Dream 1 of the Reoccurring Dreams: A Sick Baby Girl, Born in the Bush

So the question is this: "Have you ever had reoccurring dreams?" Yes, yes I have. I will tell you about the first dream, which I had more than four years ago, and I remember it quite vividly.

I was living somewhere in the jungles, or the bush, and I remember it looking much like this

-------->
It was so hot, humid actually, and everything was mud and filthy. I was living there, ministering among the villagers, and I was very very pregnant, so my entire family came down to visit me and be there for the birth.

I went into labor and it was very very painful. There was no doctor or nurses, and I remember delivering on my own with no sterile tools or medicines. I was in labor for something like three days, and I woke up sometime later alone in my hut, with my baby laying beside me. It was a small pale-skinned girl, and I was so so upset. Not only did I want a boy, but genetically, my baby should have had darker skin (if you know what I mean.)

I was an absolute mess. I was filthy, hungry, exhausted, emotional, and alone. I called and called for my family, and no one came to my attention. So I carried my baby outside of my hut, and to where my family was staying, and I found them there. It was as if the whole village had gathered to celebrate my delivery. They had roasted chickens, bought choice pops, and were sitting around a bonfire laughing and having a wonderful time.

I was standing there looking quite pitiful, holding my baby, wrapped in a dirty cloth, and my sister Joni asked: "What did you name your baby?" I responded, quite pathetically, "I.. I haven't yet... I thought she was a boy.." and oh.my.word. she said, "Well, don't forget to do that" and then turned back around to finish her story to the group, and they continued laughing.

So I went inside my family's hut, hoping to find some soap and water or food, and I found my sister Jessie, sleeping peacefully in a large, soft, beautiful bed (did I mention that I delivered my own baby in the dirt, and woke up in the dirt?) Apparently my sister had also been pregnant, I hadn't known, and she delivered a beautiful, big, healthy, dark-skinned, baby boy, with long, curly dark hair. I was angry, so angry. I turned around, and there was long paper banner hanging on the wall, "Congratulations Jessie and Son".

I left, sobbing, with my tiny, sick baby girl. I sprinted past my family and friends, laughing around the fire, and found myself alone again in the dirt of my hut.

Horrible, I know!!



Make sure you return tomorrow for the sequel...

Random Dozen

I'm happy to participate in another random Wednesday meme, hosted by Lid at 2nd cup of coffee. Trace the link above to visit Mr. Linky and read the randoms of other bloggers.

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I wait!! The cops would get me... I know they would! This belief is evidenced by the fact that I have never been pulled over. ☺

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would have gone to bed earlier last night…

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I will most likely comment on her most recent blog.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Toy Story.. Pirates of the Caribbean.. Glory Road.. I'll Be Home for Christmas.. Ratatouille.. The Fox and the Hound.. Mulan..

5. Do you recycle?
I do! And I recycle for my roommate and suitmates too! My mom also now recycles.. yay Mom!

6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Game of strategy… yes, game of strategy. Settlers of Catan, OR Cities and Knights of Catan on a Seafarers of Catan board! [Anyone know what I'm talking about??]

7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
Oh this is an interesting question! I searched through all my old blog posts, because I thought I had already written about this, but apparently not. In both dreams, both my twin sister and I were pregnant. She had the perfect pregnancy and delivery.. and I, well, didn't. If you aren't a regular follower, you will want to check back in later this week in anticipation of a good funny story! (2 actually!)

8. What did you learn from your first real job?

One secretary is very very Type A and the other is very very NOT Type A, and I need a balance of both to keep me sane!

9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
Buy, and then sell. I just discovered the selling part this semester, and my sister and I have made almost $1300 by selling 25 books on half.com. A WONDERFUL BLESSING INDEED. Of course it will all go towards next semester's books, and then our summer missions trips.

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
None.. I have only seen 3 decades you know.

11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
I don’t think I have ever started before Thanksgiving, but I suppose if I saw the perfect gift in early-November, that I wouldn’t feel odd buying it. Since freshman year, routine has been that I usually don't start until after exams, which usually only puts me about 10 days before Christmas... stress.

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
I cried when I found out my sister was pregnant.

Hair cut

Last night my suite-mate took about 4 inches off my hair. I hate her for it.. just kidding!! I really didn't want to let it go, but it was looking pretty unhealthy. It will grow back right??

BEFORE::

AFTER::

Discipline..

“Some of the most talented singers are never heard. Some of the most talented writers are never read. Some of the most talented athletes never make a team. Why? Because they don’t develop their gift into a quality, disciplined performance…they want success without discipline.”

-Anonymous

Reunion With the Girls

I had so much fun with Zoey, Ashton, Hannah, and Angela last night.Together with two more girls, we spent three weeks together in Cambodia back in May, and we hadn't all been together since. We were up until 1am reminiscing and talking about Cambodia mostly, but other fun things too. Like boys. :] And classes too. Oh, and professors! We played the M*A*S*H game. Determining our future spouses, occupations, cars, number of children, residences.. which is so much fun. HA! Only Hannah and I were lucky! :]

We stayed in a quaint little lake house off Chapman Lake in the county of 1000 lakes. Hannah and I shared a bed, which brought back more Cambodian memories (where all 7 of us shared 1 hotel room, with 3 beds, 3 pillows, and 3 towels.)

Around 8:30 we left and went to a café for free wifi and we used Skype [I love love love Skype!] to call our missionary host in Cambodia, Pastor Greg [who we call Baby Bird] and also Pastor Vandy. I talk to both occasionally, but they were excited to hear from the team together.

It's so funny the things different people remembered from the trip that others had forgotten about. Things like when we jumped on the hotel beds on our knees.. and when Pastor Greg almost left two of us during a pit stop.. and the fact that Limang looked like a squirrel. hehe.

My MASH future:

		I will marry Titus.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in Kratie in our fabulous Shack.
		We will have 3 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a silver Lexus.
		I will spend my days as a Pastor\'s wife, and live happily ever after.

October's Last Friday's Fave Five

Happy “Friday’s Fave Five” blog, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Click on the linky to see what 5 things other bloggers found pleasurable this week!

1. Learning Khmer script
Khmer script is the written language of Cambodia. There are something like 33 vowels and 26 consonants. It's hard stuff na, but I've been working hard to teach myself. The above is a letter I wrote to 3 friends in Cambodia.. my face is beaming with pride! Thank you to those who are encouraging me!

2. Aimee, Ashton, Loren, Hannah, Angela, and Zoey. I love these six girls. The seven of us traveled to Cambodia together this summer, and I think all we agree we became sisters as we shared beds, pillows, and towels for three weeks. We laughed, cried, and shared together and came away from an unforgettable experience with many memories (mostly good!) Tonight, for the 1st time since May 23, we will all be together again (ok, Loren can't come, but it's close to everyone!) I'm so excited! We will be staying the night in a small lake cabin -- laughing, reminiscing, playing games, and wishing we were back in Cambodia.

3. The changing seasons

While I don't like the increasingly cold temperatures, I do think that there is great great beauty revealed as the leaves change colors and fall, and again as the trees and flowers bud, and the grass returns to green in the Spring. I will miss this when I am in Cambodia; for there are only 2 season in Cambodia.

Rainy and not rainy!
But still, our Creator is God and our Creator is good!

4. Psalm 139:14-17

I made this earlier this week, and I have it printed as 8"x10" on my desk.

5. Peanut Butter

This morning I had peanut butter Captain Crunch cereal, but usually I have peanut butter on a bagel. After lunch, I had peanut butter on a rice crispy treat, and I have peanut butter crackers in my bag for a snack at work. Yum! I like pb&j sandwiches, pb&j pizza, peanut butter cereal, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter on my ice cream, peanut butter on bagels, peanut butter Oreos, peanut butter, peanut butter, peanut butter!

Khmer script

Oh baby, I have exciting news for you!! I have started teaching myself the khmer script, and I have a little samplete for you. My face is BEAMING WITH PRIDE. Yes, I did say teaching myself. It's hard stuff na! I would love love love to have a teacher, but the Marion area seems to be low on immigrants from Cambodia. There is a Khmer family who runs a Chinese restaraunt in Upland [The Happy Buddha], and I regret that I haven't made my way over to meet them yet. Anyways, see below.

In this letter written to my 3 friends Titus, Vandy, and Rolitess:

Sur sdai. Kyom sang khoem tha neak s'bai na. Kyom nirk neak na. Kyom chang khern neak, niyei ji-mouy neak, neung loo neak. Kyom chang ros nov knong Kampuchea ji-mouy neak, neung t'wer bai bai chaa som-rup neak. Neak ra-boh kyom la-or jee-ung gay meut. Kyom nirk neak na. Soum ta, geu bpra-yeut. Srolange, Srey Amelek

Wednesday's Random 12 :]

I'm happy to participate in another random Wednesday meme, hosted by Lid at 2nd cup of coffee. Trace the link above to visit Mr. Linky and read the randoms of other bloggers.

1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.
Favorite elementary teacher? High school? University?
We’ll go with right now.. Dt. Pettis, or Dr. P – he’s a professor of Intercultural Studies, and also my advisor. He’s kinda cheesy, but I enjoy his company. Why is he my fave? I’ve laughed in his office, dreamed in his office, cried in his office, and gone to his office angry, only to leave laughing and rolling my eyes. Last year we went through a long phase of trading music. I gave him Shawn McDonald, he gave me the Beach Boys, I gave him Jack Johnson, he gave me the Righteous Brothers. I’m sure we’ll make more memories when we go to Mozambique together in May. Yes, we’re co-leading a missions team of 8 students to Mozambique next May. Good times. :]

2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
When I was very little, 3-years-old, I asked Jesus to live in my heart. Two years later, I did again. I remember it being so real, even at age five. I was in kindergarten and it was after morning chapel [I think Jamie Stargel’s mom had spoken], and my teacher, Mrs. Curtis, was offering to us the sinner’s prayer. We were sitting Indian-style on the carpet at the front of the room by the chalkboard, and my best friend Garrett Bireline was sitting on my left. Everyone says they can tell you where they were, what they were wearing, when they heard about the attack on the Twin Towers, or Kennedy’s assassination. I can do the same for this moment. Halfway through the prayer I decided that I wanted to make the commitment, so I caught up and I got saved. Inside I felt very different, but I’m not sure how much in changed my little five-year-old spirit.


3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
Green has been my favorite color for as long as I can remember. I have also loved purple since my grandpa Reed died when I was in junior high; his favorite color was purple. I wasn’t super close to him, but liking purple was a way of keeping him alive in my eyes.

4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?
All my friends are getting engaged, and married, and having children! My best-friend-from-high-school's son is 8-months-old now!



5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you?
I certainly wouldn’t feel incomplete if I didn’t celebrate Halloween like I would if I skipped Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, but it certainly makes 1 night a little more fun than others!

6. What's your favorite musical?
Fiddler on the Roof (If I were a rich man, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum). I haven’t seen too many though.. I’ve been in both The King and I and The Sound of Music and I’ve still never seen either.

7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
I would hate to choose either extreme, so I’m going to say town mouse! Or village mouse. :]

8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."
I would definitely appreciate it for its whimsy and romance.

This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't. (Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?)
Driving.. eating.. studying.. sleeping.. bathroom stall.. watching movies.. playing Scrabble..

10. "It's not a party unless _______."
…there is laughter and food!

11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
I would talk to the driver (because I prefer the passenger seat). Oh, I’m alone? Then I would jam to the radio and text. If I’m in a waiting room, again, I likely have a friend or sister with me, or again, I would text.
I remember once being stuck in traffic for almost 2 hours in Florida on family vacation. My dad made friends with an old lady who had also gotten out of her car.. it was only fun for about 10 minutes.

12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?
I would be! Not only am I likeable [hehe], but I have a couple friends that are alot like me in many ways.