For those of you who may not know what "comp time" means, it is overtime done at work, but you take the time instead of the overtime money. I am having a "comp time" day today. Ahhhhh...it feels so good to take an extra day off. The last three days I worked, I did my job alone. There are usually two of us, but my partner had jury duty and other issues.

I don't know if I ever mentioned that I am an RN. I have this big title at work. I am either identified as a nurse specialist...which does not mean I am a nurse practitioner. I am also called a CHC...which in long version is a Clinical House Coordinator. As much as I can figure, the title should be CAC (Catch All Category). I really don't coordinate anything that I know about. I work in a prison. I respond to emergencies and assess emergencies. That is the major part of my job other than screening in new or transfered inmates in our receiving department. I administer 70 or so insulin injections a day and medicate inmates in our segregation unit. I also respond to medical emergencies after hours at our satellite camp. There is a bunch more stuff I do...but I would bore you to death with all the tiny details. Needless to say a "comp day" is welcome.

Just so you know the prison where I work is in the guinness book of world records for the most window panes in one structure. We also have 71/2 miles of indoor corridors. It is a big place...and sometimes my dogs are not just tired, they growl.

This post is not intended to offend any Christian that enjoys "Christian Praise Music".

I am not a big fan of the new Christian music, especially Christian praise music...the kind of music where you sing one line over and over and over. Like all music there is some that is okay, but you can call me old fashioned if you like. I find myself yearning to hear the old hymns. Not only because of nostalgic reasons, but because of the prose. Even if you don't know the music and read the lines there is depth and meaning to the poetry. I will give you an example. I don't know the music to this one. It is titled "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" and was written by John Newton most most likely in the 1700's:

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes the sorrows, heals the wounds
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then, I would Thy love proclaim
With ev'ry fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.

If the term thee, thou, and thy bother you...just put in the modern words...you or your.

If I am old fashioned...that is okay. Words such as those make me think about my own Christian walk. Oh that I should proclaim His love even with my last fleeting breath...Yep...that is how I want it to be.

As a side note: Papa John is still with us. His days are winding down. He is still going to dialysis 3 times a week. He is growing weaker by the day...and getting confused sometimes. Mom deserves a medal...she is a real soldier. We truly appreciate all the prayers.

Papa John is still hanging in for now. He has accepted Hospice to come by and check in from time to time. I know this will be a big help for my mother. Papa John does not want any heroic measures and wishes to pass away at home. I know this is going to be very hard on my mother even though she will support him with this decision. Each day is precious. He is getting weaker and his appetite is almost nill. He said that he is ready to go home and is tired. He has told all of us that he loves us...and he has told me to tell O Jr. I can't type anymore right now. Keep us in prayer.

Today we found out that Papa John's cancer has spread and treatment is no longer an option. Please pray for him and our family. God has been so good and Papa John has been so brave. I admire his desire to live and his fighting spirit. I pray that whatever God has in mind for him we will be ready. I hope God will be gracious and if it be His will to heal him that it will be soon. If it is time for Papa John to go home then I hope he doesn't have to do a lot of suffering. I know God's plan is perfect and I trust Him with all my heart, but today has been a sad day.

In one of my earlier posts I told y'all about my Papa John. He has been fighting a battle with cancer along with other health problems. Yesterday he was sent to the emergency room by his cardiologist because of his irregular heart beat. When I got off work, I stopped by the hospital to see him and offer my mom a way home if she wanted. He had been sitting in the ER for several hours waiting to be admitted. Thank goodness he had been stabilized and was on some IV medication and cardiac monitoring. The only reason he was still in the ER was because he was waiting on a bed. As a matter of fact he was sitting up at bedside complaining of how cold it was and wanted to go home. This is where the blessing began. I know it sounds strange. How can you find a blessing in the ER???

While I was sitting at Papa John's bedside in the ER, I glanced up to see an employee holding some paperwork and talking to another person in a doorway I could see. Suddenly it dawned on me...I know this person. I hadn't seen her in probably 20 years, but I knew that face. When she had finished talking I called out her name. It was her. She had been a dear friend and playmate of mine when I was a little girl. Her mom was my favorite and first Sunday School teacher. We hugged and laughed. I could still feel the love we had for each other. We later exchanged phone numbers. I do hope we keep in touch, but the blessing doesn't end there.

While we were still waiting in the ER, I got tired of sitting so I got up and stood where I could see the nurses station. There was a man standing there that looked a little bit like my brother. Same kind of build, hair cut and color, some facial features were close. I thought to myself....I know that man. Well sure enough...I called out his name. He said he thought that was me too. It was my cousin I hadn't seen in about 12 years. No wonder he looked so much like my brother. Anyway there were hugs and the genuine so good to see you greetings. The best part of all is the shared memories. He was another playmate of mine when we were just little children. Yet the blessing doesn't end here either.

Before I left the hospital, I stopped to see the lady I had recognized. She works at the hospital in the ER discharge area. I was sitting at her desk with my back to the door. I heard a man's voice behind me that I thought I knew. When I turned around it was another childhood friend. I hadn't seen him in at least 10 years. He, the lady, and I had all gone to the same church as children. Our families knew each other very well. As a matter of fact the man's sister was born in the same hospital one day after me. Our mothers had been in the hospital at the same time! Wow....it was like old home week. Just seeing these people brought back such wonderful warm feelings and memories. I had loved each one of them so much, but had left them behind years ago due to "the divorce". It is so wonderful to know they still have special places in their hearts for me too.

God's timing is perfect. When I finally got to my car to go home and sweet tears of joy were on my cheeks, I lifted my heart to God and thanked Him. God showed me that lies can never compete with truth. As long as there are people that remember and share in my past the lies of the man that fathered me can never take root. Satan is the looser once again. Kaaaching!