fromthebrainofsarah

High School Field Trip

Posted on March 19, 2018 by fromthebrainofsarah

There’s a rush to get on the bus.

Jostling and laughing, a few shouts. The bus rumbles to life. Diesel perfumes the air.

Amanda’s sweater is blush pink. It matches her cheeks. Cheeks made rosy by youth not cosmetics.

She sits on the slippery vinyl bench in the row with the “hump” to rest her feet on. Primly she folds her hands in her lap and waits. Will he sit by her? She watches the door eagerly.

He appears in the doorway. He looks her way. Smiles.

She blushes prettily. Her heart races.

He strides toward her.

Walks past her.

Sits on the last row with the jocks.

Her smiles falters. She pales. Embarrassed, she looks around. Could anyone tell how high her hopes had been? No one sees. Everyone is talking and laughing and joking while she sits alone on a bus full of people.

work

Some Things I’ve Learned in the ER (So Far)

Posted on March 11, 2018March 19, 2018 by fromthebrainofsarah

In my few years in the ER, I’ve learned a few things.

don’t sleep on the train tracks
68 year olds should not do cocaine
some people want to be miserable
true love does still exist
the will to live can be brutal
2 minutes of CPR can wear you out
sometimes TPA works, sometimes it doesn’t
“elderly fall” = ticking time bomb
esophageal varices is an ugly way to die
the former drug addict with mouth sores may just need a hug and be told she’s beautiful
it’s ok to tell the patient’s spouse to call the children
just because someone is “being dramatic” doesn’t mean there isn’t something horribly wrong
never let an hypotensive GI bleed out of bed
always check to see if the patient who’s been in the ER awhile is diabetic
withdrawals ARE life threatening
sometimes the dementia patient who has been in the ER a few days waiting for long – term placement needs to go on a “field trip” outside
we don’t only take care of law-abiding citizens
firemen are awesome
a stretcher carrying a 350 lb man with a tech doing compressions rolled over ones toe will break said toe…
every shift I learn something new
it takes a team to care for the sick, and I’ve got the BEST one!

people, spiritual, Uncategorized

Influence

Posted on January 8, 2018January 8, 2018 by fromthebrainofsarah

These two. I can honestly say that these two men were the most influential men in my growing up years. On the right is my dad, Allen Keifer; on the left is my pastor, Eldon Martens. These two began a life-long friendship in the early 70’s. Together, they started Fundamental Baptist Church in Escondido, CA. The church started in our house in October of 1973, and I’m told one of the Sunday School classes was held in my bedroom!

As I look at this picture (40 years later… gasp), I get a lump in my throat. These men were consistent. Consistent in their work ethic, consistent in their outreach, consistent in their ministry, consistent with their families. When I think of faithful, these two are top of my list.

I think about all the years I sat under the ministry of Pastor Martens. From the age of 3 I listened. And I learned. Parents, please don’t underestimate the influence sitting in “big church” has on your children. I sat under the gospel and a few months before turning 5 years old, I understood the gospel: that Jesus died on the cross for my sins so that I could go to heaven when I died; and I bowed my head and accepted Jesus as my Savior while my mom sang in choir practice!

Pastor had a way of relating to people. Even as a small child, I knew I could go up to him and talk to him and he would stop everything and listen. I remember getting a Bible as a gift. I wanted to show it to him. He stopped what he was doing and prayed with me that the Bible would be important to me and that I would read it every day.

I remember so many Sunday nights when “the whole church” would congregate at our house for my mom’s pancakes. (I’m not certain how many people that was, especially in the early days). I’m thankful that my “culture” was my church. I grew up in the culture of the church as family. We kids of the church played together, fought together, sang together, went to school together. Church was a major influence. And why? because my parents made it important. They made sure I was influenced by godly people. They made sure I was sitting under the preaching; and you know what? they made sure I was behaving myself so that I would not be a distraction to anyone in the service who needed to hear the gospel (how’d they do that, you might ask… Well, it had to do with going outside and my mom’s shoe… and as my dad would say, maybe some “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth”)

My dad was a man of faith. He was a man who gave. SO MUCH. He was of those secret givers, secret influencers. We didn’t know half of what he did until his funeral and people started talking about it.

In the early part of 2011, Pastor Martens passed away and in October of the same year, my dad went home to be with the Lord. Our families just shook our heads and thought, “Of course. Those two. Always did tend to be in the same places at the same time.” Somehow, it was just RIGHT.

Let me ask you this: Who will be the most influential people in your childrens’ lives? I hope my legacy is as powerful. I hope yours is.

daily prompts, spiritual, Thoughts from the Word

Bliss

Posted on December 17, 2017December 17, 2017 by fromthebrainofsarah

via Daily Prompt: Bliss

Bliss. What do you think of when you hear that word?

When I hear the word “bliss” I define it more as a feeling. Bliss is that feeling of joy, contentment and peace after a productive day. It’s that feeling of “ahhh” when you sink into your bed at night, that first sip of coffee in the morning, or soaking in the tub with all the time in the world. It’s the satisfaction of having a clean house with all the laundry done and everything in its place and a fresh smell in the air. Bliss is sitting on the beach, watching the waves roll into shore, sinking your toes into the sand. Bliss is your child’s arms around your neck, a surprise visit from a friend, or finding that stack of letters from your spouse when you were first dating and losing track of time as you read through each precious line.

The dictionary defines bliss as: noun: perfect happiness; great joy.

This is the time of year that we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. In the Bible, the book of Luke, chapter 2 tells us the story of Jesus’ birth.

I found it interesting that “great joy” is found in this story. After Jesus’ birth, angels announced his birth to shepherds. Luke 2:8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon the, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ”

You’ve heard the terms “follow your bliss,” “find your bliss.” I submit to you that baby in a manger, the sinless Son of God who gave himself the only sacrifice for sin, is the true Bliss. If you are trying to find your bliss in anything or in anyone other than Jesus, you will remain empty and void of true joy. Only Jesus can satisfy that longing in your soul.

Those shepherds didn’t just hear the heavenly birth announcement. They went looking for that savior. Luke 2:15, 16 “And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

Once the shepherds found Jesus, Luke 2:20 says, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

You’ve heard of Jesus.

Have you sought him?

When you find him, will you accept him? You will not be the same.

Pinterest tries...

Detox Drink

Posted on December 12, 2017December 12, 2017 by fromthebrainofsarah

Confession time. I’m one of those people who pin stuff off Pinterest, but I don’t actually do any of those pins (well, maybe one or two). I’ve gotten into the rut of doing nothing but existing, and I’m sick of it. My daughter in law and I decided we were going to make a plan to actually do some of the things we have pinned. So, today the Ivey girls (aka Hunter and Sarah) tried one of the many detox drinks floating around on the internet. We chose this recipe (because we had all the ingredients):

1 c. warm water

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp lemon juice (the last remainder of our lemon juice concentrate)

1 tbsp “raw” honey (I just used what we had, plaid old from the store honey…)

1 tsp cinnamon

dash of cayenne

We doubled this since we were both partaking…

I have heard that both cinnamon and cayenne have anti-inflammatory properties (whether this is true or not, I couldn’t tell you! but if it does, hey, that’s great!).