Adventure item #21 - Downhill Ski in Europe December 11, 2010

I thought that this would be easy, afterall I was in Europe and there had been a big storm 2 weeks before I arrived.  However, I did not count on a warmup.  Malia and I looked for ski resorts close to Geneva only to discover that none of them had snow and were not open.  So we searched further and found one that was a 2 hour train ride away.  So on December 11, 2010 we got on the train and headed to Verbier to ski.  Malia had decided to study while I skied so this adventure would be solo.
Lesson learned from this adventure - never assume.  I made the assumption that the color coding and system of trail marking was universal - Big mistake!  So I arrived at the top of the mountain and and after reviewing the map discovered that only a few trails had names.  Furthermore, I discovered a very interesting way of marking the runs, which were not labeled or marked.  The system uses a series of poles, sticks really.  The sticks are painted with two colors but the color at the bottom represented the run difficulty.  The amount of color on the stick told you rather the run difficulty was to the left or the right.  It was so confusing!  So after striking out on a easy run to warm up and spending the next 45 minutes crossing several mountains, I stopped someone to ask where I was on the map only to be told - I am not sure but I think that we are here.  Because the runs were not well marked and there were no names on the mountain and only a few runs had names - it was hard to use the map.  So I made the determination to try out several runs and then stick with the ones that I was confortable doing.  The day was beautiful and the skies were amazing.  Plus I had a good time just talking with people.  Adventure completed!

My European Adventure - My missionary encouragement tour December 6, 2010-December 18, 2010

So I embarked on an adventure - a European adventure really.  I called it my missionary visitation encouragement tour as I was headed to Geneva to spend time with Malia and experience life with her as she studies at the Bible Institue of Geneva as she discerns God's call as a missionary to France and then headed to Prague to see Janna as she serves with the Christian School of Prague.  My unexpected visit came in Prague also as I was able to see a childhood friend, Mark Krupa, who also serves in the Czech Republic with Josiah Venture.   This was one of many God sightings as I had sent him a message that I was going to be in Prague from 12/12-12/16.  I received a message back while in Geneva that he comes to Prague once a year and would be in town from 1215-12/17 so I was able to see him on Wednesday and he was able to share his story with Janna and talk about his language and cultural assimiliation in Czech. 



Janna and I at a Christmas Concert in St. Nicholas Church in Old Town Square in Prague



Time with Mark at Starbucks in Prague



The Christmas Market in Morges with Malia















What an adventure!  I left work on Monday December 6 and headed to Chicago for a 10pm departure from OHare, all the while having a very uncomfortable feeling about the flight.  After arriving at Karen's and checking the flight schedule, we headed off to Ohare as my flight was on time.  When we arrived however we discovered that my flight had been cancelled with no reason offered.  American Airlines was unable to get me to London any other way to meet my connection to Geneva so I had to reschedule both flights and lost a day.  So on 12/7 I departed to London and arrived in Geneva on 12/8, a day late.  Malia picked me up at the airport and we headed to the school.  This was the next in a series of God moments.  Two of the professors were American and one was in to teach a week long class.  So I was able to visit with them in English.  So at dinner as I spoke with Tom, he asked about my church in Peoria and this led to a coversation about theology and John Piper.  He let me know that the other professor would be interesting for me to talk with and that he was with particular missions organization.  This perked up my ears and I asked "Is he going to be at a conference in Turkey in a few weeks?"  "My church is going to Turkey to provide the children and youth programming for a group serving with this missions organization from all over Europe."  At this Tom said "Let's go find out."  After speaking with Mark in French, Mark turned to me and said "You are part of Pastor Lyall's team from Bethany!"  This began the coversation and I was able to meet one of the families that we would be serving in Turkey while in Geneva.  A God sighting both as a confirmation that I was to go to Turkey and an encouragement to the other students as Mark explained to them in French what had just occurred.  Malia however was back at the table telling Tom that in the scheme of life, we see God provide these meetings sometimes but in Holly's life these meetings happen all the time.  I asked her if she had rolled her eyes for Linda, who had been our third roommate and had experienced this with me many times in the past! 
Flights continued to provide interesting stories and much excitement as after the first delay I figured that it would be smooth sailing.  Think again!  As I relaxed on my flight from Geneva to Prague, the man across the aisle began to throw up.  The young man with him waved me off when I offered my white bag as an extra.  In a few minutes however, the man began to have a seizure.  The flight attendants asked for a nurse of physician for a medical emergency and no one responded.  Silence.  And I realized that I was most likely the only medical person on the flight and was a dietitian with both healthcare professional CPR and first aid training.  So I told them that I had basic first aid and was trained in CPR.  After sending up a quick prayer, began to help the young man help his dad by talking him through how to keep his dad's airway open since he had passed out in his seat.  This went on for 45 minutes and I continued to pray and watch his breathing and look for signs of cardiac arrest all the while praying that CPR would not be needed but ready and willing to do what I could to keep this stranger alive.  The man began to respond as we approached Prague and an emergency response team boarded the plane.  I disembarked thankful that God had provided wisdom and strength and that the man was enroute to a hospital but I was still very shaken.

Plane Adventures continue....


Our transportation to Heathrow - a charter bus



I arrived back in Geneva on December 16 after a very uneventful flight and Malia and I spent the evening together and prepared to depart on the 17th for home.  We knew that it was going to be interesting when we awoke to 3-4 inches of fresh snow on the ground and then arrived at the Geneva airport to discover that the first 3 hours of flights had been cancelled and the airport was in chaos.  Our flight was still listed as departing on time but the British Airways ticket counter was very disorganized and Malia and I were shuffled from being in line to out of line and in other lines all while getting very frustrated.  When we finally got our tickets and headed to the gate, we knew that we were departing an hour late but that we still had plenty of time to catch our next flight out of London.  So after our plane was deiced, we headed to London but this time I was uneasy again.  As we approached London the first officer came on and told us that there was a lot of traffic on the ground at Heathrow and that we would need to circle the city for another 45 minutes - now this was going to be interesting as our time to make our connection would be really close.  In a few minutes however the landing gear was down and the first officer got back on and told us that we would be landing on time and to review the safety card information in the seat pocket in front of us.  Now that was an odd request and made me realize that something was wrong.  After a few minutes as we prepared to land, the plane instead shot back into the sky and then I knew something was really wrong.  There was silence from the cockpit for about 20-25 minutes and then we heard from the first officer.  They had experienced the loss of their instrument panel as they descended into Heathrow and were being diverted to another city in England where it was clear so that they could do a manual landing.  As we prepared to land a second time, Malia and I joined hands and each began to pray.  In my mind asking the question "Jesus do I see you today?" and yet I was completely at peace despite having no idea what the outcome would be.  When we landed about 60 km north of London the pilot got on and told us that they had experienced and electrical failure in the cockpit and that this was the reason that they lost the use of the instrument panel and the autopilot.  They needed to completely turn off the plane for safety and that they would keep us informed.  So after another 2 hours on the plane, we were towed towards the terminal and then disembarked to go throgh customs and collect our luggage.  British Airways hired charter buses to take us to Heathrow.  When we arrived now after 7 pm we enetered expecting to have new flights and to be on our way home when we entered absolute chaos in the British Airways terminal due to cancelled flights all over Europe related to weather and thousands of people were in line.  We found an information desk and no one realized that our flight had not landed in London.  We finally found a group of people from our flight who had managed to get a British Airways employee to believe the story about the flight failure and he realized that the ball had been dropped related to rescheduling all of our flights.  So we were all placed in a line together and we waited to get new itineries.  3 hours later however, the airline employees left at the end of their shift with none of our flight having been served.  Through a series of circumstances we found an employee who was willing to answer my questions about the partnership with American Airlines and what information AA employees could see about what had happened to our flight.  She told me that on the BA side they could see that our flight did not land in Heathrow but in Luton. So Malia and I decided to try calling AA in the states to see if they could help us.  After trying to use my international calling card without success, Malia and I found a corner and prayed and then opened her laptop and tried skype and got through to someone at AA who could help us.  After being told that the first flight we could get on was Sunday, I mentioned that I would miss my family Christmas and had no more vacation time left at work.  Soon a seat on the Saturday am flight opened and after a discussion with Malia about who would take this flight, the reservation person was told to give it to me and she would Malia on stand-by.  So with great thankfulness Malia and I went to join our flightmates to spend the night on the floor of Heathrow.  The morning dawned and Malia and I headed to the American Airlines terminal and another challenge presented itself.  My flight had been rebooked but Malia's had not been.  So we spoke with AA ticket agents about the BA flight failure the day before and they were able to get Malia a seat on the Saturday 4:30 pm flight.  So we had breakfast and then went to the my departure gate where we parted ways.  Then as we went to board the plane, the skies opened and snow began to fall.  By the time that we boarded and the plane was deiced, there were several inches of snow on the ground and I could barely see the runway and I thought that this was going to be very interesting.  We taxied down the runway and took off and had clear skies all the way to Chicago.  When we were about an hour from Chicago, the flight attendant told the women in front of me that they should be thankful for their Christmas miracle as our flight was the last one out before London Heathrow closed the airport and it would remain closed for 4-5 days.  Malia was stuck and my heart broke.  God had a purpose for each one of us and her sacrifice enabled me to get home for Christmas and to prepare for my trip to Turkey. 

The interesting note about my adventure getting home was that when I did not arrive in Chicago, American Airlines told Karen to contact British Airways about my connecting flight.  She looked it up online to discover that the listed information stated - flight status - contact British Airways.  So she called and was told that "yes she was on the flight and that I was alive and that everyone was ok."  When Karen asked where I was she was told "We do not know."

November 27, 2010 - Extra Credit Idea 23 - Go to a Concert in a Cave

Today I am 40 and I have the privilege of spending it in Nashville with my family, making this the perfect day.  40 years have passed so quickly and so will the next 40, if the Lord wills!  Today is extra special because 4 years ago the testing process that finally led to my Hodgkins lymphoma started on 11/28/2006 and in a few short weeks, I would wonder if I would live to be 37 let alone celebrate 40.  So life itself is a precious gift.

So Mark's special gift was to take me to a concert in a cave.  We drove to Cumberland Caverns in McMinnville, Tennessee to attend the monthly Bluegrass Underground concert.  The featured group was Blue Highway with Rockin Acoustic Circus.  So after hiking into a cave about a half mile we heard an amazing concert in a place with incredible acoustics!  This event only occurs once a month and so the program included a concert Thanksgiving weekend - my birthday! What a fun gift and great idea.  Mark is always clever and knows that I love music and trying things that are different and this was the perfect idea.  A great family Underground Music Adventure.

We went to dinner at the Silly Goose in Nashville.  It was just a wonderful day to be with family and to celebrate together and for this I was thankful. Most of the food items are made with couscous and each dish is unique and yet very healthy.



Blue Highway



  

Rockin Acousic Circus



Mark and Erin check out the map and information

let the fun begin

Well 40 is here!  Last Sunday I was talking with a college friend and his wife in Sunday School and he said to me "Well you have a big birthday coming up."  My response was "that means yours is coming up soon too.'  He then said to me - "can you believe that we have reached the halfway point in our lives."  This was a great perspective for me as I reflect on the events of the past few years and that just 4 years ago I started the testing process that eventually revealed my hodgkin's lymphoma.  It is only by God's grace alone that I am alive today to celebrate 40 years of life.
Mark reminded me today that we have much to be thankful for today and every day.  Now I look forward in hopeful anticipation to the next 40 years of adventure if the Lord wills.
So let the fun begin related to the next year with all of the upcoming adventures.  I am looking forward sharing the adventure with you as you participate with me in this fun endeavor.
So here is the final list:
1.  Get a spray on tan just to see what I look like with a little color other than red or white!
2.  Highlight my hair because I can not because I have to!
3.  Hike in the Grand Canyon
4.  Be able to do the splits again.
5.  Attend a Penn State football game in Pennsylvania!
6.  Go snowmobiling
7.  Go horseback riding - not on a trail trained horse.  Must try side saddle and bare back too!
8.  Try Snowshoeing
9.  Make a piece of pottery - using the wheel and all!
10. Ride a motorcycle
11. Try a new ethnic food once a month - either at a restaurant, someone's home or make it myself
12. Ride a tandem bike
13. Hot air balloon ride - somewhere really scenic
14. Take some kind of class towards a new degree (not sure what yet!)
15. Dance - Something beautiful
16. Serve those in need in the community at least quarterly
17. Recite from memory an entire book of the Bible 
18. Missions Trip
19. Read at least 6 classic novels (the first will be Pilgrims Progress, then I am open for suggestions)
20. Hike a 14,000 peak in Colorado
21. Downhill ski in Europe
22. Prague
23. Catch up on scrapbooking from 2008-present 
24. Team in Training Event - I am thinking a half or full marathon - in Ireland to support blood cancer research
25. Buy a pearl bracelet
26. Attend a U2 concert
27. Hustle Up the Hancock
28. Learn to shoot a gun - gun safety class
29. Take a basic self defense class
30. Meet someone Famous
The final 10 as voted on by you....31. Running barefoot on a beach
32. Hang gliding
33. Irish dance lessons
34. Attend a session in DC of the house or senate
35.  race a car around a racetrack
36. Go for a winter swim in a body of water
37. Go to the Grand hotel or another hotel get-a-way weekend
38. Pose like Jack Vettriano paintings 
39. Kentucky Derby
40. Seder Meal
(41) My personal adventure item that only a few know.




Here are the extra credit suggestions
 Hitch hike to Chicago
20. Fly a crop duster
21.  Get arrested (but not for something that is arrest worthy)
22.  Participate in a flash mob.
23.  See a concert in a cave.
24.  Learn a new sport
25.  Try surfing
26. Cartwheels in Bethany parking ot - 40 of them
27.  Write a song to publish in Nashville


So the adventure begins.....Come along and join me for the fun!

Additional suggestions - for extra credit

Let the voting continue. I received some additional suggestions after the deadline but I thought that I would share them since they are exceptional suggestions.  In other words if I can do one of these extras - then it is extra credit for something in the top 40 that does not get accomplished.

Extra credit suggestions (those that suggestions may need to consider themselves fair game to have to do them with me for my extra credit)

19.  Hitch hike to Chicago
20. Fly a crop duster
21.  Get arrested (but not for something that is arrest worthy)
22.  Participate in a flash mob.
23.  See a concert in a cave.
24.  Learn a new sport
25.  Try surfing

The voting is getting tight for the other 18 suggestions so be sure to vote as the list is complete tomorrow am.

Holly

Cast Your Vote to Complete My 40th Adventure To-Do List

As the suggestions have been rolling in, I have been able to spend time just plain laughing and enjoying the suggestions.  It has been fun to walk down memory lane with those of you who have sent in suggestions, comments or encouragements. 
You may vote for your favorite 3 suggestions and then the top 10 will make the cut!  The final list will be unveiled on my birthday - November 27!
I will definately need some connections for some of these but that is so a part of this challenge!!

Let the voting begin.....

Suggestions for the List
1.  Race a car around a race track!
2.  Attend the Kentucky Derby.
3.  Throw out the first pitch for the Cubs/Cards game (or any Cards game)
4.  Learn a new language -
5.  Snorkling a great reef in the Caribbean (complete with a wet suit and lots of sunscreen - you know me well).
6.  No camping!
7.  Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan or another destination hotel weekend get-away.
8.  Run barefoot on a beach.
9.  Get a henna tattoo
10. Hang gliding
11. Take Irish dancing lessons
12. Be on the radio
13. Write a letter to the President
14. Pose for photographs like Jack Wettriano paintings "Dance Me to the End of Love" and "The Singing Butler."
15.  Ice Skate on a frozen lake
16. Attend a session of the Senate or House in DC
17. Take a winter swim in a body of water somewhere
18.  Attend a Seder meal

Sorry to those who suggested sky diving - as this would promote the need for an ear drum repair of my currently best ear drum so that one was edited from the list. 

My 40th Adventure

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Life is an adventure!  Life's journey takes us places that we would never expect but that is part of the adventure.  God has marked our lives with a time that only He knows and has a plan for us that He reveals along the way, I guess milestones.  As I reflect on life, I can see God's sovereign purpose marked out on the path that my feet have journeyed.  My journey has not been what I would have expected and what I would have planned for myself but it has been good.  On 11/27, I will turn 40 so to mark this milestone I have made a list of things that I would like to do between my 40-41st birthdays in order to make this year a bit more fun! (And yes there will be 40 items on the list) You can join me for the fun and follow the journey this year. If you would like to help me with an adventure, let me know or I may recruit you......
Your first assignment if you so choose is to review my list, which is incomplete.  I need an additional 10 suggestions and you can offer some.  You can e-mail, call, post, facebook suggestions to me for until November 22.  Then I will post the suggestions and you all can vote on the remaining 10 items which will be revealed on November 27 - day one!  (Yes I was challenged to this one - make it a real adventure and let others pick some and vote on them - thanks Ben!)
So I hold this list loosely as as James reminds us that I should say "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:15b)
The List Begins
1.  Get a spray on tan just to see what I look like with a little color other than red or white!
2.  Highlight my hair because I can not because I have to!
3.  Hike in the Grand Canyon
4.  Be able to do the splits again.
5.  Attend a Penn State football game in Pennsylvania!
6.  Go snowmobiling
7.  Go horseback riding - not on a trail trained horse.  Must try side saddle and bare back too!
8.  Try Snowshoeing
9.  Make a piece of pottery - using the wheel and all!
10. Ride a motorcycle
11. Try a new ethnic food once a month - either at a restaurant, someone's home or make it myself
12. Ride a tandem bike
13. Hot air balloon ride - somewhere really scenic
14. Take some kind of class towards a new degree (not sure what yet!)
15. Dance - Something beautiful
16. Serve those in need in the community at least quarterly
17. Recite from memory an entire book of the Bible
18. Missions Trip
19. Read at least 6 classic novels (the first will be Pilgrims Progress, then I am open for suggestions)
20. Hike a 14,000 peak in Colorado
21. Downhill ski in Europe
22. Prague
23. Catch up on scrapbooking from 2008-present
24. Team in Training Event - I am thinking a half or full marathon - in Ireland to support blood cancer research
25. Buy a pearl bracelet
26. Attend a U2 concert
27. Hustle Up the Hancock
28. Learn to shoot a gun - gun safety class
29. Take a basic self defense class
30. Meet someone Famous
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
(41) My personal adventure item that only a few know.