i'm ready to DO

{okay so third consecutive blog post in one day... actually gonna use today's date this time. haha!}

Nursing school is hard.
Really hard.
And I wasn't prepared maybe...
1st semester was great.
I kinda loved it, in fact.
2nd semester.
Well... It's hard.

So here are my thoughts on life after the difficulties of failing tests and scraping by with C's and still working part-time and trying to maintain some type of life...

4/3/14

Hello God,
  I feel like I've just awakened. Just now opened my eyes. Not my physical eyes; my soul eyes. And I'm ashamed it's taken me this long to really SEE. But it's time to move on from all things in the past. All bad habits and laziness and procrastination and selfishness. Because laziness is a sin! And if I don't DO something I am selfishly throwing away the best opportunity for success you've ever given me. I'm ready to DO. I'm ready to be a DOER! Help me when I fail though. Which is, unfortunately, often. Give me wisdom and strength. Help me stay awake when I need to pull an all-nighter to study, because I like sleep a little too much. Help me stay focused and undistracted, because I like books a little too much, and netflix is a pit of darkness that is hard to crawl out of.
  You know my weaknesses (all too well, I'm sure). And now I recognize them fully...or, rather, more than I did a few weeks ago. So I'm ready to take your all powerful, steady arm and move forward without looking back.
  Sure, I'll make mistakes again. Probably several before the day is over. But I am going to FIGHT. I'm going to fight the sin inside my flesh. Because things have to be different. Starting now.

Love you,
Katie

My beautiful friend, Bethany, sent me this devotion the same day I wrote that^ in my prayer journal.

"Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." Luke 8:25, NIV
  Is there something you are facing - whether in your outer circumstances or in your inner character that seems impossible to command? Something that has baffled you and outwitted you a thousand times, and appears that it will win over you in the end?
  Don't despair. Don't shrug and give up.
  Our Lord - your Lord and mine - can command even the most difficult, unruly thing that seems as if it will never be commanded.
  Let His word "even" be comfort to you. He who commands even the winds and water (and they must obey Him) - He can say to that "even" of yours, "Peace, be still."
  And there will come for you "a great calm" (Mark 4:39).
  Remember that there is nothing you are asked to do in your own strength. Not the least thing, nor the greatest.
  Isn't that amazing?
  How utterly foolish it is to plead weakness when we - even you and I - may move into the stream of that power. If only we will.
--Even This... by Amy Carmichael

So, onward I go. Onward I fight. This hard thing called nursing school...I can do it, with God at my side!

so today...

[or rather three days ago...]

so today i start this new thing called
"not being a teenager anymore."
sure is a strange feeling.
does this mean i need to start acting like an adult?

i heard this song sunday morning
and i really want it to be my anthem
in this new year - and throughout my twenties.
(agh! not used to saying that!)

"i could hold on, i could hold on to who i am
and never let you change me from the inside.
and i could be safe, i could be safe
here in your arms and never leave home,
never let these walls down.
but you have called me higher,
you have called me deeper,
and i'll go where you will lead me, LORD.
where you lead me."
--all sons and daughters

so hello twenties.
i welcome you.

I found this article floating around facebook a few days ago. It's really, really fantastic. I'm tempted to print it and frame it and hang it in my room. I feel like this woman can relate to so so many Christian girls and guys out there, single or not. So I encourage you to read it...it's posted below.

SINGLE AND NOT WAITING

Posted by Rachel Selinger on Thursday, October 24, 2013 

Flickr photo by Acy Varlan

I’m 23, I just graduated from university, and I’m single.

Many of my friends are married, and a few are starting to have children. And I feel as if I just graduated from high school again. You could say my life is in transition. And it’s true; I am in the middle of shifting myself from university to the career world. But I’ve started to wonder about whether it’s right to refer to my singleness as an in-between stage.

What exactly am I in-between again?

“It’s the first day of the rest of my life.” I recently I heard someone on TV say this about her wedding day, and it really bothered me. While I don’t want to discount the gift of marriage, I must say I’m a bit confused and frustrated with this sentiment. I’ve heard the cliché before, but I suddenly felt the weight of it. As if it equates marriage as the start of life, or at least the good part.

Don’t misunderstand my frustration; I think there is a beautiful element of starting a new family with your spouse. I’m all for godly marriage. But what I’m afraid of is viewing life through the lens of marriage as the goal. For waiting to get married before life starts.

I’m afraid, because I’m afraid it has happened to me. I’ve been living like I’m waiting for someone to get here. And it isn’t Jesus.

I’ve wasted my time, my energy, and my emotions on this concept that singleness is just a waiting room for a relationship. I’m tired of this view that my life begins when I wake up next to my husband, because I’m pretty sure my life began 23 years ago when my mom gave birth. And this mentality has robbed my joy.

As much as I’d like to place all the blame on Christian culture, the perpetual “Have you met anyone yet?” question the world asks me, and the reality that my Facebook feed looks more like a Pinterest wedding board these days, I am convicted of my own failures.

I’ve been living like God owes me something. Like he hasn’t held up his end of the deal. He has given me the desire for relationship and marriage, and he just hasn’t followed through.

I’ve been living under the impression that I deserve a relationship.

I’d be lying if I said Christian culture does much to inhibit this mentality. There seems to be a deep understanding and appreciation for the gift of marriage, but not so much for the gift of singleness (if it’s treated like a gift at all). Rather, singleness is something to be cured. Like I’ve got a disease, and introducing me to your single friend might perhaps cure us both. Singleness is the lump of coal, the gift that is never on your Christmas list.

There are at least a handful of us standing around, wondering what happened. (After all, I have been pretty nice this year.)

But it’s never been about being entitled, or even about being nice. I have to stop thinking that I’m doing something wrong here.

Well actually I am, but it isn’t about fixing something that will magically make a boyfriend appear. It is about changing the direction of my heart.

 “I’d rather have the right God than the wrong man.” –- Christen Rapske

People talk all the time about pursuing people or things for the wrong reasons, but maybe we pursue God for the wrong reasons. Maybe subconsciously I’ve been treating God like he’s a vending machine. And my pursuit of him has really been a pursuit of someone else.

When did Christ cease to be enough?

And when did I stop finding my identity, self-worth, and fulfillment in Him, only to place my life on hold for someone I’ve never even met?

Each day is a gift, and I’m not waiting for it to get here. It is present in every moment, and it begins anew daily.  Man-less or not, I want to wake up every morning and be excited because I get to spend my day with the God who created the universe.

And I want to do that for the rest of my life.

full of blessings

So an update.

In February I applied for a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) job at an assisted living. In order to keep my certification I had to work eight paid hours. I had zero and my deadline was a month away. Procrastination. I. Am. The. Worst.
Talk about a huge blessing when I got offered a job. Originally I was just thinking temporary. I had a job that I loved at the public library. But, after much thought and prayer, I took a big leap of faith and quit my job…before my first day at the new job. For a day or so I had a few, "Oh my gosh, what did I do!" moments. Haha!
But I love my new job. I'm helping people. Everyday. I'm doing what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. And, icing on the cake, I am able to get more hours and I get paid more for what I do.

In March I turned nineteen. I can't believe that in less than a year I will no longer be a teenager.
For my birthday I did something I've thought about doing for, gosh, probably about a year. I cut all of my hair off. Well, I say all…most of my hair.

It was a huge change. But I love it. It is so easy. So so easy. And it's me.

In May I went to see The Lion King Musical. Oh. My. Goodness. No words. It completely exceeded my expectations. I would put it up on my "top ten best experiences of my life" list.

In May I was accepted into my college's nursing program. Part of me was so excited. I was finally getting a real, tangible start on my career. Then, part of me was freaking out about starting school in August. Don't get me wrong, I really want to be a nurse. It has become my passion. But nursing school is tough! And as much as I desire my degree, it was still way out of my comfort zone. Could I really do this nursing thing?

I am half way through my first semester of nursing school. Yes, it is tough. But I'm doing it. And I'm loving it.

Twenty-thirteen is nearly over. We're already half way through October. So much has changed. I've learned so much.
Life can be hard.
Unemployment.
Divorce.
Tension.
Finances.
Death.
Losing friends.
Tears.

Sure. Life is hard.
But life is also so full of blessings. You just have to stop and look.
Hugs.
Family.
My sweet, sweet residents at work.
Encouraging words.
A beautiful sunset.
Friends at school.
The Word. (Have you ever read the book of Amos? New favorite.)
Answers to prayer.
Understanding.

~~~

Tell me. What's been up with you?

a pioneer in the oceans of life

your grace abounds in deepest waters

your sovereign hand 

will be my guide

where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

you've never failed, and you won't start now

so i will call upon your name

and keep my eyes above the waves

when oceans rise

my soul will rest in your embrace

i am yours

and you are mine

spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

let me walk upon the waters

wherever you may call me

take me deeper than my feet could ever wander 

and my faith will be made stronger

in the presence of my savior

--oceans by hillsong

let your heart not be troubled

i won't run when bullets chase me

i won't rest where arms embrace me

i will love when people hate me

i won't hush, no you can't make me

send the dark but it won't break me

you can try but you can't change me

take my life, they will replace me

i won't hush, no you can't make me

i won't hush, no we will sing

--pioneer by the band perry

~~~

it's been a long time. and i'm still kinda rethinking this whole blogging thing…whether i still wanna do it or not. not that i didn't miss you guys…i did.

twenty-thirteen…

it's brought along some major challenges.

major changes.

pushed me and challenged me in whole new and different ways.

which means me may be kind of a different me than some of you remember.

which is okay, i think.

and which is why an update is coming soon.

but for right now. these songs have become like my anthem.

and my God is so good.

all the difference

{source}

Sometimes I feel like a fish out of water

Because of the way I believe

Like...I believe I was made for a purpose

That I'm here for a reason

All I am is because of HIM

And that's made all the difference

I'm not one who likes to stand out

When I do I get nervous

But then I learned something

I was made to stand out

It's one of my purposes

And that's made all the difference

I am a fish out of water

I wasn't made for this place called Earth

It's who I am, and how I live

But more than that

It's Who I'm living for

He's made all the difference



sunrise

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Wednesday night I crawled in bed, reached over and set my alarm clock for 5am.

Say what?  Are you crazy Katie?  That is really early.

Oh, not quite.  You see, that's about the time the sun gets up.

Thursday morning, 5am, my alarm clock beeps and I get out of bed.  I grab a sweatshirt, a blanket, my cell phone, and my pepper spray.  (A true testimonial to my city girl-ness right there.)  I realized the night before that my camera had suddenly gone missing on me.  And I couldn't very well go searching around in a house full of sleeping people.  Let's just say it was a very frustrating few moments when I fully understood I wouldn't be able to take any pictures.  *sigh*  So, I grab my lawn chair, creak open the back door, and settle myself on the deck.

I pull out my prayer journal and write...

The sky is a light blue color.  Except in the east.  It's orange in the east.  I can see it peaking through the fence.

The birds are very much awake.  I used to think they were a nuisance.  I was definitely wrong...

It's really peaceful out here so early...

Thank You for creating beauty...like a sunrise.  It really is a pity not more people get up to watch it.

This whole event was inspired by a book I read.  "Love, Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli.  Anybody ever read it?  Well, I think it's a fabulous book.  This teenage girl, Stargirl, was different.  In a good way, in my opinion.  She cherished moments; especially the small ones.  Like watching the sun come up.

Live today.  Not yesterday.  Not tomorrow.  Just today.  Inhabit your moments.  Don't rent them out to tomorrow.  Do you know what you're doing when you spend a moment wondering about how things are going to turn out...?

You're cheating yourself out of today.  Today is calling to you, trying to get your attention, but you're stuck on tomorrow, and today trickles away like water down a drain.  You wake up the next morning and that today you wasted is gone forever.  It's now yesterday.  Some of those moments may have been wonderful things in store for you, but now you'll never know.

--Jerry Spinelli, "Love, Stargirl"

Waldo

You know those books?  The "Where's Waldo" books?  I love those books.  In fact, I was nicknamed by a friend one time for that very reason.  But, I'm getting off subject...

God gave me Waldo.  And I wanted to tell you how.

As many of you know, I'm approaching my high school graduation.  In the fall I'll be a full time college student.  It's no secret that I'm really excited.  And also a bit nervous.  One of the reasons I'm a bit nervous is because of my schedule change.

For the past two years I've attended our community college with my brother and we have been truly blessed to be on the same time schedule with our classes.  This coming semester, though, will bring a change to that.  I'll be taking four classes, verses his two.  Which means I'll be out there a lot longer.  We both have different jobs.  My sister has a job.  My mom has a job.  We only have one vehicle.  To share.  I started getting a bit frantic.  "How is this going to work?  I can't keep the truck for the entire day while I'm at school.  What if Mom's in a meeting and I have to get to work?  Or Annie has to get to work and Zach has to be picked up from school?  This is going to be crazy!  How is this going to work?"

I started thinking about my options.  And, me being me, I worried.  A lot.  I thought that maybe I could get another part-time job in the summer to cover the expense of buying my own vehicle.  "But what if I can't get a job anywhere?  What if this doesn't work out?"

"God, I need a car!"

One Sunday morning in late March I sat in church and listened to my pastor talk about being satisfied.  And, more than that even, trusting God with everything.  And through that complete trust, how peace follows.  I decided that day to give it all to God.  That my worrying wouldn't change my circumstance.  That it wouldn't bring me a vehicle.  I realized that I thought I needed a car.  I don't need a car.  I wanted a car.  Sure, it would definitely make life a bit easier.  But I'm sure we could probably figure out a way to get by without one.

"God, I trust YOU.  I trust YOU."

The very next day...and I'm talking the very next day, my daddy tells me my aunt has called and that she suggested I borrow Grandma's car.  She's unable to use it anymore and it's just sitting in her front yard.

God is just overwhelming sometimes, you know.  The way He works in and through us for His glory.  It's overwhelming.  And completely amazing.

My grandma and some other family members gave the okay (Big, huge thanks to them!  *hugs*) and my parents brought Waldo (My twelve year old brother, Logan, gave the car it's name.  He said it sounded like Volvo.) home.  It needed a bit of work done.  Due to a sunroof leak there was some mold and water under the carpet.  It went to get cleaned...for over two weeks.  Which was a definite test of my patience.  But whenever I got stressed or anxious about the situation, I could hear God whispering to me, "Katie.  Calm down.  I've got it.  I'll get you through."

We brought Waldo home to stay on Wednesday.

 My little flip flop air freshener.

Waldo is my blessing.  My big, amazing blessing.

{Thank you to Annie for taking some of the photos.}

this thing called life

My mom and I ordered my graduation invitations the other day.
I've been looking at different cap and gown combos.  Hm...I'm thinking green.
Senior photos were captured over the weekend.
Full time college schedule quickly approaching.

This thing called life...it sure is moving fast.  Part of me is immensely excited.  The other part?  Well it just wants a moment to breathe.

I wrote in my prayer journal today..."Thanks for being in control!"  It sure is a relief.  I don't have to carry all this adult-ish stuff on my shoulders.  God's got it all taken care of.

With no worries to bog me down I think I'll...

{source}

So that when I go to bed at night I can easily say...

{source}

and that...

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God reads MY journal!

{source}

If you read yesterday's post, then you know that I started a prayer journal not to long ago.  It's become my place to write anything and everything, serious or random, in conversation to God.  Yesterday I was more on the random side.  Here's part of my entry:


Hello God,
  I was thinking today...about a rather strange thing, I must admit.  I saw a photo of Jesus online today and He was in His usual attire...a long white dress thing.  And I was thinking...He'd probably be a lot more comfortable in jeans.  You know?  Just a thought...


Kinda strange.  Pretty random.  But you know what?  God read it.  He showed me that today and I just had to tell you all!


I was talking to my dad about a book he recently finished reading. "The Shack" by William P. Young.  We've become real book buddies, my dad and me.  He said that in the book the author portrayed God in a couple different forms.  And near the end God came as a man.  A man wearing blue jeans and hiking boots.  I sat there listening to this and my head kinda tilted and I was like, "Oh my gosh.  My journal entry."


Hello God,
  Happy Valentine's Day!
  So, I have to tell you the coolest thing!  Daddy was telling me about the book he just finished, "The Shack."  He said that at one point the author had you appear to the main character as a man.  Guess what the man (You) was wearing?  Blue jeans and hiking boots.  The day after I talked to You about Jesus in jeans.  Thanks God!  You made my day.

Love you,

Katie

pondering life

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Lately I've been thinking about life.  I think people start doing that around the holidays and near the end of the year.  At least I do.

This new year that's approaching is going to bring along a lot of changes.  Such as...my 18th birthday.  High school graduation.  Full time college schedule...  I can't believe it's already here.  How did that happen?  Where did the time go?

People always say, make the best of every moment.  Capture it.  Live it.  Seize it.  I truly desire to do that.  Especially now when it feels like life is in fast forward.  But how do I do that?  I want to remember everything.  But is that even possible?

Friday night I had several of my friends over for a sleep over and at one point in the night we were being goofy and jumping on the beds to the sound of Tobymac's Christmas CD.  One of my friends leans over and says, "Remeber this moment."  Sometimes you just need a little reminder, you know.  We get so caught up in everything we seem to forget to remember.

So, my goal, at least for now while life is flashing by at breakneck speed, I want to stop, sit, and remember.

Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

P.S. iLove favorites will be up in the next couple days.  And I'm going to put the challenge on hold until after New Years. :)

I'm a girl.

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I originally was going to post something different today.  Something different from what I'm writing right now.  But this is something that has been on my heart for the past few weeks and I felt like being really transparent with you all about it.

Boys.

Yep.  Aren't they just so complicated sometimes?  I'm 17 going on 18 in a few months and I've watched myself really change over this year of being 17.  I'm becoming a young adult (scary!), getting more privileges...growing wings. And for most of us girls, relationships almost come hand-in-hand with becoming an adult.

I've committed to not dating.  I'm a girl who doesn't want to give a piece of myself to a dozen boys before I find Mr. Right.  I'm a girl who wants to be pursued.  I'm a girl who is going to court.  I'm a girl who is pure.  I'm a girl who is going to wait for my wedding day.  That's who I am.

Over the past month or so, it's really hit me that I am growing up.  That I've committed for years to wait until I'm old enough to start a relationship and that I'm nearly 'old enough'.  I'm starting to desire having a guy in my life.

Then I heard this song last Sunday morning at church.

Enough

 You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know

You are my reward

worth living for

And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

You’re my sacrifice 
Of greatest price 

And still more awesome than I know 

You’re the coming King 

You are everything 

And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need

You are more than enough for me

More than all I know

More than all I can say

You are more than enough for me

He is all I need.  I'll still desire to have a husband one of these days.  But I learned that I don't have to have one, because I am more than content in my Lord.  He is more than enough!

I am a Christian

M.O.R.E.

Anybody out there have a cell phone?  Anybody out there enjoy texting?  If you answered yes, then I'd like to share this with you. :)


Several months ago, a friend of mine, KayCee, and I started exchanging scripture verses through text message everyday.  We wanted to encourage one another before we headed off to school.  A couple months ago she shared with me that she had been sending my scripture verses to other people she thought needed it.  I was blown away.  Was a simple text message making a difference in some one's life?


Now, jump back to church camp this year in June.  We learned about "The Beyond Effect".  It's combining your passion, with your burden for the cause of Christ.  After camp, I realized that I wanted to do something.  Something more.  I just didn't know what.  Then God placed an idea in my mind.  Here's a little math equation to explain:

Talking to my friends (my passion...it's something I love doing) + Teens like me who need encouragement (my burden) = My cause for Christ

That's when the idea of M.O.R.E. came to me.  M.O.R.E. = Mobile OutReach Everyday.  A daily scripture verse that you can sign up for...for free.  If you'd like to go ahead and sign up now, here's where you can:

Or you can also go HERE and check out my Broadtexter page and sign up there.


I want to let you know that your phone number will be kept completely private.  No one will be able to see it.


Would you be interested in this?  Maybe some of your friends?  I'd love to know your thoughts. :)

I am a book lover.

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I am a book lover.

And I've been told by people before that if I wasn't set out to be a nurse then I'd be great working in a library.

So, this summer, I decided to send in an application to the public library in my city.

On Thursday I got a call.  When the person on the other end said, "You've got a job" I knew I was blessed.

Why?

Because I have the opportunity to not only pursue one, but two careers that I love.

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." --Psalm 37:4

My Online Mission

"Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.  Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope." --1 Peter 3:15

My mom, sister, and I started a new daily devotional together out of a small magazine called Devozine.  Last night started the first one and I really loved the message.  It talked about having an online mission.

Sometimes, as a home schooler, I worry that maybe I'm too sheltered.  That maybe, if I went to a public/private school I could have witnessed to more people because I'd be around more people on a daily basis...?  Does anybody else ever feel that way?

What I didn't really realize until last night was that I am already in a HUGE mission field.  Right here on the internet.  


Did you know that nearly a third of the entire world's population is online?  1,966,514,816 people.  When I saw that number in the devotional book it blew me away!
 
I'm not saying that a third of the world reads my blog.  Far from it, I'm sure.  Haha!  But, I'm sure people do stumble across it sometimes...just like I stumble across other sites on the web.  What do people see for the short time they're on my site? 

What kind of example do I set? 

Am I making a difference in the mission field that God has placed me in?


I hope so.

Psalm 91

 [She] who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

 Surely He will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
 He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

 If you make the Most High your dwelling--
even the LORD, who is my refuge--
 no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
 For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 “Because [she] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue [her];
I will protect [her], for [she] acknowledges my name.
 [She] will call upon me, and I will answer [her];
I will be with [her] in trouble,
I will deliver [her] and honor [her].
 With long life will I satisfy [her]
and show [her] my salvation.”

This is how my story goes.

Want to know something?

Want to know something special?

Really, really special and exciting?

Ok, ok, I'll tell you.  ;-D

This is how my story goes...

All week long I've been anticipating the mail.  Every single day I wait patiently until our mail lady (that's right...not a mail man, a mail lady) comes around the cul-de-sac to our house.  And all week, I haven't received what I've been waiting for.

And then Thursday arrives. 

Thursday, the mail happens to come early and I spot our mail lady across the street at 2:30.  My anticipation grows as she walks around the cul-de-sac and finally makes it to our house.  I exit the front door, sprint down the porch steps, open the mail box, shuffle anxiously through the envelopes...

And then my eyes light on my name.  My name.

I pull it out of the stack, glance at the return address.  Is it?  Is it?

Yes.  Yes it's exactly what I've been waiting for!

I nervously and with much excitement run back into the house, calling for my mom.  You see, I was too anxious to open the letter myself.  My mom smiles at me, rips open the envelope, her eyes soaking in the words.

She grins and quotes... "You have successfully completed both the written and the performance tests of the Medicaid Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation..."


I jump!  I grin!  I'm breathless!  I'm so excited!  So blessed!  All in the very same moment.

Do you know what this means?

This long awaited moment?

This means...that I am a Certified Nursing Assistant!

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14

Me? A nursing student?

Yesterday was my first day of nursing home clinicals for school.  It was such an...I don't know, almost indescribable day.  I was experiencing a small taste of what I could be doing.  Of who I could be.  Better yet, I loved it!  And I love that I loved it because through this whole process of college and settling on nursing has left me a little nervous and frazzled.

Why, you ask?  Well, ever since I was a little girl I'd wanted to be a teacher.  It was kinda my dream.  A couple years ago, my mom had surgery and I was the one who took care of putting ointment and bandages on her stitches.  That was the first time nursing even came to mind.

A few months before my first college semester I did a complete 360.  I didn't want to be a teacher anymore.  I felt the Lord calling me to something else.  Nursing maybe?

I started my nursing courses only a couple months later and still wasn't completely sure that it was for me.  I even had the 'what am I doing here?' feeling a few times during class. 

But, you know what, God is faithful.  By the time I started my second semester of nursing, I knew in my heart that this was what I was supposed to be doing.  And now it is even more confirmed.

Here's me in my scrubs!  Wearing these were one of my favorite parts of the day. ;)   

Haha!  Daddy had me pose like this.

I'm still not 100% on what I'd like to do once I'm a certified nurse.  There's so many options.  But you know what, that's ok.  I'm going to follow the One who does know. :)

P.S. My computer is back up and running so my watermark is back!  Hooray! *happy dance* :) 

Trust & A Misplaced Computer Chord

I wanted to share a story with you.  It may seem a little silly, but to me, it shows how awesome the God we serve truly is. :)

Well...I guess I'll start at the beginning.  My dad and brother, Zach, work at for a small shop.  They do computer work, photography, and framing.  The shop owners lent them a lap top to do some of their work on.  Recently, Dad and Zach accidentally misplaced the lap top's charger chord.  Both of them have been going frantic trying to find it over the past week.

Thought I'd give you a visual. ;)

{Not my photo.}

Yesterday I was sitting in the family room with Zachary and Annie and he mentions the chord again...asking if we had spotted it around the house.  That's when I remembered seeing a computer charger underneath my work desk today.  I run in there to grab it, and give it to Zach.  He looks at me, shocked, and practically hugs the chord.  We found it!

Ok, there is a point to this. ;)  Minutes (and I mean minutes) earlier my daddy was praying.  He asked the Lord to help him find the computer charger.  But Dad said, "I don't want to find it.  Let my children find it, so that they can trust You more."

(It gets better!)

Two days earlier... Annie finds a computer charger stuck down in the couch.  She's pretty sure it's the one the guys had been looking for, so she sets it on Mom's desk so it wouldn't get lost again.  Later on, Mom doesn't know why this chord is setting on her desk so she moves it the desk behind her...the one that my little brother, Logan, and I share.  He uses it for school in the mornings and I use it for work in the late afternoons.  The next morning, I assume, Logan goes to start his school and there's a chord on his desk, so he moves to the floor underneath the desk.  The next day, I spot it under the desk while I'm working, pick it up, and give it to Zach. 

Through this whole process all four of us kids touched that computer charger.  All four of us found it.  God was working days before my dad even said that prayer. 

It totally amazes me! 

God totally amazes me!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5