Goodbye, Granddad.

It seems that there must come a time in everyone's life for their loved one's to begin departing from them. Thus, leaving us deprived of all but the memories they left behind. I knew my mom's dad wasn't in the best of health. He'd been residing in Mexico for the past two years because there were some promising or at least comforting alternative medical treatments for his ailments. At first he and his wife would return from the warm, balmy region with stories of how lovely it is down in Mexico where they were staying. They'd try to lure us down for a visit. Then it was just my grandpa's wife who'd come up; the trip was too difficult for my granddad. I suppose I knew at this point that he wasn't going to be around forever but I was very hopeful he'd hold out a bit longer.

Grandpa and his wife had offered to fly my brother and I down to visit. I should have gone. It was all the silly little life things that prevented me. Needed to work, wanting to wait till I had enough money, waiting to get a passport, waiting till I could travel with someone because of my fear of traveling alone. All these little things.....

And so I heard of my grandpa's death this past month with great sadness. He was gone and I'd never be able to hear his laugh again, have a conversation with him again, or scroll through his many photos with him again. My heart is sad at his going.

I learned many things from him. In one large sense, I learned what NOT to do, since he left his wife and children to pursue his own selfish interests. But when he came back into his kid's lives I was about 14. Young enough to still have a lot of love for someone just because their name was "grandpa", in spite of them not having been a grandpa in my childhood years.

He taught me photography lessons, like how to organize files of pictures so I could find them later. He taught me how to take pictures in different ways and encouraged my creative talents. He payed for piano lessons in high school. He gifted me with his impressive Canon Mark II 5D when it became too heavy for him to lug around. I remember my amazement that he would give such an expensive gift to me and driving around in my cheap Honda taking photos of the countryside with the realization that the camera was worth way more than my car and I had no business driving it around in such a vessel. I think my granddad had hopes I would go on to college and become something splendid. Yet, in spite of the fact that I never went on to college and haven't really developed any one particular skill beyond amateur level he still loved me and encouraged me and thought the world of me. Or at least that's the impression I always got from him.

He'd always point out that we were fellow Aquarians and I suppose this was a bonding point. Then later when I became interested in learning about personality I discovered that he was an INFP and I was an ENFP.... which also made us pretty similar and was another bonding point. When I first was getting to know granddad and still new nothing about myself he sized me up one time. He said, "Mary Ellen, I can tell you hold your cards close". It made me feel a little uncomfortable that he had me figured out that easily.... because I've always been the type that has trouble opening up my most deep parts of myself. I'm extraordinary friendly and jovial with everyone and I make friends easily. I'm good at drawing other people out, but I suppose half of that is done so that I don't have to open up about myself. So after that statement I always felt my grandpa understood me.

It was sad that family relations were strained because he left them to fend for themselves when his children were still quite young. In fact my mom was 14 when he left. The same age I was when he came back. I wonder what life would have been like had he stayed. Yet, I'll choose to learn from the lessons he left behind and be thankful for the good things and memories he made with me.

Oh, one more thing. Calling someone "grandpa" always felt the most natural to me although there are many variations of the term out there. However, he always addressed himself as "Granddad" and so I finally adopted the term for him and it'll always have a more special meaning.

CNA

Last Thursday I woke up bright and early to go take the CNA state exam. It was nice to wake up and watch the sun rise on my drive. My body is still used to waking up in the early morning, so even though I've been getting up at 8:30 most mornings, 6:30 felt strangely refreshing. I was fortunate enough to take the test with most of my classmates, and to make it more amusing my friend Tony was my partner during the skills test. It was funny as we'd spent our lunches together in the facility cafeteria during our month of class, when all the other classmates went out for lunch. We had some great conversations during those 30 minute lunch breaks. He was a nice guy and I always encouraged him in his life endeavors. We were able to talk about God and Christianity. He was open to the topic. He was also just out of an 8 year relationship and wanted to be with somebody who was committed. He'd tell me stories during the month of going to the bar with friends and meeting a really nice girl only for her to not want to reconnect later. I told him to be patient and a really nice girl would come along without him having to go to the bar to find her. Well sure enough while we were all waiting for our turn this past Thursday he was telling us excitedly about this really nice girl who'd come in to the gym he worked at. They hit it off right away and they're in a relationship now. She's a Christian and he's changing his work schedule so he can go to church with her. It was wonderful to hear him happily talk about this wonderful gal he'd met. Patience pays off.

I did pass both the written exam and the skills test! Quite exciting. I went in expecting not to pass. I didn't feel I had prepared and studied enough, and the test is so picky where if you do one thing wrong you could be failed. You have to perfectly perform 5 out of 5 skills. I had to do Hand Washing, Dressing a Client with an Affected Right Arm, Denture Care, Recording Urinary Output, and Female Peri-care (on a manikin). I almost botched the whole test on the 2nd skill. I started dressing the resident (a.k.a Tony) with the wrong arm first. The examiner loudly hinted, "You're dressing the client with the affected RIGHT arm." ...and I didn't get the hint so she suggested again, "...the affected RIGHT arm!" *whew*!!! Then I realized!!! Yikes. During the skills test you're allowed to correct an error as long as you state what the correction should be and when you should have done it BEFORE the skill is complete. I lucked out.... and completed all of my other skills appropriately. Only one of my classmates didn't pass and that was because she had to count and record someone's pulse. That's one of the hardest skills of all, and she new she'd gotten off count but didn't specify a restart. What a bummer! We all felt her pain because not one of us desired to get that skills.

Anyways, I was also out of there and done with the exam by 12:30pm..... and they'd said it could last till 5pm. So it was like having a day off. Celebration!!
Now I'm an official Certified Nursing Assistant. I still have a long way to go in learning how to work in the LTC environment and be the most efficient and supportive employee I can be. It's a challenge and occupation that I'm enjoying so far. My time is spent helping people that can't get by without assistance. I feel like it's a ministry of sorts and caring for the disabled, needy and elderly is something God expects of all of us in some capacity or another. 

Psalm 71:9, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."

Leviticus 19:32, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD."

Galatians 5:14, " For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

New Beginnings

It seems like so much change has happened in such a short time. This year has been turbulent but not in an unpleasant way. Starting a new relationship, quitting a job, watching a new marriage beginning, starting a new job, working on old goals, beginning some new plans for the future. It's a wild year. Last year felt really routine and like not much changed so I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that this year is full of growth spurts.

Working in long term care has been a neat experience. At times it's just as fast paced as working in the barn. Instead of 6 milkers ready to switch at once it's 6 call lights going off at once. I'm enjoying the challenge. The first few days of work were a bit stressful... not because it was hard but because I wasn't allowed to do anything. Because I haven't taken my state exam there was some miscommunication about my ability to work so the other CNA's would have me just shadow them. Quite literally. All I could do was stand around and watch while they worked. To make it worse there seems to be a shortage of employees and the demands of the facility are growing so my help was clearly needed. Luckily I talked to the DON and learned that I was actually able to work legally, provided I'm working 40 hours a week. I'm glad for this because when I'm at work I've been taught you work and work hard. So now it's a matter of learning the system and the order of things at this home. It's like juggling because I must learn each resident's individual personalities and needs, learn each co-worker's individual personality and work style and also balance this with the rules and order of the work place. So far I'm enjoying it quite a bit in spite of the learning curve.

It's gratifying work though, and so many of the residents will thank you profusely when you've done them the simplest favor. Last night I helped one lady find her room and pajamas. She's fairly independent but slightly confused and she said she'd really enjoy a glass of milk. Well that's exactly the thing to ask a milkmaid like myself, and how could you refuse a gal a glass of milk? So I got her one and she was so overjoyed she hugged me! It was so very sweet.

The day is almost half over already and I still have yet to shower. Working PM's is a rough change from waking up at 5:30 and going to bed at 9:30. My body is still waking up at 6:30 even though I'm going to bed at 11:30 most nights. I suppose it will all become more natural the longer I work this shift.  Anyway, I'm off to do something productive.

Channing & Rachel's Wedding

As it happens, this past Saturday my little brother (though not so little anymore) was married to the sweetest gal he could have possibly found. The weather had been sunny and 60 degrees for days and then the day before their wedding we had a big blizzard. Go figure. It did make travel a bit trickier, especially since the bride and her family are 3 hours away and so was the wedding. Nevertheless, this weather didn't prevent the wedding.

It was a beautiful, joyous, God-centered occasion. Here are a few pictures.... if you click on them I promise they'll look more normal.

Last Day of Class

The 15 days of CNA class are already coming to an end. Today is the last class and actually it's more of a State Exam practice round, or a "mock exam", to help us students prepare for the big test. On Tuesday we had a Final Exam for the actually class. It was a written exam and a whole lot easier than I'd imagined. Everyone in the class passed and so we'll each be moving on to the new chapters we'd hope to open in our lives. It's pretty cool because it's a group of 7 students, myself included, and we've all gotten along so wonderfully that we're more a group of friends than we are a bunch of people dutifully rolling through the motions. Our instructor is wonderful. Her name is Bobby and she can be both wise and professional, yet at the same time, fun and flexible. We've all fallen in love with her, and it's evident that everyone else in that healthcare facility loves her, too, so we're very privileged to have such a great instructor. All of us classmates decided to pitch in and get her a gift and a card to show our gratitude. It's incredible, the people you meet at the most random times and the friends you make in the process.

I made a batch of cupcakes as practice for Channing and Rachel's wedding. I'm supposed to make 130 total so I made a little batch of 21 cupcakes, frosted and decorated them. I'm going to take them to class with me for all of my CNA friends. It's been a good experience.

Well, I'd better run or I'll be late for class! Adios.

Two Weeks Notice

In the course of a month the my little world has turned and twisted down new roads and towards new goals. As you know, on the first of the month, Jeff and I started courting. Then during the middle of the month I put in my two weeks notice at my job. I'd almost quit a month before and the boss talked me into staying, but the split shifts, near 100 miles of driving a day and 2 hour commute had started taking it's toll. After a year and 3 months, and lots of experiences and lessons learn, I was facing vehicle issues that were so bad I wasn't sure if I'd make it to work. So quit instead of get fired seemed like a wise idea. With the added bonus that it was time to try a different career besides milking cows and put a different skill on my resume. The day after I put in my TWN I found a car on Craigslist, was able to pay for it in cash (a new experience for me... and exciting to try doing things the "Dave Ramsey way).

Now I'm about to head off for the first day of CNA class. I've been offered a job as a CNA, provided I pass the class. I have a lot of work cut out for myself but I'm excited for this new adventure and I know God will give me the strength, courage and brains to tackle this changing world I face.

Hope you all are having a blessed Monday. Let's keep God in the forefront of our thoughts week!

A Very Extraordinary New Year

It's a brand new year! Although it's an ordinary year in that there have been many years before it and there will be many years that follow it, it is unique because of the events that occur within it. 

For myself it is an extraordinary year because on the very first day of the very first month of this new calendar a wonderful man changed my relationship status from 'single' to 'in a courtship'. His name is Jeff and it's been quite a blessing getting to know him.

We changed our Facebook statuses. It now says that we're "In a relationship", but Facebook doesn't have a courtship option. The only other option that would even come close other than "In a relationship" would be "It's complicated". Perhaps, "It's complicated" would be the most accurate of them all, but it sounds too negative and therefore doesn't fit. Because there's nothing negative about this relationship. 

 *isn't his smile contagious?!*

There ARE a lot of challenges... but none that are the worrisome kind. Mostly challenges that have to do with him being from Canada and how far apart we are from each other. Oh, a long distance relationship is quite interesting. Dating a foreigner comes with a few road blocks... like visas, passports, immigration, paperwork, and enough laws and regulations to make your head spin. No just hanging out in our time off, meeting up on the weekends or taking things casually. Yet, these are merely challenges for us to work through that will only make us grow stronger together. 100,000 miles of distance wouldn't make me change my mind about this guy. 

  *you'll have to forgive our chill phone camera photos,
but we're both pretty chill kids so I guess it fits*

To be honest, I'd given up hope that there were any guys left in this world that would be willing to go the extra mile and go through the courtship process. I certainly didn't think that when I sat down at a table next to two Canadian fellows at an organic conference last February I'd be in a relationship with one almost a year later. And I was quite prepared to be one of those 40-and-still-single gals, clinging to her ideals and faith. I wouldn't have made a very good 40-and-single lady though, haha! I think God works these things out in His perfect timing. I feel very blessed that Jeff not only met my expectations but has exceeded them in so many ways! I could dedictate a whole blog post (or a ton) to the many ways he's not only fulfilled my dreams but continues to soar above my wildest wishes. And no, I am not exaggerating (yes, I can read your mind. haha!).

Anyway, without sounding too cliche, he really does inspire me to be a better woman. I can't wait to see where this journey leads.... but I think it's going to be a really, really long journey. This is our hope at least. You know, the "until death..." kind of journey. 

Happy 2017, Everyone! May we grow more each day in our understanding of God's goodness and grace.