I Dream of Jeanie

Do you ever watch the old reruns on TV? I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show or maybe Bewitched or I Dream of Jeanie? Well, every once in a great while I get on a old show kick. I Dream of Jeanie is one of my favorites.

You know that there is no way that any of that show could ever be true! I mean a genie in a bottle that grants wishes... well, one could only wish for something like that to happen to them. And the ridiculous situations that Jeanie gets "Master" and Major Helee (sp.) in... and what about Dr. Bellows. It makes me laugh sometimes just thinking about all of the things that the good Dr. saw and then didn't see and thought he was going nuts - and he a Psychiatrist!

Well the funny things that happen when Major Nelson (Master) and/or Major Helee say, "I wish..." I guess it is a good thing that we don't always get what we wish for... although.... If I could cross my arms, nod my head and blink my eyes and make my wishes come true what would my world be like?

First of all, I would not be overweight like I presently am. That aside, I think my house would be clean. I can picture it now. The clothes are washing, drying, folding and putting themselves away. The dishes are washing themselves and stacking neatly in the kitchen cabinets. All of my mail would be sorted - with no junk mail laying around. Well, it would be fun just watching.

Beyond the housework... I would never be late to work because I could either freeze the clock or make it go backward until it was at the time I wanted. If it looked like my surgery room was going to be running late - I could just make the surgeon work faster. (Of course, no one would realize this was happening except for me.) There would be enough nurses to staff around the clock so there would be no call. I could pick my assignments. I could make them give me a day off or vacation whenever I wanted it. I wonder if I could make someone decide to take a sabbatical or even retire... I wonder.

If I didn't like the weather... well you get the idea.

Now as far as how things would really work out, I just don't think that I want to know how horribly wrong things would go. Jeanie sure blinked up some big ol' messes. I would rather imagine everything through my rose colored glasses. Until then... I'm overweight with laundry and dishes to do - and a Christmas tree that still needs to be put away.

What to say... what to say

I don't know why it is so hard for me to blog. I read other people's blogs everyday. Most of them don't really have anything to say - they are just blogging about what they do everyday or other random thoughts. I seam to have a hard time doing that. I thought that maybe if I change the picture on my header, then I might find something to say... maybe not.

I am trying to find great words of wisdom or something witty to say... but I am coming up blank. Why you say? I talk all the time at work you say? I talk to myself sometimes, why can't I find anything to say to this computer and you people out in cyberspace? Maybe there is too much distraction around me.

Doug and Michael (my youngest) are playing ping pong on the wii - loudly. The dogs are scratching on the back door because they want in. (I would let them in and will in a little while, but their feet are muddy because it rained here today.) The laundry room door is open and the washer and dryer are running. I am surrounded by noise. I guess I do not have the gift of great concentration... at least when I am writing.

Doug would take exception with that notion when I watch TV. He says that the house could and would burn to the ground around me before I would turn my attention away from the TV. Most of the time that is what I hear when he wants my attention. "... and then the house burned down!" Well he is a fireman, what else is he going to say?

It's just that there is some good stuff on the TV, you know? I think that I would probably die (from disappointment) if I didn't have a DVR so that, when I am away from home, I can record the shows or movies that I want to see. I am a regular watcher of - o.k. I am addicted to - Heros, House, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and Ghost Whisperer, not to mention the HGTV channel's Divine Design, Color Splash and Dear Genevieve. Occasionally I watch shows about cakes.

I have my DVR set so that I can watch on show and record another. I go back and watch them when there is nothing else on TV. I erase them after I watch them, so it's o.k. Doug could do the same thing if he wanted to, or if he knew how to, I don't know which. I just know he gets mad if I have something recording on both DVR channels because then he can't go in our bedroom and watch anything else. The grandkids know how to record because sometimes after they go home, I find 10 shows of Hanna Montana or some other kid show on the DVR. Oh, well...

Supper is ready, so I am going to stop writing now. We can eat... as soon as we can turn off the wii!

Time to Post Something

I was talking to a friend at work on Friday when he said that he looks at my blog sometimes and was wondering if I am ever going to update it.

I know it has been a while since I have blogged anything, but I just haven't known what to blog about.

I could write about Africa and how great the medical mission was this year, but how we spent a lot of time texting back and forth with our daughter to check up on Doug's mom. We were so afraid that she might die while we were gone, but we had made our decision earlier in the year and Maui really wanted us to go. So with Doug's sister Jayne and our daughter Nichole taking excellent care of Maui, not to mention our other two Bryson and Michael, our daughter-in-law Michelle, Bryson's girlfriend Katie, and niece Brooke helping... We took off for Africa.

When we got back, Maui was still alive and had been anxiously awaiting our return. She then began a quick and steady decline and we said goodbye to Maui on August 10th near midnight.

We miss her very much. She suffered so much - so much. But she taught us all so much by the way she lived. I will write more about Maui at another time. She was a remarkable woman that I love, loved, will always love.

I could write about Michael and Michelle's wedding and our trip to Illinois. I could write about their reception, which we had just two weeks ago.

I could write about several other things, but I will do that in a day or two because right now it is bedtime... and I have to work tomorrow.

I just thought that if I could get a few words down then I will have blogged something and that will make it easier to blog something in a day or two.

My hat is off to those people who blog every day or at least every week. Their lives may be more interesting than mine or maybe they just blog instead of talking to themselves. You know get the thoughts out in cyberspace.

Well, enough for now. I will be back. Soon. I promise.

Back from the Bush

We got back from three days in the bush last night. We were treated to a Mexican meal at Eric's House by several mission hosts. It was delicious! The best things though were the warm bath water provided by Mrs. Moono (our host) and sleeping in a real bed!!

The people at Simalindu were very needy and combined with the Kapaulu clinic, the medical team saw almost 5000 people. Thankfully, most of the people were not acutely ill and we did see many fat, healthy babies.

Doug and I are both healthy, although Doug's knees are bothering him a lot, they were better this morning. Today is a "down" day, where we can relax and do fun things. There is a soccer game this afternoon and a few tours around the mission for newcomers.

Tomorrow We set out for two more clinic sites and three more nights in the bush.

Please continue praying for us and the people that we will be treating.

Also, please continue praying for Doug's mother and her caregivers. We will be back to Abilene soon and so hope that she will be there waiting for us when we return.

Love to all,

Anne

**Nichole please pass this on to PaPa and Momma Dot

In Zambia

Hello,

we finally arrived at Namwianga Mission about 9:30 last night. We are staying with the Moono's (where I stayed in 2004). I had a good night's sleep. Doug slept better,but still needs more to catch up. Breakfast was at 8 am and then I went up to the hospital to look at some needs for L&D. They need a new incubator for all of the babies that have been born lately - 18 just last week! The incubators can be bought in Lusaka for only $3500 and are perfect for Zambia. I will have pictures later. Also, they only have enough clamps for 6 packs to be sterile at one time. They only need 1 Kocher and 1 peon.

We will have lunch soon and then the big team will arrive. Jan and Katie, Jill and Blaine will be here and we will be all together. Hopefully, their luggage will arrive with them:) We will get a group picture for you, Maui. Church tomorrow and then Monday we leave for Simalundu and our first clinic.

More news later. Pass this on to everyone.

xxoo,

Anne

Getting Ready for Africa

It has been a long time since my last post. Since then I have been to Peoria and Chicago for Michael's and Michelle's wedding. It was a fun, but a busy time. The wedding was beautiful and sweet, and very much Michael and Michelle. I will post a few pictures once I have some to post. We will be hosting a reception when school starts back up. I will have pictures and video there.

I have also been spending a lot of time with Maui (my mother-in-law). Maui has been fighting ALS for a long time now and her time with us is getting short. Jan and Jill (my sisters-in-law) and Doug all take turns spending the night with her and the days, too. I have only been there one night, but I go in the afternoons following work. My contribution to her physical care is miniscule compared to those three. The other sister, Jayne, comes when she can. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is fighting her own battles now.

Today I have been gathering my katundu (Chitonga for stuff) so I can pack later. I want to get the packing done and not wait until the last minute. I am ready to go back to Zambia and to the Medical Mission. It has been three years this time - the plan has been to go every two.  

I was supposed to go last year, but we were afraid to leave Maui. Looking back, we should have gone last year instead. We had no idea... none. Maui was doing good last year - not so now. You know what they say about hindsight being 20/20... if you could have seen then what you know now, it wouldn't be called hindsight. 

Doug is on the fence right now. Tuesday, he didn't know if he was going. Wednesday, he knew he was going for sure. I don't know about yesterday and today it seems again as if he isn't going. I don't know what the answer is for him. I feel as though I must go. We only have four physicians going and five or six nurses. That is about 1/3 to 1/2 of the number we usually have. Seeing between 15,000 and 18,000 patients total in all of our clinics, it is going to be very difficult with so few medical personnel. We will be able to do what God has planned - though it seems almost impossible to me - we just have to trust and be ready to act!

I am still excited to go, but now I have a sense of heaviness in my heart. A gut feeling that when I board my plane on Wednesday, that I may really be alone - without Doug. That makes me very, very sad. But God is in control and there is still time.  I will trust in Him and wait....

Please remember me and the entire Zambia Medical Mission (ZMM) team in your prayers. Part of the team left today. The nurses leave on Wednesday, July 8th. The rest of the team leaves on Thursday, July 9th. Pray for our safety, our health, our strength, our example, and our effectiveness to help and teach those we are going to take care of. We will return on Sunday, July 26th. Please pray for us daily.

Also, please pray for my mother-in-law, Maui and for the people taking care of her while we are gone (whomever that may be).

Leza a muleleke (God bless you)

May showers bring June weddings

Yesterday was the wedding shower for my son Michael and his fiance' Michelle.  It was wonderful and crowded and loud and fun.  I say that is true, but if you could have seen Michael...

Linda, one of the hostesses, said that if Michael wanted to be at the shower then he should come to the shower.  Now if you are getting presents and having food also, then that is a place that sounds like fun.  So Michael accompanied Michelle to the shower.

Michelle's mother, Sandy, came all the way from Illinois to be here for the shower.  We all had matching corsages (not Michael) and they were beautiful.  The food was great - cookies with blue and green frosting, chocolate chip cookies, thumbprint cookies, fresh fruit and almond tea punch!  Everything was decorated so pretty - lace and hints of blue and green in just the right hues of Michelle and Michael's wedding.  And presents... Michelle and Michael opened presents until it was time to leave.  They got so many wonderful and useful gifts (even a beautiful homemade quilt from KT). Everyone was so thoughtful and generous.  It is always a bit humbling to be so showered with love and generosity -- but I digress.

They were both a little nervous at the beginning of the shower (being the center of attention), but it didn't last long. Michelle opened the presents and Michael played with them.  A friend of theirs was taking pictures - that is where Michael had his fun!  I will enclose a few pictures so you can see how he enjoyed the shower. 

No really, Michelle and Michael did enjoy everything and were so surprised  that they got so many of their selections and that so many people came.  They were nearly overwhelmed by it all.  They have moved the gifts into the apartment where they will live after the wedding and now begin the task of writing thank you notes. 

For those of you wondering about my neck...

I am recovering fine.  This is my last week off of work so things are getting back to normal.  I am just trying to give myself every chance to have enough energy to do my job next week.  Thank you for your prayers for my surgery and recovery.