Following Jesus

When did it become so complicated to make a profession of faith, to accept Jesus as the Son of God and be baptized?

Last week Haley, our 9 year old Grand daughter, told her mom she was ready to be baptized. We have talked to her and she and I read the Bible every night( when I'm not working - hope she does when I am working). She wants her Uncle Josh to baptize her. I didn't realize it was a complicated matter, full of "church doctrine" to be baptized.

I contacted the preacher where we attend (it is a Southern Baptist). Told him of Haley's desire and asked if there would be a problem with her Uncle preforming the baptism. He called me last night at work to discuss this. He wanted to know if Josh was licensed and where was he "ordained." I asked what that had to do with him baptizing Haley. According to their church regulations, only an ordained or licensed person can baptize. I told him I had a problem with that. I read in my bible that any one can teach anyone else about the Lord and when that person reaches a decision, that any believing/saved person can preform the baptism. Am I totally out in left field with this????

I have an aunt and uncle in New Mexico who have had Bible study in there home for many years. They have a pool in there back yard. When someone receives Jesus and wishes to be baptized, they preform this in their pool. To my knowledge, neither my aunt or uncle are "ordained" or "licensed" as I have been told they must be, but they are believing Christians.

I guess I haven't been too informed all my life. My dad preached many times as we were growing up and I don't ever remember hearing him or Mom referring to his "ordination" or holding a license. What about all those "circuit riding preachers" in the past? I do know that when some one gets married the preacher says, "By the power vested in me by the State of-----." Never asked what power that was (and I am sure Greg is going to give me a much needed lesson on all this).

Another thing, I asked the preacher if there would be a problem for Haley to be baptized the same day she makes a profession of faith in front of the church. He said it would be better if that was done first and then she was baptized later, after she became a member of "the church". Again, my bible says, God added them to the church as many as were saved (Acts). I was trying to coordinate getting Teri and Josh with us for this important occasion. Now it has turned into an unnecessary ordeal.

I wish it was summer, we would gather around the pool and baptize her here at the farm with family around. By the way, Josh has been licensed as an ordained minister so there shouldn't be a problem, but naturally there was. He has graciously agreed to talk with the preacher and try to work this out. I feel like there should not be any problem when a SOUL is being saved, but evidently there is.

Putting things into perspective

Monday the 10th, was to be the day we set a trial date to end this charade for custody of Hannah. Mike and I were on our way to the courthouse when we got a call from Tara. She had just heard from her lawyer and the date had been postponed again. His lawyer requested more time to investigate. The judge granted it. I just don't understand a court system that has no more concern for a child's welfare than this. It is quite obvious, to anyone who wants to see, that Hannah is most certainly being affected by this, and the lawyers and the court don't seem to care. We get her and she is totally uncontrolled. It takes us a few days to get her back to the sweet little girl we know she really is.

We had turned around to go back to the house when we got a call from Mike's sister. His dad was in the ER (not the one I work at) with stroke symptoms. We went over and spent the morning. He was admitted to the hospital. Tests showed he has a small cerebral bleed. I don't think they will do anything about that (it should absorb, it nothing else happens). His left carotid was 85% blocked which precipitated the CVA. That was "fixed" yesterday.

I got a call from Greg last night to see how things were going. Mike was to fly to Tulsa, OK for a job interview Tues. (he's been out of a job for the last 4 weeks). The interview was postponed because Tulsa is closed because of the ice storms. I was telling him all that has happened and I made the statement "I told God, I just can't handle anymore." He quickly put things in perspective telling me he and Jan were on their way to pick up the body of a little 3 yo. My problems didn't seem so bad then. I do have my children (who are relatively healthy), the grands, who are wonderful. I have a job and a roof over my head and food to eat (if I want it - which lately I haven't been too hungry). So, we are going through some hard times right now but these too shall pass.

We will have our pieced together Christmas, enjoy one another and be thankful. Hope your holidays are peaceful and happy.

Interesting Thanksgiving

I just finished working my 7 on at the ED. I generally work an 8 hour shift. Not so this past week. I think I got off on time once out of the 7. Many unusual things happened.

We had a young man brought in by ambulance that had "shot up" 8 Dilaudid and took 5 more by mouth and 4 Xanax. For those who don't know, to "shoot up" means to put the med directly into the vein with a needle. I understand, from the police , the newest street drug thrill for kids is Dilaudid. Gives them a quicker "high". In the ED, we give Dilaudid when other medications are not touching pain for kidney stones and occasionally for an acute heart attack (generally give Morphine). Another side note - dilaudid (laudnum), was the drug Doc Holiday (of the Wyatt Earp fame) was addicted to. It is a very additive drug. Anyway, this kid stated he wasn't trying to kill himself, he was just trying to get away from some of the pain he was going through from things happening in his life. I told him that by definition that was "attempted suicide". He was stabilized and sent to another hospital for psych evaluation.

On a happier but much more nerve racking note - we delivered a baby at 11:32 Thanksgiving night. Had a woman brought into ED with contractions 1 min apart. This was her 4th birth. As the ambulance drivers were transferring her to our bed, they informed us that her last sonogram showed the baby was breech. Understand, I work in a "country" ED. Years ago, this hospital stopped delivering babies, there are no labor and delivery docs, no surgical support for complications and no peds, also NO neonatal or pediatric RN support. Needless to say we became a little nervous. If this delivery was complicated it could have become a disaster.

I know I have been an ER nurse for many years, but I felt like Butterfly McQueen in Gone with the Wind. I don't know much about "birthing babies". That ain't my thing. Give me a full code, acute heart attack, somebody not breathing and I am cool and calm. I felt completely out of control with this. Thank goodness, we had staff in the ED to take over as I stood by helpless. Later, our unit secretary told me, "I have NEVER seen you like that, you are always in control." I learned a lot that night.

End of story, baby and mom are ok. We stabilized them and sent them to the hospital she was supposed to have been at for the delivery. On a good note, I got to ride in the back of the ambulance holding the baby and taking care of him. That was also a new experience for me. He was a beautiful baby.

I sure hope we get the "new" hospital we have been promised before too many more years pass. We will then have the much needed ancillary specialties available.

Hope your Thanksgivings were nice and much less harried than mine.

Worry

I received an email from a friend the other day and passed it on to Greg. He emailed me back and told me this would make a good blog. So, here it is:

WORRY

Is there a magic cutoff period
when offspring become accountable
for their own actions?
Is there a wonderful moment
when parents can become
detached spectators in the lives
of their children and shrug,
"It's their life," and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my son's head. I asked, "When do you stop worrying?"
The nurse said,
"When they get out of the accident stage."
My mother just smiled faintly
and said nothing.
When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little
chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly,
disrupted the class, and was headed
for a career making license plates.
As if to read my mind , a teacher said,
"Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax
and enjoy them."
My mother just smiled faintly
and said nothing.


When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime
waiting for the phone to ring,
the cars to come home, the front door
to open. A friend said,
"They're trying to find themselves.
Don't worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults."
My mother just smiled faintly
and said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying
over my children, but there was
a new wrinkle. There was nothing
I could do about it.
My mother just smiled faintly
and said nothing.
I continued to anguish
over their failures, be tormented
by their frustrations
and absorbed in their disappointments.

My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was
haunted by my mother's warm smile and her
occasional, "You look pale. Are you all right?
Call me the minute you get home. Are
you depressed about something?"

Can it be that parents are sentenced
to a lifetime of worry?
Is concern for one another
handed down like a torch to blaze the trail
of human frailties and the fears
of the unknown?
Is concern a curse or is it a virtue
that elevates us to the highest form of life?

One of my children became quite irritable
recently, saying to me, "Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered. I was worried."
I smiled a warm smile.
The torch has been passed.

I read this and thought how true it was for me. I could see myself and Muz all through this and now Teri and Tara (toward me and their children). I can remember when Mom would be sick or even be in the hospital and I would be trying to contact her and couldn't find her. I would get so upset at her because she wouldn't have let me know (she didn't want to worry me and she would say, "What could have done?"). Now, I find myself in that stage where when I am ill, I get fussed at by my girls because I haven't let them know.

Does the email remind you of anyone you know?

P.S. Update on the Hannah situation. We went to court on the 13th of November and were told it was postponed again because his lawyers mother had had a stroke. I felt for his lawyer and their family but I was very upset also. We have a little 4 year old that is being torn apart. She feels she doesn't belong anywhere and that no one really wants her because she is being shuffled back and forth and has no where to call "home." Buddy continues to harass Tara by calling her, yelling, accusing, cursing. I know I need to be praying for him but at this moment, I can't find it in me to do so. We go back to court December 10th to be told the day and hour we will actually go to trial. I hope I am NEVER involved in anything like this again as long as I live.

Where did I go wrong?

I have been an Alabama fan since I was in grade school living in Florida (go figure). I have never changed my aliegence. My degree from college is from the University of Alabama School of Nursing. I have been a true Crimson Tide fan through the good and bad times. So where did I go wrong with my kids?



Tara was an Auburn fan as a small tike because her daddy was an Auburn fan. She later came to her senses and cheered for BAMA. Then she became wishy-washy and cheered for who ever was winning. Even became a strong Florida State fan for a few years (that was ok because I liked FSU also). Since becoming an adult she has been a strong Auburn fan.



Next is Teri. She has always been an Auburn fan. This really surprises me because she "belonged" to my dad who was an Alabama fan. She idolized him and everything he did. So, where did the Auburn come from? She has never wavered, but she has also liked Miami of Florida (yuck) and Notre Dame (for a Southern girl that is sacrilege). Oh, and Michigan - come on now!!



Haley, the first grandchild, was 100% Alabama until she reached the age of 3. We had a get together for the Bama/Auburn game at Teri's house that year. Haley worships her Aunt T, and her Aunt T can do no wrong. As a matter of fact, I have often called Haley, Teri and Teri, Haley. They have the same personalities and act just alike. Haley even resembles Teri as a kid ,(actually Haley has a lot of her mom and Teri in her). Anyway, at this get together, Tara and Haley got there before I did. Aunt T told Haley that saying "Roll Tide" was saying bad words. In Haley's little mind that meant she was cursing. It impressed her so much she wouldn't say it the whole day and has since that day been an Auburn fan. As a little kid, Haley would yell "War Eagle" but it came out "War Giggle". Therefore, the Auburn war cry is this house is "War Giggle" even for her Pawpaw who attended Auburn University (notice I said attended, not graduated). I should amend that and say the war cry for those "Auburn" fans.



Hannah started out a Bama fan, but has become Auburn. I think mainly because her older sister is Auburn and her Pawpaw (whom she idolizes). It may also be just to irritate her Memama.



The baby, Maddie is not old enough to make a choice yet. Her dad (Josh) is a very strong Alabama fan (it is him and me against the rest of the family). Her mom has a very strong influence on the kids in the family as noted above. As the pictures in the last blog show, when Maddie gets anything Auburn, she also gets the same thing Alabama from her Memama. Before we got her, she already had a set of Alabama and Auburn scrubs. Haven't seen her in those that I can remember. Must ask Teri about that. So, we must wait awhile longer to see who has the most influence on this one.



I have said all that to say that Haley got to see her first Aurburn game up close and personal Saturday. Her great aunt and uncle have season tickets to the Auburn games. Tara has been promising to take her ta an Auburn game for a long time. They got tickets to the homecoming game this past Saturday. Haley was beside herself and seemed to have a great time. I let her take my camera to the game. Following are some of the pictures she took (from the nosebleed section -according to her). I think she needs to get a degree in photography (she is only 9), she did a great job. This is the Auburn band in the stands (across the field from Haley).


The Auburn band on the field at half-time.

The end field opposite end of field from Haley.



Players on the field.
I am very proud of her and her abilities, but her Memama will always be a "ROLL TIDE" fan.

Busy Day

It has been awhile since I blogged. Much has happened. I emailed Greg and explained to him why I haven't blogged. He said that was no excuse. Actually, I have been quite ill. Had the stomach virus 2 weeks ago. Didn't get well before I had to go back to work. I started work with brochitis. Am still on antibiotic for that and another antibiotic for another infection that does not seem to want to get well. I know a lot of my problem is stress and just plain run down. I had planned to take these 7 days off and get well - so much for plans.

Hannah got sick Wednesday (my first day off) so I took her to the doctor. She was so sick with this stomach stuff. She and I both just lay around feeling miserable. That was Halloween, so she didn't get to get out and get candy. With the stomach virus, she didn't really need candy anyway, but she didn't understand.

Thusday was spent taking Haley to the orthodontist. And Friday was the last home game for Victory Christian so we had to go to the pep rally and game because it was the last time the kids would cheer. Now how can anyone miss this?

Today, Mike and I have been putting in a closet unit, shelves and drawers in the room Tara and the girls are using. We don't know how long the kids will be living with us and we most definately needed more closet space. It was an all day job but it really looks good. Now, I need to find a place for all the stuff I took out of that room. I feel like I am moving with stuff all over the place.

The day was a good day, except Bama didn't pull it out over LSU. That really bummed me out. Speaking of BAMA, here are pictures of Maddie being non partial a couple of weeks ago when Bama won and Auburn lost to LSU.

She looks happier in the BAMA outfit!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memama is not partial!

Update on business with Hannah. We go to trial November 13th. This should end it. I can see changes in Hannah and my heart just goes out to her. She has tried so hard to be so big and she is just 4 and needs to be a baby not take on this mess. She went back to Buddy last night and we get her back next Friday and then we go to court. Please keep her, Tara and Haley in your prayers. This is taking a toll on all of us.

God bless you all and ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day of Dedication

Yesterday Teri and Josh dedicated Maddie to the Lord. We went to worship with them to share in the dedication. It was a wonderful service. I got really tickled at Hannah. We were waiting for the service to start and she began asking questions about why we were there instead of "our church". I explained to her that Aunt T and Uncle Josh were dedicating Maddie to God. She said, "Have I been dedicated?" I told her no that her mom wanted her to be when she was a baby but never could get Buddy to agree to participate and she felt he should be a part of it. I told her what it meant to be dedicated and why people did. She said."I don't want to be dedicated." I told her she didn't have to be today.

When it was time for the baby dedication, the preacher began reading in Samuel about Hannah's dedication of Samuel. All our Hannah heard was "Hannah" and "dedication" she became very upset and started crying, "I don't want to be, I don't want to be." It took Mike and me a little while to calm her down and explain that the preacher wasn't talking about her. It was funny but kind of sad when you think about it.

We came back to the house after services and spent the afternoon enjoying each other and playing with Maddie. Her little personality is beginning to shine and it is so cute. Every time Mike came around she wanted to go to him but when he took her she would scream bloody murder until I got her again. We found out later that she had been to the doctor on Friday and gotten 5 injections. The doctor wore glasses and had a mustache. Even tho Maddie knew her Pawpaw's voice she confused him with the doctor. She would give him a kiss but he couldn't hold her. She has learned to clap her hands and gets so tickled at herself. She was so cute to watch and enjoy. She has most definitely been a bright spot in our lives, as have the other two grandchildren.