After Maria and I returned from or mini vacation, I spent Thursday in bed most of the day trying to get some much needed rest. I spent most of day praying about a conversation I was dreading to have with my dear friend Maria. And God answered my prayer.
Gary and I have been preparing for my sister Kim to move in with us this spring. Gary and I was talking one night about what to do with my office. He didn't want me to move it the shop because it is to far away from the house. I didn't want to put it in the kitchen and there was only one other option...Maria's room. Gary explained to me that we are running out of room to do what needs to be done to get Kim set up and we only have so much room to work with.
So I had to be the one to tell Maria she was going to have to go back to the Mission Outreach.
I have been tore up over this decision for some time now but knew he was right.
After work on Thursday, I sat Maria down and explained our decision. She was very gracious. She thanked us for all we had done for her, said she understood, and gave me a big hug and went to her room. As I sat and cried about her having to leave, she packed all her belongings and went to bed.
Friday after work we took her to the Mission. It was a very sad day indeed. I miss her so much. She was my right hand, company to me after Gary went to bed, my shopping buddy, and my best friend and my sounding board. I have come to love her like family. She still comes to house every day to work, rides to church with me on Sundays and will spend Christmas with us and the family... nothing has changed except where she sleeps.
Friday night Gary and I spent some much needed time together. It was the first time in 6 months that we had the house to our self. We were like a couple of kids.
About 7 pm we got a call from our cousin in St. Louis, a cousin was found dead in his bed just hours before the call. I made the phone calls to alert my sisters, and Christy and I left Saturday afternoon for St. Louis. It was a fun trip. We ate before we left town, ate at the Snack Shack in Poplar Bluff, stopped at the White Castles in St. Louis and stopped to pick up a box of Chicken at the Jack in the Box to take in to Aunt Wanda's.
We left Sunday to return home, it was a short trip but a long day. On our way home I got a phone call from Linda, Shelly's mom in Alabama.... Shelly is the girl who stole my furniture... Shelly has been living on the streets for the past 3 months, doing drugs, and prostituting her self, and has been in and out of jail for petty theft. Linda called me to tell me Shelly was in grave danger, she pulled a scam on a gang of blacks over in Jonesboro and they have taught a lesson. She is scared and needs help. Come to find out, her con husband Justin had sold them a
Wal-Mart card gift card that he said had 200.00 on it for 100.00, and when they went to use it it didn't have anything on it. He was put in jail for shoplifting, so they couldn't get him so they got Shelly. They kept her drugged for 4 days, gang raped her, burnt her with crack pipes, cigarettes, and pulled her hair out in clumps, and beat her then released her with the warning that if she ever came back to Jonesboro they would kill her.
Linda was scared to death for Shelly and was hundreds of miles away. I told her we would be home around 8 pm and that when I got home I would make a few calls to see what I could do.
I had not heard anything from Linda until 12:30 am when she called to tell me she was sitting in my driveway. She had an address here in Paragould where Shelly was suppose to be and we drove over to get her just to find her not there and didn't know where to look for her. We drove around for hours trying to find her with no success. Linda was worried, tired from the stress and 6 hour drive. We went back to the house at 3:30 am to get some sleep.
At 7:30 am Monday morning, I got a call from Mid- South Mental Health Services that Shell had been brought in and they she had taken an over dose of drugs and refused an ambulance to ER, would I come get her. I woke Linda and we took her to the ER where we sat all day long. The Doctor on duty told Linda that he was going to release her to a Detox Center in Kennett and tat an ambulance would be arriving to take her where she would spend at least 4 to 5 days. Linda and I had talked about try to get her in a long term drug rehab after she got out of detox. The ambulance arrive to pick her up but she refused to go with them, she wanted Linda to take her to Kennet! I was pissed to say the least. How selfish!! I thought. Linda and I both had only had about 3 hours sleep, sat all day at ER, and had come in from long trips and now drive to Kennett MO because she refused her ride!!!!! I said what I thought but took her. Linda and I got her checked in and got home about 11:30pm and went straight to bed.
Tuesday morning at 10 am Gary, Linda and I where at NEA Hosipital b/c I had to have my bone marrow test done. I thought I would die! It was worse than having a baby. They stuck a needle the size of a straw in my hip and did not give me any meds. All I could do was grit my teeth and cry. And after all that they DID NOT GET ANY MARROW!!!! I told Gary that was the last time I was ding that. and he agreed. I spent the rest of the day in bed.
We spent most of Wednesday making phone calls all over the US to the rehabs to see if anyone had a bed, finally, Russellville, Georgia. She had to be there no later than Friday morning or she will lose her bed. So linda and I contacted the detox center and they released her Thursday am.
Linda left and picked Shelly up and took her to GA Thursday.
Friday I slept all day long!!!! Saturday I slept all day long!!!! Sunday I slept all day long!!!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Traveling to Fayettville
It has been an amazing week. Monday we were blessed with a new addition to our family, a little boy name Samuel. My cousins Steve and Amy have been trying for several years to adopt a child and Monday God granted their wish and our prayers. Just another reason to be grateful.
Monday night Maria and I left at 7:00 p.m. for Springdale Arkansas. We had an appointment with Immigration Services at 8 a.m. Tuesday to find out what we can do to legalize this women. It was a long 6 hour trip and I could see how nervous she was about getting there so at one point I pulled over to the side of the road and we prayed for God to give us peace and we stopped worrying about the out come of this very important venture. We went to the appointment just to find out there is nothing short of a marriage that will help her.... So we started praying for a man:)
After the appointment, we went and ate breakfast and decided that she would not have another opportunity to see this part of Arkansas again so we made the most of it.
I must say it was very uneasy to be in the area and not call my son, or know that I would be seeing him. I traveled this way sometimes twice a month to see him, be with him. We had allot of great times eating out, shopping, there where 3 places we always went when I would come to town...1. Kennedy coffee 2. Chi Alpha 3. Olive Garden.
Maria and I went to the University of Arkansas and visited Chi Alpha Christian Ministries and the Brad Dawson Worship Center! It was a wonderful, emotional, exciting time. We were treated like royalty. The center was empty b/c students were in classes but I had the opportunity to visit with the staff and hear how the ministry was growing. Ronnie, the campus pastor, ask me if Brad's picture, that hangs in the Worship Center, was crooked when I walked in? I told him no. He laughed and told me that every time they walk into the center it is crooked. I told him it was Brad's spirit playing a joke on them. I could feel Brad's spirit in this center. How unfair that he spent every waking minute he had at the house(Chi Alpha), played in the Praise and Worship band at Chi Alpha and ministered to countless students all summer, and could not rejoice in the new building. It was a time of reflection, a time of praise, and a sense of pride as I walked through the building. Brad's memory, legacy, and name will live on forever in this beautiful building.
Maria and I spent the rest of the day looking for a bakery that would make a Razorback something that Samuel could eat at his party Friday night. We finally found Chuck's on College Street and they made 12 cupcakes with Razorbacks on them for all the kids. Shh! Don't tell Steve and Amy it's a surprise. We spent the rest of the time looking for something Razorback to put on the cake Joan made.
On our way back to the hotel we stopped in Kennedy Coffee, this cool coffee shop where all the kids hang out. The girls there remembered Brad. They went to school with him and they shared a couple of funny stories of when Brad would come in the coffee shop late at night after work. They looked up his last order on the computer and I got the last thing he ordered, it was awful! Some kind of orange sour mocha thingy. Yuck! I could just see him laughing at me for doing that. He was constantly asking me to try some new drink out on the market and I always made a face b/c it was terrible. I ended up with a mocha coffee.
We went back to the room exhausted so we turned in for the night. Wednesday morning early we went to breakfast and then headed to Eureka Springs. I thought Maria would enjoy seeing the Christ of the Ozarks. It is a 64 foot cement statue that towers over the mountains of the Ozarks. It is magnificent. She was just amazed by it massive stature and humbled by it's beauty. It is truely something to behold, to see it from the highway as you travel.
We then went into Eureka and ate lunch, walked the streets and looked at all the little shops. It is a nice little town to visit, but we didn't have as long to stay as I would have liked b/c we had to pick up those cupcakes by 4 o'clock. So off we went to Fayettville.
We got there just in time! Then I took her to the Arkansas Razorback Basketball game!!!! We decided to go buy Razorback wind suits, the face tatoo, and a Razorback T-shirt. I will share pics when we get them developed.
And what a game it was. Missouri came to town. It was one of those games that kept you on the edge of your seat, we would be up by two points and then down by one, up by seven and then down by 4. But the final 17 seconds of the game were nail biting! My thumb nail still hurts from biting it off in the quick! But WE WON!!! GO HOGS GO!!! Maria really got into watching the fans go crazy, she said she had never experienced anything like it.
After the game we headed back home. She really enjoyed herself and I really enjoyed her. We really had a good time. We got home at 5 am and had a warm welcome when we got here.
Gary had put the Christmas lights up while we were away and left them on for us to see when we drove up. Abby and Buddy ( my dogs) were standing at the door waiting for us, they were so happy to see us that instead of wagging their tails, their whole body wagged:) lol Gary got up to say good morning, he said he didn't sleep well, b/c of the anticipation of us to get home.
All in all , we had a good time but always glad to be home.
Monday night Maria and I left at 7:00 p.m. for Springdale Arkansas. We had an appointment with Immigration Services at 8 a.m. Tuesday to find out what we can do to legalize this women. It was a long 6 hour trip and I could see how nervous she was about getting there so at one point I pulled over to the side of the road and we prayed for God to give us peace and we stopped worrying about the out come of this very important venture. We went to the appointment just to find out there is nothing short of a marriage that will help her.... So we started praying for a man:)
After the appointment, we went and ate breakfast and decided that she would not have another opportunity to see this part of Arkansas again so we made the most of it.
I must say it was very uneasy to be in the area and not call my son, or know that I would be seeing him. I traveled this way sometimes twice a month to see him, be with him. We had allot of great times eating out, shopping, there where 3 places we always went when I would come to town...1. Kennedy coffee 2. Chi Alpha 3. Olive Garden.
Maria and I went to the University of Arkansas and visited Chi Alpha Christian Ministries and the Brad Dawson Worship Center! It was a wonderful, emotional, exciting time. We were treated like royalty. The center was empty b/c students were in classes but I had the opportunity to visit with the staff and hear how the ministry was growing. Ronnie, the campus pastor, ask me if Brad's picture, that hangs in the Worship Center, was crooked when I walked in? I told him no. He laughed and told me that every time they walk into the center it is crooked. I told him it was Brad's spirit playing a joke on them. I could feel Brad's spirit in this center. How unfair that he spent every waking minute he had at the house(Chi Alpha), played in the Praise and Worship band at Chi Alpha and ministered to countless students all summer, and could not rejoice in the new building. It was a time of reflection, a time of praise, and a sense of pride as I walked through the building. Brad's memory, legacy, and name will live on forever in this beautiful building.
Maria and I spent the rest of the day looking for a bakery that would make a Razorback something that Samuel could eat at his party Friday night. We finally found Chuck's on College Street and they made 12 cupcakes with Razorbacks on them for all the kids. Shh! Don't tell Steve and Amy it's a surprise. We spent the rest of the time looking for something Razorback to put on the cake Joan made.
On our way back to the hotel we stopped in Kennedy Coffee, this cool coffee shop where all the kids hang out. The girls there remembered Brad. They went to school with him and they shared a couple of funny stories of when Brad would come in the coffee shop late at night after work. They looked up his last order on the computer and I got the last thing he ordered, it was awful! Some kind of orange sour mocha thingy. Yuck! I could just see him laughing at me for doing that. He was constantly asking me to try some new drink out on the market and I always made a face b/c it was terrible. I ended up with a mocha coffee.
We went back to the room exhausted so we turned in for the night. Wednesday morning early we went to breakfast and then headed to Eureka Springs. I thought Maria would enjoy seeing the Christ of the Ozarks. It is a 64 foot cement statue that towers over the mountains of the Ozarks. It is magnificent. She was just amazed by it massive stature and humbled by it's beauty. It is truely something to behold, to see it from the highway as you travel.
We then went into Eureka and ate lunch, walked the streets and looked at all the little shops. It is a nice little town to visit, but we didn't have as long to stay as I would have liked b/c we had to pick up those cupcakes by 4 o'clock. So off we went to Fayettville.
We got there just in time! Then I took her to the Arkansas Razorback Basketball game!!!! We decided to go buy Razorback wind suits, the face tatoo, and a Razorback T-shirt. I will share pics when we get them developed.
And what a game it was. Missouri came to town. It was one of those games that kept you on the edge of your seat, we would be up by two points and then down by one, up by seven and then down by 4. But the final 17 seconds of the game were nail biting! My thumb nail still hurts from biting it off in the quick! But WE WON!!! GO HOGS GO!!! Maria really got into watching the fans go crazy, she said she had never experienced anything like it.
After the game we headed back home. She really enjoyed herself and I really enjoyed her. We really had a good time. We got home at 5 am and had a warm welcome when we got here.
Gary had put the Christmas lights up while we were away and left them on for us to see when we drove up. Abby and Buddy ( my dogs) were standing at the door waiting for us, they were so happy to see us that instead of wagging their tails, their whole body wagged:) lol Gary got up to say good morning, he said he didn't sleep well, b/c of the anticipation of us to get home.
All in all , we had a good time but always glad to be home.
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