Showing posts with label thankful. Show all posts

be thankful (3 & 4)

 Jaclyn (@jaclynarmstrong)
11/3/12, 10:07 PM
3: Thankful for amazing friends that feel like family. #30days
I have been blessed with some of the most amazing friends in my life. My best friend back home still feels like a sister every time I see her, despite losing touch for months at a time far too often. She is such an important part of my life, Nick's life, and now Logan's life. I could talk to her every day, and it wouldn't be enough. We could live 5 miles apart, and it would still be too far.

When I moved to Tennessee, it was just me & Nick. I knew no one. I slowly made a few acquaintances, but it wasn't until I met two of my best friends that Nashville began to feel like home. We have been through relationships together, weddings and marriage, and now we are raising families. Together. They are my Tennessee family and I would be lost without them. We've celebrated milestones and holidays. We've grown into a new stage in our lives. And I'm so thankful to have them by my side.


Jaclyn (@jaclynarmstrong)
11/4/12, 8:42 PM
4: Thankful to have parents that have supported me through everything, and taught me the true meaning of unconditional love. #30days
 My parents raised me with strong morals and values, but they also respected my own opinions and choices as I grew up. I've made decisions that I know they probably didn't agree with, but they have supported every single one of them. Not once in my life have I ever heard them say I told you so. Somehow they found the perfect balance in guiding your children in the right direction and letting them make their own mistakes. I've never had to questions their love or support of me, and for that I am grateful.
30days thankful
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be thankful (day 2)




Jaclyn (@jaclynarmstrong)

11/2/12 5:42 PM

2: Thankful there was a different plan for me than the one I had for myself. luuux.com/node/2630744 #30days

 



 

This photo hit me hard. I've shared my dreams of joining the Army Reserves Nurse Corp (here), and finding out I was pregnant with Logan just before finalizing my paperwork for the board review. I made that decision at a time i didn't think Nick and I would ever have children. But the reality of the life of a female soldier and mom hit me when I saw the raw emotion on this oldier's face. I can't imagine deploying for months or a year at a time, only interacting with Logan through Skype. I can't imagine coming home to a child that doesn't even really know me. I know how hard it is for Nick to leave Logan, and the longest he's been gone so far is 3 weeks. As a mother, I can't imagine being separated from my son. This could have been me. The strength and bravery of this mother is inspiring. I've never been more in awe of a mothers love.

 

 

 

I wanted so badly to share this photo with Nick... share my emotions, heartache, and what could have been. But at the last minute I decided against it, because sadly Nick will have to face this reality next year. He doesn't need to be reminded of the road ahead.

30days army nurse corps
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be thankful (day 1)

Jaclyn (@jaclynarmstrong)

11/2/12 1:21 AM

1: Thankful to have a career I can take pride in, especially when the days are exhausting and the nights are long. #nursetweets #30days

By now we have all seen the tremendous impact of Hurricane Sandy on the east coast. It is one of the most devastating natural disasters of my lifetime. So many stories have been shared of heroic efforts within communities, but the ones that always stand out to me are the stories of nurses and their efforts under horrendous circumstances. (You can read about the brave nurses that manually ventilated tiny NICU babies to safety here.) Nurses worked long exhausting hours without eating, without breaks, and without proper medical equipment to save lives. As they always do. I have never been more proud to be a nurse.

I complain about my job a lot. I complain about management and hospital administration, redundant policies, understaffing, lack of support, arrogant and impossible doctors, poor communication, etc. But the fact is, despite the shortcomings in the medical field, I love what I do. I love having a career that I can be proud of. I love the genuine appreciation I receive from patients daily, and watching patients walk out of our doors healthier and smiling after far too many days in our care. I love providing safety and companionship to an elderly dementia patient without any family. I love being a nurse.

I work on a surgical oncology unit. I'm with some patients for weeks on end as they recover from a complicated surgery. I'm with other families as they struggle with the shock and heartache of a new cancer diagnosis. I watch some patients fall apart as they live out their final days of a poor prognosis. I offer a listening ear and a helping hand, and wipe their tears away. I am humbled every day.

Nursing is such a challenging job, but also so very rewarding. I'm usually exhausted and counting down the days or hours until my next day off. But I always have great pride when I get to share what I do for a living with someone else. And that is the best part of the job.

 
30days nurse nursing
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