Ralph

It's a rainy Sunday. I just got back from a Mc Donalds coffee run since our coffee maker kicked the bucket. Seriously, I can't go without coffee. Instead of buying a new coffee maker, Dad's been resourceful in making coffee the "boyscout way." Getting coffee grounds, then boiling water... (I take Mc Donalds coffee over it any day!) But that's dad. Always doing things differently. It's in his blood. He got it from Ralph; his dad, my grandpa. Ralph Roberts. A World War II veteran, electrical engineer, father of four kids, husband to one wife, and the most logical to a fault man I've ever known.

I remember visiting him in the hospital when I was thirteen years old. He asked me, "Why do you let your hair fall in your face?" (Speaking about my bangs that would fall in front of my eyes) I remember laughing a little and saying "I don't know." It didn't make sense to him, and if grandpa would have grown his hair out, I know for a fact he wouldn't of gotten bangs, even though that was trendy, it served no purpose. His choices, no matter how strange, were always intentional. My dad told me when they grew up Grandpa bought a checkered cab car for the family. It was a good price, it met a need, and that's all that mattered. Trendiness or caring about what others might think were two concepts my grandfather never troubled himself with. I see it in my dad too. Not only in dad, but in my older brother Zack as well.

The Roberts men can be simply understood as.... well wait, no, I don't think they can be simply understood! That's what you got to appreciate about them. The emotional spectrum of these men are very narrow. They are men after all, but there's is especially narrow. Logic is key to them. I remember when Zack was 12 or 13 he managed to build his own desktop computer, through the bestowing of computer parts by my grandpa Ralph. Conversing with these guys is pretty black and white. What makes sense to them is what they do or say, and what doesn't they will vigorously persuade you otherwise or won't even trouble themselves with it.

One of my favorite stories of Grandpa is when my dad, the eye doctor, just gave him new glasses. Grandpa was going to stay at our house for the night, and though he was a World War II veteran, I don't think anything could have really prepared him for this. Growing up we called our house a funny farm because we had all sorts of animals. Chickens, cats, peacocks, horses, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, pigs...etc. Our chickens would roost on our porch railings. When Grandpa walked down our sidewalk he approached the dozen chickens roosting on the porch, with fresh droppings everywhere. Grandpa just stood still. Looked around. And shook his head. When we got inside he sat at one of our tables. Not by himself, for there were several cats running and walking around keeping him company. Grandpa in his solid and satirist fashion calmly spoke up and said, "I believe there is something wrong with these new glasses. They make me see cats everywhere."

That was grandpa.

He was a bird. I can't say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. We all have our ancestor's blood. We miss you grandpa. Rest easy.

Forever Young

I love my age. Eighteen. Soon to be nineteen. It's great. It's the time where adulthood starts to set in, but the winsome youth inside me still thrives. And I hope it always will. My parents have always told me I'm such a kid at heart :)

I love learning to figure things out on my own. Making decisions. Getting to vote. Work part time. Oh yes, and drinking coffee just like a grown up!

 Ahh, eighteen. My favorite age so far.

Maybe one day that will change, but I'm totally enjoying right now.

 College, career choice, earning money, being involved in ministry, being part of weddings, shopping for my own groceries, getting my first gym membership, going out with friends, growing my taste in music and books... I love it.

Then again, maybe my age when a cure for diabetes is discovered will become my new fav ;)

All in good time.

 Shane and Laura's wedding day! What a blast that was!


 Aimee and I showing off our rapping skills with a song about the story of Shane and Laura :) will never forget that!


The beach trip for both of my sister's sweet 16! Love them all!

Truth Matters Outreach group, we appreciate your prayers!
 

 I will never be the same because of what I have learned from this book. Totally worth reading!

So I had a bad day, but I'm alive to tell about it

So I've been on my Christmas break from college for almost a week now. I finished my first semester with straight A's, and one sophomore class knocked out of the way. Who knows how much I've spent on gas just driving back and forth to Winston-Salem, but God really gave a lot a grace to me as I adjusted to driving four days a week on a 12 lane highway, even in the morning traffic when I had an 8 o' clock history class to catch.
Since I finished my finals, I've been back at Hallmark earning some Christmas cash. This past Tuesday was the day I had marked down to do my Christmas shopping. I had the whole day off, and was ready to snatch some deals and find just the right gifts. I haven't done ANY Christmas shopping, and I was ready to twiddle away at my gift list and be in the Christmas mood while I shopped. But that didn't happen. I started my day with a lot of pep and energy. I woke up early, read a little, drank some coffee, and did a little exercise. Yes, I was ready. Well I needed to hit the showers before I went anywhere, so I got cleaned up and was styling my hair. And this is where my day went downhill.
I've been a type 1 diabetic for 3 years now. I've ran into some bumps and tricks along the way, experiencing some hours in the ER, but for the most part, the most dramatic experience I've had was the weekend I was diagnosed with diabetes. However, this episode comes pretty close to that weekend.
So as I'm styling my hair I start to feel woozy. Like I'm having a low blood sugar. No biggie, because I had my meter and a bottle of soda with me just in case it dropped. Well it dropped. Big time. I prick my finger, and switch into panic mode as I saw my meter read my sugar as 20. 20?!? Yes. 20! I've never had it that low before. My panic only worsens when I realize that I'm home alone. I have no one to call for help. My heart was pounding.
It didn't help that my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I was trying to call my dad's cell number. But I dialed it. The phone rang. No answer. I crack open my soda and start chugging. I race downstairs to my bedroom where my purse was to grab my glucagon kit that I'm supposed to use in times of emergency low sugars. I open it, but my hands were shaking so bad I was fumbling and couldn't get it to work right.
By this time I'm seeing spots. My heart is racing, my breathing is heavy, and I'm thinking, this is it. I'm going to pass out. With everything I have in me, I dial 911. The lady on the other line was extremely calm. I could not think straight, much less talk in full sentences. I was able to give her my address. An emergency crew was on the way. I open another soda and chug it down. I'm pretty sure I burped while I was on the phone with the 911 lady. Who knows what else I did. I probably told her the date my guinea pig died when I was a kid. Yeah, I was not in my right mind.
The lady stayed on the line with me. We tried to call my dad's cell again. No answer. We call his office. The secretary answered and I was able to talk to my dad until the emergency crew arrived. They checked on me. By that time my sugar boosted up to 300 (a normal sugar level for me is 120). When I had calmed down, and saw that there was no real emergency anymore, they left. I slumped on my couch, taking deep breathes, and started to sob. Yes, it's true I cry a lot, but never before had I ever been that scared.
I calmed myself down and called my dad to let him know everything was okay. We prayed together over the phone, thanking God for watching over me.
By this time it was 11 a.m. about an hour later I re-checked my sugar. It was 500. I felt terrible. It's been two days since this incident, and I still can't shake my headache. I haven't been able to sleep well either. But at least my sugar is starting to act normal.
Did I get my Christmas shopping done? Not at all. But now I have a sweeter view of life, and of God's keeping of His children. So yeah, I had a bad day, but at least I'm alive to tell about it!

Just some serendipity... (:

Today has been one of those crisp fall days I daydream of. Not a cloud in the sky. The sun is bright, and gives you those tingles when you happen to stand in its open warmth. A day like today would be perfect for a wedding. Ahh yes. Fall, my favorite season.

This morning my sister and I met a group of friends for a 5k walk to support finding a cure for diabetes. I've actually been living with type 1 diabetes since December 5, 2008 (Yes, I remember the exact day...it was quite traumatic!) So we decided to do JDRF's walk to cure diabetes. It was great. We had good laughs, met other people, and got to enjoy a walk on a perfect fall day. (I needed the exercise too, I don't know what it is, but around this time every year my fluff starts to reappear)

Well after the walk, my sister and I visited a florist. It's our mom's birthday on Monday, so we ordered a bouquet to be delivered to where she works. (Shh to any of you who know my mom!) ;) My dad's birthday is today. I'm just doing some blogging until we start our little cook out for him. Can you believe that's all he asked for? Such a simple, easy to please man.

After we had been home a while, I got away in my room to just ready my Bible, journal, and pray. Just to have that precious time with God. Today I read in Romans chapter 12. Wow. Specifically verses 9-21 spoke to my heart. It says:

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil;
hold fast to what is good. Love one another
with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal,
be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice
in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant
in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the
saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and
do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for
evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in
the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never
avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of
God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will
repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "If your
enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him something to drink; for by so doing you will
heap burning coals on his head." Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In my Bible, this passage is titled "Marks of the True Christian." I gotta say, I don't live like that. It's a shame really. Most of the time I don't give a second thought to what I am doing. But I should. I need to. I'm commanded to. Being a Christian is no cake walk. It's a battle. A battle between God and Satan, what is good and what is evil. A battle over our souls. I have no doubt in my mind that by God's grace I have been saved. But that does not make Satan give up. He is the joy stealer, and wants to drag us to join his misery. But God is victorious and has not left us without help. His spirit in us guides us, as long as we do not grieve it (take it where it should not go) or quench it (ignore it).

These verses should be at the forefront of my mind every day. I want to make a poster of them... Hmmm... Maybe that will be my next project ;)

It Doesn't Take a College Education to Live the Good Life

I don't think any high school graduate really knows what to expect when they start the highly anticipated world of...college. To be honest, high school is overrated. Don't get me wrong. I've got some great high school memories. Eating out at Tokyo Express with all my friends, ministering to a third world country, and laughing at my prom date when his fancy car's battery died when we were pulling out of my driveway...are just a few memories that bring a smile to my face.
"I don't want to graduate!" were the very words I spoke to my homeroom teacher at the beginning of my senior year. Yeah. That changed. I went through times of feeling completely suffocated. I wanted out. I wanted to graduate. College looked better and better every morning after I stayed up until 1 am doing homework and woke up at 6 am only to repeat it later...(I remember my parents telling me how late they'd stayed up during their college days. They'd be bugged eyed in their books and sipping cup after cup of coffee. So far this year, I haven't been to bed past 12. *knock on wood*)
College is pretty sweet. High school had its good days, but it was definitely time for me to move on. We all get there; ready to move on to the next big thing in our lives. We start to view our lives as a cage...It gets mundane. Repetitive. We want a new job. We're ready for marriage. We long for kids. We want to travel. Maybe we'll finally start that business we've dreamed of. Why are we always dreaming of something better? We get discontent with where we are. The life we know now isn't good enough, and if we could just have that one thing we'll be happy. I sigh at myself and shake my head because I've been a discontent dreamer. Ungratefulness is poison. The most miserable times in my life were time I was discontent. I've been learning the value of having a grateful heart. Wow! It's pretty amazing. I don't wake up dreading the day ahead. I'm just glad to have life! I can't even tell you the joy I feel. It's ridiculous. I'm not encouraging to live as a happy-go-lucky person. No. I'm talking about genuine gratitude, not an annoying fake front that we'll eventually give up trying to keep up.
Am I grateful for high school? Absolutely. It helped to bring me where I am. I thought it as torture sometimes, but I wouldn't take that part of my life away from me. In fact, I wouldn't change a thing.

"Gratitude changes the way we start the day, spend the day, and look back on the day." ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Some more high school memories...

Graduation night with my sisters!

My prom date

The kids I grew up with...