Who Do You Turn To?

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...

My husband and I recently watched a movie entitled, "Faith Like Potatoes.".  I stumbled across it on Netflix, but after reading the little blurb, I realized someone had told me about the movie and had given it a good review.  Well, they were right, it was good.  I don't want to give away any of the story line; however, the title pretty much tells you the premise.  It is faith.  After writing about God's provision yesterday, it seemed appropriate to discuss faith today.  We can talk all day long about how God will give us what we need, but it is just talk unless we have the faith to believe it will be so.  There has been so much written on faith already,  I am not sure I can contribute something new.  So let us revisit what we already know. Faith is a difficult concept and one that often times is the make or break it for the more scientific mind. You see they want concrete proof - the tangible, the touchable, and the reproducible.  Well...

Last night during our Church @ The Lake service, we heard a testimony from one of our attenders.  He and his wife have been trying to purchase a home in foreclosure and have met resistance with the banking industry.  Last night, he reported the bank had accepted the offer and they had been asked to put a down payment into escrow.  They did not have the funds, but trusted God would provide.  The following morning the money was in their account.  Something had been due to them and it was finally credited to their account that night.  God answered prayer and provided a home and the funds to get the closing process started. It got me thinking again this week about how He has also provided for Steve and I this past month.  We lived with my parents until the retirement community rules dictated we had to leave.  With no place to go and no funds to rent a place, an RV was offered up.  We moved in and were told there would be a larger one available ...

After being provided a job this week, I felt it important to recognize God's hand.  He has blessed me with full-time work.  The following scripture tells of one way in which God's provision was seen.  Genesis 22: 1- 15 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and ...

The full name for this yummy delight is actually - Fresh Raspberry-Sour Cream Crumb Cake.   I made it quickly one day for the Pastor's meeting at Oasis.  I was in a rush, so it came out piping hot.  I am not sure, but I don't think there was much left.  Pastor Bubba had 3 ? pieces - don't tell Nedra!  Fresh Raspberry Sour Cream Crumb Cake by Williams - Sonoma (Muffin book) FOR THE TOPPING: 1 cup all purpose flour 2/3 cup sugar Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional) 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted FOR THE CAKE: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1 cup sour cream (8 oz) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups fresh raspberries 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180 degrees C).  Grease/flour a 10-inch round springform pan. For the topping: mix the first 3 ingredients and then add the melted butter.  Us...

So, I have had to re-adjust my posting schedule.  Until today, I have been able to get up each morning and take my time writing you, but not this morning.  I woke up at 3:30am and did not fall back asleep until around 5:30am.  Of course, then you are so dead to the world you don't hear the alarm and your husband has to tell you three times to get up or you are going to be late for your first day.  Needless to say, no way I could post something then.  So, I decided to come home this evening and tell you about my first day.  By the time I got here, my parents were calling to ask if they could take us out for a celebratory dinner.  We, of course, did not refuse a meal at Outback.  Having just gotten home, it occurred to me there is still no post.  The day went by in the blink of an eye.  There was a lot of time spent working on computer modules for the software used in the office.  This is not, for me, an exciting...

There are times in life where God allows you periods of rest.  The hustle and bustle of life subsides, there is plenty of time to complete all things on the "to do list" and you may even find yourself a little bored.  That is where I am at the moment; however, it is gone tomorrow with the start of the new job. This has happened a couple of times during our marriage.  I remember all too well a time in North Carolina, just before we moved to Amherst, in which Steve was so bored with nothing to do he felt almost depressed.  He and his brother had been building houses and the market, as everyone knows, just crashed.  We had made the decision to go with Bubba and Nedra to plant a church and were just waiting on things to fall into place.  I was working full-time, but Steve was sitting home all day with nothing going on.  I remember saying, "Be grateful for this quiet time, you know that means God's is giving us rest before the storm."  An...