Morbid title...nope. Last week, my coworker Pat died unexpectantly. Ever since, I've been thinking a lot about death. Not unusual, I don't think. The same thing happened when my neighbor died almost one year ago. It hits you so hard. Now, I'm thinking about death and my own dad.
My dad has had several heart attacks and many heart procedures over the last few years. His latest problem is that his heart is out of rhythm...and there's no hope, outside a miracle, that it will be fixed. He's already been shocked back into rhythm dozens of times and just two months ago, he had an experimental procedure that if it worked could have fixed it. It didn't. Now, he lives with whacked out blood pressure, rapid pulse, dizziness and horrible lethargy. Basically, his quality of life stinks.
This makes me think about death. Can you really prepare for someone's death? And...can we rejoice in death? Yes, we can. In the case of Pat...I know she is with the Lord. She loved and served him for more than 50 years. She was sickly, old beyond her years and nearly deaf ever since I've known her. Now, she is in the presence of the Lord...healthy, happy and hearing. I rejoice in that thought.
The good thing in all this thinking is that it makes me want to be with the Lord too. But until that day, it makes me want to make sure I am right with Him, ensure that I am teaching my kids Truth and that I am sharing the Truth of the Gospel with those who have yet to hear or receive. He IS real! And He is coming back again. Join me in getting our "houses" in order.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
It's about time, huh? For HIS Glory
Well, I do believe it has been more than 2 months since my last blog...oops! Finally, I'm in the mood again. Since my trip to Asia, I have just been too pooped to write...well, write outside of OMS, that is.
This one is gonna be short...but sweet, I hope. I had a really crummy day at work today. Nothing went right, I felt like I was spinning my wheels, things that should have been simple were not, I'm having a personal conflict with someone that I've tried and tried to resolve but to no avail, etc. You get it...just one of those crummy days. I guess more than anything, I was feeling defeated, like..."why do I even bother!?" On my way home, I began to pray...my first real heartfelt prayer since waking up. I just spewed to God how crummy my day had been, how frustrated I was... Then, I took the martyr route one step further, saying, "What am I even doing for the kingdom, Lord? Why am I wasting time and money to post books to the website and edit receipt letters and other seemingly mundane and insignificant things?!"
Then, I had one of those chilling God moments where He speaks so clearly, you KNOW it is Him. I had the Christian radio station on, but I really wasn't listening...I was too busy complaining. Well, then I shut up for a moment and a song I'd heard dozens of times came on...I even began to half sing with it...then I almost slammed on my brakes. Why? I actually listened to the words...words I had NEVER realized were sung before...maybe they weren't and they really were just for ME at the time I needed to hear it.
Anyway, as I listened, I just began to smile and weep with joy at God's goodness. The words to the songs were basically (although drastically paraphrased and I can't even search it cuz don't know name or artist)...if you're a mom and you're worn out or if you're a worker who works but don't know for what reason, do everything for my glory.
Bam! I was suddenly filled with joy because it doesn't really matter what I do...the good things, the big things, the small things, the seemingly insignificant things...I knew I just needed to do EVERYTHING for His glory. My whole attitude changed and instead of coming home as a tired, grumpy mom and wife, I was happily singing and had a skip in my step. Patrick said, "You must have had a good day at work." I happily relied, "Nope, it was really horrible."
This one is gonna be short...but sweet, I hope. I had a really crummy day at work today. Nothing went right, I felt like I was spinning my wheels, things that should have been simple were not, I'm having a personal conflict with someone that I've tried and tried to resolve but to no avail, etc. You get it...just one of those crummy days. I guess more than anything, I was feeling defeated, like..."why do I even bother!?" On my way home, I began to pray...my first real heartfelt prayer since waking up. I just spewed to God how crummy my day had been, how frustrated I was... Then, I took the martyr route one step further, saying, "What am I even doing for the kingdom, Lord? Why am I wasting time and money to post books to the website and edit receipt letters and other seemingly mundane and insignificant things?!"
Then, I had one of those chilling God moments where He speaks so clearly, you KNOW it is Him. I had the Christian radio station on, but I really wasn't listening...I was too busy complaining. Well, then I shut up for a moment and a song I'd heard dozens of times came on...I even began to half sing with it...then I almost slammed on my brakes. Why? I actually listened to the words...words I had NEVER realized were sung before...maybe they weren't and they really were just for ME at the time I needed to hear it.
Anyway, as I listened, I just began to smile and weep with joy at God's goodness. The words to the songs were basically (although drastically paraphrased and I can't even search it cuz don't know name or artist)...if you're a mom and you're worn out or if you're a worker who works but don't know for what reason, do everything for my glory.
Bam! I was suddenly filled with joy because it doesn't really matter what I do...the good things, the big things, the small things, the seemingly insignificant things...I knew I just needed to do EVERYTHING for His glory. My whole attitude changed and instead of coming home as a tired, grumpy mom and wife, I was happily singing and had a skip in my step. Patrick said, "You must have had a good day at work." I happily relied, "Nope, it was really horrible."
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Impressions
Impressions of Thailand
I like Thailand. It is a beautiful country...a bit too hot and humid for my liking, but a nice country. The number one thing that I have been surprised at...people don't gawk at me like I'm a green alien from another planet. Every other country I've ever visited where I do not look like the majority of the people living there, I am stared at, leered at and have even been poked and prodded. Here no one even gives this giant white skinned, light haired chick a second notice...kinda nice, but not what I expected. I wonder if Bangkok sees so many foreigners that the people are just immune to it or if they are just such a polite culture they don't do it. The city itself is fairly clean for a city this size. The people seem to take a pride in keeping the trash off the streets and graffiti off the walls. Of course, I am NOT in the slums, mind you.
An interesting note that would make the hairs on the neck of any FDA worker stand on end...there are street vendors by the dozens here, selling clothes, magazines, candies and food. The food stands are very similar to what I have witnessed around Latin America--the whole animal, strung up by hind feet, flapping in the winds to roast in this tropical humidity. Then, if you can brave eating at the stands, you might want to ask for yours on a disposable plate. I noticed the plates they serve the food on are scraped in the ally, dunked in a giant trash can with dirty cold water, then wiped with a rag and placed back on the stack for the next hungry customer....yummmm.
We are staying at a missionary guest house, so our meals have been quite good...some a bit too spicy for my taste, but I appreciate the fact that I have yet to sneak into my stash of granola bars or beef jerky.
Yesterday, I was able to sneak away from one of the sessions (you see I'm not here in the role of conference attendee, I'm here to document the stories...more on that below...). I walked down the street to a massage place, with references! The Thai people are known for their great massages. I had an hour-long massage. I wish I could report that it was wonderfully relaxing, but then you'd be mad that I was on a mission trip getting a massage. So, you can rest assured, knowing that it was quite painful. They are into the deep tissue massages here, the kind where you beg for mercy but the petite Thai girl just giggles and bows because she has no clue what you are saying. I tried to grunt and groan enough to get the message across, but with little effect. They pulled and pushed and twisted and stomped until I actually said, sorry gotta go, no time to finish. Today, my body feels bruised all over. I was drinking about a gallon of water a day to keep hydrated in the heat, but today I'm doubling it to keep my muscles from cramping.
But I digress from why I am really here...to date, we (Jessica, my ministry partner and I) have interviewed, photographed and videotaped 31 people, and we still have 11 to go. It has been exhausting, but what a privilege to hear their stories. We are capturing stories of God at work in AMAZING ways. Here's one summarized story from India. The OMS Every Community for Christ national team was out evangelizing. They came across a M faith cleric. This man held the position of memorizing the entire K book and reciting it. Long story short, he came to accept and believe in the living Christ Jesus. Now, he is a believer in the One true God and he has memorized the entire Bible! He is using these skills to share Christ with other M clerics...and it is being effective. Pray for him and our team in India.
I'm hearing those kinds of stories all day long and giving God all the glory, but I am also humbled by some of the stories. Some of these church planters are enduring much to share the Gospel. One man from M shared how they only have electricity one hour a day in his village. He must decide if he will get warm water, watch TV or do some of this statistical reporting on his computer to send to us. Another man shared how he is pastoring 4 churches and overseeing an evangelistic coffee house. Nearly all the people here are bivocational, meaning they must have regular secular jobs in addition to their ministries because there is not enough funds to pay them a salary. For some, they must travel far distances to do their ministry. Another church planter from M asked that I share that his pastors, church planters and evangelists need bicycles. And finally, most of them endure some form of persecution for their work of the Gospel. Please pray for them. Again, I am so humbled by them and their work...and so grateful to a God who is so active and present.
Finally, I ask that you pray for my next leg of this trip. In two days, I leave for a security risk country in South Asia. It will be even hotter that here, with NO AC, and the accommodations will be simple. We will be sleeping under mosquito netting, and I will probably not have Internet access. But I will be seeing these stories and miracles first hand as we visit training centers, womens' ministries, a baptism (I've been asked to help baptize the women), an orphanage, a micro-credit business/ministry and much more. I am very excited to witness what God is doing in South Asia...up close! Pray for us...and I hope to chat with you again soon.
I like Thailand. It is a beautiful country...a bit too hot and humid for my liking, but a nice country. The number one thing that I have been surprised at...people don't gawk at me like I'm a green alien from another planet. Every other country I've ever visited where I do not look like the majority of the people living there, I am stared at, leered at and have even been poked and prodded. Here no one even gives this giant white skinned, light haired chick a second notice...kinda nice, but not what I expected. I wonder if Bangkok sees so many foreigners that the people are just immune to it or if they are just such a polite culture they don't do it. The city itself is fairly clean for a city this size. The people seem to take a pride in keeping the trash off the streets and graffiti off the walls. Of course, I am NOT in the slums, mind you.
An interesting note that would make the hairs on the neck of any FDA worker stand on end...there are street vendors by the dozens here, selling clothes, magazines, candies and food. The food stands are very similar to what I have witnessed around Latin America--the whole animal, strung up by hind feet, flapping in the winds to roast in this tropical humidity. Then, if you can brave eating at the stands, you might want to ask for yours on a disposable plate. I noticed the plates they serve the food on are scraped in the ally, dunked in a giant trash can with dirty cold water, then wiped with a rag and placed back on the stack for the next hungry customer....yummmm.
We are staying at a missionary guest house, so our meals have been quite good...some a bit too spicy for my taste, but I appreciate the fact that I have yet to sneak into my stash of granola bars or beef jerky.
Yesterday, I was able to sneak away from one of the sessions (you see I'm not here in the role of conference attendee, I'm here to document the stories...more on that below...). I walked down the street to a massage place, with references! The Thai people are known for their great massages. I had an hour-long massage. I wish I could report that it was wonderfully relaxing, but then you'd be mad that I was on a mission trip getting a massage. So, you can rest assured, knowing that it was quite painful. They are into the deep tissue massages here, the kind where you beg for mercy but the petite Thai girl just giggles and bows because she has no clue what you are saying. I tried to grunt and groan enough to get the message across, but with little effect. They pulled and pushed and twisted and stomped until I actually said, sorry gotta go, no time to finish. Today, my body feels bruised all over. I was drinking about a gallon of water a day to keep hydrated in the heat, but today I'm doubling it to keep my muscles from cramping.
But I digress from why I am really here...to date, we (Jessica, my ministry partner and I) have interviewed, photographed and videotaped 31 people, and we still have 11 to go. It has been exhausting, but what a privilege to hear their stories. We are capturing stories of God at work in AMAZING ways. Here's one summarized story from India. The OMS Every Community for Christ national team was out evangelizing. They came across a M faith cleric. This man held the position of memorizing the entire K book and reciting it. Long story short, he came to accept and believe in the living Christ Jesus. Now, he is a believer in the One true God and he has memorized the entire Bible! He is using these skills to share Christ with other M clerics...and it is being effective. Pray for him and our team in India.
I'm hearing those kinds of stories all day long and giving God all the glory, but I am also humbled by some of the stories. Some of these church planters are enduring much to share the Gospel. One man from M shared how they only have electricity one hour a day in his village. He must decide if he will get warm water, watch TV or do some of this statistical reporting on his computer to send to us. Another man shared how he is pastoring 4 churches and overseeing an evangelistic coffee house. Nearly all the people here are bivocational, meaning they must have regular secular jobs in addition to their ministries because there is not enough funds to pay them a salary. For some, they must travel far distances to do their ministry. Another church planter from M asked that I share that his pastors, church planters and evangelists need bicycles. And finally, most of them endure some form of persecution for their work of the Gospel. Please pray for them. Again, I am so humbled by them and their work...and so grateful to a God who is so active and present.
Finally, I ask that you pray for my next leg of this trip. In two days, I leave for a security risk country in South Asia. It will be even hotter that here, with NO AC, and the accommodations will be simple. We will be sleeping under mosquito netting, and I will probably not have Internet access. But I will be seeing these stories and miracles first hand as we visit training centers, womens' ministries, a baptism (I've been asked to help baptize the women), an orphanage, a micro-credit business/ministry and much more. I am very excited to witness what God is doing in South Asia...up close! Pray for us...and I hope to chat with you again soon.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Stories, Stories, Stories
As I am still at the beginning of this journey, I don't have lots of stories to tell as yet, but that is still my theme because that is what this trip is about...collecting stories about what God is doing around the Asian world. Although our first scheduled interview is not until later this afternoon, already I have collected at least three other stories that need to be told...but I'll get back to that.
First, I want to share in the fun of a 36-hour travel adventure. On Thursday morning, I had to be at the airport by 4:30 a.m., so I made the silly decision to NOT go to bed at all on Wed. night. I thought, it'll help me sleep better on the plane. Our first flight from Indy to Washington D.C. went without a hitch until landing...then, it seemed we had a bit of trouble stopping, but all was well. Once we deboarded, we found out our wheel had broken, so we'd need to be rerouted on another plane to NY. That didn't happen, so we ended up flying back to Detriot...yes, pretty much a little circle. We got to Detroit, no problem, then readied ourselves for the 13-hour (yes, you read that correctly,,,13 hours!) flight from Detroit to Tokyo, Japan. It felt like 13 hours. We were in a huge plane that sat 10 passengers across. My two traveling companions and I were unfortunately in 3 of the 4 middle seats in the center of the plane...right in front of the movie screen, which made for good viewing, but also did not make for great sleeping because the screen was so bright. The seats were so close together, I literally had to sit with my arms pulled in the whole time...can you say CRAMP!
I'm usually a person that never wants to wish my life away...even in the midst of tough times, I want to learn and grow in the midst of the experience, but it would have been fine with me if I could have blinked and the genie could have whisked me directly to Bangkok at that point.
Once we landed in Tokyo, there was NO time to kill...or stretch our legs before our next flight took off for Bangkok. This was another 6-hour flight! At least the plane was not so full, so we could stretch out a bit more. We finally landed in Bangkok, made it through customs, got our luggage and found a taxi to the missionary guest house where we're staying. Really things could not have got much more smoothly. I am grateful. Since then, my major issue has been with the heat--for me, that has been tougher to deal with than the jet lag, tiredness and the slight scare I had with eating some pizza on our first full night here that must have had some seafood on it because my throat got a bit tight, but not enough to use one of my precious 2 Epi pens. Still hoping I bought these for nothing, if you know what I mean!
It's been in the 90s with HIGH humidity. We don't get along well at all. I basically slept nothing last night because it's so hard to sleep when you are drenched in sweat. But today I began to hear the stories, and that makes me excited to be here. This one is from our field leader in Japan, Steve. He was in Tokyo when the earthquake and tsunami hit 3 weeks ago. This has rocked the world of him and his whole team, but he said that the team has never felt so close and worked so well together. Sometimes, I think, it takes challenges to face together to bring us truly together.
Steve went on to tell how he was going to fulfill his commitment to the senior class of CAJ, our MK school in Tokyo, by taking them on their senior class trip to Thailand. This is just 2 weeks from the devastating earthquake, but they felt it was important. Well, as many of you might have heard, there was another earthquake a few days ago on the borders of Myanmar and Thailand...just 6 miles from where Steve and the seniors were! Talk about traumatic experiences...to go through the huge one in Japan, with all its aftershocks as well, and then to experience it less than two weeks later again...in another country! But Steve said the students were calm and cool, and they were actually able to help others around them. I'll be writing this story out in full once we get home. Until then, I'm excited to hear dozens more about how God is working and using OMS people to change lives around the world every day. So honored to be able to tell the stories...
First, I want to share in the fun of a 36-hour travel adventure. On Thursday morning, I had to be at the airport by 4:30 a.m., so I made the silly decision to NOT go to bed at all on Wed. night. I thought, it'll help me sleep better on the plane. Our first flight from Indy to Washington D.C. went without a hitch until landing...then, it seemed we had a bit of trouble stopping, but all was well. Once we deboarded, we found out our wheel had broken, so we'd need to be rerouted on another plane to NY. That didn't happen, so we ended up flying back to Detriot...yes, pretty much a little circle. We got to Detroit, no problem, then readied ourselves for the 13-hour (yes, you read that correctly,,,13 hours!) flight from Detroit to Tokyo, Japan. It felt like 13 hours. We were in a huge plane that sat 10 passengers across. My two traveling companions and I were unfortunately in 3 of the 4 middle seats in the center of the plane...right in front of the movie screen, which made for good viewing, but also did not make for great sleeping because the screen was so bright. The seats were so close together, I literally had to sit with my arms pulled in the whole time...can you say CRAMP!
I'm usually a person that never wants to wish my life away...even in the midst of tough times, I want to learn and grow in the midst of the experience, but it would have been fine with me if I could have blinked and the genie could have whisked me directly to Bangkok at that point.
Once we landed in Tokyo, there was NO time to kill...or stretch our legs before our next flight took off for Bangkok. This was another 6-hour flight! At least the plane was not so full, so we could stretch out a bit more. We finally landed in Bangkok, made it through customs, got our luggage and found a taxi to the missionary guest house where we're staying. Really things could not have got much more smoothly. I am grateful. Since then, my major issue has been with the heat--for me, that has been tougher to deal with than the jet lag, tiredness and the slight scare I had with eating some pizza on our first full night here that must have had some seafood on it because my throat got a bit tight, but not enough to use one of my precious 2 Epi pens. Still hoping I bought these for nothing, if you know what I mean!
It's been in the 90s with HIGH humidity. We don't get along well at all. I basically slept nothing last night because it's so hard to sleep when you are drenched in sweat. But today I began to hear the stories, and that makes me excited to be here. This one is from our field leader in Japan, Steve. He was in Tokyo when the earthquake and tsunami hit 3 weeks ago. This has rocked the world of him and his whole team, but he said that the team has never felt so close and worked so well together. Sometimes, I think, it takes challenges to face together to bring us truly together.
Steve went on to tell how he was going to fulfill his commitment to the senior class of CAJ, our MK school in Tokyo, by taking them on their senior class trip to Thailand. This is just 2 weeks from the devastating earthquake, but they felt it was important. Well, as many of you might have heard, there was another earthquake a few days ago on the borders of Myanmar and Thailand...just 6 miles from where Steve and the seniors were! Talk about traumatic experiences...to go through the huge one in Japan, with all its aftershocks as well, and then to experience it less than two weeks later again...in another country! But Steve said the students were calm and cool, and they were actually able to help others around them. I'll be writing this story out in full once we get home. Until then, I'm excited to hear dozens more about how God is working and using OMS people to change lives around the world every day. So honored to be able to tell the stories...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Traveling
Well, in approximately 27 hours I will be leaving home for the next 16 days. I'm heading to Asia--Thailand and South Asia (can't identify the country for security reasons). This will be the longest I've been away from my kids and definitely the farthest.
I'm a mixed bag of emotions--very excited to see this part of the world, to take pictures and video and to write stories about what God is doing throughout Asia, but I'm also feeling a bit nervous and anxious. My health has not been stellar in the past few years (pancreatitis, diabetes/high triglycerides and IBS issues), so going to the third world is not an exciting prospect in regard to stomach issues and food allergies...I'm allergic to seafood. Also, our world is currently in chaos with wars, earthquakes, etc...even in the areas where I'm heading.
But still, I know that God goes before me. He has everything under control...
I sometimes laugh at myself that I chose to become a missionary. I don't enjoy traveling anymore. I don't want to leave my family. I'm anxious about all the work that will pile up in my absence. And I'm writing this blog to avoid packing because it nearly makes me hyperventilate just doing it. You see, I'm OCD/ADD, so packing is a real struggle. I want it to be perfect, and I easily get distracted from the task and want to do everything else in the midst of packing...eg. as I go to my closet to get something, I decide NOW is the time to rearrange my clothes hangars by color codes or as I go to get some paperwork from the counter, I end up going through all the paperwork. I don't ever want to travel without leaving my house immaculate. Not sure why that always happens, but even when we leave for a camping trip, Patrick is usually honking the horn for me as I wash up that last glass in the sink. It's an illness that "pert near" kills me on each trip.
So, pray for me in these next hours, please--that I can complete all that I need to, then...let go and let God...
I anticipate an incredible journey, with many stories to tell. I'm hoping to be able to blog some of my experiences while "on the road," so look for updates from me in the coming days.
I'm a mixed bag of emotions--very excited to see this part of the world, to take pictures and video and to write stories about what God is doing throughout Asia, but I'm also feeling a bit nervous and anxious. My health has not been stellar in the past few years (pancreatitis, diabetes/high triglycerides and IBS issues), so going to the third world is not an exciting prospect in regard to stomach issues and food allergies...I'm allergic to seafood. Also, our world is currently in chaos with wars, earthquakes, etc...even in the areas where I'm heading.
But still, I know that God goes before me. He has everything under control...
I sometimes laugh at myself that I chose to become a missionary. I don't enjoy traveling anymore. I don't want to leave my family. I'm anxious about all the work that will pile up in my absence. And I'm writing this blog to avoid packing because it nearly makes me hyperventilate just doing it. You see, I'm OCD/ADD, so packing is a real struggle. I want it to be perfect, and I easily get distracted from the task and want to do everything else in the midst of packing...eg. as I go to my closet to get something, I decide NOW is the time to rearrange my clothes hangars by color codes or as I go to get some paperwork from the counter, I end up going through all the paperwork. I don't ever want to travel without leaving my house immaculate. Not sure why that always happens, but even when we leave for a camping trip, Patrick is usually honking the horn for me as I wash up that last glass in the sink. It's an illness that "pert near" kills me on each trip.
So, pray for me in these next hours, please--that I can complete all that I need to, then...let go and let God...
I anticipate an incredible journey, with many stories to tell. I'm hoping to be able to blog some of my experiences while "on the road," so look for updates from me in the coming days.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Raging Hormones...no not mine!
Well, the title sums up what is happening this week in the Loobie household...hormones. Did we even have hormones at age 10? I am constantly thinking about the good ol' days...when life was more simple, values more ingrained and hormones didn't pop their ugly little heads until much later! Right?
Who am I kidding? It'd be easy to blame what is happening to my 10-year-old son on society or technology...anything but the fact that he is growing up. It scares the crap out of me! But the truth is...hormones are a reality...we had them then; they have them now. I do believe my first kiss was at age 10...can any of you old classmates remember? It might have been 11.
Back to the present...
I remember the first week of school, back in August, for the "meet the teachers" night. One teacher said in the orientation, "This just might be the hardest year your child goes through, with the change from 4th to 5th grade, changing from elementary to intermediate...and the raging hormones." I innocently looked at my husband and whispered, "So, glad we don't have to worry about that." Was it just six short months ago that we were listening to him talk about girls being stupid and gross?
Wow! How things can change quickly...and it's hard for this mom to witness the transformation from little boy to...well, big boy. At 10, I just can't call him a young man yet, but I realize these are such crucial, formative years. I find myself praying for this child (and my "baby" girl as well, of course) almost constantly. It really is scary how you can love a person so much; want so much for them. I really "get" that idea of giving your life for your child. I'm praying right now for you parents with sick or special needs children. You must experience this feeling on a daily basis.
Well, when you think of it, could you pray for Caleb...and pray for his momma! Today, I got the call from him, sharing ecstatically that he got kissed today...and it wasn't even from the girl he has a crush on. As he was telling me about it, he stopped, looked dreamily around and said, "...and I liked it!" Give me strength! I tried to logically talk to him, share what was right and wrong, tell him about the biblical view of love and intimacy...nope, nothing. He was in some hormonal stupor and could hear nothing I said. So, I just prayed with him, asking God to give him wisdom to make wise, godly choices in the years to come. And I need wisdom too, to know when to share what. My mom says I've shared WAY too much with my young children. But this is from a woman from a generation that taught us not to say the word pregnant in public. When I was 7 and my mom was pregnant with my youngest brother, she would not allow us to say the word out loud. I had to say she was "PG." Hilarious, but a sign of the times. Now, my fear is that if I don't teach them enough, from a biblical perspective, soon enough, then those on their bus and in their school hallways will. Whew! Exhausting...How many more years until he's married!?
Who am I kidding? It'd be easy to blame what is happening to my 10-year-old son on society or technology...anything but the fact that he is growing up. It scares the crap out of me! But the truth is...hormones are a reality...we had them then; they have them now. I do believe my first kiss was at age 10...can any of you old classmates remember? It might have been 11.
Back to the present...
I remember the first week of school, back in August, for the "meet the teachers" night. One teacher said in the orientation, "This just might be the hardest year your child goes through, with the change from 4th to 5th grade, changing from elementary to intermediate...and the raging hormones." I innocently looked at my husband and whispered, "So, glad we don't have to worry about that." Was it just six short months ago that we were listening to him talk about girls being stupid and gross?
Wow! How things can change quickly...and it's hard for this mom to witness the transformation from little boy to...well, big boy. At 10, I just can't call him a young man yet, but I realize these are such crucial, formative years. I find myself praying for this child (and my "baby" girl as well, of course) almost constantly. It really is scary how you can love a person so much; want so much for them. I really "get" that idea of giving your life for your child. I'm praying right now for you parents with sick or special needs children. You must experience this feeling on a daily basis.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Trinidad Adventures
Wow! Has it really been almost a month since I last blogged? This blog will be worth the wait. It's one of those Susan stories where you need to close your eyes and picture me telling it.
Ready? Are they closed? OK, you're gonna have to open 'em to read, I guess.
Well, we arrived in Trinidad on Christmas Day....wait, it was long past midnight, so I guess it was really the 26th. We left snowy Indy at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning, had a few hours of visiting friends in Miami (ate Christmas lunch at a Jewish bagel cafe--that's a first for my Christmas lunches!), arrived in Trinidad around 1 a.m., but by the time we got through customs and immigration, got our bags and drove to P's sister's house, it was nearly 4 a.m. We were all exhausted.
I spent most of that next day in bed as I awoke feeling horrible. So, while the family went on beach adventure #1, I happily stole some zzzz's and dreamed about the Colts game I was missing.
By the next day, I was feeling somewhat better, but not really good enough to travel 2 1/2 hours to the south of the island and drive around all day visiting people I didn't know. But I went. By early evening, I was so nauseous, I was begging my brother law to go home...but nope, we stopped at a big party. There was lots of heavy, spicy food and alcohol. My stomach wanted to revolt, and I hadn't eaten a bite, but God was merciful and I made it through that night without much to talk about.
The next couple days were good and pretty uneventful, just nice days of relaxing on the beach and hanging out with family...then Thursday came...the day I had longed for for many months. We were making the trip to Tobago--Trinidad's sister island. I had been there twice before...sooo gorgeous! The other times I'd visited, we'd taken a "puddle jumper" plane. This day, we took the ferry boat. I was ready for the 3-hour boat ride adventure. Let's cut to the chase and just say...Thank you niece Heather for suggesting I take a Dramamine-like pill. I needed it.
OK, now's when you need to get in the Susan story mode...We hired a large taxi to take our party of 13 to the other side of the island, to go hiking in the rain forest, out to a beautiful waterfall. Most of you know, I'm not really the hiker type, but hey, I'd made it before...and now I was a Wii champion runner, bowler, tennis player,...I'd be fine, right? We got there and started our 2-3-mile hike. We got about 10 minutes or so into the hike and I asked, "Did anyone bring water?" NOPE! Well, it was 90+ degrees F, with humidity in the...well, who knows, but it's the rain forest tropics people. I'm sure you can picture it. I was HOT and THIRSTY, but no one will ever say I'm not a trouper! We get about half way to the destination...a wonderful waterfall when suddenly...just realized this blog has gotten too long...will continue tomorrow...
No? You want more now? OK, stop calling me those mean names. I won't tease you like that. Here's the rest and the best. I do warn though...for those of you with weak sensibilities, stop now. I am not going to sugar coat this.
So, you've stuck with me this far...thanks. OK, I was at the part where ...when suddenly, I began to have severe stomach cramps...I mean the kind that double you over, make the hairs on your arms stand up and make you begin prayers like this..."Oh, help me, Jesus, please Jesus...ahhhhh!" I frantically began searching for a place to find release. But where? I was with 13 family members, we're on a rugged trail, with an even more rugged off trail and there were the occasional tourists passing us on the way back. There was no privacy, NO place to go. I plowed forward, begging Jesus with every breath to make it go away. By this time, I knew in addition to stomach cramping, I was also severely dehydrated. So, I began to cold sweat on top of the hot sweat. By the time we reached the destination, my bum cheeks were squeezed so tightly together, and I was in such pain, I hardly noticed the beauty of the cascading waterfall. I did take two seconds to snap this picture at the right.
My kids and all the other nieces and nephews were eager to swim in the pool below the waterfall. All I could think of was finding a bathroom. I knew there was one back down at the base camp...3 miles away! Could I make it? Dare I venture back on my own? I'm scanning the surrounding area frantically now, praying, squeezing, begging God, looking pleadingly at my husband to help me. I quickly announce to one and all, I must head back. I run, cantor, limp, drag, stop, deep breathe, pray, gallop some more--all the time maneuvering over rough, wet rocks, precariously steep inclines, etc... I didn't care at this point, I was desperate. I got about halfway back to camp when about 20 feet ahead, I spy the huge bamboo tree we had passed on our way up and where I'd gotten my photo taken.
OK, I thought. That could work. It could provide me a little privacy. At this point though, I barely cared. I needed this offensive, foul poison out of my body. I gingerly began the last long 20 feet...victory was in sight...but was not to be mine that day. I could hold my cheeks together no longer. And out it came...filling my bathing suit. I had no t.p., no towel, no nothing. I crept...almost crawled to the bamboo tree and finished the job and looked around for leaves. Now, I began to think about the potential creepy crawlies that could be around. What if I chose a leaf that was poisonous? ...What the heck! I had to clean myself somehow. Then, I realized, I was still a mess. I knew that there was a creek down the ravine. It's where the water from the waterfall flowed. Was I brave enough to go off trial in search of water. If you smelled me, you would know why this scardy-cat did it.
I bush whacked my way through the forest, carefully watching each step, yelling when needed to ensure that no viper would fang my bare ankles. Then, holding on to vines protruding from the side of the ravine, I readied myself to climb down to the ...ACKKKK, there was no water below. The creek bed was dry. How in the world could a creek be dry in the middle of the rain forest? Jesus? ...but wait, I heard water...I followed the creek. More than once, now that I just stunk and didn't feel like dying, I pretended that I was that guy that ekes out an existence in the jungles, you know, like a female MacGyver.
Ahhh, water, glorious water. I rolled and flopped and bathed and scrubbed and lapped and frolicked. Water, glorious water. Once I had got most of the stink off me and drank until my belly jiggled, I knew I now had to climb back up and find civilization. I used sticks and vines and rocks...and I did it. Had I fallen, I seriously doubt anyone would have ever found me. So glad I didn't think of that in the moment. Now, the decision came--do I venture back to the waterfall to find the group or just call it a morning and hike back to camp? I opted for A. Why? I was mad that I was missing out on the fun. By the time I made it back within vision of the waterfall, the group was heading back. I SAW the waterfall for the first time really. Beautiful.
On the hike back, a God moment happened. From nothingness, it just started to pour down rain (we were in a rain forest after all). It was an amazing moment for me. I just raised my hands, my head and my eyes to the heavens and cried in joy and wonder. Water, glorious water. God, glorious God!
The story is basically finished. Once we got up to the camp, I realized in addition to toilets, they had showers. Rachel and I were in a changing room together, undressing to ready for the shower. Rachel looks and me and says, "Mommy, why do you have mud all over your back and legs?" Pause..."and why does it smell like poop?"
"Ah, baby girl, it's a long story..."
Picture at right: The beach in Tobago. We had a wonderful rest of the day. Water, glorious water. : )
Ready? Are they closed? OK, you're gonna have to open 'em to read, I guess.
Well, we arrived in Trinidad on Christmas Day....wait, it was long past midnight, so I guess it was really the 26th. We left snowy Indy at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning, had a few hours of visiting friends in Miami (ate Christmas lunch at a Jewish bagel cafe--that's a first for my Christmas lunches!), arrived in Trinidad around 1 a.m., but by the time we got through customs and immigration, got our bags and drove to P's sister's house, it was nearly 4 a.m. We were all exhausted.
I spent most of that next day in bed as I awoke feeling horrible. So, while the family went on beach adventure #1, I happily stole some zzzz's and dreamed about the Colts game I was missing.
By the next day, I was feeling somewhat better, but not really good enough to travel 2 1/2 hours to the south of the island and drive around all day visiting people I didn't know. But I went. By early evening, I was so nauseous, I was begging my brother law to go home...but nope, we stopped at a big party. There was lots of heavy, spicy food and alcohol. My stomach wanted to revolt, and I hadn't eaten a bite, but God was merciful and I made it through that night without much to talk about.
The next couple days were good and pretty uneventful, just nice days of relaxing on the beach and hanging out with family...then Thursday came...the day I had longed for for many months. We were making the trip to Tobago--Trinidad's sister island. I had been there twice before...sooo gorgeous! The other times I'd visited, we'd taken a "puddle jumper" plane. This day, we took the ferry boat. I was ready for the 3-hour boat ride adventure. Let's cut to the chase and just say...Thank you niece Heather for suggesting I take a Dramamine-like pill. I needed it.
OK, now's when you need to get in the Susan story mode...We hired a large taxi to take our party of 13 to the other side of the island, to go hiking in the rain forest, out to a beautiful waterfall. Most of you know, I'm not really the hiker type, but hey, I'd made it before...and now I was a Wii champion runner, bowler, tennis player,...I'd be fine, right? We got there and started our 2-3-mile hike. We got about 10 minutes or so into the hike and I asked, "Did anyone bring water?" NOPE! Well, it was 90+ degrees F, with humidity in the...well, who knows, but it's the rain forest tropics people. I'm sure you can picture it. I was HOT and THIRSTY, but no one will ever say I'm not a trouper! We get about half way to the destination...a wonderful waterfall when suddenly...just realized this blog has gotten too long...will continue tomorrow...
No? You want more now? OK, stop calling me those mean names. I won't tease you like that. Here's the rest and the best. I do warn though...for those of you with weak sensibilities, stop now. I am not going to sugar coat this.
So, you've stuck with me this far...thanks. OK, I was at the part where ...when suddenly, I began to have severe stomach cramps...I mean the kind that double you over, make the hairs on your arms stand up and make you begin prayers like this..."Oh, help me, Jesus, please Jesus...ahhhhh!" I frantically began searching for a place to find release. But where? I was with 13 family members, we're on a rugged trail, with an even more rugged off trail and there were the occasional tourists passing us on the way back. There was no privacy, NO place to go. I plowed forward, begging Jesus with every breath to make it go away. By this time, I knew in addition to stomach cramping, I was also severely dehydrated. So, I began to cold sweat on top of the hot sweat. By the time we reached the destination, my bum cheeks were squeezed so tightly together, and I was in such pain, I hardly noticed the beauty of the cascading waterfall. I did take two seconds to snap this picture at the right.
My kids and all the other nieces and nephews were eager to swim in the pool below the waterfall. All I could think of was finding a bathroom. I knew there was one back down at the base camp...3 miles away! Could I make it? Dare I venture back on my own? I'm scanning the surrounding area frantically now, praying, squeezing, begging God, looking pleadingly at my husband to help me. I quickly announce to one and all, I must head back. I run, cantor, limp, drag, stop, deep breathe, pray, gallop some more--all the time maneuvering over rough, wet rocks, precariously steep inclines, etc... I didn't care at this point, I was desperate. I got about halfway back to camp when about 20 feet ahead, I spy the huge bamboo tree we had passed on our way up and where I'd gotten my photo taken.
OK, I thought. That could work. It could provide me a little privacy. At this point though, I barely cared. I needed this offensive, foul poison out of my body. I gingerly began the last long 20 feet...victory was in sight...but was not to be mine that day. I could hold my cheeks together no longer. And out it came...filling my bathing suit. I had no t.p., no towel, no nothing. I crept...almost crawled to the bamboo tree and finished the job and looked around for leaves. Now, I began to think about the potential creepy crawlies that could be around. What if I chose a leaf that was poisonous? ...What the heck! I had to clean myself somehow. Then, I realized, I was still a mess. I knew that there was a creek down the ravine. It's where the water from the waterfall flowed. Was I brave enough to go off trial in search of water. If you smelled me, you would know why this scardy-cat did it.
I bush whacked my way through the forest, carefully watching each step, yelling when needed to ensure that no viper would fang my bare ankles. Then, holding on to vines protruding from the side of the ravine, I readied myself to climb down to the ...ACKKKK, there was no water below. The creek bed was dry. How in the world could a creek be dry in the middle of the rain forest? Jesus? ...but wait, I heard water...I followed the creek. More than once, now that I just stunk and didn't feel like dying, I pretended that I was that guy that ekes out an existence in the jungles, you know, like a female MacGyver.
Ahhh, water, glorious water. I rolled and flopped and bathed and scrubbed and lapped and frolicked. Water, glorious water. Once I had got most of the stink off me and drank until my belly jiggled, I knew I now had to climb back up and find civilization. I used sticks and vines and rocks...and I did it. Had I fallen, I seriously doubt anyone would have ever found me. So glad I didn't think of that in the moment. Now, the decision came--do I venture back to the waterfall to find the group or just call it a morning and hike back to camp? I opted for A. Why? I was mad that I was missing out on the fun. By the time I made it back within vision of the waterfall, the group was heading back. I SAW the waterfall for the first time really. Beautiful.
On the hike back, a God moment happened. From nothingness, it just started to pour down rain (we were in a rain forest after all). It was an amazing moment for me. I just raised my hands, my head and my eyes to the heavens and cried in joy and wonder. Water, glorious water. God, glorious God!
The story is basically finished. Once we got up to the camp, I realized in addition to toilets, they had showers. Rachel and I were in a changing room together, undressing to ready for the shower. Rachel looks and me and says, "Mommy, why do you have mud all over your back and legs?" Pause..."and why does it smell like poop?"
Picture at right: The beach in Tobago. We had a wonderful rest of the day. Water, glorious water. : )
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