Friday, January 7, 2011

January 7, 2011: Invasion of the ugs and bugs



Heaveno!

Oh boy... they're HERE!

The bugs, that is.  Ang is asleep feeling a little better, and Ali is asleep next to her feeling a little better, and daddy is in the rocker, feeling a little bit worse!

I have a history of vertigo, and come 3:45 today... WAM.  Welcome back old friend!  8 hours later, the world keeps still trying to keep going left. and left. and left. and left. and left. and left.

Good times.

Thank you to all who went over to and filled out Jay's survey last night or today!  Again, if you missed it, our dear friend Jay Mooreland, co-founder with his wife Lonni of PUCK, needs a large group to complete an online survey for his class he's taking.  For the first 250 people who fill out the survey, Jay is donating a dollar to PUCK!  SO, this is an EASY way to help PUCK pick up another $250!  If you haven't yet, please take the 7 minutes and 24 or so seconds to help Jay out.  In return, you'll not only help out Jay, you'll raise some money for PUCK!  Remember, enough tiny and fragile snowflakes makes AN AVALANCHE.  Just CLICK HERE to help out!  Thanks!

Other news.



Post Script to Providence...

Remember the story I recently told about being with "E" in the hospital?  Remember how I told you that I was supposed to be at work on Friday, but ended up there on Wednesday due to Ali being sick?  Remember how I was able to be with him right after the Palliative care team said it was over?

E went home on hospice on Thursday, and passed away at home on Friday morning.

I like to think that Bella was there waiting for him.

If Ali hadn't been sick, I wouldn't have been able to say goodbye.

What lesson was I reminded of yet again?

I simply can't see God's plan from my elevation, so it pays to reserve judgement on the events occurring to me... like the bug that has recently crept into our home.  The last one allowed me to be there for another human in what might be called one of the most challenging points of life... the end.

Call it attitude, call it faith.  Call it what you want.  Point is, CALL (on) IT.

God night.

P.S.  Enjoy the slide show from my commute to my client's house.  The Interstate 5 freeway from OC to San Diego is one of the nicest commutes out there.  I am blessed to enjoy such a view in such beautiful (60 degree) weather.

11 comments:

  1. I love the photos of Bella. It always leaves me with the reminder what a perfectly beautiful little daughter you had. Such joy and gorgeous smiles. Because I have not experienced the loss you have, it reminds me of why you go through such pain and grief. What an angel. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm so sorry.
    I'm so glad you are able to move on and create a life she will be proud of. Kudos Tim and Ang. Blessings -

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  2. What a gift to be with "E" at that perfect moment! Does Ali know how she was used with her icky illness? I am going to share this with my 13 year old son...he has recently started to fear getting ill after he had a stomach bug and now thinks he is always going to be sick.

    Thanks for always sharing! Donna in NJ

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  3. Tim,

    Our Arizona Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, was shot this morning maybe ten miles from our home, as well as a dozen others. This is heart wrenching and terrifying for our community. There are at least six dead and we don't know if the congresswoman will make it or not. Please send your prayers to the wounded and to the loved ones of the ones who were killed this morning. Thank you so much.

    Best,
    Cara

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  4. Tim,
    Have you heard of BPPV? Benign Positional (other p I'm not so sure of) Vertigo? It can be relieved by simple positional "exercises". Not sure if that's what you have, but I've had it before and talked to my MD and then a physical therapist showed me the sequence of positions to lie in to get rid of it. It works wonders.

    Robyn in Indiana

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  5. Get better soon, Tim! Best wishes for the whole family from me!

    Elena

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  6. I'm sure E died in peace.

    I've always enjoyed doing RAKs (random acts of kindness :-) ) but since Bella left us, i feel a special joy doing them, because after the person and i part (the other usually in awe *) I always think "thanks, Bella".

    It's a joy to remind each other that there still are good people in this world!

    * my last one: we were in Holland for Christmas, walking down the street we saw a man pushing his stalled car out of a parking lot and not succeeding because of a bump in the street. I said to the others - who also saw it but kept walking - to just wait, i went to the front of the car and gestured to the dutch guy to sort of pull while i pushed. It took no longer than 15 seconds to get the car out. His smile was the greatest compliment for me. I went back to the group, who said nothing, and resumed walking home. I am SURE the man told his wife or friends, and i am SURE next time someone in the groups finds him/herself in such a situation, won't keep walking, but stop to help.

    I'm not boasting ;-) I'm just saying we all can make a driffence, if only a little one.

    Life is good.

    Love and hugs

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  7. Feel better soon. Tim. Amen.
    That is really awesome that you were able to say goodbye and you are so right about not being able to see Gods plan from our elevation. I have experienced this many, many times and I know it to be true. It has made me a much more patient person when things aren't necessarily going my way.

    Diane

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  8. Good morning, Ringgolds! So sorry that you're battling vertigo, Tim - praying for it to subside, and for Ali and Ang to be 100% quickly too. Team A is praying for you!

    Love from TX (where it's SNOWING today!!)
    Laura

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  9. Hope the whole family is feeling better.
    Thank you for sharing your wondeful stories.
    What a beautiful picture of Bella.
    Always praying for you.
    Love,
    Mariana

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  10. Feel better quickly Ringgold family. I'm sorry you have to endure this also.

    Carol in Ohio

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  11. I'm so sorry to hear about "E". What a blessing it was to have you there at the "end". God does work in mysterious ways! We may not see what he has in store for us now and it may be hard for us to appreciate it at the time but, once we discover that God does everything His way for a reason, it brings it all in to focus for us.

    Lots of Love,
    Amber, Craig, Malorie(2yrs), and Liam(1yr)
    The McLaughlin Family, CA

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