watch my heart

Okay, Mark is among the living. I understand what he is talking about when he mentions work. Medicare and Medicaid are words we are hearing at work all the time these days. Since St. George is the home for many elderly people, 65% of our patients are Medicare and Medicare is cutting payments daily so Obamacare is making it difficult for hospitals to stay in business. I am glad that Mark, Angela and I work for a big corporation as I worry that small hospitals will not survive Obamacare. And with Mark working on his MBA, I remember when I was finishing up my Masters Degree, I thought I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I am glad he is seeing some light in the end of the tunnel. Angela has carried the mantle high though and I love reading her blogs as well. I am the weather man for St. George...today it is going to be 72 degrees here and beautiful sunshine. I am so excited and plan to walk later in the day. Rick has been out cutting palm tree branches down and I am baking chocolate chip cookies. Then he took a walk and I am blogging. I have to wait for it to get warmer before I truly enjoy the walk. He will walk again with me later today so he can walk off the chocolate chip cookies. Michael told me just yesterday he was going to blog last night but I don't see anything here...I believe he might be technologically challenged. Sherri and family are missing this good weather as they are staying at Rick's this weekend for Kam Bam to do a cheerleading tournament. I am sorry she has to spend the weekend in snow and cold. I will update you on her family since she has been busy and hasn't blogged for us. Hallie is hoping to see Mason and Connley while they are up north. It is difficult for cousins to live so far apart. McKenna continues her missionary prep classes. She will turn her papers in this month. Rick's grandson, Jake, will finish his senior year this next year and then he will leave shortly thereafter. We suspect we will be gone on our mission when that happens. Can you believe it? Just like Mark says, it happens so fast. My work has sooooooooo improved now that I have hired an ED manager and a Trauma Coordinator. I am so happy. I still work long days with 5 year strategic plans and annual goals, and budgets all coming due, but it is so much less pressure and less than it was the past 6 months. I am grateful that the Lord gave me the energy and mental capacity to hold myself together to do it all these past 6 months wearing 3 hats. And that Rick hung in with me when I didn't think I could do another thing. Well, I, like Jeff, am very grateful for life. As I get older, I realize how quickly it goes. I hope I have many years left to enjoy this life, but if not, I have had a wonderful life and am sure glad for every day I have had. What a ride it has been with each of you. A little too wild at times!! I couldn't ask for more. Love, Mom and Grandma