Conferences!?!

I had Micah's conferences tonight.  Three out of six teachers talked about Matt.  Wait!  Weren't these Micah's conferences?  But I guess when you're pulling straight A's and don't cause problems, there's not a lot to talk about!  Way to go, Micah!

Thankful Thursday!

On the day we celebrate the first birthday of Matt and Micah's little brother, Lincoln, I am thankful for family.  I wanted create an amazing acronym using the letters from the word "family" that would just make everyone feel all warm and gooey.  That didn't happen.  But I am thankful for my family and Sam's family and Matt and Micah's birth family.  To God be the glory! 

Applebee's

What's the newest thing at Applebee's in Lakeville?

Why, Micah, of course!  She's starting there as a host next Tuesday!

She interviewed last Thursday and accepted a job there yesterday.  Congratulations, Micah!

Trash Can Tuesday!

Sometimes, I just want to be the surprise!  So when Annie and I take our Tuesday walk at lunch, if my seventy-something neighbors' trash can is empty, I pull it up to their garage.  When we get to my friend's house who is fighting a brain tumor, I pull hers up, too.  And when we hit the neighbors where the wife is fighting cancer and the husband is recovering from knee surgery, we pull theirs up, too.  Because there will come in my life, a trash can Tuesday where I, too, will be blessed by the unknown neighbor who pulls my trash can up to my garage.    

Happy BIrthdays!

 This handsome young man turned twenty today!  

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Grandma Zupke also turned ninety today!  

Last night all of her children were home for a family picture.

They're arranged from oldest to youngest:

Debbi, Mark, Andrew, Jon, (the cutest bro) Sam, Stephen and Lois.

Happy Birthday!

Build Your Kingdom Here

As I watch this wacky video, it is in such contrast with worship tonight where we sang this song without flame throwers and the energetic tambourine guy!  

Yet, the message remains the same . . . we are called to bring the hope and healing of Jesus right where we live - to those who don't know Him.  After all, we have all of eternity to hang out with believers!  
 

Thankful Thursday!

Isn't it amazing the things you can be thankful for on an ordinary Thursday?

• Yesterday's phone call from Mercy Ships still brings a smile to my face.  It was a "thank you" call, thanking us for our faithful financial support to the good ship.  I was asked if there was anything Mercy Ships could do for us and I said, "I've always wanted to meet Don Stephens. If he's ever in the Cities, could you set that up?"  It turns out my caller grew up next door to Don Stephens - and she'd do her best!
• I'm thankful that my caller's husband served on the Anastasis the same time we did - the Netherlands 2004.  He was single back then and I told her to ask him where he ate his meals.  We were relegated to the family dining room, but there was a swingin' singles table in the main dining room and she should check that out!
• I'm thankful that my class this morning did not show up for lessons - the advantage of having twins! 
• I'm thankful for the lovely weather.  Poor Annie is going to be tired by the time I'm done walking her today!

 

"Why I don't write . . . "

This post is reblogged from Silke Kessing's blog, "Rettungsengel."  Silke is a German nurse aboard the African Mercy and I like what she had to share.   It's definitely worth the read.

 

Hello and cheers to you, my beloved friends, family, co- workers, supporters and heroes of everyday life.

My last weeks have been … turbulent, to say the least. I have been struggling for weeks now to write this blog, just because I don’t know what to say and how to describe what has been happening in this chaotic, beautiful, tragic and delightful place that I currently call my home. We have celebrated life and healing, but also mourned the loss of a beautiful child. We hold hands and touch hearts, rejoice in the healings we witness while looking those in the eyes and trying to comfort the ones we cannot help. Sometimes the working hours in the OR get so long and exhausting that the nights break in and I forget to look for the light. I am from time to time diving in deep waters while forgetting to breathe.

A colleague of mine, a beautiful, talented sweet woman wrote a blog on how this life on the ship feels to her in December.

Her name is Tanya Sierra and she works in the Hospital with me, currently as Hospital Executive Assistant, formerly as a writer for Mercy Ships Communications Department. I am amazed at how beautifully she puts to „paper“ EXACTLY the feelings that fill my heart, so please let me share this with you.

Tanya writes:

I was often asked, “Why don’t you write more? I love reading your stuff!” My initial reaction was always the same, one of gratitude that people want to read what I write and excitement because I love writing and sharing stories through writing. So why don’t I do it more?

The truth is that it is hard for me to put into the words the beauty and misery, the joy and frustration and all the other extremes of this life I live along with my fellow crew members. Amazing days of life change and transformation rub up against extremely difficult days of living in community. No matter how much I try to focus on the one starfish, the celebration of transforming one individual’s life is sometimes overshadowed by the many outside our port that we cannot help.

How can I adequately explain that I watched a man come into our hospital a couple of weeks ago and he was crawling on his hands and knees because a malaria vaccine applied incorrectly left him unable to walk? And we couldn’t do anything for his legs. We did relieve him of the burden of a facial tumor that left untreated would have eventually become a crippling tumor he couldn’t afford to remove.

It doesn’t feel like enough.

I try to place myself in his “shoes” and cannot even begin to understand what goes through his mind every moment of each day. I wish I could say he’s the only one in such a predicament but I have met more adults here that crawl because they have no choice. And it frustrates me that we cannot help restore their dignity – it should frustrate me, over 5 billion people lack access to the healthcare I often take for granted.

And then there’s home. The joy of what I do here clashes with how much I miss my family, friends, my dog and home. I cry at the thought of seeing young nieces and nephews grow through photos and celebrate their accomplishments from afar. I cry for how well my dog has adapted in his new home and at the same time I’m thankful for the provision that he is so well cared for and love – provision that was so far above what I hoped for him or even thought to ask for.

I struggle with the question of where is home? Is it where my mail is sent? Right now that’s Texas – Mercy Ships base of operations. That’s not home. Is home where I sleep? I sleep on a bunk in a ship that visits a different African country each year. Sure it’s my own (albeit small) rented space but I don’t know I would classify it as home in the way we all mean. Is home where I was born or the last city I lived? I don’t know.

It all sounds messy. Even as I type it, I’m thinking “goodness this is a hot mess! What have I done?!” But maybe I should write more that this is all okay; feeling this conflicted is only natural with the kind of work we do. This life is messy and it is hard, but it’s also beautiful, challenging and a blessing – all good things to write about.“

You can read the whole story and her blog here.

I am glad to be on this journey together with people like Tanya that feel the same. And I have friends on the ship to process the daily challenges, which helps a lot. I am glad to know that YOU are out there, wherever that is – supporting me in all kinds of ways – through prayer, words of encouragement and by partnering with me financially.

But most of all I am confident in the knowledge that God has called me and set me here in this place and time for a purpose.

I know I am growing through the difficulties and challenges, and my heart is getting softer and more gentle. Yes, it hurts a lot of times, but compassion and the love of others is an area I have been striving to grow in most. I am glad I can be here and am resting assured that God knows what He is doing. I get to work hand in hand and side by side with the most amazing and inspiring people. And I know that my touch one day can make a difference in a person’s life. I am blessed, honored and humbled.

From My Teacher to YOU!

If Your Daughter Bakes Chocolate Chip Coolies . . .

Which mine loves to do and did this weekend, you can eat some - which we did!  Or you can give some to the neighbor who slipped on the ice and broke her wrist - which we did!  Or you can trade them with a neighbor for a bottle of beer - which we did!  I needed a beer for the soup I'm making tomorrow night and our debate was how many cookies equals a bottle of beer?  We decided it really didn't matter because the cookies tasted better than the beer!

"And the winner is . . . "

Me!  It's my birthday!  I picked the game,"Skip-Bo".  We played.  I won.  Fast.  So I accused them of stacking the deck so they wouldn't have to play long . . . but some how, "I doubt it!"  Another fun game for another day . . . Thanks to all for the wonderful birthday wishes!

"I don't do that."

At 2 p.m. today I had my worker's comp forced neurologist visit to determine if I have a permanent concussion disability rating following my 2015 concussion.  After waiting twenty minutes for the doctor, he called me back into his office and said, I quote: "I don't do that."  Excellent.  I rushed home from work, walked the dog and took a quick shower and he doesn't do that.  Okay, what next?  

Well, his office would gladly set me up with the person who does.  

Only that person retired.  No one knew anyone else who did disability ratings.  But they will find out.  They will call me back.  And it will be four long hours of testing.  

Let's hope it's on a Friday when my symptoms are at their worst!

Thankful Thursday!

I cannot tell you how truly thankful I am to be swimming freestyle once again!  After swimming a total of twelve laps last week, my 1200 felt great today!  

 No more falling on the ice!

A Bloody Good Time!

Micah and I went to give blood today.  Par for the course, I could give blood and she couldn't.  The good news is this time the person who stuck me, nailed it!  My blood came out in less than six minutes - not twenty-some like last time.  The "vampire" never said, "Opps!"  I never passed out!  Maybe I will give in another 56 days! 

Swimming with Elvis!

Some stories are just too good to be true!  Like this morning.  The roads were icy.  I was sure no one would show up for my parent/child swim class at the Y.  Boy, was I ever wrong!  Friends, I had Elvis in the pool!

For those skeptics out there, it was actually Anthony, an Elvis impersonator (see above photo, elvismn.com).  He and his daughter were my entire class.  It was a hoot!  Because, this morning . . .

I SANG FOR ELVIS!  

And swam with him, too!

My Vision

While walking Annie at noon today, I had what I would loosely term "a vision".  It was quite simple.  There will come a day when those of us who know and love Jesus will be with Him in heaven for all of eternity.  In my vision, I heard a voice begin to sing, "Jesus, I must learn to wait on Thee . . ."  I followed that voice as it continued, "And to trust You as Your Spirit leads . . ."  That, my friends, is the Eagle Lake Camp Song and when I found the voice, there were multitudes singing out, "Cast my heart upon the Rock, break me if you please.  Not my will but Thine be done.  Jesus live through me."  I had the most joyous reunion with all of those whom I had met and loved while I served at Eagle Lake!  Quite a pleasant time . . .

 

Thankful Thursday

On this particular Thursday, I am thankful for neighbors, Kent and Cindy, who are letting us bring their trash and recycling bins up and down their drive every Tuesday morning.  One is fighting colon cancer and the other has a minimum three more months off his knee following surgery.  When we asked, there was no hemming or hawing, just a "thank you."

I'm also thankful for neighbors, Brian and Jill.  Brian is fighting cancer in his spine.  They're letting us take their son to soccer practice on Saturday while Jill drives one of the girls to wherever she needs to go.

I am thankful that our battles are not theirs and I am thankful that we can serve them while they fight! 

"Mighty God, bring healing to our dear neighbors."

Miracle

There is a little girl named Miracle on the good ship Mercy who was born with wind swept legs.  See the transformation that took place on her legs and in her life . . . 

The hair's pretty cool, too!