wine

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some
items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up
a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with
golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed
that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and
poured them into the jar.

He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the Jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once
more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under
the table and poured the entire contents into the jar,
effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want
you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health,
your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

>>>

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner
out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter.

Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that
no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple
of glasses of wine with a friend."

This story really calls me to wake up to what life is and to the reality that priorities need to be set in place. It is so easy to get caught up with the 'sand' in life - so much so until there is no time and no room for the important golf balls and rocks.
Stories like this always seem to come at the right time for me... just as I am filling my world with too much sand... I hear the call to 'be still and know'

I have found that I have allowed my life to get so busy at times that I have neglected relationships, family time, and time with the lover of my soul. People are what is going to last. Nobody is going to remember what I did on any given day... but people will remember who I was each day... am I loving, caring, compassionate, full of mercy and grace... have I laid down my life for another today? How did I show people that they were important, How did I affect the world? Am I becoming who I need to be?

surgery

A middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.
Whileon the operating table, she had a near death experience.
Seeing God, she asked, "Is my time up?"
God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live."

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, brow lift, lip enhancement, boob job, liposuction, and a tummy tuck. Afterher last operation, she was released from the hospital.

While crossing the street on her way home, she was hit and killed by a car.
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn't you pull me out of the path of the car?"

God replied, "Girrrlllllll, I didn't even recognize you "

oh how this made me laugh... how often do we try to cheat life, to twist the things that God tells us so that they suit our lives?

another day

so it has been quite a busy past few days - well not really... but in my mind it has been crazy busy!
I was in an awful bad mood on Sunday... not sure if it was related to the insane stuff happening at work or if it was just a build up of everything over time... all I know - I was in one foul mood!
I took yesterday to just wrap myself in music and the word... it is so easy to try and carry everything on my own, to think that in some way I am big enough to carry all that I see, that I am strong enough to make it through... It is humbling for me to realize that this is not the case - I am weak... but I know someone who is strong! Its still incredible to me to recognize that the creator of the universe know, cares and loves me... in all times... there is nothing I can do, nothing I can give, nothing I can be that will ever make me good enough or deserving enough of that gift - it is free... his love is free... simple as that! WOW
Needless to say, I was refreshed - life will go on, my circumstances will not change... but my attitude through it will... not because of who I am but because of who HE is...

Off to my other job... smiles

what do you call it when..

when you get a little of this and a little of that, some of this and some of that and put it all in one... my brain is on shut down and I can't even think of the word - but that the word to describe my shift last night!

We saw it ALL.... head to toe, you name it! We had a guy who was committed to the psychiatric ward, we had a guy who fell in an RCMP cell and hit his head, we had a guy who sustained an eye injury while playing hockey (I sure hope he will be able to get it all fixed!), a guy who would go into idioventricular (wierd) rhythms and then convert (not often seen), a guy who got hit by a car and then dragged by it - police of course involved - three of em!, babies with spiked temps, a guy who was allergic to the cold? A woman with an ectopic pregnancy, a woman with a miscarriage (another half hour to hour and she'd have bled to death right in front of us!), an emergency surgery for a girl who came in with abdomenal pain - ruptured appendix, she went septic, there was people with breathing difficulties, chest pain, earaches, backaches, drug seekers... sigh... there was everything! It was a busy busy night to say the least!

But now I am off for the next few days... so I can update this thing at some point! For now... dreamland, I'll find out what the world has been up to while I was working when I wake up!

exercise

woke up this morning and grabbed a shake then ran out the door to head to they gym... smiles - it was a wonderful time of workout and laughter! there are a whole bunch of nurses from the hospital who all go to the same place and its always a good time when we all get in there and push each other to the limits! Good times as always!

I start back at the hospital for another set tomorrow... which leaves today to get some things done.. :)

I am also watching a wonderful movie today "a night with the king" - it is the story of Esther... I am really enjoying it! (I don't get the chance to watch many movies these days... life is pretty busy!)

Also going to get some stuff organized and ordered for MaryKay... I need to start that up again :) So anyone reading and wanting to order anything let me know!! I am going to put an order in this weekend :) Let me know so I can give you a discount - anyone who orders can get a 20% discount!! There's some new stuff out - that reduces the cellulite - after only 3 weeks 6/10 women saw results and after 12 weeks 100% of women saw results!! I am going to try it for sure! It's called cellu-shape if you are wondering! :)
(www.marykay.ca)

yummy in my tummy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!!
(yesterday was the day the world celebrated my mom's 44th birthday... and the day I bake this delightful oreo cheesecake yumminess for us to enjoy!) I am sorry to say that between all the people in this house there is none left... but that just goes to show that it was yummy!

we of course ate this after a delightful meal complete with April's favourite punch... then after dinner we all played a new game called Tribond... it was good times for sure!! Aaron is really good at it... and must say that next time - he's on my team!!

It was a good day - before dinner I went for a lovely windblown walk with Starla... gosh it sure can get windy!! Thanks for the constant motivation Starla... you are wondeful!!

Even before the walk I was up for breakfast with some girls from the hospital... its always nice to meet up with friends - something I truly enjoy!!

OK - so today - just got back from that workshop at church... didn't really learn a whole lot of new things... but it was really great to build faith... I needed it! I loved hearing them speak, totally stirred inside all the dreams and passions for the things that God has for people - and there's nothing we can do to ever be 'good enough' its ALL free through grace!!

So now, totally procrastinating - I have to submit a proposal for a change project by the end of today... but I should really do laundry too.. *wink... I am such a procrastinator...

mac n cheese

ok so its o415hrs and I am eating my dinner... mac n cheese - now generally I like to have ketchup in my mac n cheese but there is none in the ER/ICU staff fridge... so I have done without...

It's been pretty quiet since about 0200hrs, we have two inpatients down here right now and they are quite demanding - ringing their bells, but otherwise... super quiet... I know you are thinking "inpatients in the ER?" yes, the hospital is completely full right now... and so we have people in here... It's been a good set (I am finished my last shift of this set at 0700hrs) - I have experienced and seen many new things!

I am looking forward to some time off... time pretty much filled up with things to do and places to be - but I am sure that it will be enjoyable...

Ok, while its still slow I am going to work on some assignments... *wink

tis a sad day...

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. - Proverbs 23:18

Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. - Proverbs 24:14

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. - Ecclesiastes 7:14

Ok, so I know that this is not some conspiracy out to get me but it was sad at the same time... I received an email late last night from the person who had initially wanted me to attend to their needs on the trip to L.A. - anyway the email said that they found another attendant who had worked for them before that would go along. I can understand that this would make someone more comfortable (already knowing the person) and ultimately I want for them to enjoy their holiday... but still it is saddening to me that I cannot go.
I know that God has a purpose and plan for my life and so as disheartening this is that I can't go - I know that it is all a part of the plan for my life! So thank you to everyone for the well wishes... its so great to get the support of people! :)

Today, I am just a little sore - soft tissue injuries (yes multiple of em!) I went snowboarding again yesterday - what a glorious time I had!!! Even the few falls on my head - not a deal (well today they are as my neck hurts like a bugger)... it was the final fall that ended our day... I was coming off of the lift and fell just like every other time - only difference was... I didn't take my knee with me... :( twisted and couldn't stand on it at first.... then hobbled about half way down the hill because there was no way in the world that I was going in one of those rescue toboggans!! I didn't need any help... I could do it on my own -the pain would go away eventually and I knew there was nothing they could do for me... I could suck it up... it was sooo hard to do!!!
WE made it only half way down the hill before the ski patrol stopped - "are you ok?" well what do I say to that?! um yeah just enjoying a walk??? lol... so I said 'kinda, just hurt my knee but I will be fine' - so she made me sit and put ice(snow) on it and wait for the stupid toboggan thing... urgh!! SOO embarrassing... when I knew that all I had was a soft tissue injury - nothing broken... sigh... so that was yesterday - today of course the pain all settles in - can't move my neck, my wrists are pained... one knee immobile, both knees are bruised, bum is sore, shoulders sore, arms sore, abs sore, toes sore - its all sore!!!
Thankfully I am alive... and I have a destiny still to fulfill... my future is bright!!! (just not a pro boarder or an Oscar attendee.... this year! *wink)