A Feat Unknown to Many

I know I said I was going to write a recipe post, which I plan to do... just not today. But hang in there- Eezy Cheezy Baked Ziti (like the z's right?) is coming your way. But first, a little labor story...

Today, my patient left me speechless. 

I just couldn't get over her discipline and control. This girl had 12 hours of induced labor (not the natural stuff, the start from scratch and "pit to complete" stuff). Her baby (her first) was 8ish pounds. She was polite and never complained, in fact, she didnt make a peep until it was "time." She didnt have the first drop of pain medicine. 

Now, I'm a firm believer in the fact that a woman's body is made to endure labor. Women had successful vaginal deliveries for centuries without the aid of pain medication. I find that people who spend the majority of their labor at home ambulating and changing positions are much more tolerant of labor and use far less medicine (disclaimer: I am not a proponent of the home/unassisted birth... a whole other topic.).  I think women who are able to labor without an epidural need to be disciplined, well educated on the labor process, as well as physically and mentally prepared to endure the marathon that is labor. It's not impossible, but it's not easy. Now, I have not had the pleasure of birthing my own child, but I deliver babies for a living. I cant say that I know the way things are, but... I know the way things are.  First, imagine being strapped to a bed when you're 1cm dilated. Then imagine laboring to 10cm, which takes.... oh.... 10ish hours (we are happy to see 1cm/hr- that's adequate cervical change.). Then imagine having no pain medicine and only having a hand to hold while you breathe through your contractions and cope with the pain. Then imagine also being in the ninth grade. 

Like I said, she left me dumbfounded. 

I told her she needed to start teaching childbirth classes for a living. 

Ick!

I am most certain I will never find a use for this.

Is this oddly pink contraption really so convenient, or is it just gross? Discuss.

Stay tuned! A yummy, cheesy recipe soon to follow! You dont want to miss this easy meal!

Honesty

I have tried to remain unbiased and relatively unemotional when writing about Jordan's job search on here. Obviously, there are people who may be reading this who have something to do with our job search. Mostly, I just dont want to get too prematurely eager or critical. The locations we've been called out to havent always been our first choices, but our prayer has always only been for God's will. I have straight up asked God to make his will someplace in particular, but His (real) ways are better than my wants. (haha)

But it's time to shake the formality off. 

I am SO stoked about Rockport. Seriously, I have loved it from the moment we made the turn away from Corpus towards the peninsula. God has placed an eagerness in my heart for the area and the church and what we can do for the kids here. And to think, I almost didnt go to the first interview! Boy, God knew what I needed, even when I was unwilling! I was worried that we wouldnt know what to do if we got several offers in different places (I think you remember me complaining about allllll of Jordan's interviews and prospects- it was a ton!) and now the only offer that remains is Rockport- the place we preferred over all the others anyway! 

I'm sorry all you Fort Worthers & Augustans, I know we wont be close to either of you (but you can consider our house your vacation home!). I am bummed knowing soon we will have to start all over again in an all new place, but I'm certain it will be bittersweet. And aside from that, there are plenty of things to be concerned about. The proximity to the ocean = higher cost of living and hurricanes. I've never been in such a small town, it's definitely not what I'm used to. I will have to commute and definitely still work full time. And all the great shopping is closer to Corpus! (Although that might help our budget!!) 

But I have this overwhelming sense of excitement and peace. I love Scott & Kim. I think I can speak for both of us when I say we've never felt awkward or unwanted or pressured or grilled. We have a lot of work to do for the youth, right from the word GO. This is exciting- we're going into something that we can really make a difference. It's not starting from scratch, but it's not a group that's already set in it's ways. Ultimately, unless there are some MAJOR red flags this weekend when we revisit the church/community, then I think we'll be open to coming back in view of a call. 

And in saying all of this, I have to mention, we aren't 100% certain we're moving yet. We still have to be voted on, which could always go in a negative direction! I have to prepare myself for this possibility, because it's real! We have plenty of seminary friends who all but packed up there house, knowing they'd be taking a job that they were never offered in the end. I just couldn't hold in my true feelings anymore!!!!! So keep us in your prayers, as we have a lot of choices and changes coming soon. 

Random

Random thoughts for today:

- I love Taco Casa. Yum yum yum. Taco Casa! Where else can you get a full meal for $3 and some change? 

(guess what I had for dinner...)

- I cant wait to have a normal patient to bond with. My patient today was a total loony-bin nut-case. Seriously. 

(I've been stuck in a sucky patient rut recently...)

- I'm sad I have to get up early tomorrow. There are important things happening at 9am in the morning and when it's all over with, I'm going to get my toes done.

(But it's my day off...)

- I watch entirely too much HGTV. I think it has something to do with my unnatural desire to get out of our apartment and into a house. 

(Thank goodness there's no smell-o-vision)

And if that's not random enough for you...

I am loving me some Pioneer Woman!

Sorry George

I was a little butterfly-tummy nervous at Jordan's ordination. I wasn't quite sure what to expect and was certain that I would be either weepy or out of my seat entirely for some reason or another during the ceremony. Because I felt like at one point I may become incapacitated, I entrusted my camera to my able-bodied, technologically savvy father-in-law. He, in turn, took blurry pictures of the ordination ceremony, some so blurry it's hard to tell what the picture is of. So if anyone has pictures of Jordan's ordination, please let me know!!! I gotta scrapbook this momentous occasion and I cant very well do that with blurry pictures, now can I?????

Speaking of scrapping, here are some pictures of my recent work. A coworker friend of mine asked for some stationery and here's what she ended up with: 

Flat Card (for informal hellos)

Folded Card (for more wordy Thank yous)

The Beginning

I can remember so vividly, it was eight years ago at a D-Now. I'd gone to West Acres for several months, but this was the first activity I'd chosen to participate in. I knew a few people here and there, but the weekend served to establish relationships and revolutionize my walk with Jesus. This skinny kid with spiky hair and I had gotten along well over the course of the weekend. It wasn't the first time we'd met. We talked frequently, our groups had mutual friends and so we were paired up frequently for activities. His group stayed at the Clifton's house and one afternoon, the 11-12th grade girls played the 11-12th grade boys in a wild game of ultimate frisbee in their front yard. That night at the city-wide rally, we sat near each other. He told me that one day he wanted to work in youth ministry.

Fast forward a few years; through high school, college, a whirlwind trip to Europe, a ring, wedding bells and a tiny seminary apartment filled with books. This same guy and myself.

And now here we are at the beginning, taking the next step; fulfilling a goal.

You can call him Reverend Jordan Mims.  

I am so wonderfully blessed to have a husband willing to follow God in whatever path that may take him. He testifies that when God called him to ministry, he was a soft-spoken introvert. It's apparent that God, through the years, has changed his personality to fit his calling. And Jordan gives nothing but overwhelming glory to his Creator. At his ordination, during the time alotted for his testimony, he spoke with great confidence and conviction of the wonder of  God. About how he chooses to use his people, albeit unworthy, to accomplish great works. I am certain that He has already done a great work in my husband and I am eager to be a part of what is to come. 

"Then the LORD said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, The LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." Exodus 4:11-12

More to Come...

I have a lot to say and my bed is screaming my name. Perhaps I can post again tomorrow while packing for Augusta (!!!!YAY!!!!).

Fun (and stress-inducing) patient of the day??? We had a lady come in to triage having no prenatal care, thinking she was "pretty close to her due date, like maybe today" and she was completely dilated and BREECH! So only minutes later after a few grunts and screams, as she obviously didnt have time for an epidural, here comes a baby- butt first! Scarrrrrry! Thank goodness the baby came out and was completely fine, as this could have been a total nightmare. Yikes- I dont even want to think about what COULD have happened. And what's the most frustrating and ridiculous thing of all??? After the delivery, this patient turned to the doc (the poor guy who happened to have ER call today- the guys who get all the walk-ins) and said, "Well I guess it's a really good thing I didnt ever go to the doctor, because they would have made me get a c-section and I dont want a c-section." seriously?

ughhhhhhhhhhh. 

The Aftermath

My toenails hurt... just one on each foot, which is weird. The toes directly to the side of my big toe (the piggy that stayed home). I hope they dont fall off! That would be gross. My nana had to have a toenail removed and now she paints the skin where her toenail used to be. I dont want painted skin!

Otherwise- I cant wait to get back out and run again! I've given myself a few days off, because my knee was really sore and stiff after the race. Maybe next time I should invest in some sort of brace. 

Enough about running; on to the only other topic I ever talk about anymore... Jordan's job search. 

So the church in Garland let him know today that they're "moving in a different direction." That's polite church talk for NO. This is a relief, not because I wasnt interested in Garland- it's the closest opportunity we've had so far. I'm sure Jordan is overwhelmed, because I'm overwhelmed and I barely have a part in all this. So anyway- I'm relieved to have a closed door. Isn't that funny? Wednesday, we have a dinner date with a pastor from Sandersville (Georgia). Then we'll go back to Rockport in a few weeks to look around the city a little more and go to church and see what we think. I'll be honest, we've looked at a lot of real estate in Rockport. Not a good thing... i'll get all worked up and then maybe it's not the place for us. We'll see. 

So we're going back to Augusta next week, which I'm really excited about! Jordan's getting ordained- that's the main reason for our visit, but it will be wonnnnnnnderful to see everyone again! I'm looking to put some sort of "receptionish" deal together for Jordan on Sunday night after the service. We looked into a few expensive things, and I think we're just going to have everyone who wants to come over (where yet, I dont know!!! I need ideas!!!) and eat. Probably Wife Saver. Delicious. I was going to be all industrious and make little official invites, but I still dont know what we're doing or where we're doing anything, which makes creating invitations difficult. Reminds me: I need to post pictures of the neato stationery I made for a coworker friend. 

By the way: the music (the only song) playing is the song I'll always get misty-eyed to. I usually always read blogs on mute, so I'm sure nobody listens, but IF you do... I love this song. It's the song I walked down the aisle to when I got married, which sounded a little different at the time (as a live string quartet vs. the rendition playing now), but still wonderful. loooove.