August 4, 2009
Can't BELIEVE how quickly time is passing!
This year has totally flown by at a rate that is alarming and just downright
hard to believe. It freaks me out!
My little Zoe got stung on the butt a couple of times last
month. Don't know what's going on with the wasps this year, but they are
more aggressive than normal. Plus, they are flying around in the grass in
huge numbers...more than I have ever seen before. The first time, Zoe
started showing signs of having a mild allergic reaction to the sting. The
vet visit cost me over $100 and they basically gave her a shot of Benadryl.
So, the 2nd time it happened, not wanting to have to part with another $100+, I
simply gave her a Benadryl, which seemed to do the trick! But wouldn't you
know it, the sting got infected, so I had to take her back to the vet and it
cost even more than it did the first time. It's a good thing I love her a
lot, because otherwise...ah, what the heck,
there is no otherwise. I'm totally smitten by the silly little dog and I
can't stand it when she's hurt or sick or in pain. Sigh.
I want to share the following with you
because this individual is important to me and I'm very concerned about her
well-being. I recently posted it on-line for my friends to read because of
my concern. If you would pray for her, it would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this...and for
caring...
In my (many) years upon this
earth, I have encountered a lot of different people. For the last 25
years, I have been responsible for the human resources function of several
companies that varied in size from 100 to over 600 employees with locations all
over the world. I have interviewed thousands of individuals, counseled
hundreds of employees and had a ton of �people contact� during the course of
carrying out the various duties of my job. I was also active in a local
church for 14 years and have met and gotten to know a somewhat large group of
people through that avenue. While I can�t say I�m an expert, I have
definitely had a rather extensive exposure to people. During this time, I
have encountered a relatively small number of individuals that I would label as
�extraordinary;� this is out of the thousands I�ve talked with, gotten to know
in some capacity and worked with. Interviewing gives you a unique
perspective and insight in this regard. Truly, most of us are rather
average, so when one is fortunate enough to meet someone who really stands out
and is special, it�s evident fairly quickly and it really gets your attention.
Today, I wanted to
tell you about one such extraordinary individual�someone who is truly remarkable
and who is a person I greatly admire and respect. Please let me introduce
you to my friend, Ellen Payne Osborn.
What is so special
about Ellen? Well, for one thing, we share a name (her first name is my
middle name�it was my grandmother�s first name�another extraordinary
individual�so the name has some positive vibes for me). Ellen is
intelligent, witty, funny, interesting and creative. But beyond that, she
is one of the most amazing people I have known because she fights for her life
every single day and she does it with grace, strength and dignity in a way that
totally astounds me.
Ellen has MS. She has a
very, very, very bad case of MS. She takes more medication in one day�just
to survive and manage the pain�than most of us will take in 5 years. She
is young; only in her 30�s. She has had more surgeries than can be
adequately comprehended and they have been very difficult, horrible,
debilitating types of surgeries. The kind where you lose more than you
gain. Where you have to try to adjust to a new and awful reality.
The kind that change your life in a not-so-good kind of way, but the only other
option is to die, so you do what has to be done. My heart has totally
broken while praying for her and at times, I simply don�t know how she does all
the amazing things she does, how she keeps fighting, how she keeps caring and
laughing and crying and loving. She is technically disabled, but doesn�t
use that as an excuse to stop looking for the good in life or to stop being that
good in life. She squeezes good out of the worst situations; fights for
happiness and enjoyment each day in spite of horrible and frightening odds.
And she wins! She perseveres! She conquers!
She has bad days. Days
when she needs to cry and scream and rant. Days where she is down. I
understand this. What amazes me is that those days are fairly infrequent.
Her positive attitude totally floors me and puts me to shame. The strength
of her character shines through even in her darkest moments. She has every
right to feel sorry for herself, to rage and question why this has happened to
her. Instead, she gives, she creates beauty, she writes inspiring stories,
makes fun of her misadventures and minimizes her pain. She keeps going.
With dignity and grace. I seriously doubt most of us who know her have any
concept of the depth and breadth of her struggles or of the battles she fights
every day. She makes it look so much easier than it really is. And
still, through it all, she reaches out to others.
I have never had the
opportunity to meet Ellen in person. I got to know her when she wrote me a
wonderful e-mail about the jewelry I create with silver, Swarovski crystal, gems
and lampwork glass beads that I buy from various glass artists across the
country. Her note was so complimentary and encouraging, I was truly
uplifted and blessed. I responded and we started �talking� via e-mail
until a solid friendship was formed. I am much richer for knowing her.
I am humbled by her. I am amazed at her. I love her. She is a
dear and wonderful friend. She has touched my life and has made me better
for the touch. She is one of those few truly extraordinary people I have
had the good fortune to get to know and I am grateful beyond measure for her
friendship.
I�m writing today to
introduce you to my exceptional friend, but I would also like to ask you to pray
for Ellen. I have a dim concept of how MS has ravaged her and how it
wreaks havoc in her life. It has stolen from her physically even as it has
allowed her to shine mentally, emotionally and spiritually. But the battle
she fights each day to continue to live is a daunting battle, to say the least.
I don�t know if God will heal her, but that is my hope. That is my prayer.
I certainly know He can. Prayer never hurts�it always helps in some way.
So, please pray for Ellen�s healing. Pray for her strength,her physical
healing, her spiritual growth, her financial needs and for her emotional
well-being. Her needs are great; love is greater. Pray that God
would pour out His love in her life, in all areas, in all ways, touching her,
healing her, blessing her, strengthening her, encouraging her, comforting her,
holding her. And if you would like to get to know her a little bit better,
you can visit her blog at
justplainellen.wordpress.com. Additionally, if you would like to learn
more about what she has done to raise money to fight MS, you can visit her cause
�The Squirt Squad� on Facebook. She has had a tremendous impact
fundraising for the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in spite of the many
obstacles her health presents in her life. She is committed to making the
world a better place for those around her and for those who will come after.
The light within her remains strong in spite of the pressing darkness. She
is truly a shining star�who may fall down, but who keeps getting back up over
and over again and who always keeps dancing.
August 11, 2009
Once again, time is slipping away from me.
Here's a funny I've been meaning to share. Hope it gives you a chuckle!
WOMEN WHO
KNOW THEIR PLACE
Barbara Walters, of 20/20, did a story on gender roles
in Kabul, Afghanistan several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that
women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands.
She recently
returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands.
Despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to,
and are happy to, maintain the old custom.
Ms. Walters approached one of
the Afghani women and asked, 'Why do you now seem happy with an old custom that
you once tried so desperately to change?'
The woman looked Ms. Walters
straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said, 'Land mines.'
~ Moral
of the story is (no matter what language you speak or where you go):
BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A SMART WOMAN