Scoping out Ecuador

As promised, I thought I would post a little more about our plans for Ecuador. We are planning a trip next week for 4-5 days to basically 'scope out' possibilities for our long term goal of an orphanage/medical clinic in Ecuador! This is a HUGE next step for us. We didn't think this would be happening for another year or so. We will be meeting with missionaries as well as others in Ecuador who have started an orphanage there. To expand even more, in talking with missionaries currently in Ecuador about my (Kim) long term goals of becoming a nurse practioner, it was said that NP's are not really recognized as such there. I would either be in administration (WHICH IS NOT MY GIFT AT ALL) or I would HAVE to work with a doctor. Not that that is bad, but it makes it more difficult if we are in the 'bush' somewhere. So, I am trying to gather more info while we are there to see if finishing school is the best option, or if I need to wait for a while and see or if I can be a nurse and function there well. These are all questions that will hopefully be answered soon. With my school being the only thing keeping us from going to the mission field, we could 'potentially' be on the mission field sooner rather than later!!!! We would LOVE that, but we also want to make sure that is God's leading and not just our wishful thinking and hoping! Below are some pictures from our previous trip to Ecuador. The orphanage pictures you see-we will be meeting with the directors there.
Other ministries there at this time are in the local city garbage dump which are pictured.
We will blog more info when we know more.





Precious girl in the Quito dump
















Play time at the orphanage








Kim with kids at the dump


Joel made a friend at the orphanage
People's reality in the dump

Kids right outside of the jungle-they LOVE to smile and get their picture taken
A girl that loved to give hugs at the orphanage

Remember When...

This week is finals week for me at Rush University. It's interesting to be involved in finals week now that I am OLD compared to what finals week was like in undergrad.
I know not all colleges did this, but the 2 or 3 that I went to were just awesome for finals week!
At Asbury College, the night before finals started, the faculty served US a huge breakfast spread and we all just hung out! There and at IWU, I got fun 'finals packages' from mom and dad, church people, etc that were filled with highlighters, candy, an apple or something (to pretend they were being healthy) and lots of RAMEN NOODLES! AHHHH, I miss Ramen. It just doesn't taste quite the same as it did in college.
I remember staying up till all hours of the night, well actually morning 'pretending to study' and then realizing I really HAD to study or get a paper done. It was so fun being around all your friends and knowing they were all in the same boat with you. It was stressful, but the stress was overshadowed with friends, food, and fellowship.
Finals week now...
Well, lets just say there is not much of the above besides stress. Not to be a downer, but there is just SO much pressure. I don't know where things changed. The friends are not all here, no fun packages (except maybe when Joel brings me a DQ or a coffee). It's just not the same. Is it weird to say I miss finals in undergrad. Defintely never thought those words would ever be written by me.
Anyway, what if anything do YOU remember about finals week?
OH, I almost forgot the best thing I remember...
PAPA JOHNS PIZZA AND BREADSTICKS!
AAAHHHH the memories!

3 Things

There are 3 things that have gotten me through this week. Number one is my husband. My husband is wonderful! I know I have said that before, but he truly is. Not only is he my husband, he is my best friend. Through these last couple months, wow! He has just been amazing. The ups and downs of the stresses we have gone through. He has been amazing! This is one of my fav pictures of him with one of our nieces!








The second thing that has made this week easier is a new song from one of my favorite groups superchick. The song is
"Stand in the Rain!" If you haven't heard this group-you've got to!!! They are amazing. This song has been the first thing that is in my head when I wake up in the morning and the thing that comes back in it amidst the craziness of classes and work. A bit from the song...
Stand in the rain, stand your ground, stand up when its all crashing down. You stand through the pain, you won't drown and one day what's lost can be found, you stand in the rain...
It has been so powerful for me this week as I feel like all I know about me and what I am good at etc...I feel solid knowing God is with me standing in the rain.


The third thing that has helped this week...
Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks! I know, I am totally that yuppy girl, but I LOVE THEM!

What are your 3 things?

Birthday, Buckeyes, and Buddies!

This weekend we were able to relax a little before we jump into more busyness. We were very excited to have our friends from Ohio come to celebrate Joel's 31st birthday. The highlight was going to see the Ohio State Buckeyes play Northwestern-just right down the road from where we live! Here's the gang of us that went. We don't look cold do we? It was like 40 degrees with wind! But we had fun. This was right after a big lunch of stuffed Chicago Style Pizza at Giordano's. After the game we went downtown to the APPLE store and got some Garret's popcorn(the best in the world!!!)
It was a fun day and I hope my WONDERFUL husband had a great birthday!
Here's the birthday boy! It was so fun to get to spend time together and no better place to have fun than watching the Buckeyes. They ended up winning by...well, ALOT! Most of the NOrthwestern fans were gone by the second quarter.
In this picture I was trying to get a picture of the coach-Jim Tressel, I don't think you can see him...














It was a total sea of red at the stadium. I felt a little bad for the Northwestern fans because there was MAYBE 10% purple, the rest red and one lowly MICHIGAN fan that we met later on the EL. I am not quite sure what HE was thinking. Anyway, he did make it out alive.

Does YOUR DQ do this?

We have had a tradition that each time we go to DQ (Dairy Queen) we ask for "doggie cups". It all started when we had the pups with us and stopped and they gave us to cups full of regular soft serve ice cream. The dogs of course loved it. They eat ANYTHING that tastes terrible, let alone something that tastes as scrumptous as soft serve from DQ. ANyway, each time we go we ask for a treat for them too. Tonight I had to take pictures because it was just hysterical!

Hireq (the brown one) stood on her hind legs for as long as she could to get her share. Even Patah (the white one) tried to stand, she's not quite as good at it as Hireq, but it's ice cream...who wouldn't???

They were all over the place and finished in about 2 or 3 minutes.
I wonder if dogs get ice cream headaches?
Anyway, enjoy the pictures of our dogs enjoying their treats!


MMM, MMM
GOOD...

Destination...Ecuador...

Well, this is a very loaded blog that will probably need a continuation since I am at work right now and at any minute something bad could come through the door and cut this short. Maybe I should just keep you guessing...
Just kidding...

Well, we are planning on taking a trip to Ecuador the beginning of December to "scope out the territory".
For those of you that don't know, we took a trip 2 summer's ago to Ecuador and really felt that this a place where we needed to see if God wants us, well, for the rest of our lives.
This is kind of the 2nd step in the process. We met with missionary friends last week and they said they would host us for a few days and introduce us to some people and just hang out.
Well, I am feeling a little scattered as I am writing. I feel I have so much to tell you all that has been going on, but I don't want to get in the middle of it and have to stop. So, what I am going to do is post more tonight about our last couple weeks and post some pictures too.
Until then, keep your feet on the ground...and keep reaching for the stars...(that sounds kind of familiar.) ANyway,
HAPPY FRIDAY to ya!