Another Year

Since I'm not sure I'll have time to write tomorrow, I'm writing this tonight. Twenty-six years ago tomorrow, I was a big tummyache in my mom's tummy until the evening of that momentous August 10. My mom had strong indications the time had come, so in we went to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, CA. Things were going well until I decided to be contrary and start with my feet instead of my head. Oops! Bad idea. Doctors don't like that sort of attitude. My mom was rushed into surgery for a caesarian (sp?), and out I came, fine and healthy!

My dad likes to say, "I'm glad you decided to come and stay with us!" Well, I am, too! Glad, that is, that God set me into such a wonderful family. I have been so blessed with awesome parents who have loved each other and brought me up "in the fear and admonition of the Lord." I was a bit of a handful at times, but with patience they loved me, disciplined me, and gave me wonderful opportunities for spiritual and mental growth. I'm thankful for two beautiful sisters who put up with me and are so supportive and caring.

I'm grateful for God's miraculous protection in several near-death instances. When I was around 2 years old, I struggled to breathe one night. My concerned parents took me into the emergency room, where I was diagnosed with epiglottitis. The usual treatment was a tracheotomy (I'm guessing at these spellings!), but they were able to treat me another way and saved my life. If I'd had a tracheotomy, I might not be able to sing like I can now. There was the time when I was about 6 and I was pushed into the deep end of a pool. I remember going down to the bottom of the pool and somehow going from there to the bottom of the shallow end, where Jill rescued me. I think an angel might have been involved there. At 18 I was swimming in a lake, when my bloodsugar went wacko and I quickly lost strength while in the deep part. I weakly cried out to my friend who was near shore, and she made haste to rescue me. Those are just a few examples of God's faithfulness in dangerous situations.

What a peace and joy there is in being right in the middle of God's will! Just knowing He has a wonderful purpose for my life and He's orchestrating every day. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." I like that verse, 'cause it reminds me of the meaning of my name: "Follower of Christ."