cheekysharon.

Whew, what a busy spring break!

With goals to accomplish, meetings to attend, trainings to undergo, chapters to review, lessons to read, classes to prepare for and money to make- this spring break is quite an eventful week. I really can’t believe it’s only Monday!

Last Saturday, I had my first Hospice re-training! After a year of emailing back-and-forth with the director of volunteers at Compassion Hospice, and trying to go through the training two times already, I am finally here again!

I don’t know if there’s anything harder than being face-to-face with someone who is dying. What can I say? What can I do? As a volunteer, I will be getting paired with a patient whose prognosis is less than 6 months, a patient who is preparing for the end of their life. I know my heart will be broken time and time again for their physical circumstance, but I pray that I have a greater sense of urgency and brokenness for the spiritual reality of their situation. Ahh, so nervous. Alot of hand-holding, silent praying, hymn-singing and joke-sharings ahead I’m sure! God, be with me..

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Last night was my first night of four night shifts this week, and although I only had a few hours of sleep I survived the night with ease and no need for extra caffeination (fake word).

This is so.. wrong.

Last night was crazy. I got to hang out with a police officer who was watching one of my patients who was “under custody”.. I sang to a confused and agitated woman who repeatedly screamed ‘HELP, HELP, HELP, SOMEONE HELP ME!’ and told me to shut up as I was singing her songs to calm her down. Both discouraging and traumatizing. I guess singing really isn’t my gift (hahaha). I had a woman who was wimpering and sobbing in bed because she was in so much pain and “sick of it all” and I to got to spend a few hours next to her bed to hold her hand and talk about life, family and love.

Now you can see why I didn’t need anything to keep me awake :)

If you want to see how crazy of a night it was, look what happened to my glasses:

(yes, that’s a safety pin keeping the parts of my glasses together- haha..)

oh! and I also accomplished one of my goals!

My mom found a blender for me at home and I brought it back to my apartment with me and have been making smoothies so frequently I think my bowels are all frozen up in there.

I don’t have too many ingredients so I’m just working with what I have :)

Frozen strawberries, a little cup of yogurt, bananas (better when frozen) and a splash of juice.

Blended up and you’re ready to go! It’s been a good mid-day snack, breakfast, and dessert. :o) You can also top it off with a little granola and it adds a delicious crunch to it. Great for Breakfast!

Yum!

One hour before work starts. There’s no better way to prepare for another long 12-hour night shift than at Starbucks with a few good books, my journal and bible! :o) I’m ready! Here I go again..

Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

Psalm 43:3-4

Give thanks- fun and friendly staff that make long nights so much more enjoyable, phone calls with Eugene (even if they’re only for 3 minutes..), encouragement from the Word, long naps, dreams, smoothies, Your grace that saved me, saves me, strengthens me every day.