Wednesday, August 25, 2010

God gave me a BIG favor

I sprained my ankle one week ago today. I walked out my front door, waved at my neighbor and the next thing I knew I was on my face with my knee, arm and hand scraped up and a SCREAMING left ankle. First thought: It's broken! I can't move it! Scoot over to the fence so you can elevate it! Call 5East (where I work) and tell them I can't be at the meeting!

Then I see my neighbor peek over our fence and say "Are you okay!? I saw you go down and you never got back up!"

Well eventually, I was able to move my ankle and could even walk on it... so I drove to my meeting with my ankle elevated as best I could in my dodge stratus:) And I walked to 5east, sat through the meeting, my goose egg grew, RN Wayland (my boss) said I must get it checked out in the ER, I walked to the ER and my goose egg blew up and the pain got intense.

I waited 3 hours in fast track, got my first x-ray, my first pair of crutches and instructions to rest, ice, compress, and elevate (RICE) and at least 48 hours of SIQ (Sick in Quarters).

Now here is where God did a great work:

My work schedule for this past week looked like this:

Work Thursday (day after I sprained it) and Monday (5days after I sprained it) and then on call Thursday and then work the weekend.

A typical work schedule for me would be: work Friday/Saturday/Sunday after I sprained it then again Wed and Thursday. God knew that I would need to rest this lovely foot. Ironically, 3 weeks ago, I was so tired and worn out I said to God, "Boy would it be nice to just have a break from work, but there is no way b/c our census has sky rocketed and our staffing is tight" Why do I ever say something is impossible to God?


Introduction to the goose egg (8/18/10):
A lateral view




One Week Later (8/24/10):

Purple Toes!
Purple heel
My Goose egg is a force to be reckoned with... RICE has had quite the opponent with this one.
My fatty left foot...but MUCH improved from one week ago:)

I can't wait to go for a run, go boogie boarding, play volleyball, go for a walk... etc etc. But for now, I want to take good care of it so I'll be able to later:)


Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Who is Jesus?

A description of Jesus:

"Yes, Jesus smiled; yes, Jesus laughed. Jesus smiled wider and laughed heartier than any human being who has ever walked the planet. He was young. He radiated good cheer. The real Jesus was a man of such merriment, such gladness of heart, such freedom and openness, that He proved irresistible. He became known through Galilee for His genuine strength, the sparkle in His eyes, the spring in His gait, the heartiness in His laugh, the genuineness of His touch; His passion, playfulness, excitement, and vitality: His JOY! He made a dazzling display of love. He set hearts afire. He was an elated, triumphant young man with an incredible quality of life . . . so different from the solemn religious types He constantly encountered." from "Jesus Man of Joy"- Great book and it's online!

Another description:

And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. - Revelation 1:13-16


Do either of these descriptions fit the image/character/personality that you have in mind of Jesus?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Gifts from our Fathers

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?" Matt 7:11

This verse made me start thinking about all the good gifts my parents have given me:

-a loving family
-vacations to Wyoming, California, East coast for Civil War and American history lessons, Florida, Texas, Thailand, Colorado, Georgia
-my trip to Cameroon, Africa
-money for nursing school
-a desktop computer
-a laptop
-moved to Cedar Falls for a better school system
-homeschooled us while working part time
-a car (the Honda and stratus and concord)
-allowing us to take part in Easter Productions
-new clothes for school
-a meal every night
-a roof over our heads
-purity rings
-Lucy's guitar
-Katie's bike that led to tears:)
-Letting us keep Willy, Coco, Mavis
-Teaching us to be entrepreneurs with the dog business:)
-dollhouses, barbies, American girl dolls, books, movies, music, cd players, games, etc etc... the list could go on and on... and most of that is all materialistic gifts...
-they gave us love, joy, peace, friendships, godly examples, confidence, sense of adventure and accomplishment, faith, discipline, support, loyalty, belief in our abilities, etc, etc...

How much more will our Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask him?