Survey

Well, it's done. Finished. Accomplished. I have helped my company successfully start AHC Home Care of Colorado. Two months ago we had only a plastic folding table and 8 white plastic folding chairs in what now constitutes a fully functioning and tastefully decorated business office.

Two months ago I was the only employee of AHC Home Care of Colorado. Since then I have learned a lot about the boss-employee interaction, paying bills and writing/signing business checks and payroll checks, recording and containing patients' confidential information, and a whole lot of federal and state and medicare guidlines that govern the operation of any business in healthcare. The survey, an in-depth audit of everything entailed in running a home health care, happened last week and went very well. The surveyor was very nice and even helpful in allowing us to fix most of the mistakes we had, which were minor, before she left Friday afternoon. We are now just waiting for the final go-ahead for us to start taking on more patients. I'm glad that worry is over, we were successful, and I can now get on with the business of making AHC Home Care of Colorado the most successful and profitable Home Care in the company!!

Constancy and Improvement

It seems in life that we are constantly struggling between these two ends of the spectrum. We might even say that life is a dichotomy because we are either doing on of these or the other; there is not much of a middle ground. Sure we can take a look at our life as a whole and say we are somewhere in the middle, but that is just because the sum of all our individual actions and decisions is in the middle ground. We, however, are making decisions and moving towards one end of the spectrum or the other.

Now, on some things it really doesn't matter. I don't believe it matters whether we always eat our same favorite meal at our favorite restaurant. It doesn't matter if we drive to work the same way every day (unless you're a spy and you drive a different way every time to avoid getting caught, but that in and of itself would be regularity (you regularly go a different way). Besides, which one of us hasn't been a spy avoiding capture!). Hence the title of my post is not constancy and change. Change happens all the time and can be inconsequential in that respect, but improvement is what is important. Change in the right direction. I thought of this at church today. Nothing really specific that brought it on, other than I was impressed by the Spirit that i need to work on improving and not remaining constant in my sins and errors. Lest anyone think me representing myself in gross sin, let me just clarify that it is the usual "natural man" sins that we all make as we strive to live more righteously but are still in a fallen world. The Lord is so kind to me and forgives me when I repent. I can't help but have a strong twinge of guilt when I do something wrong, and that motivates me and helps me to work towards improvement. Constantly becoming something better than I am right now, constantly improving. And that brings our spectrum to a circle, or just a really messed up spectrum where you can be at both ends at the same time.

On a lighter note than the random, philosophical, spiritual ramblings you have just read, Christina and I had the opportunity to baby sit the 8 month old son of our friends from Church, while they went on a much needed date. This picture is of him showing how well behaved and cute he is. The following picture is of him when I gave him the PS2 controller to play some NCAA2008 football (as BYU of course!!). Needless to say (shout out to Robbie) he loved it!

At a Loss For Words

It seems to me that it would be easier to write after not having written in quite a few months, because you would have all sorts of comments saved up or experiences lived through or funny stories to tell. I am finding, however, that that is not necessarily the case. I've found that all weekend long I've wondered and even worried a little about what to write. I could update on what has gone on since my last blog post and the subsequent weeks since, but that would take too long and would most likely be boring for everyone concerned.

Suffice it to say that I finally got offered, and took, the health care administrator position I was waiting two years for, with Advanced Health Care. I love a lot of things I've studied and learned about in my life, so much so that my freshman year of college I had charted out the classes I would need to take to get four different majors and two minors. I wanted to study everything, but what I would like doing for my profession left me scratching my head as I learned more and more. Like someone once told me, I know a little about a lot of things, but I needed to make money and support a family by knowing a lot about a few things (my career/job/profession). Those of you who know me even a little know that my passion is people! It took me a few years and a few majors in college to realize that, but I finally learned that I wanted to do something in business because it is about people. I love helping people, I love meeting new people, I like making money, and I have a natural proclivity towards managing (which I have nurtured through various situations, church callings, and jobs in my life). Administrator of a skilled nursing transitional rehab facility is the perfect job because it blends all of those things together. As Nathan (my trainer and boss) says, "it's a people business."

As you can probably tell by now, I love my job, and previous posts have told/shown that I love my wife. Let me know tell you that I love the Denver metro area where we currently live. We have met some great people at church, the weather is nice (and not humid like Florida, so the "hot" days here aren't really that hot), and there is plenty of stuff to do. I grew up in the mountain west so it's nice to be back. I just hope Christina grows to love it as much as I do.

So what does all this lead up to? The fact that above all else I love the Lord and my heavenly Father. Why, you ask? Because everything fell together so nicely since the time of my accident to lead me to the place I currently am today. I wasn't always as patient as I should have been with the Lord's timing, but I look back over my life for the past few years and am I eternally grateful for the kindness, love, and tender, watchful care of the Lord. For everything I have in my life, the only thing I have to offer in return is a broken heart and a contrite spirit. I'm not amazingly righteous (as I need to be), nor am I particularly humble (though I joke all the time about being the most humble man you know), and I'm not even faithful enough to always keep the commandments (as I should be), but I most definitely as trying my hardest to be all those things.

And I'm most definitely really, really, really, really, ridiculously good looking!

Long Time No Hear

OK, OK I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to post again. Obviously you knew it was coming because of my last post (a few months ago), but still it's been too long. I will try to do better.

First, I love being married to the most amazing, incredible, beautiful, wonderful, cute, smart, spiritual, gorgeous, intelligent, hard working, and did I mention Gorgeous woman in the whole wide world!!!!! I wish I could spend every second of every day with her. It was wonderful starting the most amazing marriage in the world off with a very wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii. The first two of many pictures you will get from my blog are shown here below.

This is from Oahu, where we spent the first few days and visited the Polynesian Cultural Center. This photo does not do Hawaii complete justice, but you can tell, it was beautiful. Almost as beautiful as the woman I married!

Now, in this picture to the right you can see me with some of my new Polynesian friends! Notice the tattoo; I was living on the wild side as soon as I got married ;). That is until I got home and it washed right off and then I was back to the mild-mannered conservative guy I've always been!

Of course we went one place that means more than almost the rest of the trip. It wasn't the reason for the trip and we didn't get to go inside because of time constraints to catch our plane but this picture below shows the LDS Laie Hawaii Temple.

Now, before you think that I only am talking about the architecture or the beauty of the grounds let me explain. Part of the splendor and beauty of the honeymoon to celebrate and commence my marriage to the most amazing woman in the world is because it is a fun, vacation to get some alone time to get to know the other person and be together. A bigger part of the special aspect and crucial part of the wedding is shown in this picture. The wedding would just be until one or the other died if not for this building shown behind us and hundreds like it around the world. The temples are the house of the Lord; the only place on earth were specially called and ordained men can marry and/or seal a couple/family for time and all eternity. God did not intend that the true love and adoration that we should feel for our spouses stop at death. He ordained that as long as we live righteously and keep his commandments we can qualify for marriage and/or sealing in a temple and then, if we keep doing those things, we can stay married for all of eternity, not just until death do us part. That is why this picture means so much to me. It is the reason Christina and I are holding each other so tightly; because we know we can be an eternal family thanks to the plan the Lord has ordained for mankind. I love Christina with all my heart, and that is made stronger because of my love for heavenly Father and His love for us!

Busy, Busy, Busy (but no Beavers, sorry)

OK, so planning a wedding and reception and honeymoon keeps you a little occupied. I'm sorry I haven't been able to post in awhile but, as you can tell from the previous sentence (where the "you" was figurative for everyone and literal/specific for me) I have been anxiously engaged . . . in a good cause as well as a real engagement (bonus points if you can name the scripture I'm referencing).

I think Christina and I are getting everything to come together and able to do so at a lower cost than we thought possible. We've had a lot of help from friends and family and the Lord. It's amazing and wonderful to watch everything come together in ways that you would never have dreamed possible when the Lord wants you to get something done. I guess it's a real life story of the example of Nephi going to get the brass plates and telling his father "I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded; for I know the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing He has commanded." When the Lord wants two righteous people to get married He prepares the way, especially when those people are getting married in the Temple. I have been blessed and humbled by this experience, even with how hectic it is. Another witness that the Lord watches over all His children in their daily lives and activities; truly He is omniscient and loving and kind.

So, I have explained what is going on in my life and why I haven't posted in awhile and now will post some pictures to keep ya'll entertained until my next post (which again, might be a little while seeing as I'm busy)

This was in Miami, not our engagement pictures. It was actually before we got engaged, but you can read more about the trip on Robbie's blog.

I just like this picture. She is so beautiful, too bad there is that guy in the picture ;)

The Greatest Story of My Life, So Far

I want to tell you all about the greatest event that has ever happened to me so far in my life. I offer a warning though, this post has pictures of the most beautiful, amazing, spectacular, wonderful, pretty, funny, and smart woman I have ever met. That's a warning because she is engaged to me, and no one else can have her. I am going to work the hardest I can for the rest of my life to make sure that I never do anything that will hurt her, alienate her from me, or offend her with words or actions. Now, that being said, lets get down to what actually happened.

I had known for awhile that Christina was one of the most selfless, hard working, dedicated people I had ever met. She always takes care of her family and does whatever they need. This picture below is just one example, babysitting her neices all day (they're cute kids though)

I knew that she had been busy helping prepare for the upcoming ward activity. She also had been helping me get ready to move to a smaller one bedroom apartment after my cousin, Robbie, moved down to Miami. I also knew that I could use this same business as a smoke screen for what I really wanted to do. So on the Saturday before, while shopping for some much needed items, I casually brought up that since it had been busy and the coming week was sure to be even more busy why didn't we go out for a relaxing, romantic dinner one night. Then, the day before we went out, I happened to bring up the fact that I had gotten reservations at a nice restaurant and we would have to dress up. In Christina's own words "So, if I recall accurately, which I ALWAYS do ;) Wednesday came along and Russ mentioned that I needed to dress nice for dinner Thursday, since it was more upscale then I was apparently use to, and that I may even have to potentially purchase a new outfit (buy something new? And I am forced to? No problem!) But he reassured me that wasn’t necessary, darn! And that church attire would suffice. Thursday comes along with not much of anything out of the ordinary, other than Russell informing me that it will be fun just to go out to dinner because we can." She didn't know what was coming!

We went to dinner at a restaurant called Christini's, it was not only one of the award winning restaurants in the area but I also liked the play on her name. Dinner was good and the conversation with her was even better (as it always is). My goal throughout the evening was to very specifically list some of the reasons why I loved her so much. I would try to mention something she had done, preferably recently, and how that made me realize the wonderfully amazing person she was and why I loved her for it. After explaining why I loved her I planned to surprise her. Once again I will quote Christina becuase I think she says it so much better than I do. ". . . Russell got up to go to the bathroom. . . So imagine my surprise when he came back within like 60 seconds. Apparently the bathroom was very close!? We ate our dinner, and then Russell again had to excuse himself from the table, this time because he really was going to the bathroom and ran into the waiter earlier. (That’s his story and I believe he is sticking to it.) Needless to say, the behavior was a little off, but all seemed fine. Russell returned and we were talking and he continued with his nice, kind, sweet words on why he loved me…. and then he kind of paused and looked and said, “So really, there is only one question left”. At this point in time the waiter sets a beautiful plate down with a rose, petals, and a ring with the writing, Will you marry me? I look up and Russell is just like, “Well?”. I am sure I was laughing/smiling nervously and then he asks, “Will you marry me?”. Of course I said yes! I was so caught up in the moment that Russell had to point out for me to listen to the song the accordion player was playing for us. It was Josh Groban’s, When You Say You Love Me." It was a great evening that was very romantic and special (even if the AC was turned on full blast and she was freezing cold, hence my jacket on her in the pictures). I have a few more pictures posted below, and after looking at them you will realize that I am the luckiest, most blessed guy ever!!!!! She said Yes, to me. It doesn't get any better than that! Until she actually says yes the day of the marriage, but I'm not worried about any other answer that day either ;)

Engaged!!

It's true, finally. I found the most incredible, beautiful, perfect for me, wonderful, dedicated, kind, intelligent, friendly, smart, and spectacular woman ever. And for some odd reason she said "Yes!" when I asked her. Yes, Bishop Purcell, TLM is finally getting married (how Luke Bitton got married before me I don't know;), just kidding Luke) but I'm very happy. There will be more information and pictures to follow in the next post.