It's the thing you do for others that counts

This is a busy weekend.  Most people are pretty busy this time of year.

My weekend started with a nap.  I decided not to stay to volunteer for the afterschool dance as I've been fighting something off and my back hurt.  Then I met my intern and friend, Alexis, at the gym.  We did step and lifted weights then sat in the sauna.  A cool gift to me as I walked into the gym was a massage demo chair just before class!  Felt great!  After class, Alexis and I grabbed some dinner ( my treat as people helped us out a ton when we were starting out), at Chipotle and took it to Jeff and Scott who were playing video games.  We all ate and Alexis and I tried stretching out our sore backs.

Saturday morning started with prayer, as do 99.9 percent of my days, a visit to the Chiropractor (third this week), and the usual trip to the grocery, some cleaning, etc.  I did buy some clinical strength deodorant at the grocery for a girl at school with a BO problem.  Then I spent 2 1/2 hours at k stat checking out a possible kidney infection at the urging of the chiropractor.  I ha d a great visit with my old clinical instructor while in the waiting room!  I found out I have a weird virus that causes a runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, mild gastritis, and a back ache!  Strange.  

Saturday night we had the Eisenhower staff party at Wabash and I had the most delicious burger and fries.  We sat with the 7th grade resource teacher and her husband who go to our church and the new PE teacher and her boyfriend.  Had a fun time.  Then I stayed up and watched Sound of Music with Scott.

The alarm clocks didn't go off his morning so we rushed around to get ready for our TRU training and drove in the snow to get there.  Ate breakfast and drank my coffee there then had to squeeze in my prayer time when I got home.  After church Deb and Ken and I met to firm up some things for the Cambodia trip.  Deb said she's getting excited about the trip!  

Got Adelle and fed her lunch (teaching her to make her own frozen pizza) then dropped her off at special Olympic basketball practice then ran to Walmart to get a few necessary things plus a basketball for a kid at school so he can practice and make the team.  Also got some frames for Adelle to giver Seniorpictures to her family.

Then ran to the library because even when I'm busy, I Have to have something to read!

Still have a pile of things to do, making gifts for Christmas, laundry, call the rents and maybe the kids, cooking dinner, finding Elfie so we can have some fun at work, putting the tree up....  Just taking a short break.

Cambodia 2

Preparations have begun to the trip.  I sent out my support letter by email and Facebook messages asking for prayer and support.  I immediately heard back from a dozen or so people.  So exciting!  

Almost immediately, Loretta sent an email saying she has decided not to go, so it is now just Deb and myself.

We've been emailing with the missionary we are going to go see, Angela.  So many details to work out including shots, tickets, lodging, insurance, support.  The most interesting is that Angela sent some options of places to stay and we narrowed down several near to the ministry center.  So I looked them up and they look amazing!  We are going to book one that will allow us to share the pool with the staff at the center, to minister to them and give them a place to relax and unwind.  

I've also started researching Cambodia, the history, geography, the people, the culture.  We need to become familiar with the customs and mannerisms so we don't offend.  I've never been anywhere but South and Central America when I've traveled so crossing the ocean, the International date line, and to SouthEast Asia is going to be an adventure!  

Can't wait for the next steps!

A Full House

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year and a full house with Dave and Roni, JC and his new fiancé Kristie, Ryan, Sam and Landyn, Mom, Dad and Jean, Larry and Joanna, Jon,  Leah and David, and Our new friends Alexis and Jeff.  We had so much food it was ridiculous, really, I think I made enough for 60 or 70 people.  Everyone took leftovers and we still have a full fridge.  I think everyone had a good time together.  Mom stayed last night.  I got up early and cooked all morning.  We ate and the boys played football at old stadium and brought home a stray puppy.  We played some bananagrams and then finished off the evening getting stomped by Leah and David at pictionary.  Talked to Joel and Hannah on the phone, too.  Can't wait to see them at Christmas.  

Now for a very needed three day weekend.  

I'm proud of you!

Leah was named Bethel College Secondary Teacher of Promise!  We went to the Kansas Teacher of the Year banquet last Saturday night to watch her be awarded.  It was a very fancy banquet and a big deal!  I am so proud of her bit not surprised as I know she will be an amazing teacher!

I am also proud of Adelle! I went to a planning meeting for Adelle a week or so ago and they said, yes, she is capable of college level work!  She is going to take community college classes next year and do a job placement and continue some great experiences at Manhattan High.  And we found out she's been writing for the student newspaper and had articles in almost every edition this year!  

Cambodia

This last summer, our missionary to Cambodia came to Homestead to give a talk about the work she is doing in Cambodia with the girls rescued from prostitution.  At the time, they mentioned that they would like to put together a group of women to go.  It seeming impossible, I said yes.  A few emails came out after that and I didn't respond.  I truly didn't feel like it was something I'd be interested in or was led by God to do.  I casually put "renew my passport" on my to do list and then didn't do it.  Some info came out and I read it, but didn't feel like this was for me.  Then a couple of weeks ago, emails came out about meeting to talk about a trip.  I basically ignored the emails.  But a week ago Friday, I went to the meeting.

Ken Black, our missionary to Kenya, who has returned from the field led the meeting.  It was myself, Deb Kluttz, who is one of our Pastors and the Director of Homestead, and another volunteer with homestead, Loretta.  When Ken started talking about how lonely it is on the mission field and how encouraging it is to have visitors from home, I felt my heart begin to change.  I receive the private prayer requests from Angela, our missionary in Cambodia, and pray for her regularly.  We have talked about the difficult work they do and I feel a special connection to her in terms of understanding the toll that what they do can take on a helper.  So as Ken spoke, it became clearer to me that we need to go, and that I, specifically, need to go.  

As we spoke through some of the details, shots, and tickets and passports, I found myself saying "when" not "if" and began to feel not just sure about this, but excited.  I even felt confident about raising the huge amount of money needed because He's done it before on many occasions.  It became quickly apparent that my training and experience on the mission field is going to be invaluable for this trip, even though I've never traveled across the ocean and the International time line.  Then Ken asked Deb and Loretta if they've ever been on a mission trip or even traveled internationally.  No!  Two first timers!  

Obviously, I left the meeting completely on fire for this trip, excited beyond belief, all fears and doubts are gone, and I know without a doubt that I need to do this, that He wants me to go and that He will organize all the details.  I came home, got my passport renewal together and sent it off, drafted my support letter, and started researching.  

We have begun communications with Angela and she has sketched out what we will do.  Our main purpose is to encourage she and the staff, to come alongside them, build them up, assess and treat any compassion fatigue or even secondary trauma, and just love on them.  We will do some travel and learn about the country and sex trafficking there.  We will learn about all they are doing and the girls, and their healing journey.  We will spend some time with the girls but it will be limited because it isn't good for them to form attachments to people who are only in their lives temporarily.

So go with me through this adventure by reading this blog.  I will label all the ones about Cambodia accordingly in case you don't want to read my entire blog.  But I decided to include this adventure into my regular blog so people can see who I am overall.  Anyone can go on the mission field!

Update and Out Of Town

Scott went out of town this whole week.  I enjoyed the independence and challenge for about two days but by Wednesday I texted him that he could come home now.  Monday night I hurried home to let Rex out then went to fit ball and step at the gym.  And surprise!  They had a BBQ dinner there for member appreciation.  I ate with a friend from class then zipped home.  I went to bed and read at 8 because I could!  Tuesday we had a KAY club meeting after school so I had to zip home again then went to total body circuit at the gym.  My favorite teacher, Ryndee, was subbing and she worked us out hard!  It was super cold out so I went to bed to read early again.  I'm reading a good book about a social worker by Lisa Wingate.  Wednesday I actually got a short nap after work then went to step on the east side.  Watched tv, The Voice and Chicago Fire, in bed, of course.  Thursday after work I did my homestead group.  We have 8 women at Homestead now and all 8 were at group!  It went pretty well.  I'm using sentence starters.  I also had them fill out an evaluation to get some feedback on how it's going.  On Friday I broke with tradition and went to "choir practice" after work with a couple of teachers.  No singing involved.  I had diet coke.  Then I went to the church to meet with a couple of people to discuss a possible trip to Cambodia over spring break.  This last summer when our missionary to Cambodia was home and mentioned wanting us to come, I said I would.  Ever since then, I haven't felt a call or even a curiosity, more like, really did not want to go.  I put renewing my passport on my wish list but never did it.  I didn't have a good attitude going into the meeting but as we got talking, I realized the purpose of going and that we really do need to go.  The missionary gal tp really needs encouragement and because Deb and I also work with girls recovering from themsex industry, we can relate to her in ways others couldn't.  And we could learn a lot, too.  Neither of the other two women have been on a missions trip or traveled internationally, either, so my experience is needed.  Deb and I went to Chipotle afterwards and talked about Cambodia and Homestead for two and a half hours!  This morning I got up and leisurely cleaned and did my quiet time then did my passport renewal online and took Rex for,a long walk.  It was strangely warm out with a cool breeze.  I ran errands and bought some new boots and leggings.  Then I picked up Adelle.  I took her with me to get my haircut and she took a nap in the barber chair by the window.  She looked so sweet I had to take a picture.

We went to the grocery store and cam back here.  Now were are going to tuna few more errands then grab a burger somewhere then take her home.  I am ready for Scotty to come home tomorrow night!

TRU Boo, Red Ribbon, and a Birthday, too

Thursday was Halloween!  Scott and I and our friends Alexis and Jeff volunteered to help with our church's Halloween alternative, a carnival at St. george elementary school which is in the area where we will be starting a new church campus, called TRU.  

Scott helped with set up and clean up and Alexis and Jeff worked in snacks.  I volunteered for the petting zoo!  There was a poy belly pig,

three goats,

and a cute, soft bunny that the kids loved holding.  

My job was to keep the pig from escaping (which he did once and squealed like a pig when they picked him up to put him back), to keep the goats from eating the costumes and to help the kids hold the bunny.  I actually had a great time.  Other cool things that went on were a fire pit, a miniature train, and a huge pumpkin launcher in addition to tons of carnival games.  I dressed as a skiier.  

On Friday at school was the culmination of Red Ribbon Week which is planned then carried out by the Kay Club.  We judged the door decorating contest, and awarded the plants, then cut up tons of fruit and popped popcorn for the all school party.  At the party, the kids signed a pledge to be healthy and drug free, police officers gave away bracelets, and the SADD students from the high school did fun activities with the kids.  When I got home that night, I slept 12 hours!

This weekend, my Dad turned 85!  

We gave up watching the k state game and drove to Olathe but listened to the game in the car.  We met Dave and Roni at Aberdeen and surprise, they brought my Mom!  I gave Dad some suspenders and Dave gave him a Japanese scabbard from 1945.  I think he really liked his gifts.  Then we took Dad and Jean to Houlihans for dinner and dessert.  I did some serious carb loading.  Yum.  

Today I felt like poop so other than going to the grocery store I've been hanging out in bed.  I'm gonna fight off whatever this is and win!  Hope your week and weekend were event filled and fun.