Hope is Rising

Let me ask you something. If you were a young woman who lived her entire life in Florida suburbia, then found yourself in Nigeria as a missionary where, among other things, you had experienced:

-visits to countless children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic
-vastly different gender roles than what you’re used to (read – old school)
-no running water in your home
-no refrigeration for food
-peeing on the side of the road next to a bus
-being chased by wild baboons
-abject poverty all around you
-large vats of stew containing parts of animals you’re not accustomed to
eating
-no cheese (NO CHEESE PEOPLE – in all of Nigeria!)

If you had experienced all of these things and even more things you didn’t talk about, would this blog post horrify you?:

(Editor’s Note: The following blogpost is brought to you with our sincerest apologies and assurances that the next entry will be worth reading.)

Ode to the Neti Pot
(sung to the melody of “My Funny Valentine”)

My little neti pot
Blue little neti pot
You clean up stuff that’s in my nose
Yes, you may gross some out
Still, you clear up my snout
You wash away those allergies

Is your method less than cool
When you cause my mouth to drool

Yes, you cause my mind to freak
when my nostrils start to leak
But you work…

But don’t change your ways for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little neti pot stay
Each day is neti pot day

After raves reviews from several friends (and by “several”, I mean 3) as to wondrous healing powers of the neti pot, I purchased one yesterday. (Much to my husband’s dismay.) I gotta tell you, for me, it actually works. For those of you unfamiliar with the benefits of this little homeopathic tool, you may find this video helpful.

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Well, if your name is Mary Ann – or Mare as she’s known to me, your answer would be “Yes. Yes it did.” But it was also a means to get to know a very amazing young woman and someone I consider a friend.

Mare is back from Nigeria and is beginning a new adventue attending seminary in Austin (yay!) I had the wonderful treat of meeting her in person on Sunday. She stopped by on her way to Austin. And, yes my bloggy gal pals (you know who you are), she’s way cuter and every bit as nice in person! I invite you all to pay her a cyber visit at her new home, Hope is Rising.

Welcome to Texas, Mare! You’re going to love Austin! (And Austin will love you.)