New Grandbaby

Sorry Katie....I had to steal this one for my own blog. I went with Katie today for her first ultrasound ...we were certainly hoping to find out the gender. Much to our disappointment the technican could not confirm the gender. You know, I did not know the gender of either of my babies, but there is just something about being able to know that makes me want to KNOW!! Early in the pregnancy I tried to be objective and bought cute outfits for a girl or a boy. One thing about it.....the baby will have an outfit regardless of the gender. A 4-D ultrasound is in order and we should know after that.....standby for results in the future.

School Nursing

May 7th, 2008, is National School Nurse's Day. Give a nurse a hug!
Speaking of school nurses....for those of you who may not know....I have been a school nurse in a small rural school for 81/2 years. I have chosen to retire this year. Well, not really retire...that sounds like retiring from life. No, quite the contrary. I will always be a nurse at heart. To me nursing is about serving others, something the Lord desires for all of us to do. The school job has been a blessing and I believe to have been a divine appointment, but I now feel the need to move on. It will be interesting to see what is in store for me now. I do plan to spend time with family and catch up with some longtime friends.

I have always considered my spiritual gift to be the gift of comfort and mercy. I have often been drawn to patients during the dying process, so I am thinking I would enjoy giving hospice care. I believe that is in my future, but for now I am going to cherish the time off. I have six days of school remaining.

I recently was invited to be the "Nurse of the Day" at the State Capitol. The day was interesting and educational. My friend, former school principal, and now my state representative invited me. I considered the invitation a priviledge and honor. Thank you Mr. Cannaday!

Strawberries, Vegetables, & Planting

Below is the Strawberry Pot that I found yesterday. I really liked the clay look...glazed pots are also available at Wal-Mart...some weird colors like orange and dark blue and a few more dollars. I think this one will work for me. I am off to see if I can find enough herbs or flowers to fill all nine holes. My two strawberry plants should fit nicely in the top.
Grandpa and I (together) worked the garden....really, I helped till the garden. Son-in-law Craig worked the soil twice for us before this time. We have some really rich soil in this garden spot, but the rocks do surface each time the ground is worked. We think it is rich and ready....now comes the real work. I am always enthusiastic until the extreme heat and humidity hits.

I will try to keep you posted on the progress of the garden and the strawberry pot.

Hopeful Gardening

I have been looking for a Strawberry Pot like my Momma used to have. I found a neat one today and now I am so anxious to fill it. I have two strawberry plants, but the pot has nine holes to fill, plus the top. I have much to say about gardening this year and I will get to it....a piece at a time. I thought it would be neat to share a look at the pot before and wait to see if there is something worth while to share after it is filled. I also want to share a look at our garden spot...tilled again today...then, if the garden produces enough to be noteworthy I will share pictures of the progress. I have been urgently reading gardening blogs this afternoon. I found some neat sites and interesting reading. The only trouble is reading does not get the job done. It takes effort. More insight to come later, maybe tonight.

Finally Spring!

Wow, I have not blogged much lately. I just have to get a little of the spring beauty in here. I have wanted to change my layout to a brighter one, but I just can't settle in on one. As you can see, one of my azaleas is being a bit "showy" this year....something they have not done before. I have not had good experiences with them at all. I am not sure, if this is one I replaced last year or not. I have one that has never bloomed. I think they have a mind of their own. I am enjoying this one while I can. Okay...add on....I came back and changed the layout to my new...old one. Green works for spring! The grandsons had a chance to play in the little spring that runs across our property. They loved it! The water was crystal clear....at least before they stirred it up.
They moved on to the sandy, muddy area after a while. If there is mud---they will find it!
These boys can play continuously and are so creative and adventurous. They make fun out of anything....whether pretending, playing in water, knee deep in mud, or just kicked back laughing....they have a ball....NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

"Crabby Old Man" Poem

This is a picture taken last Thanksgiving of my daddy. Please don't be taken back by the title of the posting. My daddy is NOT a "crabby old man", but I think it is more interesting to add pictures along with the written words. Please hang with me here. My daddy is now 89 years old and really gets along fairly well. He still lives independently in his own little apartment and continues to drive. I searched my pictures for an older man...I do have several, but I did not want to post a picture of someone who might object to their picture on a blog. I don't think Daddy will care. Now to the point.....Since blogging is like journaling, I sometimes like to add things that touched me, made me pause, or so impacted me that it causes me to change my actions or thinking.

The following is part of an email I received this week. Because of the detail I believe it to be true. It is a story of an elderly man who died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida. It was believed the man had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. The staff was so impressed that they made copies and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Assn. for Mental Health (I have not verified this). At any rate I thought it worth the read.

What do you see nurses? What do you see?

What are you thinking...when you're looking at me?

A crabby old man, ...not very wise,

Uncertain of habit....with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food....and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice..."I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice...the things that you do,

And forever is losing....A sock or shoe.

Who, resisting or not...lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding...The long day to fill.

Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse...you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am...As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding,...as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten...with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters...who love one another.

A young boy of sixteen..with wings on his feet

Dreamin' that soon now...a lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at twenty...my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows...that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now...I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide...And a secure happy home.

A man thirty...My young now grown fast,

Bound to each other ...With ties that should last.

At forty my young sons....have grown and are gone,

But my woman's beside me...to see I don't mourn.

At fifty, once more,...Babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children...My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me...My wife is now dead.

I look at the future...I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing...young of their own.

And I think of the years...And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man...and nature is cruel.

'Tis jest to make old age...look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles...grace and vigor depart.

There is now a stone...where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass....A young guy still dwells,

And now and again...my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys...I remember the pain.

And I'm loving and living....life over again.

I think of the years all too few...gone to fast.

And accept the stark fact....that nothing can last.

So open your eyes people...open and see.

Not a crabby old man, look closer...see.....ME!!

I sent this to some of my nurse friends, but anyone may need to be reminded of this poem the next time they meet an older person who they might brush aside without looking at the young soul within...if we live long enough, we will one day be there too!

Sorry, I tried and tried to format this poem and I guess because of the length the computer just did its own thing.