the joy in drama

k, so as if i didn't have enough in nine days, what with mirabelle, job interview, and mr. hc, my brother-in-law decided to have a heart attack yesterday. thankfully it was mild, and he's doing okay, but of course, at the time of the phone call, we didn't know how bad it was. and so, in all ironicness, after going to my sister's last friday to escape all that was going on, i went to my sister's this friday to deal with the new stuff going on. i was so, so thankful to not be in chicago.
anyway...when we got the phone call, my first thought was, 'where are the girls and how are they doing?' it wasn't that i wasn't concerned about enrique and hobbitsister, it was that i knew where i needed to be. i knew my parents would take off for the hospital to be with hobsis, so she was in effect taken care of (or would be once they got there - they left town about 20-30 minutes after i did). but i couldn't stop thinking about two scared little girls (it's amazing how little they become at a time like that) who needed me. there was no question - my place was with the girls, my parents' place was with my sister and brother-in-law. later it reminded me of when i had my first seizure, with all my cousins around. mrs. cheap cousin talked with the medics, purple cousin made sure the kids who were there were taken care of, goose cousin held my hand and prayed - everyone just naturally did what they do (or so i'm told - i don't remember one whit of it). i like how GOD figures that kind of stuff out ahead of time, giving us different gifts and capabilities and hearts, and thus everything gets taken care of. (HE also made sure i had gas in my car and my phone was charged so i was ready to go.)
when i got there i saw that the girls were holding up pretty well. my cousin baby girl (who's six) was there because they were babysitting her this weekend, and i think she was a good distraction (i prayed lots on the way up there that she would be). we four girls played barbies instead of thinking. nothing wrong with that.
it was also so encouraging to see how many people were praying; how many people i could call on to pray. first i called my brother, then goose cousin, my diana, chelleybutton, auntie auntie (who said she was calling the rest of the family - of whom there are many), mrs. army cousin, and jeanie. i thought about calling uncle swedish chef or slip aunt, but since when i called auntie auntie (the other side of the family) my mom had already called her, i figured my mom had called them, too. i also knew that i would post something on facebook, which would get people praying. and then i stopped. and thanked GOD. i thanked GOD so very, very much for the amazingly huge number of amazing people who i could call on to pray. it's such a big number, really and truly. i am so very, very blessed.
another thing i got to thank GOD for was when i was on the phone with jeanie. she prayed, and then as we went to hang up, i gave a start. there's a trucking place (or something, i don't really know what) on the way to my sister's that is owned by Christians. i know this because they have a sign that sometimes says nice things like on Easter, "HE is Risen!" or at Christmastime, "Celebrate JESUS' birth!" it says other things other times, too. like this time. right as i was hanging up with my last phone call, the sign popped up, "GOD loves you!" i laughed. it felt like a hug.