new.year.resolutions.&.updates

Throughout the year 2011 I have grown in so many unimaginable ways. I have gained knowledge, understanding, and a clearer vision {though it's still a little blurry}. So for the year 2012 I only hope for all these things and more, for increase, and to build upon all that I already have. I have many things I want to accomplish, and some that have already started to take place.

So these are my New Year Resolutions:
   1. To read at least 12 Christian books (shooting for one per month)
  2. To complete my one year canonical Bible {I started it last year, just
           need to finish by October}.
  3. To make more friends.
  4. To continue to give up less of myself, and be filled with more of
           God-the Holy Spirit.
  5. To get a new job & become more passionate about my work.
  6. To buy a house....renovate & decorate!!
  7. To lose weight; specifically 20+ lbs by May {and keep it off!}.
  8. To love more.
  9. To be less angry & frustrated {aka - not let things get to me so}.
 10. To be a better daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, nurse, etc
           {in every way I can}.

Well thats all I can think of for now...

And just for some updates on things that have already occured::

I have a new job - I haven't started it yet, because at my hospital the policy is that you have to stay in your current role for at least 4 weeks before you transfer or quit. I'm down to a week and a half left before I start my new position. I'll be transitioning from a Cardiac nurse to an Antenatal/Labor & Delivery nurse very soon! I can't wait! My heart leaps for joy just thinking about it!! {My plan is to be a Nurse Midwife one day, and this is a necessary step towards making that possible}.

Jonathan & I have a found a house we both really, REALLY like! We're trying to find a bank that offers the loan we need for it though. The house is a foreclosure, and needs some renovations done before we can move in. Our realtor gave us the name of a broker who works with these types of loans, but it would be better to cut out the middle man. And I've already started designing all the rooms. So I hope know this house will work out for us!

The Lord has blessed me in so many ways already this year, and we're only 3 weeks in. It's amazing, and there's no telling where He'll lead us and what He'll continue to bless us with! Expectant!!

The number one thing I'm expectant for::
  Jonathan to get a job, and it be a great job that he will enjoy!

The number two thing I'm expectant for::
  Is for this house we are currently looking at to follow through with us purchasing it, necessary renovations to be completed, and to close within a reasonable, short time frame.

The number three thing I'm expectant for::
  Collecting enough data and evidence to go to court and Jonathan & I get primary custody of Lilly. {I realize this may take more than a year realistically, but with God's hand in the mix, 1 year is all we'll need!}

And lastly but most certaintly not least, a praise report::
 Last week on Thursday......I was healed! I have had a shorter left leg, and scoliosis (which was probably caused by the shorter leg). Due to these conditions I have back pain, hip pain, knee pain, etc. And I had a very special patient who is a missionary. He prayed for everyone who took care of him. Well I was the last one he prayed for on my shift. And through prayers we prayed together, Jesus healed me. At the time my back and left foot (I have extra bones in my feet too) were hurting. As soon as we started the prayers, both the pains went away, and there was a tingly sensation running through my leg. I went home and looked in the mirror and my knees were of equal height. I had my husband run his finger down my backbone, and far as we could tell, it's straight. Hallelujah! Thanks be to God for my healing. I just pray the same healing for anyone else who may have similar problems.

May you all be expectant. May you all be blessed in unexplained, unimaginable ways. May you be filled with the Holy Spirit and be lead by Him. May you be filled with more knowledge and understanding. I pray all these things over you who are reading this. God is your father & our father, and he wants to love you and bless you if you'll just be more open and receptive to him. Love Him with all your heart! Amen.

merry.Christmas

Christmas Eve has finally come. It's time for families to get together, or prepare to get togther for tomorrow. I hope it's a brisk, cold day for everyeone, just to keep with the wintertime season. And I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas! I'll be praying for everyone. For lives to be changed, for families to be healed, and for negative thoughts and emotions to be broken. May Christ fill your life, and become your joy!

12.days.of.giving.review

o come all ye faithful

joyful and triumphant

Over the past 12 days I have taken time out of my busy schedule to give back to others in all kinds of ways. My giving back has affected some I know, and many I don't know. Today I want to recap on the things I have done to give back. I truely hope that others have been inspired to give back in any way they can. Giving doesn't have to involve money. There are plenty of ways to give to the community and to others, you just have to become creative. But if you're able to give via money, there are plenty of things you can do. And giving doesn't have to happen just during this joyous season, it can, and should occur year round!

Day 1 :: Sent a military care package to Afganistan.
Day 2 :: Gave to Holiday Hope - which sponsors Toys for Tots with the USMC.
Day 3 :: Donated items for winter to the homeless.
Day 4 :: Donated my hair.
Day 5 :: Gave handmade candy canes to my co-workers.
Day 6 :: Donated to a local worship band.
Day 7 :: Gave gift cards to pastors.
Day 8 :: Handed out cookies to everyone in my apartment building.
Day 9 :: Made a large snack basket for a local fire department.
Day 10 :: Bought Toms (one for one) shoes.
Day 11 :: Donated cell phones.
Day 12 :: Had family time with my husband & brother.



Rise up. Be inspired. Give to others. Love everyone. Do something good. Do something special.

And remember :: Jesus loves you, no matter what you do, who you are, or where you've come from.

12th.day.of.giving

on the 12th day of Christmas

:: i gave away these things ::

Today I did something simple & sentimental.  I took my brother and my husband out to eat for a nice lunch.  You may say, "that's nothing special," or "that's not really giving back to others." But it is. I work a full time job as a nurse, doing 12 hour shifts at night, and usually I put in a lot of overtime. And with working at night, I sleep all day. Therefore, I see very, very little of my husband, which isn't easy for newly weds.  It's also not easy on my husband, because right now he doesn't have a job and sometimes feels like he's not fulfilling his role as the head of the household. And for my brother, well, I grew up too quick, and he kinda grew up too slow. There's only a three year difference in our ages, but maturity is a different story. So now we're at the point where we can have a true meaningful sister-brother relationship and understand each other. But now that I'm married, I've been out of my parents house for the past 5 years, and my work schedule, it's hard to find time to spend with him and help him become the person he can be. So I felt like this was a great end to my 12 days of giving; giving back to the ones I love, spending time with them, and letting them know how much I love and care about them!

11th.day.of.giving

on the 11th day of Christmas

:: i gave away these things ::

  

 

  

Just like almost everyone else that has owned a cell phone, I have several old phones tucked away in a drawer, never to be used again. Why go in reverse, as technology improves? (Now I do have some quarrels with certain things that technology is taking over that I don't agree with, but that's a whole other story, and nothing related to what I'm talking about today). I think to myself, "well there may come that day when I'll need a cell phone because you never know what will happen to the one I'm currently using". But the fact of the matter is, I have insurance I pay for on a monthly basis, so whatever happens to my cell phone, for the most part, will be covered under this insurance and the phone company will provide me a new phone. That being fact, I have no reason to keep my old cell phones. I've thought of selling them before, and have taken no steps in pursuing that. So it's time to get rid of them.

I actually was searching for ways to give back last night, because I was short a day, and during my search I came across a website where you can donate old cell phones. Pacebutler is accepting cell phone donations to help raise funds for several organizations. Once you're on their website, you select the organization you would like your donation to help, fill out a form with your information, and they provide you a mailing label, so you can ship your cell phones to them for free. When they receive your cell phone(s), they appraise their value, and send your choosen organization a check for your donation.

Many times, we keep cell phones because we don't know how to dispose of them properly, don't want to take the time to find out how, or we have preconceived notions on what we'll do with those unused cell phones, such as I did, that we will never follow through with. By donating, you're helping save other people's lives. So why would you keep your cell phone tucked away in that drawer any longer? And free shipping?? Go find all the cell phones you can and send them on their way!