Miracles....

I love my job! It rocks my socks off! Today was a very busy day at work...the talk around the ER was that it was due to a full moon. I wasn't so sure about how superstitious I was, but after today, I think the moon might actually be playing tricks on us! We had a constant flow of chest pain patients, an appendectomy, a piano smashed a guy into a wall, a guy losing more than 3/4 of his blood. Just a few bizarre happenings.

At one point during the day, I was talking with a nurse about what the protocol is to deliver units of blood if in a trauma situation and you don't have time to cross and type a patient to find their blood type. She informed me you give O- blood. I remembered that. Just a tid bit of information but I think it was a tender mercy we talked about it.

We had a pediatric patient tonight who was losing blood fast. We did a type and screen. But the unit of blood wasn't coming back fast enough. It dawned on me to just get O- blood. So I sprinted to the lab and told the blood chemist I needed it right away. She yelled at me and slammed cupboard doors because she was so mad I switched the order (which I think was ridiculous) but I got the blood...just in time to give it to my patient before we shipped her off with AirMed.

A true ER moment, and a true tender mercy.

I love my coworkers too! They are so fun and together we keep ourselves sane. So glad I met them.

Where I come from

Lately, it has been pressing on my mind where I came from, how in the world I got to the point I'm at now, and how I'm going to continue to give the legacy I've been given.....

Thoughts to come!

Ode to the Green Bean

The Green Bean...

The name of my new little subaru

He truly is amazing, even though his little body is worn and beat up.

His great AWD, boxy frame, dents and dings

When I got behind the wheel, the green bean and I....we connected. It was magic.

I knew this car was mine.

I took him to two mechanics and both said...minor problems, strong engine.

The green bean worked well for 3 weeks....

Last night in -5 degree weather, the green bean and I depart for the salt lake city airport to pick up Jenni. We arrive at the airport a little early so we lap around the airport a couple of times to ward off the adament traffic controllers...who allow no idling vehicles. DRIVE ON, they yell. And so we drive on....around and around the airport

Alas, we see Jenni on the curb...

50 yards, 40 yards, 30 yards...and then...

VROOM, vroom, vroom VROOM, vroom, vroom

I look

The RPMs are dropping. I can't keep any juice.

VROOm, vroom, vroom. And then.

Silence.

I turn the key

CLINK, CLINK, CLINK, CLINK

Silence.

Dead car.

And 20 yards away.....Jenni laughing hysterically....

As the traffic controller yells DRIVE ON!

But I cant, the green bean! He's dead!

The 25 somethin year old female traffic controller quickly yells for me to put the green bean in neutral, and now she is pushing my car!

We make it to the curb

I'm laughing. Jenni's laughing.

The green bean. Oh the poor green bean.

But have no fear!

A truck comes to give us a jump!

But still no juice.

So we call for a tow truck...

Mr. tow trucker picks up the poor little green bean and drives us to downtown SLC.

The big city must have been quite the shocker for that lil bean!

Because...lo and behold....as Mr. tow trucker tries one last time to turn the ignition

The bean ignites!! He's back!

Our friend Glauser volunteers to follow Jenni, me, and the bean.

We jump back on the freeway

RPMs holding a steady 3000.

5 miles go by, and we pull up next to friend Glauser.

We give him the thumbs up!

Glauser takes the next exit

We journey on

Jenni and I are deep in conversation in Pleasant Grove

I hit the gas pedal. Nothing. I hit it again. Still no acceleration!

I look at the RPMs

Within seconds

4000, 3000, 2000

No juice!

We're on I-15!

There are no shoulders to be seen on the freeway because of construction

I say a silent prayer....come on bean!!

And then...there it is!

A construction turn off, I pull off.

Silence.

I try the key

CLINK, CLINK, CLINK

Silence.

Jenni and I assess our resources

I've got frozen meatballs from home

Jenni has sugar candy, frozen peas, sugar cookies, and spaghetti sauce from home.

No water.

No heat.

We call for tow truck #2.

The -5 degree winter is seeping through the windows

Suddenly, yellow lights are flashing in my rear view mirror. A construction vehicle pulls up

An 18 +/- year old boy with braces is in the truck.

We ask to jump into the truck for heat.

In the truck, we chat about his solitary night job working on broken down construction machines.

Another construction guy in his truck pulls up. Boy tells us that this guy is a 'goober'. He was seen one night in his truck playing cards with dragons on them.

Yep, adequate definition of goober.

Meanwhile, bean is in the cold

But finally, Mr. tow trucker #2 pulls up!

He loads the green bean and we jump into his truck

First thing we smell

Strong rubbing alcohol and pot, unfamiliar territory

I'm in fight or flight!

Crank the windows my mind shouts to my fingers!

I find the window

Visions of Ted Bundy

My imagination runs wild

Why is Jenni talking so nice to this man?

My ER training has kicked in...

Skepticism

Jenni continues into a pleasant conversation

Mr. tow trucker #2 begins to tell Jenni about his twin daughters and his side life as a guitarist of the local 'Autumn Eclipse'

I ease up, realize my misjudgment, laugh inside my head

Jenni rocks!

We make it to Provo

Safe! After a thousand prayers

The poor green bean slides lifeless off the tow truck bed

He rolls into a parking spot at American Car Care Center.

Just another car he appears

But not to me

He is still the invincible Green BEAN!

And a little fuel pump repair never hurt any car:)

New Favorite quote:

"Be Cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully, live happily, live enthusiastically. Knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love." -Ezra Taft Benson

Love it!

So grateful to know that God lives and loves us. He knows us so well, and only wants to help us reach the divine potential that is in each of us.

Today something amazing happened....

Today something amazing happened....

The provo tabernacle burned down...this occurred Friday night, December 17th. Not so amazing. But just wait. The provo tabernacle was truly an icon in the community. I remember meeting President Uchtdorf there at a stake conference he was presiding over. The building inside was beautiful, the handcrafted wood, the organ, it was so wonderful inside! So I was speculating with the girls at work how something like this could happen? Why would God allow this beautiful building that pioneers to the valley had hand-crafted over a span of 15 years, just burn?

And then the most AMAZING answer came today....

Regardless of what happens, most of what happens we have no control over, but Christ remains....His message to the world never leaves. I really do believe with all my heart that this picture is no coincidence. I know God's hand was somehow a part of not allowing that picture to burn. I don't really know why but that picture just really touched my heart. It made me super emotional the second I saw it. Just such a testimony to me that no matter what happens, or how bad things may seem, any life event can be turned into something sweet and beautiful. This picture is a message to anyone who is searching for truth about this life, there is only one answer where it can be found, and that is through Christ.

Running up the canyon

My run tonight up Provo canyon was SOOOO amazing. It was absolutely beautiful. There were a couple of inches of fresh powdery stuff everywhere. The sun was hitting the mountains just right to give it that pinkish hue just before the sun goes down. My favorite. Ice had frozen on the tree branches and the sun was shining through. I had one of those moments running....maybe you have had one....when I thought, "Have I really seen this before??" It was such a weird feeling to know that I have been on the earth for 23 years, and tonight I was seeing the mountains for the first time. I LOVE that! I ran and leaped a little in the air, feeling so invigorated, inspired, and at peace tonight.

First week of December

1st - worked a half shift, went home to logan

2nd - played in logan, ate at logan gyros with Dad, Dad bought me 12 pairs of brand spankin' new socks, taped Exodus with luke and Dad

3rd - skied opening day at the BEAV! I've still got it! The snow was perfect...a good foot of new powder and the snow kept falling all day.

4th - worked, could hardly move my legs from skiing

5th - church, went on a drive up the canyon with a good friend...chatted about where we are at in life

6th - work.

7th - BOUGHT A CAR!!! He is a beauty.....1998 subaru outback, 168,000 miles....pictures to come

8th - Work, saw my first pleural effusion and abdominal hematoma. Jazz vs. Heat game...we lost. Grateful tonight for friends who remind you of who you are!