Aliens from the ground up.

About 40+ wind mills have been arriving in my home town's hills. They have gone up so fast one would think they were aliens that awoke one night and appeared the next morning. I am still not sure what to think of them, for you see I love the grand view of the country hills with wooded lands and farms. However is the air, land and water not better off with-out fossil fuel's emitting their smoke? I do have to consider. The part I still find a bit startling is to see them with the sunrise over the trees as I head off school in the mornings...

The blades look to be 80-100 feet, from experience I an tell you that meeting on of these on the road is no fun!

 I grew up on summer nights watching the radio tower on the far away hill blink it's red lights to warn night time flyers of it's presence,  in a way I found it a comfort to know it was out there winking to me. and I wonder will the next generation growing up in this town find the windmills waving to them just a part of the home town's welcome...and will I as well become a costume to seeing the white blades turning above the tree line.

Habits Die Hard

This habit started at camp....I still skip the trays...why? I don't have to wash them, the hospital's cafe has industrialized sinks and power washers. It would be easier than stacking my food up in my hands. I could spread out my lunch where I sit...either it's a habit that will be hard to die or somewhere back in my subconscious I can't bring my self to take a tray, cause someone has to wash it.....

The Ford's Adirondack/Farm house, Part III

At last for my family and friends most all the house is complete. I have put up some pictures to show the progress of our once leaky and breezy home, to its renovated state.  Only the floor, a new sink and few minor additions to the kitchen is needed to complete it.

I've included a movie I did in the spring because it shows the cayous we lived in for good part of the remolding. My dad although doesn't hunt has enjoyed adding a deer and antolope head to our wall, he say's it makes it looks more rustic in here. ok......hmmm.. I am just happy that my parents are excited and happy with remolding after 20+ years of it. this year of remodling the house I grew up in will probably stick with me for life. the Noise the dust, the laughs, the aguments of where this or that will go, windows, that were put in, taken out and put in again, boxes and boxes of stuff moved from one corner to the next then again. The a log that was put in from camp Cherokee it's self. Tripping over cords and wondering why my toasted oats tasted like sawdust. 

Before

After

coming in through the main door

kitchen area

the log from Cherokee and looking into the new addition area

New bedroom, if you can't tell mom likes purple

This spring as I left for camp I told my mom please when I can home at the end of the summer can the house be done. I was pleasantly surprised at the completion when I did come home. But alas..."Mommmmmm....where is....?" I can't find anything from paper, my shoes to garlic powder.

H2O

 Two things that interest me, is one the National Geographic Magazine and water. and guess what they had an entire issue published on water,  wow so how cool!  So anyways I thought I would share a few neat articles from the April 2010 issue. Water our thirsty world.

Health in Your Hands

The children are excited and giggling. It seems like a game—stand by a sink and scrub your hands. But in the poorest parts of Karachi, Pakistan, the lesson is vital for disease prevention, and the teachers get great results. After a few sessions, says public health expert Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, "the mothers tell us children are constantly washing hands at home, many times a day.” And not just their own: "They’re making their brothers and sisters wash their hands too."

That ripple effect helps save lives. Washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds costs pennies—and when done properly, slashes the rates of infections, such as pneumonia and diarrheal diseases, that kill more than 3.5 million kids under age five worldwide every year. Recent studies of hand-washing habits in the United States and United Kingdom point up another problem. Adults—especially men—tend not to scrub when they should or as often as they claim. They’d do well to learn a thing or two about hand hygiene from Karachi’s kids. —Hannah Bloch

High marks for clean water
Retrieve a discarded water bottle. Tear off the label and fill with any water that is not too murky from a creek, standpipe, or puddle. Place the bottle on a piece of metal  in full sun. in six hours the UVA radiation will kill viruses, bacteria and parasites in water, making it safe to drink. 

SODIS, the acronym for the swiss-pioneered water-disinfection program, is now being used all over the world to provided drinking water for some four million people. "it's simple it's free and it's effective." says Ibelatha Mhelala, principal of the Ndolela Primary school in Tanzania. in 2006 her school started using SODIS to to disinfect its contaminated tap water, placing bottles on the buildings's corrugated metal roof. The result? Absenteeism due to diarrhea dropped considerably and examination scores soared. "Before we started SODIS, only 10-15 % of the children passed the national sixth grade exams." says Mhelela "Now 90-95 % of the students pass" _Mark Jenkins
http://www.sodis.ch/index_EN


Jesus used water as an illustration to salvation. If the swiss have found the simplest way of sharing clean water so that even children understand. How simple should it be to share the living water of salvation with the world? Just a thought...

Childhood Fantasy or Future Physiatric Patient?

  "What do we use teeth for?"  We, student nurses asked the preschool class,  we were teaching about dental hygiene. Smiling! Talking! Eating! Brushing! Biting! hmm...the pretty little girl with long blond hair and blue eyes, in seriousness looked at Sarah and I and said. "I'm half vampire, and I bit my sister's hand and tasted her sweet juicy blood."

Elisha's Bones

Recently in my devotions I was reading about the story of Elisha, well actually about his death. What I read was so incredibly inspiring. Its only a few verses, but a neat story in its own. These are a few of the thoughts I had on it.

II Kings 13
20. Then Elisha died and was buried. Every Spring, bands of Moabites would invade Israel. 21 One time they came when the Israelites were in the midst of a funeral. The people saw the Moabites coming and quickly threw the body into Elisha's tomb and ran. As soon as the body touched the bones of Elisha, the man came back to life stood up and walked out!

Wow God, You can work in some strange was to us. So what happened to this guy? Did he testify? Did God continue to have plans for his life? I sure hope the Moabites didn't kill him and he died again. He must have lived to have the story to tell. I guess I'll just have to ask when I get to heaven.

Then there is Elisha's Bones. The man who asked a double portion of the Holy Spirit to be upon him. It was so powerful that the Spirit was still with him in death. wow! God does not forget His loyal servants even in death.
But then I had to ask, how much am I willing to follow God to pray and ask for what Elisha had?
II Kings 2:9
...So he said to Elisha " What would you like me to do for you, before I leave?" Elisha answered "I pray that I'll receive a double portion of the Holy Spirit the Lord has given you."

Money that grew on a tree

interesting to see people's reactions, so what would you do?

Looking at Water

what will I see when I look at the image reflecting back at me?
will I see the out-side, or the inside?

A Day on Maternity Floor

Over the past few weeks, its been back to school for me and I've been learning tons, and had some pretty exciting experiences so I thought I would write and share about it. This is my maternity nursing rotation and I've been enjoying it, although not sure if it's my cup of tea just yet. :)

6:08 a.m. in puzzled wonderment I open my eyes and wounder why the sky is so bright at five in the morning....What!6:08 a.m. It can't be! my feet are hitting the floor and I grab my clinical cloths/papers&keys and fly out the door. My worst fear has come true for nursing school!! I've over slept and I was suppose to be at school, like right now! I am pray Lord please get me to school safely and please let the instructor have mercy. I had promptly 7 minutes to get to school! school is 30 minutes away. Lets just say I was too scared to look at my speedometer.
By the time I arrived at the hospital I had so much adrenaline pumping through my body that is didn't didn't wear off till 3 in the afternoon which was actually a benefit, compared to my classmates who were still sleepy eyed, complaining of need for coffee.
Thanks to God I arrived on 3rd floor, maternity ward, ready to go!
The army of white and navy blue uniforms swarm into the nursery to find their tiny little patients. Perfect little figures clasp around mine, I wounder at how amazing to see something so tiny unique and perfectly made by God. I am handed a pair of stethoscopes and have to learn quickly to count really fast! A baby's heart beats 120-160 a minute! Try keeping up with that.
I draw up 0.5 ML of Hep B. vaccination. A little nervous I look at the tiny thigh I am to inject it into. To be honest two thoughts run through my head ,...act like you know what your doing every body is watching...second, this isn't Gent's horse-hide I am giving an IM to. (this summer at camp I had to give a horse an IM injection) Gave the injection no problems although I feel a little guilty as the baby cry's and I hope he'll forgive me.
Next we head to post-pardum floor to meet the baby's mom. My mind has to take a double as I have to remember I am not a med surge floor, where the patients there are over 45 and look pail and feeble. I almost wounder why is this healthy person in the hospital...oh right she just had a baby!
The rest of the morning consist of taking care of mom and doing(A Lot) of teaching. Teaching mom about taking care of her-self and baby. I just learned this info last week, and all of this I've never experienced my-self, makes me feel like a hypocrite. But I ask God just give me the confidence to teach what they need to know.

11:55 hey Katie I hear, come with me your going to surgery with me!I follow on my classmates heals through the labor and delivery doors and wounder what kind of world I just stepped into! Brenda has been in here all morning and she gives me a five minute intro as we walk down the hall. We're going to watch a C-section! she shows me the gowns and mask to put on, as our patient is brought into the OR. Watching the spinal block be put in was pretty fascinating. But when the doctor started cutting I wondered if my stomach was going to stay where it was suppose to. However fascination and the desire to know and learn drew me into to watch. The doctors' skilled hands brought a baby girl to the out side world. Tiny and slimy she let the world know she had arrived by a lusty cry. Her dad creeps over to say hi, touching her toes and watching her wriggle I saw a look of terrified joy on his face. Amazingly excited to see his new daughter yet scared to death to realize she was now his responsibility. The nurse is stamping her feet, and rapping her in warm blankets. She then hands the baby to dad so he can take her over to mom.

Should I tell the the rest of the experiences the blood and well to say it body parts I saw? only read this next part if you want to.
The doctor's hands suddenly disperse back inside the abdomen and emerge with a red muscular organ, I have too look at the baby for a minute or I just might loose my stomach. This is standered procedure I know, the doctors do this, they take the uterus out of the body make sure no remaining parts from birth are left inside and than proceed to stitch it up. At this I have a greater appreciation for skin! how it holds every thing inside and were it's suppose to be. They proceed to put it back in the body and continue to sew, till the last layer of tissue and skin is closed. procedure over, Mom and baby are doing fine.

Holding an infant my arms I study his perfect little face in blissful sleep. what will his life be like I wounder?. Will he find God on his journey through life? will he know the love of God is near him? I send a prayer heaven ward, Lord bless this child of yours. He's your miracle. Be near him through out all his life!

What a privilege it is to be able to watch life come into this world, and what greater value I have for the precious gift of life!

May 22,2010

Destination: High Peaks, Nipple Top and Dial
Miles hiked: 13
Time: 7 hours
Hikers: Andrew, Teddy and Katie
Number of snowballs thrown at me: Don't know they all flew at me when I came around the corner.
Hardest point: probably going down.
Most memorable..."Alice Paul!,"... "Hey, anyone want to eat more food," (all of us packed too much food on the trip.) Beating both the guys to the top of Dial.
Person who should have been on hike: Jackie!
View from the top: Amazing!

Sleeping and Personalities

I came across this information and found it kind of interesting. So I am wondering how true this research really is? Does how you sleep, really show your personality? lol you never thought what you did in your sleep reveals things about who you are? haha, well...I wounder, seems I talk in my sleep might be scary to know what I reveal unconsciously. :P
I find that I am a person who rotates from sleeping in the starfish to the fetus position, depending on how cold/hot I am. the Personality traits with both positions are pretty true of my-self interestingly enough. :p
The log and soldier positions fascinate me. Who would find those positions comfortable is beyond me, but I guess every one is entitled to their sleep.
so what do you think? The way a person sleeps turns out to show something about their personality. Maybe a new trend of getting to know people is just by watching to see how they sleep. :p


"Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.

* Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

* Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.

* Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

* Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

* Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

* Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.


http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/what-does-your-sleep-position-reveal-about-your-personality-1338293/
What does your sleep position reveal about your personality?

"Today, I looked at the back of my Snapple juice drink and noticed that it said proudly "10% Juice". I'm scared about the other 90%. MLIA"

Who's Face will I Miss?

Ever have the feeling you just missed it? You just missed your chance. The chance to say "Hey, do you know my Lord?"
A prayer I prayed in a hurry this morning cause I realized I was late for class. "Lord please use me to show your love today."
4 hours later and hurrying to the cafe to get some not so healthy food. I shivered as I tried to decide if the precipitation was rain or snow. On the walk I passed a women carting two bags of clothes toted down with a the weight of them or was it an unseen weight? We did the eye contact, glance away sidewalk greeting. The thought of HOT food was screaming in my mind so loudly, I realized 2 steps too late I'd missed it, I'd missed my chance to say " Hey you need some help? let me carry one those bags for you."
Oh Lord please give me another chance, give her another chance. I don't want to reach home and miss a face I passed.

wilderness camping(never forget this)

Tea-ya!!!

Tea-ya apparently sounds like "Aunt Katie"...I find my-self amazed at what a niece and two nephew's can convince me to do. However it's all worth it hear them yelling Tea-ya and gigging while running out the front door begging me to come play. :D

Paid in Full

Blue lights flashed in my rear-view mirror..."oh great, here it comes" I thought, as I had a feeling of dread come over me. This is not my day and not my moment.
Coming back to camp from visiting a church I had been lost in thought and simply fallowing the cars in front of me. I had not really been paying attention to my speed. Humiliated and embarrassed to have friends in the car as well. I felt like a kid getting scolded when the officer asked me "do you know why I pulled you over?" "I was going to fast wasn't I?" I answered back, trying not to sound flustered and annoyed.
He took my license and registration like they always do and then came back with a white paper. "slow down okay, and if you ask for to be reduced points I may consider it," he told me.
"Ok" I said. I drove off driving like an old granny going a respectable speed under the speed limit this time.
So I did ask for a reduced point violation and received a note saying accepted request, due fine payment of $150. well I wasn't excited about paying the $150 but I wasn't going to complain cause he had reduced my speeding points to a no point parking ticket. Paying the fine I didn't think much more of it, and just pondered why they never gave me a receipt but figured they hadn't come looking for me or the money so why bother.
Then I was going through the mail this week I found a letter from the Saranac village court. Opening it, was a note saying, your account was already paid in full. we are returning your money order of $150.
Paid in full? How? by whom? and Why? I am still puzzled and pondering who would know about my fine and why they would pay it. Or was it simply a mistake? do you think God has checks of his own? If the state wasn't intended to get the $150, than whom is? I do not deserve it, I broke the law. I didn't not expect anyone to pay for my punishment. Yet with the money I am now entrusted with, what purpose should it be used for?
The fact that I opened this piece of mail on Easter remind me of a greater payment that I owe. Do I fully realize the fine I must pay? do I realize the consequence of my actions when I commit a sin, "daily?" why do I take it lightly? I know I didn't take my state fine lightly, but it seems to me the fine of death is a lot bigger than a $150.
However when I realize deep my debt is the greater love, praise and rejoicing I have for my Christ, who died to pay, my fine of death.

A Moment Captured

Good Earth

Interesting Classic...good for culture, history, agriculture,and sociology, if you ever find time on your hands. :P

My Passion

People who meet me and ask me what do you like to do? will know two things.
One I love skiing.
Second I love skiing so much, I want everyone else to love it just as much as I do! If they are already enjoy skiing they have just become my new best friend. If they give me a..."well I've never tried...seems kinda dangerous" stammering speech, they soon will become my newest victim to drag out to a ski slope, tell them they must strap pointed, long, and slippery things to their feet. Then proceed to point those things strapped to their feet, down a steep hill. Mean while I am excitingly telling them they are about to experience one of the greatest moment's in their lives!

My passion for skiing started when I was a kid. I remember my dad excitedly taking me to the ski slopes when I was big enough to learn. He first took me down the bunny hill. I remember thinking this bunny hill is HUGE, how am I going to get down this? But my dad would be right behind me and hold onto my coat, not letting me go to fast. First he taught me how to snow plow, then how to turn. I remember he stayed with me all day on the bunny hill teaching me how to ski.

The day that is planned to go skiing, I wake up excited! If I wasn't 20 and now considered an adult, I'd probably be dancing around the house like a little girl who just got a pony and pink ribbons. I love it all the snow, the wind, the slippery skis, the trees, the jump to get some air, the race to the bottom, the silly moments of laughter, but most of all the friends and family that make skiing all the fun!

This weekend as I got to go probably for the last time this season, the thought struck me, "The same passion and excitement I have for skiing, I want to have for Christ, for every one I meet I want them to know...
One I love Christ.
Second I love Him so much, that I want everyone else to love Him just as much and beyond what I do.

Maybe you love snowboarding instead, but has this thought struck you? "I want this kind of excitement that I have about snowboarding(or whatever it might be) to be a hundred times greater in my passion for Christ!!

The Old Farmer Had Something to Say...

I read this in a Christmas letter (a few months ago)and thought it was worth sharing.Those of you who know what Farm life is like will probably get a laugh out of this. Remember though when someone shares "good" advice its good to put it to practice don't think it will hurt any to give it a try. :D

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

A Love Story

This past week in clinical, I got to see a beautiful thing. Though it was through a sad circumstance, I found it amazing to watch.

Molly (name changed) was my assigned patient, an elderly women diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease needing total care. She stared at me in bewilderment, as I readied her for the day. She began to cry as she realized she was lost and couldn't remember why. Where had her life, her memory gone? She cried because she couldn't do the simple task of putting a shirt on by her self. It is a humiliating thing to lose the ability to take care of ones' self. I tried to distract her with cheery comments as I helped her to her chair for breakfast.
"My husband was a good man, but he's not here, and he left me in this place," Molly tells me, "but I wait. The man he's coming this morning to see me."
The nurses tell me Molly's husband comes in every morning, and sure enough at about ten o'clock an elderly man comes down the hall with a bag full of letters and a cat tucked under his arm... He introduces himself to me as James (name changed), Molly's husband, and willingly offers to have me come join him and his wife for the morning. He winks to me and say's "This is her therapy that I go over with her every day." He takes her to a quiet room, and sets the cat on the table. Now to tell you about this cat he has bought her: it's orange and white, with long and lush fur, and contently purrs and meows by battery.
Being near her husband, and the simple act of petting the fake animal seems to calm her. A huge change has come over this women who was lost and depressed just a few minutes ago. Now it seems that she has suddenly come alive.
He sings to her the songs they once sang to each other. He turns on the radio to the oldies station, takes her out to the middle of the floor, and they dance around and around in circles.
He'll then take her hand and guide her down the carpeted, generic halls of the nursing home for their morning walk.
He takes her to the dinning area to see the fake roses and irises. She smiles at the colors, not realizing they're dollar store fake flowers.
He sees that her back is in pain from walking so far, and so he sets her in a wheel chair. Back down the hall and back to the quiet room again, he pulls out cards and letters from old friends who have written an encouraging word to her. At last he pulls out a card that he himself had written to her on an anniversary years ago. She reads it aloud to him: "...If I had to live life over again I would do it with you, because you are my best friend. With love, James"
He implores her, "Who is that? Who wrote this card to you?" She smiles... "James." "And who is James?" he asks. "My husband," she tells him with spunk in her voice. "Then who is he?" he asks. She nudges him with her elbow, "Well you!" For a moment a smiles breaks his faces and he knows he has her for just that moment. Although she does not always recognize this man as her husband, she know this man has loved her, loves her now and always will love her.

I leave them for a while to go to lunch. As I come back, I see James' mind is weary. Keeping an up-beat attitude for his wife has drained his energy. They are holding hands as she finishes her lunch. He tells her, "Hon, I am going to go get my lunch and take a nap, but I'll be back at 3 o'clock." "Okay," she replies, and he kisses her. As he leaves her side, he doesn't tell me in words, but his eyes tell me, "Take care of her while I am gone. She's my life!" His shoulders sag just a little and his gait quickly carries him out to escape the surroundings of the nursing home. He is mentally fighting the fact that he is losing his companion. He will not give up a moment to spend with her; he knows each moment is a gift. He keeps fulfilling his vow: in sickness and in health 'til the last breath is breathed.

God has shown me more of Himself through this couple; it is an inspiration to see what love can do. I didn't want this to be a Valentine's Day story, but rather to show that God can write beautiful love stories through His people. He created Man and Woman together to show the world how powerful a family with God in it can be, to shine a light to the darkness.

As I think more about their story, James reminded me of Christ: every day coming to us, helping us to remember "Him."

What's Going on at the Ford's House: Part ll

So it's been about six months since the remolding/addition has started on our house so I have decided to update with a tour of the construction. There has been plenty of hammering, banging, clanging, stomping, sawing, air compressors, dirt and dust and plenty of crazy events. For instance a bookcase falling over make a large crash and a huge mess, our little white dog still finds Teddy's boot tasty every Monday, I randomly get called to hold a board or measuring tape, my poor friend finds her self trapped in the bedroom after my dad started to jack the house up and resulting in the door jamming in the frame, you generally find yourself tripping over any sort of object when walking in Teddy's work space, walls are chain sawed out, I am surprised at this point my Dad and Teddy haven't brought home the entire Jay K Lumber yard and Lowe's store. Anyhow here's what it looks like...

The Beekeeper's Daughter

Yep that’s right my dad keeps bees. For about 13 years now I’ve been labeled as the beekeeper’s daughter. Now I am not saying it’s a bad thing, I’ve just run into a couple very interesting and sticky situations over the years…

The most frequently asked question I get is….”Have you ever been bit by a bee?”
(Now by this question I wonder if these people have taken biology at some point) I simply reply “nope, never been bit by a bee” …at this, they look at me with a very confused look but know for some reason, asking another question will place them in the category of "uneducated". I take pity and decide instruct them on what they seem to be lacking. “I’ve been STUNG by bees before.” I tell them “but never bit”

The second question I get is “So do you like honey?” I have to laugh. “Sure, I like it, I don’t eat a jar a day, but I like it.”

“Do you ever go out and work with the bees too?” they ask. I love the look on their face when I tell them “yep, I’ve been helping out since I can remember. And yes I have one of those white astronaut, marshmallow, Ku Klux, Klan, snowmen suits AKA bee suit” (note people have actually called our suits these names before)

The people who have passed biology ask some of these questions.
“How do you transport bees?” “Well we put the hives on a tractor trailer and away they go.”
“How do you keep them on the truck?” “A really big net”
How do bees know which house is theirs? “Well God gave them built in GPS”

To know what a few random every day events of my life is like…
I try to decipher the Russian lady’s order for honey on the phone…just hope I got the order right!! Arh!

My mom hopes some where out there is a beekeepers son...Me, not quite so sure about that plan.

After about 115+ trips from NY-> SC -> NY -> SC -> ME ->NY –>SC over and over again…well its no big deal at this point its like running to the grocery store.
(for those who don’t know, my family takes the honey bees south for the winter)

My dad tells me putting a few thousand labels on honey jars is just like putting stickers on letters. I use to be a big sticker fan and loved collecting them when I was a kid, some how they never seemed to be equivalent to stickers.

The local post office manager groans when he sees me arriving with 8 honey pails weighing 65.lb. For this means he must lift them all up on his scales and weigh each one to be mailed out.

Honey…well I am no longer surprised at where I find it…
Honey on my elbow, resulting in sticking to the table.
Honey on my shoes, results in me strapping my shoes to my feet to keep them on.
Honey on my fingers resulting in a sticky doorknob, light switch, facet...
Honey in my hair, ok I just give up.

But I have to say a little honey every day and life is sweet... :D

Winter...

I've always wondered why people use winter for an example of dead, depressing, or cold hearts ect. Instead for me I've always felt winter was a season full of love, joy, peace but most of all, Life! So I have decided to share why I believe this and hopefully winter won't seem so cold for you.

Whether it's from the first soft snow that falls on golden autumn leaves or the crystallized snowbank hiding from spring's sunshine, I've always been excited about winter.
Laughter begins with...
snow ball fights
when the sleds are brought out
building a jolly snowman
a thrill to ski down a mountain,
skating on ice,
or hiking out in the snow to find a peace in the woods!


I wake in the morning to find the trees out side my window dusted in magic white dresses; and on the days that the wind has blown away those beautiful dresses the trees stand true and strong never bowing or lowering their self to the winds furry.
The frost that gathers on the window is more detailed than any art I have seen. Ice-sickles are like friendly chums that glisten and drip on sunny days.
The deer stare at me, asking whether they should flee or stay to hunt for left over apple on my lawn.
Chickadees and nuthatches brave a cheery song in the winter chill to remind me I too can sing an life's chilly days.

The morning's crisp cold air burns my lungs, and my ears and cheeks become pink. But the coldness breaths life to my sleepy body and I feel fully alert by the time I reach my class, which I am grateful for.
On Cold and bitter days, I hide away with a book and a friend or family to read aloud to each other. By the wood stove we toast our chilly toes and sip hot chocolate with warm home baked goodies. I enjoy these moments... for winter gives me a gift, the time, to spend with the ones I care about.
Holidays indeed bring a special feeling of their own. Thanksgiving and Christmas are rejoicing times with family, friends and plenty of food, why we wait for once a year to express our blessing or praise our Savior I don't know.
A New Year, oh how exciting! best wishes are sent out for happiness and health! Valentines day make the boys shy and the girls blush.
Easter may bring a few last flakes but the snow is like a final clothing of white pureness before God's creation of new life.

When snowflakes float down I believe they are each a gift from God. His way of saying "From Me: To You. I feel like a child again. I feel like dancing in circles but instead I am found standing still to study each one.


My favorite days, are days that the sun shines on the wintery world. The sun's warming essence gives me the hope that the cold will not last forever. As it sparkles on the thousands of snowflakes they come alive sparkling as if it was God's own throne room. In the evenings God tells the sun to leave one more gift for us. I've tried about 20 times to think of how to describe it cause "sunset" just doesn't fit and not matter how hard a camera can try, it can never catch the true picture. However, next time the sun is setting on a winter wounder land take the time to enjoy it and you'll have your own picture.

No, I rather see winter as a time of life not death. Call me crazy, but I just thought I would share winter through the eyes of an optimist. :D

Theraputic Communication, My Fellow Nurses.

As I sat in a 5 hr. class today about the topic of therapeutic communication(Starting to wish I never heard those two words) I have less understanding and reasoning of it then I did before! (part may be due to my teacher) So I have decide to ask you my friends who are Nurses: and those of you who wish to put an input and are not nurses that's fine too. But I just want to know what your thoughts are on it. For I feel naive to this content. Some how I am torn between "the theory" of how to communicate therapeutically and the real life with my own experience. However most importantly I wish to know How a Christian nurse should use therapeutic communication.

So as a nurse...our role is to help our patients get better...this includes finding out whats wrong, working out a plan, implementing, and evaluating! Nurses are working for the client not them-selves, and So we listen to our patients this is the rules of nursing. Abide by them and your a good nurse...I understand this, I realize the reasoning and agree with them....except for therapeutic communication...

We are taught to say, "How are you feeling today?" "What makes you feel that way?"..."Go on tell me more"....I agree my job is to listen, not to say "I know how you feel." But I asked my teacher then...what about giving a story? What about being real and sharing how there is hope and strength to be found to keep going. Can it not be an encouragement to others to share a sincere story? For me personally I find an inspiration in testimonies shared to inspire and encourage us on life's path!
No! we as RNs are never allowed to share that! No the NCLEX, the Hospital, the Doctor,the Psychiatrist, the Teacher they tell us NO!

Nurses are told to let the patient answer their own Questions, let them think about it. Sure I agree, but how can they find the answer when they are continually on a cycle of un-advised. How would I find the answers as a child if I had not had the guidance of my parents. Are they to be continually uneducated? Is advice so far out there that we can not give it?

When it comes to the place where words can be given to encourage and uplift. Can they not be used to therapeutically help our patients heal? What did our greatest Healer of all use?
Matt.5:2-12 "And He opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

...is it so wrong to share Faith, Hope and Love?

I may be just a freshmen nursing student with little experience, but I am a Christian Freshmen Nursing Student.

My Grampie

Gathering in the small room around Grampie’s bed my family and I sang Christmas carols to him. As we sang Silent Night I wondered at all the love in that tiny room and how blessed I was to enjoy and know my grandfather for nineteen years. As my mom and I held his hand memories flooded over me...

As a kid, the most exciting highlight of the summers was when Grampie and Grammie came to visit for a whole month! I remember waiting in anticipation for the day that they were to arrive. When that day came I would be watching out the window to see their truck and camper pull into the driveway. Racing outside I would dance with excitement as I waited my turn to give Grampie, Grammie and Aunt Tay the biggest hug I had.What fun and exciting summers those were when they came and spoiled my siblings and me, as grandparents always do.
so many memories I have of spending time with my Grampie. He taught me how to play catch, He always told me "keep your eye on the ball, you won't miss if you keep watching for it." then when we got too hot we would sit in the cool shade of our maple trees, drinking some lemonade. I loved to go fishing with him, he'd get out his fishing poles and that ever fascinating lure box. He'd then bait the hooks for me and tell me "keep an eye out for the bobber, when it starts to jump around start reeling in the line."
Sometimes when we went to Grammie and Grampie's house in North Carolina, I'd sit next to him on the couch, he'd be reading his book and I'd be reading mine.Or I'd watch him scraping his plate clean, and then smiling at Grammie saying, "Mmm, my favorite place to eat is Harriet's kitchen"
One time my cousins and I decided to go on an adventure down the hill from my grandparents house to the maintenance building, to see Grampie at work. However we forgot to tell our mom's we where going and upon arriving home we got in pretty big trouble. But the trip was well worth the punishment.
Tears spilled over as I realized my time was becoming short with my Grampie, I'll be missing you Grampie, I'll miss you saying "Hey Kate!" when I walk in the door, I'll miss you being so proud when I made straight A's for a semester. It was so much of an honor to know you were proud of me. I'll miss you for the big moments of my life someday having an RN cap, wearing a white dress or taking my own children fishing.
Grampie I love and miss you so much, but I am watching into the window of the skies for the Lord to return to wake you up and take us both home! Oh how I'll dance with joy to be able to once again give you the biggest hug I have!
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