The Blind School

Are you kidding?

Has anyone else seen the giant display in Walmart for the Equate version of cold medicine titled "Mucus Relief"?? Makes me just wanna run right out and buy it!!

Casa de Esperanza

Mololoa

Construction

The woman who now lives in this house leaves before 6:00 to walk the eight miles it takes to get her to church on Sunday mornings... What keeps you away from meeting with God's people?

Santa Lucia

I thought I would post some better pictures of our trip... now that I have a few more to choose from... {if you are reading this and haven't sent me yours, you are not excused! :)}
Here is the church we sing in at Santa Lucia...

Honduras 2007 trip

Brace yourselves... this may be a long one....
I am finally sitting down to blog about our Honduras trip this year. I was waiting for the right words and best way to convey my trip. I don't yet have them and probably never will. You would think that after twelve trips I would be better at this. You thought wrong. I was hoping to have some pictures that would tell the story better than I would be able to, but it doesn't look as if that's going to happen either. {because apparently no one can go on to Snapfish and send me their pictures... sheesh} ;)
Anyway, here are the moments that stand out in my mind from this years trip. {Pictures may be added as they arrive from my sources}
We went to sing in the church at Santa Lucia the second night I was there. LOVE that church. Not just because of the year I spent time up in the bell tower, but the fact that MILLIONS of other Christians have gathered in the same building for CENTURIES to worship God. Reminds me of what a small part I play in the grand scheme of things.

Helped build TWO houses this year. Impressive considering I'm usually in the bodega organizing and never make it onto any of the construction crews. I love the soreness you get after pounding away at those nails and carrying the wood down/up dangerous inclines as a reminder of what you can accomplish together when no one wants the credit. And I am quickly becoming a master at putting in the floors!

Going back to Mololoa... can not even describe the feeling when Eric and Carmen came and found me before I got on the bus after builiding our first day in the village... how did they know that I was there, and have they thought about me at all since I left last year? Hugs and kisses have never been so sweet.

Judy with Eric, ?, Marcos, & Carmen

Working with the Manna project feeding 139 kids a hot lunch that may never have had to eat on their own. I got to help them wash up before eating and prayed over those little hands as I poured water over the suds... Last year I washed many of their feet in that same church building during the May trip.

Diane Adams & Judy with the ladies who work in the kitchen

Led my first Spanish prayer! Impressive, but it was EXTREMELY simple considering it was offered by this Gringa. If you haven't seen it before down there the kids repeat what you say line by line outloud as their own prayer. WOW. Loved it.

We went out with Jenny and ALL the Casa de Esperanza kids for dinner on the fourth of July. Brett had a look of wonder on his face most of the time. I loved getting to see all those sweet faces in person, and think about the life they came from, and the life they are currently living now. I loved hearing them call one of my dearest friends "Mom" and loved watching her with them. Now putting them to bed later that night... a slightly different story! Fernando did not find my rendition of the ABBA song for his name as amusing as I... :)

The boys saying grace

Fernando & Judy

I got to return to Aqua Agria this year. Haven't been for three years. Love it there. Love getting to see Timeteo's family, and experience first hand how they respect and care for the elderly of that village. Struggled enormously with feelings of inadequacy that day since I was "treating" patients... like I was an MD doctor, and not a PT doctor. Very humbling. And frustrating. And makes me question where my talents in the therapy field blend into my efforts there.

And as always, loved getting to see friends again and serve alongside them. And also for the rookies, to see through their eyes for the first time again.

Anna & Judy

Torch '08 promises to be an amazing trip as well, so stay tuned for dates {which I will hopefully have in October after our Board meeting...} If you are reading this blog than consider yourself offically invited to join us! ;)
Dios los bendiga!

The Bourne Ultimatum

I HIGHLY recommend seeing this movie... it totally rocks! {sorry we went without you Brett, but you got to ride Tomb Raider and the Minebuster today! :)}
I also recommend NOT sitting in the fourth row, so as to avoid getting motion sickness from the action scenes.... and arrive early to get a seat that will help you avoid said sickness.
{PS- 30 minutes before the show starts is NOT early enough!!}
Two big thumbs up!

A Real Fine Place to Start

Today was the day two of my favourite people brought another sweet one into their lives....

Congratulations to Jen & Steve Burgie
and big brother Davis
on the arrival of
Cameron Chase
6lbs, 14 oz

-and-

Congratulations to Brian & Sara Walker
and big brother Camden
on the arrival of
Scott Norton
7 lbs, 12 oz

I pray blessings on both of your families as you transition into a new family of four!

First & Last

Okay, okay... I'm doing the post already!

First memory: Not sure.... I remember going over to Sam & Susan's after Laurie was born and I'm 21/2 years older than her, so.......

First real kiss: Jamie Tallman. Camp Omagh. Lifeguard. Also first guy to break my heart. And the first to apologize for it. In writing. Years later. You better believe I held onto THAT! ;)

First Concert: Tiffany and NKOTB You got the right stuff.... baby!

First love: Brett James Mitchell. Seriously! The first and only guy I have ever loved.

First crush: Brent Atwell. We were in school together forEVER!

First thing you think of in the morning: I can't believe I'm up before my alarm goes off AGAIN!

First book you remember loving: Lamont the Lonely Monster. Cars & Trucks and Things That Go. The Cat In the Hat. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Oops, was that more than one?

First question you'll ask in heaven: Where's the chocolate?

First best friend: Gillian Nesbitt.

Last time you dressed up: Depends what your definition of "dressed up" is...

Last book you read: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Awesome read too!

Last CD you bought: it has honestly been so long ago that I have no idea. Brett's the spender around here!

Last time you cried: (by myself) on Sunday around page 696 of last book read, (with someone else) last Tuesday with one of my cancer patients

Last movie you saw: Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix with Brett, Ashley & Jamin in the theatre with popcorn and everything!

Last time you told someone you love them: To Brett last night after I phoned to tell him I arrived back in Monty safely

Last funny thing you did: Quoted the "parfait" scene from Shrek with my coworkers this afternoon when I was supposed to be writing notes... oops! :)

Last thing I watched on tv: The Today Show this morning while getting ready for work

So now I tag whoever wants to do this... :)

And I haven't forgotten to blog about Honduras... still processing and waiting for pictures, promise!

Off again!

Heading up to Canada with 18 of Brett's soccer boys for their preseason training abroad! :)
Brett drove up yesterday and will meet us at the airport in Buffalo.
Back in touch next week!

A Franciscan Benediction

love this! {from Studio 310}

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Top ten phrases heard in Honduras

10. Interns?? We don't NEED no stinkin' interns!

9. What time is devo?

8. Happy America day... {clap, clap} {clap, clap} Those were fireworks. There'll be a grand finale tonight complete with snapping sparklers.

7. When's the last time you drank some water?

6. Sounds like your train's not bound for glory...

5. I need some children's vitamins!

4. It's hot. It's very hot. Yes, it is. It is. It is.

3. What mile of the trip are we on now?

2. Board!

1. Are you my Mom?

Torchers, what else would you add? ;)

Happy belated birthday Sumer!

Sumer Leigh... just wanted you to see where I was when I celebrated your birthday this year... See you there next year {at one of mine & your favourite places...}

*PS- I blog-stole this from Lori Connell: the coolest girl I know!

It's nice to be missed...

...not only by family & friends in Honduras, but by friends & family here as well...
Not that anything came to a screeching hault as a result from my absence, but it's nice to know that God's given me some unique quality that people love and appreciate...

Honduras/El Salvador stories and pics to come soon.... right now I need sleep...

{Did I mention how extemely grateful I am for cold/clean/clear water to drink, hot water to shower in, and an automatic washing machine right now? How many things I take for granted...}

Honduras-bound

I have been reading through my journals from last year's trips to Honduras before going again. Satan is doing his best to keep Brett and I busy distracted with life issues before we leave tomorrow morning. I admit I have not spent the time preparing myself for being down there, and will hit the ground running on nearly empty. But I know that God will give me the strength that I need in proportion to the tasks He has already prepared for me to do. And in a matter of hours I will be back to a place that my heart considers a home. We will head to Atlanta tonight after dinner and fly out in the morning, returning again July 11. Certainly any prayers offered on what God will accomplish through this trip would be greatly appreciated. To follow along with what we are doing and how you may communicate with us while we are away, click here
Here are some of my live-in-and-embrace moments of the July '06 trip:
the example of a mother's love in the Comayaqua clinic
the service of a PT to a group of special needs orphans
the brave heart of a little girl playing with a tube tucked gently between her fingers that carries chemo drugs
a little girl tearing down the mountain side when she realizes you are standing at the bottom of it
joy in the eyes of a friend with a dream being lived out day by day
spending time with those you love & tried to invest in
realizing that the floor you are painting will be underneath feet of countless patients, some of whom you may have the opportunity to serve
the aid of a child who expects nothing more than to simply be part of the group
letters from children who have stolen your heart after spending an afternoon playing with them
jolly rancher kisses from someone who is young enough to never know anything different than the life he is currently living
dimples in the smile of a 15 year old who will occasionally drop his guard when he thinks you're not looking
This trip isn't about me Lord, it's about you. And I pray that even though I will mess up, You will work through me. And give me eyes of love so that I may see others as You see them.

50 Things about Judy

I got blog-tagged by Dinah to list 50 things about myself, which I am sure will not be interesting to most of you. But I love my Dinsers, so here goes:

1. I was secretly hoping that there would be a "prompt" list for this. Like: what is a childhood memory, or what do people not know about you.... Apparently there is not.
2. In one week I will be in Honduras getting ready to serve alongside a few of my favourite people in the world... and can't wait!
3. I would have never guessed in a million years I would be living in Montgomery, AL with a core group of friends that would do whatever I needed/asked from them
4. I have a love/hate relationship with living in the South
5. I moved to America when I was 18.
6. I married my highschool sweetheart and best friend and somehow made it through the last nine years of marriage despite living simultaneously in two different states. God IS good.
7. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God
8. I struggle with practising the presence of God
9. I believe prayer warriors are some the of greatest gifts in the world
10. I believe that true friends become family
11. I used to watch The Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night
12. I LOVE the Muppets. Seriously.
13. I also love my "job" as a physical therapist. It is so rewarding and my patients are such a blessing to me! And if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.
14. I keep in touch with my best friend from grade six ~ shout out to Pam!
15. I miss playing in the snow. Playing in it for hours where you lose track of time, and your mittens are soaking wet, but you're too busy to notice.
16. I love Harry Potter and got hooked on it reading one night while babysitting. When the parents came home I told them I'd bring the book back when I finished it.
17. I can get addicted to reading a book and stay up for hours until it is done
18. I read The Davinci Code in one day flying from New York City to Birmingham
19. The worst sunburn I ever got was snorkeling in Roatan and forgetting to adequately cover my derriere with sunscreen...
20. I believe my Mom can make a meal out of absolutely nothing and it would still taste wonderful
21. I remember sitting on my Dad's lap in the front window of the cottage in the middle of the night watching a storm come across the lake at us
22. Canoeing rule #1: Brett and I instantly forgive whatever was said on the portage as soon as we hit the water
23. I have held my breath under water in a lake to escape mosquitoes, black flies, and horse flies
24. I'm 32 years old, not a mother, and okay with that. Others, however, are not, and don't mind telling me about it.
25. I think Brett will be an AWESOME father one day
26. My entire relationship with God changed my freshmen year at Lipscomb, largely in part to Doug Varnado.
27. My first official "mission trip" was to Missouri for flood relief in the fall of 93.
28. I went to Guatemala on a medical mission my freshmen year, and the experience completely changed me... however I spent so much time being completely terrified, and will probably never go back to that country.
29. I could never log the hours I've spent playing Uno at the lake with my Aunt, Uncle, cousins, and Great Aunts
30. I spent so much time with my cousins growing up that they were my other sisters
31. I have great Aunts that served as additional Grandmothers
32. I share my grandmother's love of babies. And have a knack for putting babies to sleep. Apparently this also includes those with colic! {SHW}
33. I have always wanted to get a tattoo... and would have one if they weren't all closed the night I finally decided to get it!
34. I love quoting from movies/tv shows and fitting it into the conversation.
35. I hate wasting a quote on someone who has no idea what I'm talking about/haven't seen the movie. "You're killing me Petey! You're killing me!"
36. I easily remember things that will never appear on a test
37. I have travelled with my Sunday school class to Florida when I was 16 after Ken Mashinter took our request for "trip to Florida" seriously...
38. I almost always burn grilled cheese... which Brett finds absolutely amusing
39. I love 80's music
40. When I was young I went shopping with my Aunt and told her my Mom was "more endowed" that she was when she took me in the dressing room with her
41. I have skipped classes in highschool just to finish a game of euchre in the cafeteria and gotten my friend to write a Peer Counsellor pass to excuse the absence with the teacher
42. I believe sarcasm is my spiritual gift! ;)
43. I have friends living in so many different parts of this continent that no matter where I am I miss all of them at some point in time
44. I don't feel worthy of God's love for me, but want so badly to grasp the concept that I am the apple of His eye
45. It takes me a long time to convince myself to go the first time when I'm cliff jumping
46. I have been spelunking
47. I have always wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska
48. I used to scrapbook using quotes from magazines and ticket stubs/maps/etc. to decorate those old plastic peel back photo albums
49. I wish I was more photogenic
50. I believe that heaven is real and I'll meet you there at the middle Eastern gate!

Sooooooo, that's me. And now {naturally} I tag Karen, Ashley, Laura, and Jamey! :o)

Congratulations Cara & Conrad!

Presenting Mr. & Dr. Conrad Deese
June 9, 2007
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Are these the most gorgeous wedding pictures or what? If you knew Cara, you would know that this setting was perfect for her (and so, I'm assuming, also perfect for Conrad :)
Congratulations to you both... I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Happy Father's Day!

Brett and I celebrated our Dad's yesterday by going hiking and {tried} to go canoeing,
honouring the men who helped instill in us our love for the outdoors...
Happy Father's day to you both! :)

Whine, whine, whine

Dear Incredibly Self-Centered Daughter:
Sorry for not being super excited to do your family education at the hospital today. And despite the fact that I had to re-rearrange my schedule because you were supposed to come at 8:30, not 1:20, I also had to constantly fight the urge to slap your fushia-painted lips...
This just in --- your Dad had a S-T-R-O-K-E! Thus the reason he's in the hospital in the first place. On a good day he is a MOD assist for balance, read NOT STAND BY ASSISTANCE. The man can't stand up by himself and has had a catheter in and out of his body four times in the last week, so cut him a little slack. I don't care if it's Father's day, Christmas, or Yom Kippur... he's in a hospital and the world will continue to spin on it's axis if you have to bring your feast to the hospital to celebrate instead... I promise!
And a special kudos to the doc who went over all of our heads and granted him a day pass to the tantrum thrower anyway... yes, thank YOU!
Signed,
The Physical Therapist who-doesn't-have-a-lot-of-experience-but-at-least-knows-enough-to-
graduate-and-pass-her-boards-so-she-kinda-has-some-idea-of-what-
she's-talking-about...

Never been unloved

You may or may not have needed to be reminded of this today... but the message rings true to us all. Rest in knowing that there is a God in heaven that created you and is crazy in love with you.

I have been unfaithful,
I have been unworthy;
I have been unrighteous,
and I have been unmerciful.

I have been unreachable,
I have been unteachable;
I have been unwilling,
and I have been undesirable.

And sometimes, I have been unwise,
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of -
But because of You
and all that you went through,
I know that I have never been unloved.

I have been unbroken,
I have been unmended;
I have been uneasy,
and I have been unapproachable.

I have been unemotional,
I have been unexceptional;
I have been undecided,
and I have been unqualified.

Unaware - I have been unfair,
I've been unfit for blessings from above.
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me, to show me
that I have never been unloved.

It's because of you
and all that you went through,
I know that I have never been unloved.

-Michael W. Smith & Wayne Kirpatrick

Pondering...

"I don't believe that God chose you and blessed you so that you could heap those blessings upon yourself. I believe God chose you...because He wants to make a difference in this world." -Rich Mullins

In three weeks I will get to return to one of my favourite places this side of heaven... Honduras. And I will get to experience it all with some of my very favourite people. For reasons I can never adequately articulate, the people & country of Honduras are very much a part of my heart. I can't tell you why I have to go back every year, I just do. I can't explain what those two weeks mean to me, and why I use up all the PTO I've only had five months to accumulate, I just go. No questions asked. It has totally captured this heart. If you were able to go be somewhere you love, to serve people you love, with people you love, wouldn't you jump at the chance too? I simply can't imagine my summer without traveling to Honduras. This year I will have the opportunity to serve alongside people I go with every year, and people I've prayed to be a part of the trip every year. Can't wait!!!

Anniversary Pics...

Here are the anniversary pics I promised Karen I would post... Brett rented a limo to pick us up, which took us to The Waters, where he had arranged a picnic to be set up at a table by the lake... We feasted on lasagna, greek salad, and apple & chocolate desserts that were delish! Then we headed to see A Greater Tuna at the Faulkner Dinner Theatre, picking up our friends Phyllis & Lee on the way...
It was a great celebration, and I was completely surprised by most of the evenings events!
{And don't get any ideas... the shirt simply has an empire waist...} :)

A Few Of My Favourite Things

Every Time I Breathe by Big Daddy Weave is officially my new favourite song... I don't think I'll ever tire of it:

Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never wanna leave
I wanna stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of your heart I realize it's true,
that You are so marvelous God
And I am so in love with You
Yeah, so in love with You.

Fits right up there with I Want To Fall In Love With You by Jars of Clay. {LOVE that song too...}

Also want to give props to God for the two best friends He gave me that were a part of my weekend while Brett was off exploring the hillsides of TN on his bike. I love how they got to be a part of my weekend even though they had to travel over the phone lines from Murfreesboro and Dyersburg.
Karen~ The zucchini bread turned out yum-o!
Anna~ You have FABULOUS taste in nail polish girl!

Happy Anniversary!

To the one I've shared the last nine years with as your bride...
you are the most amazing man
and I can't imagine my life without you in it.

Summer is here!!

For all practical purposes, summer has officially arrived in the Mitchell household:
School is out, and Brett is on his official summer work hours {whenever he feels like going in or has a meeting}
It is 90+ degrees and we have officially had our A/C running 24/7 because it's just too hot at night to open the windows and let the breeze blow through
We ate our first official home grill meal of the season {aside from the Rachel Ray meal at Ashley's} - pork chops, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and asparagus {Brett even ate two pieces and LIKED it...}
AND... I have received my first official sunburn... across my shoulder, neck and back. Got it yesterday painting at the Dalraida pool. Probably didn't help it out today at the soccer field or in the pool this afternoon.
Now, I'm off to reapply another layer of Noxema...

My Mom

This weekend is very special. Not only is it Mother's Day on Sunday, but it is also my Mom's birthday on Saturday. And I'll be down here in AL celebrating her while she's at the zoo with my sister, niece and nephew. {Brett and I are probably going to grill pork chops for dinner Mom. What do you want to go with it?}
I have been blessed with a great Mom. We like to tease her about her middle name, and how she's ends up looking grumpy in photographs (except for that picture above of course). But she has supported me when she didn't always agree with my decisions, loved me during those ugly phases, and has been one of our biggest supporters of our efforts in Honduras {so much so that I am still secretly hoping that one day I will be flying into Teguce and she will be sitting in the seat beside me}. But if I had only one word to describe my Mom it would be selflessness. And, not surprisingly, it seems to be a characteristic that continues to draw me to certain people, and away from others. My Mom gives so much of her time, talents, and love away and never expects anything in return. I don't know of a better example of Christ than that. And I just know that a lot of who she is came from her Mom, my Grandma Muriel, who received her eternal reward before I was part of the family. I can't wait to meet her one day.
So, Happy Mother's Day to not only my Mom, but also to the other women in my family who helped raise me into the Judy Louise I am today: all 3 of my Grandmothers, Aunt Gladys, Aunt Althea, Aunt Coral, Aunt Erma, and Aunt Jeannette. And to the other Moms who adopted me along the way: Susan, Mrs. Dahmer, Mrs. Nesbitt, Mrs. Bierworth, Mrs. Keough, Janet Mashinter, Tracey Mashinter, Debbie Chen, Margaret, Miss Jeni, Miss Sharon, Mama Nomi, Miss Eileen, Mama Pigg... and countless others.
Happy Mother's Day!!

Shout Out

A special shout out to
Seanne', Kevin, Jason, Travis and Adam
for joining the wonderful world of the DPT degree this week
{also known as "The Hood"}
High fives, hip bumps, and hugs all around...
Can I get a woot woot?? :)

Here's to you...

...Mr. Identity Thief Who Sends The Items You Purchased With My Money To Me

I will never understand how you were smart enough to somehow discover my debit card numbers, but yet forgot to change the mailing address for the purchase to your own address, thus having said purchase mailed to me and not yourself. And doing it not once, not twice, but three stinking times out of the 19 transactions you made!! And while I appreciate you sharing your music CD's, Disney DVD's, and Spanish learning CD's with me... YOU BOUGHT THEM WITH MY MONEY!! I would have already owned these things if I had wanted them...
And also a big thank you for being smart with MY money and joining up for clubs so that you could get more bang for MY buck. I will now suffer the consequences of being on their mailing lists even after I am dead.
Your days of wreaking havoc on my chequing account have officially ended. I hope your stupidity of sending me the stuff you had to have means the Fraud Department will have an easier time catching your sorry bootay.

Keeping you informed on the soccer front...

Who knew the U21 National Women's soccer teams would compete in AL?? Definitely not us, so we took advantage of it and went to see Canada and the US play in the Birm on Sunday {and also spent a few moments catching up quickly with our good friends Mark & Lori - love you guys!}
So much fun! Canada won against Mexico 1-0 and the US won against China 2-0. The Mexican fans were in full force complete with drums, cymbals, air horns, bugles, and megaphones. It was awesome to be a part of a crowd that was excited about soccer! True, they were cheering for the wrong team, but awesome none-the-less. {Come on people, it IS the world's most popular sport...}
And to top it all off, the Canadian team came and played Argentina here in Montgomery last night (tied 1-1). Brett now wants to go to Mobile to watch the playoffs this weekend. Apparently we are touring the state of AL along with the Canadian girls.
We also got to meet the parents of the centre defense for Canada, the Tancredi's. They were so sweet {they got the team to sign Brett's shirt for him, and gave us all the info on the players}, and it was nice to have people to cheer with for Canada in Legions field. Before they got there it was basically Brett and I in a sea of green, white, and red!

It finally happened...

I spent most of today in a pair of those oh-so-flattering paper-like scrub pants at work today... Good thing this was the end of a twelve-day work period.
I was doing a team eval with one of our OT's on a patient who was slightly agitated shall we say and had already hit Keinee before we brought her down to the gym. I helped transfer her out of her wheelchair to the mat with a sliding board, and then went to move the wheelchair... oops! The tube from her catheter bag had gotten caught in her foot rest, and POP! It came apart and sprayed the innocent bystander, AKA yours truly :)
I knew an incident like that would eventually happen to me, given where I work and the patients I work with... I'm just glad it wasn't THROWN at me!!

Never Fear

The 80's banana clip is alive and well thanks to Sharon who was spotted with a hot pink one at the Food World on the Blvd this week....
She also appears to be single-handedly supporting the black eyeliner industry! How do you take a pic of your cashier with your phone discreetly? :)

She's here!!

Congratulations Shane & Stacy {Lawson} on the arrival of
Sanora Hadley Whittington
April 17
8lbs 14 oz
22"

Sanora made her grand entrance into the world this afternoon. Mommy, baby, and Daddy are doing great... and she got to spend a few precious moments with Auntie Judy this afternoon. {I went easy and only tested a few reflexes... couldn't resist the Galant (my favourite!)}
Pray for the newest addition to their family, and their new transition...
...don't you just love that baby smell?

Pause & Pray

Brett's Mom is being admitted into Princess Margaret Hospital this morning to finish off her last step in her fight against lymphoma - which involves being in isolation for several days. I don't really know the specifics of it all, but if you would pause and pray for her health and well being today, I'm sure she would appreciate any additional prayer warriors on their knees for her behalf.

Easter Weekend

Brett is off in sunny Florida to sign a recruit, and I am sitting here in front of my laptop, where I've been the last few hours playing on the internet, and loving it. If he were home I would never have gotten away with it! (not to mention that if I had more memory on this thing I could do it all in about one third of the time...)
Easter this year was spent at the Biscuits game, selling concessions as part of a fund raiser for the soccer team's preseason trip to Canada. It was freezing, there were PLENTY of empty seats, no one was hungry for hotdogs after eating their Easter dinner with family, but hey... we won the game without going into extra innings! That put us home around 9:00 and pretty much into bed, after finding the eggs we hid for each other that morning. Ah, the sugar rush of a Cadbury creme egg this time of year! :)
So Easter was pretty non-traditional around the Mitchell home. No baskets. No dyed eggs. No special cookies. More of a reflective holiday for me. Searching for the things that I haven't surrendered to the power of the cross, and celebrating in the freedom of the resurrection. I wish Good Friday was revered more here, and regarded as an actual holiday. I hated getting up that morning to go to work. And quickly announced to anyone who would look at me upon my arrival that if we were in Canada we wouldn't have to be there. I'm sure after being subject to my sourness most of them wished that I would hurry up and go back up there... That mood was quickly remedied by the candy from the hospital-wide Easter egg hunt. :)
And of course, as with any holiday, memories of Easters past: finding my basket behind the living room curtain, getting a green Easter dress in my basket one year, going to church with Mom, teaching the kids at training for service day in Toronto, dying eggs with Susan & the kids, Brett and I surprising everyone at home Easter weekend and getting to hold little Coleton for the very first time, Mom & Susan in Yearwood for Honey baked ham, cooking Easter dinner for the International soccer players, and of course those Laura Secord creme eggs (my absolute favourite ,which, for some reason, remind me of Aunt Gladys.. she must of always shared them with us!)

Maple Leafs 6 - Canadiens 5

It's Go Time....

Tonight Leaf fans around the globe will know if our boys in blue will make it to the NHL playoffs...
Whoever wins the game between Toronto and Montreal will advance onto the first round.
So, all I have to say today is:

"Go Leafs, go!"

And don't phone Brett this evening, unless it's to talk about the game. He'll be glued to our computer listening to it! Should be a good one.

Gentle Reminder...

To those of you ahead of me on Hwy 231 and the South Blvd on the morning commute:

The speed limit is 55mph, not 30mph...

You may correct this with the foot pedal on the right in your vehicle.

Thank you!

Happy Birthday Brett James!

Happy Birthday

to the one person on this earth

who probably knows me better than I know myself

and chooses to love me anyway

You are my everything...

Comfort food...?

Whenever you're feeling under the weather there's always a specific food that you go to.

I remember my Mom making me soft boiled eggs and toast fingers to dip in it when I wasn't feeling well. She had it in an egg cup and everything. I also remember my Grandmother stirring the carbonation out of a glass of ginger ale when she and Grandpa stayed with me after I got my tonsils out.

After my run-in with a virus this week Brett's made me gourmet meals of vanilla pudding, apple sauce, jello, and of course the inevitable ginger ale.

So, what do you reach for when you're sick?

Weekend Away

Things I learned during my time with the girls in Nashville this weekend:

1. No matter what time of day it is there will be traffic in Birmingham - just be ready for it

2. Anna can be in and out of the New Balance store, complete with purchase, in under 2.8 minutes

3. They are actually the Predator DANCERS, not cheerleaders, as mentioned in a previous post... sorry

4. If you phone Fulbright before the first intermission you'll have a better chance of getting to see her while you're in town

5. The volume of Margaret's snoring is in direct proportion with how tired you are

6. Double yellow lines mean nothing to Nascar Nater

7. Mr. Barrel has a great Sunday school class...

8. Emily Paige LOVES her Auntie Judy!!

9. Baja Burrito needs to go nationwide - or at least down here to the Gump

10. You should aim to be home at a decent hour on the time change weekend or you'll be d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g at work the next morning!

I had a great weekend with everybody... thanks!

Why I do it....

Yesterday one my patients got to go home. He wasn't there for PT rehab per say - more of the memory/speech/occupational therapy more so than me and what I could do to help him. He was my "uncharacteristic" patient. Didn't walk with a walker or cane. Didn't need to be supervised so closely as he always caught himself whenever his centre of gravity was off kilter. Didn't fall. Didn't need constant reminders of how to transfer safely. Didn't need me to roll beside him on a stool and guide his legs through the process of walking. We played catch and bounced balls while we walked. We stood on foam with our eyes closed. We did exercises on the theraball. We did a lot of balance stuff I don't normally get to do with my patients. And he was game with whatever I suggested. A really sweet man. And yesterday when we were walking one last time together and I asked him if there was anything he wanted to make sure he did before his daughter came to take him home, and secretly hoping he didn't say "swim in the pool", he stopped, took my hand, and said "I really appreciate all that you've done to help me. I enjoyed being here and I couldn't have done it without your support." And as the smile on my heart grew into an enormous grin I thought to myself, "This is why I do it..."
Today I was looking after a patient for another therapist while she was out of town, and walked into a very sticky situation which I had no idea about considering I had never treated this man during his length of stay in the hospital. He had decided he was going home as soon as the doctor would write the orders and refused to come down to the gym for therapy of any kind. After talking with the social worker I went down to his room to suggest some outpatient physical therapy places for him, so he could continue treatment. As I left the room I ran into his wife in the hallway, who was coming in from her car with an empty suitcase to pack. She was noticeably upset so I stopped to talk with her and reassure her, and to verify that she indeed had a support system in bringing her husband home to look after while she tried to hold a full time job. And after talking with her, I hugged her and walked back to the gym with tears in my eyes and thought to myself, "This is why I do it..."
Thank you Lord for all of my patients... May I never consider it a job to serve you in the capacity of being a therapist, but an opportunity to serve others who need help from the skills & knowledge I've acquired, and in turn glorify You...

I am officially offended...

The sport of hockey has been officially desecrated... There were CHEERLEADERS at the Predators game last night. I think there were around seven or eight of them, but I tried not to look directly at them... If they show up in Toronto they could very well be banished from the entire country forever.
i... am... speechless...

Raise Your Hand If You're Surprised

Yesterday was a very special day. Not only was it Groundhog's Day, and apparently "Nicemas" (refer to Nitty.Gritty. for details), but it was my first official payday. I've been working at HeathSouth for the last three weeks, and those hours finally fell into a pay period that I could reap the monetary fruits of my labour from! And man, was I excited! We have a payday social in the hospital cafeteria, and those were the best chocolate cookies I've ever tasted!

Brett and I have a wish list of sorts that we were going to get with this new found fortune. Oh, you know, things like finally buy a new pair of running shoes since my current ones are three years old, get the brakes fixed on the car, get a haircut, buy a couple more pairs of scrubs, etc.

For the past three years all of my time, money, blood, sweat, and tears (oh, the enormous puddle of tears) have been directly invested into Belmont University, specifically their Physical Therapy program. I "retired" from being the Dorm Director of the infamous Johnson Hall at Lipscomb to go back to school full time, and became an academic slave in August 2003. Exit income.

And then to make things more interesting Brett moved to Montgomery, AL to start the new soccer programs at Faulkner University. Exit husband.

And for the remaining four semesters of grad school we drove back and forth between Nashville and Monty as well as straight into debt. Enter school loans at a ridiculously high interest rate.

Then the long awaited day of graduation arrived! Along with it job interviews, the board exam, and upteen-million hurdles to obtain my work permit and SSN to work legally in the States.

And so, this Friday marked the day that I would receive my very first paycheque for being a PT. The monetary reward after all those tests, lab practicals, presentations, research projects and all the other yuck you have to endure to make it through grad school. We would officially become a two-income family after this 41-month hiatus! (Not that I'm anti one-income families, I'm just anti not-having-enough-money-to-eat-something-other-than-hotdogs-and-macaroni-and-cheese-three-times-a-week).

So why the sarcastic tone to this entry you ask? Well, after celebrating my first paycheque with friends and family {thanks so much for arranging last night's get-together just for me Ashley! :)}, I checked my account balance on the internet. And do you know what it said?

Are you ready for this, because even though I know better, I was not....

My balance reads $2.99. Yes, the decimal is in the correct place. Enter jaw on the floor of Brett's office.

I'm stuck somewhere in the middle of "Are you stinkin' kidding me?" and "Well, of course that would happen to me!"

So apparently my hard earned moolah is floating around somewhere in cyperspace, and I am left sitting here with my wish list remaining simply that.

And I say, for what seems the millionth and eighty-fourth time:

"Raise your hand if you're surprised by this happening to me!!"