Mr. bug

This guy was buzzing outside my window tonight as I was being a diligent
studious student

What was I to do? Get some tongs & bring him inside to take a closer look!

He turned out to be pulling our bluff with the scary looking outer shell

Meet Mr. Japanese rhinoceros beetle 

These friendly little guys are sold as a pet in department stores in many countries in Asia.
Who knew? Not me until I read it on wikipedia. In Japan they are even sold in vending machines

They are used for gambling in some places. Placed on a log one male tries to push the other off, the last beetle on the log is the winner.

Isn't he just the cutest?? 

He was a good distraction from my studies :)

And then I ate him
THE END
... OK maybe I put him back outside ;)

A special baby

Christian's mom came in for her regular prenatal visit and stated she might be in labor. After doing an i.e. she was surprised to discover not only was she in labor, but 8cm and it would be just a matter of time before she delivered Christian, her third baby. After texting her husband, she sat quietly on the birth ball and asked me when she would deliver, I replied that she would deliver when ever she felt like pushing. A little over an hour later she told me she wanted to try pushing. Laying down on the bed and giving a push her water shot into my lap, yep, I'ed say she was ready to push!

His placenta was shaped like a heart 

A few minutes later a chubby baby boy came sliding into this world. I rubbed him off and placed him on his mommy's tummy and then waited for the placenta to come. A few minutes later my assistant whispered in my ear "his eyes are slanted, I think he has down syndrome." As I continued to wait for the placenta, I prayed that he wasn't. I thought about his mom & dad having to hear the news that their precious new baby would never live a normal life and always require special care. 

Special placenta for a special baby

After the placenta came and we got them settled I was able to take a closer look at the chubby baby bundle and he did indeed have all the tell tail signs of downs; Slanted low set eyes, flat nose bridge, thick neck.... yes he was defiantly downs. We sat quietly beside the bed and as gently as possible explained to his parents his features and what they meant. It is hard to know when the right time to tell something like that is, but sense downs babies can have heart problems we decided in the event something was to happen they should know. 

After telling them, we left so they could have a moment alone, it was hard to read how they felt. When I reentered the room, Christian's daddy was cradling him in his arms and speaking softly to him. Another time when I came in his mommy's face was close to his nuzzling and speaking sweetly to him. Despite that Christian is not "normal" his parents definitely still love him dearly. When it came time for them to take him home. I prayed for them and told them how wonderful their little boy is and talked about how much joy he would bring to their lives. 

The next day his mom text me that he had been admitted to the hospital for an infection and that he would need surgery for an abdominal hernia. Thankful everything else from the exam came out OK. I went to the hospital to visit them and it became clear that the reality of their baby's condition was sinking in. It seemed so little to sit there and tell her that it wasn't her fault and it was OK to be sad. I assured her that God knew that they would take good care of Christian and love him. Such small words, but they did seem to bring a little comfort. 

Please pray for this family and their new little bundle of joy. 
Pray that: 
* They would not blame themselves for his handicap 
* That others would not blame them
* That they would fully love him 
* That they would see the blessing that he is & will be
* Pray that Christian's infection would heal
* Pray that no other health problems would arise
* Pray that he would be able to have his surgery soon
* Pray that he would get a handle on breastfeeding & that his mom would see the importance of breastfeeding him
* Pray that they would feel God's love
* Pray that I would know how to best support & help them

The fast entry of baby #17

It was midnight when my head hit my pillow, "Please Lord" I prayed as I drifted off to sleep,"Do not have a labor text until morning." I was in the middle of an active dream (that I can't remember) when the "boyfriend" sounded. Instantly alert I reached over to read the text. "ahhh" I thought as I noticed the time, "it is 4:30am, God let me get a little sleep." The text was in ilocano and while I couldn't read most of it, I recognized enough words to know it was a labor texting.

She told me her contractions were every 10 minutes apart, so I advised her to wait until they were closer together. Her chart told me she was a G2 (second baby) and when she didn't text back, I began to wonder if she was on her way. I went back to bed, but left my door open so I would hear if someone pulled up. Sure enough a few moments after placing my head back on my pillow, I heard the dogs barking and the roar of a vehicle pulling up. Jumping out of bed I pulled my scrub top on (I had left on my scrub pants) and hurried back downstairs.


The labor who was texting had arrived and looked very active. Upon doing the ie I discovered she had no cervix left on the bottom and a cervixal lip from 9-3 on top of about 8cm. Her water had not broke yet and her contractions were strong. I advised her to try hands and knees position and rest her upper body on the birth ball. This helps the remaining cervix to dilate. She found that uncomfortable and asked to walk. 

In the early morning air she attempted to breath through her contractions, but it soon became obvious that her body was taking over and she was baring down. "I think the baby is coming" she told me as I was about to suggest we head back inside. Upon laying down on the bed there was already 2cm visible of the bag of water. I was advised to break her water because the baby's heart tones were a little low, 2 minutes later a new baby boy slipped into my hands and entered the world. That proud mama only pushed for about 3 minutes and she had her baby only 27 minutes after arriving! I am sure glad she listened to her body and came in when she did.


Because the baby was breathing a bit too fast and his color a tinge pale we ended up transporting to the hospital. I went and visited them this afternoon and he was on an IV drip. His mom told me the doctor said he has an infection and will have to stay in the hospital for a week. His breathing and color looked better and I am sure he is going to be just fine. 


Proud daddy was too shy to be in a photo, but 3 year old big sister wasn't :) Praise God for the wonders of new life and that I get to be apart of it. 

Thankful Thursday

I am ready for my break. Simple as that. 

I still have assignments to do, tests to take and other duties, yet I feel the coming break and I long for it.

I spend my limited time gazing out the window, longing for a cool breeze and a familiar face. 

I feel my impatience growing and my peace leaving. 

Yet He whispers in my ear, Tianne, this break is not your future, I AM. Don't cling to a coming time. Cling to Me, cling to me right now.  

Today I am thankful for: 

The beauty that surrounds me 

For the opportunity to spend my life serving Jesus 

For the grace He has given me that I do not deserve 

I am thankful for the hope of eternal life spent with Him!

Dancing in the rain

As the rain came down it beckoned me to come and play. It had been raining every day in the evening for the last few days, but this was the first rain without lightening joining it. Come, each droplet said, come and play with me. I made excuses in my head of why I couldn't, but it called on. "I'll do check on Clover", I thought as I meandered toward the door.




Once outside I saw the rain pouring off the roof in big splashes. Ok I'll just run in it one time. Before I knew it, I had ran though the rain countless times and my cloths were drenched. I laughed, I danced, I spun as my bare feet splashed through puddles of water and the rain ran down my face. The cares and pressures of this world washed away with each drop of rain that hit me.

As the moment passed I slipped back inside. Water dripped from me, as I stepped back into life. It was a lovely time away spent lost in a moment, where life seemed to stand still. Thank you rain for beckoning me to come and play. Thank you Jesus for these sweet moments that refresh my soul, I loved dancing in the rain with you today. 

Eagle - goodbye my dear friend

I remember his nose eagerly coming over the stall wall. A uniquely colored appy stallion, but I wasn’t there to see him. I was there to see his curly babies and when my friend and I left that day I never expected our paths to cross again, but they did. His owners decided to donate him to the school I was attending and I was to be the one to train him. He was gelded the day he arrived and I met him the next. His name was Eagle a 97% foundation bred appaloosa.  

We spent the next 8 months together. I was the trainer, but he trained me in many ways. He was stubborn and sensitive at the same time.  I remember working in the round pen with him, placing the bit in his mouth & the saddle on his back for the first time. I was the first person to sit on his back; he didn’t even attempt to buck. I remember the feeling when he finally laid down for me. I slid off his neck, hugged his head and spent many long hours working together. I shed many tears on his shoulder that year and many laughs. At the end of the school year I decided I couldn’t part with him, so I bought him and hauled him to Wyoming with my other horse, Romeo.

I spent many hours on Eagles back that summer, winding with a string of mules on craggy mountain paths.  He had a quick step and a smooth trot. We did our job well together. Him and Romeo became good friends and we continued our journey home that fall. I had dreams of doing some endurance rides on but never found the time to do it. But I would take him out on the trail and pretend we were training for a long race.

Because I was moving to Africa I decided I should part with him to help save money. With tears in my eyes and great emotion I loaded him into the trailer and drove him to his new home. Over a year later while I was still in Africa, a friend went to pick him up, as the home wasn’t working out.  When I was home for 4 months that fall I spent time riding and loving on him. My future was up in the air and I didn’t want to part with him again so I asked my parents to keep him a while longer. After returning to Africa I felt God calling me to serve him full time in Africa and I knew it was time to part with my horses for good.

My mom being the wonderful mom that she is took on the task of finding Eagle a new home. A wonderful family decided he would fit wonderfully with their other horses.  I was sad to say goodbye again, but filled with thankfulness that God had provided such a wonderful family to be Eagles forever home. For the last 2 years Eagle has been loved and happy at his new home. I visited him last summer while I was home and got to ride him, lay him down and hug his head. I never imagined that it would be the last time.

This past winter Eagle has been sick with kidney stones. His family has been working diligently to help him heal and feel better. Today my mom informed me that the vet was out to look at him and she found a watermelon sized cancerous tumor on his bladder. He has to be put down.  I wish I could hug him and bury my nose in his hair one last time. I am sad and my heart is heavy. Yet, I am thankful that God blessed me with such a wonderful four-legged friend. I learned so much from Eagle and through working with him I became more kind and gentle, more like Jesus. Goodbye my dear sweet friend, I will always hold you close to my heart. 

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my beautiful niece, Etta, on her 10th birthday. I praise the Lord for her everyday! Etta is such a beautiful little girl who is turning into a lovely little lady :) I can remember waiting for her the day she was born and knowing when I first laid my eyes on her that love at first sight is possible. I love you Etta and miss you every day! Happy, happy 10th birthday! xoxoxox and a wedge too :) Love, Aunt Tianne

Loving horses  

Summer fun with Romeo 

Hugs from my nieces, the best thing in the world! 

Beautiful young lady! But still my little Potato Bug ;) 

Yum, Lizard

This big lizard was caught  in the rice fields by the clinic

A big whack on the head with a 2x4 was what it took to capture him 

Sara, loves lizards 

He was pretty long! 

The mighty hunter 

He gave us some to try after cooking it up

Tt was surprisingly really good, I would defiantly eat it again

I am not sure what this is, but I tried it... maybe a testicle or???
What do you think it is?

Lizard skin! Ok I didn't really eat it :)

It was kind of stretchy and thick

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the beautiful flowers that God has so wonderfully made. Thank you Lord for your wonderful creation! 

Easter blessing

I love catching babies on a holiday. This makes a day that can often be sad, lonely & long into a blessing. Sometimes God answers prayers just how we pray them, this was the case with baby Justin Leo's birth. I had asked God to let me catch a baby on Easter and that she would arrive in the morning and deliver in time to go home that night.
My labor text in advance notice, I changed into my scrubs, made the bed and ate lunch before she arrived. When talking to Sara, I stated that as long as she delivered by 1pm and had no problems she would be able to head home that night (if they stay over night we have to check on them every 4hrs and discharge in the morning).
She arrived about 12pm and gave me a strained smile. I introduced myself, took vitals and asked questions about her labor. This was her 2ed baby, her first was born in 2006. I asked her as I went to check the baby's heartbeat before doing the i.e. if she was scared of the pain, she said yes. I tried to assure her that she was very strong & to focus on the fact that very soon she would be holding her baby boy in her arms. She smiled.
Between the time it took me to do the i.e. (I found 6-7cm) and my supervisor to follow me up she had already dilated 2cm. She cried to her mother during contractions and I worked on helping her breath through them. Laying on her side because the heartbeat was a little low, she tried not push during each contraction. Pretty soon I saw slight vaginal opening and my supervisor told me to let her try pushing.
Rolling over on her back and giving a push, her bag of water was already 5cm visible! A moment later it burst open, revealing moderate mac staining. The mother had a strong, push, but listened well as I instructed her to breath, ha ha, through crowning. I have read that this part is called the ring of fire, maybe you mothers who have done natural births would agree?
Little Justine's head was slowly was born, as I was assisting with the birth of the rest of his body I noticed a nuchal hand (where the hand is up by the face). This was a first for me and thankfully in my inexperience I did not cause her to tear. The sweet little Easter baby was born covered in vernix and amniotic fluid at 1:02pm and gently placed on his mothers bare belly.

Happy midwife, happy mama & sweet baby

Justine Leo

Proud Grandma

Little Justine Leo, weighted 3.5kg (7.7lbs) and let his feisty personality shine through by screaming through his first bath and I mean screaming & making a fuss if he couldn't latch on to the breast quickly enough :) Please pray for mamma, baby, & big brother as they get use to life together. Praise God for His blessings of new life!

What in the world am I doing Lord?

I go through fazes where I miss home, my family & my friends more keenly then other times. Lately I have been a bit more homesick than normal. It is during these times that I start to ask God more often, what in the world I am doing.

My friend Kim Davey still works in the Didinga Hills of S. Sudan where I lived, served, and feel in love with the land and the people. Didinga continues to be a hard place to work with lots of spiritual warfare and challenges. This past week Kim wrote me an email about a birth she had witnessed. This is a bit of the story:


 "A pregnant woman had been taken down to Chukudum (a 12 mile hike) because she was bleeding, to the point of death. There were no doctors at the clinic there and the bleeding had seemed to stop so her family brought her back up the mountain.


I Found her at the clinic a week later, bleeding, with her placenta half out. She had been bleeding for a week and was quite anemic.


Her mother, aunts and the local midwife worked hard, broke her water and pulled the woman's daughter from her. The baby had been dead for a while.


It was hard to see, hard to hold her down, see her pass in and out of conscienceless, see her pain, hear her say she was dying and ask if her baby was dead... 


It was a miracle that God spared her life. I am thankful. Medicine says she should have died, but she lives."


That is why God has called me to become a midwife, so that these hands of mine can show His love to women like this young woman. While I know that I will probably still see women with empty arms or babies with no breast to feed them. I also know that with my training and God's help, when I return I will be able to help keep women's arms full. It is not an easy calling and often I am afraid of what the future will hold. Yet, God is faithful, He will carry, guide and help me.


* Please pray for the Didinga people. Pray that they would turn and follow Christ
* Pray for Kim and the other missionaries as they work & live to share Christ in this difficult place
* Pray for me, that I would learn, learn, learn all that I can while in school, so that I will be well prepared to return to S. Sudan to serve the Lord there.   
* Pray that I would not grow weary in doing good.
* Pray that I would keep my eyes on Christ and find my hope, peace, and joy in Him alone