June-September Update, BoTB The Long Way Home

The last time I posted here was June. Wow. So much has happened since then. For those of you not interested in the update, scroll down to the bottom for Battle of the Bands. It's all good, my friends.

So, we went to Ohio again this summer for camp and visiting relatives. I stayed at camp three weeks Jul 5-July 29 (I think those dates are right). It was a great summer. By far the best summer I've had at camp since I returned. Not sure if it was because it was more familiar or I had a specific job all three weeks or both. But, it was definitely easier this year than the last two. I always realize just how out of shape I am when I go. It's so much walking (and walking on hills). I figure it's good for me. I also just love love love being out in nature for those three weeks. I love setting aside the internet (mostly) and all of the screens that suck up our lives and just being in nature for those weeks, worshiping God and His handiwork, and actually TALKING to other people. It's amazing how much talking gets down when the screens are off.

We enjoyed a nice visit with the family and Ohio friends. Every year I enjoy my SIL and brother more. It's been a real blessing in my life becoming friends with my SIL (and my brother, for that matter). Friendship doesn't necessarily happen with family, but it sure is great when it does.

Some of you might know that since my life improved dramatically in December by taking the Nascent Iodine, it's caused me to reevaluate where I'm going and what I want to do with this abundant life I didn't really think I'd get again. I've been very active in my church the last few years, even giving several messages on Sunday morning. I was encouraged by a retired pastor who goes to our church to apply for seminary. My first thought was I never wanted to go back to school. My next thought was that I really liked the idea of being in ministry. Ministering to people. The decision to go to seminary has brought with it many changes in my life.

I applied to Lexington Theological Seminary. They have a (mostly) online program. I also applied for a scholarship with our churches Mission fund. I was accepted for both. The scholarship is not a full one, but it sure will help.

One of those is that I want to also go back to work part-time. Social Security will help you move from being on disability to working. I have an appointment with an agency this morning to discuss how we can do that and look at different jobs. I will keep you posted on that.

I'm also in the process of changing churches. Seminary requires a lot of work within your church. I will now be going to a church out at the beach here in Jacksonville. They are a larger congregation with more people my age and two pastors who are willing to support me in this journey. As I was talking to the head pastor about the "congregational requirements" of the seminary, he was receiving emails from an independent living for seniors asking them to put on a Sunday afternoon service at their facility. There was no way they could do it (without me), but with me they could. So, a large part of my congregational requirement will be putting together that Sunday service. It doesn't necessarily mean giving the message every Sunday there, but making sure someone does. God's timing is way better than mine!

I also stopped in Augusta, Georgia, on my way back from camp to stay with Haley (my ex's daughter whom I consider a daughter) and her new baby.

Here is a picture of the cutie with her dog, Piper.

She had another dog (formerly Lola, now Dixie) who has moved in with me. Dixie was too much for their little family. She really likes being walked several times a day and wants attention Haley couldn't give her. So, now she's my baby!

And then there was IRMA. Oh boy. You know we evacuated this time. My mom took one look at the size of that hurricane and was like, "No way are we staying this time around." If you will recall, my mom wanted to evacuate for Matthew. Anyway, I agreed that it would be a good idea (even though I really thought we'd be okay here). We stayed with a friend of hers that went to our church in Ohio who now lives in La Grange, GA. Everyone got a nice visit and my mom got peace of mind. Turned out that Irma was worse for us than Matthew (according to our neighbors who stayed), but still just tree limbs down and a minor fence repair needed. We are very happy we aren't closer to the beach. Some of those folks are really suffering. We watch the damage on the news and feel blessed. There are houses that are still under water south of us (Clay County). It's very sad.

I believe that brings us current. All in all, I feel like we haven't been home much since June. I can't even tell you how happy I was to sleep in my own bed come August. So, for Battle of the Bands I knew I wanted a song about HOME. So, let's go... home. The long way, which is apparently how I like to do it!

This song was originally recorded by Tom Waits. It's called The Long Way Home. For a hot minute, I considered using Tom Waits in this battle. However, I know that would only create a blow-out. That is no fun and not how I want to re-start my Battle of the Bands. I found two covers I like pretty well. I hope you like them, too.

First up is a lady I'd never heard of until I started this "cover search." Her name is Saskia Griffiths-Moore.




You might have heard Norah Jones cover this song. Yep, this is going to be the ladies duking it out on this one.




Please vote for the version of this song you prefer. If you want to get into the Ins and Outs of why you like one better than the other... I LOVE long comments!

For more Battle of the Bands fun, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles. I've stopped trying to keep up with who is running a battle and who isn't. To see who is participating, go here: Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog.

Another Update

Last night I watched The Shack. Now I MUST read the book. So good if you haven't seen it. I am part of a Ladies Bible Study that meets on Monday nights. Really loved it. We decided to change things up this week and watch that movie. Anyway, while I was driving there it occurred to me that I hadn't written a blog post in a while. Then I began to wonder if I ever posted the vote outcome from May's battle. I was thinking yes, but I wasn't sure. Turns out... no.

I am feeling rather bogged down with life, and it's showing in all kinds of places. This blog is one of them (obviously). I will get into that in a moment. First, I want to let you know how that battle turned out. It was Everlast vs Lifehouse and the song was Broken. Two very different songs. Same name. I suspected Lifehouse would win and by approximately the margin it won, so it wasn't a shock to me. I really like BOTH songs. I am partial to Everlast's song in this case, but only by the slimmest of margins. That brings the final tally to this: Everlast: 6. Lifehouse: 11.

Regarding Battle of the Bands, I don't plan on participating until September. I am going to camp again soon. I am very excited about that! After that, I will be staying in Augusta for a few weeks with my ex's daughter. She's having a baby. Does this make me a grandma? Yes, yes it does. It's a bit much to wrap the brain around.

My mother seems to be in the final leg of her recovery. I just realized what I said: leg. ha! She had that hip replacement in March. A few weeks later she was back in for surgery as it broke her femur. And she is now using a walker to get around. It's been a process. I confess that care-giving saps a person. I don't know how people do it long-term. Those people are genuine angels. I am thankful my mom is improving every day.

I've also been tangling with big decisions regarding what to do with my future (now that it appears I have one). When your health is in the toilet, and you don't have a life, well the decisions are easy... because there are none. I have started a new novel project with a friend, and writer, I very much admire. Lots of excitement about this endeavor! I'm also applying to go back to school (seminary) and will be looking for part-time work in the fall. Big changes. Sometimes staring into the future feels overwhelming (too much to take in), but I keep reminding myself that when God leads you to it, He leads you through it.

I will arrive at camp on July 5. Will be there until the last Saturday of July. If you want to write, the address is:

Robin Richards or Mergan

Cedarbrook Camp of Ohio at Stony Glen
 5300 W. Loveland Rd
 Madison, OH 44057

If you include your return address, I will make every effort to write you back! I will not have easy access to WiFi while there, so don't be surprised if I am more silent than usual during this time!!!

An Update... Does Anyone Have Time For That???

I only have a minute to type up an explanation for the insanity in my life. I think you'll understand why my last battle results didn't post. Then, no battle for this time. No comments. No posts. Nothing.

My mom had the hip replacement on March 22. It went well according to the doctors. Her recovery was going along well, but I confess that it's not easy being the primary caregiver. Even someone "doing well" tends to run a person ragged. That person being me. I considered it a coup to get my April 1 battle up and to vote on all the battles that raged on the first. I didn't have time for much else, including commenting on my own comments.

Last Wednesday (the 12th???), my mom stepped on her right leg and it gave way. She said it really hurt. (I confess that as someone who has heard about pain in this leg for quite a while now, it was hard to--at first--differentiate this sort of really hurt from the previous forms of really hurt.) However, she had a tough time getting in the car when we left a few minutes later for choir practice (hence the walking in the first place). It was worse once we got there. I wasn't sure we'd get her back in the car when it was over. I nearly called the ambulance when we got home. I would've had she not been so adamantly opposed to the idea. She just wanted to get in her own bed. It took approximately an hour to move from car to bed.

The next day it was no better. She called the doctor's office and spoke with the PA on call. He was telling her to elevate it, ice it, etc. I asked for the phone and explained in no uncertain terms that all that had been done and there was something seriously wrong. She needed an ambulance and they should expect her at the hospital where she had the procedure. I could tell he thought I was over-reacting, but he relented.

The emergency room took X-Rays. Turns out her femur fractured due to the hip replacement part. I can tell you that those folks went from not really wanting to give her pain medication and being somewhat immune to her pain to bending over backwards. The doctor on call said he'd only seen seven cases like this in twenty years. She was admitted to the hospital and the doctor put in a longer replacement joint with bands holding it to the bone to prevent future breaks. Of course, he also set the broken bone.

Monday she moved to the rehab floor.

I am whooped. Running back and forth to the hospital takes it out of a person. Thankfully, my migraines haven't been too bad due to the iodine (what a blessing!). I am leaving in a few minutes for my daily hospital run. They expect her to to be there for another ten days (at least), so I don't see this letting up soon.

So, if you'd pray for her and me and/or send good thoughts our way, I'd really appreciate it.

As for the battle from April 1. I was a bit disappointed with participation as it was a fun one. It turned out that Ain't Nobody Got Time For That edged out the Bed Intruder song with with a final tally of 7 to 4 votes, including mine for Sweet Brown (Ain't Nobody Got Time For That).

I'd tell you the rest of what's going on here (which is fairly extensive, because when it rains it pours), but...