Health Care

Soooo I'm not super political. I voted, but I didn't vote for John McCain or Barack Obama. I don't affiliate myself with any party. I voted for both Republican's and Democrats as well as some independents and of course Mickey Mouse. So far I've been able to stay out of the health care discussion and I don't think it's too late to get in on it now.

I've always had health care. I've spent my entire life covered either from my parents work place or their own personal coverage. Until the end of this month. Before my health care under my parents ran out I scheduled some appointments. I went for a physical and talked to my doctor about some vertigo like symptoms I've been having. He wanted to schedule a test and since I've been in Atlanta for training the soonest I could get the test scheduled was this Friday after I'm no longer covered by my parents insurance. I thought "Okay, my new insurance probably won't cover the test because it's a pre-existing condition. That's fine I'll just get new insurance in case something else happens and pay for the test out of pocket." Turns out I was wrong.

I've been turned down for insurance, at least until the test, because of the test even though they wouldn't cover it or anything related to it. That's just dumb. If you have the stipulation in the insurance that you won't be covered for something then why can you be denied for it? It's not covered in the insurance! So what if it turns out to be life threatening or whatever. Their not responsible for it! Why do they care? I don't know. I think it's dumb not to mention frustrating.

Anyways, I recently realized that I never have pictures or anything, so I wanted to add a picture. I wanted to use a picture from this week. I've been in Atlanta training for going to Morocco, and we did a team building exercise and it's the only group picture we have. Unfortunately, I don't have it, so here's another one that I found and really like. It fits with the title of my blog.



I'm just a beggar.

Because of Hi grace and for His glory.

Repost

So I was looking back on some older posts that I've written and have seen some significant trends that have helped understand what I've been going through. Anyways I want to re-post one of my favorites. It's actually the first one I've written, but it still remains very true and important to me. Enjoy!

It's crazy how someone who you've never met or even seen can impact your life so much. My cousin was born on Tuesday (March 4). Her name is Leora(pretty sweet name), but while she hasn't impacted my life too much yet, because she undoubtedly will, her birth brought someone else to mind.

Over the summer some friends of mine, Scott and Anna, had a baby. I may be wrong, but I believe their daughter was born on July 13 or 14. It was late at night close to the next day, but her birth is not what affected me so much. It was her death.

Months before Anna gave birth she went for a seemingly routine checkup for herself and the baby. On that visit it was discovered that their baby had a rare deformity/ disease which, if the baby would survive birth would only allow her to live a couple hours at most. I can't tell you what it feels like to hear something like that. I can not imagine it, nor do I want to. I could tell you story after story of what went on in those months leading up to Anna's due date, but I'm gonna skip that for now.

All Scott and Anna wanted was for their daughter to be born naturally and for at least some time to hold her, but even the chance of either of those happening was slim. Anna had already given birth to two children each of whom were born through cesarean section. Because of the risks involved in giving birth naturally after one c-section only about 10% of women try it, but Anna has had two, dramatically increasing the risks.

On the day of their daughters birth Scott and Anna spent all day in the hospital, and after hours of preparation and labor it was finally time. The doctors gave the okay for Anna to try a natural birth, but the had equipment near by just in case. Amazingly the baby was born naturally, and Anna and Scott were able to hold their daughter. An hour later she died. The name of their daughter was Hannah Gloria. Hannah meaning God's grace, and Gloria meaning God's glory. They gave her that name because of the constant ways God revealed his grace and glory to them. I guess Hannah herself didn't have an impact on my life directly, but being with Scott and Anna through the whole time and seeing what they have gone through has affected me so much. Despite all the difficulties in this Scott and Anna have shown to me what it really means to have peace. They have only grown stronger in their walks with God in closer in their relationship with each other. It's crazy how God works.

Because of His grace and for His glory

Sophomore Year

This is round two of highlights from college. I'm sorry if I'm forgetting something, or if you think I should include something, but this really is the best of the best.

Living with Nathan Ponzio!!!

Nathan Van Patter's evangelism study and getting to know Adam Hoff and Maggie Hipple through it.

Nathan Van Patter's announcements

Trusteeing

Meeting Megan Warley and Sharon Byrne on the Spring Break Trip to Mississippi

Kenny Hiser

Roadtrip to Grove City to See Justin McRoberts

Having Justin McRoberts play a song for me during his concert

"You set my toilet ablaze"

Bonfire at Travis'

SB2Whatever

Head coach at the wrestling meet first term (yes I did wear a dress shirt and tie)!!!

Spending my summer with Andrew Dale Pittman, Emma Clark, and Tiki

Being reunited with Dan O'Keefe

Greatest finals week ever

Freshman year

So I've seen a couple people, who upon graduation, did a series of entries highlighting things from each year. I don't know if I'll do one from each year,but I'll at least start with this one.

Meeting Nathan Ponzio at the first ACF.

Getting in the fifth row at my first football game in the student section. Then staying through the whole meaningless game despite the rain.

C-Will

Being named the Ragin' Cajun courtesy of Anne Han and Kenny Hiser

Seeing Travis Crouse everyday.

Thursday lunch with Chase and Rob.

Indulging Nathan Van Patter in his many eccentricities

Lousiana.

Meeting Jordan Egli at a Habitat build then meeting Jared at ACF without knowing that Jordan had a brother, and being really confused.

Croquet on the elevated lawn on Shortlidge

Random Pajama/Milk and Cookies party with the Sproul girls

Racquetball with Jonathan Perez Blanco

Wandering down onto the floor at a women's volleyball game.

Road trip to New Jersey to watch the basketball team play Seton Hall.

Summer's Best Two Weeks for Three Months

Random 4th floor Pinchot pranks.

Explaining to the cops that I didn't know where the guy who lived in the dorm next to me was or what he did last night.

Trick dart throwing with Christian Shelmire and Kevin Crow.

Small group with Jordan Shoenberger and Glenn and Sue Williams.

This too shall pass

So, I've been trying to have a new approach to life recently. I feel a lot better than I have for a while. I don't think it's because things are actually better, but I'm trying not to let it bother me as much. Knowing that I'm going to north Africa helps a lot. There's a song by Ok Go which sums it up beautifully, "This too shall pass":

You know you can't keep letting it get you down
And you can't keep dragging that dead weight around
Is it really all that much to lug around
Better run like hell when you hit the ground

When the morning comes

When the morning comes
Can't stop those kids from dancing
but why would you want to?
Especially when you are already getting good
'Cuz when your mind don't move then your knees don't bend
But don't go blaming the kids again

When the morning comes,
When the morning comes,

When the morning comes,
When the morning comes,

When the morning comes,
When the morning comes,

Let it go, This too shall pass
Let it go, This too shall pass

You know you can't keep letting it get you down,

No you can't keep letting it get you down
Oh Is it really all that much to lug around,
And you can't keep letting it get you down

When the morning comes
(Oh you can't keep letting it get you down,
No you can't keep letting it get you down)