Random Updates

Life has sure been busy this year! I don't think I've had a dull day go by yet. It's summer but I'm still in school. I started last week. I am finishing up my last quarter at WWU (the Lord willing of course). I will be done July 30 and graduation is August 21st. I'm not sure if I'll do the graduation. It's a little bit of money and I'm thinking I should do it but I don't know anyone else graduating in Summer quarter. I don't know a lot of people at WWU and the ones I do know are either graduated or aren't graduating until Fall or Winter quarter of 2010/2011. Unfortunately, summer quarter is way more expensive than I thought it would be. Because of 1 extra credit I need to graduate, it's nearly double the price of 5 credits. I don't exactly know where the money is going to come from. I am praying about it and am trusting God to provide. I still don't know about grad school. If I go, I'd have to move about 2.5 hours south of where I am, around Seattle area for over 2 years. I can see a lot of good that could come out of it and I can also see that maybe God wants me to do something else. I am praying a LOT! :) I have no answers right now but God's really been dealing with me on trusting Him. I've had a lot of victories lately! Its been awesome. :) God is totally awesome. God is good, ALL the time!

So, school is about over, my life is about to change big time, I think, maybe. :) Camp is coming up soon! I'm quite excited about that! Bro. Ron Spencer is the special speaker. I'm expecting amazing things. Our services lately have been amazing as well. God's been proving over and over how much He cares about us and how much He provides for us.

I've been going to the Rec center at school in the morning before my afternoon class and even though I'm tired and don't exactly enjoy getting up so early, I always feel a lot better the rest of the day. I've been listening to Messages during that time and I love it. If only I could have afternoon classes every quarter! I'm starting volunteering at the hospital again for 1 credit and will be a bit busier at least 1 or 2 days a week. I am in need of more $$. I applied for a part-time position at my current work, another position, but didn't get it. It probably would have been more than I could have handled though. I have another one I'm looking into so we'll see how it goes. I'm not really sure what I'd do if I don't go to school in the fall. I could possibly take some classes at the community college and reapply to go next year but I don't know if I should. I've prayed that God would give me a very obvious sign whether or not I should go to grad school and finish up with OT or do something else. So far, there are too many loopholes in everything for me to tell for sure. I love helping people, especially children, and I love health care, but not necessarily nursing. Teaching is not for me, although I've considered it. So, I'm at a loss. Very dependent on God right now. It's nice but scary for me because I like being in control. I like to know exactly what's going to happen and I like to plan everything out. My summer class I'm taking is Intro to Abnormal Psychology. It's interesting. We took a test today in class to see how anal we are. I scored pretty high; 85% of the population of people my age scored much lower than I did. But, this is how God teaches us patience and trust.

That was long. Not a lot of info but it was time for an update. I have a test Thursday and need to read and study. Also, I need sleep! I was up at camp from Thursday-Sunday helping out with a camp and I'm quite tired. So much for the long, lazy days of summer...

Death and Life

I just got an email telling me one of the professors at my school passed away today. I've had him for multiple classes and he is (I guess it's was now) my adviser. I'm in such shock. He's pretty young, just had a new little baby last summer, has a couple other kids, and a wife. He's always so helpful and nice and always in his office. I saw him over the summer and need to go in and talk to him about graduating this spring and now he's gone. I'm just in utter shock. I know everyone has people in their life that pass away, but I feel like I've had more than my fair share. I was not close to him, but I knew him pretty well and always got help from him. I feel for his family. I know how hard it is to lose a friend, and they have the loss of a father and husband. I think he was some kind of a Christian. He was an awesome guy and I can't believe he's gone.

It's hard to concentrate on studying with something like this. Life is so short, it's so hard to wrap your head around that. Please remember his family in your prayers. I know they can use it.

One life has just been snuffed out. It's a horrible cycle, life and death. I am so thankful for that promise in I Corinthians 15: 51-55:

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Life...

Life is so fleeting. Working at the hospital gives you a taste of that, but usually it's the grave illnesses or serious injuries that you're treating, avoiding death at all costs. I never see the other side, the side where life is no more. OT's** usually help you get home or get further help you need to get back home eventually. The thought of those patients dying before getting home usually isn't an issue. I have seen some pretty ill patients, but I never think of them dying, it's always about getting better. Patients discharge and go on with life, and so do you.

My first real taste of death was with Miriam. I didn't know how life could go on. I never thought death would come that close. Other than her, I haven't been that close to death. I know how it feels to lose someone though. It's like your whole world stops. I had such a hard time thinking that life kept going on, despite the fact that my world had stopped.

At the hospital, life goes on. You see a patient, do your best, and move on. You know some patients are seriously ill, but you don't think of them dying.

Then you see a gray, zipped body bag being wheeled down the hallway. Life just stopped for that person. You watch as the transporter slowly walks away and you want to yell, "Wait! There's a person in there!" But you don't, cause there's not really. The person is gone now. It's just a shell.

Your mind flashes to who it might be. That lady from yesterday? That man from two days ago? We tried so hard with them...Did someone hold their hand? Did someone get to push back their hair from their face as they took that last breath? Did they feel it? Did they know it was their last breath? Did the family know? Did they get to say goodbye one last time?

Their world has stopped now. But life....it's still going on.

A new patient is wheeled down the hall. The chimes go off...a new baby has just been born. One life is just beginning, and one has just ended.

It sounds so nice and logical, but what about life for the family who just lost a loved one? When does life begin again for them?

Whoops...time for the next patient.



**Occupational therapists-I'm shadowing, getting experience for grad school.