Dad's Home!

Friday night Cason and I went to pick up Mike from the airport.  He was returning from a mission trip to Portugal and had been gone for 10 days!  You can check my brothers blog for some additional information about their trip. 

We went to the airport early so we could people watch but there were really no people where we were waiting.

Cason played his "boy game" while we waited.

Yep, see- empty.

DADDY!

Cason called to make some dinner reservations for us.

Then waited patiently so he could grab the luggage.

And of course he helped get the suitcase to the car.  Such a great helper.  Especially since it was over an hour past bedtime!

Portugal for Thanksgiving

It's official!  Michelle Langley and I will be heading to Portugal the week before Thanksgiving to help our friends and missionaries there the Gereckes. 

The plane tickets are purchased and we will be taking off November 15th for a week of cooking and serving Thanksgiving dinners to groups that the Gereckes have been ministering to. 

I'm excited... and nervous.... and overwhelmed... and ready... and soooo not ready. 

There seems to be a lot to do- trying to plan recipes and figure out what ingredients are in Portugal and what ingredients we need to take with us... and how we are going to take them with us and how much money we need to buy groceries there and how much money we need to buy groceries here and how am I going to survive a VERY long trip there and a slightly shorter trip back.

Not to mention I have never left Cason for more than 2 nights and I really will miss him terribly.  I mean sooooo much.

I wrote HERE a little more about how I felt led to go on this trip, and that has not changed.  If anything, God has continued to confirm that I am doing the right thing. 

Right now prayer support is what we need:

- Pray for the people of Portugal- that God would begin to soften their hearts for the team that goes in October (including my husband and brother) and continued to work in their hearts for the November trip as well.

- That Michelle and I would be able to organize the food, recipes and grocery lists before the trip.

- For peace as Michelle and I prepare to leave our families for a week.  That childcare for our 2 year olds would be easy to find and we can leave without any worries for our family.

- For the Gereckes- they have a lot of prep work for the October and November teams and they could use some supernatural help on that. 

- That the Lord will provide the funds- Michelle and I have begun the fundraising process and we are trusting  that the Lord will provide what we need.

If the Lord is leading you to support this trip, there are several ways you can do that.  We need money- to help pay for trip expenses as well as groceries in Portugal.  In the coming weeks I will also be telling you about the grocery needs that we will have.  We will be taking lots of food with us and we will need donations to help with that as well.

If you would like to help with the money- you can send a check to:
First Baptist Church Colleyville- Attn. Dale Molden
5405 Pleasant Run
Colleyville, TX 76102
Please put "Portugal November Trip" in the memo line.

Thank you so much and stay tuned for updates.  We had a "practice" cooking night and I have lots of insight to share!

Snapshots of our day

Going for a walk...





Trying on shoes...







And a chocolate milk with "my lolli"






What a great day!

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Big News

I pretty much only titled it that because I wanted to see if anyone would think I was announcing a pregnancy or something.  I'm not- I just have something exciting I want to share.

On November 15th I will be leaving for Portugal for a week long mission trip.  I'm so excited about the opportunity and what we will be doing there. 

Let me tell you how it all started... if only I knew.  I was involved with a Bible study called One on One.  It's a wonderful study and God started showing me how to have a heart for the world.  It's easy to focus on what is going on directly around you and forget that there's a big world out there. 

So I began to pray about how I could have a world focus- for God to show me what my place was in the world and how I could be used to bring glory to His kingdom.

Michael and Cristi used to go to our church and are currently missionaries in Portugal.  I found out they wanted a team to come over in November to cook Thanksgiving dinners for the families and college students they are ministering to.  The people in Portugal don't celebrate Thanksgiving but due to American television, they are very curious about it. 

Well, God spoke to my heart about the trip and I started trying to work out a way to go- including finding a team to go with me.  For several weeks God continued to bring up Acts 1:8 -

"but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 

I continued to feel led to go on the trip yet still needed someone else to go.  I asked some friends to join me in praying for someone else to feel led to go.

Well, it took less than a week and God brought another person for the trip- and not just any person- a wonderful friend- Michelle Langley.

So began a week of planning, asking questions, and wondering if we were crazy to leave our 2 year olds across the world for a week. 

I can't wait to give you more details over the next few months about the trip, the people of Portugal and how cooking Thanksgiving dinner will be a ministry opportunity there. 

A couple of fun things-

- There isn't a lot of American food in portugal including (but not limited to) sweet potatoes, marshmallows, cranberries, canned pumpkin, pie crust.... I could go on.  We will have to carry all of those things over with us.  Thanksfully- they do have Turkey!

- We will be staying in Coimbra.

It's where the "A" is on the map. 

- As you can imagine.  Getting there does cost money.  I am asking people to pray about supporting me in my journey.  More on that later.  We will also need lots of food to go with us plus we will be buying what we can when we get there.  Don't worry, lots of menus and ingredient lists and substitutions coming soon!

Vacation- Part 2. Houston!

So after our night in Salado we headed to Houston to visit our friends Jay and Julie.  They live in Sugarland and promised to show us all the cool stuff.

One night we went to a french restaurant- Aria.  It was delicious!

Here are Jay and Julie.  Aren't they cute!

They have a son Cason's age.  They love to play together. 

We also went to the Childrens Museum.  The one in Houston is AWESOME.  It's less expensive than the one in Fort Worth and way bigger.  The kids loved it and they were exhausted when we left.  Two signs of a good day.

This is a pic of us driving to Houston.  It should be at the beginning of the blog but it isn't. 

He is holding a mini boogie board we found at Target.  He calls it his skateboard and loves throwing on the ground and standing on it.

Here are the boys playing at a mexican restaurant.  They were so silly. 

Soon I will post pictures from my high tea.  You don't want to miss those!

Picture Before and After

I needed a picture to go in my laundry room.  I had the perfect spot and a vision- just needed the picture. 

So I stuck Cason in the dryer for a photoshoot.  I took a bunch of pictures and only one was going to work.

I started with this picture.  I know it doesn't look professional but I'm okay with that.  I like having pictures around that are candid and show some of the facial expressions or actions that I see on a day to day basis.

I took the photoshop to edit it a bit before I sent it off to be put on a canvas. 

I had a look in mind that I was going for so I edited it a little more than I usually do.  The edges look a little funny because I needed some extra room to stretch around the canvas.  You can't see it at all in the final product. 

Check THIS POST to see where I used this awesome picture.

And check THIS LINK to see who put this picture on canvas for me.

Vacation Part 1- Salado

This is part 1 of probably 100 cause it takes a million years to load pictures and I have a million pictures. 

Summer is the busiest time of year for the youth (except for fall, winter and spring) so we don't get to take the usual summer vacation.  We try to get away sometime in September to recover and rejuvenate.  This year, we took an adventure to Salado, Houston and Galveston. 

First stop, Salado.  There's a "famous" little place called Stagecoach Inn on the highway that's been around forever.  We thought it would be fun to stop in for the night and break up the drive to Houston... well really just do something random.

Here is where we stayed.  These are the nice rooms- the ones with free wifi.  Let's just say, it wasn't the Ritz.  I didn't even take pictures of the inside.  I figured you could go to the web site and look for yourself.  It was fun and clean but don't expect fancy or romantic or hip or to find anyone under 70 staying here... or in the whole town of Salado. 

This was something fun we found.  A place called Roy T's that makes their own donuts and kolache.  Very yummy and Roy greeted us and told us all about his place.  Then visited with everyone else there (who he probably sees daily) and it was a lot of fun to get such great small town service.

We also ate dinner at the Stagecoach Inn.  I had been once before in college and remember it being a lot of fun.  It was just a normal dinner (a bit high for the quality of the food) but the appetizer, salad, hush puppies, entree and dessert are all included.  Now, by appetizer I mean canned fruit and by salad I mean lettuce but the dessert was good. 

Sorry there are not more pictures.  We went shopping the next day and purchased a whole lot of nothing.  It was a fun detour but I wouldn't plan on going for an extended period of time.... or with a 2 yr. old... or with a man.

I love my kiddo

Just going through my phone and found a cute picture. He put the bandana on himself.


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Sip n Doodle- McKinney

Awhile back I purchased a groupon for a place called Sip and Doodle in McKinney.  My mom purchased one too and we figured we would go right away to learn new painting skills.  Well, 6 months later it was 3 days from expiring and we booked a space. 

They provide the canvas and the paint- you provide the drinks and snacks.  You pick a picture of what you want to paint (or I guess you could bring your own) and they give some instructions and you get going!

Here's mine at the 1/2 way point.  You start with the background and chalk on the design and paint right over the chalk.

Here's my final painting.  I won't be giving up my day job but I think it's kind of fun and whimsical.

I'm so proud.

Here is moms.  The owners said she was the best in the class... and the best job on that particular painting they had ever seen.  Way to go mom!

Painting Babies

I was about to name this post "painting in the nude" but I thought that might attract the wrong kind of blog traffic.

Someone had the brilliant idea to let the kiddos paint on canvases and create brilliant works of art.  It wasn't my idea but I wish it was.  Not only have I discovered that Cason is a true talent, I also now have a masterpiece for my kitchen.

Cason is taking the opportunity to admire Jack's work of art.

Cason needed a snack break.  Painting is hard work.

It's finished!  I can't wait to show you the picture in the kitchen!  It's beautiful. 

And now it's time to get clean.  Painting is messy business!



Hug Your Youth Minister Today

Have you ever read the blog Stuff Christians Like?  It's so funny... and true.  This article was particularly hilarious. 

Treating Youth Ministers Like Silver Medal Ministers

Fortunately we go to a church that is very supportive of the youth ministry, and they are not silver medal ministers, but some of his points had me rolling.  Especially the first one as I picture something like that happening on one of the senior adult trips. 

I'm so thankful to have married a youth minister.  After 3 weeks of youth camps I'm ready to have him home for sure but I know how hard he has been working. 

So hug your youth minister today.  He's been working hard this summer.  Surviving on carbs, zero sleep, soft drinks and supernatural energy that can only come from the Lord. 

Mike is coming home tomorrow- YEA!

Minor Surgery is Only Minor for the Surgeon Performing It

I just wanted to clarify before I continue my story:
My mom took Cason home Friday night and that turned out to the the best thing ever.  Trying to manage a 2 yr. old in and out of a hospital would have been a nightmare. 

I had been craving some alone time- just me and my thoughts.  Sometimes God answers our prayers in the strangest of ways.  I got some alone time- it was attached to an IV and an oxygen monitor in a place that wasn't my home- but I got to be by myself. 

So Saturday morning I wake up waiting for someone to come take blood and tell me how my gallbladder was functioning.

Instead, my nurse comes in with some paperwork.  She tells me I'm about to have surgery and she needs to have me sign off on some forms.  She proceeds to tell me that they might cut an artery, nick another major organ, give me a blood transfusion that might contain AIDS or hepatitis (uh, haven't we fixed that?), and death is possible too.  Please sign here.

I proceed to have a melt down.  As the tears are flowing she looks at me with a questioning look and asks if I will be okay.

Between sobs I say "those side effects are pretty rare, right?"

She lovingly says "No, not really, just last week I had a patient with some major complications during surgery"

Best. Nurse. Ever.

For some reason I sign the forms and continue to sob.  I was not so much worried about the complications, I mean, if the Lord wants to call me home over a gallbladder than he will.  I just felt that I had no idea what was going on.  What happened to the blood test, the gallbladder function test, who was my surgeon, was my gallbladder really that bad?

Next a surgeon came in surprised to find me completely un-done.  I was looking for some re-assurance and questions answered.  When I asked if it was really necessary to have it removed he responded by telling me that medicine is not an exact science and removing the gallbladder was their best guess. 

Great.  Feeling much better now.

He then went on to tell me it was an easy recovery and I would be able to go to a birthday party that night.  No lifestyle changes needed and I wouldn't miss it at all.  He them mentioned the nurse would be in soon with some paperwork.  Ha.  Got that one a little mixed up didn't they.

I started feeling much better, calmed down and was ready to go.  (Too bad it was all lies)

They come and get me for surgery and I am wheeled downstairs.  I don't remember much about pre-op or the surgery (it's a good thing too).  What I do remember is waking up in pain.  Major Pain.  No one mentioned that I would wake up in pain, I thought I would wake up in no pain and the pain would creep in as the anesthesia wore off. 

I was the only person in recovery that day and there were 2 nurses.  Apparently they shoved a tube down my throat and scraped every side on the way down.  I whispered that it hurt.  She gave me some pain medication that didn't help and then proceed to spend the next 10 minutes complaining to the other nurse about how no one bothered to ask them if they wanted Chipolte.  Hello- still in pain over here.

I think I asked for pain meds 3 other times and finally they said they couldn't give me any more... yet I still hurt. 

After I "recovered" I was wheeled back to my room and got some pain meds that actually worked.  I tied to go back to sleep but kept hearing a loud beeping just as I would drift off.  A nurse stuck her head in the door and asked me to take big deep breaths.  Apparently as I drift off I stop breathing enough to make the machine happy.  I finally called the nurse and got hooked up to an oxygen machine so I could finally sleep. 

The rest of the day was pretty simple with the exception of the million trips to the restroom.  It was irritating because I had to unhook- the leg squeezers, the oxygen in my nose, the oxygen monitor, unplug the iv pole and lower the bed each time.  I think Mike thought I was just messing with him each time I asked until I pointed out the huge bags of water they were dumping in me through the IV pole. 

At some point my nurse came in to chat.  We were talking about the surgery and she tells me how important the gallbladdar was (the thing I just had removed) and how I will have to change my diet for the rest of my life.  I asked if there was a brochure or a nutritionist she could send in.  She said she would check.  How can you tell me all that and not give me some help?

By 11:00 that night I was still in a lot of pain.  The oral pain meds were not working and I was so frustrated.  What was the speech earlier about being at a party tonight?  The nurse said I could have another shot of IV pain meds and I got up to go to the bathroom for the hundredth time and had another melt down.  My expectations were completely different that reality.

Update

I'm so sorry I haven't posted about my surgery. The Internet is down here and typing the story on my phone sounds really annoying. So- tomorrow I will fire my Internet company and find someone else!


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Something New

I'm sure that you are all waiting to hear about my gallbladder removal but I have one favor first.  Please head over to my NEW EVERYTHING DESIGN web site and follow me.  Tomorrow I will post the rest of the story... If I have more than 5 followers :-)

Thanks!

My Second Trip to the ER

Friday morning I woke up in a little pain but nothing major.  They had given me some pain medication the night before but the Dr. had encouraged me not to take any because pain is a warning signal and if I was in too much pain I needed to go back to the ER. 

I didn't eat much breakfast or lunch that day and I spent all morning trying to get in to see a GI doctor.  None of the GI doctors would see me for weeks and I was so frustrated because they told me at the ER I needed to see someone the next day. 

After lunch I we got Cason down for a nap and I went to lay down as well.  It wasn't five minutes before I jumped up and thought my whole chest was going to explode.  The pain was a million times worse than the day before.  I didn't know whether to call an ambulance or go to the ER- I wasn't sure what would be faster but I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it either way.  Mike drove pretty fast- all while I'm whispering for someone to please help me.  I kept wondering if I passed out would the ambulance make it in time?

When we got to the ER I sort of hobbled in and asked the lady at the front desk to please help me.  I told her I was here last night and I needed help.  She asks my name, social, all the usual info while I almost died on the counter.  Then she asked me to sit and wait until they could get to me.  WAIT?  I sat in the chair and moaned for someone to help me- looking in the door of the ER hoping someone would feel sorry for me.  I just kept asking for someone to help and the other 10 patients in the ER kept looking at me... probably hoping I would just stop talking... or pass out so they could see some real action.

They got me into a room and I began the long wait for pain meds.  Do they not understand that is a top priority?  We started on more bloodwork and another sonogram only to see the same thing they saw yesterday.  Gallstones. 

As a side note, one of our very good friends was also in the ER.  Ben Wertz had come in earlier that day and was probably a few rooms down but we didn't figure all that out until later.

The Dr. came in later and said that they wanted to keep me overnight and they would do another blood test in the morning to determine the function of my gallbladder.  From what they saw, I would probably need to have the gallbladder removed eventually but he was not sure when.  He said the surgeon would visit me in the morning to talk to me more.  I mentioned that tomorrow was Saturday... that doctors don't work on Saturday and therefore I didn't want someone who would rather be playing golf stopping by to tell me about my health.  The doctor looked at me strangely and assured me that the surgeon who would see me would actually be okay with working on a Saturday. 

We began to wait until they could transfer me upstairs.  That took at least an hour.

While I was waiting a nurse came in to take more vitals or something.  She began to tell me not to let them just assign me a surgeon.  To do some research and make sure my surgeon was a good one.  She told me not to just let them do surgery if I didn't really need it.  She said to take ALL my valuables home and not to leave anything in the room. 

I told her thanks... I guess.  I said all I knew about the hospital I learned on Grays Anatomy and so far, this was nothing like that.  She looked at me like I was a little strange.  It wouldn't be the last time during my stay at the hospital. 

This began my experience with interesting nurses. 

We finally headed to my room on the 5th floor (which was very nice by the way) and got hooked up to an IV and an O2 monitor and settled in for the night. 

Michelle came and played Uno with me and Mike went around the corner to visit Ben... who was also on the 5th floor.  It was actually such a blessing to have Ben in the hospital at the same time.  We spent a lot of time visiting and I think it helped calm the nerves of both of us and our families in the unfamiliar hospital experience. 

Tune in tomorrow for my list of reasons never to have surgery.