The BIG DAY is almost here! Good-bye "testy!"

Well, I wanted to update once more at least before the big day, surgery, on September 4. I’m so very grateful that so many are in my corner, on my team, gathering the Earthlies and Heavenlies together. Prayer support has spanned the globe. How cool is that? I am loved beyond measure. People are praying that I do not even know. I have never met some of the people who are spending quality time interceding on my behalf. Stop it-it’s too good (don’t really stop it, you know what I mean).

Luba and I went to preop Friday to take care of paperwork and have some tests run. I shuttered a bit as she recalled surgical risks. I’m not even going to put them in writing but they are very real and can be permanent in nature. As for as health and preparedness, all looks good and we are ready to go next week. My stomach turns as I say “next week.” Is it really here already?

Speaking of stomach turning, I was really hit hard this weekend. After I got home from preop, I started feeling poorly. Well, actually, I was light headed all day last Thursday. By Saturday morning, I had a nasty cold. Being the proactive person I am (and over anxious to not delay surgery), I hit urgent care early and got some staples to kick this virus. With that medication regime and your sweet prayers, I was healed ever-so-quickly by Saturday night. Then, I woke up Sunday with EXTREME stomach pains that came in waves and were so intense that I would sweat profusely and nearly vomit and pass out. Luba also noticed a weird red patch on my arm that quadrupled in size during the night.  Back to Urgent Care I went. I did earn the “Duchess” award on yelp for my 2 visits in one weekend. Bam! Stomach flu. Bam! Cellulitis. Does anyone under 60 have this? It just sounds like a more mature illness. Needless to say, constant pain with waves of piercing pains (that send you bent over or to the fetal position) coupled with the inability to eat or sleep can wear one down physically and emotionally. It’s those moments when vulnerability really sets in. It sneaks in like a thief during those wee morning hours when all is quiet and appears serene and you are lying there in pain (whether emotionally or physically) as if you are the only person in the world or awake. So much is simply out of our control. In those moments, fear and doubt so easily creep in and often comfortably settle in to our souls. It was in those moments, that the surgical risks began to replay in my mind. I had to remind myself that I’m going to be okay, and in those moments it wasn’t easy. Faith is a choice. It’s like looking in the pantry to find that can of rotel tomatoes (for the Southerners) and you keep being bomarded by other cans of things you don’t need falling out. You have to move cans, shuffle things, but keep looking. There it is! Way back in the back corner! You have to reach, grab a step stool if you must, and pull that baby out! Got it! That was me. I had to reach past those loud voices coming in shouting the likely risks and “what ifs” and hear again that still quiet comforting voice that says “you will be okay. I’ve got this.”

It was my last weekend that I kept totally open to study for my licensure exam coming this Saturday (8/30). How will I pass this thing?! I banked on that time frame for the last portion that required my full attention. Passing that baby will be a miracle on its own! I’ll take it and do the best I can. Some things are just out of our control. That happens. Just do your best with what you have.

Y’all, can we all just take a moment to celebrate Luba?! God bless that man. He came here last October just in time to ride this roller coaster of watching me study-fail the exam-recover-freak out-study again, medical appointments, tests, and illness. He has learned more about the American health care system and insurance than he ever dreamed. He has been so patient and understanding. The support has been unreal. I contribute my strong stand and perseverance to that guy. A gem. A gift. When this is behind us, I’m hoping we can finally share some FUN adventures together like short day trips, road trips and just enjoying the CA weather and lifestyle, very few of which we have been able to do since his arrival. We’ve wanted to host more dinners and spend more time with others but just have not had the chance. We have had marriage boot camp and I know we are better for it, but dang, can we just get a break?!? You can just see how kind he is by his sweet face. I'll not mention all the mockery that has gone on in this house this weekend--which is NOW funny, now that I'm on the mend.

Throughout this all, I'm reminded to celebrate: 
Health. Love. Second chances. Companionship. Friendships. Prayer support. Being able to speak. Moving from sharts to farts (oops, did I just say that? Stomach flu win). Adventure. Life.

Go celebrate. Press onward. Believe in miracles. Eat more rotel tomatoes in your recipes.

Putting my trust in UCI physicians but my faith in the Great Physician – thank you for covering me so completely,

Danielle

P.S. For those of you who don't know what rotel tomatoes are, you should learn. Top shelf in grocery. $1 can. Throw those in a chicken spaghetti recipe (Southern potluck fave) or warm Mexican dip in the crock pot. I’ll teach you. 

I needed a loofah. This may be the most expensive one I have ever purchased. My wash regimen for a few days before surgery.

Loooooooooong overdue updates!

Hi all, this update is long overdue—so much to catch up on!

If you wonder why I’ve been silent, it’s because I’ve been working unhealthily diligently to finish this semester's class early. The class ends right as I return from South Africa (Dec. 6) so I made the goal to finish ASAP so that I could focus on preparing my heart and spirit for the trip and then be totally open while there. I made it! I’m brain-dead and exhausted but I managed to squeeze a 3-month graduate level behavior analysis class into 1 month!!!! This past weekend, I finished my remaining activities, the final and post-final assignments. I have one project pending, but I am waiting on feedback from the department before I can resume. Then…..I’m home free and spiritually and physically Africa bound! Congratulatory cocktail anyone? 

[info on this endeavor to become a Behavior Analyst can be found here]

Recycling:

First of all, thank you for your continued support of the recycling endeavors for “Shorty.” Shorty now has $1887.29! Most of this is from recycling, and some is from gifts. Going to the recycling center almost weekly has been eye-opening in a lot of ways and I’ve experienced quite a few of perspective shifts while there.

I never imagined myself to be so excited over this surprise when I arrived at my women's group last week:

I laugh about being a “trash collector,” but it’s so much more than someone’s empty water bottles. It’s redemption in so many ways. It’s a token of belief, hope, kindness, and love. It’s an eardrum-bursting loud message screaming “I believe in you and I support you.” Thank you, Chris!!!

To my "recycling associates," each time you say that you have a "bag," I hear "I support you!"

Want to get on board with recycling and/or donating? It's so easy!

• Collect CA CRV bottles (water bottles), aluminum soda/beer cans, beer and wine bottles, other glasswares (spaghetti sauce and salsa jars, etc) and other non-CRV plastic bottles (juice, shampoo, conditioner, soap) - It's really not that profitable to recycle for one person/family but when you combine it, it adds up! Plus, it makes the world better. Win-win!
• Live too far away? Recycle and send the money for the Shorty account. You can still be part!
• Collect coins - I have a container for all my loose change. When it fills, I cash it in for the amount to deposit into Shorty! A friend donated her loose change to me, and I took it in with mine.

I so appreciate the recycling/adoption community that has been appointed for me. I say “appointed” because I feel like divinely chosen people, the “right” people, have been placed in my path for a variety of reasons and to help in a variety of ways. You'll never even know how much of an encouragement you've been.

South Africa:

I cannot believe that departure for South Africa is in 37 days! Luckily, I’ve been busy finishing class so I haven’t had the opportunity to just sit and squeal with excitement. But now I can!

For the first time since I first visited S.A. in 2007, I’m behind in fundraising. For the first time though, I’m not worried. Weird, right? I think it’s all my “in-Africa” lessons about time and plans—often they go right out the window no matter how much you stress or prepare! It all just works out.

I would like to shower them with financial blessings since there aren’t specific items to bring this year. If you would like to be part of this, please email me or let me know. Checks can be made out to me or you can donate HERE. Donations are going to a school for autism, the organization with whom I collaborate and serve, and a home for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Links for researching the specific agencies can be found in this post. I know them all personally, and I'm continually overwhelmed by their hearts and generosity to make a difference in their community. They NEED this.  

A quick reminder: How can you help?

• Financial donation of your choice
• Pray for us – I can send you specifics
• Donate a PECS book (if you have one of these or know someone who does)
• Come to our wine tasting FUNraiser on October 21—invite your rich friends who love Africa

A few of the faces I can. not. wait. to see!

2012’s theme has truly been REDEMPTION in a lot of ways and has set the foundation for what I believe to be seen into fruition next year. I’m getting this word in mind for the theme of next year: STORYTELLING. Glimpses of it are already arising around me, and I think the two will be interwoven. More on that later on in the year….

Ever so grateful for YOU,

Danielle

The magic month + year: December 2013

Since adoption has moved for the forefront of my mind, I’ve been a planning machine. I hate long range planning but with such a goal, it has become more palatable. Each time I'm exhausted and ready to slip, I see a face in my head and am reminded that this hardship is temporary and will be oh-so-worth it.

There are a few goals that I have, and if I’m intentional and expectant, I will conquer them by December 2013:

1) Pay off all debts.

2) Finish my coursework and 1500 hours toward becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The exam will be a different story....

3) Begin the paperwork for adoption.

So, feel free to keep those things top in your prayer list, on your mind, in the midst of your karma-sending, whatever it is that you do.

I’m continuing to pad the adoption fund with money gained through recycling and a monthly deposit. My first priority is debt repayment as everything else hinges on that. I’m learning to budget better. I’m enrolled in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, which was a gift of good timing through NewSong Church. If I really buckle down, repayment by December 2013 is a possibility. If I don’t make it for some reason, I should be paid off within a very short time after that date.

 

Most of you know I work 4 10-hour days with children with disabilities. By Thursday night, I’m burnt toast. I’ve now added Fridays. The extra hours will be beneficial in two ways. For one, they provide the hours to go toward my required 1500 hours. Secondly, all of a “second paycheck” goes toward debt repayment. That makes it easy—no budgeting, no questions, straight to the account. 

Why add a new stress or obligation (BCBA) to an already-full and overflowing plate? I want to be better in serving the families and children with whom I work. Professionals tend to be either Speech or ABA, and since they are so intertwined, I’d love to be both. It would also put me in a handful of people who have these certifications or licensures. Because I already have a M.A. in a related field, I can take 5 additional classes (which I’m doing online through the University of North Texas) and get 1500 supervised hours of experience in behavior-related work. What is a BCBA? Find out here. 

So, if you see me at any time within the next months up to December 2013, I apologize ahead of time for being the walking dead. My memory is already shot. I’m narcoleptic—I’m asleep as soon as I sit down, sometimes before I can roll over and hit the sleep timer. 

I’m so thankful for those of you who continue to support me and my dreams of adoption. Please feel free to direct any comments or words of encouragement to the comments section of the blog. One day, I’ll turn this blog into a book for “Shorty.”

At an Easter brunch with the MOM’s group, we had several stations to show thanks, prayer, etc. One activity was to write a word or draw a picture of something that you are thankful for on a rock. Here’s mine:

 

A passage and verse in particular came to mind:

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3. 

As David, who wrote this, knew:  Waiting is hard but blessings follow. 

You guys are my rock.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Danielle