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:)

Thanksgiving week 2012

Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind...

The greatest commandment.

I would do well to remember this always, but alas, I am merely a human, and I mess up.  The good part is that He still loves me, and wants me, and that makes me secure.  It's true.  Life is just a little more bearable when you have a relationship with the Trinity (all three of them in all one of them because they all help you out).

I am crazy busy with my new job... and it's hard to be the new guy (girl).  There is a ton of information, and new rules, and new people.  Most of the patients have been great, but there was one that made me cry- she was a bit angry (not at me) and hateful (at me, but not because of me)-

So, the second part of the greatest commandment is to love others as you would like to be loved...

So, again, I failed on that day, not because of how I acted (I kept it professional, and I don't think I could be mean to a little old sick person, even if I tried) but because of the thoughts I had.... I prayed for her, though, and then me, and then her family, and then me again... lots of prayers...

Anyway.

In the spirit of THANKSGIVING...

I am so very thankful for a chance to work again.   I'm thankful for my besties. I'm thankful for the besties that live too far away from me. I'm thankful for the family I get to choose :) I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for forgiveness and for love.

I'm thankful for endless chances of mercy and grace.

I'm thankful for life.  It's all pretty good, really.  Even when a patient kicks me out of their house...(chuckle, giggle, smile).

whaddaweek...

It has been quite a week!  It has been long, and crazy.  I'm glad it's Saturday, to tell the truth.

Sunday started with a race for POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) research.  Then,  FEMA activated VATF-1 in preparation for Hurricane Sandy.   It was literally, like, the phone buzzed, Mark looked at his message, and said, "I have to go"... and off he went.

On Monday my company closed offices at noon, school was cancelled, so I got home around 1230  to hang out with the kids... and do laundry, and fill water bottles, and stage candles and flash lights. We totally snuggled in and waited for the electricity to go out (and went ahead and watched Dancing with the Stars).  The electricity never went out. The lights flickered a few times.  I think it's funny that when we all prepare for the worst, there is usually very little drama... but then some random derecho thing can come through and in 24 minutes completely decimate the area.  People were out of electricity for a week, then, and there was no warning about that storm. 

Tuesday, school was still cancelled (why, I'm not sure), but work was business as usual.  I didn't really get a chance to see the news until after I got home.  Then we watched DWTS and became so angry that Sabrina got eliminated.... just saying...   then we wondered how the people were able to get out of NY and NJ, most of them don't have cars... then I worried because I know people who have so many loved ones up there... and Bon Jovi lives there, too, by the way... I'm sure they were fine... Seriously, though, I hoped that everyone was getting proper assistance!

The devastation and carnage from a level one hurricane completely surprised me!  New York and New Jersey have been hit so hard.  I think it is amazing that the New Yorkers and New Jerseyans keep taking these blows, but they get up, dust off, and go back to work.  It's pretty cool. I am praying for the recovery efforts, everyone working to restore power, and those helping people evacuate, find shelter, contact insurance companies...

Wednesday was Halloween!!! We dressed up (we celebrate happy Halloween only), we went trick-or-treating.  We enjoyed some candy... my tummy hurt from eating too much.  I wasn't exactly a role model, there...

Thursday was uneventful, for the most part.  I go to alpha class on Thursday evenings at my church.  I love the class, but I love my small group even more.  We have all become so close and so loving of each other.  I really love how we've started praying for one another and totally supporting one another.  Being Christian, now, is not the easiest life to live these days... but we must build one another up. We must support each other

Friday was crazy! I worked in Charlottesville.  It is BEAUTIFUL in Charlottesville.  There was even snow on the mountains (thanks to hurricane Sandy).  It was a long day, but a good day.  And then, I picked up some extra kids, and we headed home to relax... well, I had to finish documenting, but then I relaxed.

And tonight we get to fall back... yea!! an extra hour.  Praise our Lord, our God.  He is so good to number our steps and provide for us, and make all things work together for our good.  He never said He'd make all things good... just that He would make them all work together for our good. I still believe that. 

it went...

WELL....

I am whipped... I, obviously, am going to need a few weeks of re-acclimating my body into this 9-5 type life-style.  I always knew that moms who worked outside (as well as inside) the home were rock-stars, but I didn't fully appreciate (or remember) the fatigue associated with it all...

I am humbled.

I also am thankful. 

There were only a few glitches the first week back:  Tommy forgot to get Katie on Monday.  The chore list was completely ignored on Thursday.  Tommy really can not motor plan cleaning the guinea pig's cage, and vacuuming the mess up after.  If I leave an i-touch out where Katie can see it, she will not do her homework.  IF there are no instructions about dinner cooking, it will not happen...... unless Danielle is home, and it isn't spaghetti, then she is happy to cook.

SO... that means it went pretty well.

I am happy.  It's good.  The people are super nice, and pretty funny (the CEO/President wears running garb to work and pretends to be the janitor).  I think it will be good!  I am praying for that!

Thanks to all my well-wishers (yes, you know who you are!!) and thanks to everyone who is praying for me.  The power of prayer is very, very awesome. I can totally witness to that!

...so...

So... I am once again entering the world of employment...

I'm scared, nervous, excited, happy, nervous, and anxious...

It's such a big change-  straight into full time hours- Monday through Friday-

Wow!  I'm really praying and hoping it works out, though.  I think it'll be great.

I've always loved being a RN, I just haven't loved hospital nursing.  It really hasn't been practical or nurturing to be in the hospital setting, for me.  So, I'm really looking forward to home health nursing.  I'm excited to be in the clinical arena without the craziness of 5-7 other patients needing my help at the same time.

SO... please pray for me:)  As I pray for you:)

Hebrews 10:24  "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works..."