It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Somebody please tell me that they have enjoyable holidays with their parents, because that is sorely lacking in my quiet little life.
It was the worst of times, consistent criticisms and rudeness from my mother, no food in my parent's house for my kids, not even milk.
It was the best of times, my 11 y/o son and I got to spend time with my beloved Uncle Bud and listen to him share about his experiences as a Tank infantryman in World War 2.
It was the saddest of times, visiting my brother's grave, rubbing my hands across his grave marker instead of being able to hold him and hug him.
It was the most cherished of times, when we got home and could relax as a family, and share our tradition of watching Dickens' A Christmas Carol, to help get us in the holiday spirit.
And how was your Thanksgiving weekend? The best of times or ????
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Giving Thanks
Welcome to Wednesday and Thank you so much for your visit. I would like to wish you and yours a most wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.
Giving Thanks on a regular basis helps create an attitude of appreciation and gratitude. Often, when I feel my burdens of work, home, family, and friends become too heavy, I think of the abundance of which I am blessed.
When I think of the stress of my career working with the medically fragile and ill, I am reminded to be grateful for my own health and that of my family. I am also blessed to have a demanding job that is In Demand and provides my family with access to medical care and many other necessities and more than a few treats too.
When I am overwhelmed with all I have to do to maintain my household between cleaning, financial management, yard work, and decorating, I become aware that so many others have no place to call their own or care for.
When I am missing my time with my friends, I am thankful that I have friends to miss. I also realize that I need to nurture my friendships.
When my time is not my own because of shuttling my sons to baseball, show choir, or a sleep over, or getting up early to help my husband get ready for refereeing, I am blessed to have a family to care for and that cares for me. Also the realization that this time with our children is all too brief.
Whenever I am sad for those whom I have loved and lost, I am thankful that I had their love and light in my life and that is their gift to me and my family.
I am appreciative of you, dear Reader, for the gift of your time and sharing.
Please feel free to share something for which you are Thankful, that would be most appreciated.
From my post at Today's Motivation Station.
Giving Thanks on a regular basis helps create an attitude of appreciation and gratitude. Often, when I feel my burdens of work, home, family, and friends become too heavy, I think of the abundance of which I am blessed.
When I think of the stress of my career working with the medically fragile and ill, I am reminded to be grateful for my own health and that of my family. I am also blessed to have a demanding job that is In Demand and provides my family with access to medical care and many other necessities and more than a few treats too.
When I am overwhelmed with all I have to do to maintain my household between cleaning, financial management, yard work, and decorating, I become aware that so many others have no place to call their own or care for.
When I am missing my time with my friends, I am thankful that I have friends to miss. I also realize that I need to nurture my friendships.
When my time is not my own because of shuttling my sons to baseball, show choir, or a sleep over, or getting up early to help my husband get ready for refereeing, I am blessed to have a family to care for and that cares for me. Also the realization that this time with our children is all too brief.
Whenever I am sad for those whom I have loved and lost, I am thankful that I had their love and light in my life and that is their gift to me and my family.
I am appreciative of you, dear Reader, for the gift of your time and sharing.
Please feel free to share something for which you are Thankful, that would be most appreciated.
From my post at Today's Motivation Station.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Grief Season/ Postcard to the Edge
While I was growing up, Thanksgiving was a favorite, most warm, and enjoyable holiday for my family. My mother put out a delicious spread of food, we used our fine china, damask linens, and depression glass serving ware, and we sang our Grace before the meal. (Actually my mother sang the song, "We Gather Together", the rest of us just kind of mouthed or hummed along.) I have many happy memories of those times together which I cherish.
For the last 25 years, a veil of sadness comes over me this time of year. This Thanksgiving, it is the 25th anniversary of my older brother's Jim's death at the age of 24 years. We were very close in age and in kindred spirit. He was my rock, my play, my guide, my friend. So now, he's been gone longer than he was here. This feeling of grief and longing for him to be with us, celebrating with his own family, weighs heavy on my heart and spirit. The sadness comes unbidden on these anniversaries, it's like a force of nature, outside of myself.
I want to send him a postcard-
I miss you, Jimmy.
I am good, living the life we always wanted and talked about when we were little, with a loving family and home to call our own. I remember you wanted to name your children, Brian and Ann, such lovely names. You would love my boys and my husband too and they would love you so, so much. I still have the matchbox cars we played with as children, they are among my most prized possessions. Your prism is next to my desk and when it casts rainbows, I feel you close to me.
I miss you, Jim, I always will. Thank you for the love we shared, I know my grief is the price I pay for all the joy and love you gave me.
Martha
For the last 25 years, a veil of sadness comes over me this time of year. This Thanksgiving, it is the 25th anniversary of my older brother's Jim's death at the age of 24 years. We were very close in age and in kindred spirit. He was my rock, my play, my guide, my friend. So now, he's been gone longer than he was here. This feeling of grief and longing for him to be with us, celebrating with his own family, weighs heavy on my heart and spirit. The sadness comes unbidden on these anniversaries, it's like a force of nature, outside of myself.
I want to send him a postcard-
I miss you, Jimmy.
I am good, living the life we always wanted and talked about when we were little, with a loving family and home to call our own. I remember you wanted to name your children, Brian and Ann, such lovely names. You would love my boys and my husband too and they would love you so, so much. I still have the matchbox cars we played with as children, they are among my most prized possessions. Your prism is next to my desk and when it casts rainbows, I feel you close to me.
I miss you, Jim, I always will. Thank you for the love we shared, I know my grief is the price I pay for all the joy and love you gave me.
Martha
Friday, November 20, 2009
City of Angels for the Color Carnival
This is an angel from the Los Angeles Public Art project where over two hundred angels were decorated and placed throughout the city to create a Community of Angels.
Thank you for visiting for the Color Carnival. I wish you a most Angelic Weekend!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Dear Loser Letters - Morons R Us or RIP Tact
Dear Fellow Soccer Team Mom,
It is always nice to chat on the sidelines with the other team parents. I especially enjoy talking with the ladies about Girl stuff and beauty grooming tips. Thank you so much for your interest in not only WHO threads my eyebrows, But How Much she Charges, and Where she does this service. Thank you So MUCH for letting me know that I PAY TOO Much, especially for someone who does it OUT OF Their House. Thank you also for sharing that you pay half as much as I do. You didn't have to tell me, I can see that for myself. Really.
Signed, You Get What You Pay For
Dear Scout Dad who Takes this Way too seriously,
It is very informative to meet with the other parents in our sons' Scout Troop. Thank you so much for telling me that making Scout Leaders more available for the boys to help with signing off on rank advancements and other administrative stuff Wasn't Needed. I had NEVER EVER Thought to use your method of helping my boys by Nagging them. Please show me the Nagging section in the Scout Leader's manual. I am sure my boys will be So Happy to have me Nag them about one more thing. Oh, I am so sorry for making you Sooo defensive, that wasn't my intent.
Signed, Remember It's For The Boys
Dear Potential Car Buyer who nitpicks every scratch on my car,
Thank you so much for telling me about every little scratch or ding on my car. I am not selling the car because I am blind.
Signed, Go Bother Someone else or Pony Up for a New Car
It is always nice to chat on the sidelines with the other team parents. I especially enjoy talking with the ladies about Girl stuff and beauty grooming tips. Thank you so much for your interest in not only WHO threads my eyebrows, But How Much she Charges, and Where she does this service. Thank you So MUCH for letting me know that I PAY TOO Much, especially for someone who does it OUT OF Their House. Thank you also for sharing that you pay half as much as I do. You didn't have to tell me, I can see that for myself. Really.
Signed, You Get What You Pay For
Dear Scout Dad who Takes this Way too seriously,
It is very informative to meet with the other parents in our sons' Scout Troop. Thank you so much for telling me that making Scout Leaders more available for the boys to help with signing off on rank advancements and other administrative stuff Wasn't Needed. I had NEVER EVER Thought to use your method of helping my boys by Nagging them. Please show me the Nagging section in the Scout Leader's manual. I am sure my boys will be So Happy to have me Nag them about one more thing. Oh, I am so sorry for making you Sooo defensive, that wasn't my intent.
Signed, Remember It's For The Boys
Dear Potential Car Buyer who nitpicks every scratch on my car,
Thank you so much for telling me about every little scratch or ding on my car. I am not selling the car because I am blind.
Signed, Go Bother Someone else or Pony Up for a New Car
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Nursing in a virtual world
It is almost a reflex when you tell people that you are a RN that they ask, "What hospital do you work at?"
When I tell them I am a RN case manager and I telecommute, they often have trouble wrapping their minds around the idea of a nurse who provides nursing care in a virtual environment. Everything I do is over the telephone or internet and I work with patients and families all over the U.S. I take care of a wide range of diagnoses, from Asthma to Zoster infections, Cancer to Cardiac disease, Diabetes to Developmental delays, from premature babies to the very elderly. I am a professional problem solver, empathetic counselor, and clinical educator. My tools are not a stethoscope or EKG machine, but my ability to listen, provide resources, and foster self reliance for patients and families.
Recently, my son asked me what do I say the first time I call my patients? Great question, so much hinges on that first call. You really have to introduce yourself and your role very concisely and meaningfully to encourage people to share about themselves and their health issues to a voice over the phone. I introduce myself as a Nurse from their health plan and I am calling to see how they're doing and what they need for themselves and their families to cope with their disease. I tell them they can call me anytime and here's my direct extension. Then, I ask, "How are you doing? What can I do to help?"
There are many rewards, the child who has finished cancer treatment and can return to school, a severe asthmatic who quits smoking, a terminally ill patient receiving comfort and dignity as their families also receive care and support. Needless to say, I become very attached to some patients and families, especially those I have worked with for years and have been through some very trying times with. It is a privilege.
Yesterday, I signed up to take my certification exam in March to become a Certified Case Manager. After 8 1/2 years in my current and hopefully last job, (because I love it and enjoy it so much), I think I owe it to myself, my 28 year nursing career, and my patients to take this step. Please, wish me luck. ;oD
When I tell them I am a RN case manager and I telecommute, they often have trouble wrapping their minds around the idea of a nurse who provides nursing care in a virtual environment. Everything I do is over the telephone or internet and I work with patients and families all over the U.S. I take care of a wide range of diagnoses, from Asthma to Zoster infections, Cancer to Cardiac disease, Diabetes to Developmental delays, from premature babies to the very elderly. I am a professional problem solver, empathetic counselor, and clinical educator. My tools are not a stethoscope or EKG machine, but my ability to listen, provide resources, and foster self reliance for patients and families.
Recently, my son asked me what do I say the first time I call my patients? Great question, so much hinges on that first call. You really have to introduce yourself and your role very concisely and meaningfully to encourage people to share about themselves and their health issues to a voice over the phone. I introduce myself as a Nurse from their health plan and I am calling to see how they're doing and what they need for themselves and their families to cope with their disease. I tell them they can call me anytime and here's my direct extension. Then, I ask, "How are you doing? What can I do to help?"
There are many rewards, the child who has finished cancer treatment and can return to school, a severe asthmatic who quits smoking, a terminally ill patient receiving comfort and dignity as their families also receive care and support. Needless to say, I become very attached to some patients and families, especially those I have worked with for years and have been through some very trying times with. It is a privilege.
Yesterday, I signed up to take my certification exam in March to become a Certified Case Manager. After 8 1/2 years in my current and hopefully last job, (because I love it and enjoy it so much), I think I owe it to myself, my 28 year nursing career, and my patients to take this step. Please, wish me luck. ;oD
Monday, November 16, 2009
Psycho's Funhouse
No, this isn't a self portrait or a picture of the front of my house, but some days it certainly "Could Be". (Though I usually don't wear hats like Psycho the Clown here.)
Psycho's Fun house was part of The Halloween Haunt at one of my most favorite local hiking spots, Hart Park in Santa Clarita. Hiking for me is my workout session and my meditation.
Thank you for joining me for Mellow Yellow Perfect Moment Monday. My best to you and yours that Pyscho the Clown doesn't come and redecorate or move into your place.
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