Arizona Travel Journal: Day 1 (June 10)

It's hard to believe that two weeks ago Mom and I were on an airplane headed to Arizona. I'm thankful I have the pictures and wonderful memories to prove that I went. It also helps to remember Arizona when I'm having health issues (like recently). I can picture the Grand Canyon, Jim and Vicki, Flagstaff, Sedona, swimming, delicious meals, and the Sipe family in my mind.

Mom and I packed light, so we only had one checked suitcase, one carry-on (mostly for my medications), and my wheelchair. Paul Burton dropped us off at Roanoke Regional. I felt sad for Qavah, because she was very quiet as Mom and I got our suitcase out of the car trunk. Even though we explained to her what we were doing several times, I don't think she understood until we got to the airport. We knew she'd be fine, so we said our good-byes and then went inside to confirm our flights.

I have to say we got nice airplane service from Delta. I was a bit unsure of how they would handle my wheelchair. Fortunately, I was able to have it as a "carry-on," so I could use it during our plane exchange. We had a three hour layover in Atlanta with a lot of walking, and with my rib still hurting, I was thankful for the wheelchair! Mom sure got her exercise, though. At one point, all I kept seeing was Delta employees, so I asked Mom, "Does the Atlanta airport only use Delta?" She replied "No, we're just in the Delta part of the airport. There's Northwest, American Airlines, etc. Different airplane companies use their individual designated section of the airport. And different concourses serve specific airliners." Amazing! I had not been in an airport that was so big before. I was surprised and interested to learn about the different concourses. And in fact, we even had to take a shuttle from our drop-off gate to the right concourse for the next plane ride.

The flight from Atlanta to Phoenix was long, but worth it. There was a family with some young children sitting across from us. I told mom and one point, "I forget how well behaved Qavah is until I'm around other children." I did enjoyed watching the clouds pass by (sometimes below us) and the land below. It was especially different the closer we got to Phoenix. The land turned brown with deep ridges. Mom and I saw the vastness of the desert from the sky! There are just some jobs I probably would have pursued had my eyesight been better. Being a flight attendant is one of them. I really enjoy flying. One thing that was neat on the Delta plane was our TVs. A customer could pay to see a movie or just watch basic TV. I didn't do that, but instead viewed the "real time" road map. The little airplane symbol flew over the United States. Every time the airplane captain (pilot) tilted the plane or made it go higher in the sky, I got to watch it happening on my TV screen. The route was all mapped out, so I would follow our route as we flew over the individual states. I would also check the number of miles to destination, number of miles already flown, altitude, and temperature.

Finally, we got to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. We picked up our luggage and headed for the rental car company. Actually, we had to take a shuttle from the airport to the rental facility, which was eight minutes away. It was combersome to move the luggage and wheelchair everywhere we went. Finally, we got our rental car and began our trip to the Campbell's home. Arizona driving reminds me of Washington, D.C., because all of the roads run north, east, south, and west. Avenues are always on one side (or direction) of the road, while Lanes (and Streets) are on the other; "like a grid," is how people describe it.

Several people have asked me how we are related to Jim and Vicki. Vicki is actually my Dad's cousin, but she married a "Campbell" (Jim). So it makes for a neat family relation story. Below are three pictures from Day 1.

I enjoyed watching this truck fill the plane with gasoline. I'm so glad our cars don't take as much fuel as the airplanes. That would get very expensive!

This plane is like the one we took from Atlanta, Georgia to Phoenix, Arizona. I think it was a Boeing 747. All I know is that about 200 people were on the ariplane.

Of course, I got lots of pictures of the clouds. This one was one of my favorites.

Announcement

The Lord has blessed Colin, Jennifer, Annelise, and our extended family with a new life. Yes, Jenn went into labor early this morning. Colin called us at four-thirty to say they were on their way to the hospital. After almost seven hours of labor, Jenn gave birth to Nehemiah Bruce Paul Campbell at ten o'clock. Nehemiah weighed nine pounds and nine ounces. Needless to say, Jenn is tired, but feeling very relieved!

This afternoon, we took Annelise to the hospital so she could meet her new brother. It's amazing that Annelise is a big sister at only eighteen months old. Over all, Annelise was more interested in her juice cup than her brother, but that's to be expected for such a little girl. However, the rest of us admired Nehemiah's features and little personality. With the help of a pillow, I held Nehemiah for awhile. He was only six hours old, but very alert. It was neat to watch Nehemiah open his eyes anytime he heard the voices of his daddy (Colin) and sister. He also sneezed and yawned.

Below are a few pictures of this joyful hospital visit. I thank the Lord for the gift of Nehemiah. His name means "Comforted by Yahweh". Lord, I pray blessings over my new nephew, Nehemiah Bruce Paul Campbell. May Nehemiah grow up to put his hope and trust in Your unfailing love. I pray Nehemiah will be showered with Your comfort and mercy, so that he can "comfort those in any trouble with the comfort he has received from You" (2 Cor. 1:4). Amen.

Arizona 2008 Slideshow

This slide show is a celebration of more than a dream trip come true. It's more than a recap of some wonderful memories. This slideshow celebrates the fact that I have enough mental energy and physical stamina to complete a technology-driven project. At one time not too long ago, I was on so much pain medication that I couldn't think or even carry on daily life. It was a struggle to complete just one chapter in my college textbook. Now, thanks to prayers, God's blessings, and sheer determination, I was able to go on a trip of a lifetime. As you watch this slideshow, let's praise the Lord together for His goodness.

Friday Night

I'm preparing a slideshow of the Arizona trip. There are so many pictures and so many wonderful memories that it's a bit difficult to decide what exactly to share. I'm enjoying the picture editing process, though. I keep smiling when I look at the pictures. I was thinking about doing a travel journal this upcoming week, so I can better record some of my memories while they're still fresh in my mind.

It's just been a busy week after Mom and I got home Tuesday night. Wednesday, we had family and gradparents over to celebrate Father's Day and Mom's Birthday. Then yesterday, I had my Remicade treatment. Today, I ran errands with Paul Burton in the afternoon. Over all, I'm doing great health wise. I'm praising the Lord for these good days!

Arizona, Here We Come!

Well it's Monday afternoon. Mom and I are almost packed. I just confirmed the flights online and printed the boarding tickets. It's amazing how much I can do from home due to computer technology. I've been taking extra Prednisone and Xifaxan since the weekend due to another HPS flare up. It seems to be helping, although I'm still being especially careful with what I eat.

Thank you for the prayers and well wishes regarding this trip. We will try to keep you posted as we can throughout the coming week. I was educating Mom yesterday about the use of an internet cafe', a coffee shop where there are computers with internet access for the customers to use. Of course, we could also visit a local library. That's always a quiet and comfortable place to type an update.

When you pray for Mom and me this week, please also pray for Dad, Paul Burton, and Qavah who will be staying home. Please pray they have a happy and fun, but productive week together. Thank you! I look forward to sharing with you in word and pictures my 2008 Exploring Arizona Trip...

Praise the Lord!

Mom and I have been working on our Bible study in the Psalms of Ascent. We are on the last week of homework, which is hard to believe. I always begin a new Bible study with joyful anticipation and end with a bittersweet awe of everything the Lord has taught me. This six week study, covering Psalms 120 to 134, was no exception.

Yesterday's homework was about praising the Lord. There were several meaningful lessons within that one day of homework that I will share in a future post. However, the one point of application I want to now state is this: we often forget to give praise and thanks to the Lord when He answers prayer. As humans who are in ever-need of the Lord's power, strength, and guidance, we are quick to move on to the next request without first praising the Lord for what He has done on our behalf.

I definitely felt convicted after completing yesterday's homework! One assignment Beth Moore had us do was to write down ways the Lord had answered our prayers, but we failed to praise Him for doing so. Several things came to mind that I had "forgotten" to share with my faithful prayer partners:

1. Healing of Hickman scar site. This is something I asked for prayer about several times. It was a real source of pain, irritation, and sleepless nights. One day last week, I noticed that the scar didn't bleed after a shower. From that time on, the site has continued to heal. I'm now able to wear clothes without using gauze or feeling pain. Praise the Lord!

2. Completion of my MBC degree. While I have documented the step-by-step process of writing my senior thesis, I'm not sure I completing rejoiced to the Lord for His strength and help. Looking at my diploma or just even thinking about being finished, is enough to take my breath away! And now when I look back on it, I don't even remember the little, everyday struggles of college-life. I just remember what I've learned and the skills I've gained. Likewise, I'm amazed I did so much mental thinking while having so many HPS flare-ups and taking medication, including pain medication. In my heart, I have a deep sense of gratitude to the Lord. To me, my diploma is not so much a piece of paper stating my degree as it is a document displaying the magnificent power and sovereignty of the Lord. Praise the Lord!

3. Mom's dental surgery. While Mom is not completely finished with the dental surgeries she has to go through, I'm thankful she lived through the previous surgies. They were filled with many complications, wakeful nights, and unbearable pain. I'm thankful the Lord gave everyone else in our family strength to "carry on" on the days Mom was recovering. There were times that the Lord gave me a reprieve from my HPS symtpoms, so I could comfort my mother instead. Praise the Lord!

4. Qavah's adoption: Qavah has been in our home for nine months now. Yes, it has taken some adjustment for everyone. The Lord has used Qavah to humble me; He continues to use her presence to make me (hopefully) less selfish and more patient. In addition, Qavah's joyful, but serene personality is teaching me so much about my perspective of life's circumstances. I was telling a friend the other day that what I've always heard my parents state about my adoption I can now say about Qavah: I can't imagine our lives without her and I'm quickly forgetting what life was like before she arrived. Qavah blesses our lives daily. Praise the Lord!

5. Heather's wedding: This past weekend in Charlottesville were many dreams come true. I looked forward to the weekend away and the wedding ceremony literally for months. I was looking at some additonal pictures today and I just kept smiling from ear to ear! The ceremony was filled with truth about the Lord. I got to visit with family - immediate and extended - and make new friendshhips. The worship service we had at my grandparents' home on Sunday was very special, too. Praise the Lord!

As Mom and I prepare for Arizona, I'm looking forward to sharing in future posts more ways the Lord answered prayers. As prayers come true, may Psalm 134 be our reply:

"Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion." -Psalm 134:1-3

Lord, I praise You for the many answers to prayers in the past six weeks. You have done exceedingly beyond what I could ask our think. You have left me speechless as You displayed Your mighty hand. As others observe the answers to prayers in my life, may it stir their hearts to look for the ways You have answered their prayers, big and small. I now rejoice with my sisters and brothers in Christ. How awesome are Your deeds, Lord; our cups runneth over. Let all the people praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! His love endures forever. Amen.

Luncheon

My cousin Heather's paternal grandmother (affectionately called Oma) invited us to the Bridesmaids' Luncheon, even though we were not a part of the wedding party. The Luncheon was held at a very fancy and well-known Charlottesville landmark, the Boar's Head Inn. Oma is German, and although she now lives in Frederick, Maryland, she has many stories of her adventures as a military wife and mother. Oma also reads our websites daily and prays for our family diligently. Thus, Mom and I were very excited to attend the Luncheon, where Oma would be the hostess. In fact, ever since we received the invitation, Mom and I dreamed about the Luncheon. We planned our outfits one afternoon while I laid on the porch bed. The anticipation continued and escalated until, finally, last Friday we drove to Charlottesville.

The Luncheon was held in the Tack Room. Mom sat with the mothers, while I was placed at the Grandmothers' table. Our food was very delicious and we were given excellent attention by the waitresses. Our appetizers were tomato, peanut soup. However, upon learning that I was allergic to tomatoes, the Boar's Head Inn chef prepared another soup for me. Now, that is fine service! The main course was a cob salad that had layer upon layer of scrumptious trimmings. As one grandmother commented, "Everytime I put my fork into this salad, I pull out another treasure"! The conversation was very pleasant; I gained much practical insight from the grandmothers.

Below are some pictures of the Bridesmaids' Luncheon. The Boar's Head Inn has an interesting history, which I've also included below. Thank you to Oma for giving Mom and me some joyful memories we could share together.

The heart of Boar's Head Inn was built from the timbers of an abandoned gristmill along the banks of the Hardware River, which dated back to 1834. The relocation of the mill was an opportunity to preserve and transform a treasured Virginia artifact. It had survived burning despite the orders of Generals Grant and Custer during their march through Charlottesville in the Civil War. Indeed, it had continued to operate some 60 years after the war's end. The old mill was carefully dismantled and reconstructed piece by piece at the present site of the Inn. The original fieldstones, heart pine beams and planks, and massive grist stones are now prominently featured throughout the Inn. Today, the heart of the Boar's Head Inn is the Old Mill Room, whose time-worn timbers recall the original mill. Outside, millstones are visible reminders of the building's proud past. Boar's Head Inn was purchased in 1988 by the University of Virginia Foundation.

Boar's Head Inn:

Inside the Boar's Head Inn:

"Oma" Collmus:

Heather Collmus Martin (in the middle) with friends:


Andrew Martin's mother, Missy Martin:

The Grandmothers' Table:

Grandmother Lucile Campbell, Aunt Judy Talbott, and Kathryn:

Mom (Dawn) Campbell:

Celebrations!

I will write when I get back or sometime this weekend, if I have computer access. Thank you for your prayers! Mom and I are about to leave for Charlottesville. Praise the Lord!

Misc. Ramblings

I wanted to change my website look and feel to reflect summertime. So, I looked online tonight and found several backgrounds that were pretty. Even though my family aren't really "beach" people in the true sense of the word, we still enjoy collecting seashells. Actually, there is a beach near St. Petersburg, Florida, that I really enjoyed the last time we went on a family vacation. It had a quiet atmosphere and when we were there in late December of 2005, we had the entire beach practically to ourselves. The sand was like white, fluffy flour and the water was warm. There were also some picnic tables and trees that provided shade from the sun. Someday, I'd like to go back to that beach.

In health news, my rib continues to heal. I actually found a background tonight that was of human ribs and I seriously considered using it! I'm thankful Paul Burton insisted on wrapping the rib, because that has helped a lot. I didn't have as much pain today as before, although it still is quite intense. I'm just thankful yesterday's sneeze didn't cause permanent damage. Today was a bad day for allergies, though. Mom went to Wal-Mart this afternoon and discovered a new over-the-counter allergy medication called Zyrtec-D. It's a twelve hour pill that successfully removed most of my allergy symptoms. I've only developed allergies in the last two years; I now have a new appreciation for those who deal with it all of their lives in all seasons of weather.

I received my Mary Baldwin College diploma today. Paul Burton actually had to sign for it. I was thankful the Lord gave me that surprise, as I needed a pick-me-up by dinnertime. Forget the degree, I'm just happy my full name was spelled correctly - even with the appropriate dash between my two middle names. That's a big deal to me! It's a rather large document, so now I have to find a pretty frame for it. I plan to hang the diploma in my office.

Outside Refreshment

The sun is about to set and I'm turning my thoughts over to tomorrow's day of worship, rest, and refreshment. In many ways, today was that kind of day for me, though. I began this morning with some adrenal issues, so I took extra Prednisone. I'm thankful Mom and Dad know what to do for my body, because within a few minutes of my "page," Mom had my body back on track. I don't have to panic as often anymore and think, "Oh no, is this going to lead to a hospital visit" like I used to fear all the time.

After a mid-morning nap, I woke up this afternoon to a pleasant and big surprise. Paul Burton, Dad, and Mom had laboriously cleaned off the top front porch. The siding had been power washed; All of the bugs and cob webs were gone. Not only that, Mom had repainted the porch swings. Dad had sprayed off the bed we made for Eunice to use several years ago when she stayed with us the last month of her life. The netting over the bed was re-hung for the summer months. Paul Burton had made two flower arrangements and one was on the nightstand beside the bed. Two wicker porch chairs were placed near my bed, so guests would be comfortable while they visited with me. The entire porch felt like an article right out of Southern Living magazine! I spent the remainder of the afternoon and early evening outside resting and enjoying God's creation. I told Mom that imagining five more weeks of bed rest were now tolerable, because of my outside bedroom. Below are a few pictures for your enjoyment. The first two pictures are of the front porch and the last picture is the view I enjoyed all afternoon from my outside bed.

Prayer Request

Thank you for the prayers regarding my ribs. It's indeed been a painful healing process and I have to constantly remind myself it only happened less than a week ago. Since I'm on almost complete bed rest, I have a lot of time to pray for others. Thus, please share prayer requests either by leaving a comment or sending me an email.

Below is a prayer request I just discovered this morning after reading the online news' websites. Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists. I just bought his most recent CD two weeks ago. I've always appreciated how he uses his talents and fame to promote adoption. He and his wife - after adopting three girls from China - created an organization (Shoahannah's Hope) to "reduce the financial barrier of adoption". Please pray for the entire family, but especially for SCC's teenage son.

© 2007 Tucker Photography.
(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN, {with the family SUV driven by her teenage brother]. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.

Annelise's Visit

It's been a busy week. Today, I am feeling really good, which is amazing. Even my Methotrexate days went well this week. I was thinking this afternoon that I've actually had four "good" days in a row. What a blessing! I have to constantly monitor my body, the medications, my pain levels, etc. And sometimes, that's inconvenient, but it still pales in comparison to being curled up in bed -- or worse -- the hospital. I am beginning to make memories with my family that do not relate to Hermanksy-Pudlak Syndrome. Praise the Lord!

Yesterday, we had the "rare" treat of babysitting Annelise overnight. It's hard to believe she's almost eighteen months old. Sadly, I was so sick when Annelise was an infant that I don't remember much of her "early days". For that reason, it's now especially fun to watch her growing into a little girl with her own personality and preferences. She's talking a lot, too.

Annelise ate her dinner and dessert without any complaining. In fact, after eating the first bite of ice cream for dessert, she clearly said, "ooh cold"! We all looked at her and smiled. Even though I've studied human development, I was amazed to watch how Annelise's brain made the necessary connections to relate the cold sensation with the ice cream.

Qavah and Annelise are more playmates than aunt and niece, so it's a blast to watch them interact together. After dinner, we spent 1 1/2 hours outside. Dad got the wheelbarrow out, so he could take Qavah and Annelise for a ride. The girls both giggled with delight. Annelise ran all over the place and kept us very busy, so not only was she exhausted by the time we got back inside, but we were as well! Below are a few pictures of Annelise's visit.

To My Mom,

"Her children arise and call her blessed"
And "her husband also praises her"
Proverbs 31 describes many mothers, but
Perhaps the greatest mom I know is...
You

Mama, today is the day I celebrate you
Over and over again, you have given of yourself
Thank you for putting your own desires aside for me
Healing hands and "faithful instructions" bless me daily
Even on this website, your love and compassion is evident
Rest assured, you have many jewels in your Heavenly crown
"She watches over the affairs of her household" describes you

Down in my heart, I'm thankful you became my mother
A "woman who fears the Lord," like you, "is to be praised"
You are "clothed with strength and dignity" so may you "laugh in the days to come"

(August 2006)

Love,
Kathryn

Sabbath Blessings

Yesterday was an absolutely wonderful day! Our family caught up on some much-needed rest. In the afternoon, we watched the open rehearsal of the Roanoke Symphony and Roanoke Symphony Chorus' performance of Verdi's Requiem. The RSO Chorus actually combined with 4 other choruses to make up a choir of three-hundred. Paul Burton is in the RSO Chorus, which practiced every week since Christmas. One of the most special aspects of watching Paul Burton sing was knowing that his dream of participating in a well-known, well-disciplined chorus had come true, even though he didn't get to complete his studies at Philadelphia Biblical University (where he attended for three semesters prior to getting his R.N. degree from VWCC). The Lord redeems everything and HE created this special opportunity for Paul Burton. The official performance is tonight, and although we can't attend, we will be listening to it on the radio.

Last night, we attended another musical performance by Bonsack Baptist Church's choir. Our friend, Whitney Dobyns, played her harp; I made sure I got a good seat to watch her music techniques! Qavah listened intently to all of the music but got especially excited when she heard the lyrics of one song describing David killing the giant Goliath. I enjoyed seeing Qavah's enthusiasm, all the while praising the Lord that she is a part of our family.

After the Bonsack choir concert, we went to Dairy Queen for dessert. It actually became a joke in our family, because we didn't have time to go home between the afternoon and evening concerts, so we had dinner at Dairy Queen. Then, we wanted to enjoy some time with Whitney and her family, so returned to DQ around 8:00pm last night. We were thankful there was a shift change between our visits!

A few fun pictures. I praise the Lord for yesterday's bonus day. I went to bed wanting to pinch myself to see if the blessings were indeed true. We now have more memories to tuck into our heart.

Qavah and Kathryn:


Where in the world is Paul Burton??


There he is! (a bit blurry, but he's looking at the camera, wearing his brown suit jacket):


Whitney, Qavah, and Paul Burton:

Weekend Wrap-Up

I'm glad we are approaching the Sabbath. It's been a long, painful week. However, the Lord has blessed me with doctors who care. On Monday, after waking up to the shocking site of my Hickman wound open, I scheduled an appointment with my hematologist. He knows that if I call or email him before a routine visit, then something serious has happened. I don't think there has been one time that I've contacted him where he delayed my appointment for several days. It's such an answer to prayer!

Dad took me to Monday's emergency appointment, which was a rare treat. Unfortunately, I vaguely remember the car ride and visit. I showed my hematologist the Hickman site and he promptly said, "Well, I can't let you go home without a plan. I'll have to admit you to the hospital unless you have a better idea". I suggested Home Health Care and he readily agreed. He also wanted to start the IV Rocephin in his office, in the infusion room, where normally chemotherapy is conducted. That is the last thing I remember about Monday. Somehow, Dad got me to the infusion room. And later on, Mom and Qavah met us there. The rest of the week was spent sleeping, having muscle spasms, adrenal issues, and attending to my wound sites. Like I've written before, any open sore feels like a million fire ants attacking my body. This week, I had the Hickman wound and a fever blister. Double whammy!

I updated My Bookshelf. About a year ago, I bought Emily Post's Etiquette from Amazon. When the book first arrived in the mail, I was so excited about it. Then, due to school and health, I was only able to skim the book. The other day, I decided to dust the book off and read it cover-to-cover. This 17th Edition is an updated version of Post's classic, which means the book contains Emily Post's advice as well as etiquette for the "21st Century". I found the section on e-mail and instant message quite helpful. Someday, I think it would be fun to host an Etiquette dinner or weekend for my girlfriends.

I did have one new, interesting experience this week. Mom had some serious dental work done yesterday morning. Thursday through today she has been in a lot of pain. Last night, neither Mom nor I could sleep because of our respective wounds. Thus, we quietly talked together in my room. I played "mommy," because I tried to comfort Mom in hopes of giving her enough relief that she would drift back to sleep. I gave her a back and foot massage. She slept a little, but unfortunately, the pampering didn't take her mind off of the dental work. Her pain was intense and sobering. As I tried to bless Mom, but without much success, I felt extremely helpless.

Today, I was talking to Mom about the emotions of last night's experience. She said empathetically, "Now you know how we have felt for the past two years. We see you suffer, and try as we might, we can't always relieve the misery." Last night, I thought I would burst into tears just from watching the agony Mom endured. It was heartbreaking! I am thankful for parents who have joined me on this tough health journey. And I'm also grateful there exists a Lord that can comfort us when all human attention and love fails.