Friday, October 19, 2012

NANN 2012

This week, I attended my first {partial} professional conference!

I am so blessed to work in a hospital, in a specialty unit, doing what I love.

I love being an RN. I love being a NICU nurse. I love where I work.

I am so so thankful!

I got to go to the conference with my amazing friend, preceptor, and coworker. 
I seriously adore Lindsey.

She teaches me, laughs with me, shares with me, encourages me, and supports me.
I love love love Lindsey, and I am so very thankful that I get to work alongside her.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Just me

Coffee shakes... ice cream... frozen yogurt... frappuccinos... these things make me smile in a huge way.
I talk about being organized. I have a degree in organization. But I'm actually not that organized. But maybe I'm more organized than I think I am. [I have a dilemma with organization.]
I want to like to read so much. But I've only made it through one whole book in the last year.
Listening to music soothes my soul. Especially music with lyrics that speak Truth.
I love adventures. New cities, new songs, new routes, new friends, new ideas. Every change and piece of newness becomes a story to tell later. 
I wish I was a snuggler. But I'm really not. But I do like hugs. A lot.
I have a dream of a perfectly crafted home filled with peace and love and beauty. 
I can't wait to be a mom. Well, maybe I can. But I am sure excited for it. 
I'm terrified of what to do if I have a boy. I love baby boys. But once they turn 3 or 4... what do I do? Thankfully, they grow just one day at a time.
Coffee dates and tea parties make my heart full. 
One on one time is my very favorite. 
I never get tired of hanging out with my sister. She is just the funnest ever.
I didn't know I was such a dog person until I got Emma. That little black canine won my heart so fast. And her little counterpart won my heart too.
There is a constant battle in my head to paint every wall a different color and unique theme, and to have a uniformly themed "adult" home.
I wish I could craft all day long. And come up with crafts on my own instead of pinterest. But I sure love pinterest for ideas. :)
I love how much my husband loves our family. He's gonna be a great dad.
I really love kraft macaroni and cheese. And bean and cheese burritos. I'm a kid at heart stomach.
I've always had categorized friends. Church friends, nursing friends, work friends, nurse friends, college friends, married friends. I rarely mix them for fear of anyone feeling left out or uncomfortable.
I really like calendars. And lists. But half the time, I forget to put things on the calendar. And I lose my list.
Sharpies are the cats pajamas.
I make up phrases/words a lot. Not on purpose. I say it how I think it is supposed to be said, but it usually turns out to be a little off. 
The word "condone" makes me cringe. It sounds so angry. But it's a compliment? Too confusing for me. I've dictionary.com'd that bad boy more times than I can count.
J describes me as the most dependently independent person he's ever known. I tend to agree.
Wintergreen tictacs make me feel like I'm 10 all over again. Those little light green friends are sure hard to find these days.
Target? Every single item in every single aisle? Be still my beating heart. I swear they market RIGHT TO ME.
I love fall. I love changing colors and falling leaves and cool weather and clouds and rain. Mostly rain. :)
I'm constantly learning. Always trying to grow. Frequently humbled. And awed by my Savior's grace He bestows on me daily.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Falling into Thankfulness

Right about this time of the year is when I begin wishing the view out my balcony was more like this.


Alas, I suppose I should be satisfied in beautiful San Diego.
The weather is finally cooling off to the mid-70s this week, which is a fun change.
Still sunshiney as ever, but I hear the clouds may be rolling in soon for a brief sprinkle. 

And I remember,
I am thankful.

For our peaceful home.
For colors and how they change with the seasons.
For my city I get to live in.
For my husband. How sweet he is to me.
For a job I love and an incredible friend to mentor me as a nurse.
For the two cutest pups I've ever seen - Baker's spunk and Emma's sensitivity.
For the seasons and the anticipation and joy each season brings of its own.
For my little bird who cracks me up with his songs he sings.
For laughter and joy and love.
For my sister. Oh how I adore my sister. She makes me l.a.u.g.h.!
For fresh new fall bedding and new fluffy pillows.
For my mom. How much she loves me. No matter what.
For special friends... sharing joys and trials with them.
For my family. How much I enjoy spending time with each of them.
For the sunshine. Because without light, I would live in darkness.
For my Savior. My true source of Light.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Snapshots: Cousin Walks

Cousin walk #1

Cousin walk #2


Cousin walk #4
{when Carly takes up a dog-walking business, this is gonna be her cover photo... if only Ava wasn't blinking... hehe}

Cousin walk #5 
{God is good, we had time, and the sky rocked, so we did a little photo-capturing}

she loves her mommy :)
 {our best attempt at a family photo}
I love these guys. Seriously adore each of these furry pups and think the world of my sister.
So thankful for these simple moments.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Divine cups of coffee

A few weeks ago, my sister and I decided to take our pups on a cousin walk. This is a newer thing we've been doing to try to warm Baker up to the thought of having to share his auntie with a cute little rambunctious Ava. ;) So far... well, each day is another step.

Regardless...

We decided to walk so we would pass Starbucks close to the end of our walk. We decided we would pick up a few drinks to go.

But once we got there, we said to each other, "should we stay or go? ehh... let's just sit for a few minutes."


As we discussed something related to the amount of cream vs sweetener vs extra pumps required to make our iced coffees just right, a young woman walked up to us from her car. She said, "can I pet your dogs?" "Of course!" we said. She sat down at our table with us and we introduced the animals.

As I said "and this is Emma... she's really shy..." I watched my sensitive intuitive puppy walk right up to this girl and sit quietly in front of her. And she just stayed and let this girl pet her.

After a few minutes of petting her and talking about how much she loves animals, she told us she lost her kitty the week prior. Then she told us she was on her way to spread her dad's ashes. He had died in the hospital about a month prior. She talked about how she had to speak and was having a hard time, and about her kids and how they were coping with the loss of grandpa. And she said how much she has missed having a pet since her kitty ran away. She said, "I pulled up and saw your dogs and I said to my husband, 'I have to pet those dogs.' And he said, 'I know.'"

We spent about 10 minutes listening to her share her story. We shed tears together and we talked about life. And the whole time, my skiddish Emma sat faithfully and let this woman pet her. Finally, she said she should probably go get her coffee and head to the ceremony. As she got up, I caught a glimpse of the tattoo on her arm with scripture on it.


After she walked inside, Carly and I looked at each other in amazement. I said we should have prayed for her. Carly said she was thinking the same exact thing. We decided we still needed to. I told her about the verse on her arm.

A few moments later, the woman walked out with her husband and we stopped her. "Are you a Christian?" "yes" she said. "We are too. Can we pray for you?" "YES! please! oh you want to?! thank you!" and she sat down so quickly. Emma quickly walked back to her and sat down. And we prayed for this young girl. For her heart. For her words. For wisdom and comfort and peace. For healing. For protection. For her children. For her family.

At the end, we looked up with tears in our eyes and all gave each other hugs. "I'm Jamie" she said. "I feel connected now!" she said. We said goodbye.

As we watched Jamie and her husband drive off to her dad's service, we again looked at each other amazingly.

1. we were not even going to sit. we sat for a few minutes just on a whim.
2. emma never sits that still with strangers. she's always so skiddish. but she's also the most perceptive animal i've ever known and she knew something was going on and Jamie needed her.
3. we both knew we needed to pray. and Jamie knew she needed to be prayed for.
4. we all took leaps of faith. and God made Himself SO real, so present, so loving, so true.

We slowly made the walk back home. But we were different. We watched a little miracle happen. In all of our hearts.

This is the evidence of God at work.