Huehuetango, WHAT?

So in 36 hours (ish), I am going to be boarding the plane headed for Guatemala!! Me and students/faculty from Lee University will be heading to Huehuetango, Guatemala for 2 weeks (I'll only be gone 8 days) for a medical mission trip. We'll be roughing it and spreading the love of Jesus through antibiotics:-) What could be better?? Obviously I am super excited. I have so many mixed emotions about this upcoming trip. I love traveling and I love going to new places. I also love the fact that we will be blessing people through the gift of medicine. I have been praying for an opportunity like this for a while and I really believe the Lord laid it right in my lap. I know He wants me going. Buuuuttttttt.... on the other hand, I'm EXTREMELY nervous. 1. I will be traveling by my self to a third world country to meet the rest of the group down there. 2. I don't really know anyone else going (sans the 2 teachers I know). 3.. I'm very nervous that I'm not going to be able to properly treat the people down there. My specialty at work is Women's Health and we're going to be doing alot of primary care. 4.. There is always the risk of volcanoes/hurricanes. And I think those are all pretty legitimate fears. But I know God is going to do some great things while we're down there. I'm praying and trusting that He is going to take care of us the entire time. I can't wait to come back and share!

Glimpses of Bam

Today would have been my grandmother's 82nd birthday. Thankfully, I'm surrounded by glimpses of her everyday.


This was a chair in her living room. We had it recovered and picked it up in Cleveland last weekend. It fits perfectly in our corner and reminds me of her everytime I sit in it.



This is one of the random pieces of jewelry I picked out of Bam's jewelry box. It was probably a gift from a child or grandchild in the family, but whenever I wear it, I think of her.



This was a 50th Anniversary Party that we celebrated for Bam and Doda's best friends, Uncle Tony & Aunt Yvonne. Aunt Yvonne and Bam literally saw/talked to each other every single day. Seeing her last weekend really reminded me of Bam and how much she cherished her friendships. I hope that I can be that way too at 81:-)



I think about calling Bam often. I wanted to go see her the last time we were in Cleveland. I see cards in the store that I want to send to her. I hate that I'm going to have to wait until heaven to see her smiling face or hold her hands again. Happy 82nd Birthday, Bam! I miss you every single day. We all do...

Life with a Nosering

This blog is in honor of the fact that I can finally change my nosering out. As with any piercings, you have to leave the large stud that they pierce you with in for at least 2 months before you can switch it out. It's been 3 months since I've gotten it done, but I'm a slacker and haven't had a chance to get to the store. Anyways, life with a nosering (or a "nosestud" as my mother likes to remind me) has been interesting to say the least. Most people are receptive to it, but a large chunk of my beloved hate it. I personally am still enjoying it. Here are the most common questions/responses I've gotten:

Why would you do this to your beautiful face? Oh this is definitely my favorite question. Why did I do it? Well to be honest, I don't know. I think I just needed a little spontaneity in my life when everyone around me was having children. I think I just regressed a little bit. I had always thought they were cute on other people and I had been thinking about it for a couple of months. Plus, people don't think twice about it here in Virginia... not so in TN:-)

What did your husband say? He loves it and he went with me to get it. He says that he has a "cool" wife. I wouldn't go that far, but it goes with the whole youth pastor role I guess. Obviously he's the one that has to look at it the most so if he wasn't a fan, I wouldn't haven't gotten it done.

Did it hurt? I used to say "no" confidently. The actual process of getting it done really didn't. I got it done at a super-sketch tatoo shop (probably would have picked a different place if I got it done again:-)) and the guy with 18 piercings in his face told me it would feel like I got kicked in the face with a dodgeball. Luckily, that has happened twice to me and the dodgeball hurt waaaay worse than this. And it was over in like 2 seconds. However, the first time I changed it out, I wanted to cry because it hurt so bad. So I guess it's a yes and a no answer.

People have even been so rude as to say, "What's on your face"? My response is to look closely and you'll figure it out.

What did your pastor say? Seriously? My pastor could care less. And I'm pretty sure he's going to love me with or without a nosering. The kids in the youthgroup tend to like it so that's gotta be good for the numbers, right? (just kidding about the numbers!)

What did your boss say? She didn't even notice for the first week. Then she asked me if it was new and she said it was "pretty". Her daughter stopped in the office to say hi and then the following week told her mom (my boss) how much she loved my nosering and how she wanted to get one. She is in college, but I'm thinking Dr. Hines probably wasn't too keen on that happening. Some of my patients even noticed too. Most of the older ladies probably are thinking I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to taking care of them. I did have an instance when a patient was being seen for a miscarriage and all her insensitive/redneck mother could talk about was how much she loved my nosering.

Don't they make smaller ones? Yes, they do, and I now have a smaller one in. I got the smallest one you could get when they pierced it. Thank you, Shauna:-)


Overall,one thing that I've learned is that you really have to love what you do to your body. I'm happy with it for now. It's not permanent and it's not a tatoo. It'll probably come out in a year or so. Comments are hurtful so it's best to just not say anything if you can't stand it.