Pack on the Back

I feel like Christian from Pilgrim's Progress every time I go back packing (and then subsequently start thinking with an English accent...)

As we hiked upward toward The Celestial City, I was more and more aware of the the need to lay my burden down at the cross. Even though the path was long, I was determined to not be a puddleglum.

A few weekends ago a few of us went up to Jack River Falls. It is such an enchanting place. A mix of jungle and forest. It is almost like being in another part of the world.

We went about 10 more miles more than my legs wanted, but that is what makes these kinds of experiences so memorable. I was too busy trying to keep up with the fast boys and didn't take too many pictures, but here are a few:

Inspiration

I bought seeds today, and on a lovely spring day I am going to plant them in the garden.

My dad always lines the edge of the garden with a beautiful row of sunflowers. The cheery flowers are nice to look at, and are also a great distractor from people looking at all of the weeds. I am thinking our garden out here will need that extra beautification as well. :)

Probably the biggest reason is because I love a nice bouquet of flowers. Who doesn't?

Painted daisies, sunflowers, and zinnias will be on my kitchen table!

As well as some rosemary, cilantro, basil, and dill. And I can't wait.

2 am

Last week I worked 4 nights in a row. There are many downsides to working this many 12 hour shifts at one time, but there are also a few perks. My favorite is this: having the opportunity to get to know my patients better each night that I work.

Most of the time I silently pray that my patients will fall asleep and won't have chest pain and won't stop breathing.

I don't know when this woman sleeps. She slept but a few hours (and that might be an exaggeration) each night that I took care of her. Somehow things were not busy one night (is that possible with me having 6 patients!?) and seeing that she was struggling emotionally, I sat down beside her on her bed. She talked, and I listened. I patted her back and she let out years of pent up tears. I cried with her. I prayed for her then tucked her back into bed. It was a joy but oh, it is such a bittersweet joy to minister to people.

How can I help her see that there is hope for her future? There is hope for her relationship that is falling apart. There is hope for her health that has landed her in the hospital for the second time.

If you are awake around 2 am and can't sleep, say a little prayer for hurting people. A little prayer can turn people's lives around.

Move

Last week I moved into my sister's apartment. Our apartment. I am still getting used to saying "we" and "ours".

I am thankful that my parents decided to have a house full of children. What would I do without my siblings? Especially Elisa.

We share a love for baking, thrifting, music, Herdez Green Salsa, Luigi's Italian Ice, and all things beautiful.

I still have the bad habit of putting my wet towel on her bed (a chronic disorder that I have struggled with since childhood) and putting her work pants in the dryer instead of hanging them up to dry. There are bigger problems in life, and I think these small ones can be ironed out.

I come home from work and she leaves for work. She doesn't even have to make her bed, she simply hangs her blanket off the edge of her top bunk to make me a dark tent to sleep in during the day.

Come and visit our small abode, we always have a treat in our fridge to share.