I went to Kremmling today and helped get my sister all dolled up for prom. She looked soooo gorgeous. Her dress ($7 from the salvation army, very cool) was floor length, white, and navy, an elegant combination. I put her curly hair in an updo and did her make up light, cause she's a natural beauty. :D :D :D (Oh my sad fate, I cannot post a picture because my camera is ancient.)
Joanie's going with a bunch of her friends and is eating in the lovely restaurant where Bobby very romantically proposed to Brianna and she gets to ride in a limmo. Somebody get the poparazzi on this girl.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
trusting & tithing
I ran today. Running always helps me think, pray, get things back in perspective, listen to God, and trust Him.
Some thoughts.
I was once upon a time very good at tithing. (Giving 10% of all my money to God.) I thought I was pretty good at believing the Biblical principal that if I did this God would bless it. Well adult life is....harder than I had anticipated. I tithed faithfully right up till I became fully independent of my parents in January. Suddenly along with rent and phone I was also paying for both health and car insurance.
Arg. I had looked forward to the thought of being so "grown up" but it took about two days for the rosyness to be utterly annihilated. Anyway my faithfulness to tithe sputtered down to not much. I began paying bills first and then giving God my leftovers. :s This, I'm realizing, was not a good idea. Though I now have a better, higher paying job with benefits, I struggle more financially and I shouldn't. Also I'm leaving for Paris on a mission trip in less than two weeks and though the trip is cheaper than most I've been on, I've had much more trouble raising the money. Hmmm...... seems like trusting God enough to tithe is not so optional as I had attempted to make it.
Maybe trusting God in general isn't so optional as I try to make it either. (Yes, I'm stating the obvious, sorry.) There are a lot of areas where I've let fear in and have pulled back from Him. Most of those areas have been about as successful as the finances. Especially relationships. I've grown very afraid of being hurt and put up some of the same old walls I had up in my early teens. It's working about as well as it did then. :s
I gotta get over this bad trend.....
Some thoughts.
I was once upon a time very good at tithing. (Giving 10% of all my money to God.) I thought I was pretty good at believing the Biblical principal that if I did this God would bless it. Well adult life is....harder than I had anticipated. I tithed faithfully right up till I became fully independent of my parents in January. Suddenly along with rent and phone I was also paying for both health and car insurance.
Arg. I had looked forward to the thought of being so "grown up" but it took about two days for the rosyness to be utterly annihilated. Anyway my faithfulness to tithe sputtered down to not much. I began paying bills first and then giving God my leftovers. :s This, I'm realizing, was not a good idea. Though I now have a better, higher paying job with benefits, I struggle more financially and I shouldn't. Also I'm leaving for Paris on a mission trip in less than two weeks and though the trip is cheaper than most I've been on, I've had much more trouble raising the money. Hmmm...... seems like trusting God enough to tithe is not so optional as I had attempted to make it.
Maybe trusting God in general isn't so optional as I try to make it either. (Yes, I'm stating the obvious, sorry.) There are a lot of areas where I've let fear in and have pulled back from Him. Most of those areas have been about as successful as the finances. Especially relationships. I've grown very afraid of being hurt and put up some of the same old walls I had up in my early teens. It's working about as well as it did then. :s
I gotta get over this bad trend.....
Sunday, April 16, 2006
end of drama
At last after weeks of practicing we have finished the drama (still unnamed) I mentioned last week. It was fun working on it with everyone, but it's a relief to be done with all the practicing.
Playing a demon was also way harder than I expected. I've played bad people in dramas before, but trying to be purely evil was very tiring. Like the mental kind of tired where you're exhausted but then can't sleep when you lay down.
Today though, since we didn't have enough actors, I got to do a quick costume change after the angles ran us off and come back as a dancer rejoicing in Jesus' resurrection.
Playing a demon was also way harder than I expected. I've played bad people in dramas before, but trying to be purely evil was very tiring. Like the mental kind of tired where you're exhausted but then can't sleep when you lay down.
Today though, since we didn't have enough actors, I got to do a quick costume change after the angles ran us off and come back as a dancer rejoicing in Jesus' resurrection.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
passover
Immanuel Fellowship celebrated the passover tonight. I'm not sure when the actual passover was this year but today worked so we did. We ate it like they did in Leviticus, not with all the traditions with which the modern Jews have incorporated. I think I like the modern version better with all the little added traditions because every time I learn more about their history, but this was fun too.
After dinner we had a dramma that we've been working on for a couple of weeks. It tells the story of the redemption of humanity. The drama starts with creation, goes through the fall, shows some of the pain and slavery of sin, listens in on a conversation between God and Jesus right before he goes to earth, and sees Jesus crusified. Well, that's only the first half, we're showing the rest on Easter morning.
It's kind of an amazing little drama. We only had a cast of thirteen to represent God, Jesus, Satan, angels, demons, and all of humanity. It mixes a few speaking parts, video, mime, dance, and a cool sound track. Jenn, Joel, and Brianna have done a great job making it happen.
As a church we've been praying for this night. We invited a lot of people to come see it since it does a good job communicating what Jesus came and died for. (And people are more willing to come to church around Easter.) A lot of the people we invited are not Christians. Many are comming back to see the second half next Sunday.
After dinner we had a dramma that we've been working on for a couple of weeks. It tells the story of the redemption of humanity. The drama starts with creation, goes through the fall, shows some of the pain and slavery of sin, listens in on a conversation between God and Jesus right before he goes to earth, and sees Jesus crusified. Well, that's only the first half, we're showing the rest on Easter morning.
It's kind of an amazing little drama. We only had a cast of thirteen to represent God, Jesus, Satan, angels, demons, and all of humanity. It mixes a few speaking parts, video, mime, dance, and a cool sound track. Jenn, Joel, and Brianna have done a great job making it happen.
As a church we've been praying for this night. We invited a lot of people to come see it since it does a good job communicating what Jesus came and died for. (And people are more willing to come to church around Easter.) A lot of the people we invited are not Christians. Many are comming back to see the second half next Sunday.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
1st green
I went snowboarding today with Stephanie. She's a very good snowboarder and has been teaching me. She is Swiss/French and speaks very little English, and I speak even less French. So she tells me what to do in French and demonstrates then I, not understanding a word of it, just try to copy her movements. It's fun. :p
She took me on my first green today. (I've been boarding twice before but didn't have much time on either ocaision.) It was waaay steeper than the bunny hill. I fell down so much that I bruised both knees right through the knee pads I was wearing. But I also got to the point where I could just ride and ride without falling for a long time. Quite a feat when you consider how hopelessly klumsy I can be. I'm happy....and my arms are sore from catching so many falls. :s :)
She took me on my first green today. (I've been boarding twice before but didn't have much time on either ocaision.) It was waaay steeper than the bunny hill. I fell down so much that I bruised both knees right through the knee pads I was wearing. But I also got to the point where I could just ride and ride without falling for a long time. Quite a feat when you consider how hopelessly klumsy I can be. I'm happy....and my arms are sore from catching so many falls. :s :)
Saturday, April 01, 2006
april showers & carrots
Today is April 1st. As we all know (though I can't remember why), April showers bring May flowers. Summit county did have it's first April shower of the month today. However it was a snow shower, so I'm not expecting flowers anytime soon. I'm happy though, I like snow. :D
Anyway, enough about snow and non-existent May flowers. Onward to the next subject of this post: carrots. I went to a carrot party tonight. Right about now you must be thinking that this is an April-Fool's post but in fact all that I'm writing is true, strange as it may seem. I'm having an odd day. So this friend from work, Brett is celebrating his vegan anniversary. He's been eating "rabbit food" for a whole year now. In honor of the occasion he had a party, a carrot party. Every thing was made of carrots, carrot juice, carrot soup, carrot hummus, and carrot bread were all on the menu. Though it sounds quite crazy it was pretty good.
However, that's not the best part of it. The best was that my idea for the dessert was the big hit of the night. Granted, without the culinary skills of the Vegan Man it never would've happened, but still my crazy idea. The crazy idea that everyone loved? Carrot ice-cream. I know it sounds quite nasty but it was amazing. One of the better flavors I've tasted. So if ever you are faced with the option of having carrot-flavored ice-cream do not follow your instinct to run. Stay and try it, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Anyway, enough about snow and non-existent May flowers. Onward to the next subject of this post: carrots. I went to a carrot party tonight. Right about now you must be thinking that this is an April-Fool's post but in fact all that I'm writing is true, strange as it may seem. I'm having an odd day. So this friend from work, Brett is celebrating his vegan anniversary. He's been eating "rabbit food" for a whole year now. In honor of the occasion he had a party, a carrot party. Every thing was made of carrots, carrot juice, carrot soup, carrot hummus, and carrot bread were all on the menu. Though it sounds quite crazy it was pretty good.
However, that's not the best part of it. The best was that my idea for the dessert was the big hit of the night. Granted, without the culinary skills of the Vegan Man it never would've happened, but still my crazy idea. The crazy idea that everyone loved? Carrot ice-cream. I know it sounds quite nasty but it was amazing. One of the better flavors I've tasted. So if ever you are faced with the option of having carrot-flavored ice-cream do not follow your instinct to run. Stay and try it, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
french dinner
Immanuel Fellowship had a French dinner tonight. Marie and Judy organized it and it turned out lovely and very fun.
All the people who are taking French so that they can get around in France when we go in May were waiters. We all wore white shirts and black pants, very professional looking, just like so many of the restaurants in Paris. I think Marie did a pretty good job recreating just a little of the feel of a French restaurant. We even gave people a quick lesson in French etiquette, which ironically turned out to be my job. White table cloths, good food, candle light, and …... translation cards.
Here’s the fun part: all the tables needed French/English translation cards. None of the waiters spoke any English or Spanish. So everyone was required to order their meals, make requests, and say thank you in French. It was hilarious! I had the privilege of being a waitress and using my poor French. I absolutely refused to speak either English or Spanish to my bi-lingual table so they just had to figure out what I was saying and use their translation cards as best they could. It was crazyness! Not that anyone at my table could tell, but I tried to say everything right and I think I did a good job. Hmmm…is this the beginning of a career as a French waitress?
All the people who are taking French so that they can get around in France when we go in May were waiters. We all wore white shirts and black pants, very professional looking, just like so many of the restaurants in Paris. I think Marie did a pretty good job recreating just a little of the feel of a French restaurant. We even gave people a quick lesson in French etiquette, which ironically turned out to be my job. White table cloths, good food, candle light, and …... translation cards.
Here’s the fun part: all the tables needed French/English translation cards. None of the waiters spoke any English or Spanish. So everyone was required to order their meals, make requests, and say thank you in French. It was hilarious! I had the privilege of being a waitress and using my poor French. I absolutely refused to speak either English or Spanish to my bi-lingual table so they just had to figure out what I was saying and use their translation cards as best they could. It was crazyness! Not that anyone at my table could tell, but I tried to say everything right and I think I did a good job. Hmmm…is this the beginning of a career as a French waitress?
Saturday, March 18, 2006
baby shower
Marie and I went to a baby shower in Colorado Springs today. Marie and I were pitifully late, like an hour. Neither of us had ever driven to Colorado Springs before. Rachel, a girl we've been friends with for a few years is having a boy. I actually haven't seen her much since she moved to Hawaii to live with her parents about three years ago. It was good to catch up a little.
Friday, March 17, 2006
sweet 18?
So today I achieved something that no other person has and I deserve a prize. I attended all three of my little sister's birthday parties. Yes, I know, I have three little sisters so it's no big deal right? Wrong. All these parties that I've been going to were all in honor of Joanie who turned eighteen today. She's had a party every Saturday for the last three weeks, it's been great. First she had a chick flick movie party, then a snowmobiling party, and now a swimming party.
Now why does this girl get three 18th birthday parties? Well, let me tell you. First of all she's just that super kind of person that has the friends and the popularity to pull off three different parties. At every party she had a completely different set of friends, I'm the only person who made it to more than one. I'm jealous. She's agreeable, easy to get along with, our arguments stay fun and happy, and she's so witty that her sense of humor frequently leaves me in helpless laughter. Joanie's also very sensitive to the pain of others; she's quite sweet when she's not being totally sassy. Obviously this is one of my favorite people to be with. Other people must think so too, very clever.
Now why does this girl get three 18th birthday parties? Well, let me tell you. First of all she's just that super kind of person that has the friends and the popularity to pull off three different parties. At every party she had a completely different set of friends, I'm the only person who made it to more than one. I'm jealous. She's agreeable, easy to get along with, our arguments stay fun and happy, and she's so witty that her sense of humor frequently leaves me in helpless laughter. Joanie's also very sensitive to the pain of others; she's quite sweet when she's not being totally sassy. Obviously this is one of my favorite people to be with. Other people must think so too, very clever.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
why do i care?
The last few months I've been challenged with a question: Why do I care? I'm not being cynical or cheeky here....well, trying not to be.
I guess a few friends don't seem too interested in being my friend anymore. I'm trying, in my own little introverted way to keep things up, but I feel a bit alone and unnoticed in my efforts. I am frustrated, I'm discouraged, and I feel like I'm so uncool that it's contagious. Hence the nagging question, why do I care?
Why do I care about the people around me? Do I genuinely love them and want to be friends? Or am I only in it for me? Do I only want them to come see a movie with me because it's lame to go alone, or do I really want to be with that person? Am I striving to be friends so that I can give to others or so that I can get? Do I invite friends in to my life for their sake or mine? Am I only friends with people to boost my own ego? Are people just numbers by which I measure my own success? Why am I trying?
The answers? I don't know. I think part of the problem is I don't feel like I have much of anything to offer.
I guess a few friends don't seem too interested in being my friend anymore. I'm trying, in my own little introverted way to keep things up, but I feel a bit alone and unnoticed in my efforts. I am frustrated, I'm discouraged, and I feel like I'm so uncool that it's contagious. Hence the nagging question, why do I care?
Why do I care about the people around me? Do I genuinely love them and want to be friends? Or am I only in it for me? Do I only want them to come see a movie with me because it's lame to go alone, or do I really want to be with that person? Am I striving to be friends so that I can give to others or so that I can get? Do I invite friends in to my life for their sake or mine? Am I only friends with people to boost my own ego? Are people just numbers by which I measure my own success? Why am I trying?
The answers? I don't know. I think part of the problem is I don't feel like I have much of anything to offer.
Friday, March 03, 2006
i finally admit it
Somewhere in the last two weeks I have finnally decided to admit it. I don't want to be a nurse anymore. I haven't for awhile, but I'm just now deciding to face the fact that I have no idea what I want to do with my life. Zippo.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
ice climbing
I know I'm late in posting, my ice climbing class ended Sunday. However, I couldn't write anything about it because my hands hurt from gripping the picks. I had no idea that a single sport could make so many muscles sore all at the same time. ;)
It was such a fun class. Thursday we went to the gym to learn to belay (basically catch the climber if they fall). Having never rock climbed I found it slightly hard to believe that with only a few tools I could catch a man falling off the gym's rock wall. The teacher proved I can by making me catch him after he climbed up and let go. That night I was also allowed to climb. Yikes. I discovered that I am more afraid of heights than I thought and that don't really trust the rope to catch me. I went and told my friend that I had climbed all the way up a rock wall for the first time. She waved it off and told me that I had only climbed the easy one. ehh....
With that pride check in mind I went to our all-day class on Saturday quite afraid that the whole thing would be one big flop. We hiked up to Chalk Creek Falls, a lovely frozen water fall in the middle of nowhere. I was awed by the beauty of it. Much to my dismay the ladies first rule was applied. It actually turned out way easier than the bit of rock climbing I did in the gym. Once I had climbed high enough to be on the vertical part, where it was too steep to hold snow, I could see through the ice I was on. It was thick but clear as glass and I could see water still rushing beneath. It was so beautiful I had to stop climbing and just stare at it. I also went up a second time and repelled down.
The second day didn't go as well for me. We went to the teacher's house where he has his own 70-foot ice wall (twice as tall as Saturday). It too was lovely, a thick tower of bluish ice with the winter sun shining through it. It also had a cave inside which reminded me of a fairly tale. However, this ice was either vertical or overhung making it much harder. My arms were already sore from the day before and after about four tries I had to stop. All of us fell so many times; it was kinda funny. Yet some of the guys did really well and could get up the whole tower. I realized their secret only after I was too burned-out to climb any more. They trusted the rope and the belayor to catch them. I wasted a lot of energy because I climbed as if no one would catch me if I fell. They guys who made it to the top also didn't stop no matter how many times they fell. The rope didn't allow them to fall far and so they'd stick their tools right back in the ice and keep going. I acted as if the rope's mercy were limited to a three falls you're out basis. Hmmm, I think I hear an analogy about trust in there somewhere......
Anyway this post is getting long, and is sadly without pictures. No worries, I'm hoping to get some up in a week or so. Oh, and we all got A's. :D
It was such a fun class. Thursday we went to the gym to learn to belay (basically catch the climber if they fall). Having never rock climbed I found it slightly hard to believe that with only a few tools I could catch a man falling off the gym's rock wall. The teacher proved I can by making me catch him after he climbed up and let go. That night I was also allowed to climb. Yikes. I discovered that I am more afraid of heights than I thought and that don't really trust the rope to catch me. I went and told my friend that I had climbed all the way up a rock wall for the first time. She waved it off and told me that I had only climbed the easy one. ehh....
With that pride check in mind I went to our all-day class on Saturday quite afraid that the whole thing would be one big flop. We hiked up to Chalk Creek Falls, a lovely frozen water fall in the middle of nowhere. I was awed by the beauty of it. Much to my dismay the ladies first rule was applied. It actually turned out way easier than the bit of rock climbing I did in the gym. Once I had climbed high enough to be on the vertical part, where it was too steep to hold snow, I could see through the ice I was on. It was thick but clear as glass and I could see water still rushing beneath. It was so beautiful I had to stop climbing and just stare at it. I also went up a second time and repelled down.
The second day didn't go as well for me. We went to the teacher's house where he has his own 70-foot ice wall (twice as tall as Saturday). It too was lovely, a thick tower of bluish ice with the winter sun shining through it. It also had a cave inside which reminded me of a fairly tale. However, this ice was either vertical or overhung making it much harder. My arms were already sore from the day before and after about four tries I had to stop. All of us fell so many times; it was kinda funny. Yet some of the guys did really well and could get up the whole tower. I realized their secret only after I was too burned-out to climb any more. They trusted the rope and the belayor to catch them. I wasted a lot of energy because I climbed as if no one would catch me if I fell. They guys who made it to the top also didn't stop no matter how many times they fell. The rope didn't allow them to fall far and so they'd stick their tools right back in the ice and keep going. I acted as if the rope's mercy were limited to a three falls you're out basis. Hmmm, I think I hear an analogy about trust in there somewhere......
Anyway this post is getting long, and is sadly without pictures. No worries, I'm hoping to get some up in a week or so. Oh, and we all got A's. :D
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
single awareness day
Happy single awareness day! This is a wonderful day of the year….especially if you’re single…..especially if you live in the United States where every obscure holiday is over-commercialized to the point of being obnoxious. By the end of the day you’re ready to say “bah humbug” the next married person who wishes you a “Happy Valentine’s Day.” I so wanted to make fun of the guy who was desperate enough to ask me out while I was shopping for dinner in the grocery store but I felt a twinge of pity so I made a dumb excuse instead.
Despite my scrooge-like attitude I had a good day. Work was nice and calm. I ate chocolate. I got together with some friends to pray. I suppose also got every single girl’s dream for the evening…..
That’s right I spent Valentine’s evening not with one but six athletic, single guys my age. Turns out I’m the only girl in my college who wanted to take Beginning Ice Climbing this semester. :s Petite little me with no climbing experience in an ice climbing class with seven guys (one married) who can all already at least rock climb. What was I thinking? Can anyone say awkward?
Oh, well. I seem to enjoy jumping in slightly over my head. This will be interesting…..
Despite my scrooge-like attitude I had a good day. Work was nice and calm. I ate chocolate. I got together with some friends to pray. I suppose also got every single girl’s dream for the evening…..
That’s right I spent Valentine’s evening not with one but six athletic, single guys my age. Turns out I’m the only girl in my college who wanted to take Beginning Ice Climbing this semester. :s Petite little me with no climbing experience in an ice climbing class with seven guys (one married) who can all already at least rock climb. What was I thinking? Can anyone say awkward?
Oh, well. I seem to enjoy jumping in slightly over my head. This will be interesting…..
Saturday, February 11, 2006
happy 19
Today is Jacque's 19th birthday. Her last year of teenagerhood. :0 :0 She had a great birthday party last night with all her fellow teenmaniacs. Someone else's mom threw her and her daughter a party. A couple of weeks ago she also got her hair cut short. She's sooo cute. :D :D
Today we also finally finished the redecoration of the prayerroom. The housechurch that meets on Thursdays came to help. We probably wouldn’t be done yet if it wasn’t for all their help. It looks so good. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures just yet, but I'm very tired now. I’ll try to get some up later. :D
Today we also finally finished the redecoration of the prayerroom. The housechurch that meets on Thursdays came to help. We probably wouldn’t be done yet if it wasn’t for all their help. It looks so good. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures just yet, but I'm very tired now. I’ll try to get some up later. :D
Saturday, February 04, 2006
luther
A bunch of people got together and watched the movie Luther tonight, the movie about Martin Luther. I really like this movie. I like studying the people in history who did things totally unprecedented. Their courage is so admirable whether they are a scientist, inventor, social worker, reformer, or missionary. They stand facing an impossible wall of what’s never been done before, they count the cost of change, and they go for it despite the doubt.
I especially like Martin Luther. He could’ve been killed for what he believed. When he was on trial for heresy he was told to recant. His answer was unless you can prove to me, from the scriptures, that I have erred I will not recant. Here I stand, I can do no other. That’s one of my favorite lines in history: “Here I stand, I can do no other.”
As I watched Luther with my friends I noticed something interesting. The movie was not made by a Christian film company. They did their research well, and the story was pretty accurate, but it’s the way they portrayed Martin as a priest that impressed me.
When Martin accepts the position he’s struggling with his faith. While he’s there he studies the Bible and his faith comes alive. Meanwhile as a priest he does his best to help those entrusted to him. He tenderly helps the poor and those who are either confused about God or trapped by religious fears. Loving people and seeking the truth are more important to him than the traditions of his time. He also preaches hope and freedom to people who’ve been caught in a performance-oriented religion. He also will not compromise what he believes even when faced with death. Yet Martin struggles just like anyone; he’s not a perfect saint.
I’m thinking, is this the Christianity that the world is looking for? Honest hunger for truth, no compromise, sincere love for everyone including those who make mistakes, a gentle confidence when speaking the truth, and a message of hope rather than of condemnation? Is that what the world wants? This really isn’t the “relevancy” that much of the church seems to strive for. His stand was that of no compromise. However, there is love, understanding, hope, and sensitivity that cut through any barrier.
Interesting, I read so much talk in the church on how to be relevant. Maybe the world doesn’t want relevance. Maybe it just wants sincerity, gentleness, truth, hope, and love. Really, that’s the heart of what we should be anyway.
I especially like Martin Luther. He could’ve been killed for what he believed. When he was on trial for heresy he was told to recant. His answer was unless you can prove to me, from the scriptures, that I have erred I will not recant. Here I stand, I can do no other. That’s one of my favorite lines in history: “Here I stand, I can do no other.”
As I watched Luther with my friends I noticed something interesting. The movie was not made by a Christian film company. They did their research well, and the story was pretty accurate, but it’s the way they portrayed Martin as a priest that impressed me.
When Martin accepts the position he’s struggling with his faith. While he’s there he studies the Bible and his faith comes alive. Meanwhile as a priest he does his best to help those entrusted to him. He tenderly helps the poor and those who are either confused about God or trapped by religious fears. Loving people and seeking the truth are more important to him than the traditions of his time. He also preaches hope and freedom to people who’ve been caught in a performance-oriented religion. He also will not compromise what he believes even when faced with death. Yet Martin struggles just like anyone; he’s not a perfect saint.
I’m thinking, is this the Christianity that the world is looking for? Honest hunger for truth, no compromise, sincere love for everyone including those who make mistakes, a gentle confidence when speaking the truth, and a message of hope rather than of condemnation? Is that what the world wants? This really isn’t the “relevancy” that much of the church seems to strive for. His stand was that of no compromise. However, there is love, understanding, hope, and sensitivity that cut through any barrier.
Interesting, I read so much talk in the church on how to be relevant. Maybe the world doesn’t want relevance. Maybe it just wants sincerity, gentleness, truth, hope, and love. Really, that’s the heart of what we should be anyway.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
crazy week
Ok, this week has been rather insane at work and so I would like to tell the world. It's been an exciting week at work. Now since I work at a children's clinic excitement would be a bad thing. A very, very bad thing
Monday: The morning was packed, every available appointment was taken. Dr. Chris however, never turns down a sick child. So at the beginning of our lunch we saw a three week old baby that was sick. Brett, the nurse's assistent, went to check the baby in. He noticed that the baby had turned grey and was barely moving. He got the nurse. That baby's oxygen was at 64! (For those of you who don't know, brian damage can happen when it get's as low as 90.) So they put the baby on oxygen, discovered it had RSV (same aweful thing I had last couple of weeks, very dangerous in kids that young) and called an ambulance to take the baby boy to the Children's Hospital in Denver. As soon as they left we had a head injury on an eleven year old boy come in. He had somehow managed to smack himself in the head with a shovel. How he accomplished this I can only guess. The mom said his eye dialated but it fortunately wasn't as seirous as she thought. Then we got a call that the ambulance with that baby had turned around before it got to Denver, which means that something went majorly wrong. We were all worried and praying because we thought that the baby was going to die.
Tuesday: Also very full. We found out that the baby lived and that after bringing it back to our hospital to stableize it they finally took it to the hospital in Denver. It's now in ICU (intensive care unit) on a ventelator (breathing machine) they don't yet know when that baby will be out. If you think of it pray for that family, for that little baby to get all the way better, they are new parents and probably quite freaked out, and ventelators are very expensive. About lunch today we had another injury walk in. A seven year old boy slipped on the ice, cracked his nose and punctured his lip. Yikes, there was a good bit of blood so we moved things around to get him in right away.
Wednesday: We saw 29 people in five hours. I was at work from 8h - 19h. It was crazyness and insanity times five. RSV, flu, and a nasty little stomach bug, have hit Summit pretty hard this year. RSV is more contageous than the flu if that gives you any idea. Half the church has had it this month. The first hour we were open we had to see eight people in an hour. (We only have four rooms so four people in an hour is considered busy, but Chris never turns down a sick kid.) The first three kids who came in all tested positve for RSV (extra nasty chest cold and a few other yucky symtoms), one we sent to the hospital and the other two got brething treatments and oxygen. All this respitory stuff is made much worse for the little kids when you throw in the fact that we are at 9,000 feet above sea level and there's less oxygen in the air so more kids require oxygen when they get sick.
Usually I work to the sounds of angry/hurt screams in the background of kids who do NOT want to get shots. Having grown up in a daycare my mom ran I'm pretty good at consentrating with a high noise level. This week the background noise at the clinic has been totally different. It's much quieter. The children don't feel well enough to scream at the sight of the doctor. It's all the most pitiful noises children can make. Weak, half-hearted crying, coughing, wet coughing, dry coughing, very weak coughing, and a lot of bad wheezing. It makes me want to cry.
Monday: The morning was packed, every available appointment was taken. Dr. Chris however, never turns down a sick child. So at the beginning of our lunch we saw a three week old baby that was sick. Brett, the nurse's assistent, went to check the baby in. He noticed that the baby had turned grey and was barely moving. He got the nurse. That baby's oxygen was at 64! (For those of you who don't know, brian damage can happen when it get's as low as 90.) So they put the baby on oxygen, discovered it had RSV (same aweful thing I had last couple of weeks, very dangerous in kids that young) and called an ambulance to take the baby boy to the Children's Hospital in Denver. As soon as they left we had a head injury on an eleven year old boy come in. He had somehow managed to smack himself in the head with a shovel. How he accomplished this I can only guess. The mom said his eye dialated but it fortunately wasn't as seirous as she thought. Then we got a call that the ambulance with that baby had turned around before it got to Denver, which means that something went majorly wrong. We were all worried and praying because we thought that the baby was going to die.
Tuesday: Also very full. We found out that the baby lived and that after bringing it back to our hospital to stableize it they finally took it to the hospital in Denver. It's now in ICU (intensive care unit) on a ventelator (breathing machine) they don't yet know when that baby will be out. If you think of it pray for that family, for that little baby to get all the way better, they are new parents and probably quite freaked out, and ventelators are very expensive. About lunch today we had another injury walk in. A seven year old boy slipped on the ice, cracked his nose and punctured his lip. Yikes, there was a good bit of blood so we moved things around to get him in right away.
Wednesday: We saw 29 people in five hours. I was at work from 8h - 19h. It was crazyness and insanity times five. RSV, flu, and a nasty little stomach bug, have hit Summit pretty hard this year. RSV is more contageous than the flu if that gives you any idea. Half the church has had it this month. The first hour we were open we had to see eight people in an hour. (We only have four rooms so four people in an hour is considered busy, but Chris never turns down a sick kid.) The first three kids who came in all tested positve for RSV (extra nasty chest cold and a few other yucky symtoms), one we sent to the hospital and the other two got brething treatments and oxygen. All this respitory stuff is made much worse for the little kids when you throw in the fact that we are at 9,000 feet above sea level and there's less oxygen in the air so more kids require oxygen when they get sick.
Usually I work to the sounds of angry/hurt screams in the background of kids who do NOT want to get shots. Having grown up in a daycare my mom ran I'm pretty good at consentrating with a high noise level. This week the background noise at the clinic has been totally different. It's much quieter. The children don't feel well enough to scream at the sight of the doctor. It's all the most pitiful noises children can make. Weak, half-hearted crying, coughing, wet coughing, dry coughing, very weak coughing, and a lot of bad wheezing. It makes me want to cry.
Monday, January 23, 2006
very happy
I just finished my first art class for this semester! I've wanted to be an artist as long as I can remeber. Art Class has always been my favorite. However, having homeschooled most of my life I haven't had much opportunity to. Very sad. :( But now I'm taking art for a whole semester and each class lasts three hours. I'm so happy I could bounce off the walls! This class is going to be so cool. First upon looking at everyone else's work I have discovered that they are all better than me. I'll be way more challenged in this class than usual. (Usually I'm at the top and my pride gets stroked a lot which causes it to undertake spasmotic growth spurts, not good.) Also, we can work on whatever we want, in whatever media. So I can just do whatever I want and get feedback from a room full of people more talented than me. This is exciting. The teacher will help me get better at whatever I want to get better at. Oh the posibilities, and only one semester!
**floats away on happy cloud
**floats away on happy cloud
Sunday, January 22, 2006
story of grace
Today begins a new chapter in what I hope someday we will all look back on as a story of grace. Today a brother and a sister who left Immanuel Fellowship over a year ago due to a lot relational problems that were piling up came back. It's been quite tense between them and a lot of people. Today they came and he got up and apologized for the way he'd hurt some people and said that they want to be a part again. They've looked but haven't found any other chruch that is like a family. Mike called the man's wife up front as well. He was hugging them and about to pray for the couple but he never got the chance. Erick put his gutar down and stepped off the stage to give them a wlecoming hug. Pat, Todd, and Tammy were right behind him. Then suddenly most of the people in the church (everyone who knew them) went to the front to join in what had spontaneously become a group hug. Lots of crying and welcoming words. We've missed them. God please let this be a story of grace on all our parts. Heal the hurts on both sides. Give us the grace to forgive all and love freely again.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Patty & Justin
Today is the wedding of two of my friends, Patty and Justin. (Hence the title of today's post.) It was a nice little wedding, sort and sweet with a long reception afterwards. The extra cool part was that Patty's older brother Bobby got to preform the ceremony and prononce them man and wife. He was so excited to do it and said all these great big-brotherly things to both of them. Then the parents came up to pray for the new couple. It was sweet.
P.S. It's an odd thing being a single twenty-something. I'm that age where all my friends seem to be getting married. I'm losing count. Not that it really makes me want to rush out and get married any time soon. It's just odd.
P.S. It's an odd thing being a single twenty-something. I'm that age where all my friends seem to be getting married. I'm losing count. Not that it really makes me want to rush out and get married any time soon. It's just odd.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
