A Few Good Laughs Today!!

Today was a day of several good ole belly laughs. I ran across this picture of Dad....Christmas 2002....It just made me laugh. I've had several laughs today and over the past few days. I was chatting with my mother-in-law and she asked how I was doing with losing Dad and all. I retold the time of when I was caring for him for an extended stay (I believe Mom was on a long weekend either bowling tournament or a funeral, out east...I can't remember which) and I had the task of showering him. Dad was rather modest and always covered his private parts when I would shower him. I told him not to worry because Scott had one just like his. I made some funny comment like, "Yours is only wrinklier, Dad." He laughed and came back with this one..."That's because it's had more use!!" I about wet my pants in laughter.....his lucid moments were hilarious ones.

Another laugh today....we went to The Red Mill in Waupaca, WI. It's a quaint place about an hour or so drive from our place. It's near where my husband grew up. My in-laws took us there when we were dating and I have such fond memories of the romance and beauty of this place. We went to early church and got in the car right away so we could take advantage of the beautiful weather today. We took along Kyle, (Stefanie's boyfriend) and made a day of it. The few good laughs began at the restaurant we stopped at for lunch. We started to share stupid stories and about wet our pants laughing as we retold them. Like the time Scott accidentally pulled the chair out from under me and I landed on the floor and peed my pants in the process (bladders don't work as well after 11 pound children...lol). The reminiscing continued until our sides hurt. Everyone headed out to the car and waited for me to pay the bill. Kyle....the stinker that he is....hid behind a bush and waited for my exit. I was looking at the car and didn't see him when he jumped out and scared me....yes...I peed again....the laughter continued. Then when we got in the car Kyle started reciting lines from funny movies and we were all a little punchy and continued laughing so hard. Well...that just fed the boy to continue. It continued until Stefanie couldn't catch her breath from laughing so hard...it really scared me. I think I know what it means when people say, "I almost died laughing." But, all in all....everyone needs a day like today...good laughs and great medicine....

How Great Thou Art

I wasn't prepared for the outpouring of tears I would experience in church today. One of our hymns was "How Great Thou Art." I love it...it's a beautiful hymn, packed with His grace and the gospel message. It also was Dad's favorite hymn. We sung it at his funeral. It didn't impact me then as much as it did today. The tears flowed freely as I sang each verse and thought of Dad, up there in heaven singing praises to God....forever and ever...Amen. I miss you, Dad...more than you know.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

I'm Back!

Back safely from Dallas, TX....my 15th annual trip went well. Our unit was #78....which is a great place to land, especially since there are about 2800 units in our division alone and about 14000 United States sales units overall. I was mighty proud of my group of woman. And, so many of them, there for the first time, caught the vision of what Mary Kay stands for...the mission to enrich women's lives. Even though Mary Kay, herself, was not present in the arena, I saw my gals, with tears streaming down their faces, catch the dream for themselves and their families. It never ceases to amaze me.

It was difficult for me, though. Especially through the debuts of the new National Sales Directors. A new NSD has a little video montage made and then her whole area of directors graces the stage, along with her family. I kept thinking of Dad and how he'll never get to witness that. I cried from the bottom of my toes.....I didn't think it would be so overwhelming. When I got home and told Mom about it she simply said, "It's okay, Mary...at least your mom will be there when you debut as a National." Now I have a job to do.....

Also, had a doctor's appointment yesterday...still having odd lumps and sensations in my left breast which has brought a lot of anxiety. I was told to wait to have my mammogram until the end of September and I just was getting anxious. One of my offspring directors just had a double masectomy with reconstructive surgery right away and she was urging me to go back before September if I was so anxious about it. So I did. I love my family doctor.....he treats the whole patient and just plain spends time to listen. He checked me out and the lumpiness was gone (cuz back in March they confirmed that they were just fluid-filled cysts). My doctor still believes that with my perimenopause has come the cysts. He said cancer lumps never go away, cysts come and go with menstrual cycles. When, thank goodness, mine come and go with the ebb of my cycle. That's a blessing. I will still have the mammo and perhaps another ultrasound in early September just to confirm that.

While in his office I lost it though. He asked me a question and I just lost it. We talked a lot about the grieving process and he asked if I wanted to talk. I didn't want to keep him from his dozens of patients waiting for him....but that didn't seem to matter to him. So we talked about my dad and he told me that it's okay....that I HAVE to grieve the loss. He said if I wanted anything to help me get through this time that there are anti-depressants to help. I don't want to do that. I told him that. He didn't push it. I was glad.

My best dose of antidepressant medication came in the form of my Mary Kay meeting last night. My commitment called for me to be there, even though I didn't feel like it. And, having to push through the evening was just what the doctor ordered. I got out of myself and got into my people and their guests and I left feeling euphoric.....just what the doctor ordered. I think I've realized that grieving is okay yet doing something great for others is the best anti-depressant anyone could ever take.