Thanksgiving - It's not just another holiday!

I was just browsing my previous blog posts and ran across one from 2012 at Thanksgiving time. (http://dayspringlane.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-at-our-house.html) Wow!  As I revisit the emotional memories, I realize that time has a way of helping us to forget so much - both a blessing and a curse.  Let us not ever take for granted the blessings of good health, a loving family, and a personal Savior and God who answers prayer.

As we enter another Thanksgiving season, I am once again feeling blessed.  Another new life has entered our family, for which we are so very thankful to God.  She comes to us after much prayer and intercession for her well-being after a very stressful pregnancy for our daughter and son-in-law.  A pregnancy which started out with such joy and expectation soon turned into one of dread and apprehension for the future.  Doctor's reports after sonograms and MRIs got scarier each month.

The big day came on July 16.  Taylor Elizabeth Burns came to us at 7:26 p.m. looking and acting perfectly healthy.  Needless to say, there was much rejoicing in the hospital room!  Shortly after taking her to the nursery, however, the doctor came back to tell us that there was one unforeseen problem that would require some immediate surgery.  It was called imperforate anus.  Never heard of that one - but apparently it is not uncommon to the medical professionals. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), this abnormality is present in about one of every 5,000 births, occurring more often in boys than girls. According to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (CCH), about half of all babies born with imperforate anus have additional abnormalities.

It sounds weird but actually - as bad as this condition sounds and as serious a problem as it is - it was somewhat of a relief in light of what was expected.  BUT GOD  and Taylor showed off big time and all those expected issues became non-issues!  We had to take a little time to recognize the miracle amidst the chaos.  Praise God, He does answer prayer!

Two days after birth, Taylor had surgery to create a temporary colostomy. She stayed in NICU for nine long days, but progressed well.  Naturally, the inability to keep Taylor with them and take Taylor home with them from the hospital was very hard on mommy and daddy (especially mommy because of what she had just done!)    The next day after surgery, Taylor was finally able to eat for the first time!  The breastfeeding went well even with the challenge of baby and mommy being separated. 

Taylor is now four months old, and has just undergone her second procedure called a perineal anoplasty and pull-through operation, creating the anus and pulling down the rectum to connect it to the new anus.  In two or three months, the final operation will take place to reverse the colostomy. The outlook is for Taylor's little body to be back to normal by her first birthday and be right on track for potty training.

Praise the Lord, additional testing after birth has ruled out all other abnormalities that are usually associated with the imperforate anus.

So we are here at  the Thanksgiving season once again with much to be thankful for.  God has been so good to us. 

Look at this little face - aren't we so blessed??

Taylor Elizabeth Burns
4 months old

 P.S. The biblical meaning of Taylor is "clothed in salvation" and Elizabeth is "oath of God".  How appropriate for such a miraculous little girl!

 

What's With All These Seeds????

I'm learning to eat real, healthy food.  It's been a progressive lesson in finding out what is what and where to find it.  The first trip to the grocery store to stock up on this "new" food was two hours long for two of us.  It's getting shorter each time, but I still sometimes have to go to two or three stores to find what I need.

I've noticed that the recipes I am now using call for seeds of all kinds.  I've never used seeds in my country cooking so I went on a search to find out "what is it with all these seeds?"  What do they add to your diet?  Are they nutritious or are they just for looks, texture, taste, or filler? Here's what I found out:

Chia Seeds - (I reviewed Chia Seeds in my last blog, but it also fits here with seeds.)

• Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
• Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
• Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
• Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
• Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
• Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
• They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.

Flax Seeds -  Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.  Flaxseed is found in all kinds of today's foods from crackers to frozen waffles to oatmeal. Flaxseed is what's used to feed all those chickens that are laying eggs with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. One popular way to use in cooking is to incorporate ground flaxseeds into your muffin, cookie, or bread recipes.

•  Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s. The plant omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, called ALA, inhibited tumor incidence and growth. Flaxseeds comes out number one as a source of omega-3s!
• Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75 to 800 times more lignans than other plant foods. The lignans in flaxseed may provide some protection against cancers that are sensitive to hormones without interfering with the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Some studies have suggested that exposure to lignans during adolescence helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and may also increase the survival of breast cancer patients. Lignans may help protect against cancer by blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism and interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells.
• Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.  A unique feature of flaxseeds is their mucilage (gum) content. "Mucilage" refers to water-soluble, gel-forming fiber that can provide special support to the intestinal tract. It can help prevent the too rapid emptying of the stomach contents into the small intestine, thereby improving absorption of certain nutrients in the small intestine.

Sunflower Seeds - Besides being my favorite flower, sunflowers produce seeds that are good to eat and good for you. 

• Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin E, the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant.  Vitamin E has significant anti-inflammatory effects that result in the reduction of symptoms in asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer, help decrease the severity and frequency of hot flashes in women going through menopause, and help reduce the development of diabetic complications. In addition, vitamin E plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.  Getting plenty of vitamin E can significantly reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis. In fact, studies show that people who get a good amount of vitamin E are at a much lower risk of dying of a heart attack than people whose dietary intake of vitamin E is marginal or inadequate.
• They  control cell damage, thus playing a role in preventing cancer. This is because sunflower seeds are a good source of selenium, which is a proven enemy of cancer.
• They contain bone-healthy minerals. Besides calcium, your bones need magnesium and copper to stay strong. Sunflower seeds have both these minerals.
• They keep you calm. Yes! The magnesium in sunflower seeds is reputed for soothing the nerves, thus easing away stress, migraines and helping you relax.
• They bring a glow to your skin. The star in this role: Vitamin E again, which combats UV rays and keeps skin youthful.
• They ease every condition that’s inflammatory in nature, such as joint pain, gastric ulcers, skin eruptions, asthma and such. That’s because sunflower seeds are loaded with antioxidants.

 Hemp seeds - Although hemp seeds and marijuana come from the same species of plant, they are  different varieties and the similarities stop there. Hemp seeds do not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active substance in marijuana.

• Hemp seed may be one of nature's most perfect foods.
• Considered a complete protein, hemp seed delivers 5 grams of protein in a 2 Tbsp serving.
• Provide a perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in each serving. These fatty acids promote heart health, lower triglycerides, work to reduce inflammation, promote brain health, and support the immune system.
• Low in carbohydrates.

Pumpkin Seeds -

• Are filled with lots of minerals including phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron and copper.
• Are a good source of vitamin K.
• Contain phytosterols, compounds that that have been shown to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.
• Contain L-tryptophan, which helps with good sleep and lowering depression.
• Are high in zinc, making them a natural protector against osteoporosis.
• Are a good source vitamin E; pumpkin seeds' vitamin E content may bring us more health benefits that we would ordinarily expect due to the diverse forms of vitamin E found in this food.
• Are an excellent source of vitamin B group (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates).
• Contain good quality protein.
• According to studies, pumpkin seeds prevent calcium oxalate kidney stone formation.
• Reduce inflammation for arthritis without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Are good for prostate health! The oil in pumpkin seeds alleviates difficult urination that happens with an enlarged prostate

So now you know. Next time you see a recipe calling for seeds, pile them on.  They are good for you, providing maximum vitamins, nutrients and other benefits in a small little seed.

Country Girl's Guide to Healthy Food

Happy 2014!  New Year's Resolutions are three weeks old by now and, in many cases, probably history.  But for me - I'm hanging in there and am still having fun with the commitment I made to healthy eating. 
 
I purchased the book, The Daniel Plan, and started trying to incorporate the principles of faith, food, fitness, focus and friends.  A group of friends join me each Wednesday morning to watch the video of the week and discuss the material. In addition, I have more folks in an online Facebook support group.  We have found that it really is easier to stay on track with friends supporting you. 
 
Delving into the world of "real" food has been an adventure for this country girl.  The book says, "If your great-grandmother didn't know what it was, don't eat it."  Well - not only did my great- grandmother not know what some of this stuff is-- I don't either!  I found myself searching the grocery store aisles for hours looking for articles listed on the shopping list.  Not only did I not know what they were, I had no idea where to find them!  I bought some things for the first time in my life - and that's a long time :-)  Some things I had no idea how to pronounce and I used herbs and spices that I previously had no idea how to use.  At least it made for some humorous conversations with grocery store employees.   
 
I pride myself on being a good cook.  In fact, I am well known for my recipes for yeast rolls, apples and cheese, and chicken spaghetti among other things. But those things would not be on the list for "real food" would they?  
 
So here is the Country Girl's guide to this stuff.  Maybe it will help if there are any others out there like me (I can bet no one is as bad as me.)
 
Quinoa - first you have to learn how to say it - KEEN-wah.  See it's not at all as hard as it looks.  

Guinoa

 
A 12-oz. box of traditional white sells for $4.39 at Walmart (in the rice section).  Or they have a red variety for $6.48.  I don't know why, but I didn't see the white kind so I purchased the red.  I cooked it in my rice cooker and it came out just right, I guess.  How would I know?  I should have added a little salt, even though the cooking directions did not tell me to.  It was pretty bland.  We had it plain one night with grilled salmon.  The next morning I used a recipe for breakfast bake, adding eggs, cinnamon and milk hoping it would change the flavor. It didn't do much to it. 

The history of quinoa is rooted in South America, in the Andes region that is currently divided up between the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has singled out quinoa as a food with "high nutritive value," impressive biodiversity, and an important role to play in the achievement of food security worldwide.  Some of the beneficial properties are:

• certain antioxidant phytonutrients
• two flavonoid—quercetin and kaempferol—are now known to be provided by quinoa in especially concentrated amounts (more than cranberries).
• anti-inflammatory phytonutrients
• small amounts of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
• complete protein source.
• gluten-free

Jicama - When I asked for ji-cam-a at the store, the produce fellow had never heard of it.  He asked to see my shopping list and then he had heard of it.  Who knew it was from Mexico?  My Spanish skills being what they are :-) I would have known it was hick-a-ma if I had known it was Spanish.

Jicama

 
 
Anyway - I DO like jicama.  It is one of my favorite finds in this new venture.  It is sometimes called Mexican yam or Mexican turnip. It is a root vegetable grown in the warm climates of Central America, the Caribbean, the Andes Mountain regions, and Southern Asia. It is very similar in texture to a turnip with a taste closer to an apple, and has a crisp, white, solid flesh. Jicama skin is thick and tough--that's how I knew I should peel it.  They can be stored up to four weeks in a cool dark place and in the refrigerator after being cut. Chopped, cubed, sliced into fine sticks, raw or cooked, jicama is versatile and great in stir-fries, salads, slaw, soup, and with other veggies and fruits like oranges, apples, carrots, and onions, as well as meats and seafood. A favorite Mexican recipe is chilled jicama slices sprinkled with chili powder, salt, and lime juice. The benefits for jicama are:

• low in calories
• provides one-quarter of what's needed daily in fiber per serving
• promotes bone health by enhancing absorption of calcium from other foods, protecting against osteoporosis
• promotes “good” bacteria growth that maintains both a healthy colon and balanced immunity
• because it has a very low glycemic index, jicama is a great food for diabetics
• excellent source of fiber and vitamin C - 44% of the daily value per serving
•  powerful antioxidant that zaps free radicals to protect against cancer, inflammation, viral cough, cold, and infections
• healthy amounts of potassium -  linked to lower risks of heart disease.
• contains important vitamins like folates, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, and thiamin, and the minerals magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese.
• like potatoes, they should be used sparingly due to the high carbohydrates content.

Jicama was $1.48 a pound at Walmart when I bought it (one).  If I had known they don't always carry it, I would have bought more - when I went back the following week they didn't have them and I couldn't find them ANYWHERE in Milton, Pace, or Pensacola.  The Jicama Salad I made was out of this world. 
 

Edamame
 

Edamame - Eda-whaty?   I found out this is just a fancy name for boiled green soybeans.  Apparently these are commonly served in Japanese restaurants.  I found a steamable package in the frozen foods section (10 oz. for $1.98), took them home and steamed them in the microwave and found out they are actually pretty yummy.  They can be used as a snack, a vegetable dish, used in soups.   As a snack, the pods are lightly boiled in salted water, and the seeds are squeezed directly from the pods into the mouth with the fingers. (Don't try to eat them like snow peas.)
Benefits:

• rich in fiber
• has as much protein as it does carbohydrate 
• it contains around 10% of the Daily Value for two key antioxidants; vitamins C and A
• high in iron; it has about as much as a 4-ounce roasted chicken breast

 
Kalamata olives - The Kalamata olive is a almond-shaped, plump, dark purple olive with a smooth, meaty texture named after the city of Kalamata in southern Peloponnese, Greece near where they are grown. Often used as a table olive, they are usually preserved in wine vinegar or olive oil.  They have a rich and fruity taste. My use of these olives was in a delightful raw kale salad. I thought I was on a sun-drenched Greek isle.   7 oz. for $3.21 at Walmart.
 
Tahini paste - a paste made from ground, hulled sesame seeds. Tahini is served as a dip on its own or as a major component of hummus or baba ghanoush (huh?).  Evidently these items are favorites in Middle Eastern restaurants. This would be a good item to split with a friend since it is a little on the expensive side in my opinion and you don't use much in each recipe.  Publix has a pint jar of this for about $6.99.  Tahini is a good source of fiber, iron and protein.
 
Baba ghanoush -  is a Levantine dish of eggplant mashed and mixed with olive oil and various seasonings. The Arabic term means "father of pestle" ("baba" means father and "ghanuj" derives from "ghan", stone for pressing cheese or grain).  Got that?  Can't wait to make me some.
 

Chia Seeds

Tamari - would that be the day after today?  No, it is a wheat-free soy sauce.  So when on the Daniel Plan Detox you would use Tamari instead of soy sauce, okay?
 
Chia seeds -  I found chia seeds in a 6.7 oz. container at Publix, for $6.49 (in the nut/seed department).  I had recipes for chia coconut brown rice bake, chia coconut oatmeal and oatmeal/peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies with chia seeds, but I didn't know what the chia was for.  This is what I found out. 

• Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
• Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
• Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
• Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
• Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
• Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
• They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.

Tempeh - Tempeh, is a traditional soy product that is originally from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form, similar to a very firm vegetarian burger patty. It is usually in the refrigerator section.  My recipe is for a stir fry where tempeh is used instead of meat.  I have not purchased tempeh yet but I have made the recipe using chicken.   
 
So you see folks, this country girl had a lot to learn about foods that I have never heard of, never purchased and never prepared.  Goes to show you are never too old to learn and you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

Happy 2013!

The other day I was reading a magazine and came across a description of a book called, “One Good Deed: 365 Days of Trying to Be Just a Little Bit Better.” That got me to thinking, “What if we all took on the mission this year of trying to be just a little bit better?”  Not suggesting that being better will get us any closer to heaven or anything like that, but with the mindset of sharing Christ’s love to those around us.  There is always room for improvement in our contact and relationships with other people.  

The psychiatrist Karl Menninger once said that he thought the central purpose of each individual’s life should be “to dilute the misery in the world.”   Jesus Christ said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

So here is my challenge to all of us this year.  Let’s have 365 days of the “good deed” life.  Every single day look for an opportunity to do a good deed for someone around you.

A good deed is any situation where you can change someone’s life for the better, even if only for a moment—make something a little easier, lighten a load. The simplest thing is to just give.  A shoulder to lean on, time, sound advice, a helping hand, some pocket change—it doesn’t matter what, it just has to be from your heart. 

And then, let’s report back here some of the ways we have accomplished our good deed for the day.  What you do may give someone else an idea.  Who knows, by the end of the year we may write our own book! 

Thanksgiving At Our House

‘Tis the season, y’all!  The season to be thankful for our blessings.  And we do have so many blessings to be thankful for.  When I reflect upon the past year, I am reminded once again how things could have been so different for my family right now. 

Beginning at this time last year, we were tremendously blessed and totally immersed in chaos and desperation at the same time. 

On November 14, our precious grandbaby, Adelaide, was born.  Such joy was ours as we witnessed the beginning of this new life.  Births in this family are always suspenseful and exciting, because the parents choose not to reveal the gender or the name of the child until he/she comes into the world.  It was fun three years ago on Christmas Eve when our first grandchild was born and we discovered he was a boy and his name was Isaac Sage.  Perfect! 

This time, it was a girl.  Perfect again!  (Just what I wanted, y’all. No one else would say that but me.  lol)  She was beautiful and healthy.  She looked just like her mommy.   Everything went well; they got out of the hospital and mom was recuperating at home.  After a few days, it became apparent that something was wrong with mom.  She went to the doctor, who immediately sent her to the hospital where she stayed for two weeks, literally fighting for her life. 

How could something so wonderful turn into such a nightmare?  Things went from bad to worse to horrible in just a few hours.  By the second night, she was in ICU and we were holding a special prayer meeting begging God to spare her life.  The outpouring of love and support from our friends was truly amazing.  People everywhere were praying for her and for us.  God is good, all the time, and He did answer prayer and she began the slow road to recovery the next day.

In the meantime, Gralyn and I were at their house helping to care for Addy.  She was so precious (and still is).  Such a good baby.  At first we were trying to feed her with a syringe so that she could continue breastfeeding when mom got out of the hospital.  When it became evident that it would be a longer hospital stay than we expected, we switched to a bottle.  Either way, she cooperated like a little champ and didn’t skip a beat. 

It’s been a long time since I was that involved in baby-care.  It was sweet, although tiring.  However, with the three of us taking shifts, we got the job done.  Adam would take the first night shift up until about midnight then bring her to my room and I would take the wee hours of the morning feeding.  When she woke up in the early morning, Gralyn would take her and let me sleep awhile longer.  That worked pretty well.

Although we were all weary after a few days, it was hardest on our son.  He was spending as much time as he could at the hospital with his wife as well as making sure that his two children were cared for and taking care of his business at the same time.  Only God could have given him the strength to do all that he did with so little sleep.

Thanksgiving Day was in the middle of all this turmoil.  Unfortunately, on Thanksgiving Eve I had to come home because I was sick.  It had started with chills the day before and when I also got a fever and vomiting, I knew I had to leave even though I really tried to stay.  We could not risk the babies getting sick.  It turned out to be strep throat.  On Thanksgiving Day I was sicker than I have ever been, I believe.  I was in bed all day not knowing much about what was going on.  No Thanksgiving turkey for us this year!  With our daughter-in-law in the hospital, me sick in bed, two kids to care for, and my husband and son trying to take care of all of us, we didn’t think much about Thanksgiving turkey.  We were just thankful for all of us to still be alivc!

I stayed home for three days before I could go back to help out with the children.  We finally had some turkey and dressing provided by a good friend of ours - and it was good! 

Three weeks later we were able to see some normalcy returning to our lives.  Jane had a long recovery period even after the hospital stay.  Praise the Lord, she pulled through the crisis and is still alive and well to see her children grow up. 

We have so much to be thankful for this year as we look back and realize that last year could have turned out differently.  I shudder to think what could have happened and how our lives could be so different today.  I praise the Lord that He saw fit to allow our precious loved one to pull through and stay with us. 

Last week we celebrated the first birthday of our precious granddaughter with our entire family present, including our daughter and son-in-law who just moved here from Washington State - another blessing!  God has been so good to us this past year in so many ways. 

“Lord, help us not to take a single day for granted but to love and care for those around us while we have the opportunity.  We know that none of us are guaranteed another day on this earth, but the days of our lives are in your hands.  Help us to be thankful for each day that you allow us to live and to take full advantage of the time we have to serve you.  Amen.”

Mission Trip to Nicaragua

(To read the entire article, be sure to click "Read More" at the end.)

We just returned from a mission trip to Corinto, Nicaragua - an adventure that I have looked forward to for a long time.  It was one of my post-retirement goals that I thought I would accomplish before now.  It was such a joy to be able to finally participate in such an inspirational event.  You can see all my photos documenting the trip on my Facebook page.

Gralyn and I were on a team consisting mainly of members from Milton First Assembly of God, Billory Baptist Church and Wallace Baptist Church, led by Cheyenne Bodie who is a missionary with International Gospel Outreach  and leads Light and Life Missions.  

It was a God-orchestrated team, each one fulfilling a specific ministry.  Different ones participated in construction, home visitation and prayer, Pastor's conference and Pastors' wives conference as well as regular church services at Luz y Vida Church (Light and Life Church). 

The barrels are the foundation columns for the future new roof.

The construction consisted of pouring concrete for foundation columns for a new roof structure that will be erected on the next trip to Corinto.

This is a view of the rear of the building.  The new structure will extend
out to the last blue barrels on the right side of the photo.

While there, our team experienced two funerals, five weddings and ten people baptized in the Pacific Ocean.  We visited many local homes to pray for the sick.  I personally participated in two people giving their hearts to the Lord and prayed over many more. 


View of the beach from the conference room.

One of the main activities of this trip was a Pastors and Wives Conference. Men on our team ministered to the pastors and myself, Molly Maxwell and Debra Gilmore spoke to the ladies. The conference was awesome! We had around 25 ladies and it was a beautiful setting in an open-air second floor building. We had a view of the volcanoes on one side and the Pacific Ocean beach on the other side. The ladies were so receptive. My topics were "A Woman and Her Identify" and "A Woman and Her Struggles." You can hear a recording of them here if you like. At the end of the conference each pastor was given a bicycle and a large bag of staple food. You should have seen the joy on their faces. They were obviously blessed.


Volcano view from the conference room.




The ladies praying for us Americans.

At the women's conferences, Molly Maxwell and I prayed for each individual lady and especially Molly was greatly used in the gifts of the spirit to give them words from the Lord. But the biggest blessing of all was when they prayed for us Americans. Oh, the spirit of the Lord was there, you could tell that they are praying women.






Gralyn putting together the bicycles.

Some of the pastors with their bicycles and pink bag of food
given to them at the end of the conference by Light and Life Missions

The funniest thing that happened to me there was when I was beginning the second session I said something like "In this session we are going to talk about sex." My interpreter (a young single lady) looked at me and said, "Are you sure?" I cracked up. Evidently she had not read the notes! But, yes, we did talk about sex and other types of intimacy. The topics were chosen by the Luz y Vida pastor's wife and her daughter (Arellys Bodie). 

On Monday, the lady pastor of Rivers of Living Water Church came by the mission house and asked if we could come to her church to have a Women's Conference.  On Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 we went to Rios de Aqua Vida and 21 women were there for the conference.  It's amazing how they get the word out so quickly about events.  We had a great time with them. 

Serving queque to the newly married couples.

Another funny thing that happened was on Sunday night after we had had a full church service and 5 weddings, we went back to the mission house with the married couples and I was helping to serve them cake.  After everyone was served I asked if anyone wanted "mas caca."  I didn't know that I had said it wrong until I heard Cheyenne laughingly say "She just said 'caca'!  I found out later that there is a lot of difference between the meaning of  "caca" (poop) and "queque" (cake).  That'll teach me to try to speak Spanish! 




Helping to baptize the oldest baptism candidate.

It was very humbling to be asked to minister to the people in Corinto.  It was indeed a pleasure to get to know them.  One lady we prayed with in her home was hooked up to an IV for fluid because she was very weak due to a bad heart.  On Sunday, she walked out into the Pacific Ocean to be baptized.  She refused to sit on the beach and let us bring the water to her.  She came up out of that water with such a smile on her face! 



One of the quilts we made was given to this beautiful baby.

One of houses, beachfront property.

POST-HIKE NOTES

Well, we did it.  Hiked the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail.  80 miles in 8.5 days, walked for 59 hours at a rate of approximately 1.4 mph.  Mostly up and down mountains.  I told my hubby on the trail, "You know, there's one thing wrong with the AT - it's mostly mountains."  Ha ha.  Of course we knew that before we took off, but we went anyway.  And enjoyed it mostly.

In spite of the poison ivy that I caught while pottying in the woods.  It's about cleared up now, took about three weeks to go away.  In spite of the swollen feet and legs that I had for a couple of days after we returned home.  In spite of it taking me at least a week to really rest up from the hike - I still enjoyed it.

If you want to read more about our AT adventures, be sure to check out my other blog. http://www.appalachiantrailsectionhiking.blogspot.com/.  You can read all about our wild night out in the wilderness with the hogs, the nights in the shelters with the mice, and the wonderful people we met along the way.

We plan to continue into North Carolina on the AT in the Spring.  I'll keep you posted.