Can't Relate

So all my little life I wished for a sister and begged my parents to have another child in hopes that it would be that sister I wanted so desperately (I never thought through the fact that we would be a minimum of 10 years apart, but that's beside the point). So when that never happened I decided that I would have two daughters (and some sons thrown in there) to be the sisters that I never had. Somehow God thought my plan had some flaws in in and to date (though I haven't given up on the hope of having two daughters someday) I have FOUR BOYS. Yes. Four boys. Boys are something. These are just a few ways I CANNOT RELATE.

*Boys love wrestling. They adore getting tackled to the ground, having others jump on your head, knee you in the stomach, pull your hair, tickle you, etc. What about this sounds fun? 

*Boys eat VAST amounts of food. It is not uncommon for Cole to eat 2 bowls of cereal, applesauce, an English muffin, a banana and a left-over turkey leg for breakfast. And he's SIX. I am planning on getting a job in about 10 years to supplement my husband's surgeon's salary, just to pay our grocery bill. 

*Holes in pants. I have owned a lot of pants in my life.  I don't think I have ever gotten a hole in the knee of a single one. And yet, another pair of pants bites the dust around here on a daily basis. I try to tell them that they are still going to wear them, that they are actually in style that way, but they aren't buying it. The alternative I fear, is that I am going to be forced to open a sweatshop in my basement, using child labor and make my own pants. No matter how much I try to convince them not to dive on the ground, it is to no avail. I think it all comes back to #1. 

*Boys love the word TOOT. Or any bathroom humor, which I abhor. Enough said.

*Boys hate all things pink and glittery. How do they know at age 2 that pink is a girl color? I guess I should clarify that they do indeed like glitter, especially all over my kitchen floor, just not PINK and glittery, which I for one, think is very pretty.

And yet, God in his mercy has given me boys that DO like some of the same things I do. Cole reads like it is going out of style, taking after his mother. We can share our passion for the written word and someday race to finish the same book. They all love baking and cooking with me. (a little too much at times as they fight over who gets to pour the flour into the bowl......oh, there goes the flour all over the floor). Cooper loves to shop. He especially loves to be my grocery shopping buddy (maybe it has something to do with #2?) So while the boys beg for daddy to come home and play with them (which I love) they still will give old mom the time of day every once in a while ;) And maybe someday I will get that little lady (or ladies) to cover in pink glitter.  

Snippits of Kenya

I was procrastinating yesterday (pretending I was studying for oral boards) and I came across a few YouTube clips about Kenya and Tenwek.  The footage allowed Erin and I to get a glimpse of what life will be like in 10 months, and we thought we should share it with all of you.  I've pasted the links below.

It is amazing how much smaller the world has become in the past 50 years.  As the missionaries of the 50's and 60's prepared to travel across the globe, they had only a few photographs, letters, and stories of what they were getting into.  Now days Erin and I have video clips, Facebook relationships with current missionaries, blog posts describing daily life, and conversations with missionaries at Tenwek over the phone.  (Who would have thought that Kenyan cell phones had good rates on intercontinental long distance?)  I feel fortunate to have these resources, and have even more respect for the past generations of Christ followers who walked by faith into the complete unknown...following a calling... led by the light of His word... seeking to increase the number of worshipers in His kingdom.

The four hour ride from Nairobi to Tenwek condensed into 4 minutes   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP6TNOFQnxs

A video put together by 3 families who just finished their 2 years at Tenwek and are now headed onto bigger adventures.  Jason and Heather Fader have become a huge blessing to us as an excellent resource of information for what is to come.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEfeX1cdRQc&feature=related

Grocery shopping a.k.a. Horror Show

Grocery shopping with your kids. That's enough to make any mom's blood run cold. Who needs a haunted house this time of year? You want a horror show? Come grocery shopping with me. So today was that day for me. I subject myself to this torture once a week. Why? Because if I don't we run out of fruit and milk and my kids starting eating wood chips and toilet water. 

Anyways, we get up and at 'em bright and early this morning, put the baby down for a nap, wake the baby up from nap (b/c of course he decides to take the longest morning nap of his little life TODAY), and head out. Four year old doesn't want to wear a coat, even though its 40 degrees. Who cares? One less thing to keep tract of. Get to Meijer and try to find one of those Ginormous carts with a bench. That are next to impossible to steer. That make you bump into little old ladies and knock over displays of mascara. And why? Because your children beg you for that cart. Even though, ironically, you spend the whole time reminding them to get back ONTO said bench, not to lay on the ground, please stop dragging your feet and sit down, if you fall off this we are headed to the hospital WITHOUT a free Meijer cookie. 

First thing we have to do is stop and mail a package at the Customer Service. I wait approximatley 20 years in line, which makes it only slightly better than my arch nemesis, the Post Office. Finally we mail our package (Happy Birthday, Geneva- you BETTER like it! ;) We then head for the non-food side of the store b/c we need a few things. I always debate this, it adds precious time, but without this stop I will have no conditioner for my brittle, dry hair and no light bulbs to replace the ones my kids broke by throwing pillow pets at their ceiling. So we go. We have to stop to examine the 75 off clearance Halloween section (I can't blame that on the kids), pick up the rack of clothes we knock over, remove the clearance Halloween skulls that end up in the cart, pick up some Halloween sprinkles (let's face it, I'm a sucker for sprinkles. Hush you sprinkle haters.) and move on to the food side. 

Pick up toy baby drops on ground. Cringe that I have nothing to clean them off with, but then remember I probably wouldn't take the time to even if I had a sink and soap right there. Try to keep children in my vicinity. Where's my list? Refuse their desire to buy 16 varieties of yogurt. Try to get them to sit down on that dang bench. My BP is slowly rising to dangerous levels that will land me in the hospital.....Yeah! Maybe then I won't have to finish this shopping trip!

Then we reach the bakery. I use the free Meijer cookie as a total bribe. So they have been good enough to get a cookie (and by good I mean "what can I possibly do that is insane and yet not get my cookie taken away?")

We are almost done! (with store #1- yes, I am so cheap that I subject myself to this again at Aldi) We get to the check out and I tell them they can go ride the Horsey (to avoid having them touch every item in the check-out line) I give them a penny, which Alex seems to like more than the horse and throws/retrieves numerous times before rubbing it all over his face. Note to self- pack wipes next time. 

We make it out of Meijer in one piece, only forgetting one thing (which I will not go back for- don't worry, it's not one of the children, even I'd go back for them). We then have to stop and feed the baby in the van, during which the children redeem themselves by being super cute and singing me songs and telling me jokes. 

We then head to Aldi, where the baby seat does not fit in the baby portion of the cart, so he has to sit in the big part of the basket, and I have to stuff any groceries around him. There is no bench cart (which they don't sit in anyway) so the other two must "walk" (read: run and crash into things). I love that Aldi is small and we can be in and out of there in 20 minutes. We make it out with my sanity hanging by a thread, but still there. What has kept me from leaping over the edge? (this is the part you should have been waiting for this whole time!)

I was reminded of my Bible study lesson from this week. My Side By Side Bible study is studying Linda Dillow's book Satisfy My Thirsty Soul (which I HIGHLY recommend) and our chapter last week was I Bow My Attitude. So as I would get really frustrated, I would remind myself of these truths:

At least you have these insane precious children to take with you. You have a grocery store in which you can buy any food item you would ever need. You have money to buy groceries. You have electricity to light your way and keep your food safe. You have a van to drive it home in. You are healthy enough to do this trip, which you could never imagine 6 months ago. You have a God who can sustain you through even this. You are soooo totally blessed. Get over this grumbling attitude. 

The culprits 

Breathe. Okay, we're home now, Diet Coke downed and kids taking a nap. We will make it. Thank you, Lord for that reminder. 

Free At Last!

It all started with a sweet little boy who loved animals. Big, small, you name it, he loved it. His name was Cooper.  The problem was, this little boy had a mother who did NOT love animals. Big ones, small ones, the only way they were getting into her house was in a book. Fast forward to Labor Day weekend, camping with church friends at Camp Mishawana. Mama and sweet little Cooper are swimming in the lake, when Mama makes her first mistake. "Look, Cooper, a tiny turtle!!" This began a love affair, a boy and his turtle. He scooped it up and put it in a bucket. 

Within moments he was a celebrity among the throngs of children. "Can I see your turtle?" "Can I hold him?" "What's his name?" Poisy. Don't ask me. First thing out of his mouth. So Cooper and Poisy spent the weekend together. It is a miracle that he made it through all of the "love" he received those first days. When it was time to pack up, Cooper turned those big blue eyes to daddy (he knew better than to come to Mama) and asked if he could take him home. Overcome by a moment of weakness (didn't we have a no pet policy in place??), sleep-deprived and ready to go, Cooper hit the jackpot. "Yes". And off he went. Mind you, who held that turtle in a tupperware all the way home? Mama. In the midst of unpacking and getting ready to start the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL in the morning, we had to make a trip to Meijer for turtle food. 

Poisy survived, though I would hardly say, thrived in his tupperware (later turned fishbowl- thanks Katie).

 We fed him and changed his water. We looked at him and talked to him. But Poisy was lonely. :( He looked sad all of the time, despite the three ring circus all around him, just outside his bowl. He was a prisoner in our house, when he longed to be in the wild. We started leaving hints to Cooper that maybe we should set Poisy free. Honestly, we were waiting for him just to die of boredom. But he hung on. We even left him for a week and went on vacation without him. (I know, we didn't take him?! Don't report us to PETA!) We came back, Mama and Dad hoping Poisy had bit the dust, but there he was to greet us. Finally, we had enough of his sad stares. We told Cooper it was time. So last evening, Cooper made a hard choice. He chose to love Poisy enough to set him free in the creek by our house. So Dad took all 4 boys on a life lesson journey. They set Poisy free. I think from my house I could hear an echo of Poisy's song as he crawled into the water, "Free at Last! Free at Last! Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!". And then a fish swam by and ate him. Just kidding. 

We're just hoping the old adage doesn't ring true, "If you love something, set it free, and if it comes back to you, it's yours to keep." I'm not too worried, by the time little Poisy made it back to 4730 Millhaven Dr., we'll probably be in Kenya. :) 

Road to Kenya part III - PACS

Before I describe World Medical Mission I will first write a little about another amazing organization that is doing great things.  In this blog post I will give some information on the PAACS program that is responsible for the organization of surgical resident education at Tenwek.  I'll post on World Medical Missions in the next episode.  

PAACS stands for the Pan African Academy of Christian surgeons, and was birthed in the late 90s after exhausted missionary surgeons realized that their mission hospitals were going to die a slow death after they retired and return to the states.  (Mission hospitals are similar to all other businesses in that your company's future depends on the leadership and if they train their successor.) The surgeons concluded that the only solution was to train and disciple African surgeons within the continent of Africa.  Their hope and desire was to start a training program for African surgeons that would eventually become self-sufficient and provide for the immense surgical need in Africa. More than 15 years after its inception, PAACS now trains and disciples 40 national physicians at eight hospitals across Africa and teaches them not only surgical concepts and techniques, but also teaches them God's word and gives them a vision to serve and proclaim Christ among the poor.  One of these training programs is at Tenwek hospital, where Erin and I will be spending the next two years.  It will be my privilege to assist in training ten future surgeons who will eventually meet the needs of their own people.  These future surgeons will have a huge impact on an entire continent, and change the face of surgical care in Africa forever.

The surgery residency program at Tenwek is structured very similarly to surgery residency in the states.  Much like surgical residencies in the United States, the residents will complete five years of training under the direction of experienced board-certified surgeons.  They take yearly examinations as well as fellowship (board) examinations during both their second and fifth years. However, a few differences are that candidates for PAACS training must be African graduates of recognize medical schools, and be open and unashamed followers of Jesus Christ.  These prerequisites go along with the desire to train up Christian surgeons to both treat patient's spiritual needs as well as physicial needs. PAACS programs have an affiliation with Loma Linda University in California and are also endorsed by the governing bodies of surgery in East, Central and Southern Africa.  The parent organization here in the states is the CMDA, which is very involved in organization and fund raising to support these residents.  

The PAACS program remains dedicated to fulfilling its mission: "PAACS exists to train and disciple 
African surgeons to glorify God and to provide excellent, compassionate care to those most in
need.". 

If you want more information about PAACS, their website is www.PAACS.net 

Comfy in My own Skin

Disclaimer: This is full disclosure. Don't judge. 

So 33 has been a big year for me. I had my 4th baby. Eric graduated residency. I had a near-death experience. But what I want to write about is how it has taken me 33 years to finally come to the point where I am learning who I really am and am becoming confidant in that. I wouldn't say that I was necessarily an insecure person, but there were a lot of things in life that other people thought or did differently than I, and it always made me want to rethink my position. I just wasn't confident in being different. I felt that if other people felt strongly about something, then I should consider thinking the way they do. That is fine, to an extent. But I am learning that there is no "right way" in most cases. (Unless we are talking about sin, there there is a right and a wrong) My opinion can be different than my friends, my peers, my family, even than people I respect. I have felt pressure (self-imposed for the most part) to be a certain way. But God has created me uniquely, with different likes, abilities, desires, goals and gifts than anyone else. I have seriously struggled with guilt over some of these things for a long time. But God is giving me freedom from that. So here are some things I have learned, first what I used to believe, and now what I have realized is true for me: (some are big things, some are not so important) 

I should read more of the classics--> I've tried. I just don't like them. I have a hard time understanding old language. So what? I can read what I want!

I should buy/feed my family organic food---> I would love to. I think it is great, I really do. But I can't afford it. So we'll just eat a balanced diet of pesticide laden food and pray for mercy. 

I shouldn't drink pop.---> It's not the best thing for ya, but a Diet Coke every other day just makes me happy. And keeps me from falling asleep while reading Wild Animal Babies for the 18th time.

I should not buy anything processed, but make all my own bread, can all my own food and avoid all 

preservatives---> Again, I love to homemake things, but at this point in life, I am thankful for Meijer Unsweetened Applesauce. 

I should be on the ground playing with my kids all the time ----> I am more of a boardgames, books, puzzles, baking kind of girl. I am no WWF wrestler. I hate getting my hair pulled and elbows in my eye. And I have a husband for that! 

I should have my baby on a schedule----> In most areas of life, I am super organized, scheduled and together. But this baby #4 seems to like to go with the flow, and that works for us this time, with carpooling, grocery shopping and 3 other kids. 

I should like (and use) the cloth diapers I have---> Okay people, I've tried. And I hate them. I am NOT the pioneer woman after all.  I will have to use them in Africa (Lord have mercy), so I am going to take a little hiatus from them until then. Don't judge. Who really likes scraping poop?

I should stay home more days and not go out so much---> I am who I am. I am an out and about kind of girl. I have passed that on to my kids. So we LIKE to go out most days. And that's okay.

 

I should be able to clean the house, make dinner, play with my kids, do the grocery shopping, write thank-you notes, and sew curtains----> I can't do it all. (and I don't even know how to sew a button, let alone curtains!)

After 4 years of running, I should be able to go faster and farther than I can---->I know this is shocking, but I do not have a runners body. I pant, gasp for breath, do my absolute best, and still snails pass me. So I will just go my own speed and be thankful that my body works. After all, just 6 months ago I couldn't walk up the stairs!

For my height, I should weigh a certain amount-->So what girl do you know that doesn't struggle with this on some level? Thanks a lot, American culture! Still working on this one, but trying to love the body God gave me. (scars and all!)

I should decorate my house--->I love all of your beautiful homes ( I really do!) but I've been called to a simpler life. And I am super cheap. And nice stuff is expensive. 

I should be a deep thinker---> I wish I were, I really do, but for Heaven's sake, I occasionly get lost in my Sunday school class. (Heidi Vriesman, back me up here)

I should have strong opinions about everything--->I just don't. I am middle of the road about most things and that's okay. 

So there you have it. What is God teaching you??

Beans, anyone?

Eric and I recently had a discussion while driving to Ohio about how we would like to take some steps to practice self-discipline in certain areas of our life.  So we came up with a preliminary plan, a way to practice self-discipline. We decided that from Aug-Dec. we as a family would give something up or add something to our diet in regards to food. So, we decided to go meat-less in August. 

We would eat meat if it is served to us at someone's house, or if we go out (so we're not SUPER strict), but at home we were eating no meat. We were not doing it to save money, or to be healthy, but simply to recognize that there are people in the world who cannot afford to eat meat, and though we can afford it, we want to give up that right for a while. The most interesting parts has been our kids reactions. One day at lunch Cooper asked for pepperoni with his cheese and crackers. When Cole reminded him, "Coop, we aren't eating meat!" Cooper said, "Pepperoni isn't meat!" Me: Well, Cooper, what is it? Cooper: A vegetable! Oh, doesn't he wish! I have had to get a little creative in my menu planning, but nothing too crazy. There are a lot of meals you can just take meat out of (Chicken pot pie) or substitute beans in (tacos). 

The month is now over and we survived, and without too much trouble. We did learn a few things though. First, kids adapt. When I started this I thought I'd be fighting my way through most meals. And some we did. But I learned to give an encouragement (read:lecture) before the meal started about how they would eat it, and why we were doing this, we aren't going to complain, etc. Only one meal did one child have to leave the table for saying it was "gross". They ended up liking most meals (many were things we eat anyway) and even had them for lunch the next day sometimes. This gives me hope for our time in Kenya, since we will not be able to get a lot of the foods that they are used to eating (CHEESE!)

Another thing that we learned is that we like variety. The hardest part for me was that I only had about 8 choices and I made them over and over. I know I could have researched more recipes, but I wanted to make it simple and do things I thought my kids would eat. But man, I realized I don't often repeat a meal more than once or maybe twice in a normal month. There was no "throw some chicken on the grill" if I hadn't prepared for dinner. In Kenya, we will probably eat a lot of the same things over and over, so this was good practice. 

The last thing that we learned is that we really enjoy eating. :) Sometimes we really look forward to a meal, even the kids occasionally ask "what's for dinner?" and then get excited if it is something they really like. But I realized that when you have the same things over and over, or you aren't super excited about what's for dinner, you just eat and move on. Probably more the way it should be :).
Overall, a good experience for our family and hopefully we will learn something from the other disciplines we choose to inflict upon ourselves. 

If you are looking for a good read that goes a little bit along these lines, I highly recommend the book Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. It was very convicting and funny too!