Currently Listening God Save America By Jerry Falwell God Save America see related

I'm tired.

Why am I tired? I've been going nonstop since....Wednesday, I think. Thursday morning I went to get fingerprinted at the Santa Clara County Sherriff's Office (requirement for all adult camp staff--now Pastor George can sleep at night because he knows I'm not a wanted criminal with a resounding record of child abuse). Then I opened a checking account so I can transfer money from my account here to my bank in Florida. That evening, after a busy day at work with no dinner, I ran over to the choir rehearsal room. And what do you know, Mrs. Goodall (production director) hands me a binder and asks if I'll be her assistant for the program! Of course I said "Yes, yes, yes!"

Friday morning Shane and I went out hanging doorhanger flyers for the Patriotic Tribute in our neighborhood....covered a few blocks, but not as much as I'd like. Shane took one side of a given street and I took the other so I could keep an eye on him....but he was awesome! He went right up to people who were in their front yards of his own accord and started talking to them! Very proud of him.
Then there was this tiny, friendly, well-groomed dog that had been following us for a bit. He would run back and forth across the street between Shane and I....then, as I was talking to one lady about the Tribute, we heard a loud bang and a yelp. I spun around in time to see the little dog fly clear from the car, bounce on the pavement, scramble a step or two, then collapse in a heap in the middle of the road. The car didn't even slow.

Other cars were coming, though at a very slow speed when they saw the dog. I ran out and touched the little dog--he was still breathing and shaking. He had tire marks along one side, and then he tried to get up when I ran my hand down his side. I carefully picked him up, carried him off the road, and laid him on the grass of the lady I had been talking to (she was extremely concerned about the dog). He presently sat up, still shaking, paced back and forth a few times, then (not to be indelicate) relieved himself in every way possible. He seemed to be ok, other than he was obviously scared out of his mind. Just then, Mommy drove up to pick Shane I up (she didn't know about the dog), so we laid the dog on the blanket in our van and drove back to the street where we had first seen him following us....thankfully some neighbors helped us find the owner, who was very sad that his dog had been hit, but very thankful that we'd taken care of him. Soooo, I was a little bit late to work that day. But Pastor George forgave me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a memeber of PETA or anything (unless it's People for the Eating of Tasty Animals), but I think God had a reason for making us the "stewards" of the Earth.

THEN, I spent most of Saturday at Dress Rehearsal for the Tribute....that was an adventure. I was there three hours after everyone else had left, working things through with Pastor Ray and Mrs. Goodall and the tech guys....and learning a LOT in the process.

This morning, we looked out our front window. And there, where our big, beautiful American flag had hung the night before, was a scorched flagpole with a sooty American Eagle on top. Two charred and tattered shreds hung from it, over a pile of ashes and a few more unburnt shreds of the Stars and Stripes....it was like looking at a martyr. We promptly hung out old flag over it......then bought and hung another later today.

Why would someone burn our flag? It really bothers me how blind people can be sometimes.....it reminded me of this song we've sung before in choir:

Somewhere there's a soldier
And he's looking at a picture
Of his little girl, how he wishes he were home
And somewhere there's a a soldier
And he's reading a love letter
From his wife, how he feels so all alone
And somewhere there's a mom and dad
Who cry late in the night
For a son who isn't coming home
A son who gave his life
Freedom isn't free
Oh, can't you see

It has always been the soldier
Who has made the sacrifice
Standing strong and proud in battle
Willing to lay down his life

To the angry man who shakes his fist
And burns the Stars and Stripes
That same flag drapes the coffins
Of those who gave their lives
There's no other place that you will go
Or you have ever been
Where the blood of soldiers gives the right
To burn the flag again.....

And this morning was the Tribute.....wow, it was way too awesome for words. It has to be my absolute favorite Sunday of the year.....possibly excepting Easter. I was on my feet alllllll morning running mics back and forth, giving cues, solving problems when Mrs. Goodall was playing in the orchestra, organizing people to pass out red and white carnations to those who have loved ones, alive or not, serving in the armed forces, getting the kids out for their enterance during the grand finale, tracking mics, keeping pace with the tech crew.....keeping track of my keys.....
Then after service I hung around the Children's Ministry Counter in the lobby with Kaitlyn, Mr. Boyden (camp director), &Co. and assisted in Camp Sign ups.

AND, that's not the half of it. Between Kari being gone (though I am very glad she had a good time), Daddy being sick, and our numerous plumbing problems in the past couple days (leaky sinks, massive clogging in drains, hot water pipe more or less exploding in the Master bath...). Not to mention that I'm on a diet and exercise program to loose weight (I gained about seven lbs this spring....yes, it matters because if I gain too much I'll have to get a new wardrobe and that would not be Fun).

Anyway, I'm tired. I watched Spiderman II this afternoon with Shane, talked with my family, talked to Martin for an hour, talked to Kaitlyn for an hour (planning for Jr. Camp).

Someone remind me why I'm not in bed.