"Daddy's home!!"

We used to yell that whenever Dad would pull into the driveway at the end of the day, but I say it with even more joy now! Finally, after 14 days in the hospital, he made it home. After we were released this morning (it was supposed to have been last night, but you know how that goes) we stopped by the doctor's office to learn how to use his "picc" line...it's his take-home I.V. I didn't know that you could take home your I.V., but apparently you can. We have to give him his medicine through it twice a day. It was kind of cool to learn, but I'd be scared to actually do it (Mom is still the chief nurse around here, Matt and I are just techs).



I'm up to my elbows in red tape. Turns out I do need a visa, (I was told before that a tourist visa would work, but that was incorrect) and now I'm scrambling to gather the necessary documents. The hard part is that everything has to be notorized, authorized, and legalized. Oh, and translated into Spanish! What a pain. Please pray that I can fight my way through the mountains of paperwork and still manage to leave on time. I know that God will work it out...I already made an amazing connection with the Oklahoma visa preparer. Turns out that she graduated from SCCLC, where I'll be teaching!! Isn't that a total God thing?!! She's already been super helpful in letting me know what all I need to get for my visa to be approved.

So that's the latest. It was so great to see some of you when I was in Siloam last weekend...I'm sad that I couldn't see everyone, but it was a super last-minute thing.

Keep up the prayers...I need all I can get!

This time I'm REALLY leaving!!

Okay, this feels like de ja vu...but here goes. I've got my ticket! I'm leaving September 13th at 4:300 in the afternoon for Santa Cruz, via Dallas, Miami, and La Paz. It will be a long trip, but I'm so excited that it's really going to happen!! It's happening really fast, I'm kind of scrambling trying to make sure I get everything taken care of...I'm sure I'll forget something important. Oh well.

I also managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Siloam this weekend. It was very last minute...I decided Friday at noon that I was going to go, and I got to Siloam by 5pm that evening. I was able to see lots of dear friends, though not everyone I'm sorry to say.

The weekend started with a Hard Core concert (my ears are still ringing) and concluded with me singing a solo in church...something I never expected to do in my life! I'm not a singer by any stretch of the imagination, and my last solo was actually a duet with Dido in my car. But Brian, who preached this morning, wanted to use 1 John 4:7-8 as his scripture passage and asked if I knew the song to it. Stupid me didn't think to lie, (and I guess that wouldn't have been an appropriate response anyway) and anyway I didn't think he was serious. But, sure enough, halfway through the sermon there he comes down the stairs and hands me a microphone. Thankfully lots of other people knew the song and helped me out. Then he promptly leads me to the front of the church and calls for an impromptu prayer for my dad and my trip. Of course I bawled my eyes out as soon as they started. Honestly, it was one of the most humbling and touching experiences of my life. There I was, in all my imperfection, knowing that I cannot complete this mission on my own, and God reaches around me with the arms of my church family and gives me a hug, whispering that He will be my rock and my strength, even when I am at my weakest. It was amazing.

So I guess I'm ready. As ready as I ever be. Seriously, can you ever be completely ready for an experience like this? I think the best I can hope for is to rest in the knowledge that I have no control whatsoever, but God knows exactly what will happen and how He will use me. So yeah, I'm ready. And so excited.

...Or not

Well, I spoke too soon. Turns out the leak was not completely fixed, or else it opened again...either way we're back to square one...or square two at least. Dad will have to go in again for the same surgery, and they'll try again. This third surgery is scheduled for tomorrow (Weds.) at noon. Dad says he feels like he's joined a diabolical "surgery of the week" club, and wants to know how to cancel his membership.

Seriously, we were all pretty discouraged by this new setback at first, but then God reminded us that He works all things for His glory, even repeated surgeries. We also found out that the fever he's been running is caused by an infection...spinal meningitis to be precise. Fortunately it's the bacterial kind, not the viral strain, and is easily treated. They have him on a double dose of antibiotics and think that they will be able to clear up the infection without further complications.

Despite these setbacks, Dad is still encouraging me to go ahead and start preparing to leave for Bolivia. I've been in touch with the school, South America Mission, and my travel agent, and the ball is rolling. I feel like I need to be here at least for a few more weeks, until Dad is out of the hospital and recovering, so my approximate new departure date is the middle of September. I'll be sending a snail mail letter out to everyone when I get the details nailed down.

However, a new wrench has been thrown in the works. Some of you know that the reason that I majored in Middle School Education was to avoid having to student teach in kindergarten. Well, I'm here to tell you never say never...I think God regards it as a challenge. Because guess what...they have the fifth grade position well covered, aside from the Social Studies period three to four times a week. The grade they really need a teacher in is...you guessed it, kindergarten. When I first found out I had a moment of panic and disbelief...no, surely not, anything but that. Then I immediately thought to refuse, to ask to be put anywhere but there. But, after I hung up the phone, God nudged me in the ribs and whispered, so who's plan are you following? Why are you going to Bolivia? Do you really trust me? And I realized that I had made myself available to fill a need, no matter what that need may be. Even 5 year olds.

I think I'm still reeling from the shock. All I know is that God wants me totally dependent on Him, not my own abilities, and also that He has a sense of humor.

Doing Better...

A quick update...Dad's fever finally broke, and he's feeling much better for the first time in days. He will have to stay in the hospital at least through Weds. for observation, but at least he's feeling better.

I'm hearing on and off from SAM, but they still don't have a date for me to arrive yet. I'm trying to be patient...I know that I'm still needed here to help. I'm trying to rest in the knowledge that God's timing in perfect, even when it doesn't seem that way.

Still here...

Sitting in a waiting room...a different one, but the same too. Same plastic chairs, same annoying TV show, same stained floor and weird smell. Daddy's still in the same hospital room too...but at least he has a room. He had to wait in recovery for 7 hours before a room opened up in the neuro ICU. He was doing really well yesterday, but today he succumbed to the horrible headache that the doctor said is a normal sign of recovery. Poor guy...he'll have it for probably two days at least. Just pray that they can manage his pain.

I haven't heard yet a new date for Bolivia...but I'm hoping! I feel like I have one foot in two worlds...like I was on the edge of the diving board, ready to jump, but the lifeguards called a break and I had to climb back down and get back in line. All the nerves about leaving came back...I feel so inadequate and unprepared. I know that God doesn't use those who are equipped, He equips those He uses (or something like that). But it's small comfort when you're gazing down into the dark water from the edge of a high dive. The unknown...is there anything more terrifying? Then again, is there anything more thrilling? The words "let go and let God" take on a whole new meaning...

Hospitals stink...

Both literally and figuratively. Daddy's surgery went fine...after they finally got started (there was lots of waiting around first). He's in recovery now, just waiting for a room. Mom went and saw him and said he's doing really well. He's not in pain, just a bit groggy (naturally). Hopefully he'll get moved up to the ICU soon.

Thanks everyone for your prayers...keep checking this blog, I'll write a longer one later when I have more to say.

Ice Cream Heat Wave

Yesterday I toured the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory. I know, random right? It was pretty interesting...did you know Blue Bell makes over 40 different flavors of ice cream year round, and 20 more seasonally? They claim to be the best in the country, and I must admit the free scoop of Cotton Candy I got was pretty good...but anyone who fingers Blue Bell for the best has obviously never tasted Ben and Jerry's. Have you ever had their Brownie Batter flavor? Talk about 7 minutes of heaven...(that's about as long as it takes me to inhale a pint). I've only been able to find it in California...but I scan the ice cream aisle hopefully every time I walk down it. Running a close second would be the Pooh Bear flavor, available (as far as I know) only from Maude's in Northern Ireland. This stuff has actual honey comb whipped into the vanilla ice cream...I've never had anything like it. My current (available) favorite flavor is Breyer's Light Double Churned Carmel Tracks. I got my whole family hooked on it. Trust me, it's even better than most "full bodied" ice cream, with (a little) less guilt.

I'm sure the reason for my current ice cream obsession is the insane weather. Seems like we've been over 100 for a month! I know, I know, good practice for Bolivia right? Hmm...that dampens my enthusiasm a bit (no pun intended).

Random poll...all time best ice cream ever?

The Blogger's pledge

I recently had a friend point out that it has been many moons since I've updated my blog...and she's right. I pretty much let it slide, since this blog was supposed to be about my year in Bolivia, and that is on hold. However, I realize that I am still a blogger, and therefore still obligated to keep my blog current. Therefore, I now make this pledge:

I, Dana, a recognized blogger, pledge to post at least one blog per week, starting today, August 10th, 2006. I will never again allow so much time to pass between postings, so help me God.

I hope all of the faithful who have been checking my blog will forgive my lapse. Again, I thank everyone for their prayers...they are being answered! Daddy is doing so much better...he's recovering his strength and his eyesight is slowly improving. We have a few follow-up appointments, and we're very confident that all the check-ups will be very positive.

As for me, I'm keeping myself busy. It's strange...I kind of feel like I've been on an extended vacation, but not a very enjoyable one. Although Saint Francis is a lovely hospital (if you can describe a hospital with that word), we got pretty tired of its cafeteria food and waiting rooms. Thank God we didn't have to spend too much time there...five days and we were gone.

I'm trying to keep up my exercise regimen, with the help of my mom and brother. Mom and I do Curves every other day, and the other days Matt and I run. I was doing pretty well until my knee decided to give out...hopefully it will be a temporary injury.

I've also discovered a new series of books that I've been devouring voraciously. Have any of you heard of the co-authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child? They write adventure/suspense novels...excellent page turners. So far I've managed to put them down occasionally, but it's difficult. I've been taking full advantage of the Tulsa County library system...no offense to Siloam's public library, but Tulsa's is a bit more extensive. It's saved me a fortune in Barnes and Noble purchases.

I must confess that the approach of a new school year leaves me a bit bereft...it's odd to walk by the aisles of school supplies and not look down them, scanning for potential students. I know that my students are waiting for me in Bolivia...hopefully I will get to meet them eventually. With Dad doing so well, that day may be approaching quickly. That thought is kind of bemusing...I don't really know how I feel about starting in the middle of the school year, in a new school, in a new country no less. I hope it's not too overwhelming. I suppose it will require me to lean on God all the harder...something I have trouble doing. I like standing on my own two feet, even when I know I need to be carried. This whole situation with Dad has forced me to let God hold me up though...and for that I'm thankful. It's strange, I feel so much closer to God now than I have for months, even as I was contimplating mission work. I guess there's something about seeing my Dad's mortality that made me bury my head in my Heavenly Father's chest and cling tighter than I ever have before. I guess that's part of the good that God has worked through these circumstances. I've had to release the control (that I never had to begin with) and just let God carry me. How very freeing.

Well, have I redeemed myself yet? Thanks for sticking through this to the end...I know I got kind of rambly. I have also resolved to be more transparent in my postings...to kind of let my feeling spill all over the screen for the whole eworld to see. That's kind of freeing too.