It's been a few weeks since my last post and wanted to give everyone an update.
First of all, I have decided to go back to school. Not in nursing, but in phlebotomy. A good friend of mine recently asked me about going back to school and it led me to do more research about what is offered at my local college. I knew that there wasn't a good chance of getting into the nursing program right away which is when I noticed they offered a phlebotomy program. I applied to the college and was accepted immediately. However, the deadline for phlebotomy had passed in January and I can't apply until October. But I met with my academic adviser and I'm allowed to take certain classes that are required for the certificate, which is only 9-credit hours. Registration is April 1 and my adviser will send me my schedule when it's ready. This might be the first decision I'm confident about that I've made in a long time.
Gram gave me quite a scare a few weeks ago. I dropped Gram off to see a movie in town while I ran errands. I did everything a parent would do: pre-screened the movie (Lincoln), gave her money for the ticket and a snack if she needed it, found out the time it ended so I could pick her up, and watched her walk into the theater. I drove off and came back to pick her up. She texted me to help her out to the car, so I walk into the lobby and find her a bloody mess. Literally. All of you parents should understand my feelings of immediate and sheer, overwhelming panic! She had fallen flat on her face trying to get up the steps in the auditorium and tore open her hand and arm. Luckily, a man who was watching the movie saw her fall and picked her up. Gram sat through the ENTIRE movie with only a tissue and her shirt to keep her wounds from leaking all over. I hit the roof when I saw her. I DEMANDED to see a manager and made her fill out a accident report. Then I took Gram to the ER. The nurse had to pour water over her arm wound to make the skin detach from her sweater. (Sorry if that's too graphic.) There wasn't enough skin left for stitches so they glued her hand and dressed her arm wound. They also gave her a tetanus shot and ordered x-rays. She's 85-years-old and fell and didn't break anything! Glory to God! People say that your kids will pay you back for everything you did to your parents. Those people aren't joking. I was in and out of the hospital many times when I was a child and this must be payback.
Orthodox Lent began last Monday and I'm still trying to balance being Orthodox while living and working in a completely non-Orthodox setting. It might just be one of the many crosses I have to carry in this life. Work (and gas prices) prevent me from attending some of the services, but I'm grateful to have a job that allows me to have a car and pay for gas. This is a much better situation than where I was last year at this time. I have tonight off which allows me to go to church tonight. The bad part is that I'll work six out of the next seven days. I'm also grateful that our Pascha (Easter) isn't the same day as Western Easter this year. It will make taking the entire weekend off easier.
A dear friend and coworker of mine was severely injured at work when a pot of boiling water fell on her back. She suffered 2nd, and possibly 3rd degree burns. So far she has managed to avoid infections. Please keep her in your prayers.
My stepfather's brother, Bob, passed away yesterday morning after a long battle with leukemia. I'd like to ask my Orthodox and Catholic friends to pray for his departed soul. Everyone else, please keep my mom, stepdad, and his family in your prayers. It is tradition for us to pray for the dead, but I understand that most Christians find this a foreign concept.
I think that's about it for now. I hope to update more often.
Until next time,
~Staci~
P.S. The title of this post is from one of the funniest Jack Benny radio episodes ever. I think it fits for the beginning of Lent.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
This Is Not Mine
The following is written by Father Tryphon, abbot of the All-Merciful Savior Orthodox Monastery. You can find his blog here: http://www.morningoffering.blogspot.com/.
He who does not love remains in death.
There are those who fear commitment for fear of loss. They fear the other will either leave them, or be lost in death, so they remain aloof from any possible relationship. Some put on a facade of indifference, for fear of rejection, depriving themselves of any possible happiness. In fear of possible loss, they become the ultimate losers, for the happiness that comes in a committed relationship, evades them. If they don't love another, they need not fear losing that love. Some, having lost a loved one, fearing a repeat of that loss, and guard against further commitments. It is safe to keep themselves at a distance from others, for in doing so they think they will not suffer loss in the future.
When you refuse to be vulnerable by giving yourself over to a committed relationship, you deprive yourself of one of the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be human. When you fear loss, you are hard pressed to live a life of courage, for it is in living with courage that we are able to fully participate in life, and become fully human.
Grieving the loss of a relationship, either by death or breakup, is just as important to the maturation of our heart, as having a long term relationship, for in grieving we allow ourselves to stay connected to others, and remain openhearted to what God has for us. If fear of loss disables us, we may not be able to risk having anything that really matters to us, for by throwing courage to the side, we deprive ourselves of the touch and the intimacy that helps us open our hearts to all that God has in store for us.
Grieving is the way you can heal from loss, and, in turn, be open to relationships that can make your life more complete, and more fulfilled. Many people do not allow themselves to grieve, so they deprive themselves of relationships that can lead to spiritual growth that only comes through suffering loss. You grow stronger if you allow yourself to grieve when you've experienced loss, for grieving is one of the most fundamental of life skills. It is the way that the heart can heal from loss and go on to love again and grow wise. If we refuse to love another, for fear of loss, we remain closed off from not only others, but from God. "He who does not love remains in death (1 John 3:14)."
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
I found this post thought-provoking and hope to have a response posted today or tomorrow.
Until next time,
~Staci~
He who does not love remains in death.
There are those who fear commitment for fear of loss. They fear the other will either leave them, or be lost in death, so they remain aloof from any possible relationship. Some put on a facade of indifference, for fear of rejection, depriving themselves of any possible happiness. In fear of possible loss, they become the ultimate losers, for the happiness that comes in a committed relationship, evades them. If they don't love another, they need not fear losing that love. Some, having lost a loved one, fearing a repeat of that loss, and guard against further commitments. It is safe to keep themselves at a distance from others, for in doing so they think they will not suffer loss in the future.
When you refuse to be vulnerable by giving yourself over to a committed relationship, you deprive yourself of one of the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be human. When you fear loss, you are hard pressed to live a life of courage, for it is in living with courage that we are able to fully participate in life, and become fully human.
Grieving the loss of a relationship, either by death or breakup, is just as important to the maturation of our heart, as having a long term relationship, for in grieving we allow ourselves to stay connected to others, and remain openhearted to what God has for us. If fear of loss disables us, we may not be able to risk having anything that really matters to us, for by throwing courage to the side, we deprive ourselves of the touch and the intimacy that helps us open our hearts to all that God has in store for us.
Grieving is the way you can heal from loss, and, in turn, be open to relationships that can make your life more complete, and more fulfilled. Many people do not allow themselves to grieve, so they deprive themselves of relationships that can lead to spiritual growth that only comes through suffering loss. You grow stronger if you allow yourself to grieve when you've experienced loss, for grieving is one of the most fundamental of life skills. It is the way that the heart can heal from loss and go on to love again and grow wise. If we refuse to love another, for fear of loss, we remain closed off from not only others, but from God. "He who does not love remains in death (1 John 3:14)."
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
I found this post thought-provoking and hope to have a response posted today or tomorrow.
Until next time,
~Staci~
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