No Prejudice...

One thing I truly loved about Puerto Rico was something that was said by a tour guide. According to Mr. Sunshine (Sunshine Tours--he really had that type personality very positive. he was quite the tree-hugger though, very new age--paints with all the colors of the wind sort of thing--back to the story) there is no prejudice in Puerto Rico. One of the most degrading and divisive practices of society to me is prejudice. I cannot hate on the basis of color or culture or for an other reason. How can there be a Great Speckled Bird if there were no different tones of people? I heard someone try to blame our nation's problems on the influx of different nationalities. Last time I looked in the mirror I was clearly a cracker, not Native American. So I am, and so was the other person, a transplant. We came in on a boat! Maybe I just have wild melting pot ideas. I can see the All Nations Flag proudly waving in all parts of the world regardless of skin color.

Aside from talking to the trees, Mr. Sunshine had it right and so does Puerto Rico. Really I saw no hint of prejudice while there. There are Spanish, English, Spanglish, black, white, Hispanic and some all combined in one. It is such mixture that it is nearly impossible to separate one from the other. As for the talking to trees...I do feel like you can venture out into God's creation and revel in the beauty of it and worship the Mastermind behind it all. I also feel it does deserve respect. One must be careful treading through the Garden of God. We were sent to dress and keep. What an easy task that was preAdamic curse--no weeds! The diverse flora and fawna from one location to the next amazes me. Our imagination could not have contrived such complexity. His ways and thoughts are truly higher than ours. While I respect nature, I would rather hug people than trees.

Is this not the most different post I have ever come up with? Maybe it is the result of spring being in full bloom or maybe the fact that my garden is broken and near ready for planting. I don't know. I do love creation, but I love the Creator even more.

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well" Psalm 139:14

Here's One More...

Where Have I Been?

It has been forever since my last post. I have never even gotten my pics from vacation up. We had a wonderful time in sunny Puerto Rico. I guess I should say mostly sunny, because it rained like crazy on us the last day. That was cool though, we had done all that we had set out to do. It was not as user friendly as Hawaii. It was very unique and you had the feeling that it was absolutely ancient. I have post a few pics to kind of let you see what it was like. Yes, Sis Tammi, I love US territories. Tabithia and I are considering passports for Christmas.

In Puerto Rico we hiked a rainforest, we sailed out to an off shore island on a catamaran (can you say seasick?) and we toured Old San Juan. In Old San Juan we went in and explored over 400 year old forts that American ships bombarded in conquest of the island. I mentioned that PR was not very user friendly. One thind about it thou, it was very hands on. There were no restrictions in the forts, you could go where you wanted, even in the guard lookouts that over hang the walls. It was the same in the rainforest. You could get off the path in the stream. People swim in the falls. I was able to get some very good pictures (over 700) We walked and were so active. We are in very good shape. Or we were.

It was very beautiful and comparable to the cost of living where I live. I think we need a PR mission church. I don't speak Spanish. What a shame. I am about out of time and will tell more later!

Finally, after two days of trying to post a picture...wahoo!!!! I did it. Now, all of this to say that I am going to be gone for a few days starting Sunday. If the picture does not say it, we are going to Puerto Rico!!!!!!! I think it will be amazing!!!! Can't wait! Feel free to post your envious comments. Just remember that jealosy is as cruel as the grave.

I Remember Dark Calvary...

May God bless each of you

as we reverently celebrate and worship

our Saviour and His life changing sacrifice.

The horror of those last hours grips our hearts with pain,

yet the glory of His resurrection dispels the gloom

of not only the events of those days but also our own dark hours.

At times when there seems to be no hope,

He is our HOPE.

One Sick Puppy...

Cabin fever has finally broken! I have been out in the yard with the yet cool, moist soil filtering through (and mainly sticking to) my hands. My black lagoon of a pond I started last year is now shaping up. I about have it figured out and cleaned out of the fishy smelling, water-logged leaves. I was elbow deep and did not care. Augh, life is good again. Spring is such a wonderful time. Our trees are preparing for a vivid show that is just at curtain time. Winter is nice in its own way but I like the others much more. We seldom get snow here so it is just a cold, windy, barren time of year that leaves you under house arrest.

Last weekend was the exception to that. It snowed and snowed all day long on Friday. It was one of those windy, driving snows that you can't really get god pictures of during the storm. I had to work that night so by the time I got off the next day there were limited good photo ops. I managed to get a few. Sorry, I don't have them on me now. I will try to post some later.

I have a busy couple of weeks here with our Easter activities. I have some much work to be doing. Not to mention the yard beckons. I hope to get a garden in the ground this year. I bought a couple of those little green houses from Wal-Mart which have been a good start to my tomatoes and peppers among other things.

Now, as for sick a puppy. My little 82 pound yellow lad, Carlie Noel, has not been feeling well for a little while. She would have days where she was better then days where she was worse. I have put off taking her to the vet hoping she would get better. I thought of putting her on the international prayer list. Well, I loader her up to go. This was no easy process in itself. She, when she suspects trouble, will lay flat to the ground and go completely limp making it impossible to raise her slightly overweight body from the ground. I finally got her picked up and carried her to the car. She road in the front seat like a very good girl. She was scared. Once there she would not get out either. I had to carry her in. Once there her blood test revealed she has heart worms. Her x-rays revealed she has an enlarged heart. Poor girl. Right now she is on some meds to clear her lungs and make her feel better. Treatment will follow. I don't know if Carlie believes in divine healing so I need everyone believing with me. She really does not feel well and is not her normal obnoxious self.

That is about it for now. I am waiting on the travel agent to get my information to me. Lord willing, we are going to Puerto Rico!!!!

Snow and Sixty Degrees...

Those two hardly seem to go together, but here in Arkansas that is clearly the case. I have always heard about the Natural State, "If you don't like the weather, don't worry it will change." And change it does. The weekend was glorious, a little windy, but for early March, it was great! I worked of course and went home to sleep. How absurd. I slept through the best weather of the year. i just told myself there would be more. The winds of change blew and blew until cold front passed through on Monday night. What should happen on Tuesday...you guessed it...SNOW. I use that term very liberally. We call the small dusting we received snow. The frost on the ground this morning was more impressive.

Have I just become the blogger meteorologist or what? Have I gotten so old that all I talk of is the weather? I will explain that in one phrase...CABIN FEVER!!!!! I have it so bad. I am ready to return to the yard for therapy. There is something about sinking your hands into the earth. In the quiet moments of yard labors are found peace, meditation and poison ivy. Oh...wait that doesn't belong! It really is peaceful, tranquil. I think on so many things. It is taking Gods creation and showcasing it in a way that brings Him glory. This year, Lord willing, it is supplementing the supper table. I am so excited and cannot wait. I have things growing at my backdoor already. But I cannot do anything because it is too cold!!!!!

Am I the only one with this problem? AUGH!!!!!! Today the temperature is back in the 50's. So we rebound very quickly until we have another chance for snow this weekend. Eventually the epic battle between warm and cold will end and it will be so humid we can barely stand it. I can't wait!

That is your weather report (or rather mine). The SON always shines here though!

Has It Been a Week Already...

My how time passes so quickly. Life seems to go at such a hurried pace. Nonessential time grabbers get kicked to the curb. I dare say that it will not be blogging. This is therapy. I am in some need of therapy right now. Yesterday was the big day at the orthodontist student's office. I have a mouth full of metal. Well, not quite full as we have not started my lower teeth yet. That will truly be a fun day. I laid back for well over an hour as I was fitted for this beautiful piece of art in my mouth. Really it does not hurt, too bad. The spacers that were in were far worse. This morning I do feel the tension of all of it. Enough whining...what else do I have to talk about.

I had a very old lady making passes at me last night. All of this while I was starting her iv. I reminded her of that. I have seen many dirty old men but very few dirty old women. She had mentioned being healed at Church before mixed in with many innuendos. What kind of water was in that well (sweet, bitter)? She was truly a mess. She told me she wanted to die laughing. I was okay with that idea for her just not while she was on my table. I have had another patient tell me before, "You must be that hot Xray tech I am supposed to get a phone number from for my sister." I was completely dumbfounded. No one had ever asked for my number before. In the health care industry you see all kinds and never quite know what to expect. I have been accused of trying to kill people, I have been accused of shrinking a patient's head. I have been verbally abused. Mostly, though, I have had many opportunities to be a blessing and to be blessed. I have prayed with some. I have hugged and been hugged. There just never seems to be a dull moment.

I have returned patients to the ER with tazer drawing police in front and behind. I have been scanning one moment and initiating CPR the next. I have had to clean up nearly every kind of mess a human can make. Other times I have felt so personally involved that one would think my family was on the table. I have worked in sterile fields elbow to elbow with radiologists and scanned under the watchful eye of surgeons. I have come a long way from the chicken I was when I started.

Is this a commercial for me or what? Hey, it is my blog and I can ramble as I please. I am about rambled out. Blah!

I do like this media for communicating, though. It is the one place I can come and not have a lisp. I discovered last night that I can't whistle. I can make some noise but no tune is appreciable. Some don't appreciate a whistled tune anyway. I was good though. Perhaps in two years if I have not forgotten how. Perhaps.

Nearly Spring...

Aaaawww! It is just nearly springtime here, although today's artic blast would disprove that statement. It is very cold and windy. We actually had a freezing rain advisory earlier. It never materialized here. yesterday I went to Memphis to the orthodonist. Wait, let me clarify that statement. It was actually the orthodonist student. I have been accepted as a test patient for a nice fee in the University of Tennessee School of Orthodontics. For the next two years I will be undergoing severe torture to align my teeth. the main reason for my participation is my retained primary tooth. I still have a baby tooth. My dentist told me that is is likely that is would fall out someday...funny to me it has made it 31 years+. Anyway, my permanent tooth is in the gums still. The plan is to wire me up align my teeth, correct my bite and yes pull this tooth down into place with a gold chain. Of all colors for this chain to be it is a gold chain. I will have bling, gold for ornament in my mouth. This should be interesting.

What I feel is more interesting is the fact that students will be in my mouth doing all kinds of stuff...students. I either have such a high level of faith or stupidity. I am really not sure which. I just keep telling myself that I am someone's grade and they will pay close attention to detail. It is either pass or fail. But really whether they make an A or a C they are a doctor just the same. I hope my student is a straight A. We get assigned an intern/resident whatever they are called. I go back next week and start getting my brackets. I have spacers in right now that I think are spliting my teeth wide open. I am such a baby, I know. I am really too old for this.

The real problem is going to be the fact that they are going to pull my retained primary canine tooth. I will be a snaggle tooth for a while. I don't know what I will do about that. Oh me! I am not vain but I am becoming less and less through this experience. Humility...what a hard lesson to pick up sometimes.

I guess this experience does give me something to blog about. Perhaps I should post pics of my progress. Hmmm! Time will tell...

Lost and Found

Okay. I interpretted the lack of comments posted that I could skip a post during my busy time. I do apologize. It has been very crazy, somehow. Looking back I don't see it, but heading through the storm it was evident. last Tuesday was Tabithia's birthday. She says it is 25 but I have to differ on that. Anyway. We went to Memphis for her accupuncture appointment, did a few other things while there then we headed home, almost. We went straight on to Jonesboro to the Dillard's clearance outlet then the mall. By the time we got home, Memphis had been hit by a bad storm with tornadoes and the like. Then we were in the middle of the storms ourselves.

This seems a bit too informational. It has just been crazy around here. District convention was this past weekend. I went to Pocahontas right after work for that. It went very well I think. Conventions get hard since I changed schedules. I kind of have to be choosy about what I attend or take vacation. I am not as young as I used to be (while I am not as old as others I know *snickers*). I just don't rebound from sleeplessness as well. I changed my work schedule to weekends so that I could conduct revivals. The only service I have to miss now is SS. I make it to everything else. I am still informational. DULL!!!

This is why I haven't posted. I am boring. Very boring! Blah!!!!! Blah!!!! Blah!!!!!

Okay, lost and found time...Mushu, the sweet and sour putty tat is at it again. The other day I was holding him next to my face and he gently wrapped his paws around me to return the love. Then he grabbed both sides of my face like a field mouse. Oh, but the attack was not over yet. he then proceeded to open those vicious fangs wide and closed in on the left cheek. I was just like, "Not the face!! Not the face!!" That was when I came to my senses. It all happened so fast. I threw him to the floor and got myself clear. Well, that was pretty well all of that. That just lets you know a little about his demeanor. He is at times very sweet and at others without warning, very sour. Saturday when I came home from the convention, I went straight to bed. Tabithia worked until 8:30pm. Everyone is getting their tax refunds so they are all going crazy getting their hair "did." Mushu ran out of the garage when she pulled in. He was not home when I left that night, the next afternoon after Church, the next night when we came home from Church, the next morning, then after 48 hours missing, he shows back up, dirty and I think with some scratches here and there. Stinking tomcat! I was very glad to see the little sweet and sour booger. He was home at last. Last night I took him in the house and was petting on him until he had the flattus issue. Augh!!! It was so bad. That cat!!!! He is good though!

60 mph Plus...

On Tuesday we had 60 mph plus straight-line winds sweeping across our area that toppled utility poles, tossed big trucks line mere toys and snapped large trees like twigs. At my house the only damage was a few things blown around. Oh, yeah, the basketball goal was blown on top of a small fence. Very minor damage, thank God. Other had roof damage and trees on homes. We went out to eat while a friend of ours was in surgery. It was over 60 degrees. When we left the restaraunt it was cold.

I was thinking that is just how life comes out you. It comes roaring at over 60 mph and is subject to change at any time. Last week I was sick and could not wait to be off after Monday. Not so. I was awakened on Tueday by the hospital. One of our tech's father had a heart attack. She was off Tuesday and Wednesday. I worked both of those. Then on Thursday I attended the funeral of my childhood friend and cousin, Angela. She was only 31 with a 1 year old baby. Here one moment and gone the next. It is so sad. Friday I had to go to the orthodonist in Memphis and then back to work again that night. I don't remember the week before. I just know having the day off yesterday was wonderful. It felt good to get out of the rat race for just a little bit. I had a much slower pace yesterday. No 60 mph plus for me.

I don't plan on that today either but that can all change with little notice. We are under a winter weather advisory but I really thin we got cheated as there are only puddles outside today. I had hoped to get up this morning and photo a blizzard. I have some pictures I would like to post. perhaps tomorrow. If not then maybe next week.

Friday already...

Most people love to see Friday come rolling around. Hmmm...I guess I have to view it a little differently. Friday is the first day of my work week which consists mainly of only three days. I really don't go to work until 10:30 tonight. So I just barely even work Friday, but I have to dread it all day. I don't dislike my job. It is a really good job. The Xray program produces around 40 new techs each year and the number of available positions is very limited. So I am very blessed to have a job at all. Especially one where I am full-time and still only work three days. But I would still rather be home!

Enough of that boring stuff. Let me move on to other boring things. My poor dog has been under the weather for the last little while. I forced some medicine down her throat (she does not believe in divine healing). Actually I never had to force her. She swallows her food whole as well as anything else that she might think tastes good. She is on the mend though. Usually she is very energetic and quite annoying. For days she was lethargic and otherwise sick. But, thank God, she is just about annoying again. She is very pretty but not much going on upstairs.

In other news, our Children's Church is going west! Yes, in search of straight and narrow pass. It is absolutely wild (west). It is the great adventure (Stephen Curtis Chapman). I plan to use this theme for a while if all goes well. Ye haw! I will let you know how that goes. The biggest challenge has been getting the time to go set up a wild west adventure classroom. There are just not enough hours in the day. I wonder if Wal-Mart sells spare time. That would be great. I probably could not afford it, though. I am going o go down there in a minute.

I am so boring today. I really am. When you have a day like this you should just post pictures!