Patience Pays Off...

Though I may have been in a foreign country, ranch business never stops, and when I had time between shifts and outreaches when I was in the Philippines, I helped direct the sales and care operations of our ranch back in the US.

This last year, we found that our herd was increasingly becoming all white, because our color stock was more in demand So for the first time in a few years, we made some purchases of quality colored alpacas to infiltrate our foundation herd.

We found all the new stock we wanted by the end of July, but on a whim in early August, I decided to surf another online Alpaca Auction (almost as bad as horse shopping!! ;p), & found a "3-2" Gray Female Alpaca Package that caught my fancy & was in my price range. I thought, "Hey, it has a few days left, the lines are good, it'll probably go way beyond my reach, but why not?? I'll Bid."  Though I did pre-count the costs, I was still completely shocked when a few days later, the auction ended, and to my surprise, I was the highest bidder!!!

Black and Silver Gray is my speciality...for almost all livestock, and so I was pretty stoked. The one girl had just been bred, and since they were out-of-state, both were held until the pregnancy was confirmed and she was far enough along that it'd be safe to travel--meaning October. Unfortunately, every transport for almost 3 months kept falling through, and so God had a LOT of fun teaching me patience, as I waited expectantly for my 'girls'.

Today, "Violet" and "Essence" actually made it to our ranch. There is always a risk buying sight unseen, but I wasn't disappointed. And sure enough, Violet is pregnant for a Summer 2012 cria. Woohoo!!!

During this whole purchase and the many complications that came with it, God taught me a lot. I like to give first-rate service to our clientele, and sometimes it's frustrating when that is not reciprocated when I'm on the other end of the deal. However, God gave me grace, and abundant patience, and I was able to laugh it all off, and try to be a blessing.

I am reminded of the following verses....how good is our God, that He would continue to teach us, though we may be wayward and unwilling, but He in His mercy, as we seek Him, continues to train and teach us through all things:

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

~ 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 ~

1 Down, 39 To Go...

Well, I finished Chapter 1 of 40 today, and am now starting on the 2nd Chapter of my EMT Manual. My Quiz Score was  85% (3 wrong), and even with that, I am already learning so much.  The program is set up really well, and the Contact People are easy to work with when you have questions.  EMT Fire Training has really tried to make it's program user and learning type friendly, and my little siblings are jealous, because I get to play 'crossword puzzles' to help me memorize the different names, etc. :)

Star of Life

This first section is completely Preparatory, meaning it covers the basics of everything EMS. For instance, this first Chapter gave an overview of what EMS is all about, what our Scope of Practices are, etc. etc.  The next chapter is on Workforce Safety.  Already, I am learning so much that can be used for every aspect of Health Care, and not just for Medical Emergencies (which is why I'm enrolled in this course).

Though I know the course will become more complicated and challenging as I start memorizing more and more, I'm looking forward to the Fundamental Knowledge I'll be learning, that I know will assist me an every area of life.  As it was said at my dear friend's RN Pinning Ceremony last night, 'though the coursework is tough, the outcome is worth it, and it changes you (for the good), and gives you life-long skills'.

For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

 ~ Isaiah 50:7 ~

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy (ruhamah), and find grace to help in time of need.

~ Hebrew 4:16 ~

Smart...

Rachel and I were teaching my 7 year old brother, James about the value of money today, when I remembered the following poem...."Smart" Proves the point, eh??

My dad gave me one dollar bill

'Cause I'm his smartest son,

And I swapped it for two shiny quarters

'Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters

And traded them to Lou

For three dimes -- I guess he don't know

That three is more than two!

Just thenm, along came old blind Bates

And just 'cause he can't see

He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,

And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs

Down at the seed-feed store,

And the fool gave me five pennies for them,

And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,

And he got red in the cheecks

And close his eyes and shook his head--

Too proud of me to speak!

~ Shel Silverstein

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

~ Ecclesiastes 7:12 ~

An Essay From Samuel

For school today, my 13 year old brother, Samuel wrote the following Essay:

In the colonial days, taking care of the sick was much different than today. The people didn't know what the flu or other sicknesses came from unless it was obvious. Because of their lack of knowledge, contagious sicknesses often proved deadly. There weren't many hospitals and very few doctors, so the mothers would resort to using herbs for remedies. Even though they didn't taste or smell very pleasant, many herbs like Mullein for coughs and Helichrysm for wounds proved very effective. The most popular herb--St. John's Wart--was believed to draw devils away. Herbs, however, were not the only means of treatment. Colonists also used tea for a cure that was made by burning frogs to a crisp and grinding them up into powder. Disgusting!!

There were many rumors about different diseases. Numerous colonists would blame the sickness on spells cast by witches or even evil spirits. There were also many queer thoughts about different cures. One of them was a cure for the fever. They would cut the sick person's fingernails and put them in a bag, which would be tied to an eel's neck. The eel would be put into water and when it died, they believed the patient's fever would leave.

Another superstition was that when babies teethed, doctors would have them wear a necklace with wolves teeth on it which they believed would help with the pain. The most common superstition, however was bloodletting. In trying to help the process of healing, patient's veins were cut open, and the blood was allowed to flow out. They believed in this cure so strongly that if a doctor was unavailable, the barber or the minister would do the bloodletting themselves. Today, we have found out how to heal the sick, but unfortunately we have gone too far.

The main problem with today's medical society is that many doctors care more about money than their patients. They sell them masses of unneeded drugs that take away pain and can lead to addiction without solving the root problem. Unfortunately, the people today don't realize that they are following a shepherd-disguised wolf. Even when information is discovered on how to heal most sicknesses, it is often criticized and suppressed. Home remedies also have their place, and thus the sensible will take the best of both worlds and disperse the love and kindness of mothers and the wisdom of doctors to all.

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

~ Proverbs 23:24 ~

Just a Testimony

"....my cup runneth over."

~ Psalms 23:5c ~

Manila, Philippines

That verse hit me hard when I read it today....God has so blessed me, and so filled my cup to overflowing...  This last week was extremely busy--in a good way: from helping my dad prepare for our Annual Staff Appreciation Party, to preparing for Sunday's Philippine Presentation, and everything else in between, and God sure made this verse true in my life!!

If you know me, I love helping other people, but it's hard sometimes to allow people to help me because "I don't want to be a burden"...a lie I know...but still something I battle with. So, it was overwhelming to have so many people pitch in to help with last minute preparations for the Meal on Sunday. I when I assumed I would just get all the last details done...whatever it takes, not matter if an "all-nighter" would be the answer. I guess teamwork is a good thing...something God has created. Something that I need to learn how to do well.

Where are my brothers???

Looking back, even an "all-nighter" by myself wouldn't have gotten everything done in time, and so I'm grateful that my precious family joyfully pitched on Saturday...sacrificing their plans for me. No less grateful was I than when I walked into the Church kitchen Sunday morning, to find my dear friend Alyssa already working in the kitchen!!! So many people lended their hands willingly to help...it was simply...yes, I've used the word a lot, but it's the best I know....overwhelming.

My Bukid Baby

The 'Surprise Meal' was Filipino Tacos....everyone raved about them, and I guess they'll become a regular around our house!!  I was told to plan for around 175 people, but when all was said and done, there were around 210 for the meal, and 225 for the presentation. Though there was a shortage of meat and beans, no one complained....and if anything, they got a feeling for what it was like in the Phils, when sometimes all you ate was rice 3 times a day. (Boy do I LOVE rice now!!)

As my mentor reminded me later, I asked God that it would be about Him and not me...that He would speak through me, and that He would get the praise, glory, and honor, and I know He did.  Though I felt incapable, He was there through my weakness-praise God!!

We serve a powerful God!! Praise Him for who He is!!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

~ Romans 8:28 ~