WHY?

Do you remember when you were a teenager?
What did you think about?
Did you have any worries or concerns that seemed monumental to deal with?

When I tried to think back to when I was in my teens, (and that was so long ago), I remember worrying about what clothes to wear to school and if I looked good in them. I hoped I didn't get a breakout of acne when it was time for the school dance.

I remember wishing the cool basketball player, who was a year ahead of me, would give me at least a second look.

I can't remember anything that was devastating enough to commit suicide.

That's what a beautiful teenage girl did this past weekend. What could have been so horrible in her life to make her do that?

Now her friends are second guessing themselves, wishing they had been more attentive to her. I'm sure her parents and siblings feel much the same way.

I've been wondering why she didn't reach out for help to someone. Could it be possible she did and no one heard her cries for help.

Our young people are in a crisis. They don't seem to know how to handle or solve problems or know where to turn to for help.

Yet, just last week there was an article in the local paper about a young girl who cared so much about her classmates she passed out religious tracts to them on the playground. Obviously, she found that her faith in God was something she knew she could cling to in time of need and in joy.

What happened to her? The principal of her elementary school, told her to cease and desist. She wasn't allowed to hand out religious (especially Christian) literature at school. Her grandmother didn't take it lightly. She felt her free speech rights had been violated and contacted legal help. Action is now pending.

These two stories brought to mind a "what if" scenario. What if the troubled teen had access to a religious tract or someone had told her how God loves her no matter what, would it have made a difference, and would she still be alive?

No one can know for sure. Isn't it time that strong people take a stand for free speech and religious tolerance in our schools, before our children have been lost?

Please pray for the family of this young girl and for her classmates and all who knew her. Let's hope her life wasn't lost in vain.

SIGNS OF SPRING

If you looked on the calendar you noticed that last evening Spring arrived.

It may have arrived somewhere, but the delivery person didn't deliver it here where I live.

I awakened this morning to 2" of snow covering everything.
To make matters worse the weatherman has predicted up to 5" again on Wednesday.

Anyone who knows me and my dislike for cold, wintry, weather will understand my grumpiness this week.

However, I am trying to put on a smiley face by searching high  and low for signs of spring.

I did notice pin oak leaves strewn all over the newly fallen snow.
This is a sign that the pin oak tree is starting to swell its leaf buds for the new season's green canopy.

I see clumps of green sprouts around the water pond. These are the daffodils stretching toward the sun.

The other day I saw a big, fat, ground hog scurrying for cover. I wonder, how did he get so fat living in a burrow all winter and not eating?
Perhaps he had a good supply of snacks down there and now he looks like a "couch potato". Or maybe, it was a she and not a he and she is carrying this year's production of babies.

I smelled the familiar aroma of a skunk the other evening. He too has awakened from a long winter's nap.

The Eastern bluebirds have staked their claim to the bluebird houses. They've built their nests and are raising their babies. My husband saw a Blue Jay trying to feast on some baby bluebirds but couldn't fit his head through the small hole of the house.
It all depends on where you are on the food chain and how smart you are to fend off the predator higher than you.

The frost left the soil so the robins were finding earthworms that climbed to the surface. I'm sure they had to make a quick trip southward last night.

According to http://www.hummingbirds.com/ the hummingbirds drank some high octane nectar and have finally made progress northward. Last I checked the site they were up as far as Virginia.

Yes, when I really look I see many signs of spring. So now I feel somewhat less depressed.

Now, I wonder if the snow last night was the "onion snow"?
Probably not. I don't think anyone has put their onions in yet, since up to a few days ago the soil was frozen solid.

Oh no . . .  that means we'll still get more snow.

COMPUTERIZED MEDICAL RECORDS

The future of the medical world is computerized medical records.
Some hospitals and doctors offices are already there.
Some are far from it.

I'm not referring to doctor's notes in a patient's chart.
Take for instance, an Ophthalmologist's office with multiple doctors and services under one roof.
A patient walks up to the front desk for an initial visit. He announces his name and the doctor he is there to see. He is asked to show his insurance cards, and picture ID, usually a driver's license and if required by his insurance a referral.

Next he is asked his address, phone number, birth date, social security number, etc. Then the receptionist slips his insurance cards and ID through a 3x1" scanner.

He is asked to sign some papers, usually required by his insurance carrier.
Next he is asked to remit his co-pay, if applicable, and then is given a printed receipt.

On subsequent visits, he is asked if his insurance has changed. If the answer is no, the receptionist simply asks him to verify his information, such as address and phone number. If it is the same his co-pay is requested and he's on his way to see the doctor.

Now for a hospital laboratory. Say you are there to have blood work done. First you probably have to wait in a line. When it is your turn the first thing you're asked is if you have a living will. This question is enough to unnerve anyone who already is wary of these places. You're then asked for your insurance cards, photo ID, and doctor's slip.

Next you are asked all the pertinent information, address, etc. Then you sign papers required by the insurance carrier, including how much your co-pay is for that day's service. Then you are given two copies of each paper you signed.

Remember, this is supposed to be a computerized process. I could paper a wall with the copies of papers I've received.

Next your told to have a seat and your cards will be returned to you momentarily.
Why? Because now the cards and doctor's orders have to be photocopied and all your information has to be manually entered into the computer. Now you know why you had to wait in line in the first place.

So you sit and wait, and wait. Finally your name is called and your cards are handed to you as you head into the lab.

Now fast forward to your next visit. Whether it is in three days, three weeks, or three months you go through the same excruitiating process, time after time.
I feel sorry for the girls who work the front desk and have to go through this process so many times in a day.

My question is, if one office can be streamlined why can't a large hospital facility be.

So when you hear someone talking about medical records being computerized, ask what exactly do they mean by computerized.

In the second scenario how many trees had to die to provide paper for the paperless system?

SPRING . . . NOT

Last week I saw a flock of robins, finally.
The geese have been flying north. However, yesterday I saw a flock flying south.
I wondered why? Perhaps their sonar was off, or maybe they were going to land on a pond close by.

It was raining for most of the day as had been forecasted. I was happy about that, since it was warmer and the last of the snow was melting away.

Then last evening the sleet started. It sleeted into the night, piling up about 2".

When we awoke this morning, snow, 4" of the white stuff had fallen on top of the sleet.
Today my husband plowed the mess, declaring it was the worst ever.
I shoveled some of it off the sidewalks. I could only take off the top layer.

The good part of it is, 2" of rain plus 2" of sleet, plus 4" snow would have added up to 40" if it had all been snow. I'm thankful for the small things.

I've been watching the hummingbird migration site. Last check yesterday, they were up as far as northern Florida.
You can check on them too. Go to http://www.hummingbirds.net/ .
You can also post a date when you see the first one in your backyard.

Another piece of good news, this weekend we turn the clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time . . . yahoo.

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday on the Christian calendar. After eating yourself full of goodies on Fat Tuesday, take a moment on Wednesday and reflect on what the Lenten Season is all about. How it leads up to Christ's arrest and subsequent suffering with His crucification on Good Friday and then His glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

This year especially, with all the unrest and tragedy in the world, take the time for personal devotions, prayer and reflection.

Hopefully yesterday was the last of the snowstorms and soon we'll actually see the Forsythia bloom, and not just in pictures. And we'll celebrate the miraculous re-birth and renewal of spring.

I can dream, can't I?