Raider Marching Band

AHSMB 2008-08-29-Alpha&SForsyth_4313
Originally uploaded by bsnyder95

Lawson is having a great time in the Alpharetta High School Marching Band. This band is 5 years young and already marching Class 6A. Their show this year is awesome. When I watch Lawson march, I feel like the proudest parent ever. He has fit right into this band and loves the drum line. His band director and percussion teacher are awesome. We are both so blessed with our move to Atlanta.

Work is going well and my clinics are very close to being JACHO prepared. I am excited about being at Emory and the opportunity to share in the culture of learning at this academic and research hospital and university. I hope to work on campus in the future, but until then, I have a huge job that allows me to share a vision for patient care and help bring order to chaos!

Labor Day with Mom and Dad

It was so good to spend Labor Day Weekend with my parents, my sister, and my kids. Of all the people in my life, no one stands before my family. My parents are one of a kind people and have been the greatest influence in my life. I pray everyday that God will keep them safe, healthy, and guide their every step. The hardest part of moving to Atlanta was creating more distance between us. My parents have been nothing short of 100% supportive of my move and are very happy for us living here. I only wish they could be here, too. My sister, Vicky, deserves accolades, as she never leaves my parents side when she is with them. She is the first of us to get to them when they need help, and she makes them laugh! We had a good time together, and we never take for granted our time anymore. Mom.....next time I order flowers, I'm going to have Dad just pick them up!!!!

Love you all forever.

Back to my Blog

It's been awhile since I officially posted to my blog. Mainly because my laptop has been held hostage by the Geek Squad at Best Buy and also because routine has set in. The new job isn't so new these days and Lawson has started school and started balking at homework. Pretty much back to normal, whether in Little Rock or Alpharetta! But, all is good and we are getting along so well. We're in this move together, and I have committed to not have too much of a social life for the next 2 years until Lawson is off to college. My focus is on God first, then Lawson and my family, and my job. I fit into all of this by doing what I do best, taking care of others. I am most happy and blessed when I know that I can help those I love have what they need and to feel loved. I daily ask God to bless me just so I can bless others.

When I look back at where we started in the clinics on May 10, we have made tremendous progress. I could not have accomplished this on my own. I have a team, some I would not have initially chosen, who have surprised me with their willingness to be compliant and adaptable and work through all we have had to do. They are like my kids, and I feel like their Mom! I would never think I could love this staff, but I do. In spite of difficult changes, these girls (and 1 guy) really treat our patients with dignity and respect and follow my leadership on how to do that. Besides doing this, they have started to act like a team that wins. I am very proud of all of them. I just hope they know that. Today, I had a meeting at one of my satellite clinics, and when they started to leave, we actually hugged. That is so huge to me. I can't explain how special that made them to me and I hope they know that as their supervisor, I have so much faith in their desire to do what is best. It was such a blessing.

AHSMB-Old Soldiers Day Parade-(LJohnson)_1137

AHSMB-Old Soldiers Day Parade-(LJohnson)_1137
Originally uploaded by bsnyder95

Lawson has been fully indoctrinated to the Alpharetta High School Raider Marching Band. He has been busy since the end of July with Percussion rehersals and band camp. School started on the 11th, and practice is every afternoon. This parade was their first preview. What a fun day. We are so glad to be in Georgia and part of a wonderful community and school.

Happy July the 4th!

The kids are here and we had a fun July 4th in Buckhead. I think this picture of the fireworks is pretty cool. We spent the evening in Buckhead having dinner at Maggianos (great Italian food with great entertainment) and then watching the fireworks at Lenox Square. We're having a great time together and I'm so happy to have a house full of kids. I am so blessed.

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July is finally here!

I am waiting for the kids to get here. Later in the evening, Lauren and Lawson will arrive after driving from Little Rock. Lawson is here to stay and Lauren and her friend Kellie will be here for 2 weeks. I am taking my first day off tomorrow and will have the 4th off also. I'm so ready for this long weekend and more so to hug my kids. I just wish Lane could have come with them.

I've settled into work and embrace the challenges that managing my staff and running the clinical operations of 3 busy cardiology clinics. We've made so much progress to date. I'm very happy doing what I do everyday. I start each morning really early and only after a cup of coffee and a prayer. I pray for wisdom in working with people and more than that for the Holy Spirit to have the opportunity to work through me.

I am attending First Baptist Atlanta and can't imagine wanting to go anywhere else. I love the worship and Dr. Stanley's teachings are applicable and on target. I will be glad for Lawson to get involved with the youth program.

The past few weeks have been restful and healing. I'm thrilled the kids will be here today. I'll have some pictures to post soon.

Saturday June 7

It's been a few weeks since I've "blogged". It's not that I have been super busy, I think I'm just trying to settle into life in Atlanta and not doing too much but working and spending desperately needed quiet time with myself, my pets, and more importantly, God. The past few months rendered much turmoil and change, alot for any one person. From divorce, home purchases, job changes, family illnesses, financial uncertainties, a cross country move, all in an 18 month span of time, I have found myself exhausted, totally dependent on God, and just wanting to be alone for awhile. In no way do I believe that this move was an attempt to run from anything, but clearly a part of God's plan for my life. And I honestly do not think that moving to Atlanta means that I will escape the pain of loss or the trials of life. There is still the struggle with loneliness, financial issues, work, and being alot farther from my family. Romans 8:28 says that God uses ALL things to work together for our good. I believe this and know that the trials and hardships of my life are part of His bigger plan for me and keep me in a place where I totally depend on Him and long to seek and find Him even closer to me than ever before. This week, the prayers in my heart were that I would have an undivided attraction to Him. I have found that by being quiet at night, spending time alone during my weekends, and resting, has helped me know that place of attraction to our God.

I continue to work very diligently with Emory to get our Heart and Vascular Center in Dekalb ready for a certain JACHO inspection sometime this summer. Within a month, I am already seeing some positive changes. There is so much to do, and no way to accomplish it all in one month, but daily, I do what I have to do, and at the end of the day, I get to go home, rest, and start over again the next morning. Now, after 4 weeks of diligent and hard work, we are seeing progress, and that feels great. This position has caused me to realize the humility that is required to be a leader. There has been nothing glamorous in cleaning and hauling trash! This week, we will finally have real linens at our clinic--no paper gowns or paper towels for the patients anymore! When I told my staff that I had ordered a linen service, you would have thought I had moved a mountain for them. They have had to use paper towels after echos, stress tests with sweaty patients, and the pillows had nasty paper pillow cases that I doubt ever got changed. The one thing I am learning, the simple and easiest changes, like having real linens, make the biggest impacts. I am so happy to help this clinic have a new vision and move them forward with small daily and weekly changes.