The week began normal enough. I'd heard about a blood drive on Tuesday so I went. I was actually able to give this time. Even more than that, I watched as a 16 gage needle went into my arm. I still have a bruise on my arm, but its almost like a prize (because of giving so others may live... and being able to get snacks afterwards).
As the week went on, my classes did too. I prayed and thought through lots of issues and watched Stargate with the hope that Daniel Jackson (my favorite character) would return... which he did! (Side note: I'm in season 7 now.)
I finally made it to Friday! Ever since last week, I'd been anticipating that my Dad would be having surgery to remove cancer (and his thyroid). The procedure started before my one class for the day. After class, I took Toby and went hiking with Megan. It looked like it could potentially rain, but that was exciting to Megan and I was alright with it. On the way, I got news that my Dad had made it out of the ordeal and was doing fine! (Before, I could sense peace in my Dad's voice as he told me what was going on. It gave me peace too, so I knew God was in control and I knew Dad was going to be alright.)
As we hiked, we went on different trails than we'd been on the previous time (last weekend if I remember correctly). It was fun and much cooler than the last time. Then it began to thunder, and then we saw some lightning, and then it began to rain. If you've ever seen those generic horror movies, all three of these things usually begin almost as foreboding. We'd kind of expected it, though, so it wasn't too big of a deal. Along with the scary theme, we were two girls (and a dog) out hiking where not lots of people were (especially when rain starts).
All of a sudden, Toby started acting strange (almost scared and very cautious) like he knew something was in front of us in the brush. I got his leash hooked back on him (since he'd been staying with us through the woods). We kept walking over a bridge hoping nothing was in the trees. That's when we heard it. It almost sounded like a baby cry, but cat like... like a big cat. At that moment, I began saying we needed to go the other way right then. We crossed the little bridge we'd come across just seconds before and this time noticed red spatters on it (almost like blood). I pointed it out to Megan and then we heard something coming closer through the trees and brush. We headed out while trying to make sounds to hopefully keep it from getting any closer. I kept an eye on our "six" as much as I could (along with our sides). Megan got out her mace as I wished I had my machete with me again. I called a friend to tell her where we were exactly (just in case we ran into some trouble). She said she'd call is 20 minutes and if we didn't answer, she'd send in people after us.
As we stepped out onto the road, I knew we were in the clear. I'd been freaked out a bit, but other than lots of prickly plant things all stuck to me (and being wet and sweaty), I was alright.
After all of that, Megan and I got cleaned up, dropped Toby off, and went to a game night. Its been an interesting week! ...and its not over yet!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Contra-Dancing
If you've ever seen the movie "Pride and Prejudice" with Keira Knightly, you can see (in the scene when Elizabeth first sees Mr. Darcy) a similar dancing style to contra-dancing. Its really hard to explain, but its a dance that has a caller (that calls out the moves) along with a band. We hash out the moves before dancing and then go for it. I absolutely loved it!!!!! Even though you have a partner, you end up dancing with almost everyone (even within one song). Its a wonderful community with beautiful people. ...and ladies, if you want to dance, you can't be shy. There are often more girls than guys, so you make eye contact with someone and immediately ask for the next dance (or you might not get to dance). Once I hit the dance floor, I never wanted to stop. I haven't smiled that much (for hours at a time) in a very long while. I thought my cheeks would be sore from smiling that much!
I hope to go back. Until then, I'll keep spinning and twirling in my mind.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
All You Need Is...
Sometimes I get crazy... or at least crazier than people seem around me. There are limits that I don't cross, but sometimes I wonder if I'm annoying to those who I'm around.
It started with the bachelorette party. We dressed like we were from the 80s and I really got into it. I was the one in the car wanting everyone to sing along to our 80s mix cd as we went on a date with the bride and Justin Bieber. Then, as we were getting our nails done the following day, I was the one that picked dark, bold colors. Next, the night before the wedding, I'm the one who dyed my hair red (praying that it wouldn't turn out like a clown, which usually shouldn't be risked right before an event having tons of pictures included in it).
While dying my hair, I had Kasey and Dan help me out. They pointed out places I needed more dye (that I couldn't see). (At one point, I seriously looked like the devil because of red dye being all over me.)
I find myself asking this question when I'm around less "crazy-acting" people (which I proceeded to ask Kasey): Am I completely annoying? She replied, "no way! You're show people how to enjoy life! Everyone needs a Michelle in their life."
I began thinking about that. It was really sweet and it helped me to be more at ease with my seemingly spontaneous actions. Then I started talking to God about it and stopped in my tracks. Though its sweet to say that everyone needs someone to help people to loosen up and enjoy the life God's given them, the fact is that everyone needs God--Period. He's the beginning, middle, and into eternity of this crazy adventure that we're on. We would be lost without Him and "fun" wouldn't exist.
So loosen up, enjoy life, and praise Him for it! Hallelujah... AMEN!
It started with the bachelorette party. We dressed like we were from the 80s and I really got into it. I was the one in the car wanting everyone to sing along to our 80s mix cd as we went on a date with the bride and Justin Bieber. Then, as we were getting our nails done the following day, I was the one that picked dark, bold colors. Next, the night before the wedding, I'm the one who dyed my hair red (praying that it wouldn't turn out like a clown, which usually shouldn't be risked right before an event having tons of pictures included in it).
While dying my hair, I had Kasey and Dan help me out. They pointed out places I needed more dye (that I couldn't see). (At one point, I seriously looked like the devil because of red dye being all over me.)
I find myself asking this question when I'm around less "crazy-acting" people (which I proceeded to ask Kasey): Am I completely annoying? She replied, "no way! You're show people how to enjoy life! Everyone needs a Michelle in their life."
I began thinking about that. It was really sweet and it helped me to be more at ease with my seemingly spontaneous actions. Then I started talking to God about it and stopped in my tracks. Though its sweet to say that everyone needs someone to help people to loosen up and enjoy the life God's given them, the fact is that everyone needs God--Period. He's the beginning, middle, and into eternity of this crazy adventure that we're on. We would be lost without Him and "fun" wouldn't exist.
So loosen up, enjoy life, and praise Him for it! Hallelujah... AMEN!
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Battle is God's
I was reading in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. Lately, raising funds have been heavily on my mind. God has spoken encouragement through His Word constantly through this time. Therefore, this spoke encouragement to me also. His time is perfect and His Word is living.
Jehoshaphat was a king who believed in God. When he found out a huge army was coming at him, his first response was to talk it over with God. The people fasted, all got together, and cried out to God. Their army wasn't any match to take on this huge one. In response, God said He'd take care of it.
I really love the next part. Jehoshaphat and the people have such confidence that God's going to take care of it, that they sing and praise Him before they even know what's happening to the enemy. No one (of the enemy) was left alive. It was God's battle. He fought it because the people of Judah could not. All they had to do was turn to Him and have the faith they knew to be true.
Raising support is hard and yet its not anything to worry about when compared to the account in Chronicles. Lord, "I do believe; help my unbelief"! (Mark 9:24)
Jehoshaphat was a king who believed in God. When he found out a huge army was coming at him, his first response was to talk it over with God. The people fasted, all got together, and cried out to God. Their army wasn't any match to take on this huge one. In response, God said He'd take care of it.
I really love the next part. Jehoshaphat and the people have such confidence that God's going to take care of it, that they sing and praise Him before they even know what's happening to the enemy. No one (of the enemy) was left alive. It was God's battle. He fought it because the people of Judah could not. All they had to do was turn to Him and have the faith they knew to be true.
Raising support is hard and yet its not anything to worry about when compared to the account in Chronicles. Lord, "I do believe; help my unbelief"! (Mark 9:24)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Zombie Mode
I've never really been a morning person. (My sister would disagree since I'm the one who woke up and wouldn't cease talking about dreams and anything else that might pop into my head while she proceeded to finally say, "Michelle... shut... up!") See, I become most alert (thinking best and most balanced) in the afternoon to evening (and sometimes even into the night) times. In the morning, I may seem happy and talkative, but that's usually me just trying to wake up and figure out why I'm even awake (since talking out loud usually helps me think things through: more talking out loud = I'm not quite completely alert).
Most of the time, when I first wake up, I have time to cope with where I am, what I'm doing, and the reason I need to be awake. For a few nights lately, this hasn't been so. This is my "zombie mode" time. When I get up, but am not really awake or alert.
I've been taking care of my dog as well as my cousins' dogs while the cousins were away. One of the dogs (Briley) gets up around 5 or 6am every morning wanting to go out, be fed... the whole routine he's used to. I had been told he was an early riser, but I don't think I fully could comprehend all that was before me.
To begin, Briley would make a barking/whimpering sound and I'd fling the covers off me. I would let all the dogs out first (as they stampeded around me to the back door), would let Toby and Brutus back in, feed Toby in his room, Brutus in the kitchen, and Briley and Boston outside. I would grab a drink or even breakfast (at the first of the week), wait until all of them were completely done eating, and either let them all outside for a bit while I went to lay down again or would let them all in... and go back to lay down. If I would let them outside, they'd usually start barking at something so I'd have to walk all the way back to the other side of the house in order to tell them to stop barking and would ultimately end up letting them all back inside (when they didn't get that concept).
My goal was ultimately to get Briley to wake up later and later each day. It almost started happening... but it was only a week and with his internal clock, I would need more time.
As the week progressed, the fire alarms were beginning to need new batteries. If you've ever been around them when their batteries are running out, they make a terrible beeping sound. (In the bush, these annoying sounds are usually roosters that do NOT crow right as the sun comes up, but rather before it. You can't just take their batteries out, but that's another story.) Finding which alarms that are going off can be tricky. Most of the time its simply infuriating.
Now we come to the part where I actually start telling you what happened. (Thank you for your patience.) One night, I awoke (around 4am) to a beeping sound. I slung the covers off and started saying things like, "I'm going to find that thing and kill it!!! ...at least kill the battery since its almost dead anyway... and while I kill it, I'll try not to rip the thing out of the ceiling and end up paying lots to fix it along with crawling to the hospital because I'd have fallen off of this swaying, wooden ladder..." Yep, I mutter and do lots of run-on sentences when I'm in my "zombie mode". After getting the dogs outside, then inside to feed, and outside so I could figure out where the sound was actually coming from, I ended up disarming the alarm system (that beeps sometimes), taking three different fire alarm things down from three different rooms, and for a few times (to avoid having to use a ladder to reach the carbon monoxide beeper --just in case that's what was making the sound) found myself putting on super high heels and using another shoe to reach the button my cousins told me to push if it ended up being that beeper. (Hint: I'm not yet balanced in the morning... at all--especially while wearing high heels.)
On the night of July 4th, the dogs had barked and growled at something right before I was going to bed, so I put the alarm on. I wrote a message on my arm/hand to turn it off before putting the dogs outside in the morning. The morning of July 5th, Briley did his bark thing, I flung the covers off, went to the back door (accompanied once again by the mob of dogs around me), and opened the door. Immediately, I remembered. An alarm was sounding all throughout the house. I know the neighbors could hear it (at 5:15 in the morning). I, suddenly being more awake than in my zombie mode, ran to the box that turns off the alarm, punched in the numbers still on my hand, and still heard my heart beating outside my chest as the sirens stopped howling. (The next night that I put the alarm on, I made sure to put high heels and other shoes in my way so I'd either trip and remember or would see them and remember=TURN OFF ALARM FIRST.)
Still on another night, I had a dream. I was simply spitting (like in a sink or something). I was confused a bit as I realized that it wasn't falling straight down into the sink, but sideways. I became semi-aware that I was (in reality) spitting on my pillow! I cleaned it off immediately, and realized it was about that time that Briley would be waking me up again.
After this, I kind of decided I had just about lost it ...or that there is a problem with me being made to get up at those hours of the morning. You choose.
Most of the time, when I first wake up, I have time to cope with where I am, what I'm doing, and the reason I need to be awake. For a few nights lately, this hasn't been so. This is my "zombie mode" time. When I get up, but am not really awake or alert.
I've been taking care of my dog as well as my cousins' dogs while the cousins were away. One of the dogs (Briley) gets up around 5 or 6am every morning wanting to go out, be fed... the whole routine he's used to. I had been told he was an early riser, but I don't think I fully could comprehend all that was before me.
To begin, Briley would make a barking/whimpering sound and I'd fling the covers off me. I would let all the dogs out first (as they stampeded around me to the back door), would let Toby and Brutus back in, feed Toby in his room, Brutus in the kitchen, and Briley and Boston outside. I would grab a drink or even breakfast (at the first of the week), wait until all of them were completely done eating, and either let them all outside for a bit while I went to lay down again or would let them all in... and go back to lay down. If I would let them outside, they'd usually start barking at something so I'd have to walk all the way back to the other side of the house in order to tell them to stop barking and would ultimately end up letting them all back inside (when they didn't get that concept).
My goal was ultimately to get Briley to wake up later and later each day. It almost started happening... but it was only a week and with his internal clock, I would need more time.
As the week progressed, the fire alarms were beginning to need new batteries. If you've ever been around them when their batteries are running out, they make a terrible beeping sound. (In the bush, these annoying sounds are usually roosters that do NOT crow right as the sun comes up, but rather before it. You can't just take their batteries out, but that's another story.) Finding which alarms that are going off can be tricky. Most of the time its simply infuriating.
Now we come to the part where I actually start telling you what happened. (Thank you for your patience.) One night, I awoke (around 4am) to a beeping sound. I slung the covers off and started saying things like, "I'm going to find that thing and kill it!!! ...at least kill the battery since its almost dead anyway... and while I kill it, I'll try not to rip the thing out of the ceiling and end up paying lots to fix it along with crawling to the hospital because I'd have fallen off of this swaying, wooden ladder..." Yep, I mutter and do lots of run-on sentences when I'm in my "zombie mode". After getting the dogs outside, then inside to feed, and outside so I could figure out where the sound was actually coming from, I ended up disarming the alarm system (that beeps sometimes), taking three different fire alarm things down from three different rooms, and for a few times (to avoid having to use a ladder to reach the carbon monoxide beeper --just in case that's what was making the sound) found myself putting on super high heels and using another shoe to reach the button my cousins told me to push if it ended up being that beeper. (Hint: I'm not yet balanced in the morning... at all--especially while wearing high heels.)
On the night of July 4th, the dogs had barked and growled at something right before I was going to bed, so I put the alarm on. I wrote a message on my arm/hand to turn it off before putting the dogs outside in the morning. The morning of July 5th, Briley did his bark thing, I flung the covers off, went to the back door (accompanied once again by the mob of dogs around me), and opened the door. Immediately, I remembered. An alarm was sounding all throughout the house. I know the neighbors could hear it (at 5:15 in the morning). I, suddenly being more awake than in my zombie mode, ran to the box that turns off the alarm, punched in the numbers still on my hand, and still heard my heart beating outside my chest as the sirens stopped howling. (The next night that I put the alarm on, I made sure to put high heels and other shoes in my way so I'd either trip and remember or would see them and remember=TURN OFF ALARM FIRST.)
Still on another night, I had a dream. I was simply spitting (like in a sink or something). I was confused a bit as I realized that it wasn't falling straight down into the sink, but sideways. I became semi-aware that I was (in reality) spitting on my pillow! I cleaned it off immediately, and realized it was about that time that Briley would be waking me up again.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Outside Looking In
I'd only practiced doing IM and Sub Q injections on plastic arms. This was real life though. As I was ready to finally take my turn, the room fell silent. "No pressure, Michelle", remarked Brittany trying to easy the silence. I realized that this would be how I would do it in a village setting. Eyes on me. Watching to see what I was doing and if the person receiving the injection would cringe. I calmed myself, told my patient "big stick in one, two...", and stuck it in. (Side note: Delaina stuck me too, so its not like I was being cruel or anything.)
We were just giving normal saline so it wasn't a big deal, but it was exhilarating! It reminded me of doing IVs and I started checking out veins. (Once you look for "good veins" and do an IV, its hard not to check out people's veins.) We did different shots (IM, Sub Q, and ID) all on each other.
Later that night, after doing homework with Megan, we began to walk back to my car. We were reminded that the gates locked at night and so we started to pray while walking. "Please help the gate to be open or someone to come by that can help us get in." As we walked up to the gate, everything looked pretty sealed. I wanted to at least try, so I walked up, turned the knob, and it opened! We got in my car, drove up to the gate, and it opened too! God knew we were coming and opened a gate for us.
Sometimes it feels like we're on the outside looking in. We don't know if everything will turn out alright. We can't see past skin sometimes. We could give us and just never try from the fear of hurting someone or doing something wrong. We could just walk away and believe that the way is closed or that we're locked out. Eyes are on us. Who will you be looking to?
We were just giving normal saline so it wasn't a big deal, but it was exhilarating! It reminded me of doing IVs and I started checking out veins. (Once you look for "good veins" and do an IV, its hard not to check out people's veins.) We did different shots (IM, Sub Q, and ID) all on each other.
Later that night, after doing homework with Megan, we began to walk back to my car. We were reminded that the gates locked at night and so we started to pray while walking. "Please help the gate to be open or someone to come by that can help us get in." As we walked up to the gate, everything looked pretty sealed. I wanted to at least try, so I walked up, turned the knob, and it opened! We got in my car, drove up to the gate, and it opened too! God knew we were coming and opened a gate for us.
Sometimes it feels like we're on the outside looking in. We don't know if everything will turn out alright. We can't see past skin sometimes. We could give us and just never try from the fear of hurting someone or doing something wrong. We could just walk away and believe that the way is closed or that we're locked out. Eyes are on us. Who will you be looking to?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Shocking? Sow What?
What a day! As I drove back from class, my head was spinning. I had begun my Bush Mechanics and Electronics class and it is an all-day thing. We learned about ventilating a house in a hot climate (like PNG), talked about batteries/solar panels/inverters, did calculations about watts/volts/amps, and made a working circuit. From so much to soak into my head, I was a bit fried. The entire day, we'd also been sticking energy readers (little metal things) into outlets--one thing Mom always said never to do. I wasn't the only one on alert for getting shocked.
Throughout the day, I hadn't had much to eat (and had had coffee and cookies for the snack times to keep me alert), so when I got to the house, I was shaking. I ate peanut butter crackers to hold me until dinner (which I made it to). After eating, I walked Toby and he got dirty; so I gave him a bath. Right after it was done, he sniffed the electric wire and got shocked. I calmed him down (poor baby). ...and then (when I had brushed him) he did it again! You'd think he'd learn!!!!
I got cleaned up and got ready for bed as he dried the rest of the way outside. Toby was dried off after a while and came in. I kept him in my room as I watched part of "Swords" (swordfish fishing) with Josh. When I walked back into my room, I found he'd ripped one of the legs off of one of my little cousin's toys!!!! Thankfully, I knew where a sowing kit was! I was soooo mad at Toby (and he knew it too). After sowing it back up, it didn't look too bad so my anger subsided. I don't think anyone will really notice that the leg had been off.
At the end of the day, I'm super tired, but all that needs to be fixed is fixed and I've learned quite a bit too!
Throughout the day, I hadn't had much to eat (and had had coffee and cookies for the snack times to keep me alert), so when I got to the house, I was shaking. I ate peanut butter crackers to hold me until dinner (which I made it to). After eating, I walked Toby and he got dirty; so I gave him a bath. Right after it was done, he sniffed the electric wire and got shocked. I calmed him down (poor baby). ...and then (when I had brushed him) he did it again! You'd think he'd learn!!!!
I got cleaned up and got ready for bed as he dried the rest of the way outside. Toby was dried off after a while and came in. I kept him in my room as I watched part of "Swords" (swordfish fishing) with Josh. When I walked back into my room, I found he'd ripped one of the legs off of one of my little cousin's toys!!!! Thankfully, I knew where a sowing kit was! I was soooo mad at Toby (and he knew it too). After sowing it back up, it didn't look too bad so my anger subsided. I don't think anyone will really notice that the leg had been off.
At the end of the day, I'm super tired, but all that needs to be fixed is fixed and I've learned quite a bit too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)