Warmline Last Night

Last night I had the pleasure of speaking to Warmline. It was a small group of mostly parents. My buddy Bev drove me up (she's my secret twin, separated by 30 years). It was great to speak somewhat close to home! I left in the afternoon and was back late that same night. I met a woman named Nandini who looked so familiar. We both graduated from UC Davis I was 1990, she graduated in 1999! 1999?! I was married with two kids by 1999... I'm thinking about age here and there as I will turn 40 in September. I can't believe I'll turn 40, I still don't feel like a grown up!

Kit Kat Passed Away

Yesterday at 3:00pm my friend Kit Kat died. I wasn't a member of her family so I couldn't see her one last time. I was able to help the hospital connect with her three sons, so they were with her when she died. The sad thing is she had congestive heart failure, but that's not why she died. She died because someone beat her so badly she couldn't recover. I'm a little shocked so I'll end with Psalm 23...

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Busy Day

Sorry the pic is blurry it was late...

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak for the Care Parent Network. It was fun and I sold some of the sensory toys I've been investigating. Then I came home unpacked and hosted my daughter's birthday party sleep over. I had been up since 5:30 and I think the girls went to bed at two... Needless to say I'm on my second pot of coffee!

Kit-Kat 2

Well I am happy to report that KK is still alive. She ended up in the hospital again, was released again, and now at least she has her medication. There are about eight homeless people that live behind the Jiffy Lube not too far from my house. I always thought there was room for these people somewhere if they would accept help. I've since found out that if you are a single homeless person there are not enough beds for you. I also read the other day that the county I live in is looking at closing three more shelters.

A Bishops Wife asked what does the church do? That is such a good question, I've been thinking about that... We give money to shelters or we volunteer once a month to feed the homeless. These things are good, but they are also very convenient and safe. I've done this for years and because I did I gave myself permission to ignore the homeless in my neighborhood.

This question also spurred me to contemplate what is the church. What do we mean when we say "church?" On Sunday morning many of us drive to various church buildings and worship with a group of people. However, when people say "what is the church doing" they are not referring to a building they are referring to the people in the building. I often expect the leaders and/or pastors of these groups to "do something." As I read the scriptures it is clear that God does not view the "church" as a building, but as individual people who believe in Him. Could this mean then that instead of relying on the church leaders to do something, I as an individual of the church am responsible to do more than just write a check? If so when I ask "what is the church doing???" I'm really asking what am I doing? The truth is I have not been doing anything for far too long, writing a check is easier, and I don't want to add another "thing" to my life...

Kit-Kat

I have some homeless friends. I guess I can't call them friends they are more like acquaintances. Except for one woman, Katheryn or Kit-Kat. I believe she is mentally ill, and I'm not sure how we became friends, except to say that it seems like God keeps putting her in my path. Last week I noticed I hadn't seen her around for awhile. I asked some of her friends where she was, and they told me she wasn't doing too well. It turns out Kit-Kat was in the hospital. Medicare had sent out new cards in April. Since KK didn't have an address she had no card, which meant she couldn't get her heart medication.

Last Friday I saw her, lying in a small brick enclave where they keep garbage. I walked up to her and noticed her fingertips were blue and she looked terrible. She told me she had been in the hospital, that she has congestive heart failure, and she was released without any medication. (The hospital was nice enough to give her a Taxi ride to the local mall, a prescription list, and a list of shelters she could call....) She had no money to call and couldn't stand up. I took her prescription to the pharmacy to be filled and started calling the shelters on the list. They were full and some shelters refuse to take the sick. I called a christian shelter, the manager was gone and they had shut the doors for the night (4pm) the lady told me please call back tomorrow...

Meanwhile at the pharmacy they inform me that they can't fill KK's prescription because she needs a new card. They give me an 800# and tell me that to get a new card KK will need to give the agency her social security number. Frustrated I went back out to KK and someone had given her water and cookies while I was gone. She's poured the water over her head, asks me if I want some cookies, I look at her and I think are her lips turning blue???

I tell her I need her social security number and the problem with her card. Then she remembers the hospital told her to call. So long story short I made the call, and the agency is closed for the weekend...

I go back to KK and yes her lips are turning a tad blue. I tell her I want to call 911, but she says no. They'll just get mad at her, make her wait in the waiting room and she doesn't want to go back. Just then it hits me what would Jesus do? Do I take her in my home? Will my husband kill me if I do? (I'm thinking yes he would definitely not be happy...) Yet I can't leave her on the street so I start praying and across the lot I see her friend Ricky.

I run to him and bring him over to KK. She is so happy to see him and tells him to get a shopping cart so he can take her home. (Home is a bush with blankets under it...) I tell them both I'm worried and I want to call 911. Then KK said no, "if I die I don't want to be alone I can die with my friends." I stood there dumbfounded as Ricky loaded her into a shopping cart and wheeled her home.

I still feel unsettled about all of this.