Grateful list

Right now I'm grateful for several things.... It is cold here. If it gets up to 35 degrees we think it is a heat wave. At work I'm close enough to the parking lot to go start my car and let it warm up ten minutes before I leave. I can also observe it out the window so that no one steals it. Which brings up another thing to be thankful for! I don't have to worry about it being stolen. Everyone starts their car and lets it run. It is ND after all. We are having our first winter storm. Snow is a four letter word here. As an newcomer I have eagerly anticipated the snow. The oldtimers really hoped that the snow would wait as long as possible to come. At any rate I am enjoying the 3-4" of snow and hot chocolate. The dogs that we are watching for our landlord love playing in the snow. I am only 3.5 blocks from work! It is absolutely lovely! I can sleep til 6pm and still have 45 min to get ready. My drive is less than two minutes. It also means that if it snows or is icey I can walk to work. It takes a lot of pressure off of me to not worry about driving in the snow. On Thurs we leave for San Diego. That means some warm weather! I think it will feel aaaamazing! Think 50-60 degree weather and wearing jackets instead of parkas and snow boots. We will be close to downtown San Diego which means coffee shops will be close! I do miss not being close to a coffee shop. The little coffee shop in town is only open from 10am-4:30pm. I.e. when I am sleeping. In Johnstown we were close to too many coffeeshops to mention. Despite a lack of coffeeshops (or restaurants) here in Lisbon the food here has been fantastic. The nurses I work with make up for the eating out options by being cooks and bakers that are phenomenal. Mary made us all tomato basil soup with dumplings. The best tomato soup I've ever had. Then there is the pies, cookies, cake, veggie dips, etc that show up on the report room table on a daily basis. Could this be why I am not losing weight? Back to San Diego I'm grateful for wonderful in-laws that I look forward to spending time with. Jon's sister is retiring from the Navy after 23 years as a helicopter pilot. We are staying in a hotel in the middle of San Diego, going to a museum (don't know what kind?), and doing a dinner cruise on the bay. Oh! And we are breaking open an expensive bottle of wine that said sister-in-law has had for a few years. A co-worker just gave me a pair of scrub pants and two scrub tops. The scrub pants are basically brand new. For those of you who don't know scrub pants are usually 30+ for a pair. My job is also a big thing on my list. It's relatively easy and is laid back the majority of the time. There is frequently downtime during the night to chat with other staff or with patients. I am only working 3 days a week so I feel I have an easy life. Between work my husband takes good care of me! He does the laundry, the shopping, and some of the cooking. I am fortunate to have a husband who spoils me! It is nice that we are both able to relax and not be rushing all the time. In the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to see lots of family. Jon's family in Colorado was first. We were able to spend time with both his sisters and his mom. Then we went to Canada for a long overdue visit with my cousin Ellie and her family! We are only four hours away! I was able to meet the two youngest children and Ellie was finally able to meet Jon. We spent Thanksgiving with my adopted Grandparents in the twin cities. It was especially nice to be there since my Grandpa had recently been very ill. Although I haven't been able to see any of my immediate family since August I am grateful for the phone conversations,texts, blog postings, emails, and hangout messages that make me feel connected! I am very blessed... it is amazing to see what God has provided for me!

North Dakota

our little grocery store...

welcome to North Dakota

Crowded RV park

now we have more space!

Tried some local cuisine... frozen lime pie.  Good but a little rich!

The view in our park

Drove up to Devil's Lake about a month ago to meet a co-worker from CO.

Tried my hand making a rag quilt.  If I get brave, maybe I will post a picture of what it turned out like.

These are a little blurry, but these are from the trail through the park.

Unfortunately these are in no particular order... Most of them are from when we first came here.  I just signed another contract to stay through til January.  Not sure if I am crazy for staying through a North Dakota winter? For those of you who didn't hear... I've been doing a travel nursing job in North Dakota since the beginning of August.  Jon found a job driving tractor and grain cart for a local farmer.  Corn harvest runs through November so he will be busy for awhile.  If it hadn't been for that, we probably would have left when my contract ended on the 31st.  Hard to believe I've been here almost 3 months!  I don't include Jon in that because he joined me after I had been here for 6 weeks.  He was busy tying up loose ends in CO...finishing emptying our house, getting our house rented out, helping his mom getting moved into an apartment, etc.  He did drive up to see me a couple times. 

We just spent a short week end in Minn with my adopted grandparents, Bob & Karen. It was nice to be able to see them and catch up.  It went too fast.  I was kinda tired the whole time because I have been on a night schedule.  Karen made us their famous fudge.  We brought some home with us and it is almost gone.

I've been learning that it is okay be human.  I hate it a lot...but I am human and I will make mistakes. I ran our new car into the fire grate tonight.  I think it can be repaired to look fine, but there's money down the drain.  =( Told Jon that I'm not used to having new things and having to be careful with them.  I think that's part of the reason we never got new things when I lived at home...  because then everyone would have to be careful... (well and the fact that there was no money).

Working at a new job also makes me realize how human I am.  I made some goofs here and there.  Nothing serious, but I hate making mistakes.  I feel that I need to beat myself up to make up for the errors.  Well, that doesn't help!  And if I did that everytime I made a mistake (home, work, out & about, etc) I would never stop with the whipping of myself.  So somewhere in there I have to let go and forgive myself. 

Jon reminds me that the work system is different than what I am used to.  Paper charting definitely is less precise than electronic charting.  It really doesn't help that I can't read our main physician's handwriting.  It is such a small--almost inbreed hospital that everyone knows what everyone else is doing.  Sometimes better than the individual does them-self.  I got a bit annoyed when a couple different nurses went over my things and reminded me that I missed a sign off or something similar.  Now I do the same thing.  Ha!  It's funny--not haha, but ironic...  how almost every patient has a history with one of my new coworkers--or is related to their cousin or husband or uncle.  I thought we weren't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.  Oh wait!  This is more small town then Kansas... 

This week I am planning to do two tests to help complete my bachelor of nursing degree.  Have to drive to Fargo--the nearest metropolitan area--which is over an hour away.  Not used to being so far from civilization.  Even the "restaurants" in our town are sketchy.  More like greasy spoons....  There is one coffee shop but it is open from 10:30 to 4pm.  Seriously!  Those are the hours when I am most likely to be asleep or just crawling out of bed.  Makes me a little cranky.  However, we do have a gas stove in our RV that works really well.  Tonight I made pumpkin banana bread and added streusel to the top.  I'm glad I did because it seems it could have been bland without it.

But not to complain...  I've enjoyed the "honeymoon" with Jon.  It's probably the most and least stressful time that we've had together since getting married.  We spend a lot of time just around the RV relaxing...him on the computer with his game and me reading a book or playing in the kitchen.   I feel we are closer and I can see his heart better.  I can feel his love and not over think e v e r y   single thing (i.e. are we still going to be okay if I messed up?).  We have had lots of time to relax and really enjoyed it. 

Even work is a break.  It is usually not that busy and is my social interaction.  It's all females except a couple of the docs and the maintenance guy.  Imagine the estrogen.  Fortunately I only work nights so I stay out of most of the drama. There are two nurses and an aide on duty from 11-7.  That leaves a small enough group to do some easy interactions and chatting to whatever depth that I feel inspired for.  I usually take a book or my kindle along to work.  Many of my co-workers bring their knitting or croqueting.  From what I hear the dayshift is quite busy.  It involves a lot of females running around and being crowded into a small nurses's station.  So I will keep my funny hours. 

Sometime I will explain the hospital structure.  From what I understand it is a typical critical access ND hospital.  Three ER beds, about 12 Medical-Surgical beds, and 12 or so Swing Beds.  Swing beds are long-term care/ rehab beds.  Maybe only in ND?  When I am the charge nurse I am responsible for the ER and half of the Med-Surg floor.  As a staff nurse, I take half the Med-Surg floor and take over all the M/S beds if the charge nurse gets tied up in the ER.  Lots of flexibility and teamwork involved...

anyway, sometimes I wish I had a normal life, but Jon tells me I will never have one of those.  LOL.  And I know it's true...  In the meantime, I am learning lots.  Mostly about patience with myself.  Going to sign off.  Good night!

Bunny rabbit in the front yard

There is life on planet Phillips.  We also saw a bald eagle flying just down the road from us.

The pond behind Bob and Karen's house.  I love how peaceful it is...

My drive to work!

On other notes... we have been working hard in the back yard to get it all finished up.  There was no grass or anything pretty back there, so we put down lots of mulch and are planting boxwoods, spirea, other bushes and other things to make it happy and attractive.  I really love working outside!  I think that is the main thing I will miss at our house is the backyard/garden. I won't miss having a large house to clean (although Jon hires cleaners! =) ) or having too much stuff that I don't know what to do with!

Next week my travel nurse recruiter will start submitting my profile to various hospitals across the states!  I can hardly wait! I am definitely doing a count down.

Mom & Dad had their first date last night, 37 yrs ago!

We had ice cream and brownies to celebrate. 

the view from my window

out the ER window.  Had a foot plus of snow.  This is melted down significantly.  You can see some of it on the bench and chairs.

This is April in Colorado.

Some pastel work.  My first piece by myself.

The original photo.

Been working on statistics.  Can't say that I like it, but I found a book that might make it more bearable.  Someone from work gave it to me when they found out that I had to do it.  So I am trying to teach myself statistics.  I am trying to focus on the fact that Jesus said He will help me do it!

In other news...  I made a new friend from work.  She is also acquainted with Bill Gothard and homeschooling.  Almost my age.  It's interesting to see how similar teaching can connect two strangers.  She thought (like me!) that she would be a stay at home mom.  She has a 6 yr old kid.  Makes me feel old.  I could have kids. And a lot of them!  One of the techs from work recently asked me how old I am.  When I said that I was over 30 he made some kind of scrunchy face and informed me that I was old.  He is *22.*  Hey, I remember when I was 22. 

okay, was going to type more but it got busy...

hotsprings

Andi took us to Mt. Princeton for the weekend.  It looks like we forgot the sunscreen.  We even got to meet her longtime friends from Guam.

It was nice to have Andi and Ronnie celebrate Easter with us.  There were lots of stories =) 

Here's a few pics from traveling.  For some reason I can't upload my pics of the actual hotsprings. 

Some podunk gas station in the middle of nowhere. They only had a bathroom for *paying* customers.

Drove past Garden of the Gods.  Also got to see some of the burn damage that happened last summer there. 

decisions

I tend to write when my emotions are overflowing. The good, bad, and ugly.  Yesterday, like I mentioned in my previous post, was a little nasty.  I came home exhausted and not wanting to talk to anyone.  Not wanting to see anyone.  Just wanting to lay in bed and read until my eyes closed themselves.  Jon wanted to talk.  I told him not to talk about anything.  That small conversation--normal conversation--even would make me cry.  I almost cried because the truck needed to be filled up with gas on the way home from work.  I told Jon that I felt that at work (as a charge nurse) that everyone wanted a piece of me.  Everyone needed an answer.  Where should this patient go?  Can you answer the phone? Answer the ambulance radio.  The PA wants the patient moved to a more appropriate room assignment.  The doc wants to know what is going on with x patient.  And not enough hands or brains to go around.  Can someone else make a decision??  I am tired of making decisions.  When I was still at home, I would come home and Dad would pull out leftovers for me.  He asked me what I wanted to eat I told him to fix whatever because I was tired of making decisions. 

A short break looks like a fantastic idea.  Especially since I'm traveling with two opinionated people (husband and SIL).  That means I have less decisions to make! =) 

Mt Princeton Hot Springs

Today Andi, Jon, and I are going to Mt Princeton Hot Springs.  This is the picture from their website.  Yesterday was a rather difficult day at work (9 ambulances in the last 90 min), so this break looks lovely! 

This picture and the next two are from my recent visit in MN.  They have more snow then us.. =)

this is some pastel artwork I am doing.  Karen taught me how to do it!  Going to try to teach Mom how to do it. =) 

 

 

 

 

My handsome baker making German Chocolate Cake.  It was really really tasty as you can imagine! 

happenings...

Our new floor in the living room and dining room!  I like how it matches the rest of the house and our furniture.  My husband did a great job picking out a floor that I love!  Jon and Dad did a great job in doing the floor.  Jon took a day off of school to help.  He was supposed to be sick... I was at work and I kept texting to ask if he was taking it easy.  He said he was.  I was very surprised to come home and see how much the two of them had accomplished.  Jon said it was relaxing for him though. =) 

Here Dad & Jon are planning how to start taking out the carpet.

These next pictures are of us planning for the garden and backyard/deck.  Meanwhile it is snowing outside. 

I look tired.

The doggies wish they could be inside planning with us.

Dad drawing out the plans.

You can see what we had to eat.  Biscuits and sausage gravy, with coffee and creamer.  It was a lovely day to be at home.  We have winter weather warnings for tomorrow.  It is supposed to start snowing around 1am and continue through til the evening.  Northern Colorado is projected to get 8-14 inches of snow.  Wish I could be at home instead of at work!  But hopefully (!) the weather will keep people inside and not at the hospital!

For my birthday and Valentine's Day Jon took me to Black Hawk.  Yes, I am spoiled!  Here is the view from our window.

I was studying statistics and drinking coffee while waiting for Jon to finish his pastry class.  This is one of my more frustrating classes.  I would be happy to have prayers that I could have the discipline to finish it!  It is my biggest hurtle in finishing my bachelor's in nursing.  Then 3 easier classes and bingo!  I have my degree. 

It is interesting to see how life progresses.  I thought after I got married I would have a boring normal life.  Whatever normal is...  Instead I am married to someone very interesting... and sometimes I feel like I can't keep up.  That is saying a lot for this adventurer.  

A couple days ago Jon took my car for emissions testing.  Well, it didn't pass because my 3rd gear doesn't work. =(  How is it that Dad's truck from '89 passes and mine doesn't??  Anyway, we started looking at cars two days ago.  It was inevitable that I need a new car, but I was desperately hoping to stall the process.  I was reminded how much I detest car dealerships.  Randy the used car dealer was nicer then most, but I still felt the need to ask Jesus to wash the slime off of me after we left. 

Jon just called.  He found a good deal on a Mazda Cx 5.  I have been praying about what we should get.  So far we have heard that it needs to be big (instead of say like the mazda 2).  I also saw a picture of Jesus writing a check for our vehicle.  Another person that I asked to pray said she felt God was saying that are not supposed to worry about the money.  And anyone that knows me, knows that would be my number 1 concern.  We have had other confirmations that this is one Jesus wants us to get.   Look at it here.
 
I am pleased to announce that I have worked my last night shift!  I may work an occasional night shift, but for the most part it is over!  I am basically working two different shifts: 7am to 7pm and 10am to 10pm.  I feel like I might become human again.  It took a lot out of me to work the night shift and trying to switch back and forth between nights and days.  

The other change at work is working as a charge nurse.  My bedside nursing had become pretty routine and I wanted a change.  Actually I've wanted to be a ER charge nurse since I was 15.  In December that dream finally became a reality.  The variety of things that I encounter as a charge nurse has been a pleasant challenge.  There have been a few times though that I found myself trying to stave off the image that I'm driving a large cruise ship into the rocks.  I see myself as the captain of a ship, trying to organize and direct all the pieces that it takes to keep the ER running smoothly.  If the nurses have a problem they come to me, same with the docs, techs, the house supervisor, and even other nursing floors.  However, I do find the challenge enjoyable and stimulating.  The position certainly gives me a different picture of the ER.  I am forced to use a different part of my brain (critical thinking--they call it in nursing school). 

I have sand in my shoes, or itchy feet...  I really want to travel internationally again.  This does not seem likely unless we win the lottery or some kind soul donates money.  =(  I told Jesus I want to be "translated" like Phillip was when he was taken by the spirit into the desert to minister to the Ethiopian eunuch.  Right now we are trying to save money to start a bakery (for those of you who don't know Jon is in pastry school right now).  Of course, there are always expenses with a new house and things that one does not anticipate.   Which means I am praying to be translated abroad for a short holiday.  Blessings to you all! 

p.s. if anyone knows of an inspiring blog that talks about people following God radically and how He makes their lives interesting and unusual, please let me know in the comments.