the last blog of 2006

So this has been my first year of blogging. As the year closes I must finish it out blogging. So Happy New Year to you all.
Today at church I chose to become a member. The pastor prophecised that this next year would be a of suddenlys. God was going to answer requests suddenly. And not just one but a series of suddenlys. So I am speaking and praying for several suddenlys. I will also be going to the New Years Eve service tonight and since its the first hours of the New Year I am interested to see what He will do.
See you all in the next year

Lessons from the ER -- reason #98 why not to use drugs

Logic somehow reverses when you use cocaine, alcohol and a few other drugs.....

For example, Where is the best place for firewood to be found?
- logically the answer would be --wood is found on the ground or if a tree is cut down.

I have learned that with drugs & alcohol, the mind can be brought to believe that firewood is found in a tree 10-15 feet up. And lead to falls.

Do you trust your mind and body to something that can twist anything to feel logical?

Christmas in the Emergency Dept.

Today I spent the day celebrating Jesus birth serving the sick that poured into the ER. I guess God might have chosen that as a place or maybe in a bar ministering to the lonely or maybe on the rainy street serving the homeless.

I was humbled serving people today. I treated 47 people over the 11.5 hours I worked today. Many sick with flu, strept or pneumonia or a combo of the above. We seem to have hit a peak in the flu season here. Although most are doing a good job staying hydrated, they were feeling miserable. A few I was able to pray over while examining them, but mostly had to stay busy seeing people.

Thank God for a healthy body. I really felt His presence around me today and knew I was in the place He wanted me to be. I wonder what destiny I fulfilled today.

This week I watched the movie Lady of the Lake -although a weird movie, what struck me most, was questioning my destiny. And has brought me into a reflective contemplation of what it is I do for God daily. Do I miss out on the opportunities or am I just unaware of the destinies I have fulfilled. I pray I am following through and that God will forgive my weakness that has failed Him. This week at church Apostle Ron prayed over the congregation that God has marked us with his mark so that any labels that are curses have been broken off. We are not bound by the worlds labels -- God doesn't see us through those and we should not operate in them, being bound by our own fears and insecurities. I pray that I can walk forward with His mark and not bring disappointment, but instead bring favor to Him by my life.

Today I gave a single mother a gift for her son, as they have not had money to buy new clothes. She was touched and I was warmed to know that I had served someone in need. I pray that God use that opportunity to touch and bring healing to their lives and draw them into an further awareness of Him. Is there somone in your life who needs a gentle word, a pat on the back, a hug or a wink that You can touch for God's glory?

I pray that God be with you and warm your heart during this holiday with a new awareness of his love.

I wish you a Merry Christmas

I have uploaded some pictures of Christmas in South Carolina this year. see link

Can you tell Jayden tended to be in the center of all our attentions. He is growing so quickly. Matt & Kristin made it in from LA and Mom & Dad flew in from PA. We got to talk to Larrian & Teri Justin, Josh & Walker via phone as they opened their gifts. Mom has been around for the last week and a half teaching Janelle all sorts of ways to use up left over chicken and turkey. I was pretty impressed with all the great cooking they have been doing as I dropped in on several occasions to test taste and prepare some baking (although I ended up watching more than helping with the baking).


But since I have to get up in 6 hours to go to work I will keep this brief --- but for all those other ED staff around the world here's a few pieces of advice.
Don't drive sleepy or distracted or drunk. Don't pry cans open with knifes. Don't drink all the wine prior to your first attempt to carve the turkey or the ham. Don't force the dishrag or dish towel down into the glasses as you clean them. Make sure the meat is cooked the whole way through. Have plenty of fun and guard your tongues and thus keep the peace and enjoy staying home And finally don't eat the left overs if they sat out all day. And a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT. MAY GOD'S PEACE BE UNTO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
love you all

A girls day out at Grove Park Inn

I recently spent the afternoon with Kendra having lunch at Grove Park Inn. The inn had these huge fireplaces roaring with log fires (logs that were at least 5-6 feet long) and huge trees throughout the hotel each with different themes. We wandered through the hotel looking at the national gingerbread contest winners. It was an amazingly beautiful hotel. I also decided to take notes for my next attempt at Gingerbread houses, but don't have a clue what they even used for product for many of these amazing mastepieces. Check out this link for further pictures.

I get to babysit my nephew for his first time away from Mom & Dad tomorrow. But I got a chance to hang out with him on Sunday and again on Monday. He has gotten so big. And check out that cute toy from Aunt Teri and Uncle Larrian and cousins Justin, Josh & Walker. It plays music which he seems to listen too. A pictures worth a thousand words they say.... Doesn't this just seem to say "No worries Mom and Dad I'll have fun with Aunt Karla"

Homeowners lession #63

Waiting until temperatures are freezing is too late to clean out gutter. As the leaves decay and freeze into a mass that cannot be removed prior to thawing.
Note to self: Make time in October or November to remove leaves from gutter prior to freezing weather.

My new Christmas door

I have a new front door! My Christmas present to myself. And it opens the opposite way -- a much more inviting way. (And will be better for airflow if I put up a screen door in the summer.) Trevor came over and had to saw into some of the logs to get it in. Apparently they had sawed off the bottom of the last door to make it fit. One more reason it was probably leaking air around it. It now looks like a front door instead of a back door. It is white with an oval window. I now am motivated to paint the other windows and doors another color than that ugly mustard yellow -- unfortunatly its cold and rainy and will be delayed probably until spring. I also got a basement door that locks securely and opens properly. Hopefully no more leaking down there.

I also went out in the pouring rain yesterday in search of a tree. Luckily Lowe's had one I liked and I didn't have to wander the countryside in search of Christmas tree farms. Although that is a favorite memory making experience, I enjoyed only being drenched from the mid thigh down (I had planned enough to grab my oversized raincoat.) I was able to fit it inside the SUV instead of slipping around and getting drenched further trying to tie it to the roof. I took Dassah with me who still has not released the concept of car chasing while in the car. So I had a ringing in the right ear from her deafening barks and a sore arm from blocking her from jumping at me despite her seatbelt.

I love the smell of cedar in the house. This is the smell of Christmas. I also have my food dehydrating some lemons, limes and oranges to hang on the tree and it smells like citrus in the house too. Another year has come and almost gone and more memories to store. Thank you God for your blessings of this new house and new location. May God bless you all with His love and protection during your holiday plans.