Steve was in his church office last week when he heard a big bang. He immediately ran upstairs to where some remodeling was being done to check on the workers. They were all fine but said they had heard the crash, too.
Steve looked around the church a little more but when he didn’t find anything amiss, he decided to get on with his day which happened to include going into the sanctuary to pick up some music. Walking near the stage in the semi-darkness, he noticed that the nearby brick wall seemed to be curving in. He blinked his eyes, walked a little closer and looked again.
Sure enough. The solid brick wall was no longer quite as solid.
As you can imagine, his curiosity was piqued and he went outside to check.
Lo and behold, there was a matching indentation out there.
As it turns out, a young man in an SUV was turning around in the parking lot when he accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake which ended up propelling him straight into the wall.
Steve called the police and within twenty minutes, several squad cars, a contractor (who goes to our church), an insurance agent, and the city building inspector had all congregated in the parking lot.
The police said the young man (and his friend) were very fortunate because if they had gone in much further, the brick wall would have collapsed on them.
The double brick wall will have to be replaced from 15 feet up to 25 feet wide. A temporary plywood wall will be constructed in the meantime to keep the dust and debris out of the sanctuary.
So here is the present view of the front of our sanctuary.
Even though it will be a bit of an inconvenience while repairs are going on, we are all thankful no one was seriously injured.
Steve and I went out to eat Friday night with a gift card for a local restaurant called Stripers.
As we were finishing our meal, the server approached our table and said, “Um. I feel a little funny about saying this but there is a man across the room who said he would pay for your meal in exchange for you keeping your sermons shorter.”
When she told us the guy’s name, Steve and I both laughed, knowing he was kidding. Steve said, “You can go back and tell him bribery is not accepted. But thanks for the meal!”
The good news is that we still have our gift card to use in the future. (And Steve’s sermons will remain the same length.)
For the past two weeks, I have called Duke once or twice a day to check on cancellations. No luck so far.
If I had wanted to get in for an appointment before, I now am even more eager to go since reading the introductory letter to people with Interstitial Lung Disease or ILD. (ILD is the umbrella that obliterative bronchiolitis falls under.)
Here is an excerpt:
The Duke ILD Clinic is one of the largest ILD programs in the country. Our team of expert doctors meets with radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists each week to discuss our new or complex patients. This helps us identify the correct diagnosis and most appropriate management plan for you. Even though you will typically see only one lung doctor at Duke, you are actually getting the opinion of the entire ILD Team.
ILD’s are not common and can often be confusing for patients and physicians alike. We will work hard to explain as best we can what this diagnosis may mean for you and your family.
To be quite honest, I quite unexpectedly broke down in tears after reading this. Fourteen years of symptoms, and diagnoses, and misdiagnoses and I am finally within reach of a definitive answer from medical people who are some of the best in the world in this field.
I am having a really, really tough time waiting patiently because I just want to KNOW. Does the OB diagnosis stand or is there something different they will uncover?
Five more weeks (in addition to the 3 1/2 months I already waited) is really tough.
In the meantime, I’ll keep calling and keep hoping. And keep waiting.
What about you?
What does your day (or week) hold? (Hopefully no big bangs or delayed appointments!)
Have you ever run into something with your car? Tell us about it.
I’ve been praying that there will be a cancellation for your appointment and I will continue!
I’m so glad that no one was hurt during the big bang!
My week has been OK…no bangs, tho. Monday evening, I locked my keys in the ignition of my running vehicle while picking my son up from pre-school. We had to wait for 1.5 hours for the guy to come unlock it…ugh! My son was hangry and tired and I wasn’t far behind. I’m so glad that we had no mishaps last night and got home for a warm supper and early bed time.
Tonight is our mid week prayer service at church; which I always look forward to. And on Friday evening, we are having our annual Adult Banquet at church. It’s a nice time with yummy food. Some of the members also do skits and I enjoy them.
I pray there are no more big bangs in your world!
Krista,
Wow. That’s a long time to wait for someone to unlock your door! I can only imagine how happy both of you were to be safely back home at the end of such a trying day.
I love to hear that you enjoy going to your midweek service at church when a lot of folks have stopped attending those services. I enjoy them because meeting in a smaller setting makes it a little easier to get to know people.
Have a great, UNLOCKED weekend!
Oh what a bummer there are no cancellations yet! Keep calling! You never know. It will happen when it is supposed to happen but the waiting is so stressful. That clinic sounds amazzzzing. I am waiting with you, hugs.
Wow, that was some hit the wall took. I personally have never seen anything like that. So lucky for the young man that is is OK.
As far as the week ahead, I am up to my eyeballs in figuring out my Sarah’s GTube feedings and care of her site (which is starting to look slightly annoyed). But my sister is flying in for a couple of days, yay!, and Sarah will be thrilled to see her.
Hang in there Becky, you have lots of folks praying for you!
Lesley,
My Sarah never had GT feedings but we did the whole feeding tube in the nose thing, which I know is a lot less complex than what you’re dealing with. It is such a blessing that in your care for Sarah, you have a nursing degree to rely on. I would have given a lot to have had a lot more medical knowledge when I was caring for Sarah after transplant.
So happy for you (AND Sarah) that your sister gets to be with you for a few days. Enjoy every moment.
That was quite a hit to bang up that brick wall that way. Fortunately the young man wasn’t injured. My daughter’s work building just got hit yesterday too. But from the looks of that vehicle, I would think that someone got hurt. Wow! I always wonder how that happens.
Not much special on my agenda this week other than meeting the technician at home later on to get internet installed (finally!). Getting rid of the high-priced cable and going to streaming instead. It will be an adjustment. 🙂
LeeAnne,
That’s funny there was another run-in with a building at your daughter’s work. I’m like you–wondering how that even happens!
I don’t know how you’ve survived without the internet this long! Glad to hear you’re getting rid of high-priced cable; that can eat up a chunk of change. We haven’t had TV for several years and never miss it.
Wow! So glad the wall did not collapse on the young man. My daughter in law’s mother actually ran into the post office wall a couple years ago. Her foot got stuck somehow on the gas pedal. Yikes. She was fine but the post office wall had to be repaired.
Love the bribe to have shorter sermons 🙂 But, how nice to have your meal paid for and your GC for another time.
Sometimes persistence pays off and I hope that’s the case for you to get in to Duke earlier. You certainly are in good hands there. Pray for a definitive answer for you.
Wendy
Wendy,
I could imagine getting a foot stuck on a gas pedal if a person was wearing some sort of looser fitting shoe. Glad she made out better than the post office wall did.
Yep, having our gift card to use later on was a wonderful blessing since we rarely go out to eat.
Sorry I missed this yesterday but I was in the Veterinarian office from 9:30-11:30 with Luci. Had to leave her overnight not knowing what was wrong. Didn’t check e-mail in the afternoon. She is better and I will pick her up at 4 pm today. Still no answer as to why. Prayers you can get an appointment sooner, Becky. We both know how the waiting is. My Duke appointment is the 12th and I am praying for lower tumor markers. Glad no one was hurt in the accident and repairs can be made soon. Take care and God bless.
Ann,
I know you’ve been going through a rough few days with Luci. I have thought of you often since I know how beloved our pets are. Hugs to you from Summer and me.
What a way to start a day! (bulging brick)
Rather odd, but you never know what may come in a day…
(Hope Humpty- Dumpty was not reposing there…)
Ruth,
A reposing Humpty-Dumpty there was not! 🙂
Wow – so glad the wall did not collapse. Praying there is a cancellation so you can get in to see your doctor at Duke sooner; I can imagine how impatient I would be. I hope you have a wonderful week.
Sue Ellen,
Thanks for your prayers about the Duke situation. Learning patience. . .
Becky,
Praying that something will open for you at Duke when He thinks the time is right and the result will be a correct diagnosis and treatment.
Glad no one was injured when the suv hit the building. I have never hit a building, but I was once in a building when someone hit the front. Fortunately, there were stone flower boxes in front of the building. The car hit one of those (which had to be rebuilt) and the actual building was not damaged.
Loved the bribery story and now you have another great meal to look forward to! The food looks delicious.
As always, keeping you and yours in my daily prayers.
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
Hmmm. Maybe we should build a wall of flower beds around our church!
Yes, I loved the bribery story too–especially since it meant we got another complimentary meal!
Tomorrow is my long awaited appointment at a specialist my PCP wanted me to see – appointment was made in October so I definitely feel your pain.
Our pastor preached in his Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs quarterback) jersey yesterday morning. In fact, there was a lot of red in the church yesterday. Part of the sea of red was at least 100 youth and probably that many volunteers for our annual youth weekend called DNow. The t-shirt for the event had to be revamped after the Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl as the original color was that of the 49ers!
My big bang for the week is more of an odd smell I started smelling this morning. I’ve had a couple neighbor men come over and try to pinpoint the smell. The first one smelled it but couldn’t identify. Second one took a couple covers off something in the hot water heater – this was after the dish water just didn’t seem that hot. Long story short, I’m probably looking at a new hot water heater.
Don’t think I’ve ever really run into anything with my car though.
Phyllis,
I hope your appointment with the specialist went well. That is a VERY long time to wait!
Needing a new water heater is not real happy news. Glad you figured out the odd smell, though. You’re blessed to have such helpful neighbors who helped you troubleshoot the problem.
Waiting and hoping for an earlier appointment with you! ♡
Wow, the big bang story was dramatic! So glad the boys were ok and I hope the insurance covers your repairs.
Love, Deb
Deb,
Yep, the driver’s insurance will cover the repairs. Good for us and bad for him. Steve said his insurance will pay the bill and then probably cancel his insurance. Tough deal for a young fella.
Well, that is the same thing that happened to the church we were going to. Brick wall and it wasn’t as extensive as yours, but it was replaced with bricks that closely matched those that had been there for several years. That looks like a wonderful meal you had, and when you are a pastor, those gift cards are so nice to have and even nicer when someone pays for your meal. We continue to pray for you, but will pray that if the Lord wants you to be there sooner, that there will be a cancellation. “Lord give me patience, and I want it now.”!!!!
Sharyn,
Yes, that’s the challenge in doing a repair is getting the bricks to match. Our building is about 35 years ago so those bricks have been there a good long while. I know there’s no way to match them exactly but they’re going to do their best!
Thanks so much for the prayers and encouragement.
Wow!! That’s quite an indentation. I’m so glad the young man did not have the wall collapse on him.
The story about the bribe for shorter sermons is really funny. It made me smile in a time when I have not felt much like smiling in two weeks
And the Duke clinic sounds incredible I really hope you can get in soon and have a very definitive diagnosis and treatment plan that can make a huge difference.
Jenna,
I’m thankful to have brought at least a momentary sprinkle of happiness to your day. I know it’s been an extremely difficult few weeks for you.
Hugs from Manteo . . .