praying for those touched by the Connecticut tragedy

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

prepare

Wow...  I am, like, totally derailed by the flu.  I'm actually surprised at how bad it is... Danielle is back in the game, but Tommy and I remain down.  I know only how I feel, and I know it's worse for my Tom-Tom because everything is so magnified for him.  He just sat in his bed yesterday.  That's it. Just sat.  He didn't want food or water, he was done with the couch and the TV, he wouldn't read... he just... sat... until he fell asleep.  Poor guy.

My usual Tommy, marveling over an old fashioned telephone booth!

So, I've been utilizing the YOUBIBLE on my iphone...  It's quite handy (and accessible, even at 2 am when you're awake and wonder why- just open up the Bible!).  Love it.  Plus, I have all this down time- sitting in bed will get tedious on day 6 of your illness (in case you were wondering) - I read that while you are recovering from flu that even just a little bit of walking/activity actually takes the body's resources away from fighting the virus and assigns said resources to doing everyday type maintenance...  therefor... I'll actually heal faster just sitting in the bed... hmmmm... maybe my Tommy is onto something...

Isaiah  52:7: How beautiful upon the mountains
    are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
    who publishes salvation,
    who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Anyway- ADVENT- it's all about preparing for the Lord's arrival.  Preparing for Christmas.  Preparing our hearts to accept the miracle that is Jesus.  I'm not talking about preparing trees, and wrapping presents, and baking sweet treats... I'm talking about really thinking about what has happened here...

Really think about this:   Some odd two thousand years ago, God came to Earth as a BABY... He grew into a young man and started ministering to us in order to show us not only how to live, but to show us how much He loves us!  You! Me! All of us!

The Old Testament is filled with messages about His arrival, and His coming to save us.

The New Testament tells us that Jesus came for us, lived with us, and died for us.

Advent, this time before Christmas, is our chance to prepare ourselves, our hearts, for the crazy love that is God in Jesus... as a human.  It's really kind of overwhelming- in a good way!

I pray for my friends and family to recognize the miracle that is available here and now (prepare our hearts). That during this season, the miracle of Christmas will come to them, and soften them, and love them.  I pray that their and our hearts will be healed.  I pray that I may have the privilege and that I will be held accountable, to witness the love and joy of my Savior to others who need Him. And I pray that I may be authentic, and real, and sincere. I just pray for opportunities... prepare me, prepare us all... prepare for PEACE.

Danielle and Katie on Thanksgiving Day

That is Danielle in the middle! She was Alice!

Katie's newest endeavor! I think she'll be good at it!

And, of course, thanks be to God for the too-many-to-count blessings bestowed upon me and mine.

It's Christmas time!

 

I totally was so excited for my new working endeavor, until it became clear that it was not working out for me or my family. 

It started great, I really felt like it was what I was supposed to do, the people were nice.  I like the work, too.  So much better than the hospital.  I got to actually talk to my patients, and we all know how much I love to talk.  The thing is, I thought I'd be working a typical 8-5 schedule, come home and spend time with the family... and it would be an adjustment, I knew, but that it would also be good for us...

Not so much.

Then I started to realize all the nurses were quiting or getting fired.  Then I became the only RN for a fifty mile radius of the office.  Then I got a patient who didn't like me at all and told me to leave, which made me cry, even though I know it wasn't about me.  Then I started to orient a new nurse.  She had been at the company before, a few years ago, but things have changed a bit, and we do everything on a computer tablet... but still.... I was still the new nurse.

I was working 8 ish, until, well, 8 ish, and then I was coming home to chart until 10 or 11 at night. I was coming home and telling my children to go to bed.  I was having no energy for my husband.  The same husband who's love language is physical touch.  No energy.  So, as always, I pray for clarity.  Well, the clarity came: ...said husband said "I do not want you to work this job anymore!"

Got it. and agreed.

So... I gave my two weeks, and I had two days left this week... I did not want to go.  I said I didn't want to go.  Especially after Friday, which was a long, bad day.  So, I'm thinking maybe you can guess what happened?

wait for it....

 yep.  sick. possibly the flu. so not cool. I'm sure it's the flu.

So, there... I got what I wished for... there is no way I can take care of sick patients when I'm sick.  Sick, like, can't stand up straight sick.  Sick, like, can't lay down flat sick. bleh!

I will be trying to do some laundry, I guess (apparently no one can start laundry except me), and start meal planning again (no one else throws dinner together either, apparently). Thank goodness Christmas is up... I think the children would put up Christmas... but it wouldn't look like I want it to look, and all the ornaments would be in one place on the tree, and the outside stuff would be inside... you get the point, right?

It's funny how things work out, though.  It's just another reminder that God has perfect timing. And a sense of humor. And... God is God, and I am not.  So, I pray for God's blessings on all of us, and for all of us to trust in His perfection:)