Hospice Musings

I think I am getting more wise just by working at hospice.  Ok, that may not be true but I do think it helps to build a more realistic perception of life.  The truth is, we are all terminal.  That shouldn't be bad news, though. 

I think of our lives as being on a timeline.  On the left end of the timeline is a little teeny dot that represents our lives from conception to death.  To the right of that dot, as far as you can see, is our life in eternity.  That means that the time we are separated from our loved ones is such a tiny speck, it is almost no time at all.

For the patients who are not believers of eternal life, I understand how death could be a frightening prospect.  For Christians, though, it should be thought of as a a time when we get to open the best present ever.  We're human, though, and the unknown can be scary.  I understand that. 

I've already received a lot of comments from people who are very curious about how I can work daily with people who are dying.  I will tell you that it is an honor and a pleasure to do this work!  I feel very grateful for this opportunity and wish everyone had this chance. 

Working with the patients is not the hardest part of the job.  The part that is hard is working with the families.  They are the ones for whom I have the most sympathy.  Their pain is what I don't know how to treat.  Their tears are the hardest to see.

I try to remember to wear a cross to work every shift.  The reason I do this is so that the person who is dying, or their family and friends, will know that I am a Christian.  If they want to talk about Jesus, I want them to know that I will make time to listen.   Perhaps that is the most important part of my job...listening.


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Happy Anniversary King James!

I have something really cool to show you!  We recently received a really unusual gift.  It was given to us for Pastor Appreciation Month.  That's funny, huh?  I sometimes get gifts during Pastor Appreciation Month and I am not a pastor.  Mike never ever gets gifts fiation Month.  Anyway...

It is the 500th anniversary of the King James Translation of the Bible.  Did you know that?  I did not know it until my friend, Celia, told me.  She'd found a remake of the translation as it was in 1611!

Here's a peek inside.   Some of the words are a bit tricky but it sure looks pretty.

Thanks for letting me share.

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Craft Fair in My Rear View Mirror

Whew!  The craft fair this past week-end was a  LOT of work and I think both Maria and I were pretty worn out.  It was fun, though.  We got to see a lot of people we knew and we also met some we didn't know before.

As for sales, it was not quite what we'd dreamed but it was ok.  We sold quite a few things. 

This little hat, made by Maria, went to a little baby girl with a TON of black hair.  It looked so cute!

When Cordelia was there one of us walked around with her quite a bit, while the other stayed at our booth.  Cordy was looking pretty cute in one of the ponchos and people were stopping to comment on her cuteness.  One such time an older couple was trying to talk to her, telling her what a pretty girl she was, but thankfully couldn't hear her comment.  She kept saying, "I tooted.  I tooted."  I decided it was time to move on!

Maria and I agreed that we liked it when people came to look at our creations and made nice comments even when they didn't make a purchase.  Quite a few crocheters from other booths came to look over our things and several asked where we found all our patterns.  I think they were surprised to know that we almost never follow patterns.  We both kind of like to create more free-style.  Luckily I am better at freestyle crochet than I am at freestyle cooking!

It was fun to people-watch at the craft fair.  Do you like to do that?  We saw some interesting people but I think the winner had to be the man who strolled by both days, wearing shiny dresses and some kind of dangly headband on his nearly bald head.  I have to say it wasn't my favorite look but he was memorable.

I will be busy working at hospice these three days before Thanksgiving.  How about you?  Are you busy getting ready for Thanksgiving?  Are you having company or are you someone's guest? 

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Gg

Is anyone still working on the ABC's of Bible Memorization with me?  We're ready for G now...

1 John 4:16b God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

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Craft Fair!

We are Craft Fairing today....

Yay for Bitter Cherry Spray!

Our dining room has sliding glass doors.  For months now they have looked like this...

The window has been bare with no window coverings.  That is because the canine member of this family ATE the previous vertical blinds.  If you remember, he ended up with a partial obstruction, resulting in a big vet bill.  Here's a reminder of how pretty he made those old blinds... every single one of them!


Recently, however, I decided to give it another go.  I chose the cheapest blinds possible as I didn't really have high hopes of success.  Then, I found this...

Have any of you used this stuff?  I am SOOOOO happy to have found it!  I put up the new blinds and sprayed them and then I waited.  I didn't have to wait long for Bode to come take a taste.  He most definitely was NOT  impressed.  I sprayed it on the throw rug, the garbage can, the couches, the recliners, the stone around the fireplace (yes, he tries to chew that as well), the end tables... you get the picture.  It has helped a lot! 

I did find a drawback today, though.  Cordelia was at our house and Maria gave her a cookie.  She took a little taste and wouldn't eat any more of it.  Maria then took a bite and discovered that it tasted like Bitter Cherry Spray.  Cordy's sweet little hands had been playing with the vertical blinds just before she took the cookie.  Oops. 

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True Love or Idolatry?

I heard an interesting comment on KLOVE yesterday.  To be honest, I tuned in at what seemed to be the last few sentences of a thought-provoking conversation.  They were discussing how we (humans) try to find something or someone to idolize.  I totally agree with that.  That isn't new.  Biblically the Israelites were constantly being pulled away from following the idols of other nations as well as creating their own.

When some people think of worshipping idols I know they think of a gold or marble statue.  Most people I know wouldn't think of idolizing a man-made statue.  However, I was taught that anything we let become more important to us than God could be considered our idol.  That could include money, cars, houses, sports or really anything.  The discussion on KLOVE was something different yet.  They were talking about idolizing a person. 

Although I missed most of the discussion, I did find the letter that started their discussion posted on their site.  It was from Scotty Smith, Pastor for Preaching, Christ Community Church, " ...it’s idolatrous to give anybody the power to make us through their affirmation, or destroy us by their rejection."  Wow!  My first thought was that a lot of old love songs have it all wrong!  The attitude of I'll-just-die-if-you-don't-love-me or I-can't-live-without-you is wrong from many different angles but I'd never thought of it as idolatry.  What do you think?

The more I thought about it the more I agreed.  To allow anyone, even your most beloved people, to have that kind of power over you really is a form of idolatry as it totally gets in the way of you fulfilling your calling as a Child of God.   When pondering this I first thought of teenagers and the drama of love in their lives.  If a teenager believes their happiness is dependent on the acceptance of another, that is taking God to a lower level.  That is idolatry.

I thought this out even further.  I think most of us who are happily married, at some point, wonder how we could possibly be happy if our spouse were to die.   I've seen people wrap their grief around themselves and hold onto it for years, allowing that grief to keep them from living as a confident Child of God.  Is that a form of idolatry?  I had never thought of it that way but I kind of think maybe it is.

However you think of it or look at it, anything that comes before God in your life is likely idolatry, even if it is a person.  We are called to love others.  We are made to have sustaining relationships but none of them should ever be more important to us than our relationship with God.  That's what I think.

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Grandparenting Up Close

Is there anything better than holding a sweet child in your arms while reading a book about baby animals?  I think not.

Mike took this photo one recent evening when Cordelia spent a few hours with us.  When she comes over, she is a delight the entire visit.  She doesn't throw fits for us or cry when her parents leave.  She's delighted with almost any little thing we do and she frequently, without prompting, tells us she loves us and gives us powerful little girl hugs. 

This tiny charmer is super smart as well!  Riding in the car yesterday she wanted to discuss each turn, usually correctly stating whether we were going left or right.  She knew the way to the mall!  We were going there for our usual "mall lunch", a weekly ritual.  This lunch was special, though.  We were meeting Mike's sister, Karen, who was in town for some appointments.  Cordelia was planning ahead.  She told me she was going to give Karen a BIG hug.

Time with Cordelia is one of my greatest joys.  It makes me feel rather guilty, though.  During most of the years our children were young we lived a great distance from either of their grandmothers.  I have to say I don't think I really got it.  Now I know what exquisite delight it is to be able to see this little person many times each week and I am so sorry that Grandma Carol and Grandma Grace did not get that with our children. 

I think there was a lot of good in the way things were in the past, when many generations of family lived in the same area.  Don't get me wrong.  I love that my children have so many opportunities and can follow their dreams.  I would never want to deprive them of that.  My own mother never ever made me feel guilty for following mine. 

I also know that with our 3 children, it is unlikely that I will be able to always live close to all my future grandchildren.  I guess that is why I am savoring every moment I can right now.  I have come to appreciate "moments" so much more than I ever did before.  I'm just very, very grateful for this chance at up-close grandparenting.  I see it for the precious gift that it is.   

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Busy...But in a Good Way

Whew!  I have been soooooo busy!  I have been pushing myself to get a lot of things done recently and I just finished 3 days of the 12 1/2 hr shifts at Hospice.  It's all good but I think the dream last night was a bit meaningful.  I dreamed some kind of avalanche fell from the sky, burying me.  I had to work and work to get to the top of the snow to find a place to breathe.  Hmmm...

One of the things that has kept me busy (but happily so) is that I've taken a LOT of orders for crocheting ponchos and hats.  I'm still not caught up but I'm working on it.  Also, Maria and I are preparing for a BIG craft fair this week-end.  Here's a sneak peek of some of those items (also found at our shop)....

This is just a sampling!  I wasn't kidding when I said it has been busy around here! 


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It's Art If I Say It's Art

One day, several years ago, I decided that I should teach Maria how to do a macrame wall hanging.  We found some cool yarn and as I started to show her the macrame techniques, I decided the yarn was so lovely as it was, I didn't want to mess it up with knots.  I put it on a big ring and hung it over our stairway.  Admittedly, that is weird, but I still love looking at it so I guess maybe it isn't so strange after all.  What do you think?

I don't think I ever did show Maria how to macrame.

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Ff

How's everyone doing with the ABC's of Bible Memorization? 

I love the verse we have for this week!

Ephesians 4:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.


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Sign Language

When I was in 8th grade I learned, along with some of my friends, how to do the alphabet in sign language.  We thought we were pretty clever.  We didn't need to pass  notes in class as we could talk with our fingers!  Well, most of what we signed were lively conversations such as "Hi" and maybe "How are you?"  As it turned out, having to sign each letter of a word was very tedious and not that much fun.

Later, I really became enthralled with signing.  I actually thought that when I graduated high school I would go on to become an interpreter for the deaf.  I'd picked out a college and thought maybe I'd even become a teacher for deaf children.

I discovered that was not my path.  However, I still love watching people use sign language.  At the Beth Moore/Travis Cottrell event I was seated where I could watch the interpreter a lot.  It was beautiful, especially the singing.  At one point they had her on stage to do a song.  I took some photos.  They don't show the true beauty but maybe you can get the idea.

I have forgotton what the song was but the last photo depicts Jesus on the cross.  It was so beautiful to watch.  I wish you could have been there.

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A Thank-You to the Veterans

It's Veteran's Day!

It's pretty easy to just slip on past this day if you've no direct involvement with a veteran, isn't it?  I know there have been years when I took very little note of it.  Shame on me!

I think of myself as a peaceful person.  I think war is a symptom of our broken world.  I hate it.  I hate that we even need our military. 

However, I am very grateful to our military, past and present.  I know there is evil in this world.  I know many citizens of this Earth do not enjoy the freedoms that I so easily take for granted and I know that I owe a lot of that to our strong military. 

(A.G. McLaughlin - my Grandpa Red)

So to all those who are currently protecting us and those who have protected us in the past, I say a simple but heartfelt thank-you.

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My Mom's Sewing Machine

I have something I want to show you!

It's my Mom's sewing machine and cabinet.  She decided her sewing days are behind her and she has given it to me.  It had to hang out in the basement during all the carpeting hoopla, but it is at home in the Rose Room now and I am so happy!  I set it up so that when I sew I can face the room instead of the wall.  I love seeing all the stacks of fabric as well as the colorful yarn.  I think it is inspiring.

This is the front side of the cabinet.  Mom used it for many years so it has some character.

One year she had some puppy troubles of her own and the cabinet developed more character yet...

Here's the fancy part!  The sewing machine is nestled down inside the cabinet when not in use.

There is a cool lever that makes it smoothly glide up to position when I am ready to sew.

I'm excited to have this in my home.  It feels like having a bit of my Mom here.  She used this machine to sew such beautiful things!  She made men's suits, lingerie (not for men), beautiful quilts and clothes for our whole family.  She used this machine to sew for many others over the years as well.  She sewed a LOT!  I remember coming home from school and finding her sewing most days.  I'd plop myself on the bed (she didn't have a Rose Room so she sewed in the bedroom) and blabber on about my school day.  I can't imagine that I had much that was terrribly interesting to say but she listened as though I were fascinating.

My Mom made my wedding dress on this machine.  I had a clear vision in my head of the dress I wanted but we couldn't find a pattern to match.  Mom had me just sketch the dress.  In case you don't remember, I only carry the artistic gene, I do NOT draw well.  Nevertheless, she managed to get the idea.  She measured me one morning before I went out the door and when I returned that evening, my wedding dress was on the hanger! 

I am not the seamstress my Mom is, but I do love to sew.  I'm so grateful that she taught me to sew and crochet as they are two of the hobbies that bring me the greatest joy.  It is just so wonderful to take pieces of fabric and turn them into something pretty to wear or a quilt to keep you cozy for years.  It was also wonderful to have a Mom who took the time to show me what she was doing and to encourage me to create things for myself.  Thanks, Mom, for the sewing machine and for the memories!


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Buzz Light Year or Pastor Mike?

I am working a 12 1/2 hr shift today so this is short.  I think it will make you smile, though.

A little preschool boy from our church is struggling with a tough decision.   He's having trouble planning who he wants to be for Halloween next year, Buzz Lightyear or Pastor Mike. 

A pair of twins, who also go to our church, saw Mike at a function elsewhere last year.  They were amazed and delighted.  They said to their Mom, "Look, God's here!"

Are you smiling?

Have a delightful day!


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Writing a Faith Paper

Do any of you have trouble talking about your relationship with God to other people?   I do.  Why is that?  Are we afraid others will think we are weird?   Maybe we just don't know what to say?  It is socially acceptable to show excitement about a baseball team, TV show or great book.  Why is it so hard to show excitement about God?  Why is it difficult to acknowledge our source of strength? 

At our church there is a tradition for our confirmation students, 10th graders, to write a Faith Paper.  It is a story of their faith journey.  They work hard on these papers, which they later read to the congregation, and they really pour their hearts into them.  I think it takes a lot of courage and probably builds character for these kids to stand up in front of everyone and tell their life story as it relates to their belief in God. 

When listening to these kids read their Faith Papers, I am often blown away by some of the trials they have been through.  It is amazing, really.  I worship with these kids, talk with them, and sometimes never know the drama they've had to deal with already in their young lives.  The rough times they've been through, though, are often moments they later realize positively impacted their belief system.

Mike with Bailey the day Bailey read his Faith Paper

(photo courtesy of Nicole Z.)

I sometimes think about what I would write in a Faith Paper.  How about you?  What would you write if you were to publicly discuss your faith journey?  What events in your life led you to where you now are in your faith? 

I believe this would be a good exercise for all of us.  I've decided that I am going to write a Faith Paper.  OK, maybe it will be a Faith Blog Post, but you get the idea.  I was wondering if any of you would like to do the same.  I know that many of my readers are believers and each of you have a story.  If someone were to ask you about your own faith story, what would you tell them?

Soon, I will post my own Faith Paper.  It won't be filled with drama.  It may even be boring, I don't know.  I'm going to put some thought into it.  What I'd really love is to read your Faith Papers as well.  If you have your own blog and decide to do this, let me know and I will direct my readers to your blog.  If you are not a blogger, you are welcome to e-mail your Faith Paper to me and I will post it here.  If you choose to let me post it, tell me if it is OK to use your name or if you'd prefer it to be anonymous.  My e-mail address is onlythemanager@yahoo.com.  I really, really hope someone else will be willing to join me on this idea.


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Sunrise

Sunrise from our back deck...

I don't often stop to think about what a gift a new day is... a new week...

It is not something to be wasted.

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Ee

Ephesians 4:12 …Equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.



For the complete list of ABC's of Bible Memorization just click here.  Remember, anyone who lets me know they've memorized the complete list will receive a handmade gift from me.

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Singing With Thousands

Wow!  I am having a lovely week-end already!

I went to the orientation and training time Friday evening so that I would know what my volunteer duties were to be at the Living Proof Beth Moore event.  Friends of our's, Mary and Jim, are friends of Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell.  When I arrived Mary told me that there were seats with our names on them, literally.  She'd reserved seats for both Mike and me.  They were absolutely the best seats in the house!  We were  in the second row, front and center.  The first row was for the Worship Team but most of them stayed backstage so no one was in front of us.

Before the event my assigned duties were to assist folks with special needs.  My nurse background came in handy as I am a highly skilled professional when it comes to pushing wheelchairs.  OK, so it didn't require any high skills at all but I enjoyed myself.

5 minutes before the event began the volunteers were released to take a seat.  Travis Cottrell and the Worship Team led us in singing and it was really uplifting to me.  I'd been looking forward to thousands of people singing together and I was not disappointed.

At one point, a lady in the row in front of us and a little ways down turned our way and started clapping big and leaning kind of toward us, you know, how someone would do to get you to join in.  I just kind of looked at her and it took me a minute to realize it was Beth Moore. 

I wanted to explain to her that I am a Lutheran and as such, I really couldn't clap big like that.  Lutherans are really quite dainty at that whole clapping thing.  And yes, I realize this is a terrible photo.  I think I must have been moving with the music.  check this one out...

One of the highlights was when Beth Moore was walking down in the crowd a bit, kind of having a little fun.  She went to my friend, Mary, and had her give the call to worship.  Mary didn't know this was going to happen but Beth had her give a "loud whistle", the kind that require you to put your fingers in your mouth.  Luckily, Mary's mouth was not dry and she was able to perform. 

Anyway, it was a fun evening. 

And afterward, our friend, Jim, took me to meet Travis Cottrell.

Cool.

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Beth Moore, Travis Cottrell and Marriage Encounter

What are your plans for the week-end?   Anything fun?

We have a busy one ahead for us.  Tonight and tomorrow we are going to be at a Beth Moore event.  If you don't know who that is, check here and here.  It will be fun.  I enjoy her speaking style.  She can be earnest and funny at the same time.  I've not heard her live but I've attended many of her video Bible study sessions.  Tonight I am a helper and will be assisting people to their seats or something like that.  My responsibilities end when the program begins so I won't miss any of it. 

Travelling with Beth is Travis Cottrell.  Do you know him?  If you listen to KLOVE you've heard his music.  Our worship team sings some of his songs as well.  Travis stopped in at our church yesterday and Mike got to meet him.  I'd tried earlier in the afternoon to just "happen" to drop by but my timing was off so I didn't get to meet him.  I'm really looking forward to the music part of the evening.  Thousands of people singing worship songs together is quite an experience I expect!

Also this week-end Mike and I will be attending a closing service at a Marriage Encounter Week-end.  Have any of you been to a Marriage Encounter Week-end?  Mike and I think highly of Marriage Encounter.  It is a great organization that makes these week-ends available for couples as a way to strengthen their marriage. 

I was kind of nervous the first time I heard about a Marriage Encounter Week-end.  Working on marriage issues in a crowd seemed like an intimidating thing.  As it turned out, privacy is greatly respected.  The basic format was simple.  You all stay at a hotel for the week-end, leaving the world behind.  It is advised to leave the tv off, leave watches behind and just focus on your marriage.  Our week-end was in 1988 in Denver, CO.  The St. Louis Cardinals were in the World Series that week-end!  It is possible that our tv came on a bit, but what happens in Denver stays in Denver ok?

During the week-end they had sessions where speakers introduced topics and told their stories.  Couples attending are never put on the spot to tell their own stories, though.  Instead, we were all given questions to answer by writing in our own notebooks.  One member of the couple would do this up in the room while the other sat in the conference room or another quiet spot.  After a certain amount of time the couple is reunited in their own room to discuss answers.  That basic format was repeated all week-end, covering various topics.  We were given lots of good information to help develop great communication skills. 

After attending a Marriage Encounter Week-end couples are encouraged to join a small group of local couples.  We had so much fun with our couple friends!   I think the first time we were in a group of 4 or 5 couples and we met monthly to do small exercises similiar to the ones done at the week-end.  We had so much fun, though, and made some great friendships as a couple.  I fondly remember a lot of laughter.

We are not attendees for this week-end but we've been given the names of a couple that are attending.  Mike and I will be praying for them this week-end.  Every great marriage has an influence on others around them.  We will be praying for this couple to develop a great marriage, to learn skills to help them stay close to each other and to always, always keep God in the center of their marriage.  We have a candle that we will be burning this week-end, helping us remember to pray. 

On Sunday afternoon we will meet this couple and give them the candle.  Cool, huh?

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