I have to start this post by saying a huge thank you to all of you who prayed for me this weekend. You need to know that I appreciate it more than words could ever convey. I’ve said it before, but y’all are the best part of this blog.
I’ve gotten so many emails asking about the weekend and how everything went, so I’ll do my best to recap in a concise, articulate form. But, really, when do I ever do anything that’s concise and articulate?
By Thursday morning Caroline had been completely fever-free for 24 hours and seemed to be feeling fine. She went to school and when I picked her up at the end of the day, she excitedly told me all about her day and appeared to be completely over the flu. I was so relieved that I wasn’t going to be leaving town while she was sick.
But I counted my flu-free chickens before they hatched.
She slept in my bed on Thursday night and I could tell she was restless. Then about 1:00 a.m., I could feel the heat radiating from her body like one of those little stoves that the Amish make. The fever was back. I gave her some Motrin and then spent the next two hours listening to her feverish ramblings about how her favorite Disney princess is Pocahontas because she has a pet raccoon.
Technically, I’m not sure that Pocahontas is really a Disney princess, but I didn’t want to argue the point at 4 a.m.
Anyway, she finally fell asleep again around 4:45 in the morning, just in time for me to get a refreshing 15 minutes of sleep before my alarm went off at 5:00.
Armed with about two hours and fifteen minutes of sleep, I stumbled into the bathroom to get dressed, stuff a few more things in my suitcase, and then head to the airport. I’ve never felt more refreshed.
Also, P was still asleep when I left the house so I just put a note by the coffee pot that read, “Caroline has fever. No school today. May God have mercy on your soul.”
Once I got on the plane, I was gripped with fear. Not fear that we might crash, not fear of the fact that I was speaking to a group of women, but fear that I would fall asleep with my mouth open in front of a plane full of strangers. And, horror of horrors, maybe even snore.
(Disclaimer: I don’t normally snore. I am way too delicate and feminine. I just thought the altitude might cause some freak sinus issues.)
Sure enough, I did the fall asleep, mouth open, head bob and jolt awake routine more times than I want to recall right now. To my fellow passengers on Delta Flight 5022, I apologize.
Once I arrived at the airport in Asheville, North Carolina, I was greeted by Becky and Beth who were holding a large sign that said “BIG MAMA”. At that moment I was so proud that I chose such a distinguished, sophisticated name when I started this blog back in July of 2006.
We headed to The Cove Retreat Center and the scenery was unbelievably beautiful. I asked a lot of intelligent questions like, “Are those mountains or just really big hills?” At that moment I bet Becky has never questioned her judgement more in asking me to be a part of their retreat.
The whole weekend was just one of the biggest blessings of my life. I spoke at four different sessions with an overall theme about being the woman that God calls you to be. All the prayers you said were absolutely answered because I didn’t pass out and I didn’t trip over anything. Each time I got up to speak, the nerves went away and I felt total peace.
More than anything, I have to say that the women of Lee Park Baptist in Monroe, NC are some of the most incredible women I have ever been privileged to meet. They could not have made me feel more welcomed or loved. As I heard bits and pieces of some of their stories over the twenty-four hours I was with them, I was amazed by their faith and strength. They inspired me.
I got to meet a woman who’s traveled to over 68 countries in her life and is celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary this year by traveling to about five more. She has more energy at 78 than I had, well, EVER. I talked to a woman who just found out last Monday that she has breast cancer. There were women there facing so many challenges and struggles that I don’t even know what to say except that it made me feel incredibly humbled to be there.
And, y’all, they made me laugh out loud. There is nothing I love more than a group of people who don’t take themselves too seriously. I got to see some stupid human tricks, a New Kids on the Block rap, and a preacher’s wife who wasn’t afraid to wear a paper plate bonnet.
I heard all about Harris Teeter, which is one of their local grocery stores, and I now know that if I ever need to find plastic, curved toothpicks that you can get them in the wine department and if you ever buy a rotten coconut, you can bring it back and they’ll replace it with not one, but TWO coconuts. And they have their London Broil on sale this week, buy one get one free, and if you put it in the crockpot with some Lipton Onion soup mix, it is delicious.
I never thought I’d feel sad over a grocery store, especially since we have HEB here in Texas, but now I feel like I’m missing out on a blessing because I’ve never been to a Harris Teeter. (Even though I never could remember the name and I kept referring to it as Humpy Wheeler. Which they all appreciated because Humpy Wheeler used to be the head of NASCAR and we were in North Carolina so they all actually knew who I was talking about.)
What I’m trying to say (so much for concise and articulate) is that they just took me in and made me feel like I was their own. And for a nervous, tired girl from Texas who wasn’t sure what she was doing there, it was a huge blessing. So, big shout out to Lee Park women. Thanks for everything.
When I finally got home late Saturday night, P met me at the door and told me there was leftover sushi in the fridge. California Roll is my love language. So I ate my sushi, talked his ear off, and then headed to bed.
Caroline was in our bed and when I tip-toed in the bedroom, she opened her eyes and said, “HELLO MAMA!” and then fell back asleep so she would be well-rested and ready to wake me up for a round of Candyland by 6:36 a.m.
I think she’s back to her old self.
Y’all have a great Monday.