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Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving #1 - in Loma Linda
It's sooo good to be up at Loma Linda...and no more commuting South! :-) Yipee!! Sunny came home from India just a couple nights ago, and it's been awesome to hear her stories and see some of her pictures. Showed her how to use Vagus Movie Maker, and she put together a little slide show to show her friends today.
I spent the morning packing and organizing (fly to Arkansas in the am), and then we had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch (and wont need to eat for the next week) at a friends place. Carlos and Dafne and Lorinda and Lucinda, and others were also there. It was a fun relaxing day. After our bellies were full, and we'd heard "love stories" of how all the couples met, we played Taboo and Dutch Blitz and other group games.
Wow - days like this make me feel really selfish and spoiled! "God, why did you allow me...out of all the millions of people in the world, to grow up with plenty of love, plenty of friends, plenty of food, and most of all - plenty of resources and encouragements to point me to You? Why me!? Why me, when there are soooo many starving and hurting around the world?"
(And this is only my first Thanksgiving for this year...This weekend in Arkansas, will be my 2nd.)
I spent the morning packing and organizing (fly to Arkansas in the am), and then we had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch (and wont need to eat for the next week) at a friends place. Carlos and Dafne and Lorinda and Lucinda, and others were also there. It was a fun relaxing day. After our bellies were full, and we'd heard "love stories" of how all the couples met, we played Taboo and Dutch Blitz and other group games.
Wow - days like this make me feel really selfish and spoiled! "God, why did you allow me...out of all the millions of people in the world, to grow up with plenty of love, plenty of friends, plenty of food, and most of all - plenty of resources and encouragements to point me to You? Why me!? Why me, when there are soooo many starving and hurting around the world?"
(And this is only my first Thanksgiving for this year...This weekend in Arkansas, will be my 2nd.)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Inside a whirlwind day of a Travel RN!
Well...hard to believe, my contract in San Diego has finally finished. The last 2 days were the most crazy and hectic of my whole three + months, I think. My mom says I just had to finish with a "blaze of glory." It was a "blaze" of something, though I'm not sure it was glory! :-)
The "blaze" went something like this:
6:30am - Report from off-going nurses, narcotic counts, and organization of patient loads
7:15 am - Start assessments and then organizing my first doses of am meds for my 5 patients. Usually don't finish this process til after 9am due to emergencies and needs, but this day, I was
still giving 8 o'clock routine meds at 10am!
7:30 am - Breakfast trays arrive, help CNA's pass out trays and smiles to patients. Some don't have what they requested, so I walk/run down to the Cafe personally to get the missing items since it would be 2 hours before the Cafe brought it up if I just called. (Whew - at least I got some extra exercise!)
8:00 am - Pt 4 had dressing coming off and needed to be changed. Long ordeal.
8:15 am - Request for Pain Meds IV push for Pt 1
8:20 am - Request for Pain Med IV Push for Pt 2
8:25 am - Pt request more coffee/drink...not good at making coffee (ha ha) so I put in too much mix in the coffee maker and about kill off all the coffee drinkers.... But how am I suppose to know, since I never make coffee!!! :-)
8:30 am - Request for Pain Med Oral for Pt 3
(Whoa....slow down, can't keep up with all these request!)
9:00 am - Still haven't finished all my assessments (I know, this is rediculous, but if you'd have been there, you'd have understood!)
9:10 am - Answer questions from irate family member that just missed seeing the doctor and is unhappy with what doctor is doing. Page doctor to discuss issue, doctor gets mad because he was just there and the family member wasn't there to talk....work to placify both parties!
9:15 am - Pain Med request IV for Pt 4
9:30 am - Cleaned up large BM for Pt 1....(Hey, at least I don't have to give that one a laxative!)
9:40 am - went to change another leaky bandage and wound Vac, but no supplies in supply room. Had to take elevator to Supply Dept on lower level to get supplies.
9:50 am - Spend few minutes visiting and praying with a discouraged pt - wish I had hours to do just this, but no....they are calling for me again!
10:00 am - Answered some phone calls from anxious family members....talked to more doctors, finished assessment on Pt 5 - thankfully, they were patient, and thankfully they weren't screaming for their IV narcotics every 2 hours.
10:15 - Request again from Pt. 1 for more IV Morphine....
10:20 - go looking for normal saline syringes and needles (since I've about depleted the supply with all my Narcotic IV's) but none are to be found. Run to unit on other wing to get supplies!
10:30 - Request from Pt 2 for more IV dilaudid (yep, I'm serious! Chronic pain issues, and the doc said she could have 1mg q 2 hours! Now isn't that a knock-out?!)
10:35 - Helped CNA bathe and clean up total care pt 3
10:45 - Request from pt 1 for more pain meds. (Sorry ma'm, you've already had your dose for the next 2 hours! What else could we do to help your pain?)
10:50 - I love being a nurse....but I just can't keep up with all the request, haven't even started charting! And now I need to start thinking about 11am med doses.
11:30 - Answer call lights...other nurses are ignoring them thinking a CNA will get them, but no CNA in sight. I think they are still giving bathes. I take my blood sugars. One is off the scale, a whopping 350, I give the Insulin and notify the doctor. He gives no orders and seems iritated that I called. Pt is on steriods and tube feeding, which doesn't help.
11:45 - More Pain med request - Trays arrive....pass out trays, deal with more food issues.
12:15 - Run for a quick lunch break....(It's required, or I'd skip!) Still have done no charting. Just giving pain meds or answering call lights or emergencies.
12:40 - Back from lunch...Pt 1 screaming for Pain Meds again, and Pts 2 & 3 soon follow suite.
And so the day continued...As it turned out, I gave over 25 Narcotic medications this shift (which is an unearthly number) and cleaned up about a dozen BM's. (One pt was obviously have diarrhea!) And I didn't start charting till 6:00 pm. We give report at 6:30 pm, so I ended up staying over a good hour and a half to get all my charting up to date!
How do I remember all the wonderful details??? Well, because I'm a nurse...and God gave Nurses an excellent memory! So good in fact, that it will wake me up at 2am in the morning! "Oh no! I forgot to chart the heparin flushes I gave Pt 2 & 3...or the feeding that Pt 4 received." I sigh and roll over. "At least I know I made a difference in a couple patient's lives, even if I didn't get every detail charted. But God, I don't know if I could handle one more day..."
And God softly replies... "My grace is sufficient..." I go back to sleep!
The "blaze" went something like this:
6:30am - Report from off-going nurses, narcotic counts, and organization of patient loads
7:15 am - Start assessments and then organizing my first doses of am meds for my 5 patients. Usually don't finish this process til after 9am due to emergencies and needs, but this day, I was
still giving 8 o'clock routine meds at 10am!
7:30 am - Breakfast trays arrive, help CNA's pass out trays and smiles to patients. Some don't have what they requested, so I walk/run down to the Cafe personally to get the missing items since it would be 2 hours before the Cafe brought it up if I just called. (Whew - at least I got some extra exercise!)
8:00 am - Pt 4 had dressing coming off and needed to be changed. Long ordeal.
8:15 am - Request for Pain Meds IV push for Pt 1
8:20 am - Request for Pain Med IV Push for Pt 2
8:25 am - Pt request more coffee/drink...not good at making coffee (ha ha) so I put in too much mix in the coffee maker and about kill off all the coffee drinkers.... But how am I suppose to know, since I never make coffee!!! :-)
8:30 am - Request for Pain Med Oral for Pt 3
(Whoa....slow down, can't keep up with all these request!)
9:00 am - Still haven't finished all my assessments (I know, this is rediculous, but if you'd have been there, you'd have understood!)
9:10 am - Answer questions from irate family member that just missed seeing the doctor and is unhappy with what doctor is doing. Page doctor to discuss issue, doctor gets mad because he was just there and the family member wasn't there to talk....work to placify both parties!
9:15 am - Pain Med request IV for Pt 4
9:30 am - Cleaned up large BM for Pt 1....(Hey, at least I don't have to give that one a laxative!)
9:40 am - went to change another leaky bandage and wound Vac, but no supplies in supply room. Had to take elevator to Supply Dept on lower level to get supplies.
9:50 am - Spend few minutes visiting and praying with a discouraged pt - wish I had hours to do just this, but no....they are calling for me again!
10:00 am - Answered some phone calls from anxious family members....talked to more doctors, finished assessment on Pt 5 - thankfully, they were patient, and thankfully they weren't screaming for their IV narcotics every 2 hours.
10:15 - Request again from Pt. 1 for more IV Morphine....
10:20 - go looking for normal saline syringes and needles (since I've about depleted the supply with all my Narcotic IV's) but none are to be found. Run to unit on other wing to get supplies!
10:30 - Request from Pt 2 for more IV dilaudid (yep, I'm serious! Chronic pain issues, and the doc said she could have 1mg q 2 hours! Now isn't that a knock-out?!)
10:35 - Helped CNA bathe and clean up total care pt 3
10:45 - Request from pt 1 for more pain meds. (Sorry ma'm, you've already had your dose for the next 2 hours! What else could we do to help your pain?)
10:50 - I love being a nurse....but I just can't keep up with all the request, haven't even started charting! And now I need to start thinking about 11am med doses.
11:30 - Answer call lights...other nurses are ignoring them thinking a CNA will get them, but no CNA in sight. I think they are still giving bathes. I take my blood sugars. One is off the scale, a whopping 350, I give the Insulin and notify the doctor. He gives no orders and seems iritated that I called. Pt is on steriods and tube feeding, which doesn't help.
11:45 - More Pain med request - Trays arrive....pass out trays, deal with more food issues.
12:15 - Run for a quick lunch break....(It's required, or I'd skip!) Still have done no charting. Just giving pain meds or answering call lights or emergencies.
12:40 - Back from lunch...Pt 1 screaming for Pain Meds again, and Pts 2 & 3 soon follow suite.
And so the day continued...As it turned out, I gave over 25 Narcotic medications this shift (which is an unearthly number) and cleaned up about a dozen BM's. (One pt was obviously have diarrhea!) And I didn't start charting till 6:00 pm. We give report at 6:30 pm, so I ended up staying over a good hour and a half to get all my charting up to date!
How do I remember all the wonderful details??? Well, because I'm a nurse...and God gave Nurses an excellent memory! So good in fact, that it will wake me up at 2am in the morning! "Oh no! I forgot to chart the heparin flushes I gave Pt 2 & 3...or the feeding that Pt 4 received." I sigh and roll over. "At least I know I made a difference in a couple patient's lives, even if I didn't get every detail charted. But God, I don't know if I could handle one more day..."
And God softly replies... "My grace is sufficient..." I go back to sleep!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Encouragement from a new friend...
Well, I'm back to San Diego for my last three days of intensive hands-on character building! ;-) Actually, compared to some times lately, today was wonderful!!! Sundays usually are easier though, as we nurses aren't competing for our workspace with dozen's of therapist and doctors and others. So it was laid back and quiet, and my patients, although good at keeping me very occupied (what else do I go to work for anyway) were all really sweet and apologetic for any inconvenience they might be causing me. Like I said, why else am I there, but to serve them? But it sure does make it more joyful to do that when they are appreciative and grateful, rather than demanding and complaining, like most patients now days tend to be.
Today though, God had a special treat in store for me, as he gave me for a patient the most beautiful and sweet little old (yet energetic and charming) lady I've ever met. And to top it off, she was a Catholic Nun! We were talking about different things, and I was asking her questions about her faith, and then she asked me if I was "Christian." When I told her that I was indeed, she asked what denomination I belonged to. I smiled as I contemplated her question. "Are you sure you really want to know?" I asked. "Yes!" She eagerly responded. "I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist." I told her, waiting for her brow to furrow or her expression to cloud...but it didn't. She beamed. "That's awesome! I have some friends that are SDA and I HIGHLY respect Seventh-Day Adventist!" :-)
And so followed the most delightful day of conversations and interaction that I've had with any of my patients in a long time. She was in a lot of pain due to her illness that had hospitalized her, but not a word of complaint or griping did you hear. Her face was radiant as she shared about her life, and her faith. She definitely had (and still is) living for God with all her heart. I felt that I'd met a "kindred spirit," even if she was of a different faith and half a century ahead of me. But I also had to smile to myself...God does have a sense of humor, doesn't He?
But, somehow He knew that what I needed right now was a little Catholic Nun to remind me of the "joy of service despite pain and trials." I know she sure was an encouragement to me today, and I feel honored that God is letting me spend my last several days at Continental taking care of someone like her.
Today though, God had a special treat in store for me, as he gave me for a patient the most beautiful and sweet little old (yet energetic and charming) lady I've ever met. And to top it off, she was a Catholic Nun! We were talking about different things, and I was asking her questions about her faith, and then she asked me if I was "Christian." When I told her that I was indeed, she asked what denomination I belonged to. I smiled as I contemplated her question. "Are you sure you really want to know?" I asked. "Yes!" She eagerly responded. "I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist." I told her, waiting for her brow to furrow or her expression to cloud...but it didn't. She beamed. "That's awesome! I have some friends that are SDA and I HIGHLY respect Seventh-Day Adventist!" :-)
And so followed the most delightful day of conversations and interaction that I've had with any of my patients in a long time. She was in a lot of pain due to her illness that had hospitalized her, but not a word of complaint or griping did you hear. Her face was radiant as she shared about her life, and her faith. She definitely had (and still is) living for God with all her heart. I felt that I'd met a "kindred spirit," even if she was of a different faith and half a century ahead of me. But I also had to smile to myself...God does have a sense of humor, doesn't He?
But, somehow He knew that what I needed right now was a little Catholic Nun to remind me of the "joy of service despite pain and trials." I know she sure was an encouragement to me today, and I feel honored that God is letting me spend my last several days at Continental taking care of someone like her.
Friday, November 17, 2006
PALS, CCBN meetings, Chest X-ray of the left Hip, and cooking up songs
Wow...what a week! (As you can tell by the heading!) Spent the first part of it juggling PALS (Pedeatric Advanced Life Support) class here at Loma Linda, along with "Creator's Call" meetings and network planning. Then I drove down to San Diego for a couple more busy days at Continental Rehab Hospital. "Can we order a chest x-ray of the left hip" one nurse asked? We were all dumb-founded. "Is that what the doctor asked for? A "chest x-ray of the left hip?" How does one order that?" :-/ Our unit manager corrected the confusion on the orders, and educated the new hiree on the proper terms. Actually, she needed an x-ray of the left hip, minus the chest part. Needless to say, we were all chuckling the rest of the day...and several days after. How about ordering a "KUB of the right ankle"? or an "EGD of the bladder"? For those in the medical field, you know the terms behind the abreviations. A KUB actually refers to "kidneys, ureters, and bladder." While an EGD is a fancy term (and one of my favorite words) which stands for Esophagogastroduedenoscopy, and in short refers to a study of the GI tract. So obviously we can't do a test on something that the test isn't for, right? But again, hey...we might could try..."anyone willing to go for a chest x-ray of your left hip?"
To more serious notes and thoughts, Creator's Call is coming along slowly. At this last week's meeting we watched part of Desmond Doss's story and took notes on how the film was made. It was very educational. Part of the team also went to a big DV-Digital Media expo in LA. I didn't make that one though, since I had to work.
Came back up to LLU last night. I'll be sooo thankful when my commute between San Diego and Loma Linda is over. Spent the day cleaning (I have to get ready, because Sunny is coming home!), went and had a meeting with one of our producers/diretors for the Health series program we are working on, and then I made an ice-cream pie for tomorrow...simply because I was too exhausted and lazy to make something more fancy. If I had my own dishes and space, it might be easier, but I am still learning where all of Sunny's equipment is. I do love to cook, but it's hard to get motivated so much when I'm by myself and always on the move. But in time, maybe we can invite people over to our place, and then it'll be a blast to cook again.
Tonight I went to the famous LL singing bands again. I think tonight was one of the best nights yet...in that we had a great group, and everyone sang, and I even got to tell a story. I love to tell children stories and be more involved, but I'm still trying to get over my "shy streak" that I have whenever I am with a new group of people. It's not the kids that make me shy, but the other young adults that I am singing with. If they weren't there or would just go away, then I'd be fine!!! But progress is being made, and thankfully they encouraged me to be a little more assertive tonight! How I love to sing. Maybe we could even start a trio or octet or something at Advent Hope, like I use to sing in at Southern. We'll see...
So...in a nutshell, that was my week, as far as events. As far as what God has been teaching me spiritually...well, that's a whole bigger story. So more on that later...I just praise the Lord for another Sabbath to spend with Him!
To more serious notes and thoughts, Creator's Call is coming along slowly. At this last week's meeting we watched part of Desmond Doss's story and took notes on how the film was made. It was very educational. Part of the team also went to a big DV-Digital Media expo in LA. I didn't make that one though, since I had to work.
Came back up to LLU last night. I'll be sooo thankful when my commute between San Diego and Loma Linda is over. Spent the day cleaning (I have to get ready, because Sunny is coming home!), went and had a meeting with one of our producers/diretors for the Health series program we are working on, and then I made an ice-cream pie for tomorrow...simply because I was too exhausted and lazy to make something more fancy. If I had my own dishes and space, it might be easier, but I am still learning where all of Sunny's equipment is. I do love to cook, but it's hard to get motivated so much when I'm by myself and always on the move. But in time, maybe we can invite people over to our place, and then it'll be a blast to cook again.
Tonight I went to the famous LL singing bands again. I think tonight was one of the best nights yet...in that we had a great group, and everyone sang, and I even got to tell a story. I love to tell children stories and be more involved, but I'm still trying to get over my "shy streak" that I have whenever I am with a new group of people. It's not the kids that make me shy, but the other young adults that I am singing with. If they weren't there or would just go away, then I'd be fine!!! But progress is being made, and thankfully they encouraged me to be a little more assertive tonight! How I love to sing. Maybe we could even start a trio or octet or something at Advent Hope, like I use to sing in at Southern. We'll see...
So...in a nutshell, that was my week, as far as events. As far as what God has been teaching me spiritually...well, that's a whole bigger story. So more on that later...I just praise the Lord for another Sabbath to spend with Him!
Monday, November 13, 2006
Following the Creator's Call
Well...finally, the BIG NEWS!!! (No, I'm not engaged...nor am I even with anyone, so I am sorry to disappoint you friends afar that keep watching and hoping!) But the news is even better! :-) I believe God has finally led me to the ministry I've been praying for, and dreaming about for many years. It's a long story, actually, and if you want the details, let me know, and I'll fill you in.
But to make a long story short: Back at the AMEN conference that I attended in the end of September down in San Diego, David Gates made a challenge to all of us to more fully use the resources that God has given us to spread the gospel. (In this instance, that being web and t.v. media!) Well, as many of you know, I've been dreaming about and praying about starting a "youth network" for a couple years now. A network that focused on issues and needs that youth have, while at the same time providing them with a higher standard and mentoring directly from God's word. But while I've talked about my ideas with a few people, there has never been the time or resources to bring that dream together. Then at AMEN (which by the way, stands for Adventist Medical Evangelism Network), they decided to start a Health Network. I also have a huge burden for health ministry, especially in Preventative Lifestyle Education, and I believe with all my heart that it is the "right arm of the gospel" and we are not using our influence as we should. So I immediately volunteered and asked if I could be involved in this new organization, thinking this might be the direction God would lead me.
Eventually, a board member got back with me, and while she was excited about my enthusiasm, she said she'd have to get back with me to see if/and or/how that I could be involved. Well....time went on and I heard nothing. Meanwhile, my sister told me about a "youth network" that our friend Curtis had decided to start...also inspired at the AMEN conference. I was ecstatic to hear about this, and the next chance I got, I talked with Curtis about what his plans were, and about some ideas that I'd been brainstorming about. He was interested, and we planned to talk more. That was the next weekend I came back up to Loma Linda. I e-mailed him a list of programming ideas that I'd been thinking about and working on for awhile. He asked if I could come to the next volunteer meeting and present those ideas, and I did. Everyone was very receptive, and we talked about many more ideas and possible plans.
Since the hospital I've been working at in San Diego wasn't willing at the time, to renew my contract (they have since come and begged me to stay), I felt that God was leading me to move up to Loma Linda so that I could be more involved in either the youth network or AMEN. I prayed that whichever was God's best plan, He would open the doors that direction first. (My parents back in OK were rooting for Creator's Call - the youth network - while my family in AR was rooting for AMEN!)
Well, this past Sabbath, Curtis asked me to be the Director of Programming for Creator's Call. It's a position that would overwhelm me with it's vastness, except that I really believe this is where God is leading me, and I know that He is my sufficiency. I can do nothing of myself!!! And so instead of being overwhelmed, I am enthusiastic and excited about the possibilities ahead of us. In fact, I can't sleep completely through the night without waking up and thinking about all that there is to do...even with our limited resources. Of course, we are stepping out completely in faith as no one has the money or resources of their own, but I know that God is going to honor and provide as we help build a life-line of hope for youth.
I've taken my own step of faith in moving up here, since I do not have a job in this area yet, but that I believe God will provide as well.
So, that's my news! I guess that wasn't such a short version afterall. Anyway, all I can say is...God is sooooo good! If He hadn't brought me to CA to work, or if I hadn't been in San Diego, I wouldn't have attended AMEN, nor would I probably be one of the priviledged to get in on the ground-building work of this new ministry. Each step of my life, He has so perfectly orchestrated and planned, all I can do is say, "Praise God."
*Incidently, one of the AMEN board members called me the next day after I accepted the position with Creator's Call and earnestly requested that I take an "Administrative Assistant" position with the AMEN Network. And I dearly wanted to...as I believe in what they are seeking to do as well! Health Education, especially Preventative Lifestyle Education, is such a big interest of mine! However, I felt like God had directed me in the direction I should focus my life on, and that it would be counter productive to try to do both. So....the course of my future...determined by the difference of one day!
But to make a long story short: Back at the AMEN conference that I attended in the end of September down in San Diego, David Gates made a challenge to all of us to more fully use the resources that God has given us to spread the gospel. (In this instance, that being web and t.v. media!) Well, as many of you know, I've been dreaming about and praying about starting a "youth network" for a couple years now. A network that focused on issues and needs that youth have, while at the same time providing them with a higher standard and mentoring directly from God's word. But while I've talked about my ideas with a few people, there has never been the time or resources to bring that dream together. Then at AMEN (which by the way, stands for Adventist Medical Evangelism Network), they decided to start a Health Network. I also have a huge burden for health ministry, especially in Preventative Lifestyle Education, and I believe with all my heart that it is the "right arm of the gospel" and we are not using our influence as we should. So I immediately volunteered and asked if I could be involved in this new organization, thinking this might be the direction God would lead me.
Eventually, a board member got back with me, and while she was excited about my enthusiasm, she said she'd have to get back with me to see if/and or/how that I could be involved. Well....time went on and I heard nothing. Meanwhile, my sister told me about a "youth network" that our friend Curtis had decided to start...also inspired at the AMEN conference. I was ecstatic to hear about this, and the next chance I got, I talked with Curtis about what his plans were, and about some ideas that I'd been brainstorming about. He was interested, and we planned to talk more. That was the next weekend I came back up to Loma Linda. I e-mailed him a list of programming ideas that I'd been thinking about and working on for awhile. He asked if I could come to the next volunteer meeting and present those ideas, and I did. Everyone was very receptive, and we talked about many more ideas and possible plans.
Since the hospital I've been working at in San Diego wasn't willing at the time, to renew my contract (they have since come and begged me to stay), I felt that God was leading me to move up to Loma Linda so that I could be more involved in either the youth network or AMEN. I prayed that whichever was God's best plan, He would open the doors that direction first. (My parents back in OK were rooting for Creator's Call - the youth network - while my family in AR was rooting for AMEN!)
Well, this past Sabbath, Curtis asked me to be the Director of Programming for Creator's Call. It's a position that would overwhelm me with it's vastness, except that I really believe this is where God is leading me, and I know that He is my sufficiency. I can do nothing of myself!!! And so instead of being overwhelmed, I am enthusiastic and excited about the possibilities ahead of us. In fact, I can't sleep completely through the night without waking up and thinking about all that there is to do...even with our limited resources. Of course, we are stepping out completely in faith as no one has the money or resources of their own, but I know that God is going to honor and provide as we help build a life-line of hope for youth.
I've taken my own step of faith in moving up here, since I do not have a job in this area yet, but that I believe God will provide as well.
So, that's my news! I guess that wasn't such a short version afterall. Anyway, all I can say is...God is sooooo good! If He hadn't brought me to CA to work, or if I hadn't been in San Diego, I wouldn't have attended AMEN, nor would I probably be one of the priviledged to get in on the ground-building work of this new ministry. Each step of my life, He has so perfectly orchestrated and planned, all I can do is say, "Praise God."
*Incidently, one of the AMEN board members called me the next day after I accepted the position with Creator's Call and earnestly requested that I take an "Administrative Assistant" position with the AMEN Network. And I dearly wanted to...as I believe in what they are seeking to do as well! Health Education, especially Preventative Lifestyle Education, is such a big interest of mine! However, I felt like God had directed me in the direction I should focus my life on, and that it would be counter productive to try to do both. So....the course of my future...determined by the difference of one day!
Sabbath in the mountains...
Praise the Lord for another Sabbath!!!!
Friday night was inspirational as always, as I attended singing bands. I'm actually getting to where I look forward to it every week. Get's me in a different mode of ministry in the hospital, besides popping pills or dealing with emergencies, and that is a blessing. Seeing the faces of gratefullness of the patients, seeing the emotions and tears. There are sooo many hurting and in need of courage! I'm blessed to be apart of a team of encouragers and lifter-upers!
Sabbath, I'd been looking forward to ALL week! We drove up into the mtns for outdoor church. I rode with Curtis and Janine and enjoyed getting to know them more. And since we're going to be working a lot more together in the future, that was a blessing. But most of all, it was just good to get away from all the traffic and enjoy nature. After church, and a picnic lunch, a few of us hiked on up the trail and had a special prayer group, praying for ministries we feel strongly about. It was a special time. Then on our way down, it started snowing...well, it was more like sleet...or adolescent snow that hadn't made up it's mind yet what it was! But it was awesome, none the less! Then in the evening, Brad and Amber Strothers invited a few of us over for supper, and I got to enjoy learning more about them and how God has worked in their lives. What a blessing to be with fellow believers! God is sooo good!
Friday night was inspirational as always, as I attended singing bands. I'm actually getting to where I look forward to it every week. Get's me in a different mode of ministry in the hospital, besides popping pills or dealing with emergencies, and that is a blessing. Seeing the faces of gratefullness of the patients, seeing the emotions and tears. There are sooo many hurting and in need of courage! I'm blessed to be apart of a team of encouragers and lifter-upers!
Sabbath, I'd been looking forward to ALL week! We drove up into the mtns for outdoor church. I rode with Curtis and Janine and enjoyed getting to know them more. And since we're going to be working a lot more together in the future, that was a blessing. But most of all, it was just good to get away from all the traffic and enjoy nature. After church, and a picnic lunch, a few of us hiked on up the trail and had a special prayer group, praying for ministries we feel strongly about. It was a special time. Then on our way down, it started snowing...well, it was more like sleet...or adolescent snow that hadn't made up it's mind yet what it was! But it was awesome, none the less! Then in the evening, Brad and Amber Strothers invited a few of us over for supper, and I got to enjoy learning more about them and how God has worked in their lives. What a blessing to be with fellow believers! God is sooo good!
Is God in the Whirl wind?
Yes, I believe God is in the whirl-wind...as He is in the fire and in the storms, walking beside us! But boy was last week tough. For starters I shouldn't have volunteered to do my 4th twelve hour in a row. The patients were crazy...and we had no extra help (I guess that's why I volunteered). But I thought I was going to go crazy myself at the end of the day! I felt like crying more than once. "God, you've got to help me, because I do not feel like I can do this!" My poor guy that calls "Mama" all the time, was at it again. But unfortunately he wasn't my patient this time. I say "unfortunately" because the moment he saw me in the hall (I have taken care of him a lot and helped him stay calm) he started screaming, "Melody...Melody!!! Help me, Melody!" So then, I had to be in his room off and on all day, since his own nurse was already overwhelmed and tended to ignore him, and he kept calling for me. Tried to get her to trade patients with me, but I had my own set of difficult souls, and she didn't want them either (Which I don't blame her for), so I was involved with both. Wow...I can tell that I'm getting close to burn-out...at least keeping up the pace that I have been. Thankfully, I only have one more week, and my Travel contract in San Diego's Continental Rehab is finished. So, with the Lord's strength, I will make it! And I have learned a lot, so I can't really complain, but it's just been really challenging lately...especially when it seems no one is getting any better, and you just have to deal with the same thing day after day.
I had asked to extend until Christmas, but due to low patient census, they aren't sure that they can extend my contract. However, now I believe it's because God has another purpose for me...He doesn't close one door without opening another!
I had asked to extend until Christmas, but due to low patient census, they aren't sure that they can extend my contract. However, now I believe it's because God has another purpose for me...He doesn't close one door without opening another!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Musical Rapture
This past Sabbath was a real blessing, for a couple reasons.
1. I've recently started reading a book called "Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement." (Before you jump to conclusions or judge too quickly, you should check it out!) It's awesome on helping us understand the meaning behind the music and why it makes such a difference what we listen to. I've been thinking about this for awhile, but just so happened to start reading the book this weekend. And at Advent hope, we had a speaker, Eric Walsh, that was speaking on this very topic!!! It was very interesting and incredibly inspiring. Check it out at www.audioverse.org
I will have more to say on this topic when I finish the book. It's already underlined like crazy, so watch out world!
2. The second highlight of my weekend was after the Sabbath sermon. Had lunch at a friends place and then in the afternoon, we got into a Bible study on the rapture and how from the Bible you can show people that's it's not a true teaching. It wasn't so much the topic that we studied, but just the refreshing atmosphere of being with people that were digging into the Bible for truth. How I have missed that since I left Southern. I still don't have all the answers on the tip of my tongue, nor do I understand all the prophecy's in revelation completely, but I love to study the Bible, and I want to continue to grow in my ability to share my faith with others, so the study was encouraging. I would say that I'm looking forward to AFCOE, but now with some new ministry developments beginning to take place (more on that later) I'm not sure I am going to be going North afterall. :-((((( But, I know God will continue to help me as I seek Him, wherever I am. So I give my plans and dreams to Him.
Next week for Advent Hope, we are going to the Mountains!!!! Yeah!!! I'm looking forward...
1. I've recently started reading a book called "Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement." (Before you jump to conclusions or judge too quickly, you should check it out!) It's awesome on helping us understand the meaning behind the music and why it makes such a difference what we listen to. I've been thinking about this for awhile, but just so happened to start reading the book this weekend. And at Advent hope, we had a speaker, Eric Walsh, that was speaking on this very topic!!! It was very interesting and incredibly inspiring. Check it out at www.audioverse.org
I will have more to say on this topic when I finish the book. It's already underlined like crazy, so watch out world!
2. The second highlight of my weekend was after the Sabbath sermon. Had lunch at a friends place and then in the afternoon, we got into a Bible study on the rapture and how from the Bible you can show people that's it's not a true teaching. It wasn't so much the topic that we studied, but just the refreshing atmosphere of being with people that were digging into the Bible for truth. How I have missed that since I left Southern. I still don't have all the answers on the tip of my tongue, nor do I understand all the prophecy's in revelation completely, but I love to study the Bible, and I want to continue to grow in my ability to share my faith with others, so the study was encouraging. I would say that I'm looking forward to AFCOE, but now with some new ministry developments beginning to take place (more on that later) I'm not sure I am going to be going North afterall. :-((((( But, I know God will continue to help me as I seek Him, wherever I am. So I give my plans and dreams to Him.
Next week for Advent Hope, we are going to the Mountains!!!! Yeah!!! I'm looking forward...
I'm an Orphan!
Ok, so I'm really not, but it's kinda lonely around here since my sister Sunny deserted me to go to India! Lucky girl! How I wished I could go with her, but I couldn't even go to the airport to see her off as I had to work on Sunday. But I know it's going to be an awesome experience for her, and it's so exciting to see how God has worked all the details out! This is going to be one mission trip I'm sure she'll never forget.
Now...that she's away...the mice will play! :-) Well, not really, but since there have been some new exciting things happening in my life recently in the area of a ministry, it's looking like I'm going to be moving up here to Loma Linda to work for awhile. So while she's gone, I'll be moving in...until God works out the rest of the details for me here in this community. I find it ironic that I am once again doing something that I said I would never do! Coming to live in the surrounding cities of LA!! The last place on earth I ever wanted to be...God must be chuckling right now, or maybe it is me that needs to see the humor! Ho hum...I am trying to remember what else I said I would never do...cause I'm sure, it's probably about to come true! :-)
Well, on a more serious note, I just praise the Lord for blessing and giving me strength this past Sunday at work. My shifts have been long and difficult lately, and already being tired, since Sunny and I were up til almost 1am getting her ready to go, plus getting up at 4am to start driving down to San Diego to work, did not make things easier. But the day went beautifully, and everyone was good. What a blessing! You don't realize how big a blessing that was, until you realize the patients I was taking care of for three days in a row last week. One man's greeting reached my ears before I could even finish getting report. "Mama, mama" he bellowed at the top of his lungs. He'd done it all night, and was reportedly one of the most difficult on the floor. I got him calmed down, with God's help, but I was at his side most of the shift to keep him that way. Another lady had the most incredible C-diff I have ever seen. She was a constant swimming pool of brown mush (don't you love me for sharing) and I thought we'd never get her clean. Bless her heart. On and on it went...Then there was the lady that was nasueated and having chest pain....hmmmm, is this just indigestion or a more serious heart issue?! So...as you can imagine, having a calm day for a change was a real miracle. Praise God! Now, whatever awaits me when I get to the floor tomorrow - I'm recooped and ready! So watch out Continental, because here I come.
Now...that she's away...the mice will play! :-) Well, not really, but since there have been some new exciting things happening in my life recently in the area of a ministry, it's looking like I'm going to be moving up here to Loma Linda to work for awhile. So while she's gone, I'll be moving in...until God works out the rest of the details for me here in this community. I find it ironic that I am once again doing something that I said I would never do! Coming to live in the surrounding cities of LA!! The last place on earth I ever wanted to be...God must be chuckling right now, or maybe it is me that needs to see the humor! Ho hum...I am trying to remember what else I said I would never do...cause I'm sure, it's probably about to come true! :-)
Well, on a more serious note, I just praise the Lord for blessing and giving me strength this past Sunday at work. My shifts have been long and difficult lately, and already being tired, since Sunny and I were up til almost 1am getting her ready to go, plus getting up at 4am to start driving down to San Diego to work, did not make things easier. But the day went beautifully, and everyone was good. What a blessing! You don't realize how big a blessing that was, until you realize the patients I was taking care of for three days in a row last week. One man's greeting reached my ears before I could even finish getting report. "Mama, mama" he bellowed at the top of his lungs. He'd done it all night, and was reportedly one of the most difficult on the floor. I got him calmed down, with God's help, but I was at his side most of the shift to keep him that way. Another lady had the most incredible C-diff I have ever seen. She was a constant swimming pool of brown mush (don't you love me for sharing) and I thought we'd never get her clean. Bless her heart. On and on it went...Then there was the lady that was nasueated and having chest pain....hmmmm, is this just indigestion or a more serious heart issue?! So...as you can imagine, having a calm day for a change was a real miracle. Praise God! Now, whatever awaits me when I get to the floor tomorrow - I'm recooped and ready! So watch out Continental, because here I come.
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