An Epiphany or Two

I didn't write a column for the church bulletin today because I wasn't sure what epiphany I'd have on this Epiphany Sunday – the 12th day of Christmas. Turns out, I've had a few today. A few lessons, a few startling realizations and a few affirmations of things I guess deep down I already knew.

I learned that nothing gets your heart going in the morning quite like a call before dawn. Nope, not deja vu. This was the second morning in a row with an incoming call from Germany around 6 a.m. Though this time, it was more unnerving (put mildly) because our boy wasn't in our basement sleeping when the phone rang – he was over there!

Would this give you a panic attack – yes or no?

Me: Hello.

Female caller with heavy German accent: Dis is Campus Vida. Vere (where) is your son? Vere is your son? He vas not on zee shuttle!

Me *oncoming heart attack* *looking at clock to try and calculate 7-hour time difference*: I haven't heard from him. He should be landing about now.

Caller: Ja. His plane landed and he vas not at the meeting place. Vere is your son? He must get to the meeting place immediately. Vere is he?

Me *lamaze breathing for second time in a week*: I'll call him right now!

I text. And I message through WhatsApp. No response. OMG. Is he hurt? I call through Verizon. "No service at this number." What?? *check heart attack symptoms and repeat lamaze breathing.* I call through WhatsApp. "No service." Was he kidnapped? *feeling super helpless*

Longest. Twenty. Minutes. Of. My. Life.

Then incoming text from Carter (whose phone had been off since landing): All good. I just can't read a map. They found me.

*Release breath I've been holding since the phone rang earlier.*

Fun way to start the day, eh? On the 12 day of Christmas, my good son gave to me... 12 minutes of hyperventilating! My epiphany? Apparently I'm not one of those "keeps calm under pressure" people. Nope. Not even a little.

Thankfully, all's well that ends well. He got on the shuttle, rode the hour to Heidelberg, is moved into his student apartment – complete with his own bathroom, shower, and kitchenette. He quickly discovered, though, that most stores are closed on Sundays. So "beef jerky and Cliff bars for supper, it is," he said.

I am guessing between the three of us (daddy included) we observed Epiphany Sunday quite traditionally. We were all seeking something and I am sure we were all praying fervently we'd find what we were looking for – Carter the meeting point and us, our son ...and sanity, serenity, and a regular heartbeat.

The wise still seek Him. And thank our loving God, we find Him!

Epiphany

I was hoping today for some sort of epiphany. And it didn't take long to find one. Just had to look at the calendar and see it! Now for sure the celebration of Christ's birth can just continue in our hearts -- and the artificial tree can come down.

But not until the weekend. I'm still hoping for some sort of an epiphany. Some striking observation that suddenly makes itself clear to me...

Will any of these count?

It dawned on me I may be spending too much time on my Netbook when my hubby chats with me from the next room... just to say "Go tuck your son in!"

It has become obvious to me that we are brainwashed in the Midwest when it comes to temperatures. If it's not below zero and the sun is out, it's a "nice" day!

I have come to dislike and be quite annoyed by that phrase, "It is what it is." I think because part of me wants to say, "Yes, but we can change IT!" Of course, the other part of me admits, "I hate that I have no power to change IT!" Grr.

It is indisputable that nothing is greater than love. To love someone so much you cry when you think of your life without them in it... that's powerful. (When an almost teenager has this epiphany about his parents, that's even more powerful!)

It's obvious that soul mates are one thing and soul "sisters" who understand the importance of GLEE, Cricuts, a good book and great hair are something else.

It has dawned on me that I can't live without either one.

I realized I will not be able to adore this new Schwan's man as much as the old one -- especially after he showed up empty-handed... without my Peppermint Stick ice cream (which will not be available for 10 months -- but who's counting?)!

I realized my New Year's "healthy eating" goal will go much better than last year... without Peppermint Stick ice cream.

I also see that without goals (not resolutions necessarily), we aren't going anywhere, not changing anything. This doesn't mean I can't be happy with who I am. It means I should be ecstatic about who I am! And see what I can do with these great gifts God has given me!

Now there's an epiphany.