Saturday, January 23, 2010

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

Thursday, January 14, 2010

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.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

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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