Liz's Letters

Life is flying by quickly these days. Those who know me well know that I must guard myself carefully or I will over-schedule, over-book, and over-commit. But, in the last few years, I have learned to slow down, to take time for myself and to actually spend time a.l.o.n.e. which is something that I rarely did in the past. Many times I have found myself noticing that I actually enjoy my own company and look forward to times where it is only me hanging out with me. I find myself talking to God a lot more and that's always a good thing. Burning the candle at both ends is a thing of the past and now you will rarely find me awake after 9:30 p.m. and if I do happen to still be awake, I am usually tucked quietly in my bed reading. This week, these disciplines will be a challenge to keep. I shopped all day for things needed (wanted) for an upcoming anniversary trip to Hawaii. My future daughter-in-law's wedding shower is tomorrow, so I finished up the shopping for that as well. W...

“History of Present Illness Chief Complaint – DRUG OVERDOSE. This occurred last night. Toxic symptoms present in ED with nausea and abdominal pain. The patient has experienced situational problems related to work. Has recently lost job. The symptoms are described as severe. He has been depressed. Has had suicidal thoughts. Has highly lethal plan for suicide. The method is available.” (HIPPA compliant) I read medical records like these every day. And my heart breaks. Every time. Every single time. These are more than medical records, they are real, live human beings. They are in front of us at the grocery store and beside us at the stop light. And the one who’s record is notated here…the same age as my oldest son. Sobering. When I left for work this morning, I was upset because my husband made a comment about the untidiness of my shoes in our closet. Something as trivial as shoes had the capacity to ruin my mood the entire day. Until I got to work. My job responsibilities sometimes have...

My prayer this past summer has been that God would be my Everything. There is much in my life to be grateful for and He blesses me each and every day. But, there is a hole in me that can only be filled by Him. I try, sometimes, to fill that hole with other relationships, with activities, with things that leave me feeling empty and confused. We have been singing this song a lot in worship at my church so it has become special to me. My prayer and my song to my God. Happy Labor Day God in my living There in my breathing God in my waking God in my sleeping God in my resting There in my working God in my thinking God in my speaking Be my everything Be my everything Be my everything Be my everything God in my hoping There in my dreaming God in my watching God in my waiting God in my laughing There in my weeping God in my hurting God in my healing Christ in me Christ in me Christ in me the hope of glory You are everything Christ in me Christ in me Christ in me the hope of glory Be ...

For my birthday last year, my best friend who recently ended our friendship, sent me a CD. It is the new Lifehouse CD, Who We Are and she bought it because we both enjoy the band. We had gone to hear them in concert one spring where we stood in the pouring rain, under a blanket, throughout most of the concert. It was hilariously fun and something that I know I will never forget. In February, when I was so angry with her, I threw the CD out of my car in a catharsis because it was such a gift of love and I was in such pain, I couldn't bear to hear it. I did go back and retrieve it and then I put it away for a while. Recently though, I started listening to it again. Knowing the song that is playing often on the radio, Whatever It Takes, I suspected that I might be opening myself up to painful feelings, but I also know I must walk through them. Just that song itself tells the story of what I would say to her if she would give me the chance. The chorus says it all: I'll do whatever...

I have spent the week really trying to keep my eyes looking toward heaven and paying attention to the beautiful people and things around me. I must say, sometimes it has been easier than others, but as the week has gone on, it has become easier even though the week had many challenges in it. Thunderstorms have been fierce in Texas for the last couple of weeks. I have had many nights that thunder, lightening, and tornado sirens have interrupted my sleep. Since I really like my sleep and get cranky when I don't get it, it has been difficult at times to see the positive with all the sand in my eyes from lack of sleep. But I thought about the nice sound of the rain, the water that we will not have to ration this summer during the dog days of summer. Speaking of dogs, mine has been sick. He is getting old so his bowels are not holding as well as they did when he was a younger dog. There have been several accidents on the floor when I wake up in the morning, which is not the most pleasan...