Never again

I was the only nurse at work today. Everyone else was at the ICCC meeting and since I am just a clinic nurse and I don't give chemo - I didn't have to go.

It was a boring day. Only 4 patients, 3 lab draws, and 2 injections. Since there was only the front office receptionist and me, I had to enter all my own orders and answers phones too. Still it ended up being uneventful.

I decided to wear the white flare legged uniform pants I bought about a year ago. I never wear them because I hate the way they look from behind. I wore my new white top with them and even white socks.

I was taking some blood to the lab and caught a glimpse of myself in the glass door of the admitting area as I passed by - I looked like a marshmallow or a snowman maybe. It was pathetic. What was I thinking? Did I not look in the mirror before I left the house?

White hides nothing and accentuates everything - every curve, roll, dimple, flaw, and imperfection. This is precisely why I have adopted black as my new favorite color.

To top matters off every time I would come out of the bathroom I would notice that my left thumb was blue. Strange - some weird circulation problem?

Come to find out the entire left side of what used to be my white underwear was blue from what must have been the broken ink pen I found in the laundry. Upon closer inspection I noticed that the blue was visible through my pants, in fact, it was now on my pants too. At least I can rest assured that my thumb is not going to fall off from lack of circulation.

I am glad nurses are not required to wear white anymore because I would surely have to change professions. I will never, never again wear white.

Old Man River

Over the weekend we took a ferry across the Ohio River.
We started on the Kentucky side and crossed to the Ohio side.

Everytime we cross the Ohio River, Brian tells the story of when his parents took him to the river when it was frozen over and he
"stood on the frozen Ohio River."
Now our kids have an Ohio River story too.

We went on foot because Megan refused to go in the car and it was $2 cheaper.

This was the first thing I looked for -
well actually the adult life jackets were the first
thing I looked for. The kids can swim a lot better than I can.

Creation Museum

The Creation Museum was great! I'm glad we decided to go for the grand opening.

Joel wanted to get to the museum EARLY - we ended up getting there about an hour and fifteen minutes before it opened. There weren't very many people there - I was really starting to get nervous. It was overcast, very muggy, and rainy - not great weather.

We heard reporters asking museum employees, "So where's your crowd?" We started praying that "the crowd" would come. I told Brian since most of the people coming would be church

people they would probably show up at the last minute like they do for Sunday School - turns out I was right.

At around 9am we lined up at the doors. We ran into Joe O'Connell from Tabernacle. I had a hunch he would be there. His model of the ark is in the museum - I can't believe we forgot to get a picture of Joe standing next to it!

The crowd gradually started growing - I was then glad we had gotten there when we did.

Once inside, we were able to go through the members line where they gave us our membership cards and our tickets to the planetarium. It was nice to look behind us and see that the membership line as well as the other line were very long now.

After taking some pictures and enjoying the lobby area, our first stop was the bookstore. Lots of familiar titles on the shelves. Brian got some books for the church library.

When we came out of the bookstore, Ken Ham was in the lobby. Brian and Joel got their picture taken with him. There were lots of reporters and photographers there. (Later we heard Ken Ham say that there were reporters from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France, the Al Jazeera network, and others that I can't remember.)

(Buddy Davis on the museum grounds being interviewed)

(Ken Ham in the Garden of Eden being interviewed. I don't know what media this guy was from, but he was really grilling Ken Ham.)

We then went to the planetarium. Because we were the first public audience in the planetarium, there were pictures taken and the writer of the program said a few words. He has a Ph.D. in astrophysics - he looked 20! Joel got his picture with him too.

I'm sure this man was overwhelmed when people were asking him to autograph their tickets. The enthusiasm was very catching. The planetarium show was very well done and loaded with scientific information. It did a good job showing the vastness of the universe.

We then went to the SFX theatre and saw "Men in White." This would be the only thing even close to negative that I can say about the museum. The theatre was super nice and the production was top notch - the seats vibrated and sprayed water. My only hesitation would be that it was a little on the "spoofy" side. They do say before it begins that it is intended to be funny.

After lunch in Noah's Cafe which was nice and reasonably priced, we started our tour of the museum. It was amazing. There was so much information. By then the crowds were such that we weren't able to take time to stop and read all of the information - but we were glad it was crowded!

(Levi with a dinosaur)

(Noah's ark model - Life-size man working on ark)

(Adam naming the animals - The first time Adam saw Eve. This was my favorite scene in the Garden of Eden)

The tour ended with a stop in the Last Adam theatre. There we watched a multi screen movie that presented the gospel in clear terms. An invitation was given in that the audience was told if they would like to accept Christ as their Savior there were workers just outside the door who were prepared to talk with them.

The museum was top notch - a must see. Scientific evidence of the creation was clearly shown throughout.

We did see self-proclaimed atheists both outside the museum and inside the museum. Megan said while we were in the Noah's ark section she saw a group of three men, one older and the other two college age, that had on anti-God or pro-evolution shirts.

She said the older man and one of the college guys were laughing at the exhibits and making jokes. But she said the other college guy had a thoughtful, questioning look on his face. Maybe he was reading and thinking about the truth. I hope he was.

(There were about 50 protesters outside the museum property.)

The Creation Museum was even better than I thought it would be. It was the capstone of great weekend getaway. We were blessed with much needed family time and encouraged by the boldness of the museum.

That look

Scooby has that look on his face like he knows there is something going on - he's wise to us. We have spent 15 minutes packing for us and 2 days getting the house ready to survive "Scooby Unsupervised."

Joel made a tent for Scooby in his room - he even left a cat food trail to lure him in. We froze peanut butter and cat food in his two kongs - hopefully these will keep him busy for, let me think, maybe the first hour we are gone.

I covered the upstairs couch with a blanket, put out his pee rug (I know that's gross, but when a dog's got to go a dog's got to go), and pleaded with him to be good.

I admit I am a pushover when it comes to him. I'm a bad dog mom. Hopefully, I am better with my less furry kids.

People need the Lord

(Brian and the boys passing out tracts at the GenCon Convention last summer)

Our family is excited about going to the grand opening of the Creation Museum (answersingenesis.org) on Memorial Day. I saw a clip from Good Morning America previewing the museum (abc.com). It is so exciting to see Ken Ham on national television talking about the God of the Bible and a literal six-day creation.

Here is an excerpt from the story - it is nice to see the tables turned:

Mainstream scientists worry that because the museum is so technically sophisticated, it could be effective in giving children a distorted view of science.

"That they'll show up in classrooms and say, 'Gee, Mrs. Brown, I went to this spiffy museum last summer and they say that everything you're teaching me is a lie,'" said Eugenie Scott, the executive director of the National Center for Science Education.

Ham believes that's what should happen.

"And I say, great. Amen. That's what this place is all about," he said. "It's meant to challenge people."

Finally, a museum that tells the truth! A museum that I can let the kids read the plaques in front of the exhibits because I know they contain truth and not lies. Finally, a museum that explains the hope that lies within us and provides answers to a lost and dying world.

Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eye.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize --  people need the Lord?

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What would be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.

Summertime

Today was the kids last day of school - well except for tomorrow's graduation practice and last high school chapel service.
I still love the last day of school - the whole summer in front of you. It seemed like summers used to be longer.

I remember . . .

Playing in the field while Mother and Daddy planted - either playing in the back of the truck or in the shade underneath it.

Putting on a play with the neighbor kids - I think it was Cinderalla. I remember pulling the red wagon down the sidewalk. I think I was a mouse turned footman.

Hiding in the house from Christy and Laura because we wanted to watch the Brady Bunch instead of play outside.

Diane and I riding bikes down the driveway and "cyclemotoring" each other. What exactly did that word mean?

Sneaking Nutmeg in the house at night to sleep with me and Mother acting like she didn't notice him.

The summer we had Robbie. Robbie pushing me on my bigwheel, running through the house leaving little presents, and Robbie drinking gas. I also remember finding his tail in the yard.

The summer we moved all summer long.

Riding my bigwheel in the shop.

Riding bikes with Trella ALL summer long.

Letting the air out of my bike tire hoping Ken would be home to air it up - he wasn't. I'm sure that was Trella's idea.

The summer Trella's Aunt Sharon's basset hound had puppies. We spent a week solid there holding those puppies.

Ma teaching us how to dip and spit snuff - she made us use cinnamon/sugar.

Playing in the creek. Catching minnows.

The summer Mother was pregnant. That was the summer we had the sow with the hurt leg that we had to water, the overfilled propane tank we had to water to keep from spouting off, and the goats that kept getting in the road.

Swimming at Indian Creek's pool - who was that handsome lifeguard?

Laying out in Danny's kiddy pool.

Raising orphaned baby pigs.

Finding kittens in the hayloft. Ma telling us to leave them alone or she'd whip us.

Making tents out of quilts and sleeping in them all night.

Taking supper to the field.

Jumping on the trampoline at Brian's house.

Picking strawberries.

Let the summer begin!

Man's best friend

(Joel and Scooby)

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

(Me and Ginger)

A night at home

Scrambled eggs, biscuits, and mandarin oranges for supper - not necessarily by choice.
Note to self: I need to get groceries SOON.

Brian and Megan discussed eschatology as she prepared for her Bible final. Sounds like Pastor Zemple has done a good job teaching the book of Revelation and Megan has done a good job learning.

Joel studied for his Health final, watched America's Funniest Home Videos with me, and went to bed early.

Levi finished his history report on the WW II Pacific Island Hopping Campaign, I proofread it and helped him with his bibliography. I don't think I will ever figure out how to cite internet sources - where do you find the author? Thank goodness for small miracles - the paper is due tomorrow and it is done tonight!! He even exceeded the 1,000 word requirement:)

A quiet Monday night.

Emily

Megan's best friend, Emily, spent the week with us while her parents were in Ohio. She's a good friend to all the kids.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him,
and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12

Until he is home

I heard this quote before the kids were born and I have thought of it several times - I wish I could remember the whole thing.

A man from a large family was asked which child his mother loved the most. The man, quoting his mother, said this -

The one who is sick until he is well;
the one who is gone until he is home . . .

Brian says I equate love with worry. I suppose to some degree that is true. Joel spent the night with Wade last night. He is not here right now so I am thinking of him more and worrying about him more than the other two who are here.

I know he is safe and having a great time (they were planning on video taping each other dunking the basketball all night), and I know Wade's family is a good Christian family.

Still, I will feel better when he's home.

The man in black

The first time Megan saw Levi she crawled across my hospital bed and kissed him. He has now turned into the big brother in more ways than one.

I hope they stay close forever.

Irony

Renting a carpet cleaner and buying dogfood at the same time.
Is this what you call "feeding the problem?"

My Shepherds

I love the way Brian teaches the Song of Solomon. He takes the view that Solomon (the World) is trying to win the heart of the Shulamite girl (Christians) but that she is in love with the Shepherd (Christ) and the Shepherd is in love with her and promises to come get her (the Rapture). It is fascinating to read the book from that perspective.
The Song of Solomon paints a wonderful picture of Christ's love for us and the love and devotion that hopefully we have for Him. But also, because it really did happen, it is a beautiful love story of a couple devoted to each other and deeply in love.
I am so thankful for my heavenly Shepherd, Christ, who loves me for who I am. I am thankful that He is everthing I need Him to be and that He is everywhere I want Him to be.
I am also thankful for my earthly Shepherd, Brian, who too loves me for who I am. Even after 20 years I still find myself "looking through the lattice hoping to catch a glimpse of him."
Sometimes the cares and worries of this world like Solomon try to woo me in - but I know both my heavenly shepherd and my earthly shepherd love me.

What more do I need.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the
floods drown it. Song of Songs 8:7

Spring Cleaning

I did some spring cleaning today. Since Emily is going to stay with us this week while her parents are in Ohio, I decided to dive in and clean upstairs.
I bought a new rug for the bathroom. I has multicolor stripes and it matches the bathroom really well. It's a little scary how much I like it. I gave instructions to everyone that before leaving the bathroom the rug needs to be draped over the side of the tub. Rugs are too much temptation for Scooby.
I moved Joel's bed into Megan's room for Emily. Then I moved the futon from Levi's room into Joel's room. Joel had been talking about a bigger bed anyway. The futon makes into a full bed. Surely with the foam mattress cover I bought today Joel will sleep comfortably and not feel the frame under him.
The kids seemed to have a good day at school. Megan said they sat at the senior table today since the seniors are on their class trip. Levi was telling about how he and A.J. broke their frog's jaw with a pencil and then made it open its mouth really wide - the whole story sounded a lot like Kate and me turning our fetal pig into a marionette puppet and hanging it out of the window right in front of the algebra class windows. I hope Mr. Nations is as easy going as Miss Whatever-her-name-was.
Joel said Mrs. Schneider apologized to the class for yelling at everybody on Friday - I think everybody's ready for the end of school.
We ate supper without Brian and then the kids went to the Y - Morgan and Amanda wanted to meet them there. Sounds like they had fun, they said they swam and sat in the hot tub. Joel got hives because the water was so hot. I don't know why hot water makes him get hives.
Megan talked to Nick (the 20 year old Nick). He asked for her phone number and said he wanted to come to our church on Sunday. I saw Brian sitting on her bed talking to her tonight. I hope he is laying down some ground rules and telling her to take things slow.
Rachelle called around 5pm tonight crying. She said she had started spotting and went to the doctor today. They did an ultrasound and found an empty egg sac. Based on what I know, it sounds like a blighted ovum. She was confused and had a lot of questions. I tried my best to offer comfort. I found myself telling her things that Brian was telling me a week ago. It seemed to make more sense this week. Brian stopped by their house on his way home and prayed with them.
Zach called Brian tonight about camp. He said they didn't have a camp nurse and that they needed a teacher for an afternoon class and Brian would be perfect for it. He said Megan and Levi could be CITs (counselors in training) and Joel would be camper. Camp is the week of July 16th - we just found out basketball camp is that week too. Decisions, decisions. I've never been to camp - I don't know if I would like it or not. The closest thing to camp I have done is Winter Retreat. We all know how that turned out:)
After rice pudding in the new sundae cups I bought, everyone has gone to bed. I heard Scooby growl at Joel which means he is tired and is settling into his spot on the bed.
I'm tired too and ready to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the washer washing the 9th load of clothes today.

It's been a good day.

Peer Pressure

Everyone, literally everyone, is dieting at work. I was unmoved by their SmartOnes meals, SlimFast drinks, Weight Watcher yogurt, and NutriSystem packaged lunches. Unmoved that is until I realized I was the only one partaking from the box of Ghirardelli chocolates in the nurses' station in honor of Nurses Week.

I decided then not to diet but to "modify my lifestyle." I would try to start eating low carb. So far here is how it has gone.

Lifestyle Modification Day One:

Breakfast - Hard boiled egg
2 pieces of bacon (leftover from catered tumor board meeting - which I didn't attend)

Lunch - Salad with grilled chicken/Honey mustard dressing (provided by drug rep promoting new "easier to dose" low molecular weight heparin - sure to bankrupt your patient with the first dose) I should have been stronger and boycotted lunch, but I was hungry.

Supper - Turkey sandwhich on whole wheat flatbread wrap (which Megan said had the texture of a paper towel - what do you expect with 8 grams of fiber), cheeseball on whole wheat crackers, and baked beans.

Lifestyle Modification Day Two:

Breakfast: Raspberry filled jelly donut and chocolate milk

To quote Snowbelle from Cats and Dogs, "I feel bloated.
Maybe more food will help."

Life Today

Me: Work - Clinic Day with Dr. D.
He was late, clinic ran behind, three new patients.
Lunch was great - so much for my conviction about eating lunch provided by drug reps.
Came home to dirty dishes and dog pee -
Talked to Megan (gist of conversation-it's him not her)
Looked over Levi's shoulder as he was on FaceBook.
Went through a bag of clothes for Joel - Hooray! Two pairs of jeans, two pairs of shorts, one dress shirt, two polos, and several t-shirts. Thank you Cody for being skinny too!

Megan: School.
Checked email and FaceBook.
Informed me that Justin's page said he was back with Lizzy.
Drove to work - called when she got there.
Taught swim class then worked out - I think she was hoping to see someone tonight. Did she say he was 20!

Levi: School - dissecting a frog this week. He said it is huge!
Checked email and FaceBook.
Teased Megan that he already knew Justin was back with Lizzy.
Rode to work with Megan - hopefully only made nice comments on her driving.
Taught swim class then guarded until 9pm.
Somehow managed to text during all of that.


Joel: School -
Played with Scooby outside.
Jumped on the trampoline.
Watched TV.
Played drums.
Jumped on the trampoline this time with ankle weights.
Started a blog about his interests: weird and unusual science facts, emergency vet stories, animal miracle stories, and Scooby pictures and stories. (Link)


Brian: Work - where I'm sure Randy drove him crazy.
Stopped at Menards to by lumber.
Came home to dirty dishes and dog pee -

Which is why I should probably not have a blog.

Will I cry all year?

Megan - Can you believe next week she's officially a senior? Next year is not going to be easy.

Things are changing -
it's seems strange and,
I need to figure this out.

You've got your life,
I've got mine,
but you're all I cared about.

Yesterday we were laughing,
Today I'm left here asking,
"Where has all the time gone now?"
I'm left alone somehow.

Growing up and getting older,
I don't want to believe it 's over.

Thoughts from my new favorite kitchen item.

Starbucks for lunch

Three tall Vanilla Bean Frappacinnos to go. Now I'm glad the smallest Starbucks giftcard I could get was $15.00.

Lunch to go. Everybody's happy.