Day 10 of Thankfulness: Health

I am thankful for my health.

My health is something that I have not given too much thought too. But as I am getting older and am still healthy, I can't help but be thankful for it. I have had very limited medical issues throughout the years. I'm sure that will change in the years to come but as of now, I'm healthy. 

I thank my Mom for that and her insistence on taking my supplements each day. Then there was my 15 years of swimming. Being healthy has allowed me to serve here in China to the best of my ability. It is indeed a blessing. 

On the Up and Up

Oh the joys of working with kids. The last five days have been a bit rough as I have been at home, in bed, sick. Not just a cold but fever, chills, aching body, awful cough, the whole works. Yes, it has been truly a joy, let me tell you. I'm kind of baby when it comes to being sick. And being far away from home doesn't help matters. Figuring this was just a 24 hour bug, took Friday off to rest and recuperate. Well Friday came and went as well as Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Still not feeling much better.

Finally today I am feeling much "more human like." And that, my friends, is always a good sign. It could be the fact that our Medical Coordinator brought me to the local pharmacy yesterday and got me all sorts of medicines or the fact that I have been sleeping most of the last 5 days. Whatever the reason, I'm finally feeling better.

Thanks for those of you who were praying for me! One thing I have learned about sickness is that it forces you to slow down. I am not one to slow down too often unless forced. Well, apparently God had to force me. Rest is not a bad thing, not at all.

Now if only this cough will go away life will be grand...

Hospital

I know I have shard with several of you as to what hospitals are like in China. Hard. To. Explain. Anyways, when I was there a few weeks ago, I finally snapped a few pictures to try and give you an idea. 

This is outside of the operating room. I have spent many hours here praying over our children who are through that white, glass door ahead. When the child is done, they are wheeled through that door and all these nosy people "look and scrutinize observe" before the patient is wheeled into their recovery room. I don't know about you, but right after I come out of surgery, I do NOT want a bunch of strangers staring at me! But that's exactly what happens. So hopefully this picture gives you an idea of what it's like.

These little guys? I think they are just the cutest. They are all over the Children's Hospitals in GZ. My favorite is the bear with the glasses. : )

 View of GZ at night. Took this on the bus on my way home after meeting Peanut in the hospital last month.

The Final Season

As I have mentioned before, one of the hardest things about living overseas is missing out. Missing out on holidays, parties, and especially in my family, sporting events. I am the 2nd oldest of 7 children, 5 of which are boys. I grew up in a sport loving family! We all were swimmers, and my brothers have all played baseball and most of them have also played football. Me? I was not gifted in the "hand eye coordination" area. Even Kiah is an excellent swimmer and started playing softball this year.

Due to technology, I have been able to keep up with how my siblings are doing. I remember last June when our high school baseball team made it to the state tournament (this would involve Thad and Tage), I woke up at 5 a.m. in order to "listen online" to the game. It was wonderful actually. I remember drinking coffee, eating pancakes, and watching the sun rise as I enjoyed listening to a ball game. Doesn't get much better than that! Swimming is easy to keep up with. Times are times and I know swimming. Baseball? Yeah, I know the game but the stats are hard for me to "visualize it." I am able to look up the games online to see who won and lost but other than that, not much of it makes sense. I miss going to games. I had my fair share of games when I was home this spring though. I LOVED it!

I just realized the other day what I'll be missing this fall. Football. Now, I am not a huge fan of football (shhh, don't tell my brothers that!). Honestly, the game bores me. But I DO love going to a game on a Friday night, sitting under the lights with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, staying warm underneath a blanket, sitting with my Mom and sister, just enjoying being together. I realized that I won't JUST be missing a season, I'll be missing the LAST SEASON of football in our family. Tage is the youngest boy and he will be a senior (!) this fall. And I will miss it.

*Sigh* Just missing home today.

Rainy Day

Another rainy day in Zhongshan. This is becoming a habit!

Just need a tart and some tea to cheer me up on this dreary day.

How was your day?

Wordless Wednesday: Princess

Sunday Snapshot: One-On-One

I recently began one-on-one sessions with several of the children. Sweetheart began last week.... does the girl have talent or what? She can color with both hands at once! Although she insisted on holding the crayons this way.... I kept trying to correct her. What can I say, the girl is stubborn. 

 Concentrating so hard on her coloring page.

 "Hmmmm, which color to use?"

 Taking a rest after all that hard work. In the Chinese squat position of course!

Happy Sunday!

Ni Hao Ya'll

Reminder

Many of you know, that the start of my 2nd year serving in China has been rough. There have been many trials and frustration. And quite honestly, there have been moments when I just want to give up and leave. But I am reminded that God never said anything about how following Him would be easy. And we are to persevere. I have felt very clearly that He wants me in China for another year and well, those trials will come.  But how am I going to handle them?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. " (James 1:2-4)

I have been reminded the last few days, how incredibly blessed I am. As I look back on the past 15 months spent in China I am blown away by God's goodness and faithfulness. I am so blessed to be able to do what I am doing. Seriously, these are the precious treasures I get to love on each and every day. How could I not be anything but thankful?

There are moments of joy and there are moments of difficulty. But God is, has been, and will be here through all of it. He is here when a baby boy is abandoned and He is here, rejoicing when a child joins a forever family of their very own.

And He is here through my joys as well as my trials. He will see me through.

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Chris Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

Thank you Lord, for the reminder that You are always there. And for being patient with me when I fall over and over again.

If you are following along in my Psalm 139 reading, I never posted yesterdays verse, therefore here are two verses to meditate on, 8 & 9:

"If I go up to the Heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea."

Bugs

One of my least favorite things about China is the bugs. I am not the type of girl who screams every time she see's an ant and although I was petrified of spiders when I was younger (I still don't love them), they don't bother me as much anymore.

HOWEVER, when we are talking about 2-inch long cockroaches (we do not have cockroaches that big in the north...) who FLY, now that is an entirely different story. After living here over a year, I still absolutely hate those things. I know, hate is a strong work so let me reword that... I absolutely, positively HATE those things. Yes, I said it. Oh yeah. And not really a fan of the scorpion looking bug I found in my bathroom last night either. I made a panicking noise before I stomped it to it's death. You didn't know I could be so violent did you? Well when it comes to bugs, I have no mercy.

Sorry no pictures to go along with this post. I would be scared they would fly at my head when I'd be attempting a picture.

That is all. I just needed to get that off my chest. Phew, I feel better now. Doesn't this make you want to come visit southern China?