Be Still

 Be Still

This is a picture I took of my prayer plant, before we left for the hospital today. 

A dear friend one told me her meditation mantra for when she is anxious. I adopted it and have used it often!

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I Am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

Psalm 46:10a

(Temporary Backup) Be a helper!

* Voice to text, please excuse typos and the lack of punctuation. 

Friends after seeing the news this morning about all the Michigan schools closing, knowing others will soon follow suit, I stood in the shower and just cried and prayed.

I prayed for kiddos and families who otherwise don’t have food and resources and perhaps even less coping skills.

Prayed for the protection of kiddos who will now be home alone or placed here and there, or home with a parent who is struggling to keep themselves together.

I prayed for foster parents who rely on that 8 hour break. For the kiddos parents who are experiencing a lack of control over their child and may have fearful hearts.

And I prayed for all those who when this is all said and done and even now are naysayers to preparation and will in a twisted way decide if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough to warrant the hype. And are ignorant to the fact that it’s due to the cautious preparation lives will be spared.

Take a look around at your community neighborhood, the kids your kids go to school with, Food pantry, babysitting...What can you do to support someone today?

Agreed we should secure our own oxygen mask before assisting others… But while you’re securing your mask be thinking about how you can respond in an effective way to those around you.



Faith over Fear

I picked up my dad‘s devotional tonight, opened at random and was reading about faith. I came across several notes my dad had made, likely when he was preparing a sermon. 

What he had written was all about how fear is the opposite of faith. How great it is to know my God is not the author fear and chaos. He is faithful to His promises. 

The one phrase that stood out most is how he wrote, “don’t let TV news create fear.” This is a good reminder to me these days because there is evil everywhere and at times it can produce fear in my heart. This was a reminder that God is in control.

It’s true, there is nothing the corroborates God’s promises, mostly it’s just blind faith. It’s blind faith in The One who can be trusted. 

You can’t see the wind but you can see what the wind does. 

Anyway...so many thoughts in my head tonight....

I’m thankful for a dad who taught me faith over fear. 

Loneliness, Covid, & Condoms

Loneliness, Covid, & Condoms...my thoughts from my car ride in: 

These days are lonely for so many people. Not only are we socially distant we are also physically, emotionally, and spiritually distanced, we were made for community. We were built to need each other. 

Don’t isolate yourself and if you know of others isolating themselves please reach out. Some folks are very lonely, others are scared, exhausted, anxious, stressed...

Please don’t accept this distancing as a way of life as our “new normal,” it is not normal! We need each other, we need to be in connection with each other. 

There are ways to do this safely and we hear about them every day:

keep your distance

wear a mask

wash your hands

don’t get together in large groups

People still think it won’t happen to them and I am here to tell you it knows no age, gender, or ethnicity. 

I have come to think of contracting COVID-19 just like you would contract an STD. When you’re around people you don’t know who they’ve been around and who the people they’ve been around have been around. Even though you’re only exposed to one person you’re exposed to hundreds. So, we have options abstinence or we can let facemasks and hand sanitizer be the condoms of COVID-19! So mask up peeps and pass the 60% alcohol! 

Every day I see people affected in different ways by all this crap going on and I need to do my part to reach out as well.

Buoy, Buoyed, or Both?

Wrote and gave this devotion to my team today. Added to it afterwards things I thought of while talking. Thought I’d share as it feels like we are building the ship as we sail it and personally I feel shaken lately. So, basically this is to me and I’m letting you in on it in case it sounds familiar and helps anyone else.

“We are all in this boat together!” FALSE!

We are NOT all in the same boat. In fact each of our boats look very different:
- maybe you have little kids at home and your worried about what if there isn’t school...or what if there is??!!
- or your S.O. is out of a job
- Illness of family or friends
- Live alone and are feeling isolated and lonely

Remember that not all ship handle storms the same
- Rushing around to prepare
- Increased Anxiety is crippling
- Feeling tense and worried trying to keep things going as normally as possible
- Struggling to cope and feeling overwhelmed and tossed with every crash of the wave
- Taking it all in stride

What’s your boat looking like these days? How’s it handling?

While we are not all in the same boat WE ARE all in the same STORM
- And for those feeling anchored and calm – BE A BUOY for others
- note: you can’t be everybody’s buoy, and remember you have to put the life jacket on yourself before helping others!
- For those struggling to stay upright, it is okay that you are not okay. Please reach out for a steadying hand.

And most importantly - Look to our Lord, He is the lighthouse in the storm - He is that steady guide through any storm and for any ship. He can be trusted – look for Him – He is there, His light never dims.

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”

In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world there will be trouble BUT TAKE HEART I have overcome the world!”

Covid-19 Survival Kit

Anyone tried to buy hand sanitizer, Alcohol (the rubbing kind), or antibacterial wipes lately?

Tomorrow we have Covid19 training with our team. I thought I’d make it fun by creating each of them a thoughtful little Covid19 SURVIVAL KIT.

Welp...multiple stores later....supplies are so scarce...I’ve renamed them STARTER Survival Kits!

Update: Walmart restocked and Beaver was there bright and early. Hand Sanitizer production line ensued and then....the final product: Covid19 Starter Survival Kits.

Plus, for fun, I made some Covid-19 virus molecules! I used them to decorate the conference room table.

Make your own Hand Sanitizer

What you need: 99% rubbing alcohol, aloe and a few drops of essential oils.

1) To “kill the bugs” there needs to be at least 60% alcohol.

2) that would really dry out and mess up your hands so you need to add something like glycerine or aloe.

3) Therefore, you must have 99% alcohol so when it is diluted with the aloe you still have at least 60% alcohol.

4) so, approx 2/3 cup alcohol to 1/3 cup aloe.

5) Note: FRICTION KILLS GERMS!! Rub your hands together vigorously!! 

REMEMBER: nothing is as effective as good ol soap and water!! Hand sanitizer is for when soap and water is just not readily available. 

I still cry

I could see your feet.  Another nurse got in the driver seat. Episiotomy in a flurry, onto a gurney, you were free. Tried to help you breath, your heart so weak. My heart cried out in silent pleading prayers as we pour in the meds, o2 & care. Then you weren’t there. Grabbed an interpreter and gulped back sobs as we told your mom. Later, by a tree and under the sky, on my back I cried. I still cry. #ShareAStoryInOneTweet #ERNurse