[natedawg5280]

Hello there.

I'm Nate. *extends hand*

[Art]

Originally Posted by MtlMom

I am a senior administrator at an acute care hospital, responsible for everyone who touches a patient - nursing, radiology, lab, etc. . . . pretty much everything except the finance departments, maintenance, and those smart young men who come to fix my computer when it isn't working. An interesting series of events brought me to this place - and I will tell you that when the Holy Spirit tells you to do something that sounds ridiculous, that's a good time to step out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. I had been at Children's Hospital Central California for 13 years in increasing levels of responsibility when I felt the time had come to leave. There was still much room for advancement, and many people thought I was foolish for even considering a change. Then the offer came from a former Director to join him at a psychiatric facility for teens. People thought I was the one who needed psychiatric help for even considering such a thing. The Center was a Mennonite owned and run facility in a primarily Mennonite community 40 minutes south of our home in Fresno. These kids were hostile, some of them violent, all of them seriously messed up. God used me in their lives. I learned about a world that was far, far from the secure environment that I had always lived in. We sold the house we had lived in for 16 years and purchased a home in the new community (it isn't old order Mennonite - in fact, there isn't a horse and carriage to be seen). When the Center closed for lack of funding, I stayed on with the organization for a couple of years doing organizational development stuff - mostly tele-psychiatry. Then the corporation moved their headquarters to Fresno, a couple of miles from the house we had sold. I didn't like the drive and I missed the patient contact, so when I received a call asking if I would be interested in a position at the acute care hospital in our community it just felt right. I was hired into the job I have now, and I will stay until He moves me again - which may be tomorrow (although I don't feel that I'm being drawn away yet).

Ahhh, I work in a hospital. I am an EMT. Lowly, compared to the likes of you. but still.

Art! And I thought the Good Will Hunting reference was wasted.

I can absolutely promise you that a Good Will Hunting reference will never be wasted on me.

We enjoyed your lake muchly. We had breakfast/lunch at the Log Cabin in Kings Beach - Taylor said that is where you grew up.

I grew up in Kings Beach, yes. 1 year old through 5th grade. Then, I was a town over in Tahoe Vista for 12 years.

Art, have you climbed Mt. Whitney yet? If not, you need to do that next summer.

Um... I don't know. I've climbed a lot up there. I loved it.

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by Nate

Hello there.

I'm Nate. *extends hand*

Oh, hello Nate. *Big smile* It is very nice to hear from you. Taylor talks to me about her CGR friends quite a lot, so yes, I know exactly who you are.


Art - I confused you, I'm sorry. I was talking about THE Mt. Whitney, up there at 14,000+ feet. You would know it if you climbed it by the lack of oxygen in your lungs. See, what happens is you get to be 45 years old and you say "I should have climbed Mt. Whitney when I was young and strong".

[RawkforChrist]

no I'm in 2 robotics clubs

[Art]

I know the Mt. Whitney. The thing is, I did a whole lot of that sort of thing when I was young and strong, and the name of the mountain was never of any importance. :/

[leiarose]

Originally Posted by MtlMom

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer 29:11 (NIV)

Notice that He doesn't say that He will always tell us what His plan is! I have met very few people who, in retrospect, can honestly say that they knew what they wanted to do professionally when they finished school. Don't get caught up in the "curse of competence". Just because you are good at something doesn't mean that you will be happy doing it. If you love computer programming, that's great - do it! If you like it because you are good at it and you get lots of positive feedback from other people (which feels great), you might want to think twice. This is what I do: I follow my heart, and pray for obstacles. This has never failed me, not once. That isn't to say that I haven't made some goofy decisions, but He always puts me back on the right path.

I am a senior administrator at an acute care hospital, responsible for everyone who touches a patient - nursing, radiology, lab, etc. . . . pretty much everything except the finance departments, maintenance, and those smart young men who come to fix my computer when it isn't working. An interesting series of events brought me to this place - and I will tell you that when the Holy Spirit tells you to do something that sounds ridiculous, that's a good time to step out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. I had been at Children's Hospital Central California for 13 years in increasing levels of responsibility when I felt the time had come to leave. There was still much room for advancement, and many people thought I was foolish for even considering a change. Then the offer came from a former Director to join him at a psychiatric facility for teens. People thought I was the one who needed psychiatric help for even considering such a thing. The Center was a Mennonite owned and run facility in a primarily Mennonite community 40 minutes south of our home in Fresno. These kids were hostile, some of them violent, all of them seriously messed up. God used me in their lives. I learned about a world that was far, far from the secure environment that I had always lived in. We sold the house we had lived in for 16 years and purchased a home in the new community (it isn't old order Mennonite - in fact, there isn't a horse and carriage to be seen). When the Center closed for lack of funding, I stayed on with the organization for a couple of years doing organizational development stuff - mostly tele-psychiatry. Then the corporation moved their headquarters to Fresno, a couple of miles from the house we had sold. I didn't like the drive and I missed the patient contact, so when I received a call asking if I would be interested in a position at the acute care hospital in our community it just felt right. I was hired into the job I have now, and I will stay until He moves me again - which may be tomorrow (although I don't feel that I'm being drawn away yet).

That was really interesting and encouraging.

Hello. *introduces self* Welcome to CGR. *smile*

Now, the way to avoid such rambling answers in the future is to ask closed-ended questions.

I hope your readers always ask the open-enders if we get storeys like the above. *grin*

[Andrew]

Now, the way to avoid such rambling answers in the future is to ask closed-ended questions.

I loved your answer, so I will make sure not to close my questions.

Now I have a story for you that I hope you will laugh about, because I have recovered completely. A couple of months after Taylor joined CGR she told me that one of the SuperMods was from Tulare. I read your post, which totally threw me into Mama Bear mode. We aren't from Tulare, but we are pretty darn close, and I have about 200 relatives in Tulare County (really). So, I immediately went to read your blog, which of course starts out with blowing up cars and knife fights. After stalking you for about a week I decided that you were a rock solid Christian who asked a very reasonable question. Here's the post:

That story ruled. What also ruled is how you said "mama bear mode" because Mrs. D (Mara's Mom) says the exact same thing. Hahaha.

I think it's awesome that you like good music. My questionmachine is broken, so I will come back tomorrow.

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by Art

know the Mt. Whitney. The thing is, I did a whole lot of that sort of thing when I was young and strong, and the name of the mountain was never of any importance. :/

Oh-ho-ho - I had no idea who I was dealing with here.

Originally Posted by Leiarose

Hello. *introduces self* Welcome to CGR. *smile*
I hope your readers always ask the open-enders if we get storeys like the above. *grin*

Hello Leiarose - Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy life to read my ramblings. I peaked at some of your postings -you are blessed indeed. AND, you get extra credit for quoting the late, great Jim Croce. Then I left because I felt like a voyeur.

Here are pictures of my favorite people
1. That Child of Mine, at Lake Tahoe
2. My boyfriend, best friend and husband of 27 years.

[Art]

AHHHHHHHH!!!

MY LAKE!!!!!!!!!

Good pictures. REALLY good.

[leiarose]

Originally Posted by MtlMom

Hello Leiarose - Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy life to read my ramblings.

You can call me Laura. *bright smile*

I peaked at some of your postings -you are blessed indeed. AND, you get extra credit for quoting the late, great Jim Croce.

Someone else knows who he is!

Then I left because I felt like a voyeur.

Not at all. *wink*

[canguru2]

My goodness, this is a beautiful blog.
Um... hello, My name is Sarah and I'm only 13.
I don't really have anything to say at the moment, just thought I'd say hi.

[RawkforChrist]

Wow.....more people are coming here than Taylors blog.....
this is wierd......
ok I'm going to taylors blog now....

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by Laura

You can call me Laura. *bright smile*

I'm glad to meet you, Laura. You probably already know that Time in a Bottle is the greatest love song ever written. Yes, I'm sure you do.

Originally Posted by Sarah

My goodness, this is a beautiful blog.
Um... hello, My name is Sarah and I'm only 13.
I don't really have anything to say at the moment, just thought I'd say hi.

Hello Sarah. Tell me about your username!

Originally Posted by Seth

Wow.....more people are coming here than Taylors blog.....
this is wierd......
ok I'm going to taylors blog now....

Good idea.
A new Long's Drugs just opened up in our city. People flocked to it - there were lines out the door. Within a couple of weeks the newness wore off and people realized it is just another Long's Drugs, now the traffic there is pretty normal. That's how it is with my blog, Seth. Right now it is a new, but soon you will all realize that Taylor is a lot more interesting than I am. And that is how it should be. You will also find that the two blogs will be very different from each other in content. In the mean time, I'm loving getting to know all of you while it lasts. Carpe diem

Now, I have to get ready for work. I have a meeting with our emergency room physicians this morning. Is anyone familiar with the term "herding cats"?

[Andrew]

Well, as you can see, I am pretty consistent in Taylor's blog, and I have every intention of posting consistently in yours.

How are you today? You should tell us a story about something crazy that happened to you and your husband, way back in the day.

[mtlmouth]

Originally Posted by Andrew

You should tell us a story about something crazy that happened to you and your husband, way back in the day.

I'm right here.