Quarantined

Cooper is quarantined at home with H1N1. And you sure wouldn't know he's even remotely sick. He was playing like normal today, just a cough here & there. I'm sure it has a bit to do with the Pediapred.

Yesterday his respiratory count was 60 per minute & was retracting, so we headed to the E.R. His lungs showed a little fluid. But he responded quickly to a breathing treatment while we were there.

Our counter looks like a drug store right now with all of Kamrie's medicines for allergies & breathing, Cooper's 3 he's on right now & vitamins (hey, I'm trying to keep us well).

I can understand why the flu spreads so fast. Really if we hadn't known that Cooper had been exposed to H1N1 recently, we probably would have given him breathing treatments & maybe wouldn't have even had him tested.

He's pretty hard to convince that he's sick as he's outside riding his bike. I'm glad he's feeling so well, but wonder when he won't be contagious.

Morton's Neuroma 101

Here's what I have:

So, Dr. Raska is going to take it out. Watch out for me on crutches after December 4.

We're Home!

We're back from Mexico & had a great experience. Most things were not necessarily fun but we did enjoy our time there. If that makes any sense. I can't even start to put the trip into words just yet (other than the blogs I've posted on the other site). My mind is full right now of things I learned & things I need to change. My heart has been softened toward people who haven't had the opportunity to hear about God's plan for their life.

Check the other blog!

I'm refraining from being on facebook or on this blog this week, but please check the other blog on www.mexicocaravanministries.com for what we're doing each day.

We miss you Hunter, Parker, Kamrie, Chloe & Cooper. Did you get your deer Hunter? :) Thank you Pete & Paulette for caring for the kids!

Mexico Blog

We'll be blogging about our time at Mexico Caravan Ministries if you're interested in reading about our time there.

I'm going to start packing myself & the kids today. Tomorrow & Friday I'll be gone, so I've got to get a lot done today.

Thank you for your prayers as we've been preparing to leave. We're waiting in expectation for how God will work IN us & THROUGH us while we're there.

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

My memory verse for Mexico. I've been praying for God to work & will wait expectantly for answers. I love it that He hears us & answers us.

No More Safe Distance Here

Today's Life Journal Bible reading that touched my heart was, again, Mark 14:54. I know I've chosen this verse in the past also to journal about. Although it hit me in some of the same ways, God showed me a new perspective on it tonight. Isn't that just like Him? Living & Active!

Mark 14:54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

Seriously, he warmed himself by the fire? With the guards? What hit me last time was that he followed him at a distance (the message reads "a safe distance"). He wanted to be there yet not TOO close. Not actually close enough the guards could see where his loyalty lay. He sat & casually warmed himself WITH the guards at the fire.

My prayer today is that I don't follow Christ at a safe distance. I need to be right there beside him all the way. I can't just sit where it's comfortable "warming myself at the fire." I need to listen to God's leading & do the things He wants me to do even when it's not comfortable. Even when I may have to take a stand & offend the "guards." I can't blend into the culture so no one can see where my true loyalty lies. I need to dig deep into His word & grow deep spiritual roots.

It's my prayer for you also.

12 Days

Brad & I will go to Tijuana, Mexico, in 12 Days with Mexico Caravan Ministries. There is a group of 10 of us going from our community.

We'd appreciate your prayers for us as we prepare to go.

For open hearts-for us to be willing to let God do what He wants to do in us while we're there.

For safety-as we travel & while we're there.

For financial needs-we're going to roof the Mexico Caravan Ministries Dormitory while we're there, so we're trying to raise money to cover those costs.

For our children-as we leave them in Brad's parents' care. For health & obedience.

I'm very anxious to go, I know that I have a lot to learn about reaching out to others in true need.

We'll be receiving spiritual training while we're there as well as learning about world missions. In our "spare" time we'll be able to build a shelter for a family, get a previously-built shelter prepared for a new roof & replace the roof on the existing dormitory. While the men are working on the roof, the women will be able to go purchase items to give to families in need.

A bonus for us will be the children we'll see while there. There are always children at the worksites as well as in the homes we'll be visiting. We're packing lots of candy & trinkets to give them! And we'll be able to give out the turtles the church's kids made during Crocodile Dock. We're going to visit an orphanage toward the end of the week & give the turtles out there. I know I'll want to bring all those kids home with me!

I'll also take plenty of photos while there so you'll be able to "experience" it also.

Oh, side note: we'll take 1 shower while there. Yikes! We will leave on Sunday the 15, shower on Thursday the 19th & return home on Sunday the 22. Maybe you'll be glad you won't see us until after we've returned. I'm counting on it being in the 50s-60's while there so we won't be sweating like crazy!

I'm sure we'll have stories to tell...