My Dad's Desk

This was the desk that my dad had spent hours at preparing sermons, listening to his eclectic music, looking out the window at the gorgeous flowers and plants, playing sudoku or other puzzles, and listening to many, many hours of his family and church member's share about their lives. 

And now, I've had the privilege of studying for nursing boards at this desk for the past week. I've holed myself up in the study and gone over question upon question till I thought I would go crazy. Between cramming questions in, there were moments of crying because of the stress of studying as well as memories of my dad. But there were also moments of dancing around the room with John and Joseph, which included laughter because we lack coordination :)

I still miss my dad and wish that I could walk into the study to see him instead of an empty chair....but instead I have the MANY memories of him... and those are good memories! When I see him again, I'll be excited to tell him that I passed my NCLEX and give him a HUGE hug!!!  Really, when I think of seeing him again, there will probably be many other things on my mind, so I'll most likely completely forget about the NCLEX :) 

Anyways, looking back I'm glad I had an opportunity to remember old times, to depend on God, and let out a little steam while dancing around the house with John and Joseph! I'm blessed! 

Medical Humor and Quotes

One thousand Americans stop smoking every day - by dying. ~Author Unknown

A hypochondriac is one who has a pill for everything except what ails him. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

In the nineteenth century men lost their fear of God and acquired a fear of microbes. ~Author Unknown

Symptoms, then are in reality nothing but the cry from suffering organs. ~Jean Martin Charcot, translated from French

History of Medicine 
2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root."
1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer."
1850 A.D. - "That prayer is superstition, drink this potion."
1940 A.D. - "That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill."
1985 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic."
2000 A.D. - "That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root."
Author Unknown

Symptoms are the body's mother tongue; signs are in a foreign language. ~John Brown


When you treat a disease, first treat the mind. ~Chen Jen

It is sometimes as dangerous to be run into by a microbe as by a trolley car. ~J.J. Walsh

Poisons and medicine are oftentimes the same substance given with different intents. ~Peter Mere Latham

Medicines are not meat to live by. ~German Proverb

As it takes two to make a quarrel, so it takes two to make a disease, the microbe and its host. ~Charles V. Chapin

Never forget that it is not a pneumonia, but a pneumonic man who is your patient. ~William Withey Gull

I will lift mine eyes unto the pills. Almost everyone takes them, from the humble aspirin to the multi-coloured, king-sized three deckers, which put you to sleep, wake you up, stimulate and soothe you all in one. It is an age of pills. ~Malcolm Muggeridge, 1962

If you are too smart to pay the doctor, you had better be too smart to get ill. ~African Proverb

The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. ~Thomas Edison

Show a Little Bit of Love and Kindness

My reminder for the day! 

Sing a song; Spread some cheer

There are sad and lonely faces every where...

Be a friend; Show some love

It will lift them from the dungeons of despair.

Show a little bit of love and kindness,

Never go around with hatred's blindness

Take a little time to reach for joy and wear a happy face...

Sing a little bit when the days are dreary,

Offer little help to a friend who's weary

That's the way to make the world a happy place.

Kodesh LaHashem

“Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: Holy to the Lord"

I've been reading through Exodus and today I read through a couple of the instructions God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai about the sanctuary. The spot that I loved the most was in Exodus 28:36, which is the verse written above, God was giving the instructions for the priestly garments. There were a couple thoughts that were going through my head when I reread it.

First, how cool that the priests had that plate as part of their uniform! 

Second, what a neat reminder that you are holy to God!

Third, there's a huge responsibility in having that title. 

Fourth, from what it sounds (and what I'm picturing) that would have been pretty heavy to have on your turban. 

But the more I thought about it the more I really liked the idea of being sealed with that title. When something is sealed it's normally final and lasting, right? Once you're given that title it's forever! But then, I had the idea to look up other versions/translations to see how that seal, "holy to the Lord" was written. Here is what I found: 

"Holy to the Lord" (New International Version) 

"Set apart for Adonai" (Complete Jewish Bible Version) 

"Consecrated to Jehovah" (Living Bible) 

"Sacred to the Lord" (New American Bible Revised Edition) 

"Dedicated to the Lord" (Good News)

"Kodesh LaHashem" (Hebrew)

Aren't those cool titles?!? So, what if we lived our lives in that way, that we have been chosen, that we're sacred, set apart, and dedicated for God's work? This isn't a new idea, I guess it was just a reminder  and a somewhat, Aha! moment. We've each been chosen for a purpose. God created us and we are His. But it's our decision to choose to follow Him. 

So, today I am reminded to accept the title He has given and to be dedicated to Him and the life He has planned for me.  I hope you enjoy your "Kodesh Lahashem" life as well!

Guidance

Today as I was journalling, I noticed that the word guidance was a combination of "guide" and "dance". So, it hit me that when we say that we are wanting God's guidance, it means we want Him to guide us through the dance of life. I loved that idea, because I believe there is so much expression and emotion found in dance. Also, it is something that you usually do with another person that you trust. So, it might be a slow dance, a quick and exciting dance, or just a goofy, fun, having-no-idea-what-you're-doing dance. No matter what type it is, it will always be a partnership!



Today I'm going to enjoy the dance of my life (which currently, kinda feels like a having-no-idea-what-you're-doing dance).

The Old Man...

It's amazing how things can change so quickly. It's amazing how much we can miss someone. When I think of a year ago, I was sitting with my mom wondering just how we could reduce my dad's pain. Both of us were exhausted. The previous night was filled with multiple calls to the hospice nurse. He was in our living room on his hospital bed, not really with it because of all the pain meds we were giving him, but still not comfortable. I felt helpless, wondering how long it would take till things became a little bit normal... But when you're in the moment all you see is what needs to happen in the next moment. Not really of what it will be like in 2 days, 2 months or more.  It's been a painful, challenging and interesting growing experience. God is good, He provides, and there are still so many blessing in my life of family and friends!

BUT I do miss the Old Man and am VERY excited for the Resurrection Morn!  

His Hands

"When my heart is breaking, He holds me in His hands" That explains a lot of my relationship with God right now. He is SO faithful in working on my life, in providing the needs and letting me know that he is there willing to carry my burdens!