Lost - A Lesson

Last Wednesday Carrie, Kate and I were meeting Alyssa at Georgia Tech to switch cars. Alyssa is at Teach for America Institute this summer, and had just arrived the previous day to begin her 6 weeks of work.  Carrie was going to spend the week the with the Pascual family in Stone Mountain. (That is a post I'm sure Carrie will write in the future).  I had directions to meet Alyssa and make the switch.  I'm not very good with the maps on iPhone, even though Alyssa had sent  the address in a text message.  I looked up the address on google maps and wrote out directions.  Carrie was helping me navigate.  All was going well as we got off at the Howell Mill exit and began looking for the next turn.  I knew the mileage to find the street, but it didn't match up.  I couldn't find the street.  Carrie called Alyssa and thus began our adventure in being lost.  

I'm fairly familiar with Georgia Tech as Kate has been to the campus for swim meets.  The address I had didn't seem to be leading me toward what I knew to be the Tech campus, but it was the address Alyssa had sent me.  

Alyssa was asking questions about where we were, Carrie was responding. Alyssa told us to go to 10th Street and turn...but we didn't know which way.
We made the wrong choice. Did I mention we are directionally challenged?? Alyssa kept telling us to look for certain roads, make certain turns. The voices escalated as we continued to circle the same streets with the same results - lost!  Carrie went back to the address in the text and clicked on it - Alyssa's suggestion- it continued to take us to the wrong location.

This went on for about 15 minutes. Eventually we found her, standing on the corner of Hemphill and 10th Street - definitely in the midst of the Tech campus.  We exchanged vehicles and few items Alyssa had requested.  She was on a lunch break and short on time. Everyone was short on patience.

We made it to I-75 and to the Taproom without any issues.  The Taproom is the new coffee shop that Jonathan Pascual has recently opened on Hosea Williams Drive in the Kirkwood Community of Atlanta.  This is where we were meeting Sarah and the kids so that "Camp Carrie" could commence.  

I texted Alyssa that we made it without getting lost.  She asked how far it was from Tech, as she wanted to visit soon.  I went back to my maps to get the route from the address she had given me (yes, the one that got us lost). When I looked at the map, I realized the address she gave me was definitely NOT where we finally met her.  I sent her a text saying there was something wrong with the address I had for her.  A few minutes later she tells me that she had sent the WRONG address.  I had 855 and the correct one was 555. If you know anything about Atlanta, the streets do not always run in a straight line. 

What did I learn from this adventure?  To get where you are going you need the correct information. 

• God wants us to have the right information. When we try and follow what we think is right, even when someone we trust gave us the information, we can be wrong.  God's Word always has the right information, but we often interpret it incorrectly.

• He desires for us to ask Him. Often we need to call someone to get back on track.  I'm glad I can call on God and he always answers.  Sometimes we have to continue to call to get the right answer, it's not always immediate.

• Sometimes despite the right information, we make the wrong choice.  This happens daily in my walk with the Lord.  I'm am thankful for his grace and mercy when I make the wrong turn.

• Patience and love is key in any situation.  

Being unable to find Alyssa was frustrating, but with patience, love and a cell phone we finally connected!

Stress Relief

Fall semester begins at Berry, and with it will be the challenge of keeping it all together without losing my mind. Juggling classes, practicing, rehearsals, planning for meals and keeping up with my family's schedule can take it's toll. Here are some ways I manage my sanity:

1. PLAN. "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." I have long range plans, but it's the weekly plans that make it work. I talk to my family and find out who will be home for dinner on what night, as I always want to have good food ready. What has to be accomplished on Monday? Who am I meeting with? What do I need to have ready for my classes & rehearsals?

2. PRAY AND READ THE WORD. Pray without ceasing is good, but set aside a time to pray and read the Word. I won't lie, I get busy and this gets pushed aside. But, I handle life better when I'm talking to my heavenly Father and hearing Him through His Word.

3. TAKE A WALK OR A DRIVE. I walk Kate to school every morning, it's part of our routine. For me it's about 1.5 miles. We talk on the way to school, then on my way home I talk to God. Exercise is so important to our mental & physical health. Whenever possible I take a hike at Berry. An hour on the trail, sitting on a rock to reflect & pray refreshes me like a mini-vacation. You might enjoy a drive in the country with the windows down and music blaring. Just a change of scenery can change your attitude & focus.

4. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. Are you complaining about all you have to do? About your situation? It's cliche, but thank God for all you have. Living in the USA, I have much to be thankful for. I have a roof over my head & air conditioning! I have water that is clean and comes out of the faucet. I have a job. I can walk in my neighborhood without fear. My family is currently healthy, including my parents that are in their late 80's. I have great kids, even though they can drive me crazy. I have a Godly husband the loves his family & works hard to provide for us. My car is not new, but it runs. I have food in my cabinets. I have a dishwasher. The list goes on and on. Thank God for everything!

5. SAY NO. This is hard, but I can't be responsible for and do everything. That is what God says in Romans 12 about their being many gifts: "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly."

6. ASK FOR HELP. I struggle with this too. I'm self-sufficient, and I don't want to bother people. It's taken a long time for me to see the advantage of asking for help. Having 4 children, especially in their teen and young adult years has made me realize that I can do it alone. I need to ask for wisdom from God, and from those who have walked the road before me.

7. BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE. I'm not sure this was an original "Stovall-ism", but that is where I first heard it, from Hailey. Her mom said it was one of the Beatitude's. I think it's great advice for those stressful days.

Here's to a great fall semester!