New Friends and Random Thoughts

As I have begun this journey with an unknown end, I have realized how kind-hearted mothers can be who have experienced the same situation. Doctors can't make promises and those closest to you may have a hard time relating to the situation. However, those who have traveled down this same road that I am on realize how difficult it can be. I have received so much encouragement from them and from reading their ideas and thoughts on their blogs. For this reason, I have added some of their blog sites which can be found on the left column of my blog. I hope that when you have the time, you might check out what they have to say so that you may be encouraged through the lives of children who have had diseases which have affected their lives.
Avoiding working on a school project which I need to turn in soon, I began to read some of my past blogs. It seems like a different person wrote those so long ago. This time last year (I believe that it was on this day to be exact!) Noah and I returned to the States from living in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. We had no idea where God was going to take us in our lives. It "ended up" that I went to graduate school full-time while Noah worked about 12 hours a day as we began to build our lives in the States from scratch. We had no money, no cars, absolutely nothing. Noah was so patient as he walked to work many days, or my grandmother or parents would drive him there. As an adult this is very humbling because you look at the people who are the same age as you, and they are just at a different place in their lives. However, neither of us regret following God's calling to serve in a foreign country for years. We were so blessed through it. Noah had been called to begin seminary, but we couldn't both go to school at the same time. Because I was almost done we decided that I would work the year in order to finish my master's.
When I left for Mexico I did not know Noah. In fact, I did not know a single person there. My family was not in favor of me going - not because they were not in favor of missions, but they were fearful. I am the youngest of three girls, and just like me, they knew very little about what I was getting myself into. Also, they had ideas and hopes for me. Yet, I couldn't see myself doing anything else but going. I think that my mom had the hope of talking me out of it until the day I said that my ticket had been purchased. This was definitely the reality check that I was going.

My first day in Mexico I dropped my 70 pound suitcase on my toe, which caused the entire nail to fall off. My second day there I met Noah. We remained friends until the following February when we started dating. (I think that he should tell this story.) By August we were married.

He is my best friend, and we have been through so much craziness, but I am so glad that we are going through this together. God has blessed me with an incredible husband. Last week in labor/delivery classes we were told to think of a calm, peaceful place where we could relax. I realized how I really have not found that place here in the States, but my mind went to Mexico. On a very hot day Noah would fill a baby pool up with water, cover our gated fence with some plants, and we would lay in our swimsuits while reading a book. We could smell the fresh bread cooking next door and the sound of the bus as it passed by. When I remembered this, I realized how much I do miss it there and how easy it has been to get caught up in the busyness of life here in the States.
When I found out that I was pregnant, one of the things that interested Noah and me the most was how we would teach her to speak Spanish. This may help to explain her name a little bit better. It is Mary Magdalene's name in Spanish, but the vowels have more of an English pronunciation. Both of us learned the langauge later in life, which made it more difficult to pronounce more native-like. Also, we love the culture of the people there, and we wanted her to grow up open-eyed to the world around her, no matter where she lived. I don't think that we ever considered her not liking to learn the language because we like it so much. Oh my, have our thoughts changed since then.
As you can see my thoughts may be a bit random today, but with all that has been happening I have done quite a bit of reflection. Just a little about my sweet daughter...
Magdalena and I have been discussing her moving her head down so that she won't be breech. Having a C-section in addition to everything else would make the healing more difficult, and I want to be able to focus all of my attention and energy on her. She is constantly wanting sweets. I am trying to get her not to eat so many sweets, but it is hard not to spoil her. Even her daddy brought her a double doozie from the cookie store. (This is a big cookie consisting of 2 chocolate chip cookies with icing in the middle.) Please pray for Noah and me as we seek God's will in the many decisions that we have to make.