Baby Abby is here!!


Abigail Stella Michelle West
7lbs. 9oz. 19 1/2"
May 14, 2008

Mom and baby are doing well. I get to be an Auntie again!!

With the school year winding down, I must tell you how my day went yesterday. It takes the cake for all my other days in the past, present and future combined.

In the last few weeks my carry-on bag started to fall apart. (I have used at least 5 different suitcases over the last 2 years for my equipment.) It had a bad wheel, so I proceeded to Target to buy a new one for $30. (What a deal!)(and where I bought the previous one.) So with my new bag in tow, I headed to DIA. Typical TSA stupid crap ensues next. They are such a joke. Anyway... I go through the line and the typical words "bag check!" come from my bag. (I've been told over the years all my cords look dense and suspicious....just like TSA workers.) At this point they usually will open my suitcase, look in it and maybe use one of their swab-like things to test for bomb residue. Except at this point it goes horribly wrong. They ask me where I got the bag, how long I had it blah blah. Well apparently it not only tested for a little bomb residue, but a lot, and I was treated like a criminal! (All the while I am in the Fly Clear lane.) It's a good thing I was early or I could have possibly missed my flight. The TSA even had the audacity to tell me, "well in the future you could take the bundles of cords out, put them in a bin, then the x-ray machine will be able to see all the way through the bag." Are you kidding me?!?! That would be the world's biggest pain in the ass!! My joke has always been that I am in airports more than the TSA workers. (Note to self: When you get home tomorrow, see if Target will let you return it since you still have receipt and go to a DIFFERENT STORE ALL TOGETHER.)

Then I get down to the gate and I am waiting in line for them to let us board. A woman in her 50s with reddish brown hair proceeds to ask me, "excuse me?? Do you know if they are pre-boarding?" Puzzled, I said "no." Before I could say anything else, she says, "oh I thought maybe they were allowing since you're pregnant." I sorta glance back to her and I say, "I'M NOT PREGNANT." I get no "sorry" or "excuse me" or nothing. That has happened to me with the students before, mostly middle-schoolers. But NOT an adult who knows better! You never ask someone that! I had a flashback in my mind to Two Weeks Notice in which Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant are interviewing new people to take her position and Hugh's character says, "congratulations on the baby." and the interviewee, a heavy-seat black woman, says, "What baby?" Sandra then says, "next time clear your questions with me ahead of time" and the lady asks again "What baby?!?!" I'm trying not to be hard on myself, but that's the 2nd time in 6 months someone said that. (Other time was a middle-schooler.) Some of my clothes are more empire-waisted and yes, I can see how they look like maternity clothes and I have often thought if someone would wonder if I was. I just never expected someone to be so ignorant and say it out loud.

Speaking of pregnancies, my friend Amber has yet to have her baby girl, and should any day now. I'm going to OH in a few weeks to spend a month with her--help her take care of the newborn and her toddler. I honestly can't wait!

I bid you a fond farewell from (not so) Sunny California.

It seems like I only update when I am sick, bored or stuck in an airport. In this case, it's the latter, waiting for my flight. Only a handful of schools left before summer break. I can't believe its been 2 years already. Time really does seem to fly. I am honestly looking forward to this summer, because the fall should be even busier this time. It's amazing to see the difference we are making. Who could have ever thought we could make such an impact by telling a simple story? The thing is, it's not so simple. It's something that we can emulate and strive to be like, regardless of how old we are.

My friend Chris posted something I would like to share with you all. (Thanks Chris, for sort of not giving me your permission, but I don't think you care!)

The word "charity" has several different meanings. The current English translation means "giving to those in need." But if you look at the original translations of this word, it comes from the Latin word "caritas," which was the standard translation for the Greek word "agape." Agape means unconditional love. Agape love is the most deep kind of love that there is. This is the love that all humans should strive for, because it is the most god-like love that exists.

This made a HUGE impact on me when I was researching this. This has given me a huge conviction to serve and give to charities. I have always believed and felt that it is so much more satisfying to give something to someone, than it is to get something from someone. Now, that isn't to say that I don't like to get things. I do. But I like giving more. There is nothing better than seeing the smile on someone's face when they are surprised to get something from you. Actually, it doesn't even have to be a surprise, but more just to get something in general. I LOVE making people happy. It is easy for me to receive joy from the smile on someone's face.

Recently, it was my birthday. I love birthday's because I love surprises. I like wondering what will happen and who is going to pop out of nowhere in order to show me they love me. That is what charity is, on an EVERYDAY basis. If I can make people feel everyday, the way I feel on my birthday, then that makes me so much happier than the birthday itself.

Many people "give" to charities. That is great, but in many cases, that giving doesn't result in anything other than self satisfaction that their money MIGHT have gone to help someone. I prefer to do volunteer work when I give. I believe time is a lot more valuable than money. I love to work for Habitat for Humanity. I haven't been able to do this since I have lived in Nashville, but In Louisville, it was a VERY rewarding experience. I love using the carpentry and building skills that God has given me, to serve others. When the owners of the new home are there working with you, and you can see their hard work and the constant smiles on their faces, it is SO rewarding. Many times, these new owners become so happy and overwhelmed that they just sit there and cry tears of joy. The Love they feel coming from strangers is so powerful.

The sight of that love give me joy. That is what life is about. It isn't the little things that REALLY matter. It is PEOPLE that matter in life. We were created to love, and serving a charity is one of the best ways of living this life calling.

Lots of things going on in the next few months. Lots of work travel this month. Mostly MA and NH. Some in CT, MN upstate NY too. You can see them all on my MySpace or the link to my calendar on my site, if you have it. Couple of dates in April right now. A conference and a church on April 20th. I have decided this is my last year at making myself available for that date. 10 years is enough.

Got over the flu pretty quickly. Been lucky it's the only time I have been sick this school year. This year has seem to just fly by. Looking forward to this summer.

My life is pretty easy, busy and boring--all at the same time. Ha.

I was right. Flu it is. Off to sleep now....