Sweet Caroline's Birthday

Our baby girl is 21 years old today. Caroline Elise Conwell was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Through the years we (her family) have called her countless nicknames. Vann calls her Bug or Buggy. I call her Twink or Care Bear, Katie Lea calls her Care. Care is a very fitting name for her too because she does...care, that is.

It seems like only last week that Vann took me to the hospital to see our baby girl into the world. The night was like a lot of other nights. I went to bed a little early but just couldn't get comfortable. After several hours I told Vann I thought we needed to go to the hospital.

As we drove to the hospital I couldn't get Vann to go as fast as I thought he should go. 80 mph wasn't fast enough as far as I was concerned and I knew he knew nothing about "birthin' no babies."

We arrived at the ER at our hospital at 1:30 am on September 20th, 1988. They told us to go on up to Labor and Delivery. We asked for a wheelchair and they didn't have one so we somehow made it upstairs. Once they got me situated (whatever that means) they told Vann he'd have to move the car. (Are you kidding me? About to have a baby here!!)

He went to park the car and when he got back up to Labor and Delivery he was just in time to catch sweet Caroline. She was born at 1:52 a.m. Twelve days early and 22 minutes after arriving at the hospital. She weighed 6# and 2 oz. We were in love with this new baby girl. Katie Lea joined us the next morning wearing her big sister dress and bow and fell in love as well.

Caroline has been such a gift. Her joyful spirit, compassion for others, fearlessness and leadership are a sight for her family to see.

Thank you, Caroline, for being a gift to us on this your birthday. Thank you, Father, for this precious gift who is our baby girl.

Forever grateful,
Lila

My Newest Painting

I worked on this yesterday and today some. I'm calling it simply, "Lila's Journey."

I'm not sure if I'm through with it yet or not. We'll see.

Journeying,
Lila

School Starts Tomorrow!

It's been a long (looooong) time since I've been able to say that for me. Twenty nine years and eight months to be exact. I'm excited (translation: hyperventilating, nervous, scared, tummy rumbling, excited) about what is in store. I don't believe this semester will be all that tough but next semester will be a challenge.

I'm beginning my internship (yep, it's been a long time since I've said that, too). I'm not sure exactly what that will look like but it will be in addition to my job.

This morning in our worship time one of our elders asked all the support staff of a school system to stand up. Then he asked all the teachers, administrators, principals, etc. to stand. Then he asked the students to stand. I felt excited and a bit silly standing with all the students - - from the very young to...me.

It reminds me of a story I heard from a friend. His mother was considering going back to school to get her master's degree. He encouraged her to do it. She said, "Yeah, but, I'm 62 years old." He dryly said, "and how old would you be if you DIDN'T go back to school."

So, here I am. Fifty years old (51 next Saturday) going back to school. What have I done with these feelings this weekend? I've painted, of course.

This painting is of another koru - - Maori symbol meaning new beginnings, growth and peace. The lime green symbol means "to attain one's goals." Seemed fitting.

My number 2 pencils are sharpened, my notebook is new. I think I'll fore go a bookbag. :)



Aiming for an A!
Lila

God's Opportunities are Everywhere!

This week has had a lot of wonderful serendipity. OK, the hitting my head and toosh on the rocks wasn't so wonderful but other than that, a lot of wonderful.

Today I got my nails done by a new lady. We had the most wonderful conversation. She's only been in town two weeks and misses her home in the DFW area. We discovered many shared interests (piano, guitar, singing, art, writing to name a few). We talked non stop the whole time she was working on my nails. Sadly, she told me I was the only client who had talked with her since she'd been here. What? Why is that? I saw the Lord in this beautiful lady today.

Earlier in the week I met with my friend, Roxanne. She is a very gifted artist and is going to paint a mural on the outside of our inn (after the painter paints it in a couple of weeks.) We talked about possibilities for the mural and then launched into the most beautiful God breathed conversation. What a touching relationship she shares with our Father. I'm giggling as I recall some of the things she shared with me. Roxanne put flesh on our Lord for me that night. Our time together made me realize I was on holy ground.

One afternoon this week I was out on the hunt for some items for our Silent Auction at Wesley Court. We're working to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. I stopped in Abilene's new store, Emerge on Southwest Drive, and had a delightful conversation with the new owner, Nicole Nunez. That's a great store and their make up line is fabulous! Nicole told me her primary focus for the store is to use it as a ministry.

Wow! Opportunities to share the love of God really are e v e r y w h e r e ! It's exciting to see God shine the spotlight on them daily.

Eyes wide open,
Lila

Just Call Me Grace

Vann and I have a million funny stories about our dating experiences. Most of them involve my clumsy nature and his taking care of me.

Well, a couple of days ago I was working up in Blue Heaven. The ceiling in this room is slanted because it is an attic room. Well, I stood up from my desk and WHAP knocked myself silly. The front part of my head is still sore!

Then yesterday, I just walked into a door frame. I'm sure I'll have a long, lean bruise from my shoulder to my elbow.

Today's experience took the cake, however. I'm still not laughing about this one. Vann and I were moving an entertainment center out of the inn. We had just placed a different one in there. I was backing up around our big rocks around our waterfall and slipped and hit my tooshie on one rock and the back of my head on another rock all the while the entertainment center is landing on top of me. Talk about a lightning jolt!

Well, you know how heads bleed and bleed it did. We went to the walk in clinic that was supposed to close at 9 p.m. (It was 8:55) and most of the lights were out, the door was locked and Vann saw someone in there who saw him and they backed away and turned out more lights. Hey folks, not like my head is bleeding or anything! urgh.

I've just kept an ice compress on it and I'm fine. I think I'm going to be a bit sore, though. I'm thankful it was no worse than it was. And to think...I wanted to be a ballerina. : } Guess that's why Momma signed me up for piano.

Hard as a rock!
Lila

Compassion wears a Maintenance Uniform

Today I had the task of letting one of my favorite residents (yes, favorite) know that her dearest friend (another resident) had died. Her friend had been having health problems and went into the ICU yesterday.

As I told her the sad news, she cried. She told me the last time her friend went in the hospital, she knew the "gig was up." Soon after, a knock came to the door. Louis, one of our maintenance men popped his head in the door to ask me a question. When he saw this resident in there he came on in and told her how sorry he was about her friend and gave her a big, burly hug. I witnessed this gentle giant hug this precious lady while she wept into the chest of his uniform. Unashamed tears. Comfortable grieving.

Yes, I work alongside gentle giants. I want to be more like the people who surround me. Thank you, Father, for Louis and his heart of tenderness.

Humbled by greatness,
Lila

The Dream is Free

The dream is free, but the journey isn't. That's why dream believers are common. Dream buyers are rare.

John Maxwell posted this on his Twitter.

Journeying,
Lila