life is a series of stories....

and I like to tell mine. Here's a little one from yesterday....

While shopping at the warehouse store for our church conference concession/grill, my church check had to be approved by the manager. She disaproved, but told me she would let me go just this once. But if I ever tried to pay with a church check again, I had better have a church account with them, she admonished like I had tried to steal all the stuff or something. She said I had better get it straightened out next time...so I said, "Or I should just shop at Sam's Club instead?" (a competitor). She did not like that one little bit. I have daughters, and I can spot the Stompy/Door Slamming demeanor. So as she jabbed my numbers into the register, I felt bad for my little retort about shopping at Sam's. It had made her mad. Or madder. I don't know. But there she was with a check with our church name right on it, and there I was, returning evil for evil. So I tapped her on the shoulder. She stopped jabbing and looked at me. I said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude." She didn't know what to say. She mumbled something, but I had broken the ice. YES!!! I love when I break the ice. Because it is written to pursue peace with all men, especially those in the household of God.

So. It is late. I am tired. I talked to Benjamin because he had a rough day the other day, if you call being shot at and returning fire and having one of your best buddies step on a 25 pound IED which miraculously did not detonate, a rough day. He did not want to tell me about this day, because he doesn't want me to worry. But I know God has His hand on Ben. I am still tempted to worry, and sometimes I feel downright terrified, but to God, Afghanistan is not scary. And God knows what He is doing.

I am tired, and rambling. So no more stories for tonight....