Paleface

This past Wednesday, Becki and I went to Santo Domingo with the other first year teachers to begin the long process of getting our visas to live here. When I first heard the news of the trip, I was excited because I am always happy to see other parts of the country. That excitement quickly passed when I realized that this particular trip was the medical exam of the process because I assumed that the exam would involve needles and blood. I was right.

In preparation for the trip, I loaded my pockets with suckers, cookies, and an apple. Anything that would help me feel better in case I started feeling sick. So when the nurse called me to the small, cramped room in the back to have a seat in her chair, there were bulges in both front pockets of all my snacks. I had my iPod playing loudly as I sat in her chair. I closed my eyes, started praying, and gave her my left arm. Not all prayers are answered as I would like though. I felt myself losing it. I pulled out my sucker but unfortunately, that only made me feel worse. And with inopportune timing, I forgot how to say "to lay down". With that phrase gone from my vocabulary, I could only tell the nurse that I didn't want to stand up and that I wanted the floor. She wouldn't let me though so I continued my misery in her chair. Finally, they let Becki come back to me and she helped me walk across the hall to the only spot where I could lay down. After 10 minutes and one apple, I finally felt good enough to walk out. Their eyes followed me out as if they were expecting me to collapse at any moment. I made it out though, thankful that the exam was behind me.

Bittersweet Symphony

If I had to make a guess, I would say that my dad has been to over 95% of every sporting or extracurricular event that I have ever been involved in. This has profoundly influenced the way I view love and friendship. I expect someone who truly cares for me, to be there for me when I need them because that is what I saw lived out with my dad. Likewise, I want to be the type of person who won't forget about his friends and family. That's why it's so hard to be here now.

My dad had a doctor's appointment last Friday concerning the hole he has in his heart. I wanted to be there to show him I cared, but I was here.

My brother and sister-in-law had their first child today making me and Becki an aunt and uncle. I want to be there to show them and the baby that I love them and will be there for them, but I am here.

It's out of my hands though. I can't be there for them which is a good thing because I would ultimately let them down. Thankfully, there is a God who is there and won't let them down.

Long Awaited Update

Hello Everyone! I know it's been quite a long time since we wrote last and the reason for this is quite silly. It's not that we've been too busy or that we have been forgetting. The truth is that we have thought about it almost every night, but have been arguing over who was going to have to write it. You see we just didn't seem to have anything to write about and we both find it much more easier to write when we have inspiration. We kind of feel like authors with an audience waiting to read the sequal to our first book but having no inspiration to write it. The publishers keep bugging and bugging but nothing is coming. Well, we greatly apologize for making you wait so long. We wish that it wasn't the case.

Now you may be thinking that I finally have something to right about, but I still don't. I'm only writing because I finally feel so bad about my lack of writing that Jon was finally able to convince me to write. So, sorry that this may be a little boring. I am only going to tell you about the few things that have been going on here lately.

The first and most important thing going on is that for the first time since we have moved here, our apartment finally feels like a home. As you might have read in a previous blog, we had some people donate two couches and a TV to us. Then, about 2 weeks ago we got an e-mail from some missionaries who were moving and selling most things in their house. We were able to buy several things from...a TV stand so that our TV no longer sits on the floor...a desk so that our computer no longer sits on the kitchen table...two end tables to add some comfort to our living room...and a ceiling fan to go in our living room for some much needed relief from the heat (it's been unseasonably hot here in the DR which seems weird since it has been unseasonably cold everywhere in the states). All these things have really helped make life more comfortable and take some of the stresses away from our long day at school.

My cheerleaders have had their first few games this past month and despite that fact that the basketball team is sooooo bad, the cheerleaders have been doing a wonderful job. It made me remember my first game to cheer at in 7th grade. Oh those were the days! We ordered uniforms from the states and the girls look great.

Speaking of basketball and cheerleading...this past Friday we had a really fun event that the school hosted called Hoops for Haiti. It was a benefit game to raise money for Haiti. The male faculty from our school played the male faculty from another nearby school. People would pledge money for the amount of points scored and all that money would go to support our French teacher (she is Haitian and lost several family members in the earthquake) and two other organizations that we are aquianted with. The whole high school, middle school, and upper elementary got out of school early to come watch the game. It was quite an event. The cheerleaders got to cheer. But the most exciting thing of the whole game was watching my husband (a.k.a The Admiral--nicknamed by the announcers for the game) score 9 points at the game and have the time of his life running around the court crazy like he was actually young again. What a sight. The pictures don't even do it justice.

Well, until next time...please keep praying for Haiti and our small bit of homesickness that comes and goes. Thanks so much for you prayers. You are all in our thoughts frequently. Enjoy your Valentine's Day!