I read in the Women's Ministries Unlimited newsletter from 8/4/06...

 

Suggestions for getting along better with people:

For me the toughest two are the last...I remember being wrongly blamed for something that was very destructive, and the only thing I could do was live my life so that no one would believe the accusations.  There were many tears and it had a HUGE impact on my life -- it was SO hard to do!  But it was worth it.

And I am one who is always looking for credit, at least at work, making sure my manager is aware of what I am doing at all times, sharing what I am doing with others, name dropping, etc...I do my best, I am just not patient.  I constantly need reassurance that I am doing a good job. 

Now, I am smart enough to know that Christ knows what I am doing and He will see fit to reward my efforts if reward is due.  My co-workers know my abilities.  My managers know me and my abilities.  Others within my company know I am capable... so why do I feel the need to remind them I am capable??  I don't understand.  Any input will be GREATLY appreciated!

Of the list above, what are YOUR struggles?

Be blessed!

Lollie

 

Wow!   Ok, lemme say it again, WOW!

 

This weekend was absolutely amazing!  Lemme start from the beginning...

 

My friend, Kim, invited us to Soul Fest this year (http://www.thesoulfest.com/index2.html)  -- her hubby, John, is in charge of all video for the event (he works for Comcast).  Well, Rosemary and I went up on Saturday AM (Cuyler was with his dad, Colin spent way too much time on Duxbury Beach frying and is paying the painful price...)

 

It was a Saturday morning where I felt the sting of debilitating depression...Rosemary, my darling daughter, got me out of bed and into the shower where I kept saying, "I am only doing this for KIM!!"  Well, Roey said, "Remember the time you didn't want to go to church and you were glad you did?  This is ONE OF THOSE TIMES!!"  Depression really bites.  But we eventually got out of the house and travelled the two and a half hours to Gunstock where I made a wrong turn at the Belknap Mall...I took the right...it went straight up a hill like STRAIGHT vertically up the hill....then it evened off, but dang, no brown "Gunstock" signs as I had been assured...so I called Kim, turns out, I needed to have taken the NEXT right, ok I'm cool...

we get almost to the end...and there is that vertical hill, this time, I have to go DOWN it...and I freeze, literally, I am paralyzed.  So I do a three-point-turn onto a side street and chill, pray, my Rosemary praying with me...and I pop an ativan...I called Kim to "advise her of the delay"...her hubby, so in tune with my sense of humor says, "Don't JUMP !!"  Yeah, so I am sitting frozen at the top of a hill as I see other cars pass by...not one of them has braking problems, and not one of them turns end-over-end...So praise GOD for Kim, she talks me through driving down the steep hill...I make it with tears in my eyes of gratitude for God who gave me Kim...and I head off in the correct direction to Gunstock Mountain.

 

We got there close to noon.  Met Kim and her family, and started hunting through the vendor tents...some pretty cool stuff and a lot of people who were so happy to share how Christ had changed their lives and the lives of others...one could not HELP but be moved !!  I was in MY ELEMENT !!  Oh yeah, this rocked!  Well, we looked around and decided to go back to Kim's rented apartment...Kim and I and her youngest took needed naps (after devouring pizza!) while the older kids swam in the lake.  Kim woke me up from a very sound nap, and we all headed back to the mountain...and we were treated to a concert by Chris Tomlin -- lemme say he really engages his audience by having the words to every song on a screen -- and by really connecting to the audience.  Then there was an interlude...then...then... it was THIRD DAY !!! WOOHOOO!!!  What a show they put on !!  Mac Powell wasn't feeling well, yet he is infamous for putting on his best shows when he is under the weather, well God blessed us with Mac Powell and an AMAZING show !!!  What a blessing, what joy, to surrender all to God in absolute joy on a mountain in New Hampshire!!

 

Well, we went back to the apartment and quickly fell asleep.  Me and Rolo snugged in the same bed with a nice fan blowing on us, reminded me of when my mum and I would share a bed and a fan in the summer...

 

Next AM we showered and went to work cleaning the apartment so we could all "move out" -- now let me first begin by saying, I needed coffee desperately, so I came out to the kitchen in my jammies, in front of the camera guys who had crashed in the living room...got coffee, sat on the balcony overlooking the Lake, and thought to myself... "All is right with the world, Praise God!"

 

We all helped clean up and then headed off to Gunstock Mountain again where we lingered at different missionary sites, had lunch in the sun, and shopped, then went on the ski lift to the top of the mountain.

 

Ok, let me direct you to my opening...I am paralyzed with fear over heights.  I could see the ski lift had a gentle parallel ride, until it took a sharp verticle up to the top...yeah, that verticle was throwing me over the edge...I watched my daughter and her friend get on...Kim's hubby and kids get on...they drifted away out of site up the mountain...and I was grasping the fencing while Kim was gently talking to me..."you don't need to do this...but you know that if Rosemary was in trouble you could do it...but maybe now is not the time..."

she was gentle, loving, and man, I wanted to conquer this !!  For me, for her, for God !!  I finally said (after taking half an ativan) that I was ready...we got on the ski lift and went upwards...my right hand clutched tightly to the bar, my left arm slung over the back and holding the bottom of the seat...Kim kept speaking love to me...and as she spoke, and engaged me in dialogue, I relaxed...I let go with my left arm...I let go with my right...and began enjoying God's beauty as it was laid out before me...those on their way back down said hello...I shouted out Praise God !! because He knew what it took to get me on that ski lift.  We reached the top...there was a band playing, a contest for a free MP3 player and guess who won?? KIM !!!! WOOOHOOOO !!! Well deserved !!

 

We took the ski lift back (this time I could hardly wait to see the vistas of the lake and mountains unfold before me !!!) and as we landed, Casting Crowns took the stage !!!  We raced to the press pit where we saw Mark Hall singing "Who Am I?" up close and personal -- lol !  It was amazing!  We were right there at his feet !!   I saw the woman sing who does back up...saw the drummer, the guitarists...they became more than their music.  I can't even explain.  It was awesome !!!

 

I praise God for getting me beyond my depression, I praise him for a reliable vehicle, I praise Him for my daughter, who had faith in me all along, and I praise Him for KIM who is an amazing friend and truly rocks my world !!  I praise God for an awesome weekend, for the chills that went up my arms over the fresh water missionaries...for the God that saw me up that mountain so He could unfold the beauty of His creation into my realm of experience...for the God that brought talented artists together for His glory...for the peaceful night of serenity...for the sweet smell of morning coffee and sunshine and fresh lakeside air...for bringing those in mourning together with those who love them...for the T-shirt I found that said "He's rizen"vs "Verizon" but it looked just like a Verizon T-shirt (I wore it today to work hee hee!!)...for a glorious weekend of the best weather possible...for the love of a church family, and my own darling daughter...and those who supported our going there...and hey, we even found more praise music for the Praise Team !!!  So praise God for that, too !!!  And to Him we praise for our safe travels home, the memories, the joy, the rescue from depression, the rescue from fear of heights, the bringing together of true friends for the weekend and also for the time prior with family...God is to be praised and worshipped through it all !!!!!

 

May I ask that you set aside Aug 1-4, 2007, and join us all on Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire for Soul Fest's 10th Anniversary !!  I am going to do what I can to take time off to be there earlier next year !

 

I will have pictures to post as soon as I get them developed

 

Laurie