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.

Lane is Here!

It's been a really fun weekend with my son, Lane, here. He arrived on Friday and we have not stopped to rest. There are so many great places to take him, and it is impossible to do everything in Atlanta in a weekend. But, we've done our best and had a great time doing so.

We started on Friday with dinner in downtown Alpharetta and then shopping at Macy's. Yesterday we browsed some galleries in Roswell before heading to Ducktown, Tennessee where we took a white water rafting trip on the Ocoee River. This river boasts of class 3 and 4 rapids and offered alittle excitement for Lane. He's already planning his next trip back. Today we attended worship at First Baptist Atlanta and then landed in Decatur for a huge art and jazz festival. The vendors were both local and national artists with so many different types of artwork. It was a great venue and the weather was perfect. Lane will be heading home to Little Rock tomorrow, and I will be sad to see him go.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and I can't help but recall a shirt I saw today that says it all. "Freedom isn't Free". We live in the greatest country in the world. The freedom that we are blessed to have did not come without cost. Many men and women have given their lives for the purpose of our freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. I hope that you stop this Memorial Day weekend and realize what this holiday is really about and say thank you to those you know who have served our country faithfully. I say thank you to my dad who served in WW II in the Air Force. Thank you also to my friends, John D. and Lane T. I dare not forget to thank Tom A., Jeff A., Tom W., and all the crew whose wives helped inspire me to look beyond Little Rock!

Saint Joseph

This beautiful Saint Joseph statue is the newest member of my collection I started last year. I found him at the Canton Antique Mall in Roswell. I purchased him with a gift from a very special person. There is so much symbolism in this gift, the statue, and what Saint Joseph represents. I started my collection last year when I dug up a Saint Joseph in my front yard. I learned then that these little resin statues are buried in yards so that your home can be sold quickly, and to the right person. The little statue I dug up found a special place in my house, and then I started looking for more statues. I particularly like the Saint Joseph with Child. Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, who protected him, cared for him, and provided for him. This statue also bears the Lily of the Valley which represents chastity, or I like to believe, a pureness for God. I have likewise been blessed with an earthly father who has loved me, protected me, provided for me, and been an example of God to me. Then, through the forgiveness of God, through the sacrifice of His Son, I am able to have a pure heart before Him. So, this statue, represents those things and people I hold near and dear in my heart.

Happy Mother's Day!

I received this gorgeous bouquet of flowers this morning from my three great kids. I consider my children to be my greatest success and legacy. They each have a heart for God, love their parents, are forgiving of others, and respect people. Those are the greatest gifts Lauren, Lane, and Lawson could ever give back to me. It is very hard to be away from them this Mother's Day but I know our hearts are together. I pray every single morning for them, for angels to surround them and that their hearts will stay pure. As well as being blessed to have such great kids, I'm equally as blessed to have a mother who has inspired me and supported me through all of life's challenges and been there to celebrate all my victories. To her, I say Happy Mother's Day and I love you. To all my friends who have their own families, who are daughters and who are mothers, I wish God's blessings on Mother's Day and always. Love, Liz

Emory Week 1: Atlanta Week 2 (almost)

This week ends my first week at Emory and almost 2 weeks in Atlanta. Today I experienced my first "real" traffic jam in Atlanta. A wreck completely closed down 8 lanes of traffic on 285, the main loop around the city. I was right in the middle of it and an hour later, pulled into my drive. Last night was marred with me locking myself out of the townhouse, barefooted, no phone! I finally found a neighbor home who was able to break into the house for me. I'm feeling really secure. I trust Buddy won't let anyone get to me. Today was my first day at one of the three cardiology clinics where I'll manage the clinical side of the practice. I've got my work cut out for me!! For my nurse friends, let me just tell you that I found a urine specimen in the med fridge, the insulin had been expired for months, no dates on open meds, the crash cart unchecked in one year in the back hall, and my first request, please order the aminophylin that had an expiration date of 7/07!!! I'll be taking all those seemingly silly JACHO standards we applied at ACH and putting them to use at the Dekalb Emory Clinic. The Dekalb Clinic is in Decatur, a quaint community within Atlanta. Yesterday I was in downtown Decatur during my lunch hour. The courthouse has a wonderful shopping district with live music during the lunch hour on Wednesdays and Saturday's. I'm going to head back down there this weekend for dinner and listen to music. There are some super neat art galleries in the area and other unique shops that are standout kind of places. I did buy an "ecofriendly" purse in one shop. The owner reassured me that it was not made with any animal byproducts! I guess you could say it is a "vegan" purse. I just really liked the style and color.


I continue to trust God in this part of my journey. I know that someday, this will all make sense! Thanks for keeping up with me!

This is the most recent addition to my cross collection. It is a beautiful turquoise enamel cross on satin mat that is framed in glass. I have it separate from the rest of my collection because it is so unique and special in that one of my favorite people, Kelley, gave it to me before I left Little Rock. It looks great in my bedroom next to a gold framed mirror that I sat on my dresser. The mirror was the focal point in my den in Little Rock. It is fun to use larger pieces in different rooms and for other looks in the townhouse. It has all come together so far and except for Tricia, the cat, (a painting by Susan Morrison, a wildlife artist from Eureka Springs) I have all my pictures hanging in key places around the house. I am ready to start adding the furniture to complete the look I want here. Of course, I need to start to work first, and catch up after the expense of the move and not working for several months. Empty spaces are ok and keep me dreaming and planning.

I reached the place I needed to be this weekend. Unpacked, feeling settled, and able to rest before starting work on Monday. I'm reminded of a verse in Philippians (3:7) that says "and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I am experiencing such peace not only about how I have gotten here, but what awaits.

May 1

I love new beginnings and the beginning of this month is the beginning of calling Alpharetta my new home. Today marked the beginning of starting to live here as I unpacked the last box, put the pictures on the wall, and then had time to treat myself to a pedicure and carwash. (OK, the carwash maybe not for me, but Cactus Carwash is as much of an experience with their computer stations, soda fountains, and big screen tv, as it is a necessity for the dirty car after a long trip from Arkansas). I stopped at my new Kroger and bought pesto sauce, artisian bread, and the makings for a ceasar salad and came home and cooked my first dinner (no more sandwiches, please). And now, I can once again, bring my thoughts beyond all the tasks of moving and relax again and take everything new in.

This has not been an entirely "exciting" experience. Bittersweet better describes my feelings. My last night in Little Rock was the culmination of grief (thanks Eve for being there) and unpacking on Monday brought the sad reminder that the season of raising "babies" is done and this is a new season of life. It's not that I'm not a mother any more, but it is that I turn my children completely over to God and entrust them to him as I move alittle farther apart from them.

On a lighter note, Buddy has become the pooch of the century. He is a great dog and until now, has never gotten on the bed. Now he is king of the hill and loving my supercomfy bed. He is getting 2-3 walks a day and has already discovered the lake just across our street. He's a great companion and I'm so glad to have him.

I am looking forward now to starting to work and moving forward with my career in nursing. Stay tuned!