Just simply praising Him.

So...I leave today for Ireland/Scotland....we all know about that...and we know I'm a procrasinator...that's fine. BUT! This trip? I was packed LAST NIGHT....like in my suitcase...and I had to add my computer, chargers, and some copies! So...I went to bed...slept NOT AT ALL...and woke up this morning....had coffee with Melissa and baby Jack...which was great. My then next agenda was to clean the kitchen, drop books off at the library, make copies of my welcome letter, run to the store to buy oatmeal and marshmellows. Oatmeal so as to avoid breakfast on the trip as it's huge, time consuming, and I like my moments where I'm not "on". So thanks to another guide who suggested it...I'm heeding. Marshmellows....for Fitzy's birthday present...which is breakable....and packed weird....so they are my packing legumes. After that, get lunch at Andy's...my favorite chicken panini of Round Goodness (see the "Fitionary") From there....post office to mail her present...then home to change...and all this so that Kathy Guyer-MY SAVING GRACE- who was going to drop me off at the train station so that I didn't have to take a cab. I had a 4:08 train to catch. Can I recap that I don't really love taking the train to the airport? I have to leave 5 hours before my flight leaves....vs. 3 hours? And I have to lug...change trains...lug....hop on air shuttle....and it's really not any cheaper than driving. But alas...momma bear is still on the west coast...so I was training. The other thing about the train is that I have to take what's available...so 4:08 it is...the same one I took last Friday to head to California for the weekend...my birthday weekend. WHICH? Thank you to those of you who texted, e-mailed, called, facebooked? You made me smile all day long. Okay...so train...me...4:08. Okay...dropped books off at the library...check. Stop at Andy's...order food...run to Foodtown....buy Oatmeal and Marshmellows....run back to Andy's...pick up RG....and look at the clock. Andy's was slow today...and so I am nixing the copies...and decide that I can do them in Ireland...somewhere I'm sure....and off to the Post Office I go. I get there...grab Annie's box....grab my wallet....lock my doors and head in. Um...DID I GRAB MY KEYS??? NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! FOR THE LOVE!!!! WHY DO I DO THIS ALL THE TIME!? When will I learn. See...I did this the other night at Summerfest too. And I had to get a ride home to get my spare. And someone said to me..."well, that's a mistake you only make once."...but it's SO NOT!!!! Anyway, so here I am....with wallet...and package. No cell phone...no keys...and now it's 3:15....and I have to be at my house and ready to leave by 3:45....I'm screwed. So...I mail my package....and ask the lady to borrow her phone, and start the calling. Here is where modern day technology screws us....I know my mom's number...and I know Kathy's home phone number....and that is ALL!!!! I try to think of my options here....NO ANSWER at Kathy's....okay....call mom in Nevada for Kathy's cell phone.....okay...NO ANSWER THERE! Then...onto AAA.....they put me on hold. And I'm rock and a hard place here. I mean I'm wasting time....I'm about 1.5 miles from home...but I can't phone and walk at the same time. So I give up on AAA. I call Kathy's numbers back like 3 times each.....to no avail. She's got a house key...so ideally? She picks me up here...brings me to the house....I get my spare, come back and get the car...and I still make my 4:08. You should also know...if you've read this far? The next train doesn't get me to the airport till like 8pm...my flight is at 9:15...not gonna work. So now...since I have nobody to take me to the airport? I'm leaving my car there till mom gets in next Tuesday. BOOOO! But oh well. Anyway, so....no answer......and I'm close to wits end...so I give up...and start the walk home....with the WORST "woe is me" attitude. And I get like 1 hot minute up the road...and I'm like...I need to leave a message...I need to do what I can to get in touch with Kathy...and I run out of phones after this place....so I pop my head in to this violin store....use their phone....call Kathy again...call AAA again...still holding....so I left Kathy a message....and call mom...tell her to keep calling Kathy...I have to start walking. And I walk out the door again. And I'm HOT! And literally and figuratively....I mean WHO DOESN'T have their cell at their hip....and....the thought of smashing in my car window DID cross my mind...I mean I don't have time for this! And my mini flood gates open...not completely....but the tears start....I don't need this! I have a TRAIN TO CATCH...and so then the pity...woe is me creeps up...and that of course encompasses EVERYTHING....from EVERYWHERE....my heart....my grams....whatever....and so for one second....I have clarity...and I say to myself...I have 2 choices here. I can fall apart...and cry the whole way home...which is a mile and a half away....on public busy roads....OR? I can praise God...because there is something here....some sort of something....that I may get to know about .....I may not. And so I want to cry...I do...but I stepped up...and said...okay...I'll praise you. So....it's hot....I'm sweaty...and gross...and a truck goes by me...HONKS...and WAVES! Like they knew me? NO idea who it was...but part of me wanted to be MAD at them for not stopping. But the "praising" decision nixed that. Boo.....so I'm walking...hot, sweaty....officially missing my train.....and knowing I'll have to now pay for parking at Newark for a week...which is like giving up my first born...which will I have even? (That comes up in pity parties too-lol) Anyway, so I'm like, there is a reason for this...I mean...the 4:08...could be the worst place in the world for me to be right now....or I need to leave my car at the airport for mom next week....or I need this time to get my head straight...or a hundred different reasons. So...I say....okay...what am I grateful for.....I'm wearing shoes....flip flops....but shoes none-the-less, I'm in acceptable clothing...I'm not in my pj's....mom answered her cell phone...she never does that....I'm early....I still have time to make my flight...even if I didn't? I'm going over 2 days early...so I have that window.....it's not raining....it's not SCORCHING....my roads are relatively safe...it's day light....I trust where I'm at....I'm healthy....and so...then TRYING to be annoyed is much MUCH harder. So I'm walking...being grateful...and I'm okay. I'm okay...I mean woe is me walking home in the heat and missing my train...but it's ALL my fault. So I turn the corner into the neighborhood and I see Kathy driving towards me....she pulls up....says..."GET IN"...I do...and she hugs me....and it was all okay. Normally? I cry, and rant....but I'm good. God is good....faithful too. So she says she talked to mom, and mom said to try the shuttle place....I didn't even think of that. I go in....google them...no idea their name....phone book them-member phone books? lol So I call...and the lady is like your flight is at 9:15? International? You need to be on a shuttle right now! DUH! I know...but I'm not. She's like okay...there is a 6 o'clock...I say okay...and I'm on their website by now...and I see a 5 o'clock...I'm like what about the 5...she goes...well, yeah...there is that. I say great...book it. So I book it....it's $33.00...I'm sort of still under my budget. So now...it's 4...I still have to go back and get my car....change...and pack up my last minutes....I run out the door....drive up to my car...get it...drive back...shower....change...and put all my last minutes in one more bag...to deal with on the way up to where I get the shuttle. I'm in the car 20 minutes later...and? My lunch...my delicious RG was still hot....and perfect for the car. I mean I was HOT pulling off my red peppers! (Why nor order without them then? I like the flavoring...not the texturing...I'm ridiculous...I know). SO...sprint to the car...and we're off. I fit all my stuff into my back pack...and so I'm set....one HUGE suitcase...well, normal size...but HEAVY....and my backpack. I'm kind of proud of myself. 2 weeks...mad paperwork and books? One suitcase...3 pairs of shoes and 1 pair of flips. Gloater....I know. Anyway, so I get to the shuttle place with 15 minutes to spare....and I make it up to the airport still a good 45 minutes sooner....and less drama. ALL this to say....God IS faithful....and HE does have a plan....and we CHOOSE our attitudes about it. Did I have grounds for griping and crying about it? Yeah probably....but some songs rolled through my head...."Praise you in this storm"....and it wasn't even a storm...I mean it was FRAMA....nothing real....just stupidity...and "I have decided...to follow Jesus"....just over and over...because I have....and I need to. If you aren't a believer...you don't get this...and that's sad...but He just loves us...promises to be faithful to us...and offers us eternal life....how would you not want that? AND? For those of us that KNOW that? Why are we so stupid sometimes/most times? And....I was talking to a dear friend today...and we were talking about blessings...and how God is just awesome...and perfect...and EVERYTHING for a reason...and how He is always talking...always....we just aren't listening. I'm not saying I'm listening perfectly....I'm not.....but I do hope it's a stronger closer walk, if just a little bit. He is faithful to us...and He's perfect....I mean who knows what would have happened on that 4:08. You know I have this theory when I drop my keys? I'm convinced it's a little angel batting them out of my hand.....so I'll stop...and pick them up. And MOST of the time? I see what I was being spared from...traffic...accidents....etc. So...when the batting them out of my hands isn't enough? They lock doors on me. Well, they love me...and He's protecting me for something....so thanks to Him....and thanks to you for reading this far! May you drop your keys and smile about it....may you lock them in your car...walk home a mile and a half....and praise Him for it.