Random

I am cold because it is the middle of the night and my body says I should be sleeping. My patient is... This evening I spent 2+ hours listening to my pt's husband tell about his missionary experiences in Kenya at Kijabe. He is a pathologist and would go there every year for awhile for 6 weeks or so at a time. He just talked and talked and it was hard to stop him, because he so wanted to share all about it and encourage me to do it. He told about the kind of needs there are, the kind of work doctors do there, the people, the church, the animals, the birds, the lakes, safaris, diseases, religions...and on and on.

This is my sixth shift since I have been off orientation. Every single shift has been wonderful. I find that I love dealing with patients and families who are confronting life and death issues. It is humbling to see how God speaks words through me even when I don't know what to say. Most days have been slow enough that I am able to spend time listening to families and providing a little extra touch. One of my patients responded with an extra touch for me that meant more than I can convey. It was the end of my 12 hours with her. She was intubated, so she couldn't talk, but she seemed completely oriented. She reached for my hand and held it for a moment. Then she reached up to touch my face softly. That was one of those precious moments that makes me want to hold my breath and never let it pass. It was such a loving expression of appreciation for my care that she showed me even though she couldn't speak. See the poem about human touch from a couple of posts ago; it can be so powerful!

I feel like summer is finally here! After being busy and gone so much of the time, I have been able to be in Rochester and make the most of the gorgeous weather. I bought a bike and love to take it for a spin on the trails. A little over a week ago, Sarah, her sister, Matt, and I went kayaking on the Root River in Lanesboro. Last weekend, Matt and I visited his brother and sister-in-law in Madison. We visited the huge farmers' market there, went swimming, and took a long bike ride. I'm so thankful for these times of enjoying the weather before fall comes. There are already hints of it coming. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed one kind or tree was already turning yellow. There were a few turning red on the road from Madison to Rochester. Even the air is starting to have that crispness that reminds of fresh apple cider, pumpkin pie, and a fire in the fireplace.

I've had a hard time keeping up with blogging and making it interesting, so suggestions are welcome! I hope you haven't all given up on checking my site:)

Incredible Friends

I have incredible friends! I'm so blessed by them each time we talk. A couple of days ago, eight of my Rochester girls and I had a sleep over. It was like a reunion, because we hadn't been all together for...a long time! Summer gets so busy and we're going here and there, so it was refreshing to get to fellowship, pray, share, confess, laugh... Then there are my friends who will share any joy or grief. They are willing to just be present or share, but when they talk, their words are wise. They point me back to God. They love me with a love that many people have never experienced. Then there is my family. They are ALWAYS there for me.