A Note To My Teacher

January 28, 2016 by

874c6064a32d5cdc7b996bdd22ea0323Dear Mrs. McAuliffe,

It’s almost hard to believe that thirty years have passed since that cold, tragic January morning when you and your crewmates boarded the Space Shuttle Challenger and spread your wings for your final rendezvous with the stars. As a high school student with an avid interest in aviation and space exploration, not only was I excited about another space mission, but I was thrilled at the notion that you would be teaching us from orbit. You had become more than a teacher from Concord High School, you were now America’s teacher, and you were my teacher.

Two years prior, President Ronald Reagan announced the Teacher In Space Program and on July 19, 1985, out of a pool of 11,000 applicants, you were selected as the one who would take us all on the ultimate field trip and teach us about where we’ve been, where we’re going, and why. Then, as classrooms across the nation fell silent and as I sat quietly on my bed trying to understand and process what had transpired in those short 73 seconds, I began to realize those lessons would never come. But perhaps they did….

This morning, as I sit in my office grading student’s papers, I am reminded of you and the handful of great educators who helped shape and mold me into what I am today. While the lessons of math, science, English, social studies, and other subjects have certainly come in handy, and while I’ll not have the opportunity to hear your lecture on magnetism, Newton’s laws, or hydroponics, perhaps the most important lessons have come from simply watching the life you lived.

From the slag dumps of a small coal-mining community, to the cockpit of several different types of aircraft, to the bedside of a dying patient, to the inside of a space suit, to the flight deck of a Space Shuttle, to launch operations, and to the inside of a classroom, I have carried you with me. The values of perseverance, commitment, and excellence I observed in you and adapted to my life have resulted in a plethora of opportunities and have served me well.

Now, it is my turn to enter my classroom and touch the future….

Sincerely,

A Forever Grateful Student and Fellow Educator

©Copyright 2016 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Feature Collections, Scott's Blog

Special Guest: Karen Rhoades

November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Karen B&WAutumn is a very special time of year for me. A different feeling and attitude comes over me and makes me want to reminisce and be thankful by counting my blessings. It’s a pleasant feeling, not at all melancholic. I love to gaze at the leaves as they lazily drift off the trees, in their burnished gold, orange, and green colors. The days are a buttery sunshine, and even though the air is cooler, there is something magical about it all. Even on the rainy, blustery days, it just seems right to light a candle and breathe in the fragrance of a freshly baked dessert, be it oatmeal cookies or banana bars. And after all the cool, refreshing summer iced teas and lemonades, it is wonderful to drink the warming, comforting beverages of fall—pumpkin spice hot tea, Earl Gray, warm apple cider, cappuccino, or hot chocolate. It’s as though the weather is giving me permission to sit curled up in a chair wrapped in a cozy blanket and read a good book, journal, plan menus, or work on a craft. It’s a lovely time of preparing my soul for winter, a time of harvesting the good things in life, so I can hold them close during the winter.

Autumn leads my soul cheerfully to Thanksgiving, a time spent with family. I enjoy this holiday because it requires nothing more than being where loved ones are—no need to bring gifts (although a hot dish or dessert wouldn’t be turned down). It teaches me to appreciate some of the small gifts God gives—the few last days of going outside without a coat, that singular aroma in the air of dying leaves that urges me to look upward for a last glimpse of them on the trees, the opportunity to finish last minute outdoor tasks.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us this season to enjoy, to reap, to be introspective, to be grateful to you for supplying all our needs and even some of our wants. Thank you for your mercy and compassion that is new every morning. Truly, your faithfulness is GREAT! May all that you are urge our souls to be faithful to you. Let our lives bring joy and fruitfulness to you and shine forth your love to all we meet.

“Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see;
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!”

Thomas O. Chisholm, 1866-1960

Karen Rhoades is a wife, homemaker, and copyeditor.

©Copyright 2014 Karen Rhoades

Filed Under: Feature Collections, The Artists Circle

The Healing Power of Gratitude

November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Kim Funkhouser B&WAs I ran some errands this morning I realized, it’s that time of year again. The surplus Halloween candy is sporting reduced prices while Christmas lights are hanging in displays. I have heard some say, “Where is Thanksgiving?” Indeed, where is Thanksgiving in this world of greed? I have often felt myself slipping down the slope of ingratitude. I hear messages from many sources, “You owe me something” or “I deserve this!” This disease of ingratitude appears to be contagious. Is there a cure? Oh, Yes! Yes, there is!! It is called: GIVE THANKS!!

Today, I give thanks for the glory of God and for His word that admonishes us to give thanks in all things (John 5:18). I have to be honest here and just say that I haven’t always understood this concept, but I’m finding it to be the key of unlocking a world I have yet to fully explore.

I have picked up a book written by Corrie ten Boom. In her book, The Hiding Place, she described a scene from their lives during the Holocaust at Ravensbruck, a women’s concentration camp in Germany during WWII. They had just been moved from a temporary tent barrack to a block barrack number 28. Corrie, in the midst of horrid smells, sights, and fleas, wailed, “Betsie, how can we live in such a place!” Betsie replied, “We can, He has already given us the answer!” and together they recited the verses they had read earlier that day. I Thessalonians 5:14-18 admonishes us to “…encourage the disheartened, help the weak…rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” They offered up thanksgiving, even for the fleas.*

Nothing inspires me more than people who are able to put their trust in God for the unknown and express gratitude in the midst of personal trials, physical sufferings and heartaches.

Truly, we may never know what the future holds. Tomorrow may hold a stress- induced heart attack which happened to me on June 7, 2011. Celebrating my 44th birthday just four days prior to this event, I did not have a heart attack on my “to do” list for the coming year. But it came and it changed my life. I’m thankful to be here to say, “I am a survivor.” I’m not only a survivor in the physical sense, but like Corrie ten Boom, I am a survivor on the emotional and spiritual journey on which this event has placed me. Establishing a heart of gratitude in all things has brought a depth to my relationships and life that otherwise had a tendency to be cluttered with wants, needs and unrealistic expectations.

Today, I can walk by those aisles of discounted candy and enjoy the beauty of the lights that brings the promise of the celebration of the true “Light” of Christmas. My heart also revels in the hope and the healing Thanksgiving brings. The Thanksgiving season is not one to be forgotten or overlooked. It is to be celebrated everyday! Let us give thanks and be well.

* Weeks later the ten Boom sisters would learn that these fleas were actually a source of protection from the prison guards. They often wondered why they had so much freedom to do as they pleased in their barrack and the answer was that the guards would not set foot in a barrack infested with fleas!

Kimberly Funkhouser is a wife, mother, homeschooler, and heart-attack survivor.

©Copyright 2014 Kimberly Funkhouser

Filed Under: Feature Collections, The Caregiver Cafe

Ludlow, Vermont

November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Ludlow Vermont B&WI stepped outside the door of our Timber Inn Motel room and inhaled deeply. It was a spectacular October morning – the air was crisp and cold, the ground was slightly frosted, and the sunlight danced across the colorful leaves and spots of snow that covered the nearby Okemo Mountain. An autumn trip to the great northeast couldn’t have been planned any better.

We had never heard of Ludlow, Vermont or the Timber Inn Motel and “accidentally” stumbled upon them while planning a fall excursion to the greater New England states several years ago. For all intents and purposes, it was originally a means to an end – merely a nightly stopover for an opportunity to visit the nearby President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth, followed by a trip to Wilson Castle, located just north of Rutland. But as we ventured into town, looking for a place to find some breakfast, we realized we had stumbled onto something more meaningful.

Ludlow is located in Windsor County, Vermont and is snuggled at the foot of the Okemo Mountain. The village of Ludlow is a quiet and unassuming collection of shops, cafes, galleries, and inns, while the greater Okemo Valley wraps it in long country roads, hiking trails, fishing spots, golf courses, and the Okemo Mountain resorts. While our schedule constraints prohibited us from digging deeper into the delightful culture of this community, we did manage to get a “taste” at a local eatery.

The Hatchery is your typical small-town “mom and pop” establishment. The food has a tasty, home-cooked flavor and the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is warm and inviting – a place where everyone could literally “know your name” if you stayed long enough. There’s a real sense of community and friendliness. Not only do you walk away full in body, but full in spirit to journey yet another day.

The Timber Inn is a small, rustic, delightful motel and was a welcoming place to lay our weary heads after a long afternoon drive. We arrived after dark, so you can imagine our pleasant surprise when we awoke to the spectacular views of autumn and Okemo. If you’re planning a busy vacation and won’t be spending a lot of time in a room, the Timber Inn may just be the place for you. A family-owned business, the Timber Inn offers a cordial reception and outstanding personal attention.

The Hatchery’s blueberry pancakes covered in original Vermont maple syrup and the “stopover” at the Timber Inn has put this exceptional spot on our “return” list. We think you’ll like it too!

Happy Travels!

©Copyright 2014 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Feature Collections, Latitudes & Longitudes

Baked Apple French Toast

November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and while we look forward to spending time with friends and family, food preparation can consume much of our day, especially if guests are staying overnight or even for a few days. Not to worry though, because we’ve found an early-morning breakfast delight that will save you time and awaken your guests with the sweet smell of an autumn holiday.

KC’s Baked Apple French Toast
Serving Size – 4 to 6

1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 slices day-old French bread (1/2 inch thick)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Spoon pie filling into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla. Dip bread slices in egg mixture for 1 minute. Arrange 2 rows of bread on top of pie filling, overlapping slices slightly. Brush bread with melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve fruit side up.

KC’s Beverage Selection
Serving Size – 1

1 mug of steaming hot tea or coffee of your choice or
1 – 4 ounce glass of milk

Happy Eating!

©Copyright 2014 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Feature Collections, KC's Kitchen

The Great Pumpkin

November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Perhaps there is no greater symbol of harvest festivities and autumn holidays than that of the great pumpkin. First introduced as a highly nutritional food and medicinal source to the early-American settlers by their Native American neighbors, the use of the pumpkin quickly evolved to everything from early renditions of pumpkin “pie” (custard) to pumpkin beer, templates for haircuts (thus some New Englanders were known as “pumpkinheads”), and Jack-o-lanterns.

While there are four basic species of pumpkins, there are dozens of variations and each of them serve a specific purpose in food preparation, carving, and/or display. Traditionally, we are all familiar with the typical, Connecticut Field or Howden pumpkins that are often used for carving and decoration and these are what we utilize here at our home to brighten our fall celebration.

There are many ways you can use a pumpkin to bring a natural feel to your autumn décor. If you have children, then carving or painting your pumpkins may be the choice for you (as always, when carving, be sure to provide the appropriate adult supervision) as it provides an enjoyable way for you to teach and engage your child about early American history and pumpkins in general. You may even opt to decorate a pumpkin to give away as a gift to a friend or a teacher.

Incorporating an un-carved pumpkin into a natural setting can also be a great and simple way to bring the flair of autumn to your home. Using pumpkins among fall table settings, on the fireplace mantle, or among a few bales of hay, colorful leaves, some smaller gourds, flowers (such as yellow, orange, or maroon mums), dried corn stalks, and of course, a scarecrow, are just a few creative ways to make this time of year a festive occasion.

Happy Autumn!

©Copyright 2014 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Feature Collections, Welcome Home

Special Guest: Donna King

December 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Donna King B&WDear Life, I think I’ll have Christmas instead…

Dear Life,

Only 17 Shopping Days until Christmas and I have only purchased one present so far… There’s so much to do!  First, I need to finish putting up the glorious and impressive trees throughout my house, then, I need to plan meals and map out everything I can do to help my family and me to feel as “Christmassy” as possible. Of course, I need to shop for all the perfect gifts, buying things I do need and things I don’t need (with money I don’t have).  And, in and around all of that, I need to be awesome enough to do the cookie exchanges, send out the greeting cards, and wrap the presents, well in advance, (so they can look all LOVELY and ANTICIPATORY under the tree).  Ok…deep breath…NOW, I need to create a masterful Christmas ambiance, with an extensive musical playlist, piping melodies throughout the house, along with Christmas candles burning, wafting evergreen fragrance into our senses. And, of course, I need to attend every possible Christmas event I can squeeze into the calendar. Oh…all of this is sounding So wonderful!, right?!

BUT WAIT…

Where is Jesus…?  Where is the sweet sense of the presence of CHRIST?  What is this celebration about?

When Jesus came, the INN was full…It was TOO full for him…Too full for a young woman who was about to give birth after what was likely a painful journey on a donkey… THE INN WAS TOO FULL..

Dear Life, after many Christmases and many wrapping paper extravaganzas, surrounded by over stimulated family and friends, rushing from one “pseudo celebration” moment to the other, I am asking myself WHERE IS JESUS?…and, IF I was the INNKEEPER, would I also miss the opportunity, amidst my overly FULL life, to welcome the SAVIOR into my world…

I fear the answer is yes… and I ask myself, what if my advent was celebrated differently this year… What if, each day, I walked my heart to the manger and stopped long enough to listen…To listen to the crickets in the fields surrounding the stable and whinny of the horses, awoken in the night, as Mary and Joseph quietly slipped in.  What if I could hear the whimper of Mary in labor, as Jesus entered the world.  What if I looked around and saw the messy stable…realizing there is no ambience in here, but there is LOVE…SO MUCH LOVE…What if I could just stand at the door of the stable, with gratitude, and breathe in the miracle that’s occurring before my eyes…Knowing that without this moment, I am hopeless and without a Savior… I am doomed…BUT realizing…I am not… HE CAME.  Yes, HE CAME and, now, I have HOPE.

There isn’t a Christmas tree in the world that can save me.  There isn’t a twinkling light, a glimmering mantle, or a delicious holiday cake (although I won’t deny that my mother-in-law’s Christmas fudge doesn’t come awfully close) that can rescue me from my deep need for a Savior… ONLY Jesus, ONLY the SAVIOR, who came to bring PEACE and GOODWILL to men…and, specifically, to each and every one of us, individually.

You see, the world may have little room for HIM this Christmas, but HE has ALL the room in the world for us… That’s why HE came, because of HIS great love, mercy, and grace…All of which cannot be found under a tree, but only at HIS feet.

I have a new Christmas album this year… I am SO grateful to have had the blessing of recording it.  It’s been a dream of mine for years.  I chose songs that mean something to me, some classics and some brand new…And, I wrote songs that I pray will mean something to those who hear them…

Here are the lyrics to a FUN tune on the recording, that, although it’s meant to be somewhat silly and tongue in cheek, has a deeper message and one that I pray I can live up to over the next 17 days…

By the way, if you might like to add the new album, entitled SONG OF NOEL [by Donna King], to your Christmas song collection this year, you can do so on iTunes or on my website www.donnakingmusic.com.

Now… Dear Life, I think I’ll have Christmas instead…

Christmas Instead

Donna King & Rachel Morgan Perry / ©2013 Journey Press Music/BMI/Cut Out Hearts Music/Blonde Hair Blue Eyes Music/SESAC.  All Right Reserved. Used by permission.

Hustle and bustle, it’s that time of year

Deckin’ the halls, the season is here

Spending more dollars than quality time

Waitin’ for hours in shopping lines

 

Maybe we’ve gone a little crazy in the head

And we should have Christmas instead

 

Mistletoe and Holly’s kissing someone tonight

It just never seems like it’s Mr. Right

Here comes Aunt Millie with her favorite cake

It’s time to pretend that we think it’s great

 

All this puttin’ on is packing pounds we’re gonna dread

Oh, we should have Christmas instead

 

Lately I’ve been wondering what it’s gonna mean

To wake up to everything that’s underneath the tree

Are these the kind of gifts they were offering

To a baby, born to be the KING

 

A star shined brightly in the eastern sky

Angels sang Glory to GOD on high

Just a simple stable and a bed of hay

And a SAVIOR who came to give HIS life away

 

I don’t want another year spent SO FAR from Bethlehem

I think I’ll have Christmas instead

 

Visit Donna’s websites at www.donnakingmusic.com and www.zaneanddonnaking.com

Follow Donna on Twitter at @mrsdonnaking

And on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/zaneanddonnaking

Follow her blog at www.donnakingmusic.wordpress.com

 

See/Hear a preview of Donna’s new album, SONG OF NOEL, HERE

Filed Under: Feature Collections, The Artists Circle

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Are you tired of the traditional Christmas cookies and pies? Looking for a new and savory dessert to add to your holiday menu? Want to bring something different to that holiday party? Here’s one we recently put to the test and we think you’ll agree – it’s a winner!

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

Serving Size – Makes 2 loaves

 

3 Cups – All-Purpose Flour

1 Tablespoon Plus 2 Teaspoons – Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 Teaspoons – Baking Soda

1 1/2 Teaspoons – Salt

3 Cups – Granulated Sugar

1 Can (15 oz) – Pumpkin Filling

4 Large Eggs

1 Cup – Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup – Orange Juice or Water

1 Cup – Sweetened Dried, Fresh or Frozen Cranberries

 

Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease and flour TWO 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.

Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, vegetable oil, and orange juice in large mixer bowl; Beat until blended.

Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; Stir just until moistened.

Fold in cranberries.

Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 

©Copyright 2013 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Feature Collections, KC's Kitchen

Home For Christmas

December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Christmas Season has arrived in southwest Ohio and we’re ready to celebrate. The tree is decorated, the fireplace is lit, the smell of seasonal spices and baking is in the air, and the classic holiday sounds of Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Andy Williams are streaming from the radio. Christmas is such a special time!

While we are aware that many of you have special traditions and meanings in your holiday routines, here are some of our own creative customs and practices that have made this time of year so festive for us:

1.  Home Decorations

Over the years we have discovered that “less is more.” Balancing the quantity of decorations (both inside and out) may provide you more quality – less stimulation and more room to relax, breathe, and discover some real “peace on earth.” Natural and/or country-style garnishes and trimmings may soften your home, making it warm and inviting. You may also explore a house-wide “theme” and/or a theme for each room where decorations meet the everyday styles and colors.

2. Seasonal Traditions

Christmas celebration comes early at the Rhoades’ house, at least in the form of music. Scott customarily pulls out the holiday music in mid-September as a creative way to imagine and capture the meaningful depths of the season.

For the past several years, we’ve also enjoyed attending and participating in Christmas Eve church services as a means to focus ourselves on the true meaning and spirit of our celebrations. This is often followed by a quiet evening at home where we enjoy a course of dried meats, cheeses, and crackers, and an exchange of smaller “stocking” gifts. Major gifts are reserved for Christmas morning.

Just as the music begins early, so the decorations stay up longer. Scott grew up in a very diverse ethnic and religious community, so it was not uncommon for everyone to continue celebrating up until the Russian Orthodox New Year. So, if you visit the Rhoades’ home in January, be prepared for some extended “comfort and joy.”

3. Seasonal Wishes

Whatever your customs and traditions, may your home serve as a haven for family and friends and may your holiday be filled with peace and goodwill. Merry Christmas!

©Copyright 2013 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

Filed Under: Feature Collections, Welcome Home

When It Hurts Too Much To Care

November 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Sara opened the door to her rusting, maroon 2003 Ford Taurus and slid sideways into the empty driver’s seat. “Wow,” she thought, “sitting down has never felt so good!” She raised a cup of hot, steaming coffee to her lips, sipping slowly as not to burn her mouth. She then allowed her head to sink softly into the headrest in an attempt to relax and clear her thoughts. A tear appeared in the corner of her right eye and began to trickle down her cheek. Another nightmare shift had come and gone at the local community hospital where Sara was employed as a registered nurse.

The past several weeks have proven extremely busy for the unit where Sara works. Patients are very sick, demanding more of her than any of the previous clients she could remember. One of her favorite patients died, while others continue to struggle with the pain and nuances of their chronic conditions, lack of family and social support, depression, and fear. New processes and computer updates are coming weekly as attempts are made to streamline care, meet quality and critical indicators, and save money. A colleague took unexpected ill time, resulting in Sara’s manager assigning her extra hours of mandatory overtime. Sara’s healthcare benefits package has changed and she is paying more money for less coverage. Her husband recently joined the ranks of the unemployed and her two children are begging to participate in sports and summer camps – and that is just the beginning.

While Sara has found herself complaining more to her boss about the workplace, clients and co-workers are voicing complaints about Sara that her manager finds to be a bit unusual and out of character. She is showing up to work late; unkempt and disheveled. She has gained a lot of weight. Sara is preoccupied, can’t seem to concentrate, and finds no joy in the things she once enjoyed the most.

Sara closed her eyes, wiped the tears from her face, and wondered if she had the strength to go home, fix dinner, clean the house, and spend time with her kids, let alone come back to work again that night. She had so wanted to change the world for good and now it seems so far out of reach, if not impossible. She is physically and emotionally spent and couldn’t care less about anything or anyone.

Let’s Talk About Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue – it’s not a new concept, but one we’ve brushed aside and cannot afford to ignore any longer! According to recent statistics, between 18% and 65% of health care workers (nearly 85% of emergency room nurses (1),25% of paramedics, and 34% of hospice nurses (2)) suffer from secondary traumatic stress and/or compassion fatigue.  But it’s not just limited to health care professionals – caregivers, or those who care for the dependent (and often chronically ill) family member, friend, neighbor, or client are also at risk.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion Fatigue can be described as the reactions to chronic stress from the care-giving efforts health care professionals and caregivers provide. The stress begins to manifest itself in negative ways and if not recognized, leads to an overall loss of caring or compassion.

Who’s At Risk?

Experts tell us individuals who identify with the hopeless, helpless, at risk, and suffering populations are predisposed to suffer compassion fatigue, because they already possess an element of fatigue by the mere fact their worldview consists of caring for others before caring for themselves. Add a lack of self-caring practices  to the mix, and the conditions are right for developing compassion fatigue. (3)

What Are The Signs?

The signs of compassion fatigue range from the annoying and irritating, to the disruptive and disabling. Here is a list of some (not all) signs you might discover in someone experiencing compassion fatigue:

  • Excessive complaining
  • Unusual complaints from others
  • Compulsive behaviors such as overeating, gambling, etc.
  • Difficulty with concentration
  • Mental and physical exhaustion
  • Poor hygiene and appearance
  • Substance abuse

What Are The Solutions?

There are many ways health care providers and caregivers can prevent and/or recover from compassion fatigue. Here is a list of some (not all) suggestions:

  • Understand the job you do effects you – awareness is the first step
  • Get healthy – see your doctor and adopt a healthy diet and exercise routine
  • Seek counseling
  • Embrace your faith
  • Surround yourself with positive people and influences
  • Manage your life and lifestyles – be proactive and find balance
  • Learn to say “no”
  • Keep a journal
  • Schedule “me” time
  • Get at least 8 hours of sleep

What Should I Keep In Mind?

If you are a health care professional or caregiver, then understand God has created you as a unique and caring individual, entrusting you with this wonderful gift of caring. He has also created you with personal needs and limitations. By taking care of yourself, and perhaps decreasing the quantity of caring you provide, the quality of your caring can grow and mature into a meaningful and distinctive experience. Remember, even Christ Himself went away to the desert after ministering to the crowds who followed Him, so He could be ministered to by the angels.

1. Beck, C. (2011).Secondary traumatic stress in nurses: A systematic review. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 25(1), 1-10. Retrieved from  http://dx.doi.org.hslezproxy.ucdenver.edu/10.1016/j.apnu.2010.05.005

2. Hooper, et al. (2010). Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue among emergency nurses compared  with nurses in other selected inpatient specialties. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 36(5), 420-427. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.hslezproxy.ucdenver.edu/10.1016/j.jen.2009.11.027

3. Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project. (2013). What is compassion fatigue? Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/compassionfatigue.html

©Copyright 2013 Scott Rhoades/Ivory Hill Studios

*Disclaimer: This forum is intended to provide general health and wellness information only. It is not a prescription and/or endorsement for any specific health/medical brand, product or program. You should ALWAYS consult your physician before starting, changing, modifying, or stopping any non-prescription and prescription medications, herbs, treatments, alternative therapies, exercise/wellness programs, physical and/or psychological therapies.

Filed Under: Feature Collections, The Caregiver Cafe
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