Shhh it's over

The secret is out, the lid is off, the plans have been exposed,the cat’s out of the bag, ect. Kim knows his big Christmas surprise. He and I have front row seats to Glen Beck’s Christmas show at the E-Center
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I, with the help of Justin, got tickets to his show for Dec. 8th. Who is Glen Beck you ask. Well besides being a very serious news and information guy, he has strong political views, and shows all the sides. He talks about all the world news and pressing events. He’s sort of like a Rush Limbaugh, but not so arrogant and self righteous. He is out of New-York and happens to be a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and you see his values in his show.

I wasn’t going to tell Kim, but he called me the other day and asked if I’d be interested in going, the only tickets left were $35.00 seat in the upper bowl. I hesitated for a min. and said “would you rather have front row seats?” and of course he said yes. It’s not Hanna Montana which I guess is the beg concert this week-end and it’s not a great guitar player. Matt said when he saw the ticket price, said “this Glen Beck guy better play a great guitar. But I think we’ll have fun. Merry Christmas to Kim.

I grateful I love surprise for myself and giving them.

Gifts and more Gifts

I heard about a book or actually a movie by a speaker we invited to our super craft day, "The Ultimate Gift", she said don't rent the movie just buy it and save yourself $5.00. So without knowing what it was about I bought the movie. Then my friend told me she had the book. I always like to read the books first so today I finished it and hopefully tonight I can watch the Movie.

Anyway the book is great. If you haven't already read it, it is a MUST read for everyone. It gives great insight into who we are and how we need to be sharing everything we have and show gratitude for what we have. There are 12 simple gifts and each has such meaning. It is a very quick read, ( I got the book last night about 7pm) but so worth the time. Enjoy. I am grateful for being taught at a young age to read and enjoy learning.

Mandatory behavior

Today after coming back up to Ogden from taking mom to a Dr. appt. I had to attend a Mandatory meeting. I have nothing against Mandatory meetings, I know we all have to hear and be taught certain things, but this one just made me so angry, and a few others in the class also.

I left my actual handout in my now gone truck, but it had to do with re-connecting with patients, making a healing connection, through touch, eye contact, sitting down at the bedside and really listening, removing our stethoscope and not appearing too threatening or busy, trying to find a common interest between the pt. and ourselves, proper greetings and farewells, it goes on and on. My co-worker leaned over and asked "what do you think this is costing". Between the cost of the program, training our trainers,12 trainers, o and they aren't called trainers they are "champions", they had about 8 hrs. each of training and now educating all 60 of us for 2 hrs. I am sure it is more than what it would cost to hire a couple of full time Rn's for a year. Rn's that could help with the load so we could actually do this better.

I don't mean to sound hateful, but we know all this information, we do all this stuff every day, to the best of our ability and to the best of our time constraints. It might not have had a name before, but if you aren't doing these things then you shouldn't be in this profession.

After about 90 min. someone was brave enough to ask the question that we had all been thinking. Why are we really here. Well, SURVEYS say, we are not making a Healing connection with our patients. Please, Who are they asking, and what are they being asked? And if they answered the questions at all, they must have lived through the hospital experience.

I know we all expect more of everything and from everyone. We want faster check out lines at the store, we want to not wait at appts., we want to call for information about something and not have someone with such a thick accent help us, we want fast food to be faster, and waitresses to not get my order wrong. We want service with a smile and the sun to come out tomorrow! We all want and deserve the very best. And we are DEMANDING it or else!

I believe everyone should always receive the very best care and attention we can give. And if they were sincerely offended or hurt in someway then "yes" please tell someone and we will try and make it right. But also the public needs to remember that no nurse, that I know, sets out at the beginning of their shift and thinks, I am only going to give 10% today and damn with the rest. If my Pt's. aren't satisfied then to Hell with them. Really this isn't how it goes. Instead we set out to organize and prioritize everything that is to be done and hope that all the surprises and emergencies that come up can be handled too. We are a team and sometimes the only way we make it through a day is with team work and maybe one potty break.

I know many of the readers of this blog are in professions that are also underpaid, over worked and under-staffed and very unappreciated. Our hands are often tied because of laws and red tape and HIPPA. And those who aren't in those professions are saying then get out, do something else, and stop complaining. It just doesn't always work that way. Someone has to be here, we just want the public to help and understand, that maybe your pain pill will be 15 min. late, and you may have to wait 2 hrs for that xray, and you haven't seen your nurse for 30 min. and you want to get back to bed. But also know that if you start having chest pain, or bleeding or problems breathing, you will have everyone you need and then some, you will have the smartest and best informed there to help. And then try and remember if you are the one getting all the attention that your neighbor in the next room may be waiting for their pain pill.

As usual I spoke up too much and voiced my opinion to loudly, but most in the room were agreeing, even the champions. We have become a very selfish and ME oriented society. What we deserve and what we want is our main goal, no matter how we get it. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and understanding and we in return need to give the same.

Please be grateful with me for those people out there who will help us when we are sick, educate our children, but out fires, protect our streets, work hard at leading our nation and especially those who are protecting our freedoms and our safety. We have been given much and we too must give. Even if only to give back understanding.

first comes the mess

Early in the spring we had a pipe brake in our ceiling down stairs, in the office/Mels room. It really was a terrific flood. The water was just pouring from the light fixture and flooded half the ceiling, two full walls, all the baseboards & the carpet. What a mess we had and still do. We actually had to call our home owners insurance, and I am so glad we did. They set out a disaster crew and the place was torn apart in 1 day and staring to dry. They took out all the wet stuff and made sure we had no mildew or damp areas. We then took the settlement for the repairs to do ourselves, and thus the long repair process.

Now to the new mess. We have decide to rearrange all the rooms, and to clean all the carpets as we go. Deep cleaning is a lot of hard work but very refreshing when your done. But you have to make a mess as you clean a mess. Last night I got my frontroom carpet cleaned and things rearranged just how I wanted it, and tonight it is full of the old quest bedroom, R.S. and craft stuff( I'm getting ready to be in the fall craft fair again) so now it's a mess again. These are the times when being Samantha on Bewitched would come in handy. Wiggle wiggle of the nose and your done.

I am grateful for my families help and the ability to still do this stuff.

Reward Offered

Help! I have misplaced a very large item from my home, or wait maybe it was stolen, because the very unkempt mess left behind like furniture moved and food containers laying about were obvious signs it wasn't a professional or maybe it was just taken by the in-laws. If you could help me find our missing ebony and ivory I would really appreciate it. I now have this very large empty spot in my front room. Name that object.

Sat. Justin his dad and brother came and took the piano that we have had forever. It has been dusted a least bi-weekly, has held many pictures and holiday decorations. Treated with tender loving care and a must for any respectable Mormon home. Granted I didn't play it, nor did anyone left at home, also did I mention the piano was actually Melanie's. Well none of that matters, it is gone.

I have truly had a hard time with this. Probably due to the fact that no one else played it.(and where will all the decorations and pictures go). I tryed to force all the other kids to play and practice, just as my mom tryed with me. Again I have no pictures of the piano, I seem to only think of pictures with it's too late. Anyway I wish it well in it's new home. I am sure it will be played often and loved dearly by the new owners, but probably not dusted as often. I am grateful for the wonderful talent and love for the piano that Melanie has always had and the joy and proud feelings I have had watching her play at so many events.

Gordon has also taken his guitar and amp. No I am not sad. Why? because I didn't use it to decorate with.

Staying young

We had our R.S. Fall social and dinner on Tuesday night. It was more work than most, only because we had to move all our tables and chairs across the parking lot to our Gym building. We needed a wood floor for our great entertainment. First the entertainment.

I wish I would have remembered to take pictures, everyone would have loved them. I had a group of Tap dancers. They were a group of sisters from the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers from Ogden. They were great and sooo cute. The ages were from 58-84 yrs. old. And their sizes varied from size 2 to 24. 12 sisters came and did about 8 numbers with little custom change between each and they took turns telling jokes during their changes. I guess you are never too old to do young activities. Granted some of them didn't move their legs much, and their arms did most of the dancing, but they were so cute and fun to watch. Everyone just smiled and really seemed to enjoy themselves. Now I need a great idea for the Birthday Social in March. It never ends!!!!

Kim was a great help in moving all the tables and chairs so I guess his back is officially better. He had been to the Dr. in the morning and was told he was doing great and to just go on about his life as normal. I'm not sure he will ever be completely straight, but he even mowed the lawn this week and he isn't broken. It's great to have him BACK, no pun intended.

This weekend was special, but very tiring. I am 50 yrs. old have never been to a live General conference. I asked the Right people and was able to get tickets to both the Sat. and Sun AM sessions. I felt a little bad about getting both, but it was worth it. I'm not sure if Kim and Matt thought is was, having to get up so early, and drive down, but I did. It was a great feeling there and not being distracted by the things at home, like falling asleep, but to feel the spirit and really hear what they were saying. It's an awesome place with great messages and I am grateful I was there.

I need to up-date more often so I don't have so much to say at each blogging. I am grateful for the opportunity to have attended conference and be with a living prophet and to have heard the many inspired messages, and to know the Lord is giving us instructions to live happier lives.

Just another week

It's been a week or so since I've written, and it truly has been really busy, plus probably really boring. So to just wrap it up in a nut shell, which is what I felt like Sat. night. We went through Bevan's home 2 more times this week and I guess we're done until it sells. So hopefully it sells fast. I am sure Paul is so tired of it all and the one being in charge gets to be tough. He has done a great job at keeping everything flowing and in order. So if any one knows someone who wants a high end, great area, large condo. Let him know.

Our Fun Filled Friday graft night went well. Only a few sisters who had ordered didn't show, and most everyone got their projects done. That is something I am always happy about. I feel bad when sisters take their projects home not finished or even started. You know they will never finish them. There have been years past where I've actually finished some at home for the sisters.

We had a great quest speaker. I want someone else to have her come to speak so I can bring my girls to hear her again. She spoke about having more of Christ in Christmas. She had such a strong testimony and Love of the Savior that she was just bursting with joy and enthusiasm, and it spread to everyone, or at lest it seemed to spread.

She talked about how she makes her gifts have something to do with being grateful for Christ. Gifts that make us remember him and his life and sacrifice. She encouraged each of us to try and not get caught up in the amount of gifts and instead try for the meaning of gifts. It really sounds hard, especially after doing the same things for years and years. She admitted that it isn't easy. Her way of making it easier was to immerse herself in the scriptures and service all year long, and then when the holiday season comes we are ready to share and show what we feel and what we have learned throughout the year. There is one thing she shared that I am going to try. But I am going to wait to spring to on my family until it's closer to Christmas. Most of my kids just role their eyes at many of my suggestions anyway, so I'll wait a bit to share it.

One more random thought. I really admire young parents for bringing their children to sacrament meeting. It is not an easy task, it's very hard work to keep their little bodies so confined for 70 min. We did it and I hope starting our children young taught them early the importance of attending our meetings. I had a high school girl friend who was marring a non-member and I have never forgotten a conversation we had. But part of it was that it didn't matter what you did with your children when they were young, so when hers were old enough to know how it go to church, then they would decide what they would teach them. Her logic has never made any sense to me on so many levels.

I am thankful or grateful that I can still learn new and helpful things that can not only improve my life but the lives of my family.