Sometimes there is a need to express a thought. It may be important, maybe not. But the point is it needs to be shared as someone may relate to it. Whoever you are, this one's for you:)
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Celebrations
Life tends to speed by. Hours turn to years in a nano second. One day you are dreaming of the future and the next you are trying to remember the past. Sounds very deep but the truth is that we are never able to predict what will be great or what will fail. What we do know is that we have today, the right here and now. And that is a gift, a present. We must be thankful for this moment and celebrate.
Today it is a birthday, but in all actuality it is a family, a lifetime. What would we be doing if? What would be different if? How, where, when, who and what would I be thinking about at this exact moment if even ONE thing had been different? When you sit around your table, your office, your church, who would be there, who would you know, what would you be doing?
That is a lot to think about. So I go back to a little girl who grew up moving all over and one day landed in the frozen tundra. Ok it was South Dakota but the last year I was there it was the Antarctica! So I packed the Omni and drove as far south as I could. Warm, sunny, new life.
And the journey in my new state began. I met many people at work and shared living space with dear friends, enjoyed life and the adventures that came with their beautiful children. I never would have inherited the love and joys of my nieces and nephew had that move from winter not occurred. They are a great gift.
Through work I found some great motivation and went to school, over and over again. All of that led to a fantastic job surrounded by some of the most amazing leaders and educators in health care. Having been in health care in some capacity for more than 40 years I can say I am an expert in this. This has also permitted me to do things I love as I grow, share, mentor. What a great gift.
Then there is church. I visited a couple that, well, quite frankly terrified me. One we actually bolted from as soon as they unlocked the doors at the end of the service. That is not an exaggeration. But I landed in a great church, met wonderful friends and continued to discover the who and what I should be. I was even able to go to the land of my dreams, India, on a mission with an amazing teacher and friend. I consider the folks I met as friends. Even though it has been a long time ago it feels like yesterday. The memory of that trip continues to impact my life and my global view.
In the midst of greatness comes tragedy sometimes, and that was what it felt like to have a church crisis. In the process I felt I needed to move on. I felt a bit lost, but a couple of churches later I would land in a gym in a school. Small church, great teacher, and a handsome man walking through the rows of chairs. I confess, I admired him from afar for a bit but when we moved into our current church building we met, and the rest as they say, is history!
A few brownies, Christmas caroling night and one long, long phone call later we were a thing. And just 4 more weeks we were engaged. Who knew that all of those moves, changes, difficult things would lead to a 26 year marriage? I am certain only God. And so here we are, this picture of happiness, on his birthday. We have had serious heartache, loss, joy and adventure to get to this day. We would not have imagined this life on our wedding day let alone when we were kids.
We would not have thought some of the things we endured would be necessary, bearable or beneficial. But indeed, it has all been necessary for today's story. If even ONE thing had been different we may not have met. If even ONE thing was different we may not have had our son. If even ONE thing had been different we may not have found the doctors or teachers or support to help our family. If even ONE thing was different we may not be alive! ONE thing!
So for this moment, today, we celebrate a birthday. But we also celebrate a lifetime of choices, circumstances, surprises, adventures, accidents, mistakes, heartaches, joys and more that gave us the gift of today. Happy Birthday to my husband, friend, encourager, and devoted father to our beautiful son. Grateful you were sent into the world on a collision course with me. Here's to the next grand surprise.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
On The Road Again...........
My life has continued to becoming more! More able, more active, more talkative, more! And I have energy to DO things. While I was always forcing myself in the past few years, now I eagerly do them.
- I have attended a three day conference with my colleagues, who likely were beginning to think I did not exist but was merely a recorded voice. LOL It was fantastic to be in the room, talk to others and see their beautiful wonderful smiles. I love my team. They have been supportive and positive and willing to help me. What a gift.
- And I went to Tucson twice. Once for a summit with our entire team and once to meet the department leaders and see the sister facilities. It was wonderful to meet these extended teams and see what their world of work looks like. It helps make sense of the day to day things and how change impacts them.
- I danced, without pause. Ok it was the Hokey Pokey but that is a lot of putting stuff in and taking it back out. And mine all went along. LOL We laughed, the moms having far more fun than the kids. I have always loved this group and am grateful for the love I have from them. They have been solid for the last few years in keeping Cody and I in step.
- I went to watch Cody perform at the GCU basketball game and wished I was in the lower seating levels to act completely inappropriate for my age. What a great powerhouse of team spirit. It was energizing. And Cody's dance crew received rave applause. They rocked it. I have the clip from my view which is still fun!.
One Step Beyond performing at the GCU Halftime
I have learned so much from this journey that will have a big impact on how I look at some of my patients and friends. Things from my observations include:
- Those who are paralyzed can be viewed as apathetic, disengaged, non compliant. What I can tell you is that when your neuro system is not working, you ARE apathetic, disengaged and so you CANT make yourself do some things. It is not something anyone wants, it is a result of the injury or condition.
- Chronic pain causes huge fatigue, mental and physical. You can't will yourself to do things no matter how much you know you should. Your house goes to pot, your family loses out, you just lose momentum. You may learn to power through but that is likely the result of legal, prescribed narcotics and excessive over the counter items. It's true. And coffee, which I have a love for, drink regularly became an essential part of my daily life.
- There is never enough sleep, ever. It is possible to sleep around the clock and need to go back to bed in an hour. No one should be surprised or make any comments about it. Just sayin.
- You may not comb your hair, for days.
- You definitely can become cranky, angry, short tempered, impatient, etc, etc. Not because of anyone really, but because the effort to stay on topic no longer exists. You only have enough energy for that one thought and then you are done. I am guilty, I will forever owe gratitude for others patience.
- You quickly realize who is IN YOUR CIRCLE and who is not. Not the first time I have had this lesson but definitely a great refreshing of that list. You know who you are and I am forever grateful. You have my heart.
So there it is. I continue to enjoy the wind beneath my wings. I am enjoying being in the game again. Great job, great team, great friends and of course always a great family. I have been given the best!
So until I write next time..........Enjoy a few smiles.
- I have attended a three day conference with my colleagues, who likely were beginning to think I did not exist but was merely a recorded voice. LOL It was fantastic to be in the room, talk to others and see their beautiful wonderful smiles. I love my team. They have been supportive and positive and willing to help me. What a gift.
- And I went to Tucson twice. Once for a summit with our entire team and once to meet the department leaders and see the sister facilities. It was wonderful to meet these extended teams and see what their world of work looks like. It helps make sense of the day to day things and how change impacts them.
- I danced, without pause. Ok it was the Hokey Pokey but that is a lot of putting stuff in and taking it back out. And mine all went along. LOL We laughed, the moms having far more fun than the kids. I have always loved this group and am grateful for the love I have from them. They have been solid for the last few years in keeping Cody and I in step.
- I went to watch Cody perform at the GCU basketball game and wished I was in the lower seating levels to act completely inappropriate for my age. What a great powerhouse of team spirit. It was energizing. And Cody's dance crew received rave applause. They rocked it. I have the clip from my view which is still fun!.
One Step Beyond performing at the GCU Halftime
I have learned so much from this journey that will have a big impact on how I look at some of my patients and friends. Things from my observations include:
- Those who are paralyzed can be viewed as apathetic, disengaged, non compliant. What I can tell you is that when your neuro system is not working, you ARE apathetic, disengaged and so you CANT make yourself do some things. It is not something anyone wants, it is a result of the injury or condition.
- Chronic pain causes huge fatigue, mental and physical. You can't will yourself to do things no matter how much you know you should. Your house goes to pot, your family loses out, you just lose momentum. You may learn to power through but that is likely the result of legal, prescribed narcotics and excessive over the counter items. It's true. And coffee, which I have a love for, drink regularly became an essential part of my daily life.
- There is never enough sleep, ever. It is possible to sleep around the clock and need to go back to bed in an hour. No one should be surprised or make any comments about it. Just sayin.
- You may not comb your hair, for days.
- You definitely can become cranky, angry, short tempered, impatient, etc, etc. Not because of anyone really, but because the effort to stay on topic no longer exists. You only have enough energy for that one thought and then you are done. I am guilty, I will forever owe gratitude for others patience.
- You quickly realize who is IN YOUR CIRCLE and who is not. Not the first time I have had this lesson but definitely a great refreshing of that list. You know who you are and I am forever grateful. You have my heart.
So there it is. I continue to enjoy the wind beneath my wings. I am enjoying being in the game again. Great job, great team, great friends and of course always a great family. I have been given the best!
So until I write next time..........Enjoy a few smiles.
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