WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER

It's been a strange couple of days.

Rose and I ran around like crazy yesterday afternoon and got up to Potsdam last night only to discover in one of my more "organized" moments I had hung up her schools keys at home, mistaking them for her set of keys to Sofie (my car). We (Rose, Mike and I) spent a fair amount of time trying to find someone who could actually provide us entrance to her room. Well, Mike & Rose did. I was banished to the lounge to guard some shoes and do my pennants. I will never hang up Rose's room keys again. I will never hang up Rose's room keys again. After all these years comparing myself to Lisa, now I know what it's like to be Bart Simpson.

Anyway, you can read more details and resolutions from Rosie's account. We did get to have the Alfredo she's been raving about at Union for dinner, and we all watched the Gilmore Girls together. It was weird watching a new one. Rory looks so different. Prettier and older. Something in the eyes. Anyway, soon it was time to drop Mike back off at SLU and pick up Sarah at Aunt Sherry's in Dekalb before heading back home. We pulled into the driveway at 11:30. Bed came two hours later.

All is better now in Rosieland, thanks to Mike (who made a call...) and Mike's Mom Sheryl (who received the call and brought up Rose's keys tonight while picking up Mike for his Fall Break). He also spent a lot of time trying to unjam the door lock, and while I don't believe he has a future in burglary, he sure does provide a lot of help in a crisis. Cool head, quick wit. Referee-like reflexes. He made us laugh and ease the tension. He celebrated with a frappacino on the ride back to college. I expect he may have gotten to know his roommate Eric a little better last night, because he sure does get friendly and fun with such a large caffeine hit that late at night. In my humble but limited opinion.

So I'm up because we had a great weekend, but I'm really down because I left the keys at home. But I'm up again because Mike's Mom's going to bring them up in less than 24 hours. Then I'm down because the door lock stops working after they let us in, so she can't get into her room even when her keys make it back. Then I find gas for $2.77 in Canton, so I'm a little up again! But Rose and I were biting at each other when I left so I still feel kind of down, especially since she had a double braces adjustment that day and she's in a lot of pain to add to her stress levels. Which I caused! But then her away message was so sweet when I got to work today, so I was up again. What a roller coaster ride. I hate bungee cord Christianity.

But underlying everything - the ride-ending, stomach-lurching freefall in this metaphor - is the heaviness over Sarah's friend Maria losing her Dad in Iraq this week. He was only 46, and such a nice guy. We would see him a lot at school. He has three daughters 16, 11 and 5. I pray and weep for their family and the loss they're experiencing, as I also lost my Dad when I was 16. I know how important a Dad is to a family, especially a good Dad. I wish I could help more somehow.

While I'm praying for them, I'm feeling something else, and somehow I know in my heart that my President deals with and feels these losses every day too, and yet there doesn't seem to be an easy way out of this situation. So I have to leave it in my Saviour's hands and trust that He will bring a timely and right solution to this mess and horror that is a reality for so many people - many of whom I know and care about, and pray for daily.

I need to go pray again, and get off this roller coaster.

Because I hate roller coasters.

Peace and Blessings. Go hug your Dad - or at least pray for him tonight. And our President. Because no matter how you feel about him, you know you want him to be making the wisest decisions possible right now.

Know you are loved,

MOM

Sonny's being deskunked. Meditate on this: Phil. 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

IT IS WELL
Horatio Spafford
Philip Bliss
with extra verses for Steve

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ,
be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound,
and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.