Politically-Minded Monday

I was a political science major in college. I have to assist with this year's November fourth elections. It would just be wrong if I didn't get involved! So, a couple of weeks ago, I attended the local Botetourt Republican Committee's "Moose" (ham for real) dinner. This fundraiser had so many attendees that the BRC had to turn some people away, because it was held in the local middle school cafeteria (i.e. fire codes, etc). I sat at the table with the woman delegate from Virignia who had of course attended the Republican National Convention. It was neat to get her "inside" stories on the RNC events and platforms.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Ken Cuccinelli, the only conservative state senator in Northern Virginia (NOVA). He represents the thirty-seventh senatorial district. Senator Cuccinelli is also pro-life, a dedicated Christian, husband , and father of six young children:

The children below - from youngest to oldest - recited from memory and in unison the Gettysburg Address and U.S. Presidents (Washington to "John McCain). Don't they look cute?

On The Issues is a website that provides "non-partisan information for voters in the Presidential election, so that votes can be based on issues rather than on personalities and popularity". There are other news and political websites out there I like to visit regularly (Rush Limbaugh, NewsMax, OneNewsNow, FoxNews, etc.), but I do recommend OnTheIssues for a quick, concise, easy to understand summary of the Presidential candidates.

Wednesday Evening

It has been another busy but wonderful day! I can't believe tomorrow is my last work day for this week and that Fernando and Rosa will be leaving on Friday morning. I have not gotten to visit with them as much as I would've liked. However, I have enjoyed their cooking! The meals have been delicious and it's been nice to know exactly what I could pack for lunch each day.

My intake this morning went well. I worked with a man who was ninety-six years old and completely paralyzed on one side of his body. During the course of the client intake, I was reminded again of how very blessed I am. The gentleman's wife left him the day he had the stroke that paralyzed him. The wife told her husband, "I don't want to take care of you if you're going to be all sick like this". How very sad; my heart went out to him. I'm realizing everyday in a new way how much others need the Lord just as much I do. Everyone suffers. Everyone needs the Savior.

Tonight, as I was conveying the events of my day to Mom, she asked, "You really do love y our job don't you?" I replied, 'Yes, I really do. It's still a job with stresses of its own, but I'm loving it! The Lord has prepared me so well for this job." Thank you to everyone out those reading this for your prayers. Your prayers and support helped me to hang on during the really awful valleys until these better mountain-top days finally arrived!

I guess I should update one of these days! I have a few pictures to post. Hopefully one night this week I'll have time to write. Work has been fun and is going well, but it's a bit hectic as I get acclimated to everything. Tomorrow morning, I do my first solo "intake" (client meeting). Health is stable right now...

Work Week Wrap-Up

Tomorrow is Friday and that means I don't go to work. With the Lord's strength, I have survived my first week at the Blue Ridge Independent Center. This was the first day I felt acclimated and settled with the work routine. That's partly because the IT guy visited my cubicle this morning to set up my work email, network settings, and phone system.

Someone asked me this week, "So what exactly is the BRILC?" Good question! The BRILC assists people in becoming more self reliant, as well as advocating and assisting the community at large in being handicap accessible. And it's much more complicated than just checking to see if a restaurant has a ramp for individuals in a wheelchair. We also provide referrals to other community agencies, both private and government run. I didn't realize it until now, but there are more than four hundred Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in the United States, so the Roanoke BRILC is part of state and national associations.

One reason why I like working at BRILC is that I'm assisting people in moving forward with their lives, using (what I believe) are their God-given abilities. I also help individuals assess their personal goals to see if they're realistically achievable. Interestingly, the executive director asked me today about Grand Rounds and my experiences with the local hospitals. She said there is a medical community committee that she might assign to me, if I so desire. All Independet Living Coordinators (my job title, basically a "case worker") have to serve on at least one community board or civic group.

My early childhood development and political science degrees are being put to good use! So are my life experiences at the Blue Ridge Women's Center, Blue Ridge Autism Center, Rescue Mission's Camp Jubliee, church committees, home-schooling, and Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. Of course, I have no idea how long I'll be at the BRILC. For right now, though, I feel the Lord's pleasure in what I am doing. He has certainly prepared me for this job. Some of my greatest challenges in the past have now become my strengths at the BRILC. That is only possible through God's redemptive power.

"The Lord has done this, and it's marvelous in our eyes". -Psalm 118:23

I just read Mom's post from a year ago. I was in bed, because it was the week before Remicade and I was in miserable pain. I had called the doctor to beg for an earlier infusion day, but he declined my request. A year later, as I reflect on today, I am in awe of what the Lord has done. Today, I began my job at the Blue Ridge Independent Living Center (BRILC). It appears that I'm going to utilize so many of my life experiences God has given me with my position as Independent Living Coordinator.

It was the typical first day with many introductions, general meetings with the direct supervisor and the executive director, and setting up my cubicle. I need to decorate my office before posting a picture, but it's a bigger cubicle than I ever expected having, so that's an added bonus. My cubicle is in the back of the building where it's less hectic and more peaceful.

I also read the employee handbook, which was forty pages long. That took awhile to muddle through! The staff was polite and made it a point to introduce themselves. While I was getting my things together to leave, one employee came up to me and said, "I've been meaning to visit you all day!" Then, she proceeded to ask me where I lived and if I needed anything.

I now see how wondefully God worked out the details that I "worried" about beforehand. My supervisor is very accomodating and stated she'll work with my doctor appointments and family schedules (within reason). In fact, I changed my schedule so Paul Burton can drop me off at BRILC on his way to work. I will now be working Monday-Thursday from 10:00 to 4:30pm. Tomorrow, I have additional orientation, a bunch of paperwork to complete with the administrative assistant, and some client sessions to observe.

From what I saw, there appears to be a few co-workers who are Christian or at least "religious". BRILC has about thirty employees, with about twenty working at the Roanoke office. Because of the nature of the job, I will also have on-going contact with the Roanoke Valley community. So there will be ample opportunity for me to witness the Christian life with others. I received a "new job" card in the mail today from Uncle Dan, Aunt Julie, and Danae. I thought the prayer they wrote to me was very applicable, "We are praying that you will reflect Jesus to them [co-workers, clients, etc]". Amen!

"Negative" Independence

The quote below is in regard to having a right relationship with the Lord through dependency on Him alone. The paragraph is copied from The Devotional Writings of Oswald Chambers, September ninth evening devotional.

"When we are rightly related to God all our natural instincts help us to obey Him and become the greatest ally of the Holy Spirit. We disobey whenever we become independent. Independence is not strength but unrealized weakness, and is the very essence of sin. There was no independence in our Lord, the greatest characteristic of His life was submission to His Father."

The Lord continually ordains events in my life that demand dependency on others in an attempt to encourage and teach me about dependency on Him. Adoption into a country where I did not know the language or customs required total dependency on others. Attending and successfully completing grade school and college was contingent on how much I submitted to others, particularly instructors' directions. Living and coping with HPS requires dependency on others (especially in the hospital!).

Independence can be a good thing when it is channeled into determination and perseverance. However, independence is not smart when it keeps us from heeding wise counsel and learning from our mistakes. If I fight against those trying to help me (which I shamefully do all too often), how likely is it that I'm going to depend on God, who knows me better than any human? The events in my life should instead drive me to total dependency on God.

The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is about having an on-going relationship with God through total dependency on Him. Those in the Bible that did not depend on the Lord got into trouble time after time; some of their mistakes even cost the lives of others. Those that depended on God (i.e. obeyed Him) with their physical actions but not in their hearts were still mentally and emotionally miserable. As with Jesus Christ, the greatest characteristic of our lives should be total submission to our Heavenly Father.

How Many Of Me?

Dad made an observation tonight that sums up my day, "It used to be that Remicade Day was the big "news" [blog] story of the quarter.  Now, it's almost a non-event."  I still report on Remicade Day, though, because I don't want to forget what the Lord has done for me.  I like to brag on the Lord, especially when so much prayer and effort went into making my Remicade treatments possible.  And today's Remicade Day was truly a successful event!  Everything happened as planned with no negative surprises.  I was done by 1:00pm, so the rest of the afternoon was spent running errands with Mom and Qavah. 

When I was in the waiting room before my Remicade treatment began, the receptionist called, "Kathryn".  I replied aloud, "That's me" and stood up.  So did the woman next to me.  We looked at each other and she said, "I'm a Katherine, too".  I smiled back and told her, "Well, nice name!" We ended up sitting next to each other in the Infusion Center, which was fun.   

This "Kathryn" event reminded me of a an email I received the other day from my friends Candice and Crystal.  The email was a link to find out how many other people in the United States shared my name. Below is what I discovered.  Interesting side note, there was a different answer for "Kathryn" than for "Katherine," so spelling matters.  If you visit the site, please let me know "how many of you" there exists!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 532 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Wonderful Wednesday

It's the day before Remicade and I spent this afternoon visiting with my friend, Kristin. Amazing, isn't it?? Kristin is a Stampin Up(!) demonstrator, so she brought a few of her supplies and how-to tips.  I provided the stamps and light refreshments. We stamped and chatted from 1:00 to 5:30pm!  

Kristin stamped three cards and looked through my scrapbooks.  I completed two pages of my United States' scrapbook and made two cards.  We discussed everything from stamping to coooking to Bible studies and prayer requests.  Kristin's scrapbook of her trip to Prince Edward Island was beautiful.  It has me inspired to finish my Arizona scrapbook.  Kristin said she enjoyed the oppportunity to stamp for pure fun and not for a class or upcoming demonstration.  I used her stamping markers and I'm seriously considering purchasing a set.  They make stamping so quick, easy and less messy!  At the end of our visit, we both agreed that we needed to plan another stamping afternoon in the near future.

Tonight, I'm going to practice my harp and pack my Remicade bag for tomorrow's treatment. At yesterday's GI appointment, my doctor stated that he wanted to see if I could go eight weeks instead of six weeks between Remicade infusions.  A recent blood test he conducted showed that, theoritically, I have enough Remicade in my system to last eight weeks.  My GI doctor stated to me, "Of course, your body functions differently than what the tests show, but at least we can try it".  He committed to getting me an infusion appointment right away should I have any trouble. I asked my GI doctor if he wanted me to delay tomorrow's appointment, but he said I shouldn't with beginning a new job next week.  He thought it best to wait unitl next time.  I was impressed with that answer.

Medical Musings

Time for a medical update.  Yesterday, I went to the pulmonologist for the first time.  In a way, going to this appointment was sad.  I had a quick pulmonology function test right before my hysterectomy in June of 2007, but that's all of the treatment I've gotten for my lungs since being diagnosed with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome.  I've known from the being that pulmonary fibrosis is a part of HPS, however, the GI issues have consumed my time, energy, and attention the last few years.  And honestly, I just did not want to face the pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis. It's a nasty and complicated symptom of HPS.    

So, I finally went to yesterday's appointment with some apprehension.  And I'm glad everything went well, relatively speaking.  The pulmonologist appears experienced and personable.  I did have one test with the nurse before the doctor entered the room, though. She held a round tube that measured my lung force as I blew into the tube.  In other words, I was supposed to take a deep breath, hold the breath, and then blow as hard as possible into the tube.  I tried the test three different times and then the nurse recorded the best score.  The normal range for this particular lung force test is anywhere from three hundred to six hundred.  My best score was three hundred and fifty, but that was blowing with all of my might.  I have a follow-up appointment the first week of October, where I'll have new PFTs conducted and another consult with the pulmonologist.

Today, I went to the gastroenterologist before my harp lesson.  I'm so thasnkful for a GI doctor that listens, asks pertinent questions, is willing to think outside of the box, and consults me before deciding the best cousrse of treatment.  After hearing additional information regarding the on-going esophogus and throat pain, the GI doctor sent me home with samples of a "brand new" drug that is supposed to work quicker and better than Nexium.  

At one point, my GI doctor said, "Tell me how your throat really feels inside.  Is the pain smooth, thick, sharp, or dull?"  I told him that the "pain" was thick, similar to the feeling you have in your throat just before coughing.  Another way to describe is the feeling you have in your throat after eating or drinking dairy products like a milkshake. Only, I have that thick feeling so much of the time that it's difficult to swallow.  I used to take my morning medications with just a few swallows of liquid. Recently, I've needed one to two cups of liquid, and even then, I'm not totally sure the medicines are going to stay down.  

So after conveying all of this infomration, the GI doctor recommended an "out of the box" treament in addition to the new drug.  He said, "Drink warm decaiffenated herbal tea just before eating".  He said the tea should "break up" the mucus as well as loosen my throat and esophogus muscles.  My GI doctor believes the mucus is a combination of allergies, reflux, and ceroid (a waxy-like substance known to exist in humans with HPS).  I'm supposed to try these new treatments for ten days before following up with my gastroenterologist.  

A Quiet Night

It has been a very good, but busy day.  Among the joyful events was that Paul Burton called this afternoon to say that his vacation to Washington, D.C. is going well.  The group he is with visited the national zoo yesterday.  Paul Burton got lots of pictures and some footage of a tiger roaring. I'm looking forward to watching that video!  I do miss my brother, though. I'm used to spending some time with him on the weekends.   

The weather is rather tranquil tonight after the rain storms of the last day and a half. Everyone here seems to be affected by the calmness.  Even though Ellie is lying down in the hallway, I can hear her snoring. I just checked on Qavah (Mom and Dad are out for the evening) and she is sound asleep too, with her blanket tucked beneath her chin. The soft colors of her night light are casting beautiful shadows on her bedroom wall.  There is a "holy hush" in our home tonight and I'm at peace because of it.  For me, the Sabbath has already begun, even though "Sunday" is a few hours away.  My soul is longing to spend some time with the Lord right now, so I'm going to go read my Bible and devotional books.  May your Sabbath be calm and restful, as well.

The Valley of Vision Prayer

LORD, HIGH and HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox: 

that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive

that the valley is the place of vision.

LORD, in the daytime stars can be seen from the deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find: 

thy light in my darkness,

thy life in my death,

thy joy in my sorrow,

thy grace in my sin,

thy riches in my poverty,

thy glory in my valley.

Birthday Surprises!

Since my family celebrated my Birthday on Tuesday night, today seemed like an ordinary day in many respects even though it "is" actually my birth date.  I spent the majority of the day doing laundry, straightening, and stripping the wallpaper border in Paul Burton's apartment.  Yes, I was up on a ladder with a bucket of water, trash can, and sponge.    Paul Burton played the movie Sense and Sensibility on his computer, so we listened to that while we worked.  I actually enjoyed the experience so much that I'm now looking forward to finishing the project with Mom this weekend, while Paul Burton is away.  He's in Washington, D.C. for a weekend vacation.  Meanwhile, Mom took Qavah to the hospital today for her monthly blood transfusion.  

A friend asked me tonight if I received any Birthday surprises today.  I did.  Two in fact.  One was at lunchtime when I got to talk on the phone to Cousin Mike (he comments a lot on our family websites). Even though we write to each other on instant messenger almost daily, we had never talked over the phone before. We share similar political views, so that dominated the majority of our conversation.  There was much to discuss after Sarah Palin's speech last night.  (*giggles*)  The second surprise was...

I have a job!  Remember that interview I had last week? Well, the executive director called today and asked, "How would you like to join the staff of the Blue Ridge Independent Living Center?"  I start on September 16 and my job title is Indpendent Living Coordinator.  For right now, I'll be working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:15am-4:30pm.  

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me regarding a job.  I know there is much the Lord will teach me through this job.  I don't expect it to be easy all of the time.  However, I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve others, while using my God-given gifts and abilities. I am smiling right now thinking of how much fun the Lord had surprising me with the news of a new job on my Birthday.  God could have chosen any day this week for the executive director to call, but He used today to bless me in a very big way.  Praise to the Lord Almighty!

Birthday Card

Even though my Birthday is tomorrow, yesterday was the only night this week that we could celebrate as a family. It was a wonderful, fun party! For dinner, we had ribs, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Dessert of course was a carrot cake Mom cooked that happened to be wheat and gluten free. It is very delicious; I'm still enjoying it! I had a piece for breakfast.

In addition to the family time together (which is one of my favorite things anyway), I also got some nice gifts... mostly fun, but useful things. I have two different stories related to my gifts, but I'm saving those for future posts. The cards I've gotten this year have been beautiful, with the exception of one. That card, which I've scanned, is displayed below. Click on the picture for a bigger view of the card front. Paul Burton gave me this card. I thought it was a great card for a political science major who is particularly ecstatic with John McCain's choice for Vice President (Sarah Palin)!

The inside of the card said, "Everybody's cheering you on to a happy birthday!" Then, Paul Burton had written, "I move for you to have a great birthday. Do I have a second?"

Tuesday

Things are going well. It was a pleasant weekend. We had about twenty people here on Sunday afternoon and evening for Bible study and fellowship. Since the weather was less humid, we spent the majority of the time outside. Even our song time and study were done on the front porch. After supper, some of the college-age kids enjoyed a game of volleyball while others (like me) played board games or chatted together.

Even though yesterday was Labor Day, Dad worked until lunchtime. Then he came home and helped Mom and me clean Paul Burton's apartment. We are starting a family project to organize, update, and decorate Paul Burton's "home". The apartment has not been fixed-up since Colin got married. So, it's time to make Paul Burton a real haven he can come home to after long hours at the hospital.