Jacki's Daily Adventures

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New Years 2014

As most people are excited to ring in the new year and busy making resolutions, I have mixed emotions about facing a new year. As I think back over 2013, it is really a bit of a blur. Actually, 2012 was pretty much the same. I think most people know by now that I have had some health struggles the past 2 years. On the outside, my life looks much the same. Most people, even my close friends and family, would never have guessed that I see a primary care physician, neurologist, immunologist, rheumatologist, internal medicine, and neuro-immunologist. All these visits and testing have revealed that I am super healthy… except for this mysterious fever, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms that plague me every day. So, I now take life one day at a time. My goal is to make it to the end of the day without being totally wiped out and to be able to take care of my family. Some days I am able to accomplish more, but most days even that is a struggle.

Rather than dwell on the past or worry about what I have to face tomorrow, I am choosing to be thankful for my blessings and to be content with where I am (even if it’s eating frozen pizza in a messy house with dirty dishes, piles of laundry, and kids that have seen entirely too much TV for one day). So, here are some things I am thankful for:

1. My children

2. My husband

3. John’s job

4. Our home

5. That I get to stay home and homeschool our children

6. My family and friends

7. My church family

8. That John is learning to recognize when I am having a really bad day

9. That my friends helped me even when I swore I didn’t need it

10. That I am learning to ask for help

11. The many, many prayers that have been said in my behalf by loved ones

12. The advice from family and friends (even when it is bad advice... because I know they care)

13. Date nights with John

14. Our vacations to Nashville and San Diego

15. That I got to run a half-marathon before I was told to stop exercising

16. That after 6 months of sitting around feeling worse and getting fatter, I ignored the Drs’ advice and joined a boot camp

17. That nobody at boot camp (except my instructor who I told) can tell that I have health issues and chronic fatigue. I have even been known to run past many of them on occasion

18. The 30-60 min of pain relief I get after forcing myself to exercise… as long as it’s not too much

19. That I can pick up and carry my kids around again without much discomfort

20. Our family trip to NM, CO, UT, and AZ that we got to take this summer

21. That I have been well enough to celebrate almost all the holidays and family birthdays

22. And the thing I am most thankful for is that there is a God in heaven who loves me and is always with me (even when I feel alone), who answers prayer (even though it’s not always the way I wanted or was expecting), and who has a plan for my life (even when I don’t understand it or like it)

So, I leave you with one final thought. You never know who has just lost a friend or relative (I still feel sorry for the sweet cashier who asked how my day was going not 20 min after I found out my Uncle passed away. All the self composure I had trying to get my 3 children and I out of the grocery store was lost with that one question), who is wondering what the latest test will show, who is helping a relative with cancer, who only appears to be on crack because of an odd reaction they are having to the LP they had yesterday (ok, so if you actually triage this person you can figure this one out, but YOU HAVE TO TRIAGE HER FIRST!!), who feels discouraged and alone, who is using all their concentration trying not to throw up again, who is trying their hardest to be sociable even though they are in pain and really just want to be in bed, and who used every ounce of willpower and every drop of strength they have just to show up today. So please, don’t judge others. I have been given so much grace from my friends and family over the past few years as I have experienced all of these. Hopefully I will remember to show that same grace to others, because you never know what someone else may be going through.

I don’t know what 2014 has in store for me. I know what I hope for, but until then, I will keep living life one day at a time, learning whatever I can, and thanking the Lord for all the blessings He has given me.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Kindergarten

Last week was Jessica’s first week of school. Most parents, for their child’s first day of Kindergarten, have to wake their child up early, force breakfast into them, make sure they are dressed and presentable, and then quickly usher them off to school. Then, they spend the next 7 hours agonizing over what their child is doing, if they like their teacher, if they are getting along with their classmates, if and what they are learning, and countless other concerns. Jessica’s first day was much different. We are now among the growing 3% of families that home school. Jessica’s first day of school went like this:

August 29^th, 2011

8am- woke up, had breakfast while talking excitedly about our day ahead. After breakfast, we all got cleaned up and dressed (because I wanted pictures of our first day, and I did not want her to think we would do school in our pajamas EVERY day).

9am- started school with a surprise- new backpacks and school supplies!

After the kids checked out their new stuff, paraded around the house wearing their new backpacks, and let Joseph get a hold of their new mechanical pencils, we took our spots for the first lesson. We did our bible study, language arts, geography, handwriting, math, and science lessons. Jacob did the same lessons Jessica did (although standards for him were set a little lower since he is a year younger).

Joseph participated by listening to the story, coloring on his paper while they did handwriting, and playing with the math manipulatives (which were little colored shapes the first day) during math time.

10am- wondered how we possibly did so much in one hour, then played the X-box Kinnect for PE since it was too hot to go outside.

Since I am their teacher, I did not have to worry if or what my kids were learning. I did not have to wonder what they were doing and with whom (since I was there with them), and I did not have to wait till 3pm to pick them up and try to squeeze in some fun time before dinner and bed. I got to spend the whole week with them… watching them learn, think, develop, and play. And, since I only have 2 students, we finish in about an hour each day, which gives us the rest of the day to play and explore. It was a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to the weeks ahead. It was so rewarding hearing Jessica tell me over lunch how much she enjoyed school and how she can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.

I realize not every day will go that well (like today when Jessica is getting sick and is extra whiney, Jacob was not the least bit interested in what we were reading, and Joseph was only happy if he was getting into things he is not supposed to), but I am truly thankful that I am able to stay home during the week and teach my children. John even surprised me by being the “substitute teacher” on Friday (since it was his Friday off and I had to work). He and the kids all really enjoyed it, especially the “sink or float” science experiment. It is so much fun watching your kids learn and figure things out; especially knowing it was with your guidance. I am very glad we decided to home school (and did not back out when the kids were driving me crazy the last few weeks). Occasionally though, I have to remind myself why we are doing this (like when I am dragging 3 children to the grocery store, post office, any other errands, or just sitting around the house with grumpy children on a “bad” day). I know homeschooling is not for everybody, and they could get a good education in the public school a block from our home, but for now, we are all very happy with our current arrangement... and I am enjoying my children a little longer.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Post Haiti

If there is one thing that could sum up what I witnessed in Haiti, it would be:

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. “ Isaiah 9:2.

View from the roof of Pastor Rene & Dorentia's house

For 200 years, Haiti has been walking in darkness, dedicated to voodoo by its government. Recently, the country has been re-dedicated to Christ by the president. The light has begun to shine on their dark land, and it is spreading rapidly. There are signs of Jesus everywhere, even on their public transportation, the tap-taps.

I have never seen God at work so visibly on such a large scale as I have on this trip. Starting with the Airport in Miami, there were at least three other mission groups and numerous individuals working with Christian organizations waiting to board the plane to Haiti and serve its people. We were all headed to different areas of the country with different projects, but the ultimate goal was the same… to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Our mission in Haiti was mostly medical. We did 4 days of clinic in 3 different locations. We also had an educator who met with their education leaders, and an engineer who evaluated and improved the construction in the area where our church is building. Our pastor, Steve, also got to meet with the head of their agricultural department to discuss the opportunity to set up a farm school, modeled after a successful system our church has set up in other countries, and the possibility of starting a coffee industry.

Clinical at Acrahaie

Camp Abraham Clinic

Port-au-Prince Clininc

During our trip, I was involved with the medical clinics. We did two days in Arcahaie, one day in Camp Abraham, and one in Port-au-Prince. Each location was unique in the setup, organization, accommodations, and the local people. The one thing that remained the same was the young children. Wherever we went they were watchful, hopeful, playful, and overjoyed at any attention they received from us. Even though we did not speak the same language, they were still easy to understand. A simple look, handshake, photo, or game would elicit smiles and excitement from all around.

On Sunday, we had a break from clinical and attended church in Arcahaie. It was humbling to see the passion they had when singing and worshiping the Lord.

After church, we were able to interact with all the children. It was fun being able to sit and relax and play with the kids that had been watching us work all week. That afternoon, we got to go for a quick trip to the beach and see some more of the beautiful country.

It was refreshing yet sobering to see a different part of Haiti… different in location and economics. Here we saw people dropping in to the convenience store and preparing their boats for an afternoon of fun. It felt a lot like a weekend on Lake Conroe would. However, it seemed strange to witness a scene like this when we had just left a group of kids who were so used to going without food that they named it a “hungry day” when they knew they were not going to eat that day. It made me want to ask them to take some of their food to the families just over the hill. Then, I wondered how many hungry families there were back home that I didn’t know about.

When I first got to Haiti, I have to admit I was a little disappointed at the waste… waste of resources as they stripped their lush land for cooking fires and building materials, and wasted efforts as they used inefficient construction and farming techniques. The soil is so rich, yet the land is so bare… and full of trash. The people work so hard yet have little to show for it. Then I saw some of the thriving gardens some people have around their homes, and I suddenly had a vision of how beautiful and plentiful the land could be if they used it to its full potential. That image filled me with hope and sorrow. Hope for what the future could be, but sorrow for the people trapped in this dark land. Then, I realized I am the same way. I waste my talents and resources instead of using them to God’s full potential. How much better could my life be if I stopped trying to do everything myself and let God show me a better way? As I remembered the verse above, I realized God is just starting to shine His light on this dark land. He has just begun His work here in Haiti and with these people. What a beautiful place it will be when His light shines bright over every inch of this land. I am so glad I got to see Haiti at the beginning of this great revival. I can’t wait to see it at its completion.

Here are some more of my favorite pics, and you can see even more at

http://haitimission42011.snapfish.com/snapfish and click on the pic of my backpack and hat to see the slideshow.