Who Do You Turn To?

I know, it has been far too long and it breaks my heart I have not been able to keep up with this blog.  It was off to such a great start and then nothing.  Everything I have tried, to keep things going, just didn't seem to work.  It has caused me to come to some realizations about my time.  Well, the lack thereof really.  Work has consumed all of me and I am trying to figure out how to change that.  For starters, I planned a surprise getaway for my husband over the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Where you might ask, well as the title foretold, Savannah, Georgia.  We left on Wednesday morning and did not return until Saturday afternoon.  Steve had no idea, at least he says he didn't, until we were on the road.  I think the giveaway was due north and a 4.5 hour trip.  The moment I said "Four and a half hours" he responded with "Savannah".  That's ok though, I managed to keep it under wraps for several weeks.  To my surprise, he h...

Yesterday my husband preached a sermon on temptation.  It was the first sermon I have heard him give at Church @ The Lake.  I am usually spending my Sundays in the children area.  This week we did not have a room available for the kids and so everyone stayed in the sanctuary.  It was exciting to see my husband's comfort level has improved a lot since we came here.  I was able to take notes and wanted to share some of it with you. The most important concept is this: " Temptation does not come from God," it is not in His nature.   Temptation is solely of man.    We are a passion driven people.  We also need to understand if we desire something long enough, chances are we will fall.  By fall, I mean we will sin. There are three phases of temptation.  The first is the "conception of sin via temptation." At this point we haven't actually sinned yet.  The second, is the "birth of sin."   This is where we actually commit the ...

So I am going to try something new to get my blog back on track.  I have discovered I can write posts from my iPhone.  It is a bit cumbersome as the keyboard is obviously small and I will be typing with  two thumbs instead of ten fingers, but there are some advantages.  It is highly portable!  I can take a few moments throughout the day to compile my thoughts and save them in a draft which can be posted at any time.  I have been waiting until I get home and by then there are too many other things which need to be done or quite frankly I am just too exhausted.  So bear with me as I try to get the creative writing juices flowing again.... The past two weeks have been full.  I started rounding at the hospital with one of my doctors and I love it.  Unfortunately, it requires that I be up earlier than before.  I now leave the house around 6:40 am.  I race to the hospital, work up all the charts before she gets there and then we see the...

I want to introduce you to Baby Lily.   Lily and her feeding tube, oh and her head garnish! This is the newest member of the Weeks family.  Lily was born about two weeks ago with a birth defect.  Her parents were told part way through the pregnancy that Lily had "D transposition of the great arteries".  In layman's terms, this means the two major blood vessels in her heart had not developed properly.  Without surgery shortly after birth, Lily would not survive. Lily's parents, James and Tobi, are devoted Christians.  After a few days of adjustment, they began telling key people about the situation and the prayers went up to the Lord.  As more people were made aware, more prayers went up.  As the pregnancy progressed and they made trips to UVA to meet the teams, more prayers went up.  When Tobi went into labor, more prayers went up. About a week after her birth, Lily underwent open heart surgery.  She did very well, b...

Currently, I am sitting in the recliner chair with the laptop and my husband is watching the season premier of "Person of Interest" - ON THE TV.  Yes, you read it right, we have cable TV in the RV.  The conference center is in the process of providing cable to all the existing RV sites on the campus. We were the first to receive it, today.  The television I got home from work today with two gentlemen here wiring things up.  As I watched on, I had very mixed emotions about having television back in our "home".  I know that in the past, we have had a terrible tendency to watch a lot of TV.  Over the past three months, we have only seen what we chose on Netflix.  Honestly, it has been good.  We picked something we really wanted to see, watched it together and then turned it off.  There has been no wasting of time, randomly scanning channels and settling on something that really was of no interest. There are four TV shows that we re...

Time is quickly stolen away as I realize it has been ten days since I last put my thoughts into a posting.  My weekdays are consumed with work and I am so mentally exhausted at the end of the 10-12 hours, I cannot think of anything except doing nothing.  The weekends are a dash of running errands, church activities and trying to cram time in with family and friends.  When I woke this morning, I could not believe Saturday and Sunday had already come to a close.  This morning actually consisted of my husband waking me at eight minutes after seven.  For a point of reference, I usually leave the house at 7:05 am each day.  That should give you a quick understanding of how my Monday started with a bang.  Before I could get to the car, one of my employees was calling to tell me she would be out sick today.  I tried to force my brain into action as I reviewed what else was going on today.  It had already escaped my memory that I had one employee c...

My parents were a part of the Diplomatic Service for many years.  We were stationed at the American Embassies in Zambia, Liberia, Ghana, Tanzania and Iraq.  During this time, we became a part of a small community, a mini-America if you will, within these countries.  When I think back on this time, I fondly remember the men and women we served with, including the Ambassadors who led these posts. On Tuesday, when one of my patients mentioned in passing about the attack on the American Embassy in Libya, my heart sank as she told me four Americans had lost their lives.  As we do not have TV or read the newspapers, we see very little news unless we specifically go looking of it.  I asked, "It wasn't the Ambassador that was killed was it?"  To which my patient quickly responded, "Yes it was!"  Memories and experiences quickly flooded my mind and my heart began to hurt. Ambassador Chris Stevens When I arrived home that evening, my husband had his Fac...

Recently I was sent a "chain letter" of sorts.  I do not typically ever forward these, but this one was from my very close friend.  When I looked at the topic, I thought to myself, "I could us this myself" so I decided to take part.  It was entitled "an encouraging word".  You had to copy the letter into a new message and send to 10 of your friends with the instructions to send an encouraging verse to the person who had sent you the letter.  I knew my friend who sent it could really use some uplifting and positive scripture so I did as it asked.  Before long, I was getting responses from the people I had forwarded the email to.  Even one friend said, "I don't participate in chain letters, but here is an encouraging word for you." I wanted to share some the scripture verses I have received.  My hope is that they might encourage you in some way as well.  I have chosen to keep them in my email for those times when I may be struggling and nee...

We are all familiar with the childhood fairy tale of the the Three Little Pigs.  One built a house of straw which was quickly destroyed by a wolf.  The second built a house of wood as he saw how easily his brother's house was destroyed and yet, the wolf was able to tear down this house as well.  The third built his house of brick which was able to withstand the powers of the wolf.  What is your "house" made of? This concept of building upon a solid foundation is in my thoughts.  Recently, a tropical storm threatened Florida and we wondered if our camper would stand up again the winds and rain.  So, we made plans to be somewhere else in case the weather was too severe.  At my job, changes are being made to give us an effective base on which to build the practice.  Today, I talked to my boss about building not on sand, but on stone.  As I was trying to get my point across, she wrote on the dry erase board "foundation"...

So, Sunday, Steve and I went to my mom's to gather some belongings we had left behind due to space issues in the little camper.  As we were preparing to go, my mom and I heard a "bark" from the back yard.  It was oddly similar to the Raptor call in Jurassic Park.  I went around the back of the house and my mom went onto the screen porch.  We found three sandhill cranes in her back yard.  It appeared to be a father, mother and a baby. Florida sandhill cranes! We called Steve and my Dad to come take a look.  My Dad is very fond of the sandhill cranes and immediately took up a perch on the wicher sofa to watch.  My mom grabbed a handful of bird seed and tossed it out.  As they came closer, she filled her hand again and the "father" began to eat right out it.  The three of them danced around the yard pecking at the seed on the ground.  We weren't sure if they were teaching the little one or fighting over it, but they would jump u...

We moved into the "big"RV on Saturday.  It took us all day, but we did it.  The place is huge in comparison to the other.  We cannot tell you how grateful we are for the generosity of the Florida Diaster Relief group who has supplied us with housing. Outside porch! This morning I went outside and straightened up all around the porch.  I swept everything off, gathered a small trash pile, arrranged our furniture, hung the patio lights and the wind chime all the while, Ike was looking on from his tent.  There is already some really beautiful plants surrounding the area.  There is a small hanging garden under the tree with multiple things growing, an enormous potted fern and my little pink flowers all dressing up the place.    On the inside, the kitchen is awesome.  I have enough counter space to prep, cook and clean.  There is a double sink, microwave, stove, oven and even a side by side refridgerator.  I think I need to go...

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary.  It is hard to believe it has been that many years already.  At this time ten years ago, my bridesmaids and myself were sound asleep at a small bed and breakfast.  My best friend and Matron of Honor, Laura, was newly pregnant with her son Carter.  My bridesmaid, Terry, was the person who brought me to know the Lord.  The soon to be husband and his two groomsmen ( the boys) were also sound asleep in our soon to be home. The wedding was very small, just family and the bridal party.  I think in total there were 24 people.  We had done most of the decorating ourselves (by that I mean the girls).  I had made the colossal mistake of getting a perm just a few days before the big day.  I could barely do a thing with my hair and ended up having to use a beaded headband to contain the curls.  We each had to do our own make-up and hair.  The bridesmaid's dresses were April Cornell off the rack.  Th...

The rain has started to fall from Tropical Storm Issac.  It isn't a heavy rain, but a steady falling.  We awoke this morning, hearing what we thought was dripping inside the camper.  Steve was up, flipping various lights off and on and finding no drip.  It is very deceiving because every raindrop sounds like it might be on the inside versus the outside.  When I went in to get ready for work, I realized there is one drip coming from the "skylight" over the bathtub.  Small mercies that it is falling into the tub instead of onto one of Steve's books or the computer. We have had a full afternoon thunderstorm fairly consistently, meaning nearly every day, for weeks now.  I don't notice it at work as much because there are no windows in the clinic.  Unless, someone opens the back door, I never see the sky.  Yesterday, as we were driving around the campus, we noticed the water level is up.  It is touching the green parts of the bank of the la...

In the healthcare world, there is a definite hierarchy.  Physicians are at the top of the "food chain" so to speak.  What follows are Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), everyone else.  The American Medical Association (AMA) has long been known as an organization with exhaustive power both in their field and in the political realm.  Why is this?  Because they band together as a group of professionals, support each other despite differences and vote unanimously together.  In the sixties, the American Nurses Association (ANA) started a directive to have all nurses be standardized to a minimum level of an Associates Degree.  Their goal was to eventually close all LPN and Diploma programs.  It is 2012 and they have been unsuccessful in completing this directive. Throughout the years, nurses have been portrayed in a poor light.  They have been the brunt of jokes, used in comic s...

Today, I was tested in my ability to practice patience.  It was the end of a very long day at work.  I needed to go to Wal-mart to pick up just a few items.  I was barely in the store 10 minutes gathering the 7 items I needed.  I pulled up to the express check-out line and waited my turn.  It appeared there may be a problem and so I scanned the other aisles looking for an alternative.  I started to turn the cart and realized there wasn't a better line and to just sit tight.  I am already slightly irritated because I see that the person in front of the person in front of me is checking out with clearly more than 20 items.  The small counter is loaded.  This is the point where I either cross the line to fully irritated or I cool my jets and wait patiently.  I pull out my phone and look at my emails.  After reading everything new and answering what I can, I move on to my texts.  I initiate 5 separate conversations with friends a...

As some of you may have been able to tell, my blog has been suffering.  This new job is taking its toll on pretty much everything.  The only glimmer of hope I have is that I live in a 27 foot camper and it takes all of 20 minutes to clean.   Everything else is in some way suffering.  The laundry, the cooking, the correspondence, the getting to know our church goers and the blog. I was speaking to one of the ladies at church last night, well complaining really, about my lack of time.  She is in the same boat.  Works all day, home late and trying to get it all done.  We talked about our husband's doing some of the cooking.  As I have mentioned, mine is willing, but I hate having to ask him.  Hers is already doing it.  The result is that we have eaten out 85-90% of our dinner meals since we moved in.  I have cooked maybe 3 dinners.  There doesn't even seem to be time to organize it for the week.  The weekend comes...

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?" Luke 16:10-12 Steve and I have seen this many times in our lives.  When we commit and give 100%, we notice we are given more.  Not just more in reward, but in responsibility, in commitment, and in time.  Although we may occasionally grumble, we give our all in nearly everything we do.  Sometimes we find ourselves so weary we may not give our absolute best, but we give as best we can at that moment. Today, I am being given more at work.  I have been on the job for 12 days.   When I took the position, I was aware of some of the responsibilities.  However, over the last two weeks, there has been an a...

So today was my birthday.  I had big plans to go to work, get out before 5pm and meet my parents at a fantastic restaurant for dinner.   When asked where I wanted to go, I requested the Goblin Market.  It was where Steve and I had our rehearsal dinner.  The food is soooooooo good.  I was looking forward all day to our 6:30 researvations.  I looked at my watch at 3:30 and realized there was no way I was going to get to pick off that menu tonight.  After texting my husband to request he reschedule, I resolved myself to the fact that I would be lucky if I got home before 7pm.  Well, small grace, I was home by 6:30.  We spent the evening eating at the New China Buffet and getting groceries.  Very glamorous birthday wouldn't you say.  My husband had a card and two gifts waiting when I arrived home.  The card is fantastic!  I love recycled things and this card is made from wire, beads and old plastic pictures.  It ...

How do you gain the respect of those around you?  How do you become a person of influence?  How do you let them know you can be trusted?  These are all questions I have been attempting to answer and then put into practice at work.  The bottom line is relationship.  You have to build a solid relationship with them in order to be effective in leadership. Currently I am spending my time at work getting to know the computer system and the flow of the clinic.  The computer has been very challenging.  It is a very "rich" system as someone said this week.  It is the most thorough charting program I have ever used.  Not only does it keep track of health information, but it schedules, faxes, bills, and a host of other items as well.  I have also had to start learning the process of coding.  This is where you pick the right diagnosis in order to get paid from the insurance companies.  The other side to that is learning the insuran...

"The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." Pro 15:33 "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." Eph 4:1 "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."PHil 2:3 "Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." Col 3:12 "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.  Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."1 Pet 5:5

This is a Harman family staple.  It is best if you make the salad a day ahead and refridgerate until ready to serve.  Pea Salad The Harman's 1 head of iceberg lettuce 1 bag of frozen peas Mayonaise Parmesan Cheese White onion (optional) Shred the lettuce into fine strips and place in the bottom of a large bowl.  The next ingredient is optional - also slice the onions into fine strips leaving them in their circular shape and layer over the lettuce.  Layer the peas on top of the lettuce and onion.  Spread a thin layer of mayonaise over the peas.  Cover with a thin layer of parmesan cheese.  Cover tightly and refridgerate.  I know you are thinking this sounds odd, but I promise it is sure to please.  It is a simple summer salad that goes with just about anything. Enjoy In His service Mally

Today's small blessing - I was able to leave work at lunch and still have clocked 39 hours for the week.  This new position does not have OT available and so they give you some time off to compensate for any extra hours you have worked in the week.  My plan - get the laundry done!  So I am sitting in the mini laundromat on campus catching up on the blog and other computer items. This is my first experience working in a doctor's office.  There is quite a learning curve and I have spent the majority of my first week trying to understand the flow and become familiar with the computer program.  There is still no clear cut job description available for me and this is a challenge to my personality.  Prior to me starting, there were significant changes to the structure of the organization.  They are still trying to figure it all out and put the pieces back together.  So, in all honesty, I am not sure they know what the job description is at this point....

I sent an email to the ladies in my church this evening letting them know I had not forgotten them.  I have been so consumed with trying to get myself back into the working routine, there hasn't been much time for anything else.  The last time I worked during the day was about 3 years ago and the last time I worked Monday through Friday 8-5 was more than 12 years ago.  It has been a challenge this last week to do anything other than get myself up, ready and off to work. Then after a full day and the drive home, I am so tired I eat and then fall into bed.  Good thing I really like the job! There are seasons in when the roles between husband and wife have to shift.  That has been happening in my life lately and honestly, it is a little weird.  For the first time in 10 years of marriage, my husband went to the grocery store with a list.  I was so careful to write exactly the name of each item and even the color of one of the boxes.  Reall...