Coffee Coffee Coffee

So I'm currently sitting in the Bean sipping my delicious iced vanilla latte and desperately trying to avoid writing my Public Health Community Assessment. I finished off my first latte just as Anna walked in to come study with me, and she bought me another one. Ha. That's right friends, I am on coffee #2 and I haven't even been here for 30 minutes. In the past couple of days I have come to a realization---I am addicted to coffee. For real. There are many things that have caused my increased consumption of coffee lately including, but not limited to early morning classes, even earlier morning clinicals, and lots and lots of late nights of studying. I have been getting headaches around 2 or 3 in the afternoon if I haven't had coffee yet :-/ So naturally, I just drink coffee and then feel fine...but this viscous cycle continues. Just when I was beginning to think that this is probably a bad thing, I came across some interesting info on www.webmd.com. Allow me to enlighten you:

*Harvard researchers have calculated that compared to not drinking coffee, downing 1-3 cups of caffeinated coffee daily can significantly reduce your risk of diabetes.

*At least 6 studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's Disease.

*Some research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least 2 cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer.

*There is some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.

C'mon people, this is crazy! And if that's not enough to convince you to go grab a cup of joe, it also tastes darn good! I don't think I will ever get sick of my iced vanilla lattes :-)

Thinking my crazy love of coffee might not be so bad...

-Marissa

Lazy Sunday

Today has been the perfect study day. It stormed all night last night and into the morning, so it's just been a gloomy rainy day. Plus, I'm on call---which means I've been stuck in the building allll day. I slept in this morning and have spent the rest of the afternoon studying for my first maternity test that I have coming up this week. Yikes.

After hours of studying today and learning about how a woman gets pregnant, all the hormones and body changes that are involved in the growth and development of a fetus, and the process of birth, all I have to say is this: OUCH. Seriously, I don't know how women do this! I get that it's a beautiful thing, bringing a baby into this world and everything, but really. Talk about selfless love. A woman literally gives her body for another being. Her body is what sustains the tiny baby growing inside her. Without the woman, the baby would never survive. Countless doctor visits, gaining 30 pounds, months of nausea, doctors constantly poking and prodding, varicose veins, edema, cramps, having to pee all the time, stretch marks, no caffeine (we all know how hard that one will be for me!), possible memory loss, difficulty sleeping...the list goes on and on. And we haven't even gotten into the labor part yet. Holy cow. Rather than getting into the details, let's just say this: A woman's body will never be the same.

Is it worth it? Yes, of course. Well, I hope so. Ok, there is not really any doubt in my mind that having a child will be worth all the difficult things that come along with pregnancy. But shoot, if that's not selfless love, I don't know what is!

Marissa

Beauty from Pain

Have you ever asked yourself the question 'why do bad things happen to good people?' I'm sure you have, as have countless other people. Myself included. I think this question lays out one of the biggest issues people have with faith---how can God let good people suffer? I'm not going to even get into that one, but this is something that has been on my heart lately. I found out some news today that has just been really tough to swallow. I apologize ahead of time if what follows is a jumbled mess of words.

One of the missionaries from Covecrest has an older sister who is pregnant. This pregnancy has been anything but easy, and this beautiful couple has remained so strong in their faith despite it all. It has been a bumpy road, to say the least---bad news followed by more bad news. The doctors told them that their baby boy Oliver had fluid in his lungs and his heart beat was diminishing. No one is really sure what the cause of all these complications is, and I think that is part of what is so frustrating about it all. It is our human nature to just want to know everything, and we are left unsatisfied if we have questions that go unanswered. The couple, without ever second guessing themselves, decided that Oliver would be born; it was just a matter of how long he would live. Terminating the pregnancy was never an option---he has been their son from the beginning, and will always be their precious baby boy.

Today I got news that they lost baby Oliver. I was absolutely crushed, and I can only imagine what this family is going through right now. Oliver's mom will deliver him tomorrow. Please, please, please flood heaven with prayers for Oliver and his family and friends who love him so dearly. Prayer is one of the most powerful things we can do for one another, and I know this family would really appreciate it.

So why does God let good people suffer? Well, I may never know the answer to that question, but here is something I do know. God is not an angry or wrathful God of suffering and pain. No. God is merciful and compassionate beyond our comprehension. To see the hurting that this family is going through right now is almost unbearable, but to see the beauty that has come from this is such a blessing. Despite all the hardship and bad news--maybe even because of it--this family stayed completely rooted in their faith in God and His will for their lives. They were able to come together as a family and really love and support one another in ways that would not have been possible if it weren't for Oliver. I know that their hearts are hurting right now, but I also know the incredible beauty that has come from this pain. Their unwavering faith and trust in God has been such a witness to everyone around them, even to people they have never met. So, maybe we shouldn't be asking why bad things happen to good people, but rather we should seek the beauty God is trying to reveal to us through that pain.

Praying for understanding and relentless faith,

Marissa