hmmmm

all i have to say today is................life is weird at the moment. life is weird and God has a plan. I may have more to say very soon!!!!

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not ot harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE..............................................

Summer's End 2010

So my heart is constantly focusing on just what God has for me, for us, for the future, for today, for tomorrow. How many ways can God tell me to plan my way, but that he has a purpose.

Proverbs 16:9

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Psalm 37:23

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and he delights in his way.

Proverbs 16:1

The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:21

Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand.

Proverbs 20:2

Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?

Jeremiah 10:23

I know, o Lord, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it a man who walks to direct his steps.

So summer is about over, even though it is still 100 degrees here in east Texas. I cannot believe that Jessie is starting high school. Where did the years go. She is becoming an amazing woman.

It has been a good summer of fun little events. Because I was working in dallas, we bought season passes at a great discount for Six Flags. And we have gotten good use of them. The girls have been to Six Flags in Dallas several times, and we took a trip to San Antonio. We also have a season pass for SeaWorld. So we hit both in San Antonio and kept it so affordable. We were talking to someone yesterday, and I realized taht I am a really good trip budgeter. I can make food or activities stretch and get great value for our money. I am always looking for a new idea for something fun, yet won't break the bank.

Cailin has had a great opportunity to go to Rockin C Ranch and then to attend drama camp at the school. She has had so much fun. It was so fun to watch her growing and changing. She has a wonderful best friend, Sarah. They have so much fun together.

So fall seems to be a time to see what God is doing next. And here we are in the last week of summer. School starts Sept 23.

tropical medicine

This is where we (Mark and I) spent the morning. We met the most wonderful tropical medicine doctor. He was very personable and seemed to really know his stuff. He agreed that it sounded like Mark has Malaria, but also concerned that we needed to be sure there was not something else. In the end, i would imagine that the total tests he ordered were over $1000. Mark has not been as sick today as he has been over the last week, but that is typical of Malaria. The treatment is a medication that he already knows makes him feel bad. And he is taking 4x the dose for the next 4 days. So he gets premedicated with a medication to try to prevent the nausea and vomiting.

Friday when he came to my office and was feeling so badly, his blood pressure was 190/110. It had been so well managed with exercise, i could not believe it. Today he was feeling better and his pressure was 130/70. It is amazing how being ill taxes the body. He has had up and down symptoms for almost a week now.

Mark took his first round of medications this morning and promptly did not feel well, and slept much of the afternoon. He ate a little tonight, but complains that his belly does not feel well.
The girls were good caretakers for him today.

I had a WONDERFUL busy day at work. I had some of my wonderful past patients. Tomorrow I am headed out to the childrens nursing home where I am on call to see the kids. Cailin is looking forward to going with me.It will be a short day.

Lots going on, but i am not complaining.
I am glad to know that the Lord has a plan in our lives.

MALARIA ITS NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST ANY MORE: I HATE MOSQUITOS!!!!!!!!!

Since returning from my 2 trips to Haiti and my month long trip to Liberia, I have noticed that every 10-14 days I have been getting sick. The intensity of these illnesses have grown with each occurence.

I have had the Plasmodium falciparum type of malaria twice before. But it would appear I have now been blessed with a new type, Plasmodium vivax. This type is a little different, it is not as fatal but the little fellas like to make a nest in your liver and come out periodically to let you know they are there. This nesting makes them harder to kill requiring a stronger medicine that needs to be taken for 15 days instead of the normal 3 days.

I have a 8am appointment with a tropical medicine doctor tomorrow, Zana will be coming with me to tell the doctors the correct symptoms.

My travel insurance is supposed to cover this, but since it has taken so long to diagnose, they probably won't cover it. So prayers for health, wisdom and finances would be appreciated.

I will keep you updated on the outcome,

Mark -out

A hot august day

We have had a crazy wonderful few weeks. This week we have had some overlaping company. My uncle and his kids came to visit yesterday and we have had a wonderful teen mania girl visiting. It has been such a blessing.

http://http//www.mercyships.org/blog/entry/cleaning-up

The link I posted is an article that Mercy Ships has about the Fistula program onboard the ship. This was my favorite program to work with while I was onboard. My heart was always touched in ways you cannot imagine.

These women come to the ship for thie last chance to be healed/fixed. A vaginal fistula is a disorder created in child birth or from trauma and the result is a hole from the vagina to the bladder or rectum causing them to leak fluids etc, continuously. CONTINUOUSLY. This makes them outcasts in their tribes and with their families. We would bring them onboard and begin the process to ready them for surgery.

I would go down to the ward in the mornings and gradually watch their faces begin to shine and smile. Even with a catheter after their surgery, they were "DRY" for the first time in who knows how long. To me it is the most vivid picture of giving new life. They are transformed. We get to keep them in the hospital for 2 weeks and share their lives and impact their lives forever.

The sounds of the "dress ceremony" is something never to forget. It is a time to praise the Lord and to celebrate the new lives. It is amazing to be apart of this entire process.

I have just recently been reminiscing about some of our experiences with Mercy Ships. Being here at the base puts us in a position that give support services for the outreaches that continue onboard. I miss being in the middle of things, but I know that we are right where God wants us at this very moment.

I don't know what God has for tomorrow, we are at this weird place where some things are hard, like finances:), but some things are easy like knowing that our family is growing and changing constantly. The girls start school soon and they are both growing up to be such awesome young women. i cant believe Jessie is going to High School. In one month (Labor Day), it seems like so much will be different. It is so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!