The Teachers

You may remember my previous posts about my first clinical group of nursing students. We have completed 8 weeks together, and December 4th was the last day of a continued journey to become nurses.

I still remember their faces on that first day.

Excited. Worried. Eager.

I will never forget their faces on the last day.

Confident. Passionate. Encouraged.

I am so proud of those ten students. We all experienced our "firsts" together this semester. First day as a student. First day as an instructor. First day of realizing tears and laughter can coexist in the same conference room.

I am humbled, for they taught me.

Their passion for patient advocacy grew stronger each week. They went the extra mile and touched someone's soul. They reminded me of why I am in the field of nursing.

My only hope is that they never forget the feelings from that first day.


I made a survival basket for each one of them. The contents are explained at the end of this post.

They made me a picture frame, and the picture from the first day was placed inside. I will treasure it always.

Enjoy a few pictures, and notice the confidence that exudes from the picture that was taken on the last day!!!

First Day....for Everyone!


Supplies for Survival Kit


Inside the Kit


Finished Products


Last Day!


Emotionally Touched:)


Gift from Students





Survival Kit Contents

- Band-Aids: Always remember you aren’t just helping heal physical wounds; you are touching the innermost parts of a person that most people ignore.

- Book: Never stop learning. Stay a student. This is what fuels your passion.

- Cards: Whatever cards you are dealt in your job or life, always play your best hand. Never fold or give up.

- Clip: Stay organized…on and off the job. Don’t take your frustrations from work home with you, and don’t let struggles at home affect the care you deliver.

- Magnet: It’s ok to hang your “artwork” on the fridge. Celebrate your accomplishments and even brag a little. Your graduation diploma, first nursing job, last day before retirement, all are triumphs and need to be recognized.

- Kleenex: Show emotion. It’s what makes you good at what you do. Once you lose joy or compassion, it’s time to find another area.

- Ornament: Life is fragile and beautiful. Each one is unique, and needs special handling. Do so with care, including your own.

This kit is never done. You will add to it as the years pass and your experience widens. One day, you will share your own kit of knowledge with another student just like you. This is what makes nursing a gift.





Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts. ~Florence Nightingale

A TREEat for my mantle

I have been inspired by all of you blog ladies out there who have perfected your Christmas mantle. Linky parties are popping up everywhere, and I couldn't help but post some pictures of my own mantle.

I was so excited, that I didn't even wait till daylight when the lighting would be good. I did this at 8pm, right after using my trusted but cheap glue gun for the third night this week.

I can't help it. I love Christmas.

And snowmen.

The older I get, the simpler my Christmas decorating becomes. Oh, I still love the neon green polka dots with a cranberry red stripe, but this just doesn't work in my house. Instead, I use silver and white ribbons, glass balls with jingle bells, creamy quilted stockings and tree skirt edged with bells, and little white lights on my tree. I know to some that may be boring, but I feel peaceful and am reminded of the simplicity with which the first Christmas was defined.

A wooden manger. Dirty straw. White, twinkling stars. This is Christmas to me.

Pardon the quality of the pictures, and I'd like to introduce to you my newest book friend: Mr. TREE!!!!!!!

From Pumpkins to Snowmen

You may remember my previous post about my love for anything and everything made from books.

I was so disheartened to take down my book pumpkins. I felt like I was losing a friend as I carefully placed them in storage for next year. The place where they sat on the mantle looked barren and cold.

It was time to rip some more books.

I love snowmen. I have snowmen plates, table cloth, salt and pepper shakers, drink dispenser, and now a book snowman for my mantle.

This was definitely a project that will get better each time, because I was making it up as I went. Next up is my snowlady.

In a dress.

How, you ask?

I have no clue.

Till then, here is Mr. Snowman!!

Advent Calendar

Advent, Advent
The little light burns.
First one, then two
Then three, then four...
The next, the Christ child at the door

If you have ever seen Courage Mountain, you may remember this poem spoken by Heidi, the main character. As a little girl, this movie was one of the top 5 I would request to rent from Blockbuster on family nights. Each time I think of this qoute, I HAVE to say it with an accent. I tried to find a clip from the movie, but it was to no avail. Please, if you know where to find this clip, enlighten me! I miss it so...

As Christmas is drawing closer, I decided our house needed an Advent calendar. I had bought a small ladder from an antique shop a few weeks ago, with absolutely no clue what I was going to do with it.

I'm not sure when the revelation hit, but this ladder is now our family's advent calendar. I got a package of circular tin containers from Michaels, and I glued ribbon to the back to hang from the rungs. I then used stamps for the numbers.

I haven't filled each tin yet, but I am brewing ideas! I'd like to put a tiny momento in each one, which will spur conversations with my child(ren) in the future about Christmas, traditions, and family.

Do you use Advent calendars?