tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18681897509974131782024-03-12T17:52:08.564-07:00Hardeman FamilyAlthough this originally started out as a place to update family on our lives, I have realized through the intensity of nursing classes that I will be needing an outlet to share my experiences. Words are not my strong point so sharing through writing will be much easier than talking for me. So, come with me on these last months of nursing school. Share with me my accomplishments, tears, fears, and patient experiences. It's going to be a great 6 months!Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-74413612351701443192012-02-11T22:01:00.000-08:002012-02-11T22:01:57.298-08:00He is Quite the Guy<div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>There is something special that changes in a relationship when you are pregnant. It's as if I have fallen in love with Trav all over again in a different, deeper way. I look at him different, I appreciate smaller things, and I find that my heart is pouring out more love for him than I thought was ever possible. </b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>He has been my brain during this pregnancy. I know he thinks he has a nut case for a wife as I don't blame him. From locking my keys in my car, running out of gas on the freeway, forgetting different events, and more he has "saved" me more times than not in the past seven months. His role in our relationship has changed too. I find myself leaning on him more than ever and I've sat back as he has really stepped into the role of being the head of our little family. </b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>We recently began birthing classes. While we learned lots there were also many moments where I would catch Trav, shoulders shaking and all, as he stifled in laughter from a comment the instructor made about some sort of anatomy. He took some of it seriously though. I found myself waking up in the night to Trav rolling me over from my back to my side. You see, you are not supposed to sleep on your back but I'm back sleeper. He gets so concerned for our baby that he has started either sleeping on my side of the bed so I cannot physically roll onto my back or with his arm propped up behind me for the same reason. It's pretty cute...although sometimes I wish he was not so strong so I could move him and Nike over to get a peaceful night's sleep...on.my.back.</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>The other night we headed into L&D to be observed because baby h was not moving that day thanks to her mom not taking it easy. When I called Trav he was at dinner with co-workers who had driven him there. Instead of asking for a ride back to work he ran. Yes, ran. In his work clothes. Back to his car. I guess I know how he will be when I call to tell him I am in labor :)</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>The relationship he already has with his daughter warms my heart. It's as if she already knows who he is. Daily he puts his face close to my belly and talks to her. Calling her by name, telling her how much he loves her, and so on. Most times it is followed by him placing his ear as if to hear a response ;) He has been working late recently and I found myself waking up at bizarre hours to her kicking...hard. It registered that when he comes home late he lays with his hand placed on my abdomen and it is always than that she kicks back. Well worth it to be woken up at 2am to their sweet communication.</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>I know my heart is going to melt when I see him holding her for the first time. But I know even more his heart is going to be lost in her. </b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;">2 1/2 months to go! Can't even believe it!</span></b></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-74308124762832224022012-02-11T21:09:00.000-08:002012-02-11T21:09:47.753-08:00HOME!<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">After almost four years of bouncing around and wondering where in the world God was going to place us, we finally have an answer!</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">We just purchased our first home in Fullerton, CA! To say we are thankful for this is an understatement. It is such a blessing and a gift. Our storage was emptied today and over the next week or two we will manage to somehow move everything in and unpack amidst our crazy work weeks. We are excited to settle in and will be taking the next month to get things ready before our girl arrives. </div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">We cannot wait to bring her HOME here!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuWSkJgT47wg34O8T3hC9lbnXplsP26wpcyFcsASfSldinTvqidnp4EA0h1ZSKqzg-vcSCBBSEUngXNG14hMeh9lDwv6cuRgqXjH4Glrsu2Wb6DrzwRHCV4BXm6nM5Qufk11Xu6zAOC0/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuWSkJgT47wg34O8T3hC9lbnXplsP26wpcyFcsASfSldinTvqidnp4EA0h1ZSKqzg-vcSCBBSEUngXNG14hMeh9lDwv6cuRgqXjH4Glrsu2Wb6DrzwRHCV4BXm6nM5Qufk11Xu6zAOC0/s1600/home.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-13159828155553166032012-02-11T21:05:00.000-08:002012-02-11T21:05:57.597-08:00A Beautiful Day<div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>The first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of the baby shower Trav's family threw last weekend is: Beautiful. Everything about it was nothing less of this. The details and thought into each decoration, the delicious food, but most importantly the people who were there and how they blessed our sweet daughter. It was such a wonderful afternoon amongst family and friends. Simply beautiful.</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>My parents came into town for the weekend and I loved having them back in California. ( although it made it harder when they left!) My sister Kristel came with her daughter Zoey and our great aunt Katie spent the entire weekend with us too. At 87 she came for the shower, made a delicious meal at her house that night, came to church with us, to visit our home, and for a late lunch at Chili's. I will treasure that always! It was fun having my family and Trav's together in one setting. There was lots of chit chat, lots of yummy food to eat, and too many gifts to be opened. Thankfully I had great helpers! Looking through all the things we received that day we are so blessed and our little one is so loved already!</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>One of my favorite traditions that is done at Vander Dussen showers is the blessing. Going around the room family and friends take a minute to say a blessing, kind words, memories, and more. The words said from those who are so close to me I will cherish and remember always. It is a very tearful time but so special. My sweet little cousin Kaelene, at age 9, even shared and it was the sweetest thing. After this everyone gathered around and prayed over Trav, myself, and baby H. With hands rested on me my aunts, moms, sisters, friends, and family prayed for our new family. They prayed for health, for a safe delivery, for our daughter's future, and for us as parents. More tears. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day. ( That and the cupcake I demolished once everyone left. Man, those were delicious!)</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>Here are some pictures from the shower. ( My sister in law took these.....they are amazing!)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS383SU-SlrRLUkaqjYusXY1Xssb_KmlSLSP88A-ZGbnyQ7LfwuqTVyu3WuJbu0C1fGiD4EniuR6wcA0o1rdBhyphenhyphenooA2hgfYXa5nzz1X99M4lgdALzbajixe80IRVQAuqgEA4nFDvjdN-Q/s1600/auntkk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS383SU-SlrRLUkaqjYusXY1Xssb_KmlSLSP88A-ZGbnyQ7LfwuqTVyu3WuJbu0C1fGiD4EniuR6wcA0o1rdBhyphenhyphenooA2hgfYXa5nzz1X99M4lgdALzbajixe80IRVQAuqgEA4nFDvjdN-Q/s320/auntkk.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> My dear Aunt Katie</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DRBsLv_WbfQGPVna75q64LKyafwUlD9MBlkzhvuaVGHvlF1x0SD122ej_ZIP2Ch0s3e42aNdPPQYokA1KvPYPn34u1E2nNNAvrj58Hy7VQ4uIqYoXecrfelCc5z8ZIrX5_V-S0zGOcs/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DRBsLv_WbfQGPVna75q64LKyafwUlD9MBlkzhvuaVGHvlF1x0SD122ej_ZIP2Ch0s3e42aNdPPQYokA1KvPYPn34u1E2nNNAvrj58Hy7VQ4uIqYoXecrfelCc5z8ZIrX5_V-S0zGOcs/s320/butterfly.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Love!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsvXXJVHM8Ua6SFrIfNAyyO0ZpSxOljFjPHFDpDj-bDCcii68iwBMjt-Ri1qWN9JYSbF1lQWFaHfkEVoqzwr-3TJn21gCJL842ubHaQnZEszWRbgUS7qsShuNZYge-jnTH1YC8JVTxTU/s1600/carriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsvXXJVHM8Ua6SFrIfNAyyO0ZpSxOljFjPHFDpDj-bDCcii68iwBMjt-Ri1qWN9JYSbF1lQWFaHfkEVoqzwr-3TJn21gCJL842ubHaQnZEszWRbgUS7qsShuNZYge-jnTH1YC8JVTxTU/s320/carriage.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> This was so sweet! Thanks Jenise!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEI9xfeArqOy4nsoV6P5WeQrvb-qgKw8ooX2ookCHv3LhFYVADblfswcgoJJMYflf2XcAtCi9yFlHNa_L2Swg7VW_6bOrqIv6w-gblWPkxJDWVqzG0-PtzuFFw1rpXLu5FKfV0k_MksE/s1600/cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEI9xfeArqOy4nsoV6P5WeQrvb-qgKw8ooX2ookCHv3LhFYVADblfswcgoJJMYflf2XcAtCi9yFlHNa_L2Swg7VW_6bOrqIv6w-gblWPkxJDWVqzG0-PtzuFFw1rpXLu5FKfV0k_MksE/s320/cupcake.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVUpHlVIcbrZvwTgG13bAnUv0emncQGyJ8i1LSnk9OKHbenzaTCB96te_KPxrr4qGD-PaNh6Y-7mNsRlNrzW6sObiO8RIVvmfIBwEp-Rv_GJfKvimugUedDb0WrF-CNKfhyY6qnkuSyw/s1600/yum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVUpHlVIcbrZvwTgG13bAnUv0emncQGyJ8i1LSnk9OKHbenzaTCB96te_KPxrr4qGD-PaNh6Y-7mNsRlNrzW6sObiO8RIVvmfIBwEp-Rv_GJfKvimugUedDb0WrF-CNKfhyY6qnkuSyw/s320/yum.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNP7aw1MNVobujvD_P4ww5xu2yGiiHG6lSR0T64WrgPRF8SO8vcVSXGF96mkELccdntxcx8eElQyV3GLKz5vyfYM1fPvbfasoFxG8q-xKKKOGlV2ZTMwubipO4qVf3jYrLOZ_2xH7xiik/s1600/yum1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNP7aw1MNVobujvD_P4ww5xu2yGiiHG6lSR0T64WrgPRF8SO8vcVSXGF96mkELccdntxcx8eElQyV3GLKz5vyfYM1fPvbfasoFxG8q-xKKKOGlV2ZTMwubipO4qVf3jYrLOZ_2xH7xiik/s320/yum1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndMpydgqypOltPu9XGdK_2AoAbv2rVtWwliVC6-ToLOOzpljIz6ST9oJYpj7b7ZNFoSml2lgUehUZrdafbMlxYj3c87F18q0H7KRoZyXJaMAwOWzkFG1A882V0WyXe2ZHusqFFXQVZ0g/s1600/cindy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndMpydgqypOltPu9XGdK_2AoAbv2rVtWwliVC6-ToLOOzpljIz6ST9oJYpj7b7ZNFoSml2lgUehUZrdafbMlxYj3c87F18q0H7KRoZyXJaMAwOWzkFG1A882V0WyXe2ZHusqFFXQVZ0g/s320/cindy.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Grandma!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgjM_yg1WlzzbdA8TbCzUIQpDzq1JcTm0NfBZEuBmi-tqDQApPjJN94nnX6NTT294C0loxylatYwSYYQSxo6xGrZKk7OcOpSkMRMl_ulucoPrbXvld4qBbGDBGvRCHVpSqYq9D73YnJw/s1600/cupcake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgjM_yg1WlzzbdA8TbCzUIQpDzq1JcTm0NfBZEuBmi-tqDQApPjJN94nnX6NTT294C0loxylatYwSYYQSxo6xGrZKk7OcOpSkMRMl_ulucoPrbXvld4qBbGDBGvRCHVpSqYq9D73YnJw/s320/cupcake1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0AyouXv92mOkE4iq2L0v0D8Y5jUVwghmJwRPN7WhsPdrUTuiK4tSYHL1j3By4bXNIlrHbaac7FVdO0XvVKO0yZeAM3PRe39-74_brcUvhydwpped_adDj9-K9e3Nm9gVQxMLrNtgRV4/s1600/sisternlaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0AyouXv92mOkE4iq2L0v0D8Y5jUVwghmJwRPN7WhsPdrUTuiK4tSYHL1j3By4bXNIlrHbaac7FVdO0XvVKO0yZeAM3PRe39-74_brcUvhydwpped_adDj9-K9e3Nm9gVQxMLrNtgRV4/s320/sisternlaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Love my sister in laws!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMcpoVt9wm4-YeY74thF9liluhhADJlb_79sDNddN4Eql4hHEw-va8exf_tvylyKDC-IFMxddZsZynsQncJn7SXtawxTPDZv82i4OvWLwziTOBYbW5tPBHpob-_tHrXUxOo6dK7ry1fQ/s1600/teriem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMcpoVt9wm4-YeY74thF9liluhhADJlb_79sDNddN4Eql4hHEw-va8exf_tvylyKDC-IFMxddZsZynsQncJn7SXtawxTPDZv82i4OvWLwziTOBYbW5tPBHpob-_tHrXUxOo6dK7ry1fQ/s320/teriem.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Teri and her bikini babe :)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLKt_NJ12bzdIKnpUhgXg9nr0eViMyyr3XcmsQxrPqizk-Y5m39lXXQetmCQvSstu2IJc3KWDBKPBNzYbyagvem3xNohbr2xPNEQwhmVADCVjZkW8eb7306vjouySf3a-6Ec3qfNv87M/s1600/pregos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLKt_NJ12bzdIKnpUhgXg9nr0eViMyyr3XcmsQxrPqizk-Y5m39lXXQetmCQvSstu2IJc3KWDBKPBNzYbyagvem3xNohbr2xPNEQwhmVADCVjZkW8eb7306vjouySf3a-6Ec3qfNv87M/s320/pregos.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Pregos together</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsTYbD9B_ac4_Kj4NC1E5bEntwhW1Qh5QQKpkHjIwDDror2CrTqSqWJ5JabpYcU9jn2uiZDfSeZnqupacjTvBnnJ639wPpiGUDHeGSFQ7GXJxzVvPCf_PVg_nnY7F2t_G-HGABnLhVQU/s1600/ribbons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsTYbD9B_ac4_Kj4NC1E5bEntwhW1Qh5QQKpkHjIwDDror2CrTqSqWJ5JabpYcU9jn2uiZDfSeZnqupacjTvBnnJ639wPpiGUDHeGSFQ7GXJxzVvPCf_PVg_nnY7F2t_G-HGABnLhVQU/s320/ribbons.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Gorgeous</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8EkSqlkib2m6FzUhH0hkJq9sgsd5JsEpZMiYf86cUxPUaEnbQrYDwki6oWLFeMS4ejmMxxRv3bV9GppH5_hbZ0Xqq_hKLrvjGrRnI-BHFRuz7eBEYWhb-cdS4shqXzZU-dRzYxjXRjE/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8EkSqlkib2m6FzUhH0hkJq9sgsd5JsEpZMiYf86cUxPUaEnbQrYDwki6oWLFeMS4ejmMxxRv3bV9GppH5_hbZ0Xqq_hKLrvjGrRnI-BHFRuz7eBEYWhb-cdS4shqXzZU-dRzYxjXRjE/s320/friends.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b> Thankful for these friends</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_Nl5LXuImGFR4Z0wQ5EPSyw6T__TZ8jjsGTjCSqvpiIDvLRhy_dLtNNqtwRT-Smu1VyrusMYHYekZA5Pri9FhMvc4x99ff67PnMQwXY24dR3XY_cSlL6R1tfe7UTmKH3Hptl9tBim_Y/s1600/hosts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_Nl5LXuImGFR4Z0wQ5EPSyw6T__TZ8jjsGTjCSqvpiIDvLRhy_dLtNNqtwRT-Smu1VyrusMYHYekZA5Pri9FhMvc4x99ff67PnMQwXY24dR3XY_cSlL6R1tfe7UTmKH3Hptl9tBim_Y/s320/hosts.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>Fabulous hosts</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o3pF1Qhm6uKAwNAIGXpPndYgCMP33W9v_pfftkRCQ6sJX1yQKkRpM7x41YO3Mj_i1Xt7LIQ0kd_eZetR_OwbYUTGTyoxO5MAa2fTvN_RKL9Tn14FUv2noEe3_1PcRrD6qeuwPkV9xSQ/s1600/111111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o3pF1Qhm6uKAwNAIGXpPndYgCMP33W9v_pfftkRCQ6sJX1yQKkRpM7x41YO3Mj_i1Xt7LIQ0kd_eZetR_OwbYUTGTyoxO5MAa2fTvN_RKL9Tn14FUv2noEe3_1PcRrD6qeuwPkV9xSQ/s320/111111.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b>Love and miss my family so much!</b></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-45456283975756351422011-12-26T19:56:00.000-08:002011-12-26T19:56:02.659-08:00Always in My Heart<div style="color: #38761d;">I feel selfish when I say I miss Kenya at times. Here I am with an incredible husband, expecting a daughter, on the verge of owning our first home, and working in my dream career. Yet, there are days when I just ache for the countryside of Atemo with their maize fields and red clay roads. I wish Trav and I could pack up for a trip over there so he could experience a place that has captured a part of me. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">I also feel bad when sometimes I think everything is just too "white". Seems silly, right? I texted my sister in law a bit ago to ask if she ever just needs to be around other ethnic groups ( in my case, African) and if she ever wants to roam inner city LA I am more than happy to join her :) </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">Thankfully it is when my heat is aching for the people of Kenya or when I feel that while I love my job and helping others in the medical field, I want to be amongst the lost and suffering, that God provides some way to fulfill that without sending me to the other side of the world. Right around Thanksgiving my in-laws hosted a night where they were providing a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless in Long Beach. What a blessing as it just happened to be at a time where I found myself longing to serve in a new way. Katie came along too and it ended up being a wonderful evening as we provided this community with a Thanksgiving feast. What I loved most was how they were served dinner at their seats. For some, I'm sure they may have never been served a hot meal or waited on in that way. I loved watching Trav interact with everyone there. From organizing in the kitchen to conversing with the homeless community while they ate just grabbed at my heart. While others passed out food my mother in law and I manned the kitchen, preparing more food or filling plates. It was such a joy being able to share moments like this with family and to know I married into a family who all have hearts for helping others.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">At the end of the night we were all cleaning up. I heard my name called and I turned around to see Katie with these two adorable African American toddlers I had been eying all night. One of the little girls was leaning through the window with her arms stretched out my way. I did not hesitate to drop what I was doing and go scoop her in my arms. For a few minutes Katie and I had time with these two girls as we passed them between us. It was just what I needed to fill that hole although I did want to take those sweet girls home with us. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">That night I loved watching Katie serve in person. If you know her you know she has a heart of gold and changes lives wherever she goes. But usually I hear of her ways of service through stories, or blogs, or pictures from mission trips. But that night I witnessed it in person and was in awe. I watched as people came to her. From finding a family who often helps during these dinner Katie made sure they were welcomed by all and as much a part of our little group serving as we were. The little girls clung to her side and gazed at her with big eyes. I watched as she served dinner to the homeless community with a big smile and kind words. People responded when she was around. It was as if each person she passed by she touched in some way, leaving a little bit of light around their darkened lives. I also watched as she stood back at times and took in all in. I'm sure her writer's mind was racing with what she was feeling as she stood in their midst. It was such a special night and I look forward to going again with the Hardeman's church.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">God used another family to show me a little bit of Africa. Many of you know the Brinks and there incredible adoption story. Their journey to Uganda, meeting their son, hurdles they jumped through, bumps in the road, and their journey home are living proof that our God is BIG and when something is in His plan He will most certainly guide the way. Following their journey through conversations, emails, and reading their blog was incredible to say the least. There were a few times she would write about Ugandan culture or post pictures of the city and I could envision myself back in Kenya with the people, "Kenyan time", the crowds everywhere, and the difference in lifestyles. They are home with their son ( Praise the Lord) and as I gazed at him wanting to kiss his soft cheeks I was flooded with memories of the precious children that came through our clinics. I was fighting back tears because here was one of those children right in front of me in a loving home with a huge future ahead of him.The Brinks are special people with having hearts for the lost children, the ones that may never experience what love is, and have been given a huge gift of a son who is now a member of one of the most loving families I know.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">Our baby girl was given one special gift. One that will sit out in her room and will hopefully spark some good conversations at a young age. Her first doll straight from the heart of Uganda :</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgIUYEW0lDI/TvjbG7gobZI/AAAAAAAAA2g/sRITaHE8tp8/s1600/uganda+doll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgIUYEW0lDI/TvjbG7gobZI/AAAAAAAAA2g/sRITaHE8tp8/s320/uganda+doll.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #38761d;">While I often search for a little piece of Africa, Baby H is going to have one with her from the moment she comes home. Maybe one day when she is old enough we will head back to Kenya as a family and I can introduce my daughter to some of the most incredible people I've come across. Until than, Trav and I will be open to the Lord giving us ways to serve right here. And pretty soon, taking our girl along with us!</span>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-75918767685854959162011-12-26T11:52:00.000-08:002011-12-26T11:52:43.005-08:00Bowl Full of Jelly<div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b>Actually, a belly full of jelly is pretty much what it feels like right now. In fact the other night a friend put his hand on my belly to feel what it felt like and said, " It's like a water balloon." Yup, that is pretty much right on the dot. </b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b>It amazes me how you can go from no belly but desperately wanting to be showing to waking up one morning and there she is! I swear mine popped out over night. Every morning I wake up, look down, and I am pretty sure she grew even more during the night. </b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b>The best part is how feeling her went from "flutters" to full blown kicks, somersaults, and dance moves. I can feel her getting stronger by the week and I have to say, it's one of the most peaceful things to feel her move about in there. Until recently Trav was not able to feel her move. The other night I was laying in bed watching my skin move all over the place as she did a mini work out in there. Despite telling him it was not possible Trav decided he would see if he could hear her heartbeat. He placed his ear up against my abdomen but did he hear a heartbeat? Nope, instead he got one massive kick to the ear from his baby girl! He jumped back and yelled out her name. Than looked at me and said, " Holy cow that was her!" I imagine if she has some Kahler independence in her she was trying to tell him, " Dad, I'm doing my own thing right now. Let me be." </b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b>Another new thing with having a prego belly is how others react. Coming from a girl who has always fought with self consciousness and never wanted her belly looked at, exposed, or touched it is amazing how fast that flies right out the window. In the early stages of pregnancy Trav and I used to laugh about how people would try really hard not to stare at my stomach when we were talking but wanted to see if I was showing. I know I am guilty of doing the same thing to others. Now that our baby girl is having some serious growth spurts it has turned into a hand magnet. Co-workers I meet for the first time at work will casually come by my way and put their hand on my belly. A doctor I recently worked with was pregnant too and would come over to have us compare sizes or just to give my belly a pat. My girl friends even said they feel like their hand is just drawn to it and a long time guy friend couldn't help himself either much to his fiance's dismay that he needs to ask first. ;) Trav wakes up every morning and cradles his hands around it while he talks to her. Most nights too I wake up to him as he rolls over and somehow his hand finds her and rest gently right where she is. But, I love it. I love how much our daughter is loved already. I love that all of these people are going to be snuggling her for real in just around 16 weeks. I love that she can hear what people are saying around her and familiarize herself with their voices. And I love having you all touch my belly. I'm pretty sure Baby H loves it too. </b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b>It's hard to believe we are at the 6 month mark and racing towards April. Although I'm not at the waddle around, can't sleep, unable to shave or tie my shoes yet I can't complain a bit about being pregnant. It is such a gift to be able to carry a child and know that everyday the Lord is designing something different in her. That He is making her unique in her own way already. And that inside me she is growing big and strong. It is as if we are already creating this incredible bond.</b></i></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #e06666;">We are getting more and more anxious to meet our little one. And it's getting harder and harder not to slip with calling her by name in public!</span></b></i></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-53799701825816821292011-12-06T11:46:00.000-08:002011-12-06T11:46:46.872-08:00Girl!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnpwGd9G7_1AufAktUUsQIGWjZPe3k3Rkk0LWdOVedhuMjjmrys8y0BL_eJ-15gyxWyxRjpgClSfYRgbbPWc1lQck0ECujLrC863H37SiIWzd9Za-xATO3r4hUFEFYhAU5S4N102j25Y/s1600/girlbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnpwGd9G7_1AufAktUUsQIGWjZPe3k3Rkk0LWdOVedhuMjjmrys8y0BL_eJ-15gyxWyxRjpgClSfYRgbbPWc1lQck0ECujLrC863H37SiIWzd9Za-xATO3r4hUFEFYhAU5S4N102j25Y/s320/girlbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;">We are having a girl! I cannot even believe it! I'm pretty sure I squealed when the box opened and the balloons came out. What I loved even more was Trav's reaction.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Jjsp58PiXml7mhX7nd_eSKhfTBBzGD61fHFNt7jyZvdNvpgpRF6rOUb4dp2cUydtq8W67xVlO4EMwwB2grzjAZVrcqgzIO7WlEo-edbjt6UvnuNeFBMTHDDT_CY6hUZy9asuSn64PMc/s1600/girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Jjsp58PiXml7mhX7nd_eSKhfTBBzGD61fHFNt7jyZvdNvpgpRF6rOUb4dp2cUydtq8W67xVlO4EMwwB2grzjAZVrcqgzIO7WlEo-edbjt6UvnuNeFBMTHDDT_CY6hUZy9asuSn64PMc/s320/girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;">He had thought it was a girl all along. Dad's must know there girls =)</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;">At one point I wanted to just open the envelope and find out but I am so glad we were patient and waited because it is a moment we will never forget. I can't thank my sister in law enough for the creative idea, for getting everything ready, and for capturing such a precious moment! </div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> <i>We</i> cannot wait to hold our sweet daughter. I cannot wait to see Trav's heart be forever lost when he holds her for the first time. I can't wait to watch her grow up into a beautiful daughter of Christ and walk through this journey of life with her. I cannot wait to snuggle her and kiss her probably chubby cheeks. I cannot wait to rock her to sleep, to pray over her, and see her smile. </div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;">It is such a gift to be able to pray for our daughter by name now. For years we have prayed for our future family and kids. Than it was for "baby H'. And now, we can lift our daughter up in prayer together daily by name and it is the most incredible thing. While we won't share the name till she is born, every time Trav says it my heart fills with joy a little more. </div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;">Now, time to shop for some pink ;)</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-91948511213350385662011-12-06T10:37:00.000-08:002011-12-06T10:37:22.024-08:0017 weeks...Time to find out!<div style="color: #274e13;">Because our doctor would not do the diagnostic/gender ultrasound until later we decided we had no patience left in finding out if we were having a son or daughter. So my sister in law recommended an ultra sound place in Costa Mesa where they do 4D ultrasounds but they will also just do a gender one to find out the sex of the baby. For $20, how could we not!</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13;">We were both anxious to see our little one again. It had been 8 weeks since our last ultrasound and we knew there would be some huge differences.</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13;">I didn't sleep the night before. I felt like a little kid the night before Christmas or their first trip to Disneyland. We had a gender reveal set up so our plan was to have the tech just write in a note card what the gender was and we would take it to Heidi to get the rest ready.</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13;">I can't even begin to describe our excitement. I kept telling Trav, " This feels like our wedding day! " But we both agreed even better! The anticipation of the day, of knowing if we would have a son or daughter, and than the waiting to see what color the balloons would be in the reveal was too exciting.</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13;">Here is a picture before heading in to the ultrasound..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwGHud6iz7F0MLvrjg8e1wGSfPkOmUOC3wEtLPAK516m9sQOJ0OPeMLaBKGROj_CUiYDrI0MWja5S6-MzPt0u-UeFvTKchIaFP15esAdAqJKBEPRKNTPPVdNTxaN6pi_j9w4gwBPBKps/s1600/16+weeks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwGHud6iz7F0MLvrjg8e1wGSfPkOmUOC3wEtLPAK516m9sQOJ0OPeMLaBKGROj_CUiYDrI0MWja5S6-MzPt0u-UeFvTKchIaFP15esAdAqJKBEPRKNTPPVdNTxaN6pi_j9w4gwBPBKps/s320/16+weeks.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">Nervous smile? Just a little ;)</div><div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">The ultrasound tech got us all set up in the room and turned the tvs off until she found the gender, than we could see our baby. Our little one is stubborn already. The tech spent a long time locating what she needed and kept saying, " They have their butt up against your uterus with their legs crossed and curled up. I can't see a thing!" The "they" that she kept throwing in there was making me a little nervous so I finally asked, " How many are in there?!" Thankfully, still just one :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXysJNoA4UU4xtz1h6tg-Yfdp8ObwRF-VTMfW2vRUPTxi47J9c2F1UX4DmiQ2q3V14OQQINaChEydQIBEG-KmBY2xZx6wN0b4rK5NQNLEMAcQcDJNmUB0cFc8WgdxSe7fVHF7mkqfdXQ/s1600/profile17weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXysJNoA4UU4xtz1h6tg-Yfdp8ObwRF-VTMfW2vRUPTxi47J9c2F1UX4DmiQ2q3V14OQQINaChEydQIBEG-KmBY2xZx6wN0b4rK5NQNLEMAcQcDJNmUB0cFc8WgdxSe7fVHF7mkqfdXQ/s320/profile17weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 17 week profile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm-yICEWaStDzKlhSF96uMr1Iv26nIckJVARQMNZ_ItXjlJtmWU4YHg0xKlgceYhQMiLh3hN0t_PjXAg-NlB97PC-K-zNGQ-C6Z82h5aKyqdtuifVOQagSzlV8YFgdqfULSLT24xn5sc/s1600/babyleg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilm-yICEWaStDzKlhSF96uMr1Iv26nIckJVARQMNZ_ItXjlJtmWU4YHg0xKlgceYhQMiLh3hN0t_PjXAg-NlB97PC-K-zNGQ-C6Z82h5aKyqdtuifVOQagSzlV8YFgdqfULSLT24xn5sc/s320/babyleg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hello there legs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15AhB8sOymozKsw6QlkNgk2xGHCEcLmpI_ZKQTJf6LW1_aFR-QHItn8aRtJP_1cLNQsMIcXPpltzMkjKfPb9_mdl3-On7G9jk2OFXGzAuiuXopOq99BFZjGIHbgd9wooPpJophUQzWJc/s1600/babyfoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15AhB8sOymozKsw6QlkNgk2xGHCEcLmpI_ZKQTJf6LW1_aFR-QHItn8aRtJP_1cLNQsMIcXPpltzMkjKfPb9_mdl3-On7G9jk2OFXGzAuiuXopOq99BFZjGIHbgd9wooPpJophUQzWJc/s320/babyfoot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hardeman Toes?</div><br />
After she was finally able to see the tvs were turned on and there was our sweet baby on the screens. We could not believe how big our babe was since the last ultrasound. And my, the legs were long! One pic showed them going all the way across my uterus. Uh oh.<br />
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It was so hard to hold that envelope on the way to Heidi's house. It was a good thing we were both together because if it was just me delivering it, I can guarantee I would have opened it and tried to act surprised later!<br />
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We passed off the envelope and waited till it was time to take our pictures. In the car on the way to the park I was shaking. I could not contain my excitement! Heidi got everything set up and we found out we are having a.......</div><div style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-13428972786487061342011-11-06T07:01:00.000-08:002011-11-06T07:01:53.846-08:00An Avocado<div style="color: #274e13;"><i>We just hit the 4 month....16 week....mark. Where is the time going?! In just a week we find out if our babe is a boy or girl! Eeeek! It's going to be hard being patient for one more week. We have a reveal planned for next weekend that I am so excited for. My talented sister in law will capture the moment with her photography skills followed by celebrating this new life with family and a few close friends.</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i>The past 4 months have flown. Being in the second trimester is truly wonderful. I believe I may be one of those weird women who like being pregnant. But, ask me again when I am 35 weeks and waddling everywhere or Trav has to shave my legs because I can't see them ;)</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i>I can feel Baby H move. Flutter, really. It is the most incredible feeling. I feel connected to him/her in this bizarre way, as if we are sharing this moment or communication between one another. If Trav presses on my belly when I am lying still, he/she will usually move after that...feeling like a butterfly kiss or sometimes a bubble.</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i>Baby H is the size of an avocado now. That's big! The past two days a belly bump has started to appear. Bring on the belly band :) While I still become tired easily ( it would be much better if work was not so crazy) I can't complain because all in all I feel great. We had our second doctor's appointment this past week. I love that Trav gets so excited to come. He always has questions ready for the doctor. After weighing in Trav was concerned I was not gaining enough weight and worried because I don't have a big belly. ( Again, he won't be thinking this in a few weeks when I can't see my toes!) He quickly ran through his list of concerns with the doctor and learned we are right on track with everything. He's already a concerned dad for his little one.</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i>I was hoping for an ultrasound but we didn't have one. The doctor did listen to the heart beat though. My sister had prepped me for this. She told me it can still be hard to find right away so not to panic if it took him a minute to find where the baby was. No need to worry though because as soon as he placed it on my uterus we instantly heard our baby's fast lil' heart pounding away. I could listen to it all day. Trav and I were both in such awe. Our God is so incredible. This pregnancy is taking my breath away as I can tangibly see how His work is progressing as He designs our child. Our doctor also showed us how to feel my uterus. What's funny is I have found, felt, and massaged ( after birth) the uterus of so many of my patients. However, I never thought to find my own! He showed us where it was and we both felt it. So cool.</i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i>I am also overwhelmed by how much Baby H is loved already. Our families can't wait to meet him or her, the nieces and nephews are so excited, and of course, the grandparents are all ready for another little one around. Our friends are already showering our baby with love and it brings me so much joy to know we are going to be bringing our child into this world that will be surrounded by people that love him/her so much. We are so blessed. </i></div><div style="color: #274e13;"><i><br />
</i></div><i><span style="color: #274e13;">Cannot wait to find out what we are having. Stay tuned to see if our world will be filled with blue or pink! =)</span></i>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-75468840435301742352011-10-20T10:34:00.000-07:002011-10-20T10:34:51.438-07:008 weeksOur first ultrasound was done at 8 weeks; a little earlier than planned. This ultrasound feels like ages ago but it was only over a month.<br />
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It was a regular Saturday morning. Trav was at work and I woke up to find I was home alone. Curling up on the couch with some breakfast and my computer I became lost in the world of pinterest. As usual, I had to get up to use the restroom, my new favorite past time. As I went to flush ( sorry for the graphics) I realized the toilet was filled with blood. My first reaction was shock. I left the bathroom and sat on the couch. I didn't have any cramping. I didn't feel different. What was going on. I called my mom and sister which is where I than began to freak out. They both said: go be seen...now. As a shaking, tearful mess I call the nurse advice line for Kaiser who said the same thing, " Always come in with blood."<br />
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Trav received a somewhat frantic phone call. I could barely get the words out. Without hesitating he told me he would leave work and meet me at the hospital in Irvine that we would deliver at. From his calming voice to constant texts he kept reminding me that God was in control and would protect our little babe.<br />
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The drive to the hospital I spent talking to my sisters and mom who were already praying their hearts out. When I couldn't talk anymore, I turned up the Fish and tried to focus on just getting to the hospital When we went inside we didn't even get a chance to sit down. As soon as they found out I was pregnant they took me right back to my room where the OB cart and everything was already waiting for me. The doctor was in within minutes. Since we hadn't had our pregnancy "confirmed" he ordered an ultrasound, along with blood work, IV fluids, and exams.<br />
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The nurse came into to tell me I needed a full bladder for the ultrasound and it would probably take 45 minutes. Trav and I both laughed while I replied, " Give me 7 minutes and I will have to go." With the IV fluids and large glass of ice water, I think it took 3 :) The ultrasound tech came in to grab me and she told Trav that we would be right back. The panicky feeling returned. Wait, my husband can't come with me?!? She informed us that in the ED it is patients only and he would have to wait. That may have been the worse kind of torture for both of us.<br />
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By the time we wheeled into the room, I was on the shaky side. Every thought was running through my head. What if something is wrong with our child? Something that can't be fixed or saved? What if it's already to late? What if...what if...what if. I had to tune my rapidly running, worse scenario mind out with singing my favorite praise song.<br />
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Our ultrasound tech was not bubbly sweet kind. In fact, she took the monitor and turned it so I could not see. I wanted to cry. Please just let me see our baby. In response, I turned the opposite way and focused in on a spot on the wall while she clicked ad checked away. What felt like an hour later she casually said, " You can see your baby in a minute." What! The baby! Is he/she ok? As those thoughts were going through my mind she turned the volume on and I heard the most beautiful sound I have ever heard: our baby's heart beat. It was the faster lil "lub dub" but it was beautiful and I again found myself a weeping mess. I looked at the tech and managed to say, " everything is ok?" As she replied she turned the screen and this is what I saw:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lmZZfWMHpqQxJ27WJK2qDk9MRSe9WG19Ee5VXlpRskEXFLZIhoPJQz_XulrX5b1hplqfFFF7SowlZhgyKloyINZFbLmbEPjzaKYn13reNCMVeaq6nLQUCpyhHXR1I1qlXM6Q0w_OHT0/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lmZZfWMHpqQxJ27WJK2qDk9MRSe9WG19Ee5VXlpRskEXFLZIhoPJQz_XulrX5b1hplqfFFF7SowlZhgyKloyINZFbLmbEPjzaKYn13reNCMVeaq6nLQUCpyhHXR1I1qlXM6Q0w_OHT0/s320/IMG_0149.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><br />
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She told me our baby had a strong, healthy heart beat. You could even see all four heart chamber moving in rhythm. I was overjoyed. But I wanted to get back to Trav to tell him! As we came back into the room, my sweet husband was sitting in his chair and I knew he had spent the past 15 minutes wondering what was going on with us. As the tech left the room she looked at Trav and said, " Congratulations, Dad!" His jaw dropped and he looked at me. I handed him the picture of his child and I think his jaw dropped a little more. With tear filled eyes he said, " That's our baby. " We rejoiced in our little hospital room and thanked the Lord for keeping him/her safe.<br />
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The doctor came back in to tell us what had happened. I was put on miscarriage precautions until cleared by my OBGYN. Which meant doing nothing that turned out to be much harder than I had thought. We were thankful for all of our family who flooded our phones with comforting texts and lifted us up in prayer throughout the afternoon. We definitely felt some peace through that. We came home to enjoy dinner with our Hardeman support team.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC_N3nvn6iUx0RQ31OX0NCRDPlYpY-B-cvpRSK2JqH-iYmC0W8VxS0BovGWmgkp35J5r8PJ5SMBflXB818DpxGNtWDsrqXCk4WPiOQVgXPV8zmvSClxK2YMgiEpf9M4rlX-ne4HxFpAQ/s1600/hardman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC_N3nvn6iUx0RQ31OX0NCRDPlYpY-B-cvpRSK2JqH-iYmC0W8VxS0BovGWmgkp35J5r8PJ5SMBflXB818DpxGNtWDsrqXCk4WPiOQVgXPV8zmvSClxK2YMgiEpf9M4rlX-ne4HxFpAQ/s320/hardman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Baby Hardeman is one lucky child to be coming into a family that is filled with so much love and who is always there to support.Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-12802889231257017952011-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:002011-10-06T13:10:23.138-07:00A Natural<div style="color: #38761d;">To say Trav is going to be a great dad is probably the biggest understatement I could say. He is going to be a<b> terrific</b> dad. A one of a kind. He's simply a natural. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">Knowing this was one of the reasons I fell in love with him. After meeting him, before we started dating, I brought him to dinner at my parents where at that time we only had 4 nieces and nephews running around. Although nervous with the family he immediately took to the kids. A month later Hudson B. was born and Trav waited up at night with me to hear the news and than asked to come to the hospital to meet him. Without a blink Trav treated my sister's kids as if they were his own. He loved on them, played for hours, and never said no when they asked him to do something. Over the next few years between our sisters 8 more were added to the mix and Trav loved each of them more each day. From endless hide and seek games, to movie nights, day dates, and slumber parties he melted my heart with what a natural he was. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">To think of Trav with <i>our</i> child makes me even more giddy for April. I cannot wait to see our baby snuggled up in his arms. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">Trav will be a dad who....</div><div style="color: #38761d;">....<b>never says no</b>. I can't say I've ever heard him say no to a niece or nephew. He is always up for riding scooters, playing hide n seek, watching cartoons, playing a game, shooting hoops or throwing a baseball, going swimming, and more. Our kids are going to be awfully lucky!</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><b>disciplines with love</b>. He is the most patient, gentle, and kind person I know. Having never raised his voice at me or been angry, I know he is going to be a great leader and a great example to our kids of having such a kind heart. While I know he will discipline, I also know it will come from love and what is best for our kids.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">....<b>always laugh</b>. There will be times when we are burnt out or our kids are sad, but Trav always manages to find the good in a situation and make people smile. Our house will be filled with laughter.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">....<b>prays.</b> Baby H has been added to our daily prayer list and this is only the beginning of years to come for praying for our children. A few weeks ago I kept waking up in the morning remembering Trav's hand on my abdomen. I thought I was going crazy and having weird dreams that always ended up with his hand there. I finally asked him if I was indeed crazy and he responded with," <i>No, when you are already asleep I like to put my hand on our baby while I pray for him/her." </i>My heart melted. Our baby is so blessed.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">....<b>encourages.</b> He will without a doubt push our kids for greatness and encourage them the whole way. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">.... <b>leads by example. </b>My prayer has been our children would grow up following in the footsteps of their dad and the kind of person he is. From a kind heart, to a sense of humor, a love for others, and a life devoted to Christ, our kids will have quite the dad to look up to!<br />
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</div><div style="color: #38761d;"></div><div style="color: #38761d;"></div><div style="color: #38761d;">....<b>loves</b>. Having one of the biggest hearts I know, love is going to pour out all over our kids. No matter what goes wrong or what mistakes are made, Trav is going to love our kids to pieces. He will set an example for loving others no matter what and to always put those you love before yourself. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
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I could go on and on but those are the highlights. While the Lord has been preparing Trav for fatherhood his whole life, the past 7 years we have been together He has used our nieces and nephews to help prepare Trav for the dad he would one day be. Click on the link and the pictures will give you a glimpse....</div><b><br />
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<b><a href="http://animoto.com/play/aFqQGIgTAmFGdHqhh8m40A">He's Going to be a Great Dad!</a></b>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-39243369974853266482011-10-05T12:36:00.000-07:002011-10-05T12:36:15.638-07:00Waited a long time.....<div style="color: #666666;">....for a plus sign!</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">Ever since I was younger I've dreamed of being a mom. Than in high school I became an aunt and my world changed for the better. I've loved every minute with my wonderful dozen of nieces and nephews. But it always made me want to be a mom that much more. I found myself watching all my sisters and tucking tid bits of motherhood aside in a little file in my mind for that "one day" when it would be our turn.</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">Trav and I have wanted kids for a long time.....a really long time. But the timing was never right and we were so blessed to share a few years of marriage together to grow, be adventurous, and prepare for parenthood. As soon as I finished nursing school I thought that for sure it would be our time. Of course, my time and God's time have never been the same thing so I spent months praying every month that Aunt Flow would not visit and found myself taking pregnancy tests just because. Trav, the more level headed one in our marriage, reminded me that it was not up to us when we would have a baby. No matter what we did or didn't do, ultimately it was in the Lord's hands and He already knew when the "right time" would be. After alot of prayer, Trav and I both let go. We were ready to step back and let God's plan unfold. And did it ever.</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">For the past few years we have both felt as if there have been a lot of steps backwards. While we watched many others around us move forward we both always felt like we were either stuck or taking a step back. Silly, I know, but it felt that as much as we prayed and tried to rely on His plan, there were just no answers. After many job rejections I landed a series of interviews. One being with Kaiser. I almost didn't go. I showed up to the interview and almost left. I bombed my second interview and bawled my eyes out. Th next day they called and offered me a job. I just about fell off my seat. Months...years....of planning and praying to be a working nurse, the Lord opened up a job at Kaiser of all places. </div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">Soon after we began searching for places to live and found where we were going to move. ( Plans have changed since than.) We began seeing how in both our jobs things were slowly falling into place. Finally. The following weekend we celebrated a dear friend as she graduated nursing school. The prior week I had been feeling off. Really tired and just not normal. After the grad party I had some time so of course I went to browse at Target, a favorite past time. On a whim I bought a pregnancy test. I still don't know why. I came home to an empty house where while I was getting ready to go out for the night with friends I took it. While waiting for the results I literally had a conversation with myself about how silly I was for buying one and wishfully thinking it could be positive. Before going back in I had a nice chat with God about how I will keep letting go and continue trying to be patient for His timing. I almost through the test away without looking at it. But one glimpse was all I needed. This is what I saw.....</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #666666;">My reaction: I screamed. Looked at it again. Squealed. Burst into tears of a joy I had not felt before. Trav was working late and all I wanted to do was tell him. But I had to wait. I went out with friends and found myself shaking the whole night because I could not believe it. Trav met us after work but I encouraged that we leave and get food. There was not a chance I could be in the same room as him and not tell him.</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">We drove to In n Out ( classy, right?) and I handed him a gift. He opened it to find these:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_594D7ySHlY1js5_mj0p9y6-CmU5LwF5cCc4RQ47o0lXdXJwV1iqyAgGShuGu7VDCPnWHxawapbAZ2v7C2qfCwMkmQkxuKMpKOT-LpUEz_J1trHPkuT4okksuVLmtVxKGZkDrxNPeVg/s1600/310779_686465715610_56903756_35286027_1955222624_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_594D7ySHlY1js5_mj0p9y6-CmU5LwF5cCc4RQ47o0lXdXJwV1iqyAgGShuGu7VDCPnWHxawapbAZ2v7C2qfCwMkmQkxuKMpKOT-LpUEz_J1trHPkuT4okksuVLmtVxKGZkDrxNPeVg/s320/310779_686465715610_56903756_35286027_1955222624_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #666666;">He looked in the bag and back at me. Of course, I was sitting there with tears spilling all over the place. And than, my big strong husband, formed tears the size of giant rain drops and said, " Really? We really are?" Yup! If you have ever seen an excited Trav you can envision our next hour. Before anything, he wanted to make sure we got ahold of Katie before she left for Europe for a weeks. He was bubbling over on the phone. We went inside to eat and Trav was in such awe he couldn't stop talking. He was so excited he was pacing around inside waiting for our food and kept saying," I'm going to be a dad!" We stayed up late, taking another test, offering up prayers of thanks, and talking about this next journey.</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
We didn't wait to tell our family. I had many plans on how we would tell my parents and the Hardemans but they were tossed out the window. We were too excited, I couldn't wait a whole month to tell my parents, and we wanted to share our joy with those we love so much! </div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">We cannot wait to add a member to our quickly growing families. We cannot wait to see our baby held and loved on by his/her many aunts, uncles, and cousins. After being there for the births of our nieces and nephews to watching them grow up, we cannot wait to see them holding our child. God is so good and we are in awe of His timing and faithfulness. </div><br />
<b><span style="color: #ea9999;">"Every good an perfect gift comes from above." James 1:17</span></b>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-60228203292027092512011-06-30T11:25:00.000-07:002011-06-30T11:25:38.302-07:00God is WILD about you!<div style="color: #a64d79;">"He's Wild! He's Wild! God is Wiilllddd about YOU!" Trav has come to find it normal that I dance around the house singing this song with my hands in the air doing the hand motions. No, it's not a new release on the Fish. It's even cooler than that.....it's from Vacation Bible School last week!</div><div style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #a64d79;">Due to school or work I haven't been able to help with VBS since I was in high school. When I realized that this summer my schedule is a little too free, I jumped at the chance to spend a week with these kiddos and teach them about how God really is wild for each one of them. My good friend put the whole week long event together and did an incredible job. I mean, incredible. Even the smallest details were planned with perfection. What amazed me even more was that throughout the week she never showed signs of stress or being frazzled. There was always a smile on her face. It was contagious.</div><div style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #a64d79;">The theme this year was Panda Mania, God is WILD about you! The kids loved it! From visits from Kung Fuey every morning to movie mania, tasty snacks, bible adventures, water games, and cool crafts we had busy fun filled mornings. I had a class of 11, all mixed ages, that was named "Komodo Dragons". One girl in my crew made up our cheer that went like this, " Komodo Dragons one by one. We shine God's light because we are having fun!" So cute! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimmR0QtPSlrU1EkbD6Sp6ZVNxIap0Ue8a6I9qsU8JHVqy7L5MOAHiGazug3fdfwohKIr0xjAcVPkpBV2D1dG7891Oqty98TNA1BFdBJKVKBqk6Ml5mh7w0I_OrlWa4ERGaZB0ezmP3ww/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimmR0QtPSlrU1EkbD6Sp6ZVNxIap0Ue8a6I9qsU8JHVqy7L5MOAHiGazug3fdfwohKIr0xjAcVPkpBV2D1dG7891Oqty98TNA1BFdBJKVKBqk6Ml5mh7w0I_OrlWa4ERGaZB0ezmP3ww/s320/girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT5axTqdwlx-xY6hV13M5okf2vsv9bg_Y9aW3a_hofqUm9gOHgJyW9f4y_d_nXTtBDS0s9DMKe5h6tVb7HgPrGoZhbDGSogKeq-LaggoPhyphenhyphenIU4LH1wIV67kAC3pY67vuJpFmGvhElliM/s1600/parachute2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT5axTqdwlx-xY6hV13M5okf2vsv9bg_Y9aW3a_hofqUm9gOHgJyW9f4y_d_nXTtBDS0s9DMKe5h6tVb7HgPrGoZhbDGSogKeq-LaggoPhyphenhyphenIU4LH1wIV67kAC3pY67vuJpFmGvhElliM/s320/parachute2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #a64d79;">One of my favorite parts of the week was having Vander, my nephew, in my crew. I didn't think they would let him because he is only 4 but they did! It was so fun watching him get excited about everything, learn the memory verses, wanting to help the Living Water fund and walk away talking about the Bible stories along with everything he learned. It was a fun week from our car rides to and from VBS, watching his little faith grow, hiding from the water gun shooting panda, and getting to spend so much time together! For being only 4 I was amazed at how he kept up with the big kids and how smart he is! On the last day he volunteered to go up front and recite a memory verse in front of everyone! Way to go Van!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX8Uc001jef2W1Mj-eoPOlMtScIqYEevF6_Drmw8QTAqPL_s0WD4s6PnCQpsxTqvbtWYQniAy3EhLWO7vra3kOiHO6TYlwd7Xd474nnwtAbBG1mJgHxg3LxBjsUFv39WZCcozZz9_wu4/s1600/vanfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX8Uc001jef2W1Mj-eoPOlMtScIqYEevF6_Drmw8QTAqPL_s0WD4s6PnCQpsxTqvbtWYQniAy3EhLWO7vra3kOiHO6TYlwd7Xd474nnwtAbBG1mJgHxg3LxBjsUFv39WZCcozZz9_wu4/s320/vanfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Van going into the belly of the big fish for bible time!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ig1DcUCDy-WIhwvaMsO9hyZbdHlaY5nLflKNJByxB4oVu-upD-LIXkAqtSwjoGd0GInl0s9QZJ15NtVc246nNVfWXKeF0TJZMwkw-6s0DDehTeVLl7ThdNYOnIvssiHP1wPA7K6jdeY/s1600/mms_picture%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ig1DcUCDy-WIhwvaMsO9hyZbdHlaY5nLflKNJByxB4oVu-upD-LIXkAqtSwjoGd0GInl0s9QZJ15NtVc246nNVfWXKeF0TJZMwkw-6s0DDehTeVLl7ThdNYOnIvssiHP1wPA7K6jdeY/s320/mms_picture%252810%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #a64d79;">At the end of the week there was a wrap up BBQ held at the school with bounce houses, hot dogs, ice cream, and.....the real Jana Alyra. :) We took Van and Huddy as our dates. I have to say, it was one of the best nights we have had. We grabbed our hot dogs and hamburgers, spread out our blanket, and before you knew t we were having a picnic with some of the other kids from our crew. Vander and Huddy ran off with Brandon, another Komodo Dragon, and disappeared into the land of the bounce houses! During the concert they sat up towards the front and danced the whole time. Both were called up on stage to sing with Jana. They loved it! After dropping them off I looked at Trav and said," Nights like this make me..." and before I could complete my sentence he finished it for me by saying, "...excited to have kids one day!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizz7LKvrdOMWax_CsTy60iu05v_XlYVVh90X4ohTmnDTg6DK242_j9kHn5d8phyHmPPf3Q8SIHAgqtBDg0B5Qms0Jd3w3A6mB-TS03C816kcL6cADky3RDbMoVy6prmY_4myvYmAHl-Vo/s1600/mms_picture%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizz7LKvrdOMWax_CsTy60iu05v_XlYVVh90X4ohTmnDTg6DK242_j9kHn5d8phyHmPPf3Q8SIHAgqtBDg0B5Qms0Jd3w3A6mB-TS03C816kcL6cADky3RDbMoVy6prmY_4myvYmAHl-Vo/s320/mms_picture%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxDrGcwNE6X8l572zMGqQbFmFaU3pXtUVzvU15GR9FsgvWHJxiKoNRv3f7cRIEQe4rYeyBHb-TpXClkPJOy6vlRnhuTn085j66CxnyctmH1PLyLJUgPHdjclgbxJUC1wwBPGGXa0pJM0/s1600/mms_picture%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxDrGcwNE6X8l572zMGqQbFmFaU3pXtUVzvU15GR9FsgvWHJxiKoNRv3f7cRIEQe4rYeyBHb-TpXClkPJOy6vlRnhuTn085j66CxnyctmH1PLyLJUgPHdjclgbxJUC1wwBPGGXa0pJM0/s320/mms_picture%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0l4zvQRU4ZRo1tOjFRh6cNjBe8XI3upd3T2G5EhB50SmilOVThdAyktkQJst7NWbaqwO3cMFHs8a6CD1NMZBX0WB9IeeOAa14oeS7e6GBEcHA8ft1kn2xtGpqFuNYXK_qEDYpRIBlug/s1600/mms_picture%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0l4zvQRU4ZRo1tOjFRh6cNjBe8XI3upd3T2G5EhB50SmilOVThdAyktkQJst7NWbaqwO3cMFHs8a6CD1NMZBX0WB9IeeOAa14oeS7e6GBEcHA8ft1kn2xtGpqFuNYXK_qEDYpRIBlug/s320/mms_picture%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW6wOvjwJ1wpCqTT8APtGoSZTwHBj-p97NLj0fDEcOgt9hOiBoN8Vb0HkjRJ91t55ewy-d-Y5FGQRVAiF6J5tOkrW3YGuWq16KR_fRstt1nc7TFIAfFAicv_q2wzORqtY-824TDwxYRU/s1600/mms_picture%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW6wOvjwJ1wpCqTT8APtGoSZTwHBj-p97NLj0fDEcOgt9hOiBoN8Vb0HkjRJ91t55ewy-d-Y5FGQRVAiF6J5tOkrW3YGuWq16KR_fRstt1nc7TFIAfFAicv_q2wzORqtY-824TDwxYRU/s320/mms_picture%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #a64d79;">It was a special week, both with Van and being able to lead a group of fantastic kids into being on fire for the Lord. At a time where I have been missing Kenya I was thankful and blessed for the opportunity to serve His children right here. The book, Heaven is for Real, stresses how much Jesus loves the children. I can truly see how He works through them to reach all of us. There is </span><i style="color: #a64d79;">nothing</i><span style="color: #a64d79;"> like a child's faith!</span>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-37101008645268245782011-06-27T11:33:00.000-07:002011-06-27T11:40:45.184-07:00Learning to Surrender<div style="color: #38761d;">I took a small hiatus from bloggin about my Kenya trip. I guess I did for many reasons. My brother in law got married at the beginning of June and with all the festivities, I forgot about hopping on here. After coming home from Santa Rosa we had family visiting from the Philippines and than I went right into teaching VBS for a week. But let's face it, those really aren't reasons just excuses I have made up in my head. The real reason I was purposefully not making time to sit down and recap my trip was simply: <b>I miss Kenya</b>.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">The other day my husband and I were watching, <i>Invictus.</i> Thinking back, since I have been home from either trip I have never watched a movie that took place in Africa. I spent the movie missing the little things. The run down buildings. The half painted walls. Children running around the street, barefoot with torn clothing. Random games being played along the side of the road. Women walking around with their possessions on their heads. The music. The language. Crowded streets. The people. I was homesick. I had that feeling in my gut that I used to get when I would go away for summer camp and missed being home. Why do I miss Kenya so much? Why can't I let this reverse culture shock go? Why do I wake up in the morning and wish there was a mosquito net over my bed? Why do the faces of the children run through my dreams? Why does my heart ache throughout the day to be back in the countryside?</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">The other night we were at the Fishfest and my sister in law asked me how my reverse culture shock is. I lied at first and said ok. (<span style="font-size: 85%;">Actually, I never fully told her how rough it's been because I probably would have burst into tears in public.</span>) Than, I opened up a little. She must have been reading my mind because she asked right at the time I was sitting there listening to the music thinking, "If only I could pick this concert up and drop it in the middle of Atemo." She is one of the few people I can say I think it's weird being in a place with so many white people and not think I am out of my mind. ;) </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">You probably think I am crazy since I was only there two weeks. Maybe you are right. But it's something I can't totally describe. It's where I am supposed to be. I am without a doubt called to serve there. I am not saying pack up and move. However, I do know that somehow I will always return.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">I think one of the hardest things is finding my purpose right now. Not having a job is rough. It makes me feel like my days aren't worthwhile. I need to snap out of that quickly. But these thoughts keep running through my head." I'm made for something more. I want to help the worst of the worst. I want to walk among people who are in a great need of love, healing, and you, Lord. I want to be challenged. I want to be taken out of my comfort zone. I want to be stripped of all things worldly. I want to be a trader." I wake up to these thoughts. They run through my dreams. They are there in the shower, in church, while I eat. It's constant. So, what does it mean, Lord? What am I supposed to be doing? What is my ministry right now, right here?</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">A good friend who we refer to each other as "africa sisters" gave me this soon after I came home...</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 85%;">Two weeks ago a missionary came to our church and said, “In college the Lord asked me if I would go anywhere for Him. And knowing my heart He then asked, even the United States?”<br />
<br />
This spoke volumes to me. While I was in Uganda last January through March I fell in love with the people of Kampala. I saw our family living there, serving in the slums, the orphanages, and filling our home with kids off the streets. While I was there the Lord spoke to my husband and He asked Nathan if he would be willing to move our family to Uganda someday. He said yes.<br />
<br />
For months my heart ached and I obsessed about going back. I asked the Lord, “Why aren’t we there Lord? Why are we here? We are willing to go. Why haven’t you called?”<br />
<br />
Through prayer I have come to understand that just because He asked, it doesn’t mean go. He may have asked to see if we were willing. He may have asked because someday we will go. I don’t know why He asked, but I do know that He is perfect and His plan is perfect.<br />
<br />
Several months ago in an evening church service the Lord pointed His loving finger at an area in my heart I needed to surrender…<br />
<br />
my will.<br />
<br />
So I wept to the alter and laid down my will.<br />
<br />
And traded it in for His.<br />
<br />
Right now His will is for us is to serve right here in this city.<br />
<br />
And I have found victory.<br />
<br />
Victory in picking up garbage off the sidewalks with my children.<br />
<br />
Victory in holding hands with saints in the nursing home.<br />
<br />
Victory in praying with aching, addicted, women who do desperately want Jesus.<br />
<br />
Victory in watching my oldest daughter serve turkey to people in this city for her birthday.<br />
<br />
Victory in playing board games with men and women who do not have a place to call home.<br />
<br />
Because the people in Marion, Indiana and Kampala, Uganda are all His children.<br />
<br />
This city, Marion IN, is the perfect place for me and my family right now.<br />
<br />
He is perfect.<br />
<br />
He is always perfect.<br />
<br />
His will is perfect.<br />
<br />
And He always, always knows what is best.<br />
<br />
This is His best for me.<br />
<br />
And I love where He has me.</span></i></b></div><div style="color: #073763; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span></div><div style="color: #38761d;">So, I am ready to surrender. Ready to let Him show me what He has in store for me right <b>here</b>. To let His will be done. Please, lead me to where I can help, Lord. I am thankful that He does know what is best for my life and I am waiting with an open heart for whatever is next. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">Here is a song from the movie <i>Invcitus </i>that I love. Pretty sure I leave it on repeat multiple times a day.</div><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/flBXQNMGqVk?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-49601715442844775852011-06-07T08:19:00.000-07:002011-06-07T08:19:42.504-07:00Kenyan Meal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvyVe42cIC6qRgDH60gVO9ukNKJa1qPoPspVmwLK4IBovjcuMBAR_q0puunwOpZqVU1N3vOhozj83wxeQO5QWDF8I9fb6trhKMXI6H679if3HB7rG8zjgaKhrjn-2O48jspCWLEmfX-o/s1600/IMG_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvyVe42cIC6qRgDH60gVO9ukNKJa1qPoPspVmwLK4IBovjcuMBAR_q0puunwOpZqVU1N3vOhozj83wxeQO5QWDF8I9fb6trhKMXI6H679if3HB7rG8zjgaKhrjn-2O48jspCWLEmfX-o/s320/IMG_0735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">During our time in Kenya we really ate like royalty. It's funny because I packed bags of snacks ( granola bars, trail mix, jerky, and more) thinking I really wouldn't eat that much. But, once again, I forgot. I had forgotten how much I</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> love</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> the food there. Call me crazy, it's ok. :-)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Pictured above is one of our usual dinners. I will do my best to describe the food to you. Your mouth may not be watering right now, but after one bite of chapati you will want it every day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Teeny Tiny Bananas</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">: Though small, they are scrumptious. And a safe fruit to eat on our own without worrying about getting sick. They are literally as big as my finger but completed any meal!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Chapati:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> ( by the bananas, looks like tortillas) I am in love with chapati. We had a cooking lesson where we learned how to make it. Once we are back from the wedding weekend I plan on introducing Trav. It is kind of a mix between a tortilla and flat bread. It is cooked on the griddle and so, so, so yummy!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Kachumbar: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">( behind chapati, red dish) A mix of chopped tomatoes and onions with a little pepper. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">and probably something else) Surprisingly, a dish that seems so plain was so good! You usually eat it with ugali and one night we put it on noodles which was excellent.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Goat ribs: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The first night we had them I devoured mine. They were so good! i was assuming it was chicken. No, that is a lie. It was darker than chicken but I guess I didn't want to question the source of my protein. Joel made a joke that one of the guard dogs was missing. Low and behold when we were finished we learned it was goat. First time I had it and loved it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Ugali: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">( the big, white ball) Ugali is a staple in Kenya. In the villages, it is eaten everyday. Usually the kids just get one serving of ugali each day. That's all they eat. If they are lucky they may have beans served with it or sukuma wiki. But since they all have maize crops it is the easiest and cheapest form of food. It is also served with meals at restaurants. You usually eat it by rolling it up with your fingers and dipping or scooping up the side dish with it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Sukuma Wiki:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> ( the bowl of greens ) A make shift veggie stew. Usually kale, I believe. ( my mom would be proud I ate it!) The name itself means " stretch the week" because when they eat it they make it last a really long time.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">So, as you can see, we did not go unfed. Instead, we ate traditional Kenyan meals and fell in love with some! Ooo, I am craving a warm piece of chapati right now!</span></span></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-22770919115437738592011-06-04T22:48:00.000-07:002011-06-04T22:48:52.120-07:00Clinic begins!<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"></span>Our first day of clinic was here! I would like to say I bounded out of bed. But it definitely took some stretching, yawning, and a," can't I just hit my snooze for 5 more minutes?" to get up. I will say though, it felt great to put scrubs back on. We organized everything we would need for the day than headed up to the big guest house for breakfast. ( ok, and some much needed coffee!) Once again we were spoiled by the ladies in the kitchen with a breakfast feast! The vans were packed and we were off!</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">( Please note in this picture the helmet was totally necessary. If you sat in that seat as a man you were guaranteed a head injury. Earl learned the hard way on the drive to Atemo.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJrCRyfoLdW-VGibivvkXkuSrTsuEgA9VXkvmroa0Bt5YjjSMDFpJ5c02mY6hPiFdiulXk_DGxVEq_fXkTzne5251K38f9ZIdVW0lVbQB3M_n6xCNaO1AsMo4St30xmXf5VF2U_2Mgy8/s1600/IMG_0696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJrCRyfoLdW-VGibivvkXkuSrTsuEgA9VXkvmroa0Bt5YjjSMDFpJ5c02mY6hPiFdiulXk_DGxVEq_fXkTzne5251K38f9ZIdVW0lVbQB3M_n6xCNaO1AsMo4St30xmXf5VF2U_2Mgy8/s320/IMG_0696.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">There was something I had forgotten about the last trip. The drives. As we road through Atemo than on to the dirt roads leading to the clinic, kids lined the streets shouting, "Mazungos! Mazungos!" You would hear squeals as they first looked at the vans coming down the road and than saw they were filled with Americans. Out in the fields men and women would stop their plowing or planting to stand up straight and watch us drive by. We were constantly waving and I don't think you could wipe the smiles off our faces as we waved to these little ones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEunXp6O4TdhU6XBwy2KvlbugvutvbbVffddgEFrcTIyCD20ecBNPa497VF08EWLtzfBB8HLuYlGCK0NMJZx9hCQdCpXFJqYQIad-M6eFNl6htI-3IEvaADwX21oLRtU7THYZX4Fk5ARY/s1600/IMG_0706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEunXp6O4TdhU6XBwy2KvlbugvutvbbVffddgEFrcTIyCD20ecBNPa497VF08EWLtzfBB8HLuYlGCK0NMJZx9hCQdCpXFJqYQIad-M6eFNl6htI-3IEvaADwX21oLRtU7THYZX4Fk5ARY/s320/IMG_0706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42jULtMV57bXyaBX0avScj0Gf6HluprYcPTVhjRbU2ALEXBH9FQgPmqEuVPBFIg-y2Mnp33RVbpCGflLvNT_FpnH56u5Daarz1NVHLZqu0Kt4nMaKwinjt1lgGf6zfH4WbP3JC1qLt3E/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42jULtMV57bXyaBX0avScj0Gf6HluprYcPTVhjRbU2ALEXBH9FQgPmqEuVPBFIg-y2Mnp33RVbpCGflLvNT_FpnH56u5Daarz1NVHLZqu0Kt4nMaKwinjt1lgGf6zfH4WbP3JC1qLt3E/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">As we pulled into the clinic compound our eyes grew wide as we saw there was a crowd waiting for us. The word was out: American doctors are in town! Most of the kids stared right back with wide eyes as the strange white people unloaded the vans. Surprisingly, clinic was set up rather quickly and before I knew it I had my first patient!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OqlJ-QTaR5SHqrcIMOjCzYxeAWQSvzunt75yCyoSIJtW3R9bf_HEcyUq06OfiVhtbN1BxebJbTWmwidSWPPochyphenhyphenhmD_AqusHLVAVBIlpYeLGSUYdoX-4toofO0CNvpzM_QUAnh3ta80/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OqlJ-QTaR5SHqrcIMOjCzYxeAWQSvzunt75yCyoSIJtW3R9bf_HEcyUq06OfiVhtbN1BxebJbTWmwidSWPPochyphenhyphenhmD_AqusHLVAVBIlpYeLGSUYdoX-4toofO0CNvpzM_QUAnh3ta80/s320/IMG_0700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Yes, it was a child. I knew right than it was going to be a great day because I already was able to snuggle a sweet Kenyan. We moved at a fast pace. The triage station was right outside my room and I often would grab patients to triage myself to help the flow and also, if you recall from my post <a href="http://hardemanfamily.blogspot.com/2011/05/emma-hardemannp.html" style="color: #38761d;">here</a>, I was slightly timid prescribing and diagnosing on my first day. There was a good amount of women that came through my door that day, all complaining of back pain, headaches, inability to sleep, and pain "everywhere." I prescribed them pain meds but I wanted to say, " Let me give you a day off. How about you just go rest and relax. I'll walk the miles and get your water for you today." Think about that. How often to you find yourself saying," I'm tired. It's been one of those days and I need a break. To just get away and have time to myself." I do it all the time which is comical because I am unemployed, no longer a student, and I don't have children. These women don't know what time to themselves or simply relaxing for a day is. I would give anything to have taken their workload for a day so they could rest. But, instead, along with their pain meds, they were given a warm smile, a casual hug, or a gentle rub on their back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAEBZp0SQ-2KOM2fwVF7EZo_7Aoi_-Del_w8oo8Qw-7spnDOu_6mJo3jpTweNlnUlgRB5IoUoSG0YB5kcRxrSPrqnifQ2EpMEVcHO0Xo5m09ySyuRcxW6xtb1fYxhYgp6wjnqmiOgBck/s1600/IMG_0710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAEBZp0SQ-2KOM2fwVF7EZo_7Aoi_-Del_w8oo8Qw-7spnDOu_6mJo3jpTweNlnUlgRB5IoUoSG0YB5kcRxrSPrqnifQ2EpMEVcHO0Xo5m09ySyuRcxW6xtb1fYxhYgp6wjnqmiOgBck/s320/IMG_0710.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_xp7lGWS0pgixB0yuMbnZ4NSHZeuB3UkDDwJ5gyeLAKimT-JMqpPXHTl2YcKqFLOcioUjXEjthlXnmSnd_Bs9kAd3pvYCLyRtKbBnCrv-YcdtzThBHfHE337YTaEQKC8KGFo-Tdv40I/s1600/IMG_0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_xp7lGWS0pgixB0yuMbnZ4NSHZeuB3UkDDwJ5gyeLAKimT-JMqpPXHTl2YcKqFLOcioUjXEjthlXnmSnd_Bs9kAd3pvYCLyRtKbBnCrv-YcdtzThBHfHE337YTaEQKC8KGFo-Tdv40I/s320/IMG_0712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Above are pictures of patients waiting outside the pharmacy for their meds as well as the inside of the pharmacy in Tala. Let me tell you, these ladies worked hard! For each person who came to the window there were 2-3 prescriptions that needed to be filled for each member of the family of 4-5. They stood on their feet all day and never once complained. They were quite the pair!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgeH_MB0czGb8R0AhwzKIHLNIUmTKDK_LmR2dIGvpotCaJVJcGZHqoPt1a1xnQxroWKeEvgDP85dc26q6YWmYn86L4yK20N-LlAlAkO5OE6UbvLOZHHVnCsNIJUx3X_ieBAQ-tTliQMI/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgeH_MB0czGb8R0AhwzKIHLNIUmTKDK_LmR2dIGvpotCaJVJcGZHqoPt1a1xnQxroWKeEvgDP85dc26q6YWmYn86L4yK20N-LlAlAkO5OE6UbvLOZHHVnCsNIJUx3X_ieBAQ-tTliQMI/s320/IMG_0704.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Joel and Brenton were hard at work treating patients all day. Sharing their room was a Kenyan doctor as well. I could hear them talking from where I was in my room and I would listen in as Joel explained everything in great detail to Brenton, who being pre-med soaked it all up. Joel is great with all who come through the door but he is especially great with the kids. I could hear the slaps of high fives and the compliments on "princess" dresses. The kids loved him just as much!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OxnNK6lhGpngnMcl2M8abHxApR_tnWyf3AmAq1noFae6U1-wZgWL0Ph0yFLbhbsho2Cbj5pLRLxCDO_3RqI1Btlxtr_vGILpcndo8zGN-zXhck_nSxMPIZhUU5i8V8pXK__8QtDYIhA/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OxnNK6lhGpngnMcl2M8abHxApR_tnWyf3AmAq1noFae6U1-wZgWL0Ph0yFLbhbsho2Cbj5pLRLxCDO_3RqI1Btlxtr_vGILpcndo8zGN-zXhck_nSxMPIZhUU5i8V8pXK__8QtDYIhA/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">It amazes me also how there was a constant patient flow all day. Never a lull or a lag. Just one after the other from start to finish. And they all waited so long. I get beyond impatient if I have a doctors appointment and they do not call me back on time. Yet these people come early in the morning and hang out all day long until it is their turn. Some even get sent away, unseen, when clinic is over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMxVPm3L0r6cpgCLtYfL0_qEI-7U363f5WIrPIzjmS2zEZfZ8geo3rQdEkEhBo-7zVNAJoYix95PKegOV4frdaGggKSwZP_dhxN6bVcuz6Iy9HQvQatuuslknPy2UmMKrA1Z-rWY2n7o/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMxVPm3L0r6cpgCLtYfL0_qEI-7U363f5WIrPIzjmS2zEZfZ8geo3rQdEkEhBo-7zVNAJoYix95PKegOV4frdaGggKSwZP_dhxN6bVcuz6Iy9HQvQatuuslknPy2UmMKrA1Z-rWY2n7o/s320/IMG_0701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CSopbvp6OlSjxv3qdyyhm7TFAPtlOWTmi_10-oxM7i8KZCCRl6Hs2YwnjlL-xrCM6IX6XrdQmWY-oaH_2fU9fVNtIlmEMFd4LwsA2KoqHS9lWmJcxfGvXJA-GFeavHVaG21c0lvKbD8/s1600/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CSopbvp6OlSjxv3qdyyhm7TFAPtlOWTmi_10-oxM7i8KZCCRl6Hs2YwnjlL-xrCM6IX6XrdQmWY-oaH_2fU9fVNtIlmEMFd4LwsA2KoqHS9lWmJcxfGvXJA-GFeavHVaG21c0lvKbD8/s320/IMG_0713.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;">I had to sneak away at times to check on the kids outside. Sometimes I wondered why they were staring at me so weird because I forgot that my white skin stuck out to them. I look back at the pictures I have with the kids and I can't help but see the absolute beauty of our skin colors next to each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Taking pictures of all the kids was a hoot because they all love seeing themselves on the screen afterward. They would squeal and shriek, some even were a little shy, as they picked each other out of the pictures. Even the moms and grandmas liked to see them too! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Our first day of clinic was a great success. ( Well, minus my ooops incident but I will write about that in a different post!) Driving home was similar to the drive to clinic as we all waved to kids the whole way home. Dinner was once again a feast and we were so spoiled by our chefs! The night ended with starting a game of "Phase 10" that would later be known as "Skip Larry" only to be played every night until usually midnight. Who needs sleep, right? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">After a great first day we were ready for another day of clinic, another day to be God's hands there in Kenya, to love on His precious people, and another day to let His light shine through us. </span></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-26758235160252374652011-05-31T11:06:00.000-07:002011-05-31T11:06:19.417-07:00Elephants Play Soccer & Drink From Bottles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">We landed in Nairobi early in the morning after flying for 17 hours plus an 8 hour layover. It felt great to get off the plane. We breezed through customs, loaded up our 24 bags, and were greeted with warm smiles from Lorna Meeker ( Pastor </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Meeker's</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> wife) and Emmanuel, one of our drivers. Since our flight to </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Kisumu</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> did not leave until 6pm that evening, we decided to do a little shopping in Nairobi. But first, shower! By this time most of us had been wearing the same thing for 3 days and I hadn't shower in just as long. The </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">ELC</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">-K guest house is located on Embassy row in Nairobi. If you remember pictures from my last trip we stayed here our first night. ( and we would stay here our last night on this trip.) The room in the picture below is the same room I had previously :-)</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PqTB1LxTsXJtrNpzLCoQml2rYq5i-cLdTM12p34P2x9LuzvyzDah0DMyKK3uKuT_eg4thlE5TXPRbLQbwTlz0tv5CPU_8s0GtnrABdLYh7JONm7q0Qec13KVmf7E741fBdUxNzi_few/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PqTB1LxTsXJtrNpzLCoQml2rYq5i-cLdTM12p34P2x9LuzvyzDah0DMyKK3uKuT_eg4thlE5TXPRbLQbwTlz0tv5CPU_8s0GtnrABdLYh7JONm7q0Qec13KVmf7E741fBdUxNzi_few/s320/IMG_0667.JPG" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Driving through the streets of Nairobi brought back memories. It's crowded and the driving is insane yet I love it. We headed to a shopping center to start our souvenir shopping. We all found some good finds and than Scarlet said she had a surprise for us but we had to hurry to make it in time. None of us had a clue what it could be. Before we knew it we were driving on dirt roads through bushes to what looked like that middle of nowhere. We pulled into a make shift parking lot and Dr. Larry said, " What are we doing? Feeding lions out here?!" Scarlet grinned mischievously and said, "No, baby elephants!" </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMsxCdthM91KVT8xlE5xMQPXitfDT7JxpgR9MiEQRtPWkLUFcE-71aJMso2N9h-MDJMnaFdhJ1jVBPSbLwoVLFo8Av4IMv3VDedoNo8r4aL9gvoAAMqgJTfG2-ee9MpR4BuJ-iEH2908/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMsxCdthM91KVT8xlE5xMQPXitfDT7JxpgR9MiEQRtPWkLUFcE-71aJMso2N9h-MDJMnaFdhJ1jVBPSbLwoVLFo8Av4IMv3VDedoNo8r4aL9gvoAAMqgJTfG2-ee9MpR4BuJ-iEH2908/s320/IMG_0668.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNxLeUEboIlrjuSizsG1pIxSCDbjEe3hCTFh365SzFYQUggskYpYKbmRnXNtSRj7Qaq3JfiDPphMHUZ2f37dP0mdA7kkryz5rby0rDUfnUpC6PoN3haHo67gBLAgHo3573NJox4UR2bk/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNxLeUEboIlrjuSizsG1pIxSCDbjEe3hCTFh365SzFYQUggskYpYKbmRnXNtSRj7Qaq3JfiDPphMHUZ2f37dP0mdA7kkryz5rby0rDUfnUpC6PoN3haHo67gBLAgHo3573NJox4UR2bk/s320/IMG_0670.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdib6WcajVJ56awJYSF0K-ZQH0hoWYABa4Z65DvOPy3oFmIpwsXXmlBg6ArxWj6aCxvqU6G4PqAJMJ3k1lseE93L6MT6c4Iqgs-WDeXwfQAHEfh-BpeTzYLyFkj5E7vi76e9M5GGul51M/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdib6WcajVJ56awJYSF0K-ZQH0hoWYABa4Z65DvOPy3oFmIpwsXXmlBg6ArxWj6aCxvqU6G4PqAJMJ3k1lseE93L6MT6c4Iqgs-WDeXwfQAHEfh-BpeTzYLyFkj5E7vi76e9M5GGul51M/s320/IMG_0678.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>Pretty cool, huh? They were really cute and really hairy! Never did I imagined that an elephant would be so hairy but they are! These elephants are all rescued from the wild. Most of their mom's were killed for their tusks and the babies were found close by. With no chance of survival, they are rescued and brought here to be taken care of until they are old enough to head back out to fend for themselves. And yes, they drink out of bottles. It's a baby formula much like the ones here in the states. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5foXwLuk5160XXselclTmKpfAy78GUKxbAEPuA67uW-jdBsOWqWe4CTbIxnYcYdMVMu05tB0bCqhjFCHsEbiqKCDMidJoYsyfK7oUtoAvYlkacskMPs9AFXBSgIc0QHlldEBKbnPXTw/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5foXwLuk5160XXselclTmKpfAy78GUKxbAEPuA67uW-jdBsOWqWe4CTbIxnYcYdMVMu05tB0bCqhjFCHsEbiqKCDMidJoYsyfK7oUtoAvYlkacskMPs9AFXBSgIc0QHlldEBKbnPXTw/s320/IMG_0680.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9gjLBAF093DqPynSE2r-0q0pF-Vz4mJqNl6CLpUteG26Ae9q4XFVJzaccOG6D4QtWYNfD9WO3XK0wPcJV1rmc3vjSJCKiIRjWQrFXnTXafQOOhAY2iVC0av8KeEycfdHgZD5JhdMahU/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9gjLBAF093DqPynSE2r-0q0pF-Vz4mJqNl6CLpUteG26Ae9q4XFVJzaccOG6D4QtWYNfD9WO3XK0wPcJV1rmc3vjSJCKiIRjWQrFXnTXafQOOhAY2iVC0av8KeEycfdHgZD5JhdMahU/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>They also play soccer =)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXITYHAqDID1Ua5gMWX6uzS6dzoAqPQiZduZJLBPx7EoP9G1Y2HbPExZEv_qw0s96Lc1POB3IV72mDn6bbiOTzKi5dyC3vMXj7IaPwBH41iRbe9Vq3acVrcY2D5v_8l0boa_764j1bLAU/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXITYHAqDID1Ua5gMWX6uzS6dzoAqPQiZduZJLBPx7EoP9G1Y2HbPExZEv_qw0s96Lc1POB3IV72mDn6bbiOTzKi5dyC3vMXj7IaPwBH41iRbe9Vq3acVrcY2D5v_8l0boa_764j1bLAU/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>These adorable kids were on a field trip!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aHDMxYYX_4KzUnGHs86j2zWkKca_u_5PJLSj0t9pSAmJ9Zp9kR8YNwSxdPlL019oMAeaKqUdjn__BjzmfEXq4cSUy9hyphenhyphenWGmZfMAGhaGk5ZcghBLNnwYxwr9ldpBBBwav5mvJrfz7drI/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aHDMxYYX_4KzUnGHs86j2zWkKca_u_5PJLSj0t9pSAmJ9Zp9kR8YNwSxdPlL019oMAeaKqUdjn__BjzmfEXq4cSUy9hyphenhyphenWGmZfMAGhaGk5ZcghBLNnwYxwr9ldpBBBwav5mvJrfz7drI/s320/IMG_0686.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcyhfKAPJWfCqLfg0BLNSI3XEK1yQTVr1KLPMPSLuRmykDkmV3RoiAH-9OgyCKndNM1t4JDxtdn-CHI2usuqiWSahavnFWG5lwevB99X5LlV6e_vzrJaLWFDj2PlqRiehFi2-V84rwe4/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcyhfKAPJWfCqLfg0BLNSI3XEK1yQTVr1KLPMPSLuRmykDkmV3RoiAH-9OgyCKndNM1t4JDxtdn-CHI2usuqiWSahavnFWG5lwevB99X5LlV6e_vzrJaLWFDj2PlqRiehFi2-V84rwe4/s320/IMG_0687.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>Mud bath time!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgH-kEBKulvyYhy_z_BVRzdYhX80tMkJfo4v5nf8H_VOzz3NG1EsSVTT-eSCeFSstovjs3o35PAXZSXjsvWzbeMKFwVun11UNA0n7ZpeYJNhA6F_ZpyjEfbRQuk-4IkEzFqeltnbFR5aI/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgH-kEBKulvyYhy_z_BVRzdYhX80tMkJfo4v5nf8H_VOzz3NG1EsSVTT-eSCeFSstovjs3o35PAXZSXjsvWzbeMKFwVun11UNA0n7ZpeYJNhA6F_ZpyjEfbRQuk-4IkEzFqeltnbFR5aI/s320/IMG_0685.JPG" width="289" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>Pumbas =)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>While leaving the baby elephant are we stopped to see a RHINO! When I did the safari a few years ago, over a course of 3 days we never saw a rhino. And now there was one inches from my face. He walked right up to the gate and put his horn to it. Pastor Earl stuck out his hand and grabbed it. Katelyn and I followed suit and the next thing you know we were petting a real, live rhino. :-)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsfWllaQRd1SARlcHo_oxXV-qavyeAaQChWXPi1DqAN1YZy905e5Z8D-TCM3Z3ivDPLrXCFdTAg4bL9IogXv1Ob3yoNAYDxRrVU-VcK9sJsGTfS1qGUDvr1D-xWwJzN894pmEOY8hsKs/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsfWllaQRd1SARlcHo_oxXV-qavyeAaQChWXPi1DqAN1YZy905e5Z8D-TCM3Z3ivDPLrXCFdTAg4bL9IogXv1Ob3yoNAYDxRrVU-VcK9sJsGTfS1qGUDvr1D-xWwJzN894pmEOY8hsKs/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mPyggkMGUfKcB3iRT89kHob8xPLFGHDL_8kLRuQsdh-XQ9mOw8MIx_Og80pUUyOgoFBhnC529hs7UrwzbHiZiQZI3n_1XK8DJfmr6eXVvQVk0Uc5kb3b-yarSh3vBh574JgpsX6ZBi0/s1600/IMG_0690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mPyggkMGUfKcB3iRT89kHob8xPLFGHDL_8kLRuQsdh-XQ9mOw8MIx_Og80pUUyOgoFBhnC529hs7UrwzbHiZiQZI3n_1XK8DJfmr6eXVvQVk0Uc5kb3b-yarSh3vBh574JgpsX6ZBi0/s320/IMG_0690.JPG" width="211" /></i></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5Fsdr_G3oZtyw98_Jg8wyw6Pw9AN3iQn-X754hbG9duyf1_0naZUlwjWhdZ-ADzfNfJxIqIDYN6xdX0Bq5wdZPJghG9JFgMwwqK3OtQ9um2_fBqYt8shyXrrrMb-BrYVyeyV-7I709c/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5Fsdr_G3oZtyw98_Jg8wyw6Pw9AN3iQn-X754hbG9duyf1_0naZUlwjWhdZ-ADzfNfJxIqIDYN6xdX0Bq5wdZPJghG9JFgMwwqK3OtQ9um2_fBqYt8shyXrrrMb-BrYVyeyV-7I709c/s320/IMG_0691.JPG" width="169" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>It was lunchtime so we headed to the Java House which is delish! Their coffee is famous much like Starbucks is here but they serve really good food also. After that it was back to the airport to fly to Kisumu! ( Please notice the hand written air plane tickets!)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBox23koGVaHTC1qDlTe9srH3aeVw9EG_CWKcnIkWFE1vZVrxGFomBzzrUhfmOuRLISCB98sT1NIP-H4saxjAuCxgZ6P-yA1nsjjB0PN1KZ6OT5r5ZLFQTFSE1A_kqAQRdGn7Z0-yNmU/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBox23koGVaHTC1qDlTe9srH3aeVw9EG_CWKcnIkWFE1vZVrxGFomBzzrUhfmOuRLISCB98sT1NIP-H4saxjAuCxgZ6P-yA1nsjjB0PN1KZ6OT5r5ZLFQTFSE1A_kqAQRdGn7Z0-yNmU/s320/IMG_0692.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6ykA1Ez4-Pre5k9MRm-6_bF9GlrtDeZarRMe7sxc5PGbhBNB0wfIdjFxtH5FQFgwEjdi4KRf8hUCKR4CZO93pt8D0cfnaankOBspnMhaAqVyJCP28GbApdE6bphcOjeb06z5YDhsCMs/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6ykA1Ez4-Pre5k9MRm-6_bF9GlrtDeZarRMe7sxc5PGbhBNB0wfIdjFxtH5FQFgwEjdi4KRf8hUCKR4CZO93pt8D0cfnaankOBspnMhaAqVyJCP28GbApdE6bphcOjeb06z5YDhsCMs/s320/IMG_0693.JPG" width="320" /></i></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>Touching down in Kisumu was such an incredible feeling. As we drove on the bumpy roads to the village of Atemo it felt as if I was coming home. You know that feeling when you go back to your parents house after being gone. Where everything smells the same, sounds the same, and you feel safe...where you are right where you are supposed to be. That is what it felt like returning to Atemo. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMipZrjngEhaHj1q2dbFJx9LzmKuMtoveLKLun_sTSIo_J03-o71izO6sbjb5x9UYBAeisx6ExGzj21v5X0GZIxj-xO3XTUxpNtaOGe7AUtuRctMjPU-8Nl6YrYfAD_GsM-ve-fV8gMU/s1600/IMG_0716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMipZrjngEhaHj1q2dbFJx9LzmKuMtoveLKLun_sTSIo_J03-o71izO6sbjb5x9UYBAeisx6ExGzj21v5X0GZIxj-xO3XTUxpNtaOGe7AUtuRctMjPU-8Nl6YrYfAD_GsM-ve-fV8gMU/s320/IMG_0716.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>We stayed on the compound that housed the clinic from last time. There are some guest homes there, mingled in with homes where Lutheran missionaries are living as well as Kenyan seminary students who are attending the Lutheran sem in Kenya. ( This made my mom feel better!) As I stepped out of the van with my back to the house I heard my name called out. I turned to see a Kenyan man saying, " Emma! Emma!" as he walked towards me. He greeted me with a hug while saying." You came back! You came back! What took you so long?" I still tear up thinking about Joshua. A man I saw maybe for a day two years ago and here he was, shouting my name and hugging me. Welcoming me back to his village. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVKtswzonPTIt__Dbykhw81PbKM1HvG9qLWCFgmjnw9cSLM3LcMo54kVFl6_98qZgfkIbvEjLbbl57Rl1OoaNcgnAUobQj71CT_gHU0d1rPwSGFUWG7x_aic4PzeICKeQMcZrJHkiRdE/s1600/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVKtswzonPTIt__Dbykhw81PbKM1HvG9qLWCFgmjnw9cSLM3LcMo54kVFl6_98qZgfkIbvEjLbbl57Rl1OoaNcgnAUobQj71CT_gHU0d1rPwSGFUWG7x_aic4PzeICKeQMcZrJHkiRdE/s320/IMG_0791.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i> The house where Katelyn, Larry, Brenton, and I stayed</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQHIuQ37Bgsoa4ENp2ghoruf4EnVPnh49w4ax94NS_n_-gVZ1B4gJt5_LNl9pkH5WP2ElbCn4d7JEgRoo36usXIJQJhxJIhr2B3tcVZ62GymlzU2YA6VbwPIVGZlGG16E1P23jt3CcWc/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQHIuQ37Bgsoa4ENp2ghoruf4EnVPnh49w4ax94NS_n_-gVZ1B4gJt5_LNl9pkH5WP2ElbCn4d7JEgRoo36usXIJQJhxJIhr2B3tcVZ62GymlzU2YA6VbwPIVGZlGG16E1P23jt3CcWc/s320/IMG_0799.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>The main guest house where the others slept, where we ate, showered, & played cards till midnight!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><i>After a delicious Kenyan dinner ( of course with Chapati), sorting of medications we would take and a cold shower it was off to bed. Snuggled up under my mosquito net with my flashlight close by I was out for the night. The next morning we would begin our clinics and I couldn't wait!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfB3ejwiOKMqmmhJP7tb2nHaLhUrhU2w_zqPMTXvGIUy6rPw0OF95ZLjYWNMD8pMhYW0ihTabVv_qQZsSa1Ao78wLZpsu0Xk6NvcyuwrB9eBrG5gdaWuQDr1AWoqXU9eMJnhfXxCkVBY/s1600/IMG_0793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfB3ejwiOKMqmmhJP7tb2nHaLhUrhU2w_zqPMTXvGIUy6rPw0OF95ZLjYWNMD8pMhYW0ihTabVv_qQZsSa1Ao78wLZpsu0Xk6NvcyuwrB9eBrG5gdaWuQDr1AWoqXU9eMJnhfXxCkVBY/s320/IMG_0793.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-74299581106418249552011-05-30T09:33:00.000-07:002011-05-30T09:33:58.022-07:00Emma Hardeman....NP?!?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At home in California I am a licensed registered nurse. In the villages scattering the Kenyan countryside, I am a Nurse Practitioner. You may wonder the difference. An NP can assess further, diagnose, treat, and write prescriptions all based on their judgement. Pretty stinkin' cool, right? After the first day, yes. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My previous trip to Kenya I worked mainly in the pharmacy but was able to triage a few times. I figured on this trip I would be in the triaging room taking vitals, writing down chief complaints, and so forth. Never did I imagine I would be doing what I ended up doing. The first day of clinic they put me in my own room and before I knew it I had patients waiting outside just to see me. Yikes! I still did their vitals, I still snuggled the kids, I still loved the elderly, but now I needed to make my own diagnosis on what was wrong. Oh man, I was nervous! I found myself just treating the minor issues like back pain, generalized body pain, healthy individuals who just needed vitamins, and mom's who were not sleeping well. I would still send every other case to the doctor because I wanted to make sure they received the help they needed. I didn't want to screw up.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being a new graduate nurse I haven't done much. I'll be honest, you can only do so much in school and compared to the real world of working on your own in a hospital, it's nothing. My confidence as a nurse is pretty low because I have zippo experience. I was feeling silly running back and forth from the doctor's room to ask him questions or figure out a medication. That night, as I laid under my mosquito net and after I was finished praying that no bugs would attack me in my sleep, I prayed for confidence. I prayed that God would use me in great and mighty ways with the people in these villages. I prayed I would go with my gut in situations and that I wouldn't feel like I wasn't measuring up to people's expectations. I prayed I wouldn't feel intimidated working with Joel, a man who is so knowledgeable and confident it leaves me in awe. ( I guess that is a good thing for an ER doc!)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have a funny God ad the next morning at clinic we were short a room and what did I have to do? Share with Joel. So every assessment I made, every treatment I did, every 'script I wrote, and each teaching I gave he was right there watching. Yikes! God has a good sense of humor, doesn't He?! It ended up being the best thing for me. I learned more that day than I did sitting in lectures at school. As he taught Brenton about each patient, I would tune in picking up snippets that will help me in my own practice. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because of Joel, because of being thrown in on my own to work in a position that is higher than my training, I am going to go into my first job with experience that most people won't have had. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is some of what I did as an NP:</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Labs:</b></i> I drew blood more times than I can count. It is harder on African skin and I didn't have a tourniquet. I learned to go just by looking and feeling. After drawing blood I would put a few drops in the i-STAT and receive my patients lab work in a few minutes.</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Injections:</b></i> Well, you do tons of these as a nurse but I can't tell you how many I did on this trip. I could draw them up and give them with my eyes closed now.</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Diagnosed:</b></i> I can tell you the difference between ear infections just by looking in some one's ear now. I can look at a person and know exactly what tropical disease they have. I can see a child and know if it is viral or bacterial infection without needing to do anything further.</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Exams: </i></b>Joel would send me his patients after awhile and I learned to do vaginal exams, breast exams, and more. I learned what to feel for, what is abnormal, and how to treat different scenarios. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>STDs:</i></b> We saw them all, many times, and unfortunately I can now take one look and tell ya what it is and what the treatment will be.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Meds:</b></i> Because I was a given a list of medications in the names we are not familiar with ( it didn't say Tylenol but acetaminophen) I now know my drugs like the back of my hand. How they work, their classes, different things they can be used for, and....pediatric doses. </span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Fungal infections:</b></i> There was alot of them and many different kinds. Some look pretty similar and others distinctive. I'm glad I was able to learn how to assess, diagnose, and treat them!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Wounds: </i></b>We saw quite a few as well. The last clinic day I did more wound dressings than I have even watched in school. I learned about different ways to treat them based on the cause and different ways to dress them. </span><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To think that is just a handful of responsibilities I had. I loved being able to hold my own exams. The first few days the kids would sit on my lap in the chair with me. The last day, my room had this huge table that we would put a mattress on when it was time for an exam but any other time there weren't enough chairs in the room so my patients and translators would sit in the chairs while I sat on the edge of the table. I usually always had a kid on my lap and their siblings next to me on each side. They loved holding my stethoscope or letting them take their siblings temperature when I was done. Those kids are just too much fun. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUgHSAShBB28UWLTPIyGKwEIohXxhSsVgDVtuvkvK61OebAxcd66xTxD1QtcGTlOjP2Z-zx1WNCdT048ZJR7MNHi6eZAr13B4odJpuFY2i_uLWiaMRqQwuZY0J4kOQR83qi_1UaUPJa0/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUgHSAShBB28UWLTPIyGKwEIohXxhSsVgDVtuvkvK61OebAxcd66xTxD1QtcGTlOjP2Z-zx1WNCdT048ZJR7MNHi6eZAr13B4odJpuFY2i_uLWiaMRqQwuZY0J4kOQR83qi_1UaUPJa0/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc_BMmHWXbmYZwiCFOPoycjgK6vgMNY07ZjKSKP78fvM7DWsrRULJeul7kNYDfNmdF0IKaYJaQPoxr45G8F4Qfx3QsuKKpap_ual-TQutcSEoa2O0VkwlduFx5D-dKmPXHiXfeHYFOhI/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc_BMmHWXbmYZwiCFOPoycjgK6vgMNY07ZjKSKP78fvM7DWsrRULJeul7kNYDfNmdF0IKaYJaQPoxr45G8F4Qfx3QsuKKpap_ual-TQutcSEoa2O0VkwlduFx5D-dKmPXHiXfeHYFOhI/s320/IMG_0699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I learned many things on this trip but one thing that surprised me is that I liked the role of an NP. Of course I want to work bedside for many years, but now I know that someday when our kids are older I want to pursue my NP license. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What an experience for a little new graduate RN! </span></span></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-90116627708365802812011-05-29T12:56:00.000-07:002011-05-29T12:56:28.301-07:00The City of.....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">..I want to say pot but that probably won't look to good as a header. Yet sadly, that is what I remember most about Amsterdam.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The last time I went to Kenya I had an 8 hour layover coming home but I opted out of taking the city tour and I am so thankful now because I probably would have feared my life walking alone in this city! This trip, our 8 hour layover was on the way to Kenya. 6 of us decided to fight our sleepy, slightly Ambien/Tylenol PM drugged selves and sight see for a bit.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">We decided to take the canal tour. Mostly because it was cheapest and partially I think because we were all so out of it we really didn't know what to do ;) It was a gloomy day in Amsterdam. We had a fun tour guide who kept things lively and filled us in on all the history we could get in a short time. I was pretty excited when driving to the canals we passed by a windmill. Most of the authentic ones are outside the city so I wasn't expecting to see one. Marrying into a Dutch family means I now love tulips and windmills.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">It was gorgeous riding through the canals. The buildings have a ton of character and I am sure even more history to them! Passing by Anne Frank's hideaway apartment was a little surreal. I grew up reading book after book about her. I have always been fascinated by her story and than all of a sudden I was in front of where she hid out. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFlJdWSXW1I__A269RS9k9rt3V2JrRvSAnw2hTmVb6b4rcvwehxPJ6DPK1rnGTcKibR18oL3BRecnS_RRSCm4E-8y3IThM06uvldcyaPuuTkj7EREj40oU91YKZRvDsOrLXWjmlv7I90/s1600/IMG_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFlJdWSXW1I__A269RS9k9rt3V2JrRvSAnw2hTmVb6b4rcvwehxPJ6DPK1rnGTcKibR18oL3BRecnS_RRSCm4E-8y3IThM06uvldcyaPuuTkj7EREj40oU91YKZRvDsOrLXWjmlv7I90/s320/IMG_0662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anne Frank Museum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyV5H_DY7ywntu-xmLGDKmPxrTaNhfcdYC0-Cdf-25x0uF3J3YYPFEakok1NibqDio9be36FlHlKWjgQzTdilXzQfpkij8BkLANsABzTH0f_hTH7Y3Wc6KualjVvwfCBFOvGavpmbaKs/s1600/IMG_0663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyV5H_DY7ywntu-xmLGDKmPxrTaNhfcdYC0-Cdf-25x0uF3J3YYPFEakok1NibqDio9be36FlHlKWjgQzTdilXzQfpkij8BkLANsABzTH0f_hTH7Y3Wc6KualjVvwfCBFOvGavpmbaKs/s320/IMG_0663.JPG" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anne Frank's place is on the right!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">In this city instead of having big parking garages they have HUGE parking garages solely for bikes! Crazy, huh? There are bikes everywhere. I mean, everywhere! There are also marijuana "coffee" houses everywhere too. Although it is a pretty city, there are some weirdo people and not a whole lot of morals. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Our boat had quite a slew of people on it. Katelyn and I were both wearing glasses and were mistaken as sisters to some Chinese tourists. One plopped right down next to Katelyn to take his picture with her. Later, the guys in our group told us they were video taping us the whole time. For all we know we are on some weird, home video out in China somewhere!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">It was nice to get out of a plane and airport for a bit to see a new city, a new country. Plus, we got stamps in our passports which is always fun! After returning to the airport we found the meditation lounge where we all settled down to read or snooze. Katelyn and I were passed out and our group ended up leaving us, drooling in our chairs, to go take HOT showers in the Delta Sky Lounge. I'm not bitter or anything ;)</span><br />
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</span>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-46389452442983969702011-05-28T16:39:00.000-07:002011-05-28T16:39:42.055-07:0024 Bags? Check!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>Saturday morning came awfully early as I waited until late the night before to pack for Kenya. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>Trav</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i> dropped me at the airport, I was checked in and ready to go. Now, I will admit there are times when I really do have "</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>blonde</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i> moments" and I chose this particular morning to let me hair color shine. I was at the airport 2 hours early and I missed my flight. How? Because I was sitting at the wrong gate! When it was time for my plane to leave I realized everyone who was boarding was going to Hawaii and I literally ran </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>geographics</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i> through my head saying, " How can they stop in Atlanta on their way there?" Oh man. Thankfully, I caught a flight that left shortly after!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>5 hours later I touched down in Atlanta. I'm sure people laughed as I ran to catch my hotel shuttle while dragging two 50lb suitcases and two carry </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>on bags</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i> behind me! Arriving at the hotel to meet the team I saw a familiar redhead and heard a friendly voice; Scarlet, our team leader. Although I have not seen her in two years, that day it felt like it had only been a week. The rest of the team greeted me warmly, making me feel right at home. I am amazed at how on trips like this you have an instant bond with each other. You are all there for the same purpose and no matter what your background is or where you are from there is an incredible bond from the start. Here is a glimpse at our team. That way when you see pics or hear stories you will know who is who</i></span><i>!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Joel:</i></span><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">An ER physician from Albany, GA and Scarlet's husband. He has been going on medical mission trips for over 10 years. </span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Scarlet</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i>:</i></span><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Pharmacist from Albany who takes on more than most people can handle yet always wears a smile! </span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Pastor</i></span><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Earl: From a small Lutheran Church in </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Tifton</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">, GA this was his first mission trip. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Delana</span></i><i>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">A retired registered nurse from Albany, GA with a heart of service still. This would also be her first medical missions trip!</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Katelyn</i></span><i>:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> My </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">roomie</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> =) A </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">pharm</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> student at </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">UGA</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> and a heart of gold. She had been to Jamaica and Peru on mission trips but this would be her first where she would use her passion, knowledge, and skills to touch others.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Brenton</i></span><i>: </i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Pre</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">-med at </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">UGA</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> and a desire to learn already. He as well had been on trips before and was anxious to shadow Joel, soaking up all he could.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>A mixed group of people with one common goal: to be a light and show God's love to the people outside of </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Atemo</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>That night we went out to eat for our last supper. And did we ever eat. I haven't been so full in a long time. They sure know how to cook in the south. My mashed sweet potatoes and Oreo cheesecake was to die for! Plus, I was introduced to sweet tea. ( not without a little ridiculing that the California girl had never heard of it ;) The next morning we took our last shower for....what was it Katelyn, 3 days? Pastor Earl led a beautiful church service in the meeting room at the hotel and than we got to our packing party. Scarlet was given special permission for each of us to take three suitcases totalling 24 bags. All full of medicine and supplies for the clinics. Sorted, weighed, tagged, each one was carefully prepped for the trip. I am pretty sure we had to use all of the hotels baggage carts to get them to the shuttle.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Packing party!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One stuffed hotel room as we sorted and packed!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had to take some non-medicine stuff to pass out ;)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HTFilsUmSdDcdTtI2A2hm77Mr4AhU9_BFuoRDRrObZY63o7fyX8vBXWZAj_vsUHnPOPCYwVhiJrJ59wkT4fQmuDKnyuSR0yhuStpVQt8XOTi0Lutbwpw4OuK4ddY9A6Gx0hwh8PMTUc/s1600/IMG_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HTFilsUmSdDcdTtI2A2hm77Mr4AhU9_BFuoRDRrObZY63o7fyX8vBXWZAj_vsUHnPOPCYwVhiJrJ59wkT4fQmuDKnyuSR0yhuStpVQt8XOTi0Lutbwpw4OuK4ddY9A6Gx0hwh8PMTUc/s320/IMG_0640.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think we had 6 of these things.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Before we knew it we were at the airport ( in the Delta lounge thanks to Scarlet and Joel!) ready to go! I was bursting with excitement inside. I knew I would never sleep so I popped a Tylenol PM, watched a </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>tv</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i> show, and drifted into a fairly nice airplane sleep. </i></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CirzbdzITwG5cNQ9qxpUnIV9zP2jzOp36TOp-rrrF30394FTJ59Bn5D4D6VvlgI6ZbgW59xIBpHTgdSVchVwV86rQLFJaSat6JaJ0o1oV1ZXbufyMZrfQOQARGvIksZrMizSf2OrAZY/s1600/IMG_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CirzbdzITwG5cNQ9qxpUnIV9zP2jzOp36TOp-rrrF30394FTJ59Bn5D4D6VvlgI6ZbgW59xIBpHTgdSVchVwV86rQLFJaSat6JaJ0o1oV1ZXbufyMZrfQOQARGvIksZrMizSf2OrAZY/s320/IMG_0645.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With the kind KLM crew who helped ensure we could each take 3 bags</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><br />
</i></span>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-88068064806364230442011-05-26T15:27:00.000-07:002011-05-26T15:27:31.472-07:00Coming Back Home<div style="color: #6aa84f;">I have been home from Kenya for almost 3 days now but it feels like my trip was a lifetime ago. I have a camera full of pictures to edit, stories to write down, and things to share but I find myself unable to do any of them without coming to tears. Why? Because I miss it. I miss being there so much already my heart aches. While this may sound crazy and you may not understand, Kenya is my second home. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">This medical mission was a blessing in my life. Two years ago I fell in love and wasn't sure if I would ever make it back. Than a phone call came one day at a time when I was down about my purpose and God's plan, leading me back to be His healing hand once again. This time it was harder to leave. This time I really got to know the people who walk amongst the red clay roads, spend all day with backs aching as they tend to their crops, who carry jugs of water ( muddy water) for miles back home, and who have the brightest eyes and biggest smiles you will ever see. This time people became like family to me. Relationships were built that will last a lifetime. This time I saw a glimpse of my purpose in life; to be God's healing hand in the villages surrounding Atemo. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">I became a nurse for many reasons. First, I felt called. Led by the Lord into this field. Second, I truly love to care for others. But I now know that there was something more. That back when I was 17 and debating with my Dad about my future, God was already stirring inside me feelings about being a nurse because He knew one day I would use these gifts, these talents, and His love to reach the people in Kenya. No matter where my nursing career takes me. No matter what area of the hospital I will work in. I will always serve in Kenya as well. It's my calling. And someway, somehow I know God will continue to lead me back there throughout my life.</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">I have so many stories to share and so many pictures to show. I promise I will get to them as many have been asking to see how our clinics went. In the meantime, pray for this reverse culture shock I am going through. I didn't realize what I funk I was in until Trav told me I had been down ever since I returned. The hardest part about being there was not having Trav with me. The hardest part about being home is that he can't possibly understand what I saw, what I experienced, or how I feel. It's frustrating for both of us as I want so badly for him to know how things were and he wants to be at the same place I am. And of course, I don't want to be down. Yet there is a massive Kenyan sized hole inside me and I now need to pray about how I can serve from here. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #6aa84f; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB85zP8M4BQb_3ri3nX_K4SY7qIW710FfiyhccAlrx4LeubZUuKYFNDFEzo6kT8YOeKsZi08pAdo5IZOtrNnMzPAOfI-YjLWEv9I1eyDUvPfsavFscuNtbw3nb9N7MnerzZwrPoZmI00M/s1600/dagobabe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB85zP8M4BQb_3ri3nX_K4SY7qIW710FfiyhccAlrx4LeubZUuKYFNDFEzo6kT8YOeKsZi08pAdo5IZOtrNnMzPAOfI-YjLWEv9I1eyDUvPfsavFscuNtbw3nb9N7MnerzZwrPoZmI00M/s320/dagobabe.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"> </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">The one picture I have edited I will share about. This little babe came into my exam room on the last day of clinic in the village of Dago. After taking him from his mom I snuggled him through my exams on the family. I didn't want to let him go and as I gave him a final squeeze I told my translator I was going to put him in my suitcase and take him home with me. I wasn't expecting the response I got. The mom looked at me and said, "Yes, please." After they left the room I sat down in slight shock. How could a mother be so quick to give her child to a mazungo? Ruth, my translator, filled me in on the life of these women. They work all day to tend to the crops, laundry, children, you name it while the men head into town, taking with them the crops that should be saved in case the family needs to trade for something and spend it on drinking and who knows what else. The women are left with the labor, often finding that they can't come up with enough food everyday to feed their whole family. Their families that are so large because they are forbidden to use any form of birth control. The men will not allow it so these 27 year old moms have 6 children and the burden of not being able to provide for them. On top of that many take on family member's children when the parents die of AIDS and other diseases. So when she heard my comment to her it meant her child could finally be cared for in the way he needed. My heart broke. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Another prayer request is for next fall. I have been asked to come back. But this time, Trav will come too. As we pray over this we know that if it is in His plan for us to work side by side serving Him in Kenya things such as timing, funding for the trip, time off of work will fall into place. I am already excited at the possibility of serving with my husband and introducing him to a place I call home.</span>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-79948864750778540082011-05-13T12:47:00.000-07:002011-05-13T12:47:13.479-07:00Celebrating the Bachelorette<div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><i>With the wedding less than a month away, the final celebrations are taking place! Teri's bachelorette night was one to remember. And yes, we remember it all unlike the ever great movie The Hangover. </i></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><i>A group of her close friends and us sister in laws headed out to <a href="http://www.pepperspianos.com/">Sgt. Peppers Dualing Piano</a> bar in Long Beach. Heaping pile of nachos, loaded quesadillas, a blue moon or two, and some fun in store for the bride to be led to a great night out! The pianists had some fun embarrassing our Teri....but so did her friends! :-) Hey, that's what bachelorette parties are all about!</i></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><b><i>While what happens at the bachelorette party stays at the bachelorette party exists, here are some photos from the evening!</i></b></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixekEiTExUv1_CBn7H-H0aKwnK7fwrQ4SDrXc0Gb8EFuwSrHjvFfwzI7itmDx6v1bEyf3RdPxag3vmVzS2Xv37rkxe0U_No0_1ICXQOTUD7aQ9DL5FNDcX0W1vo3XVPEMbgcNIFcDX7dI/s1600/bach5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixekEiTExUv1_CBn7H-H0aKwnK7fwrQ4SDrXc0Gb8EFuwSrHjvFfwzI7itmDx6v1bEyf3RdPxag3vmVzS2Xv37rkxe0U_No0_1ICXQOTUD7aQ9DL5FNDcX0W1vo3XVPEMbgcNIFcDX7dI/s320/bach5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> Being sung to ...kinda... by some very awkward men</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4q-tQmyFP8Kvj-6i_nPtnQTt6-1Sx5ZVr-aW21T1dw-Hm5wYHfk7w1oQW8Ca-FuqyWgWGJBCsaetIskMgJmwjJKG2rGbkj34H6XnqpKWpAg9zQiNzO74cUwSulo6pR6HiJ_CPQ035heQ/s1600/allgirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4q-tQmyFP8Kvj-6i_nPtnQTt6-1Sx5ZVr-aW21T1dw-Hm5wYHfk7w1oQW8Ca-FuqyWgWGJBCsaetIskMgJmwjJKG2rGbkj34H6XnqpKWpAg9zQiNzO74cUwSulo6pR6HiJ_CPQ035heQ/s320/allgirls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> Lovely group of gals</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5abVsoPSt59g3pADCstlYY5f-R6vIXcH5km3ioxgCXQhvS8KqrD3ODsQKmv1yHOi6d0mqG8WZ3E_go1ljp3bYjtlYAGx1mQspix0KH-_wkpBOImjsjcPyoD1NYY6-AdYK6LmN3ArumvA/s1600/face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5abVsoPSt59g3pADCstlYY5f-R6vIXcH5km3ioxgCXQhvS8KqrD3ODsQKmv1yHOi6d0mqG8WZ3E_go1ljp3bYjtlYAGx1mQspix0KH-_wkpBOImjsjcPyoD1NYY6-AdYK6LmN3ArumvA/s320/face.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> Crazy face</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB5BLiOxrANSHAqapg3wjGZ6EtZIVhXihPZUCmm8OK9kBp1K0cwwrmqzFOmSqQCCeHgHkQEWvy-BBOlXg05tha-MMP0hdU9IS4HKF3w-csR1nbPl3XWOotkXkdYJU-IHJaEmFZ_m8gVY/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB5BLiOxrANSHAqapg3wjGZ6EtZIVhXihPZUCmm8OK9kBp1K0cwwrmqzFOmSqQCCeHgHkQEWvy-BBOlXg05tha-MMP0hdU9IS4HKF3w-csR1nbPl3XWOotkXkdYJU-IHJaEmFZ_m8gVY/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> Hardeman ladies</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFlLnmgm7wl8ePCZgJJ8nkKnPEwVmC6iyMmWMfgZ6X7dpfliuE3Ny7UoEqaKPtFwza4BKxvcJdfnO12ROHhyphenhyphenIjYSTILZ3I1Aft4xA2tkTXsEtieZ2H_s8usjjn793j8EvupSZS8nDTuk/s1600/snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFlLnmgm7wl8ePCZgJJ8nkKnPEwVmC6iyMmWMfgZ6X7dpfliuE3Ny7UoEqaKPtFwza4BKxvcJdfnO12ROHhyphenhyphenIjYSTILZ3I1Aft4xA2tkTXsEtieZ2H_s8usjjn793j8EvupSZS8nDTuk/s320/snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> Her friends got her good</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxoBtw4ErujXYT75aylIU9taz50JjZAlSdm8KREk20uMqBmdZc4h6ZIE1sNYf-CoqKrELg87yvkOjOfwWvQqvpK6H3IhZt705WVX1aL0mJ9zBdxthPpTcpNUZjM2TXljFGzO-zQGbwvI/s1600/bach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxoBtw4ErujXYT75aylIU9taz50JjZAlSdm8KREk20uMqBmdZc4h6ZIE1sNYf-CoqKrELg87yvkOjOfwWvQqvpK6H3IhZt705WVX1aL0mJ9zBdxthPpTcpNUZjM2TXljFGzO-zQGbwvI/s320/bach.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"> Present time!</div><div style="color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e06666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-fddCplnp66rs6zfqbVmjiN3nmsFz_lila4QPJjOCX8SNdGWf9m12rc4270eSGkutZAICmxaNZSC0P9-vvqaq5drrFIVo6zsciYjM_xeZ_hkXkJVhyGXqfc5x7dTK4KT1TE1Rl-_-rg/s1600/bach2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-fddCplnp66rs6zfqbVmjiN3nmsFz_lila4QPJjOCX8SNdGWf9m12rc4270eSGkutZAICmxaNZSC0P9-vvqaq5drrFIVo6zsciYjM_xeZ_hkXkJVhyGXqfc5x7dTK4KT1TE1Rl-_-rg/s320/bach2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-9375741089454586862011-05-10T09:45:00.000-07:002011-05-10T09:45:32.310-07:00Weekend in AZ<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A few weekends ago I headed out to Arizona to see the fam & pick up supplies collected for Kenya. The hardest thing about these trips is that they are just too short! I was blessed to have been able to see everyone out there & spend some time at each home. But I am definitely ready for a trip to AZ (and STL) where I can stay for a week and simply enjoy that time with family without being rushed!</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I started out at my parents house. The day I got there was the day before the Royal Wedding. I was planning on staying up all night to watch it but than my mom surprised me by letting me know she was taking Friday off work & was going to stay up all night with me! ( She wouldn't normally do that but she has lots of vacation days to use up). To say this was a lifelong memory in the making is an understatement. What a fun night with my mom! We ate my dad's buttery popcorn, guzzled our coffee, and curled up on the couch as we watched history in the making....live. It was fun watching all the guests come in, feeling the anticipation for Will & Kate's arrival, critiquing hats, and more. We were troopers and made it all the way through to the balcony smooches! I am so thankful my mom and I had that time together. It's something I will hold close to my heart forever.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We had to hit the Anthem outlets but somehow my mom and I found ourselves in all the kids stores. Of course, this led to some plug-ins on more grandchildren....at least I know when we do have kids I can shop somewhere with great deals! My parents took me to eat at their "Ricardos." They hadn't found a good Mexican restaurant until recently and it was gooood. Nestled in the middle of the desert ( literally) it was secluded and open and had the perfect evening breeze blowing through the patio. I am looking forward to more trips here. Afterwards, we went to see their new house. Yes, they bought a place where they will move into in June. I love it. Absolutely love it. It is so perfect for them and I can already envision our kids eating my mom's 4th of July sundaes on their patio! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Saturday was busy. It started off with Parker's soccer game. For being only 5 he has some serious talent. Kristel is already the "soccer mom" as she cheers louder than I think people do at professional games! It was fun surprising Park and seeing how much he has improved since the last game I saw. I will say he is tougher than I am out there getting right in the middle of things and taking some blows as goalie! We met up with Kody after his t-ball game for some breakfast. I headed over to Kristel's to pick up her straightener and play with all the kids for a bit. Oh how I wish I could have stayed for a few days!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">At lunch time I headed down to Gilbert to see the Ermelings. They were just getting back from Tessa's soccer game! We had a fun afternoon with some Target shopping, toe nail painting, Littlest Pet Shop playing, and lots of snuggles. That night Lyns directed the younger version of "Godspell" at her school. Lexi sang in the chorus so Tess, Ryan, & I were able to watch the whole show. For junior highers they did great! ( Plus, they had the best director around!) The girls and I went for frozen yogurt after where we piled high our toppings and quick ate them before their parents saw ;) Again, too short of a time down in Gilbert. Time to head back!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I'm glad I was able to spend time with everyone even if it was short! And, I have to brag for just a minute because that's what aunts to best....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">My niece Lexi is a natural born ballerina. Really, it's in her blood. I have been to watch her rehearsals where she is dancing with girls 3-4 years older than she is. I see how the teachers look at her different and how people comment on how good she really is for being only 9. I know without a doubt in my mind she is going to go far. But the best thing is, she loves it. It's this inner joy that comes out when she dances. There is always a smile on her face, not forced, just pure joy. My sister just sent me this picture which captured a moment showing just that. I wish I could see her dance in Sleeping Beauty but I know she will be wonderful!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEg0wIR5IP8jzyW0Xie6lHCE4JhSEZHnVEPvAm6sAvZxc57tIIZxc5jhYxkm4-DIo6b0j0sU_WzwcUttsMvMtCDyCadeMYnbZnyynKZcO4yBzi3BhIXEok7a5m1AC_khnVkTLz9MeTao/s1600/226884_10150187569239833_42431579832_6971744_3773421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEg0wIR5IP8jzyW0Xie6lHCE4JhSEZHnVEPvAm6sAvZxc57tIIZxc5jhYxkm4-DIo6b0j0sU_WzwcUttsMvMtCDyCadeMYnbZnyynKZcO4yBzi3BhIXEok7a5m1AC_khnVkTLz9MeTao/s320/226884_10150187569239833_42431579832_6971744_3773421_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">( Lexi is the one on the far right!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-42574397159899753952011-05-06T16:45:00.000-07:002011-05-06T16:45:20.732-07:00My Dad<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Today is my dad's birthday. For the first time ever I am not with him to celebrate it. The hardest part about their move is missing out on birthdays, holidays, and the upcoming Mother's & Father's Days. More than anything I wish I could give my dad a giant birthday hug right now and make him a feast for dinner. But, a phone call will have to do until I head out there next time. I never really do cards for birthdays but I started thinking about all the reasons why my dad is so awesome. All the sacrifices he has made over the years, his kindness, and what I love most about him. I thought it would be fitting to make my own birthday card on here about my one of a kind dad. </div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Dad...</b></span></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...is truly a one of a kind. There is no one like him and I am awfully blessed to have him as <b><u>my </u></b>dad. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">...has all the attributes of the fruits of the spirit. All of them. They are so hard for me to take on but I glance at him and all I see is love, patience, gentleness, kindness, peace, self-control, goodness, & faithfulness.</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...give the best hugs you will ever have. In fact, to this day if I am around him you will most likely find me wrapped up in a bear hug from him</div><div style="color: #38761d;">.<span style="color: #6aa84f;">..lets me call him 18 times a day for reasons such as, " Had to tell you something quick!" or " Guess what?" or simply to say "Hi". Never once has he sounded annoyed by the multiple calls.</span></div><div style="color: #38761d;">...used to let me tottle around behind him throughout the house as he fixed things. He taught me which tools were which and never seem irritated when I got in the way. ( Which I am sure I did many, many times)</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...<span style="color: #6aa84f;">makes the best waffles you will ever have. I used to love waking up on Saturday mornings to the smell of freshly made waffles drifting up the stairs towards me. He still makes them when I come visit. Now he needs to give Trav his secret recipe!</span></div><div style="color: #38761d;">...called me his " legally blonde" in his speech at our wedding. But aside from all the pink, the blondeness, and silliness he still pushed me to do the best I could in school. ;)</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">....speaking of school, he knew long before I did that I was meant to be a nurse. He never once let me give up but kept pushing me till I reached my goal. Hearing his voice when I told him I passed my boards will be something I remember forever for we traveled that road together.....and was it ever a battle!</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...texts me to say," how is my favorite nurse today" </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">...taught me how to throw a football with a perfect spiral. And taught me how to shoot a basket which earned lots of practice time at the LHS gym together. Because of him I will rarely miss a free throw shot leading him to tell Trav that we should settle our disagreements on the free throw line ;)</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...surprised me at my wedding with lighting up our whole ball room with pink lights. I had no idea until they opened the doors for us to go in. </div><div style="color: #38761d;">..<span style="color: #6aa84f;">.has always let me cry or vent whenever needed. While he may be used to all the drama from 4 daughters growing up, there is still something about his calm presence that just makes everything better.</span></div><div style="color: #38761d;">...is a rock. A man of faith and head of the household, I grew up praying I would be blessed with a man like my dad. He set the bar high for us girls when choosing a husband & we all wanted someone like our dad.</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">...served in Vietnam. He will play it off like it was nothing big but words can't say how proud I am to share with others what he did for our country. He is brave and admirable. His stories are incredible & I could listen to them for hours.</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...has never said " I want..." Never. In all of my 25 years of living I have never heard those words come out of his mouth. On birthdays and Christmases we always ask him what he wants. The same reply every year is, " I don't want anything. <b>I have everything I need.</b>" A gift to him is having our whole family sitting around the table, laughing and talking over one another as we reminisce. He doesn't need the "stuff" or the "things". </div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">...took me to football games with him at an early age and patiently explained the game to me. From 3rd grade to just recently, Friday nights were spent at LHS games, arms raised as we cheered the team on. Because we shared this, football easily became my favorite sport to watch & I love sharing it with my dad.</div><div style="color: #38761d;">...is the most thoughtful person I know. He is always thinking of others. His acts of kindness are not to get praise nor would he boast about them. From slipping packs of gum into my purse before I set out on a plane ride or on a drive, or making sure my favorite soda and coffee is at his house when I come visit is just a few of the many little gestures he does to show he cares. They are never overlooked, Dad. Thank you for everything.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">...can make me cry by looking at me wrong. I never wanted to disappoint him. He never yelled growing up but that tone or that look where you knew you screwed up was enough to do me in. </span></div><div style="color: #38761d;">...<span style="color: #38761d;">never had a son but is the best dad to daughters you could ever imagine. While he taught me sports, he always would sit down to play "Little People" or house. He would blow dry my hair for me to make it straight because I hated my rat's nest of curls on my head.</span></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;">...<span style="color: #6aa84f;">has sacrificed so much for all of us. He gave up a lot of his time to drive us to sporting events, late night play rehearsals, friends houses and he never missed a game, a concert, a show, or anything. </span></span></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;">...watched the real people Batman with me on Saturday mornings. I thought it was the coolest thing.</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f;">...rubbed my back every night before I fell asleep from age 2 to...well, some nights in high school! Between him and my mom they would switch off coming into my room to pray with me and than he would scratch my back till I fell asleep. I owe you about 100000 back rubs, Dad!</div><div style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: #38761d;">...always challenged me to be different and not settle for something that is easy. In 4th grade we had the mission projects. I wanted to do a gold mine. Not as easy as buying a mission kit from Michel's. But, my dad helped me build the coolest gold mine and while I am sure at times he wished it was a mission not a build from scratch gold mine, he never showed it to me! </span></div><div style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;">...loves me even when I am moody., sarcastic, and impossible to deal with. He is a constant encourager, motivator, and a huge support. </span></div><div style="color: #38761d;">...is one of my best friends.</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdtxhpFlJGXEarFFzC8JmJWBdp14VsDOfCAfVSG8Th11Lt1qZFsAd2ULwLww3bARniBfTk5x_yDiMf5fwGVARRUteXM3Urp_9RhP6xbhnqgSC5jCcfpurjvaEr7VAHpTn46S6qYO7y5E/s1600/n56903756_31905683_5984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdtxhpFlJGXEarFFzC8JmJWBdp14VsDOfCAfVSG8Th11Lt1qZFsAd2ULwLww3bARniBfTk5x_yDiMf5fwGVARRUteXM3Urp_9RhP6xbhnqgSC5jCcfpurjvaEr7VAHpTn46S6qYO7y5E/s320/n56903756_31905683_5984.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Dad, </div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">I wish more than anything I was celebrating in person with you today. But I am sending one ginormous hug through this blog to you. While I know I am not good at saying what I feel I will always say this. It meant something at age 5 and now at 25 it still comes from the bottom of my heart.</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>" I love you super duper bunches, whole lots of love!" </b></span></div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday!</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Love,</div><div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">Emma ( #4....aka the favorite ;)</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-48670544272438874922011-05-05T09:59:00.000-07:002011-05-05T09:59:58.280-07:00'Cuz You've Had a Bad Day...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Whenever I hear this song I picture my four year old nephew, Vander, singing it in this sweet voice with a great set of lungs. He doesn't know all the words but that one catchy phrase comes out crystal clear. Yesterday, while this song was playing through my head...well, while it was my theme song for the day...I was wishing I had Vander to sing it because it would have brought a smile to my face!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Do you ever just have a truly bad day? Where you wake up and you know from the start things will go wrong? I knew I was doomed when I made my cup of coffee, opened the fridge door, and saw we were out of coffee creamer. Now sure, I could have run to the store on any given day but we were in a rush to get to my aunt's house to meet the movers. I didn't even have time for a Starbucks run. Doomed. Yes, coffee does make my day better. That probably sounds awful but really, you don't want to be with me if I am missing it. ( Just ask my husband!)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">The day snowballed. One thing after another went wrong. By 7:30 I was done with the day. My head hurt, I really could find anything positive to say, and poor Trav had to listen to my sarcasm whether he wanted to or not. It was one of those days where you want so badly to crawl into bed, pull the covers over your face, close your eyes, and wake up a new, fresh day. I would have done that in the car driving to Irvine if I could have!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">But, as I look back on certain things throughout the day I can't help but laugh now. ( by no means was I laughing yesterday!) Here are a few laughable moments:</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">* My aunt's garage had been filled with mice. We realized this while the movers were moving our stuff out and the floor, our fridge, our dressers, everything was covered in mice poop. Nope, not laughing at that. I'm still disgusted. But while I was sweeping up all the poop and cleaning her garage for her I thought I caught a glimpse of a mouse and screamed! Loudly. My poor aunt was so startled until we realized it was a leaf blowing through the garage. Did I laugh than? Nope, just scowled to myself. ;)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">* We rented a storage unit that we had before. While the movers were loading up to bring their next load in, I decided to go check out the unit we had. I went in to find that the light doesn't work in the unit...in fact, it will never work for some weird reason the facility gave us. Why that made me mad, I don't know. But as I was standing there fuming at how much we are paying for a unit that has a light not working, one of the movers came in with a load of boxes. I heard this thud and an, " Ow. woah, I can't see!" He had run straight into the back wall of the unit in the dark! Poor guy....I'm chuckling now just remembering it! Maybe it was good I wasn't in a laughing mood in front of him!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">* I had to leave while they were unloading into our unit in Trav's car to run and get more cash because we were going to owe them more. I was flustered and ticked while in a hurry for who knows why. I pulled into this wannabe Circle K parking lot and got out of the car. Oh, but I left the car on and it started rolling forward as I was getting out of the door causing me to trip while staring in disbelief at how the car was still moving. As it hit the curb I jumped back in and jammed it in park. We won't tell Trav this one! </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">* I was at the gas station down in Orange filling up after driving back from Irvine. I had to go inside to pay and when I came out there was a man collecting money for a homeless shelter. I dropped a dollar in and was about to keep walking when he said, " Mam, I hope you have a blessed day & a great Mother's Day!" Do you know what I did? Besides scowling, I turned to walk away ticked that this man thought I either had a child or was expecting. I than mumbled to myself I would never wear the outfit I had on again. Way to kill doing something nice. As I drove home the verse, " whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me" was trying to run through my head but I was pushing it aside with thoughts of, " Seriously, just because I am wearing a t-shirt does NOT mean I look like I am pregnant." Oh man, what in the world was I thinking....he meant no harm!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">* In the afternoon I was already done for the day. Wanting to start a new one. I thought it would be great to lay by the pool and just relax, soaking in the sun. Except I talked on the phone the whole time which is fine but I layed facing the sun with one arm holding my phone to my ear and the other resting across my forehead to block the sun from my eyes. ( Oh yes, I lost my sunglasses yesterday too) I don't need to explain the tan line I have across my forehead nor my reaction when I saw it later last night. ;)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/okHIj_Kyl5M/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/okHIj_Kyl5M&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/okHIj_Kyl5M&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Here is a video of that song. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Thankfully, today is a new & beautiful day. And yes, I have already had my coffee =)</i></span></div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868189750997413178.post-7295522601678615922011-05-05T00:45:00.000-07:002011-05-05T00:45:00.438-07:00Lazy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFMO4FUZgz1WS-RyenVJnTpUrF4-IsLyIhxjZraSEeGPw-yxHsOOOVpj0eBLYXa3TOcDHJYL1IuEjTzDKN09l4_vVnlhpxAIGZybQLHxv-WUmWLMYiaJNr0handsPv6Np6RqjTKLfCJ0/s1600/gw4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFMO4FUZgz1WS-RyenVJnTpUrF4-IsLyIhxjZraSEeGPw-yxHsOOOVpj0eBLYXa3TOcDHJYL1IuEjTzDKN09l4_vVnlhpxAIGZybQLHxv-WUmWLMYiaJNr0handsPv6Np6RqjTKLfCJ0/s320/gw4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Since we had been going hard on the tourism our first few days, we decided to relax some on Saturday. And by relax I mean, sleep, eat, eat some more, sleep, eat again, basketball games, and some more eating. Yes, we ate our way through Saturday and it was simply wonderful.</span></div><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">We were referred to<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span><a href="http://www.portagebaycafe.com/Portage_Bay_Cafe/HOME.html" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Portage Bay Cafe</a>, an organic restaurant that looked heavenly online. We mapped it out on the computer and saw it was just 2 miles away. Perfect for a morning walk! We set out with the intention of walking up an appetite so that we could truly indulge ourselves in the toppings bar. We followed our directions exactly but where it told us the cafe was, there was none. Just a traffic light and a dead end. Odd. We must have missed something. We back tracked a little. Than a little more. Finally we gave up and decided to ask a gas station where to go. They had no clue. Weird, right? If the restaurant was in this area you would think they would know. Well, of course they didn't because Portage Bay Cafe was by the actual Portage Bay. Where were were? The opposite side of town....4 miles away. Awesome.<br />
<br />
So we turned around and set off back to where we came from. But along the way we saw some great scenery that we wouldn't have if we hadn't gotten lost.<br />
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As soon as we walked through the front doors of the cafe we knew it was going to be good. Walking for four miles was well worth it when my bananas foster french toast arrived and I sealed the deal with a trip to the toppings bar. Scrumptious.<br />
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As if we hadn't had enough to eat we hopped on the bus and headed uptown to find a cupcake place we were referred to. ( If you haven't notice we take our referrals pretty seriously. Especially when they are about cupcakes & french toast!) <a href="http://www.trophycupcakes.com/" style="color: #3d85c6;">Trophy Cupcakes</a> was quiant, cute, and oh so delicious! While Trav stuck with plain vanilla that he claims is the best vanilla he ever had, I tried chocolate peanut butter and was amazed at how heavenly it was despite my lack of love for chocolate. We debated getting two more to eat but opted out of it.<br />
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To work off all the food we were indulging in we took off to go find Gasworks Park. (yes, another referral ) Although it looked as if the sky was going to open up on us, I am so glad we made the trek because the views of the city were breathtaking. And, well, they filmed a scene from 10 Things I Hate About You there which made it even cooler.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r5osxPBhxO_I6Z3w-awsh2a5VPQUSXfK7HS65bd5SMJpizWLX-ri8m2gHnjoooHIBRfHdrU7MLu4k-V-598hONu0Jo_kebT3dWvm0tYV9Z3WK5lFDm_LFtucRYO7p0hzk6mwSwPOTak/s1600/gw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r5osxPBhxO_I6Z3w-awsh2a5VPQUSXfK7HS65bd5SMJpizWLX-ri8m2gHnjoooHIBRfHdrU7MLu4k-V-598hONu0Jo_kebT3dWvm0tYV9Z3WK5lFDm_LFtucRYO7p0hzk6mwSwPOTak/s320/gw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AVZJiMrHDvOxbKZ62sKdyEbd_lmgyT2d47kq83kmnu9-dMaFa3xffrPRHu_03L_GTwtM9Kyz5kYJV_oV6XGSoUvYAee-By1xt-GnhIRsmq3bbMNU8zkBDqJK-WfL_0w5F9HV514iHjw/s1600/gw3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AVZJiMrHDvOxbKZ62sKdyEbd_lmgyT2d47kq83kmnu9-dMaFa3xffrPRHu_03L_GTwtM9Kyz5kYJV_oV6XGSoUvYAee-By1xt-GnhIRsmq3bbMNU8zkBDqJK-WfL_0w5F9HV514iHjw/s320/gw3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenV34J-gaGpWa2jgR6BA2-jiWykbPn8XLmEGtQ_dJ3vmMq7vXwTweIOF6rAmzGGbhQA22kJBZBXNUAmzJaR5clZt1tQnsRCFLWWeqNdYpAkw_MJbTU05MxsowPNdvEZu7X1ACa5CJj0I/s1600/gw2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenV34J-gaGpWa2jgR6BA2-jiWykbPn8XLmEGtQ_dJ3vmMq7vXwTweIOF6rAmzGGbhQA22kJBZBXNUAmzJaR5clZt1tQnsRCFLWWeqNdYpAkw_MJbTU05MxsowPNdvEZu7X1ACa5CJj0I/s320/gw2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We headed back to the hotel for a nap, some reading, and yes, some more Cake Boss. Since the final four for March Madness were on that night we decided to go grab Subway and eat in to watch the games. It was a fun, lazy day filled with lots of delicious new foods, great scenery, and adventure ;)<br />
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If you watched American Idol last week you will remember this song by Bruno Mars. Basically it is fitting for my husband ( especially considering for Lent this year he gave up laziness ;). However, if you know the Hardeman pup, Nike, than it's even more fitting for this pair.<br />
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</div>Emma Hardemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345181223158253034noreply@blogger.com3