I thought I would let everyone know that we're home safe and sound.  It was an amazing trip!  We had a lot of struggles, from before we arrived, when we got to the Toronto airport all the way to when we arrived back at the Toronto airport.  I don't have time to tell you about them all; it would take far too long.

Despite all the difficulties we were able to give medicine and care to 3144 people in 5 days.  We heard some incredible stories and gave medicine, food, clothing, sandals, and even the boxes containing these things to people who needed them.  We treated scabies, lice, arethemia, diabetes, asthma, STDs, colds, aching bones, rashes, terrible coughs, and more.

I was deeply affected by the standard of living these people deal with.  Shacks made of metal siding, with no windows or doors, holes in the ceiling and walls, and a dirt floor.  Most of them had open cooking fires inside their homes. Even with the beans and rice we gave them, they probably wouldn't have lunch. 

I had to see the doctor when we got back and all it took was a phone call and I had an appointment the next day.  My daughter gets to choose what she wants on her sandwich and my son wears good diapers, not underwear because I don't have diapers.  We live in a comfortable home, where we can keep the bugs out easily and we aren't causing asthma in our kids whenever we cook.  We really do have so much to be thankful for.  We take so many things for granted.  It's terrible how demanding we can be when we have to wait in line at the bank machine to take our money out.  These people waited all day just to see a doctor!  There is no bank holding their money, although I'm pretty sure they'd wait all day for that, too.

I am so grateful for the chance to go and share God's love with these struggling people.  I couldn't really speak a whole lot to them so I made sure I smiled at every person who handed me their prescription sheet.  And you know what?  Every one smiled back at me.  It's a universal way to communicate. 

So I'm sending a smile to each and every person who reads this.  I hope it brightens your day as it does mine.

I'll try to post some photos in the near future.  I've taken so many it may take a while to sort through them all.  Stay tuned!

I can hardly believe it, we're flying to Nicaragua on Saturday morning!  I'm excited and looking forward to this amazing experience helping so many people get medical care and the medicine they need.  But, I'm also nervous about it and dreading the good-byes.  Especially now that Nathaniel is sick with... something.  We thought it was chicken pox, but now we're not sure.  He's got his 13-month check-up at the doctor's tomorrow morning, so hopefully he'll be able to shed some light on what is going on in my little guy's body.  It won't keep us home, but will make it harder to leave and I know I'll worry about him while we're gone.

This morning in church they commissioned us, which means we stood at the front while elders and our friends stood around us, laying their hands on us, to pray for us.  Wow, what an experience!  It brought me to tears, in fact my eyes are welling up a bit as I type this.  To be surrounded by our friends and church leaders, knowing that they will be praying for us and thinking of us now and while we're gone.  I felt so supported.  I love our church so much! 

Well, this afternoon is probably my last chance to make some cards and maybe do some scrapbooking, so I'd better get at it.  Think of us, pray for us.  We'll be back November 2.  I'll be sure to blog about it, when I get a chance.

Hugs everyone!

This is what Arianna did yesterday after church.  She quietly got out her paper and markers and sat at the kitchen table while I was in the living room keeping an eye on Nathaniel and my hubby and mother-in-law were making lunch.  Chris came in to the living room and said, "Did you know our daughter can write her name?"  She didn't stop there, and only needed help with the capital N.  We haven't really sat down with her and written out everyone's names and had her trace them or anything like that, just exposed her to the letters in books and on the computer.  I was completely floored!

In our great country, we as citizens have all kinds of opportunities to be of service.  Well, I just got something in the mail that I didn't think would be my way to serve.  I received a letter saying I was being considered as a potential juror.  What!!  I may be called upon to be on the potential juror list and then may be asked to actually sit on a jury for a civil or criminal case! 

Woah.  Wait a second.  I'm sure there's nothing to keep me from being on the list and there's probably nothing to keep me from being called to the courthouse.  It's a little scary.  But I guess if that is something I'm asked to do, I will do it, with grace and pride. 

I never thought I would get this letter.  I wonder what will happen...

I can't believe it, my baby is a year old today!  It's hard to imagine that a year ago I was in labour for 22 hours.  What a time, so full of emotion... I am so blessed to have Nathaniel.

He started really walking yesterday and has been practicing like crazy today, just in time for his birthday.  We went out for supper and gave him some ice cream for the first time.  Great reactions!!  A fun time.

My life is so good.  God is so good.

So here I am, sitting here at 7:36am, wishing I was still in bed.  I know that doesn't sound too early and I'm usually up at this time, but I've been awake for 2 hours already!  Nathaniel didn't have a good night last night.  I think it's too cold in the house, there's no need for the furnace, yet.  I'm regretting not putting him in a warmer sleeper.  He was a little stuffed up and I think the combination of both just kept waking him up.  Anyway, he woke up twice between 5:30 and 6:00 so I didn't get back to sleep and then my dear hubby kept snoring no matter how many times I poked him.  Grrrr.  So I decided enough was enough and I got out of bed an hour ago.  I've had my coffee and now I'm just passing time until everyone else wakes up.  Chris has the day off, so we were planning on sleeping in a little.  Mom is coming tonight, late, so I was hoping I would be able to sleep later.  Oh well.

I thought I'd post a link to the blog from the last medical mission trip so you would have an idea of what I'm about to do.  www.ftccanadateams.blogspot.com

Now they're all awake, so I'd better go.  Lots to do today.

Wow, I just realized how long it's been since I've written anything.  You all must think I dropped off the face of the earth.  I haven't, honest!  Life is busy.  I know, I say that every time.

Nathaniel is going to be a year old on Saturday!! That year just flew right by.  Does time speed up when you have more kids?  It sure seems that way.  He's a little monkey, that one, climbing on everything, but he doesn't fall, thank goodness.  I just can't keep him off things like Daddy's chair.  It's impossible, unless I did nothing other than follow him around all day.  He took his first steps on Sunday and is starting to babble like he is actually saying things.  It's the cutest thing.  He looks me right in the eye and tells me something.  Oh how I wish I knew what he was thinking.  Right now he's upstairs sleeping while his big sister is at preschool.  Yes, Arianna is in preschool and loving it!  She talks my ear off at home, always asking questions.  What is this, Mommy?  What are you doing, Mommy?  Why are doing that, Mommy?  And telling stories and singing songs and dancing, she loves dancing.  It really amazes me.  She goes to preschool two mornings a week for about 2 hours, today being her fourth day.  Her teacher told me she did really well with Show and Tell on Tuesday and is beginning to talk to the other kids.  Yay!  She is a wonderful big sister, adores her baby brother, except when he pulls her hair or gets into toys she's trying to play with.  They have what she calls "hand time" in the car.  She calls out, "Hand time!" and then reaches out her hand to him and he grabs it.  If I had a camera in the car and could turn around and take a photo while driving, I would.  It warms my heart everytime.

My mother-in-law is arriving tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it so much.  She'll be staying with us until the second week of November.  We get along wonderfully!  She's staying long enough to babysit the kids while Chris and I go on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua.  We're flying out on my birthday, Oct. 25, and coming home the next Sunday.  This is a trip that, if you remember, my husband has gone on a couple times already.  The last one was in February.  This time I'm going, too.  Can't wait!

Well, I'd better get some work done.  I've got to wake Nathaniel in an hour to go pick up Arianna.  I hope you are all doing well!  I miss Minti, gotta get on here more often...

Here's a new photo:

I miss being here, but something's gotta go sometimes.  Life is busy and I love it.  I have to share some good news.  After over a year of trying, Arianna is finally pretty much potty trained!!!  She still wears diapers or pull-ups when we go out, but she's in underwear at home all the time and is going to the toilet all by herself!  I am ecstatic!

Also, as of today, Nathaniel is weaned.  He was starting to show signs that he was ready and I was having to fight him a bit to stay latched so I figured it was time.  It's a bit sad, that I nursed him for the last time yesterday morning, but it also wasn't very pleasant for me anymore.  So although it is all bitter sweet, I am content and happy that Daddy can feed him now, too.  I even got to sleep in this morning since Chris is on holidays.  Such a nice treat!

I will post a couple photos soon.

I do still check in here from time to time, so just because I haven't written a blog or commented on others' blogs doesn't mean I don't still think of you.

I hope all is well with all my dear friends here.  Sending hugs to all of you!

I can hardly believe it.  Arianna turned 3 yesterday!  She's growing up so fast.  It's been 3 years since I taught in a classroom and a little less than that since I decided to become a stay-at-home mom indefinitely.  So many things have happened since that time.  Arianna is growing into an intelligent, out-going, happy girl.  She loves talking and pretending and helping.  She's so much fun to have around ... most of the time.    My little toddler is officially a preschooler and she'll be starting Sunday School is September.  Wow!

Happy Birthday, my favourite girl.

The son of my mom's cousin passed away this week.  He was 20 days shy of his 33rd birthday.  He had a wife and a son who is just a few months younger than Arianna.  I didn't know him too well, but I went with my brother and parents to the funeral anyway.  Jeff was the kind of guy who lived his faith with a servant attitude.  He was a big kid and loved to laugh.  He loved the outdoors and I remember being teased by him when I was younger and we were camping together with our families.  He had testicular cancer, but it wasn't the cancer that claimed his life.  He had a very rare reaction to the chemo drug he was receiving.  It attacked his lungs, scarring them so badly he would never breathe on his own again.  This is what took his life.  It seems so unfair.  We will never know why, but as his brother said at the memorial service yesterday, we trust that this kind of death is not God's will, but the affect of a sinful, fallen world.  And to God be the glory.  Maybe when we look back in 10 or 15 years we will see all the good that has come from Jeff's leaving us too soon.

I can't imagine what his wife is going through, his son, who will never really remember his dad.  It makes me grateful for my husband and children.

There was a fire in downtown Bowmanville this past week.  A number of businesses and apartments were destroyed.  It makes me grateful for my house and the things we have.

Another shift at GM (local automotive plant) was cut.  1,000 people lost their jobs and the trickle-down effect will cause 100s more in job losses.  It makes me grateful for my husband's job, where there is a shortage of pharmacists.  He could probably pick where he wanted to work.

I am so richly blessed.  Thank you, Lord, for showering me with your blessings.  May I never take them for granted!