Rollover Miracle

Yesterday morning--after three days of working long and little sleep--I was finally getting some rest. At about 4:30 in the morning, I woke up to a voice, "Are you awake?" Thinking it was my sister Danielle, who I am currently sharing a room with, I muttered, "No. Are you?" only to realize that she was still sound asleep. Then I heard my dad's voice on the phone. Who could he be talking to so early? Extremely irritated that my peaceful REM sleep was disrupted, I got up to get a glass of water and suggest to him that he could perhaps continue his conversation at a more decent hour or in a more subdued tone (it didn't occur to me that there was a logical reason for his being on the phone at such an hour).

Well, turns out there was a reason. An important one. My brothers who had been fishing near the Dalles were on their way home when they hit a semi truck tire in the middle of the road. Their car went off the road and rolled over. Miraculously, they were all able to walk away okay.

I called my sister, Jessica, and we left half an hour later to pick them up where they had been dropped off at a little store in Moro. If you have no idea where that is...well neither did I until yesterday. The time that Jessica and had driving was amazing--much more amazing than my brothers and their friend, stuck out in the cold--the Holy Spirit showed up in a unique and brilliant way. We got to talk about Jessica's recent trip to Uganda, my plans for this fall, what God's been teaching us, and just have sister time. We also had some seriously awesome prayer time.

Once we picked them up, we drove to the spot where the accident had happened. We were astounded by what we saw. I have pictures that I will post, but they're on Jessica's phone. Interestingly, there was one mound right where they flipped. Now, we don't know this, but I have a funny feeling that the mound they rolled over, slowed the impact of their flip and was one reason that they were all in such good shape. It was kind of a surreal feeling, knowing that had things turned out differently, my brothers and their friend wouldn't be standing next to me right now. I was overwhelmed by this sense of thankfulness that God saw fit to save them.

All I can say is this: God is not finished with them yet! And I'm so excited to see the way that He protected them and what He is going to do and keep doing with my brothers. If you think of it, shoot up a prayer for them...I just have this feeling that God is ready to do something more. 

Culture Shock...and I haven't even left yet!

Currently, I am experiencing pre-travel culture shock.

My roommate and I, who were house-sitting for five months, are in the process of moving. However, rather than move for three months with her before going to Kosovo, I made the decision to move home. For many reasons this choice seemed logical: three months worth of saving--no rent, no utilities, mooching off of their food; a place to store my stuff when I leave (without having to move it again); and you know, that whole family bonding thing. Or something.

Well, I've been here about two days, my bed is situated--everything else is in disarray. But I think the thing that is in the greatest disarray is my personal space alarm. You see, I have this little buzzer...when I don't get enough personal space it starts going off. Then it gets louder and louder and louder until it's practically screaming in my ear.

Also, I have a confession. I have a bedtime. My bedtime is 10:00 and my wake up time is 6:00. I value my sleep. My family, on the other hand...
Last night, I got home after 10:00 and had every intention of whizzing off to bed. However, things went a little different than planned.

While searching for my pajamas:
Christina: Amy get out of my room!
Me: Oh, let her come in.
Christina: Amy, get out!
Me: Be nice. Would you like me to wrestle you and make you sleep outside?
Amy: Yes! Yes! Wrestle Christina to the floor and make her sleep in my room so I can sleep with you?

I exit, Amy following, murmuring, "Please! Please!"
I walk to my other sister's room, still in search of pajamas. Danielle is peacefully reading on her bed.

Josiah enters, determined to bring her joy.

Danielle: Josiah, get out of my room!
Josiah: Hey Danielle! Guess what? I invented this new game called hashtag. We play it with bottle caps. It's great! What are hashtags anyways?
Danielle: Go away!
Josiah: Aww, Danielle! Gimme a hug! I'll show you how to play.
Danielle: I will bite you!
I exit, giving up the search for my pajamas and go straight to brushing my teeth. I grab the nearest toothpaste, reciting my mantra "It's only three months, it's only three months, it's only three months..." I finally feel myself begin to calm, and a smile return to my face when...

Michaela: Hey! Is that my toothpaste? Are you the one who keeps stealing it?!
She snatches it out of my hand and whisks it away, without giving me time to answer.
Michaela: I'm hiding this!
I feel the panic rising as the whirling vortex of noise sucks me in. Over and over I hear

 "Wrestle Chrissy!"
"Hashtags. That's a funny word."
 "I will beat you over the head with this book."
"Go away!"
 "My toothpaste."


Sanity. Lord, help me.

P.S. Hope you enjoyed a little humor while reading this and there will come a post soon about the genuine POSITIVES of moving home for the summer, which there are many. I am learning to appreciate the quirks of my family and the time to invest in them as I am once again thrown into the mix, while living there.