Change: a word that I have constantly shirked. Maybe it has something to do with the many times my family moved around the country, but I have never been one to agree with change in my life. I've always tended to resist the flow. Sometimes, however, you have no control over that flow...
Two and a half months ago, the biggest change in my life occurred. My younger brother, the baby of the family, died from a very sudden accident at the age of 13. This singular event has altered me to the very core. Right after it happened, I knew I had two choices. The first of these was to go off the deep end and be completely justified because of the loss I had experienced. I could be angry or bitter and nobody would blame me for my actions. The second choice was completely the opposite. This choice involved a complete reliance upon the One whom I could always rely on--the Savior, King of kings, Redeemer of my soul.
On the night of my brother's passing, I knew that there was no way I would ever consider the first choice. I knew that road would only lead to misery and self-destruction. The knowledge I have of the Gospel was my rock in that moment of pure mentally debilitating sadness. As I considered the long road of healing that lay ahead of my family, I knew fear. I knew that in order to overcome this, it would require complete faith and trust that healing would occur as we all relied upon the Savior.
To make a long story short, I have learned more over the past 2 and a half months about love, healing, reliance, family, and--most of all--the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It has amazed me that my Heavenly Father has been there every step of the way. He guides me, carries me, and uplifts me by granting peace and comfort that could come from no other source. When I really learned about the way the Savior can help, I was given an analogy that went something like this:
The Master has two ways He can come to our aide. When the storm rocked the ship and caused the passengers to cry out in angst, the Savior rose and calmed the storm raging around His disciples. He calmed the raging waters, the howling wind, and the pouring rain. That is one way He aides us. The second way involves the raging storm around the ship as well--in this case, however, the Savior does not calm the storm. What He never fails to do is to climb aboard the ship, wrap His arms around us, and hold close as the storm rages on. He comforts us and protects us from the harm that can occur, but both storms can change us and transform us into who He sees in us if we rely upon Him and look to Him for comfort and counsel.
Change occurs in many forms--moving, family additions, illness, and perhaps the most fears is the death of a loved one. Whenever these great changes occur, we will be presented with the same two choices I had when I lost my dear little brother. My hope, through this post, is that I can influence more to make the second choice. It is scary to rely upon pure faith and hope that what you have been taught is true, but I can promise you this--if you make the second choice, the Savior will never allow you to flounder. He is always there, extending His arm of mercy to us. As soon as we call out to Him, He wastes no time--He will always run to our aide.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Footprints in My Heart
In my life, I have been blessed with so many wonderful people who have touched my heart or contributed to who I am. This post is dedicated to them. There are so many that I could write about here, but there is one person that I want to focus on.
The first is a wonderful friend that I have recently reunited with. Background story: During my childhood years, my family did a lot of moving around. At one point, when I was in first grade, we lived in North Salt Lake. There I become best friends with a gal named Natalie. We were inseparable! Well, as the story goes, my family once again picked up its roots and planted them in North Carolina. I was so sad to leave behind such a wonderful friend! We wrote over the years and tried to keep up with each other, but it is very hard to stay in touch with friends--especially since we were six when we knew each other. In sixth grade, my family moved to Provo and here I saw Natalie once! She surprised me by showing up on my doorstep. To my pre-teen self, that was the best thing that could happen.
Time goes on...and I haven't seen Natalie in what accumulated to 7 years. Her dad was called as a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, so that took her out of the country for 3 years. We wrote a few times, but once again, it was very hard to stay in touch. Now we come to August 2010, and I am standing on the fields for New Student Orientation at BYU. All of sudden, some random gorgeous girl is standing in front of me going, "Rachel? Rachel. Rachel!" I stared at her, recognizing her face somewhat but not knowing who this random person was. Then it clicked--it was grown-up Natalie! I screamed then tackled her with a hug. It is amazing--after 14 years, we were still overjoyed when we see each other. We exchanged numbers then parted ways.
A few months go by and I would see Natalie randomly around campus. Whenever we did see each other, we would plan to hang out--all those plans fell through. And so another year goes by.
This past Monday, after having a somewhat difficult week, I came home from Family Home Evening with some neighbors and was ready to just crash. I walked outside to get the mail when I noticed a paper taped to the door. I see my name written on it so I grab it. Who should it be from? Natalie! She had found where I was living and came by to see me. She left her number on the paper, so I texted her right away. We planned for lunch and ta-da! We have now seen each other everyday since that lunch. It is amazing how people can come and go in your life, but some people never really leave. After 15 years of not really seeing each other or knowing what is happening in our lives, you would think that time would separate us. This is not the case! I feel as though that friendship we formed all those years ago has not only stayed in tact, but has enabled us to stay strong friends. She truly is one of those people who has left footprints in my life because of her friendship.
It amazes me how Heavenly Father can guide people into my life. I have become more and more aware of His Hands in my life, and I am grateful every day for that reassurance that our lives are in God's Hands. He will never allow us to falter or fall. He blesses us with angels in the form of lifelong friends and family. He gives us all the help we need in all circumstances in life. He truly is One that has left footprints in my heart.
The first is a wonderful friend that I have recently reunited with. Background story: During my childhood years, my family did a lot of moving around. At one point, when I was in first grade, we lived in North Salt Lake. There I become best friends with a gal named Natalie. We were inseparable! Well, as the story goes, my family once again picked up its roots and planted them in North Carolina. I was so sad to leave behind such a wonderful friend! We wrote over the years and tried to keep up with each other, but it is very hard to stay in touch with friends--especially since we were six when we knew each other. In sixth grade, my family moved to Provo and here I saw Natalie once! She surprised me by showing up on my doorstep. To my pre-teen self, that was the best thing that could happen.
Time goes on...and I haven't seen Natalie in what accumulated to 7 years. Her dad was called as a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, so that took her out of the country for 3 years. We wrote a few times, but once again, it was very hard to stay in touch. Now we come to August 2010, and I am standing on the fields for New Student Orientation at BYU. All of sudden, some random gorgeous girl is standing in front of me going, "Rachel? Rachel. Rachel!" I stared at her, recognizing her face somewhat but not knowing who this random person was. Then it clicked--it was grown-up Natalie! I screamed then tackled her with a hug. It is amazing--after 14 years, we were still overjoyed when we see each other. We exchanged numbers then parted ways.
A few months go by and I would see Natalie randomly around campus. Whenever we did see each other, we would plan to hang out--all those plans fell through. And so another year goes by.
This past Monday, after having a somewhat difficult week, I came home from Family Home Evening with some neighbors and was ready to just crash. I walked outside to get the mail when I noticed a paper taped to the door. I see my name written on it so I grab it. Who should it be from? Natalie! She had found where I was living and came by to see me. She left her number on the paper, so I texted her right away. We planned for lunch and ta-da! We have now seen each other everyday since that lunch. It is amazing how people can come and go in your life, but some people never really leave. After 15 years of not really seeing each other or knowing what is happening in our lives, you would think that time would separate us. This is not the case! I feel as though that friendship we formed all those years ago has not only stayed in tact, but has enabled us to stay strong friends. She truly is one of those people who has left footprints in my life because of her friendship.
It amazes me how Heavenly Father can guide people into my life. I have become more and more aware of His Hands in my life, and I am grateful every day for that reassurance that our lives are in God's Hands. He will never allow us to falter or fall. He blesses us with angels in the form of lifelong friends and family. He gives us all the help we need in all circumstances in life. He truly is One that has left footprints in my heart.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Clinical...Work...Sleep?...Repeat!
Due to the lovely position I hold as a nursing student, I get the honorary privilege of getting up before the BCD (butt-crack of dawn) every Wednesday. After doing this for a month, you would think it gets easier--unfortunately, it does not. Waking up at 4 am is a whole new experience for this weathered night owl. Anyways...I get up at 4 to be to the clinical site by 5:30am with all the other more than jovial nursing students (slight sarcasm on the jovial). While talking to our clinical instructor, we all struggle to stay awake. Then we are shipped to do whatever the day holds for us.
Today, however, had a fun little twist--I had my first experience with Isolation Precautions. Whenever a client has contracted a highly infectious agent, you are required to suit up in "Personal Protective Equipment." I have to admit, I have never felt more legitimate than when I suited up with all the jazzy looking precautionary gear. Oh how wonderful it is to be a student nurse!
After spending a good hour and a half taking the vital signs of the residents, I helped one resident eat. The client was full of good humor--I think my favorite joke they told was about a mouse. Here's how the joke went:
Client: "I saw a mouse in my room the other day. I'm pretty sure it was gay."
Me: "How'd you know the mouse was gay?"
Client: "Because it came out of the closet."
Oh how I love their humor! They make early mornings seem not-so-bad.
After being at the clinical site until 11, I was back on campus to work. Now here's the kicker--I'm a Chemistry TA for students in pre-nursing, pre-diatetics, and various other majors. What do you think of when you think of those majors? Yes. A class full of girls...plus 5 boys. You can imagine the amount of hormones surging from the girls along with the competition oozing from ALL of these students to do better than one another so that they can get into their prospective programs. It is hard to handle so many people's emotions after being awake for so long.
Needless to say, Wednesday is perhaps the longest day of my weeks. You would think that I would enjoy learning all of the wonderful nursing things...but it is rather difficult when you are aroused before reasonable people wake up. I sure hope that this whole early thing will get easier when I get into the more active parts of nursing...MedSurg!
Today, however, had a fun little twist--I had my first experience with Isolation Precautions. Whenever a client has contracted a highly infectious agent, you are required to suit up in "Personal Protective Equipment." I have to admit, I have never felt more legitimate than when I suited up with all the jazzy looking precautionary gear. Oh how wonderful it is to be a student nurse!
After spending a good hour and a half taking the vital signs of the residents, I helped one resident eat. The client was full of good humor--I think my favorite joke they told was about a mouse. Here's how the joke went:
Client: "I saw a mouse in my room the other day. I'm pretty sure it was gay."
Me: "How'd you know the mouse was gay?"
Client: "Because it came out of the closet."
Oh how I love their humor! They make early mornings seem not-so-bad.
After being at the clinical site until 11, I was back on campus to work. Now here's the kicker--I'm a Chemistry TA for students in pre-nursing, pre-diatetics, and various other majors. What do you think of when you think of those majors? Yes. A class full of girls...plus 5 boys. You can imagine the amount of hormones surging from the girls along with the competition oozing from ALL of these students to do better than one another so that they can get into their prospective programs. It is hard to handle so many people's emotions after being awake for so long.
Needless to say, Wednesday is perhaps the longest day of my weeks. You would think that I would enjoy learning all of the wonderful nursing things...but it is rather difficult when you are aroused before reasonable people wake up. I sure hope that this whole early thing will get easier when I get into the more active parts of nursing...MedSurg!
Monday, February 6, 2012
That awkward moment when you make your first blog post...
Being a first-time blogger, I'm quite at a loss as to what I should write. I guess I will follow the example of the blogs that I have seen and just tell the very few followers a little bit about myself...
First off, I am a student of the College of Nursing at Brigham Young University. (The answer to your question is yes--I am a Mormon.) I'm in my second semester of the 6 semester program. We have clinical in the nursing home this semester, and, I must say, that is not my dream job. We'll figure that part out later...
I come from a family of 4 kids. Being the third child (right smack in the middle if you consider the range of ages), I've experienced both the feelings of being the one to pester the older kids, as well as the privilege of being pestered by the youngest one. You can imagine the many wrestling matches that have broken out between me and my brothers, especially being the girl right between them.
I currently live in the shabbiest yet most adorable little place in Provo, UT. The toilets never stop running, and I have been attacked by the shower head many times when the pressure becomes too great for the little thing to take. The kitchen once flooded from the downstairs shower, and the heater works whenever it feels merciful. Other than that, I love the place. I have 5 wonderful roommates who are the best friends you could ask for, and somehow, that makes all the appliance malfunctions totally worth it.
And tada, that is me! Guess blogging wasn't so hard as I thought.
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