angry.

You guys, I'm really, really angry.  I'm also very sad.  My friend Jen birthed her baby at only 16 weeks, 5 days early Sunday morning.  Jen is mom to the wonderful Dibits, and also previously had an early miscarriage some years ago.  I have spent hours over the past few days shaking my fists at God for allowing this.  Now, notice I didn't say God caused this.  That's not His style, you know.  But ever since humanity went from perfectly created sinless beings to creatures in a broken relationship with God, our bodies haven't worked as they were designed to all the time.  Babies die before they're on the outside, sweet-as-pie grandmothers get cancer, healthy kids are born to parents that don't want them.  Life isn't perfect any more, and (even though it sounds bizarre to lots of people) I've accepted that as part of the covenant I became part of when Jesus took up residence in my heart. 

One of my favorite parts about being a follower of Jesus is that it's okay to be angry with God.  It's okay to ask questions of Him.  Believe me, one of the first ones on my lips as I enter Heaven's gates will be, "Why all those babies, Lord?"  And I hope I'll be able to understand His answers.  Currently, my earth-bound humanity prevents me from fully understanding one damn thing about Jen's baby, or Amy's baby, or anyone's loss(es).

(Please click on Jen's name above and leave your support for her on her blog.  She is ALWAYS there to uplift others in their times of need, and most richly deserves as much love as the internet can provide.)

breaking news weather alert

Have you heard? Little Bertha is a tropical storm! We're so proud.

For a storm that's not going to come close to the U.S. coast, our local news weather is spending an awfully large amount of time covering the predicted path. Welcome to Florida's news, from June through November.

I'm sure my cryptic comment about not watching the Olympics this year has at least one person puzzled. I know this because someone left a comment expressing that very sentiment. I am very observant. Even I'm puzzled by my impulse about not watching. Anyone who knows me a little is aware that I am always eager to watch swimming competitions, and the Olympics are usually the only time that doing so is ever possible. I also just really love watching the Olympics, no matter what sport is on. I choke up at the human interest stories, I love medals ceremonies, and rooting for the home team is great.

I've been reading about the Chinese preparations for this year's Olympics - they're cleaning the place up and getting ready to put on a good show for the world. All host cities do this, of course. When I was in Athens in 2007 there were obvious signs that the city had been prepared for an onslaught of visitors. I just can't help but be concerned about how wretchedly many Chinese women and children are treated. My heart breaks for the Chinese Christians who are still forced to worship underground with one Bible to share between 20 families.

Believe me, I have no illusion that my not watching the Olympics is going to do anything to change these situations. It's just bizarre to watch millions (billions?) of dollars being spent on these games by the host country when many millions of their citizens are starving, babies are being abandoned, women are being forced to abort their unborn children against their will, and Christian leaders are being jailed for preaching the Gospel.

update

I received this email from my friend Dave a few hours ago. Eric Volz's situation has grown even more dire - PLEASE pray. If you're not a pray-er, give it a shot. What could it hurt? One more voice adds much to the chorus already being sung to the heavens.

********************

Dec 20, 2007 12:22 PM

Subject:

URGENT 12/20/07: YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Body:

TAKE ACTION TODAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

We are asking everyone to contact (a phone call would be more immediate, but follow up with an email if you can!) their elected representatives in the next few hours, to ask them to pressure the Nicaraguan government to carry out Eric's legal release from prison. The reason this is so urgent is that Nicaraguan government offices leave tomorrow for the lengthy holidays... we need the US government to act IMMEDIATELY to compel the Nicaraguan government to honor their own law and release Eric Volz!

Call your representative with the question "What is being done to expedite Eric Volz's release from Nicaraguan custody?"

BE INFORMED!

READ THIS: Associated Press story:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jGlrnMklKMa1DSqmiTxcJLaMvRhwD8TKU66O1

TAKE ACTION: Here's how to locate your representatives:

State Department: http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php or main switchboard: 202-647-4000

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ or main switchboard: 202-456-1414

Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Click on the above link and locate your two State Senators

Congresspersons: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

Click on the above link and locate your Congressional Representatives

Details are changing almost hourly, but here's what we know as of 10:30am Central, December 20th:

Judge Ivette Toruno, who initially convicted Eric for Doris' murder, is required to sign his release papers, but she has created various excuses to avoid doing so.

In the meantime, the original prosecutor of Eric's case (Isolda Ibarra) is attempting to overturn the Appellate Court ruling, and is filing an appeal to the Nicaraguan Supreme Court. She is asking that Eric be held in custody (illegally) until the Supreme Court rules. Typically, Supreme Court cases take years to process.

Nicaraguan law says that the order of the Appellate Court to free Eric should not be overridden by the filing of a Supreme Court appeal, but that Nicaraguan law is being ignored.

If Eric is held, he will certainly be moved back to the penitentiary, and may not be afforded even the minimal protection he had previously - he will be in the gravest of danger. Eric has kidney stones, and is still recovering from intestinal issues and severe asthma, which is why he has been in the prison hospital for more than 2 months now.

This morning, Penitentiary Director Molina dispatched a truck to take Eric back to the prison. This forced his visit with his mother Maggie to be cut short, due to security concerns.

outrageous.

I first heard the story of Eric Volz from my friend Dave, whom I met on my trip to Greece last winter. This story has gotten some national media attention, having been featured on Dateline and the Today Show several times each. Dave's friend Eric is a young American who was living in Nicaragua, creating and publishing a magazine devoted to "sustainable development and lifestyle." Eric was two hours away from San Juan Del Sur on Nov. 21, 2006 when his ex-girlfriend was murdered. Despite the fact that none of the overwhelming physical evidence at the scene could be tied to Eric and that at least 10 witnesses and other conclusive evidence placed him in Managua during the possible crime hours, he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Please read the Facts page at the Friends of Eric Volz website for the more complete and more infuriating details of this atrocious case. Also take the time to watch this video.

On Monday, his case was finally heard in the appellate court of Nicaragua. The judges there overturned his conviction and sent orders to the prosecuting judge to sign release papers immediately. She arranged to meet the American embassy officials and Eric's attorney at the court at 2pm, and then left the courthouse at 1:30, leaving orders not to be disturbed. As far as I've heard she has not returned, nor has she signed the release papers. What this has done is allow the media to stir up enough of a frenzy to where the threat to Eric being able to leave the country safely is in real danger, whenever or if the prosecuting judge signs the release.

Eric and his family are urgently in need of prayer. He has said over and over in the rare letters he's been able to send just how much the prayers of so many are sustaining him throughout this nightmare. Please share this story with everyone you know, and click on this link for instructions on how to write your senator/congressperson to plead on Eric's behalf. There is hope for this year-long ordeal to end before Christmas - and although Eric's health is poor right now due to being imprisoned and denied his asthma medication, he could spend the holidays back in the US with his family in Nashville.

12 until 30

So, I remembered what it was yesterday that I wanted to write about - I was going to rant and rave about Southwest Airlines new boarding policy for families with young children. We fly virtually exclusively Southwest for our many travels. They recently changed their policy that allowed kids under 4 and their parents to pre-board before the A group to require that families wait until all of the A group goes on board to get on the plane. I don't see the point of the change, other than to probably begin a transition to having no special policy for family boarding at all. It just means I'll have to get my act together and get my boarding passes online the second they are available, so I can still be in the A group and get on early. I'm really weird about making sure I get on the plane early so I can sit in the front. Don't ask.

So, I was going to complain about that. But then I read this article, and remembered that I need to just shut-the-heck-up about my unbelievably easy and wonderful life. God help the women of Saudi Arabia.

coming attraction ***updated***

since i'm reduced to typing in a sad, tedious, one-handed manner, forced into an economy of words due to my current hand/wrist/arm pains, i'll be attempting to return to photo posting for the foreseeable future. i've decided i will follow the lead of our alphabet whilst looking for subjects. look for at least letter a, maybe b, tomorrow. who knows, maybe i'll just go wild and crazy and do c as well. you just never can tell what i'm gonna do. keepin' it real.

p.s. apparently steroids don't make me super-buff, neither do they cause be to be 'roid raging... but i am hot flashing and sweating like a... well, like i usually do during the highest heat and humidity of the worst of summer. even with two fans and the a/c on. nice.

**********UPDATE**********
yeah, remember those photos I was gonna post? too bad the camera I was gonna use is MISSING FROM MY WORK DESK. grrrrr.

anger management

Sometimes, when I get mad... I mean, really, really mad... I do this:



It usually makes me feel much better.

(this is my favorite new show.)