Ian was on his way out the door to see the latest science fiction movie when I suggested having breakfast together. I work the night shift and will be back in bed by noon, so I probably won't get to spend much time with him today. He's not the kind that needs, or even wants a big party. He wants to be with those he loves, and he really doesn't care doing what. That's my Ian. And yes, I'm proud. This video (below) of him makes me cry every time. I get choked up right at the part where he says, "If you are interested in getting involved in youth ministry or discipling youth"......and then he lets out a little chuckle. The reason I get choked up is because that is my true Ian coming out..... It comes from a part of his heart that God replaced with HIS heart, and HIS will, ... View Post
The Waiting Room
"Your Year In Review" is what I first saw on Facebook this morning. Curious, I watched social media put together a slide show of what it thought were my most meaningful moments. Wowzers...... was social media ever OFF! I've had a great year. I've had a fabulous week. The past two mornings, I've woken up overwhelmed with thankfulness over how good God has been to me, for as far back as I'm able to remember. And lately, He has been on a daily basis showing me just how much He loves me. This year has been FULL of great things - I set a goal in January to lose 52 pounds by December 31st. I only lost 38, but I'm so thankful for that! Just for fun, I went blonde - and am having way more fun! LOL I was able to attend the Gospel Coalition Conference for Women in Indiana with ... View Post
Walking In The Shoes of A Nurse
Walk into the nurses' locker room on any floor of any hospital, and I promise - you will likely find more pairs of shoes than you would see in any athletic shoe store at the local mall. Most of us have more than one pair at work; some of us have several - and all of us have at times wondered how many hundreds of miles we have walked in each pair. I always know that particular back ache that comes when my favorite pair of "Rockport Sandy's" have walked their last mile, and it's time to slide my feet into a new pair. Just like Mr. Rogers, we leave them at work; we slip into them in the morning, and out of them in the evening. Two more shifts, and I'll be taking my old Rockport Sandy shoes down the hall to a new locker room, at a new job (also, an old job). I couldn't help but ... View Post
I Hope….
The tablecloth on my kitchen table is not changed very often anymore because there is rarely a meal served on it. It stays quite clean! I eat alone now and admit - I often sit on the couch with my plate in my lap! But today I did sit here, writing out a few cards to send in the mail. The summer is coming to an end, and the temperature is dropping just enough to shut the air conditioner off. The road construction is finished, so dust is not flying in the windows and the obnoxious sound of cement mixers is not drowning out my thoughts. The doors and windows are open, and dinner is on the stove. I can hear the sounds of lawn mowers cutting grass. That sound always makes it feel like dinner time. Dad always came home and cut the grass after dinner. Sometimes after he cut the ... View Post
Reflections on Nursing
I was reminded yesterday that 10 years ago even after finishing my nursing program years ago, at age 43, my nursing career "journey" just began. (I thought I was old ) LOL Over the past 24 hours, I've laughed about that with one friend, talked seriously about it with another, and gone to a 2-hour meeting where nursing morale was discussed at length..... I have thought A LOT about the past 10 years since yesterday, and a few other things lately..... both nursing career wise, and also concerning my heart .... Here comes my best attempt at condensing it.... When I worked full time in the ICU, it was HARD WORK. I started there - it was my first nursing job, and it was TOUGH in so many ways! I remember so many people - the help they gave me and examples ... View Post
Claudette’s Zucchini Bread
Ingredients: 1 cup of walnuts, 4 eggs, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup oil, 3-1/2 cups flour, 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoon baking powder, 2 cups grated zucchini, 1 cup raisins (optional), and a teaspoon of vanilla. Beat the living daylights out of the eggs, sugar, and oil. Then, combine the dry ingredients and add to the beaten egg mixture, alternating with zucchini, nuts, raisins, and vanilla. Use 2 greased and lightly floured loaf pans. Add ¾ mixture to each loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes, until you test for doneness with a tooth pick. Let loaves cool for 10 minutes and turn onto wire rack to cool. ... View Post
A Glimpse of Grace
Just a short blog with a few of my thoughts about grace I've jotted down while only a couple of chapters into the following book - I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists: If I prefer not to be around anyone who believes differently than me........ how can I possibly realize the beauty of the Gospel? How can I fulfill the great commission? Or be salt and light in a dark world? Reflect Christ to a lost and dying world? How can I pick and choose who I feel deserves my donations? Or believe others are worth less than me, and still expect to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant?" How can I preach grace when I myself, am unwilling to give it freely to those I believe do not deserve it? I can't. The truth is, that anyone who has truly received ... View Post
Whose Lives Matter Most? (Ask a Soldier! Ask a Nurse!)
I am too tired to write this blog, but, I'm also too fired up emotionally not to. So, here goes. Benadryl is what it is going to take to get me to fall asleep. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is outside lighting off fireworks because it's the 4th of July. I can't help but wonder - Do they really understand what they are celebrating? Or was this just another day off or one more three-day weekend? Don't get me wrong. I love having days off, I love three-day weekends, and I love spending time with those I love. So, why am I fired up??? I went to work today at 6 a.m., and I cared for approximately 18 patients during my 12-hour shift, each with his own television. I have over and over all day long heard about terrorist attacks abroad, hate crimes in the United States, accusations by ... View Post