Thursday, January 19, 2012

The indignaties or pregnancy...

I love being pregnant...most of the time. There are times though when it's hard. I blog for me mostly and I thought I'd write a little about the not so fun parts. It's not all joy and wonder and bliss. It also means:

*I pee my pants when I sneeze, cough or laugh too hard. I mean I really do pee. My. PANTS.
*It feels like the baby is going to come out of my crotch any second.
*There is very little sleep.
*I have some pretty intense lower pack pain.
*My feet go numb when I sit on the floor (which is often because I have a 2 year old)
*I can't poop. Gross but true.
*Getting out of bed is a tough job.

That being said, I wouldn't trade the experience of growing these little souls. I love it.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Bob

My heart is heavy today. On Sunday I learned that my neighbor and friend, Bob Carter, passed away after having had a massive stroke about a week before that. I keep thinking that it's just not fair. Bob has 4 children, two adult girls and two young sons. He also has a loving wife. He loves the Lord and lives that out in ways I have honestly marveled at. Really and truly, I have. I have had the blessing of living across the street from him since 2005 when I bought this home. During that time I have come to know Bob, Melaney, Henry and Gus well. I coached soccer with Bob in my pre-baby days even. We looked out for one anothers homes and helped each other out. We were real, true neighbors and I love that.

I wonder why he had to die. Why him? Why now? He home-schools his two boys, is very active in Franklinton and a leader in his church. So, why him? I am no stranger to death and the unfairness of it all. I have watched as many dear ones to me passed away leaving a mess behind them. Here's what I think: We care a tremendous amount more about our lives on Earth than God does. This life is a flash in the pan to Him who is eternal. It is meaningless to Him in a way, but this is all we know and we hold onto it with everything we are because our human minds are simple and cannot grasp the fullness of the Kingdom of God. God loves us and wants us to comfort us and answer our prayers, this I believe. I can't buy into the idea that "God needed another angel in Heaven" or "So much good will come out of the loss of this one". Maybe those things are true, maybe not. What I can but into is that our lives here on Earth are brief and that they are surely not the point of our creation. We were created to be a part of the Kingdom.

I am going to post Bob's obituary. It made me weep because it's so beautiful and simple. Bib was incredible. I will miss him often.

CARTER Robert "Bob" Stewart Carter, November 4, 1958 - January 15, 2012. A wonderful man who trusted God, accepted and enjoyed God's love for him, and sought to glorify God in his life. A graduate of Ohio University and Princeton Theological Seminary. A man who served God by serving the homeless for many years in Athens and Columbus, Ohio, by serving children in the Franklinton community through teaching preschool, Sunday school, and afterschool Bible Club, and coaching soccer, and by serving all who would receive his words and acts of encouragement. Survived by a grieving wife, Melaney Anne Fullerton Carter, who misses him terribly but hopes to see him again in God's house (John 14:2); by two daughters, Jessica Laurel Carter and Sarah Elizabeth Wood Carter; and two sons, Charles Henry Carter and Robert Augustine Carter; by loving parents, Robert and Marlene Carter; by brother, David (Christina) Carter; and sister, Michelle (John) Eades; by parents-in-law, Gary and June Fullerton; by sister-in-law, Jennifer (Joe) Reardon; and brother-in-law, Paul (Sarah) Fullerton; and by many other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service to begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at the Youth for Christ City Life Center, 40 Chicago Ave., Columbus, OH 43222. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Bob's memory to Good Works, Inc., PO Box 4, Athens, OH 45701; Gladden Community House, 183 Hawkes Ave., Columbus, OH 43223; or Xenos Christian Fellowship, Humanitarian Aid Fund, 1340 Community Park Drive, Columbus, OH 43229. Arrangements by RUTHERFORD-SHROYER FUNERAL HOME, 1278 W. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222. Condolences for the family may be sent to: www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.
1 Cor 15:54-55 When our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die -- then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"