Quick Trip to Winter

Sitting in the bustling dining room of a ship in Congo and Madagascar where the weather is usually over 90 degrees Farenheit, my friend and I shared about our winters. She invited me several times to come to Ottawa Canada. If you know me, you know I do not like to be cold at all. While it did sound  fun, I was not particularly interested in accepting that opportunity. This same friend has taught me to always have something to look forward to doing. Well, you guessed it. I went to visit her this past weekend. The joke was it was the coldest days all winter (-27 to -40 degrees F). I am happy to report that with the correct layering, I was only truly cold a few times. 

We had quite the list of Canadian things to do/eat that was made on the ship in Africa. I had a layover in Toronto. I knew I was in Canada as I spotted a Tim Horton's and Roots brand shirts immediately. After flying into Ottowa, we rotisserie chicken lunch at St Hubert's. We proceeded to layer up for snowshoeing. It was very peaceful walking on top of the snow in the woods and in the fields. 

The next morning, we layered up with additional layers as the temperature had dropped. On top: long sleeve T-shirt, wool turtle neck sweater, cold weather running shirt, ski jacket. On bottom: fleece long jons, fleece lined pants, snow pants. On head: fleece lined wool hat and hood from ski jacket. On neck/face: fleece garter and turtleneck from wool sweater. On hands: glove liners, fleece lined wool gloves. On feet: Layer 3 wool socks and lined boots. 

Winterlude includes ice sculptures, free buses, ice slides, dog sledding, ice skating on a 7 Km canal. 

The ice slides were fast and fun. Most of them you slide down on your bottom. One used a tube. I enjoy working dogs. The sled dogs were very enjoyable to watch. They wanted to run and run. My friend convinced me to go for a quick ride. I am so glad I did. I have not ice skated in over 10 years. It is not my favorite sport due to the cold environment. My friend was very patient helping get balanced and slowly skate along the canal. I eventually made it 4km with about 3 on my own. It was an official skating trip as I did fall twice. 

We also had more food to taste: Beaver tails and Poutine. Beaver tails are fried dough with cinnamon and sugar and lemon juice. Can't go wrong. Poutin traditionally is french fries covered with gravy and topped with cheese curd. My favorite part was the cheese curd. 

The next day required less layers of clothing. We went to a Nordik style spa. This was the first spa I have ever been enjoyed. I would definitely return. We did the "Thermal Experience." When it is not -27 F, one spend 15 minutes in hot, 15 seconds in cold, then relaxation in temperate(body temperature). Repeat. This can be repeated as many times as you would like. Yes, we wore only our bathing suits. Due to the outside temperature, we did the "cold" when moving from one place to another. The hot options included wet aromatic saunas, dry saunas, hot rock beds, hot tub with jets. The temperate we did was an infinity pool with a beautiful view for sunset. There was also huts with fires, but they were a bit chilly.  Spending the day in hot/warm places surrounded by beautiful wood, snow, trees was very relaxing. 

It was a wonderful weekend visiting a friend and experiencing new things. I, however, am grateful 30 degrees F is the average cold I live in NC.

Firm Foundation

Today we had the monthly voluntary rounds at lunch. These rounds are held for Children's hospital staff (RN, MD, Ancillary care, case managers). Resiliency/gratitude/wellness was the topic. We discussed how it takes resiliency to come to work every day in this environment. We discuss the importance of gratitude for the small things in life to maintain sanity. We also discussed the importance of having an outlet of fun and creativity.

Working in healthcare, it is easy to become calloused and cynical. Sometimes, healthcare workers come off as uncaring or unaffected by pts and the cases. While some of this is necessary, we still feel. Our hearts still hurt, get frustrated with situations in which children are living, frustrated with systems, corporations, and rules. We often laugh instead of cry at work.

Despite working in this environment, it never gets easier to know someone passed away. Even if you did not work closely with the patient. There are so many questions that surround what we perceive as a premature death. Death rattles our cages, gets our attention, stops us in our tracks, makes us reconsider how we are living . Over the past several months and years, several people in my circle of life have died relatively quickly. It always makes my heart heavy. I try not to dwell on it or question why it happened. After all, the only guarantees in life are taxes and death.

As I sit here tonight processing a recent friend's death, it is hard to keep going. To put one foot in front of the other to keep living the life I am called to live. I am reminded yet again how no one is guaranteed tomorrow. I am encouraged by listening to  It is well by Bethel. The lyrics "Through it all, Through it all my eyes are on you. And it is well with me. Let go my soul and trust in him the waves and wind still know his name."

These lyrics bring to mind two techniques that aid people who are walking after a significant surgery or procedure are to visually focus on a stationary object ahead and widen their base of support (their feet). The helps balance and posture. This carries over to life. I need to keep my eyes up on the One who does not change, Jesus. The waves and wind(circumstances of life) will crash and blow in life. I don't have to try to understand the state of the world, the circumstances of my life or anyone elses. I need to have a firm foundation or base of support  rooted in Jesus's truth and love. This child like faith is freeing. I can curl up in my father's lap and relax, cry, talk, or just be.

I can do this because Jesus died on the cross. He died alone. His own father forsook him. Because he died, I can talk to him, have a relationship with him, question him. Because of his death, the dying of the physical body here is not the end for Christians. He overcame death. If we have accepted him into our hearts, we will live eternally with him. We have the hope of saying see you soon rather than a firm goodbye. The hole in our hearts that dear ones leave will not be filled. We, however, can keep our eyes focus on Jesus and our firm foundation in his truth to keep our balance while we put one foot in front of another in the life he has given us to live each day.

In Between

Here we are in the new year.  Technically, it is still Christmas until January 6th (Epiphany).  I feel like I am in between in many areas of life. As a single living in a college town, I am in between being a student and having a family.  Having traveled and served abroad, I am caught between liking western medicine resources and knowing more could be done here and elsewhere. Having just received new responsibilities at work, I am caught between knowing somethings and being keenly aware of what I do not know. I have joined a small group and a running group. Well, this being a college town, we are in between semesters. This means these social events take a break as well because most people leave to see family and friends. 

During this slow time, I have been listening to several audio books. This space in time is similar to having finished one book, but one has not started another one. One story is over. One can look back remembering the ups and downs that made an interesting story line, favorite characters, best chapters. One can look forward to meeting new characters, watching a different story unfold, experience the adventures. 

Many of you know, my move here was fueled by the desire to learn more in an area of PT in order to serve people of all ages. I am in between. I am not sure what the end goal looks like practically, but continue striving for serving God. Last night, I had the privilege of sharing Mercy Ship experiences with a fellow volunteer. We served in different countries, but have had an instant connection from this one similarity. On the more difficult days, remembering adults and children I have met in the United States and in my experiences abroad brings joy to my heart. It is enough to brush off the dust of the daily grind and keep serving  and learning here.

Being in between is important. Beginning and ends only exist because of the in betweens. The line leaders and cabooses, ends of my bike lock, cogs on the gears, mountain peaks and valleys, sunrise and sunsets have significance due to the in between times. In this new year, I am hoping to progress in being content and thankful each day in this in between time.

Doors: Open and closed

One morning this week, I woke up thinking briefly about doors. This scripture came to mind.Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Instead of reflecting further I went about my day.

I later thought about the folder of photos I had labeled entrances.  One of my patients asked their parent to move so they could see the television better. I snidely remarked " Your mother makes make a better door than window."  At the hospital, some of the rooms have see through door that curtains can be pulled for privacy. Most rooms have solid doors. If the child or infant is in the room alone, the door is generally kept open. This is so anyone, mostly nurses, walking by can see and hear the child. If a parent is in the room the door is often kept closed. Usually I call the nurse prior to coming to work with a patient. The patient, therefore, has a heads up that I am coming. Out of curtisy, I knock on the door prior to opening it. This knock, however, is more announcing my entrance than asking permission to come into the room. Every place I have lived, I have an open door policy.  This means that if my door is open, anyone is welcome to come to enter. I usually only close my door if I am sleeping.  

Doors provide separation from others and another area, privacy, protection. When locked they keep people and animals out. With the exception of storm doors and fancy windows in front doors, they are not see through. One has to either have the correct key to open it or knock to ask someone on the other side to open it.

In the context of advent, preparing and expecting Jesus' coming, the verse in Revelation makes sense.  Like me, he has announced his coming prior to his arrival. We should be listening for his knock declaring He is presence. Jesus is respectful. He knocks. He is asking to come in. He is not breaking down the door and barging into our lives.We have to open the door allowing Him to enter. Because He entered our world and died for us, the separation is gone. Not only will He enter, but He will share a meal.  He gives us dignity by sharing a meal with us. Sharing a meal with someone tells them they are worth taking time out of the business to listen, laugh, share. 

I have heard the analogy several times of hiding our sin behind doors in our hearts/souls. We somehow think we are keeping it from Jesus. Although He remains, respectful, He sees it.  On this journey called life, I feel like sometimes my doors become widows with iron work on the outside before opening it fully.  I think sometimes I try to make my closed doors attractive. Perhaps, He won't knock to disturb that area. Once the courage is enough to open the door, He gently helps me clean up the mess, clear the table, shares a meal with me. It is difficult to open the door and go through the sin and shame, but the grace, love, and peace of it all being known is worth it. 

Open doors are welcoming but it is also vulnerable. Do you hear Jesus knocking? Are you opening the door or all the doors to your heart?

Belize Part 2

After three nights in the jungle, we piled into a van to head to Belize City to catch the water taxi to Caye Ambergis. Caye is pronounce Key. The water taxi is a speed boat that makes the trip in 1.5 hours. I confirmed that I enjoy speed boats most when skiing behind them rather than bumping around on them.

Once we arrived on island, we discovered the transportation was mostly golf carts. They were abundant! The other option of vehicles was mini van taxi. I bet you can guess how we chose to get around...walking. We did have to watch out to avoid being run over by the golf carts. We were blessed with a sunny day the first day at the beach. After checking in, we quickly went to the grocery store for some food. Due to it being an island, nothing was cheap. We worked in a brief snorkel at the end of the dock.

Our first evening, we enjoyed a sail. It was supposed to be sunset sail. The sunset was overshadowed by rain clouds. The star gazing while sailing gently over the waves, however, was worth the trip.  The evening finished with dinner by the sea.

We had breakfasts each day by the sea as well. We spent the day times snorkeling, relaxing by the pool, reading, in hammocks, walking around town. Each day we ate a different place for dinner or lunch. The snorkel trips were about 2.5 hours including travel time.

The first and in my opinion best snorkel spot was Hol Chan. We saw trumpet fish, snapper, grouper, angel fish, different types of parrot fish, blue tang, many different rays, Christmas tree worms, coral, green turtle, nurse sharks, and others. Our guide would point out the different fish and then come up to the surface to share the name. We also went to Shark Ray Alley. This location is where many nurse sharks and rays hang out. The boat drivers feed them so they come very close to the people in the water. I will admit, I was uncomfortable. I know they were nurse sharks, but sharks are sharks in my book. On the way back, we saw a loggerhead turtle.

The next morning it was rainy and windy. There was not a snorkel trip going out until the afternoon. In the afternoon, despite the rain coming, we went to Mexico Rocks. It is mostly coral. I did see an eel and a green turtle. The guide was not nearly as helpful or friendly. The water was quite choppy due to the wind and coming rain. Kalinda was brave and went out the next day to Hol Chan again. She enjoyed seeing the variety of fish. I read and napped while the rain came down most of the afternoon.

One day we went to town and found the craft market. It was small, but had beads, headbands, wooden bowls and dolls. Not far from the market, we found an ice cream shop. It had rich, creamy, homemade coconut icecream. It was delicious.

Kalinda and I also explored a local place for dinner that had King Conch Shell for the spout on the bathroom sink. The water handles were also shells. My favorite food was genuine papusas. I have been looking for these and wanting authentic ones since I left Guatemala. Yes, they are originally from El Salvador, but I first had them in Guatemala.

All in all, it was a great time of relaxation, seeing new things, and good food. I, however, would not recommend Ambergis Caye (at least in rainy season) unless you scuba. There are many more scuba divers and sites to go to than snorkelers.