the start of something good

I've always been a journal keeper, someone who better expresses themselves through writing rather than speaking.  And I've always been a fan of handwritten letters.  There is just something about reading words that someone took the time to write out personally.  I've never been a blogger, but have always been intrigued and inspired by those who take the time to routinely post about life, passions, missions,  hobbies, etc.  I may find out this is harder than it looks, but for now I'm gonna try.  Why now?  Because God has brought me on a great adventure, an adventure I want to share with those around me.  Yes, I may be on this adventure for the fun of exploring new places and meeting new people, but also because God is dissecting my heart and revealing to me the importance of and longing He has for intimacy with me.  My world is being shaken, and my only hope is that through my words, you're life will be encouraged, your faith challenged, and your mind filled with hope.

And so it begins...the start of something good.

A little over a month ago God brought me to the city of Spokane, Washington.  Spokane is best described as a small town in a big city.  People around here are friendly and welcoming, always seem to find a connection with someone they meet, and love the outdoors.  There are beautiful cascading waterfalls in downtown, quaint little houses south of the city, farmland and orchards north of the city, Idaho to the east, and the Cascade Mountains to the west.  Not knowing anyone in this lovely city, left me plenty of places to explore and sit in awe of the breathtaking views.  The reason I'm in this quaint little city in the Inland Northwest...travel nursing.  Being a nurse has many benefits, and being able to work wherever is definitely near the top of the list.  I choose to travel because I wanted to gain more clinical experience and foster my skills as a labor and delivery (L&D) nurse, while exploring new places and meeting new people.  I'm not really sure I knew what I was in for when accepting this job.  

Let me just take a minute and share with you the hospital I call home...
UAB is the largest hospital in the state of Alabama, the only level one trauma center, the highest level NICU in the state, and a very up and coming research institution.  Our labor and delivery consists of three floors of triage rooms, labor rooms, ORs, recovery rooms, postpartum rooms, a NICU, and antepartum rooms.  We constantly received transfers from other hospitals in the state and nearby regions for high risk pregnancies.  We have four residents and two attending physicians on at all times, as well as three anesthesiologists working around the clock.  If only walls could talk, oh the stories the walls of the Women and Infant's Center would tell.

Now let me take you to where I am now...
Holy Family is a community hospital five miles north of the major hospital in Spokane.  The hospital really does have a sense of community, where nurses call patients by their first names, doctors know and care about their nurses personally, the people in the cafeteria know your name, and you're acknowledged by hellos and smiles when you walk down the hallway.  Our labor and delivery is currently being remodeled, but now houses a floor of labor rooms, triage rooms, and postpartum rooms.  There is always one physician (and one back up) and one CRNA on call, and during office hours doctors will come deliver babies if possible.  Orders are still on paper.  Call lights are still used for deliveries.    

It's a learning process, really life itself is a learning process.  I really am learning something new everyday.  So, I invite you to walk with me on this journey as God stretches me, challenges me, breaks me and builds me back up, uses me, and reveals to me His glory.  May you be encouraged and filled with hope.  God is good.