It's March 15, two days before St. Patrick's Day - A day with hundreds of memories attached to it for me. I promised Irish bread to my co-workers in the morning. I don't feel like making it. It's a LOT of work this late at night. Oh, how my Dad loved Irish bread - Really called, "Bonach," which I am likely spelling wrong, but it's the Gaelic word for the bread that my grandmother made back in Antigonish, Nova Scotia - A staple in the house around this time of year. Today was also the St. Patrick's Day parade down in Corktown. I have many years of memories as a child, and again as an adult, walking AND dancing in the parade, and performing at the Gaelic League in Detroit. And years and years of traveling from event to event on March 17 to perform. Oh, how I LOVED to ... View Post
I Just Wanna Play “Duck, Duck, Goose!”
Getting to Ashcroft Elementary School early to play a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose!" before my kindergarten class meant that my brother also had to get to school early. Knowing how much this meant to me, my mother made it happen. My brother Larry remarked one day as I was getting out of the car, "Did you know - You walk like a penguin?" I've laughed about that for years, as I oh-so-carefully navigate my footsteps across the often icy sidewalk to my car. I am extra careful, and yes, I do waddle a bit like a penguin. But I really don't care - I just don't want to fall. But this always brings back the memory of that day, and of my brother tolerating my social need of a good game of "Duck! Duck! Goose!" before class. Summer evenings we would return to Ashcroft, where my brother would ... View Post
Old MacDonald Meatloaf
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground sirloin 1 cup stovetop stuffing uncooked 1 egg finely chopped, 1 small vidalia onion 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 5 T ketchup 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream Sauce 4 T apple cider vinegar 4 T brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup Combine all meatloaf ingredients, and pack it in a Bundt pan. Bake about an hour, or until done, at 350 degrees, uncovered. Reverse it onto a pretty dish, leaving room around the sides. Drizzle the sauce over the top. I made mine with mashed red skin potatoes, which I scooped into the middle of the meathloaf! Then I put roasted brussel sprouts around it. It was very pretty and was honestly the best meatloaf I have EVER eaten!!!! ... View Post
Entering the Throne Room – Anytime!
Several times I have sat and attempted to articulate in writing, even a small amount of what I have been able to process since returning home from the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Each time I tried to write about my experience on the prayer team, however, I was unable. I love to pray, but I also love being around the young people, holding doors open for them and watching them absorb a few days' worth of the best and most anointed teachings they may ever have the opportunity to hear. I enjoy watching them lean in to learn all that they can, have their minds renewed, their hearts transformed, and experience Jesus like never before - many for the very first time. This year, however, I had the opportunity to pray for them from behind the scenes on the intercessory prayer ... View Post
Patient-to-Nurse Wisdom, “Please Pass the Chocolate Cake!”
For the past weeks, I've thought about what I would do differently in 2015. I stopped making resolutions in 2010, and instead had fun checking activities off of my life's bucket list, and attempting to learn some important life's lessons along the way. This year, aside from the yearly usual, "making health a priority," goal, I could think of nothing exciting or meaningful to plan. I'm home alone this New Year's Eve - First time ever since becoming an "empty nester." I thought for SURE I'd have thought of a list of at least 10 things to do differently in 2015, but it was almost 9 p.m., and I could think of NOTHING! So, I took a bubblebath. That's right. I took a bubblebath. As I lay there covered in bubbles, I began thinking backwards into all that took place in 2014, and the ... View Post
The ONLY Gift Worth Celebrating
Every morning on my way to work, I stop at the usual place, at the usual time, and visit with the usual clerk behind the counter as I order my coffee. She's a sweet woman, bubbly and friendly, and she always greets me as if she's genuinely happy to see me, looks me in my eyes, smiles, and tells me to have a blessed day when I leave and also gifted me with a custom face underwear!! But she also gives to each of her customers her daily dose of "unsolicited wisdom," as she likes to call it. I always agree to listen, simply because I really enjoy her, and so often her wisdom really IS just that - WISDOM! Yesterday, she suggested that if I had any younger children, to give them the least expensive gifts but personalized gifts for dad, as those from Santa, and the most expensive ones ... View Post
Lighthouse Pineapple Cake (by Judy & Brenda)
2 cups of flour 2 cups of sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp. baking soda Can of crushed pineapple in juice - not syrup ( large can - not the 1/2 size can - it used to be called a #2 size) Spoon mix completely - will be lumpy Bake in a 9 x 13 greased (Pam) pan at 350 for about 40 minutes - watch so that it doesn’t get too brown but is done While cake is baking, melt 1 stick of butter or marg. in a medium size pan. Add 1 c. sugar and 3/4 of a can of eval. milk. Boil 5 minutes - stir often. add 1 tsp. of vanilla flavoring. Poke holes in cake - all over - loosen the cake all the way around the edges. Pour mixture over cake. Cool and refrigerate. ENJOY!!!! ... View Post
When A Nurse Leave The Unit
It's early morning, and as I sit here gazing at my Christmas tree, I can't help but reflect on my last day of working in the ICU, and the goodbyes I said last night. In the center of the tree, in perfect sight is the Christmas ornament a nursing classmate bought me the year we both graduated. It was December 2006. January would bring with it not only a whole new year, but a new job working in the ICU, learning brand new skills, and forming many new friendships. How ironic that I sit here this morning and there in front of me is that same ornament reminding me of another new start in my life. I can't help but wonder what is in front of me now as another new year begins. There were so many "lasts" as I worked yesterday. Friends reminded me this would be our "last" shift together, ... View Post