Gravel Road Musings

Okay, here goes.  I don't know that I am the best book reviewer ever, but I do love to read and I do enjoy finding new authors. I think this was the first book I have ever read by Anne and I think I would read more of her books.  It was a pretty typical Christian romance in which hero and heroine are in love, then have a fallout from irreconcilable differences, and then of course in the end, they both are willing to sacrifice and fall back in love and live happily ever after. However, I will say that the development of Sadie Sillsby, the main character, was well done.  At the beginning of the book, Sadie was the assistant matron at the Raystown Home.  This was a home for abandoned or orphaned children or as a temporary home for children whose parents were in a financial hardship and couldn't afford to raise their children.  Her dream was to become matron which she does shortly into the book.  But, as it turns out, she really doesn't have the makings of ...

I just found this post.  It somehow got saved under drafts rather than published, so it's a few weeks outdated.  This came in the mail this week.  I don't know if you can see it all, but there are four books, a journal, some note cards, a pack of dry-erase markers, shampoo & conditioner, brownie mix, dried apricots, fruit straws, 2 kinds of tea, 3 microfiber sponges, flax seeds, some samples, little note paper, $50 gift card to Red Robin, $5 gift card to Starbucks, instant coffee, ginger-orange marmalade, and a few other things I probably missed. I won the July Extravaganza Give-Away from moneysavingmom.com .  It feels like such a gift from God--like He knew the odds of me really winning were very small, but He also knew that it would be a big boost to my somewhat stressful week and so He picked me to win.  I really like that thought. It makes God feel like such a personal caring God, which I know He is. If you are looking for some good summer rea...

So once again I am at work and a little bored today.  I am waiting on a baby to arrive and I have to be honest, I wish it would get its act in gear and get with the program.  This is Wednesday after all and is supposed to be my afternoon off.  Last Wednesday I was here for 14 hours instead of 4 and this Wednesday is threatening to be a repeat though not as many hours, hopefully. Just a few things to keep in mind again when you are having a baby: (by the way, so far we have the model couple here): - Even if you think you know everything, try not to ask questions in such a way as to make the nurse get her dander up.  She loves to take the time to answer questions, but she does not appreciate feeling on the defensive when the questions are asked in such a way as to make the nurse feel inferior like she may or may not know what is going on. - If you want a labor coach and you don't know if the nurse will comply, then bring your own.  Don't ask the nurse if she i...

I'm in the mood to blog right now--unfortunately I am at work as well.  This may be a little mod-podged as I move from patient to blog and back to patient, but this way, I likely will not forget what it is I want to blog about. Okay too busy, scratch that.  Catch up with everyone later. SORRY!!!

I haven't done a To Do or Not to Do List for awhile so I think I will list a couple of things that come to my mind today. 1.  It is fine to ask to use the phone; however discussing your financial situation in the waiting room is probably a bit too much.  But discussing it on the phone in an exam room when the nurse or doctor are trying to do their job is also a bit annoying; but beings you weren't the patient, I have some patience with you.  I also do understand your desire not to get your bill turned over to the collection agency because yes, that is very unfortunate. 2.  If you are crossing your legs with your one very stinky, decaying foot facing the drawer the nurse is trying to get in, please move.  Move farther than 2 inches too.  Because the nurse is trying to grab her gloves and grab them quickly and they happen to be at the back of the drawer and a little stubborn.  But if you want to, move 2 inches, watch while the nurse struggles to grab h...

I'm reading a book right now called: Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage just isn't Good Enough by Justin and Trisha Davis.  It's a very good book and one I would recommend.  They tell the story of their journey from an ordinary marriage to a bad marriage to an affair and back beyond ordinary to an extraordinary marriage.  It's a challenge to me to keep the communication lines open between D and me and to first and foremost have a close relationship with God depending on Him to meet all my needs. Last night I was reading the chapter called Beyond Ordinary Healing and it was their journey through counseling and relearning the ropes of marriage and most of all looking to God and being willing to have themselves destroyed so they could be rebuilt into the people God meant them to be.  One of their friends told them he was praying Lamentations 3 over them; particularly verse 16.  Now what does verse 16 say?  "He has made me grind my teeth on gravel.  H...

I love organization!!!  That is not to say I am organized, but I like the idea of organization.  For instance, at work, the little plastic blood tubes need to be lined up neatly in the little box where they belong.  Please do not just randomly toss them in there.  Yes, the one box is currently a conglomeration of tossed plastic tubes, but I didn't do it and I didn't take the time to correct the problem today.  But it bothered me pretty much. every. time. I. opened. the. drawer. to get out another tube. Nothing makes me happier than to have a daily planner.  I had been without one for months on end; I just decided it wasn't necessary nor could I really find one I liked.  Finally, this week, I sat down and printed off a few different kinds and decided to try them out to see what I liked best.  And yes, I think I have found a winner.  Does this make me organized?  No, it most certainly does NOT, but I get a thrill of being able to take th...