Bright Spots in My Day

These are two of my most favorite volunteers at Palmetto Health Baptist. I love these ladies. They show up every Wednesday afternoon to greet visitors and staff at the entrance to the Taylor Street Crosswalk. Can't tell you their names, but they are so bubbly and cheerful that my day gets brighter just seeing them roll in.

They also brighten up their workspace...literally. They bring boxes of stuff faithfully every week, and they decorate their space. It stays there with them for the 2 or so hours that they volunteer then they pack it all back up and go home. If it's around the holidays then the decorations take on the holiday theme. If not, then the decorations are more generic. Believe it or not, this was of one of their less elaborate displays. They also leave hard candies out for staff and visitors to sample on the way in or out of the hospital. I love them for their enthusiasm and for taking the time to make the hospital a little more "homey".

When I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, it made me stop and think that I have "lots of bright spots" in my days. Some are a routine part of my day, and some happen only occasionally. I'll take them as often as I can get them. These are just a few...

*the sound of Mama's voice answering the phone when I call to tell her I'm on the way home.
*my faithful 14 year old lab, Maggie, waiting for me at the back steps every morning so that she can get her "treat"...though it's really arthritis medicine wrapped up in a thin slice of roast beef
*a call from my friend, Yvonne...her bubbly voice makes me smile
*an unexpected card from Irene...who always seems to know when I need one
*any time spent with my friends Ann and Myriam...who have adopted me and Mom into their families and from whom I have learned so much about being a better person and rising to the occasion
*seeing my cousin, Chris, riding his John Deer...his love of tractors reminds me so much of my dad
*a new edition of Creating Keepsakes magazine in the mail
*my kitty, Oliver, hopping up on my lap to bump noses with me
*chit-chatting across the table with Judy at the Stamping Place
*watching our newest kitty, Calvin (aka "Cally-bug") chasing anything that flies
*seeing a field of yellow milkweeds or Queen Anne's lace along the side of the road ...I know they are weeds, but I love them anyway
*the guy at the drive-through window at Chapin McDonalds who always takes the time to wipe off the outside of my diet Coke cup so my cup holder doesn't get sticky
*getting Orlando as our waiter when we go to eat Mexican with "the boys" - he is such a sweetie
*the parking attendant at the hospital who waves to me every morning and who always stops to chat for a second when I see him inside
*an update from my friend, Tanya...especially when she has good news to tell me
*"Salt Therapy" with the gang.....you guys, it's been too long since we did this
*a nap in the recliner on Saturday or Sunday afternoon
*seeing any post on Facebook by my old high school friend, Jimmy...he is so funny!
*a visit to our neighbors' commercial greenhouses...especially at Christmas when they have millions of poinsettias or in April/May when geranium baskets are everywhere
*the first tomato of the summer...especially when it comes from Ms. Evelyn's garden
*a homemade roll from Aunt Sylvia or Aunt Fannie's milk gravy or a piece of coconut cake made by Aunt Dot or Aunt Mary...yummy!

That's just a few of the many. Here's to bright spots...what would I do without them!

As a postnote to my previous blog entry: If you prayed for little Katie Staub, I thank you so much. Last I heard, Katie was transferred to a rehab facility and is slowly recovering from her ordeal. God is good.

Please pray...

Please take a minute and say a prayer for little Katie Staub. Katie is 4 years old and currently in the pediatric intensive care unit a Palmetto Richland. She is the daughter of one of my coworkers at Baptist. Her Aunt Libby and I worked together for years on 8th Medical, and her grandmother was one of my nurses when I had surgery in 2006. She is very ill and in need of as many prayers as possible.

Who Would Have Thought...

The following is copied and pasted in pieces and parts from www.scpalmettogold.org:

The Palmetto Gold Nurse Recognition and Scholarship program is a
subcommittee of the South Carolina Nurses Foundation. To date, over $100,000.00
in nursing scholarships have been awarded and an endowment established that now
exceeds $100,000.00. Each year nurse employers across the State of South
Carolina are given the opportunity to nominate outstanding nurses to receive
this prestigious award. One hundred nurses are selected as Palmetto Gold
recipients for their excellence in nursing practice and commitment to the
profession.

Nominators are asked to provide evidence of how the nominee
demonstrates excellence in practice and commitment to the profession by
addressing these four criteria:
*Promotes and advances the profession of
nursing in a positive way in the
practice setting or in the community
*Displays caring and commitment to patients, families and colleagues
*Demonstrates leadership and assists others in growth and development
*Contributes to the overall outcomes in the practice area/setting

Nina Blanton and Joyce Jacobs...my WOCN mentors (and Mothers #2 and #3)... nominated me for Palmetto Gold this year....and I was chosen as one of the 100 nurses in the state to receive this honor for 2009. The photos, above, are from the Gala which was held at Seawell's on Saturday night. Who would have thought....I'm still amazed!
Mama (Mother #1), Ann Cargile (my wonderful friend and coworker), Nina, Joyce, Chrys Huggins (Mother #4, co-worker in OPSC, and creator of the very best chocolate cake with chocolate icing and nuts on top), and BJ Roof (my Nursing Director at PHB)....thank you for spending your evening with me at the Gala. I can't think of better people to share the experience with. Thanks Nina and Joyce for the nomination. Your kind words in the application meant so much more than the award itself...you've made my year.

One Mouse, One World

We have one world. Let's take good care of it. Go green...recycle... and support Disney's Worldwide Conservation Fund or another conservation intiative.

Happy Earth Day 2009!

Wishing...

You've seen them - you probably have them in your yard, too. I took this picture in our yard a couple of years ago. To you they are probably weeds, but to me they are two of my most favorite flowers in the world. I don't know the official name of the little yellow one, but the other, of course, is the dreaded dandelion (or "wishing flower")- it's beautiful and delicate when it blooms but is followed by ugly, prickly foliage. I was out in the yard this afternoon and saw both of these blooming. Immediately, I was taken back to recess on the playground at Little Mountain Elementary when we'd pick the yellow ones and stick them behind our ears or in the button holes of our shirts. The dandelions, of course, were so much fun to blow and shatter. I always made a wish when I blew a dandelion....and I just knew the wish would come true. Today, I looked at those flowers (or weeds, if you will), and thought of how God makes something of beauty in the midst of everything that seems to be so ugly. And then I thought about those in my family and in my circle of friends who are going through some really difficult times right now because of health issues or job loss. So, I picked one of those dandelions, and I blew it, and I said a wish..and a prayer...for you - Ann C., Tanya P., Chris S., Jackson S., Karl R., and Maggie (my very best canine friend). I know God heard my prayer, and I know He has great plans for you - something of beauty in the midst of what seems so ugly right now. God bless you...

You GO Girl!

Have you you seen this on TV this week? I can't imagine that you haven't. This lady is phenomenal! And, I think she is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. In a world filled with the likes of Paris Hilton...this is such a refreshing change. Sit back and listen. You won't regret it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmbJzH93NU

It's a Personal Thing...

if you are a member of the Old Dogs, then you know where the title of this blog originated and no further explanation is necessary. For the rest of you guys...well, it was something I said in a moment of great frustration (and in the midst of what I think is the only migraine I've ever had in my life) . Problem is...I said it in front of a bunch of ladies (really great ladies, by the way) who will never ever let me forget it. In fact, if I die before them, I am sure one of them will pay to have it engraved on my tombstone. This blog stuff is new to me. Posting personal stuff on the Internet still gives me the willies, but I enjoy my friends' blogs so I thought I'd give it a try. So....here we go.