precious pedicures.

so, i have now completed three days at my new "job". my first day was incredibly overwhelming, as joseph's house was swamped with people, full of hustle and bustle, and i felt insecure, unhelpful, and overall, in the way. there was a memorial service held for one of the residents who passed away last week, and it was a pretty intense way to start the job, i guess. but since then, it has been incredible.

so, a typical day for me? so far, it seems to be as follows: i arrive around 9 for a nice hot breakfast with the other staff and residents who are able to come to the table. after eating, we take breakfast to those in the house who are bed-bound. some of them who are very sick, we feed them; others can feed themselves. i've gotten to feed several of the ladies breakfast the past two days, and i love that. then, i probably do some dishes and some loads of laundry, maybe wash a floor or something. then, we may have a staff meeting which is full of reflection and sharing time, both about ourselves and the residents, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. i'll have a conversation with one of the men who is my spanish "profesor," trying to help me brush up my awful high school spanish with his limited english. then we'll eat lunch and bring lunch and meds to those in the house. after that, i may help give bed baths and change sheets, clothes, and diapers for those who are unable to get up. with so much tenderness, we rotate the patients in bed every few hours so that they don't develop bed sores from lost circulation. today, i got to gave one of the ladies a pedicure and manicure, complete with salve massage, and we both loved that. gosh, those moments are precious! and to be able to serve her in that way and just tell her she's so beautiful, and see her smile... it's incredible. then i sat with another lady who will probably die either today or tomorrow. i just sat with her. there was nothing i could say, other than "hi, it's katy, and i'm just going to sit with you. can i wet your lips or wipe your face?" and do those things for her warning her before hand because she is blind. then i just sit, holding her hand, stroking her hair. she can't move or talk; her breathing is a labor in itself. but i love sitting with her and trying to love on her with my hands, my thoughts, my prayers. seeing our common humanity, reflecting on her life that i know so little about, asking for peace and comfort for her and her family. it's actually beautiful, sitting there with her.

so, i am loving it. loving it so much. sorry that i can't say names because of confidentiality, but these people are already becoming precious to me. i know it will be hard losing so many of them this year. but i feel so blessed to be there. i told my dying friend today that it was such a gift, a present to me to be able to just sit there with her. how am i so blessed, to be able to share in those sacred moments with her?