And They're Off

Carmen, Logan, and Jennie are officially on their way to Africa!  We (they) have been saving and working towards this day for so long!  It was easier than expected to say goodbye.  If I let my mind wander, I can think of all kinds of things to worry about, but I know that this trip has been anointed from day one.  Therefore, I choose to take control of my thoughts and to trust God.  I am going to miss them. But when it came time to say goodbye, I was just excited for them.  Of course having my sister traveling with them relieves a ton of worries.

They had a wonderful send off. First they were prayed over by our church family including the children from preschool on up.  Then we went to Wendy's with a group of friends from church.  Next we all headed to the airport.  We had a fun time hanging out and taking photos while we waited for their time to go. Having friends with us made the wait fun and took away some of our nerves and anxiety.  Finally it was time.  We prayed over them at the airport and said goodbye.  

As we watched their plane lift into the air I knew that this would just be the first of many times I would be saying goodbye.  I know that there will be more mission trips in their future. Carmen will likely return to Malawi, while Logan will seek new mission adventures in other parts of the world.  I thank the Lord for this opportunity. They go to serve, but they will learn more from the people of Malawi than they could ever teach them.  

Proud Momma

My daughter, Carmen, is a volunteer Jr. Staff at PVM Camp this year.  Someone posted this pic on facebook while she was there for the first week (Urban Week). In this pic she was working at the rock climbing wall belaying someone. When I saw this photo, my heart swelled.  I am so proud of this girl. She has had some challenges in her life but she has grown to be such a responsible, caring, and generous young woman.  God has blessed me with her.

Help Wanted

This was in an email devotional for hs moms this morning. I stole it from a friend's facebook status but I have no idea who actually wrote it. I know it wasn't written by me but it is good. Help Wanted: Family seeking fun-loving, godly homeschool teacher. Applicant will be responsible for providing total educational development and daily personal care for children of multiple ages. Applicant will assume the following roles: cook, housemaid, nurse, taxi driver, administrative assistant, accountant, athletic coach, social director, computer technician, household and automotive repairman, gardener, course instructor in multiple subject areas and grade levels, and various other responsibilities. This is a full-time position — approximately 120 hours or more per week. Qualified candidates must be able to work well under pressure, multi-task, and prioritize work loads while maintaining a friendly, enthusiastic attitude. Quick thinking, good memory, and a varied background in extensive subject matter are a must. Promising candidates will be resourceful, adjust easily to distractions, and display creative, hard-working leadership abilities. Organizational and problem solving skills are a plus. Previous teaching experience and/or college preferred, but is not required. If you're interested in working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, this is the position for you! For more information on this exciting opportunity to earn fulfilling, one-of-a-kind rewards, please apply in person today. Eph 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" ;)

Waiting Expectantly

I am waiting expectantly for the day that I wake up and have no more pain. The surgery is over. I am on the mend. But I am still in pain. This time it is not pain from the hernia but from the surgery. And boy did it hurt for the first few days. But someday soon I will wake up and realize that the pain I have been feeling for many years is gone! As I heal I have to say I am kind of enjoying my lack of responsibilities. I am on a lifting restriction (5 pounds or less) and I need to take it easy so I can heal. I haven't been able to do much. The teens have been stepping up and taking care of the housework (to some extent) and the little one. My church family has been bringing me meals. The rest of the work can wait. I have been sleeping in, napping, and losing myself in a book or two (or three). I could get used to this.

A Little Nervous

I am having hernia surgery on Monday. I admit that I am a little nervous. The only other surgery that I ever had was a hernia surgery when I was around 3 years old and it was a rather traumatic experience for me. I remember screaming....a lot. My mom didn't stay at the hospital with me adn I remember feeling very alone and afraid. And I remember having a lot of pain afterwards. A lot of pain. I am not really worried about "something happening" during this surgery. I guess I am more worried about pain. But as my daughter pointed out, I have already been in pain for years with this hernia. I guess the pain from surgery shouldn't be too much worse. And I will have some wonderful pain medication available to me. I am also a little nervous about some medical test results. I had to have an endometrial biopsy done yesterday and a dexa scan done today. All of this is a result of going through early menopause. I expect to get a clean bill of health, but I can't help to be a little nervous whenever the c word comes up. The biopsy is to test for endmetrial or uterine cancer. The dexa scan tests for osteoporosis. It's official. I am old before my time. Anyway, I am trying not to be stressed about these test results but I can't help but to worry a little. In the past five years I have had more medical tests and issues than I can count. I have had several ct scans (4 or 5...maybe more), two mammograms complete with a breast cancer scare and more scans with each one, several ultrasounds (not related to pregnancy), an endoscopy, a colonoscopy, a rare complication to fifth disease that caused severe swelling in my entire body, a serious elbow injury that caused significant swelling, severe whiplash, a back injury requiring steriod injections in my back, heart issues, a broken tailbone (thanks to childbirth), a fall injuring my foot, hand, wrist, and back, a food allergy, anemia (again), and a hernia. This doesn't include all of the minor injuries I receive on a regular basis (I have inherited my mother's grace). I am sure I am forgetting something else but like I said it is more than I can count. All I can say is Thank You Lord for medical coverage. I am seriously hoping that this hernia surgery will be the last time I need to see a doctor for a long while.

Being Grateful

I have become aware of how much I have been complaining lately. I have told my children countless times that gratefulness cannot exist at the same time as ungratefulness. I cannot be truly grateful while I am complaining. And God has blessed me so greatly. Not only that but he calls me to have a thankful heart... a grateful spirit. Instead of complaining about gas prices or traffic, I want to be grateful that I have a working vehicle. Instead of complaining about housework, I want to be grateful that I have a house and more stuff than I could ever need. Instead of complaining about having to cook (not my favorite responsibility) I want to be grateful that I have food to eat. Why have I given in to complaining and ungratefulness? Two of my children are about to see first hand what it is like to have nothing. When they travel to Malawi for their mission trip they will encounter children who have nothing more than the clothes on their back, who are so grateful for food that they would never consider complaining that it is nothing more than a boiled egg or a pasty corn meal mixture. Don't get me wrong. I am not supposed to feel guilty for having what I have when others have so little. God is the one who called me to this position in life. But I do need to be grateful and stop complaining. Please hold me accountable.

A Parent's Prayer

A Parent's Prayer
Oh give me patience when wee hands
Tug at me with their small demands
And give me gentle smiling eyes.
Keep my lips from hasty replies
And let not weariness, confusion or noise
Obscure my vision of lifes fleeting joys.
So when in years to come my house is still
No bitter memories its rooms may fill.
Amen.

I stole this from a friend who posted it on facebook. What a good prayer for frazzled moms.