A time for everything

Oh man, struggling to blog lately! Life has been cycling from crazy busy to ... well, crazy busy. And this weekend I was sick. So when I finally had a few minutes with no plans, I had no energy to do anything, and so I slept a lot. Which is saying a lot for me, because I'm not one to take naps or sleep for a long time. But I did and hopefully it helped, because tomorrow is back to work. And the busyness begins again.

I really do want to update you on my life and thoughts and how it all fits together [if I have any followers left after my lame-o blog as of late], and so slowly pieces will be coming back. Sorry if it's not all super recent...

Anyway, this has been on my mind lately. May you find rest in this:

¹ "There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under heaven:
 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.
 ⁹ What does the worker gain from his toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on men. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Monday moments

a semi-cleared desk

dinner with good friends

my little patient laughing

knowing my sister is home

baker carrying around his santa toy

hubby shopping at michaels with me and for me

looking around my messy house to see many little goodies to be thankful for

sleeping twelve hours on saturday night (that's what day after Christmas + being sick will do)

new kleenex + lotion + aloe (trust me, this is huge when you blow your nose 20 times a day)

watching dog whisperer for the first time with baker and emma - also intently watching

turning on the Christmas lights for another week

changing into sweatpants and a sweatshirt

setting up my new craft area

chatting with my husband

drinking lots of ice water

bedtime (that comes now :)

God's voice made clear

Tonight, I'm thankful for this simple yet powerful verse a friend reminded me of:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 

and do not lean on your own understanding. 

In all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make straight your paths."

Prov 3:5-6

I'm also thankful for this simple reminder, in a song by Keith and Kristyn Getty.

It's truly one of my favorites.

You can hear it here.
It's even their opening song on their website.
A few lyrics to "Still, my Soul be Still:"
   
Still my soul be still
And do not fear

Though winds of change may rage tomorrow

 God is at your side 

No longer dread 

The fires of unexpected sorrow  

God You are my God 

And I will trust in You and not be shaken 

Lord of peace renew 

A steadfast spirit within me 

To rest in You alone

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days.

Thanksgiving recap to come.

I've been trying to rest up and regain the voice I lost in time for work tomorrow.
Your prayers are appreciated :)

On this day

Today,

I'm off! I've been working since last Monday with a quick Friday "break," so three days off is joyous. 

Starbucks with hubby! 

The house is getting cleaned and the laundry is getting done. 

I'm sick - again. not excited about that :( - but am excited to be home and sick rather than working and sick.

I'm still in my pajamas. Mainly because I'm sick. But also because I can.

John works his last day before being off for four. Yay honey! 

[sidenote: this nursing schedule is challenging as far as common days off for us...

 i have three, he has four, and only two overlap. thankful for a job though]

and my favorite part...

I get to see my sister! I'm addicted to her... I can't get enough :)

Enjoy your week of fun and festivities! Any fun plans?

So ... yeah

I'm kinda struggling. I don't know what to blog. I'm lacking creative inspiration and also motivation. And it's frustrating! I want to be cute and creative, inspiring and funny... but sometimes, it just doesn't work. I think it's when I try too hard. Not that I'm trying too hard, really. But when I think about what to write, then I can't come up with anything. This is why journaling never worked for me. Oh well.

The other thing that has kept my mind and body incredibly busy this week is work. It was my first week of work. It's quite a new experience for me, but I am so thankful for a nursing job and believe that this is where the Lord has me for now. And so, I am content in that. At least, trying to be. But working is hard work. Most people know that already. But I forgot about the mental exhaustion that goes with figuring things out for the first time, trying to remember all new information, chart everything. Starting a new job is kinda overwhelming. Anyway, I'm enjoying my few days off before I begin an eight-day work cycle, bringing me right up to Thanksgiving, before three days off and then right back at it. Hard work I tell ya. But I'm not complaining. There are so many people who don't have jobs and I am blessed to be one of the ones that does.

This weekend has been so nice. Well, besides the fact I got sick this week. I know, right?! Right when I have to start working. [please pray I get better by Tuesday!!] But let me just say, my hubby has been amazingly sweet. The sweetest hugs, tucking me in, and lots and lots of love. I love him. I love being married. I mean, don't get me wrong. Marriage is hard work! But then there are really good days, and I know it is so worth it. :) I went to bed at 7:30 Thursday night, in time for my 4:15am wakeup call (early work!). And yesterday, in bed close to that. This is verrrrry early for me. But I'm realizing how fun it is to have J tuck me in. Like I'm five again when Mom tucked me in and said prayers every night (oh wait, I was 15.. :). Anyway. Today I'm thankful for marriage.

We went to this hip little place called Wine Steals tonight to celebrate J's friend's birthday. Man that place is hip! I did not feel cool enough to be there - sipping my water, trying to identify the pretty little cheese squares, grabbing squares of pizza and literally climbing into my chair because people were standing against it. So graceful. Right as we're meeting this really neat couple. Brie, of the fun new couple, is going to school to be a marriage and family therapist! I think that is such a cool job. So that was fun.

Tomorrow we have snack for YMC. I've been creative a couple times. But I couldn't do it today, so tomorrow, everyone is getting donuts. Hopefully no one will mind too much :).

Well, it's bed time for me. "whew" you say. I know, blah blah blah :). I hope this finds you well. Are you up to anything fun this weekend?

Pray for Layla Grace

I recently started following this blog about a family of five. Mom, dad, Jenna - age 9 (today), Claire, and Layla Grace - age 2. Layla has stage 4 neuroblastoma. Cancer. She has about a day or two left. You can follow her on twitter here to get updates. Tonight, her big sisters said goodbye and are going to stay with their grandma. Layla is at home with her mom and dad.

Layla Grace needs God's peace. Her family knows the peace and love of Jesus. Pray that there would be an outpouring of His grace and peace and love on this family tonight. In this moment.

This is Layla when she got a puppy a few weeks back. The puppy hasn't left her side.

I am truly humbled at the faith of this family. They trust God completely. Even though they don't understand. They understand His love. God loves this family and God loves Layla Grace.

Just as much as God loves me and you.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Kutless - What Faith Can Do

Sweet sicky

John has been sick this week - poor guy. Since he had the week off, he moseyed around our humble abode with his hood on his head as I baked. He found his way to the couch and our little Bear joined him. I seriously am in love with these two.

Sick days

It's no fun to be sick. Which is what I have been this week. However, a cup of warm tea sure soothes the throat ... and the soul.

And my dog begging me not to take her new bone makes me smile.

Along with DayQuil and my husband, I'm convinced these two really can make it all better.

But good news from school sure helps.

Wednesday's blessing: Normally I have clinical from 6:30am-5pm in Rehab. This week, we got emails saying to come to school instead of the hospital for skills lab.

Translation: wear comfy clothes, learn some good nursing skills, and go home early.

So, where I was worried about going to the hospital and getting patients sick, I got to instead go to school, become more confident in my skills, and be home by 2.

Now that is a big blessing.