Real Medicine...

Recently Shauna introduced me to a show called “Grey’s Anatomy”.  I’m sure you’ve all heard of it, but to me it was just another lame medical show.  I figured why would I want to watch a show that is not going to depict the reality of the real world of medicine.  Mom and I can’t watch medical shows like that together because it really ticks us off when they do dumb stuff.  Like they would put a non re-breather on a patient and never actually hook it up to the O2 or inflate the bag.  Like the other night Jack, on Lost, gave Atropine IM in Saiad’s deltoid. Yep, brought Saiad back from the dead before he ever finished injecting it! Who knew an IM injection could work that fast!  And in "Million Dollar Baby"- she was talking away with an ET tube down her throat on a ventilator- I think Mom fell off the couch on that one.  I know, I know… its still Hollywood.  Why in the world do I NEVER see the attendings or interns ever dictating or doing loads paperwork that I know they have to do?  I must say, after I quit analyzing all the medical stuff on Grey’s Anatomy I decided that they do a decent job for the most part.  (Those of you medical persons who are making fun of me right now for watching and liking this show, you can stop.  The sun goes down around 6:30 here and there is no going out after dark and you can only read so much in one evening.  It's my break!  Why am I trying to justify watching this stupid show?) 

Any hoot, Kenya is a bit behind.  They are on season 2 right now.  I must say- all this medicine has me a bit nostalgic.  I was already thinking about it the day before I started watching Grey’s Anatomy.  I was thinking about how much I miss nursing right now.  It really hasn’t bothered me that I can’t practice here until recently.  Not that I’m “bothered”… just missing it.  I’ve even gone as far as letting my mind wander “if I were back in the states… I think I’d like to learn to be a scrub nurse...or maybe I’d like to get back into the ER.  I sure miss it.”  I have so many great memories from working at HP ER and even DSA.  God gave me some amazing friends who held my hand and took me under their wing when I first started.  They covered my back and put down NG tubes when another patient was crashing.  They changed REALLY yucky briefs with me when no one else would.  They helped me place even the toughest catheters... even when I whacked them in the head with lube.  They kindly and lovingly corrected me.  They always came when I called.  We cried together, prayed together, and understood each other.  We delivered babies (like Tammy Barbara).  We watched others being ushered into glory.  We even took a vacation together.  Oh... good times.  But that is what they are: good memories.  It was really a great deal.  I have great friends and great memories to keep with me no matter where I am in the world.  Life experiences that forever changed me.  As for being an endo nurse... (most of you think I'm sick)- but it really was so much fun.  I got to work with 4 Christian docs.  Who gets to do that?  I will admit I had a very skewed opinion of general surgeons from working at HP ER.  Okay- so there were like 3 that i was convinced had it out for me.  So I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I went to work for 4 of them.  Little did I know how difficult it would be to leave them in June.  I shed many tears leaving those girls (and guys) in the office who always seemed to love me- even we I was pretty unlovable.

As I searched my heart yesterday morning I began to pray for all the doctors I’ve worked with in the US.  I’m ashamed to say that I don’t always remember to pray for them.  It’s the least I could do for all they’ve taught me and done for me.  I realized something while I was on the steps of my soul:  I have a few REAL passions.  My heart truly smiles when I am doing any of the following: CARING for the sick and infirm; being a WIFE (Proverbs 31:10-31) ; being a MOTHER (I pretend sometimes); MISSIONS- Yes, I love to know that people are coming to Christ in the streets with Chris, but as for my own heart and it’s passion- it is about Proverbs 31:8-9 and Isaiah 1:17 (see below).  Helping Paul, Sylvia, Brian and Isaac was definitely one of the greatest missions I’ve ever been on.  I can’t adequately express with words how rewarding it is the see them thriving now.  They were sick, hungry, needy, and could not speak up for themselves.(1) 

My emotions are a bit mixed right now as I am working hard on understanding adoption papers, setting up appointments, reading books, and preparing my heart for these little ones to come.  I am excited and ecstatic to meet them, love them, and show them Jesus’ love.  At the same time, I know that it will take away from Paul, Sylvia, Brian and especially Isaac now (since I’m home schooling him in a way).  But the point is- God used me “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14b) to get them out of the situation they were in, get them food, get them well, and learning.  Now, if I can get Isaac to at least learn his ABC’s and numbers maybe he will be encouraged to go to school (and if I can keep the kids from picking on him).  The goal is to get them in the best situation possible in their own context (not westernizing them) and love them as Christ loves us.  Mission accomplished, right?  

So maybe my kids (future and present) are all the medicine I can handle right now.  I am happy with where I am and where I'm going.  But I am also very happy with where I was and the people I was blessed to meet along the way.

(1)- “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

(2) "Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the Fatherless.  Plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

Who's got my sticker?

Look at this beauty!!  She seats 8 total and she's ours!  We couldn't be more excited.  I can remember saying at one time "I'll never never drive a mommy van."  Shame on me!  I am just glad now to have a vehicle!  The fact that it is a van is a total bonus.  I mean- it's no conversion van... but then again we haven't exactly caught up to the Beavers yet.  (Not sure what we'll do when they come to visit)

Check her out!

I've even got a first aid kit in the van... just in case the homestudy people are REALLY picky.  (Nevermind the fact that it is a law here in Kenya to have a First Aid kit and those shiney triangle things)  

So my next question is: Who has my soccer mom sticker for the back glass??

Okay- the truth comes out.  We bought it because our red Suzuki might not make it too much longer and we need a second vehicle.  Once the Suzuki bites the dust, we'll scale back down to 1 vehicle.  So it's not exactly mine...  but I can pretend.  We got such an amazing deal on it from some other missionaries that were leaving.  Our friend, Kamal, found it for us.  The great news is if we ever need to turn around and sell it- we would probably come close to making money off of it. AND it's a diesel and diesel fuel is cheaper over here.  It only cost us $45 to fill er' all the way up!  Wahoo!!  Bring on the babies!

"Get on that paperwork!

          Ohhh...Daddy's playing hooky!

This past week was.... interesting to say the least.  I need not spell it all out here on the internet for the world to see, but we just had some challenges within the ministry.  But we would be silly to not expect those because when God is at work Mr S.A. Tan gets ticked off about it.  So- Long in the short (why do I feel like I'm always telling you poor people that)- Chris and I are playing hooky from church so we can guard the house.  Everyone one else is going to church.  But I think it's good for us.  We are going to work on adoption paperwork.  Since we've been back we've had NO time together to work on it.  We may just be sending out emails most of the morning asking questions about the parts we don't understand.  We've both read through the homestudy stuff now and boy is it a doozie!  I mean we didn't expect it to be easy, but we have to find a Neuro-psychologist, speech pathologist (I know one of those in the US), child psychologist, pediatrician (which we expected) , child development something-or-other, a developer of the child developer, etc, etc.  We have to have all of this for the paper work, but I don't know if they mean here, or there.  We'll figure it out though...

My mom will be happy we're playing hooky.  I finally got to talk to her on Shauna's skype yesterday and at the end of our conversation it wasn't "love ya, miss ya", it was "GET ON THAT PAPERWORK!  I WANT MY GRANDBABIES!"  Thanks Mom... love you too. :)  She has already started their little quilt blankies for their cribs! Tender, huh?

APPROVED!!

We just received an email this morning saying that we are approved! YIPEE!! Step 2 complete. Only 100 more to go. The next email we got was all of the stuff we need to have our home study done. So, right this minute we are at good ol' Dorman's (Coffee shop) downloading it all. It's quite a bit of stuff. We have a new team coming in on Thursday and we have been sprucing up the house. So we've been super busy. Not to mention we've had some unmentionables to take care of.... well... Chris has. We are so thankful right now to have Dottie and Frank Shealy- (friends from Wilksboro who are on our mission board) with us to not only help around the house, but Frank has really been a great friend for Chris to run things by- as he has been coming to Kenya longer, known nationals longer, and has been a part of this ministry since before we ever entered the picture.  

Any way- like I said we've been sprucing up the house between BHBC team leaving Monday night and this next team with New Hope coming Thursday. Check out the Livingstone beautification project. We moved beds ALL around, cleaned out closets, deep cleaned, washed clothes, and painted! Whew! Are you tired yet? 

Okay- stay with me- I'm really going somewhere with this. We moved beds all around, even moved some new beds in. The Livingstone can now sleep even more! As we put together bunkbeds today- I realized that they had a cute little rail to assure no one will fall off. I'll admit I got pretty excited thinking about the next time we move furniture around....it will be when we move our little boo boo's in right next door to our room! I was secretly picturing that top bunk (b/c the bunk beds un-bunk make 2 regular beds) in our boo boo's rooms along with a crib.  I mean I don't actually know that we won't have 2 cribs.  Okay.... I know- that was silly.  It's the little things like that - that get me excited.  

Here is another picture of a little one from NLH:

Check out that hair!!  

New Life Homes...

I'm posting several blogs today (between both blogs) because I'm playing catch up. I wrote them up at home and have traveled to seek wireless. So I've tried to make them as short as possible so you all can catch up with us without taking up your whole day.

Today (Wednesday), we went to New Life Homes- Kilimani branch in Nairobi with BHBC team. There are 8 New Life Homes throughout Kenya. These are orphanages for abandoned babies. If you could just see the pictures of some of these babies looked when they first got there. I didn't know a baby could look so sick and malnourished and actually survive and even thrive! We were all so impressed with how orderly and clean it was. I had a chance to sit next to one of the, what I call, Mama's. I thanked her for doing such a thankless job and for being such a huge part of these children's lives. What a calling it is to forgo your dreams of a family of your own- to care for and love abandoned babies. But oh the treasure that must await them in heaven.

On a separate note: Rich, Shawna's man flew in on Monday night to begin interning with us. As most of you know- one of the reasons we have this guest house is to encourgae and aid in whatever way we can in getting others into full time missions. Rich was anxious to get his feet dirty and was on the streets of Kibera within 12 hours of being here. He's a real go getter. Rich was a natural with these children at New Life Homes. I can definitely see he and Shawna with some of these little ones of their own one day! For now, Rich is enjoying his little cozy house next door. He and the ants are getting along quite well out there together.
Shawna and I have decided to begin volunteering at New Life Homes once a week (probably on Tuesdays while the guys are out evangelizing in Kawangware).

PS- NEw Life Homes is where our babies will come from!!!

Thanks for you application...

On the adoption front:

I got an email a few days ago simply saying "Thank you for applying to Carolina Adoption Services.  Your application has been received and is being reviewed.  You will be contacted in 2-3 weeks."  We are probably just getting it because we applied during their Christmas beak.  It was actually our Christmas present to each other. Is that weird?  

Chris and I are getting anxious to get started on our paperwork but we have so much to do for the next month to 2 months. The toughy will be finding time to get to the embassy to get it done.  On our plane ride to Amsterdam, I felt like Tina Faye- in the movie "Baby Mama" when it seems like everywhere there are babies staring at her.  She wants a child so bad that during her business meeting- instead of seeing her fellow employees- she saw bunch of babies staring and cooing at her.  I felt like her in the sense that there were a TON of families on our flight to Amsterdam.  There were several BEAUTIFUL black children... and they all seemed to be starring a hole in me as if to say "it won't be long until you're hauling one just like me through the airport."  

I asked the group that is here staying at the guesthouse to bring clothes for New Life Homes (where our children will come from).  So they brought a ton and want to take the clothes to them.  So we are going on Wednesday to the home where our eldest child will possibly be!!  I have mixed emotions about it.  I'm more excited I think than anything.  I can't wait to meet all their Mama's, see where they live, sleep, eat, and who they play with.  I'll post pictures and post them if I can.  I think I can post them as long as I don't put names with them.   

Oh Lord, let me not take these next several month for granted.  I know that you want to make me mature and complete, not lacking in anything.  Lord use this time to teach me and grow my marriage.  Lord, we have no clue how to do this- but may we lean on you not just in the tough parenting moments, but the easy ones as well.  My heart leaps, just wondering what they look like, how old they will be, what they are doing right now at this moment.  Lord, they are yours now and forever, but I thank you so much for entrusting them to our care for a short while.  I pray they will have a special zeal for you and for the great commission.  I will do my best to teach them of your love, faithfulness, sovereignty, your beautiful humility.  Thank you again Father- for choosing US! -Amen