Our Room With a View

After a sweet heaven-on-earth few days at Beavers Bend with my family, we parted ways as they returned to Frisco, and I headed to Tulsa because the next day I would be attending a Confirmation Retreat as a sponsor to a precious teenage girl. First things first when I go to Tulsa -- I go to see Mom and spend time with her while Karen and George get to have a date night. As it turned out, the night became one that we had to rush Mom to the hospital ER because of medical concerns, which ended up being two days of Mom, Karen and I being “guests” of the Oklahoma Heart Institute Hospital for Mom to undergo many tests and procedures. Thankfully, I can report, as of last night, Mom is back at home in Tulsa and I am back home in Frisco.After a sweet heaven-on-earth few days at Beavers Bend with my family, we parted ways as they returned to Frisco, and I headed to Tulsa because the next day I would be attending a Confirmation Retreat as a sponsor to a precious teenage girl. First things first when I get to Tulsa -- go see Mom and spend time with her while Karen and George get to have a date night. As it turned out, the night became one that we had to rush Mom to the hospital ER, which ended up being two days of Mom, Karen and I being “guests” of the Oklahoma Heart Institute Hospital for Mom to undergo many tests and procedures. Thankfully, I can report, as of last night, Mom is back at home in Tulsa and I am back home in Frisco.

God’s timing was impeccable. Of all times for me to be in Tulsa when I could be a moral support to Sis and help carry the responsibility of the next couple of days. Teamwork lightens the load. We grabbed a couple of hours of sleep with one of us in the chair and the other on the window seat. When the sun came up, that first morning and we looked out the window, we saw our view from Mom’s room. We realized we had a “Room with a View” in this 5-Star Hotel --er’ hospital! The gorgeous Tulsa skyline welcomed us to this new day of faith and hope. It’s a matter of perspective – being IN a room that accommodates every medical device and equipment imaginable which could accompany all kinds of concerns and wonderings about what this day and tomorrow could hold. Or, it could be looking OUTSIDE that room to the beautiful skies, the Tulsa skyline, as well as the fond remembrances of walking in Pro-Life marches, participating in charitable organizations benefits, remembering the Route 66 marathons that I and family and friends ran on those streets, the great restaurants and shopping that THAT VIEW gave us instead of worries and concerns.

A special memory that came back to us was 10 years ago when in this same hospital when Mom was a patient and we were snowed in for days. Karen and I were Mom’s roommates then and because of the impassable roads, medical personnel had to use vacant rooms to sleep in. We had other memories in this hospital as my sweet husband was in there two separate times. I reminisced about our “Trust Me and relax" message from God during times of overwhelming concern and worry.

Karen and I were Ron’s (my husband/her brother) prayer team. We would go for walks during “stressful times’ at the hospital. We could have worried, but we turned those times into opportunities for stretching our faith muscles. During one of those “faith walk” times, we noticed a mama cat and her baby kitten, lying on the grass at the corner of the hospital grounds. They watched us intently, and unlike wild cats, they never flinched. Immediately, we could sense God saying to us "Just like these cats….. RELAX – be in peace -- I am with you." After those sweet prayer moments, we could go to sleep….completely at peace, knowing that God would be orchestrating the plans for the next day. And, He most certainly did. That’s where we are with Mom. At 95, there are expected AND unexpected ups and downs along the way. After all, lots of body parts in these bodies that have many miles on them. You just never know when a replacement or tune-up is necessary. At the end of a couple of days of little sleep, we cherished our “Room with a View” because the view we’ve come to know is God’s view.

Maybe the view of your circumstances has you overwhelmed and your heart is heavy with troubles that loom in the “room” you are in. Maybe it’s time to take a little walk and have a talk with He Who knows everything about everything and He wants you to turn your cares over to Him. He knows what tomorrow holds, so why not allow Him to orchestrate the details? In the meantime, take a deep breath and RELAX…..God has got this! Turn that ROOM you are in, into a ROOM WITH A VIEW of God’s faithfulness, of His promises to never leave you or forsake you, of turning your mourning into dancing and the spirit of heaviness into joy. THAT room, my friends, is better than a 5-Star hotel!

We've Only Just Begun

That was one of our favorite songs (released in 1970) by The Carpenters.  The characters in the song were a couple, just married, and were looking forward to new horizons, new roads to choose, with so much life ahead of them.  We sang that song completely unaware of what lie ahead….but as long as we were together, side by side, we just knew we’d make it through each and every bump in the road that we might encounter.  Seems like unrealistic thinking, but it is the ONLY way to live – believing and always hoping for the best, but just in case the worst might come, we’d be able to handle it together.   That’s because we placed our hope and trust in the ONE who had already prepared the way for us.

We’re one week into this new year and doesn’t the start of a new year make us feel the same way…a certain excitement about the possibilities that are out there for us?    We may reflect on the past, but no longer do we dwell there, because we certainly can’t change the past.  Looking through the rear view mirror is no option.  I mentioned a couple of months ago that for five years I had “Run for Ron” in the Route 66 Marathon, but this Route 66, while I was running, I clearly got the message “There’s no need to be running for Ron any longer.  He’s doing just fine running on his own.  It’s time to run your own race – run strong for Donna.”  I got it.  I had been faithful to keep the past in my present long enough.  I was turning a page in my story.  I knew that I was supposed write some new stories and a new chapter.   It was time so BEGIN again with the expectation of great adventures and unparalleled blessings up ahead.  But most importantly to write some new stories that leave a legacy for those who are following me -- a legacy of "I can" and "I will"!!   

I’m already started on that new chapter, then at the end of 2016....I'll glance back at the victories won and the many, many doors that opened up for me to great opportunities!  

Today, I close the door to the past, open the door to the future, I take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter of my life.  How about you?

No Need to Run for Ron -- He's Got This!

Day 328 of Photo Inspirations -- No Need to Run For Ron -- He's Got This!

Yesterday, for the 5th year in a row, I ran for Ron at the Route 66 Williams Marathon -- 5K. These photo inspirations are each year's photo, 2010 to yesterday's. In between those years, I did two Route 66 Half Marathons, another Half in Vancouver, BC and another in OKC, and the rest were 5Ks. The 5Ks are where I am right now, but that's not to say, I won't do another Half -- just nursing a leg injury from when I climbed Mt. Everest last summer. NOT! Just nursing a leg injury from two silly falls I had earlier in the year. Sure would have been more glamorous and impressive if I had been doing some audacious out loud feat. LOL!

Doing this run every year has meant so much to me. The first one was planned when my Sweetheart could no longer move his legs because of the tumor that was impinging on his spinal cord. He couldn't run, but we could, Staci was inspired to get the word out about a "Movement of Gratitude". She let our friends and family know: "Dad has no choice but to lie in that bed. Yet our legs are strong and fully able! We need to get in that race and give thanks for what God has given us and get moving.”

So one year ago, yesterday (two days after my Sweetheart's funeral), November 21st, 2010, over 25 of us showed up with our red "Run for Ron" t-shirts. It was the 5th 26.2 mile marathon in 55 days that our son, Ryan, ran, but this time, in honor of his dad. Our oldest grandson, Braden, ran the half-marathon (13.1 mile). The rest of us started our 5K run/walk at 8 am. We were all running/walking with such passion -- so appreciative that we could.

Once we completed our 5K, we rushed to cheer for Braden as he crossed the Finish Line from his half marathon in his personal best time ever. He told me that he felt his Papa pushing him all the way.

When we went to meet up with Ryan at Mile 16 to cheer him on, a call came in, "a man had passed out just in front him". What marathon runners don't do is stop running mid-way through a marathon as it seizes up their legs, but, nevertheless, Ryan stopped to help him. When it was apparent he was unconscious, Ryan held his feet and prayed while others were performing CPR for over 16 minutes. He stayed until the ambulance took the man away. Later we found out the 27-year old man passed away during that time. We knew it was providence that Ryan was there, and even that my Honey was probably at Heaven's gate to greet him when he reached the other side. We cheered for Ryan as he crossed the Finish Line -- not his best time because of the delay -- but God's best time, which IS the BEST time.

I was interviewed by the Tulsa World newspaper reporter about our "Run for Ron". As an exclamation point to our efforts, that article and photo ran in the paper the next day.

Yesterday, running with my friend, brought back sweet memories of these Runs for Ron. But I sensed a message from heaven as we ran. "It's time to stop Running for Ron. He's doing just fine running on his own now. He is no longer in pain and he even has a perfect back, perfect legs, and a perfect body in heaven." I agree. But, I will keep running. I'll do the Route 66 again next year. It's time I celebrate that I'm still here and I can be strong to Run for Donna and finish my OWN RACE! It's time to look straight ahead to what I expect to be MY BEST DAYS on earth!"

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

Kick Your Kicks on Route 66

Day 82 of Photo Inspirations -- Get your Kicks on Route 66!
I love Tulsa, and the more I have taken the time to "seize the moments" this year, the more I discover about this great city.  Tourists come here to take advantage of what we have, and this year I'm stopping long enough to also embrace what's here.  Unless we determine to "stop and smell the roses" around us -- we'll miss out on so many opportunities to learn about what got us here.  

I took these photos at the Route 66 Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza located on Southwest Boulevard at Riverside Drive in Tulsa.  This is the "East Meets West" statue at the Route 66 Memorial Bridge that was installed in October 2012.  I can't even believe 2-1/2 years have gone by and this is the first time I saw it.   The statute is of Cyrus Avery, the “Father of Route 66,” climbing out of his car to help a farmer whose horses have been startled by the vehicle.  It shows Avery’s wife turning to check on their daughter and her obviously terrified cat.  The Centennial Plaza, with the flags of the eight states of Route 66, and the Route 66 logo and skywalk were complete in July 2008.   Are you kidding me?  I've NEVER taken the time to be at this plaza -- what in the world was I thinking?  Fact is I WASN'T thinking.....I was too busy DOING!  I'm a human BEING -- NOT a human DOING!!

Now, I know who Cyrus Stevens Avery was and the credit he gets for being the "Father of Route 66". He created the route while being a member of the federal board appointed to create the Federal Highway System, then pushed for the establishment of the U.S. Highway 66 Association to pave and promote the highway.

In 1907, Avery and his wife and family moved to Tulsa.  Avery realized that an interstate system of highways would help his adopted city and state prosper.  He became instrumental in pushing for a federal level of good roads. In 1925, the United States Secretary of Agriculture appointed him to the Joint Board of Interstate Highways, which was to designate the new federal highways and mark them.

After the highways were routed, the group decided not to name the highways, but instead to follow the pattern of numbering the highways.  The current east-west routes would be even numbers, and the north-south would be odd.   Route 66, which became one of the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles.   It was recognized in popular culture by both the hit song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s.

In 1927, Avery pushed for the creation of the U.S. Highway 66 Association to promote paving U.S. 66 and promote travel on the highway.  (That amazes me -- they were calling it a highway system when there were only dirt roads.)

Avery died in California on July 2, 1963, and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa.   Avery Drive, a street in southwest Tulsa, was named for him.  In 1997, the National Historic Route 66 Federation established a Cyrus Avery Award, which has been presented variously to individuals for outstanding creativity in depicting Route 66, and to organizations for noteworthy preservation projects.

And, now you know where "Route 66" came from!  Stop by and see us sometime -- so you can grab hold of a little history!    YOU'RE WELCOME!