey--I put honey on almost everything...cereal, yogurt, tea..love the stuff
Joey's Spaghetti
Emil's Spaghetti
Russ' Homemade Chocolate Cake
Homemade Mac & Cheese
Baja Shrimp Tacos
Baja salsa
homemade salsa
sushi
peach cobbler
steel cut oatmeal with brown sugar
Blueberries
Meatballs
Chocolate covered strawberries
I was watching a show called "The Secret Life of Comfort Foods" on the Food Network. One of the most comforting foods, according to them, is meatloaf. We never ate meatloaf growing up. I'm not totally opposed to it but it's not something i make. This episode made me think about my comfort foods. Here they are in no particular order:
Hot Vanilla Decaf Chai
Mashed Potatoes
S'mores
Chilli
Double Decker Tacos
Honey--I put honey on almost everything...cereal, yogurt, tea..love the stuff
Joey's Spaghetti
Emil's Spaghetti
Russ' Homemade Chocolate Cake
Homemade Mac & Cheese
Baja Shrimp Tacos
Baja salsa
homemade salsa
sushi
peach cobbler
steel cut oatmeal with brown sugar
Blueberries
Meatballs
Chocolate covered strawberries
Monday, March 03, 2008
Twenty Years Ago
March 3, 1988
I was 12-years-old. I lived on 5 Point Hwy in Charlotte, MI with my mom, her boyfriend and his kids, Chad and Fawn. My favorite tape was Dirty Dancing. I spent hours listening to that and the Faith album by George Michael. I had just received them for my birthday the week before. I had a boyfriend: Brad Hendrickson. He was in 7th grade. I was in 6th grade. We rode the bus together. My best friends were T.J. and Jenny. We all attended Olivet Middle School. I had grown up with T.J. and it was through her mother, I met Kim.
Kim was the daughter of T.J.'s mom's boyfriend, Howard. They had combined their families and I spent quite a bit of time with them. We went hot air ballooning, roller skating, dancing and watching movies.
But anyone who has been with this blog for long knows who Kim is...or was...or still is. She died at the age of 14 on this day twenty years ago. I made a promise then that I would not forget this day or her for as long as I live. Her life and her death made a huge impression on me.
God wanted me to remember her, too. This morning, He played a song in her memory. Kim loved the song "Lean On Me" and I turned it to the radio station just as it started. How cool.
So, her memory lives on through her family and friends. And although this was a terrible, terrible day so long ago, on this March 3, 2008, God gave my friends a little girl of their own.
He gives and takes away and gives again. Blessed be Your name, Lord.
I was 12-years-old. I lived on 5 Point Hwy in Charlotte, MI with my mom, her boyfriend and his kids, Chad and Fawn. My favorite tape was Dirty Dancing. I spent hours listening to that and the Faith album by George Michael. I had just received them for my birthday the week before. I had a boyfriend: Brad Hendrickson. He was in 7th grade. I was in 6th grade. We rode the bus together. My best friends were T.J. and Jenny. We all attended Olivet Middle School. I had grown up with T.J. and it was through her mother, I met Kim.
Kim was the daughter of T.J.'s mom's boyfriend, Howard. They had combined their families and I spent quite a bit of time with them. We went hot air ballooning, roller skating, dancing and watching movies.
But anyone who has been with this blog for long knows who Kim is...or was...or still is. She died at the age of 14 on this day twenty years ago. I made a promise then that I would not forget this day or her for as long as I live. Her life and her death made a huge impression on me.
God wanted me to remember her, too. This morning, He played a song in her memory. Kim loved the song "Lean On Me" and I turned it to the radio station just as it started. How cool.
So, her memory lives on through her family and friends. And although this was a terrible, terrible day so long ago, on this March 3, 2008, God gave my friends a little girl of their own.
He gives and takes away and gives again. Blessed be Your name, Lord.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Persistence
A few weeks ago, I really needed to talk to a pastor. There was a ministry issue I needed guidance on.
I picked up the phone and called....Steve. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I dialed...Paul who is my advising pastor for RivRunners. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I wasn't about to give up. I next dialed Noel. The phone rang and rang and went to voicemail. Now I was a little frustrated so I went to Dan's phone # and...I realized it was Tuesday. Horror came over me as I realized they were all in a meeting...together. I prayed none of them had their cell phones with them but about 20 minutes later...
Steve left me a voicemail. Paul e-mailed me. Noel called me.
"Hey, Holly."
"Uh...(embarrassed)...hey, Noel."
"Normally, I don't call people back who don't leave me a message but I just had to find out what you wanted. It was pretty funny because we were sitting in the pastor's meeting and one by one, our cell phones went off. Well, except Dan's. He felt left out."
Needless to say, I won't be pulling that little stunt again.
I picked up the phone and called....Steve. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I dialed...Paul who is my advising pastor for RivRunners. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.
I wasn't about to give up. I next dialed Noel. The phone rang and rang and went to voicemail. Now I was a little frustrated so I went to Dan's phone # and...I realized it was Tuesday. Horror came over me as I realized they were all in a meeting...together. I prayed none of them had their cell phones with them but about 20 minutes later...
Steve left me a voicemail. Paul e-mailed me. Noel called me.
"Hey, Holly."
"Uh...(embarrassed)...hey, Noel."
"Normally, I don't call people back who don't leave me a message but I just had to find out what you wanted. It was pretty funny because we were sitting in the pastor's meeting and one by one, our cell phones went off. Well, except Dan's. He felt left out."
Needless to say, I won't be pulling that little stunt again.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Happy 5 Year Birthday
5 Years ago…
The Space Shuttle Columbia was reported to have been broke apart and disintegrated over Texas as it embarked on its final approach to a landing after its 28th space mission. All seven crew members are considered to be lost.
Record producer Phil Spector was arrested in relation to an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old woman in Los Angeles. Press reports identify the woman as the actress Lana Clarkson.
United States military officials anonymously confirm to the Washington Post that two Special Forces units have been operating on the ground inside Iraq for over a month, making preliminary preparations for a large-scale invasion.
In Chicago, IL, a stampede at the E2 south side nightclub kills 21 people.
The Station nightclub fire: A fire started by pyrotechnics set-off by Great White, a rock band playing a nightclub in West Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island kills at least 96 and injures nearly 200, with 35 in critical condition. Fatalities from burn injuries are expected to increase.
I walked into Riverview church for the first time on February 16, 2003. There was no headline which would commemorate this event in my life. In fact, it didn’t even have much of an impact on me. I felt sick from the numerous Jack and Cokes the night before. I didn’t know anyone except for the person who drove me there. We sat on the far left side, toward the middle with his parents. Paul DenHerder took the stage and started singing songs like “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” and “Amazing Love.” I wanted to throw up. Steve Sommerlot was next and he asked us to take a moment and ask the people around us what we had or had not received for Valentine’s Day. I could barely stand it. Steve then opened his teaching. The title was “Are you in a Rut?”
Five years ago, I walked into that church and held on tight to myself. I was clinging to myself, clinging to everything I thought was right and good. I held on to my partying lifestyle. I held on to my right to have relations with whomever I wanted. I held on to what was most important in my life: me, my family, my friends and my freedom. February 16, 2003 opened a door in my soul. For the first time, someone was asking me if the way I was doing things was really working. Someone was asking me if I wanted to change for the better. Someone was asking me if I needed and wanted help. Of course, that someone wasn’t Steve. It wasn’t Joey or anyone else I knew.
The second time I went to Riv was a few weekends later. Christ spoke to me in such a compelling way. I saw things right in front of my face which were hidden before. Jesus made Himself known and planted these questions in my heart: Will you cling to me? Can I be your reason for everything? Can I be your family, your friend, and your freedom? Will you try it my way? Will you give up yourself to be someone new in me?
It wasn’t until later that summer when it all clicked. Someone threw down a bridge diagram during church and I saw it all—finally. It still blows my mind how I thought I was a Christian until I actually became one. It still blows my mind that I’ve never rejected Christ even though I’ve rebelled, come back, rebelled again and stayed fast with Him. The Holy Spirit is strong inside of me. It still blows my mind when I remember the rejection from friends and family who thought I was taking this Jesus stuff a little too seriously. That continues to happen, actually. It also still blows my mind when I see people who “give their lives to Christ” and then walk away from Him for one reason or another. I pray that never happens to me. Right now, our bond is so tight, I don’t know how it could split…but really, we’ve only been together for five years J
Happy 5 year birthday to me and thank you, God for saving my life. Thank you for showing me how living for myself doesn’t work. Thank you for showing me how doing thing my way doesn’t work. Thank you for the fiancé you’ve given me. Thank you for the friends in my life who inspire and help me. Thank you for the family that (for the most part) supports me. Thank you for Riverview and the people who lift me up and get honest with me. Thank you for the pastors who teach, reveal, and answer my calls. All of these people are beautiful, wonderful gifts.
Riverview did not change my life as I so often say. Christ used Riverview to soften my heart and prepare me for Himself. February 16 was just the beginning.
I found this online and I could really relate:
Before Christ--The Self-directed life
Self is on the throne. Interests are directed by self, resulting in discord and frustration. Christ is outside the person's life.
A picture of me before Christ:
With Christ--The Christ-directed life
Christ is on the throne. Self is yielding to Christ. Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan.
The Space Shuttle Columbia was reported to have been broke apart and disintegrated over Texas as it embarked on its final approach to a landing after its 28th space mission. All seven crew members are considered to be lost.
Record producer Phil Spector was arrested in relation to an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old woman in Los Angeles. Press reports identify the woman as the actress Lana Clarkson.
United States military officials anonymously confirm to the Washington Post that two Special Forces units have been operating on the ground inside Iraq for over a month, making preliminary preparations for a large-scale invasion.
In Chicago, IL, a stampede at the E2 south side nightclub kills 21 people.
The Station nightclub fire: A fire started by pyrotechnics set-off by Great White, a rock band playing a nightclub in West Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island kills at least 96 and injures nearly 200, with 35 in critical condition. Fatalities from burn injuries are expected to increase.
I walked into Riverview church for the first time on February 16, 2003. There was no headline which would commemorate this event in my life. In fact, it didn’t even have much of an impact on me. I felt sick from the numerous Jack and Cokes the night before. I didn’t know anyone except for the person who drove me there. We sat on the far left side, toward the middle with his parents. Paul DenHerder took the stage and started singing songs like “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” and “Amazing Love.” I wanted to throw up. Steve Sommerlot was next and he asked us to take a moment and ask the people around us what we had or had not received for Valentine’s Day. I could barely stand it. Steve then opened his teaching. The title was “Are you in a Rut?”
Five years ago, I walked into that church and held on tight to myself. I was clinging to myself, clinging to everything I thought was right and good. I held on to my partying lifestyle. I held on to my right to have relations with whomever I wanted. I held on to what was most important in my life: me, my family, my friends and my freedom. February 16, 2003 opened a door in my soul. For the first time, someone was asking me if the way I was doing things was really working. Someone was asking me if I wanted to change for the better. Someone was asking me if I needed and wanted help. Of course, that someone wasn’t Steve. It wasn’t Joey or anyone else I knew.
The second time I went to Riv was a few weekends later. Christ spoke to me in such a compelling way. I saw things right in front of my face which were hidden before. Jesus made Himself known and planted these questions in my heart: Will you cling to me? Can I be your reason for everything? Can I be your family, your friend, and your freedom? Will you try it my way? Will you give up yourself to be someone new in me?
It wasn’t until later that summer when it all clicked. Someone threw down a bridge diagram during church and I saw it all—finally. It still blows my mind how I thought I was a Christian until I actually became one. It still blows my mind that I’ve never rejected Christ even though I’ve rebelled, come back, rebelled again and stayed fast with Him. The Holy Spirit is strong inside of me. It still blows my mind when I remember the rejection from friends and family who thought I was taking this Jesus stuff a little too seriously. That continues to happen, actually. It also still blows my mind when I see people who “give their lives to Christ” and then walk away from Him for one reason or another. I pray that never happens to me. Right now, our bond is so tight, I don’t know how it could split…but really, we’ve only been together for five years J
Happy 5 year birthday to me and thank you, God for saving my life. Thank you for showing me how living for myself doesn’t work. Thank you for showing me how doing thing my way doesn’t work. Thank you for the fiancé you’ve given me. Thank you for the friends in my life who inspire and help me. Thank you for the family that (for the most part) supports me. Thank you for Riverview and the people who lift me up and get honest with me. Thank you for the pastors who teach, reveal, and answer my calls. All of these people are beautiful, wonderful gifts.
Riverview did not change my life as I so often say. Christ used Riverview to soften my heart and prepare me for Himself. February 16 was just the beginning.
I found this online and I could really relate:
Before Christ--The Self-directed life
Self is on the throne. Interests are directed by self, resulting in discord and frustration. Christ is outside the person's life.
A picture of me before Christ:
With Christ--The Christ-directed life
Christ is on the throne. Self is yielding to Christ. Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan.
A picture of me now:
"One Sunday I listened to the preacher
And i knew he was preaching to me
I couldn't help it I walked up front
And I got down on my knees
Right then and there I swear I changed when I found the Lord
Glory Hallelujah Good God Almighty
I never wanted nothing more
No i never wanted nothing more"
Never Wanted Nothing More ~ Kenny C.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Phil makes me laugh.
A note to the Riv ministry leaders from Phil regarding the building phone:
Also, we added Caller ID on our phone system, so if Satan calls we’ll know not to pick up.
Also, we added Caller ID on our phone system, so if Satan calls we’ll know not to pick up.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
BSF
In Novemberish, I started attending Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) classes in Plymouth. I love it. These classes have challenged me to learn about the Lord and to lean on His understanding. It is so structured and they have trained leaders to help us. This isn’t a “bible study” where you show up and discuss what happened in your life that week. It isn’t a place to vent or have girl time. This is a true bible study.
From the website:
Bible Study Fellowship International provides you with the tools, the environment, the relationships, and the support you need to grow deeper in your knowledge and understanding of God and the Bible. This comprehensive inter-denominational Bible study program helps you gain a practical understanding of this important book.
A. Wetherell Johnson led that first Bible study ... and the organization that grew from it. In fact, in its 50-year history, BSF has had just three leaders: Miss Johnson, Rosemary Jensen, and current director Jean Nystrand. After relocating from Southern California to Oakland in 1958, BSF's headquarters eventually landed in San Antonio, Texas, where it has been since 1980.
BSF includes:
Daily questions for individual Bible Study
Discussion groups
Challenging lectures
Study notes
This approach is consistent with each of BSF’s seven yearlong studies that coincide with the school-year calendar.
Matthew
The Life of Moses
John
History of Israel and the Minor Prophets
Acts of the Apostles
Genesis
Romans
While this is a comprehensive 33-week study, it is also designed for you to jump into it at any time.
On Tuesdays at 6:55 p.m. the music starts. We sing two songs and then break out into our small groups of about 10 – 15 women (the same women each time). My leader, Phyllis, reads through the handout (given the week before), asking us questions. This handout was given to us the week before and contains questions to the week’s reading. Last week, we studied the last 5 parables of Matthew 13. Jesus didn’t offer explanations for these parables so this was a challenging week. Anyhow, our leader must get through the entire handout within an hour. We all chime in with our answers but there is no pressure to answer if you have no clue. There isn’t a lot of time for extra talk, either. There is some discussion but the leader must get through the handout. Around 8:00, we go back down to the main room and sing another song. After this is the lecture which is when I learn the most. BSF ends at exactly 8:55 p.m. and we are given our weekly reading and question handout as we leave the building.
The extra greatness to BSF is that there are classes throughout the nation and everyone is studying the exact same lesson at the exact same time. Well, the classes might be on a different night but we are all studying Matthew 14 this week. And Yi joined the BSF in her area. Now we have even more to discuss J When I move to Holt, I’m going to try to join the one at Trinity.
I’ve wanted to know more about the Bible. I’ve wanted Christ to show me and teach me. My pastors do so much but I want to plug in to a weekly study, too. So far, this has been perfect for me. Now, they just need to start a BSF for men in the Lansing area….
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Housewife--not me!
As all of the Rivites know, we've been talking about sex at church. Seriously, if you don't go to Riverview, go listen to the podcasts. It has been awesome....and eye opening...and healing...
This past weekend Noel spoke to husbands and wives about their sex lives. He quoted from two books Joey and I have read. Can't remember what those two books are right now, though!
To the Wives:
1. Husbands need to be wanted and desired (they're insecure)
2. Choose to love him in the way he needs (have the conversation on what he needs)
3. Make Sex a priority
4. If you need help get it
To the Husbands:
1. Think clearly about sex
2. Understand how women think
3. It's not about YOU
4. Love your wife like Jesus loved the Church
5. Warm her up with foreplay (this isn't laying in bed and saying "hey, baby." Foreplay starts when sex ends and continues until the sex starts again).
6. Help around the house. Clean the house. This frees her mind to want to do it and you might get some.
7. Dont take "not tonight" personal.
As Noel discussed this, Joey leaned over to me and said, "if that's true...about the husband helping out around the house...you won't have to lift a finger when we get married."
I almost laughed out loud.
I did laugh out loud when Noel told us to bow our heads in prayer and then "Let's Get It On" started playing.
I love my church!
This past weekend Noel spoke to husbands and wives about their sex lives. He quoted from two books Joey and I have read. Can't remember what those two books are right now, though!
To the Wives:
1. Husbands need to be wanted and desired (they're insecure)
2. Choose to love him in the way he needs (have the conversation on what he needs)
3. Make Sex a priority
4. If you need help get it
To the Husbands:
1. Think clearly about sex
2. Understand how women think
3. It's not about YOU
4. Love your wife like Jesus loved the Church
5. Warm her up with foreplay (this isn't laying in bed and saying "hey, baby." Foreplay starts when sex ends and continues until the sex starts again).
6. Help around the house. Clean the house. This frees her mind to want to do it and you might get some.
7. Dont take "not tonight" personal.
As Noel discussed this, Joey leaned over to me and said, "if that's true...about the husband helping out around the house...you won't have to lift a finger when we get married."
I almost laughed out loud.
I did laugh out loud when Noel told us to bow our heads in prayer and then "Let's Get It On" started playing.
I love my church!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Know the jury is here
It's true that when I got my jury summons, I groaned. Don't we all. I even called and rescheduled it because the day fell on our company's Christmas lunch. And when my rescheduled day rolled around, I was super swamped at work. Crap.
I showed up today at the 52nd district court and felt a little put out. Just a little. Not a lot. We waited for half an hour before the clerk came in and gave us the run down. Then, we watched a crappy video and waited some more.
A judge came in and thanked us for showing up. He then went on to tell us some of the most amazing stories.
First, he talked about how most jurors just don't show at all. A few years ago, he had to hear 4 cases, 3 of them were child cases. Cases dealing with children are really sensitive. The judge speaks to the child in his chambers without his robe on to get the child comfortable. Then, he puts the robe on. They move the child into the court room, usually with the child's advocate there. They have to warm the child up and make them feel safe. All of this was done and the judge went through the stack of jurors. Only 11 had shown up.
The cases that day could not be heard because the there weren't enough jurors. The cases couldn't go to trial and three possible predators were back on the street.
This same judge went to study the judicial system in Russia. For 10 million people, there are two judges representing everyone. 10 million. 2 judges. There is no time for a formal hearing. The people come in and....they pay. The judges in Moscow asked our judge how much he charges for a rape or a drug charge. Charge? They don't have a jury. The people there don't get a choice if they want their peers to decide the outcome for them. If you have money, you aren't guilty. So who is in the prisons? The people who can't afford to pay: the poor and the mentally unstable. This judge asked to see the prison and found a third group in there: the political dissidents.
Be thankful for the jury or at least for the option. This judge said he resents it when his friends ask him what they have to do to get out of jury duty. Think of all the armed services people who have given up 2-3 years of their lives to serve us. 2 days. For most of us we serve 2 days.
Most times, people choose to have their trial heard by a jury instead of a judge or settling. But then the day comes and if there are people sitting in the jury room waiting to go, things change. Most times, they change their minds. They know the jury is here.
I didn't end up serving on a jury. I guess the people who wanted us so bad decided on their other options. Still, I think I'll look at jury duty a lot differently. Oh, and I got $12 from the county!
I showed up today at the 52nd district court and felt a little put out. Just a little. Not a lot. We waited for half an hour before the clerk came in and gave us the run down. Then, we watched a crappy video and waited some more.
A judge came in and thanked us for showing up. He then went on to tell us some of the most amazing stories.
First, he talked about how most jurors just don't show at all. A few years ago, he had to hear 4 cases, 3 of them were child cases. Cases dealing with children are really sensitive. The judge speaks to the child in his chambers without his robe on to get the child comfortable. Then, he puts the robe on. They move the child into the court room, usually with the child's advocate there. They have to warm the child up and make them feel safe. All of this was done and the judge went through the stack of jurors. Only 11 had shown up.
The cases that day could not be heard because the there weren't enough jurors. The cases couldn't go to trial and three possible predators were back on the street.
This same judge went to study the judicial system in Russia. For 10 million people, there are two judges representing everyone. 10 million. 2 judges. There is no time for a formal hearing. The people come in and....they pay. The judges in Moscow asked our judge how much he charges for a rape or a drug charge. Charge? They don't have a jury. The people there don't get a choice if they want their peers to decide the outcome for them. If you have money, you aren't guilty. So who is in the prisons? The people who can't afford to pay: the poor and the mentally unstable. This judge asked to see the prison and found a third group in there: the political dissidents.
Be thankful for the jury or at least for the option. This judge said he resents it when his friends ask him what they have to do to get out of jury duty. Think of all the armed services people who have given up 2-3 years of their lives to serve us. 2 days. For most of us we serve 2 days.
Most times, people choose to have their trial heard by a jury instead of a judge or settling. But then the day comes and if there are people sitting in the jury room waiting to go, things change. Most times, they change their minds. They know the jury is here.
I didn't end up serving on a jury. I guess the people who wanted us so bad decided on their other options. Still, I think I'll look at jury duty a lot differently. Oh, and I got $12 from the county!
Monday, January 07, 2008
New Year, Same Crap
I had a thought the other morning while in the shower.
People don't have to stop. They don't need to stop doing drugs, getting drunk, having premarital sex, listening to rap, watching porn, committing adultery, blowing their money on new clothes, etc. etc. They don't need to stop. They only need to bring themselves into a place where they can heal. Don't wait to fix yourself. Don't try to reinvent yourself. Just walk through those doors of that local church and find out for yourself. If we didn't try to fix ourselves, we would find complete peace, healing, People feel like they don't want to give up the things they love in order to become a Christian. The crazy thing is that you gain your life back.
People don't have to stop. They don't need to stop doing drugs, getting drunk, having premarital sex, listening to rap, watching porn, committing adultery, blowing their money on new clothes, etc. etc. They don't need to stop. They only need to bring themselves into a place where they can heal. Don't wait to fix yourself. Don't try to reinvent yourself. Just walk through those doors of that local church and find out for yourself. If we didn't try to fix ourselves, we would find complete peace, healing, People feel like they don't want to give up the things they love in order to become a Christian. The crazy thing is that you gain your life back.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Have You Seen Me?
My company is really an awesome place to work…at least for me. I don’t have any complaints. Well, sometimes I do but overall, I’m blessed to work here. After 5 years, there has been a lot of change but this company has kept me through the good and bad. Even when they probably should have fired me, they haven’t. They have forgiven the mistakes I’ve made and rewarded me plenty. I do like it here.
Last year, my company bought another company which distributes the Shopwise ads to your mailbox every week. These are the pizza coupons, Rite Aid and Value City ads with the missing child picture on the back (Have You Seen Me?). I work on the Valassis insert (FSI-Free Standing Insert) in the Sunday paper. We do not have the missing child on our insert but we do have a Valassis banner on the front page.
This Sunday, we are unveiling two new items in our weekly ad:
1.) The Valassis FSI and Shopwise banners are no more. We are officially introducing Redplum. Go to the website for some sweet deals.
2.) Our Sunday FSI will be running a picture of a missing child on the back page.
I’ve got to tell you how amazing the missing child program has been. Here are a few stories we heard from Vince Giuliano, the man in charge of the program in our company:
1.) This program started after Adam Walsh was abducted. The people at Advo (the company Valassis bought last year) were so moved by his disappearance, they jumped over multiple hurdles to get pictures of kids on the back of the Shopwise weekly ad.
2.) The first girl ever featured on the Shopwise ad was never recovered. Every few years, we run her picture again.
3.) The ads have helped recover 146…make that 147 kids
4.) Most people who ID the kids are kids themselves because they are the ones getting the mail. Also, the kids recognize missing kids in their classroom.
5.) One kid identified himself by a baby picture. He never knew he had been taken.
We have been gearing up for these two huge launches for several months now. A member of the missing child department came to talk to us about the challenges of running a child’s picture on the back of our ad. There are certain ads we can’t run with the missing child’s picture. The size of our ads was also reduced on the back. It has been challenging for us but what this guy said during the meeting made most in the room tear up.
“When we find that first child…and I mean WHEN we find him, we will have a huge party.”
The party meant nothing to me. The part about finding this little boy lifted my heart, gave my efforts here more purpose. People kind of laugh when they find out I print coupons for a living but now it is so much more than that.
In the November 25, 2007 Shopwise inserts, we ran this picture:
I actually kept this ad with me and brought it to work. Was it so I could look for the child? Well, no. It was the Omaha Steaks ad just above the missing child photo. I was thinking about ordering from Omaha Steaks for Christmas. A few weeks later, we received this communication about the boy in the above photo:
A young man in North Carolina is no longer missing and is surely facing an entirely different holiday than the one he imagined just a few days ago. His life was changed when a friend’s father knocked on the door and showed him two photos on the back of a piece of mail. “Is this you, son?” asked his friend’s dad, who happens to also be a police officer on the local force. Also at the door were the teacher from his school who had originally recognized his image in the mail, his principal, and another member of the local police force. He looked at the group and simply said, “Yes, that’s me.” He then added, “I’d like to call my mother now.”
The young man and the toddler on the pictures in the mail were five-year-old Francis Coleman and the image created by forensic artists of how he may look at age 16. Francis, now 18 and no longer known by his given name, had been missing since 1994. The age-progressed image of the teen must have been pretty accurate for his teacher to take it to her principal with the question, “Could this be…?” They agreed that it looked enough like him to call the local authorities who then made contact with the young man himself and the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children.
“A picture in a mailbox, with the technology of an age progression, was able to be placed in the hands of a teacher, who took a moment to look, made a heroic call to the National Center, and ended the nightmare of a searching parent. This amazing recovery of a boy missing for more than 13 years is proof of the power of our program to span the barriers of time and distance.” said Vince Giuliano, SVP Government Relations and founder of the America’s Looking for Its Missing Children® Program.
Francis Coleman is the 147th child to be safely recovered as a direct result of our America’s Looking for Its Missing Children® Program. On behalf of Valassis and our program partners, NCMEC and the USPS, we offer congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in Francis’s safe recovery including Firestone, the sponsor of his age-progressed photo. We would like to offer special thanks to all associates of the Durham printing facility for printing the wrap resulting in this recovery. Last but not least, please join us in special congratulations to all associates of the Atlanta branch, our official branch of recovery.
So, take a look this Sunday at the RedPlum insert and please take a good look at Jonah, too. He might be closer than you think and his family is looking for him.
Last year, my company bought another company which distributes the Shopwise ads to your mailbox every week. These are the pizza coupons, Rite Aid and Value City ads with the missing child picture on the back (Have You Seen Me?). I work on the Valassis insert (FSI-Free Standing Insert) in the Sunday paper. We do not have the missing child on our insert but we do have a Valassis banner on the front page.
This Sunday, we are unveiling two new items in our weekly ad:
1.) The Valassis FSI and Shopwise banners are no more. We are officially introducing Redplum. Go to the website for some sweet deals.
2.) Our Sunday FSI will be running a picture of a missing child on the back page.
I’ve got to tell you how amazing the missing child program has been. Here are a few stories we heard from Vince Giuliano, the man in charge of the program in our company:
1.) This program started after Adam Walsh was abducted. The people at Advo (the company Valassis bought last year) were so moved by his disappearance, they jumped over multiple hurdles to get pictures of kids on the back of the Shopwise weekly ad.
2.) The first girl ever featured on the Shopwise ad was never recovered. Every few years, we run her picture again.
3.) The ads have helped recover 146…make that 147 kids
4.) Most people who ID the kids are kids themselves because they are the ones getting the mail. Also, the kids recognize missing kids in their classroom.
5.) One kid identified himself by a baby picture. He never knew he had been taken.
We have been gearing up for these two huge launches for several months now. A member of the missing child department came to talk to us about the challenges of running a child’s picture on the back of our ad. There are certain ads we can’t run with the missing child’s picture. The size of our ads was also reduced on the back. It has been challenging for us but what this guy said during the meeting made most in the room tear up.
“When we find that first child…and I mean WHEN we find him, we will have a huge party.”
The party meant nothing to me. The part about finding this little boy lifted my heart, gave my efforts here more purpose. People kind of laugh when they find out I print coupons for a living but now it is so much more than that.
In the November 25, 2007 Shopwise inserts, we ran this picture:
I actually kept this ad with me and brought it to work. Was it so I could look for the child? Well, no. It was the Omaha Steaks ad just above the missing child photo. I was thinking about ordering from Omaha Steaks for Christmas. A few weeks later, we received this communication about the boy in the above photo:
A young man in North Carolina is no longer missing and is surely facing an entirely different holiday than the one he imagined just a few days ago. His life was changed when a friend’s father knocked on the door and showed him two photos on the back of a piece of mail. “Is this you, son?” asked his friend’s dad, who happens to also be a police officer on the local force. Also at the door were the teacher from his school who had originally recognized his image in the mail, his principal, and another member of the local police force. He looked at the group and simply said, “Yes, that’s me.” He then added, “I’d like to call my mother now.”
The young man and the toddler on the pictures in the mail were five-year-old Francis Coleman and the image created by forensic artists of how he may look at age 16. Francis, now 18 and no longer known by his given name, had been missing since 1994. The age-progressed image of the teen must have been pretty accurate for his teacher to take it to her principal with the question, “Could this be…?” They agreed that it looked enough like him to call the local authorities who then made contact with the young man himself and the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children.
“A picture in a mailbox, with the technology of an age progression, was able to be placed in the hands of a teacher, who took a moment to look, made a heroic call to the National Center, and ended the nightmare of a searching parent. This amazing recovery of a boy missing for more than 13 years is proof of the power of our program to span the barriers of time and distance.” said Vince Giuliano, SVP Government Relations and founder of the America’s Looking for Its Missing Children® Program.
Francis Coleman is the 147th child to be safely recovered as a direct result of our America’s Looking for Its Missing Children® Program. On behalf of Valassis and our program partners, NCMEC and the USPS, we offer congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in Francis’s safe recovery including Firestone, the sponsor of his age-progressed photo. We would like to offer special thanks to all associates of the Durham printing facility for printing the wrap resulting in this recovery. Last but not least, please join us in special congratulations to all associates of the Atlanta branch, our official branch of recovery.
So, take a look this Sunday at the RedPlum insert and please take a good look at Jonah, too. He might be closer than you think and his family is looking for him.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Grace Like Rain
"I'm not going to church today. I've been puking all night."
"Okay, Joe. I'll get you some Vernor's before church. Hang tight."
"Hey, Todd."
"Hey, Holly."
"Hey, could you save me a seat at church? Just one seat, though. Joey's sick and I need to get him some Vernor's. I'll be a little late."
"No problem. Just pulling into church now."
"Thanks."
"Here's the Vernor's."
"Moan...."
"I'm trying to be patient, lady, but I'm late for church...please just move into the other lane...thank you! I can see the 55 mph sign just ahead...I'll start accelerating now...I'm making great time! ...uh oh....cop....is....pulling me over...."
"Good morning!."
"Morning."
"Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"Yes (smile)."
"Where you going?"
"Church (smile)"
"Really (chuckle)."
"Yes...Riverview."
"Okay, I'll be right back."
TEXT MESSAGE FROM TODD (WHO IS A POLICE OFFICER): Where are u?
TEXT MESSAGE BACK: Got pulled over.
TEXT FROM TODD: Cry
TEXT MESSAGE FROM MEGAN: Where are u? I thought u were coming to church?
TEXT MESSAGE BACK: Talking to a nice police officer.
TEXT FROM MEGAN: I agree with Todd. Cry.
"Oh crap. Here he comes. I wonder how much the ticket is going to cost."
"Here you go (hands back license and registration). Have a nice day."
"Uh...."
"Just slow down."
"Okay (almost crying)."
I so deserved that ticket. I knew it and was ready for it. But I didn't get the ticket. The police officer gave me grace and I thought about Christ. I walked into church 10 minutes late and found my friends. As I stood next to them, I realized we were singing "Grace Like Rain." How perfect.
"Okay, Joe. I'll get you some Vernor's before church. Hang tight."
"Hey, Todd."
"Hey, Holly."
"Hey, could you save me a seat at church? Just one seat, though. Joey's sick and I need to get him some Vernor's. I'll be a little late."
"No problem. Just pulling into church now."
"Thanks."
"Here's the Vernor's."
"Moan...."
"I'm trying to be patient, lady, but I'm late for church...please just move into the other lane...thank you! I can see the 55 mph sign just ahead...I'll start accelerating now...I'm making great time! ...uh oh....cop....is....pulling me over...."
"Good morning!."
"Morning."
"Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"Yes (smile)."
"Where you going?"
"Church (smile)"
"Really (chuckle)."
"Yes...Riverview."
"Okay, I'll be right back."
TEXT MESSAGE FROM TODD (WHO IS A POLICE OFFICER): Where are u?
TEXT MESSAGE BACK: Got pulled over.
TEXT FROM TODD: Cry
TEXT MESSAGE FROM MEGAN: Where are u? I thought u were coming to church?
TEXT MESSAGE BACK: Talking to a nice police officer.
TEXT FROM MEGAN: I agree with Todd. Cry.
"Oh crap. Here he comes. I wonder how much the ticket is going to cost."
"Here you go (hands back license and registration). Have a nice day."
"Uh...."
"Just slow down."
"Okay (almost crying)."
I so deserved that ticket. I knew it and was ready for it. But I didn't get the ticket. The police officer gave me grace and I thought about Christ. I walked into church 10 minutes late and found my friends. As I stood next to them, I realized we were singing "Grace Like Rain." How perfect.
from http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/
One week ago tomorrow, I found out that someone I know committed suicide. He was a relative of one of my friends but I also knew him through the running world. He was a husband. He was a father. He killed himself and not in a pleasant way. I keep thinking about the hole he has left in so many lives. I think about his wife who now has to raise their young children alone. I get angry when I think about how selfish he was to something so horrible. I think about Jimmy and how Jimmy did it right across the street from me.
I've been through this before. Everything feels weird for awhile and then people start to heal. I pray the wife will heal. I pray the children will heal. None of them know Christ so I pray He can help them fill that void. As depressed as I felt on Christmas....I just don't get it. And as angry as I am for this guy's selfish decision, I also feel for his pain.
This, more than anything, seems to be a message from God to me about the people of Lansing. Dan Price wrote about us falling in love with the people of Lansing and caring about their salvation. I was in this guy's world as a fellow runner. I was talking to him little by little at each race. God put it on my heart to reach out to him. Of course, I see all of that in hindsight now. I see where God has placed me in His mission. I see so clearly but another one slipped away. I do not think I could have done anything to change this guy's mind about killing himself. I do not blame myself for any of it because I didn't lay out the salvation plan or something. What his death has done for me is reiterate the message: the people around me are broken hearted, numb, falling apart, tired of this life. God has placed me in a position to reach out. I am not the message, though. I just carry it.
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