In This Place

Questions come,
Decisions have to be made,
Yet somehow I'm not ready.
Not ready to face the world alone -
Again

As time goes by
With each second that passes me;
I can't help but wonder -
Who am I?

When the crowds rush by
With their noises filling my ears
I can't help but stand here -
Feeling alone in my silence

My thoughts race;
My mind is full,
And yet no words come
Nothing has to be said.

In this place, You know me
Here, You know my silence.
You understand the words that a single tear says
Rolling its way down a face,
Determined to smile.

So - Here I am.
In a new place, a plan is being revealed
In this place, a work is being done.
Here, I find myself
Scared, scarred, yet still standing -
Again.

In this place, I'm not alone
You are with me.
I've found peace;
knowing that I belong,
Here, with You.

So - Here I am.
Tried as gold, stronger than ever
To this place, I've returned -
Knowing who I am.

I am Yours.
A chosen generation;
A royal priesthood,
Called apart to make a difference
In someone's world.

Quiet Observations of a cardiologist's clinic

*As I wrote the observations of this day, I was sitting in the corner of a cardiologist's clinic. At the time, I was quite bored, concerned, and on the verge of laughter. Weird combination, I know. Concerned because my father was a patient that day; bored because I forgot to bring a book; and on the verge of laughter because of all the characters that have been walking in and out of this office*

These are my quiet observations...

Sitting to my left is a Kenyan father and son and to my right is an Indian family (both father AND son are patients). We all are sitting here listening to phones ring, the receptionists scrape their tap-less heels against the tile (it is QUITE annoying), magazine pages being turned, cell-phones are buzzing, and people are greeting each other like long lost friends... By now the office is pretty much completely full.

Beegie Adair is keeping me great company as I try to ignore the stares of the other patients (did I mention that I'm the only white chick sitting in the waiting area??).

ARGH! An elderly gentleman has just sat down next to me, and is making the most horrid mouth noises I have EVER heard... and believe me, I have heard my fair share! OH THANK YOU LORD! That didn't last very long... as Mr. Mouth Noise has just vacated his chair. Ladies and Gentlemen... Mouth Noises have left the building.

LORD!!!! I thought you were helping the situation! ANOTHER elderly man has just occupied the chair... well he is not so bad after all... just yapping on his phone. Mr. Mouth Noise has just returned, and now is swapping personal health statistics with Mr. Yapper. Heart rate... blood pressure... weight... and the list goes on. HELLO! I do NOT need NOR want to hear this!!! Lord... help... AGAIN!!!! Finally Mr. Yapper is once again enthralled with his phone and Mr. Mouth Noise has so graciously stopped the noises. *Thank you Lord!!*

So here we are... the chair has grown teeth (I've been here for two and a half hours and we STILL are not done), Beegie Adair continues playing her soft jazz, and I continue to wait to leave this hospital.

I have this uncanny knack for laughing at the completely WRONG time.... and now would be one of those times... A 'Crazungu' (crazy white person) has just walked into the office. Now a crazungu is a person who thinks that short shorts and knee-socks looks great, or maybe a tie-die mu-mu is the latest in fashion.

ONLY in NAIROBI! Seriously, I have seen more mullets, short shorts and knee socks, mu-mu dresses than I have EVER WANTED! WHY?! Why must people dress like this?

Ok, enough ranting... back to the quiet observations.

Catching up...

Pardon the lack of posts, the 2 of you that actually read this blog. We have been in Nairobi since Sunday, and I've only checked my email twice. Yes I know... miracles DO happen! Anyway... here are a few updates.

Saturday - We left Moshi, headed to Arusha; got new tires for the Land Cruiser; spent the night.

Sunday - Left the Outpost Lodge @ 6 am; headed to Nairobi, arrived in NBO around 11:30, went to Java House for lunch, got the keys to the house, went home and crashed.

Monday - Went to Yaya Shopping center, Had coffee @ Java House, we took Dad to Dr. Silverstein, I sat in the Dr.'s office for 3 hours, went home.

Tuesday - Took Dad BACK to the Dr., Mom and I went to Serit Center got Mani/Pedis... went home, had dinner, came to Java House to check email.

Wednesday - Dad returned yet AGAIN to the Dr., I sat yet AGAIN in the waiting area for what seemed FOREVER, went home, chilled, went to the Groves' place and had dinner. We had a great time of laughter and fellowship.

*Stay tuned for the rest of the week!!*

I'll be posting blogs in the order of occurrence... It just might take a while.