Today I am reminding myself that I am blessed.
This morning, as I got off of the elevator to enter the chemotherapy infusion area, I saw one of my patients waiting to meet with his oncologist. He was about to discuss ending treatment and beginning hospice care. He looked quite healthy today actually, much better than I'd seem him last time. But the cancer was now in his bones and brain. The palliative chemotherapy and radiation simply weren't doing their jobs. He was in pain and he was tired. His sweet wife was with him and their two small children were playing at the children's table in the waiting area.
I smiled at him, said hello to his wife, and asked, "How are you doing". I probably said it in that overly-empathetic, or even sympathetic, way that so many people often do with cancer patients. He smiled at me, looked at his wife, and responded with, "I'm blessed". No, "I'm in pain. I'm dying. I'm afraid. I'm sick"... just "I'm blessed".
Here was a man who was far too young to die, who had young children who certainly needed a father, and whose wife displayed courage and grace rather than her own hurt and pain. A simple "Hello, how are you?" conversation with this man stopped me in my tracks.
How many times do I remind myself that I am blessed? Not often enough. How many times do I answer the "How are you?" question with 'fine' or 'good', and not even think twice as to how I'm really feeling? Too often. How many times do I tell others about the blessings He's given me? Not often enough. How often do I pity myself for my own sadness or disappointment? Too often. How often do I thank Him for all the blessings he's given me? Not often enough.
I am thankful for the people who give my life perspective. I am thankful for the people I meet who change me in ways they could never know. Today, I am thankful that I was reminded of my own blessings thanks to one man who certainly has been blessed with amazing grace, a forgiving heart, un-ending faith, and eternal life.
Wednesday, May 26
Friday, May 21
Hello, I'm Natasha... the hypocrite
That is how I should have started a presentation I gave yesterday. It would have been a more honest approach to the topic I was presenting on. Let me start from the beginning.
By now you should know that I work for the American Cancer Society. With my job, I work closely with a community hospital to provide support services to cancer patients, their caregivers, and survivors. In addition to my direct patient care, I also am in charge of a slew of other things, including maintaining the "Cancer Awareness" bulletin boards throughout the Cancer Center and giving presentations on the latest cancer news, research, and "hot topics" (as ACS so fondly calls them). May just so happens to be skin cancer awareness month and May 28th is ACS's "Don't Fry Day". Clearly there was no way to avoid presenting on this topic.
While this is certainly my least favorite topic to talk about (as you'll see it probably has something to do with the whole hypocrite thing), I felt incredibly prepared for this presentation. I had the facts. The latest research. I was ready. My goal was to clear up misconceptions of skin cancer and to cause people to think twice about their sun exposure this summer. I started my presentation talking about how the incidence of melanoma (the most fatal of skin cancers) continues to rise significantly, at a rate faster than any of the seven most common cancers. As if that wasn't enough, I continued to inform the audience that skin cancer is actually the most common of all cancers in the United States. More people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer combined. Whether from the sun or an artificial light source, ultraviolet radiation is a carcinogen. It causes cancer. Ahhh yes, they were listening now.
After I spouted off all the facts and figures of skin cancer, I paused for questions. One physician (who's known to be quite the pain in the rear) looked at me and said, "You certainly don't seem to practice what you preach". Excuse me??? He pointed at my skin. My beautifully-browned, perfectly-tanned skin. I was quick to explain that I had just been on vacation in Arizona and that my skin wasn't usually this tan. "Did you wear sunscreen?", he asked. I assured him that yes I had (if an SPF of 4 in my accelerator counts). He then asked if I had ever used a tanning bed, citing that most women my age have an obsession with tanning. Embarrassed, I told him that yes, I had used a tanning bed (but certainly not since last year, when I was trying to have a nice even tan for the wedding). Did I ever think that I could get skin cancer, he asked. He got me. I felt like I was the target of a firing squad. I quickly asked if there were any more questions (thankfully there were not) and ended my presentation. I left before I could be heckled by that mean little doctor any more.
But when I got back to my office I couldn't help by ask myself why I was really bothered by his questions. That's when it hit me. I am a hypocrite. Here I spend my days talking cancer prevention, talking with those facing horrible diagnoses, and I still go home at the end of the day with all my bad "cancer-causing" habits. I love the sun. I love lying out on the beach or next to the pool, lathered in tanning accelerator. I love the convenience of tanning salons... especially when you need to get rid of tan lines to wear that beautiful strapless wedding gown. I am a hypocrite.
I was the target of my own presentation. All those facts, all that information, I should have been the one listening. I wasn't telling everyone to hide from the sun. I was telling them how to be sun-safe. I had all these great suggestions and tips and now, I find that I'm the hypocrite who does nearly opposite of everything I was suggesting.
So, I'm vowing that this summer will be the end of that hypocrisy. I'll start wearing a sunblock with an actual SPF (no, SPF of 4 in accelerator doesn't actually count). I'll pay attention when my skin is telling me it's had enough sun. I'll deal with the tan lines instead of heading for the tanning bed.
Hello, I'm Natasha... the RECOVERING hypocrite.
By now you should know that I work for the American Cancer Society. With my job, I work closely with a community hospital to provide support services to cancer patients, their caregivers, and survivors. In addition to my direct patient care, I also am in charge of a slew of other things, including maintaining the "Cancer Awareness" bulletin boards throughout the Cancer Center and giving presentations on the latest cancer news, research, and "hot topics" (as ACS so fondly calls them). May just so happens to be skin cancer awareness month and May 28th is ACS's "Don't Fry Day". Clearly there was no way to avoid presenting on this topic.
While this is certainly my least favorite topic to talk about (as you'll see it probably has something to do with the whole hypocrite thing), I felt incredibly prepared for this presentation. I had the facts. The latest research. I was ready. My goal was to clear up misconceptions of skin cancer and to cause people to think twice about their sun exposure this summer. I started my presentation talking about how the incidence of melanoma (the most fatal of skin cancers) continues to rise significantly, at a rate faster than any of the seven most common cancers. As if that wasn't enough, I continued to inform the audience that skin cancer is actually the most common of all cancers in the United States. More people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer combined. Whether from the sun or an artificial light source, ultraviolet radiation is a carcinogen. It causes cancer. Ahhh yes, they were listening now.
After I spouted off all the facts and figures of skin cancer, I paused for questions. One physician (who's known to be quite the pain in the rear) looked at me and said, "You certainly don't seem to practice what you preach". Excuse me??? He pointed at my skin. My beautifully-browned, perfectly-tanned skin. I was quick to explain that I had just been on vacation in Arizona and that my skin wasn't usually this tan. "Did you wear sunscreen?", he asked. I assured him that yes I had (if an SPF of 4 in my accelerator counts). He then asked if I had ever used a tanning bed, citing that most women my age have an obsession with tanning. Embarrassed, I told him that yes, I had used a tanning bed (but certainly not since last year, when I was trying to have a nice even tan for the wedding). Did I ever think that I could get skin cancer, he asked. He got me. I felt like I was the target of a firing squad. I quickly asked if there were any more questions (thankfully there were not) and ended my presentation. I left before I could be heckled by that mean little doctor any more.
But when I got back to my office I couldn't help by ask myself why I was really bothered by his questions. That's when it hit me. I am a hypocrite. Here I spend my days talking cancer prevention, talking with those facing horrible diagnoses, and I still go home at the end of the day with all my bad "cancer-causing" habits. I love the sun. I love lying out on the beach or next to the pool, lathered in tanning accelerator. I love the convenience of tanning salons... especially when you need to get rid of tan lines to wear that beautiful strapless wedding gown. I am a hypocrite.
I was the target of my own presentation. All those facts, all that information, I should have been the one listening. I wasn't telling everyone to hide from the sun. I was telling them how to be sun-safe. I had all these great suggestions and tips and now, I find that I'm the hypocrite who does nearly opposite of everything I was suggesting.
So, I'm vowing that this summer will be the end of that hypocrisy. I'll start wearing a sunblock with an actual SPF (no, SPF of 4 in accelerator doesn't actually count). I'll pay attention when my skin is telling me it's had enough sun. I'll deal with the tan lines instead of heading for the tanning bed.
Hello, I'm Natasha... the RECOVERING hypocrite.
Thursday, May 20
A First Kiss
I was reminded yesterday of the wonder that is a person's first kiss. Ah yes, you're thinking about your very own right now, aren't you :)
A coworker was sharing her daughter's terrifying first kiss story with me yesterday. Her poor daughter (who's only 11 by the way) had gotten her first real kiss over the weekend - from a pimply-faced, braces-wearing, red-headed teenager, during a school dance nonetheless, in front of all of her friends. The daughter didn't really like the boy much and it was a dare. But it was still her first kiss. THE big first kiss. I couldn't help but laugh a little. Poor girl. You only get one first kiss, afterall. That made me think about my own and the fact that it really wasn't all that much better than this girl's.
My first kiss happened in the seventh grade. I had been "dating" the same boy for almost a year (which is quite significant by middle school standards I suppose). He was a year older than me, getting ready to go to high school (and eventually dump me, the "little" middle schooler). We had been teased by his friends for a while about the fact that we hadn't kissed yet. I remember one girl teasing me about this, saying that after nine months of dating we could have had a baby already (clearly that wasn't on my radar). We were harassed by so many of our peers. I was naive and innocent and I'm pretty sure I was still trying to move out of that "boys are gross" phase. I certainly didn't want to kiss a boy. Couldn't we just keep holding hands and talking on the phone? That had worked well so far.
Apparently not. He couldn't handle being harassed by his friends any longer so he decided it was finally time for us to have our first kiss. His timing couldn't have been more off. One afternoon, after school, we were hanging out at his house when his mom said we needed to come with her to pick up their dog. We pulled into the parking lot of the Port Washington Small Animal Hospital and his mom said we could stay in the car while she ran in to get the dog. There, in the backseat, with the middle seat between us, he decided it was time for that first kiss. I wish I could remember what he said (I bet I thought it was something incredibly sweet at the time) but I can't. All I remember is him leaning over, across that empty seat, and kissing me right in the middle of my lips. I'm pretty sure my eyes were open and I'm pretty sure I had a huge smile on my face. Not a few seconds later, his mom opened the car door and in jumped his furry little pal. It was over. In a matter of just a few seconds.
I remember thinking on the way home, "That was it? That's what I waited forever for? That's what I was so nervous about?". I also remember that I was on cloud nine. That first kiss sealed the deal - I was smitten with the boy. Thankfully, word had spread that we had our long-awaited first kiss and the harassing stopped. Yes, our first kiss was overwith. And apparently so was the relationship. He dumped me a few weeks later, after he finished the eigth grade. After a few tears I realized I was a woman with experience now. It was time to move onto the next boy and the next kiss. Certainly they could only get better from there.
A coworker was sharing her daughter's terrifying first kiss story with me yesterday. Her poor daughter (who's only 11 by the way) had gotten her first real kiss over the weekend - from a pimply-faced, braces-wearing, red-headed teenager, during a school dance nonetheless, in front of all of her friends. The daughter didn't really like the boy much and it was a dare. But it was still her first kiss. THE big first kiss. I couldn't help but laugh a little. Poor girl. You only get one first kiss, afterall. That made me think about my own and the fact that it really wasn't all that much better than this girl's.
My first kiss happened in the seventh grade. I had been "dating" the same boy for almost a year (which is quite significant by middle school standards I suppose). He was a year older than me, getting ready to go to high school (and eventually dump me, the "little" middle schooler). We had been teased by his friends for a while about the fact that we hadn't kissed yet. I remember one girl teasing me about this, saying that after nine months of dating we could have had a baby already (clearly that wasn't on my radar). We were harassed by so many of our peers. I was naive and innocent and I'm pretty sure I was still trying to move out of that "boys are gross" phase. I certainly didn't want to kiss a boy. Couldn't we just keep holding hands and talking on the phone? That had worked well so far.
Apparently not. He couldn't handle being harassed by his friends any longer so he decided it was finally time for us to have our first kiss. His timing couldn't have been more off. One afternoon, after school, we were hanging out at his house when his mom said we needed to come with her to pick up their dog. We pulled into the parking lot of the Port Washington Small Animal Hospital and his mom said we could stay in the car while she ran in to get the dog. There, in the backseat, with the middle seat between us, he decided it was time for that first kiss. I wish I could remember what he said (I bet I thought it was something incredibly sweet at the time) but I can't. All I remember is him leaning over, across that empty seat, and kissing me right in the middle of my lips. I'm pretty sure my eyes were open and I'm pretty sure I had a huge smile on my face. Not a few seconds later, his mom opened the car door and in jumped his furry little pal. It was over. In a matter of just a few seconds.
I remember thinking on the way home, "That was it? That's what I waited forever for? That's what I was so nervous about?". I also remember that I was on cloud nine. That first kiss sealed the deal - I was smitten with the boy. Thankfully, word had spread that we had our long-awaited first kiss and the harassing stopped. Yes, our first kiss was overwith. And apparently so was the relationship. He dumped me a few weeks later, after he finished the eigth grade. After a few tears I realized I was a woman with experience now. It was time to move onto the next boy and the next kiss. Certainly they could only get better from there.
Wednesday, May 19
A Marriage Battle
The hubby and I have a serious battle going on in our house right now. Okay, so by serious I mean silly and by battle I mean, well, slight disagreement. This battle I speak of? It's over a TV. Yes, a TV. A television. A flatscreen. Mounted on the wall to be exact. You see, we currently only have one TV in our house. It's a nice, big, flatscreen fixed in our living room, the room we seem to spend most of our time in. We usually watch a few shows at night before bed and usually we agree on these shows. Usually. I hate to admit but I have this dirty little love of reality television. I'm not talking Survivor and Biggest Loser here, I'm talking good ole' (trashy) reality television... The Hills, The Bachelor/ette, Guiliana & Bill, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kenda... love them all! The hubby, while he won't openly admit it, does get into a few of these shows but for the most part he complains when I turn them on. Last night I was indulging in some Hills and The City when the hubby told me he would be mounting a flatscreen on our bedroom wall soon.
We've been debating this since we moved in last June. Put a TV in the bedroom or not? We don't have the space in the master bedroom to put a TV stand/cabinent where it would make the most sense so Dave decided it would have to be mounted. He assured me it wouldn't be a big project - just a few holes in the drywall, pull the cables through the wall, through the walk-in closet, either under the hardwoods or through the other walls until he reached the wall jack. Tearing up my walls? Hardwoods? Ruining my beautiful, spacious closet? Ummmm no thank you was my polite response. Not to mention, I've never really wanted a TV in the master bedroom. I believe the bedroom is a place for sleeping, quiet time, time alone with each other. Put a TV in there and the hubby has no reason to get out of bed in the morning! So our battle continues... will I give in and let him mount an ugly electronic device on my nicely decorated bedroom walls? Or will he compromise and let me watch a few reality TV shows among all the sports and ESPN?
I suppose you're probably saying, "Can't you just put a TV in a different room in your house?". Actually, no. Our house is completely open - the kitchen, living room, dining room, office/den - if we had two TV's downstairs we wouldn't be able to watch them at the same time. So I'm curious, how do other couples feel about TV's in the bedroom? Is this a battle I should just give into (you know how much I hate giving in!!!)?
We've been debating this since we moved in last June. Put a TV in the bedroom or not? We don't have the space in the master bedroom to put a TV stand/cabinent where it would make the most sense so Dave decided it would have to be mounted. He assured me it wouldn't be a big project - just a few holes in the drywall, pull the cables through the wall, through the walk-in closet, either under the hardwoods or through the other walls until he reached the wall jack. Tearing up my walls? Hardwoods? Ruining my beautiful, spacious closet? Ummmm no thank you was my polite response. Not to mention, I've never really wanted a TV in the master bedroom. I believe the bedroom is a place for sleeping, quiet time, time alone with each other. Put a TV in there and the hubby has no reason to get out of bed in the morning! So our battle continues... will I give in and let him mount an ugly electronic device on my nicely decorated bedroom walls? Or will he compromise and let me watch a few reality TV shows among all the sports and ESPN?
I suppose you're probably saying, "Can't you just put a TV in a different room in your house?". Actually, no. Our house is completely open - the kitchen, living room, dining room, office/den - if we had two TV's downstairs we wouldn't be able to watch them at the same time. So I'm curious, how do other couples feel about TV's in the bedroom? Is this a battle I should just give into (you know how much I hate giving in!!!)?
Sunday, May 16
A Little Taste of Retirement
Dave and I spent last week in Sun City West, Arizona. If you're familiar with Arizona, you know that it's home to many retirees and snow birds. Dave's grandma lives there and since his grandpa passed away last July, she's been quite lonely out there. Since Dave had last week off before starting his new job, we decided to take a last-minute vacation and spend some time keeping Grandma company. Of course the warm temperatures and constant sunshine were a welcomed retreat from Wisconsin's cold, rainy spring.
This trip served as a little taste of what retirement will (hopefully) be like someday. I learned some very valuable retirement community lessons on this trip: golf carts can be driven like cars; the noodle lane of the pool really is for noodles only; men and women water walk in separate groups (can we say Jr. High!); there is no need for sunscreen when you're already old (in fact, the more your skin looks like leather, the better); early bird dinner specials begin at 3pm; and most importantly, it's perfectly acceptable to brag about your children and grandchildren all day long to anyone who will listen. Oh, how I look forward to retirement!
I wish we drove golf carts around my city
My chauffeur
Dave and his Grandma with her "thank you" flowers
Me and the Hubby sporting a tan
Who said you can't hug a cactus?!
At the Mexican Restaurant
Enjoying some 99cent Margaritas!
Love Grandma's Pineapple Palm Tree!
This trip served as a little taste of what retirement will (hopefully) be like someday. I learned some very valuable retirement community lessons on this trip: golf carts can be driven like cars; the noodle lane of the pool really is for noodles only; men and women water walk in separate groups (can we say Jr. High!); there is no need for sunscreen when you're already old (in fact, the more your skin looks like leather, the better); early bird dinner specials begin at 3pm; and most importantly, it's perfectly acceptable to brag about your children and grandchildren all day long to anyone who will listen. Oh, how I look forward to retirement!
I wish we drove golf carts around my city
My chauffeur
Dave and his Grandma with her "thank you" flowers
Me and the Hubby sporting a tan
Who said you can't hug a cactus?!
At the Mexican Restaurant
Enjoying some 99cent Margaritas!
Love Grandma's Pineapple Palm Tree!
Sunday, May 9
Weekend Festivities
We had a very busy weekend, to say the least! From Dave's last day of work, his going-away happy hour, a family wedding, and Mother's Day, we're ready to spend this week in sunny, warm Arizona doing absolutely nothing but lying poolside :)
FRIDAY: Going Away Happy Hour
Friday was Dave's last day at his old job. We decided to throw an informal going-away party at Ryan Braun's Waterfront Restaurant in Milwaukee's Third Ward. It was an amazing place, full of modern furniture and delicious food! A lot of Dave's co-workers came out along with some of his good friends. I loved listening to stories of Dave's four years with USBancorp and how much everyone was going to miss him. Mostly I enjoyed chatting with the other wives while the boys talked sports, politics, and drank their beer. I'm so proud of my husband and the great opportunity he's been given with this new job!
I really wish I had taken some pictures of the night. We'll just have sweet memories to go by I guess!
SATURDAY: Another Irish Wedding
Saturday we celebrated Jon (Dave's cousin) & Kelly's wedding! It was an unseasonably cold, rainy, snowy (yes, a few flakes were flying) day but the wedding was beautiful, we hardly noticed the weather outside! I always love Irish family weddings, mostly because Dave's cousins are so much fun to spend time with. He's so lucky to have so many cousins (and now cousin-in-laws) that are so close in age.
Congratulations to the newest Mr. and Mrs. Irish!!
SUNDAY: Mother's Day
We celebrated Mother's Day with both of our families. We had lunch with Dave's parents and brother followed by a cookout with my mom's side of the family. I love that there is a day dedicated solely to mothers, although I think everyday should be Mother's Day. The older I get, the more I appreciate everything my mom has done for me throughout my life. She has truly made me the person that I am today and I am thankful that our relationship continues to grow into my adult years. Our relationship has changed so much since I've gotten married and moved out on my own. I look to her for advice and guidance and she's always there to listen, offer support, and encourage me. She's the rock of our family and I hope that I can be half as great a mom as she is to me.
Mother's Day was also bittersweet for me this year. It hit me as I was getting ready for church that this year I should have been celebrating as a mom-to-be. I would have been 20 weeks pregnant this mother's day, finding out the sex of the baby, celebrating that in a few short months I would be a mom. I've done my fair share of grieving the past three months since we lost our baby but all those feelings of loss and sadness resurfaced yesterday morning. The hubby was so good to me, letting me cry, assuring me that my dreams of becoming a mother will be fulfilled someday. He assured me that next year I'd be celebrating, and I certainly hope he's right. At church, our pastor said a special prayer for mothers, including mothers who have lost a baby and those who are anxiously waiting to become mothers. My heart healed a little with his prayer.
Our pastor also prayed for adoptive and foster mothers. A little more joy to the heart with that one. He shared a story as a part of his sermon about an adoptive mother and her daughter (this is significant considering adoption isn't a commonplace within our congregation). During the children's sermon he gave out cards for kids to draw pictures in and give to their moms. In the pew next to me was a little boy, about seven or eight years old, who looked as though he was Guatemalan. I had never seen him or his mom before but it was a safe bet to assume that he was adopted. I couldn't help but see the card he was drawing for his mom. On it he wrote, "Thank you for being my mommy". Joy, joy, and more joy to my heart! I couldn't help but think that God knew exactly what I needed that Mother's Day morning to help heal a broken heart.
FRIDAY: Going Away Happy Hour
Friday was Dave's last day at his old job. We decided to throw an informal going-away party at Ryan Braun's Waterfront Restaurant in Milwaukee's Third Ward. It was an amazing place, full of modern furniture and delicious food! A lot of Dave's co-workers came out along with some of his good friends. I loved listening to stories of Dave's four years with USBancorp and how much everyone was going to miss him. Mostly I enjoyed chatting with the other wives while the boys talked sports, politics, and drank their beer. I'm so proud of my husband and the great opportunity he's been given with this new job!
I really wish I had taken some pictures of the night. We'll just have sweet memories to go by I guess!
SATURDAY: Another Irish Wedding
Saturday we celebrated Jon (Dave's cousin) & Kelly's wedding! It was an unseasonably cold, rainy, snowy (yes, a few flakes were flying) day but the wedding was beautiful, we hardly noticed the weather outside! I always love Irish family weddings, mostly because Dave's cousins are so much fun to spend time with. He's so lucky to have so many cousins (and now cousin-in-laws) that are so close in age.
Congratulations to the newest Mr. and Mrs. Irish!!
SUNDAY: Mother's Day
We celebrated Mother's Day with both of our families. We had lunch with Dave's parents and brother followed by a cookout with my mom's side of the family. I love that there is a day dedicated solely to mothers, although I think everyday should be Mother's Day. The older I get, the more I appreciate everything my mom has done for me throughout my life. She has truly made me the person that I am today and I am thankful that our relationship continues to grow into my adult years. Our relationship has changed so much since I've gotten married and moved out on my own. I look to her for advice and guidance and she's always there to listen, offer support, and encourage me. She's the rock of our family and I hope that I can be half as great a mom as she is to me.
Mother's Day was also bittersweet for me this year. It hit me as I was getting ready for church that this year I should have been celebrating as a mom-to-be. I would have been 20 weeks pregnant this mother's day, finding out the sex of the baby, celebrating that in a few short months I would be a mom. I've done my fair share of grieving the past three months since we lost our baby but all those feelings of loss and sadness resurfaced yesterday morning. The hubby was so good to me, letting me cry, assuring me that my dreams of becoming a mother will be fulfilled someday. He assured me that next year I'd be celebrating, and I certainly hope he's right. At church, our pastor said a special prayer for mothers, including mothers who have lost a baby and those who are anxiously waiting to become mothers. My heart healed a little with his prayer.
Our pastor also prayed for adoptive and foster mothers. A little more joy to the heart with that one. He shared a story as a part of his sermon about an adoptive mother and her daughter (this is significant considering adoption isn't a commonplace within our congregation). During the children's sermon he gave out cards for kids to draw pictures in and give to their moms. In the pew next to me was a little boy, about seven or eight years old, who looked as though he was Guatemalan. I had never seen him or his mom before but it was a safe bet to assume that he was adopted. I couldn't help but see the card he was drawing for his mom. On it he wrote, "Thank you for being my mommy". Joy, joy, and more joy to my heart! I couldn't help but think that God knew exactly what I needed that Mother's Day morning to help heal a broken heart.
Thursday, May 6
National Day of Prayer
Today is National Day of Prayer. Christians across the country are gathering together in churches, schools, parks, and many public places to pray together for our nation. Unfortunately, this may be the last official National Day of Prayer our nation will see. Last month, some 58 years after President Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer, a federal judge declared the law unconstitutional. That federal judge just so happens to be from Wisconsin (need I mention that she's a liberal??). On April 15, U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that the 1952 law creating the National Day of Prayer violates the ban on government-backed religion. In her ruling she wrote, "Its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience."
Ah yes, the good separation of church and state debate. While I may have my disagreements with the practices, beliefs, and governance of President Obama, I do applaude him for appealing this ruling. While Obama has scaled back White House participation in the National Day of Prayer (including cancelling this year's public ceremony) he did encourage the nation to join together to pray for continued "guidance, grace, and protection" of our nation's leaders and the challenges they face.
So while Wisconsin as a state may not be observing the National Day of Prayer, Christian churches across the state are. On Sunday our pastor so graciously pointed out that no ruling could ever stop a church from organizing its own Day of Prayer. Tonight our church will join with all other churches in our county to host the Ozaukee County Day of Prayer. There is a community choir performing and various churches, those of different faiths, will join together to prayer for our nation and its leaders. I pray that today, Judge Crabb (or "Judge Crabby" as I've so fondly nicknamed her) will see and feel the power of the Christian community.
Ah yes, the good separation of church and state debate. While I may have my disagreements with the practices, beliefs, and governance of President Obama, I do applaude him for appealing this ruling. While Obama has scaled back White House participation in the National Day of Prayer (including cancelling this year's public ceremony) he did encourage the nation to join together to pray for continued "guidance, grace, and protection" of our nation's leaders and the challenges they face.
So while Wisconsin as a state may not be observing the National Day of Prayer, Christian churches across the state are. On Sunday our pastor so graciously pointed out that no ruling could ever stop a church from organizing its own Day of Prayer. Tonight our church will join with all other churches in our county to host the Ozaukee County Day of Prayer. There is a community choir performing and various churches, those of different faiths, will join together to prayer for our nation and its leaders. I pray that today, Judge Crabb (or "Judge Crabby" as I've so fondly nicknamed her) will see and feel the power of the Christian community.
Saturday, May 1
Summit Highlights
I can sum up my experience at the Summit in one word: AMAZING. I can also sum up my feelings after the Summit in one word: BLESSED. Okay, maybe two words: BLESSED AND HOPEFUL. Beyond that, I don't even know where to begin.
Perhaps I should begin with my favorite part of the two-day Summit: the fellowship. I had the privilege of spending two days with other orphan advocates and adoptive parents from Wisconsin, including the driving force behind Wisconsin's first orphan care Ministry, Mission:Hope at Oakwood Church (where I participated in Orphan Sunday last November), as well as ladies and gentleman from other local churches launching their own church-based orphan ministries. I also had the opportunity to spend a few days with two very amazing women from Alaska. Carly and Amanda are starting an orphan care ministry at their church, likely the first in all of Alaska. I loved getting to know them and hearing about their calls to care for orphans and to adopt (Carly adopted domestically and Amanda is in the process). I was able to connect personally with several women whose blogs I've been following for quite some time. In fact, upon check-in the first person I met was Jenny, a fellow blogger who had received guardianship of her little girl in India that day! I also got to meet the masterminds behind 147MillionOrphans. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures at the Summit but I did get one with my new Alaska friends and two fellow Wisconsinites.
Amanda, me, and Carly
Carly, Amanda, Dawn, me, and Tracy
Aside from the amazing fellowship and opportunity to network with orphan, foster care, and adoption advocates from around the world, I had the privilege of learning from some of the leading experts in these subjects including Tom Davis, one of my personal favorites. Another favorites highlight of the Summit was Mary Beth Chapman's talk about Show Hope, her adoption, and loss of her little girl. Steven also performed and obviously I cried like a baby when he sang Cinderella (the song my dad and I danced to at our wedding). I loved the group worship and music time... it was always so rejuvenating, exactly how I wish I could start and end every day.
I wish I could share everything I learned but I'm sure I'd lose lots of readers along the way. So I'll highlight some of the most important take-aways from the Summit:
1. Love for orphans transforms. It transforms the individual, the child, the Church, and most importantly, the community.
2. The eagerness to solve the need is always outstripped by the need. I'll let you ponder that one for a while. It certainly struck my heart and I'm letting it simmer there for a bit.
3. Adoption is infectious. Adoption, and even foster care and orphan care, is infectious. One person's example can cause others to stop and say, "I can do that". I look forward to infecting others in my own community when we adopt.
4. Hope is always the last thing people give up. Tom Davis shared this story of children running to him with big smiles, giving him big hugs. That image stuck in my head because that was the exact experience I had with the orphans in Tanzania. All orphans have hope - hope for a family, hope for a Father who saves.
5. In every orphans face is the face of Jesus. A former orphan shared this statement as a part of her testimony and it couldn't be any more true. God has called us to be his adopted sons and daugthers in the same way he has called us to care for the fatherless. All I have to do is look in an orphans face to be reminded of that.
6. The gospel is not a picture of adoption, adoption is a picture of the gospel. Amen!
7. Lead with your life. Be flammable. Be the fuel to God's fire. I will be the fuel, the wind, to God's fire, His passion to care for the fatherless.
And that's only the beginning. I learned a lot of best practice techniques for implementing an orphan care ministry within a church setting. I learned how to partner with indiginious churches, how to engage church leadership, and how to balance orphan care with foster care and adoption ministries. I learned so much in two days to help get me started within my own church. And I am so thankful to have the support, guidance, and partnership with other churches and orphan advocates in my state and across the nation.
I came home and as Dave expected, went on and on to him about how amazing the Summit was, how God re-affirmed the call for us to adopt, and how I prayed more than ever in those two days for God to lay that on his heart, too. I think he's glad I got home so late last night for the mere fact that sleep came sooner and the on-going chatter came to an end. Good thing I have an entire year to work on getting him to next year's Summit :)
Perhaps I should begin with my favorite part of the two-day Summit: the fellowship. I had the privilege of spending two days with other orphan advocates and adoptive parents from Wisconsin, including the driving force behind Wisconsin's first orphan care Ministry, Mission:Hope at Oakwood Church (where I participated in Orphan Sunday last November), as well as ladies and gentleman from other local churches launching their own church-based orphan ministries. I also had the opportunity to spend a few days with two very amazing women from Alaska. Carly and Amanda are starting an orphan care ministry at their church, likely the first in all of Alaska. I loved getting to know them and hearing about their calls to care for orphans and to adopt (Carly adopted domestically and Amanda is in the process). I was able to connect personally with several women whose blogs I've been following for quite some time. In fact, upon check-in the first person I met was Jenny, a fellow blogger who had received guardianship of her little girl in India that day! I also got to meet the masterminds behind 147MillionOrphans. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures at the Summit but I did get one with my new Alaska friends and two fellow Wisconsinites.
Amanda, me, and Carly
Carly, Amanda, Dawn, me, and Tracy
Aside from the amazing fellowship and opportunity to network with orphan, foster care, and adoption advocates from around the world, I had the privilege of learning from some of the leading experts in these subjects including Tom Davis, one of my personal favorites. Another favorites highlight of the Summit was Mary Beth Chapman's talk about Show Hope, her adoption, and loss of her little girl. Steven also performed and obviously I cried like a baby when he sang Cinderella (the song my dad and I danced to at our wedding). I loved the group worship and music time... it was always so rejuvenating, exactly how I wish I could start and end every day.
I wish I could share everything I learned but I'm sure I'd lose lots of readers along the way. So I'll highlight some of the most important take-aways from the Summit:
1. Love for orphans transforms. It transforms the individual, the child, the Church, and most importantly, the community.
2. The eagerness to solve the need is always outstripped by the need. I'll let you ponder that one for a while. It certainly struck my heart and I'm letting it simmer there for a bit.
3. Adoption is infectious. Adoption, and even foster care and orphan care, is infectious. One person's example can cause others to stop and say, "I can do that". I look forward to infecting others in my own community when we adopt.
4. Hope is always the last thing people give up. Tom Davis shared this story of children running to him with big smiles, giving him big hugs. That image stuck in my head because that was the exact experience I had with the orphans in Tanzania. All orphans have hope - hope for a family, hope for a Father who saves.
5. In every orphans face is the face of Jesus. A former orphan shared this statement as a part of her testimony and it couldn't be any more true. God has called us to be his adopted sons and daugthers in the same way he has called us to care for the fatherless. All I have to do is look in an orphans face to be reminded of that.
6. The gospel is not a picture of adoption, adoption is a picture of the gospel. Amen!
7. Lead with your life. Be flammable. Be the fuel to God's fire. I will be the fuel, the wind, to God's fire, His passion to care for the fatherless.
And that's only the beginning. I learned a lot of best practice techniques for implementing an orphan care ministry within a church setting. I learned how to partner with indiginious churches, how to engage church leadership, and how to balance orphan care with foster care and adoption ministries. I learned so much in two days to help get me started within my own church. And I am so thankful to have the support, guidance, and partnership with other churches and orphan advocates in my state and across the nation.
I came home and as Dave expected, went on and on to him about how amazing the Summit was, how God re-affirmed the call for us to adopt, and how I prayed more than ever in those two days for God to lay that on his heart, too. I think he's glad I got home so late last night for the mere fact that sleep came sooner and the on-going chatter came to an end. Good thing I have an entire year to work on getting him to next year's Summit :)
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