Churchchickie On the Move

Puzzling...

2011-11-28T23:29:00.002-05:00

So I've decided that nursing school is a little bit like this...
You are given 2000 pieces to a puzzle.
They don't seem to match up to each other.
You have know idea what the big picture is going to look like.
You definitely don't have a diagram on the front of the box.
Sometimes you get a little corner of knowledge going.
A few things start to match together and make a little sense.
When that happens it is really exciting!
And then you are thrown 2000 more pieces and told to add them in!

The Quiet One

2011-10-19T23:10:00.002-04:00

Dear Patient,
I know you couldn't speak to me, to tell me how you feel.
You couldn't hold a pencil to circle the smiley or frowny face to let me know you are hurting.
I know you probably couldn't understand my fancy language, or even hear my voice.
But, I held your hand anyway, because I wanted to be there for you.
In what little way I can.

34

2011-10-16T22:47:00.002-04:00

I turn 35 in a week and two days. Yikes! All I can think is that it is halfway to 70. I did hear someone say the other day that they look forward to being old so that they can say whatever they want and people find it amusing/endearing instead of annoying. I guess that is kind of true. I find the elderly very endearing and often amusing....

Why be black and white?

2011-10-06T23:01:00.003-04:00

Check out this amazingly beautiful wedding! I love the colors!

Tough Enough

2011-10-05T22:20:00.002-04:00

For good reason, you are not supposed to use social media to talk about your patients that you work with in nursing school or as a nurse. Of course, there are many ethical reasons for not blasting your patient's identity, condition, and other things that are private all over the internet. It is just wrong. With that in mind, I'd like to tell you a little about my day.

I rose at 4:30 to make sure I made it to the hospital early for my clinical rotation. I like to get there early, take deep breaths, and remind myself that God is going to use me if I am willing. (And, of course, remind myself not to freak out at this new, totally fish-out-of-water experience they call "clinical".) From there, I went on to help out a non-descript, genderless, who knows what age person while he/she was in the hospital for some important non-specific health reasons. In taking care of this person, I saw some thing in him/her that might have reminded me of someone that I might know or be related to. It made the experience more real, a little like I was serving the person that I know instead of this virtual stranger.

Fast forward to this evening when I was typing up my care plan. (A care plan is a report that nursing students make on their patient that they served. It goes into detail about their diet, vital signs, medications, health history, etc. It is typically a 18-20 page paper that is due once a week.) So, I'm typing about this non-specific, who-knows-who-it-is person, and I'm fighting tears. I'm thinking about their life, their family, their situation. I'm thinking of how they made choices about their health (informed or uninformed) that may have brought them to this place. I'm thinking about the people in my life that remind me of this person. And, all I want to do is cry.
Then, I remind myself that I want to go into pediatrics: the saddest place on earth for a lot of kids. By this time, I'm exhausted from the long, stressful day. I'm sure that does not help with the tears. But, the burning, $4 million dollar question is: AM I TOUGH ENOUGH TO DO THIS? And that is where I sit, wondering.

2011-08-29T17:52:00.002-04:00

It's alll about the tubes

2011-08-29T17:42:00.003-04:00

So, I now know how to stick many different kinds of tubes in many different kinds of body orifices. Catheters, IVs (well, I know how to maintain them, not stick them yet), nasogastric tubes....
I told someone the other day....I now know how to insert a catheter in a "dummy". And hopefully I know how to stick it in a smart person, too!

Top 10 Things I've Learned About Nursing School

2011-08-09T22:42:00.003-04:00

Hi! I'm linking up with my dear friend Amanda at www.ohamanda.com for this week's top 10 lists! I never get to do this, but I'm actually able to blog on a Tuesday! (It is still Tuesday, right? I'm on staycation time, so I can't be bothered with things like days of the week.....)
Anyway, these are the top 10 things I've learned in nursing school so far (because I'm a big, bad SECOND SEMESTER STUDENT now instead of a lowly first semester....

10-I'm completely jealous of people with photographic memories. Not just a little jealous. No. More like, I-will-trade-everything-I-own-for-your-brain kind of jealous. Seriously. There is one girl in my class that makes me sick. I need to go sit beside her, I think.

9-It is better to hang out with boys on test days. Of course, being a single girl, it is probably better to hang out with the boys in class EVERY day, but it is especially important on test days. What are the girls doing on test day? FREAKING OUT! This involves crying, screaming, pacing, eating, etc. What are the boys doing on test day? Talking about sports or the weather or something else mundane. (I'm convinced that they put the test in another compartment of their brains and don't stay there until the moment right before the test. Sigh. Another thing to make me jealous....)

8-You can always tell a nursing student by watching them. We are the ones with the rolling backpacks because our books are so heavy, the stressed look on our faces, and the medical dictionaries in our hands. (I swear we have to learn a foreign language on top of everything else!)
The exercise science majors in our building run around in their cute short shorts and look as carefree as can be. (Ok, maybe I'm jealous of them, too. Only because of their ability to look so cute in short shorts, though. Most shorts look weird on me.)

7-The jokes in nursing school are on a whole different (not necessarily good) level. A 23-year old guy told me the other day that he had to go void and eliminate. You can probably guess what that means.....

6-You have to resign yourself to not having much of a life. Most days I study from 6am to about 11pm with rare breaks. Yes, school has made Kristen a very dull girl.

5-You can easily hurt your back with all the books you carry. I did, in fact, hurt my back the 3rd week of school. I got a muscle spasm in my lower back that was very painful. I had been trying to take the stairs as much as possible at school to stay in shape, and I guess carrying all that extra weight while running 3 flights of stairs was just too much. My sweet mama went out and bought me a rolling backpack the next day. That, and 25 muscle relaxers later, I was good to go (Ok, not all at the same time....)
A man at my study place asked me the other day, "You don't travel light, do you?" No, no, I don't.

4-Sometimes you have to hide from your classmates. I'm serious. I often have lunch in my car because I know if I hang out in one of the lobbies of the school building I will get sucked into an interesting conversation by someone about something other than what I'm supposed to be studying. So, sometimes you have to hide. The third floor lobby is sometimes an option, but it is better if you put on your headphones to alleviate conversation.

3-The therapeutic cry is important. As nurses we are to teach our patients that crying can be good for them. Well, the nursing students at my school have turned that name around for the times of absolute mental breakdown that occur during the stress of school. I had several therapeutic cries last semester. Apparently this is a good thing. Makes you stronger, right?

2-Smoking is bad, very bad. I've heard all my life that smoking is bad for you. I know that it causes many health problems. I just didn't know HOW MANY until I got into school. The things that cigs do to your body are just crazy. Quit now, I tell you! Before all your platelets aggregate! Hurry!

1-God has been my strength through every second. I don't know how other people live without Him, honestly. He gives me strength, wisdom, endurance, and most of all hope. I know that I would not be able to do anything worthwhile without His help, and He is stretching me to prepare me to minister to kids in a whole new, different way. There's a part of me that just can't help but be excited for what is to come.

Notes from Nursing School

2011-08-03T13:38:00.005-04:00

I completed my first semester of nursing school! It was actually HARDER than I thought it would be (even though I knew it was going to be REALLY HARD). But, I really like it. Like, really, really like it. Here are some of the highlights/lowlights....

My first day I walked into my first class and almost everyone had their syllabus printed except for me. I had no idea where to get mine! At all the schools I've been to before, the teachers passed them out the first day. I turned to the kid (and I DO mean "kid") next to me, and asked him where he got his. He said, "Web CT" like I was a 5 year old who should have known that already. Twas not an excellent start to my first 5 minutes of nursing school, I gotta tell you.
We had to pick lab partners that first day even though we hadn't met anyone yet. It was crazy fast. This random girl approached me during the break, and asked if we could be partners. (Well, after I "saved" her from an embarrassing situation by loaning her a much needed quarter in the ladies' room....) As it turns out, she was the BEST LAB PARTNER I could ask for! She is a pastor's wife from the Ukraine, and she is wonderful. We totally hit it off from day 1. As it turns out, THERE IS A LOT OF NUDITY IN NURSING SCHOOL! I had no idea I would be sitting in a small room with my teacher and lab partner wearing only a sports bra and shorts just a few weeks later. Sheesh! That might not be a big deal to you, but it was a big deal for this modest girl (Me)! I'm just glad I had a female lab partner, because I totally was going to turn to that um...devilishly handsome boy next to me and ask him to be my partner. Now THAT would have been really embarrassing!
We started in the hospital this semester, too! Yikes!I didn't feel very ready to walk into the room and take people's vital signs, but that is what I had to do! My first three weeks the patients were ALL DIABETICS. (Kinda discouraging, because I've had diabetes since I was 12.) I did ok, though.
The very worst moment in nursing school to date? I made a 56 on a major test. The crazy thing is that I had the highest average in the class that was the precursor to this class at my last school. I have NEVER FAILED a test in my life! And I got a 56? How is that possible? Well, I didn't know any of the answers! The questions were literally so confusing and advanced that I didn't know which answers to choose. And the teacher...well, let's just say he has been teaching the same class for 40 years and he's pretty much a no-nonsense kinda guy. He didn't even have office hours because he is semi-retired. Yeah, he wasn't going to sign up to tutor me.
The very best moment in nursing school to date? I started studying less for my other classes and started really focusing on this class. I spent 12 hours on Saturdays studying for it. I made notecards. I looked up stuff on you tube. I taped his lectures and listened to them while driving, running, walking to class. I prayed furiously that the Lord would help me to understand the material. I had all my friends praying, too. I read the stuff over and over and over until it clicked. And it did click. I walked into the final knowing what I was supposed to know and got an "A" on it! I've never been so happy over a test!

Whew! This is already a LONG post, and I haven't even gotten to tell you about the catheter incident yet! I guess we will just have to continue this discussion later!

Last Day

2011-05-26T21:29:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my last day at the coffee shop.
I gotta make one of these while I still can.....

I will have to start actually PAYING for my caffeine now. How sad!

The Cross

2011-04-17T21:27:00.002-04:00

Typically our ministry puts together stations the week before Resurrection Sunday for our kids to "experience" the final week of Christ's life. It gives them a glimpse of the last supper, the 30 pieces of silver that Christ was betrayed for, etc... Well, this year I decided to walk a group of adults I lead through this experience as well. In preparing for this, I found the following beautiful prayer online that I thought I'd share with you....

O Lord, we are gathered together here this day as your people, as those who have been called out of darkness into your marvelous light. We are here only because you have loved us and been faithful across the generations that we might be your people. And yet we quickly confess that we are not worthy of that love.

As we contemplate the Cross and what it means, we are filled with joy and wonder at the sacrifice that Jesus has made to show us light in the darkness and offer us life in the midst of death. We confess that we have nothing to offer in return for that sacrifice, nothing that will match such love. We know that only love can respond to such a gift. Yet we know that we are not always loving or lovable. But you remain steadfastly faithful to us. You love us even when we are not lovable, and remain steadfast in your grace that calls us to follow the example of Jesus who is the Christ.

We are committed to that journey, to be followers of the One who has given so much that we might be sons and daughters of God. But sometimes the journey that we take in following Jesus who is the Christ is not all light and joy. Sometimes the Way is rough and dimly lit. Sometimes the darkness of life threatens to engulf the light.

And so we cry out to you, O Lord. Forgive us for our sometimes faltering steps. Show us more clearly the Way. Shine anew the light of your presence into our lives so strongly that a new love for You will be kindled. Light within us a love beyond emotion and sentimentality, a love that is willing to lay aside all privilege and self-centeredness. Grow within us a love that is willing to surrender all our fears and uncertainties to you, that desires nothing more than to love God with all our being and to love those around us with the same faithfulness with which you love us.

Now, as we begin this journey of the Cross, we open our hearts and minds to you. We lay aside for these moments the trivialities of our life and bring ourselves into your presence. Speak to us what we need to hear. And help us to hear, not just the words that are spoken, but your Word spoken afresh in our hearts. Speak, for your servants are listening.

God's Love is HIGH!

2011-04-08T23:33:00.001-04:00

Sigh. I love my kids!

Coffee Shop Talk

2011-04-01T23:27:00.002-04:00

I met and briefly spoke with a woman about my age tonight who said that she spent the first 3 months of her life in the NICU. She has CP. She was telling me that she was SO GRATEFUL for the nurses who loved on her and took care of her. The most startling thing about the entire conversation was what she said her parents were doing during this time:
THEY WENT ON VACATION.
The look in her eyes and hurt evident in her tone made me want to hug this stranger I had just met. I wanted to make it better. She went on to say that the statement was telling about her relationship with her parents.
I don't understand, and I hope I never do.

Whatever!

2011-04-01T02:23:00.002-04:00

These verses I was taught as a child came to mind today:

Philippians 4:8 (The Message)

^8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

It made me think. Even though I learned this as a child, to act like this is VERY ADULT WORK. It does not come easily, naturally. It takes a lot of effort, and most days I miss the mark by 7am (when you work at a coffee shop, you get to deal with annoying people at all kinds of annoying hours of the day). Anyway, Jesus was the only one who got it right all the time. I screw up regularly. But, it does help to have something to aim for.

My goal for tomorrow - Think about and talk about the following:
Things that are true.
Things that are noble.
Things that are reputable.
Things that are authentic.
Things that are compelling.
Things that are gracious.
Things that are the best - not the worst.
Things that are beautiful, not ugly.
Things that are to be praised, not cursed.

Doesn't that sound like someone you'd like to meet?

By the numbers...

2011-03-26T23:47:00.002-04:00

In honor of my statistics class that I'm insanely taking online right now, here are this week's numbers:

Miles run this week: 2 (That is so sad. I blame Statistics.)

iphones purchased this week: 1 (Yea! I am officially in love with Apple now.)

Hours spent studying: 25-30 (Yuck.)

Fun/social things I've been able to do: 0 (Double yuck.)

Lattes served this week: millions (Well, maybe not millions, but it sure feels like it.)

Lazy coworkers that finally got fired this week: 1 (Good luck and good riddance!)

Body Pump classes attended: 2 (Can we say sore? Well, not too bad, actually!)

The Best Movie Line Ever....

2011-03-22T23:26:00.000-04:00

You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and adore you.

-Mr. Darcy

Don't Panic!

2011-03-13T16:15:00.001-04:00

I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

^11-13"Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
will end up out in the cold—
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handed—
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you won't find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
That's right. Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.
I'm telling you, 'Don't panic.
I'm right here to help you.'

Isaiah 41:9ish-13

Enjoying the NOW

2011-02-20T17:42:00.002-05:00

It's so easy to get caught up in so many things, but today I'm choosing to enjoy the NOW.
...don't worry about financial aid for school - REJOICE in being accepted.
...don't worry about fitting everything in my schedule this week - ENJOY this moment.
...don't worry about meeting the right guy - DELIGHT in the relationships I do have.
...don't worry about health issues in the future - RELISH the opportunity to run today.
...don't worry about what could happen - FOCUS on what is happening.
...don't worry about the 3 speeches coming up this week - RELAX right now.

^{Matthew 6:34}
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. *The Message Version

Why you might not hear from me for the next 2 years...

2011-02-15T19:58:00.002-05:00

...I got in to Nursing School!
The one of my choice!
Thank you, God!
And....I have to go start the studying right now! Ha!

Have you lost your ruby slippers?

2011-02-15T19:36:00.003-05:00

I'm reading a novel right now called "Blue Heart Blessed". I know, cheesy title, right? It is a cute story about a woman who owns a secondhand bridal shop. Anyway, the heroine (Daisy) is searching for love and ends up having this powerful conversation with her pastor/mentor. I though it too good not to share.

Father Laurent leans over me like he is going to tell me a secret. "Maybe it isn't the best time to tell you this, but I think you should know that you've been designed for a deeper love than what you're looking for. We all have. The love you find in God and the love he gives you to give away to others is what you're really after, Daisy. It's what we all long for. And no one can keep you from having it and having it in abundance. No one but you."

I close my eyes again as I let his words----heavy, yet gentle----invade my brain. I know what he is trying to communicate to me is completely profound. I can feel it. And I don't want to miss it. But it feels like a concept just beyond my reach, just outside of what I can understand.

"Everything you hunger for, you've already been given," he continues. "You're already loved beyond your wildest dreams. You are wearing the ruby slippers, Daisy. They've been on your feet the whole time."

I open my eyes and look over at Father Laurent. He is smiling. He knows my fondness for movies that make me cry. "You make it sound so easy."

He pauses just for a second. "It's not that it's so easy, it's that it's so magnificent. And you don't have to fight for it. It's already yours."

Thanks for those words, Susan Meissner. I really needed to be reminded of that today.

I Have A Dream....

2011-01-28T23:10:00.002-05:00

...that someday some man's eyes are not going to glaze over when I start to talk about the ministry God had given me.
Someday.
Hopefully THIS side of heaven.

2011-01-22T16:23:00.000-05:00

"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope."

-- Maya Angelou

The Power of Teaching

2011-01-21T23:37:00.003-05:00

I always forget how powerful teaching God's Word can be. I'm not talking about the impact on the kids that I may or may not be making. It's me.
I forget that the more time that I take to study and prepare, to dig and decipher, well, the more HE SHOWS ME.
I was sitting in a Starbucks tonight (actually my third for the day if I'm being completely honest), and it hit me again.
I'm sure the girls I was teaching were not getting too much out of it-especially the one who has ADD. I'm not even sure she knew I was at the table to be honest. No, I couldn't articulate that well what I was trying to say. I'm sure it wasn't that clear. But, for me, I got a little closer to understanding the incarnation.
The Bible translation we use with our older kids is The New Living Version. It is supposed to be on an 8th grade level, I believe. Tonight, the words of Isaiah just popped out of the book and into my heart:
"...HE was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on HIM and looked the other way.
HE was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses HE carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed HIM down.
And we thought HIS troubles were a punishment from GOD,
a punishment for HIS own sins!
But HE was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins,
HE was beaten so we could be whole.
HE was whipped so we could be healed."

I've heard those verses my whole life. I've read them, written them out, and probably taught them somewhere along the way. But wow. Tonight they settled down deep in my heart and mind. He, the sinless, perfect God, was punished for me. The ultimate betrayal is that so many of us don't turn to Him even though He did all of that for us. We live completely for ourselves and give Him a high five on Sunday mornings if we feel like it.
The verse that we memorized as a small group tonight was the very last part there, the part that shouted to me...He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
It is amazing to me how a completely just and righteous God chose injustice for us. Undeserved grace. Unmerited favor. I am so grateful. I hope my little ministry girls understand that some day. I hope God will explain it to THEM, too, maybe as they teach kids themselves.

My New Favorite.....

2011-01-18T18:32:00.003-05:00

"This is what God the LORD says--
He who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it;
'I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."
Isaiah 42:5-7

I love it! LORD, let it be so in my life!

I'm Awfully Fond Of This Fellow

2011-01-16T21:29:00.003-05:00

(Us, shopping on Christmas Eve....Alternate title..."What Santa Actually Does On Christmas Eve")

The Interview Suit

2011-01-13T20:50:00.004-05:00

I have a VERY important interview coming up in a couple of weeks with a nursing school that I REALLY, REALLY want to get into.... So, I need to look good. I have been trying on suits, but I just don't really like the traditional suit very much. It seems so masculine to me (even when a skirt is involved-the jacket is so masculine). Plus, I have major issues with shoulder pads. (Having already really broad shoulders...well...pads make me look like a football player. Go team!) So, I found this nontraditional suit at JCPenney. What do you think? Is it too much?
My favorite part is the sheath dress underneath. I think it is decently flattering....My sweet parents bought this suit for me for Christmas (they are uber supportive, these folks, my biggest fans!). I'm just trying to figure out if it works or not. The tags are still on....
Any thoughts????????????? By the way, I'm not quite sure how people take such great pics of themselves in mirrors. I had the hardest time taking these in the dressing room. Ridiculous!

More Wrapping pics....

2011-01-13T20:40:00.004-05:00

Can you tell I fell in LOVE with glitter glue this year????? It added such pizazz to my presents!
I added some tiny snowflakes that I got in the decor section at Walmart to these snowflake presents.
The other side of Ramsey's cool bag (made entirely from duct tape).
And one for my beloved Mom. I do heart her. A lot!

Christmas is a wrap!

2011-01-11T18:23:00.004-05:00

I realized that I have a million pictures on my camera that I have taken JUST to post on this blog, and I NEVER post them.... probably because I rarely blog. Well, here is a recap of the past month or two.....

I had so much fun wrapping Christmas presents this year! We had family come into town, so it made me get everything done BEFORE Christmas Eve....amazing, huh? Anyway, I used some unusual materials this year.... I found out my future nephew (son of the woman that my big bro is going to marry, did I tell you about that? Super exciting...) likes to make duct tape wallets. So, I decided to wrap his gift in duct tape. Fun, huh?
That is an "R" for his name (Ramsey). I didn't get to see him open it, but I trust he liked it! I wish I could show you the even cuter turquoise side, but blogger is being annoying again....

So, my brother and future sil Andrea are big into recycling and leaving a light footprint on the earth. For this reason, I decided to wrap all her presents in brown bags. Trader Joes had the cutest prints on their bags this season....
I gussied them up a bit by coloring the pictures on the bags and adding glitter glue to make them more festive.
For my brother's present I wrapped it like normal and used rubber bands as the ribbons. (That's pretty granola, right?) I also used duct tape for the gift tag. I'm telling you, you can do ANYTHING with duct tape! It's true!
There you have it....Christmas is a wrap!

The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood...

2010-12-27T16:39:00.005-05:00

This is BY FAR the best depiction of Jesus that I have ever seen. In fact, they usually creep me out a little. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I'm pretty sure we have no idea what HE really looked like when HE came to us. Anyway, I wish I had gotten the artist's name when I snapped a pic of this painting. HIS eyes are just so full of compassion. If you want to see it in person, head on down to His Hands church in Woodstock. Pretty sure there will be someone there to greet you at the door.

Confessions.

2010-12-19T20:24:00.004-05:00

I don't do the dishes everyday.
I do MOST of my Christmas shopping the week before Christmas.
The mall is teeming with men the week before Christmas. Teeming.
This might have something to do with when I plan my shopping, but I think it is mostly because I procrastinate.
My procrastination bugs me.
Not enough to make me do the dishes everyday.
Best part about a tasteless Lean Cuisine? You only have to wash the fork.
I went to a party tonight that was mostly painful.
Required parties aren't very fun.
I have a new little crush at work. A customer. We have the same conversation every day:

ME: Good morning. How are you?
HIM: Good. How are you?
ME: Good, good. Getting your regular?
HIM: Yes.
ME: Ok. It will be $7.23. (Coffee and money is exchanged here.) Thanks.

Later....
ME: (Handing him a breakfast sandwich) Here you go. Have a great day!
HIM: You too.

He wants me bad. Can't you tell?
I might break out the "How was your weekend?" tomorrow.

How Wrong is it?

2010-12-12T00:15:00.002-05:00

Heard a man SCREAMING at his son tonight while he was waiting for a latte. He was literally screaming at the top of his lungs at his 8 year old (who had done something minor like touching/provoking his sister).
How wrong would it be for me to jump through the drive thru window and strangle this man? Seriously.
I was so tempted.
I refrained.
Barely.
Probably because I had more drinks to make.

In the last 26 hours I....

2010-12-08T12:08:00.003-05:00

...had an accident at work involving the dumpster door and my thumb.
...couldn't get my thumb to stop bleeding. We are talking gusher here.
...went to a "doc in a box". (they couldn't stop my thumb from bleeding either.)
...went to the ER.
...got a Tetanus shot.
...got a shot in my thumb to numb it. Ouch!
...got 3 stitches in my thumbnail. Double ouch!
...got a bandage the size of my head around my thumb. Well, maybe not quite that big...
...have got to figure out how to shower without getting my thumb wet.
...kissed my Christmas plan of making scarves for everyone goodbye....

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T17:47:00.005-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your day!

I started out the day at the Atlanta Half Marathon at 7:30 this morning. I'm still not sure how I ended up there! You see, I haven't exactly been...uh...training. (Yeah, I don't recommend running a race that you haven't trained for!) It was my BFF's first 13.1 miler, so I let her talk me into signing up a few days ago. It was SO Much fun to run with her! We had a great time. The only casualty was my toenail.

It is currently black with blood underneath, and I think I'm gonna lose it. Ugh. Gross. And did I mention painful? I looked up pictures of black toenails and couldn't even think about posting one of those on this blog....uh! So gross!

Oh, and my gluteus minimus.....well, it's been killing me for about 11 hours now. Again, it might be good to train for a race that you are going to run. Just a thought...

(In case you were wondering where your gluteus minimus is.....well...there you go.)

Enjoy your turkey (or your Tofurky)!

What I'm loving right now....

2010-11-21T22:51:00.003-05:00

This description of the incarnation in John 1:14 (The Message version):

The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.

2010-11-05T00:25:00.002-04:00

Do you ever just write a blog to change the one that shows at the top of the page?
I do.

Top 10 Things I'm Up To....

2010-11-02T16:11:00.002-04:00

Yea! I'm finally going to get a Top 10 List up on a Tuesday! So happy! If you want to check out a ton of other people's top 10 lists, go to www.OhAmanda.com. These are the top 10 things I'm up to:
1-My Christmas cards. I have BIG, BIG plans for these this year. Considering I didn't even send any out last year because I was swamped with Anatomy and Physiology...well, anything would be an improvement over nothing, right?

2-Getting back into the exercise routine. Ugh! Why is it that all my workouts are so boring these days? I'm trying to put a little spice in it by going to classes. Today I thought I was heading into a cycling class when I realized I had looked at the Wednesday schedule instead of Tuesday. Oops! I ended up in Latin Dance Class instead. When the teacher said...."show me the goods, girls!", well, I was a little uncomfortable with the way things were headed. However, the great thing about dance class is that it always makes me smile by the 2nd song....

3-Brushing up on anatomy. It hit me today that I'm headed for nursing school in a little over 2 months. I will be dealing with REAL PEOPLE and not just test papers and getting good grades. I need to brush up on all the things I should know. Gotta get on that!

4-Making Christmas presents. I like to hand-make as many as I can every year. There is just something special about a homemade scarf, a painting, a handmade card. Whew! I have a lot of work to do!

5-Watching tv on Netflix. I don't have cable. I don't have any way for tv to come in to my house. I don't have time when I'm in school to watch anything much at all. I'm excited to take the time on this school break to catch up on all the shows I've missed. Like, since 1999. (Seriously, I don't think I've had a tv since then. Crazy, huh?)

6-Buying birthday cards. It seems like everyone and their brother has a birthday right around now. How is that possible? Maybe I just connect well with Scorpios. (Just kidding. I don't believe in that stuff. Instead of looking to the stars for guidance, I look to the Maker of those stars.)

7-Catching up on ministry stuff. I have been making some fuzzy Bibles for our kids club. What are fuzzy Bibles, you ask? They are kids Bibles covered in felt. We try to give one to every kids who comes to our ministry. They are so cute, and the kids LOVE them.

8-Putting together a puppet show. Our ministry team is putting together a performance for our upcoming puppetry festival. Lots to do. Lots and lots to do.

9-Hanging with the homies! Ah! It is so good to have time to hang out with friends! I think I went out about 6 times last week with different groups to celebrate my birthday. What fun! (Although my introverted self was screaming to get out by Sunday afternoon.)

10-Updating my winter wardrobe. It has suddenly gotten SO COLD OUT! I have to dig out the sweaters and hoodies soon or I'm going to freeze!

Ok....I'll listen now!

2010-11-02T15:45:00.003-04:00

When I hear God speaking to me, it is usually something that HE repeats over and over. I don't know if it is because my ears take a few times of hearing something to perk up or if He just likes repetition (somehow, I'm pretty sure it is the former.).
Today I looked at my verse of the day in my email from www.Biblegateway.com and saw this verse:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
-1 Peter 2:9

Later, when I was doing a totally unrelated Bible study on the book of Joshua, the verse was right there on the page leaping out at me. Ok, I'm listening now, God!

There are so many powerful things in that verse! First, if you have any struggles with your identity like I do, let those words at the beginning wash over you... YOU are CHOSEN. YOU are a ROYAL PRIEST Or PRIESTESS). YOU BELONG to GOD. Beautiful. Loved. Chosen. That is you.

Second, the reason you are all of those things is so that you can declare HIS PRAISES. What an honor! We are divine representatives from heaven to show others WHO HE IS.

Lastly, I love the visual of that last sentence. HE called us out of darkness...out of sin...out of shame...out of loneliness...out of depression...INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT.

God has been showing me lately that I do not need to think of myself as the world sees me. I don't need to take on the titles that have been handed to me by this broken world. I am who HE says I am. And so are you.

Gag me.....

2010-10-20T22:26:00.002-04:00

I have been having the hardest time at work lately. Not with my job. Not with fights between coworkers. Not with rude customers. No. It is keeping my mouth shut. How frustrating it is. I know what God wants me to do, and yet I am unable (read Unwilling) to do it. Grrrr. Sure, I have plenty to complain and talk about. Plenty of fodder given to me by those around me. But, I NEED TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT. Lord, please help me to blog more and gossip less. That's all. :0)

Insider's View....

2010-09-30T15:06:00.002-04:00

I wasn't expecting to get calls from my dad on Friday night telling me my mom was having chest pains. I didn't expect to race down to the hospital and camp out there 3 days in the ICU. I didn't think I would be fielding calls, texts, facebook messages and emails from family and friends all weekend. I didn't know I would hear the words heart attack, 98% blockage, angioplasty, and stent.
Reality took a while to set in. It is altogether different when it is YOUR mama in the hospital as opposed to someone else's mama. I cannot even describe the panic in the midst of faith. It is strange how the two interact at a time like that. I felt that God was fully with me, but the spiritual and the natural world have to collide somehow. Anyway, I'm going to stop trying to describe things I don't understand now.
I was very interested to discover some things about hospitals while I was there, especially considering I want to be employed by one in the next few years. Here are a few thoughts....

Male nurses make me nervous. I don't know what it is, but my mom's male nurse just seemed "off". He was extremely handsome, looked like a slightly younger version of Bob from "The Biggest Loser", but he didn't have Bob's compassion in the least. He was missing the nurturing gene, I think. (Makes me wonder why he chose nursing as a career choice, actually.) Ugh! I was so happy when the nighttime nurse arrived. She was so kind and sweet. I am not sexist in the least, but I can kinda picture some of my fellow students in nursing school acting like that guy. Shudder.
I didn't realize that SO MANY people were are part of the team in the hospital. There were forever new people walking into the room and introducing themselves and explaining something or getting us to sign something or drawing blood or checking IVs. I guess the communication was good between the people because there were no major mess ups or anything, but still. It was like we never talked to the same person twice. Kinda disconcerting actually. Familiar faces are good in a crisis.
The ICU is pretty swank! Mom had a huge room with a flat screen tv and french doors. I am not kidding. I thought it was pretty funny that mom asked me to turn off the tv Saturday night. I was surprised because her beloved Georgia Bulldogs were playing. I was concerned for a moment, but I asked her and it wasn't because she felt bad physically, she just didn't want to see her beloved Dawgs losing. She cracks me up.
The only eatery open in the entire hospital that was open on weekend nights was McDonald's. That is just crazy! The type of eating that McDonald's offers can put you in the hospital in the first place!
This is not a new observation, but my experience this weekend reaffirmed my thought that I want to go into pediatrics. No big people for me!
People reaching out means so much! I am so grateful for all the friends who let me know they were praying and caring. Words can describe how much the support means at a time like that. I cannot even tell you what a difference it made.

Mom is doing well. At home and healing. And I'm so glad to not be on that side of the hospital. Hopefully, the next time I'm there, I will be on the other side of things.

Dreams....

2010-08-20T13:23:00.003-04:00

I had a dream the other night that I ran into some kids from my ministry. They were being taken on a hayride (with no hay) through suburbia by some other people (it seemed like they were from another ministry, maybe? Definitely safe people, although I don't know how safe it is to be taking kids on a hayride in the middle of rush hour!) . I know, random. At the end, one little boy turned to me and said, "Miss Kristen! Will you bring me to Kid's Club? Will you? I want to come!"
I don't think the dream was prophetic or anything. I don't plan to see my kids riding on a wagon through downtown anytime soon. I do think my brain was trying to process what is in my heart lately.
Here's the deal: I am trying (desperately) to get into Nursing school so that I can get a good job to support myself to be able to do ministry. Good plan, right? Kristen needs to eat and live indoors. The harsh reality is that I am giving this school pretty much all my attention and my focus right now, and the ministry is not moving along as I had planned. There are so many things to be done, but I can't get to them. Mostly, I don't have the time. When I do have the time, I don't have the energy. It is beyond frustrating. It also makes me mad that I didn't spend more time developing the ministry while I had a LOT more time. What was I doing with myself all that time?
I don't really know what to do about all of this, but I do know that God has good plans for both me and my kids. He knows what needs to happen. I know this. I also know that He can use multiple people and places to woo a person to Him, even if it means other ministries taking them on a hayride! Maybe that is part of what I need to do right now...do my best to be a blessing to our kids in the time that I have and rely on Him to do the rest. Like everything in life...daily giving it up to Him is key. It's His anyway. I just forget. :0)
The other part of my dream? We had a HUGE new facility to use for our kids. I'm talking mansion here! I'd really love for that part to come true!

I would love to share with you

2010-08-09T16:20:00.002-04:00

I'd love to share with you...
...how I almost had a heart attack this week planning a surprise party for one of my friends. (I'm not good at lying-even fake lying-except maybe to myself.) Those things are so stressful! "Let's go out to eat at this specific time at this specific place for your birthday (even though you should really pick the place) in a town where neither of us live but it is close to the party where 20 of your closest friends will jump out of the closet." Sure, easy as pie.
...the words "propanoic acid" keep reverberating in my head. Can't stop 'em. It is weird what gets stuck in your head. One time it was the name Ashton Kutcher. Not sure why. I don't think it had anything to do with his abs.
...I'm trying to find the beauty in being single. It's difficult. It does show up sometimes, like when my bff can't eat her lunch because she is trying to pacify her active toddler. I just get to eat. Beauty. Sorry Valorie. You, too, will be able to eat soon. In a couple of years at least!
...speaking of being single, I think it is terminal...I overheard a cute boy today talk about (on the phone) how he is starting seminary soon. Did I mention he was really cute? And starting seminary? He was at least mildly interested. I could tell by his body language. And of course I chickened out and didn't initiate conversation with him. Yes, Kristen, you have to talk to boys in order to get to know them....
...Beth Moore has been in cahoots with the God of the universe, and He is apparently telling her all about me and how I need to not be so selfish and stuff. She is putting all of this stuff into a book for everyone to read. Sigh. I have a love/hate relationship with all my personal Bible studies. As Max Lucado always says, "God loves you just the way you are. That is why He refuses to leave you that way." Double sigh.
...Looking forward to our ministry starting it's Fall season soon. Love and miss my kids because I don't see them as regularly during the Summer. Ready to be "miss Kristen" again.

See, I'd love to share all that info with you, but I can't because I am studying organic chemistry right now. Oops....

My Deep Love for Organic Chemistry

2010-07-11T15:20:00.008-04:00

Well, school has started back up again, and I gotta say...my deep love and appreciation for Organic Chemistry is topping the charts. It is such a pleasure to go to class and not understand what the teacher is saying. How fun it is to turn 3 shades of red when she asks students to come to the board and work problems (praying she doesn't call me out). What a joy to work with names such as "2-Bromo-3, 3-dimethylpentane". Seriously, I think I'm going to one day become this guy...

or maybe this guy....

I'm sure of one thing....I definitely need a copy of this.....

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be dreaming of "Gospel of John" class or even "Abnormal Psychology". I'd take an 8 o'clock class of one of those over this ANY DAY!

My Summer Staycation

2010-07-03T01:07:00.003-04:00

Ah! It has been the most fun two weeks ever! I have not picked up one single textbook since June 17! I have, however, picked up about 5 novels, went to 4 movies, watched several movies on Netflix, been shopping with my mom, checked 49 foster kids for head lice before they got on the camp bus, went running 7 times, attended a worship night at church, cooked a bunch of meals with my Sisterchicks, hung out an entire day with my bff, went grocery shopping and actually made some meals at home, slept way too late several days, threw a pool party for 70 Mexican children, and cleaned my bathroom!
I LOVE NOT HAVING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND WORK TWO JOBS!
But, alas, it is a short-lived bliss. Organic Chemistry beckons in a few days. But, I think I will play for a little longer while I can....

I'd Like to Introduce You to My New Best Friend!

2010-06-09T14:18:00.004-04:00

I've been struggling for several weeks now in Microbiology. In case you didn't know (as I didn't know until I signed up for the class), Micro is all about bacteria and viruses. We stare at them in microscopes, we look them up in books, we make them grow, we put them through tests, we try not to smell them (they are horribly smelly, and the scent sticks in your nose for hours afterward!).
Our big challenge for this class was to identify two unknown microbes. Four weeks before the end of class we each received a test tube that looked like this: (We didn't, however, get the intelligent looking doctor there to help us. We are on our own....)In that tube were 2 types of microbacteria that we have to test and test and test and test to figure out which ones we have. I must say that this test was DAUNTING! Especially when, a couple of weeks in...I had nothing. I could not get my bacteria separated to save my life! Every time I looked at them in the microscope (after doing about a billion things to my organism and putting it on a slide), my results were always mixed. I came rode home in tears a couple of days. Other days I had trouble getting to sleep, I was worrying so much.
I turned it over and over to the Lord, asking Him to help me. One day I had enough. This was going to work today. I didn't care what I had to do. It was going to work.
The next day, my teacher looked at all I had done and told me to throw it all away.
"THROW IT ALL IN THE TRASH CAN?" I'm sure I was whimpering by now.
"Yes," she said. "Start over. Here is a new test tube of your unknown." (She is, how do I say this...not the most encouraging woman I've ever met....)
Well, I was freaking out, but I did what she told me to. I started over. And you know what? This time IT WORKED!
So, I'd like to introduce you to my two new best friends (don't take it personally, Valorie, they are just stinky bacteria).....
The left one is Enterbacter aerogenes. It looks pink under the microscope. The other is Micrococcus luteus. This one is actually a beautiful purple color in the microscope. I could tell you all about how that has to do with their cell walls, and blah, blah, blah, but the point is they are discovered!

(That is the microscopic view there.)

I turn in my full report tomorrow, and I cannot describe what a load off it is to have this done. Now, to just get through the 3 tests I have in the next 7 days......

Cute Kids Alert!

2010-05-18T19:23:00.003-04:00

My blog is a downer lately, so I thought I'd perk it up by showing you who I got to hang out with last Friday afternoon....These girls are too stinkin' cute! And they are hilarious, too! The one on the left is a DRAMA QUEEN who loves all the attention and all the candy I can possibly give her! Her sister on the far right is a total type A personality, and she is only in second grade! She is sad about school being out soon for the summer, but she is excited that she can "teach" her little sister all summer long! Her name is Sinai (as in Mt. Sinai, I guess), but she doesn't say it like that at all. I have trouble every time I try to say her name, and it drives us both crazy! "Seen-I-ee", she says, saying it really slowly for me every time. Oh well.
They sure were a fun distraction on Friday afternoon while I was waiting on kids to bring me fundraising money for Camp Rocks! They kept me laughing the entire time. The funny thing is that I found myself trying to explain how many microorganisms were on the bottom of Cecelia's shoe. She was trying to touch us all with it. (Too much Microbiology for me! Really, was I expecting a kindergartner to understand that?)
Oh, and Magalay in the middle is just part of the sister/cousin sandwich there. She was not present to win.

Hard or Easy?

2010-05-18T18:13:00.002-04:00

It would be easy to put my head down on this table for a good long while. It would be easy to run out the door and never look back. It would be easy to check out or get lost in blogs for oh, the next 2 hours or so. That would be easy.
What is hard is to sit here in this chair. It is hard to keep my head off the table. It is hard to try to make sense of the sentence that I'm reading. It is hard to focus. It is hard, but it is necessary. It doesn't matter that I just took a test that I've studied over 20 hours for. It doesn't matter that my microbiology professor yelled at the whole class just because she had a hard weekend. It doesn't matter that I got up out of bed at 4:36 this morning, worked all day, and then went straight to my test. Doesn't matter.
What does matter is people. The people who are going to benefit from my knowledge of Inorganic Chemistry. The people who are going to need me. Not that they are going to care if I know what a hypertonic solution is. They won't care about that. They are going to care that I care about them. And I will. Enough to keep my head off of this table right now.
I hope.

If you are ever a Microbiology Teacher....

2010-05-13T19:57:00.003-04:00

...please don't tell one of your lab groups of students, "If you keep asking so many questions, you will never make it as nurses."
It might just be the thing that makes a student full of pressure, stressed-out beyond belief want to cry all the way home in her car.
Of course, it will definitely make her want to prove the "I-got-my-doctorate-when-I-was-still-a teenager" professor wrong.
And she will.

What I don't understand....

2010-05-10T14:14:00.001-04:00

...and I hope I never do.

THIS.

Unbalanced

2010-05-08T17:55:00.004-04:00

I've been studying for about 6 hours now. I took one quick break to walk to a nearby grocery store so I could stretch my legs. Other than that is has been Inorganic Chemistry for 6 hours. I feel like I have only a nominal grasp on the material that I have a test on in 38 hours. Not sure how long I can take this.
My life has become one big study session since I enrolled in school last fall. It is without a doubt the most difficult long-term thing I have ever done. I had no idea that nursing school would be this difficult, and I'm still in the prerequisites! It is so humbling and frustrating and challenging.
I got another "C" on a test in Microbiology. Devastating. I will not settle for anything less than an "A" in my classes. There is something in me that just can't.
There are 30 slots available for the school that I want to go to. I imagine that there are hundreds of applicants. The pressure is hitting square on my shoulders. They ache pretty much constantly these days.
I feel so alienated from my friends. I don't have time for them. I had to give up my small group. I hope I still HAVE friends by the time this whole endeavor is over 2 1/2 years from now.
My time for the ministry is limited as well. My passion has to take the back burner, and that never feels good. It hurts.
I took a 15 minute nap in my car today. It took EVERYTHING I HAVE to put one foot in front of the other to get out of that car and walk in to study. Tears threaten to pour forth. They are constantly behind my eyes these days. Don't know how to make them go away.
My body hurts from the stress. I slept 8 hours last night (rare), and I feel like I slept for 2.
Honestly, I don't know how to do this. It is only God who can get me through. I know from experience that He is faithful. I know He is faithful because I know Him. Also, I know He told me to do this. Of course, doubts seep into my mind every minute about that. Was it really Him?
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt. 11:28-30
It sounds like He has something to teach me, too. I just hope I can learn that as well as Inorganic Chemistry.

Your Flora

2010-05-05T15:55:00.003-04:00

You probably know that there are bacteria all over and in your body right now. You probably know that some is good bacteria. You might know that there are ten bacterial cells in your body for every human cell (wow). But, did you know that the good bacteria is called your microbial FLORA? For some reason this strikes me as funny. I picture a person covered in flowers like this...Like this or maybe even this.....

Look to the Right!

2010-04-28T21:31:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone! I am totally crazy busy studying for my Nursing Entrance Exam on Friday (Oh My!) as well as my other VERY HARD classes, but I wanted to bring your attention to the new button to your right. Please click it and follow my friend Amanda as she blogs from the Dominican Republic for a really great organization helping kids. (I'm so jealous of her for that, I can't stand it!) Anyway, click on over, k? There is nothing to see here! (But hopefully soon!)

Can I stop now?

2010-04-17T18:33:00.002-04:00

Number of tests I have in the next 3 days: 2
Number of hours I studied today: 7.5 so far
Number of chemistry questions accomplished in that time: 87
Number of average minutes per question: 5.17
Number of cups of coffee consumed: 3 (1/2 caff.)
Number of cute boys in and out of the place I'm studying: 5.5
Number of study breaks: too many
Number of stress on a scale of 1-10: 7.8

DNA just makes me sleepy

2010-04-15T21:52:00.002-04:00

I kept falling asleep during my 1:00 class today. I'm convinced that 1:00 is the absolutely WORST time to take a class. I have that whole "sleepy after lunch and want a nap I'm never going to have time for" feeling.
Today it was bad.
I had no idea what the teacher was saying for oh...about 3 1/2 hours.
I could blame it on the low lights in the room so that we could see the power point presentation.
I could blame it on the fact that I got up at 4:30 this morning and had been working ever since.
I could blame it on the fact that my blood sugar was falling rapidly (makes you sleepy sometimes).
Or I could blame it on the real culprit-DNA. Man that stuff is boring!

Sometimes you just need a little air.

2010-04-14T22:00:00.002-04:00

I decided to ride my bike to a local coffee shop and study tonight. This is after a huge long day of school and studying pretty much since 6:45 am. So, I get my bike out, wipe off the dust bunnies from last fall, and head out (my 400 lb. backpack in tow). I had to stop off at the neighbor boy's house to drop off a check for mowing my yard. (Oh man am I grateful to that kid! I was about to have to go buy a pair of stilts to even be able to walk in my yard!)
Back on my way, I realize that riding a bike with a heavy backpack on is not so easy. By now I'm really sweating, and I'm not even half way there. My bike is a little hard to control, and I look down and realize both of my tires are really low on air. The next gas station is another couple of miles (uphill), so I press on. I want to get off the bike and walk at some points, but my inner hall monitor doesn't let me (it just seems like cheating!). I huff and puff all the way until the gas station is in sight. Yea!
I stop to wait for a light to cross the street, and I hop off the bike for a second. Everything that sits on the seat of my bike is killing me right now. My legs (already sore from doing too many squats on Monday) are screaming. People are staring (I'm pretty sure it was the wedgie the size of Toledo.)
I finally find the air machine and start 'er up. The tires don't look much better when I am done, so I take a look around. Low and behold, you have to put money in to make the stupid thing work! Hello! Of course, I only have 2 quarters instead of the mandatory 3, so I must walk inside the station to get a quarter. I use a little self-depreciating humor for the middle eastern attendant, and then totally miss it when he starts joking back with me in his thick accent. Hope I smiled at all the right times.
Finally I get air in my tires, look at my watch and realize the coffee shop is going to close in less than 15 minutes. Ugh. So I get back on the torture machine and load my back pack on again, (which I'm now convinced has a small person inside of it because of its weight) this time headed for home.
The trip home was much less eventful, mostly because it was downhill. Hope I can walk tomorrow. So much for catching up on Microbiology, btw...

got mountains?

2010-04-14T14:11:00.003-04:00

I've got some BIG mountains in my life this quarter.... Microbiology. Inorganic Chemistry. In moments of panic (currently in one of those while trying to understand subatomic particles) I'm trying to remember Psalm 121:

Psalm 121 (The Message)

Psalm 121

A Pilgrim Song

^1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. (AND SUBATOMIC PARTICLES)

^3-4 He won't let you stumble, (Or Fail)
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep. (HE never sleeps! Even if I am struggling to stay awake!)

^5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you— (HE tenderly puts His protective arms around me.)
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke. (Shielding me from everything, including self-doubt.)

^7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return, (Everywhere I go, HE is with me.)
he guards you now, he guards you always. (HE always protects me, HE always will. I can trust Him completely.)

Just had to go....

2010-04-11T22:52:00.005-04:00

While in China, I had just one place that I needed to go. It wasn't Tienanmen Square. It wasn't the bird's nest. I had already been to the Forbidden City. No, I had to go to Starbucks....
I know, I know! I work there, why would I want to go there on my vacation? I'm not sure, but I got as giddy as a little kid while I was there!
I ordered a Caramel Macchiato while I was there. It was so cute to hear the barista call out my drink in a thick, thick accent! I gotta say, it didn't taste at all like one that I would make here, but I think it is probably because their milk just tastes a lot different over there. I can't really describe it except it is thicker. The drink was yummy, tho!
I thought this cup was so neat with the Chinese writing on it. I'm pretty sure it says the exact same thing as ours do here in the US. (Not that I think China is making huge strides to take care of the environment....)
And the sleeves really made me laugh. They were pushing the teas in China just like we were a few months ago in the states. How funny! Kinda funny that you had to "push" tea in China, too!
All in all, it was a bit surreal. I was standing halfway (or over halfway) around the world across the counter from a green apron that I wear everyday in a place that looked a lot like my store but was completely different. Everyone spoke a completely different language that I didn't even understand a word of, but we had common ground in coffee.
Don't worry, I'm not going to bust out my version of "It's a Small World After All." Well, you can't hear me through the computer anyway...

Did you know...

2010-04-08T17:24:00.003-04:00

...that your small intestine is actually longer than your long intestine?
Who knew?
I didn't, on one of my anatomy tests.
I got it right on the final, though.
And, I'm pretty sure I'm never going to forget that one!

Not Enough

2010-04-08T16:58:00.003-04:00

My small group is having growing pains. We have issues that I don't really want to go into in a public forum, but it is some hard stuff. I had to send a hard email to my girls last night, and I don't think it was well received. (As in, major resistance.) Whether I should have sent it or not is heavy on my mind. Should I have worded it differently? What could I have done better? Tough love is....tough.
I had been planning to share with you some info from the back of our current study book even before all of this went down. It has some good insight that applies to many different relationships, not just small groups. I was looking over it now, and I came across this little paragraph that touched my heart:
"...it is important to remember that beyond understanding and fostering discussion, learning to listen well, developing your skill in fashioning questions, and learning to lead different kinds of people, it is God's grace and strength that will carry you through the challenges of leadership."
I needed to hear that sentence today, to be reminded that it is His group, not mine. He knows I'm human. He knows I don't always so a great job. He knows He is in charge here!
It also says, "...in truth you will accomplish absolutely nothing of eternal value unless the Spirit of God takes your faithful efforts and infuses them with His enabling power and grace."
Lord, thank you for your enabling power and grace. I know on my own I am not even close to enough. Please give me your strength and your grace to see our group through this time. It is for your honor and your glory alone that I do any of this. May you receive it all. I'm so grateful. Amen

Where's my t-shirt?

2010-04-07T23:42:00.004-04:00

Anatomy and Physiology was a really difficult course. It took the most hours studying I have ever done in my life. The material was so vast and challenging. There is really no way to describe the pressure and power this class puts on your life! My classmates all said that we should have t-shirts printed that said, "I Survived Anatomy!" In fact, we got a little giddy after our final was over, and started taking some photos to document the moment...

I don't know what was so fun about arranging the skeletons to look like they were friends, but it made me giggle!
My brain was so full during that class that it hurt!

My group of study buddies! These were some very cool women! We met together every week or so (or sometimes 4 times on a weekend!) to run this stuff through our heads. It must have worked! We all passed!

Don't ever eat anything off of the bottom of your shoe!

2010-04-07T23:32:00.002-04:00

We had our first lab in my microbiology class the other day. It was surprisingly fun. We swabbed a bunch of things with a sterile swab and rub it in a petri dish to see if anything would grow in it.
The things we swabbed:
-The tabletop
-The sink handle
-The door handle
-The bottom of someone's shoe
Well, there was bacteria on all of those things. It was pretty gross. We grew a bunch of different varieties of stuff. The worst area BY FAR was the bottom of the shoe. That section of the dish had all kinds of fungi and bacteria growing in it! It spread to the other areas.
Ugh. Note to self. Never touch the bottom of my shoe again. Or walk barefoot. Yuck.

My Very Churchy Resurrection Day

2010-04-05T15:24:00.002-04:00

I attempted to go to four different churches yesterday.
I did not succeed.
I tried hard, though!
Why would I want to do this, you ask?
(Thanks for asking, btw.)
There were just so many choices!
I always plan to go to the sunrise service on top of Stone Mountain. In fact, I told some friends I was planning on going this year, and they said, "Don't you always go?"
Well, I always TALK about going.
I always try.
I don't always go.
This year I got about 3 hours of sleep and said, "I don't think I feel like climbing a mountain on 3 hours of sleep."
So, I got semi-dressed (shoes + pjs = semi-dressed), and tried to find the sunrise in my backyard.
I didn't find it.
(Must figure out which direction is east from my house before next year.)
I did say a quick prayer in gratitude for both the sunrise I could not find and the awesome gift of salvation that Jesus gave us.
And then I went back to bed for an hour.
The next church was a special trip to see my housemate's portrayal of Mary in her church's play.
She did a great job.
But, she was about all that I saw.
I got there as she was storming the tomb, heard her say, "He is Risen!" and had to go.
More church to get to, ya know?
The one that I wanted to squeeze in next was Passion City Church.
Louie Giglio was the speaker and Chris Tomlin was leading worship.
Hello.
They were actually meeting in Alpharetta (where my regular church meets), but I didn't make it to this one either.
Mary was more important.
Even though I didn't even get to talk to her afterward.
Did I mention that all these churches except the last 2 are in different cities?
So, I waved at Passion City as I drove on to my beloved North Point.
Ah. North Point.
Love it.
Love Him.
So grateful for the freedom to choose where I want to go to worship Him this and every Sunday.
Hope your day was full of Him.

Chinese food...well...sort of...

2010-03-30T15:32:00.004-04:00

So, my friends in China are foodies. They also love to cook, which is a great combo for me as a houseguest! We had so much fun trying new dishes and eating desert and coffee (yeah, the diet was out the window this week for sure). We also went out to eat some great food. Here are some of the things we had....
This was a Vietnamese noodle dish that was yummy, yummy!Um, yeah, a handsome man to bake homemade cinnamon rolls? (Sigh, sorry girls, he's taken!) Btw... this picture was BEFORE he added the homemade frosting!
Ok, I didn't actually partake in this dish, but I thought it was just so pretty looking with all of the spices! It almost made me forget that there was a fish head sitting right on the table!
I'm not sure how to spell the name of this food, but it is something like Jawsa. They are dumplings shaped like ears that the Chinese eat every new year so that their ears won't freeze and fall off in the cold. (From the amount of these vegetarian dumplings I ate...well, I'm pretty sure my ears are never going to fall off!) They are delicious!

Whirlwind

2010-03-30T15:02:00.004-04:00

I finished up my anatomy final two weeks ago today. Thank you, Jesus, that class is over! I then proceeded to scramble around and procure a visa for myself to go to China. That is where I've been the last week. I have some wonderfully good friends there from my college days, and it was so good to see them! You know that kind of friendship where you can talk about the deep stuff? (Even if it hurts?) They are that kind of friends. So grounded. So full of life. Ugh! I miss them already! Here are some pics of my trip....

We got to ride on a motorcycle with a side car! How cool! (Ps..the baby didn't actually ride with us on that thing, I promise! She only posed for the pictures!)Did I mention that we took a 1 year old baby on a 24 hour plane ride? (I don't recommend this!) She looks happy, though, no?

This is the whole gang together. You have absolutely no idea how hard it was to get all of these people sitting on the same couch at the same time facing forward (well, most of us!).

Clara is One!

2010-01-31T16:31:00.004-05:00

I can't believe she is already a year old!

Cutest cupcake cake for the cutest birthday girl!

Not immune to distraction...

2010-01-31T15:40:00.003-05:00

Supposed to be studying immunity right now.
My brain is anywhere but on the immune system.
Looking for any distraction.
They are not hard to find.
Eavesdropping on conversations all around me.
Hearing the woman at the next table slurp her soup.
Checking out what my peeps are up to on Twitter.
Study, study, study.
Focus, focus, focus.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Proof that this herbivore can cook meat!

2010-01-21T15:39:00.003-05:00

Yes, I wore gloves. I wasn't going to touch that stuff! Ewwww!!!!!!!

Raining on the inside

2010-01-21T15:35:00.002-05:00

Just thought you should know...when you pull up to a drive-thru window in the rain - turn off your windshield wipers. Think about that one for a minute......

Making me a believer.....

2010-01-21T15:27:00.002-05:00

My hip/glute/lower back/somewhere in my right side has been hurting all week. It hurts when I sit and stand, when I try to sleep and pretty much all the time at the moment (especially after the 1 hour and 45 min. exercise I did last night). I went to work this morning and told my coworker - a massage therapist/part time worker at a chiropractic office - about it. He immediately told me what he thought it was and gave me some stretches to do for it. It still hurts, but I can see a major difference.
As much as I don't want to say it, I think I'm becoming a believer...
in chiropractic, that is.

We interupt the studying to bring you a blog post....

2010-01-03T23:20:00.003-05:00

I read about blood for 3 straight hours today.
Yep. That was my afternoon.

Finally, a top 10 list!

2009-11-24T22:13:00.002-05:00

Well, as you might have guessed from my long time blogging absence....I'm completely over my head with school, ministry, work, and more work these days. I have no time to sleep, no time to workout, no time for movies, and no time for (sadly) blogging. But, this week is a bit of a reprieve because my coffee shop boss forgot to schedule me for 3 days! What? How did that happen? I'm not sure, but I'm very excited.
So, I thought I'd get back into the groove of things here by doing a Top Ten List! Here are the top ten things I'm going to do with my free time!

10-Study Anatomy. (I know it is cheating to study during my time off, but I REALLY CAN'T GET BEHIND IN THIS CLASS. So, tomorrow is dedicated to studying.)
9-Get back to the gym! Oh how I miss my gym! I miss it, but I can't seem to make myself go because I'm so doggone tired from studying so much. Well, I plan to make it there at least 2 times this week. (Lofty goal, but I'm going to make it!)
8-Catch some z's! I want to sleep! And I'm gonna!
7-Volunteer. Ok, this one I did today. We have to do community service with a non-profit for my sociology class this quarter. I spent 4 hours today handing out bread to people in need. (I actually helped load food into an SUV that costs 4 times what my car does. I'm still trying to figure that one out. Maybe their car payments are so large that they can't buy food????)
6-Spend time with the fam. My parents have been thinking about reporting me to missing persons lately, I think. It will be good to spend a little time with them this week.
5-Catch up on crazy little things that totally add up. I need to write a million thank you notes. I need to clean out my car before small animals start moving in. You know, the usual.
4-Volunteer at my favorite race. The Atlanta Half Marathon is going on this Turkey Day. Unfortunately, I can't run it this year because, well, in order to run 13 miles you actually need to run regularly. I haven't been, so I will be volunteering at this one. Should be fun except for the fact that I have to get up at 4:45 am to do it. (See the conflict this has with #8?)
3-Shopping! My bff, her sisters and I are going to do our annual Black Friday shopping frenzy. Oh how I love a great deal! (Ugh! This one is going to seriously cut into #8 as well! Grrr!)
2-Watch a movie or two. I took my mom to see Julie and Julia at the Dollar Theater tonight. It is so very cute! The audience actually clapped at the end.
1-Read something not related to science. Ah, that just sounds like a wonderful dream right now.....

Hey, head to www.ohAmanda.com (the Queen of the Top 10 Lists) to read more. I'm sure they aren't all as self-absorbed as this one is....

What to do when Anatomy class is kicking your butt...

2009-10-15T15:57:00.003-04:00

Step 1: Go and get a cupcake from the shop that you pass by everyday on your way to school that you never have time to stop at because you are always studying your brains out for no reason since it is impossible to make a good grade on the unbelievable test.
Step 2: Eat that cupcake and relax for...oh...30 seconds. Then rush off to study some more. You might be somebody's nurse someday, and they would probably want you to know where their Uvula is.... Maybe.

Who said God isn't in the little things?

2009-10-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

I am sitting (stranded) in a brake repair shop. It has been a super hard day. The tension in my neck has not left in days, due to a particularly imminent Anatomy and Physiology test among other things. I had to get two new tires for my car this morning (thank you, dad!) because I hydroplaned 3 times on the way home from school last night.They told me at this brake place that they had to replace my master cylinder. I don't have a great grasp of what a master cylinder is, but I know that it costs around $200.(With labor and all that, too). I asked the Lord to help me. Two hours later I came back to the shop and the technician told me it might not be as bad as I thought. Turns out he is a believer. He told me that he could have easily charged me for that part and put it in unnecessicarily. He aluded to the fact that others in the shop would have. We ended up having a great conversation about healing ministry (which I've been particulary interested in as of late), prison ministry and my ministry. This man and I are worlds apart (in race, lifestyle,age,gender, etc), but we have the same heart. It was so refreshing to meet a kindred spirit in this place.God is so good. He reminded me once again that He is the one who is taking care of me!

Top 10 Reasons YOU (yes, You) Should be in a Small Group!

2009-09-08T16:04:00.004-04:00

I'm a big believer in small groups. In fact, I lead one every Tuesday night. I think everyone should be in one, and here is why....

10- The relationship building. No man is an island, right? It's true. We need each other.
9- The new perspective it gives you. We all see things differently. We need to see life from many different angles. It is good stuff.
8- The interesting people to meet. I've hung with professional photographers, career missionaries, powerful business women, flight attendants, triathletes, and homemakers. Each have opened my eyes to so many new things.
7- The insight into scripture. God's Word is so living and active that it often reads very differently to different people. Sometimes I walk out of group thinking about my life in a new light because of something someone brought to my attention.
6- The support network. I would not hesitate a second to email the group and ask them to pray for a need in my life. That is a wonderful thing to be able to do.
5-The perks. One lady gave me over $1000 for a missions trip once. Another gets me in to Boot Camp in the park for free every so often. Connections are a very good thing to have.
4- The fellowship. I love to catch up with my girls every week. It is so good to be able to share what is going on in each others lives.
3- The food. Women can cook. It is nice to be able to share everyones best recipes.
2- The encouragement. My girls think I'm kick-butt awesome. I think they are, too. It is easy to admire people and encourage them when you get real with them.
1- The accountability. I don't care what you say. It is important. You need it, and so do I.

Bottom line: Join a small group. Be real. Allow God to show up, and He will.
For more top 10 lists and to meet one of my favorite people on the planet...go here! www.ohamanda.com

Faces I miss...

2009-09-06T21:38:00.004-04:00

Our ministry is getting much-needed bigger space, and I'm so excited. Problem is, we have to wait on the apartment complex to get the other apartment ready for us. That means: I miss my kids! Here are some of the sweet faces I miss...

How could I not miss those faces?

Singles Event #40070 - The Meet and Greet

2009-09-06T21:27:00.002-04:00

I went with some friends to this one. It was at a sportsbar this time. There were lots of cuties there, but no "forced interaction". See, I've decided that is what I need to excel in the Single scene: "forced interaction". It is hard to walk up to someone and say, "Hi! I'm Kristen. I'm a really interesting girl full of life and a wonderful personality. If you took the time to get to know me I am certain that you would find me highly fun, entertaining, deep, loving, kind, creative, lighthearted, full of faith, sporty, devoted to my friends and family, intelligent, giving and joyful." Yeah, it would be virtually impossible to say that to someone at a sportsbar - even if it was a Christian singles event.
So, what is a shy single girl to do? Speak with her girlfriends all night. Never leave the table except to go to the bathroom.
Does that make sense?
Not at all.
Not at all.

Humm....

2009-09-06T21:25:00.003-04:00

I haven't been doing too good on the blogging front lately.
And I have no excuse.
Hopefully I'll get my act together soon.

Singles Event #40069 - Bible Study

2009-08-17T15:10:00.003-04:00

Note to self: Don't wear high heeled sandals when you are going to be around so many
"height - challenged" males. It makes them nervous apparently...

Singles Event #40068 - Beach Volleyball

2009-08-17T15:06:00.002-04:00

There isn't much to tell you about this event besides one thing...
...I hit one of the nicest girls there in the FACE with a volleyball.
HARD.
Not on purpose.
I promise.
She got a lot of male attention over it, so maybe it wasn't so bad for her....

Sorry to interrupt this blog...

2009-08-07T14:50:00.002-04:00

..to tell you that I'm only doing one thing in my free time lately. It involves a captivating set of thick black books, a heroine and a vampire. Yes, I'm reading Twilight (Well, New Moon currently), and it is SO GOOD! Maybe I'll put it down for a second some time this weekend to update the blog, but I wouldn't hold your breath. (Only vampires can do that successfully, btw.)

Singles Event #40067 - The Luau

2009-08-03T12:33:00.003-04:00

So, I've been going to a lot of singles events lately. There are a ton of events out there from beach volleyball to Bible studies to concerts to lunches after church. It has been a lot of fun. But, the one to take the cake was the event I went to on Saturday night.
One of my college girls, Marilyn, was my wingman (wingwoman?). We decided to compromise that night because I wanted to go to an Elvis tribute in the park and she wanted to go to this Luau. So, we decided to hit the Luau first and head to the park later.
Our first hint that this wasn't really our type of party was the parking nazis. These two ladies were coming out of the house where the luau was held while we were parking. They practically shouted at us to pull our car forward more so that someone could park behind us. Ok lady, but you don't have to shout!
With that wonderful first impression we parked and headed to the pool area for the party. We were standing about 10 feet away from the back fence when Marilyn suddenly stopped short and said (not quietly enough), "they are all old people!"
By that time it was too late to turn around. People had already spotted us and were starting to welcome us to the luau. We were stuck.
By the way, when I say that these people were old....I mean significantly older than us. Many had grey hair if they had much at all. I would say that a few were in their 40s, but most were in the late 50s and early 60s - especially the men. Oh yes. One man came directly up to us and said, "you girls are a little young, aren't you?" Then he got all embarrassed and apologized for several minutes when I tried to respond in a joking way. Oh dear.
Well, we really had to stay now. We couldn't just leave without being rude.
So, we stayed.
We ate yummy luau food.
We made small talk.
We heard over and over again..."Well, you're too young to remember this, but...."
We talked about (by ourselves) how we hoped we would not still be at these types of events when we were in our 60s.
(Marilyn, I'm sorry but you won't have a wingman by then. I'm just sure of it. You won't need one either.)
Finally, we extricated ourselves and thanked the hostess for having us.
Then we had to ask someone to move their car.
Of course.
We did found out that 18 couples had gotten engaged from that Sunday School class in the last several years. 18! That's 36 people.
Humm...maybe we shouldn't have left early after all! The son of one of the moms looked slightly promising...
Of course, Elvis was waiting.

My Top 10 Favorite 80's Movies!

2009-07-28T14:23:00.011-04:00

Oh man. Do I love some 80's movies! I can practically quote most of them. I hear a song from them and I can tell you what movie it is and what scene in the movie as well.

Please note: I saw the edited version for tv of most of these movies. The worst scenes were cut out, so please don't think I'm endorsing movies with bad stuff. Well, maybe I am, but I didn't see those bad parts! Man I wish I could get tv more edited today...

10. Some Kind of Wonderful

Plotline: poor, uncool guy gets to go out with the cool girl.

Favorite Line: "I'd rather be alone for the right reasons than with somebody for the wrong ones." (Well, it is something like that...)

Cute guy: Eric Stoltz

9. Pretty in Pink

Plotline: You can go out with a rich guy and make your own prom dress to wear even if you were born on the wrong side of the tracks.

Favorite line: "What about prom? Blaine, (screaming now) WHAT ABOUT PROM?"
Cute guys: Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer (Duckie!)8. Sixteen Candles

Plotline: Regular girl can go out with rich, popular boy who has liked you all the time, but hasn't for some strange reason made his move yet

Favorite Line: "What's happening, Hot Stuff?" from the foreign exchange student

Cute guys: Michael Schoeffling, Anthony Michael Hall, John Cusack

7. The Breakfast Club

Plotline: Detention is fun! Rich, popular girls can go out with poor guys if they want to

Favorite line: "Two hits, me hitting you, you hitting the floor."

Cute guys: Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson

6. Hiding Out

Plotline: Cute boy has to join the Witness Protection Program and hide out and of course falls in love with an unlikely girl

Favorite Line: Can't remember any of the lines from this movie! I need to rent it, but it is really hard to find on dvd!

Cute guy: Jon Cryer

5. The Karate Kid

Plotline: Uncool kid keeps getting beat up until he get some karate lessons from an unlikely neighbor

Favorite Line: "Walk on the right side of road. Fine. Walk on left side of road. Fine. Walk in the middle. Squish. Just like grape."

Cute guy: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita (just kidding)

4. Say Anything

Plotline: Unpopular guy gets popular girl to go out with him and fall in love

Favorite line: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."

Cute guy: John Cusack

3. St. Elmo's Fire

Plotline: Bunch of 20 somethings trying to figure life out

Favorite line: "It ain't a party 'till somethin' gets broke."

Cute guys: Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy

2. The Outsiders

Plotline: the rich kids verses the poor kids again, but this one doesn't really have a love story (Shocking, I know!)

Favorite line: "Nothing gold can stay."

Cute guys: C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez

1. Footloose

Plotline: Preacher's daughter is not acting so good. Bad boy comes along and "straightens her out."

Favorite line: "I can't dance." -Willard

Cute guy: Kevin Bacon

And there you have it...my post that took me three years to write. Please see more top ten lists here!

ABCs of Me!

2009-07-25T17:47:00.002-04:00

A is for Age… 32 and holding!
B is for Bed… I like it. A lot. So do my two cats.
C is for Chore… ugh. Why do we have to do them again?
D is for Dog… I would love one, but he would be mad because I'm never home.
E is for Essential… Coffee. Can't start the day without it. Who would want to?
F is for Favorite… my favorite tv show is Chuck. I hope, hope, hope it is coming back this fall.
G is for Gold… only white gold for me. Not that I have any...
H is for Height… 5 feet 7 1/2 inches
I is for Instrument… can't play any, but I'd love to play guitar. Too bad you have to practice.
J is for Job… Love my heart job (ministry), not digging the coffee job right now, and the 3rd is ok.
K is for Kids… love 'em. can't get enough of them.
L is for Living… in a basement.
M is for Mustard… make it honey, please!
N is for Nickname… k-dog, Krissy (blech!), Super K, Mother superior (college)
O is for Overnight… got 4 hours of sleep. tired...
P is for Pasta… love, love, love ravioli.
Q is for Quote… "I'm livin' the dream" (to be said when someone asks how you are)
R is for Right… definitely more right than left.
S is for Sibling… he's amazing. just wrote a book!
T is for Time… have 3 alarm clocks. told you I love my bed!
U is for Under… the rainbow?
V is for Vegetable… mushrooms recently.
W is for Watermelon… yum.
X is for X-Ray… vision? I don't think I'd like to be able to see everything.
Y is for Yummy… maybe having Chinese tonight...
Z is for Zoo… wayyyy too hot to go right now. maybe in the fall?

I Really Miss My Fuzzy Tv Sometimes...

2009-07-23T23:58:00.003-04:00

When the whole world switched to digital tv, I didn't. It wasn't a matter of principle or anything. No, I tried to make the switch. I ordered a box for each of my ancient televisions and struggled to figure out how to set them up. I counted down the days and hoped the picture would be more clear with the new digital format. No such luck. In fact, there is no picture at all. It doesn't work. At all.
Two choices. Cable or new improved rabbit ears.
I haven't made a decision yet. Don't like to commit to things like inanimate objects. Or contracts.
That means I have no tv.
I need to figure out what I'm doing.
The new fall shows are coming.
Fuzzy or not, I want to be ready.

Why it is hard to blog sometimes

2009-07-20T15:24:00.003-04:00

Yes, it is difficult to type with an eleven pound cat sitting on your left hand!

I don't dig being snarled at...

2009-07-20T15:04:00.003-04:00

I don't know what it is, but two of my customers were literally snarling at me today. Seriously people! Is it a full moon or just a Monday? Take your coffee and drink it quickly, please! You need it!
Maybe they will cheer up by tomorrow. The Big Green Coffee Machine is giving away a free pastry if you buy a drink. You can print off the coupon on Facebook!

Guess Who I Ran Into at Church Today?????

2009-07-19T22:31:00.003-04:00

Ok, maybe I planned to run into them, but it sure was good to see the cutest little family EVER!

You'll Never Guess What My Big Brother Did!

2009-07-17T23:32:00.005-04:00

He wrote a book!

And it got published!

And we saw the first copy!

And I'm so excited!

And he wrote a little "thank you" to my parents and to me!

How cool is that???????

And I'm sure he doesn't have any run-on sentences in his wonderful book like I do in this post!

Yea, Chuck! I'm so proud of you!

The Sweetest Thing

2009-07-17T22:49:00.007-04:00

About a month ago I walked into my parent's house and saw something interesting hanging from the lamp by my dad's big comfy chair. He had two pieces of wood hanging from yarn.

I looked closer and noticed they were pictures of my brother and me that we had glued to wood squares and signed the backs of.

They were presents for Father's Day way back in 1981. I loved the handwriting on the backs the best....

I think I had to have a little help with my inscription... (I was only 5, ok?) But, you can tell that I signed my name all on my own (even if it did take me 4 inches to fit it all in)! I also like the fact that my brother signed his full name (just in case our dad didn't know his last name or something)! Our budding author already wanted to see his full name in print!

The fact that dad pulled them out and is clearly displaying them proudly, well, it really is the sweetest thing.

Jump!

2009-07-14T22:31:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned my obsession with getting pictures of people jumping in the air? Yes, I have a problem...

Brenda. She really got up there!

They called this one "the Cingular bars"!
One of about 7 shots of me trying to jump. Apparently it takes a little skill from the photographer.

Finally! Yeah, I know it is sideways... Apparently the blogger needs a little more skill, too!

Have you ever been bowling with toddlers?

2009-07-14T22:25:00.002-04:00

I'd recommend getting a Blizzard afterward! (They are so very healthy, you know!)

Fliers work.

2009-07-14T22:16:00.002-04:00

Last week we had a whopping total of 6 kids attend our Kids Club. We hadn't met in several weeks because of Camp Rocks! and other events, and we met at a new time. Ok. 6 kids.

We put fliers around the apartment complex that night to see if we could round up a few more kids for the next week. Oh, and we threw in a pool party....

This week...we had 71 kids. In a two bedroom apartment. With a puppet stage taking up one of the rooms. With 15 special helpers.

Yeah. Fliers work. I'm a believer.

Spring...uh...Summer Cleaning

2009-07-14T22:06:00.003-04:00

I've been cleaning out the junk in my house for about 7 hours now. I've discovered a few things about myself....
...I have tried to learn how to knit 3 times now. I have three different sets of yarn and needles that I found in three different places in my house. I never got past the first stitch on two of them!
...I have a bigger sticker collection than anyone I know. You want stickers of pizza, dinosaurs, eggs, or french fries? I got 'em!
...I need to clean my house wayyy more often.
...I need an entire room for my crafty stuff. Seriously.
...putting up a towel hook is harder than it looks.
...I need to read more. (Judging by the books that don't fit in my bookcases!)

Text message

2009-07-12T22:46:00.002-04:00

My very married friend Amanda sent me this text this morning:

"cute worship guy is so not married. He is in the east today." (the East auditorium at our church).

I wrote back:

"Why is he wearing a wedding ring then??????? I have an eagle eye for that left hand, baby!"

She wrote back:

"He was NOT wearing a wedding ring. It had a big black stone on it. He bought it at H&M or something. I'm going to find him on facebook...."

It is nice to have friends to watch out for cute guys for you! (Even if they are on stage in front of thousands of people and not really someone you could invite over for dinner or anything....)

It might be time to post a little something....

2009-07-05T22:45:00.004-04:00

I'm not quite sure why I've neglected my blog for so long. I know I wanted to write a detailed post about my week at camp, but I was far too emotional when I just arrived home and life has gotten quite busy since then. Anyway, I do want to tell you about it. It was a pivotal week in my summer.

First of all, this camp was for kids in the foster system. They are not living with their natural parents for a variety of reasons. Some are adoptable, and others are not currently. This whole thing has made me think a lot about our government system for these kids. I just think we are failing somehow. Every kid needs to grow up in a loving home. Far too often this isn't happening, and it is horrible. I just don't know what to do about it. Anyway, back to camp... Here are some of the things that stick out in my memory about it all. They are like a million little snapshots of a week full of fun, love, heartbreak and a whole bunch of other feelings that I can't even begin to describe accurately. This is my attempt.

Sunday: All the camp staff rode a huge bus together up to the camp. The bus driver was a serious older gentleman who touched me when he practically fell to his knees to pray before we left the church. He was a large man, so I thought for a second he was going to hurt himself as he took a knee. So very sweet, though. That day was fun as the ladies in my cabin and I bonded together as we decorated and planned for our girls. We realized that we were all from different generations: one teenage girl who was our junior counselor, me in my early 30's, a sweet mom in her early 40s, and another spunky mom in her 50s.

Monday: The kids were coming! We covered the corners of the camp and prayed that God would have His way this week. All too quickly the big bus was back, and this time it had 34 scared/excited kids on it! I met my two girls Demetria and Lori and tried to keep up a steady stream of conversation to keep the awkwardness at bay. I helped them haul their stuff down the huge hill to the cabin, chatting all the way.

One of the girls in our cabin was only 6 years old. Leah immediately began running up to every adult she saw and asked them if they were going to be "mean or nice". How sad that she couldn't just trust us to be "nice" upon our meeting! She was trying in her own little way to discover if we were worthy of trust or not. That speaks volumes of untrustworthy adults in her life. We had already received word that she had been sexually abused. At 6 years old! I had to strategically put those kinds of things out of my mind when I was with the kids. It is impossible to focus on the sweet kids in front of me when I was thinking about the real life monsters that they had encounter in their young lives.

Demetria was missing some things that she would need. Specifically bedding. Who would send a kid to camp without bedding - foster parent or not? It is crazy all the things these kids have to do for themselves. Anyway, I discovered upon asking the camp staff about getting a blanket that they had taken inventory of what the kids were missing before they even got on the bus, and people were already at Walmart purchasing the stuff. That touched my heart that there was a system in place to make sure they had absolutely everything they needed to have a great week at camp.

Well, some very pristine white tennis shoes showed up for little Demetria the next time we went back to the cabin. She was enamored. She told me, "I'm never going to get these shoes dirty. Never ever!" I thought to myself that was a pretty tall order at camp, but she did manage to keep them very clean all week long. She grabbed my hand to hold that day, and I was floored by the willingness she had to extend trust to me already. I was so honored to walk up the big hill with her dark little hand in my big pale white one.

Lori was much more self-sufficient being older and a return camper, and she bonded with another girl quickly and they hung out together a lot. I was happy about that because I know friendships are so important to 12 year olds, but I still wished she would let me love on her a bit more. I could tell that I would have to play it a little cool with her, and I did.

Tuesday: The kids received letters every day in their own personal mail slots after chapel each morning. They tore through those things like nobody's business. Words of encouragement and God's love soaked into their hearts and minds as they poured over the notes. Demetria looked through all the letters very quickly, oohing and ahhing over the pictures on the cards of cute puppies and kittens, but she was really looking for one letter. She looked up at me and asked, "Where is the letter from you?" I was glad that I had written one, but I had just stuck it in the wrong place. I quickly retrieved it and brought it to her and was immediately rewarded by the huge smile on her face.

Little Leah opened my letter to her and immediately asked, "Why you write that letter to me?" in her little girl talk she reverted to sometimes. She asked us this same question all week long when she opened a letter from one of us. I think it was to hear the response, "because I love you, Leah". She would always giggle with glee when we said that to her. She was a hugger as well. Leah would attack you with a huge hug at any given moment. It was so cute.

This day we had a special tea for the girls. They got to dress up in fancy (thrift store) dresses and be escorted into the tea by a gentleman in a suit. They loved it! Everyone felt so special and fancy. I made a stupid mistake at that tea. I don't know why it has stuck in my head so. Each table was decorated with flowers and jewelery. The napkins had some cute plastic flower rings on them as napkin holders. One of the little girls from our room leaned back from her table and asked me if she could have my ring. I told her softly that I wanted to wear it. She probably didn't think another minute about it, but I can't get that moment out of my head! Why would I deny a little girl a plastic ring? Ugh! That is the one moment I regret for the week. In fact, I still have the little ring and every time I look at it I feel a pang of regret about it.

Wednesday: We started to get into a groove by this day. It was wonderful to see the kids start to trust and open up to the adults around them loving on them. Their faces were shining. It was beautiful. Of course, they were testing us as well. Some would push the limits to see if we would still love them or turn on them. All of the adults around me were doing a great job. It is especially sweet to see grown men hanging out with little boys - giving them their full attention. They had such tender care for the boys. It encouraged me just by watching them.

The counselors were supposed to have a break while the kids went swimming twice a day. The problem was...the pool was just too inviting! So, by Wednesday most of us counselors were playing in the pool with the kids. It was so fun! We had these gigantic beach balls that we were trying to keep in the air. It was my personal challenge to retrieve them from the deep end. I had to tread water to stay out there, so it was a great workout as well!
One little girl floated up to me in the deep end and said, "Hey! I haven't spent any time with you yet!" It was so sweet! She started helping me keep the big ball out of the deep end for a little bit, then she floated on by.

Thursday: I got in a canoe with another counselor and a kid. Somehow the counselor in the back of the boat didn't know how to steer it. We almost got stuck in the middle of the lake! So, we had to change places right in the lake. Thankfully we made it without falling in!
Also, a chunky 6 year old started to fall in the water and another counselor reached over to grab her. The problem was that the little girl was so lathered up with sunscreen that she was impossible to hold (especially since she was overweight)! Both of us finally got her up, but it took us forever. It was like holding a flopping fish!
We had a talent show this day, and the kids were so stinkin' cute! They sang songs, acted out skits, karate chopped some boards, and told jokes. Sweetly, every act was met with thunderous applause. One little white boy got up to do some "karate", but really he was just doing some free-style dancing. He was so funny! I felt like he should be on you tube or something he made me laugh so hard!
That night was a tough one. Usually our girls were very good sleepers. We put them to bed and didn't hear a peep out of them. This night, however, we heard some sniffing. Then we heard another girl calling out for the counselors. An eleven year old was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe! We weren't sure if she was awake or asleep. We tried talking to her. We rubbed her hair. She wouldn't stop crying. Finally, we put her stuffed bunny into her arms and just stood there praying until the sobs subsided. I've never felt so helpless in my life.
I didn't sleep for a long while after that. I don't know what that girl was thinking about, but I knew that she was hurting down in a place that I didn't know anything about. I was so mad at the monsters in her life. I had to pray for the Lord to help me focus back on the kids and not the evil that has happened to them. Ooh I was mad at the devil that night!

Friday: The kids were reacting differently today. Some were already distancing themselves because they knew their time was short with us. Others were clinging more than usual. We had a time of sharing where the adults got to speak about their two kids in front of the whole camp. It was a last chance to build them up. I told my girls that I was so proud of them and loved them very much. I made them promise to try to come back the next year so that I could see them again.
The bus ride home was a loud one. The kids were making the most of their last few moments with their new friends. The moment the bus arrived, however, reality hit. I discovered within seconds that my two girls were being picked up by a social worker. She was in a hurry and wouldn't even let them stay for the closing slide-show of camp. I was so very frustrated with her lack of care for the kids. Only 10 minutes, lady! We only need 10 more minutes! Instead, she packed 6 kids from 5 different families into her minivan. The last little boy to get in was 6 years old and he started sobbing uncontrollably. Again, I felt completely helpless. I could do nothing to comfort this boy. His face was red and blotchy. I just wanted to snatch him out of that minivan and hold him and do whatever it took to keep him from feeling the pain this separation was causing him. Again, I could do nothing. I just stood there. As they pulled off, I started blowing kisses to my two girls. I was blowing them almost feverishly at the end - hoping they would see how much I cared about them. They started blowing the kisses back and then they were gone.
I choked by my tears and went upstairs to see the end of the slide show. The kids that were left were hugging goodbyes to the other counselors. Some were crying. Others were telling their foster parents about their week. Again it felt different - this family unit. I wanted there to be more positive emotion there. I wanted the kids to run and jump into their foster parents arms and tell them how much they missed them. Instead they casually gave them a side hug and told them they needed to get their luggage.
I know that I don't have enough money to support a foster kid in my home right now. I know that social services would never approve me. But somehow I want to help these kids. I want to show them how much God loves them beyond a week of camp every year. I want to make it better for them. I want to dry their tears and give them my full attention. I want to do more.

It is 1:30 in the morning....

2009-06-21T01:27:00.004-04:00

...and I'm headed to camp again tomorrow. A different camp this time. A camp for kids who have been shoved aside, stepped on, and basically have gotten the short end of the stick in life already.
And I feel totally inadequate. Completely. How do I related to these kids when I've been wholeheartedly loved by my parents all of my life? How do I know what they need? I don't even know where to begin.
I re-read just this week that it is through our weakness that God is glorified the most. (What a smart concept, God!) That is my prayer this week - that He would be absolutely glorified and these kids would be absolutely changed.
Will you pray for us this week?
Thanks.

Tuesday Top 10 - Camp Rocks! Highlights

2009-06-16T16:44:00.014-04:00

I got back from camp a week or so ago. These are some of the highlights...top 10 style, of course!

10- TWENTY kids from our apartment ministry got to go! Whew! It was tough getting them there, but I'm so glad that all of them went. You could see the love of Jesus and His people radiating off of them by mid week!

9- As always, I had a blast hanging out with all of my bird friends! (We are all called by bird names at camp...I know, weird huh?) But I loved spending time with my peeps! (Get it? My bird peeps?)

8- I won a pie eating contest! Ok, it wasn't really a pie. (More of a small tin of whipped cream.) And I was "racing" against children. But still! It was fun! (Don't I look like I'm doing a push up? I wish toning those triceps was as easy as eating pie!)

7- Have I mentioned the ministry value that camp has in the lives of my kids???? Just look at this kid!

And this kid!And this kid!6- The older girls had a photo scavenger hunt that I designed to take them all over camp. Their pics turned out pretty cool. These were of the cabins squished together in a bathroom stall or shower stall. (I'm not quite sure how they fit the entire group in there!)

5- We sang my very favorite song, and I almost started to cry thinking about the powerful words:

This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I have what it says I have.
I'll do what it says to do.
It has given me new life.
IT IS...THE WORD OF GOD.
Something about that song gets me. It sums up how I feel about God's Word, and I especially love to hear kids shouting it out. Oh I love it!

4- Did I mention that we had a (not your typical) shoe fashion show?

3- These two kids needed camp. They needed someone cheering for them, and they got it. All week long. Jacob was in a cabin with the best father figure he could have for a week (Rooster rocks!), and Karina was loved on by two kind ladies 24/7. We won't know the mileage this will mean in their lives. I'm praying Jacob will stay out of a gang for another year. I'm also praying that Karina will remember the love of Jesus through the adults and kids at camp at a moment when she is feeling so very unloved (all too often in her usual home life, unfortunately).

2- Did I mention my lifesaver at camp? Yes, it is the salad bar. I couldn't have survived without it. Chicken fingers don't do much for this vegetarian!

1- I had the most fun roommate ever! Chickenhawk is so fun!

What I'm Reading Now...

2009-06-12T00:04:00.002-04:00

I don't think I've mentioned this, but I'm thinking of going back to school. Like college. With a bunch of 19 year olds. Yikes!
Why? Well, I need a better job to support the ministry that is my heart. Nursing, the field I'm looking into, pays well and you can work just 3 or 4 long days a week. That leaves time for ministry.
Because I hate making hard decisions I decided to read a book called, "Nurse". Today I got to this part....

"...Nursing is not just technical. Anyone can do physical care. You can teach a robot to give a bed bath. To me a good nurse is someone who puts some caring behind the physical care.

Being a nurse is not like working on an assembly line. People are sick. You can't rush a post-op getting out of bed for the first time even when you are one nurse short that day. There are 36 different personalities. People are afraid. They're depressed. They may be angry. They may be alone. They may have no place to go. They may be dying. They have questions. They need reassurance. They may need to learn how to adjust their lives to changes in their bodies. They may need to cry. They may need to laugh."

It has all got me thinking! I would love to help people through those emotions. Please pray that I'll make the right decision!

Did I mention CAMP ROCKS?

2009-06-05T22:15:00.002-04:00

I returned home from camp today.
I am exhausted.
I drove 2 1/2 hours out of my way because I didn't give anybody my car key.
I found out my house had been broken into this morning.
I came home to all the doors to my closets open and all my lights on because a police man had checked the house for bad guys.
I don't like the feeling that leaves me.
I found a dead frog on my bathroom floor.
I have not had a working cell phone in 12 hours now.
I had a lot of calls to make today.
I broke down crying on a Walmart bench tonight.
I had tried to call my best friend and my mom from their pay phone.
I don't think I've used a pay phone since 1999.
I wasn't able to reach Valorie.
I got connected to my mom, but she couldn't hear me.
I screamed, "mom! Don't hang up!"
I apparently didn't scream loud enough for her to hear me 3 miles down the road from a broken phone.
I think sleep will be sweet tonight.

Head Banging

2009-05-29T21:37:00.002-04:00

I just spent 2 1/2 hours (that I didn't have) filling out a job application, and I think my computer just lost it.
It is taking everything I have to not beat my head repeatedly on the table in this Starbucks.
I am going to die.

My new favorite verse!

2009-05-26T23:40:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God annointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all the captives, pardon all prisoners.....