So...yeah

So much going on and so much to talk about! But some things will have to wait just a little longer for the blog...

I stillllll haven't finished documenting our Italy trip. I'm sure my sister thinks I forgot. I didn't. 

J got a new job! Da, da DA! He is now my rockstar Network Analyst at San Diego State University. So we are becoming Aztec fans by default. He is so happy to work for great people and a larger university and I am so happy he is happy!

J and I just got back (last week) from a little trip to Seattle, Portland and Roseburg, Oregon to see our besties. We always love Oregon, the Ritters are our faves, and Pike Place Market is sure a fun place to explore.

Every time we visit Oregon, we say we want to move there tomorrow. It's so stinking beautiful up there! But this time, along with the 'it's so amazing here' thoughts, we also felt a new sense of peace and contentment with our lives in San Diego, and are incredibly thankful for where we are at. We don't have plans to move to Oregon for quite awhile, if ever. We've decided will love our home city we are blessed to live in, give thanks that our family is so close (S and V, move here darn it), and make Oregon the family vacation spot.

Fall is here, which might be my favorite season. Well, I love winter, and Spring is pretty nice. Just not summer in El Cajon. Ugh. the heat is not my friend. But there's something about the anticipation of the upcoming holidays and change of seasons (even though it's still 86 degrees outside here) that makes my heart happy. I've failed at bringing out my fall decor this year, which I'm bummed about. But we did get two little pumpkins and I have a harvest sign that are happily sitting on our mantle and my desk. I also have yet to make anything pumpkin related, while last year I had pumpkin bread and cupcakes and muffins and cookies and pancakes going by now. Some years it just doesn't work out. But that's ok with me.

We did make a trip to Target and visited the fall Halloween section, which is not our favorite section by any means. (seriously, when did October turn into skulls and goblins month? what happened to harvest time and preparing for a heart of thankfulness?) But we did get quite a kick out of the gigantic skull heads larger than J. It was his idea to document it. 

I love my husband.

I'm sick as a dog (where in the world did that phrase come from?? It doesn't even make sense, my dogs aren't sick...) with most symptoms you can imagine, including crazy allergies, which is making looking at this computer screen a tad tricky. When I feel better, I'll upload my pics from our trip and also the rest of Italy (it was only 6 months ago...). 

Life feels crazy...doesn't it always?...but good. I'm feeling extra thankful this morning and that's a good thing. 

Lord, make my heart thankful every morning.

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.

So ... yeah {12 random summer happenings}

Since I've been a bit of a poor blogger this summer, there are many events that happened that didn't end up getting a blog post. So, I thought I would just lump it into one and share some random happenings from this summer.

These are in no order whatsoever and are simply the things I took pictures of... I wasn't a great picture-taker this summer, so its a bit random...

1. Date night with my baby to have fish tacos, laugh at the comedy theatre, and eat yummy gelato!

 2. A walk on the lake with a dear friend {and lots of walks with my mom!}

3. Dinner with great friends and some treasures they brought back for us from their trip to Ecuador.

4. Pool time at Grandma's and visiting my mom's cousin from St Louis

5. Labor Day feast with J

6. Coffee with Aristoula

 7. Random shopping trips with J

8. The Queen Bee Market with mom and sis {and some surprise friends!}

 ashley and david

 rhonda, aly, and marghee

 9. A few successful meals

10. A few Padres games

11. Dinner with my family

12. Jaclyn and Nick's wedding {Jaclyn is Carly's friend and was one of my girls when I led a girls bible study their freshman year of high school... I love this girl... her day was so special}

so happy for her - she was the sweetest bride ever.

 met up with my friend Cara there too :)

These are a few of the randomest things...

things that brought me joy this summer :)

Checking in

So, I don't know what happened, but I haven't blogged in like a week or two, or something awful.
And I haven't read any blogs either!

Ahhh!

I'm ok though :)

I'm learning a few things.

Working is exhausting. I mean, working in general is not a fun thing. But working five days IN A ROW all day long is super exhausting. By the time I get home, figure out something for dinner, and feed and walk the puppies, it's like 7:30 at night! And dark outside. Well, it's dark a lot sooner than that. But then, the thought of cleaning or doing laundry or writing cards or being on the computer is exhausting. Especially the computer screen. Want to watch me fall asleep fast? Make me sit in front of the computer after 8pm (potentially why this blog has taken an hour to write).

I know. Welcome to the real world, Jordanna. No, but seriously. This is my first time working full time, I realized. (I've been in school for wayyyyy too long, and I don't recommend that). And it's overrated. Who in the world thought it would be a good idea to work 5 whole days a week??? I feel like work gets in the way of life.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy my job. This has nothing to do with that. It's just the fact that you are in one place for so many hours during the week.

So anyway, all this to say that I'm just getting in the groove of this whole thing. A month in.

Not to mention Christmas is in like 8 days or something like that... I am so not ready... I hate that feeling. I love Christmas. I love preparing for things and getting ready. I love being ready. But I'm still working on the Christmas cards I've been working on for months. Which comes before everything else... Ayyy yiii yiiii.

Anyways... all this to say, blogging unfortunately hasn't made the cut of what gets to happen during my two and a half hours each night when I'm home. But I have much to show and much to talk about, and I'm trying to get better... so hopefully I'll be back at this regularly again soon :).

The lack of eloquence in this post is partially due to the busyness of my mind right now. Sorry for that! I will probably come back and recant a few things.... :)

For now, thanks for sticking with me. And remember to take a few moments to be still and remember Jesus, the true reason for the season.

Because I created this blog as a challenge to myself to thank God for the little things, today's moments included spending a few moments watching the sky - since I have a love affair with God's sky.

Happy almost Friday!!

So ... yeah

I want to write some creative cute blog. But my creativity is lacking. And truly, my thoughts are a bunch of randomness. So, that's what this is. A semi-lazy plight of randomness that is lacking in appropriate links and photos. Alright. You were warned.

Today I started a four day review for the NCLEX-RN. I think it's gonna help. I hope it helps. It might have been unnecessary. But I would totally be rather safe than sorry. [and if I don't pass, well, I'll just pretend I didn't say that so confidently]. I get about half of the questions, at least, wrong. So we'll see. I'm optimistic though. I'm not worrying. Because honestly, we're called not to worry!

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Matthew 6:25-27

I got to see my dear friend Ali tonight. And her beautiful little apartment blocks from the beach. She gave me the tour of her little town and it made me want to live there. Not even in Encinitas. But somewhere with a cute downtown, with little restaurants, and shopping centers that don't take 20 minutes to get to. With fun little coffee shops (sometimes I need something besides Starbucks!!). I'm happy for her. And I got home, and J and I played around with the idea of moving north. Not immediately. Since we can't really afford it. But sometime in the semi-near future. Just a thought. I love that my husband will play around with crazy ideas with me.

Speaking of my husband, poor guy got a migraine today. Miraculously, he fell asleep and woke up and the worst was over. I felt so bad for him. And I thought of my poor Katie who has had more migraines than I can count since I've known her. And she is such a trooper. Love you K. You are a fighter.

My sister went back to college today. Well, yesterday we moved her back in. But she slept at home last night and headed up tonight. She starts her junior year on Wednesday. You can do it C! Two down, two to go! (one step at a time). She is so awesome. I rode with her, and we rocked out to the most random music. I sing louder with her than with anyone. It's the best. And she even humored me while I taught her about what was on my flashcards. And she knew some stuff! She taught me! SV times HR = CO. Thank you C. I'm praying for the best year ever for you.

I'm a blessed girl. I have the best family. Both in my own home, and outside of our little abode. And friends. Gosh I love my girl friends. And pups. Oh, they fit in the family category. Well, they make me laugh, like, all the time, so they get an honorable mention. And my Savior. I'm in love with Your Word right now, God! Thank you for revealing yourself in a whole new way. :)

So, that might be enough randomness for today. So... yeah.

Day of many colors

Today I am feeling...

encouraged by my Bible study girls

overwhelmed at the thought of taking (and passing) the NCLEX in 15 days

inspired by my husband's biblical wisdom, exercise regimen, and love for me

sneaky that i saw my mom and sis on the freeway on my way home tonight

excited to see my mom tomorrow

nervous about being a real live nurse (and the whole finding-a-job thing)

peaceful that the Lord has taken care of me this far and will continue to do so

desire to read about God's love for His people in the Old Testament

lucky to have gotten to chat with my step dad tonight 

amazed by the beauty of a sunset and the intricacy of a single tree

proud of my nursing friends who passed the boards and are now RNs

[congrats Mahea, Jennie, Emily, Lindsey, Brian, Amber, and Katelyn!]

sore from some good but hard workouts this week

tired from reading all-I-learned-in-nursing-school: the-compact-version

anxious (in a good way) to see Ali and her new home on Sunday

thankful for the apple genius man that fixed my computer today for free

blessed to be a child of God Almighty

Home sweet home

I am in the middle of a whirlwind. 

Last week, I had school and frantically finished a few assignments,

took 2 tests (both of which were fairly unsuccessful and remind me how much i have to learn in the next few weeks),

and headed to West Virginia to watch my brother in law marry my new sister in law,

whom i love.

My RD from college passed away from cancer on Friday.

We arrived home at 11:10pm Sunday night

i did a load of laundry, unpacked, and repacked,

and I headed up to Murrieta at 6am Monday morning

for 3 days for a HESI review (practice for nursing boards).

I stayed up there this week (and was again reminded how much i have left to learn),

thank you Carly for coming to visit me. i love being with you.

oh and one of my profs requested that i plan a party for my cohort
cuz somehow i've been named the party planner.
not that i mind.... but really, now?

Today, I arrived home around 5:30pm.

Emma and Baker smothered me with love. i sure missed them. definitely the longest they've been without me. and me without them.
J met me with a hug, kiss, and huge smile

then left to pick up his fam from the airport

and brought me home dinner.
thanks, hun.

My aunt is in the ICU,

so tomorrow sis and I will go visit her.

and then i will give blood. hopefully successfully. since i'm gonna be a nurse and all, i figure that's a good thing to do :).

And then head to bible study to spend time with the girls and Jesus.

oh, and do laundry and grocery shopping, and some other things like that somewhere in there. 

oh, and homework too.

Friday, I will have coffee with my mom, whom i haven't seen in forever and miss like crazy.

Friday night we will celebrate her birthday with my family.

Saturday, i will prepare for three 12.5 hour night shifts in a row...

saturday 7pm-7:30am ... sunday ... monday.

i've never worked nights, and i've never worked more than one 12 hour shift in a row. so this will be interesting. much prayer requested :).

I will miss the holiday weekend with my hubby, and the 4th of July service at church ... which i LOVE.

I will sleep for a few hours Tuesday,

and Tuesday evening i will go to class.

and somehow, a few large assignments will get completed by monday. and tuesday.

I would like to say I'll get pictures from these things and more up here on the blog.... but reality says I probably won't.
since this entry is barely presentable in it's layout, and i'm leaving it just the way it is.

3.5 weeks... finals... then no more nursing school.

but right now,

it's crunch time.

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26 

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14

Brief greetings

I've slacked a bit on blogging this week. It's been a bit crazy welcoming our little pup, Baker, into the family, John finishing working at PLNU, and with school getting extra crazy. But I wanted to pop in to say that I will get a few posts up as soon as I can!

I would right now but... my amazing husband is running errands for me... dog food, groceries, bank, and bringing me coffee ;). But the deal is that I study while he's gone. Beginning with writing this massive paper that I pretty much hate because it isn't nursing related at all. But that's ok. Positivity right?!

So, I'm gonna get to it. And my reward for accomplishing something of the crazy to-do list is blogging. I sure hope that comes soon.

To come - John's last day at PLNU, the hidden costs of having animals, and welcoming our little friend Baker home. And whatever other moments manage to squeeze in there. :)

So ... yeah

[disclaimer] I've got nothing profound today. Just some random thoughts. More a stream of consciousness kind of thing. I tried to think of what moment stuck out today. But then I realized, there were lots of moments today. So here's a glimpse into my chaos of thoughts and events that make up the moments.

It's raining. Gosh I love the rain. I sure wish it would have thundered all day. Although Emma didn't like the one big clap we got. But it only rained half the day. Oh well. I can't be picky. I'm in Sandy Eggo after all. So, God, thanks for the rain. And thanks for letting me be home in it. That was pretty lucky. I am in the coolest bible study ever with the neatest girls. I love it. I love them and I love Wednesdays because of it. Emma is driving me crazy. She won't go to the bathroom in the rain! Seriously. We stand out there for 20 minutes of wet rain and freezing wind. And she shakes her head. And picks up sticks. And eats them as fast as she can before I take them away. And runs from leash end to leash end while I look like a lunatic dog owner. Yah yah. I have control of my dog people. Don't worry about it. That's what I think when I get the looks from the neighbors. But seriously, she is so stinking cute. And her hair is curly in the rain. Especially her face. I love it. I thought I was done writing papers. But apparently not. I have an entire class this semester dedicated to discussions and writing papers and editing them. I got a whole degree in this stuff. But I guess I didn't write about nursing theories, so it doesn't count. Oh well. Good news is, I was semi-productive today. 3 study guides, 2 paper critiques, some organization, and bible stuff. And, I start clinical Saturday. Yah Saturday. Kinda a bummer. Oh well. It's only 7 weeks. "Postpartum obstetrics." AKA, moms after they have their babies. Should be fun. Although, I seriously doubt they are gonna want a nursing student taking an hour to do their brand new baby's assessment. Oh well. I'll get faster. I gotta come up with some good conversation starters. Is it wierd that I'm excited about the new OB NCLEX review book I got? I made eggs and toast today. I thought that was pretty domestic. And valentine pre-cut cookies. Yep. They're the best. And yes, I need to go to the grocery store. Poor little Gizmo got stuck outside in the rain today. J and I almost adopted him. Cute cat. Have I mentioned how much I love my husband? He is so cute. And gosh my sister makes me laugh. And my nursing friends when I get 21 "reply to all" emails in a row with one liner responses. Hey, at least I have mail. I'll take it.

Well, I guess I'm not that exciting after all. Oh well.
Happy almost Friday!