Crisis

It's a scary time right now. And even more scarier being a healthcare worker. In the beginning we all think that it won't happen to us. That the USA is invincible!  But we are not and illness happens to the best and worst of people. I have been working tirelessly over the last 3 weeks.  The stress is hard. I think my stress comes from trying to be strong for everyone.  There are changes happening everyday and as I try to keep up with them and understand them, I have to try to get them all out to the unit I work on.  Everyone is scared and anxious and rightly so.  This is new and we are learning about this virus. I think the hardest part for me right now is that we have to tell families that they cannot come and visit their loved one in the hospital. I know if I was told that, I would be quite upset. I am sure that as we start to get more busy in the next few weeks as predicted, it will get harder.
But all I can do is trust. First to trust in God. He will be right there with us all through this. His comfort will be with me and he will comfort me.
Second, trust in my leaders. They will not lead me or put me in harms way. Matter of fact, they are working tirelessly also in making sure I have what I need to be protected.
Thirdly, Trust me.  I will do everything in my power to care for my patients, work along side of my co-workers, and be the light for them. Be a support and leader for them.
Yes, I can't deny that I am not stressed, but I know that we will all get through this. Will it be easy? No it will not. And I am sure I will have times that I need to stop and pray or stop and cry. In times of high stress and crisis, there is high emotion.
But the trials that we go through, helps mold us and make us stronger.
I heard a sermon this week and the minister had a great analogy. He was talking about the different kinds of orange juice. There is the kind that you buy that may taste good, but there is the kind that is freshly squeezed and that tastes even better.  What is being squeezed out of you during trials is what you put into yourself. So if you are always putting in negative thoughts, negative words, then that is what will be squeezed out of you.
During this time of quarantine, self reflect and fill yourself with positive thoughts. Fill yourself with God's love and message so when you are stressed, you will be overflowing and able to give love and grace to others. Be a hero to others.

Joshua 1:9 says, " Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

In the Bible, Fear Not is said 365 times.  This is one command from God to fear not for every day.
I will not fear!

Love to all,

supplies...

     It has been so long since I have been on here.  Lots have happened, Christmas, Holidays, parties, celebrations and family get togethers in addition to work.  But I have also been busy meeting and planning my trip to Honduras for our medical/construction trip. I have been making lists, (and checking them twice! haha) and looking at what supplies we need.  I can say that I am so overwhelmed and my heart is full of all the love and support my family and friends have shown in the last month. I made an amazon registry for the supplies and equipment we will need and EVERYTHING has been purchased! Here is some of the items donated:
                                                                                                     God will always provide for the good of his plan. How could I ever doubt that it would not work!
I have a trip to SOS (supplies overseas) for some other supplies to take and then we should be ready.
     So a little about our trip.  We will be having 6 medical wellness clinics and planning on seeing 1200+ people.  Our team will not only meet their physical needs, but will give them emotional and spiritual support. They will be ministered about the love and hope in Jesus.
     Thank you to everyone that has supported me and the team. Please continue to pray for us as we prepared to leave in the next few months.
     As soon as I get back, fundraising for next year will begin.  So get ready, it will soon be pickle time!
Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Love to all,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends.  I always love this day because I am able to get with family that I have not seen in a while and just relax and spend time with them.  Family- no matter how long you haven't seen each other, once you get together, it seems like you haven't been apart at all. It is so funny, that as I get older, our family get togethers become more adult! I mean, after everyone has eaten and all the little kids are outside or in another room playing, we break out the adult kool aid (wine!). Now that's what I'm talking about! Funny how when I was younger, I never remember this part of our family holiday meals. 

Lately, I have been challenged to get out of my comfort zone once again. You see, I would much rather just spend time at home with my kids and husband, but I am having to get out more with large groups of people. It is a struggle, but I am doing it.  I did go to a friends house and was able paint the tree above. I think I did a good job!

So I am just taking a deep breath and taking a leap of faith.  I will be getting out quite a few times this month for some christmas parties.  I will be going with Robby to his work christmas party. I have not met anyone he works with yet, so I hope it will be fun. We are going to go the axe throwing place.  Robby said that my axe may not even make it to the target! I will just have to show him how it's done! 

I love the daily scripture for today. "Give thanks to the lord for he is good; his love endures forever." Yes his love does and he will be my guide throughout this next month. 

love to all,

Positivity

Philippians 2:14-15 says, Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Do you ever feel like your light has been burnt out? Sometimes I feel this way. I am trying to live how God wants me to, and it seems like I fail every time. Old habits come out and before you know it, I am thinking negative thoughts, feeling like I am a failure, and anxious that I am not going to get through it.
I think that this is because that the world is so negative and it is hard not to have those thoughts invade into your thinking. You see so much negativity on TV, you hear it on the radio and then it affects you when you work or at home with your family. Problems or issues in your life seem to take over and you feel like there is not an out. You start to complain about things and then it gets contagious and soon everyone around you is doing it.
I know I have caught myself complaining at home that the dirty dishes even make me mad at times!

Romans 12:1-2 says Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

This means to change the way you think.  BE INTENTIONAL with your thinking.  What a great reminder, at least for me, to be intentional.  It is easy to be in a bad mood, to frown or to get lost in your thoughts or to feel sorry for yourself. You have to intentionally think about how you are talking, feeling, or intentionally smile. 
What I have learned is attitudes are contagious, whether it is good or bad.  Smiling is contagious, you smile at someone and that just cheers them up.  I know it does that for me.

So I can choose to either be conformed by this world and let it bring me down and to follow in the negativity of it or be transformed by the renewing of my mind through Jesus.  Daily, I need to remind myself that I can do this, I can get up and be intentional to be a positive influence to someone.  If I fail, I need to look at what I can change, learn and start over the next day.
The question I need to ask myself daily is : Is my life today holy and pleasing to God?

Love to all,

new

I'm cool, I'm beautiful, I am wonderfully made.

Yup that's me!

New glasses or a new outfit sometimes can help lift  your spirits. It gives you a different look, a different perspective at how to look at yourself and how others will see you.  To make a change, it takes confidence. Sometimes, you may lack this confidence and making just the smallest change will help boost it. 

So I went out and got some new specs! I think it helps me look smarter! (or makes me look something!)

I just want to say to you, and you know who you are, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Sometimes I forget this. I feel like a slug or that I am failing at home and even at work. I want to be thinner, and I wish I never had cancer. But that is my life. I accept it. I mess up a lot, and it's ok to mess up.  God forgives me, every day! He knows I am human and that I struggle with things each day. I am sure he laughs at what I do sometimes, and then I am sure there are days that my Father in Heaven cringes. Sometimes my mouth runs faster than my brain.  It's like it has a mind of its own and things come out before my brain can say STOP! THINK! Then before you know it, I have my foot in my mouth. It's kinda like when you ask someone when their baby is due and they are not pregnant! I wish I can blame it on being blonde, but guess what. I am not blonde, just brown (with gray now)! 

BE YOURSELF, BE WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE. Not who you think others think you should be. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. This only makes us stronger when we learn from our experiences.

But you cannot find happiness in the things of this world or the words of others.  True happiness comes from finding the peace in God. Just rest in him and you will have peace and happiness. Just keep saying positive affirmations to yourself and you will start seeing yourself beautiful and wonderfully made.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Romans 12:2

Love to all,