forever and a day

WOW! It has been forever and a day since I blogged. I haven't been out of town for any significant length of time, nor have I been infirm. I have just been incredibly busy. INCREDIBLY BUSY. Working lots. Socializing lots. Cleaning. Organizing. Laughing, crying, praying, worshipping. You know, the stuff that makes up normal days. The stuff of lovely, lovely days.

I've seen the movie UP twice in the last month. The first time was with my parents. We saw it in 3D. When I called my mother to ask if she wanted to see it in 2D or 3D this is how she responded. Pregnant pause, then, "Well Laura, why would you see a movie in 2D if it's offered in 3D?" How silly of me. The second time I saw it was with the kids at daycamp. I cried both times because it pulled at the heart strings of things that my heart longs for. My favorite line in the whole thing is when Russell is talking about how his dad and him used to sit eating ice cream and counting the blue cars and the red cars. He says, "I know it sounds boring but it's the boring stuff I remember the most."

Over the last month I've also been around a lot of death. I've had a lot of conversations about death and I'm overwhelmed by how different it is each time. (If you're reading this and don't know me, I'm an ICU nurse.) One of the deaths was my patient alone. His family couldn't handle what was happening and I couldn't let him die alone. So I sat at his bedside and held his hand until he took his last breath. The next one was an older Sikh gentleman with a gigantic family. More than 30 people filled the room and I had to navigate my way through all these people to give this man morphine as he needed it. Another death was doing CPR on a young man to keep him 'alive' until his family had a chance to say goodbye. Honestly I could go on and on because it has been a very tragic month.

Then last week my friend Rachel died. (See the previous post). She died at home with her family. I went to the Celebration of her life today and it was amazing. The church was full. Her family was strong. God was glorified and will continue to be. I watched as her husband and children walked out of the church and thought this family has done death exceedingly well. The situation sucks. These kids are young. Her husband didn't know that when he uttered,"'til death do us part'" that it would mean only 10 years in. But they have walked the road and will continue to do so.

I bet Rachel's husband and kids will one day say that it's the boring stuff they remember. The everyday dinner around the table. Stories before bed. The normal stuff. And I think they did the boring stuff so well that eventually they will all be okay. Totally different than planned but absolutely okay.

And if you're reading this and don't get it, please go to www.deathisnotdying.com