It's been a while since I've posted on this blog. However, I have written up a few stories on my naturalist blog. I've been taking the 2nd session of an extension class, so I've added some of my adventures in the field, how I feel about them, and what I've seen or heard. In some I have shared about my "sit spot", a place close to home that can be visited on a daily basis if I want to and then "spots" that are a little further away. I got a little bored with my "sit spot" at times because I'd never see anything new. However, the more I came the more I became familiar with the birds that I did see. I saw the beauty in even the weeds. I learned to identify some new species of birds and wildflowers as well as clouds. I think perhaps that was the most interesting for me this past month--the shapes of clouds, learning to identify them and to find animals and objects found within the clouds. Of course, we've had some intense summer storms which have bee exciting to see. One just the other night. The sky continued to light up over and over even though I couldn't always hear any thunder. Glad we didn't lose the BBQ grill. Only the fire pit was swept across the street. As far as visitors this past year, my sister came for a visit, as well as her daughter. They came at different times so we got to spread out our visiting the sites and eateries of Nashville. Later my niece and her daughter came to visit from CA and we did it all over again. In May I took a trip to Oregon to visit my son whom I hadn't seen in 5 years. It was great to see him and his girlfriend along with their dog, Mr. Bottoms. I got to see a lot of Portland and their motto, keep it strange, is true to the city. It was interesting to say the least. I stayed with my sister and then got to visit some great places, especially the eateries. I love eating out. I got to visit a couple of churches in the area and a pancake place with a griddle in the middle of our table. We got to make our own pancakes. How fun was that. A Chinese restaurant, unlike my usual Chinese food (Panda, lol). Visited the big open market down by the river and saw all kinds of interesting people and things, including a guy on a bike with a piano on the front of it pedaling around playing and singing. Had some delicious Mexican food, pizza and cajun sub. My niece took me to the zoo which was a lot of fun. I hadn't been in years so didn't really remember much. After Portland I headed to Colorado to meet my godson for the very first time. He is terrific. I had a great time with all 6 kids and tried to help out as they were in the middle of packing up for a cross country move. I got home a couple of weeks later and though it was good to be home, I must say it was a great vacation. Next? A trip to CA. Can't wait. Will try to post when I get back.

Week 3 of Lent

I ended up slacking off last weeks challenge. I had attempted eating just 7 foods but that just didn’t work for me. Because I’m lazy? Selfish? Not sure if I have an answer for that. Just plain didn’t want to I suppose. I like to eat. And I like to go out to eat.
So, this week’s challenge is to change the way I spend my time, eat, dress, etc. to reflect my passions. So I decided I’d do the “7” challenge for dress by wearing only 7 different pieces of clothing this week. My choices for this week will be: jeans, gray shoes, p.j. bottoms, Africa t-shirt, gray striped longsleeve shirt, lightweight blue jacket, and Mickey longsleeve shirt. Underclothes are considered free. I don’t want to remove my pierced jewelry in case the holes close up--is that cheating?
How does this relate to my passions? Well, I’m passionate about the poor and needy. Though I realize many people in developing nations don’t even have 7 pieces of clothing to their name, I’m going to try doing without a lot. I’ve been trying to rid my life of “things” and live more simply but it’s not always easy in a society like ours that more means a better life or happier, etc. I’m not one to buy a new wardrobe every season. I own 1 pair of pants and 2 pairs of shoes (besides my slippers). Well, no, 3 counting my hiking boots. I can’t really imagine what it is like to wear rags and only 2 sets for that matter. What clothes do I have that I truly need and which ones do I have just because.
Now, my eating for the week. I decided to forgo something different each day. Many people around the world don’t have the luxury of going to the grocery store each time they are out of something. For that matter, they don’t have the money to buy something extra. The other day I wanted something sweet, since I was giving up chocolate. So I bought my Red Vines and Hot Tamales. Do people really get the chance to do that in a 3rd world country? Any time they please? So for Monday I decided to just eat fruit. I started the morning off with a fruit smoothie. I made it that far. Can I go the entire day? Hope so. I made it.
Day 2 I gave up sweets--candy, cookies, cake, etc. But was that really fair since I don’t always have those things anyway? Well, day 2 ended my week for changing my eating.
But, it’s Sunday and I went the whole week using just 7 articles of clothing. However, I did wash some of them once during the week. Most people in the poorer nations would have done them by hand, I had the luxury of a washer and dryer.
So did any of this matter or do any good? Well, for me, it was a prompt--a reminder--to pray for those in need.

Lent and Sacrifice Revisited

I did spend a little time trying to decide what I could/should give up during Lent. I felt chocolate was a good thing to let go of for at least 40 days. I was doing okay but yesterday I was having some cravings, or withdrawals. I did mess up when Carey made a little individual chocolate cake and wanted me to taste it. I wasn't even thinking and took a bite (my confession) though it was probably 1/4 teaspoon.
Another thing I challenged myself with was the "7" challenges in Jen Hatmaker's book. The topics I mentioned in my "Lent" blog. Instead of spending a month on each goal, I'd spend a week. So last week was giving away 7 things each day for 7 days. How did I do? Don't ask! I did bag up several items but I haven't got the other things ready. Plus, I'm trying to find a local group that can use them. This week's topic is food. I chose 7 foods and that's all I can eat. The foods I chose are: peanut butter, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, carrots, apples, flour tortillas and beans and water is free. How did I do on day one? Well, the oatmeal pretty much made me gag. Since I couldn't use any type of sweetener, I shredded up some apples to mix in. Ummm, it didn't really help. Then for lunch, I had a bean burrito but cheated by having a little cheese on it. (I really didn't need to do that.) Then tonight I had 2 pieces of toast with peanut butter. Another confession, Jim brought me a Vitamin Water and without thinking I took a drink. Okay, so today didn't go so well.
The challenge from Relentless Act:s of Sacrifice was to sacrifice our living (or work) space to remind us of what is important, what we're passionate about, reminders. So I've done that with my sitting/classroom. I've put up pictures of street children in Africa, pictures and posters of verses for the poor, how Jesus wants us to fast, the hungry, lack of clean water, malaria, etc.
This second week of sacrifice is about the food we eat. So many countries live on less than $2 a day. They can barely feed their families. As political crisis continue, food prices escalate. (As in Madagascar.) Change the way you eat and the information you consume. Kind of goes along with the "7" challenge for this week.
I hope that you are drawing close to the Lord during these days before we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.
I will keep you posted on my challenges. I think I can do more.

Celebrate! Celebrate!

This past weekend, I invited (read: forced) my family to pack up the car and head to the mountains of Northern Georgia to celebrate my 5 year anniversary, free of breast cancer. The first two anniversaries were kind of a big deal to everyone, however, as the years rolled along, it became less of one. However, for all of you cancer survivors out there, every year that date rolls around is special. Anyway, we drove 5 hours to Amicalola Falls again, one of my favorite spots. Some of us had been before but this was Carey’s first time to join us.
February 27 marks 5 years since being diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. So I thought it would be fun to celebrate with the family and do something special. We decided to pack up the car and head down to Georgia. Carey had never been with us in the past so it was a new adventure for her. We headed out for Amicalola Falls. It took us about 4-1/2 hours (with a couple of stops) and we decided to stop in Dohlonega to eat lunch and walk around the town square. We ate at Chik-fil-a, a safe place to eat I thought, but I ended up getting sick. We did make it to a few shops but I was out of it for a while. We got to the park around 6 and checked in to our cabin. (BTW we’re driving on 1/4 tank of gas, actually a little less, and the nearest gas station is 18 miles away. We’ll see if we make it back to town.)
Our cabin is quite roomy--2 bedrooms with 3 double beds, bathroom, full kitchen, living and dining room. It sits in front of the creek. The family honored me with gifts--Season 1 of “Father Dowling”, Barnes & Noble gift card, Olivia stuffed pig and a Shutterfly book of E and J-Bear. (Yes, I cried.)
We played games, watched some “Monk” and had lots of fun.
Jim and Charley got up early to go to the lodge for a breakfast buffet. Expecting to pay $7 each, the waitress didn’t charge them. SCORE! Free bacon. lol The rest of us should have gone.
It’s really cold outside but we plan to take a hike then head to Helen, a little German town after stopping off at the Cabbage Patch Babyland Hospital in Cleveland. Remember those dolls? Did you have one too?
We took a short walk up to the Nature Center--the docents had a Barred Owl and a Screech Owl out. Before that was a Great Horned Owl and another small one. The corn snake was a favorite with the children there. We headed up to the Reflection pond but Jim wasn’t feeling well so bowed out. The girls and I continued our walk up. Carey wants to try climbing the 604 steps to the top of the falls tomorrow. No one wants to join her so we’ll drive to the top. (Read: cheaters)
After our walk we drove over to Helen, the little German town I mentioned. On the way we saw the Cabbage Patch Hospital so went in to visit the babies. We got there just in time to witness a birth. We saw it right after being removed from the cabbage. The nurse then took the baby to the nursery to weigh and measure. The were a lot of children and they loved it. All around the room were displays of dolls and several with their heads poking out of the cabbages in the cabbage patch. They had adoption waiting rooms and a huge gift shop.
We then headed to Helen, walked around town and stopped in to share a funnel cake. We had dinner at Johnny B’s and now back at the cabin relaxing. Hope it warms up tomorrow.
Still cold but took a little walk to the falls. Carey climbed the 604 steps to the top of the falls. We met her at the top. Then left for home. Had a great time this weekend.

Sacrifice

Sac-ri-fice: an act of offering to a deity something precious, to offer as a sacrifice. (Webster’s)
The Ultimate Sacrifice: Jesus’ death on the cross.
What sacrifice means to me: giving of oneself til it hurts. Not when you have lots of time and you decide to use it to feed the homeless. Not when you have wealth and you give it to charities. It’s when you have a little, and you’re willing to give that.
I don’t believe that I’ve sacrificed to the point that it really hurts. That’s why I’ve chosen to share about someone else, my daughter. To me, she sacrificed til it hurt. Cory sacrificed the comforts of the Western world to spend nine years in a third world country because she heard the heart and call of God.
Though living on less than a missionary’s budget, she may have still lived better than most nationals. She gave up much to serve the people of Madagascar.
She sacrificed her health--getting malaria more than once and respiratory problems caused from polluted air. So much so she was hospitalized and at one point thought she wasn’t going to make it.
She sacrificed being with family for those years--missing birthdays (hers and ours), Christmas and all of the other holidays and just day to day life.
She wasn’t here when her grandparents passed into Heaven or when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She gave up many modern conveniences like a washer and dryer--she learned to wash her clothes by hand. Also, modern toilets--ever tried a “squatty potty”? 101? She did have some modern conveniences, depending on where she lived. But if you want hot water, you heat it on the stove, if you have one or if not, coals.
So why would she sacrifice so much? To be in the center of God’s will. What better place to be.
Though she sacrificed much, she had some remarkable experiences living in another culture and being a light to the island. She spent time learning the language and the culture of the Malagasy by living with them. She shared the love of Jesus Christ with the children. She prayed with the sick in the hospital and brought joy into the lives of orphans. She made some special friends and also faced some heartaches, but she does want to return some day.


The Children




Places To Go





Health

Lent

Lent: the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting. (a period of fasting and regret for one's sins that is observed on the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter by many churches) (Webster's online dictionary)

I've never fully participated in Lent. I may have given up something at one time or another for Lent, however, I really don't remember if it had much meaning for me.
Last year I half-heartedly took part in World Visions Act:s ReLentless Acts of Justice--mainly sharing the stories sent to me on Facebook. I do feel fairly strongly about injustice issues and I want others to be aware. Not everyone lives in a world of rainbows and lollipops. There is much suffering around the world as well as in our own country. If I can bring awareness to just one person, it's worth taking a little time to advocate. Of course this gave me a focused time of prayer for these issues, but was it really considered Lent for me?
So, what am I going to sacrifice for Lent this year? Well, I told myself yesterday morning I would give up chocolate and XXX Vitamin Water--both items I feel I am addicted to. So what did I do at Target? I walked down the Valentine's clearance aisle and found chocolate kisses (my all time favorites) for 70% off. Score! They were small boxes with 6 kisses each at only 10c a box. What a bargain! And what goes better with candy than a bottle of vitamin water? Well, that idea went over like a lead balloon. So what will I do with 1/2 bottle of XXX now and 4 candy kisses?
Another idea came as I read a new book: 7: AN EXPERIMENTAL MUTINY AGAINST EXCESS, written by Jen Hatmaker. Along the lines of David Platt's RADICAL, Jen decides to spend 7 months ridding her life of material possessions, using less, or giving up a few things. She would spend one month on each of the 7 topics: clothes, shopping, waste, food, possessions, media and stress. So I thought I'd try the same challenge for 7 weeks (a little longer than Lent but that's okay). The only trouble, I'm not quite ready, I want to read a little more.
In the meantime, this years W.V. Act:s challenge is ReLentless Sacrifice which actually fits nicely with the "7" challenge.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Isaiah 58 (read the entire chapter if you have a few minutes)
vs. 5-10 "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
"Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January has been Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Though January is coming to an end, the reality of human trafficking has not. In Nashville, 28 Somalians are now going to trial for the role they’ve played in child sex trafficking--transporting pre-teens and teens between three states and forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts.
In Dallas/Fort Worth area, the trafficker of a 13 year old girl is going to trial. “This little girl has been sentenced to a lifetime of horrific memories.” (Traffick911). World Vision has advocated for the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act to protect enslaved and exploited children around the world. Unfortunately, politics (US) is playing a part in preventing this Act to go through. I have posted some of these articles if you’re interested in reading more. And don’t get me started on “Superbowl Sunday” when hundreds of young girls and women will be bought and sold for the pleasure of men before, during, and after the game. If you can do nothing else, please PRAY for these children, many who have been forced, threatened, and abducted into these situations. West VA is one of 2 states with no law against human trafficking.

Surgery

January 9
The fun has begun. Woke up about 6 a.m. to get ready for outpatient surgery--a DNC and removal of a polyp. I never look forward to being “put under” but it is recommended for this procedure.
We ran in to a bit of traffic but made it just 10 minutes late. Well, now the waiting begins. The Women’s Center didn’t send over my orders and there’s no bed available for me. It’s 7:30
I’m nervous as it is and these delays don’t make me feel any better. But on the up side--the bathrooms have toilet seat covers. HA! (something you don’t normally see in the south)
Cory’s been praying Psalm 91 for me, a chapter we’ve prayed for each other over the years. Vs. 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ...He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
And another verse that was part of yesterdays sermon--Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you, he will never let the righteous fall, 23b But as for me, I trust in You.
8:18 still waiting
This is the year of writing letters to doctors/clinics here. Last week I had to write mom’s doctor because of a rude nurse. I heard right back from someone in the office, then the next day from the director of nurses of Williamson Co. Vanderbilt clinics. She wasn’t happy and was going to take action.
Next I wrote to Cool Springs Imaging (a bit late) because of the scare they gave me last year after my mammogram--saying it was abnormal then saying it wasn’t. The tech pushed the wrong button and therefore sent the wrong letter. Jim talked with 3 other people that weekend, as I waited to get that straightened out, that had similar experiences there. You don’t make a mistake like that for anyone but particularly a breast cancer survivor. Plus, I had another exam a couple of year prior that gave me a wrong diagnosis. So, I will no longer go to that clinic.
8:30--1-1/2 hrs. later--finally checking in. Thing is, my doctor knew I wasn’t a morning person, ha. Well, less time in the room, unless the surgery is moved back.
8:43--finally in my room. No coat hooks and the closet has no hangers. Hook in the bathroom for clothes though. Dressed in good and non-skid sox and layed in bed.
First person in--a young man to do an EKG and one to draw blood. Strange he had a scanner to check my wristband against his info. Then of course the nurses began coming in.
I was wheeled back to surgery at I’m not sure what time--no clocks on the walls. After a short wait the anesthesiologist stopped by and then the surgeon. I was knocked out and taken to surgery at 10:15. I had no idea about anything until I was back in my room at noon. I dozed off and on, the ceiling was moving and the trees outside--and not from the wind. The nurses were in and out every hour and I was able to leave at 3.
The hospital experience wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. I was happy with the staff and the doctor. I rested the remainder of the day.
Thursday--just heard from the doctor--the polyp was benign.
I appreciate all the prayers sent up for me. God is good.