Thanks Giving

With the up-in-coming holiday I have been mindful of things I am thankful for. Most often it is modern conveniences and forgiveness.

Spell check: I've used it three times since beginning this post!
Downey
Hair dye
Words
Noise machines
Music
Cameras
Leather-furniture or shoes
Eye glasses especially cute frames
Long tank tops- for those long torso people
Paper
Pain medicine- especially epidural
Ink
Washing machines
Heaters and air conditioners
Post office
Sugar
Volunteers
Freezers
Blue Jeans

I am thankful for forgiveness because daily I take advantage of this gift I have been given so freely. Often times I am unaware of all of the times when I have graciously been granted forgiveness by others for my missteps ignorant of the error. Then there are those times that I have wronged someone or better yet the Lord that I am so aware of yet continue on the path taking full advantage of the grace I have been given. I wonder where does that put me before the throne. Shall I be ashamed. Shall I walk boldly in the knowledge of my deed and the act Christ fulfilled in freeing me?
Dear Jesus thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for freeing me by giving Yourself.

Losing patience with being a patient

I am a patient.
I am pregnant, (obstetrics patient).
I have a pacemaker, (cardiac patient).
I am alive, (general practitioner's patient).
I have teeth, (dental patient).
I am a mother of two, I oversee two young patients.
I am a wife, I encourage another when he should be a patient.

Since I encounter the medical field so frequently I may be a bit sensitive or just overly exposed. But there is a HUGE deficit in the customer care side of the medical field. I encounter wonderful medical care; it is the other care that is completely lacking in most practices I visit. Why is it that the nursing and office staff of most practices seem as if there is one hundred other places they would rather be than in scrubs?

Each office I visit could benefit from visiting my dentist's office. Buzz Nabors in Knoxville, TN has the best run office and friendliest staff I have EVER encountered. The atmosphere is nice, the staff makes a point to call you by your name, and engage you in conversation. This particular office has every right to treat me with disdain too. I have missed at least three dental appointments. For one reason or another I have had to reschedule appointments and one I completely forgot- and they had called me the day before to remind me and spoke directly to me! However; Stephanie the office employee I deal with most frequently treated me with kindness and respect when I called three weeks later to reschedule- yet again!

I have worked in several customer service oriented fields. I know dealing with the public is difficult and tiresome. But it does seem since the medical field is such a necessity that the staff would treat each patient with kindness and concern. I understand that the nursing and office staff can't fathom what type of visit a patient may be having. There are times when the news you receive is devastating or elating. How are they to know or even try to engage you? They are not. Let's start with a smile and begin treating the patients with kindness, compassion, and respect.

Homage to Jeremy

Homage to Jeremy.
I am a critical wife. Often looking at the negatives as if they are the whole of the person. Jeremy is under this umbrella of criticism daily. Often I am able to get glimpses of what a treasure he is, yet many times fail to recognize them myself or acknowledge his actions with the simple thank you it would deserve.
I read a Novel Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers this week. It is a quick read, beautifully written. This story was written as a love story from our Savior to us. However if you read this book thinking that there are men out there like Michael who is the hero of the story you will be greatly misled and immensely disappointed.
Which brings me back to my husband. He is perfect for me. What qualities I lack he has. What qualities I have he acknowledges. It is my turn.

1. He is one of the most loyal people I have ever met. His humility in his friendships shocks and impresses me.
2. I know not one other person who has the determination that he has. He looks at a challenge with light in his eyes.
3. Which leads me to how hard working he is. This characteristic I often see as a negative. My Mom often reminds me what a treasure it is.
4. He allows me to be exactly who I am. He does not try to put me in a box or carve me into an image of the ideal wife. I have become more of who I am because of his support and faith in me.
5. It is not always immediate; but, He is always willing to work through things.
6. He recognizes when he is wrong and apologizes.
7. He listens to me.
8. He listens to others.
9. Jeremy's ability to see outside the box is one of his traits that impress me the most. The ability to look at a situation from several angles is something I struggle with. He helps me to see other points of view.
10. He rarely attacks me when he thinks I am wrong in situations that do not involve him.
11. Commitment. He never gives up. With me, his job, his friends, his family.
12. I love his humor. I love his cynical attitude. I love his cockiness. I love his mind. I love his strength.

So the next time I decide to get on Hating Jeremy Express. I need to take a minute to reflect on these qualities rather than jump on board.

A Quote

My husband:
"Today I realized I actually have a good life."

My response:
Uuuuuuugggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Unfortunately he will forget this realization within the next 48 minutes.

Passages

One day I felt that God had given me this passage for my husband.

Ecclesiastes 11

1Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.

2 Don't hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.

3-4 When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work.
Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.

5 Just as you'll never understand
the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman,
So you'll never understand
the mystery at work in all that God does.

6 Go to work in the morning
and stick to it until evening without watching the clock.
You never know from moment to moment
how your work will turn out in the end.

Before the Years Take Their Toll

7-8 Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.

9 You who are young, make the most of your youth.
Relish your youthful vigor.
Follow the impulses of your heart.
If something looks good to you, pursue it.
But know also that not just anything goes;
You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.

10 Live footloose and fancy-free—
You won't be young forever.
Youth lasts about as long as smoke.

One day I felt that God had given me this passage.

Psalm 20

A David Psalm

1-4 God answer you on the day you crash, The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm's reach,
Send reinforcements from Holy Hill,
Dispatch from Zion fresh supplies,
Exclaim over your offerings,
Celebrate your sacrifices,
Give you what your heart desires,
Accomplish your plans.

5 When you win, we plan to raise the roof
and lead the parade with our banners.
May all your wishes come true!

6 That clinches it—help's coming,
an answer's on the way,
everything's going to work out.

7-8 See those people polishing their chariots,
and those others grooming their horses?
But we're making garlands for God our God.
The chariots will rust,
those horses pull up lame—
and we'll be on our feet, standing tall.

9 Make the king a winner, God;
the day we call, give us your answer.

The Wood Chip

On Saturday we were at the park with our children. My nine month old son appeared to be gagging. I do a quick mouth sweep ( a huge no-no) to check if there is anything in his mouth. There is not- however it sure seems as if he has just swallowed something. I don't immediately panic. This is just not my style I wait until I am lying in bed at night to envision all of the terrible things the wood chip could have caused. I pray; I ask for God to watch over him and finally fall into an agitated slumber. The next day while at Church my son begins to run a temperature. I am certain that the woodchip has logged itself in his body causing an infection and therefore presenting a temp. I call the nurse on call. They reassure me that he should be fine. The temperature is simply due to the ear infection he was diagnosed with on Friday ( while we were at his well visit). I calm myself and try to relax. So on Tuesday when his stool is a pooh and red muddled color I hit the roof. I call my pediatrician's office who set me an appointment within 45 minutes. At the office, I tell the nurse my concern and she says "he is on omnicef, isn't he?" (For the ear infection) Aha! The omnicef mixes with the iron in the formula causing the stool to become a red color. So our beloved pediatrician comes in, he apologizes for not telling me the side effect and reassures me the boy is going to be fine.

Today- he runs yet another temperature. I just can't believe I still can't put this chip to bed. I ask my healthy five year old to pray with me. I mean I seriously demand of her to join me in prayer to heal him and for God to give me reassurance. I ask for a miracle if it is lodged in his body or I ask for a blanket of peace. I immediately feel peace. I know I can let this dog lie.

Within 2 hours my daughter who was fine is also running a temperature.

Not only did God flood me with Peace; He gave me physical evidence that the temperature is not caused by the wood chip. Unless our girl had lunch at the park.

Ashton

My Beloved dog Ashton died on September 17, 2007. She has been a part of my life as long as my husband. Since her death I have reflected on what heaven is all about. Will there be animals there? My feeling of loss is so intense. I never expected to be so impacted by her death. I envision her walking around heaven keeping the Lord company. I hope she will be there.