Conference Quotes lead to focus.

The blog dog is helping me finish this thought--


















Quotes from the Conference yesterday:

"We were like one hand clapping, a whole lot of effort, no sound." Work smarter, not harder.

"Research Refusniks." People who don't want to do Research.

"Instead of scratch their head it should be nod their head." As in it the process should be simplified.

I started writing quotes down during the conference for 2 reasons:

1.  I will never remember this goodness later.
2.  It helps me pay attention.

Same reasons why I take sermon notes.  (That's a sideline, but it's truth).

Before I started writing the quotes and notes, my mind was adrift.  Like, completely, unabashedly, wandering.

What brought me around to this "I-need-to-take-notes" moment?

I started thinking about, God, get me outta here.  Kent and I caught a sinister GI bug, I was not feeling good....I was a little claustrophobic, it was sunny outside, a little stuffy in the room, I just wanted out. In the sun.

I then thought about the rapture.  I mean, it could happen at any time.  There was a woman in the room I was sure I knew from church-time, but I was unsure, so I started wondering what would it be like if it happened right......now!

Then I thought about one of those B-grade rapture movies...the one where every person who is raptured leaves their clothes neatly folded in a pile where they were sitting.....with their glasses on top of the pile...you know the one I am talking about?  Protestant work ethic kicking in again....gotta fold em before Jesus lets you in!

I started thinking about what it would really look like -- the mayhem, the confusion, the clothes left in a heap where I was sitting....

Then the thought hit me.

Another reason to wear clean matching underwear.  Everyday.  Kimberly....take notes.  Focus.

Please. Step away from the name tags.

I have never professed to be the best at any job I have ever had.  I have never been the most highly educated, most qualified....

I have however, worked at jobs quite consistently where, it starts small and then begins to grow.  It's been an amazing career.  Not one marked with high acclamation by the Queen or the PM, but you know what I mean.

This week, I ran my last conference for the time being.  I don't think there is another one until November.

This weeks conference was a collaboration with 3 of us spear heading the effort.  3 of me trying to organize a meeting.

Seriously.  One of us is going to get hurt....It didn't happen, but that was my initial thought.

So each of us, bring to the table what she does best, this thing is going off without a hitch.  And man, was I right.

I was sent a package, by one of the coordinators who couldn't be there, so all the paper work we needed arrived the Friday before.  That left me and the other coordinator to do the actual day-of stuff.  I arrived to work at 7 am--ready to get this show on the road.

I went to the PCC Learning Centre to get things organized and my cohort arrived at about 8.30.

We organized the tables and chairs, tables for food and registration.  Then we set to organize the registration table.

I take all the alphabetized name tags carefully out of the box laying them in alphabetical order in front of me, when I look over and my coworker has made a pyramid of her name tags.

I clutched my chest and exclaimed, "For the love of all things Holy.  Please.  Step away from the name tags before you hurt yourself."  Ok, I didn't, but I sure thought it!

I gently say to her, here, let me help you organize this.

We set to reorganizing it.  I had the A-M registration, all neatly lined up, ready for participants to come in.  As they start arriving, the N-Z was still mostly pyramid......

So, I quickly ran around the front of the table and said, excuse me, I can't help myself....and I take the "alphabetized" R, S and T pyramids and make them into nice, neat little rows and put them in order.  The "alphabetized" rows she had created were groupings of N and P names.  When I successfully calmed the OCD in me, I sat down and greeted everyone as they came in.

I have always known that my role in a team doesn't necessarily garner the biggest limelight.  I know that I am never going to be a Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief....but I do know that my role within the team dynamic is important.

Not everything goes the way I want it to, but in the end, it always seems to work itself out.

It's not the "Prodestant Work Ethic" that drives me, although it's there....I won't dismiss that.  There is however this keen knowledge of who I work for.

I'm not talking about VIHA.

I am talking about God.  I know that my job out of the home, in the home, in my community or wherever is to make the Father look good, to make my team look good.  I love that.  My employers have loved that, and do love that.

I had great compliments yesterday.  My email had compliments in it.  In fact, my coworker that I didn't get to see Monday sent me a message about how well I performed yesterday.

Kudos to Kim, Praise be to Jesus.

A sermon illustration and a dream

I have always believed that my story, no matter what part of it or the whole is not just my story.  It's God story and I have been able to play a part of it, but it has never ever been my story to keep to myself.

Kent and I met with Derrick and Sara Lee while they were in town for the BCYD Conference.  He asked me some questions about our 2012 year and we told him our story.

We dwelt mostly on our battle with Cancer.  Derrick said in his sermon Cancer is a battle not to be taken lightly.  It is a struggle.  It is very much like sin, Derrick captured our struggle very well in his May 5th sermon.  I completely agree with his sermon.

I am a nerd.  I sit on most Sunday or Monday nights listening to sermons online.

A couple of weeks ago I listened to Derrick's May 5th sermon and I was struck by what he said.  I love that he equates Chemotherapy and Radiation to the Holy Spirit.  http://emmanuelnet.ca/sermons/

While I slept that night I had a very disturbing, very real dream.  I dreamed that I was in the lobby of EC and a woman walked up to me and said, "I know you were faking the cancer thing.  I know you were doing it all for attention."

It was a direct quote of a number of years ago.  She told me years ago that she thought I was faking my walk with God.  I remember the night very clearly.  I couldn't believe what she was saying, because at that time all I had left was God.  That night, I got into my car and I made a plan to drive into oncoming traffic.  Thankfully, Pam was expecting me and I didn't follow through with my plan.

I had a date with Sara Lee when she was here and I had an opportunity to talk with her for a couple hours.  One of the things I told her was, of all the things I "had" when I lived in Kelowna, there were times when all I had was God, my relationship with God.

I know that Satan would love to use my insecurty or my fear of seeing her has started to creep in, but I know that I know Satan has tried to have a foothold in my story several times.  I am beyond letting Satan into my life and having a free for all.  I have also learned through some of the toughest of lessons and circumstances not to bring into my life or give Satan permission to mess with my life.

So back to the dream.  Raspberry.  Go suck rope Satan.  I've had enough of you.

LaRombashaniqua and Me.

Where has she been my whole life??

I was biking home today and I was just loving it.

At one point, I was cruising down Fort Street and I thought, "Speed wobble.  Do bikes get speed wobble?"

LaRombashaniqua said, "Gurl you ain't got time for speed wobble!  Remember Jesus says I hasn't given you a spirit of fear, but of a sound mYYnd!"

The first I believe, the second not so much....I mean, I am talking to my bike.  How sound of a mind can one have....when a girl talks to her bike??

Later on, I was in the line up for the Johnson Street Bridge and I have to say this is not my favourite part of the ride, the bridge deck scares me...and again, I think, I have nothing to fear....

I was trying to decide if hand signals were a sign of bravery or weakness.  I decided it's bravery...I mean, I have to be brave to take my hands off the handle bars--

One of the best parts of my day, curls waving in the wind, sun on my skin, at times completely out of breath, but loving every minute of my ride.

I have come to realize that it is also the *only* part of my day that I am completely unplugged.  I don't even listen to my Ipod....it's me, Larombashaniqua, God and creation....it's a sweet, sweet thing.

Well call me crazy....

Tonight Kent was making funny voices and I said, are you going crazy?  He said, probably.

He makes me laugh often, I love him so much and cherish time with him so very, very much.  Every day is a gift with him.

Kent has a cousin.  His name is Scott -- I adore Scott...I really, really do.  I am thankful often when I get the chance to be with Scott, he is loving and generous.

Sometimes when I have had time to spend with Scott and his partner Patrick, I wonder how we got so lucky to have family like him.

I got a text from Scott that he is facing some tough times.  He told me he was praying and asked if Kent and I would pray for them.  I felt super privileged to go to God on Scott and Patrick's behalf.

I know that without my prayer life and my time in scripture the past struggles would have been or felt insurmountable.

So, of course, I will take Scott and Patrick to God and I pray that God would move in a mighty way in their lives.

I read today in Psalm 119:68 - You are good, and do good; Teach me your statues.  I thought of Scott right away, because sometimes it doesn't feel like God is good and does good things, the fact is everything that comes to me -- passes by the the Lord first.  He allows all things that come to me.

I read this weekend John 16:33 - Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Thankfully, I have Him on my team.  If He overcomes, then so do I.

For Scott:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO1q71x9Dls

An Update--Max, Melissa and Jonathan

Max has been working an amazing amount.  He has been working 3 jobs at a time.  Working 7-14 hours a day for 6 days a week.

Yesterday he told us he dropped another one of his jobs, as his position at Bubby's Kitchen is now full time.

We are so proud of him.  He has worked through sickness and fatigue.  He's been solidly determined to work more, until one of the jobs worked into full time work.

We highly recommend Bubby's Kitchen if you are in Victoria.  It has tasty-tasty food and the staff is excellent.  We have never been disappointed with the food or service there at all!

Victoria isn't into "chain" restaurants.  There are a ton of organic, small kitchen restaurants, that offer great food and service.

Melissa and Jonathan are in Haiti right now.  They are working with a group to rebuild Haiti.  Jonathan is working as an Electrical Engineer, Melissa is a volunteer and I am sure they are going to be hopping!

I just read through the itinerary and standards for the trip.  I am super proud of my kids.  Somehow, they learned how to be hard working, dedicated.  I am so thankful for them.

Please pray for my kids, Melissa will be headed back to her 4th year Medical Microbiology this September, and is looking for a minor degree.  She needs some direction.  Jonathan is VERY busy with work.  Pray for Max, he is registered for his first year Sciences at Camosun College.  He needs some direction--he isn't sure what this is going to lead to.

Thank you friends.