OK Tornadoes

My heart is aching for the people who lost everything in the tornadoes this week.

My friend, Beth Pickard, (who lives in OK) posted this:
"I know I'm a disaster worker has-been but I hope you will consider this. Though it's hard, and though it isn't very appealing, financial giving is the best way to help in a disaster. Collecting and sending toiletries, clothing, food, furniture, etc, can be such a hardship in recovery. It takes a tremendous amount of space & manpower to sort clean and distribute these items. I have seen piles and piles of these items abandon on road sides because some well meaning people gave generously from their hearts, and yet there was no way to deal with the massive influx of goods during the recovery. (This is a first for me, but I would be thankful if you would share this post.)"

Salvation Army's video says the same thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na3j8T_tFCw

My severe lack of experience in things like being a victim to acts of terrorism and also weather/natural disasters doesn't leave me much in knowing how to help...but...
Money, prayers, listening ears, time, energy & a shoulder to cry on...Lord help me love others better!
~bethany

Rev3 5K Glow Run, Rev3 Knoxville, Mother's Day

May 3rd was the Rev3 Glow Run. All the $$ went to the Gross/Brannock families, injured in the Boston explosions. Yay! Team Pilot had a bunch of participants, and the Lady Vols & Vols past and present were also there! It was so much fun to briefly see and catch up with some old friends and join together to support Nicole, Michael, & Erika! They have a Be Strong Stay Strong account set up if you want to still donate to them.

That weekend was the Rev3 Knoxville triathlon. It was disappointing to not race, but it was in my best interest, and confirmed by a doc, PT, coach, and family! ...I listened :)

Pilot Flying J had a tent set up Fri/Sat/Sun, and I happily hung out there for a chunk of the weekend! What fun, great people to be with! In addition to PFJers in the tent, also great people - the Truckers to Triathletes team & Pete Thomas - were there too.  Although it was quite a soggy time, it didn't dampen our spirits under the tent! It reminded me that it doesn't matter where you go or what you do, it's all about who you're with! Definitely.

We were excited to host my pro triathlete friend from Tulsa, Jessica. It was great to have her stay with us! She got 6th place in the race - woot! It was nasty weather - hard rain, cool temps; a job well done!
Just cheering in it wiped me out ;)
Magali's mom was so generous to give me a poncho to put over my raincoat - boy was that a lifesaver! It was fun to chat with her and cheer on Magali.

Sunday, Provision's tent was ready to attract a lot of people, but it was so nasty outside that even standing under the tent was slightly miserable. We had fun for a bit, but the weather made the event short-lived. Next time, it'll be a great set-up!

Mother's Day was yesterday - yay! So much fun to celebrate the mothers in our lives! Wow, I am so thankful for amazing acts of love that I have been shown from my mom, Grama, Stephen's mom, Emily, and so many other family & friends! Thaaank you for your amazing examples to learn from. XOs

Happy Mid-May to yas!
bethany

East TN springs of color & Truth

I'm now realizing that East TN is overwhelmingly gorgeous with its many flowers, green things, & singing things that bud, grow, live (& thrive!) around here. Perhaps it was living in Hohhot, China (near the Gobi Desert) for 3 years & then Oklahoma for 4 years that finally opened my eyes & ears to the winter-to-spring transformation of colors, chirps, and songs. 

Similarly, maybe basement-life (we like to call it cave-dwelling, haha) for a year+ will snap us into realizing what a huge gift it is to have a house! (As in, "Wow! We have a HOUSE!" as well as "Wow! We have ONE house!") Besides, in terms of caves, it's pretty much the most luxurious cave, EVER...better than 99% of the rest of the world's accommodations.

More than anything right now, it's the surplus of indefinite circumstances that really drains on us.  I'm pretty sure that if you originally told us it would be a year in the basement, we'd be feeling less drained than we are now. Ahh, the parallel to trusting the Lord and also having faith in Him alone! The latest indefinite circumstance that seems to drag on is that our electrician is over a week late - he always has an amazing excuse for not being able to come. Hmm. This sort of thing is starting to feel like the norm and not surprising. I guess in an exaggerated way, it makes us realize that the only one who is 100% reliable, trustworthy, dependable...is Jesus.

There's joy in the journey - especially when there are significant perspective shifts & reality checks, which healthily chip down things until you get closer to the things that really matter.
It was good to be reminded by our Bible Study leaders, Steve & Mary Bailey, that although the Lord doesn't give us more temptations than we can handle, He allows more challenges than we can handle so that we are forced to depend on Him! What a delicious Truth nugget :) And since that's where we are, we can cling to the Lord and be refined in the fire! All good things.

Cheers!
bethany