Utterly Amazing

As many of you know, our family just returned from a mission trip to Jamaica. It was a life changing experience for us all.

Cameron participated in the School Assembly Ministry - he interacted with hundreds of Jamaican kids, helped paint a school that was a central focus of an entire community, and learned so much about how children in a 3rd world country lived... with joy.

Eric and I were part of the Medical Ministry. There were 70 of us scattered in 4 clinics all over Montego Bay. I had wondered where God wanted to use me -- and I found out. I became a pharmacist. Interesting, huh? I counted so many pills that I dreamt of counting at night!  

It was heartbreaking to see people wait in line for hour upon hour, they'd see the doctor who would diagnose them with intestinal issues, and then they'd come to me. I had no Pepcid, no Tagamet.... all I'd have to give them were a few tablets from my meager store of Tums. And they would smile at me, hold my hand, and thank me profusely for being there. Utterly amazing.

The experience was also such a blessing. I had a 6 year old girl pray for me and over me - and she did a phenomenal job. I had tears running down my face when she finished. I had children whose sole mission was to surprise and tickle me. There were old Rastafarian men who flirted with me... :) There were old ladies who would shyly ask me for a "sweetie" - one of the lollipops I had brought with me.

I can't wait to do it again.

Disneyland at Spring Break

I swore I would never go back to Disneyland on New Years Eve or during Spring Break... and yet, every year -- for one reason or another -- I end up trying to navigate through the multitudes (yes MULTITUDES) of sunburned tourists waiting in a two hour line for the Dumbo ride.

This year, Mom Afton had decided to travel down to Disneyland during Spring Break... and we wanted to see her while she was in Southern California. SO.... off we went. The kids and I headed to Disneyland at the height of craziness to meet up with some extended Utah family.

While the crowds were horrendous, the company was great and -- in the end -- I'm very glad we went. We all had a great time...

In Pursuit of a Pool

The pool that we originally contracted for back in July is finally being dug in our backyard. Because the County of San Diego wanted to ensure we had enough leach field for our septic system (eeew!) we had to go through MONTHS of bureaucratic red tape.

Now that it's February, we finally have the permits and the design necessary to put in our pool.

It's been interesting watching the workmen dig the big hole in the backyard. Two days ago, they put in the forms and then today they put in the steel. I ordered the tile, which will take between 3 and 5 weeks to arrive... and then, after the tile installation -- we will be done!

Care to come and visit this summer, anyone??

Empty... but Full

As part of learning more about the blessings of this life, and establishing a practice of introspection and prayer, our church here in San Diego designed a fast that could be used for this purpose. Through this exercise in self-deprivation, many people in the bible have asked for help during times of grief, confusion, depression, etc. It is thought that fasting can bring you closer to God.

When I first heard about it, I basically thought to myself, "there's no flippin' way I could go without food for an entire day -- much less several days!!" After all, I've been fortunate enough to have NEVER gone to bed hungry... and I can't imagine doing so ON PURPOSE!

I've never fasted in my entire life.

Over the course of the lesson in church that day,  I started to think - "Wait a minute. I could fast if I truly wanted to... I could do ANYTHING if I truly wanted to." After all, I thought, it would just be a lesson in self-discipline, a subject I harp on daily to Cameron.

If I can expect sacrifice and self-discipline from Cameron, then by golly I should be able to expect it from myself. 

Since this was basically a "juice" fast, I purchased a reconditioned juicer on Amazon (score! It was 1/3 of the price of new) and stocked up on various veggies to juice. I also "prepared" for the fast by eating only veggies and small amounts of salmon and chicken for three days. It wasn't that hard, actually, but I found that I started being a lot more thankful for the veggies and the chicken than I normally would have been. I kept thinking that shortly I would be only restricted to juice.

I think that was the first small, still voice that I heard.... a voice that kept talking to me during the entire experience. It started with an overwhelming feeling of thanksgiving.... for food, for nature, for the ability to feed my children and knowing how blessed I was to never have to choose whether to feed them or myself due to lack of food.

Moving into the actual fast was a little difficult. Eric arrived to surprise the entire family with an impromptu visit and I caught a cold. But I persevered... and moved on to a few days on just juice.

Other things that small, still voice said to be will remain private. Suffice it to say, that I came away from this experience... full.

Here's some of what I learned, if you're interested...

First, it's so very important never to forget the people, especially children, on this Earth who go to bed most nights hungry. World Vision (www.worldvision.org) is an amazing organization that can help you to be a part of the solution.

Second, God has never been -- and will never be -- about making you comfortable.

Third, through asking for His help, you can accomplish things you never though you could. Even though I went with Eric and a good friend to "lunch" on the second day of the fast, I WAS able to resist the pizza on the table. I was OK with just green tea. 

Even though I had been convinced I wouldn't be able to last on the fast, I did. And I believe that I am richer for the experience.

Finally, brussel sprouts are no good juiced. Yechk.

Stinky Feet

I debated on whether to write about this or not, but I can't stop giggling about it so I know it deserves to be remembered in perpetuity.

As many of you know, I've evolved into a San Diego Charger Fan (and, yes, that's with a CAPITAL "F" -- GO BOLTS!!) Anywhoooo, my great friend Karen and her husband Kerry invited the kids and I over for the playoff game last Sunday. They had invited many of their neighbors and hosted a lovely party... and the Bolts won, so it was a perfect afternoon....

Except that Cameron has stinky feet.

While the adults were cheering after every Charger score, the kids were playing video games, etc. ... and being kids, there was some interesting interaction (i.e., flirting) going on, I guess. And since flirting by pre-teens hasn't changed that much since time began, the girls decided to write a note to Cameron to advise him as to the putridness of his feet (I have to agree, actually.)

Since Cameron is Cameron, he basically looked at the note and said, "OK... now where's the popcorn?" But Karen being Karen, when she found out about the nasty (I'm GOING to get your attention, even if I have to be rude to do so) note, those girls got an earful... and Cameron received two very cute "I'm so sorry" notes.

When I presented the notes to Cam after school today, he looked completely blank for a moment... and then he said, "Mom, it was no big deal. I think one of the girls liked me, and now I feel really bad that THEY feel really bad... and my feet DO stink!"

Ah... the joys of growing up as a confident and caring (and a tad stinky) boy.

New Years Resolutions

As Mark Twain once said, "New Year's Day... now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."

I'm hoping that my resolutions this year will have a little more staying power than Mr. Twain would have us believe... and one of these resolutions is to take more time to stop and see the wonderful growth of Cameron and Haley and to reflect more on the blessings in this life that I need to take the time to recognize and truly appreciate.

Life goes so fast, I think that many times I am simply missing it.

To this end, I gifted myself (Merry Christmas!) with a new digital camera and have created this "blog".  I still kind of goof around with the whole scrapbooking idea ... but to be honest, I think that endeavor is in the pavement of years past. 

Oh... and my other resolution is to eat healthier and to lose those extra jiggly parts that seem to have settled in places where they are truly not appreciated. I'll keep you posted on how that all goes.... :)