Leap of Faith

Dad and I witnessed a leap of faith Sunday, with the Confirmation of Allison. As I looked at the table prepared for her party, I noticed her baptisimal photo, and realized how time has gone by so fast. Yes, it was a memorable baptism...our naked little girl wrapped in a blanket after overflowing her diaper...and now, her affirmation of Baptism @ 16yrs. old. As I read her statement of faith, I was brought to tears over the sincerity of her beliefs, and what she professes from her heart about her faith in God and her fellow man. The beginning of a journey of faith, it is, as I, too, realize, my life has been on that journey, and it continues today. I, also, recalled my leap of faith, not so much at my Confirmation, 'cause I was only in 4th grade at the time, and couldn't comprehend the importance of this step, but later, in high school, and beyond, how much my faith meant to me, and still does today. Recently, over the past year, I started a grateful journal...listing at the end of the day, the things I am thankful for...sometimes, not even writing them down, but recalling the day's events in my nightly prayers, and thinking of all the positive events that have happened each day, starting with the day itself. My hope for Allison is that she keep those statements of faith with her always as she continues her life, as it will not always be easy to adhere to those beliefs, but with the Lord beside, and in her, she will reap so many blessings from Him. I have, and I am so thankful for them.

What made me smile today?

The baby boy took his time coming into this world, he couldn't help it, he was a big baby, but his mama helped his exit with slow, steady pushes, that said, come on, little one, it'll be OK. We're waiting for you, and welcome you to our family. At last, his head emerged, and with a final push from mama, came sliding out to cheers, and laugher. With a loud bellow, he announced his arrival, and was cuddled in his mama's arms. His daddy smiled broadly, and took a picture of his newborn son. What a big boy, everyone commented! How big is he? At the scale, daddy and the nurses hovered around as the baby was placed on it, and oh wow, he was big! 10 lbs. 12 oz., and 24" long. Baby boy wondered what the big deal was all about. He was only one day late. After nestling with mama, and getting some nourishment, and bonding, the family came to offer their congratulations, and introduce themselves to their new grandchild. Then, big sister arrived. She came into this world just 2 1/2 years before. She offered her blankie to her new brother, and then got to hold him, and give him kisses. He seemed to like all the attention, and the cuddling. Then, the little angel of a sister began to sing to her baby brother...twinkle, twinkle, little star....baby brother let out a loud cry. "Oh, oh I guess he doesn't like that song, I'll have to sing him a different one", said the singing angel. So the next time she came to visit him, she sang him "Bah, bah, black sheep have you any wool.... He didn't cry, so he must like that one." Everyone smiled. I can't help but smile, too.

Autumn colors

What a glorious day yesterday was. The sun was shining(the first time all week), warm(60), no wind. Perfect day for cleaning up outside. Started out cleaning up the deck-sweeping off the leaves, taking off the chair cushions, putting the umbrella away(might need a new one next year), and taking up the rug. Then I raked all the leaves in the fenced-in area. Thought back to a time when my little ones loved to jump in the piles, and bury themselves in them. Now, I have the two dogs running thru them, and chasing the rake. My other half is mowing the front lawn, meanwhile, and got half of that done before we had to leave to go to Green Lake Shopping Center. We gathered with a small group of people to say the rosary, in honor of the 90th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima appearing to three children. At first, I wasn't to keen on going, esp. saying the rosary publicly in front of a shopping center, but as we started, and prayed as a group, I realized what a wonderful experience it was, and was so glad I did it. Afterwards, we decided to ride around, and came across some open houses, and toured the homes. We go back and forth about moving, but I know someday we'll know it's right for us to downsize, and let someone else take care of the lawn for us. It'll free us up to do other things. So we returned home, continued mowing, trimming bushes, bagging leaves for three hours more. Maybe having someone else doing this is such a bad idea. The place looks pretty good, if I say so myself. Still have to plant my bulbs that came last week...hope we get another day of sun.

What's your Name?

We had a slow day at work, so I was first assigned to be the hospital's NST, where I basically ran errands for any of the units. Boy, you sure do a lot of walking! I was miffed at being a NST, at first, as I asked myself what in the heck am I suppose to do, and where am going to find things, if I'm asked? But, as many times it turns out, I learned my way around the hospital, a little bit better, and actually had fun doing it, and meeting other employees on different units. Then, just as I was getting used to this new role, I was asked to sit with an elderly patient, who was, at times, confused, so the nurses could do other tasks, and not worry about her getting hurt, or pulling out tubes. When I arrived, her primary doctor was just leaving her room, and then her nurse came in and informed her that her NG tube could be removed. She seemed pleased with that, and handled the removal well. I introduced myself, and told her she could now have some liquids for supper. Soon after, another doctor came in and talked to her about her tests. It sounded like good news, and she told the doctor just that. Then, she turned to me, asked me what my name was, and wondered if I lived in the apartment down the hall. I told her she was in the hospital, and had been very sick. She smiled, and said she remembered. But now she had wasted her day away sleeping, and she needed to get up and get dressed. I told her again, she was in the hospital, and the nurses wanted her to rest in bed. She was having no part of that. So, I asked her to wait while I got some help getting her up. Of course, she didn't need help getting up, but with a little conjoling, she agreed to wait for assistance. We then proceeded to get up, walk out to the hallway with the use of a walker, and come back, and sit in the chair for awhile. We talked about our families, and found her to be a very pleasant person. She later decided she had enough of being up, and so I helped her back to bed. Again, she asked me what my name was, and even suggested I write it down for her, and also, the nurse's name. She thanked me for visiting her, and helping her with her juice. She thought this apartment was very nice. Did I live in the same apartment? When did I move in? I shared this night with my co-workers. One of them said, "I wonder what we'll be like when we get to be 88?" I reflected on that, as I thought back to that morning at home. I was suppose to go out for coffee at Cariboo's with some of my "retired" nurses, and they were meeting @ 9:30. I wrote the date and time on the calendar, so I wouldn't forget. Guess what! I forgot, and got a call from one of them asking me if I was coming. Is short-term memory that short term? Now I have to remember to look at the calendar each day to see what's going on. Hmmm, maybe that move to the apartment down the hall isn't that far off? Now, what room was that?

Protect that skin

I started the day yesterday going to the cities with my hubby, to see the dermatologist about a cyst on the back of his neck. The family have all been on him about having it looked at, and he finally showed it to his doctor. The day dawned with mist, and then a steady rain, as we circled the area, trying to find the place. As usual, we get there early. I watch him pace back and forth, and wonder what he's thinking about. I have enough time to say the rosary before his name is called. We are introduced to a first year resident doctor, who checks out the cyst, and looks at all the many freckles, and spots he has over his back, and chest. Of course, she lectures him on the use of sun screen, which he never uses, and how this would have lessened all those spots, and proceeds to tell him what she is planning to do about the cyst. They numbed the area with lidocaine, and sliced off the cyst for a biopsy, then covered the site with a band-aid. The big honcho Doctor, concurred with her, and thinks it's a basal cell type skin cancer, which is the least worrisome of the skin cancer types, and will let us know the results within the week. Then he'll have to come back and have it completely incised, to get all the roots. I'm relieved he finally had it looked at, and it is a easy one to cure. I thank Mary for her intercessions to God, our Father, for all His blessings to us. Reminder to all....use that sun screen religiously, as other types of skin cancer can by oh so much worse, and be the death of you.

I had the best day yesterday. I played hookey from work, and met with my granddaughter, Raquel, and daughter Sharyn@ the St. Cloud University campus. We took a tour of the place Raquel wants to attend next year. She wants to pursue a career in nursing. This will be the 3rd person in the family going into a medical profession. As we walked,( or could I say meandered, as we were lagging way behind the rest), I thought back to my years in nursing, the dorms, the activities, the fun I had as I tried to be independent on my own for the first time. Learning to get along with my roommate,and co-students. Overcoming my shyness, to talk with patients, and pursue the areas of nursing I wanted to be in. All in all, it was a great experience for me, and I hope Raquel will feel the same way. She turned in her application while we were there, and then went out to lunch. We were all starving, as it was going on 4:00. We picked Baker's Square, and ended the meal with pie, of course. It was so nice to be able to sit and talk together. Never enough time, though, as the day started to unwind. My little "Rocky" is growing up, and I enjoy these moments of sharing so much.

I love this photo of "the boys". You know Dad is just one of them, too. Do you think Jon loves his Grandpa? And Sawyer, the hard to get to hold, initially, then your best friend! Ah, these are the memories I love.

Birthday Boy!

Jonnie has a special place in my heart. Maybe it's because I took care of him as a toddler, and now here he is-seven yrs. old. He's a picture of contrasts, one minute-no pleasing, the other-so sweet. I miss the times we spent together, now his time is spent at school, and friends. I cherish the celebrations I share with him, and so glad I could be there for his birthday. Don't you ever change, Jon! Love you.