We ate 24 footlong sandwiches at one sitting
July 15th, 2009 | Published in gut check | 1 Comment
The International Christian Retail Show is over for us, and after taking down the banners and moving our stuff from the Hyatt hotel room (that Tyndale was so nice to provide) back into the RV, Hayley, Addy, and I were actually stoked/relieved to be back in our RV. Don’t get me wrong, our hotel and room were beautiful, but the RV after just a short time has already become our home.
And while I could go on about all of the huge support and positive feedback we received for our project, I’d rather share an experience that really hit home for us in a way that wouldn’t have if we weren’t on this mission/project.
The first night we got into Denver, parking the wrong way across three metered spots in downtown Denver and hanging banners on the side (in the middle of traffic) on a ladder with a fat surgically repaired ankle was a tad stressful. So seeing lots of old publishing industry friends in the hotel lobby was a good stress reliever but we lost track of time and the girls were beyond hungry. So we decided to just eat in the hotel restaurant.
Now this restaurant’s decor wasn’t anything special, but the menu was, and Hayley and I decided (mainly out of muscle memory coming to these yearly events) to both have steak while Addy had her usual chicken nuggets with mac and cheese. So the food was not only amazing, but the presentation looked like something out of Hell’s Kitchen or Top Chef. And the desserts were amazing. But something wasn’t quite right the whole dinner. I couldn’t fully enjoy it and I didn’t know why. Then the bill came. Almost a hundred and twenty bucks after our convention discount.
I looked up at Hayley and said “we just ate 24 Subway footlong sandwiches.”
She instantly tracked with me and said, “things are never going to be the same for us, and I’m happy for us and for Addy because of it.”
I pray that this project blesses those in need more than it blesses our family because, frankly, we’re already living a happier life in 3,000 less square feet.
On a lighter note, had a great morning before our departure hanging with Leif and Margaret Feinberg. They tried to convince us to move to Denver. We’re tempted! BTW, we’re staying in the Denver area for a few more days meeting with some terrific ministries and people. We’ll post pics and vids soon!
August 16th, 2009at 9:45 am(#)
Mike and Haley, reading this little blog really shows how even one small thing can change our world. Sometimes it is a kind word from a stranger that lifts us up. For others, it is that link in the browser history that takes us to the bottom. It is rarely the BIG EVENT that makes a significant difference. It is the little things, like eating the equivalent of 24 foot longs. For me the other day, it was seeing the huge smile on Brian B’s face when he saw Bessie. That little moment was the difference for me.