Thankful Tuesdays!

This tuesday I am thankful for Health Care.  In the past week both Gary and I have been to the ER(me) and Urgent Care(Gary.)

Last wednesday morning I awoke with severe pains in my stomach.  I called in sick to work, and stayed home, in pain resting in bed.  I had acute pain, diarrhea, and felt like I had been hit by a truck.  I was able to keep down some toast, but other than tea or ginger ale, I ate or drank nothing else.  Thursday morning I was feeling better and so I decided I would go to work for my 2:30 to 11 shift.  Following my lunch break, at 7:30pm the pains were so intense.  By my last break at 9pm, I was almost in tears, I had such shooting pains in my stomach.  I spoke with my supervisor, and told them I had asked Gary to come get me and take me to the hospital.  I didn't know if I was having appendicitis, or if I had torn something in my stomach.  Gary arrived and took me to the hospital ER.  We arrived there about 9:45pm.  After checking in with the triage nurse, who took my BP, temp, and basic stats, then sent us to register.  We were then sent to wait in the waiting room.
At about 10:15 a nurse called me and took several vials of blood for blood tests, and asked me for a urine sample.  The nurse said this would speed the diagnosis for the doctor, as the results would be back by the time we saw the doctor.  Then we headed back to the waiting room.
Just after 11:30 we were called into a room, and told the doctor would be in to see me.  I was asked to put on a hospital gown, and wait for the doc.   It was freezing in the cubicle I was placed in.
The doctor arrived spoke with me, examined me, having seen the results of the blood/urine tests, told me he had arrived at a diagnosis: Gastroenteritis!
What is Gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis (also known as gastric flu, stomach flu, and stomach virus, although unrelated to influenza) is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in acute diarrhea and vomiting. It can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water. The inflammation is caused most often^{[citation needed]} by an infection from certain viruses or less often^{[citation needed]} by bacteria, their toxins (e.g. SEB), parasites, or an adverse reaction to something in the diet or medication.
He immediately put me on an IV as I was dehydrated from the diarrhea, and IV antibiotics to reduce the swelling and another to subside the spasms of the stomach.  After the IV ran through, he released me, with a prescription to take to the pharmacy the next day.  It was 3:30 am.

I went back to work on Suday afternoon for a 4 hour shift.

Sunday evening, Gary had purchased a (used) 5 cd tray player at goodwill, as the one we had previously purchased at a yard sale, had died.  So I set about installing this new player, and Gary helping me, was on his knees and fell backwards, and bent the nail on his big toe right back.  It was almost completely off. It was bleeding quite heavily, so I cleaned and wrapped it in gauze and told Gary we needed to go to urgent care to have it taken care of. 

We arrived just after 7pm and were seen within 20 minutes.  The doctor, suggested strongly to remove the nail completely as it was barely attached and it would be extremely painful if it came off on its own.  So with a huge vial of freezing shot into 4 different areas of his big toe, and the doctor carefully pulling and then using a scapel to disconnect the nail from the skin and nail bed, the toe nail was removed.  They then cleaned the entire toe with antibacterial cleanser, and bandaged it, gave Gary some pain meds, and antibiotics, along with a prescription and sent us on our way.  Entire time: 1 hour 5 minutes. 

So within 3 days, both of us had "minor" emergencies that were taken care of by our wonderful health care system.  I am so thankful for our doctors, and nurses.  God Bless you all!

Kitty

Thankful Tuesdays!

  As the weather turns cooler, and leaves begin to change colours, we all start thinking of snow and the upcoming Christmas Season.  I am so grateful that I have a roof over my head, food to eat and family with which I can share the upcoming season. 

  I am one of the lucky ones, there are many right here at home, who will be alone, hungry, or have no gifts under the tree.  This year I want to challenge you all to do something, however small,  for someone else.
 
  What are you good at?  Take that skill and help someone less fortunate.  We all are able to do something for others.  It doesn't have to cost any money or take a  lot of your time.  It just needs to be from the heart,  sincere and it will be appreciated so much more than you would imagine. 

  I am filling a few boxes for Operation Christmas Child starting with making some teddy bears to put in them.

Some bears I have previously created. 

  First of 3 bears for Operation Christmas Child  in progress.

Completed Bear! ( #1 of 3 for Operation Christmas Child )

  You can bake some cookies and take them to a neighbour, a senior's home, or a home for disable adults/children.  You can volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate to a food bank/drive, pick an angel from the angel tree and buy that child a gift, donate to the local Salvation Army (who does amazing stuff for those less fortunate year round) shovel your elder neighbour's sidewalks, offer to shop for them, or just spend an hour with them.  Or you can do like Gary and I, and donate to a charity that helps in another country.  There are so many ways you can make this years Christmas season a brighter one for someone in need. 

  Share your ideas and tell me what you are planning to do, for others this Season.

Kitty

Thankful Tuesdays!

Have you ever wondered why God made flowers?   

 Sure they are pretty... and we love looking at them, but why are they here? 

God made flowers to make us happy.  Nothing else has as many jobs as a little flower. We use them to make medicines; we use them to make teas, to decorate our homes, to decorate our foods. 

Flowers can say:

“I love you”, “I’m sorry” “Please forgive me” “You’re wonderful” “Feel Better” “Bon Voyage”

“Farewell”  “Our Sympathies”  “Happy Birthday”  “Happy Mother’s Day”  “Congratulations”

“Merry Christmas”  And so many other emotions, are all covered, by simply giving flowers.

Flowers are universal.  They come in all shapes, sizes, and colours and grow everywhere.

Every race, uses flowers in one form or another. Even Animals love the flowers.

Flowers grow all over the world, in every climate.  

Poets speak of flowers in every language. 

Perhaps Flowers will be the catalyst that brings this world together in PEACE.

Thankful Tuesdays!

    In my last "Thankful Tuesday" post, I spoke of a miracle that God had for me.  This week, I want to relay a little bit of what happened yesterday, Monday Aug 8, a miracle for a stranger.

   I went in to a small variety store, to pick up a few items, and in the process found a wallet.  Although this wallet did not contain a lot of money, it did hold a few ID items, and a few personal items, and I knew that the person who had lost it, would appreciate it being returned. 
   Usually when you find something like that, you would think to turn it into the store owner.  My immediate feeling was to NOT give it to the shopkeeper, for whatever reason, but rather, return it to the owner personally.  Upon returning to the car, I told Gary of what I had found, and set about looking through the wallet, to find a phone number or an address of the owner.  We found an address, and wrote a brief note, in case the person was not home.  We drove to the address and sure enough no one was home, so I left the note in between the doors, and Gary and I headed home.
   We had not been home for more than 15 or 20 minutes and the owner contacted us.  Through our phone conversation, we discovered she was also a Christian, and was thrilled to know that her wallet had been located and was intact.  We offered to drive to her home to bring the wallet to her.
   In meeting her, we hugged, and sat on her porch to chat.  We had a good chat, and she kept saying it was wonderful how God had brought us into her life.  And her into ours!

  Now for the Miracle part.... she lost her wallet on or about JUNE 6th.... and we found it on August 8.  It was MEANT for us to find it, and to connect with her.  God wanted us to meet.   Imagine if you will, how many people had been through that particular store, and no one had found it.... or if they did see it, did nothing to return it. It was simply divine intervention. 

  God works in mysterious ways.  I don't know why God wanted us to meet her...YET... but I am sure his reason is a valid one.  Perhaps she will help us.... or we will help her.  Either way... God wanted us to met, and so we trust he will lead us  all down the path he wants us to walk.

Thankful Tuesdays!

THE EMPIRE SANDY

    The Empire Sandy was one of 1,464 Empire ships built or acquired for war service by the British Government.^[1] Built in England in 1943 as a deep sea tugboat,^[1] she was tasked with Royal Navy work and salvaging merchant ships damaged in the Battle of the Atlantic and other naval engagements during the Second World War. She served in the North Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Sierra Leone, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal during World War II.
In 1948 she was bare-boat chartered by Risdon Beazley who renamed her Ashford,^[1] together with their Bustler class tug Twyford Ashford entered the rescue towage market.^[2] Ashford was handed back to the Admialty in 1952. She was then sold to a Canadian firm, Great Lakes Paper Company, renamed Chris M^[1] (after Chris Michels, a senior employee of Great Lakes Paper) and came to the Canadian Great Lakes where she spent fifteen years towing timber rafts for Lake Superior logging companies. In the early 1970s the aged ship was to be sold for scrap, but the steel hull was still in very good condition and she was bought by Nautical Adventures Co. for a possible conversion. They completely rebuilt the Chris M as a three masted schooner in the style of the 1880s and she assumed her original name the Empire Sandy .
    Empire Sandy began serving the Great Lakes as a tall ship in 1982 based in Toronto, Canada. The 200-foot (61 m) long schooner offers sailings for the public, chartered tours, including weddings and other events, on Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and along the St. Lawrence Seaway. Licensed by Transport Canada to carry 275 passengers, she is Canada's largest schooner. Visitors are usually welcome onboard during the day.
Empire Sandy is believed to be the last Empire ship built during World War II to be still sailing. She began serving the Great Lakes as a cruise ship in 1982, and continues to this day.
(Wikipedia)


   Yesterday Aug 1st, 2011 Gary and I took our 3rd cruise, upon the tall ship (schooner) "Empire Sandy" at Canal Days.  It is a 2 hour cruise, on Lake Erie, and is a wonderful experience.  The first time we rode on the ship, in 2008, we spoke with the Captain, and learned a little of her history.  The (female) captain, was a little more detailed in her information than the above prargraphs pulled from Wikipedia, and I would like to share that with you.  The "Empire Sandy" was present as a tugboat, at the Normandy Beach campaign in a support role. 

   Some of you know that I am of Dutch Heritage.  My Grandfather "Opa Joost Ruitenschild"  was a Luitenant ter Zee 1ste klasse or a Luitenant Commander in the Royal Dutch Navy.   I never met my Grandfather, he was killed in a car accident, while travelling home from Amsterdam 2 days after the war ended.  My Mother was 10 Years old when he passed.  His history was passed along to us, via our grandmother(Oma Kitty) and my mother, for we all knew of "Opa Joost" and his involvement with the Normandy campaign. 

Kitty and Joost Ruitenschild on their wedding day.

    Opa Joost was asked to orchestrate the Normandy Campaign, as he knew the waters in that area better than anyone.  The "Empire Sandy" as a tugboat, was present at this campaign in a support role, I know that the possibility that he stood on the deck of her, is extremely likely.
So... each time I stand on deck of that ship I am standing in a complete circle of history... not only public history.. but personal family history.  I feel so close to my Opa Joost, when aboard this tall ship.

It is amazing how something that happened across the ocean from me, before I was even born, has come now to fulfil the circle of life, for me and my desire to know more of my grandfather's story. 

Isn't God amazing?  He knew I would appreciate this connection and he made it happen for me, without my even knowing it was happening.  God works miracles everyday and we are completely unaware when and where they will happen. 

Thank you God for this miracle in my life.   

Thankful Tuesdays!

Last Tuesday,  I was thankful for friends,  today I am thankful for  LOVE  from the best friend one could ever have.  That friend is Jesus!

In the book, “Carolina Mist” by Mariah Stewart, one of the characters says to the main heroine:

“When you get right down to it, Love is all there is.  Everything else –Money, property, material possessions, -- can vanish in the blink of an eye.  But Love is always inside you.  It will always be with you.  No one can steal it from you or rob you of its joys.  No amount of money can buy it for you, nor can it be sold on the open market.  It cannot be swept away by flood or lost to fire.  It is totally portable, costs nothing, but outlasts everything else you will ever possess. There is nothing else that is yours, than cannot be taken away from you, except your memories, of course.  Even death is powerless in the face of love.  And if you do not understand these basics of truths, then I greatly fear for your future, and pray for your soul.”

Mother Thersa’s wrote:

Who Jesus is to me?

Jesus is the Word, to be spoken.

Jesus is the Truth, to be told.

Jesus is the Way, to be walked.

Jesus is the Light, to be lit.

Jesus is the Life, to be lived.

Jesus is the Love, to be loved.

Jesus is the Joy, to be shared.

Jesus is the Sacrifice, to be offered.

Jesus is the peace, to be given.

Jesus is the Hungry, to be fed.

Jesus is the Thirsty, to be satiated.

Jesus is the Naked, to be clothed.

Jesus is the sick, to be healed.

Jesus is the Lonely, to be loved.

I am so grateful that Jesus Loves ME!  Yes ME!  With all my faults and shortcomings, I am perfect, for I am created in his image, and with a Friend like him beside me, guiding my vessel, I can sail through this life, knowing I am as good as I can be.  

He  Loves YOU also.  With a Love that is all encompassing and all forgiving. 

Thankful Tuesdays!

   On this Thankful Tuesday, I am grateful for friends.  Friends who are there for you through thick and thin, friends who teach you something, who are willing to give you "the shirt off thier backs"  if you need it more than them.
   We have a friend who lives in a (nursing/retirement) home, in another city and is challenged.  Gary has known him for over 15 years.  He is 65 years old and has a limited mentality capacity.  He has lost his mother, his father, and just recently a brother.  Yet his attitude is happy, and he takes such pleasure in all the simple things.  A bottle of pop, a good meal, an ice cream on a stick, watching a squirrel eat a peanut, or a visit from us.  He sits outside, in the rain, the cold, or the heat, on the day he knows we will be there, waiting for us.  He looks forward to our visits. We visit him, and each time, we give him a few dollars to buy a pepsi, or a coke, and he is always so grateful.   His own brother rarely visits him.  
   This man has taught us so much.  He has no idea how he has touched our hearts, he simply knows us as "his friends" no strings attached.
   One never knows who will teach them something.  There is something that can be learned in every situation.
   We are at Jesus' disposal.  If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim his word in the street, that's all right, everything is all right.  We must say, "I belong to you LORD, you can do with me, whatever YOU will"  This is the strength and this is the JOY of the Lord.