Celebrating Early!

We met two other couples last night at Red Robin up in Shoreview for an early New Year's Eve celebration.  We didn't party hardy - one coffee, one white wine, one Coke and three waters; but we shared from the heart.  Each couple is going through tough stuff.  Sam's school closing, while difficult, does not involve his health like everyone else's does.  We laughed, we talked, we joked, we shared life.  It was good.

"Friends, we believe in you,

think of you,

and pray for you.

And when another day is through

we'll still be friends with you."

Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA  

Sweet, Slippery Saturday!

A little sheer ice did not stop our students from bringing in their leftover holiday sweets to class on Saturday!  I say, that ice stopped a lot of people from moving as multiple cars, SUVs, semi's, etc. were found in the ditches on my way to work - fortunately, I wasn't one of them!  And I was one of the staff that got the two-hour late start notification - unlike Sonja who slid into the parking lot and then found her text!

Thankful Thursday!

I finally have a chance to write my post today because - THANKFULLY - we have a two-hour late start.  I'm over at ISD 196 teaching students how to be Water Safety Aides Thursday through today, now until 5:30 p.m. rather than 3:30 p.m.  

I have to say, on Thursday, I was thankful for such a wonderful class.  We have twelve students, not a one with a bubbly, outgoing personality . . . not a one who can do the side stroke . . . but positive, kind, pleasant, easy to work with, willing to take instruction . . . for that I am thankful!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Dureys . . .

. . . was fun as always!

No One There . . .

I was encouraged by the lifeguards to swim this morning because there would be NO ONE there!  After all, it IS Christmas Eve!  WRONG.  At one point it was so busy I had to share my lane . . .

Like a good neighbor . . .

Saturday afternoon when Sam and I returned from Christmas shopping, we saw neighbors Tom and Dave helping neighbor Greg remove this giant ice floe from in front of his driveway.  We're pretty sure it was caused by Greg's neighbor to the north's illegal drainage pipes.  Sam's first words were, "I'd better go help.  They don't have the right tools."

He grabbed his pry bar and spade and went off to join the party.  They measured.  In some places the ice was actually twelve inches deep!  It took a while, but they managed to destroy it - much to Greg's relief!

Greg's wife brought out cookies.  Dave's wife brought beverages.  I stayed inside and read a good book.

You know something's up when . . .

. . . the Inver Grove Heights worship pastor comes out in a stove pipe hat and the Burnsville worship pastor is wearing a suit jacket with flashing lights.  Here's why -



I only wish I knew what was happening in Lakeville tomorrow!
 

The Christmas Sheep

Growing up, we could hang any ornament we wanted to on our Christmas tree, save one:  the Christmas sheep.  That one belonged to Dad.  Broken leg.  Dirty wool.  Worn ribbon.  Dad's.

I found out why this Thanksgiving.  For his very first Christmas, his parents had given him the sheep.  His dad died before his second Christmas.  This is the only gift he remembers ever getting from the father he never knew.

After Mom died, the Christmas decorations stayed packed away.  Until I asked Dad last month for the Christmas sheep which now hangs proudly on my tree . . .  

 

Kadiatou

Learning to tie your shoelaces is a challenge for any child, but for Kadiatou it was an impossibility. You see, Kadiatou was born in Guinea, West Africa with club feet AND club hands. So every day her mum would tie her sandals with string and complicated knots so they wouldn’t slip right off her daughter's little twisted feet. She was scared Kaidatou would spend her life struggling. When she got a text message about the hospital ship coming, she jumped at the opportunity to see if Mercy Ships could treat her daughter.  <<WATCH KADIATOU'S TRANSFORMATION>>

Thankful Thursday!

I was so thankful that I literally had the pool to myself when I swam laps this morning.  I was also thankful that I had the entire house cleaned before lunch except for vacuuming the upstairs.  I was feeling good, carrying the dirty bucket of vinegar water I had used to clean our laminate kitchen/dining room floors downstairs when the handle broke and the water spilled down the stairs, on the landing and all over the rug.  

Sometimes thankfulness is a choice.  My choice was to be thankful that I hadn't washed the towels yet because it took three towels to dry the steps.  If you stop by sometime in the near future, you can be thankful that your steps don't smell like vinegar!

Technically: The End.

Yesterday was supposed to be my last day of work at the Y for 2019.  I got two containers of cookies - Scottish shortbread and chocolate covered Ritz crackers - from my kids.  And when I got home, multiple texts from the Y.  I'll be doing an oxygen challenge and teaching a CPR-PR class next week, but at least I'll be dry!

Thankful Thursday!

Today I got to go above and beyond the call of duty at work - fortunately, I was paid for it!  

I went in early to challenge Justin out in "Emergency Oxygen Administration".  Everything went great until I went to correct his written test.  There was no answer key.  Fifteen questions, fourteen answers I knew he had right.  Since he only needed a 70% to pass, I told him he was good!

After I taught my three classes, I got to be a victim for Justin.  We had a double drowning in the lap pool and he saved both of us!  Then I panicked and grabbed him abound the neck ("suck, tuck, duck" to all you former lifeguards out there!).  He didn't move far enough away so I grabbed him again.  This time was better.  

Then, THANKFULLY, because Barbara's private lesson cancelled, she stayed and played Justin's victim and I went home.  Thankful I could help . . . thankful I could leave!

WANTED!!!

That's me!  Every single one of my parents at swimming lessons last night and both of my adults asked if I would be back to teach Monday night lessons next session.  NOT. A. CHANCE . . .

Cutest Kid Ever!

This is one of my guys on the last day of Tuesday swimming lessons this year!  The legs are mine, too!

Another Day Teaching . . .

I taught at ISD 196 yesterday.  My first order of the day was to check in the Lifeguard Instructor Trainer Review class while their instructor was still guarding in the pool.  Hilarious.  The class age ranged from 44 to 66.  The things I wish I could make up!

Then I bopped over to my class - CPR For The Lay Rescuer.  It couldn't have been more fun!  I had a married couple who were grandparents who had taken CPR before.  They made the day easy and enjoyable!

They were followed up by my First Aid class - once again, a class of one!  So John and I covered the required components of the class, then he got to watch whatever he wanted.  He's a ski patrol volunteer with Dakota County.  If you ever go down while skiing in Dakota County, he's the guy you want to have find you!  He carries a MacGyver pack - full of all sorts of "macgyveresque" tools! 

Thankful Thursday!

APA (against parental advice - for more reasons than just moral), my beloved son is on a cruise in Mexico this week.  What I am thankful for, is that while he knows that I was not in favor of the cruise, he is communicating with me, sending me pictures, and making comparisons with our sail on the m/v Africa Mercy in 2012.  I'd honestly say he's "talked" to me more this week than in several weeks past - and without grunts.  For that, I am thankful.  

A Shingles Shot

Since I had only had a very mild case of the chicken pox when I was a child and I had been quarantined at Eagle Lake Camp for two weeks due to a chicken pox outbreak, I was STRONGLY encouraged by my internist to get a shingles shot.  Easier said than done . . .

The pharmacist in my Bible study said to only get a shot at a clinic.

I called my clinic.  I could get in in two weeks.

I went in today.

The first thing the nurse asked me was if my insurance would pay for it.  I didn't know and my phone isn't working. She gave me a phone and I called.  If insurance didn't pay, it would be roughly $400.00.

Insurance would pay.

Then I asked, "Can I get a shot if my husband currently has shingles?"

The doctor responded with "yes".

I got a shot.  Fortunately, it's only a pain in the arm even though it was a pain in the b _ _ _ !

 

Three Days at the Y!

Saturday

Saturday I taught CPR-PR/First Aid/Emergency Oxygen at the Y.  What did those who know me say?  "Tell Matt "Hi" for me, okay?"  "Matt's a great guy."  "I miss seeing Matt . . ."  I'm glad they love my son, too.

Monday

Poor Carolyn agreed to teach safety with me Monday night.  We were doing "Reach, throw, row, but never ever go!"  I'm pretty sure she had absolutely no idea what things I could throw at her to help her safely float!  The kids loved it and were laughing hysterically.  Carolyn will probably never teach with me again.

Tuesday

It was one of those days.  I went from the screamer to the cutest little guy ever to "Mr. Wiggle".  One more week, just one more week . . . then it's winter break! 

Tene

It looked like a boot on Tene's leg - but it wasn't. When she was still in the womb, a band of tissue wrapped around her leg. As Tene grew, so did the swelling. They couldn't find anyone with the surgical skills who would help them, and her mother despaired. But thanks to friends like you, free surgery on the Mercy Ship turned Tene's clunky gait into the happy skip of a typical three-year-old. <<Watch Tene's inspiring story now>>

We'll be there . . .

I talked to every single one of my students and their parents last week, letting them know that we were having swimming lessons today.  Yes, it was Black Friday.  Yes, it was the day after Thanksgiving.  Yes, I was going to be at the Y and you had better be there, too.  They all said "No worries, they'd be there."  Right.  

First Class:  1 out of four students;

Second Class:  0 out of two students;

Third Class:  3 out of six students.

Really?  Really.

Raising Bread.

At our house, we have a bread raising drawer in our oven that we use all the time - seriously!  So at Dad's house yesterday, Micah wasn't sure what she was going to do give her cinnamon rolls a chance to rise before she baked them.

She said she had seen it on Instagram and she was going to try it.  We preheated Dad's dryer (yes, exactly what you put the clothes in!) on high for fifteen minutes, then turned it off.  She then put the rolls in the dryer and in less than thirty minutes - success!  Amazing . . . 

The Gift Goes On . . .

Close to thirty years ago, when our friends JP and Rosemary got married, her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law refinished an old wooden couch and chair for them, sewing new cushion covers in an off-white . . .

Close to thirteen years later, when JP and Rosemary were able to afford new furniture, we were moving to Lakeville.  They offered us that couch and chair for the downstairs.  We gladly took them . . . 

It was a good five years later that we were able to afford new furniture for the downstairs.  JP and Rosemary did NOT want the couch/chair back so Sam managed to creatively destroy the wooden bits - can you say "chainsaw"?  But we kept the cushions.

Years of fort building and mosh pits came to end as our kids grew up.  Two cushions were destroyed by knife throwing over the long winter months, leaving us with just six of the original eight.  

Last Wednesday at Bible study, I asked if anyone would be interested in some couch cushions.  "They made excellent forts!"  Seriously, I had a brawl!  Emily won.  Today I dropped the cushions off at her house and before I could even leave, the first fort was being built . . .

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

. . . from our house to yours!

Like a Chicken . . .

. . . running around with his head cut off (sorry, no images today!).  That has been me the last two nights at the Y!  Seriously, I was filling in for three people on Monday night - all at the same time! - and three people last night, but only for the first hour, then I settled down to two!  I guess that's what happens when your boss is in the Netherlands on a MUCH needed vacation!  My favorite had to be catching the sub (I wasn't the only one!) who ran his second class too long and started his third class ten minutes late.  Then he tried to finish it ten minutes early.  All in a day's work . . .

The Best is Yet to Come!

Our New Life Adoptions pictures arrived yesterday.  Here's an awesome sneak preview:

 https://www.facebook.com/alisonleaphotography/

I won't be using this for our Christmas card - too many people are missing!  I just hope that it's making anticipation mount in your hearts . . . 

 

Thankful Thursday - Part One!

It's hard to believe that one year ago yesterday, I received my first bionic knee.  I would love to say how absolutely wonderful it is and how much more I can do with it, but that wouldn't be true.  What is true is that a little over a year ago, I could barely walk around the block.  Today, I can walk forever, but I can't clean the floors without pain.  CPR is a total knee killer.  Sam says when I get up off the floor, I look like a preschooler with my bottom lifted up high.  But I can walk.  And I can swim.  Today, I swam two and a half miles on my bionic knees.  Perfect?  Nope, not a chance.  But so greatly improved I am forever thankful . . .

Thankful Thursday - Part 2!

In all honesty, I don't think we've sat down together for a family meal since we celebrated Micah's birthday on November 8th . . . until tonight.  Matt's work got rescheduled.  Micah got home early.  I didn't work.  We had Forced Family Fun Time (alias 3FT).  Sam missed it, but we ate homemade macaroni and cheese by candlelight.  It was a most excellent time!

Class of One.

Monday night, I had one student in my First Aid class, but for good reason.  Tim had been in my CPR class two weeks ago (class of seven), and needed First Aid as well for his position as a volunteer with the Dakota County Bike Patrol.  Yup, he's a fat tire rider!  So the powers above me decided we would have class.

It was a hoot!  I was Tim's victim multiple time and he managed to save me every single one!  We watched not only the mandatory videos, but also the ones he wanted to.  So we checked out impaled objects, animal bites, and administering emergency epinephrine because those were things he actually may encounter while volunteering.  Overall great night.

The Gorey Details . . .

It's only taken a year, but today I finally asked, "What did you really do when you gave me my total knee replacement?"  Here's a condensed version of Dr. Tad's response:

"We put a tourniquet on your thigh and cut your knee open.  We take several measurements of your knee bone(s) to make sure we have the right measurement.  Then we go to our replacement samples and find the perfect fit.  We bend your knee up and down to make sure the new parts work.  If all looks good, we go to the actual knee replacement parts that are sterilized and sealed, open the right package, put it in and make sure it works once again.  Then we glue it in and sew you up."

Note:  We so did not discuss what kind of saw he used when he sawed my bones off.

There were more comments and a lot of laughter in there.  Then I asked, "Why was my surgery so fast?"  His kind response, "Because your knee was so easy to get to.  Imagine if someone were three-hundred pounds . . ."  More laughter.

So I'm done.  It may take another year for all the aches and pains to go away.  But they are happy with my new right knee and I am satisfied.  I can walk again. 

My job?  Don't run on it, use a thick towel when kneeling on it, and take antibiotics for all dental work and colonoscopies.  

With Heavy Hearts . . .

 

Sam got an e-mail before bed last night saying that the school board has decided to close his elementary school, M.W. Savage, along with Sioux Trail Elementary and Metcalf Junior High next year.  It is with heavy hearts that we share this . . . Sam plans to finish his teaching career in the district, just no longer at MWS.

Thankful Thursday!

It's rare in swimming lessons that you get to teach someone who takes to swimming like a fish takes to water!  I finally have my girl and she's on Thursday mornings.  She's had exactly nine swimming lessons IN HER VERY SHORT LIFE - none private, all group - and she's already swimming across the pool using rhythmic breathing!  I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach Emma . . . and I look forward to seeing her in the Summer Olympics in 2032!

Thirty-four Weekends

Last weekend, I just had to check - how many weekends had I worked during "the Season"?  Out of the previous thirty-three weekends, here's the count:

• One weekend I did the NLFS Walk for Life,
• Three weekends I was off following knee surgery, 
• The remaining twenty-nine weekends, from March 16 through November 2, I worked.

 Fortunately, except for the knee surgery, it was all FUN!

Totally Terrible on a Tuesday

I guarantee I smelled like chlorine even after my shower today!  As I was talking to the sweet elderly lady next to me in the locker room, she was telling me that she swam to music.  She showed me her water-proof little set-up, then began to put on her suit.  As she took off her clothes, there was an odor that got progressively worse . . . remember, I smelled like chlorine!  She did NOT!!! 

I made a quick exit with the happy thought that the water she was going to swim in would be recycled for the next forty-four hours before I got back in!

For King and Country

In honor of Micah's twentieth birthday, Heidi and I brought her to the "For King and Country" concert at the Target Center Saturday night.  

If you're thinking it looks like we're at the TOP of the Target Center, you're right!  Micah chose the seats and she didn't want to sit by anyone else!  Check out our view:

 

Fortunately, we had a great time - in spite of the altitude sickness!

 

Teacher on a Ship

Is it a school, a ship, a hospital – or all of the above? The Mercy Ship is home to an international crew of 480 including surgeons, nurses, deck officers, engineers – and around 50 children of all ages. This unique environment is both life and work for Auckland primary teacher Karin Kitshoff, on a two-year tour-of-duty with the hospital ship charity that provides free surgery for West Africa’s poor and marginalised.

 

Karin describes teaching the crew’s children on board the Mercy Ship as, ‘A blend of some of my life’s pipe dreams; working in a cross cultural context, teaching and living in community.  I found the prospect both hilarious and too good to pass up’.

The Africa Mercy is seven stories high and the length of two football fields. The vessel’s hospital deck contains five operating theatres, five hospital wards and all the auxiliary services required to provide assessment for rehabilitation for West African patients receiving free essential surgery.

Imagine a small town where the main industry is a surgical hospital. There’s a post office, a bank, a corner store, a café – and of course a school. The children of long-term crew members attend the Mercy Ships Academy, an accredited international Christian school catering for students from preschool to high school graduation.

The benefits of living with people from more than 40 nations with a wide range of skills and experience is already evident for Karin.  ‘My class was recently invited to view the fire drill by the emergency teams. We ‘set the fire’ in the laundry room, alerted the bridge, watched as the fire crew came in to ‘extinguish the fire’ and haul out the ‘body’. We observed the Emergency Medical Team perform CPR on the mannequin as well as use the defibrillators – all a few days after learning about the circulatory and respiratory systems in science.

‘Hearing the students relate their own experiences with Mercy Ships has been inspiring. I have heard some of the parents share their stories; decisions to sell houses, leave families, friends and jobs to take the risk and join this crazy experience called Mercy Ships. But hearing the students’ process their own journeys is something else. I’ve listened as they’ve started to recognise the courage their parents mustered to make the decision to join, and listened as the children process the reasons for making this decision. It’s a truly unique position to be in.’

Since the Northern Hemisphere academic year kicked off in August, Karin’s blended Year 4 and 5 class has been on field trips in the Canary Islands, sailed 1,600 km across the Atlantic, and participated in the hospital ship’s ‘Open House’ before surgeries began for the current 10-month field service in Senegal, West Africa.

‘The Academy has two divisions; the primary team of preschool to Year 6, and intermediate and college up to Year 12.  Divisions meet for

daily devotions, and we come together as a whole school on Friday mornings. Primary teachers take their year level for the core subjects, and intermediate and college teachers teach their individual subject plus Bible and Life Skills, to their mentor class. The children all learn French, with many opportunities to practise the language when they step ashore or even venture into the dining room.’

The on-board school consists of nine classrooms and a central multi-purposed computer centre. Students have access to playgrounds on decks 7 and 8, as well as lap pool for recreation and sports activities. Technology is a priority, and classrooms are outfitted with interactive touchscreen boards. Wireless internet is provided, and intermediate and college students are issued a personal Netbook each year.

‘We use an international standards-based curriculum, following the educational standards of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and Middle States Association. The Academy is well equipped with resources, including an extensive library and all the set course books for the subjects we teach. While the content and teaching approach is quite different to what I’m used to, there are many added resources I might not have access to at a primary school back home. For example, I can raid the high school science cupboard for equipment for investigations. There are also many opportunities that living as part of a community on a hospital ship provides, including visiting with the hospital patients as a class.’

There have been some challenging times for the 29-year-old too. ‘I’ve had to learn a very different curriculum and approach to assessment. Where previously I taught in a collaborative team of five teachers with 142 students, the Year 5/6 team is now me and three boys. The small sample size can make it hard to know whether you’re doing it right, but the other teachers are very supportive and there is a high level of interaction between us.’

The interface between students across the grades is uniquely fluid outside of their classes; after all, they are all in the same boat. It is common for children to have close friends a few years older or younger than themselves. Of course, the little ones idolise the senior high school students who seem to take both pride and responsibility in having a joke and encouraging the younger ones.

‘It is amazing to see how comfortable students have become interacting with their community of doctors, nurses, deck crew, surgeons, directors, chaplains, engineers, plumbers… the list goes on.’

‘Recently the school hosted our Academy Open House where crew members toured through the classes, seeing where we ‘live’ Monday to Friday. Our students were able to showcase their learning and lead some activities in each class. The children had the chance to see not only their parents but other adults from their community struggle with some of the challenges we had set up for them (after battling with them ourselves). They also had the chance to teach and learn from the crew too – who better to demonstrate viewing slides through a microscope, than the technicians who work directly below us in the lab?

Some of my favourite moments so far have been points of genuine connection with the students; sharing the highs, lows and utter peculiarity of this journey. Living in the same community I see sides of my students that I would never usually glimpse. I’ve seen the students at breakfast in their pyjamas and bee-lining for the ice-cream line after the ship’s Thursday night community meeting. They’ve seen me hot and sweaty rollerblading on dock, in the mornings before I’m caffeinated, and singing heartily (not always tunefully) during church services. With a sideways glance and twinkle in our eyes, we manage to pretend that this is totally normal.

‘Living and working in close community does take a bit of getting used to, and it often shows sides of yourself (and others) that can be oblivious in normal life. I had been anticipating and inwardly psyching myself up for conflict resolution conversations for months, but as yet I’ve left my Crucial Conversations book gathering dust on the shelf.  Strangely, it doesn’t seem strange; it works surprisingly well to live where I work.’

VIDEO LINK: School on a ship https://vimeo.com/294703905

Thankful Thursday - Again!

I am so thankful for my friends and co-workers who helped me send Micah twenty birthday greetings on her twentieth birthday.  Check it out:

The best, though, was Allison who sent a video of these two singing happy birthday to their SISTER!  Sorry, this isn't it . . .

Thankful Thursday . . .

It's an easy day to be thankful for this little one . . .

 

 Who grew into this lovely young lady . . .

 

Happy 20th Birthday, Micah!

 

The Saturday Connections.

While we were having our pictures taken for New Life on Saturday, the group after us was at the bottom of the hill waiting for their turn.  Allison's husband, Logan, started waving at one of the guys down there.  Turns out, he worked with Allison and Logan before they got married.  As they got closer, I recognized his wife.  We are in Bible study together!  We knew we were both adoptive moms, but we didn't realize we were both New Life moms . . .

Saturday Morning . . .

It was a family first today.  Matt was in my CPR for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid and Emergency Oxygen class at the Y this morning.  He was one of seven and only one other person knew his true identity.  It wasn't until the end of CPR that he made some snarky comment.  I just rolled my eyes and said, "He's my son," as the rest of the class just laughed.  He still passed.

 

Saturday Afternoon . . .

Found us at the Como Lakeside Pavilion, having family pictures taken by Alison Lea Photography for our adoption agency, New Life Family Services.  By family, we mean the four of us, our birth mother, her husband and their three children.  They just may choose to use our smiling faces on promo material in the future . . .  

What made the day most memorable, in light of our morning, was when Alie, the photographer went down, feeling lightheaded.  Matt and I rushed to her side, saying in synchro, "I'm trained in First Aid.  Can I help?"  Alie was okay after a few minutes, almost a fainting-type episode and she got some great family pictures, kid pictures and groups pictures.  Stay tuned . . .  

How Do You Describe . . .

We shared thirty years of friendship at lunch yesterday.  A friendship that began in a couples Bible study that transformed into a play group that took divergent paths until just a few months ago when we reunited to support one another.  Early on-set Alzhiemer's brought tears to the table along with laughter.  In prayer, we're fighting that and depression and celebrating the end of polymyalgia rheumatica.  It was good.  Very good.   

Thankful Thursday!

Today's the day!  My internist confirmed that my Polymyalgia Reumatica is either gone or in remission.  While my SED rate is higher than it has been in the past (pre-PMR), it is also in the totally NORMAL range.  Either way, I am done with Prednisone and that makes this one "Thankful Thursday!"

Duh . . .

I went swimming at the Y this morning at 6:30 a.m., not my "normal" time.

Lifeguard 1:  "Why are you here so early?"

Me:  "There's no swimming lessons today and I wanted to have a lane to myself."

Lifeguard 2:  "Why are you here so early?"

Me:  "There's no swimming lessons today and I wanted to have a lane to myself." 

Aquatics Direction:  "Why are you here so early?"

Together we said:  "There's no swimming lessons today . . ."

I guess "Halloween" is a holiday at the Y!  And, yup, I had a lane to myself . . .

Farewell to Sand Creek . . .

With tomorrow's group cancelling on us and me not being able to work this coming Saturday (I'm teaching CPR-PR at the Y), I'm pretty sure today was my last day at Sand Creek for the 2019 season.  As always, it was another great year, filled with all sorts of wonderful, fun-filled memories - except for the mice!  Until next season . . .  

Only at Sand Creek . . .

Today's tip was not what we expected, but before we go there . . .

Ethan and I had a group of six zippers this afternoon who were either attending or had graduated from the University of Minnesota at Mankato or Mankato State (depending on your year of graduation).  I went to Mankato State and Ethan is attending the University of Minnesota at Mankato.  Same place, different name.  We had fun!

It turned out that the oldest male in the group also happened to be the head boy's basketball coach at said college.  Our tip?  Let him know anytime we wanted to go to a game, and he'd get us free tickets.  

Somehow, I think Ethan may get more use out of this tip than I will!  

Unofficially Speaking . . .

After eighteen months on Prednisone for Polymyalgia Rheumatica, I took my last pill on October 15 - I hope!  

I had a blood test yesterday for my SED rate and just got the results back.  If I'm reading them right, my SED rate is NORMAL for someone my age.  Before I do the "happy dance", though, I have to meet with my internist and get his interpretation.

That will be next Thursday.  I'm hoping for a Happy Halloween! 

Only at Sand Creek!

Imagine my delight today when the very first customer to arrive at Sand Creek was a dear friend that I had not seen in twenty-two years!  We had worked together for eight years at Bloomington Schools, then life happened.  It was a wonderful time of reconnecting and sharing pictures and catching up - and letting the guys I work with do the work so we could talk!

It was a downright windy day today so we all "cannonballed" down the first zip.  Sadly, out of sixteen zippers, poor Tim had to rescue two that got stuck. 

Things went much better after lunch.  We had a Prior Lake Girls Hockey Team out for a team build and we had a blast.  Tim and I work well together and things flowed so smoothly.  It was glorious!

We ended the day with two out of five scheduled zippers showing up - which meant we got to go home early!  A rarity at Sand Creek . . . 

Why, O Y?

Some days you just have to wonder - "Why?"  Yesterday we were wondering "why were these kids signed up for swimming lessons?"  We offer seven lessons.  One of my students showed up on the first day only.  I haven't seen him again, not that it was his fault - he's only four.  Two of Ana's kids came the first two days and again on the last day which was yesterday - meaning they missed four weeks in between.  Sadly, we had to ask them their names because we had NO IDEA who they were!

Only at Sand Creek . . . on a Friday!

It was a glorious group at Sand Creek on Friday!  We had a group of eight from a "wellness program" in Eagan.  They were fantastic and worked well together.  We shared a lot of laughs and encouragements!  What made this group especially fun was that a majority of the group was over FIFTY!  Imagine that!

Thankful Thursday!

I tried so hard on Thursday to be thankful for all the interruptions . . . 

• Swimming in one lane with five people;
• Staying late at work to set up the next session;
• Neighbor Chris asking me to stop by for some baking stuff for Micah;
• Stopping at dentist office to pay for my crown with a credit card that didn't work - "I'll be back"; 
• Running into to Neighbors Kent and Tom (at different times) while walking Annie before making supper;
• Finding Neighbor Jana's dog running loose - that's never happened before! - and bringing her home;

. . . While trying to clean the house because I worked the next three days, plus doing laundry . . . 

And I guess that just left me thankful that Thursday was NOT a typical Thursday!

Only at Sand Creek . . . on a Wednesday!

There were only eight of them for a team build on Wednesday, full of fourth grade girl ENERGY!!!  They were a Girl Scout Troop that definitely made the energizer bunny look dead!  They were just a blast, but by the time they left, both Duane and I were ready for a nap! 

Interestingly, this troop came out early because they could not join all the Girl Scouts who are coming to the course on November 2 - neither can I as I teach CPR-PR that day.  I mentioned to Duane that I had one spot left in my class if he wanted to take it - then he wouldn't have to do the Girl Scouts again!  He just laughed and said he'd better not!  

They truly were fun . . . 

Crowned.

While I was really hoping my new crown looked a lot more like the one in the photo, reality is it's "White #2" which my dentist says blends in quite nicely with the rest of my teeth.

Only at Sand Creek!

I had an architect from Israel take video of me zipping yesterday.  I was waiting for him to send it to me before I wrote this blog, but alas, it has yet to come so . . .

The fall colors were amazing at Sand Creek and every time slot to zip was packed.  Believe me, as I played "Launch Pad Lucy", sending clients off of each platform, my arms were beyond exhausted!

Just a few highlights . . . 

• We had a Burnsville fireman zipping with with his eighty-three year old grandma.  It was his station's open house that I worked at for the Y, so yesterday was our second time together in less than two weeks!

• We had a neighborhood from Shakopee come zipping simply because they all really like each other and like to do fun things together.  They were great!

And one low light . . . 

• A grandfather had brought his second grade granddaughter to go zipping with a female friend.  When it was the friend's turn to zip, she refused to go.  She took off her stuff and gave it to the grandpa.  Fortunately, it was the right size fit and he zipped down after his granddaughter.  Then said friend came running back up on to the platform with an inside out harness saying she had changed her mind and she was going to zip with them. They had a four year old boy with them.  She was going to leave him up on top (by sheer cliff walls and a drop off) with no adults there.  All staff were out on the course and we don't do babysitting while people zip anyway.  She got mad at me for saying she couldn't zip!  Say, what?  The child was only four!  Some people . . .    

Thankful Thursday!

I'm running a bit late, but I remain forever thankful for what I'm about to share!

I keep thinking it was when one of us was in third grade that Jolene and I met for the first time - I was a year ahead of her in high school.  Our meeting grew into a friendship that has lasted over fifty years.  And the memories we've shared will last a lifetime . . . from playing Barbies on the front step to the day the muskrats chased us in the row boat to the countless pizzas we shared at Godfather's . . . Jolene's visits to Granite, becoming homecoming queen and having four babies! We've done graduations, weddings and combine rides.  Our kids have played with her children, dog, cats, and pigs!  She and Steve have stopped by on the Harley and we've been to the farm.  Every time we're together, the conversation flows and it's all the men can do to get us to "Stop talking!"  I am ever thankful for my dear friend Jolene who became sixty and fabulous this week!

The Gifts I Sent

  

Firsts in Senegal . . .

The following information was sent to us from our friend, Keith Brinkman, who we first met aboard the m/v Africa Mercy in 2007:

Na ngeen def (Hello) from Dakar, Senegal I spent six weeks last year in Senegal as part of our assessment teams and spent many hours working on our plans and preparations and so it is exciting to be here now.  We have already had many firsts in this field service here in the nation of Senegal: First Surgeries - started with maxillofacial, plastics and general surgeries - women's health, pediatric orthopedics and ophthalmic surgeries will start later in the visit.  Our amazing Patient Selection Team are going to all 13 regions plus the region of Dakar and providing consultations with the pre-registered patients by the Ministry of Health.  Some will be given an appointment to come to the ship for diagnostics and surgeon screening, others go on to a wait list and sadly many we have to share that they have not been selected.  Our initial surgical patients have come from those regional capitals we have already visited.  Our goal and agreement with the government is for impact in the interior regions and so 75% of our surgical patients coming from the 13 regions - right now we are 96% from interior and 4% from Dakar.  One of my first patients I visited, Abdou, has already gone home and will return in three months for his second maxillofacial surgery.  On Sunday while visiting the HOPE Center, I sat with Fallou who had his surgery on our very first surgical day and with Mohamed who will have surgery this week.  Together we tried to sing the song 'This is the Day' in the predominant language here - of Wolof - thankfully it is a song that repeats itself alot.   Photo:  An all-crew photo on the dock here in Dakar   First Medical Capacity Building - Courses: Ophthalmic, SAFE Pediatric Anesthesia, Clubfoot and Essential Pain Management for healthcare professionals from 13 of the 14 regions of Senegal.  Mentoring for surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, and others have started in our hospital and also in the local hospitals.  Our Safe Surgery team will travel and offer training over 4 to 5 days in each of the regional hospitals of this nation.     First Mercy Ministries - Lere and our two great day crew Sidney and Bertauly have made relationships with new partners for us and have started our Mercy Ministries Visits to two children's homes, HOPE Center and later to the Deaf School and Women's Prison. First Church Visits - opportunities to join the Christian believers here in Dakar at their places of worship - some have English translation and for others I try my best in French.  Our director hosted some of the pastors on board and look forward to more time with them visiting us on board and in their churches. First Reports - for our field service, we have 30 different projects in the Hospital, Medical Capacity Building and Infrastructure areas.  Each with their own project plan and budget.  I have started to publish my first statistical reports on our activities to the local government and partners and to the larger Mercy Ships world.   Photo: Pastor Ndour - he was one of our surgical patients in 1994 and now is a pastor in an Assembly of God church here in town.

Now Serving In Senegal!

The m/v Africa Mercy is currently stationed in Dakar, Senegal.  The primary people groups in Senegal are the Wolof, Fulani, Serer, Maninka and Jola.  Wolof is the largest with population of over 6 million people.  Wolof is also the primary language spoken here.  In country briefings on the ship, crew are learning more about the culture, religion, relationships, languages.  The primary religion is Islam, Some unique aspects of Islam here involves brotherhoods and the marabout (spiritual leader) - importance of peace, high mosque attendance, and Touba - a holy city.  The percent of the population who are evangelical Christians is less than 1%.  There are many living, studying, and working here from other countries in West Africa, so in the churches often it is people from elsewhere not from Senegal attending.  There is a great emphasis on peace and you see that from their greetings "How are you?" - "Jaam nga am" - which means "Have you peace?" and your response is "Jaam rek, Yow nag" which means "Peace only and you?"  

During the Africa Mercy’s 10-month stay in the port of Dakar, Republic of Senegal, Mercy Ships plans to provide 1,200 to 1,700 life-changing surgeries (maxillofacial, burns reconstructive, pediatric orthopedics, women's health, general which emphasis on children, and ophthalmic) onboard, to treat over 4,000 at a land-based dental clinic as well as providing healthcare training to 1,000 to 1,500 local health care professionals through mentoring and courses, both in Dakar and in each of the regions.  The ship is partnering with the Ministry of Health and Social Action to reach those from the interior who need the surgical services the ship has planned and can offer.  The first time a Mercy Ship came to Senegal was in 1993/1994 with the m/v Anastasis.

Only at Sand Creek - on a Sunday!

Normally I do not work Sunday afternoons, but . . . 

While I was at my surgeon's last Monday, he mentioned the youth from his church were coming out to Sand Creek to go zipping.  He just didn't know when.  I promised him I would work it - not realizing it was yesterday!  But look - we had fun in spite of the weather!

With Living Christ Lutheran Church on Platform Two . . .

 

Thankful Thursday - Post Two

As I was talking to my supervisor at the Y last night, her day today sounded absolutely overwhelming.  Far too much too do and far too many hours - from 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. with barely a break to breathe. 

So I said, "Barbara, can I take the fire station off your plate?  I can go there tomorrow night and you can have a break."  She said she would think about it and let me know.  Friends, she didn't need to think long.  I got the text at 7:25 a.m. this morning.

In just a few minutes, I'll be leaving for Burnsville Fire Station One to represent the Y at their "Safety Night".  I am thankful that I can do this for Barbara and I am thankful that God is blessing my time there!  I found out that I'll be working it with my dear friend, AmyJo.  We're kind of hoping no one shows up so we'll have more time to talk.  God is good, all the time.  All the time, God is good. 

Thankful Thursday - Post One

I am always thankful when I get to have a "little fun" - l like forking in a friend's front yard or hiding a broken rocking horse on a friend's deck or putting a plastic penguin on the neighbor's roof . . . that kind of fun!

So when I arrived at the pool this morning, my friend, Carla, was already swimming.  In fact, as I sat down on the edge, she was doing the back crawl in.  She had her left hand extended back to touch the wall and I reached down and grabbed it.  I scared her to death!  It was so worth it!

I am also grateful that Carla and I can swim together again BIONICALLY!  Carla has had two knee replacements, two hip replacements and a new wrist.  I've only had two knees replaced, but I got to use her cane every time!

Medical Updates.

I saw my surgeon first yesterday and my new bionic left knee is doing absolutely great EXCEPT . . . you knew that was coming! . . . for this little hole/scab right in the middle of the scar as it runs from top to bottom.  Tad tried to feel a stitch in there, but he couldn't find a thing.  Unfortunately, because it hasn't fully healed THREE months after surgery, I still have to keep it covered while in the pool - for the next month!

The good news?  Bob and Margaret, friends from the Y, just sent me a text.  They ordered 100 tegaderm bandaids for me on Amazon Prime and they'll be here on Thursday!  So if you ever need amazing waterproof bandaids, let me know.  I should have around eighty left . . . if my hole would just heal!

After the surgeon, it was off to the dentist.  I have a temporary crown on the tooth I broke last week along with advice from the dentist, "Don't eat anything sticky like caramel brownies."  Really?  I had two for lunch!  And my temporary is still there.

 

Only at Sand Creek - a Saturday Two-Fer and a Rescue!

Due to today's unpredictable weather, I ended up working a split shift at Sand Creek.  Hence, a two-fer! 

THE SWIM TEAM

 We had a swim team with twenty students come from Hopkins this morning and they didn't care that it was going to be wet!  That's just something they're used to!  God was good.  The rain stopped as they pulled in and we had a blast.  Tim and I did a couple of activities up on top, then took them down the hill.  I had just a pleasant enjoyable time team building with them on the course.  Tim, unfortunately, did not.

THE HIGH ROPES/ZIPS

Duane actually tried to cancel our 3:15 and 4:30 groups today, but they both wanted to come.  Since it was only four customers and it stopped raining, we had a lovely afternoon with a few peeks of sun.

THE RESCUE
We caution people all the time about zipping with their phones.  If the phone is dropped, we have no way of rescuing it.  However, we, as staff, are notorious for zipping with our phones.  It's a rare day that I don't have mine.

This afternoon, I was working with the owner, Duane, and he had just zipped down to Platform 2.  One of our clients said, ""Did you guys see something black fall out of his pocket?"  None of us had, but when we arrived at Platform Two and checked with Duane, sure enough, his phone had fallen out.  

Said client had seen specifically where Duane's phone had fallen.  Duane was able to climb right down the hill and rescue it before I was even able to call him so he could "hear" where it was at!