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The last couple days at work have been so busy, the busiest I have ever worked, but after starting my days with longer peaceful prayers, I have two days in a row now, not felt any anger or anxiety in my heart.  I feel like the Holy Spirit is influencing how I behave and that God is giving me great, great strength.

And let me tell you, I needed it. At work, they gave me an assignment two days in a row that would be impossible to do, if it were not for the fact that they assigned a new orientee to work with me who was very proficient in her skills.  You know, it really was amazing, I finally managed to find balance and peace in my heart, knowing full well that my day would be non-stop.

I literally spent about 7-8 hours with one patient today, that’s how heavy it was.  My other patients were lucky to see me.  But I had many tasks to perform (six dressings for the one patient alone, as well as many other tasks) and only 12 hours to do them in.  But somehow, I just kept finding reasons to smile, kept having the energy. On the two days of work in my life so far I should have been crying, I just took it with smile and saw how it was my work and service others that I must do these tasks for the good of the person.  And I think it started with two things…

One: Lent and Easter are wonderful times of re-evaluation and rebirth. I feel so moved to be in a deeper relationship with Christ and living morally it is just so inspiring.

Two:actually, two is two parts. You see, I was taking care of a very heavy patient whose husband kept thanking me and thanking me for fighting for his wife (both of us)  and taking care of her and thanking me more and I usually say “no problem.”  I just thought of this as a kind gesture on his part. However, I went and sat down, literally for one minute in the charting room as I needed a minute to breath.  I picked up a card that a family member had given us for a patient who had died, thanking us for everything we had done.  But what the card explained is the GRATITUDE they felt toward our staff. They spoke of how gratitude towards someone can never be tainted after a certain task is done. It lives with the person who recieves the kindness and is remembered for a lifetime.  I never really thought of it that way but they were right.  Although people can hurt me or I don’t like something they did, if they did a great task for me, the gratitude for that task, for that person was never lost; not once. And so, with this heavy patient, I went into the room and informed him that what we had fought for all day was finally going to happen. I could tell he wanted to hug me, but he reached into his bag instead and gave me a small gift.  With tears in his eyes he patted me on the back and said thank you.  And I got it. I understood his gratitude; I think until that point I thought I had been nursing and not making much of a difference. ( I think a lot of people don’t realize the difference they make everyday).  And now, when I look at him, after his long battle, he looks at me with trust in his eyes.  God bless his soul.

I fell asleep while eating during all of my breaks, my legs were like Jello, my head spinning, I couldn’t have answered one more question if I had tried.  And then, I went out into the hall and I saw a colleauge walking toward me.  She had tears in their eyes.  I can’t say what happened but I had never seen any staff cry before.  I looked at her and asked her what happened, she told me, and I just hugged her and let her cry into my shoulder.  As I tell this story, I get tears in my eyes, but at the time, I didn’t cry.  I just stayed strong and kept going.  I even stayed late to make sure she left okay. 

 At work, I don’t cry, which most people I know probably can’t believe because I, and the women of my family, are weepers.  I cry when babies are born, I cry when a teens’ death is broadcast across the news.  Situations move me more than most people will ever know. I just think life is so precious.

Had I been stressed I may have cried, but God was granting me peace.  I thank God for the strength he gave me today. And you know what? I’m glad, with the help of God, the love of my family, fiance, and friends, I can make it through the tough stuff. I’m glad my life is challenging and tough sometimes.  It really helps me grow….

So, I have to clear something up oh reader. I was sitting here blogging the other day, after I turned my taps off, and there was a knock at my door. The handyman of the building came in and told me he was here to shut my taps off.  I looked at him perplexed and then he explained to me that while he was fixing my light switch, the people belong me needed some assistance witht their plumbing, which required him (for some reason) to turn on my taps. He did this of course while I was not in the apartment.

So, the case of the spontaneous tap is solved!!

Grace

Happy Easter to all!  I just wanted to say that I had a very splendid and interesting Easter with my family, Ken’s family (hosting Easter breakfast at my place), singing at all the masses and spending time with my friends.

To my wonderful fiance, thank you for allowing me to host Easter breakfast and for all the hard work we did preparing, and thanks for putting up with my stress levels.  And driving me home after my glass of wine….

Thanks to all the music ministry and campus ministry volunteers and priests for the wonderful services this weekend as well. 

As we carry on with this glorious Easter season, may we allow Christ to transform our lives and may we live in the peace he gave us.

God bless,

Grace

So, after four days of the beautiful busy bustle of Easter weekend’s beginning, I decided I should rest for a moment and catch an afternoon nap. However, as I lay down on my couch, the pipes in my kitchen sink started to make a funny noise.  About a half and hour later, I found the taps turned ON and running hot and cold water…I still don’t know how this is possible….

G-force

Last week, a great aunt of mine passed away. Her name, Auntie Lena, a treasure of our family.  It was actually one of the happiest memorial services’ I have ever attended.  Everyone was shaking hands, laughing, telling stories, taking pictures and the music and message during the service was very unlifting. The occasional tear was shed, but really a celebration of her life and the life to come was the true focus. 

Auntie Lena was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease ten years ago and since then had been living in different instituitions in Edmonton up until her death. Having known her mostly with the disease, the service was a great chance to learn that she volunteered in the prisons, with church, out in the community, worked at the local Co-op, lived in Drayton Valley; things I never knew about her.

During the tribute to her, her two son in laws stood up and spoke about her life, and how happy they were that they got to know what she liked so that in her dying years, when she couldn’t tell them, she could still be happy because they knew which radio station to turn on, which clothes were her favourite, etc…

And of course, Uncle Paul, her husband was there and he looked better than I had seen him in years.  I myself am marrying a man who stuck by me in times of illness. And I know that if something like that ever happened to my husband, I would never leave his side either. …You see, I think what attracts me to people is there spirit and life force, that is always constant. In regards to Ken, it’s really not what he can do for me but that his very being, his spirit, his soul is what draws me to him. And no matter what can happen to him, on this earth until he passes on, that will always be with him and I will always want to be by him because of this.

Alzheimer’s does run in families, so,I just thought I would let you know a few things about myself in case one day my memory is not quite so good. ..

Chocolate mousse is my favourite dessert, I really enjoy my meals and home cooking is the best. I like to get dressed up and go out to functions like dances, even if I am just watching.  I ‘ll listen to almost any type of music in my car as long as it is played really loud and I can sing along. I like having Sunday afternoons for family time and feel this is the best day to make soup for supper.   I do not like raisons or tuna and I like my hair off my neck sometimes, and sometimes flowing over my back.   Enough to think about yet?

They the one son in law ended the service with a a reading from proverbs…( a few words different in their version)

” A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life.  She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.  She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy. She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson. ”

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and her praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (proverbs 31: 10-21,26-31.)

I hope that one day, I will earn the honour of being described this way.

 Grace