Chip off the old block

Emma is going to turn 5 in a few short weeks, which is totally awesome.  She's so ready for it and declaring lots of things that she is going to do when she is 5!

We always worried that she would have a hard time growing, only to find out recently she is in the 68th% for weight - coming from under the 5th%!!  This is awesome and the nutritionist says she looks fabulous.  Emma has a healthy appetite to say the least, and it works out well because she is willing to eat most things, but does not have my sweet tooth. 

That said, all the 5T shirts (from Target at least) shrink when I dry them and become too short, so her little pot belly pokes out the bottom.  I feel bad for her, she has no idea and I don't want people to think she's fat when likely she has a weakness in her abdominal muscles because of Moebius and is long in the torso.

So yesterday, we went to Target for groceries...

It's this or the kids pretend to be garbage men hanging on both sides!!

...and I picked up a few shirts on clearance - from the big girl section!! 

This was the first time we shopped there, and I realized they have really cute stuff that is more expressive of her personality and is much much longer!  I got short-sleeved because a)on clearance, and b) based on length, long sleeves would be too long! 

Her favorite shirt, and thus the one she wore to school a couple of hours later was this one:

Apparently the designs bring about an even more exuberant personality in my little princess!!



And today we went with this, which solidified the "superstar" persona!

One thing is for sure, it takes clothes this bright and exciting to reflect the personality of the little girl wearing them!!

Food Baby

It's not good when you look at yourself in the mirror and you look about 4 months pregnant, when you're not!!  This morning I sure had a little "food baby" paunch and I had to confess I've gained some weight.  No, there is no justifiable reason, I just have been eating whatever I want 95% of the time!

I actually lost about 10lbs before I got appendicitis, but it all came to a halt when I started to comfort eat after surgery.  Not because of stress, but convenience and near-death reward!!

Of course, it continued thereafter with numerous deadlines before I'd get back to a more disciplined pattern, and today, I hit the necessary bump in the road/belly!!

Anyway, in my new consciousness I found this really interesting article, and thought I'd share it... (P.S. please feel free not to offer me any cakes or bread for a while!)

New research about how we store fat will help you keep your hands off the muffins.

When we think about losing weight, most of us focus on two things: the food we eat and the stomach where it ends up. The first part makes sense. But the second part is misguided. It's not a big stomach that gives us our beer belly, but a layer of fat called the omentum, which hangs in front of our intestines and stomach. And it's how food interacts with our small intestine, not our stomach, that helps determine how big the omentum gets.

Let's start with the small intestine. The first thing to note is that it's where food is absorbed into the body. You can actually live without much of a stomach (think of all those people who get gastric-bypass surgery — their stomachs are reduced to the size of a walnut), but you cannot survive without a small intestine.

Maybe you knew that much. But here are three things you didn't know about your gut.

1. Marijuana is the future of medical weight loss. Okay, not really, but it's like this: The omentum, the flabby thing located near the stomach, is the most important part of your body's fat-delivery system. It stores fat for when you really need it — like when famine season is approaching (i.e., never). There are receptors in the omentum that cause people to want to eat; back in famine time, these receptors made people chow on ants, worms, seeds — anything that would help store extra fat for when food became scarce. Oddly, these same receptors in your brain sense marijuana, which is why you get the munchies when you smoke pot. (Hence their name: cannabinoid receptors.) Bad things can happen when they become stimulated by pot or stress: Not only does your omentum begin storing fat — making you fatter — it also instructs the liver to make more cholesterol, and it triggers your muscles to ignore the natural effects of insulin, which can cause diabetes. Researchers have found recently that some of us are genetically predisposed to having these receptors work against us, and scientists are currently working on new diet drugs that are rooted in the way illegal narcotics work. The good news? It's in the nature of the omentum to want to make itself disappear. If you eat well and exercise fairly consistently, you'll lose as much as two inches of omental fat in one month.

2. Eating fiber before 10 a.m. is easy and essential. Why is breakfast good for you? How can it be good for you to eat more food when you're dieting? Well, it's not, if that food is a bag of doughnuts. But if you have a high-fiber breakfast, the fiber will slow down the absorption and the movement of food through your intestines. It slams shut this valve at the end of the small intestine called the ileal brake — like the brake on a train that the conductor pulls. It literally closes, because the small bowel feels the fiber in it and doesn't want to let go of it, so the food moves more slowly through your system. And guess what? You're full for longer.

3. Your small intestine has moods. You can actually keep your small intestine healthy and happy. Yes, happy. It contains as many neurons as your spinal column. In many ways, the small intestine is like a second brain. Ninety-five percent of your serotonin — the brain's mood-regulating chemical — is contained in your small intestine's elaborate network of nerves. That's a big reason why we feel strong emotions like fear, anticipation, and love deep in our guts as well as our minds. The intestine's nerves can also suffer from the same diseases that affect the brain. A lack of adequate serotonin in the gut can cause an irritable bowel, just as low levels in the brain can cause depression.

Quote of the Day

In the car, on the way to the playground...

Emma:  Daddy, do you know Meschach, Shadrach and Abednego?

Scott: Yes.

Emma:  When they were in the fire, why didn't they get burned?  When people go in fire they get burned.

Scott:  Because Jesus was in there with them and he protected them.

Emma:  Toby - do you believe in Jesus?

Toby: Yes.

Emma:  Then you're not going to hell.

Daniel 1-3

The nation of Israel had been invaded and exiled to Babylon (allowed by God because of refusal to listen to God).  King Nebuchadnezzer was on the throne...

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.  The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.  Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

Daniel 1: 3-17

Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

Daniel 2: 48-49 

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Daniel 3:1-6 (abridged)

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

 

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?  Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.  

The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

Daniel 3: 8-29

Interestingly, the guys names in the text were those used by the Babylonians, but their original Hebrew names were:

• Hananiah means "God who is gracious"
• Misha'el means "Who is like God?”, also means "to feed" or "to provide"—as in how a husband provides for his family
• Azariah appropriately means "God has helped"

Often situations in life feel like a fiery furnace.  We might even be able to escape them by compromising on what we know to be right.  However, when we honor God and take a stand for what's right, He is with us and brings us through.

Escaping the fire may seem like the best option for relief, but fire has purpose, to refine us and burn off the impurities.  And, “how would a man benefit to gain the whole world but destroy his soul or lose it?”  Luke 9:25

Love and Respect

This Friday Scott and I are hosting a video conference of the Love and Respect Marriage Conference at church.  I'm so excited!!  

We have been reviewing the DVD's that we bought at the live conference in February.  It's a little tough to hear and realize the ways that you might have been contributing to your spouse feeling unloved or disrespected, however unintentional.  

In fact, it's so easy over the course of years for comments or attitudes to buld up walls between us.  Each day something little can be an irritant, like a wet towel on the floor or dirty shoes walked through the house.  Like a grain of sand in your eye, that irritant can cause major damage if left unchecked.  

But we need to give our spouse grace, choose to remember that they are basically a good-willed person who is not trying to hurt us.  Then we might be a little less irritated by the habit and a little quicker to love and respect them the way they deserve, the way God calls us to love and respect them.

It is our hope and prayer that people will come (30 signed up, others may just come) and find a new understanding of how they can meet the needs of their spouse, and have their own needs met.  

If we can help just one marriage find new life it will be worth the work.  I spoke to a lady who is new to our church.  Her marriage of many years is not a happy one and she is determined not to quit on it.  I prayed with her and she was able to persuade her husband to come!!  I know this will open up conversation and hopefully restoration in their marriage - it's never too late!

I was really excited to find the blog of Dr. Eggerichs and his wife at http://emersonandsarah.blogspot.com/ - this will be my new daily read.  Check out this great testimonial they posted:

We’ve been talking about wedding anniversaries and romantic expectations… and how to get free from the blame game. 

Here’s a story from a wise wife who made a powerful discovery about her wedding anniversary:

My husband and I attended your seminar and it opened my eyes in so many ways.  I realized what was missing in the way I respond to him and how I've been disrespectful towards him causing him to respond in unloving ways.  All this time I'm blaming him and asking and praying for God to change him.

Last weekend was our 17th anniversary.  He's such a golf fanatic that I told him my gift for him would be for him to play golf at a golf course of his choice and money is no object.  To top it off, I told him that I'd caddie for him - drive the golf cart for him and whatever else a caddie does. He was excited the morning of our anniversary while getting ready for golf - he couldn't believe it.  Once we arrived at the golf course, he was telling everyone how that day was my anniversary gift for him and that l would even caddie for him.  I could tell he was so proud.  It was a VIP golf course and we were treated as such the whole time and he couldn't believe it.  All of the guys were saying they wish their wives would do the same for them and one actually shook my hand and thanked me for what I did for my husband and said that men need more wives like me. You can say that my husband had a smile the whole time and he said he actually shot his best score ever. 

I've always (thought) our anniversary is all about me and that he better have a nice gift for me.  You have changed that for me and I never would have thought of thinking about what would make him happy.....Thank you so much!!!!  

What I love about this story is not only did this wife make a powerful realization – that marriage isn’t all about her – but she acted on it.  Though golf was not her idea of romance, she discovered a deeper joy in giving her husband the gift of respect.  I’m quite sure her husband would say that was their most romantic anniversary ever!

We had a really busy weekend, which was totally fine!  Emma was a little whiny Friday night, but the pajamas were enough to sooth any issues!

Saturday Emma had Lainey over to play and they were seemingly running around as normal! 

(Scott took Toby fishing at a little creek, where they caught a big fish that snapped the line...)

Saturday afternoon we went to a kids party on the church playground, where Emma climbed, swung, slid and even bounced on the bouncy castle!  I had to remind her that she should not swing on her belly and even hang from the monkey bars! 

Interestingly, when we got home in the early evening she tried to say she could not sit up on the sofa (from where she was laying) because her belly hurt!  Pain for kids really is an issue of convenience, much like listening!!

Yesterday she was fine at church and with friends as normal.  She's eating as much as ever and I even saw her sleeping on her belly during the night!

She's happy to flash her belly to anyone who wants to see, and is convinced every day the scar is getting smaller!

So, she went to PT and school today as normal, and will no doubt use her belly to get her out of anything she does not want to do!

Good to be home

It took almost two hours to get home after I woke Emma, traffic was that bad - it's only 15miles!!  Luckily we had picked up a bag of cheddar popcorn earlier in the day and Emma worked on that from leaving her room in the PACU all the way to the mall...

She had not drank all day! Even with IV fluids, I don't know how she didn't choke on it.

Toby and Scott met us at the mall, and Emma got her "Jessie" pajamas (excellent guidance on my part since she needs PJs for the winter!)...

At some point today I extended "a toy" to two items which became "two princesses"!

Emma managed to eat a full kids meal even after the popcorn, and then had a drink.  NOTHING gets between this girl and her food.  Even at 9pm she finished off Toby's fries from earlier...

 Aren't they just SO cute!

I did take Emma to the mirror so she could see what her belly looks like, much like mine did, but higher than her belly button.  I said she needed to be careful for a few days, even though they gave us no formal restrictions on activities.  She claimed later to find sitting up on the bed hurt, which could be true.

The cool thing is our scars kind of match, same size proportionally and a dark red line.  I think it gave her some comfort to know I had a similar booboo and now it's fine.  In fact hers should be much less uncomfortable and is covered in a glue that protects it for a week or so.

I just wanted to share one of the many videos that Emma begged me to make after taking the "giggle juice" pre-op...

When the anesthetist came back to see if it was working she told him the "juice" tasted like snail slime, but was good!

Emma truly is the model patient and if it wasn't for her great attitude (motivated by new toys or not) today and all the other appointments would be hell.  I hope she does decide to be a doctor, like she told the nurse in her chemically-altered state!

In Recovery

When I got back to Emma she was very weepy and clingy (which I
secretly love), and I soon held her on my lap in the rocking chair.

We couldn't leave right away because the anesthetist wanted to debrief
me. That turned out to be a good thing because she soon fell asleep
again.

She was mad that we couldn't leave right away, but I'm glad we stayed.
She refused a drink for falling asleep and started to get some
congestion in her throat.

I heard the SATs monitor beep, a sound from long ago but not
forgotten. The nurse tried to reposition her to open her airway since
she was not awake to cough.

Of course, only I would know that her best position is on her right
side, and laid her down before suctioning her mouth.

The smells, the sounds, the procedures, all so familiar and I'm
comfortable with them. It's weird!

Anyway, I plan to wake her up in a few minutes and fulfill my promises!

She's out, went great. Waiting to go back now.

They started surgery at 12:48pm.

Pre-Op

Well, today is the day!  We arrived at the hospital around 9:15am and Emma was full of energy and personality, as usual.

When Scott and I talked about today I told him my main concern would be the late start.  Emma likes to eat a big breakfast, but she was not allowed to eat after 11pm last night, and no fluids after 7am!!  My solution: promise the lunch of her choice when we get done. No surprise she picked Chick Fil A!

The other issue was that we had no time to get her a post-op toy!  She really wants a Chica (from Sprout) plush and has been saving her money to get one, but I didn't think I had time to get one.  So instead I opted to tell her we would go to the Disney Store after lunch and she could choose her own toy, or Jessie pajamas, which she has wanted for years!  

Both promises are working a treat in encouraging cooperation! Of course, she is hungry and thirsty, but she has an incredible ability to think long-term!

Right now we are chilling in pre-op...

We just had a visit from anesthesia who delivered the first (and hopefully only) surprise of the day.  They are going to intubate her for the surgery.  That means putting a tube down her throat.  The last time in May they just used gas, but this is a little longer and they want to be safe.

Since she was very little she has had the label "critical airway" which flagged her for breathing problems and requiring special equipment and extra personnel.  Today they are going to see if that's still the case, which it may be because she can't open her mouth very wide.

The impact will likely be sore throat, and may be longer recovery time, if not admission.  Only time will tell, so we are being patient!

I'll keep you posted.

A baby story

On Sunday we all went to Melissa's baby shower.  (Melissa was Emma's therapist until she turned three, but was really more my emotional support and we stayed friends after Emma transitioned from Early Intervention.  Just a little history for the new people!)

Anyway, Melissa and husband Keith are expecting Leighton around Emma's birthday and we're so excited for them.  

Not many pictures, but a couple...

Checking out the golf course...

After our crazy weekend, Scott had no energy to resist the kids ideas...

Surgery #7

Todays appointment was not so scary for me.  I felt confident that they were going to recommend surgery, after all, you can't leave someone with a leaky hole in their belly, and 9 months should have been plenty of time if it would heal.  

Unfortunately we had to wait a bit, a good 40 minutes in the room before anyone came in (and that after I had "enquired" about waiting any longer!).  I'm no rookie though, and had brought a bag of gummy bears with me to pacify the kids.  That works, but after about 30 minutes Toby starts rolling on the floors etc which is unacceptable to me!

Anyway, as we sat and watched I was taken aback at how far we've come.  I could remember Emma sitting on this bed as an infant, then a toddler...

And here she is now, such a big girl, full of promise...

The doctors all see it too, and her doctor, as always takes a picture and texts it to his colleague, and Emma's original surgeon.  I can only imagine how cool it is to save a baby's life only to see them blossom into a healthy kid.

Sure enough, it's time for surgery and Scott and I decided last night to try and get it done quickly.  I asked for a Friday to get the weekend for extra recovery, but I wasn't expecting to get THIS Friday!  Well, there's no time like the present and this is one of few weekends this fall we have nothing planned. 

I thought the timing would be perfect because, well, it looks like Scott will be laid off sometime in the next week, but since he may still have work Friday I may take her by myself.  I'd never consider it if we hadn't just been through it 5 months ago, but it seems doable.  

The surgery itself should actually be a blessing!  Here's why:  The current site (top illustration by doctor and dark circle in photo) is a hole surrounded by a ring of scar tissue.  It's not pretty.

The surgeon will cut out the whole hole (!) and then stitch each layer back up (see bottom illustration).

The result should looke more like the scar you can barely see on the lower right of the photo, a faint white line.  That will be much less disfiguring for Emma (even though she will not be allowed to bare her belly ever, says her protective Dad!!).  (The other big scar is where her belly got stitched up as a baby.)

So, in all, surgery: good!  I'm less nervous about the anesthesia because she just had it and they will follow the same procedure, may even be the same guys!  The whole thing is in God's hands and we will be praying for Him to annoint the surgeons with wisdom and skill.

I'll let you know what happens post-surgery!

Say a little prayer

So, I don't often do this (I think), but I'm asking for your prayers.  Tomorrow Emma has a follow-up appointment with the general surgeon at the hospital.  We were expecting this to be the last appointment, however we have noticed increasingly that the hole where her g-tube was is leaking.  That means it has not fully closed, after 9 months. 

From what I have read, they will likely need to do a surgery with general anesthesia to close it properly.  I'm sure it's not a "big deal", but it is an ordeal!  Plus, I'll have to find a suitable "reward"!!

Anyway, please keep Emma in your prayers.  If surgery is necessary, let it be soon and straight forward!

Thanks.  I'll let you know what happens.

Wonderful Wedding

On Saturday we all went to Scott's cousins wedding in Lancaster.  It was a beautiful day, great venue and lovely ceremony...

Even though the ceremony was less than 30 minutes, Scott kept the kids outside as they were noisy after napping on the car ride and would've been disruptive!

All the decorations were gorgeous..

 

The ceremony space was transformed for dinner and dancing...

The best part about being so close with Scott's family is that the kids all know each other.  So it was basically a play date in nice dresses!!  Here Lainey (flower girl), Emma and Paige all posed happily!

 

Emma was in complete awe of the whole thing!  When she first saw the bride and groom (after the ceremony) she asked me "is that her prince?"  Aww!!

Toby really wanted his picture with them, but was too shy and hung back...

The kids all drank their water from wine glasses so they all felt so grown-up!!

Then it was time for dancing, and after being held back for the traditional wedding dances, Emma was raring to go and the others soon followed...

Emma even got Pops up to dance!!

Toby and Paige called a ceasefire on their usual brawling to dance together a few times.  In the background you can see Emma dancing with Josh, the son of another of Scott's cousins.  

The bride and groom were the kids favorite dance partners, so I had to keep telling them to let them dance together!!

They sat out the Cha-Cha slide a few times, only to give it ago later...

At times the music was too loud for Emma,

But she managed to get Scott to dance, which was more than I did!!

The kids were even the center of the party!

The party went on till 10pm (wedding started at 4:30pm) and we were all exhausted.  Toby and Paige were reluctant to get off the dance floor, but we soon had the kids in their pajamas and in the car for the ride home. 

The kids first wedding was a huge success (in their eyes) and hopefully the rest of the guests agreed.  The photographers did not stop taking pictures of them, which only emboldened them more!

Abby Birthday

If you haven't already guessed, September has been a busy month already, and with birthdays coming up there is no calm on the horizon!  I am learning to embrace the chaos.  It's been a slow realization that I don't want to live my life searching for a "peace" that comes from having nothing to do.  There is a certain amount of healthy tension that comes from having a busy schedule and limited resources.  It's helping me to rely on God, and not sweat the small stuff!

The kind of peace I am searching for is one that I have experienced at the craziest and hardest times of my life.  It's not circumstantial, it's spiritual.  I'm asking God to give me that inner peace on a daily basis, that helps me look for the joy in trials and the lessons in failing. 

One place is great for bringing about tension and that's the beach!  That is where we were last weekend for Abby's birthday party.  The kids were looking forward to it for weeks, especially as we don't get to see her family often.  The kids had so much fun when they came to visit us on vacation at the beach in July.

The weather forecast was volatile, but sun won out, with a healthy measure of strong winds (which claimed the life of our awesome tent!)

The kids had fun, and I got to relax while Scott was the perfect Dad, helping [all] the kids build stuff in the sand!

We got to fly kites for the first time, and they even brought a Doc McStuffins cake to the beach!!

After all of that, we had some dinner with Abby's family before heading home.

Real People, Real Miracles

This is an extract from the blog of one of the missionary families Scott worked with in Ecuador.  I encourage you to visit the link at the bottom to hear how this incredible, true story ended...

The Machete Incident - Pt. I

The Monday morning of September 19th started out fairly normal except for the fact that it was our first day of doing homeschool with Sophia & Zak. If you told me I’d be in the “dog house” by nightfall, I’d be the first to say, “yah, I probably deserve that”! But a night in jail? – that was definitely not on my radar! Here’s how it all unfolded: 

After visiting our local clinic, a young Shuar man knocked on our gate hoping I could help he and his wife get back to their village, Untunkus Norte. She had given birth two weeks prior and was not ready for the two hour trek up hill. For $5, a taxi truck can make it in about 20 minutes, so I called for one, we piled in and I put my bike in the back for the downhill ride home. It was a perfect opportunity to visit with several families who live there, most of them are related to Pastor Eduardo who is an integral part of our ministry team. I enjoyed playing with the kids, checked on Camilo’s new baby boy, shucked some of Umberto’s corn, then had a delicious lunch of cow intestines, corn & yucca prepared by Umberto’s wife, Georgina. We said goodbye then I headed home down the mountain with one short side visit to a neighboring village, San Jose Sur, to pray with a family whose father had just died.

Between the two villages, I rode up on a teenage boy who took one look at me and started running. I didn’t get to say anything to him since he ran off so abruptly. I arrived at Carmela’s house a few minutes later and we had a great 30 minute visit as they shared stories of their father. As I chugged along the beautiful mountain road towards home, I was grinning ear to ear with joy, overwhelmed that I get to be here doing what I’m doing. This peace helped prepare me for what was waiting for me just over the next knoll.

A group of about 20 people gathered in the road/path about 50 yards ahead, machetes are normal to see here, but this time was different. As I approached, it quickly became obvious that I was the subject of their interest. At first I thought they were just upset that I was in Shuar territory so I quickly explained that I was there by invitation of several Shuar who they also knew. That did not matter as it became apparent that a deeper issue was at hand. The teen age boy had run home telling his mother that I had threatened to cut off his head and that I had offered money for heads. This is a line often used to stir up trouble in the jungle because it plays on their long history of fear, superstition, and murderous ways. The boy also had mental issues and I’m sure the adults put him up to much of it. They forced him to stand face to face with me and retell his story. When I heard the phrase, “this Gringo tried to cut my head off”, I knew there was no explaining my way out of it, they were bent on revenge. The boy’s mother was completely wild in my face screaming, “cut off his head, cut off his ears, cut this gringo”! They wanted to see my sword or knife.  Miracle #1 – I always carry a knife but did not this day. I called Ashley on my cell, which happened to have signal (Wouldn’t that make for a great commercial?!) I told her that some people were upset with me and that I needed to get a number of a Shuar pastor who could explain to them who I was. While she was giving me the number someone grabbed the phone as the situation intensified. I never saw the phone again.

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