Happy New year - A short look at 2013

Happy New Year! This year I found myself ringing in the year with my parents, one of my brother's and his family and two friends. It was a fun filled evening and a sharp contrast to last year.

2013 was a full year for me. It was a year of hellos and goodbyes. Of joy and of pain. A year of questions and taking a deeper look at my life's path. In it all one thing remained the same, God's consistent love and guidance. Sometimes life can seem overwhelming and I am thankful that He never changes through it all. Here is a few highlights of my year. Enjoy :)

I "caught" 20 babies. 

                                                     Moved from Asia to North America.

                                       Took the most stressful test of my LIFE and passed! 

                                   

Imported my dog Clover to the States and said goodbye to my old dog Zacchaeus. 

I made a decision to serve in Doro, S. Sudan starting in April 2014.

Was blessed with my first nephew :)

Took a pack trip in the mountains of Wyoming with a good friend. 

Found myself in temperatures ranging from over 100 to -20. 

I turned 30 - the lead up to it was more traumatic then the actual day ;) which I got to spend with my favorite little girls :) 

These are just a few key points. All in all it was a great year full of many blessings. Thank you to everyone who helped me, supported me and prayed for me!

 I hope that your 2013 was a good year and I wish you the best in 2014! 

Under a apple tree

God answered my prayer. 

When I was in the Philippines during one of our devotion times we all drew a picture of something we were asking God for in the coming year on a large sheet of paper. I drew a picture of myself with my six nieces and Clover under an apple tree. 

To many this may seem like a silly prayer request. But for me it had much significance. It signified that:

                I had ended my two years of midwifery training.

                          Clover had actually made it to the USA.

                                All my nieces and I were  together at last. 

                  Joy, peace and laughter were part of my days.

                             I was home, in a place I love, with people I love. 

 Thank you Jesus for answered prayers!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

And she's off!

The last few days spent in Manila with Clover were pretty uneventful. We went on our twice daily walks along the bay and got different reactions from the many people we passed by. My personal favorite was when people would break out in "Teach me how to doggy, teach me, teach me, how to doggy" while doing a little dance.

The last night we even went for a buggy ride through China town and old Manila. It was dusk and raining, but fun. Well fun until we got back and the driver decided to try to guilt me into giving him more money - which actually worked, but not as much as he had planned for. Ah well.

Sunday evening buggy ride

Clover sight seeing on a buggy ride 

Clover had to lay on her bed, while I was adding the lining - too cute

Yesterday when I flagged down a taxi to take Clover to the airport and told him where I wanted to go he said "Oh I don't think they will allow her" pointing at Clover. I convinced him that yes they would :)  On the way he randomly says "why do you want a dog and not a man." In my head I thought "why can't I have a man and a dog?" To the taxi driver I said "Well dogs are loyal, they don't argue and they are always happy to see you" :)

At 3:30pm I left Clover in her crate at the KLM cargo area in Manila, where she would await her 7pm flight. I had a mix of emotions as I left her there: it is really happening, am I crazy, worrying for her during the 30hrs of transient and excitement of actually seeing her in a week at home.

The top of Clover's crate 

Weighing in 

Saying goodbye from afar :( 

I really can't believe Clover is somewhere between America and the Philippines at this very moment! Crazy! Praising God that He cares about the little things that make me happy!

Clover the traveling Asong Kalye

I never realized how unusual it was for me to make a pet out of a Asong Kalye (Philippine street dog) until I set out on the journey to bring Clover home. The bus to take from Tabuk City to Manila clearly states "NO PETS", however, I know people who they have allowed to take their little dogs on board. I was sure they would allow me to take Clover on board once they saw how nice mannered she was. On Saturday before I left, I bought the bus tickets, one for Clover and one for me. They were reluctant, but finally agreed to allow her to ride next to me in the back of the bus. On Sunday evening when I started to board the bus, they would NOT consider allowing her on. The conductor took one look at her and exclaimed "She'll bite someone! She must go under the bus!" Clover sat there calm as can be as Georgia and I pleaded our case. But they would not budge one tiny bit, so under the bus Clover went. I even cried, but there was no persuading them. 

Clover and I resting at the bus terminal in Manila

I checked on her at every stop we made and at 4am after 11hrs on the bus we made it to Manila. Since it was so early Clover and I settled down in the bus station for 2 1/2hrs. People walked by us giving curious stares. 

At 6:30am we flagged down a taxi, threatened to get out if he didn't turn his meter on (thankfully he did) and made our way to the vet clinic. The employees at the animal hospital were very kind and were the only people who didn't look surprised that I was taking a "street dog" to America. Getting her health certificate went pretty smoothly besides the hole it left in my wallet. 

Clover comes face to face with CATS at the vet clinic. She did very well for an avid cat chaser.  

From there we made our way to Malate Manila to the guest house we were booked at. They too were surprised to see how big and what type of dog Clover was. "Oh" they exclaimed, "we thought she would be little." Thankfully they did not turn us away after I promised she would not bark at night and have actually warmed up to her :) 

Clover and I have been passing the days walking the streets of Malate. It is a poor part of town, but everyone is nice and give happy smiles. I here whispers as I walk by "oh a asong kalye", people move nervously around Clover expecting her to bite them. Clover of course has no interest in biting anyone. She is busy dodging traffic, stray dogs and checking out the many cats that roam the streets. While both of us are reluctant of cities, we have enjoyed our time here and meeting interesting people along the way. 

Clover was supposed to fly tomorrow but her flight got delayed until Monday. So we will be walking the streets of Malate for four more days. Let the adventure continue! 

Seeing herself in a mirror for the first time - who is that dog? 

Makati Dog and Cat Hospital  

Clover viewing the ocean for the first time at Manila Bay where we walk every day 

Pretty view

I walked by a pizza place and HAD to get some! SO good! Pizza how i've missed you!

The view from my room

Clover discovered if she sat on the bed she could look out the window  

It kept her busy for a little while :)  

Tired pup! 

View from a walk over the road

Along Manila Bay  

It is a popular place to walk, sell your goods, fish, bike and sleep.  

Hanging out :) 

It is pretty, but also dirty. I sat looking over the bay and watched mange covered rats hop across the rocks. Even for an animal lover like myself I was a bit freaked out by them.  

Gotta love street food!  

Not sure what this guy is all about, but I thought it was neat. 

A little bit of nature in the city.  

Cute sleeping kitty along the road :) 

 Remedios Circle at the end of my street. 

Sea food restaurant next to my guest house.  

The guest house that is kind enough to let me stay with Clover

Today

“Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.” 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Baby Rheaner Tianne - Second repeat patient

I love catching babies and I double love catching more than one baby for the same mother. Her first baby, Eliza Jane, was my third catch on December 9th 2011. Her second baby, Rheaner Tianne, is my sixty-first catch on July 5th 2013. 

I was able to do all the prenatal exams for this baby and loved seeing little Eliza at the visits (for some reason I never took a photo). The first baby took 38 minutes of pushing and for this baby only 12 minutes! It is true (most of the time), second babies are easier than first babies. 

This young man loves being a daddy. He eagerly held his baby girl shortly after her birth, speaking sweetly to her and gently touching her face. Later he helped me give her, her first bath and dressed her for the first time. They are young parents and some would see this as a bad thing, but when you see the love between them and the love they have for their little girls, I can see nothing but goodness. 

It was an honor to be apart of such a special time for this young family. I pray God's riches blessings on them and their growing family. 

Isn't she sweet? 

Magsaysay Sunsets

I love sunsets. I love the way they bring forth the glory of God in such a vivid way. Each one so different, hand created simply for the beauty of the viewer. To me a sunset shows how God loves us in seemingly unimportant ways. A sunset doesn't serve any seemingly useful purpose, yet, they cause us to pause, to stand in awe and to enjoy the world around us, if only for the time it takes for a sunset to come and go. 

The sunsets here in Kalinga have been some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

I am sure going to miss them.