Don't let it be too late

I can't really think of an appropriate title for this post. There are really no words to express the depth of the feelings coursing through me. I know many of you are not from South Carolina and others who are may not have paid any attention to the news today. I probably would not have either if an article had not caught my eye on the State paper's online site. I read it, but didn't really think anything about it. The article was not out of the ordinary. A small plane crashed in rural Calhoun County yesterday evening. There were two people on board, both of whom died. When I first read the article this morning, I dismissed it, thinking I could not possibly know who was on that plane- in fact it was registered to a company out of Delaware. Even more reason for me not to know the victims.

And then I got an email from WEG who told me that the names had been released, and, as it turns out, I know both of them. It hits even closer to home that one's wife was my hygeniest (sp?) a month ago when I went to the dentist. In fact, she showed me a picture of their little girl- the spitting image of her husband. And, it was evident that she loves him just as much today as she did when she was in high school and they were just forming their relationship. My heart breaks for her. I know she is devastated. I also grew up with 2 of the other guy's family members. We played sports together, cheered together, and I know how close that family is. I know they are just as devastated.

Can you imagine if you got that phone call? It really has made me think. There are a lot of things we make important in life...things that don't really matter. Sometimes we get in such a hurry that we forget to tell our loved ones how we feel. Sometimes we might even forget to say I love you. I can't imagine how I'd feel if someone I loved passed away in such a terrible way, so tragically, with no time to tell them how I felt. What if I couldn't get that moment back? This makes me think of how much we need to tell people how we feel, how we don't need to go a day without letting the people we love know. It drives home my belief that you should never go to bed mad. That you should always resolve your issues before it's too late. You just never know when life is going to suddenly change.

All the families of these two men can do now is hold on to the memories they have and pray for peace and understanding during a time when they really cannot understand why something like this could happen. I pray that they will be strong, and know that God has a plan even when it's hard to see what that plan could possibly be at the time.

When I first heard the news, the lyrics of the song "Praise You in this Storm" by Casting Crowns came into my head. I think they are appropriate words of comfort for those touched by this tragedy.

I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls. I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus: And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am. And every tear I've cried You hold in your hand. You never left my side, and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.

I remember when I stumbled in the wind. You heard my cry to You and raised me up again. My strength is almost gone. How can I carry on if I can't find You. And as the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you." And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus: And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am. And every tear I've cried You hold in your hand. You never left my side, and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.

I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

Chorus: And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am. And every tear I've cried You hold in your hand. You never left my side, and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.

It's football season, y'all

I have been doing nothing all day but watching football. I wrote a post a while back about how disillusioned I am with my University of South Carolina Gamecocks and the absolute lack of discipline they have, which was proven once again with the disciplinary actions (or lack thereof) taken against Clifton Geathers recently. Don't get me wrong- I will always hope we win. I will always hope we do well. But I am not putting my heart and soul into it this year as I have in years past. I'm glad we beat NC State on Thursday and got a notch in the W column, but I was not nearly as into it this year as I have been in years past. I've finally realized that I can't base my moods on my team's success- it would certainly be an up and down fall if I did that!

However, I love to watch football on a lazy Saturday. I love the game, the energy of the fans I see on TV pulling for their teams, and I especially love the SEC. So far today I have watched portions of the games in which Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia have been playing, and I am excited to watch Alabama face Virginia Tech at 8. To me, there is nothing better than SEC football. Call me biased- I probably am, but I'm just more interested in the teams in our conference. I guess I like to "scout" them out before we play them....see what we're up against.

Usually, it's an uphill battle for my Gamecocks. We're rarely better than just middle of the road, but I'm used to it. The joke is Carolina fans are eternal optimists, always stating at the end of a season "Wait til next year." Each year it's the same old thing. Maybe one year it will be "next year," but I'm not holding my breath. Until then, I'll just enjoy all the different games, hope for the best for my team, and pray for a win against Clemson on the last football Saturday in November.

Enjoy the season, y'all!

An update on Abe

Thank you again for all of your kind words and thoughts. Abe is doing alright, but that thing he has to wear around his head that resembles a lampshade is the pits! He looks so silly. However, when we take it off, he tries to eat at his sutures, and lord knows, we do NOT want to pay another vet bill to have that redone. So he's stuck with the lampshade apparatus. We have to monitor him for 10 days and not let him get wet, run, or jump around. He's a lab, so I know he is going to HATE this!

I feel so sorry for Abe with the lampshade on his head, but it's hard not to laugh at him when he runs into things. He hasn't gotten the hang of it yet, and he continually runs into walls, door frames, tables, etc. When he runs into something he will just stand there frozen for a minute or so and then try to walk again without running into the obstacle. It makes me laugh but feel helpless at the same time.

This morning I came out of the bathroom and he had obviously run into the end table because he was standing there, frozen in place as if he was trying to figure out his next move. I tried to coax him to his bed to lay down, but that only works until he hears me rummaging around getting ready and tries to come find me again. And you can imagine that this lampshade is no small thing with his 90 pound frame and large head. It's huge!

Here's a picture of the sweet boy and his lampshade- He does not look amused with me taking his picture. And the shaved part on the front leg is where they had to put the IV in. His back leg is the one that had surgery.

I hope we all make it through these next 10 days without going insane- Abe especially!

Abe needs your good thoughts

My sweet Abe is currently at the emergency vet and I am on pins and needles waiting to hear if he is okay. Earlier this afternoon he didn't get out of the way of WEG and his friend who were turning into the driveway. They thought he had moved, but he hadn't, and his back leg was run over. A chunk o fmeat was just dangling, so WEG decided it would be best to take him to the emergency vet in Charleston since he was in Edisto when it happened. Well, he got to the vet at 3:30, and Abe FINALLY got taken back around 5:15. They told WEG it would be several hours because they needed to do x-rays of the leg, bloodwork to make sure there's no infection (apparently his gums are a little discolored so the vet wants to take all precautions), and stitch him up. But the kicker is he had to be put under for all of this, so WEG is now waiting at his sister's until the vet calls to say the anesthesia has worn off.

I'm ready to get the phone call that Abe is okay and he and WEG are on their way back to Columbia. I am ready to give my sweet pup a big hug- what an ordeal he has been through. Poor baby. Please say a prayer that everything has gone okay and he'll be on his way home soon.

ETA: Thanks y'all for all your sweet thoughts. WEG is picking up Abe right now after 7 hours at the emergency vet. For 2 hours they waited to see a doctor and then they finally took Abe back. Well, apparently they got a late start on his surgery the vet told WEG because things got
"hairy" around there. So that's why it is so late. Now WEG will have to drive an hour and a half home from Charleston, so if you read this, say a little prayer he makes it safely. We've had some crazy rain and I know the roads are probably wet and he'll be wanting to get home quickly!
Oh, and apparently Abe will need to stay inside for several days so we can watch him, but we are not allowed to bathe him. I can only imagine how bad he stinks after a weekend of rollicking through plough mud and swimming in the marsh! P-eww!

Baffled...

I've lost 2 followers in 2 days....did I offend someone?
Maybe it's just the lameness of my posts lately....I know I haven't been very exciting. Maybe when work slows down after the month of September I will have more motivation.
Here's hoping...

It's 7:30 on a friday night....

and I am sitting on my couch, watching TV, catching up on blogs, and already wearing my pajamas.
Party animal? I think not.
Quite comfortable & content? You betcha.

And the winner is....

Last week I said one lucky reader would be rewarded if you clicked over and started following the Pink Magnolias blog.

I wrote all of your names down and numbered them as such:
1. Christina- End of Beans
2. Pink, Green & Southern
3. Preppy Mama
4. Katy- Tripping Down the Aisle
5. Sole Matters
6. Amy- Just Add Walter
7. Gwennie- Northern Girl with a Southern Soul
8. Preppy Bumpkin

I then put 1-8 in the random integer generator. You will have to take my word on the outcome because I couldn't figure out how to put the generator onto my blog.

The lucky number was 4- Katy at Tripping Down the Aisle!

Katy, email me at usc_emily(at)hotmail(dot)com and give me your address and I'll send you a surprise :-)

And if you haven't checked out The Pink Magnolias, do it now!