Estoy orando.

 We are feeling the after-affects of Hurricane Helene here in Lafayette, IN. Baxter Manufacturing in NC is a global supplier of IV fluids, amongst other things, and Franciscan contracts with Baxter supplying all facilities with the IV fluids required for resuscitation, for maintenance, and yes, for surgery. The manufacturing site was completely destroyed by Hurricane Helene and there is currently no timeline when it can be up and running again. Last week, just as I had gotten up and running again, back in the groove, they asked all purely elective cases to be postponed until the hospital's supply of IV fluids can be resumed. I felt incredibly dejected puttering to a "slow way down" once again just as I was ready to sprint to the end of the year. 

I have to keep reminding myself that, as I am not physically in NC myself, the hospital itself is still standing and not destroyed by Hurricane waters and winds, I really have no room to complain, and definitely much to be thankful for. But sometimes, it is just so much easier said than done. I have a long list of patients waiting for their surgeries, and I would love to line them up and satisfy their requests. But here we are waiting. So hard sometimes.  

Waiting really does take a lot of faith, and the balance between waiting, continuing to wait, and action seems to blur at times. 

Last weekend we served lunch for the West Lafayette church, menu = baleadas. But we still found some time to spend else wise. 

When your birthday cake is aerated, and delivered saying "eat immediately or it will dissipate", you of course have to pause to take a picture!

We finally made it to Wolf Park in Battle Ground, IN. Invited Carrie, Troy and nephews to join!

They really are beautiful animals.

Howl Night at Wolf Park. 

Much Love.

Estoy disfrutando el otoño.

Today is the last day of my unexpected and spontaneously open two weeks. Just stopping by to photo dump from the past two weeks. Kind of fun to take pictures of us doing life. 

Happy 33rd birthday Jake. I love you!

Joining Jake in the tractor, spent the evening harvesting soybeans.

Jake has helped White Farms during harvest for many years. It was fun getting to meet the Whites.

 Taking the moto out for evening rides.

Exploring those old forgotten cemeteries.

Trail running on the Wabash Heritage Trail.

The Wishing Tree

 

Much Love.

Estoy pasando tiempo.

Time is a funny thing. Such an eloquent turn-of-phrase, my own literary prowess impresses even me. Yes, I'm being highly facetious to cover up the fact that I started this paragraph with such a weak statement. I can try again, perhaps fickle would be a better adjective for such a deserving noun as time. A month ago, approximately, I was notified of a work trip to Israel. It would last two weeks, and I had less than 3 weeks notice. It led to what has been the most stressful week I've experienced in a long time. The week prior to my projected deployment I was on call leaving me with 1.5 weeks to be not only ready for the deployment to Israel, but also for what was to be waiting when I returned in October. Fast-forward those three weeks, and at seemingly last minute, the trip was cancelled. My first reaction was disappointment that I had struggled through the stress and arrived on the other side, to find that it hadn't even been necessary. At work we had managed to completely clear my weeks, including all surgeries and clinics as well as calls either covered or cancelled and rescheduled. I felt rather foolish having asked the office staff, my tech and my partners to jump through hoops for me, all for nothing. As I moved on from the disappointment and began to cycle through the 5 stages a feeling of disrespect crept in. I felt disrespected. I had been asked to play a wild and hectic game of Tetris... only it wasn't a game, it had been real life and very real patients had been affected by it.  I don't question God's timing, and freely accept I was either needed at home, or protected from something in Israel, or perhaps I just needed the exercise in flexibility. All of which held me right where I needed to be, when I needed to be there. 

In these extra two weeks I was able to attend the funeral for my great aunt Beth. I was able to help Jake work through his last few weeks of his Spanish class. (Which illustrates why my grade school desire of being a teacher when I grew up, thankfully, did not come to fruition.) I have gotten to see Harvest 2024 get underway. I was able to spend a rainy weekend camping with some friends. I was able to attend Bible study and small group, and otherwise invest time in our community. 

In essence, we are blessed with time. I pray to never take it for granted and always appreciate where I am, and when I am there.