Just Random Stuff

I think I might just be going insane. I am spending time daily being more thankful every day for the blessings in my life. Mostly, I am focused on my family. I realize that one of the side effects of the depression that seems to infect so many people is the inability to truly count our blessings on a daily basis and put them in their proper perspective. It seems easier to focus on what we aren't and what we wish we were than what we have and what blesses our lives daily.

My kids are tough for me to really appreciate because they are my full time job. They consume my patience and my fears. I worry about everything to do with them and feel sometimes feel like being with them is a chore. But in the silliest and sweetest of moments, I truly get a chance to see the blessings my kids are to me and the wonder and joy they bring to my life. From Alex's joy of the change in time to Katies demand for her Teddy bear Blankee to the lengthy history of the continents of the earth from Ryan; I am a truly blessed man to have the time to spend with them as they go on with their day to day lives. Sometimes I know I take it for granted.

It is easy for me to appreciate my friends, our town, and our church, but it is tough sometimes to tell them what I feel about them. Either way, I doubt Ill be writing them mushy cards but suffice it to say I am very blessed with the people God has brought into my life.

My family (both the one I have and the one I've always had) are a blessing I sometimes take very much for granted. How many people can offer their kids 3 generations of advise from many different perspectives on any given day? My kids have 4 great grandparents, 4 grandparents (plus), an uncle, and 3 aunts (who pronounce aunt 2 different ways). while I wish we were able to spend more time with each and every one of them, we are just flat out blessed to have them.

Finally, Lori is often overlooked as the source of my strength and the receptor of the garbage I spew when I am stressed. I am proud to know her, let alone get the chance to share my entire life with her. Today I was telling a customer how I think people shouldn't congratulate Lori for our anniversaries because I am the one who should celebrate another year of her putting up with me. I guess in any good relationship a person will feel like they give more than they take and in the best relationships, both partners feel that way. I know I say I love you a lot to her but I dont think I show her often enough.

Anyhow, don't ask me why I posted today, I just felt like it. I have 2 thoughts for today:

Always count your blessings
Peace isn't the absense of conflict, its the ability to deal with it.

Have a wonderful day/night.

Race for Parkinson's

I ran my first 5K on Saturday. I have never run in the cold like that before, but it went well. It was a race to raise money for the Parkinson's Disease foundation. I was running for my grandfather, Farrel Dablemont, and for a friend and extended family member, Harold Wolrich. I felt a bit odd at first and nervous but everyone was very nice and encouraging. It was my best time so far, but far from where I'd like to be. I'm thinking someday maybe Ryan and I can run a marathon together.

"A Walk to Beautiful"

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/

I am still on a listserv for my residency program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. I met so many wonderful people and physicians there - it is nice to stay in touch with them. There was an announcement that they were having a showing of this film somewhere and I was intrigued. I was amazed to find the "NOVA" version free on line for viewing. INCREDIBLE! I emailed the link to Eric and asked if we could either: move to Ethiopia so I can work in obstetrics there OR adopt an Ethiopian orphan. While I'm not quite ready to do either of the above yet, I am more and more convinced of God's calling to me in my "second life." When my rambunctious three are grown and I am "retired" - I am headed out to live internationally to do medical work. My first love, of course, is China. (I am hoping for opportunities as the kids grow older to do short term medical work overseas as well.)

Anyway, this is an incredible film that impressed upon me how wasteful and selfish I can be. I do take so many things for granted as a woman and a physician. I am renewed in my committment to make an effort to help others in need - to raise money to support activities like this and New Day Foster Home. I want to be a part of the "solution" to poverty and suffering as much as I can where I am now, as I pray for God to show me how and where the "next step" will come. This film was a challenge to me to make my time, my money, and my actions really COUNT for something. I don't want the craziness of life and my innate desire to chase after my own personal happiness to make me forget - every minute and second - what is REALLY important in this world.

If you have a minute (50 actually), check out this great documentary. I don't think you'll be sorry. LJC

World's Best Daddy

The boys had their first quarter report cards and Parent-Teacher Conferences last week. They are doing wonderfully. I hope that Eric realizes what a testament this is to his great job of "Mr. Mom" for the last six years. I don't tell him often enough how great he is and his job is so behind-the-scenes, under-appreciated and thankless. There aren't any raises or promotions, no "Employee of the Year" awards. BUT he is "Daddy of the Universe" to us and the least I can do is remind him publicly how much we need, love and appreciate him. Thank you, Honey, for the great job you do every moment of every day. None of us would be functional without you.

Mama, Ryan, Alex and Katie Hui

Election Day

I am praying for this great nation that we live in. It is a wonderful and historic day and whatever the outcome, I am asking God to pour out his blessings and favor on the United States of America. I am praying that he would allow us all to come together - this great melting pot - to overcome partisan politics and petty arguing.
Our nation is singular in it's history of freedom and democracy - a light shining in the darkness of dictatorships and despots - terrorists and tyrants. Truly the greatest Land of Opportunity in the world - look at all the immigrants trying to get here. They can see what so many of us take for granted. I don't believe in ethno-centricity and I am in awe of the diverse and beautiful world our Creator has fashioned. I love to learn about and visit other lands and cultures. BUT I think we here in the US need to remember and be proud of our great heritage. I am tired of hearing nothing but criticisms and complaints about this country. I'd like to see her citizens roll up their sleeves and really WORK to make this nation great again. We are all talk and no ACTION. We are in danger of forgetting who we are and what we stand for. In all our differences - we must still be able to come together to focus on our common purpose and our common love of freedom and love of our country. The world can not afford for the United States to falter. They need our light to continue to shine brightly and NOT to fade away. LJC

Questionable Parenting....

Tips for others parenting preschoolers...if you let them play with swords and knives, they will lose an eye. These poor children learned the hard way.






HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Madison Keeley

Okay we need another small creature in our household like we need a hole in the head...that said, they seem to find me!!!!
I was minding my OWN business one afternoon at my office and I went outside to my car. I heard a funny noise - thought it was the machinery from the construction lot next to our building. As I walked over I kept hearing it - weird noise - coming from one of two vans parked next to each other in the employee lot. Pretty soon I was on my hands and knees looking under cars and I figured out a cat was stuck in one of the motors. Long story short - 20 minutes, three female employees, and two very sweet construction workers later we pulled a tiny kitten out of the motor. The lady whose car it was in thinks it rode to the office from her home. She is in a rural area and "there are always strays around." The kitten promptly ran into some bushes and shrubs by our office. It stayed there yowling for almost 48 hours and after failing to catch it(picture me tromping around overgrown bushes at 11:30pm with a pen light and cup of milk), I called animal control to come trap it. We have a kill shelter here and since no one else would claim it...meet Madison Keeley. There was a big discussion/fight over the name - Alex and Katie like Maddie and Ryan insisted on Keeley so here we are.

Eric was not too pleased at first. I did enjoy the look on his face when I first brought her inside. He has LONG tried futilely to impose a leg-limit on our household..."okay Lori - no more than 10 legs at one time..that's it..." We've consistently broken those rules. Now he loves Keeley, though ... she is very sweet and great with the kids. He always seems to come around and he knew what he was getting into when we got married though he feigns innocence now. You can take the girl out of the country but you can't keep a girl who grew up with a raccoon, snapping turtle, garden snake, guinea pig, gerbil, a house mouse (Mom had a FIT about that one), a cat, and about 25 Labrador retrievers from loving and rescuing animals. Good thing we don't live on a farm with lots more room....yet.
Lori