Bittersweet

Saying goodbye to patients can be bittersweet. The last several days I have had the same patients. Two of them have been in the hospital for months, but I got to work on discharge issues for each of them and even see one off to rehab. The one I discharged today was the main contributer to one of my worst days at work a couple of months ago. The last few days have been a pleasure working with him. The other gave me a hug yesterday once I got home health care set up. But the one I really want to tell about is another. He has been here for a few days, and I have been his nurse for the morning shift every single one of those days. Today, when I told him goodbye, he kept getting teary eyed. It's rewarding but also sad when my patients get so attached. That has happened with several patients lately.

Working

Working around the holiday is interesting. On Friday, I ended up working four hours on a trauma orthopedics floor and four hours in pediatrics. It made for a busy but fun day as I worked somewhere other than my floor for the first time. Today was busy with patient care and teaching along with new doctor orders all of the time.

I keep laughing every time I think of one couple. Teaching the husband to do the dressing change on his wife was hilarious! Knowing that he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease like his wife, I was expecting someone feeble and on oxygen. Instead, I was greated by an energetic roll your sleeves up and dive in sort of man! The biggest problem we had with the dressing change was when he cracked his wife up laughing and we had to stop until she recovered. By the way, that was not a bad problem, because it was a painful procedure. Then, in the end, I got to have a demonstration of how he can growl! After the dressing change, he asked me if I would consider going into teaching. Things like this make me happy:)

It is a bit hard to know that all of my family is home without me right now. Yesterday they met with Mama's side of the family and today was with Daddy's family. Three of my cousins are there with babies that I have yet to meet. At the same time, the opportunity to spend it with the people who are in the hospital is a blessing, because most of them want to be there less than I do. Knowing that I will get to fly home, Lord willing, in less than a week sure helps!!!

"A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart." ~Johann Wolfgang Van Gothe

Blessed

I feel like the most blessed person in the whole, wide world! The last few days have just been packed with wonderful visits with special people! So many people care! To top it all off, I got to visit a couple of senior citizens yesterday and today. I tell you, if you want to be blessed, go visit elderly people who are lonely! It will bless you more than it can possibly bless them!

Forgiveness

"Not to forgive imprisons me in the past." ~Philip Yancey

"He who cannot forgive another breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself." ~George Herbert

I am slowly working through Philip Yancey's book What's So Amazing about Grace. So many points in this book have hit home with me, but he does a particularly excellent job addressing the issue of forgiveness as it relates to interpersonal and even international issues. The problem with forgiveness is that it is unfair. If you have been wronged shouldn't the perpetrator have to pay? That is how the cycle of ungrace, grudges, and revenge begins. Yancey points out a jamlog between grace and justice. Doesn't reason say that only justice is right? Guardini says: "As long as you are tangled in wrong and revenge, blow and counterblow, aggression and defense, you will be constantly drawn into fresh wrong...only forgiveness frees us from the injustice of others." I've seen this happen in simple fun things like pillow fights. One person starts it, the other pows back to get even, but the blow was either not hard enough or too hard to call it equal, so the fight continues. Who can ever say at what point it is actually even? The same is the case in tribal and international conflicts. Countries or races nurture grudges from centuries ago up through the current fresh injuries and the conflict is perpetuated generation to generation.

Yancey explains, "The strongest argument in favor of grace is the alternative, a world of ungrace. The strongest argument for forgiveness is the alternative, a permanent state of unforgiveness." To strengthen his point, Yancey points out examples of grace and ungrace from bombings to the Holocaust and individual and national responses. It all comes back to the quote at the beginning of this post: "Not to forgive imprisons me in the past." ~Philip Yancey

So many people are stuck in the past nurturing grievances such as abuse that can never be undone or the murder of loved ones that cannot be brought back to life. Forgiveness does not justify sin, but it frees the wronged to move forward and break the chain of ungrace and vengence. Forgiveness may not be easy and it may not be instant, but it marks the beginning of recovery from wrong. It frees the forgiver to move forward. It helps lift the burden of guilt from the forgiven. When you think an atrocity is too big to be forgiven, remember that Jesus asked his Father to forgive His crusifiers. Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18: 21-35. In order for us to receive God's forgiveness, it is important that we forgive each other. "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors...For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:12, 14-15

We already know what a world of ungrace looks like. Yancey reminds of Ghandi's observation that the world would go blind if we follow the "eye for an eye" rule. I think the world's already largely blinded. What would it look like if we add a little grace and forgiveness? What would it look like for you to forgive those whose wrongs you nurture? Will you strive to break the cycle of ungrace in your own life and your family?

Aware

Perhaps one of the things I love most about photography is that is helps me discover the world around me. So many things about it parallel life. It's all about lighting, distance, what is included or excluded, which part is in focus, perspective. It's about seeking, discovering, and capturing beauty. Sometimes the simplest, everyday subjects make the best photos. How you see each day depends on how you look at it.

Become a child again. Open your eyes to fresh, new discoveries. Never cease to wonder and be amazed. Walk off the trail. Crawl through underbrush. Stand awed at the power of the wind in the treetops.Use your senses. Listen, smell, see, feel. Become aware of your surroundings. Don't get so caught up in yourself that you fail to discover the world around you. Incorporate some adventure into your life!

"How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it; if you could really look at other men with common curiosity and pleasure." ~Chesterton

My Little Brother

I have a wonderful
"little" brother! One of my earliest memories includes the fact that Daniel was too little to do something that I, a big girl, was able to do. Well, that didn't last too long. He tries to let me keep my place as older sister, but I've found myself needing his expertise more than once! It was hard to know what he would do when he grew up, because he was always great with things like cattle, horses, and woodworking; he loved the outdoors and anything related to old time farm life.
He knows how to tie knots!
Late in high school, he became interested in the unlikely profession of healthcare! Far from what I would have expected from him, he took to EMT things and then nursing. It has been so much fun sharing stories, knowledge, and experiences with Daniel over these last few years as he we have both studied nursing. His love for the Lord, skill at working with people, competence, and enthusiasm for what he does are what make him one of the best!

Daniel, I can't believe that you just finished your last nursing final and are ready to graduate!

Everyday News

Are you tired of hearing only what is going wrong in the world? Are you frustrated with our news media? YOU need to hear Everyday News!

http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/multimedia/enn/2006/12/1969.aspx

Thanksgiving Forward

Our WHOLE family, 10 total, met this year in Macomb, Illinois, at Ben and Tandalee's apartment for Thanksgiving. What may have been quite an in-law experience for Tandalee, with 8 extra hungry mouths to feed and 6 extra full beds, couches, and blow-up mattresses, was a good time for the rest of us:) We had some very nice meals and time to just relax and visit. The weather was sunny and gorgeous, so we got in some Frisbee throwing and walks. I got to spend nearly a week there enjoying family and reading books.
My week to rest, visit, and just think was broken harshly by my first days of work when I returned to Rochester. Those first two days in particular were full of new doctors' orders, constant patient needs and complications, extensive coordination, a constantly beeping pager, and phone calls to prepare patients for discharge and transfer. I failed to take a break those first two days, and an unexpected encounter in the hall resulted in person breaking a bone. It was not directly anyone's fault, but I felt indirectly responsible and was the only witness, so I had to report what happened to security. Yesterday, I was able to visit with the person, who does not blame me and is able to laugh about it all inspite of being in the hospital.

The last couple of days carried an interesting twist as well. Yesterday I had a patient adamantly request another nurse. The day before, I was a good nurse, though the patient was crabby. I was dreading having this patient again, but kept telling myself that just one patient like that should not be able to ruin my day or control me. Well, I saw the spouse in the hall, who wanted me to come in and say "Hi." The patient didn't remember me right away, then it dawned; I was that horrible, incompetent, in-your-face nurse from the day before. From that moment on, it was impossible to regain my reputation. Anything I did or said was wrong. My best plan of action was to get other nurses to help me as much as possible and keep my mouth tightly shut. You know, it's rather hard to care for a patient who constantly gives you the hate stare and snaps at you occasionally, making a point to complement the care of the other nurses. One bright spot is that the spouse kept hugging me and telling me not to take it hard. I just feel sorry for what that spouse goes through day in day out. Finally, at 7pm, I was able to take another patient and give mine away.

Over the last couple of weeks, I feel like I have learned a lot through my difficult experiences. I'm beginning to feel much more competent and confident. I came home laughing about it all yesterday. Give me all kinds of tubes and wounds, and I'm ready to take them on!

The Story Behind the Shawl

Just before going on the world religions tour in Chicago, my path crossed with a Muslim woman here in Rochester. She was very open about her life as a Somalian refugee and Muslim, so we talked a lot a couple of different days. The second day, I asked her where I might find a scarf to cover my head because I needed one for the Sikh place on the tour. She said that she had many and would give me one. I insisted that she need not, so she told me where to buy them. Before I left, she said that she really wanted to give me one. So a few days later, I found myself in her bedroom in her apartment going through shawls. She taught me how to put it on the way the Somalian women do. We sat and talked again as I learned more about her life and faith.

Starting out talking to her, I knew very little about Islam. It was so interesting getting to hear about it from a woman who grew up in it and went to Islamic school for four years in Somalia and memorized the Koran one and a half times. Through that, the world religion tour, and reading part of a book called Voices Behind the Veil, I feel like I know a bit more about my Muslim neighbors. I am still reading and learning, but I won't launch into everything I have learned, or this post would be longer than the world religion one:)

After the world religion tour, the biggest thing that stuck out to me between all religions and Christianity is the concept of grace, which is through Jesus Christ. I have just started reading a wonderful book, What's So Amazing about Grace by Philip Yancey that Ben loaned me. The other place I am reading about grace is the Bible. It's amazing! Truly humbling.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me ever to adore Thee;

May I still Thy goodness prove;

While the hope of endless glory

Fills my heart with joy and love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I'm come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee:

Never let me wander from Thee,

Never leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

World Religions

On Friday and Saturday, I had the opportunity to join a world religions tour in Chicago. There was a group of around 90 of us, with most being from a class at Harding University, where my roommate, Sarah, went to school. Through learning about a variety of faiths, my faith in Jesus Christ has been both challenged and strengthened in ways it never has before! At most places, we got to observe a service, hear from a sincere believer about the faith, and ask questions. At every place we felt very welcomed. Many of the people seemed to appreciate the fact that we were coming to the source to learn about their beliefs. I have some photos to share, but there were many places that it just didn't seem appropriate to take pictures.

Thursday, November 9th

Sarah and I drove to Madison, Wisconsin, to spend the night with Sarah's friend, Julee, before the three of us left for Chicago early Friday morning.

Friday, November 10th

The Baha'i House of Worship www.bahaitemple.org

The Bahai believe in progressive revelation through divine Messengers such as Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, and Muhammad. Each Messenger was relevant to his time in history, but Baha'u'llah is the Promised One for our time. The Bahai faith is tolerant of all religions, because they are all one and lead to the same God. The temple depicts this through its 9 sides entrances all pointing upward in the same direction. Since 9 is the largest single digit number, it represents completeness or fulfillment. The problem with Christianity is that it is fixated on one prophet, Jesus. There are multiple paths to heaven, and each person is judged according to his/her works. The house of worship is a place to enter into to pray or worship in silence, though there is sometimes reading of scriptures or singing.

Islamic Center of Elston http://www.iiie.net/

Upon entering the Islamic Center, we took our shoes off and sat on the floor in the back of a large room with rugs covering the floor. At the beginning, there were probably around 100-200 men there. Each would come in, bow half way, straighten up, then bow low with nose to the ground. Even after the service began, men continued to stream in until they had to stop and ask people to move closer together towards the front of the room. By the end, there were 500-600 men and boys in the room. In the back corner with sheets to separate, there were probably 40-50 women dressed in traditional dresses. Their head were covered with faces exposed. Some of the men were dressed in jeans and shirts, while others wore more traditional clothing and shirts, including some white robes and black jackets. Towards the beginning, there was a wailing song that a man sang. Then there was short serman to encourage all to be better Muslims. The primary belief in Islam seems to be the belief in one God. Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet, to whom God revealed the Qur'an. They believe in angels, judgment day, heaven and hell, and resurection. The message that day was largely about increasing Iman, or faith, in order not simply to be a Muslim, but to be the best Muslim you can be. At the end, there was more bowing, but it was done by all at the same time. There were some verbal responses as a group, then at the end some chanting/singing. There was an obvious sense of community in that group as men greated each other with a hug or other expression of good will. One of the reasons to be a good Muslim is to deserve Allah's forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Jesus is seen as a prophet, but not as divine.

Soka Gakkai International (Sect of Buddhism) http://www.sgi-usa.org/

At the front of the room is an object of worship, of which there is a smaller version in every home. We were not allowed to take photos when the doors of the object of worship were open, but inside were letters in other languages which were pronounced "Nam-myoho-renge-hyo" over and over again for the chant/prayer. Nam=devotion, myoho=mystic law, renge=lotus-the simultanaity of cause and effect, kyo=sutra-truth expressed through ones voice. According to this sect of Buddhism, there is no right or wrong and therefore not guilt. Buddahood is achieved my doing good. Chanting the prayers is done at least two times each day for varying lengths of time, but the chanting broadens thought. Enlightenment is desired, but the important thing is the present, not the past and how the world came to be or the future and the possibility of heaven or the end of the world. The focus is now. Peace and personal happiness are the goals of chanting. There is a bell that is rung periodically during the prayer to honor the dead. They believe in rebirth as humans, which is not to be confused with reincarnation, in which people may come back in varying forms of life. The purpose of this kind of Buddhism is not to answer for how everything is in life, therefore it was hard to get clear or logical answers for the many questions we ask. People meet together not only for prayers, but for music and social programs. Buddhism seems to be very tolerant of other religions.

Sharing and Motel

We had some time off Friday evening to explore Miracle Mile, but it was very windy and raining. My little group ate at The Cheesecake Factory below the John Hancock building, but the weather was not conducive to much more exploration. Later in the evening, we returned to the International Conference Center where the majority of the group was staying. There we spent some time just singing to the Lord, sharing thoughts, and reading Bible verses. Then Sarah, Julee and I left to find our motel, which was quite an adventure in itself. Without sharing the details, we arived there around 1:20am, by which time one of us was feeling like throwing up and I was laughing until I cried. Needless to say, we slept well though our sleep was short.

Saturday, November 11th

Congregation Rodfei Zedek (Conservative Jewish group) Shabbat (Sabbath) Synagogue http://www.rodfei.org/

Because it was the Sabbath, no photography or taking notes was allowed. I had a hard time staying awake and alert for the three hour service for a couple of reasons, one being lack of sleep and the other being that most of it was in Hebrew. There were several things about this service that were unique, however. The one that stuck out to me the most was the reverence and admiration shown to the Torah, a scroll containing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in Hebrew. Taking it out of the ark and putting it back was cermonious as whoever was carrying it took it into the congregation where people crowded around with eyes shining to touch it or kiss the part of their garments that touched it. Throughout the service, the Torah was read in Hebrew in a sort of chant/song by several different people from the congregation, both men and women, young and old. (Allowing women to read in a conservative service is controversial). Between readings, there were various Hebrew scriptures and songs that were chanted/sung by either a leader or a leader and the congregation. The rabbi spoke in English some throughout the service. Every man, including those in our group, wore a skullcap/yarmulke/kipah. Most of the women wore a bit of lace pinned in their hair. Something else that was unique was the baby naming ceremony for a coupe and their baby. The whole congregation clapped in sinc after the naming. There seemed to be a sense of community and pride in the herritage and tradition these people shared.

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple) www.balaji.org

Visiting the Hindu temple evoked strong emotions in many of us. A few of us commented that is made us want to cry to see people so caught up trying to please their gods in order to receive more carma. Seeing the prophets and people trying to please these gods reminded me of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. One of the priests spoke to us a little about Hinduism, but he was difficult to understand. The priests go through some kind of purification in order to enter into the holy area around the images of gods. They performed ceremonies such as a wedding for one of the gods. There were offerings of fruit and money as well as ceremonies to please the gods. In one corner on the floor a young man and woman participated in a ceremony with a priest. Another priest was performing some kind of ceremony with a couple for their son before he turned one. We were not allowed to take photos inside the building, but you can see the elaborate flower-laden gods and the priests dressed in white by going to the website above this section.

Willow Creek Community Church http://www.willowcreek.org/

Stopping at Willow Creek, an interdenominational church that boasts around 20,000 attendees each week, was a change from the other places we had been. As is the trend in Christian churches today, there was a band leading loud music complete with lights and projection onto wide video screens. Props facilitate anouncements and the message of the serman. Bill Hybels started the church around 1975 with the purpose of attracting the unchurched and those uncomfortable with traditional churches in the suburban Chicago area. There is a coffee shop that is open during the service, as well as a food court where one may purchase food before the service then eat while watching the proceedings on a large screen. Up stairs there is a book store and a small library. Childrens programs flourish downstairs. The central area outside of the auditorium boasts an escalator and a water fountain. The church puts emphasis on its large food pantry ministry as well as appealing to "seekers" who may be uncomfortable in some churches but are seeking answers to an empty life. Side note: I left my Bible there in the restroom and had to call and have it shipped to me:)

Sikh Religious Society http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism

The Sikh place of worship is called the Gurudwara, where the Sikh holy book is kept. As the site (http://www.srschicago.com/) for this Gurudwara describes the religion, "Based on the belief in One God, the Sikh religion recognizes the equality of all human beings, and is marked by rejection of idolatry, ritualism, caste and ascetism." This kind of belief was quite radial compared to the religions and practices in India and Pakistan, where it originated. Sikhism is the 5th largest religion in the world, with most of its adherents living in the state of Punjab, India. One of the marks of its rejection of caste is the way Sikhs eat together with everyone on the same level. In fact, they served us one of their delicious vegetarian meals while we were there! The religion began with Guru Nanak and was expanded by 9 successive gurus. The 10th guru said that from that time on, the guru would be the holy scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib, a collection of various writings. While Sikhs insist that they worship only the one God, they show very high respect to the book, treating it as though it were a living, breathing Guru. In its presence, heads must be covered, backs must never be turned to it, shoes must be off, and feet should not point in its direction. Someone may sit and fan it to keep flies and dust away. In addition, it is place in a special bed at night and then taken out again in the morning. The goal of a Sikh (disciple/learner) is spiritual union with God.

More Thoughts

It was so hard to know how to write this, because there is so much more! I tried to keep it to some of the highlights and make it more of a description of the things we saw and did, though some of my reactions and thoughts managed to filter in. More personal thoughts and the impression this trip made may surface later. To put it in a nutshell, though, I have a different understanding of Christianity. Most of these other religions place a high emphasis on attaining salvation or happiness. Salvation in Christianity is a gift. Works should be more of an outflow of a grateful heart for that gift and a desire to honor the One who saves. The difference is undeserved salvation by grace versus deserved reward. Growing up, I considered atheism versus belief in God more than other religions versus Christianity. This trip and some of the reading on these religions has certainly broadened my view of the world. It has personalized some of the things I had only read about before. Now I see these people more as individuals also seeking and believing what they believe on faith. I want to seek truth, and truth does not change based on what a person believes. I'm also thankful that God is on His throne, because I certainly am not qualified to judge!

My roommate, Sarah posted more thoughts on the trip at: http://sarahdill.blogspot.com/

Maybe the next post will be the story behind my scarf, or Thanksgiving in Illinois, or...

Night Owl

No, I'm not birdwatching, but rather patient watching. I don't normally work nights, but they needed an extra hand tonight to sit with a confused man. I like it because I have plenty of time to be on the computer, but it's harder to stay awake than when I am walking the halls--the night has a tendency to drag on. You know what is alwasy special, though? It's when a patient notices you rather than always being self-centered. When I commented to my patient that it's still the middle of the night and he needs to get some more sleep, he replied that I hadn't slept at all!

I have been researching world religions for my upcoming tour in Chicago. Sarah and I are going there this weekend to visit various religious temples and churches with a group from Harding University, where she went to college. I'm sure you'll see a post about that soon! You know, sometimes I have to do things just so I will have something to post on my blog!

Today I came to the hospital to visit for awhile with a Muslim lady whom I had met. I learned so much about life as a Somalian, Islamic refugee now living in the states! We probably talked for over an hour and a half with me probing and interviewing her! She was very open about her life and beliefs.

Wanderlust Personality

I have a wanderlust personality. Every few days I find myself thinking about various kinds of health care and travel nursing possibilities. If anyone else has this problem or knows how to deal with it, let me know!

"Not all who wander are lost."

"Be yourself. Everyone else is taken."

Entertaining

Today I had a couple of bus friends over for supper. One of the girls, Katie, gets on the bus with me in the mornings, and the other, Maurita, was someone I just ended up sitting by on the way home on Tuesday. Come to find out, the two went to nursing school together and are still good friends, so yesterday the two of them along with Sarah and I walked Katie's yellow lab and planned a get together for today.

As I cooked alone in the kitchen, I realized that back home, it was funner cooking with people. So...I called Mama and we visited while we cooked. Mama informed me that she was browning hamburger meat. I happened to be doing the same thing! After a bit, Mama asked, "What are you making?" "Baked potatoes," I replied. "That's what I'm making!" Mama exclaimed. Pause. Then, "What are you wearing?" she asked in a hush. I don't know whether we were relieved or disappointed, but we didn't match!

It was so relaxing and fun to just sit and talk about work and life and get to really know Katie and Maurita. It felt like going back to college where my friends and I could share dreams and struggles and just be there to encourage each other.

The last week has brought with it several such joys. On Friday night, a new friend of mine, Helen, came over for supper. I met her at L'Abri and was pleased to find out that she lives just four houses up the road from me! She just moved here to be near a couple of her children and their families. A radiant, Christian lady she is! I look forward to sharing many more such times with her, Lord willing. After our visit, we went to a wonderful lecture by Jock McGregor at L'Abri. He talked about the idols of the postmodern generation and we all participated in discussion. For some reason, he kept singling me out to ask me my thoughts. They weren't so brilliant, but it did make me think, and several of his points hit home with me. Here are a couple of ways to identify the idols in your life: Ask yourself 1) How do I spend my time? 2) What would I be devestated to lose?

On Sunday, I visited Oasis Church. The pastor spoke about poverty and sparked a lot of discussion! Thinking about it and the related issues again made me want to drop everything and go help. As he said, poverty is not a controversial issue; how to remedy it is. The purpose of his lesson was primarily to provoke serious thought about the poor and justice and to point out how important this issue is to God's heart. This all brought back memories of my Biblical ethics and senior seminar classes from last semester. Justice for the oppressed is one of the major themes of the Bible! I have hardly ever been more challenged about my beliefs than by a serious look into these issues. Truly facing the facts of the needs of people here and around the world along with what should be done about it is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable and convicting thing to consider.

I think we largely dismiss these problems based on the assumption that most poor people are suffering as a direct result of their laziness. While this is in fact true of a few, it is more of a way to excuse our lack of concern and action. Many people the world over suffer and die from circumstances beyond their control, from injustices and things like war, famine, hunger, dehydration, and preventable diseases. While parents struggle just to earn enough to sustain their families, I am absorbed with whether or not I like my job, get the vacation I want, or have enough friends. God doesn't have much compassion for the rich, but He sure does defend the disadvantaged! If you doubt that, read Amos, look at who Jesus ministered to, consider God's frustrations with the Isrealites through the words of the prophets, think about the following passages:

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

"You shall do no injustice in court. you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteaousness shall you judge your neighbor." Leviticus 19:15

"For I was hungry...thirsty...a stranger...naked...sick...in prison and you came to me...as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25: 35-40

Dairy

Johannes gave Jenny and I a tour of the dairy where he works.
It is the largest in Winona County. At any one time, the dairy has about 1400 lactating cows. And yes, cows come on a carousel!

First, the workers corral the cows...

Then someone puts iodine on to clean before milking. The next person in the row wipes the iodine off with a cloth, and the third puts the milking machine on the cows.

It only takes less than five minutes for a cow to be milked, which is about the time it takes for the carousel to make one revolution. When there is little milk still coming out, the machine lets loose and falls off. The cow knows to step out of the slot when she sees a pole at the end of the round. Each cow's production is monitored. The box on the collar around her neck registers her when she enters the milking slot. The average cow yields about 70 pounds or less than 9 gallons of milk each day from the three milkings. The cow carousel runs nearly 24 hours a day.

The milk is piped into tanks and tank trucks to be sold and shipped to the Minneapolis/St. Paul where it is tested, pasturized, and processed. Cows that are in heat are artificially inseminated, which we got to see done. The ones that are due to deliver within two weeks are kept in one area. Near that are the calves that were born that day. Across the way is the postpartum unit, for the cows that have just delivered babies to be watched and monitored. In another barn, the calves are categorized by birthday and cared for and fed. There are a few Jersey cows and calves mixed in with the Holsteins. They help add more quality to the milk, while the Holsteins produces more quantity.

The people that run the dairy also raise most of the feed for the cows to last the year. There are around 30 fulltime employees to keep the operation running. Visiting the dairy was so interesting that I was wishing many of you were there with me!

Lake Königssee, Germany

Porky

Hello folks! I am Porky. I live in Texas on a ranch. I've been wanting to appear on the web, but it just took a long time to talk Amy into putting me up here. I first met Amy when this picture was taken.





I was actually sleeping soundly when she first disturbed me.

Naturally, I was scared, but it turned out to be kind of interesting and actually fun getting to pose for pictures.

Bet you didn't know porcupines were so cute!

Visitors

Ben, Tandalee, and Caleb all came to stay for the weekend! It was a great time to just relax and catch up with each other. The time flew by, and I'm back to work again. Work has not been as overwhelming for the last couple of weeks:)

I now have all of our photos from the trip to Austria, Germany, and London last summer. I may be posting some soon. Ben and Tandalee also brought all of my photos and negatives from high school, so now I have the massive project of organizing, consolidating, and putting some more of them in albums.

Hellen Keller

Since it seems that most of you do not read my quotes site, I'm putting this on my regular one. Seek out the most important things and enjoy them--they are true gifts from God!

Work

Some days...I like my job. Other days, I start looking into other options and occupations. There were several days in a row that were rough; I felt so inadequate. One day was particularly hard, but my coworkers were extremely considerate--they helped me, asked how I was doing, and were truly concerned. I drove home crying that night, both from the emotional stress and the realization that everyone cared about me.

Then, there were a couple of easy days that helped boost my moral. Some of the happenings of the last week or so include being hit by a patient who was confused, listening to stories from another confused man about his last battle in Korea--complete with a hand drawn map, having a patient fall unwitnessed and reporting the incident, having a couple of patients who were charming and loved to talk, and yes, giving a man his prescribed whiskey with a doctor's order for no more than 5 alcoholic beverages per day!

Many of you asked what kinds of patients my floor would have, but I never gave a good answer since I didn't know. Now, here it is!

1. Appendectomies (appendix removal)
2. Cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal)
3. Fistulas--an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of trauma or surgery. So...don't get surgeries. Fistulas can take a year or more to heal.
4. Accidents from hay bales, horses, falls, motorcycles, cars, trucks, hammers, fists, rebar, electricity, you name it.
5. Wounds--I love wound care!

The best news is...I am about to have my first visitors!!! Ben, Tandalee, and Caleb are coming to stay for the weekend! I am off work Friday through Monday, so I look forward to just enjoying them!

P.S. First snow flurries 10/11/06. Low tonight: 22 degrees. It's great!

Family

I have been doing some photo editing. Here is a picture of our family from December 2005 with a few adjustments!

Weekend

It was great to have a weekend off after working the last two. Sarah and I nearly went overboard doing things with friends, but we enjoyed it so much!Friday evening was spent with some friends here in Rochester. On Saturday, we drove to Winona, which in on the Mississippi River.

After enjoy a scenic overlook, we met some friends for lunch, then walked around town for 2 1/2 hours just visiting!

Some of the trees are colorful now, and there are many leaves on the ground!

On Sunday, we went to Whitewater State Park with some friends from Rochester, Lyle and Sarah.








Somehow the refreshment of the weekend was not enough to carry over into Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday was one of my worst days at work since I started, but I'm afraid today topped it. However hard I tried to be calm and organized, I felt like I was spinning my wheels. If I was helping one patient and had to run get something, I was sure to be needed by two or three other patients or nurses. Somehow I made it through the day with no major catastrophes, but at the very end, I went into one of the patient's rooms with the next nurse, Sue, to check on a wound manager bag. The patient took that opportune moment to give me a scolding and was not satisfied until I had sufficiently acknowledged the poor nursing care he had received and said I was sorry. All the while, his wife winked at me to tell me not to take it seriously. In the end, the patient said that he accepted my apology and that I was a good nurse. That did not really bother me because I knew it was just the way the patient was, but it was a great way to top of a challenging the day, don't you think?