Thankfulness

As I was sitting in the doctor's office this morning (regular check-up - not Haiti trip related) I was thinking about how fortunate I am to have the ability to see a doctor.  And not just for an acute/chronic illness but for a "no symptoms, just seeing if the body is working like it should" appointment.

Edeline (pronounced Ed-Lean) doesn't have this luxury.
The other children we visited (and those we didn't get to visit) don't have this luxury.
The adults in the communities don't have this luxury either.

I was 5 minutes early and checked in.  They were a little less than 10 minutes past my appointment time before I was called back.  Normally, I would have been annoyed.  Today I wasn't.  Perhaps because I didn't have anywhere to be after my appointment was over.  I'd like to think it was more than that.  That it was because I have a new found appreciation for the medical care I have access to that so many other people don't.

The antenna broke off my car on the ride home from the airport the other day so until we replace it there is no radio.  I was driving back from my appointment and began to think of a few of the many things I am thankful for.

• My faith in Jesus Christ
• My family and their continued good health
• Medical Care
• Clean drinking water - a new appreciation for tap water here - after seeing what life is like for many who have to get hand pumped water from a well or risk potential life threatening infection and disease, what comes from my tap is such a blessing!
• Air conditioning
• Food - fresh fruits and veggies and the junk we shouldn't be eating in the first place
• Gray hair - not only does the bible say it is a sign of wisdom but it means I've been alive long enough to start getting it.  I celebrate my gray and wear my Cruella DeVille stripe proudly instead of covering it up
• My "extra padding" - while yes, I want to lose it, it comes from an overindulgence of food.  That stuff so many people go without and/or are only lucky to have
• My animals, their unconditional love for us (even the cats although 1 will refuse to acknowledge this fact) and the ability to care for them
• Having 2 vehicles to drive
• The love of a wonderful church family
• Having a roof over our heads and a soft bed that helps keep my chronic back pains at bay
• My chronic pains - more proof of life even if it can be quite uncomfortable at times
• Life lessons - we don't know it all and cannot learn without both good AND not so good life lessons

Being back on Facebook I see the same stuff I did before my trip but see some of it in a different light now.  Anti-Obama stuff, other political rantings and anti-government stuff from both sides, hateful statements both in and not in the name of Christ and various religions, whining and complaining about various life problems, people being judgmental of others' choices and/or lifestyles, hypocrisy... When you look at all that and compare it with a world where so much of that does NOT matter or exist it seems so very trivial.  I pray that after my experiences last week I can remember this myself when I look to post something on Facebook.

That said - I am also thankful to live in a country where we have the right and abilities to express ourselves even if some of what I see I consider to be negative, inappropriate or hurtful to other people.

I kept a journal of my thoughts while I was in Haiti.  My first entry was the day we arrived. Mostly it was all about me and what I missed back home, what the journey to get to Baptiste was like, what the countryside looked like, the various goats and cows roaming the "roads" of this beautiful place, being tired, how sad it made me seeing the condition of the dogs and other emaciated looking animals and how strange this new place was to me.  I wondered what my husband was doing at home - was he settling in at that time like he normally did and what before bedtime snack had he chosen.  Was he on his iPad looking at silly meme pictures or reading about audio and tech-type stuff?  I did end the entry with the excitement I had for the upcoming day and my eagerness to meet our sponsor child Edeline.  I'll share bits and pieces of what I wrote over that week in future blog posts along with the various things my team and I did with the Haitian people.

If you aren't on Facebook and/or haven't seen the link and would like to, here is a very tiny glimpse of what our week in Haiti was like:

Haiti 2014 with Grace Community Church of Frederick, MD

One more thing I am thankful for as I end my ramblings for today - the 900 images of life changing memories I have to wade through and eventually be able to share with you.

Have a blessed day everyone!