Modest Goals...

Well, however, lame this sounds, 

my goal for this masters level applied statistics course was rather modest. 

My goal? 

To survive... 

Last time I checked, I still have a pulse!!! 

Final, Saturday.

A little bit more coffee and a lot of prayer should do it...

"Time in a Bottle..."

In the 70's there was a song called "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce..."If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I'd like to do, is save every day till eternity passes away just to spend it with you...". Well, I had been secretly saving time, or so I thought. I was going to work and work and work because at the beginning of August school would stop. I would sigh and soak up the long awaited laziness brought on by the sun. Then the best part would be uncorking the bottle of time to share with all the best people in the world...ahhh...That is until August 17th when graduate school would start. 

Well, as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men may indeed fall apart. The week for the long awaited vacation arrived to find me unable to move. The muscle I apparently strained at work several weeks before decided to flare up again. So needless to say the time...the precious time which I had saved in a bottle was spent resting and in physical therapy. Being still was not easy for me. However, I know there was a reason.

This I wrote a month ago...The muscle strain is some better now but not entirely. At times it is miserable. Such a totally frustrating experience. I will, however, from now on have endless empathy for back pain sufferers.

Today, the Sunday before Labor Day was amazing. There was a crispness in the air that hinted at the beauty to come. Graduate school has resumed and I'm surviving statistics for the time being. I spent the day tidying the house, garage, and dragging the fall decorations out of the attic. Thank goodness for attics...
Bring it on, Fall...I'm ready for my favorite time of the year!
Even if I did miss my trip to the beach...

In commemoration of the beach trip that didn't happen I am going to drag out a poem I wrote last year as I languished on the sand...Ahhh

The Tide of Life

The sand is so soft
and warm.

The air is humid

and sticky.
The sights
and sounds of the sea

provide a relaxing

hum to the tide of life.

Constant,
unrelenting,
back and forth,
back and forth.

Moments,
hours,
days,
undulate between
feverish activity,
lethargy,
and contentment.

The ocean looks like glass.
Thick air,
moist with salty spray,
relinquishes a rare breeze.

Children laugh,
waves crash,
and the tide ebbs;
back and forth,
back and forth.

Time,
endless time,
ticks by....
The tide of life.

Laziness creeps in;
sigh...
It is refined
and
polished,
becoming an art form,
relax.

Reading, playing, eating,
basking...
verbs of pleasure
punctuate our speech.


Nights spent
on the beach
watching
the people,
the sunset,
the surf.

Alone,
meditating,
with The Maker,
The Giver...Lover of our souls.

Washing the shore,
Cleaning the sand,
back and forth,
back and forth.

So unending,
so everlasting,
the tide of the Spirit.

Steadily,
the breakers beat the shore.
Occasionally,
an isolated firework
cracks
and fans across the starry sky.

Unfazed,
the swell surges,
back and forth,
back and forth.

So steady,
so dependable,
the tide.

Spontaneous,
late night
room service,
just for fun.

Early morning
cartoons,
half awake,
awkward, childish bodies
sprawled
across sofas and beds.
Loving,
playful banter
thrown
back and forth,
back and forth.

So faithful,
so abiding,
the tide of a family.

Embrace this portrait,
these memories,
the sweet filling of the spirit,
painted one season.


back and forth,
back and forth,
back and forth...

"A Mighty Fortress 'for' our God"...Ode to a Hero

 To have known beauty and greatness, is a gift,

a blessing beyond measure. 

To have shared trials and tears, 

laughter and wisdom, 

joy and prayers is indeed a rare treasure.

Thank you God, for these moments and memories

of a passion so pure and so bold;

Kindled of a sojourner who traveled far with the light,

insisting God's love be told.

 Inconceivable the loss of one held so dear,

Incomprehensible and yet, your will?

Sorrows seem to drown us, humanity cries,
but God reigns in heaven still.

Yes, God reigns in heaven still.

Comfort those I love who walk through the fire,

Cradle them ever so tenderly tonight.

May they know the love and admiration their lives inspire 

and glimpse the impact of foundations laid beyond human sight.
Yes, glimpse the impact of foundations laid beyond human sight.

"A mighty fortress 'for' our God, a bulwark never failing..."
the life-song of a hero sung strong and low,
wounded and lost souls availing.
Yes, wounded, lost souls availing.

Tired...

Not exactly...

Yup, that's it...

Where, oh where, has my little (actually fat, sassy, sage, and occasionally cranky) cat gone? Oh where, oh where, can she be..?

It's July...wow. 

The 4th was beautiful and amazing. 

All the young'uns picked out their special fireworks and put on a show. On the 5th I piddled in the yard to my hearts content, jumped on the trampoline, swam and just plain forgot about school, work and everything for a day. Niceeeee. Good times. 

Sadly, our 17 year old cat, Sassy, is missing.
Gone.
 No sign.
Vanished.
She never leaves our back deck unless it's to go into the front flower bed to sun. 

 This summer has been hard enough without my "catdog" April, now the sage old calico?
The deck and yard will seem empty for sure.

Last year our lab, Honey, died; she was fifteen. On the one hand, what a blessing to have enjoyed her company for so long, on the other hand, my youngest three kiddos have never known the back yard without these faithful friends.

E came into the bedroom last night in the middle of the night convinced he heard Sassy calling. Steve got up and they went outside and checked around one more time. We have checked our whole yard, the woods, and the neighborhood; it is a mystery indeed.

Where's Perry Mason or Matlock when you need them?

I'm ready for recess!

      

        Sorry for the lack of posts. Summer school is, well, quick! Midterms have passed and the final is June 28th! Working on my formal paper for this semester and I can not believe that I am saying this but APA format is finally getting a little easier. Ugh! 

       I am in Community Health this semester and the funniest thing is that I didn't realize I am a community health nurse now?! Working at the Center for Pediatric Medicine we see NICU grads to seventeen year olds. Amazing. I have learned so much. 

       OK, so back to the paper...I have decided to write about vaccine controversies. This has actually been a very interesting topic, perhaps I'll share some of the details later. For now, I best get back to work. 

       Last update on school...graduate school here I come!!! Yay! I am Charleston Southern bound and I am so excited! I'll be working on my MSN in Nursing Education starting in August....combining the two things I love nursing and education! 

       Finally, Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there. You are indispensible!!!!

"God sends His Best to Those Who Leave the Choices Up to Him..." by Perry Tanksley

 I said, "God, I must know

Where you are leading me.

I ask to view Thy plans.

I have a need to see."

He said, "If you must see,

And My plans you must know,

Then you can't walk by faith

And follow where I go."

I said, "Dear God, forgive!

I ask no more to see.

Teach me to walk by faith

That I might walk with Thee."

Below are some quotes from the green pages in Richard Bolles book, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2010. Wonderful reminders that we live for a reason. Our life and breath are gifts...

"You first mission here on earth is to know God, and enjoy Him forever, and to see His hand in all His works..."

*sigh*

"Your second mission here on earth is to do what you can, moment by moment, day by day, step by step, to make this world a better place, following the leading and guidance of God's Spirit within you and around you..."

*sigh*

"Your third mission here on earth is one that is uniquely yours:

to exercise the talent that you particularly came to earth to use - your greatest gift, which you most delight to use, in the place or settings that God has caused to appeal to you the most, and for the purposes that God most needs to have done in the world."

*sigh*

Bolles goes on to state that, "God gives us each a unique talent that only we can perform, He guides us toward this talent, which He has lodged in us, through our hearts. This talent usually gives us the greatest pleasure while exercising it and it is usually the one that, when we use it, causes us to lose all sense of time!"

       Wow! I have done that...I have been so involved in moments at work that I lost all sense of time, while at the moment felt incredible peace and satisfaction. I am working, but there is a sense of ultimate fulfillment and sheer joy. A knowledge that for that moment in time, I was where I was supposed to be, doing what I was supposed to be doing. It reminds me of the Bible verse in Esther chapter four, verse fourteen, " And who knows but that you have come to this position for such a time as this?" For such a time as this, indeed...

May we all be so blessed...