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

After a year of battling an aggressive form of cancer, every complication and side effect of intense chemotherapy and radiation, as well as the spread of the cancer to multiple sites, landing in the intensive care unit on life support came as no surprise to Harry's wife and children.  The year had given them time to grasp the reality of possibly losing their father.  While Harry lay in the ICU bed with multiple IV lines through which life-saving medications were infusing, each of his children were making arrangements to fly home to see their Dad, not knowing if this would be the last time, or just another scare during the journey of watching their father battle cancer. One by one each of Harry's sons and daughters came to see him.  When all had arrived, they met together to discuss the ... View Post

As I sit down to tell you a story about a little girl named Jordan who loves Jesus, my friend sends me an audio message of her brand new, sweet little grandson coo-ing.   Her timing was perfect; or, perhaps it was God's timing.  I had just asked Him to give me His words to tell this story.  When I imagined the proud smile of my friend over her adorable new grandson, the love she already has for him, and the influence she will have in his life, I am reminded of  Matthew 18:3 that says, "And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." We have such an incredible opportunity to influence our little ones.   I am more aware of that influence now, as my own children are young adults, and especially as I watch friends ... View Post