What a Sweet View!

DSC01743
Originally uploaded by rogenadel.

Since my insomnia is in control, I will keep writing.

We began our airplane trip in New Orleans to Houston to Seattle to Taipei to Saigon. My mother-in-law needed a wheelchair, which made the boarding the airplane very easy. We were always the first to get on and the last to get off. The flights were as fun as flights could be. Feeling that power as the plane takes off, the view, the landing. It was an amazing experience, observing everyone, sleeping on the plane, eating the airline food, all of it. I was meant to be a traveler.

After 27 hours, we arrived in Vietnam. I remember first seeing green when I knew we were over the country, it was the most beautiful green I had ever seen. Even thinking back to it now, it seems as if it was a dream. The airport was interesting. Nothing short of pandemonium, so many people, so many packages/luggage. Crazy. My mother-in-law was in a wheelchair, I had our carry on luggage (all of my cameras included), and trying to find 4 massive suitcases (70 pounds each). It was a bit scary. Oh, and when you enter and go through I guess what is customs for Vietnam, they ask for the address where you will be staying. Guess what? I had no IDEA! I had never wrote down an address, and then facing this man in a army uniform, I felt my blood pressure go up and the sweat begin to pour. Pure blessing, they let us go and said my brother-in-law would have to bring something back to them. Whew!

We made it through the airport and all of the lines. Thankfully for the wheelchair, it provided a bit of a rush. Finally, we were walking out of the doors into a wall of people. I can imagine now what celebrities must feel like, except these people were not cheering, just looking. And then out of the blue, our family came. My sisters-in-law first, they ran to my mother-in-law and then came hug me. I recognized them. And then, I began to make this really weird whimpering sound, like I can't believe this is happening sound. A sound of the purest pleasure and excitement. I don't think I knew what else to do. I was experiencing this journey that I had spent sooooo many days fantasizing about, watching tv of other people experiencing it but it was my turn. At that point, I thing true fear gripped me. I then realized that I could not speak, I could not communicate. For a person that loves to talk, that means death. At that point I had to rely on my travel companion. A companion who was not happy (yes, not happy, if a person can imagine such a thing) and probably having a nicotine fit. So, I broke out with my journal and pen and asked a sister-in-law to write their names-a beginning.

Do you believe in miracles?

Morning Sunrise
Originally uploaded by rogenadel.

It has been a couple of days since my last post. Mostly I look for pictures to go with my message. If I can't find a picture, then I save the message.
We had a friend get into a hunting accident about a week and a half ago. The guy was shot in the back of the head with a 22 by a very close friend of ours, which is also the young man's cousin. He made it to the hospital, through surgery, and has been critical for the past week. A couple of days ago he finally opened his eyes and has begun responding, by shaking his head, to his family. It surely is a miracle right before our eyes. The bullet entered the back of his head right above the hole in a baseball cap and went through his head stopping behind his nasal cavity. He lost alot of blood. But he is ALIVE and RESPONDING. The amount of prayers really seemed endless. I spoke to my cousin on Sunday, told her what had happened, asked her to please pray. She said she prayed for the young man and his family. She went to church. In the middle of church service, the pastor stopped and told them to think about everything they had done this morning. She said she thought about talking to me and praying again for the young man and his family. She prayed again. And today he is awake, his eyes are open, and he is responding. I know my cousin was not the only person praying for him. I know there has to be hundreds of people praying for him. It is just such a confirmation of God's power in this world. How could anyone doubt his power? We know that everything that happens in a life is already predetermined, God knows it all already. For such a tragedy to happen to such a wonderful young man, there must be something powerful to come out of this. I am eager to see what God has in store for this young man and his family. May everyone of them be blessed beyond belief.
On a different note, a very big CONGRATULATIONS to B & B on the birth of your baby boy! He is a handsome fella. We had two very close friends give birth to their babies exactly two weeks apart. The funniest thing is that the fathers grew up as best friends and now they have two little guys the same age. The newest baby is a cutie, blond peach fuzz, dimple in his chin like his dad, chubby cheeks, blue eyes, and strong. He is precious. Hats off to his mom for doing such an awesome job! I remember praying so many times for you to be blessed with a baby and to think now God has blessed you with two! WOW.
I am still battling the insomnia problem. Normal sleep seems like such a joke. After staying up for so long, I am scared to go to sleep because I know I will over sleep, be late for work, be tired all day and only thing about coming home to go and take a nap. Does the cycle ever end?