The Week That Was

Today is my big brother and my big sister's birthday. Happy Birthday David and Kathy! Time does fly these days. Seems like we were just kids yesterday, going on hayrides and having the annual "weenie roast". Do they still have those? Hard to believe you guys are 57 and 62. WOW!! Hope you guys have a terrific day and that all your wishes come true.

Time for a quick Stacey update. Last week was definitely a "roller coaster". For her high point of the week, her one faithful 19 yr old male student, was given a job at the local bakery (which certainly helped his income) but his good fortune didn't stop there. The owner of the bakery and another local businessman have joined together to send this young man to college!! What a blessing! The bakery owner has watched Stacey work with this young man and can see that this young man wants to help his community and has stepped forward to help. God sent Stacey there for a reason. To plant the seed and spark motivation in the community. I'm thankful that she is there to witness the progress but looks like the lasting effect of her being there will transcend after she is gone in 2 years.

The last half of the week occurred when her credit card was compromised! Crooks are just wayyy too smart these days. Luckily the bank called and I was able to get them to stop the bleeding until I could get hold of her (which was no easy task). After several emails to her as well as various merchants in the area, pokes on Facebook (to name a few) and contemplating calling Washington DC but didn't, she did get online and get my message and got the card cancelled. Guess it was more stressful on me trying to get hold of her than on her. NOW I have her leader's phone number in Santiago. Hope I never have to call but it's nice having an extra lifeline.

Now it's back to work and off to the dentist this morning. Chao!

Bugs

Stacey encountered her first acid secreting bug which bite her on her chest last night while she was sleeping. She realized it when she got up to go on her walk and reached up to scratch her chest and felt a stinging oozing spot on her chest. She put some antibiotic on it and said that she feels okay but that it looks awful. I can well imagine. I told her to watch it and if it gets any worse looking to get hold of the peace corps staff. Otherwise she sounded good and taking it all in stride. What a trooper!!

IT RAINED!!!!

We finally got some rain yesterday. Probably a good 1/2 inch and when I walked Sushi this morning it had started sprinkling a little. Maybe some more! We have beautiful grass but our water bill was $140. this month! Almost as much as our electric bill. Thank you Lord for the rain!!

I survived my marketing trip across Texas last week. What a whirlwind trip! 1406 miles in 3 1/2 days, 10 agency visits and dinner with RC on Wednesday and arrived home at 10:15 pm Wed. night and was up at 5:00 am Thursday to go to the office. I wish I could have stopped at David's for a short visit (I stopped at the Whataburger across from the HEB in Burnet to use the facilities) and hated that I was so close to David's and not have time to stop. I apologize Big Brother! The countryside across Texas was parched. Everywhere I drove there were burn bans in effect. The highest temp to register on my car was 111 which was south of Ft. Worth going towards Waco. It was over 100 everyday.

Please say prayers for Stacey. Living with this new host family is not easy. No privacy at all and she is having a good bout of homesickness. Maybe drop a card to her. It's hard not to be able to call her but send her emails or mail will help her cope.

SWINE FLU

Well, it finally happened. We have our first confirmed case of swine flu in our office. Not just in our building but yes, folks - in my office. And there are two others that are suspected of having it. We now walk through the office smelling Lysol disenfectant everywhere and hand sanitizer in every place imaginable. Building management was notified and they sent in a cleaning crew Wednesday night to wipe down desks, doorknobs, etc. Luckily I will be gone on a business trip starting Monday and won't be back until Thursday the 16th. Hope we don't have more cases. I am scheduled to bowl in the IIAH (Independent Insurance Agents of Houston) bowling tournament on Saturday for charity. I will be leaving Sunday afternoon to get a head start on my trip. My first meeting is in Texarkana so I will probably drive to Nacogdoches Sunday which I believe is about 1/2 way. Say a prayer that I have a safe trip. I will be logging right at 1500 miles in 3 days. I will have my computer in case anyone needs to get hold of me as well as having my cell phone.

Happy 4th of July

Another hot day in Texas! But what else can you expect for the 4th of July? Cookouts, parades and more. Hope everyone enjoys the day!

Spoke with Stacey yesterday and she has arrived at her site in Santa Catalina. I have updated my blog with her new address to mail packages or send letters and cards. If you send something, you might send her an email as to when it was mailed so we can figure out how long it takes to get to her. She sounded tired after her long bus ride but filled with all the projects to begin, people to meet and starting anew. My advice is not to dwell on everything at once as it will seem overwhelming but from reading your friends blogs, everyone feels the same way that you do right at this moment. Take heart and know that you will adapt to this new change and I'm confident that you will do good things for the Panamanian people beginning in small ways and working up to bigger projects. I found the book you asked about and will get it in the mail this week.

Love you bunches!!

UPDATE

Well, Stacey should be at her site starting today for her first visit. Santa Catalina. The name even sounds relaxing to me. Of course, today I'm working from home and tomorrow have taken the day off. I have 3.5 days to take before the end of the month otherwise I would lose them and I can't see that happening. Have scheduled a doctor's appt tomorrow but otherwise I just plan on an easy going day. Sushi had me up early this morning for his daily constitutional. Can't say that I was in a big hurry to get up. Anyway, hope everyone's week is great and hopefully we will see some pictures from Stacey next week. Hard to believe that her training period is almost over and graduation is just around the corner (6/30).

UPDATE

Spoke to Stacey Sunday evening and she sounded good. Even after her ordeal with the chicken "murders". She didn't eat chicken for four days. Poor thing! She will be going to visit Santa Catalina in another week and will meet the 3 different host families where she will be spending the next 3 months after graduation (which is June 30th). Easy day for Kaye to remember. She got to spend a night in a hotel in Santiago last week - stayed with 3 other girls in a room and cost only $7. per person and it was AIR CONDITIONED! The hotel also did their laundry. She is learning to appreciate some of the more modern luxuries of life. One item that she has really started to miss is listening to American music. She will let us know what kind of CD's she likes so maybe we can mail her some when she is at her site. Also, she wanted to let us know that she will be getting an address in Santa Catalina soon and will send us her new address. I mailed her a package in April and it only took 2 weeks to get to her. I was surprised but pleased. I mailed her another one a week ago and waiting to see when it arrives. I would love for some of us to plan a short vacation next summer to go and visit her. She found out that she doesn't have to use vacation days as long as she stays in her site so she would only have to take a day to come to Panama City to meet us. Something to ponder over the next year.

I PASSED MY TEST

Well, another insurance exam under my belt! This one was really hard for me. Guess that's a sign that I'm getting older. That will definitely be the last one for awhile. Haven't heard from Stacey in awhile. She was supposed to be headed to a different region this past week in Veragus. I believe she will be headed to Santa Catalina soon for a visit to her new home for the next two years. Looks like a great place to be. Electricity, running water (maybe indoor facilities) and a beach to be lazy on!

STUDY STUDY STUDY

Growing older doesn't stop the need for education. I've been busy studying for an insurance exam which I will take this Friday and hopefully be done for awhile. Just to bring everyone up to date - all is well at the Herndon Household. I haven't taken any nosedives into the pavement lately and my chin has healed nicely. Sushi got his "summer haircut" yesterday and looks more comfy (even though I like him with more hair). Expecting some rain today in the forecast (even though my body doesn't exactly agree with the forecast). That's a first! JC & I are starting Conversational Spanish classes next Thursday at our church. It will be fun just to get out and keep up with what Spanish we learned in Mexico. Will help when I get to take a trip to visit Stacey next year.

Well, time to get going to work. Carpool will be here in a few minutes.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

http://www.santacatalinaboattours.com/gallery.html

Take a good long look at where our hard-working Stacey gets to spend the next 2 years!
She is so excited! This coastal paradise is called Santa Catalina. Sounds like a good vacation spot to me. We will definitely need to plan a group event to go visit her. She also spent 2 hours on a bus with her group sitting next to her instructor speaking conversations in Spanish. Seems that she was able to understand everything her instructor said and vice versa. She was told later that she has met (and exceeded) the language requirement for graduating next month! What a relief! To her and her mother. She should be making a trip to visit Santa Catalina in another week.

Looks like the website you will need to type in your browser. Sorry about that.
http://www.santacatalinaboattours.com/gallery.html

Stacey called Sat. afternoon from Panama City. She purchased a cell phone for $2. and can talk for 50 minutes. Her host family consists of a husband & wife in their 40's with a 15 yr old daughter who Stacey says is very smart. She has a room by herself. No a/c and she says it is hot and humid. She walks everywhere. Only a 5 to 10 min walk to where she has language classes, etc. with other PCT's. She will be visiting a village this week by herself and is a little apprehensive. Please keep her in your prayers! She didn't have any adverse reaction to the immunizations and is doing fine with the malaria pills. Some people had some weird dreams from taking them but she hasn't. She will be calling me on Monday evenings so that is when I will be updating my blog. There isn't a public phone in the town where she is and she's not sure about the cell phone and whether or not she will get a single. Everything is new everyday but she seems to be handling it.

STACEY CALLED!!

Stacey called yesterday afternoon about 5:45 pm. So good to hear her voice and know that everything is okay. Her host family is great and she said that her host mom is a great cook. No indoor plumbing so she shares the outhouse with a few of the family chickens. She is living in the town of Santa Clara (not the one by the beach). Evidently there are two. She has to walk about 30 minutes to get to an internet cafe. She is going to Panama City today. She has a cell phone but the connection wasn't that great but she sounded great and happy. The language is frustrating for her but I'm sure she will master it soon. It was a short phone call but I wanted everyone to know that she is okay. Thank you for all your prayers!

End of the Month!

Hooray!!! The end of another month. Now I get to start production all over again. I'm another month older. Okay - enough of that! Tomorrow is a new beginning and one step closer to summertime.

Seems like God wants me to understand what Stacey is going through being in Panama. All we needed was the ark and a white dove! The heavens opened up and delivered us almost 13 inches of rain in less than 4 hours on Tuesday. I know the guys cutting grass are thankful! Schools closed and traffic ( oh - let's not go there). Did get to work from home yesterday which is always a good thing! Got much more caught up for the month end closing. Stacey - don't you miss it? :)

A Week to Remember

This week started out with a day off. Good, huh? Sushi let me sleep in until 5:30 am and then decided we needed to go walking. After watching movies until 11:00 am I decided to wake Stacey so we could get a few last minute items taken care of. She wasn't happy but grudgingly agreed that we should probably get started. We did bank, Petsmart, lunch, Walmart, T-Mobile store and a couple of others that escape me for the moment.Finished packing her bags and got them in the car ready for the early dash to the airport. We got everything accomplished that we set out to do and got to bed. Next morning I find that she didn't sleep a wink - crazy child but she's young and would survive the next 24 hours without a hitch. We got to the airport with time to spare and I managed to drop her off without a wave of tears (waited until later for that!) Received word later that she had made her connection with no problem, got the hotel and her meetings which lasted until 8:00 pm then dinner and back to hotel to grab a couple of hours sleep before heading to the airport for her continued journey to Panama. That day which was Wednesday was the day that we go to church. As JC & I walked toward the front door, I took a misstep on the sidewalk (wheelchair accessible ramp type) and took a nose dive into the concrete. The concrete didn't give. I never stumbled - just went one second from being vertical to totally horizontal in a split second. It totally knocked the air out of me which rendered me quite speechless (my husband will always remember that moment in time!) Then the blood started pooling on the ground by my head which did cause me a bit of concern. People started appearing around me and sirens and flashing lights appeared in the church parking lot. Firemen are really cute even though they are young enough to be my childen. Long story cut shorter - I spent the next 5 hours in the emergency room getting a cat scan (nothing broken) and finally they "super glued" my chin back in place and let me go home. The next morning I was very stiff and sore but went to work. In retrospect I probably should have stayed home that day but I'm a trooper so I went. One of my carpool buddies said that I was "underwriting under the influence". My agents should appreciate the "blue light special" quotes that they got that day. Friday was a better day and I was feeling better. Today is Sat. and Sushi let me sleep in until 7:00 am. It's already a better day. All in all, life is good. I'm feeling better and Stacey is in Panama safe & sound and starting a new life-changing experience and I am very happy for her.

She leaves this morning for Panama via Miami - leaving DC at 7:35 am and arriving in Panama at 1:30 pm Her schedule looks to be very tight and she had to check out of the hotel at 2:30 am today. Please say a prayer for her today that she stays strong and alert.

She's OFF!

Stacey is off and flying! 3:00 am came early but with much anticipation. We left the house at 3:55 am (ETD was 4:00 am) and arrived at Hobby at 4:42 am. I dumped her off at the curb and watched her walk through the doors with backpack, duffel, carryon and camera case (her sole possessions). For each of you reading this, please say a prayer for her safe arrival in DC (should be there by 11:30 am) and that her bags get there when she does. Only 30 minute connection in Atlanta. You can be proud - I didn't cry until I got to the office at 5:15 am (nobody around - thank goodness!) Stacey - I love you!!! Enjoy the next 27 months and know you are in my prayers daily.

Thanks to all that braved the rain and flooding to attend Stacey's party. Trenton & Sushi were the entertainment for the afternoon. The food was good and Gabby & Jaime were able to practice their English. A delightful couple! Today is packing day at Stacey's. I'm sure all will go well and maybe squeeze in time for a little nap!!

Today is Stacey's farewell party before she leaves for D.C. Tuesday morning at 6:00 am!!! I can hardly contain myself because I get to wake her up about 3:00 am to head for the airport. Reminds me of vacations in my past getting up before daylight just so we could be "down the road" before the sun comes up. She will be headed for D.C. before I get to work. Just one more chance to give her my "packing tips". Hope something sticks in her head. Looking forward to seeing family and her coworkers and friends. It's raining today but that's okay. She will have to get used to the rain. Will post some pictures later tonight of the bash!

Less than 1 month before my "baby" leaves for Panama. Seems like yesterday when she was just starting to fill out the application and start the process. Something reminiscent of a roller coaster ride - for sure! Guess that's what moms are for - to be the stable influence. I've never doubted that the Peace Corps was right for Stacey. I know that she will grow in many ways as she experiences each new day - meeting new friends, eating new foods, speaking a foreign language (which I could be a fly on the wall to hear that!). Exciting times ahead for my little girl. I wish her God Speed and look forward to reading of her experiences.

LETTING GO

Being in the insurance industry, I find that everyday is a new challenge. As one of my past bosses used to say "there are no such things as problems only challenges and opportunities". That was almost 30 years ago and it was true then and true now. I've seen my fair share of them. One challenge that all people must face at one time or the other is Letting Go. Please read below for some instructions how to accomplish this.

Perhaps it is letting go of a rebellious child or a burden of sorrow, losing a loved one or learning to live with a heartache we just cannot let go of. Read this over. Study it. Pray over it and you will allow your spirit to soar - to be free, to completely give to God... and let the work be done within you where the need is anyway.

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else

To let go is not to cut myself off,
it is the realization that I can't control another

To let go is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences

To let go is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands

To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
I can only change myself

To let go is not to care for,
but to care about

To let go is not to fix,
but to be supportive

To let go is not to judge,
But to allow another to be a human being

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging outcomes,
But to allow others to effect their own outcomes

To let go is not to be protective
It is to permit another to face reality

To let go is not to deny,
bu to accept

To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue
but to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and to cherish the amount

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone,
but to try to become what I dream I can be

To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.

I will probably have this memorized before Stacey leaves for Panama.

New Beginnings

I've always been taught that it's never too late to try something new. Hence, this is my first attempt at setting up a 'Blog'. Who would have thought? I want to use this blog to keep in touch with my family a little better. My daughter blogs, my brother blogs and my nieces blog. Seems only natural that I should begin my journey into this unknown realm. Bear with me as I begin. First, I am very proud of my children. My son works long hours but has begun his adult life and I am glad that he is doing so well. My daughter has just received her assignment into the Peace Corps and will be leaving soon to begin her service in Panama. I'm very excited for her as she sets off on an adventure of a lifetime. I pray for her and my son each day. I hope that each one will follow my blog.