The doctor's office called Cindy today a few minutes before 5:00 pm. She recognized the number on her caller id. Her initial thought was this can't be good. They are calling this late on a Friday before the extended holiday weekend. Her initial thought was incorrect. The echocardiogram showed her heart to be in great shape.
Now the next hurdles are: (1) getting the documents we need for our visas to the Secretary of State of Indiana to authenticate the nortary on the documents and get the docs back by December 31st. We have an appointment with the Honduras Consulate in Chicago on January 2nd to start the visa application process. Might as well have everything back up until the last minute. We couldn't send the docs earlier because we had to get the results of our physicals first.
Hurdle (2) get everything moved out of our apartment sometime over the weekend of December 28-30. Perhaps we should get started packing soon?
Monday, December 24, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
December 19, 2007
Well, here's a wrinkle. We went for the second day of our physical today - the first day was just getting tests so they could tell us today what the results were. Brad was fine except for a somewhat elevated cholestoral level. Cindy however stole the show when the doctor said her EKG was abnormal and indicated she had a heart attack in the past. That was a little surprising since she does mini-marathons and works out at least twice a week with no problems.
So, tomorrow she is scheduled for an echocardiogram. He was going to do a stress test but when he found out about her running he said the stress test would be useless because she would out last the test.
Not sure when we will here the final results of the echocardiogram.
P.S. Cindy did decide it would probably be best if she didn't work out today.
Brad didn't realize it was so stressful living with him that it caused his wife to have a heart attack.
So, tomorrow she is scheduled for an echocardiogram. He was going to do a stress test but when he found out about her running he said the stress test would be useless because she would out last the test.
Not sure when we will here the final results of the echocardiogram.
P.S. Cindy did decide it would probably be best if she didn't work out today.
Brad didn't realize it was so stressful living with him that it caused his wife to have a heart attack.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thoughts
(Brad) In getting rid of our “stuff” we have been trying to decide what to do with it – sell it, give it to Goodwill or some other nonprofit organization, or simply give it away. At first my thinking was we could sell it but that would be very difficult and time consuming. My next thought was we could donate it to a nonprofit organization for which we could get a tax deduction. This would provide us with some money to put in savings to help pay for our son’s last year of college or be there for other needs that may arise. This seems reasonable, logical, and the smart thing to do. We would have some extra money for the unknown that may occur in the future. The giving away option didn’t seem a “good idea” because we would get no money for our emergency fund.
Also, we could sell our cars. Put the money into an account to buy a car for our kids in case one of their cars dies. Another reasonable, logical, smart thing to do. Don’t you think. Yea, me too.
Talking with Cindy we were discussing some people we know with needs and she starts listing all the stuff we can give these people including our cars. What??? What is she thinking??? Let’s be reasonable. Let’s be balanced about this. Think this through.
In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus goes through this long discussion with those following Him explaining we shouldn’t worry about what we will eat, where we will live, or what we will wear. Our priority should be to put God’s Kingdom first and God will take care of meeting our needs. Jesus then ends this discussion by saying “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I don’t know about you but I think Jesus probably meant what He said. So I guess we will be giving most of our stuff away and trust God to provide for us when we have an unexpected need. Gotta stop reading that “Bible”. It’s really messing up my “balanced, logical, reasonable life.”
Besides I learned today that I’m rich and you probably are too. Did you know that if you make $37,000 or more a year you are in the top 4% of all wage earners in the world? If you make at least $45,000 a year you are in the top 1% of all wage earners in the world. Should we feel guilty about this? I don’t think so. We should feel grateful that God is allowing us to manage so much of His resources.
Also, we could sell our cars. Put the money into an account to buy a car for our kids in case one of their cars dies. Another reasonable, logical, smart thing to do. Don’t you think. Yea, me too.
Talking with Cindy we were discussing some people we know with needs and she starts listing all the stuff we can give these people including our cars. What??? What is she thinking??? Let’s be reasonable. Let’s be balanced about this. Think this through.
In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus goes through this long discussion with those following Him explaining we shouldn’t worry about what we will eat, where we will live, or what we will wear. Our priority should be to put God’s Kingdom first and God will take care of meeting our needs. Jesus then ends this discussion by saying “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I don’t know about you but I think Jesus probably meant what He said. So I guess we will be giving most of our stuff away and trust God to provide for us when we have an unexpected need. Gotta stop reading that “Bible”. It’s really messing up my “balanced, logical, reasonable life.”
Besides I learned today that I’m rich and you probably are too. Did you know that if you make $37,000 or more a year you are in the top 4% of all wage earners in the world? If you make at least $45,000 a year you are in the top 1% of all wage earners in the world. Should we feel guilty about this? I don’t think so. We should feel grateful that God is allowing us to manage so much of His resources.
December 12, 2007
Cindy has closed down the mall the past three nights. She hasn’t bought anything but she stays until they close at 10:00 pm. She said the security guards are starting to follower her because she stays until the mall closes but never buys anything. Cindy says the reason she’s doing it to keep her mind occupied and not think about Camille (our granddaughter).
Thoughts - December 10, 2007
Is God worth giving up everything for Him? Is He worth taking up your cross and following Him everyday?(Mt 6:24 & 10:38) Is He worth losing your life for so you can gain your life?(Mt 6:25-26 & Mt 10:39) Is He worth letting your dead bury the dead while you go off and follow Him?(Lk 9:59-60) Is He worth selling all that you have and giving the proceeds to follow Him?(Mt 13:44-46) Is He worth following even when He makes no promise of giving you a nice place to sleep?(Lk 9:57-58) Is He worth following when it prevents you from telling your family goodbye?(Lk 9:61-62) Is He worth following when He demands we make Him more important than our closest family members?(Mt 10:37)
Until we get a real picture and understanding of who this God is that is asking us for this type of commitment it is very difficult, if not impossible, to honestly answer “yes” to these questions.
Until we get a real picture and understanding of who this God is that is asking us for this type of commitment it is very difficult, if not impossible, to honestly answer “yes” to these questions.
December 9, 2007
For the AM service pastor Jeff Smith gave us the opportunity to share at the Vineyard Community Church in Evansville, IN. Wow! What a morning. From the moment we walked in the door we felt we belonged. By the time it got around to our time to share God’s presence had already been so powerful that we could have ended the service right then and it would have been a great day. It was just what we needed. Then to top it off, after the service they spent some time laying hands on us, praying for us, sharing visions God had given them that pertained to us, and encouraging us.
For the PM service pastor John Stepp allowed us to share at Princeton General Baptist Church. They were a lively, enthusiastic group. When the service ended pastor Stepp announced they were having some snacks (read large quantities of food) after the service and invited everyone to stay. Before he closed the service he asked those who wanted to come forward and pray for us and the rest were free to leave and go eat. I think every person there came up, prayed for us, and then stayed to talk with us individually.
Does God know what you need or what? It was a day of God ministering and encouraging us through His body – the Church. Thanks church for being willing to be use by Him. Another reminder this is a TEAM effort. We are simply the ones on the ground in Central America.
For the PM service pastor John Stepp allowed us to share at Princeton General Baptist Church. They were a lively, enthusiastic group. When the service ended pastor Stepp announced they were having some snacks (read large quantities of food) after the service and invited everyone to stay. Before he closed the service he asked those who wanted to come forward and pray for us and the rest were free to leave and go eat. I think every person there came up, prayed for us, and then stayed to talk with us individually.
Does God know what you need or what? It was a day of God ministering and encouraging us through His body – the Church. Thanks church for being willing to be use by Him. Another reminder this is a TEAM effort. We are simply the ones on the ground in Central America.
Thoughts - December 8, 2007
We are starting to do last things – this is the last time we will do this or that before we leave. It makes it more real when you think this way. We’re also wondering why does moving seem so BIG? When Brad was in the Navy we moved very frequently. By the time our daughter Whitney was nine she had lived in eight different states and nine different cities. We always looked forward to moving.
Now it feels different. It’s not a lack of excitement for where we are going and what we are doing. But there seems to be a sadness this time that we have never experienced with our past moves. Could it be this time we are not taking our kids with us. With all the other moves our kids always went with us. Could it also be this time the move is about taking the gospel to those who have never heard which brings into play spiritual warfare?
Of course we do have the additional attachment here of our granddaughter. But then we think, we’re not the first people to live a great distance from their grandchildren. Sometimes when we share with people our struggle with leaving our granddaughter we feel guilty. As if we’re acting like we are the only people who have ever been in this situation. We are just trying to be honest about where we are at this time.
We were told early on that every person who goes to the mission field has a major obstacle to overcome. The obstacle is not the same for each person, but each person will have one they must overcome to get to the field and be successful. Perhaps this is ours.
Now it feels different. It’s not a lack of excitement for where we are going and what we are doing. But there seems to be a sadness this time that we have never experienced with our past moves. Could it be this time we are not taking our kids with us. With all the other moves our kids always went with us. Could it also be this time the move is about taking the gospel to those who have never heard which brings into play spiritual warfare?
Of course we do have the additional attachment here of our granddaughter. But then we think, we’re not the first people to live a great distance from their grandchildren. Sometimes when we share with people our struggle with leaving our granddaughter we feel guilty. As if we’re acting like we are the only people who have ever been in this situation. We are just trying to be honest about where we are at this time.
We were told early on that every person who goes to the mission field has a major obstacle to overcome. The obstacle is not the same for each person, but each person will have one they must overcome to get to the field and be successful. Perhaps this is ours.
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