I was thinking today about Thanksgiving. All of a sudden, it struck me that Thanksgiving is about more than giving thanks for a plentiful harvest. It is also about sharing. I'm not exactly sure how the first Thanksgiving came about (maybe Meghan can answer to that!), but it always makes me think about the Indians bringing food to the pilgrims and sharing their harvest with those in need. Over the past few years, I have forgotten about this aspect of it. It has gotten lost in the idea that Thanksgiving is a time to focus on what I am thankful for--I have made it all about me when it is supposed to be about helping those in need. What better way to show that you are thankful for your blessings than to share them with others? I would also like to add that I am thankful for living in a country that takes a day out of the year to focus on these ideas.
In our society these days, when everyone is rush, rush and the obvious ones in need are usually ones that know how to "use" the system, what ideas do you have about continuously helping others?
One idea I have had recently--partly from my profession and partly from visiting loved ones in the hospital, is to check into a program for feeding/helping families of those hospitalized. Many times, people are from out of town, and it is expensive to eat out every day.
This time of the year is bittersweet. I love it b/c the air is crisp and the leaves crunch under your feet. I love pumpkins and candy and holiday music. However, dark-thirty changes to 4pm and everyone starts coming down with all manner of viral diseases. Then there's gifts and hot chocolate and crackling fires. I think more than anything, I love the change of seasons--both cold and warm weather get tiring after a while.
At work, we just had to lay off 5 people. (5 positions were cut) I hate that b/c it is always so sudden, and mostly without warning. These were all managerial positions, and I believe almost all of them were given the choice of whether or not to remain, but with a different role. Our Med-Surg department is expanding. It seems that there is a trend toward speciatly hospitals these days, and our specialty (lucky for me) is Med-Surg. Our Family Birth Unit has closed, and the space is going to be used for an Orthopaedic Surgical unit. I think that's kind of sad, b/c I like the idea of a community hospital that meets the needs of the people in the community. Now, you have to go to a mega-hospital to have a baby. Anyway, enough of work.
My sister is almost through nursing school!! I can't believe that!! She has been working and studying so hard! I can't wait to see her during Christmas break. My brother got to help cater one of the after parties of the CMA awards, and saw a lot of the stars!
Have you all heard about the gas shortage in Nashville?? It's real--we just bought a Sam's Club membership so we could buy gas there. Matt loves it, and wanted it a long time ago, but I had visions of overstuffed closets and every square inch of storage space being taken (which it almost already is in a one-bedroom apartment!) Not to mention 20 lb bottles of ketchup, mustard, etc. So far, so good though! Has anyone else had trouble finding gas?
I don't blame you. Every time we go to Sam's, I have to reconfigure the fridge. Oh, well. We don't go too often, but we've found they have great produce. Bryce loves their fruit.
Williamson County is the only place having trouble finding gas because we have a county full of sheep who heard on the news somewhere that there might be a gas shortage so they ran the gas stations and created their own gas shortage. Oddly enough, there is plenty of gas just down the road in Columbia.
We were in Nashville last weekend and Neal had to drive to Franklin, KY at 11:00 pm so we could have gas to get back to Huntsville! So...you and Matt should come stay with us some weekend, or at least come down for a Saturday:)
I can't believe it's been a week since I posted last! I'm still adjusting to working 4 days a week. I have a lot more responsibility now and it's a little overwhelming. Deadlines, multiple projects to work on, and A LOT of paper management. A girl at work is having a birthday tomorrow--and she has to work, so I'm going to bake a cake tonight. That's something I'd like to get better at--I usually have trouble with getting the icing on smoothly. A verse I've been thinking about lately (due to a class at church) is Romans 2:4. It points out that we should be patient with the shortcomings of others b/c God is patient with us in order that we will repent (the Holy Spirit words it so much better). "Riches of His kindness" and "the kindness of God leads you to repentance". What great love it takes to be patient and tolerant to the end of allowing one time to come to repentance! Especially when God hates evil so! A very good quality to emulate. What verses have jumped out at you this week?
My schedule at work just changed so that I'm working four 10-hour days, and it feels like I'm at work all the time! However, it is nice to be able to get some stuff done after getting home from work. (I'm used to working three 12-hour days.) Please pray for Matt's dad, Clint Hicks. He is having some health issues, and the doctors are talking about putting in a feeding tube. We may go to see Matt's family this weekend due to this. Just curious--what is your favorite thing to do when you have company over? (games, favorite food, etc.)
pros and cons to long days. I used to work 2 14s and a 10 and a 8 back to back. Right now I work half days, monday-friday 6-8 hours and every other weekend. I will keep mr. hicks in my prayers, I pray for safe travels for ya'll as well.
I guess it depends on the company. But it pretty much always involves food, sometimes games like Apples to Apples, Catchphrase, Cranium, etc. Or if it's a bunch of girlfriends we might end up just talking or reminiscing. And then there's always the ping pong table downstairs.
Praying for Matt's dad. We like to have company over for a meal usually and then depending on who it is, play games or watch a movie. We got a clearplay DVD player so we can sometimes let people pick a movie that they would otherwise not want to watch.
Sorry to hear about Matt's dad. Please keep us posted. I love to eat and just sit around and talk with company. I like to watch movies too. Playing games can be fun. Having people over for dessert is cool too.
No, no more Toastmasters. I really didn't stick with it for very long...just gave 1 or 2 speeches. But I did it more to prove to myself that I could do it and "conquer some fears." It was fun; I might do it again someday; just have other things going right now.
