Waiting...

Moments after news broke of the earthquake in Haiti I knew I wanted to go and serve. It was neat to see my awesome friend, Amy, felt the exact same and text me to and say "when they send teams from Seacoast to Haiti, want to go?" It was on our hearts, as it was for so many, but we knew that we had to be patient. This past Saturday our Missions Pastor alerted via Facebook that they'd be announcing 4 trips to Haiti at Sunday's service. One status update completely made my heart race. Was it time? Am I ready???

Last night as I sat in a room of 60+ people from my church who signed up to go with a moment's notice, I couldn't help but fight back tears. There are only 40 spots right now, as teams must stay at 10 people each due to travel logistics, so if you do the math there will be a good chunk of us who will not go. YET. Regardless of whether or not I "make the cut" this go round, I was privileged to sit in a room surrounded by people who embody my favorite verse "Here am I. Send me." Isiah 6:8. We may not have thousands of dollars to send over there but what we do have is time to give and hands to lend. Not only do these people care about the well being of people they've never met and will most likely never see again, but they are willing to put their lives on hold with literally a month to prepare, distance themselves from every comfort they have and loved one they have to serve strangers. Very cool and very inspiring.


As I wait to find out this weekend whether or not it's my time to go, I'm trying to really wrap my brain around what it'll mean, what it'll entail, and what exactly I will see. Not praying about this is not an option. Actually it's the only option I have right now. Here am I. Will you send me?


Until then...here's a little info about the area where the medical team might be stationed accordingly to the team leader (again, insert many, many prayers here):

Cité Soleil (Kreyol: Site Solèy, English: Sun City) is a very densely populated commune located in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area in Haiti. It has development as a shanty town. Most of its estimated 200,000 to 300,000 residents live in extreme poverty.[1] The area is generally regarded as one of the poorest and most dangerous areas of the Western Hemisphere's poorest country; it is one of the biggest slums in the Northern Hemisphere. There is little police presence, no sewers, no stores, and little to no electricity. *the picture at the top is a survivor of this city.

The Fanny Pack

So last week I had to run to the campus gift shop to purchase gifts for our presenters at a conference we were hosting. Apparently with it being Corps Day weekend, every shopper received a free fanny pack. Oh. Wow. Really? You shouldn't have.

As I left (sans free fanny pack) the lady by the door wanted to make sure that I had in fact received my free gift of said fanny pack. I had not and was 110% fine without my gift. Regardless of my gratefulness and "please give mine to someone who is visiting and not an employee" attitude, she was dead set on my leaving with a Citadel blue fanny pack. Now what on earth am I going to do with a fanny pack?? Especially one that says Citadel Bulldogs? Duh. I'm going to rock that thing!

Today seemed like a great day to sport it around the office to pick my spirits up, so rock it I did. Sort of. I noticed that there was no clasp in the back for easy access and there was definitely no adjustable strap either. Did they expect this to be one size fits all AND do they expect the wearers to step into and out of it every time they wanted to wear it? Hello, awkward. No wonder this thing was free! Someone must have gotten a sweet deal on these defunct things.

After shimmying the fanny pack up my legs and over my hips, I was now ready to wear my Bulldog gear with pride. Or at least I was until my coworker nonchalantly asked if I was wearing a lunch bag around my waist. "What? How stupid would that be" I thought to myself until everything I had just done to get the lame thing on flashed through my head. OMG, I am wearing a non-adjustable lunch bag around my waist. How did this happen?

Thanks Citadel gift shop for my new and way more cooler than a fanny pack lunch tote. I will, in fact, rock this tote sandwich and all. Although I might just slide it over my shoulder next time and not my hips.

Too Quiet, Too Busy

It's been WAY too long since I spent some time on this blog. So, here I am and I'm bringing the polka dots back with me.

The past month has flown by and I'm not even sure where it went. Actually, that's a total lie. I know exactly where it went and it went with good cause, but it still went flying on by. With only 8 days left until the 2010 Cinderella Day, I'm finally feeling like I can come up for air and take a non-event, creative break. Praise the Lord for the way He sets things up and allows them to fall into place.

That being said, that's about all the creativity I have in me today. Just wanted to say hey and try to get back in the swing of things in blog world. Chat with you soon!

What I Learned While 30...

Life can change in a moment’s notice. 30 was a way easier year for me than 29. Thank God for employment! Proms are still fun at 30 years old. Getting to be on 2 prom courts in one lifetime is pretty fun. Owning a home is an on going project…year 2 in my new home and I still need to hang curtains and paint a few rooms. I love having my little brother back in the states. I hate it when he returns to China. Miracles still happen daily ~Matt Honson. I am stronger than I think I am when I really dig down deep. The magic of your first mission trip is different than the realness of your second. Some people will surprise you with their generosity. Some people will shock you with their cruelness. I continue to love my dog deeper on a daily basis, even when I thought I couldn’t love him more. Watching a friend go through a miscarriage is way more painful than they depict in movies/TV. Watching your friends have their first baby is one of the most beautiful moments. I still love birthdays and want to celebrate Birthday Eves with my children when I one day have them. I miss my family a little more with every year that I am here and they are there. I am still addicted to Law & Order SVU after 3 years and am confident that Benson and Stabler and I would make awesome friends. Guns scare me. I mean they really scare me. A fountain coke can make any day better. Snorkeling is not for me. Playing in the snow is as fun now as it was as a child. Trying to sled on a Frisbee does not work. AND the first days a 31 year old doesn’t sting as badly as I thought.

Sianaro 2009!

As I look ahead at the potential greatness that 2010 may hold, I want to take a day or two to reflect on the things that I’d LOVE to see happen as we move ahead. HOWEVER, before I do I’d like to take a look at a few things I’d love to NOT SEE again in 2010 as well.

Here we go…2009 can kindly keep in it’s grasp:

• The increasing number of gray hairs that have started to surface. Thank you very much.
• The Jersey Shore series.
• Any more iconic changes that stop me in my tracks. Note: Michael Jackson’s death, The Gosselin split, and Oprah’s retirement. Please Oprah, you’re young, there’s still time to retire at a later date. Preferably 2034.
• The inclusion of water chestnuts in every Chinese dish I order.
• Taking things too personally. *Refer back to 2007’s resolution “act like a duck and let things roll off your feathers.”
• Libby’s pumpkin shortages. No pumpkin bread?? What a scare for awhile!
• The Bachelor being a tool. I still have faith in you ABC, don’t disappoint.
• Unexpected deaths that rock the people I love worlds’. 2009 was a sad one for sure.
• Economic worries, woes, and effects. My poor, naked Christmas tree (in SC) looked like a Toys for Tots commercial.
• High profile men who have the world at their grasp yet cheat on their wife and kids. You guys are not giving me much to hope for, jerks.
• My lack of motivation for the gym.
• Sharks. (A girl can dream, right?!)

The Irony of My Great Uncle Maury this Christmas

Maury passed away this past weekend and although hospice had already been on site for a while, I still cannot imagine what his wife, Judy, and his children must be feeling so close to Christmas. Christmas is a time to celebrate and be with family. To reminisce of holidays past, over eat, and reconnect with those family members who live to far to see any other time of the year. It shouldn’t be a time to say goodbye to loved ones.

For us, Christmas night is usually spent at Maury’s over dinner and conversation. An added bonus has been the home that he and Judy invited us too for the festivities. To say that Maury was an antique collector would be the largest understatement of 2009. Their home is live-in museum. Literally. I wish I had pictures, but his place had an actual old time general store in it where you could spend hours exploring if you wanted. Every room had a theme and could most likely tell many stories without any words spoken. People toured his home with antique groups, but for us it was just tradition to spend Christmas night there taking it all in and singing off-key Christmas carols.

This year with his passing, I can’t help but think that although we won’t be heading to his home for tours and dinner, he will still be the reason that everyone is together on my dad’s side of the family, even if for one day of the year. I wish it were under different circumstances, but I’m still thankful for the chance to be there with everyone and celebrate once more. This time we will celebrate him, Maury Gambrel.

Thank God I Wasn't Born in Jersey!

Although I'm sure it's a lovely place with many lovely people, the new MTV show "Jersey Shore" has completely ruined that state for me. I knew the overly tan, tight t-shirt and spiked hair was never my thing but those guys and gals completely terrify me. Watching muscle junkies "Fist pumpin like champs" and girls who truly believe they invited the hair poof (and i'm guessing the bump-it as well) is a little too much for this southern transplant to handle.  

Granted I've never been there so I could totally be missing out, but the sheer guido-ness of the commercials alone for that show are enough to give me a panic attack. I cannot imagine watching an entire episode of the junk. That'd rate right up there on my fun scale with having to sit through another Widespread Panic concert in my lifetime. No thanks, MTV. That is one reality show you can keep.

Freedom of Speech or Freedom of Idiocy?

Now I know some people say stupid things and mean nothing by it, often talking just to hear themselves talk, but when what you're saying is completely offensive, it's often best to keep your mouth shut.

As I'm checking out at the grocery store last night, minding my own, I unfortunately became a fly on the wall for the conversation between the cashier and the bagger. They apparently were discussing coupons, freebies, etc... when the cashier (who is usually obnoxious anyway) went off an a tangent. In his usual loud fashion, he began voicing his opinion on how Americans always want something for free and he can't stand it. "Americans need to work for everything they deserve period. Nothing should be free" he stated. At this point I'm thinking nothing of their conversation, other than "I totally wish I had coupons right now to slightly annoy this guy."

A few seconds later the young cashier, who is always friendly and professional (can you tell I visit that BiLo at least 3 times a week) replies "not everyone can work though. What if someone is sick? Or what if it's an American soldier who is now paralyzed after serving his country? What about those incidents?" (Side note, here is when I almost threw my sweet potatoes at said cashier) "Well then we should put them to sleep" confidently and disgustingly replies the cashier. Are you kidding me? Am I on one of those Dateline specials where they see just how much customers will tolerate??? As if this guy hadn't already hit rock bottom in terms of customer service he opens his mouth one more time. Bagger asks "What if this woman's (bagger points to me) husband or family member is paralyzed or injured from battle?" Cashier replies "well then I just invoke my freedom of speech for saying that they should be put down." No apologizes, no remorse, no "I'm a huge idiot", nothing. Just smugness.

I wanted to say something and I should have said something, but I wanted to throw something even more, so I kept my mouth shut until I had calmed down. I drove home in disgust and then decided to call the Manager. I don't like confrontation, but in an effort to shut him up before he does say that to someone who does have a sick or paralyzed loved one, I didn't want to not speak up. He is correct in his right to freedom of speech, but when you are working among customers, that freedom pretty much flies out of the window. You cannot say whatever you feel and if you do, you better make sure you say it in front of a 5'5 female and not someone who will invoke their freedom to punch.

Home Sweet Home

Ahh, home sweet home for 5 days and now I’m back to the reality of work, housework, etc… For the time being though, while my mind is still somewhat in Rockford with my fam, here are my top ten reasons why I love being home for the holidays:

10. Thanksgiving meals. Yep, that’s right. I said plural meals on Thanksgiving!
9. My parent’s couch is so inviting. Especially with the big fleece blanket and Falalala Lifetime drifting me in and out of dreamland.
8. Eating someone else’s groceries for a change.
7. Decorating the tree, Christmas music, and sparkling cider was a nice little treat.
6. Meeting up with old friends always has a sort of “Cheers” feeling to it. Everyone already knows you, where you came from, and why you are the way you are. There’s something freeing about that. Plus some of your friends just feel like home. Even after all these years.
5. Hugs from family members.
4. Cut throat board games always rock! I love that my family loves to play games.
3. Hanging out with my parents and brother never gets old (unless my brother is a crab).
2. Not having a set schedule is a nice break from my routine. Especially this fall.
1. Knowing that you can, in fact, “go home”. Regardless of what they say.

I Dreamed of Africa

Have you ever had something stir inside your heart and no matter how many times you try and tuck it away it pops back up in the most unexpected ways? That is pretty much where I am right now. Heart stirring, mind racing, and soul searching. All of those combined usually mean that God is at work, like it or not.

The good news is that at this point, I like it. So, here it is. After 2 trips to Nicaragua, and although I told myself I couldn't do another trip next year as it was too hard thus needing a break, I've started to change my mind. I am pretty sure Africa is calling and I really want to answer her. With that being said, I also know that the scenes from the movie "I Dreamed of Africa" that I love so much, will most likely not be the majority of what I'd experience. On the contrary, where I would be would be cut off from the world, and a very desolate place. Sure the people will be the reason to go and they will be the light there, but I want to be sure my heart is ready. I'm certain that a trip of that magnitude doesn't just fade away after you've been back to the states for a month. Trips like that most likely haunt you for longer than I am used too, as I've heard this will be more challenging than where I've been. People in Nicaragua are malnourished, but the ones I have met or seen are not starving to death, nor are they dying of AIDS, etc... They need medical help, but for the most part they are not terminal patients like they are in Africa.

I am going to keep praying over this stirring for the next 2 months. However, if she keeps calling and God keeps leading, I won't just be dreaming of Africa, I'll be heading there myself.