Updates

I was going to post an update on my sister's condition, but I thought it might be easier to send you to her blog: http://vandervlietfamily.blogspot.com/. Please continue to pray for her and the family.

Curveballs

Many of you may have already heard that my sister, Kara, who is 7 months pregnant, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hodgkin's is the most treatable form of lymphoma, and if found early radiation alone is effective in curing 95% of patients. Right now she is waiting to hear if the best plan of action is to have the baby early to start treatment, or wait full term.

It struck me through this whole situation how little control we have over our own bodies, our own lives. Kara is one of the healthiest people I know. She puts extra flaxseed in oatmeal for goodness sake! :)

From one perspective, that can be very unnerving. I am the type of person who likes to be prepared for everything. I currently have no less than three Excel spreadsheets of lists that need to be taken care of before I leave for Thailand. But one thing I've found in my 26 years is that sometimes I'm not the best person to be in control, and sometimes I don't know what to put on the list of preparations for life.

Someone mentioned in a prayer on Sunday that God has already won the victory over sin and death......and disease. So why are we so afraid? I know that God has already won the victory over Kara's disease, whatever the outcome, no matter how hard it is for us to understand. It reminded me of a poem by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (sp?) that I have on my Facebook profile:

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

So, I rest in the assurance that God has it under control. I follow His leading to Bangkok without doubt because I know my sister, her family, and our entire family is held in hands that never fail.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I hope to update occasionally before and after I arrive in Bangkok. Feel free to comment on an entry or just say hi. I would love to hear from you!

I cleaned out my classroom last week and handed in my keys this morning. It was surprisingly unemotional. I think it was harder for me to say goodbye to coworkers after the last day of school; saying goodbye to the physical place didn't hit me as hard. I might blog on this later; I've learned a lot in the last three years.

Now I have the next month to both get a myriad of small tasks and appointments taken care of and spend as much time with friends and family as possible. Last week I was able to get out to the Blackhawks rally, which was awesome - hot, but awesome. Tomorrow I go to a Cubs game, and Friday is the MGMT concert. Yay! I love having an excuse to get together with friends for concerts and the like! What are YOU doing this summer?