A Tale of 2 Lungs: Waiting.......

I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait.

~ C.S. Lewis

Advent- a season of "expectant waiting." Like many of you, I love this time of year. I spent most of my childhood overseas, without extended family, and we stretched Christmas out to fill the void. One of my favorite memories is of my father reading the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve, and my sister and I taking turns each year reading "The Night before Christmas." One year when it was her turn, I memorized the entire thing so that I could recite it as she read it. Yes, I really did. With my dad and sister gone, I find comfort in keeping those traditions.

This is a nativity that I brought back from the Dominican Republic. I have given many people these over the years, but never thought about purchasing one for me until last year. It is in my office and makes me think of the mission trip I love so much.

Here are some of the other things our family does to prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth.

This is the tree in our living room. We do not use a "themed tree." There are sweet memories in each ornament, and stories too!

I love the movie "Christmas Vacation." My sister and I often called one another and watched it together, saying the lines with the characters. She sent me this squirrel for my tree.

I collect the annual Lenox snowflake ornaments.

This is the tree in our home office. It has an angel theme.

This angel belonged to my grandmother. The head is made of porcelain.

I made many of these angels in 1989. The are very fragile now, and I always say "this is the last year for the angels" but I end up packing them away for the next year.

I started collecting these Margaret Furlong angels in the early 1990s. They are delicate and oh so pretty!

My grandmother always had festive dishes on her table, and I have followed in her footsteps. We usually eat one meal on these dishes - lunch on Christmas day. Last year I gave in to paper plates!

Chelsea worked at Pier One for a while. We may or may not have used her discount.

We found this Willow Tree nativity in a store that was closing. It was missing a sheep, so Michael got them to mark it down even more! I know that you noticed we are a sheep short.

New decoration for this year.

Over the years we have collected some snowmen. The ones going up the stairs are sold in Hallmark stores each year. This is the last year they will be selling them (or so we were told).

I just love it when someone presses all the buttons and they sing all at the same time (NOT)!

Another piece from Pier One. Thanks for working there, Chels!

So in addition to the waiting associated with Advent, I have been waiting on information. In my last blog, I wrote about the fun and fast breathing tests known as MIP and MEP. I did not hear from the transplant nurse about the results, so after a week I called her. The tests were normal, but the team was waiting for the imaging center here to send some scans of my pelvis that were done a few years ago. I called the imaging center, and they had not recieved the request, so I called Vanderbilt again. Early this week I had not heard anything from anyone, so I called the imaging center. They told me that the films were Fed-exed to Vandy on December 5th. The transplant nurse called on Thursday and told me they were waiting for a scan of my brain. What? Pelvis? Brain? Easy mistake. So, I am still waiting to see if they need more tests, or if they are ready to put my name on the waiting list.

I guess I had better get accustomed to waiting. That said, let me share a God story with you. The first time Erin the transplant nurse called to tell me the team wanted to list me (before the MIP and MEP results), our conversation went something like this:

Me: If/when you call to tell me it is time for listing, can I ask to wait until February 1st? There is this mission trip I go on each year in January.

Erin: It doesn't work that way.

Me: Okay, well how about after Christmas?

Erin: They do not want to waste any time. With your antibody levels, we cannot afford to miss that match.

Me: Okay, well how about December 17, after graduation. I need to have a tiny bit of control. Give me something here. I want to be there to call the names of the students and see their big smiles!

Erin: I can understand that, but you won't have that option.

So.......guess what happened Saturday? GRADUATION! Looks like I had a little control after all.

Just a few of the 88 undergraduate nurses from Saturday.

Wonderful staff helping to line the students up. Shannon Blanken, Khadijia Payne, and Paula Karnes.

Undergraduate faculty Renee Anderson, Christy Davis, Megan Pittman, Sandy Brown, and Jennifer Delk.

Sheilla Foster and Shayla Alexander.

Hendersonville faculty Dr. Elisha Hill, Dr. Allison Davis, Ashley Gipson, and Carmen Davis.

Germantown faculty members Jean Crawford, Dr. Anita Langston, and Dr. Linda Billings.

Ms. Joy Watkins, our newest staff member!

Graduate faculty Dr. Cathy Ammerman, Cathy Aslin, Dr. Patsy Crihfield, Dr. Cullen Williams, Dr. Joyce Snyder, Dr. Shari Wherry, Dr. Charley Elliott, Dr. Cindy Powers, and me!

39 graduate students crossed the stage Saturday!

It was a wonderful graduation. I truly have the best job in the world. As you can see, I work with people who are not just colleagues, but friends. I actually had the honor of teaching some of them in their graduate programs.

Our students are amazing- and on that note, I want to share a really special moment. The nurse practitioner graduating class had a celebration dinner Friday night. It was my privilege to serve in the Dominican Republic last year with most of them.

The students gave a generous donation to the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program in my honor! I was speechless. First of all, this night was about them, not me. I neither anticipated nor expected this kindness. Furthermore, these folks have no money- they just spent it on tuition, books, and otoscopes! Everyone saw my ugly cry that night.

I am so proud to have played a small part in their education, and delighted to not only call them colleagues, but also friends.