the one after a long hiatus

i started off the new year with consecutive posts for over 3 weeks... pretty good!
Then something happened... and just like that no posts for over 2 weeks.

It is amazing to me how quickly a good habit can be broken and bad habits built.

Now you may not think this a great habit, but the habit of thinking thru things i am thankful for was good for me. i have a goal of writing over a thousand things. i would like to do something every day.
i am sure i do say thanks to God each day - i pray for meals, etc... but it is still good to record...

How did this streak start... well, one day the power went out. i'm not sure when it came back on, but it went out late in the evening.
Stuff like that used to happen ALL the time. One time it happened when we stayed up til 3am to watch a football game, and at 3:15 the power went out.
Fortunately, that doesn't happen so much anymore.
i am thankful for that!

Then we went out of town for a two day trip.
And recently life has been crazy as we pack and sell things.
Life has been stressful... but there is a lot to be thankful for.

Today i am thankful for
1. Electricity. i mean, imagine if there was no electricity. i wouldn't be up right now... i wouldn't have a computer to type on... We are so dependant on electricity. i am thankful we have it.

2. i am thankful how easy it is to access electricity. Wheni would visit India there were scheduled blackouts every day. On the campus here, the lights go off at 10:45...

3. internet... it is crazy the things we can do these days: shop online, watch games, see the news, email...

4. A Secure line on the internet so i can communicate with friends

5. my wife. i know i mentioned her before... maybe often. But i am thankful for Soo always being with me and supporting me and knowing i can count on her

6. Being able to sell some stuff before we leave

7. All God has provided for us- that we have so much to sell

8. That i can trust God will provide again!

9. time to get things done

10. blogs

i will write more about our packing & selling experience later... for now i wanted to get back on track

the one with a trip to the hospital

Trips to the hospital are not much fun here. It is kind of like when you have to go to the emergency room in  America, except much worse, and many more people.

We usually leave quite annoyed and extremely tired.

The worst is when people are smoking inside the hospital.
Last pregnancy, Soo had to spend 2 nights in the hospital. She stayed in a room with 7 other patients and their families (yes, i stayed the night too). Most of the other patients were having babies.
There was one public bathroom for that room and another. No one cleaned it. And toilet paper didn't flush.
The pile of bloody & poop-stained paper was taller than me.

Outside of the room with all the expecting mothers, the father were smoking. Some would try to hide in the stairwell, others didn't care at all. i came out and gave a glare and they would put out their cigarette.

Soo on the otherhand doesn't always receive that support.
Most people are pretty good about it when we're at restaurants or in a taxi - but somehow at the hospital, no one cares.


Anyway, it is mostly a waiting game...

·       we have to get there at least an hour 15 minutes before the doctor arrives to register… Everyone shows up at 1:15… some go at 12:30 to make sure they are first in line (though honestly I don’t know if being first is all it is cracked up to be). I think if you get there by 1 you’re ok.. if you get there at 1:15 you could be 1^st or you could be 12^th …

·      Once in line, we have to battle all the people who try to crowd you and cut in front of you… 

·      Then we wait again… then have to run all over the hospital and wait again…

·      Then after all the tests are done… we waited again…

·      People are walking around with open containers of urine

·      The place is crowded

·      And it FREEZING

Still, i am thankful

Today i am thankful for

1. foreign doctors who come to serve God by serving others

    for all our trouble, i can't imagine all the stress and difficulties they deal with

2. not only for qualified doctors, but doctors who speak english and are quite helpful

3. We know where to go now. A few years ago we never knew which hospital to go to. We never knew who to trust, now we know

4. God takes care of us. No matter what health we may be in, God is in control. And He has given us good health

5. After our trip, though frustrating, we know Soo is healthy and the baby looks good too

6. friends who help us by watching Halle so she doesn't have to go or Soo doesn't have to go by herself

7. Doctors & hospitals in general. God has equipped people & given wisdom so we can experience healthier lives.

i hope in the midst of frustration, we don't lose sight of God