tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83280813175646955712024-03-05T13:08:19.203-05:00ServantLord, make me a servantshamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-57456139965781532812024-01-16T06:48:00.000-05:002024-01-16T06:48:56.182-05:00Infertility? - Part 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOtRXcsagFW3p3veP1XyWHyydae3jnvuerbuRzqIn0zWU_Dd5LVOTT2GRYJurMKUz4Id730D7nlKx1CfWNHlPsoEuvYZhahjJg9ttTbdIFES6dxHNY7WHe8itm9TPZRC4hVhvSJ2G7OcT6jT1p3g0qC5DMvOFVB4JseA9cpdOwYPfnAVcFo-8gCeNp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOtRXcsagFW3p3veP1XyWHyydae3jnvuerbuRzqIn0zWU_Dd5LVOTT2GRYJurMKUz4Id730D7nlKx1CfWNHlPsoEuvYZhahjJg9ttTbdIFES6dxHNY7WHe8itm9TPZRC4hVhvSJ2G7OcT6jT1p3g0qC5DMvOFVB4JseA9cpdOwYPfnAVcFo-8gCeNp" width="240" /></a></div><br />It is hard to believe that we have been having one negative pregnancy test after another for four years now. About two years ago I shared about our fertility journey publicly and was amazed by the encouragement, love and support we received (see previous blog post if interested). <p></p><p>The last two years since I initially shared about our fertility struggles have been full of so many emotions. We've had so much hope, as I previously shared about God's promise to us that we will one day have children, but also so much grief and bitter disappointment with every new cycle. We have gone to fertility specialists, completed four medicated cycles, four IUI's, and were seriously considering IVF when we learned about functional medicine fertility. We got connected with a couple of doctors online who started a program called Reimagined Fertility, which is a holistic approach to help couples get to the root of their fertility issues. We learned in their three month program that our health was not as good as we thought it was and we committed to sticking with it for a year. My gut health improved, my eczema disappeared, my cycles became regular, AJ lost 30 pounds and noticed a significant increase in energy, just to name a few benefits. So many of the other couples doing that same program conceived naturally, but why not us? </p><p>After some repeat labs, we discovered that due to high stress and high fevers in the prior six months, there were some key numbers that had not improved like we had hoped. That pushed us over the edge to seriously consider IVF again. We did not know how it would work logistically or financially, but we started researching. I was reminded of a fertility doctor from out of state that I went to church with right after college and decided to investigate his practice. We couldn't believe how much lower his prices were than all the other doctors we had looked into, but he also had good reviews and success rates. </p><p>I still had some uneasiness about it all and really did not want to do IVF unless God made it very clear. One day I published a random "fertility health" post on social media and an old family friend reached out and said that she would love to share her fertility journey with me. I had no idea where she lived, what she was doing, or basically anything about her current life. A couple weeks later we talked on the phone, and come to find out, she was treated by the same doctor that we were talking to! She told me how her whole journey with him had been so God-led, and couldn't say enough good about him. Tears filled my eyes as I realized that I had specifically prayed that very morning that God would give us extra confirmation if this was the path we should pursue. That was just the beginning of God opening all the doors for us to move forward. </p><p>Here we are at a point in our fertility journey that we never could have imagined. We are amazed at God's leading, excited and nervous to see what He is going to do. His promises never cease to give us encouragement. This morning He reminded me of some promises He gave me over two years ago:</p><p>"Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast; trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:1, 2, 7 "He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 113:9</p><p>One of the most valuable lessons I have learned through this journey is, that whenever I am in my darkest moments, if I open God's Word, He always speaks to me. I don't know what you may be going through, but I challenge you to try it. Before calling a friend or hopping on social media, spend a few minutes in prayer and reading your Bible (Psalms never fails, but pray that God will lead YOU to what He wants to share with you). We are so thankful for all of you who have supported, prayed for, and encouraged us. Only time will tell what the outcome of everything will be, but we trust that God has us on this journey for a reason. </p><p>To be continued...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqYNG1EOssFEx9P1Mnyme2EPbNdXrvxJbAQLdLtWHrIh9PuIia4BhhhO5iOBNAwMPwgkNcOCwOn9ADCnTiWzvkKC67YM5XxdWeuXmxzDEWN0E1wM00oMEmZQF3-UPHgss7hczbd8PG75piCcIc0evGIM4iMge5ObJdMCj6pMNXnjFsAUBgQWkuRRzQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqYNG1EOssFEx9P1Mnyme2EPbNdXrvxJbAQLdLtWHrIh9PuIia4BhhhO5iOBNAwMPwgkNcOCwOn9ADCnTiWzvkKC67YM5XxdWeuXmxzDEWN0E1wM00oMEmZQF3-UPHgss7hczbd8PG75piCcIc0evGIM4iMge5ObJdMCj6pMNXnjFsAUBgQWkuRRzQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-82267739998906459542021-10-04T16:48:00.003-04:002021-10-09T23:06:30.553-04:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Infertility?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1UhdXY4QVz8yRYm4GLKXmaJ4pA-ppSwkVSq-QwLbZD0RIaYL_1H-8yRYoursfUMVB9qLHKlXemXc5wDoU6pHQKRLWl_Wx2GRDiP00FnmiWt72VoPS-zfdYDDwg6NlZJeZHwMAgtEfA/s612/ndH0rzugcDsIUAXbjlpwwVosa7xtN9tJ_med.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="612" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1UhdXY4QVz8yRYm4GLKXmaJ4pA-ppSwkVSq-QwLbZD0RIaYL_1H-8yRYoursfUMVB9qLHKlXemXc5wDoU6pHQKRLWl_Wx2GRDiP00FnmiWt72VoPS-zfdYDDwg6NlZJeZHwMAgtEfA/s320/ndH0rzugcDsIUAXbjlpwwVosa7xtN9tJ_med.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p>Infertility seems to be little talked about. It is personal and sensitive. You don't know what to say. What if they cry? You hear about others who had a hard time getting pregnant, but you never expect it could someday be you or someone you love. </p>I was never one of those girls who would have dreams of being pregnant, nor was I dying to hold every baby around. I have a healthy respect for parenthood and have been around enough to know it's not all peaches and cream. Yet somehow I've always known I wanted to have at least 3-4 children, and when AJ and I got married it was something we definitely agreed on. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After enjoying marriage with just the two of us for a couple years, we decided it was time. It was a scary thing to stop preventing, but after much prayer and reading, we had peace about the decision. First month went by, negative. Second, third, fourth... Every month that went by put a stronger desire in our hearts for children. When tested towards the end of that first year, nothing major showed up on the tests, just a couple "minor" issues. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">About six months into our journey of trying to conceive, I was really praying that God would somehow let me know if we would never bare our own children so I could grieve and move on with life. Right after that prayer I picked up where I was reading in Psalms and read in Psalm 128:3, 6 "Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table... Yes, may you see your children's children..." I was encouraged. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSdCNt_r1nq3FMkoZKOD8mgbrapuBeu0iRRDsxLVlejgjq_m9vrFKuJ1YnF_rQZ5sKQbeclgBFrmtGWnR4c-Rs2S_nc_NPa2ePjs-CwsxprpRNzMJEQIyN0UnlzT_gmQD8wp3Y4M-oQ/s1080/01272018social_1600x.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSdCNt_r1nq3FMkoZKOD8mgbrapuBeu0iRRDsxLVlejgjq_m9vrFKuJ1YnF_rQZ5sKQbeclgBFrmtGWnR4c-Rs2S_nc_NPa2ePjs-CwsxprpRNzMJEQIyN0UnlzT_gmQD8wp3Y4M-oQ/w200-h200/01272018social_1600x.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">But the months kept slowly going by. More negative pregnancy tests, periods, and tears. Somehow God kept leading me to the right Bible promises just when most needed. "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord..." Psalm 130:5, 6 "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14 "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning". Ps. 30:5 </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After a year and a half and what seemed like an eternity, we finally had a positive pregnancy test! I had to take three tests to actually believe it was true. Were we really finally pregnant? W</span><span style="font-family: arial;">e were thrilled. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">AJ was gone on a short trip when we found out, and while he was still gone, we learned that I was having a miscarriage. We were encouraged to think that it was possible for us to get pregnant, yet at the same time completely heartbroken. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here we are, nearly two years from when we began trying to conceive. We are still waiting for God's timing. Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth name just a few of the women in the Bible who had to wait a long time for children. It will be well worth our wait if we can have children like theirs--Isaac, Samuel, & John who turned the world upside down for God. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I know there are so many others out there going through their own challenges, whether infertility, miscarriages, or something completely unrelated. God keeps reminding me, all things truly do work together for good. One day we will look back and it will all make sense. We wouldn't choose things to be different if we could see the end from the beginning. This is learning to walk by faith, NOT by sight. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I guess I personally don't talk to a ton of people face to face about this because I typically get emotional and that can get awkward for them. I'm not going to get upset if someone doesn't know exactly what to say. You can share your suggestions, although we've probably </span><span style="font-family: arial;">already</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> tried it! đ I am so thankful for a supportive husband, family, and friends. And thank you in advance for your prayers. For those out there going through a similar journey, know that you're not alone. First and foremost, Jesus is with you. Lastly, there are more of us going through it with you than you could have guessed. đ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYghLWKTX3Cionw361eCMmIhXFUeKXm1zSS-Vk_ihf7zgdKYGUQlQhshObtL5aiOEO7HjvEr94vCLss96GhDrTwqmYdMucC4tJQfUs2tig5SmTtUuuRpclzeHufNTD0tpCPB1IZhz2PQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYghLWKTX3Cionw361eCMmIhXFUeKXm1zSS-Vk_ihf7zgdKYGUQlQhshObtL5aiOEO7HjvEr94vCLss96GhDrTwqmYdMucC4tJQfUs2tig5SmTtUuuRpclzeHufNTD0tpCPB1IZhz2PQ/w266-h400/IMG_0265.heic" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p> </p>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-49520187054066116812016-05-04T16:08:00.002-04:002016-05-04T16:08:29.853-04:00Tribute to Nana<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Here</span> is <span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">something I posted 5 years ago.<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> I can't believe Nana has been gone <span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">that long </span>already. So man<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">y things I still wish I <span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">could <span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">share with her<span style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">.)</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The
first memories I have of you were the visits we made when you and
Grandpa lived in Libby, Montana. I loved seeing all of Grandpaâs rocks,
eating your yummy pies, and feeling your warm hugs. At some point in
time you both moved in with us and started the life of trekking back and
forth between Montana and Georgia. </span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">
</span></span>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">One
of my favorite pastimes throughout all the years was talking to you. At
any given time of any day, your door was open to whoever came knocking.
There was no secret that I ever kept from you, no fear that I didnât
share with you, and no joy that you werenât one of the first that I
wanted to tell it to. </span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We
spent year after year together, including one winter in the snow banks
of Montana, a car accident, heart breaks, laughs, playing games, and so
much more. When I was nine years old I was trying to decide what
instrument I wanted to learn when you told me you had always wanted one
of your grandchildren to play the violin. After weighing the options,
that one came out far above the rest and I began the long, torturous
journey of learning the violin. Day after day, week after week, you
would faithfully listen to me squeak and squawk. It was on Mothersâ Day
Sabbath that I played my first special music, your favorite hymn, âWhat a
Friend We Have in Jesusâ, with you and Phoebe. </span></div>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Your
favorite place to be was with young people, whether it was visiting us
at Oklahoma Academy, Southern, going to orchestra concerts, or cheering
at a Triathlon. You were ânanaâ to all my friends and made them feel
like your own grandchildren. Whether you were quietly observing in a
corner or sharing words of encouragement to a downcast friend, you were
always an active part in my life. </span></div>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">You
said you wanted to live until Phoebe and I got married. I told you that
you could pick my husband like Abrahamâs servant did for Isaac, but you
turned down the offer, assuring me that God would help me make that
decision. </span></div>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My
greatest fear about going as a student missionary this year to the
Philippines was that something would happen to you while I was gone, and
I know that you feared the same thing. You didnât want to let me go,
but you wouldnât have wanted me to do anything different. The most
important thing to you was to know that I was working for God. </span></div>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I
was in my hut on Sunday morning in the mountains when I first found out
you were in the hospital. I didnât know what to think, but from what I
heard you were responding well to the medications and would likely be
back home in a couple days. Monday night I got the news that you were
getting worse instead of better like they expected. Mom asked me if I
wanted to come homeâI didnât want to think that you were actually sick
enough that it would be necessary. The next morning I talked to mom
again and realized that you were really not going to last much longer
and I couldnât believe it. Tuesday afternoon I began the hike out of the
mountains. Wednesday I made it to the lowlands, drove four hours to the
capital, and flew to the main island where I spent the night. I was in
the hotel late that night when I found out that you had died. You had
died. I was in shock. I couldnât believe it. I couldnât believe I was
never going to feel your warm hug again. Never again would I feel your
soft hands. You could never again tell me how much you loved me. I could
never play my violin with you accompanying me on the piano again. Never
again could I come to you with my tears and joys. No more would your
prayers go before Godâs throne on my behalf. I slept about three hours
that night and began the 24-hour series of flights home. </span></div>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I
keep thinking that you will come in the door and sit down to play the
piano. I keep thinking the phone will ring and I will hear your voice on
the other end. But itâs not going to happen. You are sleeping
peacefully in the grave right now, and the next thing that you will see
is the face of Jesus. As the tears flow down my face and my heart
breaks, I canât help but praise God. For one, I have the assurance that I
will see you very soon when Jesus comes again. Also, there are not very
many people that have the privilege of loving someone as deeply as I
loved you. You were the most patient, kind, thoughtful, and selfless
person that I have ever met. Thank you for reflecting Godâs character to
me. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for loving me. </span></div>
<div style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">~Shama</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BtPVfk5T_nh4AKumckwnOCYokupKleg3AcDbcuBWZCm-DwbWarNcNuBX0eRqzRbSoDWrcbZOctEkJwmTFcxs1-zzcq5g_dbjS96ph7UXIMri5TOIQOvQyZaGapnu1-07FLYCxSFVcQ/s1600/Nana.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BtPVfk5T_nh4AKumckwnOCYokupKleg3AcDbcuBWZCm-DwbWarNcNuBX0eRqzRbSoDWrcbZOctEkJwmTFcxs1-zzcq5g_dbjS96ph7UXIMri5TOIQOvQyZaGapnu1-07FLYCxSFVcQ/s320/Nana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-56784983813439208762016-02-28T14:48:00.003-05:002016-02-28T14:48:50.819-05:00Phoebe & Ray's Wedding!<a href="http://www.theknot.com/us/phoebe-and-ray" target="_blank"><img alt="www.theknot.com/us/phoebe-and-ray" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0JcCHC7zMngnKx9TFD9cba2kS8tEKHOHM7hXsD2bV2imkxg7VIkim8twuNsHkYs1u4d80U2C7C9mnONuY2DLTH41WgfrQMvY5SzPINo0ZViMZKG4o2ct3AbU84k6PtxH2570AaTf-w/s640/us1.jpg" width="640" /></a>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-12128939127058652722015-10-22T17:31:00.000-04:002015-10-22T17:31:21.877-04:00Dear Mom...<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Mom, <br /><br />Itâs
hard to believe that itâs already been a year since your beloved
husband and our adored daddy passed away. One year ago today, we were
holding Dadâs hands when he took his last breath. The two months leading
up to that day were some of the most difficult, yet most precious
moments of my lifeâwatching Dad choke down his milk chocolate Ensure
because he couldnât down anything else, trying to get rid of his
constipation, helping him fix his pillow just perfect because he
couldnât raise his arms to fix it himself, helping him to the rocking
chair, to the bed, and back again, getting up with him at night to help
him use the bathroom or take more pain medicine, reading him stories, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">catching a
glimpse of what itâs like to come to grips with the thought of missing
out on the lives of your children and grandchildren, </span>talking
about life, love, and future plans, seeing the intense pain in his eyes
due to the bone cancer even though his words were only praises to God,
âŠ. Somehow I thought Dad would always be there to put his strong arms
around me and tell me, âYouâre my favorite ___ year old." That he would
always be there to wake me up in the morning with a kiss and a cheerful
voice saying, âItâs the first day towards the Sabbath! Have you spent
time with your Best Friend, Jesus today?â I always thought Dad would be
there to share his corny jokes, his passionate mission stories, his
words of wisdom. I thought he would be there to get to know any
potential interests and give his input, to walk me down the isle, and
even to train my children how to <i>really</i> work. But no⊠Now he is
gone. He is resting in the grave until Jesus comes. Iâll never forget
those last couple agonizing days, watching him labor for every breath.
Yet, somehow he had peace on his face. He was ready to go. He told me he
was ready to go. I <i>know</i> he was ready to go.<br /><br />We have now
made it through our first year without Dad. There have been ups and
downs. There have been some laughs, but many tears. Our tendency as
humans is to question Godâs character when facing difficulties. The only
time we say âGod is goodâ is when we find our keys or someone is healed
of their terminal illness. But who are we to be exempt from the
heartaches of this sinful world? Do we judge God based off of the
circumstances around us? I choose to praise God for the loss of Dad. It
doesnât take away the pain I feel or diminish how much I miss him. It
simply shows that I trust God because I <i>know</i> Him. I know that God
gives strength for every trial and that one day sin and sorrow will be
no more. Dad is safe in the arms of Jesus, sleeping until the
resurrection when we will be reunited for eternity. In the meantime, we
have a legacy to carry on and a work to do. Dad was the greatest
missionary I ever knew, and with Godâs help, we can only pick up where
he left off. <br /><br />Mom, you are reading this letter where we spread
Dadâs ashes and read his last words to us a year ago. Tears are rolling
down my face as I remember⊠And I know your heart is breaking, too. I
just want to thank you for being a strong rock in my life. Thank you for
picking up and carrying on even when you don't want to. Thank you for
trusting the heart of God even when you canât understand. One day soon
we will be reunited as a family, never to part again. I love you so much
and am so thankful for you. <br /><br />With Much Love, <br />Shama</span>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-24914139373271918832015-05-07T13:01:00.000-04:002015-05-12T12:55:40.455-04:00Daddy's Hands<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"ïŒïŒł ææ";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"ïŒïŒł ææ";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"ïŒïŒł ææ";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"ïŒïŒł ææ";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">âWhat do I do, what do I do?!â Dad rushed in helplessly
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">âWash your hands, quick!â Mom gasped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">âCross your legs!â</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">âHurry! The babyâs coming!â</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dad came running into the room with his hands still sopping
wet just in time to catch me as I made my entrance into the world. It was in
Daddyâs hands that I took my first breath. That was the first moment of
twenty-six years spent with the most incredible dad I could have ever imagined
or hoped for, and a lifetime of beautiful memories. Although I will make a
feeble attempt, words are simply inadequate to express what my dad truly meant
to me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have never met someone with hands as strong as my dadâs.
They were not strong without reason, as he was also the hardest-working man I
have ever met. He never sat around with nothing to do, but always had a
never-ending list of jobs to accomplish. He expected his children to do their
share of the work around the house as well. If our pets hadnât eaten breakfast,
neither could we. âIf you donât work, you donât eatâ, he would always tell us.
We learned at a very young age how to clean the bathroom, pull weeds, pick
rocks, fertilize blueberries, dig postholes, and the list could go on and on. He
would be out there with us, teaching us and helping us. If we forgot to put our
tools away or close the gates where the horses might get out, he would get us
up when he got home, no matter what time of night it was, to finish the job. It
was by the guidance of my dadâs hands that I truly learned work ethic and responsibility.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dad was not all about work, although sometimes I felt like
he was. He also taught me to play and have fun. Sometimes we would go snow
skiing for family vacation. In the summer we would get the canoes down to the
reservoir and go to the nearby islands for the afternoon, during which time he
taught me how to steer. He taught me how to saddle and ride a horse, how to
build a fire on our camping trips, how to identify the trees on our hikes, and
how to live each day to the fullest. It was by the example of how my dad used
his hands that I was taught to love and appreciate genuine, edifying fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even though I was his fifth and last child, Dad still had
enough love for me. He expressed his love in so many ways, even though it was
not always perceived as love at that time. He was ready to discipline when
necessary, ready to give a hug when needed, and he always had a listening ear
and a word of wisdom. There were times when personalities would clash or
feelings would be hurt, but he was always ready to say âIâm sorryâ and make
things right. Dadâs hand, whether in discipline or affection, taught me the
value of true love. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dad was the most self-sacrificing, unselfish person I have
ever met. He went far beyond what was required of him. He was always ready to
buy food for the homeless man on the street, give a job to a friend in need, or
help a student through school. Dadâs hand of generosity taught me the truth of
the words, âIt is more blessed to give than to receiveâ. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dad wasnât one of the most theological people with all the
right answers, but somehow I have never known anyone to be a more faithful
missionary than he was. Dad gave literature to everyone he met, regardless of
the situation. Mission stories always thrilled him to the core and we got to go
on our first mission trip as a family when I was nine. No matter what, we
always had family worship every morning and evening, besides which he would
daily ask if we had spent quiet time with our best friend, Jesus. There are
innumerable people who share <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i>
God, yet not many who truly know Him for themselves and live what they preach. My
dad made mistakes and was definitely not perfect, but he was what I consider to
have been a true missionary. Because of what he did with his hands and not only
his mouth, he instilled in me the same longing to be a missionary. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was privileged to be one of those caring for my dad during
his last couple months of life. Although it was two of the most difficult
months of my life, I would not trade them for anything. Sometimes he would be
in tears due to the pain of the cancer in his bones, but when asked how he was
doing, his response was always, âpraising the Lord.â When all that was left of
him was bones with skin stretched over them and he was racked with pain, his
primary concern was still for those around him. He hated for us to have to care
for him when he was so used to being the one helping everyone else, yet he
never failed to express his appreciation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eventually he got to the point where he could barely respond
to us verbally; his breathing got faster and heavier. Then the hospice nurse
told us it wouldnât be long. Dad had been such an integral part of my life. How
could I let him go? The night before he died, we all gathered around his bed
and sang song after song. After one of his favorites I asked, âDad, wasnât that
beautiful?â and I noted a slight nod of his head. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the wee hours of the morning on October 22, 2014, we
again gathered around Dadâs bed. He was gasping for each breath; it seemed like
an eternity between each one. Intense pain flooded my heart. Yet at the same
time, I had peace. I knew Dad was right with God. I knew the promises in the
Bibleâthat my dad would sleep and that he wouldnât know anything until the
second coming of Jesus, when all of the dead in Christ will be raised from the
dead and will meet in the air those who are living righteously. I took Dadâs
hand. I resolved in my heart that day by day, with Godâs help, I would live up
to all Dad taught me, all that he dreamed for me. I would be among those who
would meet him in the clouds at Christâs soon coming⊠Dad took another small
breath. It was followed by silence. His heart was no longer beating. What a
privilege that Daddy was holding me in his hands when I took my first breathe,
and mine were among those holding him when he took his last. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIoWSVQ0Izz9ddCcI5w_t-mOuJ31EWlA42TKGKbjHBqogA0f2ZEhKF5FXLGyfKaDr50c6DmqEsQi35Rdqkm2EO931rwh43dqH7d695Ls7zb-DF-Fpf2W0rZS7fcGkk7PKXOGUvtzfHQ/s320/544940_10204201740018255_277797406321676156_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some things never change!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DLTrGzDQk70cKJDs7KEFaN77pP9cMaxZ3uTA8RaQlE1co_bhaBWdh43y9FX4oE5xyVVChdjRhyphenhyphen-dVTq6SPU78qtiNZ03nG3F8c5Cq6kKugqHOgtAFVHvdldPgFlaaIwJjEzIX283nw/s1600/10917050_10152887209869039_2639821118997780092_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DLTrGzDQk70cKJDs7KEFaN77pP9cMaxZ3uTA8RaQlE1co_bhaBWdh43y9FX4oE5xyVVChdjRhyphenhyphen-dVTq6SPU78qtiNZ03nG3F8c5Cq6kKugqHOgtAFVHvdldPgFlaaIwJjEzIX283nw/s320/10917050_10152887209869039_2639821118997780092_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-34002741471203956192014-11-02T23:10:00.000-05:002014-11-02T23:10:27.389-05:00DaddyThere are many emotions in my heart. Words do not flow, although many tears do. My Daddy was laid to rest on October 22, 2014. I had the privilege of being one of those holding him when he took his last breath, and I had the privilege of him holding me when I took my first breath (since the midwives didn't get there in time). Thank you to each of those who loved Dad so much, as well as those who have been so supportive of us as we mourn our loss. Enjoy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU_IfhFnClU" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Daddy's Slideshow</a>, created by Phoebe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRFH8uygjUUp1PUQjhqbZpQk0f9QeSmqrPsmPSbyXD-ipkg8sEpyRki1l65w39F6_cWDjgm2kzJd_rtet8o5N3m3fsVBVJ448Y9evemfyDJou2vlBggooDPoF0s-hK6T389mP3houDw/s1600/IMG_8288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRFH8uygjUUp1PUQjhqbZpQk0f9QeSmqrPsmPSbyXD-ipkg8sEpyRki1l65w39F6_cWDjgm2kzJd_rtet8o5N3m3fsVBVJ448Y9evemfyDJou2vlBggooDPoF0s-hK6T389mP3houDw/s1600/IMG_8288.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<br />shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-78765442496469052502014-01-07T22:06:00.000-05:002015-10-22T17:02:17.037-04:00NewThere have been many new things that have happened in my life since I last blogged, and I have wanted to write lengthy, detailed blogs for so many of them, but I will just give a brief synopsis of a few of them instead.<br />
<br />
I led canvassing for my first time in Central California this summer and was immensely blessed. We had an incredible team and many powerful experiences.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqF8C_a-tka8iRsQE5SeJW9_9jXAujdrNDAiUnP3EHtahP4t0j2cCE9ZqTAnDzMope9di8ZOsBSYQx7hSOvnGpDCrmEalP0xymXoHHZl3JIEaKBSnyohg1u70XQoKpEP5eZJ1PAbnR2w/s1600/IMG_1653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqF8C_a-tka8iRsQE5SeJW9_9jXAujdrNDAiUnP3EHtahP4t0j2cCE9ZqTAnDzMope9di8ZOsBSYQx7hSOvnGpDCrmEalP0xymXoHHZl3JIEaKBSnyohg1u70XQoKpEP5eZJ1PAbnR2w/s1600/IMG_1653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc15jSuiGXGsZyhpWPdusHMnx0PhsJ1Td359I7CQSIrwVWMmwV2IlVK3bQGtxWXciBL5vkemM7zo8h2le7hyphenhyphen2_19lB3CbWQtGtJQuh8415DYHYwkzfGoHheOS9PP7OD6gx-Bjxrl4fwA/s1600/IMG_2105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc15jSuiGXGsZyhpWPdusHMnx0PhsJ1Td359I7CQSIrwVWMmwV2IlVK3bQGtxWXciBL5vkemM7zo8h2le7hyphenhyphen2_19lB3CbWQtGtJQuh8415DYHYwkzfGoHheOS9PP7OD6gx-Bjxrl4fwA/s1600/IMG_2105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We had a family reunion this summer--something that had not happened for 8 years. Our family has grown since the last time we were all together!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeEevG7Zvw0KMlqpLF6M2Uu50fMcqB2VB5b-pMdDiyIzdFmMQ0gOx9SwaJoTaMg8lB3fUye0jjrYRCYW_MZ3y8PeLDikNmkQnU88mWDE1upqsKwhLM6xXYF6GvstgExCdbxCaOy195g/s1600/DSC_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeEevG7Zvw0KMlqpLF6M2Uu50fMcqB2VB5b-pMdDiyIzdFmMQ0gOx9SwaJoTaMg8lB3fUye0jjrYRCYW_MZ3y8PeLDikNmkQnU88mWDE1upqsKwhLM6xXYF6GvstgExCdbxCaOy195g/s1600/DSC_0160.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbU6pAx31jf5DplG2UsgdPAVi8AxfXfSb6_cmjZ51ZtC6OouTjVzgr2448akYVKcAFH9qZ9W8e6YMa104X3f1CXwsN4-cadcQ76Kd98BZbyKcABjVybcF3WPNuQzyIBwNpn2Cqx54Jw/s1600/DSC_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbU6pAx31jf5DplG2UsgdPAVi8AxfXfSb6_cmjZ51ZtC6OouTjVzgr2448akYVKcAFH9qZ9W8e6YMa104X3f1CXwsN4-cadcQ76Kd98BZbyKcABjVybcF3WPNuQzyIBwNpn2Cqx54Jw/s1600/DSC_0117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I completed my very first quilt! A rag quilt. Much thanks to my dear sister-in-law, Becca, who gave me much assistance, as well as my mom. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIvTgmOBTOLAHCGv-d-BMphjlqbmdUBMu6Cjjria6taLqyjhA1YFFVZy71KA302lcf3yjEeTqpiisYVHvIZsHMFFwNAtZ3cyzrcMeTgK829gY0zuiv25uSMLZymEWFyDSpoxkBTbWQA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIvTgmOBTOLAHCGv-d-BMphjlqbmdUBMu6Cjjria6taLqyjhA1YFFVZy71KA302lcf3yjEeTqpiisYVHvIZsHMFFwNAtZ3cyzrcMeTgK829gY0zuiv25uSMLZymEWFyDSpoxkBTbWQA/s1600/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I visited Guam for 3 weeks. It's a beautiful island! I got my Open Water Scuba Diving certification. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VbS9ookko19wnJDnXhVwOwKgZdT9owDkNfqVzFPhmO_QWvAW-lIQo0DlkYVwMMJHdWzZugiSkOyyjs9uFPSSg2slbUhfEzLrmW2WtzHjfthQ1_OOiGojEFXcSAI2kato53nkZEZcDg/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VbS9ookko19wnJDnXhVwOwKgZdT9owDkNfqVzFPhmO_QWvAW-lIQo0DlkYVwMMJHdWzZugiSkOyyjs9uFPSSg2slbUhfEzLrmW2WtzHjfthQ1_OOiGojEFXcSAI2kato53nkZEZcDg/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now the journeys of my life are taking me to California to work for the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. I will be recruiting for the summer canvassing programs, working with <a href="http://glowonline.org/" target="_blank">GLOW</a>, and learning to give Bible studies on the side. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't know yet what other new things I will encounter in the coming months and years, but whatever ups and downs come, I'm eager to face them with Jesus by my side. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-30598249357560139302013-05-02T15:24:00.000-04:002013-05-02T15:24:08.406-04:00Planting TreesMy dad owned a tree planting business for many, many years. Eller & Sons Trees, Inc. They planted for paper companies all over the states. He started long before I was born and didn't stop until just a few years ago. The one thing that he spends and always has spent the greatest portion of his income on was helping others. Literature for strangers. Motels for the homeless. Food for the hungry. Support for missionaries. And my mom supports and encourages him in it. Their hearts are the most generous I know. This song, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBAHHFQAr54">Planting Trees</a>, makes me think of my parents. How thankful I am for them. I hope to plant many trees, too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmbTTy7zxDXscdlq3rjfUglJkSW5gRR5beADMP63ky3RuCmOoRKC7EBKOT5I43B6Q8Jvg2-KJSczjBUiLOaReZGMqfSZrb5mph-TB7xCZ5-Yo3roO0Ty-MTjE5-wF0WJzD_3Gy-W_nw/s1600/loblolly-pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmbTTy7zxDXscdlq3rjfUglJkSW5gRR5beADMP63ky3RuCmOoRKC7EBKOT5I43B6Q8Jvg2-KJSczjBUiLOaReZGMqfSZrb5mph-TB7xCZ5-Yo3roO0Ty-MTjE5-wF0WJzD_3Gy-W_nw/s320/loblolly-pine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-24562543002904626182013-04-24T09:47:00.001-04:002013-04-24T09:47:52.413-04:00Only Jesus Can SatisfyHere you can listen to one of my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dotJ7MVZnqE">new favorite songs</a>.shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-42196128964390247612013-03-23T23:37:00.000-04:002013-03-23T23:37:32.983-04:00CaitlinThe first time I saw her she was playing the piano at a meeting in the spring of 2007. After the meeting, I found out that Caitlin was a nursing student at Southern and played violin in the orchestra, both of which I planned to do the following school year. Something about Caitlin drew me to her, probably the same thing that drew so many others to her. Was it her smile? Maybe it was her genuine kindness, or the love that seemed to flow out of her every move. Later that spring, we went to hear Southern's orchestra perform, and there she was again--principal chair of the second violins. She played with such enthusiasm, as if she would not rather be anywhere else in the world.<br />
<br />
When I began attending Southern in the fall, I soon found myself enjoying the blessings of Caitlin's friendship. I started going to the flagpole early every morning for prayer with the group she helped start. I got to play in the orchestra with her, go on weekend trips, travel throughout Europe, sing, pray, exercise, talk, and the list could go on. She always showed the deepest, and at times, most undeserving love.<br />
<br />
We worked together at Camp Cherokee with the horses, life guarding, and one summer were even co-counselors. She had such a beautiful way with the campers, always exhibiting gentleness and love. One of the highlights of sharing a cabin with her was singing together to the campers while they fell asleep at night. I wish I could remember all the lullabies she knew.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WewYGMizxOXFz_D9HyrzsWR5AJrxSACtQ4LKhhEDxTwV7xu9A_SvLp3dom7JPNmA9-yMgRsc53Cf7tyQO-ssCDWsV6sWfSF36YO2jLlUNwCSezwfS3AetSapTTq0s61VeZ3puxZ6hQ/s1600/Lifeguarding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WewYGMizxOXFz_D9HyrzsWR5AJrxSACtQ4LKhhEDxTwV7xu9A_SvLp3dom7JPNmA9-yMgRsc53Cf7tyQO-ssCDWsV6sWfSF36YO2jLlUNwCSezwfS3AetSapTTq0s61VeZ3puxZ6hQ/s200/Lifeguarding.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hrDPa3OPU8dxPXqTiKJEYv6ioPEhmPiUOAlAVnHY5zJ61DtTnKQz8LiGk2DSNdDludP_uqaaTsG-ltpTfsbYV1Cr_5ixgpvArrPcWCpjctgiXf_ihVNndfPJ10vHDLIWi89C8190gQ/s1600/Caitlin+Horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hrDPa3OPU8dxPXqTiKJEYv6ioPEhmPiUOAlAVnHY5zJ61DtTnKQz8LiGk2DSNdDludP_uqaaTsG-ltpTfsbYV1Cr_5ixgpvArrPcWCpjctgiXf_ihVNndfPJ10vHDLIWi89C8190gQ/s320/Caitlin+Horses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Caitlin went as a student missionary to Brazil, and when I decided to spend a year in the mountains of the Philippines, she was one of my biggest fans. Caitlin and Jen would sit down with me and help me make lists of things I would need and ways to prepare. Caitlin then decided to make me a couple skirts for my work in the mountains (pictured below). Without the use of patterns, she effortlessly made me two skirts and mailed them to my parents' home the day before I flew out. The next morning when I was in the airport on my way overseas, I got a call from Jen saying that Caitlin was in the hospital. They took her in after she started vomiting blood, and diagnosed her with a very aggresive esophageal cancer. They weren't even sure if she would make it through the night. We praised God that she did.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rxAwlGtxK3m0ejAWhX5HQNgyRNRQpJx7x-F6y0schXsz1gGbo4TUg65R64lPY03QV4KBhsZKHGbwg_lrQs64-qB5ZKggFQynZCDzDnb0LOjgFh7tx10vUcWixStLy-EUUYVY8lim_g/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rxAwlGtxK3m0ejAWhX5HQNgyRNRQpJx7x-F6y0schXsz1gGbo4TUg65R64lPY03QV4KBhsZKHGbwg_lrQs64-qB5ZKggFQynZCDzDnb0LOjgFh7tx10vUcWixStLy-EUUYVY8lim_g/s320/IMG_1332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was a difficult year for Caitlin as she went through cancer treatments, and difficult for me being so far away. We were so thankful for the period of time afterwards when she was cancer free. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2012 the cancer was discovered to have returned with a vengeance. She decided not to do chemotherapy again, but instead to do a naturopathic route. On March 21, 2013, God allowed Caitlin to rest in peace. Never did she complain, never did she ask God, "Why me?"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
So young, so talented, so dedicated. "Why her?", so many of us ask. While on this earth, we may never really understand why, but we can praise God that He is the ultimate conqueror. We <i>will </i>meet Caitlin again, she <i>will</i> play her violin again, run through the woods picking wild flowers, wrap us in her arms of love, open a listening ear, flash her contagious smile. She is sleeping peacefully in Jesus right now, and the next thing we know, we will meet her in the clouds of heaven. But until then, she is deeply missed. Oh Jesus, come quickly!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5Q2IIXhvtkogBR5F2FRhsqxU2A-5eDvLSBIb4OQTK_aqozO7mxb4Tg1IXkJP5pzXuY8K9KB2Oz6psUTPawsWtuplx9z9_GNY5tXNUpJrtVCH1NUPX3CBiVqs3v-b_87yuezMwH_5Mg/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5Q2IIXhvtkogBR5F2FRhsqxU2A-5eDvLSBIb4OQTK_aqozO7mxb4Tg1IXkJP5pzXuY8K9KB2Oz6psUTPawsWtuplx9z9_GNY5tXNUpJrtVCH1NUPX3CBiVqs3v-b_87yuezMwH_5Mg/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-60547487682197943792013-02-28T12:35:00.000-05:002013-02-28T12:35:43.813-05:00Belize<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">It was more than awesome to visit Belize for a couple weeks and spend time with family and friends. The pictures give a small glimpse of all there was to do. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuthwA4yF9XkUC7vSctS4jl1N3CeRODxoMtFI6PSBO8bZl2V-MdrB7C8VZyM9oDwygiWEy6KY9YYrWPeOIv4Rr1zIPmz-5wUV-bO3o-3IuoY7rx0A-i7ejZuA3RPENtKAiY4hw1mNgzA/s1600/IMG_5550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuthwA4yF9XkUC7vSctS4jl1N3CeRODxoMtFI6PSBO8bZl2V-MdrB7C8VZyM9oDwygiWEy6KY9YYrWPeOIv4Rr1zIPmz-5wUV-bO3o-3IuoY7rx0A-i7ejZuA3RPENtKAiY4hw1mNgzA/s320/IMG_5550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJJehkiaymC5fZMyTu1dqX8CC_LYGF0BKLVUMa7uOa3uCfJcJ9KbbiA5bX0iH8cLW4LEpFp-467eVxVWZx3fI1Jdi77JYiXjJ278nP5stTGCXN7Na_fkyLuOCuAsBYB7CtTIq8IsL3g/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJJehkiaymC5fZMyTu1dqX8CC_LYGF0BKLVUMa7uOa3uCfJcJ9KbbiA5bX0iH8cLW4LEpFp-467eVxVWZx3fI1Jdi77JYiXjJ278nP5stTGCXN7Na_fkyLuOCuAsBYB7CtTIq8IsL3g/s200/IMG_0937.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The girls' house to be finished</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqyGnPXIpWcee56wYK-vPUTjIbGhMOYXNQZ0sPuX3GxJvCE2ieSTXxf922V2KslR6oA3dal-JIjQ3qDvDjcCEEdNeAavCx8FhAvlITYRQeFpG9Bf07l_gfKGRUkloFKnCvjfWlagaXA/s1600/IMG_0959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqyGnPXIpWcee56wYK-vPUTjIbGhMOYXNQZ0sPuX3GxJvCE2ieSTXxf922V2KslR6oA3dal-JIjQ3qDvDjcCEEdNeAavCx8FhAvlITYRQeFpG9Bf07l_gfKGRUkloFKnCvjfWlagaXA/s320/IMG_0959.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lots and lots of onions to be weeded</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0OdWhfa5OkW4vI0srmbKXUUQPeVYNw7Zyh0j1VaOgLQU5SqftLWhCOOY1bdhDmfz-_eK7haF9mFaOzm9TpRADfG7kEEBxuROrpmZesBWaTneX8jhDNpR29mT-ZW0bv2S3pt7nfLvBQ/s1600/IMG_0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0OdWhfa5OkW4vI0srmbKXUUQPeVYNw7Zyh0j1VaOgLQU5SqftLWhCOOY1bdhDmfz-_eK7haF9mFaOzm9TpRADfG7kEEBxuROrpmZesBWaTneX8jhDNpR29mT-ZW0bv2S3pt7nfLvBQ/s400/IMG_0922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Flowers to smell</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOwlsAZJacTUECrXs642UheoiMhAT23JvqbEnxFrA-zrVrwbyaDGNc5pncaUwUlXHBs-iOBIV_3NL04tV10RsgCtNGpNBLHSpm_RiOxCE_Odf8KIgfImhB3muSJc_P1LQN6mMqFOr5Q/s1600/IMG_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOwlsAZJacTUECrXs642UheoiMhAT23JvqbEnxFrA-zrVrwbyaDGNc5pncaUwUlXHBs-iOBIV_3NL04tV10RsgCtNGpNBLHSpm_RiOxCE_Odf8KIgfImhB3muSJc_P1LQN6mMqFOr5Q/s320/IMG_0916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Birds to see</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucLezCYnqlDN2ink8Kw1qXAIPufHA1nsuPz1AyfUYaNg2Q6hSsHQFFvyhJAzORO5RhFC8CAnkV1xThQ1zfZwpPnbnk1WbTpZu-QKCDOmxzyxaiaB_igbpsahkecChzwYgPZFZzjimcw/s1600/IMG_5455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucLezCYnqlDN2ink8Kw1qXAIPufHA1nsuPz1AyfUYaNg2Q6hSsHQFFvyhJAzORO5RhFC8CAnkV1xThQ1zfZwpPnbnk1WbTpZu-QKCDOmxzyxaiaB_igbpsahkecChzwYgPZFZzjimcw/s320/IMG_5455.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbH4k-ITiTdVDPOZ37aswuYo-Q9YeFzYfTkBfU1SnCVnF-BvrrVQM7f5u-9OzYhrjfT4rIqO3z19iNm0FQgbLRbymMFV3ocIsU7yE_Hbi_2p7028Uam_EHmvO5O_lBxSiZ7odp7bWbg/s1600/IMG_5568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbH4k-ITiTdVDPOZ37aswuYo-Q9YeFzYfTkBfU1SnCVnF-BvrrVQM7f5u-9OzYhrjfT4rIqO3z19iNm0FQgbLRbymMFV3ocIsU7yE_Hbi_2p7028Uam_EHmvO5O_lBxSiZ7odp7bWbg/s320/IMG_5568.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYjnnEOMgIg4qKalRdj_3lRhiqmhZ9FlgQr3b0xouZZKMmbl5tyTDN4KWTWVQ6t5mkf3VfpCUYpsm-z8xvZrtRG9EZWScSOqYa7bSlmqT3pZbx1Nny1q5t3Yu504E_pxVlAtHja2avg/s1600/IMG_5462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYjnnEOMgIg4qKalRdj_3lRhiqmhZ9FlgQr3b0xouZZKMmbl5tyTDN4KWTWVQ6t5mkf3VfpCUYpsm-z8xvZrtRG9EZWScSOqYa7bSlmqT3pZbx1Nny1q5t3Yu504E_pxVlAtHja2avg/s320/IMG_5462.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kids to play with</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG6TisOenInN9jzI8uqZEHhQPQWyP4ORE1cXpwutM7Q8lcmMsdb7imRurKl-bxooUlCxMtZ52aturt35CUgNSGtHo5SZT3ZIV-ro3av2wxi9N-4Dpj9RpUBqXEukjrpFH9XtNvENtWg/s1600/IMG_5739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG6TisOenInN9jzI8uqZEHhQPQWyP4ORE1cXpwutM7Q8lcmMsdb7imRurKl-bxooUlCxMtZ52aturt35CUgNSGtHo5SZT3ZIV-ro3av2wxi9N-4Dpj9RpUBqXEukjrpFH9XtNvENtWg/s320/IMG_5739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Markets to visit</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYkEOUzCtMEVBvQYATOlClSBFmKExmiKd5w8l4aHozSyW6C0TldyYu7I7idg33IQN00dvl6DteJNTBLtDGl7eOiwInWDIT1Lfp7ohq95dnYYlwNeVq-PQGmsUSAHYrYJ9vNEmzDs60g/s1600/IMG_5560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYkEOUzCtMEVBvQYATOlClSBFmKExmiKd5w8l4aHozSyW6C0TldyYu7I7idg33IQN00dvl6DteJNTBLtDGl7eOiwInWDIT1Lfp7ohq95dnYYlwNeVq-PQGmsUSAHYrYJ9vNEmzDs60g/s200/IMG_5560.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Coconuts to shred</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT23uko719TpYZiq2NIHPEjijUnMeq0-cZ9Pm1kx3REdb74vi_FVHmL_f1cAj3yQtj2NuS5Vep-QlD9kgKDz1CfW_b_9nXKCZKsDGK04ckeMTFiHR4nEuV66gqrnDC4aEgBbtxJDxYLw/s1600/IMG_0997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT23uko719TpYZiq2NIHPEjijUnMeq0-cZ9Pm1kx3REdb74vi_FVHmL_f1cAj3yQtj2NuS5Vep-QlD9kgKDz1CfW_b_9nXKCZKsDGK04ckeMTFiHR4nEuV66gqrnDC4aEgBbtxJDxYLw/s200/IMG_0997.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLwzTSDSrf5gp7M1wjkuVC9tk-9ns_WAzLocGBbTY-a54_HGqhuRkv2sPFRm0opQOg2rYM3DeA3Qa1rUf6qQSujvPsu4_o1oZn91WTJhzScsQrjhD6FpEFto47wUUJQOp7Ahvhls20w/s1600/IMG_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLwzTSDSrf5gp7M1wjkuVC9tk-9ns_WAzLocGBbTY-a54_HGqhuRkv2sPFRm0opQOg2rYM3DeA3Qa1rUf6qQSujvPsu4_o1oZn91WTJhzScsQrjhD6FpEFto47wUUJQOp7Ahvhls20w/s200/IMG_1010.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNAV5j5Dw1kNRyD_o1rDx80eAtbWcWPB6E07f3EevP4HYX5tlg5YygB58V576kPf_8VreAJ202c0b6SCedi1-CHMVGAjMF3o8qcsXhF9-UuFNTPm6vPnjrmX6GQGf8_l_u8SM269a0w/s1600/IMG_5843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNAV5j5Dw1kNRyD_o1rDx80eAtbWcWPB6E07f3EevP4HYX5tlg5YygB58V576kPf_8VreAJ202c0b6SCedi1-CHMVGAjMF3o8qcsXhF9-UuFNTPm6vPnjrmX6GQGf8_l_u8SM269a0w/s320/IMG_5843.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWDrXfK6TmtJKn5UdVsnTzR2MVzkJyTfTZsJkgXksfWaf0uswdg1iJN40P3LixVI01kq1ebZUxqVNxhW8Nu-bzKpozPhT_cBcy0dQ4Pn6Ub6f_a0Z6bh35Y3UO6a0xQmwUoJf5CFmFg/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWDrXfK6TmtJKn5UdVsnTzR2MVzkJyTfTZsJkgXksfWaf0uswdg1iJN40P3LixVI01kq1ebZUxqVNxhW8Nu-bzKpozPhT_cBcy0dQ4Pn6Ub6f_a0Z6bh35Y3UO6a0xQmwUoJf5CFmFg/s640/IMG_5606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXv8CasEcwwj5b4mlMVJacrdEhp3eH7cXkl4BXvYVHR_LEGmiaewQMJvkvb9nFGkJ5TNPDb2cebredFdDdqA8sEacFNJhVstD9syHpSIljT02uo0f4d686ViZeqyyU8dQXGpeWzhSLdw/s1600/IMG_5449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiqpHaNCClxvNGcNrF2T74v33aUX3gS0AgI5gYEP6iH5J9L5gTz2b0upKj3jvkKHUktnd4Y51_cuD3MhbISUbZ_lD0sdrFBSXkObdYMrECgkJgx58ybdOOiS0IlBAvCi7u8FOoelL1A/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiqpHaNCClxvNGcNrF2T74v33aUX3gS0AgI5gYEP6iH5J9L5gTz2b0upKj3jvkKHUktnd4Y51_cuD3MhbISUbZ_lD0sdrFBSXkObdYMrECgkJgx58ybdOOiS0IlBAvCi7u8FOoelL1A/s400/IMG_5680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXv8CasEcwwj5b4mlMVJacrdEhp3eH7cXkl4BXvYVHR_LEGmiaewQMJvkvb9nFGkJ5TNPDb2cebredFdDdqA8sEacFNJhVstD9syHpSIljT02uo0f4d686ViZeqyyU8dQXGpeWzhSLdw/s1600/IMG_5449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXv8CasEcwwj5b4mlMVJacrdEhp3eH7cXkl4BXvYVHR_LEGmiaewQMJvkvb9nFGkJ5TNPDb2cebredFdDdqA8sEacFNJhVstD9syHpSIljT02uo0f4d686ViZeqyyU8dQXGpeWzhSLdw/s320/IMG_5449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeY4w9a8tUiWUWx4mMoqvLt2zGUtep665WcCMiigIfASSr3lfG4JWUlqBP2kECf3qEVtPyjGRYLIu15ND2i-y5ZA2-FskjdM9iGGZig8T4TthWjR4WNKei7Tp-knrMy0FooRhuJRF5Q/s1600/IMG_0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeY4w9a8tUiWUWx4mMoqvLt2zGUtep665WcCMiigIfASSr3lfG4JWUlqBP2kECf3qEVtPyjGRYLIu15ND2i-y5ZA2-FskjdM9iGGZig8T4TthWjR4WNKei7Tp-knrMy0FooRhuJRF5Q/s320/IMG_0902.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friends to spend time with</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIxRw4fxhe-RMsD8e4xD_Bgz2Cp74HJy4eSFBYRa3YSeUZnObh9C4GnI5gaox_-yDPpVZwwp5ZU3fBsD8jXw1p5bxg6NNrdCoA-_n39YLVCzgu1Sg8U-7ns3TqQio5MW4aoTmZBDKAQ/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIxRw4fxhe-RMsD8e4xD_Bgz2Cp74HJy4eSFBYRa3YSeUZnObh9C4GnI5gaox_-yDPpVZwwp5ZU3fBsD8jXw1p5bxg6NNrdCoA-_n39YLVCzgu1Sg8U-7ns3TqQio5MW4aoTmZBDKAQ/s400/IMG_1118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rivers to swim in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5ac-LU1iTCpF6aWdRzSXGMW9Vv0bEiL75gqUSk_2LwpvHcBe5psj_W0-_kdz3_N5tVg653ReVQhO3QwSZBd_SWtD3VhLclHhArYtkZ1aIn5imT5E_SDmJRDxWrMpb6t0VvL4yfJwKw/s1600/IMG_5625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5ac-LU1iTCpF6aWdRzSXGMW9Vv0bEiL75gqUSk_2LwpvHcBe5psj_W0-_kdz3_N5tVg653ReVQhO3QwSZBd_SWtD3VhLclHhArYtkZ1aIn5imT5E_SDmJRDxWrMpb6t0VvL4yfJwKw/s200/IMG_5625.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
Stingrays to swim with</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeY4w9a8tUiWUWx4mMoqvLt2zGUtep665WcCMiigIfASSr3lfG4JWUlqBP2kECf3qEVtPyjGRYLIu15ND2i-y5ZA2-FskjdM9iGGZig8T4TthWjR4WNKei7Tp-knrMy0FooRhuJRF5Q/s1600/IMG_0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0OdWhfa5OkW4vI0srmbKXUUQPeVYNw7Zyh0j1VaOgLQU5SqftLWhCOOY1bdhDmfz-_eK7haF9mFaOzm9TpRADfG7kEEBxuROrpmZesBWaTneX8jhDNpR29mT-ZW0bv2S3pt7nfLvBQ/s1600/IMG_0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGubj88kxdZ0VNmMzm5nDxY7vAbpk9Tj83yNkTT0XuTx8S_HxfIfSLQNsvvCYLwt2I1dFvZ-wzwr9dt8vYgmk_SX9CsB8yMSKE2MvFRjp_jd13L1pdu6oJqsvj9PJNvkKVqOIG1VQCMw/s1600/IMG_5842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGubj88kxdZ0VNmMzm5nDxY7vAbpk9Tj83yNkTT0XuTx8S_HxfIfSLQNsvvCYLwt2I1dFvZ-wzwr9dt8vYgmk_SX9CsB8yMSKE2MvFRjp_jd13L1pdu6oJqsvj9PJNvkKVqOIG1VQCMw/s320/IMG_5842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"...How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and bring glad tidings of good things." Romans 10:15</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It was very difficult to leave Belize. Besides the fact that my two sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephew, and many friends are there, there is something about third-world countries that have my heart entwined in them. But the most important thing is being in the center of God's will.<br />
<br />
<br />shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-90511511021028334442012-11-07T20:27:00.000-05:002012-11-07T20:27:11.092-05:00Less<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wLABPpTA0lmt7J34ATnE3o-PZafQW2cqb9fXNl5WJrBj7GaOFy4RsGxEIHEDYGGBfIYwhB0Iw0tHcTAoXML6hRqSki9oorPL1wP8g7gN1XwDJ_OFNTjXgxrgi_fk3OE0gPcg59z7Eg/s640/blogger-image--2134430047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wLABPpTA0lmt7J34ATnE3o-PZafQW2cqb9fXNl5WJrBj7GaOFy4RsGxEIHEDYGGBfIYwhB0Iw0tHcTAoXML6hRqSki9oorPL1wP8g7gN1XwDJ_OFNTjXgxrgi_fk3OE0gPcg59z7Eg/s640/blogger-image--2134430047.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ETGKp6SXZa1qW4vp2tFs8bH1erJwrRj-uYXPDdkQOD-x5sIf2Bd_Seuhs0w8wObQv34H8GpEIkXLV-1e_8GSNmZDejhK-93WG1xJkLPmhzE59N-rU3qq5m4S-Hxu73ERzCYo_TD2VA/s1600/IMG_0473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ETGKp6SXZa1qW4vp2tFs8bH1erJwrRj-uYXPDdkQOD-x5sIf2Bd_Seuhs0w8wObQv34H8GpEIkXLV-1e_8GSNmZDejhK-93WG1xJkLPmhzE59N-rU3qq5m4S-Hxu73ERzCYo_TD2VA/s320/IMG_0473.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-48328701105344459972012-09-06T12:06:00.002-04:002012-09-06T12:07:44.616-04:00A Clean Start to a New Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Want to save money on laundry detergent? I learned this simple, inexpensive method of making laundry detergent from my sister-in-law. These three ingredients can be found in the laundry isle at walmart. It's SO simple! The recipe is: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>1/3 C Borax Powder</li>
<li>1/3 C All Natural Super Washing Soda</li>
<li>1/3 shredded, then melted Fels-Naptha bar of soap</li>
</ul>
Add enough water to fill an 8 quart container.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can make it like this as liquid detergent, but next I am going to try making it in the powder version as is explained in detail <a href="http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-soap/">here</a>. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cyuKrU6Ify3cKWA6-leFp3J-Jl4xVMuHRoz8M8CfzrSKyx0XAPLfHPPT4cRHAW6hxnoQ88bhUoh15ycciyyxKgudIbFlqbWnw3SX9dZIxPTd3821vR7ETRFoOYTrt0AtRUEjeHJRCQ/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cyuKrU6Ify3cKWA6-leFp3J-Jl4xVMuHRoz8M8CfzrSKyx0XAPLfHPPT4cRHAW6hxnoQ88bhUoh15ycciyyxKgudIbFlqbWnw3SX9dZIxPTd3821vR7ETRFoOYTrt0AtRUEjeHJRCQ/s320/IMG_0726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-16325040979532619812012-02-20T21:24:00.000-05:002012-02-20T21:24:44.786-05:00Dad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first hands I ever felt were those of my Dad. He was downstairs on the phone when Mom sent Fawna with the message for him to call the midwives immediately. After sending her back upstairs to say he would do so shortly, Dad picked up the phone to hear Mom's emergent voice talking to the midwives and he decided he better forget his business and hurry upstairs. He ran into the room to find my mom in labor, and with unusual helplessness in his voice exclaimed, "What do I do?!" He proceeded to wash his hands at Mom's prompting, although she ignored his suggestion to cross her legs until the midwives made it. He no more than ran back into the room with dripping, wet hands than he caught me. That was the first time I met my dad.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19EMmku2QYHVyn37z0Od37IpWIjM9X-sa60HAjdlEsvcDuNaK9v-WUZjlnG7wAHL-maY_1EXbZK8kZ6aLj2TSEjHTe9HpEDJ0XX8gYFGYp-ZW8mapWB-VPk76JpyCtBpahpl2-ppP7g/s1600/129556725581725416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19EMmku2QYHVyn37z0Od37IpWIjM9X-sa60HAjdlEsvcDuNaK9v-WUZjlnG7wAHL-maY_1EXbZK8kZ6aLj2TSEjHTe9HpEDJ0XX8gYFGYp-ZW8mapWB-VPk76JpyCtBpahpl2-ppP7g/s320/129556725581725416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over the past 23 years, I have grown to love and respect my dad more and more with each passing day. Although words cannot adequately express how much he means to me, I will share what they <i>can</i> express to the best of my ability. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most importantly, Dad faithfully fills the position as priest of our home. No matter where we are, morning and evening family worships are always a top priority. Not only are family worships an essential element of our day, but even before we could read, personal time with Jesus was engrained to be the first and last thing we did every day, irrespective if that was what we <i>felt</i> like doing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Apart from some short-term mission trips, my dad has never done much overseas mission work. Never-the-less, ever since I can remember, my dad has always been one of the most faithful missionaries I have met. Everywhere we go, he is always searching for "souls as one that must give an account". Whether at the gas station, a wedding, a business trip, or anything in-between, Dad always has some assortment of literature to distribute. Some people reject it, some accept it only to throw it across the parking lot with great hostility, while others readily accept it. One man recently, with tears in his voice, explained how God impressed him to come to this deserted mountain road where we were backpacking, and after receiving the literature from my dad, understood that God had instituted a Divine appointment. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyone that is acquainted with my immediate family knows that we all have a very dry, corny sense of humor, most of which came from my dad. Being a sanguine, he loves to laugh and have fun, and has yet to meet a stranger. Although company may at first be overwhelmed by my family, they see us the way we truly are. No one who knows my dad would deny that he has a silly side, but he also has a very intense, serious side. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QttQdiTaZUf3_eNee-X6YJT-Az4jVv0Bg1EsqCYUL84VOdew-L4S2TpcQvOUCEEnOcKVhS0m6fc3TS-ha5aYa2UT_quJBF-3oIkuo-eH14p__b2LdUxkop1RrZl_XxmZVs9Mw7vW2A/s1600/IMG_3351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QttQdiTaZUf3_eNee-X6YJT-Az4jVv0Bg1EsqCYUL84VOdew-L4S2TpcQvOUCEEnOcKVhS0m6fc3TS-ha5aYa2UT_quJBF-3oIkuo-eH14p__b2LdUxkop1RrZl_XxmZVs9Mw7vW2A/s320/IMG_3351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Work is one of my dad's favorite pastimes. He always has multiple projects going at one time and never lacks things to do. If there is ever the potential that he won't have something to do, he will simply come up with a new project. "Bored" was never uttered in our house while growing up. Even if we thought about being bored, we would not allow our actions to allude in the slightest to such a thing or else we would immediately be put to work. Dad made sure that we all knew how to work--whether it was helping Mom in the house, driving the tractor, digging post holes, planting blueberries, or numberless other activities, we all had our share of the work-load to carry. If talking seemed to decrease our work output, it had better cease. If tools were not put away in their proper place, Dad would simply wake us out of a deep sleep and send us to finish our job. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1lDaAEttFMFJwqCx12sYro_cFC49GR19xggDKn3CT8CFYr4CuPHMaAMbdwCTRYv6cOjvFxYtNECG0E9JD4T7LUWZepR3GWf7KT_MH6A8-w2Xg3kMhiGjiMZMgTlWoJQIpoaml765Fg/s1600/129556746381236991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1lDaAEttFMFJwqCx12sYro_cFC49GR19xggDKn3CT8CFYr4CuPHMaAMbdwCTRYv6cOjvFxYtNECG0E9JD4T7LUWZepR3GWf7KT_MH6A8-w2Xg3kMhiGjiMZMgTlWoJQIpoaml765Fg/s320/129556746381236991.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dad's love for God and his love for others overflows continually. Distributing literature, telling mission stories, building fires, working tirelessly, riding horses, playing games, reading books, making smoothies, or simply eating meals together, are just a few of his expressions of love. Words cannot express my appreciation for my dad and the way he gives me a small glimpse into the heart of God. </div>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-59298657058776341272012-01-30T12:04:00.002-05:002012-01-30T12:04:07.490-05:00Serve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5inkI0Au3fo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-32401284837664285452011-12-19T19:21:00.001-05:002011-12-19T19:23:09.361-05:00NanaAs long as I don't think too hard about her, I do not often get emotional. It is more like she is gone on an extended vacation, and I just don't think about the fact that she is not coming back.<br />
<br />
Nana was never one to write lengthy letters, but what she did write was written with deep love. I have the last two cards that I ever got from her while I was in the Philippines. Today was the first time I could bring myself to read them since she died.<br />
<br />
February 14, 2011:<br />
"Granddaughter, It doesn't matter how many ways they come up with to connect, as long as the message comes through loud and clear... You are loved so very much! Happy Valentine's Day."<br />
<i>"My Dear Girl: How I miss you!! I'm praying for you many times a day. I hope you & Allie are having a good experience and accomplishing a lot. Take care of yourselves & get your rest. Hurry back! Love & prayers, Nana."</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
March 21, 2011:<br />
"REJOICE in the Lord always: and again I say, REJOICE." Philippines 4:4 (One of Nana's favorite verses)<br />
"<i>My Precious Girl: I think of you morning, noon, & night and pray for you more often then that. Please get well & take good care of yourself & Allie. You need our prayers trying to teach children in another language. Wow what a nightmare. The Lord will be with you! I miss you SO much & love you bushels. This is another beautiful day! Nice & warm! Love & prayers, Nana."</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
I will never forget the last hug that she gave me in the busy Atlanta airport as tears ran down our faces. The fear was in our hearts that we would never see each other again. I will never forget the hilarity of the last phone conversation I had with her. I will never forget how the warmth of her love enveloped me in spite of the fact that we were in different continents.<br />
<br />
Her smile. Soft hands. Warm hugs. Loving words. Coming to visit whenever possible. Listening with never-fading joy to my violin playing. Talking sense into me. Invariable optimism. Sharing her heart. Long discussions. Quiet moments by her side. Her prayers. Drying my tears. I miss Nana.shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-41547191566442347992011-11-06T21:41:00.001-05:002011-11-06T21:44:22.410-05:00Montana FunThere is never a lack of things to fill time in our home. Throughout my lifetime, "bored" was never part of our vocabulary. Not only if we used that word, but if we even looked bored, we would immediately have work to do. The tasks we were assigned over the years covered a very broad spectrum, and of course some were much more enjoyable than others.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Resultant from leaving the Philippines early, I had the unexpected opportunity to enjoy a few months at home in Montana. Many of my pastimes were essential, others elective. Some days Phoebe and I were mommy's girls, and other days we were, as one of our visitors put it, "daddy's little boys". </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
We sewed, cooked, cleaned, embroidered, crocheted, visited, harvested, canned, extended a sprinkler system, logged, tilled, weeded, and the list goes on... </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2qru23nsyR1TOumCIzre5NoyO7ylNbgphVon-PcfCcQW9BaKXg0vFxsboGvKQXE-XrlLxCkJAjdhRJaNgWJkXwYhTvi3P1anBBdTiqkeoyz1AIYCwU3hhflIbvQqdcUfiL6bT5KOGg/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2qru23nsyR1TOumCIzre5NoyO7ylNbgphVon-PcfCcQW9BaKXg0vFxsboGvKQXE-XrlLxCkJAjdhRJaNgWJkXwYhTvi3P1anBBdTiqkeoyz1AIYCwU3hhflIbvQqdcUfiL6bT5KOGg/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Potatoes from our garden</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9XmPdMlIcdKzX0pQcBIMUAyw9Gf_9CslublBiIxml99PHWsiNyvJROqDE4rGHzrybpm1T__ZJo7fwKRbAzYKRC7U7Ua2hxINxVdoYKy8ciWRiw0vbhShyLSVgtikdHlvdARqTDjElg/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9XmPdMlIcdKzX0pQcBIMUAyw9Gf_9CslublBiIxml99PHWsiNyvJROqDE4rGHzrybpm1T__ZJo7fwKRbAzYKRC7U7Ua2hxINxVdoYKy8ciWRiw0vbhShyLSVgtikdHlvdARqTDjElg/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Plums - one of the many foods harvested this summer<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66PD82c-F4m12iWkDEd6InjWfLQN_WsqHxWPj0N4KLtgBdmmQsowjOjyETRgq8KjYKhw97fLoQRiwE5qDcK3OOEnnq8DCfCsalLKxy5Q426QsJ3qM1bDf_zVjiGExdvPZYpxANwy2Tw/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66PD82c-F4m12iWkDEd6InjWfLQN_WsqHxWPj0N4KLtgBdmmQsowjOjyETRgq8KjYKhw97fLoQRiwE5qDcK3OOEnnq8DCfCsalLKxy5Q426QsJ3qM1bDf_zVjiGExdvPZYpxANwy2Tw/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
There were many frustrating times throughout our sewing endeavors, but in<br />
spite of the sweat and pain we were able to complete 6 aprons and 2 skirts.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsz9-kToWiEAraV0ATFoejepJrNlwi5LzP6vklt89yV8ACiOP0FrsvRn86FSOAYUsNRjuxqQSRWSKp7URGD028seKejvB2zCc358jkB9XqboEgxvmkBByt3vfwRT2JQjIVnSJxkJK-Q/s1600/IMG_2969.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsz9-kToWiEAraV0ATFoejepJrNlwi5LzP6vklt89yV8ACiOP0FrsvRn86FSOAYUsNRjuxqQSRWSKp7URGD028seKejvB2zCc358jkB9XqboEgxvmkBByt3vfwRT2JQjIVnSJxkJK-Q/s320/IMG_2969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aprons for our sister-in-law and two nieces</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78wp3ML-HR6H2ufZN1fW8ItAfPaU7csXosOk4TAST0pOXVc-gjB0OrtlwhE4nkuv-A37956vqitdk84E_kOJM3WP9K1O2sMzTjP7KUL2BLIC6wo3Rt92YCAbNxT2BNczwUGUpruuXhw/s1600/IMG_3518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78wp3ML-HR6H2ufZN1fW8ItAfPaU7csXosOk4TAST0pOXVc-gjB0OrtlwhE4nkuv-A37956vqitdk84E_kOJM3WP9K1O2sMzTjP7KUL2BLIC6wo3Rt92YCAbNxT2BNczwUGUpruuXhw/s320/IMG_3518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Matching aprons for ourselves</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXAO2hGLab90NkbooBUGd3zSbVUAEyu4nVjYl7C8YCxG3XOvYChsFCF00FxZ5Wh9UdhLA9fSCMr1LFB76LEagNdaLM5BdaEswiMz3jekK7wXX5a6dafq93HMybSXwgEmvTObHpLt9gQ/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXAO2hGLab90NkbooBUGd3zSbVUAEyu4nVjYl7C8YCxG3XOvYChsFCF00FxZ5Wh9UdhLA9fSCMr1LFB76LEagNdaLM5BdaEswiMz3jekK7wXX5a6dafq93HMybSXwgEmvTObHpLt9gQ/s320/IMG_3180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dehydrated, all-natural, delicious cookies</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo8wH4Nk3vNg2qsh0YxYmuKFG0vt6snORyS_c8o8lGjtkaoznEXMe5j8ZJz85FWv-3vvSHrOOjljVs4EtT6wDHb5DKYpanRmMIKL5FDDtuXmpz2qxPoXxS_amyR2Mjw7iGccl9Si5Rg/s1600/IMG_2852.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAo8wH4Nk3vNg2qsh0YxYmuKFG0vt6snORyS_c8o8lGjtkaoznEXMe5j8ZJz85FWv-3vvSHrOOjljVs4EtT6wDHb5DKYpanRmMIKL5FDDtuXmpz2qxPoXxS_amyR2Mjw7iGccl9Si5Rg/s320/IMG_2852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Apricots</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4stu30F3A5B3g5HvHvN6XrfNsCt4QL2QD3ozR6FnI8lgTcsKAvSpGIiTz9rz5jGzLkR54UUrK6fVTUx8BSZzR5uFw_G1FXWOVlN2NYaPp846k9j0qPqAAzahSruDQ9KTzJ3bmT6yOg/s1600/IMG_3563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4stu30F3A5B3g5HvHvN6XrfNsCt4QL2QD3ozR6FnI8lgTcsKAvSpGIiTz9rz5jGzLkR54UUrK6fVTUx8BSZzR5uFw_G1FXWOVlN2NYaPp846k9j0qPqAAzahSruDQ9KTzJ3bmT6yOg/s320/IMG_3563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
225 quarts of applesauce in 12 hours</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkpYAnarlbElwQzyyEXfa5TW6VOFkAY9aVuI-5Bo9-lZAvyzTjed2IXQxhFWMrIzAIn7KXXoaC0zAI24PA5pf53TjyzqqJp5kq6jNQixIKXTjddvh5Zkv2ZhpxwRTQ1JmkA83yjs-Og/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkpYAnarlbElwQzyyEXfa5TW6VOFkAY9aVuI-5Bo9-lZAvyzTjed2IXQxhFWMrIzAIn7KXXoaC0zAI24PA5pf53TjyzqqJp5kq6jNQixIKXTjddvh5Zkv2ZhpxwRTQ1JmkA83yjs-Og/s320/IMG_2931.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Preparation for a nursing job</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz3397C3owXF_mMHCtX6vYtM-eknDqBaFu4GFiGN0sE9vR_YCgG_6PO_-P0OFY8Y7sr1Tgx5r4W6abfYANkjNQ4njVj9ZOZYRur8occw33h3HeULNobz4IR-FYzoYeOds0b6FDPDtOQ/s1600/IMG_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz3397C3owXF_mMHCtX6vYtM-eknDqBaFu4GFiGN0sE9vR_YCgG_6PO_-P0OFY8Y7sr1Tgx5r4W6abfYANkjNQ4njVj9ZOZYRur8occw33h3HeULNobz4IR-FYzoYeOds0b6FDPDtOQ/s320/IMG_3610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Time with family</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-10031023664467729012011-09-29T20:17:00.000-04:002011-09-29T20:17:39.269-04:00Mission<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LwkdN5qYq2IgbLK-P3SOrGZlZ2yhDPnQoT8DoXk9DyzSrOsZ_xAYKC-SBL27238G8kT1ocEtVEEUNl0hkOpZN1TxQSkqP2jEirSZ9HTufjvBDWfjuBVpN7o2D7iivEh2up3wKqIyyw/s1600/world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LwkdN5qYq2IgbLK-P3SOrGZlZ2yhDPnQoT8DoXk9DyzSrOsZ_xAYKC-SBL27238G8kT1ocEtVEEUNl0hkOpZN1TxQSkqP2jEirSZ9HTufjvBDWfjuBVpN7o2D7iivEh2up3wKqIyyw/s1600/world.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are many people groups who know nothing of the gospel. Thousands die each day without even hearing the name of Jesus, much less knowing Him as their best friend. Their empty hearts hunger for something, yet they don't know what. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When a person from one country goes to another to share Jesus, there is a lot of ground work which must be done to increase effectiveness. That person must acclimatize to a new temperature and diet, conform to a unique dress, become fluent in another language, not to mention an overall accommodation to a completely new culture.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
I am accustomed to the American diet. I speak English. I know the culture. As an American, shouldn't America be my most effective mission field, above other countries?<br />
<br />
I believe that going to other countries for the purpose of missions is vital before Jesus can come back. But if we are not a missionary in our home land, how can we expect to reach people where we can't even speak their language and where simple actions easily offend them?<br />
<br />
We must not allow our eyes to continually look forward to the time when we will go to some exotic place to do a great work, and overlook the mission that God has for us here and now.shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-22309971219634289962011-09-29T11:19:00.001-04:002011-09-29T11:24:32.603-04:00Canoe Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4SBwlxWWCB6UhbDtNpuTp19qhBnxuLDQkGFEf0C0x0h6Uc8c5xwWheGefOO2lswJIdjJFLyuyIU-4Dc5iH64b8yVn4urtk6g6WgxIP-Ce144ISZhF4gwt4d1wGTgDI1QDMOinAdlOA/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4SBwlxWWCB6UhbDtNpuTp19qhBnxuLDQkGFEf0C0x0h6Uc8c5xwWheGefOO2lswJIdjJFLyuyIU-4Dc5iH64b8yVn4urtk6g6WgxIP-Ce144ISZhF4gwt4d1wGTgDI1QDMOinAdlOA/s320/IMG_3364.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Phoebe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tjlIkFWDJOYl6G5wou3rkHgo7WoBmVo3CcL_3f-TJyt6chIeyEgZ4bXAydL_18JjiI8US4oTs6F-QKZyZ-YzM-VWJUYRznuyYL8hHrX37iu21QQFGWk1Xoj8Skk9neyR-aUcmbqQLQ/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tjlIkFWDJOYl6G5wou3rkHgo7WoBmVo3CcL_3f-TJyt6chIeyEgZ4bXAydL_18JjiI8US4oTs6F-QKZyZ-YzM-VWJUYRznuyYL8hHrX37iu21QQFGWk1Xoj8Skk9neyR-aUcmbqQLQ/s320/IMG_3203.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan & Bethany Geraci</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFMf0R-A7l8dXQ62Uix9bacexbWharLFv1G0V7BPNriCI59ShtjysKRQaGls5sdmRtDEnQimAXy_3ersB5NQovk7pf50tZ2uZNxdERnZChGN_tbXHjvPydhw1PEnOt_EEmM5_7jCQVQ/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFMf0R-A7l8dXQ62Uix9bacexbWharLFv1G0V7BPNriCI59ShtjysKRQaGls5sdmRtDEnQimAXy_3ersB5NQovk7pf50tZ2uZNxdERnZChGN_tbXHjvPydhw1PEnOt_EEmM5_7jCQVQ/s320/IMG_3361.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Phoebe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXxIBbLBb4u-Xf_FOk_dxta4zDcy12x3ocsvYIxetSOAwU1aLw9Jb_wk-FqOPxRcobfW21cDAtVgsDsYETwpsjrgC8yHFzFajurkuef4ChBew2VXeLEEXNbk1NHDjt8NP45IJohjWIw/s1600/IMG_3207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXxIBbLBb4u-Xf_FOk_dxta4zDcy12x3ocsvYIxetSOAwU1aLw9Jb_wk-FqOPxRcobfW21cDAtVgsDsYETwpsjrgC8yHFzFajurkuef4ChBew2VXeLEEXNbk1NHDjt8NP45IJohjWIw/s320/IMG_3207.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phoebe Eller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa5GClBl2ZdV8-pO7y1BNuSxQ0LyJ5gMMlyxCfs7mtxB44LCIhJ5dPjI-nbyKajc42QkylOc2vnt1CtXUBX664LbtFtY8i4kdzknR3dCgpRzwfoQ30zXeBx9U7d2gdV1o39BbZtWQCA/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa5GClBl2ZdV8-pO7y1BNuSxQ0LyJ5gMMlyxCfs7mtxB44LCIhJ5dPjI-nbyKajc42QkylOc2vnt1CtXUBX664LbtFtY8i4kdzknR3dCgpRzwfoQ30zXeBx9U7d2gdV1o39BbZtWQCA/s320/IMG_3200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put-in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsm0vnu87Qx92MFAw_UJ_Xv3Rm2Qtk5rhEopSSfkkQ70lj44QwEr1z6pTiD-TVq4bf2NRlP8AYeU7BF0kzsFHxsXUyE13qmWLRHTXtVJa9TaM8MR8x-23vNTxEBV6NcjLirADVjzS5A/s1600/IMG_3198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsm0vnu87Qx92MFAw_UJ_Xv3Rm2Qtk5rhEopSSfkkQ70lj44QwEr1z6pTiD-TVq4bf2NRlP8AYeU7BF0kzsFHxsXUyE13qmWLRHTXtVJa9TaM8MR8x-23vNTxEBV6NcjLirADVjzS5A/s320/IMG_3198.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace, youngest member of the trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAyJU9f2yH_cUGo2PJxr_Gxwrc9XSo7GwkVJdhTWPIJMXRJFBxYDk__g62cJOTnjKfxbWRb5fsC_kBI2rJsp5tkSenuWPJhASA5jUcGM2Tib0uU8k2dDd_W8KtdcjHNHGVsqD-HsQmQ/s1600/IMG_3199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAyJU9f2yH_cUGo2PJxr_Gxwrc9XSo7GwkVJdhTWPIJMXRJFBxYDk__g62cJOTnjKfxbWRb5fsC_kBI2rJsp5tkSenuWPJhASA5jUcGM2Tib0uU8k2dDd_W8KtdcjHNHGVsqD-HsQmQ/s320/IMG_3199.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wally manned the river alone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9xRSrhu3-W6TRyT_Mrz6JJG_kZtbOy3e8cCCh0PXuQjeY2VjrXBsTayft2s3bUjfScY1qks8zsb71wOQvFO9HnVmZty8CwpBaSwOKipijcdKJGUZ7TKRknaMXx9QJXeE3D0E1znjpg/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9xRSrhu3-W6TRyT_Mrz6JJG_kZtbOy3e8cCCh0PXuQjeY2VjrXBsTayft2s3bUjfScY1qks8zsb71wOQvFO9HnVmZty8CwpBaSwOKipijcdKJGUZ7TKRknaMXx9QJXeE3D0E1znjpg/s320/IMG_3369.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Shama<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSeBT1rABCBJHLGT2Q-X26OltTaBXK2TaXfj12tZTbwNBkFZDseQkH6OKfPHN7De4raR7chjvp0fPHLa946M0FtZriCmTzHTMF6uhIsl6neyUEroRQc0Td4ChyphenhyphenZVWL4Rfdp-nlY-sOw/s1600/IMG_3270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSeBT1rABCBJHLGT2Q-X26OltTaBXK2TaXfj12tZTbwNBkFZDseQkH6OKfPHN7De4raR7chjvp0fPHLa946M0FtZriCmTzHTMF6uhIsl6neyUEroRQc0Td4ChyphenhyphenZVWL4Rfdp-nlY-sOw/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard-working men, Wally & Ed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzEilPKPqI9QBhT-7aRu-Vkc7p63iNQiD4v9_2I6JXnljhUzJYTWGNWf2QaFnvemwANtHDnJNjtzGI3_7MGMqQGQjCQwFbB6s8cPlq8HtXAMwrulZfqyK5sSp7hptFHEp3pLaKEPJ7g/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzEilPKPqI9QBhT-7aRu-Vkc7p63iNQiD4v9_2I6JXnljhUzJYTWGNWf2QaFnvemwANtHDnJNjtzGI3_7MGMqQGQjCQwFbB6s8cPlq8HtXAMwrulZfqyK5sSp7hptFHEp3pLaKEPJ7g/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom & Dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKouvDcl7-d2NaalTAqwOiMU4awd5_7hQYfqa7PHM4smLIgSezN-hdg9kZvvGjwk7rRESW1SOv_qQ92-bL3mjyv9ovAUWuNxjlP9pRAhpQcOky66zbRAXfIGaQb6qzR5SJTxHULfPScQ/s1600/IMG_3362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKouvDcl7-d2NaalTAqwOiMU4awd5_7hQYfqa7PHM4smLIgSezN-hdg9kZvvGjwk7rRESW1SOv_qQ92-bL3mjyv9ovAUWuNxjlP9pRAhpQcOky66zbRAXfIGaQb6qzR5SJTxHULfPScQ/s320/IMG_3362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">©Phoebe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2-QG0LL3lwjzz1QHgvM7t8p5Ix_h0rubyayDx2YS1Km6J-z3GhVj6Zmb7szb3WrFDi3p4bmoZ0uXstvhUCIcGvP-CH-C7k2Byz77nfhMlWtZli6YQ2UxGyTM-0hAy1CDMzJ3WwXHIg/s1600/IMG_3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2-QG0LL3lwjzz1QHgvM7t8p5Ix_h0rubyayDx2YS1Km6J-z3GhVj6Zmb7szb3WrFDi3p4bmoZ0uXstvhUCIcGvP-CH-C7k2Byz77nfhMlWtZli6YQ2UxGyTM-0hAy1CDMzJ3WwXHIg/s200/IMG_3346.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New way to roast vegan marshmallows (only when fires aren't allowed) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftZO3edXGMlebQ7RMSHvVNUDH6kK9quOxawd3DTckx8pqxWYNIlaFrhOqYssexR6PeEDMlwtoWqDd7ZvEZd_7nIqp_hL-5EPagdgf-5Q_mz4L2seSxWLjErbTaSLS07H8R4Qs5lnvAg/s1600/IMG_3354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftZO3edXGMlebQ7RMSHvVNUDH6kK9quOxawd3DTckx8pqxWYNIlaFrhOqYssexR6PeEDMlwtoWqDd7ZvEZd_7nIqp_hL-5EPagdgf-5Q_mz4L2seSxWLjErbTaSLS07H8R4Qs5lnvAg/s320/IMG_3354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters with dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-14322445733157403312011-09-13T14:54:00.004-04:002011-09-14T15:05:12.915-04:00Palawan video<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
This is a small glimpse of my missionary experience in Palawan, Philippines. It was an awesome opportunity that truly changed my life and grew me in ways I never expected. I thank God for the blessing of serving.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv-RuNHOw8M">Part 1</a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvwiQneN91s">Part 2</a></div>
</div>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-39452540925378752752011-08-25T14:30:00.001-04:002011-08-25T14:33:08.726-04:00Bitter SweetScreaming and crying filled the air as we slowly pulled our backpacks over our shoulders. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks; sadness filled my heart. It was with great agony that Tina, Kyle and I made our way out of the mountains Sunday afternoon on July 24, 2011. I have never experienced such a traumatic goodbye, and can't say I ever hope to go through something like that again.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c12UUG42XTp9HKWtLIy_eHTRFTepjOOPnxZqrOQW9d_FDKsTb2OsMeFE1glgeLcYSAdK_pg4GN-Cp6A9uz7avJjnm49yZXdcM1lqHOztAwhgUU8iPgbbiT1UsteRUHfUmRSHuaoqAw/s1600/IMG_2692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c12UUG42XTp9HKWtLIy_eHTRFTepjOOPnxZqrOQW9d_FDKsTb2OsMeFE1glgeLcYSAdK_pg4GN-Cp6A9uz7avJjnm49yZXdcM1lqHOztAwhgUU8iPgbbiT1UsteRUHfUmRSHuaoqAw/s320/IMG_2692.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nubim, Meyni, Me</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I will never forget the tears of my friends, especially one of my closer friends, Meyni. She hiked up the mountain with us past her village a ways and after hugging goodbye, she squatted beside the trail and wailed as I have never heard before. I had to hike away with that sound ringing in my ears. Tears came readily throughout that day and the next, as I later said goodbye to the boys that carried our stuff out of the mountains, and finally to the other missionaries with whom I had grown to love deeply.<br />
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAt5XTozmuVade2Wubk3-w_DrewQjfiYK18de_1Xsfci1CqE1pvo-3G_wqLXOicDnyIMTXQCy1cD-qq-S95w8i7eyaHISshHWCb1FGgCW63GoKOKycOOiKXtqsf0xFSLSnlPskKsnXA/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAt5XTozmuVade2Wubk3-w_DrewQjfiYK18de_1Xsfci1CqE1pvo-3G_wqLXOicDnyIMTXQCy1cD-qq-S95w8i7eyaHISshHWCb1FGgCW63GoKOKycOOiKXtqsf0xFSLSnlPskKsnXA/s320/IMG_2688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not uncommon for guys to carry more than 50 lbs on their heads.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
My heart will always be with the people in Palawan and I hope to go back someday to visit them. Even though I don't have the assurance that I will be able to see them again on earth, the pain is softened with the assurance that I will get to see my dear friends again when Jesus comes back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBuOZNGZaMU_nCuv3cAwlJbiLqzgo6S4kwLLFl2kVz9k6gzcghtRjnuqVQGEP9AzzcusCSMDBJzlrDrtLN6YUs6x1RTpXSiN28YTi7aGH9PAiUt6unwUHPxvMkq9cujldJM-1XoWl3Q/s1600/IMG_2708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBuOZNGZaMU_nCuv3cAwlJbiLqzgo6S4kwLLFl2kVz9k6gzcghtRjnuqVQGEP9AzzcusCSMDBJzlrDrtLN6YUs6x1RTpXSiN28YTi7aGH9PAiUt6unwUHPxvMkq9cujldJM-1XoWl3Q/s320/IMG_2708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last meal with all the missionaries (except Carrine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Although it was hard to leave and I miss Palawan immensely, I know that God lead in my decision to come home early and I am so happy to spend time with family this summer. Back to mowing the lawn, picking blueberries, baking pies, family worships, and weeding in the garden is a refreshing transition back to life in America.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DJGV91f0UmfIY7xDEywpCFhAiP3H5JIoVoBTcoqy93cLGCLTW5IvFd9arkOJXrGF8uXGrzDvWS6tNU39pCAsOdtka99d74HyYuH504yquSPaYpHPYeb4m5Hp0UWM4l8eMtW4_PRJcQ/s1600/IMG_6675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DJGV91f0UmfIY7xDEywpCFhAiP3H5JIoVoBTcoqy93cLGCLTW5IvFd9arkOJXrGF8uXGrzDvWS6tNU39pCAsOdtka99d74HyYuH504yquSPaYpHPYeb4m5Hp0UWM4l8eMtW4_PRJcQ/s320/IMG_6675.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious blueberries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am looking forward to starting a nursing job in a couple months and getting good experience while still being near family. I know that if it weren't for your prayers and support, I would not be able to look back on my time in the Philippines with such fondness. God grew me in ways I could never have imagined and I would never trade that experience for anything. Thank you!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0tlMQAlMUSqxRUu9UaP_rLnp8HsDde3UAAX8Myq35oeaCZDAvPvYe3r-kas5jrY8U39bxgCXs1QJvcNVZBpIPpBUyloNY3SXIOidYyVZmXJQ-9AmyyzFDxyfNQIrJFi07ucrJGqzQg/s1600/IMG_6632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0tlMQAlMUSqxRUu9UaP_rLnp8HsDde3UAAX8Myq35oeaCZDAvPvYe3r-kas5jrY8U39bxgCXs1QJvcNVZBpIPpBUyloNY3SXIOidYyVZmXJQ-9AmyyzFDxyfNQIrJFi07ucrJGqzQg/s320/IMG_6632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Slideshow of experience in Philippines to come</span></div>
</div>
shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com2Palawan, Philippines9.4462305 118.392941699999947.897488000000001 117.11166119999994 10.994973 119.67422219999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-45654510918737497742011-07-10T22:15:00.000-04:002011-07-10T22:15:35.686-04:00Going Home<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Official date of arrival to the USA:
July 28, 2011<o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though Iâve only been in the
Philippines for 6 months, I still anticipate that I will have culture shock in
some way or another. It is hard to say goodbye to Palawan and the friends that
I have made here. There are many things about this place that I am going to
miss, including: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other missionaries<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Palawanos<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The simplicity of life<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Living with little<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The mountains<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hiking everywhere<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Working in the clinic<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Speaking Pelawan<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eating fresh
pineapple/papaya/mangoes every day<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trying new foods all the time<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reading sometimes hours every day<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Going to bed usually before 9 pm</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPX98A5GBBwjnZ9Nc4ryZcrhqQM3v0oxLY1I_a4HlksgHZw_XSVgBBxNH7TRfeDrjwhBAi2oneOzDyX9Z0pAXFVdZEZzeK7mYf0W4vxXDmBH9m8HZNGbm7sEE5_Z0maFURWCZPjl8Vw/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPX98A5GBBwjnZ9Nc4ryZcrhqQM3v0oxLY1I_a4HlksgHZw_XSVgBBxNH7TRfeDrjwhBAi2oneOzDyX9Z0pAXFVdZEZzeK7mYf0W4vxXDmBH9m8HZNGbm7sEE5_Z0maFURWCZPjl8Vw/s320/IMG_0571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Palawan is all that I ever hoped it
would be, and more. I love jungle life, I love the people, I love the language.
Although it is hard to leave, I know that God is leading me to another era in
my life, and there are definite things that I am excited about. These include
but are not limited to: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spending time with my family<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seeing friends again<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having multiple communication avenues
available at any given time<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understanding all the conversations
around me<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saying anything I want to say<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Driving my car<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smelling pine trees<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hiking on dry trails<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Putting on a pair of tennis shoes and
shorts and going for a run<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eating fresh
blueberries/raspberries/peaches every day<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eating homemade bread<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cooking in a kitchen where everything
is available<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Palawan is very close to my heart
and always will be. I have laughed, cried, grown, stressed, and loved. Words
cannot describe how thankful I am that God led me here and gave me the
opportunity to be a missionary to the people in these mountains. I donât know
how much difference I made in any one personâs life, but I do know how much of
a difference they made in my life, and I will ever be grateful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bJkARoU_AAnne9G72rUZb_p0ahzZLp6ZLT13HqQA3WMQOUTQKTW869INwsjjF5EUupNypK0zilREFgt0ZJT0jTLLfTTa-QJlsoO6mh6U5oJGWcvWjvwcR-rm-M47ExqRGl9kLAGJ3Q/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bJkARoU_AAnne9G72rUZb_p0ahzZLp6ZLT13HqQA3WMQOUTQKTW869INwsjjF5EUupNypK0zilREFgt0ZJT0jTLLfTTa-QJlsoO6mh6U5oJGWcvWjvwcR-rm-M47ExqRGl9kLAGJ3Q/s320/IMG_2255.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-66110532322437350822011-06-28T00:39:00.000-04:002011-06-28T00:39:41.915-04:00To Go or Not to Go?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The evening air was cool, but I began to sweat as I dialed
the number. I could feel my pulse beating in my head as fear filled my heart. I
didnât know what the response on the other end of the phone was going to be,
and as much as I wanted to, maybe it would be easier if I didnât know. But I
had to find out sometime. This was one of the first times that I really didnât
want to call home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">âHello?â<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">âHi, Mom, What did you guys find out?â<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">âNot good. The cancer has spread to Dadâs bones.â <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My fears were confirmed. It was a little over a week after
getting back to the Philippines from the States when I found out that Dadâs
prostate cancer had spread to his bones. What was he going to do? How long did
he have? Would I ever see him again? Should I go home early? Should I get a
plane ticket right then? Questions saturated my mind and tears flooded my eyes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The comfort of dear friends enveloped me like a warm blanket
after I got off the phone. The assurance of Divine wisdom filled me with peace.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didnât make a decision right away; I wanted to know Godâs
will. Every morning found me on my secret rock by the water fall, drawing
strength from the Water of Life. After much prayer and counsel from Godly
friends, I made my decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didnât feel ready to leave; I had my mind set on being
here until November. I felt like I was just getting to the point where I could
actually have meaningful conversations with the people, where I was passing the
point of acquaintance and building actual friendships. If I left, that would
leave only Allie to run the clinic aloneâa huge job. On the other hand, there
is always going to be a mission field, but I will not always have my Dad. There
is truly no man that I am closer to or have a deeper respect for. The doctors
said that nothing would probably happen to him before November, but one never
knows. I realized that for me to have quality time with my dad, it was
important for me to go home early and work with him at home for part of the
summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will be coming home the end of July to spend time with my
family. That will leave Allie for only a few weeks as the sole medical
personnel in the mountains. That will give me time to wrap everything up here
in Palawan and prepare myself for life in America. Fear, sorrow, anxiety,
excitement, eagernessâmy emotions are much jumbled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things happen. Plans change. When I get to heaven and see
the end from the beginning, I know that I will praise God for the way that He
led in my life, and even though there are trials now, I can praise Him anyway. âWhen
you canât understand, when you canât see His plan, when you canât trace His
hand, trust His heart.â <o:p></o:p></span></div>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328081317564695571.post-16833730235338311782011-06-28T00:35:00.002-04:002011-06-28T00:35:43.717-04:00Day by Day<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day by day and with each passing moment, <o:p></o:p></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Strength I find to meet my trails here;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trusting in my Fatherâs wise bestowment, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Iâve no cause for worry or for fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He whose heart is kind beyond all measure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gives unto each day what He deems best. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lovingly, itâs part of pain and pleasure, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mingling toil with peace and rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day the Lord Himself is near me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With a special mercy for each hour;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He whose name is Counselor and power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The protection of His child and treasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is a charge that on Himself He laid;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As your days, your strength shall be in measure, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This the pledge to me He made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help me then in every tribulation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So to trust Thy promises, O Lord, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That I lose not faithâs sweet consolation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Offered me within Thy holy Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eâer to take, as from a Fatherâs hand, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Till I reach the promised land. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>-Carolina
Sandell Berg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>shamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06397598567294582164noreply@blogger.com0