"He only had an 8th grade education.  He had no college degree.  He had no credentials after his name.  He wasn't famous.  He didn't invent or discover anything.  But yet, I find myself wanting to be just like him." Those were the words spoken by someone at my Dad's funeral, the words that have stuck in my heart for many years following his death.  And each of the stories, whether they were silly or sweet, told of who "Peter Little Allan" was.  He was kind, genuine, soft-spoken, trustworthy, and charming.  He didn't talk about people poorly, or behind their backs.  He was ALWAYS willing to do just about anything for anyone.  Everyone who knew him, loved him.  He made everyone feel good, from his children, to the cashier at Meijers, the barber who cut his hair, and the guy who took his ... View Post

Many years ago during a very short assignment when I was in the Army, I loaned $800 to a "friend" who promised that she would pay me back before getting sent to her next duty station.  But as the date for her departure grew closer, it was becoming clear that she had no intention of paying me back.  I asked her repeatedly about when she was going to pay her debt, and her responses always made me feel horrible for asking, as she always expressed her disappointment in my doubt of our "friendship."   The very day of her departure, she wrote me a $25 check and promised that she would send me the rest upon arrival to her new assignment. And in the memo line of that $25 check she wrote, "PAID IN FULL." Naive, young, and trusting her, I promptly deposited the check at the bank.  Weeks ... View Post

How ironic that I should be reading through Exodus Chapter 16 at the same time that I am helping my younger son figure out how to pay for the next four years at Moody Bible College. There are SOOO MANY PARALLELS!!!    (And that's NO coincidence!) Ian is my son who prays for "just enough" - Which is a GREAT prayer!  (I DARE you to pray it!)  We have approximately 2-1/2 months before we must have an incredible amount of money.  But God is already showing up, and He is providing, a little at a time.  He is providing in such a significant way, making it VERY clear that THIS was His plan.  And, He does this purposefully.  He wants us to SEE Him as our Provider, our Sustainer! The Lord showed up for the Israelites when they were wandering in the desert for 40 years also.   He provided bread ... View Post

  Today, I'm thankful. Raising two boys by myself for 22 years alone was no easy task.  There were so many things I was unable to do for them, so many things I would have liked to have been able to give them.   As my friend reminded me yesterday, as one prepares to get married, and the other to leave for school in another state, "You've almost crossed the finish line!"   And we laughed.  And having done it alone, I feel ready to fall back into a recline position and exhale nice and long.  Two great kids.  Both love Jesus.  Whew! But just for fun, today, I went back in time - Back in time to the grade school years.   I made a quick trip through Mcdonald's drive-though and picked up a bacon burger, french fries, and an orange pop, with a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. ... View Post

The 40-minute drive to work each morning is usually just enough time for me to listen to my some of my favorite podcasts.  Yesterday morning, the sermon was just a bit longer than that though, so I made the long walk into the hospital enjoying my last few breaths of the crisp, fresh winter air with my earphones on.  The talk was about who we are in Christ, and how much God loves us, and that His creation is a testimony to that every single day.  The sermon ended, and as I approached the elevator, silently I prayed, "God, today will you just give me a glimpse of how much You love me?  Just a glimpse!" As the elevator door opened, there stood one of our doctors.  I hadn't seen her in a couple of months because she was off on maternity leave after having her first child.  As always, her ... View Post

This little guy is Rory, and he's my son.  He's all grown up now, getting married soon.  But I can still see his sweet little face when he was so young and I was his whole world.  I remember the first dandelion he picked me, the first scribbled card he so proudly presented me with, and how proud Rory was to wave to me in the crowd of moms and dads at his school performances.   Those were the days! He called me at 12:30 a.m. on his way home from work a couple of nights ago.  "Mum!  Put on your robe, and wait for me at the front door!"    "For what??"  I asked.  I had just fallen asleep. Rory's younger brother, Ian, and I went to the front door and waited.   After he pulled up, we climbed into the car.  "I'm taking you for a short drive.  You HAVE to see the moon!"   He was so excited.  We ... View Post

I have been sitting here, literally, for hours, trying to find a way to describe in the most detailed and honest way, a 12-hour shift in the life of an ICU nurse.  I have blogged about this many times before, describing the loveliest of patients and the most tender of moments spent with them in their last hours.  But I have felt the need for months now, to tell you about the other days - the days spent with the least loveliest of people, and the most violent of situations we encounter.  I want to tell  you about the shifts when you get to your car after a 12-hour day, and all you can do is ball your brains out.  I want to tell you why we sometimes have a tendency to lash out at the first person who annoys us when we get home, most likely a family member, as we walk in the door ... View Post

In 2005, at the age of 43, I began nursing school.  Over the next two years, I would learn how to properly fold a washcloth (as if after raising two sons, I needed a lesson), how to don sterile gloves, (after throwing out 25 pairs), write care plans (that all sound alike), hold my bladder for 8 to 10 hours (praying that I wouldn't need to laugh, sneeze, or cough), and many other useful "skills." But I was ill-prepared for the real world of nursing.  The skills were necessary, of course, but let me explain a little bit about what I've learned since then, and share with you a quick glimpse of a day in the life of an ICU nurse. The alarm goes off at 5 a.m., I shower, do my hair and make-up.  Start the car (because it's winter, 15 degrees, I don't have a garage, and I'll ... View Post