Super exciting stuff if you ask me!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

God is so good! I was concerned about financially being afloat this next month with the fact that I won't be working due to my breakage. My church took a love offering and what I was praying for was the exact amount that was given!

I then realized I had spent my gas money (plus more) on medical bills and had to dip into my emergency fund for gas money. Then all of a sudden a check shows up in the mail from my job from 3 years ago saying since I wasn't working with them here is the money I had paid into for retirement, but they no longer will hold it for me. We're not talking a lot of money, but it was enough for gas and dinner! Exactly what I needed plus a little treat and thank you to my dad who's been driving me to school!

I also found a check in my wallet that was postdated to last week from a month ago (when I'm not hurting for money I'll do this for people I work for on occasion, but usually I don't forget about the check). I then also get paid for a job I wasn't expecting to get paid for, but I'm grateful for the gesture. This afternoon my car starts to act up and I'm reminded I'm overdue for an oil change. I take my car in hoping the news won't be too bad. The cost of the oil change and repairs... you guessed it... the postdated check and the unexpected money from the job.

I know these things don't seem like a lot to be excited about, but I'm very excited about them! These are just a few examples of how God has been taking care of me... and this is just the financial side of it all. Can you imagine how he's taking care of me in the rest of my life?!? Super exciting stuff if you ask me!

Oops, wrong time

What could be bad the first week of school? Well, beside the cast on the arm, boot on the foot and your dad taking you to school. How about missing your class because you didn't notice the "pm" on your schedule and figured the morning class was canceled? Yep, that's exactly what happened to my first day of biology lab. Oops! Fortunately my professor was understanding and didn't give me a hard time in class the following day.

As far as going to class with broken bones a previous professor told me about the disability office. I wasn't sure what they could do for me, but apparently a lot. I have temporary assistance with rides to class, note takers and special seating including an office chair for my foot to rest on. Overall, I don't have much to worry about besides studying and healing.

This is my buddy I take to class to help prop my arm on.

Time to hit those books!

Update: The Good, The Bad, and The Random

I'd like to not be negative and only talk about the pain I'm in, so I will list the good, interesting and a little bit random things first.

1. I'm learning to type fairly quickly with one hand and for longer periods of time before both hands hurt (the left obviously always more than the right).

2. I get to take naps when ever I want and I'm encouraged to do so! (I like this one A LOT!)

3. I have learned to sleep while wearing a huge shoe. I know shoes in the bed... eeewwww! BUT, I'm a mover in my sleep and just one bump of my toe and I'm sick to my stomach for minutes at a time, so big shoe/boot in the bed it is! (note: I will NOT sleep under the covers - I just can't do it)

4. While going to the store I get to ride in the electric cart. I get to be out and about, but not have to walk... sign me up!

5. I'd just like to refer to number 2 again... super nice!

6. I've learned to make peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches with one hand AND I figured out how to carry a bowl of cereal with milk AND a glass of water or juice to the table... I'm a genius if you ask me!

7. I have a lot of caring and loving friends and family who have helped me and shown support. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Now, for the negative part. I'm still in pain :( I switched from vicodin because it only lessened the pain for 2-3 hours, but my head was crazy for the full 6 hours. I was crying and freaking out over the smallest things. I wasn't able to communicate why I was freaking out and then became more frustrated. I was switched to motrin and it's much better head wise and about the same pain level wise, but does lasts  longer - this makes me happy!

I have limited use of my fingers now, mostly pinching my thumb and index finger together without putting too much pressure, (which helps so I can pull my pants up myself and no longer need help using the restroom). I have the success a 3 year old feels when they don't need someone to help them. I still need a lot of help, but I can do something myself! I just have to remember to ask for help when I can't quite do it myself and to stop when it hurts. I have to constantly remind myself the pain is not a measure of how much I can handle (which isn't much), but a warning to stop or slow down.

I'm also finding bruises all over my body (I'm still trying to figure out the quarter size bruise on my stomach... it's a lone bruise... did I fall on a quarter???). My legs and arms are the worst. I notice the one on my left elbow when I prop my arm on the table in restaurants (my dad isn't much for cooking so he takes me out). The tricep on my right arm is still sore, but doing better as time goes on. In fact all my muscles are sore, but getting better. I'm hoping as I start to feel better I can stretch and get my muscles going and hopefully this will help with the tiredness I feel most of the time.

I try not to focus on the fact I can't do things like work in the church office, nursery, and lead the small group (I feel really bad about these things!) and just realize it will all be okay and it's not a bad thing to ask others to help or just say I can't make it.

I'm not doing anything besides going to school this week (big prayers for this one, three hour classes three times!). Hopefully next week I can go to church and hopefully Bible study(s). I'm just taking it one day and a week at a time.

Do you work at the circus?

Note: this was written while on vicodin. It may contain parts that don't make sense, but please continue to read. Thank you for understanding.

I was ending my housesitting job and figured I'd put in one last load of laundry before I left (who doesn't like coming home to clean sheets?), but I didn't quite make it. While coming down the stairs I missed the last step (or two) and tumbled to the ground crashing into the wall. I immediately realized my left wrist was hurt when I saw it bent all the way back. I couldn't move for a moment and all I could do was pray and ask God for strength and healing to get up to get help.

After a moment I got up and I realized at that time more than just my wrist hurt. I was in so much pain I felt nauseous. I hobbled to the toilet and then realized if I passed out the bathroom would be a bad place to fall. I somehow made it to the couch and laid down. I just remember praying and asking God for help. I was hurting and needed help. When I felt I could get to the phone safely I got up to get it. I called my mom and asked her to call my pastor's wife who I was supposed to take her boys to their sport practices in an hour. I don't remember much of the phone call, but realized if I needed any other numbers they were in my phone upstairs. I somehow got upstairs and got my phone. I also unlocked the front door and put on decent clothes. This is now all a blur and I'm amazed I did all that considering the pain I was in!

My pastor came in a short time later and assessed the situation. I somehow had my wallet by me and called my insurance to see where they wanted me to go. By the look on his face I knew I was hurt bad. My mom was on her way to get me and I had an appointment in 2 hours to go to the orthopedic. The doctor called back and said to go to the ER. I passed the phone to my pastor and he explained the orthopedic office was closer and the better option (the doctor was worried about administering medication while setting the bone, but getting me to the ER would be longer).

Gina and my mom came and Gina made a splint for my wrist out of a piece of wood, my laptop case, 2 towels, 2 lanyards and a bow clip. It's amazing how much that splint helped! (I'll post a picture if I can get it off Gina's phone)

After the x-ray the doctor examined me and I felt sick again. The nurse came in to help and when I was feeling a bit better she gave me some juice. I didn't think to tell anyone I'm allergic to pineapples until I took a drink. Fortunately the only reaction was a tingly tongue. The nurse felt bad and realized I hadn't eaten anything since I fell around 6:45 am and went to her personal snack and brought me a Nutri-Grain bar. I was so impressed with her thoughtfulness I couldn't thank her enough.

The doctor came in and announced I had a broken toe that was going in a special shoe with a steel plate to keep my foot straight. He couldn't see a break in my wrist/hand, but because of the tenderness to touch he wanted it casted and re-x-rayed in 2 weeks when the swelling goes down.

My pretty purple cast and my Frankenstine shoe.

While getting my pain medication Gina stood in line at the pharmacy and I sat down to wait for her to get to the front of the line. While waiting a teenage boy asked what bone I broke. I thought about messing with his head and just saying my toe, but figured I'd say it was a bad sprain. He then told me he broke his wrist once and has a screw in it. I asked how he broke his wrist and he said skateboarding. He asked how I got hurt and I told him fighting ninja elephants. He was surprised and thought for a moment and then asked if I work at the circus to fight ninja elephants. I tried not to laugh when I told him I fell down the stairs. He didn't hear me at first because he was imagining me in the circus. Once he heard me correctly he started to laugh and then apologized for laughing. I told him it was fine - mostly because I was then laughing at him!

Later after my mom was dropped off and we picked up Glaphre to help me get my things from the housesitting house to go to the other house I'm housesitting at through next week. Glaphre and Gina helped me bathe and get settled. All the while laughing at the weird things I would say because of the vicodin in my system (in between me crying for very little things that shouldn't upset me - like crying because it's too hard to sit down in the bath with a broken toe and casted arm). 

Later that evening it came up in discussion about how I wasn't going to be able to paint Glaphre's toes (an arrangement made a few days before the accident). I told her I could with my good hand and got to work. Gina got in on the action and I painted her toes as well. Glaphre choose purple polish with blue cow spots. Gina chose pink polish and green and blue plaid. 

Glaphre's cow spot toenails.

Overall I'm settling into the fact I can't drive for 6 weeks and I'm continuing to find bruises all over my body from the fall. I'm going to the doctor again to see if I can get a pain medication that doesn't make my head so crazy (crying over there being too much ketchup on my plate is too much!!!).

God has helped me thus far and during this period of depending on others for help I will hopefully learn to ask for help humbly very quickly!

God Has A Plan For VBS

Vacation Bible School was this last week and looking back it is so clear to see where God was working. As you may know I'm a planner. I like to plan. I like to be organized. I feel unsettled when I do not have a plan to follow and/or when things are unorganized. I may not always know exactly what is going on, but I like to have a plan for what I do know.

Back in early to mid spring I let the youth pastor in charge of VBS know I'd be able to do crafts again this year. I just needed to know the theme so I could start preparing. I let him know I wouldn't be able to do too much before summer, but would like to at least know the theme so I could start thinking about ideas as well as keep my eye out for any craft items or decorations.

Spring passed by and summer began. I asked about the theme and it was yet to be chosen. I knew at this point God was asking me to be patient and to trust his plan for VBS. This was not easy, but I know I can trust God and I know anything God plans is WAY better than anything I can plan.

Mid summer comes and I have a theme, Gold Rush, but the curriculum has yet to be ordered. I figured I'd start some research for Gold Rush and was only coming across 4th grade level crafts (I figured this would be the case since 4th grade is when California studies the Gold Rush). I remind the youth pastor I will only be in charge of crafts, but nothing else this year.

A month before VBS the youth pastor announces he's resigning, but will be here through the end of the summer. Oh, and by the way, he was leaving for 3 weeks for a family vacation just before VBS.

I wasn't sure what to think, but knew in order to have VBS someone was going to have to step up and start planing. The VBS Gold Rush box came shortly thereafter and I got started with the crafts. I looked at the list and thought how there were so many items that will be hard to get and surely no one would donate them (such as wide mouth canning rings, lots and lots of fabric, and LOTS AND LOTS of jute/rope). I looked at the list and realized if I had to purchase everything I'd be WAY over budget. I started to panic a little, and then realized just do what I can and God will take care of the rest. I made a list of every single craft item we needed and put it in the bulletin.

The following week the head pastor asked if we had a flyer to pass out for VBS. We worked together to get the flyer ready to pass out. Meanwhile the donations began to come in like a flood. Since my name was on the craft supply list people assumed I was the one heading up VBS. I'd inform them I wasn't, but I might be able to answer questions. When I entered the VBS sign-up list on the computer one of the other Office Angels got started I asked if I could clean it up a little so it was easier to see how many were registered. Next thing I knew I was heading up the registration and creating the volunteer list. When I realized we had a lot of teens heading the different areas of VBS I was a little worried, but realized God has a plan and to let him use me any way needed.

What was clearly God working appeared when the craft items started to come in people asked how they could help me prepare (including a family who took most of the work!). Before I knew it I only had about 10% of the prep work to do myself! I was amazed that (almost) everything I bought in the store was either on sale or had a coupon. The most amazing items were more than half of the fabric was donated (more than $50 worth) and the paint. I wasn't going to buy paint since we didn't need very much of it, but when I realized the tempera paint was only $2 a bottle and I only needed 2 bottles I figured that wasn't too bad, but the acrylic paint is another story. A small bottle is around $3 and I'd need quite a few bottles since they were so small. When I figured I'd check the price I noticed the small bottles were on sale for $1. I figured that's an awesome price, but it's still a little more than I want to spend for the amount I need. I then noticed a mostly empty rack of price tags that read "$.49" and wished that was the paint I needed. When I looked again I noticed there were huge bottles of yellow paint the exact shade I was looking for! I grabbed a bottle. I thought, "Man, if only there was brown we'd be set." When I looked again there was one brown bottle of paint! I was so excited I couldn't help but start thanking God right there in the store aisle! I began to think about how much paint I'd need and realized it would be nice to have a second bottle of brown, but there was only one bottle. I went back to the aisle and low and behold there was another brown bottle of paint! For the price of the on sale little bottles I got the big bottles of paint for the same price! THANK YOU GOD!

Things like this were happening all over the place when it came to VBS planning and prep - including cutting 200 pieces of cardboard. I had forgotten about the cardboard and the week before VBS I realized this was on the donation list that I couldn't necessarily buy in the store. I prayed and asked God to provide the cardboard we needed. I went to Facebook to ask anyone if they had any boxes we could have for VBS. When I signed on I noticed I had a message waiting for me since about the time I started praying. A man in the church was cleaning out his garage and had a lot of cardboard he was going to throw out. I called him to let him know how much I needed and asked if he could guesstimate how much he had. He said he most likely had what I needed! I then began to think about how I was going to cut all this cardboard and punch the holes (they were for the cover of miner's journals). I then noticed an area in the VBS craft guide I hadn't noticed before - the helpful hint section. In the section it said to use a certain type of saw I've never heard of before. I called a friend who I know has a lot of tools and asked if he knew what that saw was. He said he not only knew what the saw was, but that he had both kind! I asked if he would be willing to cut the cardboard and drill the holes (also noted in the helpful hint section) and he gladly said he could help. I love how within an hour I went from minor crisis to completely worked out with God guiding every step!

Since crafts were well underway I began to think about how I didn't have much to do and how nice this was. Then I realized if I didn't make name tags and start orchestrating the leaders for the other ares of VBS this was all going to come to a screeching halt! I realized God took care of the crafts and prep so I would have time to lead the others helping. I assured the snack guy he was qualified for the job and helped him go to the store and get what he needed. When the recreation girl was asked to decorate I gave her some pointers and let her work. When she'd come to me with her ideas I helped work out the kinks. The day before VBS there were about a dozen youth who came to help decorate, make name tags, and help with anything else I needed help with. When it was all said and done the sanctuary looked like you were walking into a forest with a stream full of gold (including gold rocks that by the end of VBS were gratefully taken by VBS goers). I was amazed at how well VBS was coming together and all who were able to help.

As the week went on there were a few hiccups, but overall I only heard wonderful reviews from parents and children alike! In my book that way over compensates for the hiccups for a great success! I guess I should have realized from the start that God had a plan all along and all I had to do was trust in Him and follow along.

Just Ask (Miss) Alice

For those wondering about the fact I'm titling this blog after a book about a girl who is a drug addict... there is no relation to my own life story. I like the title and figured Just Ask Alice would be a good blog title for readers to gain an idea of what I'm about - just no drugs involved. I wanted to create a blog to share what God is doing in my life and figured Just Ask Alice would be a great title.

If you have a better title suggestion I'm open, but for now Just Ask Alice will be my blog title.