I took this photo on my unit in the hospital.  Though I spend oodles of time on 5200, and I talk about my family a TON while I am there, they very rarely visit my unit.  We were in the hospital to visit my uncle, and I had the kids scoot over to meet a few co-workers.  It’s so crazy to me to see my people at work. 

What is not crazy to me is how good God is. 

We’ve been reading in Exodus for Community Bible Study this year.  God tells His children more than once TO REMEMBER.  He tells them to remember when the Angel of Death passed-over their homes.  He tells them to remember when He parted the Red Sea.  He tells Moses to WRITE DOWN for Joshua about how he led the Israelites in war against the Amalekites.  He says to remember His provision, because it can sustain us in future hard times.

I want to remember how God carried us through October.
I’ve worked a ton this month.  As the year started to wind down John noted he still had 9 vacation days he had to use up, or lose, by the end of the year.  While we certainly did not have the means to actually use his vacation days for vacation, we also know from the past that when he and I are home together, house projects ($$$) usually get started.  SO – we opted to have him take vacation days while I worked, thereby actually getting AHEAD financially.  What is more, I worked many evenings on days he did NOT have the day off.  My unit is short staffed and, as I said, we could use the money to get caught up.

Now – I gotta admit.  I was not in love with the idea of working so much – or why I really needed to.  I mean, come on… it’s called WORK for a reason.  And for every hour a mom is not at home, a mom is NOT at home!  It’s not like mom just slips off and things go on as they would if she were home.  It requires a lot of planning and prepping. 

But I saw fruit that I would not have seen otherwise, and I am focusing on that and want to remember that.

•We got to see the kids pony up and really pitch in in the mornings.  Mornings after I worked I would sleep in until 7 A.M. and they would run morning as usual and I would join them already in progress just in time for devotion. 

•They also managed many, many, many dinners without me.  Nigel and Marie took the lead there.

•I got to brush up on a LOT of skills.  I saw my boss more, as well as other folks from ancillary departments.  I got to refresh and learn a lot anew.  And I did enjoy getting to know a lot of the newer staff better.  I even did chest compressions during a code; something I hadn’t done since I was pregnant with Tabitha.  ‘

•But most of all – my working overlapped my Uncle Mickey’s hospitalization perfectly.  I got to see him, as well as my Aunt Kathy, and cousins Michael and Andy a great deal.  It was bittersweet.  At first we were sure it was a little set back, but as days and weeks wore on we were all stunned at how rapidly he began to deteriorating before our eyes.  So today, after church, we unanimously agreed we’d head up to RGH to say hello.   We have been praying steadfastly for him, and are not ashamed to say we are praying for a miracle. 

I am not glad we had such a hard summer.  I’m not glad to spend that kind of time away from my family.  But I am choosing to reflect on how God allowed it to line up in ways that allowed me to see my extended family, and how I could see my nuclear family work together.

Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.