An Awesome Surprise

Yesterday I came home from a long day helping out at the school and working on some CHIC things to find a delivery slip in my mailbox. Usually the slips say who the package is from, but this time all it said was "USA".

I bribed Sami to walk with me by telling her I would let her pick out a treat from the grocery store near the post office. The post office is a little over a mile away from our house –– downhill there and uphill home.

I handed the worker my slip and she and came back laughing and carrying a huge box. The side of the box said it weighed 14 pounds and 12 ounces. I about fell over, especially knowing how much it costs to ship 15 pounds to Japan. So uphill I carried this just shy of 15 pound box home.


My super special, full-of-surprises friend Val sent me a taste of "home" package. I think she somehow knew I was a bit homesick. I was totally blown away and speechless.

Sami & I began to open the box. It was like Christmas in Japan.

Sitting at the top was a card and a bunch of pictures. Some of the pictures was of us from Christmas and of the kids from Christmas, and she even sent a few of Illinois and NC.

Noah sent Sami a "love" note and a photo of himself and Maia sent Sami a box of fruit snacks. She was so excited.

Next was a bag with relaxing candles, bath wash and some pretty matches, that as you can see in the note, Noah picked out for me.

Next was this Ohio State tumbler that included a note saying every time I use this Val hoped it reminded me of "home".


Then came the "goodies". Tons of "USA" type stuff from candy to dip and drink mixes to gravy to biscuits to Spanish rice to Chex Mix to almost every item Hostess makes.

I have to admit I was crying over a box full of Hostess King Dongs and Cupcakes. Not that I missed them, as to be honest I am not sure I have eaten them since college, but because I was just missing "home".


At the very bottom was a Mexican cooking magazine, as Mexican food is just not found here, an Illinois newspaper and a Real Simple magazine.

Here is all our stash spread out. The only thing missing is appetite suppresants to keep me from eating all this food.

Little things like this show me that proximity doesn't make a friendship, the heart does.

So thank you Val. Thank you for bringing a smile to not just me, but my whole family.

Tomorrow will be a new day

We have witnessed history in the making, and that is an exciting and good thing. Regardless though, I am just heartbroken tonight and I know around the nation people are banging their head on computer desks wondering what the GOP can do to fix things. But tomorrow the sun will still shine, I will still be alive, and I will still have my faith. And no matter who is the POTUS, that will not change.

God IS in control. I believe that.

USA! USA! USA!

Right now thousands of people are filing into the Bird Nest stadium in Beijing for the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. Tonight we will get to watch in our living rooms. I can hardly wait. I love the Olympics. And cheesy, I know, but I will probably cry at least a dozen times over the next 17 days.

There has been so much controversy over these Olympics, and they haven't even started. From air quality, to humanitarian effort to allowing Iraq to compete to President Bush representing the United States to cheap diet pills. And the list goes on. But in all honesty those are not what the premise of these games are about. It is about 11,000 athletes over the next 17 days coming together to represent their countries –– peacefully. It is about the sweat, blood and tears shed by 11,000 people to get to where they are today. It is about the 246 medals that will be given out. (Figure that statistic out. 11,000 people only 246 medals)

In the end the 2008 Olympics will change lives. The lives of the athletes, the lives of the people of China and even lives of people sitting in their living room watching. Somewhere tonight, the next Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson and Tyson Gay will be watching the kick off of these games and not even realize just how much their lives will be changed.

If you need me over the next 17 days you will find me glued to my TV set and online feeds . I cannot wait to watch the swimming, gymnastics, diving, beach volleyball and track and field. I am waiting to hear stories that will tug on my heartstrings. And I am hoping to shed lots of tears as we hear the American Anthem played as our flag is hoisted high in the air proudly over the gold place podium.

Go USA!