Darkness, Rest and Light

Living in the southern hemisphere, close to the equator, has been playing mind games with me as I try to remember what month I am in. Is it March or September? Spring or Autumn? June or December? Summer or Winter?

The sun is out.

The flowers are blooming.

It is rainy season.

It is Christmas.

I read a friend’s beautiful blog talking about how it did not feel like Christmas. She reminded us of the presence of God in Christmas which we have available to us all year through Jesus, so that no matter where you are it can truly feel like Christmas.         (http://purposeasia.blogspot.com/)

My thoughts this Christmas season revolved around darkness, rest, and light. In the Midwest of United States, it is winter time. The sun sets early at 4:30pm. It is dark, usually cold, and maybe there’s a snowstorm or two. It is winter time. One puts their pajamas on and stays home in the evenings. Yes, if you have to go out, you dress warm before you head out into the cold. It is part of life. Spring, summer, fall and winter each has its own perks. Winter is a time for hibernating when you have a chance. I am missing the excuse to stay inside. One time, I had a friend mention how life in the Midwest was different than where they lived in California. They did not understand how busy and full the summer days were and how quiet some winter days were until they had lived it. Then they knew.

So now in my quiet days, as I ponder my thoughts

I will rest in my Savior

who began his sacrifice in the Christmas season

allowing his presence to fill me

making room for the light.

“I am the world’s Light.

 No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness.

I provide plenty of light to live in.”

John 8:12

May we rest in His Presence and live in His Light.

Grateful for the LIGHT!

Many plants blooming around us.

gardens growing

 Happy New Year!

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

First and favorite Christmas decoration up.

No Elijah this year to put the artificial tree up.

One night a family had a live Nativity down the road from us. Jay thought this was a fun idea for people to see as they went by our place to view it.

Making cut out cookies with friends.

Christmas Eve dinner with a couple young girls. Manicotti

Candlelight

Megan and I.

Christmas Eve Program (picture taken by a friend).

French Toast Casserole for breakfast. Jay's stocking gift of pure maple sugar.

On Call for the four day weekend. However everyone stayed healthy enough not to call the nurse on call.

Benefits of being on call. A vehicle to drive. The ambulance.

Instructions for our Christmas Dinner given by the hostess.

Welcome at 1:00pm

Christmas Feast

‘God’s Gift’

Christmas story

‘Promise gift’s given

Gift Exchange & trading (In the carport)

Lighting of JESUS birthday cake

Dessert

‘Christmas past’ sharing

Door Prizes

Ping-Pong, Christmas block walk

Etc….

Supper at 6:30

View while we ate dinner out on the porch.

Our feast

Wonderful group of friends. The doctor on call was at the same party.

Birthday cake for Jesus with candles being blown out by a December birthday.

Desserts of course.

A poinsettia outside growing naturally instead of a center piece on my table.

 Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from PNG

August 2016

August

For us

August is birthday month

I am married to an older man for 17 days

First year Jay and I are celebrating as “empty nester”

Our oldest turned 28

Our youngest turned 20

28 years of having children in the home

Jay and his gifts

Arizona Tea

Chocolate Milk

Pecan Pie

Pure Maple Syrup (in the bag)

Favorite meal

Meatloaf

mashed potatoes

gravy

corn

Did you notice the bottle of rubbing alcohol above?

for Jay's homemade heater

Happy Birthday to my oldest

http://renovationchiropractic.com/

My Party

  Friends from the clinic came over and brought food to snack on while we watched my favorite movie "Mad Money"

someone made me a cake

someone gave me flowers

someone gave me a candy bar

someone gave me blue nail polish

    someone made me ice cream 
Grateful for Friends

I was able to send a cake to Elijah

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Elijah

Thank you ZAG Homemade Creations


                                        

                                                                                  

Patient (or nurse)

Nursing                                                                

As a patient

In another country

I have been the medevac nurse and delivered patients to my health care colleagues in Australia (AU) but this time I was the patient. I have nursing experience and experience as patient in a wonderful hospital in the Midwest USA. Therefore I would like to simply share about nursing in the US and in AU. To clarify some of this will be only understood by nurses.

I received very good care.

No floor nurse likes a blood pressure under 90 diastolic. Yes, nurses recheck, push fluids, place in Trendelenburg and call the doctors for low blood pressures. I have done this as a nurse in the US and experienced it as a patient in AU.

Beware of the different verbiage

·         Do you have to wee?                     (use the bathroom)

·         I am going to get your tablets          (medications)

·         Ready for the scratch                     (poke)

·         Can you be 5 minutes?                   ( be ready in )

·         Let me get your obs                       (vitals)

·         Sing out                                         ( yell or let me know)

·         Way out                                         (exit)

·         Rubbish                                         (trash)

I learned to drink hot tea. It was offered mid-morning, afternoon, evenings and
along with the meals. They also offered milo- a type of hot chocolate drink made
with barley.  I was served for breakfast a hard roll, cereal similar to raisin bran or hot oatmeal. The other meals consisted of a variety including chicken sausage, curry, and cooked pumpkin. Most of the meals I enjoyed, they were just different than what I was used to eating.

The male nurses wore shorts as their uniform. I was informed it was allowed because the hospital was on the coast and considered in the tropics. They always looked professional. The female nurses wore business type skirts.

As a patient, I was allowed to leave the hospital in a wheel chair and sight-see by the ocean.

When I was admitted I was placed in an isolation room until they ruled out TB or other contagious respiratory diseases. I found it funny that many of the nurses who cared for me were float nurses. 

As a patient, I listened to the noise in the halls, remembering the many times I walked confused patients around and around.

As a nurse, I enjoy giving good care.

As a patient, I am grateful for the good care I have received.

I am most of all thankful to God who brought healing in my life and in my patients’ lives.

still using oxygen

view from my window, the other side had the ocean view

Jay took very good care of me