Random Thoughts & Happenings of the Day

First thing this morning - bird flew into office window. He sat in the parking lot for quite a while after that. Autumn went to check on him. He appeared fine, just must be stunned. He later flew into another window, this time not as hard, and sat in the window sill for a while before flying off.


I thought the boss had dictated all afternoon yesterday, but when he downloaded this morning, there’s only 24 seconds on the recorder. Not good.


By 9:00, had answered too many phone calls to count. About half either didn’t say anything or hung up; a couple were from the boss; several wrong numbers; a fax; a lady who thought she couldn’t find our office but ended up being in the parking lot; and the rest were random crazy people.


9:10 - email “hit an electrical glitch.”


9:20 - I’m in the copy room when I hear the front door open, so I go to the front to see who it is. A man has come in the lobby, proceeded through the door into the office, and is now wandering around, heading to Autumn’s desk. He tells Autumn, “I’m lost, I’m looking for [name].” She gives him her best “deer in the headlights” look, and I’m behind him not knowing what to do, afraid to say anything that might startle him, and thinking he’s in the wrong office. “---and Zach. My wife had an appointment here.” I show him to Zach’s office, and me and Autumn share our “what the hecks” and bust into laughter.


9:25 - I finish my coffee.

Wow, it’s lunchtime and I’ve actually got a little work done.

11:50 - Autumn is leaving for lunch, backing up in the parking lot, looks in rearview mirror - sees a bald man in a “wife-beater” shirt carrying a bag. In her words, “he looked like a serial killer! ... I think he went to the neighbor’s house.” 


Called court clerk to confirm court date.

• Clerk: “That case is to be dismissed on payment of cost, which he hasn’t paid yet.”
• Me: “So is it set for review?”
• Clerk: “No, that case is not set. The other cases [names off several drug charges, etc.] are set for review on [date].”
• Me: “So, this case we represent him on, he still owes money, but it’s not set any time for review?”
• Clerk: “Yes. It’s set on [same date].”

(Is that not what I just asked??!!!)

Immediately following that call, the same client (the one I just confirmed a court date for) calls and makes an appointment for us to help with a custody case. Custody...of children?


2:00 - Since we have heard no gunshots and have seen no other sign of the guy from the parking lot, we assume the neighbors are still alive. “Unless he used a silencer. ... or maybe he used a knife.”


 And there’s always that one phone call -

• "Hi, I’m the lady that called earlier."
• "Um, ok."
• "Are you not the person I talked to?
• "Nope." (Standard answer, because even if I did talk to her earlier, I’ve probably talked to a dozen more since then and still won’t remember what she called about.)

There's Power in....

I felt it today as I was leaving the church parking lot.  The need for more.  More of what, though, I wasn't sure.  On the drive home, the Lord showed me some things.  He took what I thought I wanted and gave me a deeper meaning. Hopefully it will make sense to the one out there who needs it:

I drive a black minivan.  And, as my son often says, it's hard to look cool in a minivan.  But I don't drive a minivan to look cool.  I drive it mostly because it's practical.  It can haul things and/or people as needed.  It's my "grocery-go-getter" and my "kid-picker-upper."  When I press on the gas, it goes, usually without much fanfare or noise.  It's dirty.  It has a loootttt of miles on it, and right now is well overdue for an oil change.  It's my steady and reliable mode of transportation.

But....in the garage....behind closed doors...where the dirt and elements don't enter so easily....there is something else.  Something most have only heard about and few have really seen.  It's a shiny red 1964 Chevelle with a big motor.  It's not practical for everyday driving and the day-in/day-out messiness of family life.  But on those days when it's brought into the sunlight, I can feel it.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's a different feeling than when I drive the minivan.  When I press the gas, it makes noise - oh that insides-shaking noise - and it goes...it goes like it means business.  It has....power.

Maybe that's what I felt I needed more of today - power.  Most days I'm just like that ol' minivan.  I'm worn and weary, dirty and in need of some TLC.  Just going about life, doing what needs to be done and taking care of stuff.  Then there are those occasions when I want to be more like the hotrod.  When I put things in gear and press the gas, I want there to be movement and noise and a feeling of "oh wow!"  

What God has shown me today is that I have the ability and opportunity to be both.  I own them both.  They are both mine, and they are both part of who I am.  It's up to me which one I put the gas in, turn the key, and go in.