"And the Oscar Goes to..."

Since this is "Oscar season" I thought it only fitting that I take the time to hand out a few awards for the most recent drama in my own life entitled "The Emergency Appendectomy." Yes, you read correctly I did have surgery last week and no I did not see it coming. I went out on Saturday evening with my husband and several friends to hear our friends band play, after which we hit the hay pretty early only to wake up a few hours later in excruciating pain. By that afternoon I was at the hospital and by that evening was in surgery.

Have you ever been surprised by a sudden drama in your own life? Have you ever lived in fear of a sudden drama occurring?

Throughout this particular drama I was overwhelmed by the cast of characters the Lord used to support our family. Overwhelmed in a good way as in flowers and cards galore, food arriving in giant batches, person after person posting lovely thoughts and prayers on my Facebook page and several folks stepping in to cart my children to and fro to their various activities. I was also blessed to see that the "Director" in my drama had not abandoned me but given me a wonderful script (The Bible) to return to again and again that I might rehearse and be reminded that my Director is "GOOD and His mercies endure forever," that "His grace is sufficient for me" and that "He will never leave me nor forsake me."

Who is God using to support you? Who is a part of your "cast of characters"?

I love what C.S. Lewis writes about friends in his work The Four Loves...

In reality, a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another, posting to different regiments, the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work...The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others.

Sometimes I can forget that throughout the joys, comedies and dramas of life that a "Master of Ceremonies" presides; one that is available to be called upon at all times. I hope that wherever you find yourself this Oscar season that you sense the presence of the Director waiting to assure you and guide you in the next scene...the next act.

Blessings to you,
Tracy Klehn

For a List of My Award Recipients Continue Reading...

BEST ALL AROUND PERFORMANCE BY A SPOUSE
Russell Klehn

MOST ABLE NOT TO PANIC DURING DRUG INDUCED ANXIETY ATTACKS
Russell Klehn

MOST CAPABLE OF SAVING DOMESTICATED ANIMALS FROM SUICIDE BY HEATING BLANKET
Russell Klehn

BEST AND MOST AGILE PERFORMANCE BY A DUO
Sharon and Andrea (who were able to enter Tracy's bomb of a house to find school uniforms, backpacks, lunch boxes for the kids as well as find the food and medicine the dog needed)

BEST E.R. PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Dave White, Matt Warner and Eric Johns (in Tracy's drug induced state she found Dave quite amusing as he opened all the drawers in the ER to pull out band aids and other assorted medical products to let everyone know what it would cost their insurance if they were used)

BEST IN HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT
Ruiz/Demarois
Jayne Fall
Tobon's (especially 6ix year old Caleb who would hand me my drink and ask hilarious questions like "what's the matter with you anyway?")
Liz Caddow
Dina Murillo
Sharon Koppenhaver
Patti Miller
Shirley Almeida
Jennifer Schafer
Dana Hobelman


BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Max and Tracy Cameron AND Shirley Almeida (who all wore their pajamas over when they came to visit)


BEST HAND HOLDER
Mother In Law Brenda Klehn

FUNNIEST CARD
Brady, Brevyn and Julia White "Sorry the appendix had to go"

SET DESIGN AWARDS (flowers)
Black's
Eisenman's
Mom and Sisters
White's
Fall's
Deberry's
Maimone (we got the first official "N" logo balloon!")

CUTEST COMPANY
Baby Isabella Klein (who rolled around on my bed the day I got home from the hospital)

TRANSPORTATION
Jennifer Shaffer (who took over the carpool)

BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Julia White (who per my request used her lovely singing voice to bless me--and our dog Eve who she sang to)

CRAFT SERVICE (YUM)
Caddow's
Howell's
Stroh's
Tobon's
White's
White's
Deberry's
Gonzales'
Klehn's
Eisenman's
Murillo's
Cameron's
Michele Brackett
Gabbi Klein
Shirley Almeida
Sharon Koppenhaver
Maimone's

BEST ASSISTANT
Margeret Mike (who brought fig newtons, plum juice and water...hmmm I wonder why???)

BEST WISHES
Impossible to award a single person...thank you to all of you in my family, my church, my kids school and of course my Facebook community and beyond :)!

BEST PRAYER WARRIORS, CUDDLERS AND LEAST LIKELY TO FREAK OUT FROM MOM'S MOOD SWINGS
Spencer and Grace Klehn (who I gave permission to ask their school friends to pray that I'd fart a lot so my stomach would stop hurting...they refused to pray that specifically but their prayers got the job done anyway!)