To Life, To Laughter, and to the Pink Panthers...

I decided that I love acting! I haven’t been in a play for about 7-8 years. It’s been awhile. I was sooooo nervous to try out for the Pink Panther, but I am so glad I did (Thanks to Holly and Abe for convincing me to try out!). I still get nervous when I think about having people watch me in the play, but the practices are so much fun. I just sit there and laugh…probably too much, because sometimes my character is supposed to be afraid…and I am laughing (oops!!). I need to practice not laughing!! That is something that is very hard for me.

I was telling my co-workers that being in this play has been a good stress reliever, because no matter what else is going on at work, or in life in general…I know that in the evening I will spend a good 3 hours laughing, and I forget about everything else in the world! I love it! I know that nobody reads this anyway…but this is my plug for the Pink Panther…COME AND SEE IT!!! It is Nov. 5-8th at the P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall. Get tickets at the City office!

On a more serious note…lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my mortality. I attended an all-day workshop last week by Dr. David Kuhl who wrote the book, “What Dying People Want”. It is an excellent book…and Dr. Kuhl is a very good presenter. I did a book report on that book for one of my classes in University, so I really wanted to attend this workshop. I was NOT disappointed! I learned A LOT! But one thing that stood out to me was when we talked about our life time line. One exercise we did, was draw a time line of our life with our birth date on one end and “death” on the other end. We were to put an “x” where we thought we were right now on that time line. Like this:

Birth----------------X--------------------------------------Death

Then we were supposed to list 5 things that have influenced our lives to make us who we are today and list 5 things we wanted to do before we die. Well, that was right up my alley…I have way more than 5 things I want to do, most of them traveling goals…and the major one would be to do missions/Mercy Ships.

Then we were supposed to revise our time line as if we had received news that we were going to die in 6 months. Like this:

Birth-----------------------------------------------X----Death (Apr 28/10)

Then we were supposed to answer those same questions again with this time line in mind. I realized that most of my goals are long term. There is no way I could do all of those things in 6 months. I could still travel if I wanted to…but I realized that more importantly I would want to spend time with my family and friends…especially my nieces and nephew. I would want to have lots of “auntie days” (as the kids call them). It made me sad to think that if I would die in 6 months that my youngest niece would never remember me, and rest of them would have very few memories of me.

I feel like everything lately has been reminding me about how short and unpredictable life really is. I keep randomly reading articles about sick/dying people (i.e. AIDS/HIV issues in Africa, mortality rate of infants in Haiti, and others). Why am I supposed to be reminded of this over and over again? It breaks my heart to think about the suffering that is happening all over the world...and in our own "backyard". I want to do something, but I feel so helpless. I was thinking about all these things a couple of days ago and this is what I wrote in my journal:

“I know that I can’t save every sick baby.
I can’t rescue every abandoned child.
I can’t comfort every grieving mother and father.
I can’t cure every disease.
I can’t take away everyone’s pain.
But I would like to do something.
My hope is that in everything I do, I can give people Hope.
And in that Hope, I hope that I can point them to Someone greater who wipes away every tear, carries every burden, calms every storm, and is the Father to the fatherless, the Ultimate Healer, and the source of the greatest Love anyone will ever know.”

That sums up my feelings right now.

L is for...

Just for fun, cuz I'm procrastinating going to bed...I'm going to do a useless questionaire/survey thingy. Here goes:

Rules: Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real... nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.


1. What is your name: Lori

2. A four letter word: Lake

3. A boy's name: Lars

4. A girl's name: Laquisha...is that a real name? Oops, I just read the rules again and I'm not allowed to make stuff up...so, my "real" answer is Larissa

5. An occupation: Lion Tamer

6. A color: Lilac

7. Something you wear: Lingerie

8. A food: Linguine

9. Something found in the bathroom: Lotion

10. Location: Luxembourg

11. A reason for being late: Locked my keys in my car

12. Something you shout: LOSER!!!

13. A movie title: Lost in Silver Canyon...(worst movie ever made, but it's the only L movie I can think of off the top of my head)

14. Something you drink: Lemonade

15. A musical group: Linkin Park...again, the first thing that popped into my head

16. An animal: Lemur

17. A street name: Lagimodiere

18. A type of car: Lamborghini

19. The title of a song: Life is a Highway

20. A sport: Lacrosse

Continuing Competence

This is the time of year when nurses across the province start frantically trying to remember every article they've read, every educational session they've attended, and every course they've completed over the past year. It's registration renewal time...time to prove we're competent to practice for another year, by showing evidence that we truly are striving to be life-long learners and providing current, research-based, safe, competent care to our patients. This is the first year that I have to complete the annual continuing competence forms. It's a little intimidating...though I was relieved when the 32 pages that I thought I had to fill out, were actually for something else...so my 16 page form seems a little less daunting.

As I sit here reviewing this last year, I realize I've come a long way since being this scared student nurse trying to act confident. I don't have to act anymore. When new grads ask me questions I actually have some answers (or know where to find answers), or find myself starting a discussion with, "The last time when I had a similar situation, we did this...". That being said, I am still constantly learning new things, and am continually being challenged to improve my hands on skills and critical thinking skills. It seems that the more you learn, the more you realize that you don't know.

As I evaluate myself, I realize though I have come a long way...I still have much further to go. This not only goes for me in my professional field...but for me as a person. I have changed a lot in the last few years, some for the better, and other areas could use a lot of improvement. I don't want to wake up one day and say to myself, "I can't believe I've become THAT person." I admit, I have had moments when I didn't like the way I have responded to situations or the way I have treated people. I hope and pray I don't make that a habit. I am thankful for a God who forgives and loves to help people change for the better...cuz that's what He's all about!

my new car...I wish.

BMW Z4 Roadster

Could life get any better?

I don't think so...in the past 2 weeks I've fulfilled 2 of my dreams...
1) to see Keith Urban live (and I even touched him!!!)
2) to watch a live Vikings vs. Packers game (I've actually dreamt of this moment before I even knew who Keith Urban was...but anyway)
Here are the highlights in picture format:

Waiting for Keith to come.

Here he is!!

I wish I could play guitar like him!!

This is right before I touched him!

Getting ready for the Minnesota vs. Green Bay Game.

Getting my game face on.

Michelle is mad because she knows her team doesn't have a chance...lol!

Waiting for the game to start.

The Vikes are coming on the field!

Woohoo! What a great game!

We are the champions!!

Us, after many attempts to wash/scrub our face paint off...we thought for sure our skin was permanently colored! But eventually it did come off.

So much fun...that doesn't even include our many driving adventures, meeting new "friends", getting our pictures taken by random strangers, and oh so much more!

change

I love change...well, the idea of it. I like dreaming of new things to try. I like talking about "One day I will do this..." But when I actually sit down and think about what it will take to get me to where I want to be...it scares me, and I procrastinate taking the initial steps to get me to my final goal. I realize that it sounds ridiculous. It's like saying that I'm going to climb Mount Everest, but refuse to climb up a hill. Okay, maybe that was a dumb analogy...

Anyway...I'm starting to realize that I need to get off my butt and start thinking practically about some of my life goals, and figure out how I'm actually going to get there. I won't get there simply by dreaming and talking...though I think that is an important first step. It's time for me to take some action, take some risks, make some sacrifices...and change my dreams into reality.

keep reading for a good laugh (at my expense)

Have you ever been so embarrassed that you get this out-of-body experience and feel like you're watching what's happening, instead of living it??

Well, that just happened to me. I was at a friend's birthday party which was hosted by her family. There were lots of people there and I only knew a few of them, but thought it would be fun to join the group playing volleyball on the yard. I really love playing volleyball and sometimes get a little too involved in it. So the ball was coming to me and I dove for it and heard the dreaded sound of ripping fabric. I quickly stood up trying desperately to cover my back end...I said, "OH NO!!!" and the lady beside me looked at me and exclaimed, "OH YES!!" Luckily I had brought an extra pair of pants in case it got cold around the fire that we were having. I proceeded to run across the yard to my car trying desperately to cover the gaping hole in my behind all the way there. I changed into my pants and returned to the game as if nothing ever happened...and nobody said a word.

So I am home now...looking at my capri's with the huge hole in them and laughing...and hoping that this story can make someone else laugh...cuz it's too funny for me to keep to myself!! Then again, it might be a "you-had-to-be-there" moment.

I heart my bike!

I was so pumped to drive my new bike to work yesterday evening...and then we had a thunderstorm...and the ladies at work thought it was a bad idea to drive home on the highway in the rain...so I got a ride home...what a disappointment. But the ride to work was fantastic! I love my bicycle. I am very excited for what the future holds for my bike and I!! :)

I heard this song today...

"God of this City" by Chris Tomlin. It's an amazing song! Check it out!

"Greater things have yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done HERE!"

What a reminder! I needed that!

Restless

sometimes I try to ignore and subdue my restless spirit. then I talk with people who feel the same way that I do, and it just adds fuel to the fire. I try to distract myself with other things, knowing that I have to wait till next August. right now a year seems like a long time. there's gotta be something I can do while I wait. I feel like it's all within reach, and yet I just can't seem to touch it.

Do you ever...

...laugh out loud when remembering a funny moment from a long time ago?
...wake up from a dream and think that it was real?
...start telling a story, and forget half-way through whether it actually happened or whether you dreamt it?
...fear the known, more than the unknown?
...bend over backwards to go the extra mile, then wonder if it was even worth it?
...stick with the status quo even when you know you could be doing so much more?
...have dreams for the sake of dreaming, knowing that the chances of them happening are slim to none?

What if we...

-allowed ourselves to dream
-believed in our wildest dreams
-never gave up
-loved for the sake of love and not our own agenda
-could see the needs of people's hearts
-had to give up everything for a greater good
-really knew what we were capable of
-lived deliberately
-were not afraid to get our hope's up
-really listened
-followed that inner voice, even if we feel stupid
-changed one person's life by something we said or did
-lived a life permeated with love, hope, and peace

"We're going camping now, we're on our way...."

So I'm going camping today...My first camping trip this summer. Well, sort of...I'm chaperoning our youth camp out. I LOOOOOOVE camping...but right now, I'm over tired and just want to sleep, instead of pack. I'm going to need a lot of caffeine before I'm ready to head out in an hour and a half. Off to make a pot of coffee.

Work in progress

"Still wondering why I’m here.
Still wrestling with my fear
But oh….He’s up to something,
And the farther out I go,
I’ve seen enough to know
that I’m not here for nothing
He’s up to something

There is hope, for me yet
because God won’t forget
all the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see,
He’s not finished with me yet."

-Brandon Heath "Wait and See"

please pinch me.

I have 2 reoccurring dreams...one is that my teeth are falling out in tiny pieces and I am pulling them all out sliver by sliver...not too scary, but incredibly painful and annoying. The second is that there is something terrible going on and I'm trying to warn people and nobody listens. Each time the event is different, but the theme and outcome is the same.

Scary thing...a week and a half ago, I had my wisdom teeth extracted...and a few days later I felt something in my mouth and I pulled out a sliver of a tooth!! It kind of gave me the creeps. Then, this last week I had an experience that could have been straight from one of my second reoccurring dreams...It was a very serious situation, and the people that should have taken it seriously, didn't. I felt sick to my stomach. Unfortunately, this time it wasn't a dream.

Tired

Weary traveler,
Take a load off,
You're not alone.
The way is marked,
Signs unhidden,
They're plain to see.

Take a moment,
To remember,
Where you're going.
Then look around,
At where you are,
And where you've been.

The joys and woes,
Along the road,
Make the journey.
Acquaintances,
You meet abroad,
Make life sweeter.

Destinations,
Are not the ending,
Of the journey.
It's the dawning,
Of adventure,
Fulfilling dreams.

Weary traveler,
Take a load off,
You're not alone.
Don't you stop now,
You will get there,
Trust and believe.

I think I've seen it all...

I was looking online for some recipes ideas, when I came across a recipe for water. Seriously, some people have too much time on their hands!

Another fun, random, useless post!

Using ONLY SONG TITLES from ONE artist, cleverly answer these questions:

ADDITIONAL RULE: You cannot use the same artist I did, or duplicate song titles even if they were performed by another artist. Make sure you send a copy to the person who sent you this.

ADDITIONAL RULE ALSO: Add a question of your own.

My chosen band: Keith Urban (of course!)

1. Are you a male or female: 'God Made Woman'

2. Describe yourself: 'Sweet Thing' ;)

3. How do you feel about yourself: 'God's Been Good To Me'

4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: 'Stupid Boy'...lol!

5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: 'Out On My Own'

6. Describe your current location: 'Where the Blacktop Ends'

7. Describe where you want to be: 'I Could Fly'

8. Your best friend is: 'Making Memories of Us'

9. Your favorite color is: 'Somebody Like You'

10. You know that: 'You Look Good in My Shirt'

11. What’s the weather like: 'Raining on Sunday'

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called?: 'Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me'

13. What is life to you: 'Rollercoaster'

14. What is the best advice you have to give: 'Hit the Ground Running'

15. If you could change your name what would it be?: 'You Won' (It's Chinese for beautiful flower...lol, jk!)

16. What's your drink? 'Nobody Drinks Alone'

17. What aren't you wearing right now? 'I Thought You Knew'

18. Where will you be in 10 years? 'Standing Right In Front of You'

Breathing

"There are times every now and then,
I forget why I'm breathing out,
and why I'm breathing in...

...And then I open my eyes,
and I know you're beating my heart."

-Jon McLaughlin "Beating my heart"

I love doing these things...

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

Opening Credits: Yeah! - Usher (we're off to a good start...)

Waking Up: Landslide - Dixe Chicks (don't think I'd wake up to that)

First day Of School: You stay with me - Faith Hill (I guess I'm the kid who cried when their mom left them at school!)

Falling In Love: Boy On a String - Jars of Clay (ha ha!!)

Fight Song: Million Pieces - Newsboys (kind of a wimpy fight, I'd say)

Breaking Up: Love you out Loud - Rascal Flatts (okay?? too late I guess, lol!)

Getting Back Together: Now or Never - Everlife (there's a threat...I guess it was Now!)

Secret Love: Open up the heavens - Hillsong (followed by the song, "It's raining men"...jk!)

Life's Okay: Waiting all my life - Rascal Flatts

Prom: Alright - Superchick

Life: Prayer for Taylor - Michael W. Smith (okay?)

Mental Break Down: What hurts the most - Rascal Flatts (ooo, that's good!)

Driving Flashback: They are the Roses - Jessica Andrews

Partying: Tibetan Incense as Before #9 - Samko (ooh a Tibetan Party...I like this!!)

Happy Dance: I could fly -Keith Urban (Keith does represent most of the Happy Dancing moments in my life!)

Regretting: What I almost was - Eric Church (ha ha!! that's funny)

Long Night Alone: Loretta Lynn's Lincoln - Josh Turner (I guess I'm driving around all night in the Lincoln!)

Final Battle: You Keep Giving Me - Brian Littrell (what kind of battle is this???)

Flashback: Portrait of an Apology - Jars of Clay (sounds like a meloncholy moment)

Wedding: Yours - TobyMac ("I'm yours, take me as I am"...I guess it's appropriate)

Birth Of A Child: Down in Flames - Relient K (Umm, not sure how to react)

Death Scene: What the world will never take - Hillsong

Funeral Song: Angels and Peace - LaRue (appropriate)

Ending Credits: 20/20 - O.C. Supertones (again...quite appropriate)