Fun updates

Greg&Ashley after blessing.

Jaxon's Blessing on conference Saturday. We grabbed some grub. Priesthood session with the Grandpas after. Mike's farewell this Sundy! Off to Tampa, Florida.

Bradley made it to state with his sax solo! He is very talented.

New Addition to the family. 55 gallon fresh water fish tank. Joe's newest hobby. 5 scissor tail tetra, 6 albino tetra, 2 glo fish, and our newest addition a Gourami. Getting more next week!

Had to run the tank without fish for at least 3 weeks to ensure ph, nitrate levels are within range. We had to be patient.

Joe managed the tank this last Saturday (monthly cleaning). Changed out the water, dish washed the decor, scrubbed the glass. He put in different decor that we purchased, it looks like a totally different tank. The marbles give it a nice touch.

I enjoy it so much!

English Memoir Paper

Giving Back

Ask any nurse why they chose their profession, and you’re likely to hear that they want to “give back and help people.” Honestly, that wasn’t my reason at first. Becoming a nursing assistant was only something to help myself. However, certain things happened that changed my entire perspective. I never dreamed of being a nurse. That all changed when, I met Diane and George. These two patients of mine didn’t even know each other, but together they transformed my attitude.

At the age of five, I was diagnosed with glaucoma and uvities in my left eye. As a result of these diseases, I had a total of 12 painful surgeries to stabilize my conditions and save my eye. As a child I avoided facing my horrible doctor visits with my various medical conditions. Over the years of going to and from eye clinics, I learned to love being around people who wanted to help me. Growing up, as a result of the many medical bills that my parents were faced with, I was uncomfortably aware of the importance of having a job with a decent income. Money and being successful is all I wanted out of a future career. So, I decided to declare my major as Nursing. While going to school, I was told that becoming a nursing assistant will help achieve a lot of ground work of becoming a successful nurse. I became a nurse’s aide and took the first job that I could find.

Diane was fifty two years old when she was admitted to my nursing home unit in room number four. She captivated me with her sweet spirit and adorable wigs. Diane was the queen of gossip celebrities. I would often find myself disturbing her daily fix of People magazines and Entertainment T.V. Cancer treatments had taken years off her life. The cancer forced her into a nursing home at an unusually young age. Diane’s doctor assessed her and it was decided she was going to be put on the hospice program. Diane’s family quickly objected and become hysterical because she was going to quickly pass. The patient and family are included in the hospice care plan, which focuses on spiritual, emotional and practical needs depending on the wishes of the patient and the family members. Her treatment consisted of antibiotics and supportive care. For the next few weeks, I handled her oxygen and took on her needs as my own responsibility. Explaining the unfamiliar procedures to her daughters in a professional manner was very hard to face. I missed the Nurses meeting with Diane and her family to clarify and reinforce her diagnostic tests. Her daughters kept asking if there was a chance of recovery. I explained to them there is a slim chance but the doctors and nurses readings feel that she is not going to make it through to the next day. As Diane’s aide, I set her in a private room so her family could come and go as they pleased with the privacy they desired. I accomplished bathing, repositioning and charting at her bedside by request. Devoting my full attention to Diane and her family, I remember her so well because I thought I was giving her the best care I’d ever given anyone.

Within a week, to everyone’s astonishment, Diane’s final tests came back with normal counts and she was discharged. Diane left, the family was gone and the room was made ready for my next patient. I did note to myself that regardless of all my efforts, the family had never even thanked me! I guess they probably didn’t realize the vast involvement I’d made to Diane’s recovery, but after all, I’d just been doing my job. Although it did bother me, I tried to let it go because there was a new patient on their way that would need my help.

George was my new patient in room number four. He was a sixty five year-old man with a discrete background of alcoholism and tobacco abuse. He was admitted at the crack of dawn, I was told he was going to be here over a short period of time for some rehabilitation from hip surgery. I though George’s case couldn’t be as difficult as my last. George was aggravated, dirty, and had a fowl mouth. He looked to have greater need for a bath than for any rehab right away. I wondered why on earth would he have to be in my unit. Since I was working a double shift for that day, I asked all the assistances on that shift to switch patients. None wanted to deal with him either. I had already got spit on, and dealt with his verbal nonsense all morning; I couldn’t go another eight hours with him. I ended up cleaning George from head to toe. No family members occupied George; his cigarettes seemed to do the trick for most of the day. His care didn’t have any real challenge, I reinforced that his choice of words were unacceptable and connected him to oxygen according to protocol. Hours later he finally settled down. As George slept, I assessed his behavior and stayed away. In contrast to Diane, who had been out of it most of her stay, George was extremely rude. Yelling profanities and pulling his oxygen tubing off every time I reapplied, he pulled the sheets off the bed along with his clothing.

The next day of work, room number four was empty. I was told that he didn’t belong in my particular unit, but to a more basic rehab unit. Even better, I found a surprise waiting for me at the front desk of the nurses’ station. There were two dozen wild flowers in a vase and a sparkly card with my name on it. The vase was full of bright colored purple daises, sunflowers, and fancy white primroses. The flowers smelled wonderful, it was sweet to my soul.

I wasn’t dating anyone at the time, so I was curious of who had sent me flowers. Then it dawned on me, Diane’s parents finally remembered to thank me. I was in for an even bigger surprise when I opened the card. The vase of wild flowers weren’t from Diane’s parents after all. With humiliation I still feel as I write this today, I learned that they’d come from George, the very patient I’d been avoiding the night before. In the pink sparkly card, he apologized for his condition the night before and thanked me for the wonderful care I’d given to him. Ordering flowers for me must have been the first thing he had done after transferring to another unit.

George’s thoughtfulness marked a turning point in my career as an assistant. Treating George not like a human being, I had self consciously been ranking people on whether or not they “deserved” my special care. From that very moment, I realized that I hadn’t given Diane good care either. I was treating her like a disease not like a person, but going through the motions of caring for Diane and not the emotions. That’s why her family members hadn’t thanked me. I have such a clear memory of the beautiful flowers to this day. I’ve grown much as an assistant and have taken a professional and empathetic approach ever since. I learn and grow everyday from working with different types of people. While going to school to become a nurse, not only wanting it for budget reasons, but to help people and give back. Working as a nurses’ assistant, patients like Diane and George have helped me to become more selfless. Now it’s my turn to thank them.

Christmas 10' Pack Gathering

Family Pack Gathering

Every other year we get together, have a few events, and take pictures of the family. Two summers ago it was held in Huntsville. This year it was local, Joe and I just attended the pictures and dinner. It was a fun night to catch up and be with everyone. Plus, everyone finally got to meet Jaxon, the new addition to the Mitchell family. Pictures were taken at the Joseph Smith Memorial, and outside the Temple. Afterwards, we ate at the Gardens. It was delightful.

It's wonderful to have family gatherings! No matter how crazy it gets, I love my family!

One year.

I cannot believe that Joe and I have been married for one year now! With school, work and the busy life we have, this year has seriously gone by so fast, I can't comprehend it! It has been such a great and amazing year!

Today is my day off. It's been nice to sit down and forget about work and ponder on the many memories of my wedding day with my eternal companion.

Our wedding day was absolutely PERFECT! I remember not being able to sleep very well the night before due to my nerves, sleeping in my two youngest brothers room hearing them snore didn't help.(that was not the perfect part) I remember waking up, calling Joe first thing, not only feeling so rested and so excited, but it feeling so right. As I walked out the door to Sister Gibson's up the road, I thought to myself 'Lynda, this is really it.' The Lord seriously blessed me because I was mentally ready for the big day!

As Sister Gibson was pining, curling, and spraying, it was relaxing to just sit and ponder what the day had in store for me. As the finishing touches on the hair were being made, my dad surprised me at the Gibson's. 'Beautiful! My only daughter is getting sealed today, and I am so grateful!' I am glad I waited to put my make-up on after my hair, I was tearing up! I remember thinking on the walk home with dad that I was not to cry, I am not going to cry, I just want to have a smile on my face. And that's exactly what happened. No one could get me to not smile on this special day.

I came back to the Mitchell house hold house hold, my parents and I gathered everything that we needed, had family prayer and we left the house to go to the Draper Temple. As we were driving, I remember looking out the window and looking at the sky and clouds and how beautiful it was and how this day was my wedding day! I was so grateful that I had made the decision to live my life according to be married and sealed in the House of the Lord.

We were the first one's in the Temple. I remember waiting with my mom and dad for Joe and his dad to show up. The thought of them not showing up within that very minute gave me anxiety. Jerry and Joe finally arrived we went and signed some paperwork and then separated to go get changed.

I loved having my mom with me helping me change into my sealing dress. I wore my wedding dress that my Grandma Pack made to get sealed in. My vail was borrowed from my Aunt Meggi. Both the dress and veil were special to me. There was a special spirit having my mom help me step by step in the process that she once went through with her mother years ago, the spirit was strong knowing that I was following my families footsteps and making the right decision. After I was ready, I met Joe in one of the rooms in the temple. Seeing him smile meant the world to me, hearing him say he loved me meant even more to me that day. I remember sitting there squeezing each others hands and seeing other couples leaving with their sealers or temple worker to go get sealed. I remember thinking oh my gosh, were up soon. There was/is something about Joe's presence, that put me into a comfort level that sends me on a high. Yep, I was on that high that whole day. I was so happy.

I loved seeing all our family in the Temple together. It was special having both sides together. Us being sealed was very memorable. I loved the things that the sealer said and the promises he gave us. Kiss was amazing! It was absolutely perfect!

My Grandma Pack surprised me with a winter coat made out of the same fabric that my dress was made out of..again it was so special to me.

It was quite comical after I met up with Joe after the sealing. I'll I could do was laugh, I was so in love with my new husband, we did it! We were quickly told that our family members and friends were waiting outside, so we walked outside and not even half of all who came was out there waiting, everyone else ran out as we were walking out. I will NEVER forget the many faces that attended.I WONT forget my mother in laws car being towed right after we gathered to chat with people in between pictures. It was a tender mercy that that car made it up the hill and to the temple parking lot before it broke down. After all the pictures Joe and I headed to macorroni grill! The rest of the time between the Temple and the reception fun hanging out with my best friend, sun shining, it was a beautiful day.

The Reception was hilarious looking back, 2 hours of non stop family and friends. I got cake shoved in my face while doing a gymnastics back bend move. Got to yell at my dad while having dad/daughter dance because of how loud the music was. Our car was decorated in baby burp rags, and shaving cream. It was a fun celebration with all that could attend.

Joe finally meet aunt Sarah! She ment the world to him and he ment the world to her. They talked for hours at a time during our dating and engaged time. It sure did mean a lot to me for Joe to confined in her, even though I didn't know all of (and will never know) what was said between them two. Sarah was someone at the time that wasn't family yet, but yet Joe treated her like a sister. Aunt Sarah's company on the wedding day was something I'll never forget.

December 17th, 2010 was perfect! I am so grateful that I married Joseph. We have had such a great year. I believe that we have both learned and grown so so much in this year. My heart still melts when I think of him. I am so grateful for Joe's and I testimony in the gospel that has aloud us to tune in with the spirit and grow closer due to our many experiences together.

Looking His Best NOW!

Before Hair Cut

After Hair Cut (holding his reward)

Birthday Weekend

October 4, 2010

It was my choice...He took me to the Cheesecake Factory.

He treats me like a Queen.

One of the BEST days with my King.

I love him!

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October 3, 2010

OH MY WORD! :)

My very own MacBook. I am so LUCKY!

Dress and high heels from Joe's family. (kiss kiss)

I sported this outfit to Cheesecake Factory

Back pack from the sweet sister-in-laws.

Thank you so much.

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October 2, 2010

Dinner at Applebees with the Mitchell women during the Men's session of conference.

Enjoyed passed memories, shared our stories, and talked women talk. They will always have a place in my heart.

I recieved a festive bowl and cinnamon vanilla candle.

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September 24, 2010

Early Birthday present from Mom and Dad.

I love OCTOBER!

You can count on these wooden blocks to be displaced in the home every October.

Memories from last 4th of July 2009:

four wheeler, 51 mph, phone call, antesipation, 3 hour drive, strawberry jello dessert, minorsville parade, the sounds of bombs, long walk, guilt, transformers, crew, sweat, prayers answered, sleeping bag, pouncing cat, hidden mouth guard, bbq, small town, katie, chats about the second comming, tour of house, fireworks, the kiss, comfort, warmth.

Memories from 4th of July holiday 2010:

no work!, carter family baseball, sitting out, met the 4 nyndger boys, millcreek canyon, bbq, greenery, fire, nodding heads, applebeer, baby talk, explosion, nap, holladay fireworks, chats, memories, marching, colors, running, cops, bug in eyes, beautiful family, kisses, comfort, short car ride home.

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Getting things set up for my "blogspot"...I am very slow...but loving it!