The alarm buzzed unusually loud. Annette jumped out of bed so as not to awaken her sleeping husband.  Only a few more  weeks now and another year of school would be only a memory.  She thought back over her class of 20  little trainees.  She had never regretted going back to school for her teaching degree. She had accomplished this while raising four children  and had graduated with honors.

     She showered and dressed quickly.  Breakfast smells were inviting as Bob approached the kitchen. “I have a full day today,” Annette exclaimed as she leaned over to give her husband a good morning kiss. Don’t forget to check with Ben to make sure he’s coming to class today for our “P”  lesson.”  Ben was a local policeman who had agreed to drop by to talk to the children as “Mr. Policemen” in their learning of the alphabet. She sipped one more swallow of coffee and was off.  She arrived 30 minutes before the children to organize her day and  savor the quietness before the storm. 

     The door flew open and Joey appeared. “Mrs. Hamill, I know we had a funeral for Mr. Can’t, but what if I can’t be nice to my sister?”

     “But Joey, you can be nice to her.  You have a choice.  Don’t you think it would be good to leave Mr. Can’t  buried and make the choice to be kind?”

     “I’m going to try again, Mrs. Hamill.  I’ll try to leave Mr. Can’t buried.”    She smiled as she remembered the cardboard tombstone and the little ceremony the class had put together to bury the word  “can’t”.  She wanted these youngsters to know they could do anything they set their minds to do. She mentioned often the sky was their limit.

     Annette had seen so much growth in her class this year.  Katie had cried every day for 3 weeks when classes started.  Now her interaction with the others was amazing.  She had turned into a natural little leader for her classmates.

     Annette could see problem areas in the lives of several of her children. Their home life was showing.  She was determined to bridge the gap where she could, giving extra hugs to some and extra discipline to others.  It was hard to leave the unsolicited children’s stories in her class room. It was easier to take them home and brood over them.   Through the years she had learned she couldn’t save the world. But for her  allotted time each day she could show them she cared  and that she   believed in them.

     “Where does time go”  she wondered as she looked over her classroom of rambunctious junior citizens.  “God, let the love I’ve given these children multiply in their lives.  Let them remember to keep “can’t”  buried and their imagination alive.”

      Now, at the end of the  day, Annette took one more look around her brightly decorated room, locked the door and started home.  It had been a good day working with these live wires. They had  been taught enthusiasm and that life is fun.  She had let them know they were loved and they could do anything.  Her hope was that others in their  lives would realize how fragile they were.

     Not so far away Wanda was busy adding that personal touch to her world. She, too, had chosen to return to school.   Following her military  husband across the country had left little time for her to pursue her dream.  Finally it happened, she was now a registered nurse.   She loved her white uniform, the authority to make decisions and the care she could give hurting people.

     Mrs. Lesley, one of Wanda’s patients, had been given the diagnosis of cancer a few weeks earlier.  She had opted for surgery and now came the recouping stage and the waiting. She had no family and spent much of her time alone.  She had recently retired and had big plans of getting involved in the community, traveling and making up for things she had  put aside for a later time in life.

     Wanda was working the night shift. This night had been more demanding than most.  Her feet ached. Staffing had been cut and she was helping take up the slack.  Now as morning approached, she had a  few  loose ends to tie up, and she would head home. 

     Climbing the stairs, Wanda  caught a glimpse of a sunrise through a hospital window. Quickly she made her way to Mrs. Lesley’s room and smiled brightly as she opened the door.  As she expected, her patient was awake.  “I have a front row seat for you, my dear, to a spectacular event. The show is about to start.  Let’s get that robe on and  where are your slippers?  We can’t waste any time.”

     Her patient was weak  and looked a bit pale this morning. She was battling periods of depression, and had seemed to loose her desire to fight back.

     They made it to the end of the hallway  minutes before the sun peeped over the tree tops.  Shades of pink, blue and orange lit up the sky, offering a changing panoramic view second by second.  “Oh my, I can’t believe how beautiful it is,” Mrs. Lesley whispered, her eyes sparkling with tears, “and you took the  time to let me see it.” 

     “Let’s just say I work at keeping my  priorities straight,” smiled Wanda, giving  her a big hug.  After lingering for a while and succeeding in efforts to  get a laugh  from her patient, Wanda  settled  Mrs. Lesley in,  promising to return on her next shift.

      Calling her husband was Wanda’s next priority. “I’ll be late getting home this morning.  I still have my med check to do, something important came up.” He knew only too well what probably caused her delay. That was o.k.  He thought back to the times she had waited for him.   

     Wanda turned her attention to her immediate task. Her mind started planning as she reflected on the  smile the sunrise had brought to Mrs. Lesley’s face. “I am going to make it a point to catch the sunrise more often and find the one patient that needs it that day,” she determined.  Suddenly she was not as tired. She once again concluded, “The more you give, the more you receive.”

     Annette and Wanda’s labor of love reaches beyond an 8 hour day. They always give more than is required.  They don’t stop until they touch the hearts of people. They wouldn’t have it any other way. My life has been touched by both of them. It’s a pleasure to have them as sisters.

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