It's Been Awhile

I don't have a camera. Yes, it's on the wish list. Pictures of Holmes Co. this time of year aren't so lovely anyways. It's all dead
and brown
and no snow
lots of mud
no flowers
no green
but that's ok for now.

Monday was an adventurous day with home visits and a "special needs" trained pediatrician.

You never know when inspiration will hit, but it does. I was in this amazing little Chinese Bistro and fell in love with the decorations. This is one such inspiration:

(apologies for the blurry phone picture)

On to other subjects:

-We need fundraising ideas! Not that the board has agreed to any fundraising yet, but maybe if we hit them with a MEGA-list of ideas they will crack. Any input would be greatly appreciated! 

-Embroidery is my new best friend; look what I get to work with

(another fun, blurry phone pic.. this is awesome!)

-I am seriously considering making a burlap "inspiration" board for the office. We desperately need some inspiration

-Vintage weddings with lots of flowers are fun. Pictures (maybe I will have a camera by then) to come after June 2.

-The office walls need paint. (I'm thinking 'dolphin' and 'lily pad'...green is supposed to be soothing)

-Current author and inspiration favorite: Dr. Paul Brand

-Photographer whose camera and brain I would like to have.

-What I should be studying

-Sometimes I wonder if I could hitch a horse by myself. Maybe, if the bridle was already put on.

-I should get back to work. My jello is almost gone and it was good.

-Glad to be back.

-"Hello and Goodbye" for now...

-Karin

Pride & Politics

The doctors came

The doctors left...

Family came

Family Left...

My brain HAS NOT come

and

My brain HAS left...

but...

The rest of my boxes DID come

and HAVE NOT left!

My world is complete

I have learned that the state of my house is not necessarily a true reflection of my state of being (or maybe it is more so than I'd like to admit)

So, I shall let the pride go and say yes, it IS possible to have a VERY cluttered house with just one person living in it!

Hence the evidence...

...well my house looked like this...

and all I felt like doing was this...

but I got another package so the house and sleep was forgotten

and spring IS coming (so they tell me... I still don't believe it as the high today is 25)
Despite (in spite of) all those challenges a a still-cluttered house, I went to Grandpa & Grandma's to hang out with a crowd that was more on my level:)

Reagan

Brinley

Sunday afternoon discussions and naps

and puzzles. Puzzles have NEVER been SO exciting! (and decompressing)

So here's to another week of peace-keeping, talking, paperwork, drawing blood and running all over the countryside delivering records and tubes.

Please pray that the WHGIC board and local bishops of the Amish community approve the Heart Program we are trying to start. It's a very scary thing to have heart disease, and what we are trying to do is offer free testing and evaluation for those families. But, it's going to take a LOT of cooperation, time and patience, all of which are not so forthcoming from people whose families are not affected with Heart Disease. I never thought this job description included "politics" but it now does, which I am NO good at. So, another leap of faith, a lot of prayers and coffee, and maybe, just maybe, we can save a life and a whole lot of heart-ache here or there...

Happy Blessed Weekend!

Excitement!

So, it snowed last night...

I am quite certain the neighbors thought I was a complete nut-case

running around the street taking pictures of something they are completely sick of...

...but I thought it was beautiful...

very beautiful!

But I will concede that it was quite a bit of snow.

in other notes... I actually cooked the other night without a recipe as all my cookbooks are packed in boxes and still en route at the moment.

And all is ready for the doctors to come.

Happy Weekend

House

keys to a car AND a house

Left side of the house from SR 241

Right side of the house from SR 241

Left side of the house from TR 207

Right side of the house from TR 207

Looking back from the stop sign at SR 241 and TR 207

Standing in the kitchen archway looking into the dining room and living room (where the fan is)beyond.

Opening from Kitchen to Dining Room (you can see a "smidge" of the front door on the right hand side

View of the kitchen as you walk in from the garage

(Dad, I almost wrote "looking at the kitchen coming in from the garage" and head your voice in my head saying..."hmmm, kitchens come through garages??? haha!")

View of the Kitchen from the Dining Room

Dining Room again complete with table and chairs!:)

Deep window seat at the base of the stairs and east end of the Dining Room

Downstairs Bathroom (tan & pink)

Couch in Living Room

Rocking Chair in Living Room....

and that's it on seats folks! So if you come and visit anytime in the next month or so...

bring your own chair:)

Guest Bedroom (Blue and Brown)

My Bedroom (who know what color it will be??:)

Even got (most of) my clothes unpacked.

Waiting on a friend's dresser to come available sometime next week:)

Love friends!!!

Upstairs Bathroom colors

And yes mom, I even have extra linens for company...

I am blessed

To all those who have loved, cared for and supported me...

"Thank-you" doesn't seem enough. But "thank-you" it is. And God bless you!

Come and visit if and when you can

GOD is SO GOOD

UPDATE

...albeit sans pictures as I still have not gotten batteries or a cord for my camera. However, I shall "bite the bullet" (figuratively speaking) and make the long trek to Wooster for such necessities before Saturday as that is when things really start happenning.

YES!

I am back in Holmes County, Ohio

For a whole YEAR!

This time with pay:)

Yes...WOW

So far the plans are to be a "consultant" or "fieldworker" for the same doctors that I was working under last summer. For more information on previous research and ongoing projects see www.wohproject.org. I have little to nothing to do with that website. However, what I have a lot to do with is some of the same duties as last summer, but a few more as well since this time my stay is a bit more permanent. So far, the docs want to focus on heart disease here in Holmes Co. specifically dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We will be trying to set up a "Heart Program" that connects affected families with local cardiologists as well as cardiologists in Cleveland. Cleveland OH is known for it's heart care programs, and some of the best cardiologists in the world work out of Cleveland Clinic and other heart programs located in the area. That said, I'd say we're in a pretty good position to connect families with doctors.

There are always other ongoing studies, and as of now, we are open to researching any new condition that may crop up. Also, we are always looking for more families with conditions that have been previously studied as more data gathered means more legitimate research and accurate outcomes.

So that is my "work" life...

Now for my "personal" life...

I have a house rented in Benton, and am currently looking for a washing machine. Thanks to my scads of loving family and friends, multiple pieces of furniture shall be arriving this saturday and I am currently driving around with my car filled to the ceiling with supplies for living on one's own (now to finish "thank-you" cards:).

Yes, it's scary

No, I don't know what I'm doing

But...

HE DOES

and that's what is important!

p.s. address to come soon as the house (I believe) has a mailbox so (hopefully) no P.O. Box this time...

p.p.s. my home is ALWAYS open to family, friends, stray chickens, small children, perfect strangers that are "friends of so-and-so", etc... and I LOVE having company. So come visit anytime. Holmes Co. is beautiful and rich with people and history!!!

A VERY L-O-N-G update (as promised to various friends and family:)

So I suppose this is what I get for not posting in 6+ weeks....

a whole 45 minutes of uploading LOTS of pictures....

!!EnJoY!!

Wendell Lavern

Possibly the cutest Amish child I have ever seen
and the spittin' image of his grandpa

wild things happen when in Arkansas...

like getting convinced to try out a new zipline

Aden and Marti in their usual mode of operation...

20 feet off the ground and fast!

bass fishing

(this is real proof for you U. Darrell)

because of this venture I now have a "Monster Fish" story, "The One that Got Away" story, and "Very Scary Snake" story as well as (more than one) "WhAt!! Are you Guys DOING!" story.

So thanks to Marie and Sherri for sharing their day, canoes, food, poles (well, that's thanks to Aden & Jason) and crazy fun with Marti & I!

Yes, I ahve completely succumbed to the Budget and faithfully read it every Wednesday evening and throughout the weekend... Great source of entertainment, news and interesting "tidbits".

Set a new record for myself by appearing in it TWICE in last weeks edition.

THE FAIR!!!

WITH FRIENDS!!

Amber

Lance... this guy provided much entertainment:)

Courtney & Tina

Dave (with Jon's fingers attempting rabbit ears)

Miniature cowboys "down in the pits"

I love fairs and rodeos. There's so much happening. I also love this picture with three complete scenes in one; Father & his girls on their horses; Family setting up chairs to watch the show; BBQ dinner by the trailer for hungry participants.

Old Rodeo Hand that's been around awhile

...you can just see the experience, wisdom and confidence...

...wait...

...prepare...

...ride...

...fall off...

...but ALWAYS...

...GET BACK UP...

pick-up men

... sometimes we need these guys not just during rodeos...

...in real LIFE, they're called FRIENDS...

calf-roping

sometimes I wonder if I could tie up my sin so quickly, efficiently and with a strong-hold

this is what happens when Kimra & I go shoe shopping:)

Drew + Lemons...

do I like it??

why yes, I DO!!!

(thanks guys for indulging my severe Mexican Food withdrawels:)

And this is what happens when family comes to visit:)

(they turn into ancient Swiss cheesemakers)

we sit in giant chairs

go on pony rides

momma and baby

Thanks U. Ron, A. Faythe, Amanda and Travis for taking the time and effort to come make an otherwise lonely weekend a LOT of fun!

The last couple of weeks have been filled with this.... paperwork!!!

and shopping with new friends and their litle ones:)

Christian

Jackson

contemplating a HUGE life decision... get on the UPS truck or not??

and then MOM CAME!!!

we went antique shopping every day but Sunday... it was lovely:)

we found Circus Peanuts in bulk (that's 10 pounds right there:) just for Rosemary

lots of fun dishes and linens

fur collars

we were contemplating bringing them back into style but at the last minute decided against it due to extenuating circumstances and overall family relationships...

mom & A. Rose checking out the old style "TV"

there was quite a bit of "hey! remember this?? hahahaha!!"

update on wedding pictures... still trying to decide if I should do another post or put them all up on facebook... will decide at a later date:)

update on work; the doctors come next Monday. Yes, I am nervous. However, the schedule is all in place, the families are ready to meet them, I am ready to meet them, and all the paperwork has been properly copied, filed, hole-punched and stapled. And I am ready to COME HOME!!!

The board (somewhat) offered me this job back for next summer and possibly for another year. They are waiting on money to become available before they offer me the position full time (this time with pay:). And I am waiting for God to write the anwer in BIG letters across the sky! Well, not exactly, but it is on my mind and in my prayers daily. I know that His plan is larger than mine, and if I am supposed to come back to Holmes Co. and these people, HE will open those doors... NOT ME! Patience is a hard lesson to continue learning, especially for those of us that are exceptionally stubborn and headstrong. Sometimes it's a fine line between discerning my will and making things happen or what God's will is and waiting on Him to make it happen. I fell in love with this place and these people, so coming back would not be a hardship. However, I have a lot to learn and many hoops to jump through before a final decision is made.

Thanks to all of you who have read this blog, prayed for me, called me, came and visited me, sent cards, encouragement and love. I can never repay it all, but hope to at the very least be able to do the same for each one of you someday.

God Bless You