There are two times a year when I know a significant someone will call me. My sweet cousin Beth calls me every January 11 to let me know she is thinking about me on the date my daughter died. And, every year on Father's Day my old pal Ron calls. He always insists that I had filled the roles of both mother and father as a single parent of my two sons. Now that my sons are grown up and moved out, one with a family of his own, and the other in Bible College in Chicago - I realize more than ever that I never really was a "father." Moms can't be Dads. They can't; and any child raised by one parent can tell you that. I was simply a Mom with twice as much responsibility. But a Dad? No, I was not a Dad. My sons had an incredible grandfather, who in the absence of any real male ... View Post
Distractions, Distractions!
The second treadmill from the left was the only one open. I jumped on it before anyone else had the chance. It was the perfect spot, too - because I could only be distracted by 6 of the 12 large screen televisions, each playing a different channel. Several choices for the next hour's entertainment were in front of me. But I had already chosen what I was going to spend my hour listening to. With my earphones in, I tuned into the latest sermon of the day. I listened to the preacher as he began teaching on Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Somewhere about 3 ... View Post
“Coalition” Cookies
Ingredients: One cup of flour (we use gluten-free), 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 3/4 cup shortening, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup milk, 3 cups oatmeal. Put all of the ingredients into a bowl, and mix it up! Add chocolate chips. How much? In the words of Ruth, "That's not enough. Add more. Now add a little more." (In other words, add to taste??) They are yummy! ... View Post
Miller Salad Dressing
This recipe is from the kitchen of Jerry & Merri Miller, and it is INCREDIBLE! SALAD INGREDIENTS: Roman lettuce, strawberries, mushrooms (I leave these out), canned pineapple, almonds DRESSING: 2 cups vegetable oil, 1 cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons poppy seeds, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 Tablespoons onion powder, 2/3 cup wine vinegar ... View Post
Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Rory, who was born in California. He had great big eyes, smiled all the time, and slept right through the night on the first day home from the hospital. When Rory was only two months old, his Mum and Dad took him to meet his Grandma and Grandpa. He smiled and let out a giggle in the airport, the very first time he saw his Grandma. A few weeks later, Rory moved far away to Berlin, Germany where he stayed until he was almost two years old. Sometimes Rory and his Mum would ride on the German train, or on the Subway, and go for adventures, but sometimes they would just go for long walks. Rory learned how to walk when he was only 8 months old, and was very curious. Often he would like to go in the evenings with his Mum to the duck ... View Post
When The Nurses Cry
Long hours, thankless days, bulging disks, and sore feet. That's what being a nurse most often means to me on my long walk to the car after a 12-hour shift, or on the 20-mile drive home from work. I don't receive commissions (unless the occasional generous family who brings us bagels counts). The closest thing to a luxury, all-expense paid business trip I have ever received is my employer's tuition reimbursement after a two-day Advanced Cardiac Life Support class (and NOT luxurious or relaxing at all). Oh, and there is no company car. And then, there are days like one in particular last week when, I stepped in to help another nurse and met her patient for the very first time. Before I ever opened my mouth and said hello, he told me that he could tell I was a ... View Post
With Love, From the Nurse
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains, and is immortal. Just a few days ago while hosting a demonstration at my home, I introduced each of my guests to each other. Some of them were fellow nurses from work, and one of my other guests is a friend who knows the hospital where I work quite well. Unfortunately, her husband had a stroke a couple of years ago, and she is more familiar with the halls of the hospital than she'd like to be. He was a patient on several floors there, as well as at other local hospitals and nursing homes. But "hands down," she said that the hospital where I work, is the best. Of course, that made me feel really proud of where I work! But then she said, "And there was this one nurse on the ... View Post
If A Patient Could Speak
Some time back, and out of the blue, my sedated and intubated patient began tapping his hands on the side of his bed to get my attention. I realized he was trying to communicate something to me, but since he was ventilated and on life support, he was unable to speak. I quickly found a black marker and some paper, unrestrained him, and allowed him to write me three pages of what was on his mind. It was very personal, and it was me that he wanted to see it. I was then able to comfort him in a way that I would not otherwise have known he needed to be comforted, had he not had that opportunity. I asked him if I could keep the note, and he adamantly shook his head yes. I now have those precious pieces of paper tucked away in a safe place. It was no coincidence what he wrote, no ... View Post