Randomness

I stole this from a blog I read regularly. I just thought it was cool. Bolded things are things I've done

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (so low no one could hear maybe)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I'm counting Compassion here)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (Seriously??)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (Both actually)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (July is coming)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the EiffelTower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Are you kidding me?)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Thanksgiving

I had a most wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. I have been blessed beyond measure to have a family I love dearly and enjoy spending time with. We have a good time together and Thanksgiving was no exception. My mom and I got to spend quality time visiting over coffee and reading or coffee and football games. I love sharing what God is teaching me with her because she can challenge me to continue to grow and learn and share in ways no one else can. I truly hope God blesses me with a daughter so I can be half the mom my mom is.

My dad and I got to have date night too. It was special for both of us because we hadn't seen each other for more than 16 hours since June. He and I went shopping on Friday and then to dinner and Bass Pro Shop. Who knew Bass Pro could be so fun!? In all seriousness, I love my daddy and really enjoy getting to spend time with him. We've grown from spending time in my grandfather's woodshop making all kinds of fun stuff to throwing a softball for hours on end to being in a place where we just visit without any "thing" getting in the way.

I also got to spend Thanksgiving night with my sister in her new apartment. I helped her decorate her new tree (very cool, pre-lit tree!) and put out her nativities. She has a great apartment that I'm jealous of. She's also decorating it so cool as she finds neat pieces. She has the coolest Eiffel Tower that she found at Target of all places. She also managed to score a new KitchenAid mixer at Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving. She got up, went to Wally-World, grabbed the last of the nine mixers they had, picked me up some rubbermaid and then headed to the check-out. She was home again by 5:16! Talk about efficiency. :-)

All in all, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and just had to brag. I know some people dread the holidays and I truly feel sorry for them. I honestly cannot relate and for that, I'm thankful.

I'm off to work tomorrow and then will finish shopping for the cutie in AZ that I "adopted" for Christmas. I only wish I could be there to see everyone open their gifts. I hope JT and Sheryl take LOTS of pictures.

Global Missions Health Conference

Got back from Louisville on Saturday night after spending 2+ days immersed in a conference full of public health professionals who think like I do. What a concept and a blessing! I have been very discouraged lately because most of the professional organizations I have belonged to in the past have had a very, very liberal view of the world and were very humanistic in their approach to problem-solving. Well, God provided a wonderful opportunity for me to go on this trip and I learned so much about medical missions but also about the wonderful professional organizations that are out there for Christian healthcare professional who desire to serve God and the world. Woo-Hoo!!

I do come back with several prayer requests. First and foremost, I will be co-leading a trip to South Africa in July. Yes, for those of you keeping track, that does mean a 22 hour plane ride. Am I nuts? No, I'm obedient. God is calling me to lead this team for some reason I can't really fathom. But, I'm doing it so I'm trusting He will provide both financially and in the unexplainable peace He promises. For those of you who are prayer warriors, maybe we should start praying for the flight now. :-)

The second request is job related. I came across a wonderful organization (Global Refuge International) that has jobs available. They are a Christian non-governmental organization dedicated to stopping human trafficking and violence against women and international disaster relief. They have US-based jobs open and the hiring woman was at this conference and we had a long talk. I am e-mailing her this week to see about more details. I would appreciate prayers for discernment as to what God would have me do. I still have a heart for AZ but I'm not sure a job would make itself available. I will end up where God wants me but I need wisdom to figure out where that is.

All in all, it was a great weekend conference and if anyone wants more details, just ask. All I ask is that you don't complain about anything in front of me. After being surrounded by medical missionaries who are on the front lines in some of the worst places in the world, our problems are so tiny I get frustrated hearing complaints. Just fair warning if I get snippy with you. :-)

Praise the Lord, It's OVER!!!!!

Finally, after almost 2 years of bickering, pandering, lying, baby-kissing, empty promises and more, it's over. We have a president and history was made. Woo-pee! Can you tell I'm slightly underwhelmed by the selection? The solace tonight other than the fact that God is sovereign and knew this outcome long before we were formed is that the Dems did not get a fillibuster proof Senate. Thank the Lord for small favors.

One thing I caution everyone to remember is that there are still people who need to hear the name of Jesus, need help getting out of poverty, need help learning to read, need help finding love and acceptance and that's what we as Christians are called to do. Had McCain won tonight, our mandate as Christians would still be the same: go until He comes, give till we drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops us by returning for His bride. That matters way more than the outcome of an earthly election.

Voting

Even though I am sick as a dog, I went out and exercised my right and privilege to vote. The lines weren't that long at my precinct. Remember, if you don't vote, don't let me hear you complain about who was or wasn't elected. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for not voting. Too many people have died for our right to vote. As of this writing, there are still 6 hours and 52 minutes left in AL to vote. Just do it.