The "B" word

So yesterday I had an appointment at the eye doctors. He used the dreaded "B" word with me. Isn't against the law to cuss in front of your patients?

I am actually borderline needing Bi-focals. He wrote up the prescription without hoping that I will be okay. But he also noted in my chart that if I need them, I can just pay the difference to get the lenses adjusted.

Boy after that appointment I sure felt like I was getting old!

Stacy

A Difference

I wrote recently about Make A Difference Monday's. Have you tried to make a difference in the last few weeks? I have decided in my life and schedule right now, that Mondays I don't usually have the time and chance to make a difference. I am going to try to make my difference on Fridays.

However I do have a few things to share.

The week that I told you about MDM's I did not get a chance to really make a difference. But the next day as I was walking a patient out to see her mom, I noticed that her mom was not sitting in our waiting area, but out in the hallway lounge area. I didn't ask but she offered that her mom always sits out there as sometimes the people just aren't that nice. She went on to say that I was different, that I did an exceptional (her word, not mine) job and she enjoyed her visit.

Wow - I was really taken back. I didn't feel that I had treated her anything different than my other patients. She made as much of a difference on my life that day as I had apparently done to hers by just making me feel special.

Last Friday I was in a rush in town trying to get a million things done before I had to meet up with Laurel to get our hair done. As I was pulling out of my last errand I got behind a car and traveled down the road. As we approached the light (GREEN) she went through and a car pulled out of the side street and right into her path. She tried to swerve, but couldn't avoid hitting him. I was back far enough and saw what was about to happen that I stopped at the light (Just turning yellow) and let them pull off the road. As they both got out of the car and briefly talked, she started looking around for someone to verify what happened, pointing at cars and asking if they saw what happened. She never looked at me. As the light turned green again I knew what I had to do, even if it meant missing my hair appointment. I pulled in behind her and she came running over very shaken up. She had her baby in the car, she had never been in an accident before and the other driver was blaming her and wanting to leave. I asked if everyone was okay and then called 911. The police showed up and took my statement and I was on my way. I wasn't late and I felt so much better for making a difference in someones life that day.

This week at work I had one day where I just thought I should not go back after lunch, it was that bad. But I went back and muddled through. The next day was a good day at work. I am so thankful that I don't have too bad days in a row, I am afraid I would just give up. Anyhow, yesterday started out great. I was running on time and things were just clicking. The doctor came over and pulled me aside and said that he had gotten a survey back that morning and I was mentioned on it. (At this point I am thinking here goes my day) He said the patient had nothing but praise for me and specifically mentioned me by name. What a difference someone made in my life.

As I continue to get adjusted to the new job, I want to try to find the good things each day and make a difference every day at work. Even if it is by simply smiling at someone or saying hello.

Have a great day and get out there and Make a Difference!

Stacy

Just Beautiful

I plan on taking more pictures later, but I just love how this tree looks.





It is too dark out to take many pics yet. I just love how the ice has coated the tree first and then the snow lays on top. Our official snow fall count from yesterday was 8". WooHoo!

Have a great day.

Stacy

Speaking of....

Or better titled: Things that sound dirty but aren't.

So earlier today I was reading what was posted over at Sweet Blessings and thought of something that was said at work today.

Most of you know I work in a dental office, orthodontics to be specific. So picture this:

I am working on a 15-17 yr old male patient. I just get done cleaning his mouth and I am rinsing him out. I asked him how he was doing and he says to me: "Can you suck me?"

What?!?!? It took me a minute to realize that he needed me to use the suction. LOL

Stacy

Just a Little Fun Today!

I got this "Bucket List" from the Bek Life blog. The blue ones are the ones that apply to me.
I thought this was fun and made me reflect a little and look to the future a little. I hope this post prompts you to remember some of the important things in life and maybe to enjoy your many blessings a little more thoroughly today.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more to charity than you can afford
7. Been to DisneyWorld (and DisneyLand)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
1 3. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Blecht - not fun)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (Does walking it count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse (Moon & Sun)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (They live down the road)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (If Tupperware counts)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (12 years in a row)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (If fish counts)
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (Many times)

Feel free to copy this and do it yourself.

Have a great weekend!

Stacy

Thanks & Snow Pic's

First I want to thank everyone for all the well wishes and prayers.

When we met with the Dr. one day during one on one training, he told us that at one point in our training we would hit a wall. It would take us to a very low point and we would want to quit. I actually thought I had hit this wall a few weeks ago thinking that I couldn't do the job. There were a few days that I thought I would never figure this whole passing the instruments, putting the right wires in, etc. I worked my way through it and thought I was going to do fine.

Then early this week I hit another wall. This one I wasn't sure I would get over. But I have felt the wonderful prayers and well wishes that each of you have been sending my way. Yesterday and today I had wonderful days at work. I felt like things were starting to click. I passed instruments and actually knew the correct order. I changed wires and didn't have as much trouble as I had been having.

My biggest hurdle is not being home for my kids. Is there a way for me to balance work and home with this job? I am not sure, I am not giving up yet, but I am keeping my options open.

So again thank you for the prayers and well wishes and please continue to pray for direction for me.

And on a completely different note, here are a few pics from the snow we have here. And yes, we still have lots! I love every minute if the snow. Although I don't care for the -* readings on the thermometer.

Look how high that snow is piled on the bushes outside of the entrance!

Not sure if you can tell, but the snow is piled taller that Little S.

This is our walk way. That snow is almost up to my knees. I should have stepped into it so you could really see how much we have.

It warmed up today a little, so we probably lost a couple of inches, but we still have a good 6"-8" out there!

Have a great day!

Stacy

Passing Me By....

Lately I feel as if Life is just passing me by.

I leave before everyone in the morning and I am the last one home at night. I am also the first one to bed at night.

I am completely stressed out about not being here for my kids. I have always tried to be a Mom first and an employee second. Now I feel as if it is the other way around. I have almost always been able to go to my kids activities at school and be with them in the evenings for their things. Now I am not able to take any time off during the day (no one can). And I will not be able to go to many of their evening activities with the late hours.

I feel as if I am missing out on a lot of things. I think of that poem that I have read so many times over the years about what matters to a child. You know the one, it will not matter the money you spend on them, it is the time you spend with them.

So, where do I go from here? I can make a list of pro's and con's. I can go on and pretend like nothing is bothering me.

I like my job for the most part, every job has ups and downs. I feel like God gave me this job and if I choose to do something different I am letting Him down. I think back to what I wrote when I started and how this seemed to be an answer to my prayers.

So what do I do?

I will pray & I will ask for prayer.

Stacy

MDM

The station that I regularly listen to on the radio (Air 1) has started Make A Difference Mondays.

So I thought that I would try to follow along with them on this. The idea is to make a difference in one persons life today. Whether it is small or large doesn't matter, just making a difference does. It could be as small as making someone smile or as big as a huge donation to a charity.

So at the end of the day today I will come back and add in what I did today to make a difference.

Will you join me in making a difference? If so, what did you do today to make a difference?

Stacy

SNOW!!!!!

I love it we woke up this morning to about 4 inches. By 11am we have 6 inches and we are expected to get a lot more. I love it!

Today is Hubby's birthday (Happy Birthday Honey!) so we ran in to the store to pick up his cake and get a few other things. I took some pictures on the way in but my batteries died so I only have a few to share.

This is the bush just off of our patio.

This is a tree in our yard. Isn't it gorgeous the way the snow hangs on it?

These are the roads in town after they had plowed them once.

Just wanted to show you that we are not the only ones that went out in the weather.

These are the piles of snow that the plow removed from the lots at the plaza.

This is Tween & Little S playing out in the white stuff.

It is still snowing like crazy out there. I can't wait to see how much we get!

Have a great day!

Stacy

Where did the week go?

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I have been on here.

I was off work today so I spent the day with Little S. He just cracks me up!

Here are two conversations that I had with him today:

We were at the grocery store getting a few things for a recipe that I wanted to make. It called for tomato paste. So as I am putting it in the buggy, Little S asked me what it was.

Me - It is tomato paste.
LS - Paste? Tomato paste? Why would we eat paste?
Me - Not like glue paste, silly. Besides you brush with tooth paste.
LS - But we don't eat toothpaste.

LOL - he was right. What more could I say?

After we got home and Teen and Tween were here I was talking with Tween. I love Tween, but he is very book smart and sometimes doesn't have much common sense. It was one of those conversations where he just wasn't getting what I was saying.

Me - Sometimes I think your brother takes Oblivious Pills
LS - My brother isn't sick. He doesn't need any pills.

Again he had me....LOL

Not much else going on right now. These long hours during the week, don't really allow for me to get much done. It also doesn't give me much to write about. I do have a few things that I am thinking about doing though. More on that later.

We are in for a TON of snow tonight and tomorrow. I can't wait. Seriously, I love the snow. I am going to take lots of pics if we get all 8+ inches.

Have a great weekend!

Stacy

Happy New Year!

So I am a few days late. I have been taking full advantage of being home the last few days. We have watched a few movies, ate a bunch of junk, and sadly put away the Christmas decorations for another year.

Little S keeps asking when Santa is coming again. LOL The whole month is practically about him so when the presents stop he just doesn't get it.

Monday had been a terrible day at work and I was just afraid that I couldn't do it. I really think that the Doctor expects a lot at once. Most of you are not in the dental field but some are on the medical field so you might understand. We are expected to be able to handle our own patients after 6 weeks of training. Everything from starting a patient with braces to changing wires and brackets to taking the braces off. I have a few strong points, but there are also many things that I still struggle with. Monday was a day that I felt I struggled all day and couldn't do a single thing right.

Tuesday morning I was on the way to work and I was stressing out about going in. I was a nervous wreck and on the verge of tears. So I started to pray. (I do this a lot in the car when I am alone) As I was finishing up praying a song come on the radio that just calmed me down. It made me know that I am not alone. That even if no one else can see Him, God is always with me. The song was Smiling Down by Pillar. The song was half over when I was done praying but the lyrics that I needed to hear were there for me.

Excerpt:
So next time that you feel like crying
Next time you don't feel like trying
Just remember I'll be right there
Smiling down on you
In the morning you don't feel like rising
Next time you feel like compromising
Just remember I'll be right there
Smiling down on you

I'll be right there looking down
Even when the shine don't shine
I'll be right there looking down
All along the winter night
I'll be right there looking down
With a smile on me face
I'll be right there with my arms open wide
Right here on Jesus' side

What a wonderful thing that God has given to us. Music!

It has always been a constant in my life. I remember when I was little using a tape recorder to tape songs off of the stereo so that I could play them again and again. When I was a little older my Mum & Dad let me join Columbia House Music. I would save up my money so that I could order new "records" and then later on tapes. I was in Chorus and Band as soon as I was old enough. Music is like comfort food to me.

There is a radio station that has become quite popular and is spreading rapidly across the US. It is Air 1 Radio. It is a Christian Radio Network and I have to listen to it every time I am in the car. Check it out. I hope that it is available in your area. It has really blessed my life recently.

Stacy