Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Slipping and Sliding!


I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that I was on my way to St. Louis to spend time with the staff and girls at our home there. We actually had a Christmas party last night and spent quality time together, just the girls and staff. It was very, very special!! I was so amazed as I went around the room and listened to each girl tell me how far they’ve come and all the wonderful things God has done in their life since they have been at Mercy. I just had to mention this, especially for those of you who are reading this and are financial supporters. The gifts you give are making a huge difference in so many lives. There were at least 10 girls that mentioned that they probably wouldn’t be alive right now if it wasn’t for the opportunity to come to Mercy. That really says it all as far as the impact your giving is having.

On a humorous note, I must tell you what it was like this morning trying to get out of St. Louis. I had an early morning flight, so I was up early getting ready to go. I knew the weather might be bad so we allotted a little extra time for the drive to the airport. I looked outside and there was about an inch of snow on the ground. I saw people slipping and sliding, and I realized that all that joking around people do in the South about people not knowing how to drive in the snow, actually applies to people in the Midwest as well!! I had to laugh because I’ve heard so many people from the North make fun of us Southerners, even though I know we deserve itJ

I was being picked up by one of our staff members, and she got to the hotel about 15 minutes late because she had a tough time getting through all the traffic. When she arrived, she left it up to me whether we would take the time to stop at Starbucks and take a chance on missing a flight. To me, it was a no-brainer!! I had to have my regular Starbucks fix or I probably wouldn’t have been able to deal with the traffic (It’s probably not cool that somebody who tells everybody else to pray about their anxiety is confessing that a cup of Starbucks is what helps her get through hers – ha!). Anyway, I will say that after I got the coffee and had a few sips of it, we did pray for ourselves and all the other people that were hurrying to get to where they needed to be. While there were a lot of people that slid off the road into a ditch, we saw no serious accidents, so that’s really good! My friend and co-worker who picked me up and drove me to the airport suddenly realized that she knew a way to go that would be less traveled than the interstate system where so many people were backed up. (It sort of reminds me of our walk with Christ. Almost always the road He wants us to take will be the road less traveled.) Anyway, her prompting turned out to be correct, and we made it to the airport exactly five minutes before the bag cutoff. For that, I was so thankful!! Just thought you might enjoy hearing about my crazy morning. I hope yours was good. I look forward to talking to you guys tomorrow.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

Nancy

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi nancy,
thank u for your posts again! and just to let you know, i watch your "Glorious '08 Women's Conference" on youtube every day cuz it speaks to me & blesses me & it's my only hope. I'm seeing that my only hope is in Jesus through you. When im ready to call it quits, give up & ditch my life, you remind me that there is hope in Jesus. and thank u so much for that. whenever i relapse (everyday lately), i see it's because i get in the way of His works, not because He's distant or uncaring. can u please say a short prayer for me. thank u!

Britney said...

This made my day! Thinking about Mercy Christmas makes me smile because I know they girls are seeing a different side of God's love for them:) Nothing can ever top off a Mercy Christmas. Actually, we have a Mercy Girl living with us right now, and my family and my mom's small group have determined to make this a Mercy Christmas for her! I am so excited for her to see all the gifts from not only my family but many other people who have heard her story and are proud of her determination and walk with the Lord. God is so good and so faithful. It it truly is more of a blessing to give than to receive. Also, those staff sure do deserve to be bragged on... frequently Mercy grads joke about how "terrible" and "stubborn" they were in the home... well multiply one of those girls times 30-40... and that is what the staff have to love us through:) It takes a special, annointed, patient, and loving women to work at Mercy. God bless all of the staff abundantly.

BrittanyHope said...

Hey Nancy I was one of those girls at the St Louis home. And Christmas was amazing. It touched my heart to see how much people care about us girls in the home. Mercy saved my life and showed me what it is like to actually live. I graduated the morning of the Christmas party and I am thankful that I was able to stay and experience my first Christmas as a new person. Thank you to all who supported Mercy and thank you Nancy for all your hard work and for spending Christmas with us. I like a lil kid in a candy store that night. It was nothing but smiles and laughs.

M said...

Hi Nancy,

This Kinda reminds me of the crazy morning you had the day I met you for the first time... I distinctly remember you spilling water all through your bag... followed by bellydancing on the table top with Debs (Sydney - Colour Conference)... ahhh good times good times!