Christmas, in Three Parts

I married into a blended family, with all the love and flexibility that comes along with it. I love all the in-laws that come with the extra families, and even my closest friends get confused when I talk about J's sisters. He has 4, you know, and 3 brothers. They just keep coming. I haven't even met them all (although, in fairness, the one I haven't met has unusual circumstances). So I say all that to say this: Here is our Christmas, in Three Parts.

Christmas, Movement 1

We went to Amarillo, where J's mother met us for an early Christmas. Both of us were glad we bought the tickets before we were laid off from work. It was good to see J's mom, step-dad, and grandmother. We were there for 4 short days. Amarillo tried to impress us by setting record lows while we were there. All I have to say is, Brrr. I don't remember it being that cold when we lived in Lubbock. But it must have been. . . .

While we were there we blew up grandma's old microwave. It was much less exciting than it looks in print. So, Merry Christmas, Grandma. You get a new microwave for Christmas.

While we were in Amarillo, we got to spend a little time with J's two uncles and aunts. We went over to Ronnie's house on Sunday, watched football games back to back to back, and talked all afternoon.

We celebrated early with this family, complete with a Christmas dinner. They know we're not huge turkey fans, so we had ham there, instead. Yum! Everyone was in the kitchen, getting in everyone else's way. It's my kind of holiday. We also had a small gift exchange, with just the five of us. Budgets were tight, since, of course, J had been told he had a job 24 hours before we boarded a plane, and J's step-dad was laid off just after I was. So Christmas was nice and low-key with this group. I can't wait to get my new clock J's step-dad made. The photos are lovely, and Bill does such good work.

We left Amarillo on the 23rd, and flew back to Dallas. The original plan had been for me to work on the 24th, but since my bosses decided I didn't have to work for them that day (or ever), we decided to stay in Dallas for a few extra days.

For more on this Christmas, click here.

Chrismas, Movement 2

For this Christmas, we went to J's sister-in-law's house, near where my parents live. This Christmas dinner was actually on Christmas. We had a turkey with all the trimmings, and all J's local family was there. We stayed several hours and got caught up with the kids and the grown-ups over dinner. The downer here, I forgot my camera. Grrr. So there will be no photos posted of this Christmas with J's dad, step-mom, and all the brothers, sisters, neices, nephews, and extended family. There were 13 of us there. Thank you, Lori, for being a gracious host to all of us, both for Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We really enjoy it!

Christmas, Movement 3

We celebrated Christmas on the 26th this year. Bartalie (that's Hollywood speak for Bart and Natalie, my brother and sister-in-law) came up with the AB-ster on the 26th and we opened presents and had Christmas dinner when they got there. Never fear, we celebrated birthdays on the 27th. Everything got bumped back a day, but we fit it all in. We're suckers for cake and ice cream.

Back to Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas on the 26th. Mom out did herself with the yummy food and being with family is wonderful, even if it is my kid brother.

We all went to church together Sunday AM, which I love. This was the first time for AB to go to mom and dad's church, and both of them were introducing her to their friends. More like showing her off (and how could you not?) I called dibbs on her during church, and we rocked and patted together for an hour. She slept the whole time, and I wasn't cold at all in their church. Having a 3 month old heater really helps.

J and I came back home Monday. It had been 12 days since we left, and we were ready to come back. We have some last minute projects to finish up before he goes to work next week. I said, before he goes to work next week. If you want to see my husband smile, remind him he goes to work next week. He's pumped, and has himself motivated to finish projects around the house. It's easier to get stuff done when you have a deadline.

So that's our three part Christmas. We hope you had a wonderful holiday as well, and that your new year is blessed!

Long Overdue

A few weeks ago, I inadvertently posted something that hurt a friend's feelings. I offered to take the post down, and she replied (correctly) that the damage had been done. I took down the post anyway, and apologized to her. However, I feel like I need to apologize in the same arena where the slight occurred. Friend, I never meant to hurt your feelings. I am sorry for the hurt my actions have caused you, and I appreciate your forgiveness. Thank you for calling attention to my thoughtlessness, and handling your hurt appropriately. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to apologize. I value your friendship. Merry Christmas. dc

Hands

I have been thinking a lot about hands recently. I am thinking about them because I have been unable to wash my hands between patients and I have been using the alcohol based hand cleaner, which I hate. Anyway, hands can tell a lot about the person, I think. I like the way my hands look to patients. Usually they’re a little damp from the recent hand washing. My hands are often dry, again from the too frequent washing. The nails are short and clean, and usually I haven’t been chewing my cuticles. My skin is generally cool to touch.

I really think about these things when I do a physical exam. I try to touch my patients with compassion and tenderness. My hands are the only physical contact I have with most people.

I have had other important hands in my life, too. My husband’s hands, that hold mine. They’re comforting and reassuring, and strong. They’re my life partner’s hands. My parent’s hands were where love, playfulness, and discipline lived. They have taught me much about life, how to live, how to love, and how to raise a loving family. My grandparent’s hands were gnarled and wrinkled with years of work by the time I got to know them. But they were patient, showing me a new, exciting world, helping me explore, and tenderly showing me the value of family.

The most important hands in my life are none of these. The most important hands are the hands of Jesus. The hands that came to earth as an infant. They started tiny, grasping, new, just like yours and mine. They were human, warm, showing tenderness and compassion, granting mercy and forgiveness to those who were sinners. These hands were sinless, perfect, blameless. A perfect sacrifice for my sins - the sins my hands commit without a second thought. The blood on my hands was washed clean because of the blood on the hands of Jesus.

This season as we look forward to the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, we realize his humanity. We look to heaven, searching for answers. And the answers are as close as the hands of Jesus, outstretched to us.

“[B]ut the angel reassured [the shepherds]. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!” Luke 2:10-12

Medical Musings

So I have done a few shifts at the part time clinic downtown, and obviously I have lived to tell about them. So let me tell you about them.

My first day, I was early. That was good. Someone was waiting to let me in. That was also good. They showed me my very small office, and told me to settle in and explore the clinic. My sense of direction is lacking, so letting me explore is not such a good idea, even in a small clinic. Juan was my hero. Side note – his name is pronounced H-uan. Not W-aan, like us Texans pronounce it. So Juan was my hero. He showed me where the bathroom was. Most important.
I got to relax for a few minutes, then the crowd came in. One by one, they came in asking for healing. Most spoke English the first day, and most were acutely ill. I treated each as best I could, with the medicine they could afford. The doctor and I saw 82 (!) patients on the first day.
I didn’t write a single name brand prescription all day. I have literally never done that before. And it can be done. I didn’t feel like I had short changed anyone by substituting a generic medicine.

My Spanish was shaky the first day. I asked for Juan and Marta frequently, especially to explain the medicine.

My second day, clinic started much the same. Except. Juan and Marta and the rest of the nursing staff were discussing, get ready for it, How Many Times They Have Been Shot At. I had, of course, nothing to add to that discussion. So, I sat quietly in my office instead.

I had much the same experience the second day as the first day, except fewer patients spoke English. I am better at Spanish now than I was on day one. The doctor and I saw 40-something patients that day. Again, I wrote no name brand medicines that day. It still blows my mind.
The second day I was talking to a 217 pound 12 year old. I was discussing, in English, his weight and blood sugar. I was trying to discuss the urgent need for weight loss. The mom asked me which was better, diet or exercise. I answered that both would be appropriate for this young man. I urged the mom and patient to not think of it as exercise, but more like play. I instructed him to get out and ride his bike after school, to get out and skateboard more. Um. He doesn’t own a bike, or a skateboard. And his neighborhood isn’t safe enough to walk in, let alone bike in.
I accidentally wrote a prescription that was generic, but not on the approved Medicaid list. I overheard a man, the father of my patient, discussing the cost of this prescription with the pharmacist. It was $12. The man said to the pharmacist that the medicine was too expensive. The pharmacist offered to have me rewrite the prescription, but the man said that they would find a way to afford it, if the baby needed it.

These were sobering to me. I have never been in want, really wanted, that is. I have been poor, in graduate school, especially. But I have always lived in a safe enough neighborhood (except for when we got robbed at the apartment, and that was kind of a fluke.) I was really thinking about how much we, J and I, have. We’re so blessed. We have a full pantry, full freezer, full house, full heart. I can walk safely through the neighborhood. I have a bike I haven’t ridden in years. I have more friends than I can count. I am so blessed in so many ways.

I still have more clinic hours to do. I learn more Spanish every day, but I am really growing spiritually and emotionally. I plan on working there until I can find a permanent position. I really do enjoy it. As long as I leave before dark.

J Christmas Present

A new job! J starts his new job January 5th at a school district here. He's really excited about working again.

God answered this prayer exactly 6 months after we started praying. June 18 through December 18 we had constant petitions and prayers lifted to heaven. God's timing is perfect, and we couldn't ask for a better environment for J.

More later, but yes, I have survived my time at the part time clinic I am working with.

A new opportunity to serve. . .

I have accepted a temporary job with a company that specializes in temp jobs for PAs. I get paid on an hourly basis, and it's really flexible so I can also take a day off to interview if I need to. I start with this company tomorrow with my first assignment. I knew it wasn't in the best neighborhood. . . .

Because of my HORRENDOUS navigational skills, we drove to the clinic today after church so I would have some clue about where I was headed tomorrow AM. Okay, so the neighborhood degenerated quickly after we exited the highway. Really quickly. I didn't take a photo of the clinic, I thought better of getting out of the car at that point. Let's just say that when I asked J where I should park in the morning, he said, "Behind the 8 foot tall chain link fence with the three rows of barbed wire above it." He said this without even thinking. Sounds good to me. This is the kind of place where I would feel more comfortable if one of the clinicians was scary and mean looking. Or packing heat.

So, on the way home, I started praying about this job. I have committed to three shifts at this particular clinic. It came to me that God puts us where He needs us to be, and where our talents are needed. I can serve here. I can serve this population with the heart of Jesus. I can treat them with kindness, gentleness, respect. I can heal their physical ailments. I can also touch their soul.

I pray that this week you also find someone, somewhere you can serve. It may be at home. It may be at school or work. Please allow God to touch your eyes and your heart to stir you to good works. We are put here to touch others. And it may be at that very moment that God touches us.

We hope to have permanent job news for both of us at the beginning of this week. Please be praying about those opportunities.

Houston Snow!!

Who knew that it would snow TWICE in five years here on the Texas Gulf Coast? It was practically a blizzard. And I know my friends and family in the north are making fun of us now, but it was a really big deal. They even had some school delays the next day. I saw snow men and snow angels. We had a blast. Here are some fun photos!