I work in health care.  It is one of the most rewarding jobs, and at certain blips in time, one of the most painful jobs.  People will frequently say "don't get involved", "don't get attached".  These people must not work with others.  I am called by my faith to get involved and attached.  I am called to help those I work with and those I serve. 

It's times like now, the blip, when I have a full understanding of Psalm 46:10.  God is God.  God is sovereign, and despite the circumstances of life--he holds the keys to life (mine, yours, everyone else's).  One of my patients has cancer and is in a downward spiral of health.  The cancer won't be what takes her life, everything else shutting down in her body will.  Another one is the caregiver for her husband.  She just had a significant stroke.  She needs to learn to slow down, while her husband (also stroke survivor) needs to learn to push himself more.  Then my other patient, well, in the midst of trauma she has found Christ.  God is in control, and will handle each of these lives as He sees fit.  The amazing thing is despite me and my existence -- in the end He has already handled everything, for He has prepared a place for each of them and me in His palace.

I'm hoping for a king sized bed and a huge bath tub.

When the good Lord was creating mothers, he was into his sixth day of overtime, when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this one? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; have 180 moveable parts, all replaceable;run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that disappears when she stands up, a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair,  and six pair of hands.
"The angel shook her head slowly and said,"Six pairs of hands...no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord."It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, "What are you kids doing in there?" when she already knows. Another here, in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't, but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, "I understand and I love you," without so much as uttering a word."
"Lord,"said the angel, touching his sleeve gently, "Rest for now. Tomorrow..."
"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm so close to creating something close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick, can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower.
"The angel circled the model of the mother very slowly."She's too soft," she sighed.
"But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what the mother can do or endure."
"Can she think?"
"Not only think, but she can reason and compromise,"said the Creator. Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.
"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you, you were trying to put too much into this model."
"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."
"What's it for?"
"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."
"You're a genius," said the angel. The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

written by Erma Bombeck

....and a special thanks to my mom, for all your years of support, love, urging, consoling, pushing, joking, etc.  Your the best mom I could have ever had!  Thanks mom!

A couple of years ago, I remember reading on Popular Science (online) about a fellow who was trying to create colored bubbles. Simple, right? One would think. All you need to do is add food coloring to your bubble mixure. Herein lies the problem: when the bubble bursts, it stains, gets messy, etc. As a mom to a toddler, I could use a lot less of that. Not only that, the color doesn't really "stick" properly to the bubbles, it tends to run down to the bottom of the bubbles. At least, that is according to Tim Kehoe,, inventor of Zubbles.

It's been a couple of years since I read the article (you can read it here). And I was hoping to see it hit the market by now. Sadly, it's still not being distributed. I wonder why? According the the Zubbles website, the bubbles have disappearing ink, so when they pop, they don't leave an awful mess.

I so want these! They look utterly fascinating. I don't think I could ever get tired of bubbles. There is something about them that bring out the childhood awe and wonder in all of us.

I can't wait for these to finally hit the market.

Okay, so  my husband emailed me yesterday.  He stays up until 2-3am studying (or so I thought) most nights because of how hard it is to study during the day with a 2 and 6 year old running around (they are soooo demanding :D ).  Anyways, evidently at times he is highly distractable--hence 2 nights ago when he was distracted by the desire to learn to whistle LOUDLY.  Now the rest of us get to join in the fun by listening to this obnoxious new found talent.

I also learned a valuable lesson tonight.  Look at links your hubby sends you before posting, not after.  The first one had some, well, shall we say, inappropriate...ummmm.....finger gestures on it.  So I deleted the link, and you can search you tube on your own for lessons on whistling.

J-boy is supposed to bring a flower to school tomorrow for his teacher.  This got me thinking....I wonder if he will remember his kindergarten teacher the way I remember mine.  Mrs. Thysell.  Why after 32 years I can recall that when I couldn't tell you what I ate for dinner last night--well that's probably another subject.  I loved Mrs. Thysell's class.  I even remember my work book.  I also remember her crazy 70s hairdo.

So, here's to all you teachers out there, my friends Gail and my SIL...homeschooling counts, my SIL's SIL (couldn't resist),  Miss Janice and Miss Niki.  You all are awesome!  Thanks for what you do for the kids [especially those of you in the crazy state of California--where they hope (shhhhh!) you'll stop saying (shhhhhh!) mom (eek.)].  And thanks to my numerous teachers who were just the best (stored in the middle of the worst district) I could have asked for....imagine where I might be without you.  I hope you all get spoiled rotten this week.

I guess that makes me IT, thanks Phisch. That's OK, my first blog post has been very long in coming anyway, so this makes for good motivation.

My random eight:

1. I work at a company that is all about motorcycling and motorcycle safety but I don't know how to ride, nor am I interested at all. One look at our So Cal freeways and you'll know exactly why. ScooterSchool, on the other hand, I find very interesting indeed (*envisions scenes from Roman Holiday and cute celadon hued Vespa with matching helmet*).

2. The last time I was on a motorcyle, I think I was only 6. My uncle rode a motorcycle and frequently shuttled my sister, brother and me (yes, all of us at the same time) to our grandparents house. I am still shocked to this day that my mother allowed such a thing. Then again, it was her bright idea to send Phisch and EG down the hill in their toy car (I'll let Phisch tell that story since I wasn't even born yet).

3. I've taken two ATV classes through my work, they were lots of fun. I could see myself ATVing, if my lifestyle and environment was conducive to it but I have no storage or money for it. I tried to get my nephew NM in a class, but they left for Austin so quickly I didn't get the class arranged soon enough. BTW, here's another random tip for you all which I found out too late. Any child in the state of CA (minimum age 6) can take our ATV class for FREE. I didn't even know that until after I tried to arrage a class for NM. You don't need to bring anything. Gear (helmets, gloves, boots) and ATVs are all supplied.

4. I have an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, for which I am very proud because my dad worked very hard to make sure we got a good education.

5. It took me 6 years to finish college, mainly because I wasn't prepared for life. I spent a year after high school languishing at home (I finally convinced my dad to let me go), two years in community college when I really should have gone straight to 4 year college. In fact, I could have shaved off a whole year (or more) of college with that IB diploma.

6. The street I grew on in the Philippines was Ortega, in the barangay of San Juan. I now live in San Juan Capistrano, Ortega highway being one of its main arteries.

7. I learned how to ride a bicycle all by myself.

8. I used to have a pet duck, and it won 1st place during Pet Day at my kindergarten.

Who can I tag? Nobody at this point. Everyone I would tag has already been tagged!

The rules:

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment on their blog and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to come back and read your blog for the whole story.

My Random Eight:

1.  I've never been tagged....and I don't think I know 8 people with blogs.  LOL...I'll get there.

2.  I spent my lunch hour getting refocused on things that matter.  I love having a sister in the Lord who loves me for who I am, and will meet me where I'm at.

3.  I used to be a night person, have never been a morning person.  Despite this, my life forces me to wake in the wee hours and get my hiney out of bed.  Now, I am neither a morning or night person...I just live by day.

4.  Unlike my SIL, I am all about the reds...I like the warmth of all things red.

5.  Out of a 12,000 employee company, the CEO knows my name.

6.  God uses my kids to blow my mind daily.  There is nothing like the smile, hug and laughter of your own little one.

7.  I am a hand therapist.  If you don't believe in God, look at the hand.  The intricacy of the human hand screams a designer.  How one can think it came together by chance screams idiocy.

and of course,

8.  What if I did a ninth?  Does that screw up the rules?  Who makes the rules and why do I have to follow them?

but now, whom shall I tag?  all my friends/family are tagged by the others?  help, what do I do?

One of my patients bought  my kids a book...Your favorite Seuss....13 of the Seuss books in one.  I read some of it today at work (I finally brought it home this evening).  I have to say, all things seem more colorful with a little Seuss.  If you are under stress, I highly suggest a little "And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street", or "the Sleep Book"...Nonsense and rhyme.  You can't help but smile.