Virus Posing as . . . Who Knows?

So the past few posts have been about slowing down; focusing on what really matters; all that stuff that sounds really good and things I have been intentionally trying to put into practice and build margin into life. About 10 days ago I was having lunch with my buddy, Scott Mills, and I looked at him across the table and said, "If I hit the table, just know I am not feeling very good." He looked at me a little freaked out and said, "Do I need to take you to the hospital?" "Nah, just let me hang out here for a minute," I said. And I did fine.

ER fun

It was a busy weekend with Shelbi graduating from Union with honors and good times with family and friends. On Monday we took Morgan to WinShape Camps in Rome, GA  for her work gig this summer and on Tuesday morning on my way into work, I decided I had felt bad enough, long enough, so . . . I drove my self to the ER. They did an EKG, took a ton of blood, ran tests, and did a MRI on my head. Good news! I have a brain and there were no signs of stress or stroke and my EKG was perfect (anyway, that's what the triage nurse said) especially when she found out I was 48. Sent me home to rest and follow up with my doctor. I did get into the doctor, they took the rest of the blood that I had left; ran more blood work tests and did a CT scan of my upper torso and belly. Everything came out fine. No problems showed up anywhere. On Thursday afternoon I began to feel alot better and seem to be pretty much back to normal. Crazy, weird, and confusing.

Friday night and Saturday nights were both filled by participating in Amy and Adam's wedding rehearsal and then wedding. It was an outdoor affair at Hermitage Golf Course in a really nice setting and the temps climbed to mid-90s both days. The bride and groom were both amazing and it was an honor to be a part of their wedding.

Today has been a very productive day. Got a nice 5-miler in with a lost dog following along for 4.5 miles of the run. After she followed me home, I put her in the car and took her out to where others had told me she lived. I let her out of the car, she ran up to a house that was very close to where others said she was from and I felt good about it. I left her and went back out to check on her and she was laying in a yard where a man was cleaning out his garage. I stopped to ask if she was his dog but he said she was not but was known to hang out with him. He does not know the owner either. So I guess she is a sweet, lost dog. Glad she was with that guy and not me however.

It is back to work tomorrow. It has been nice to be off these last few days.

Whirlwind

It has been a couple of weeks since I last blogged and some of that is due to the fact that the pace has been pretty brisk, and some of it is due to the fact that I just have not wanted to write.

These past two weeks have been pretty good and pretty busy. With Shelbi completing her nursing degree at Union University and the normal work and church life schedule, we have been running pretty hard. Actually, May is always pretty busy for us in the Turner household. We have extended family birthdays, Mother's Day and also our wedding anniversary on the 11th.

Sondra and I had a great time celebrating our 27th this past Friday. We had a gift certificate to Flemings Steak House, had never been, but were willing to try and we are glad that we did. There were a number of things that impressed me that evening: (I will mention a couple)
1. My incredible wife of 27 years. Sondra is just simply amazing. Her desire to love the Lord with all her heart, soul and mind is beautiful to witness up close on a daily basis. I find it so grace filled that God would allow me to be one with her. She is absolutely amazing.
2. The restaurant staff created a nice environment from the time we stepped into the place. By environment, I really mean experience. When Sondra made the reservation, they asked if it was for a special occasion, she replied with it is our anniversary and from every encounter after that we were showered with anniversary greetings and congratulations. The small touches from "chilled forks" for the salad; to the water glass never getting below half full; to the taste and temperature of the food; the professional, yet personal entire staff made for a great dining experience.

We also have enjoyed having Sondra's mom with us since Monday. With my work schedule this week, I have not been able to spend as much time with her as I desire, but she is a constant blessing in our lives. It is pretty obvious to me to see where Sondra got her love for Christ and for serving others when I look at my mother-in-law.

This week we moved the girls' stuff back to the house. And, we moved Shelbi's home for the last time from college. What a crazy, fast 4 years. She graduates tomorrow night. Bittersweet for sure. So incredibly proud of her and her determination and hard work. Boards await her some time in June and then something about a wedding on August 11th. Who knew time would fly so quickly?

Morgan came home with us last night from college and then heads out on Sunday to work at WinShape again this summer. It is good to have her home even if for a short time.

Evelyn finishes her sophomore year today by taking her last test. It has been an interesting ride for her this year trying to acclimate to America, English and this crazy Turner family. She heads back to China on Friday, 5/25 and is looking forward to being around her family and friends and China and speaking alot of Chinese I am sure. She will be coming back in August to start her junior year and she will be staying with another host family who has a student currently attending DCA this next school year.

Sondra finishes her school year in a couple of weeks and due to a modified Metro schedule will only have about 6 weeks off this summer. We have a lot to cram into a short time this summer. I am sure it will include wedding planning and pool time for her.

Reflections, Reflecting

This blog post is in the same vein as last week's on Busyness and my confession that too many times I try to find my worth in "being busy" or "in demand."

This week I boarded a plane for LA and met with the wonderful folks at UYWI. Bobby Duran is great guy who coordinates their training events and he also is a DJ and a manager for folks like Propaganda, Humble Beast and others. He is a guy who loves youth workers and students. I was encouraged just being around him. I also got to meet up with my friend Paul Kelly who is the youth prof at Golden Gate Seminary and we talked through some of the course offerings he is working on for coming semesters. Another guy who just encourages me, causes me to think and makes me sharper.

Yosemite Valley (w/ my iPhone)

Tuesday night I boarded a plane from LAX to Fresno where I have met and will be meeting with some youth pastors; Daryl Watts, the CA state youth guy; and training some folks that he uses as trainers throughout the state.

Sounds busy, but actually it is a lot of time working in the hotel, meeting, and a short trip up to Yosemite on Weds afternoon. Yosemite may be my favorite spot on earth, other than being next to Sondra. I sat on a rock, a number of them actually and just prayed and read. I am always fascinated, awed, overwhelmed by the beauty of Yosemite and especially Yosemite Valley. The waterfalls were spectacular, El Capitan and Half Dome were majestic, Cathedral Rocks were amazing and the time alone was refreshing.

A couple of times I just stood and looked in awe at the wonder of God's creation. And I reflected. I reflected on Him. I asked Him to make me more of a reflection of Him. I begged Him to allow me to reflect Him instead of my stupid self. I spent time just focusing on Him. I did not try to figure out the next talk; the next meeting; what to say or not say; I just focused on Him. It was refreshing. It was hard. I was reminded that I am a wretch and I am a sinner in need of a Savior. He is that Savior and He is the Sustainer. His grace is sufficient. I cannot do anything to make Him love me any more or any less than He already does.

I took this picture of me with Half Dome in the background. It reminded me that in Him, I am not half complete. He has made me whole. I do not have to work for my worth/wholeness. I am reflecting on that and continuing to ask Him to make me a reflection of Him.