"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Elections

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be make for all men; for Kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is the good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." I Timothy 2:1-4

Barack Obama will be our next President, and I will definitely be praying for him.

These two couples I respect tremendously. And I hope to be seeing Sarah Palin again :)


John McCain is definitely a man of faith and a man of class. His speech brought tears to my eyes.



"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13:1

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Fall Days



Last night Mark and I had a date to Central Market. A much needed date. With night shift work for me and 24 on 48 off for Mark plus overtime and scheduling ourselves around wedding commitments, we see very little of each other. I'm quite ready for November to be here!!


Trying to hold the camera AND be in the picture!


Live band :)

Central Market had a live band playing last night. I had yummy tilapia, fruit, iced tea, and a little milk chocolate bar for dessert. Mark went for the grilling they had set up outside...fries and a big Texas burger. The place was packed and we were lucky to find two chairs together. It was glorious though :) I loved the atmosphere and spending time with my man. We came home and went to bed pretty soon. Mark was exhausted from giving flu shots for 13hrs that day. (a side job that paid well)

The weather has been perfect and I just love this time of year, with spring being my all time favorite time :) Devotions on the back porch while the sun rises are a favorite right now. Just cold enough for socks and a hoody, but not too cold. This was one of the verses I read that morning, Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gate, waiting at the posts of my doors." God showed me a lot that morning about blessing, fearing Him, and spending time in His word. I felt so refreshed!

Tuesday evening I came home from spending 5 days in KY visiting my best friend Michelle! We had such a fun time! It was my first time to be away from Mark that long since we've been married, so it that sense it was a little tough. But many good friend memories were made!


Love ya girl! Oh, and I like you too Kyle ;)


Green day!! And no, it wasn't planned. Happy times :)


Sweet photography skills :) Thanks Kyle!

When I flew into DFW on Tuesday I was SO READY TO SEE MARK! He met me at the baggage claim with these.


I just love that man! :) It was good to be home. Although, I have much to do! One of those things being some home decorating...my plant had died while I was gone. I knew it was coming...inevitable. But the sight I saw was pretty pathetic!


Think I'm going for fake next time. That's it for now. Keep Christ your focus this week! "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Proverbs 8:17

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Another day...



I'm about to head out the door for my last night of work before our anniversary trip! I'm getting so excited about it! We leave Saturday morning and come back Wednesday night. California beaches here we come! :) Hopefully this shift will be better than my last...

Mark and Adam are out in the front yard washing their bikes...they hang out a lot when I'm at work if Mark's off. It gives them some good brother time.

AND for the trip I'm going to be buying a new camera! Nikon D40 and I'll probably get an extra lens. Can't wait to see what pictures I can get with it.

Off to work!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Warning...read at your own risk...


I just arrived home from working my third night in a row. Seeing as how I downed a Starbucks double espresso at 2am to keep my head up, I'm still very much awake. AND since I had such a wonderful night, I decided to share a story with you...get ready...

It started out great, 3 patients not 4, not too difficult, it was going to be a good night. And it was...until 2130 when I learned I was getting an ER admit. Med-surg was full and since this pt had some complications "down there" we got her on our women's floor. Oh joy. Jennifer and Gwen pitched in and helped with the paper work and multiple other things (I'd still be at the hospital if they hadn't!) and I figured it'd be ok. It wasn't awful, but pretty dang close. And lets just say, this is why I am not a med-surg nurse. But praise God for the nurses that are! They are angels!

Without violating HIPPA laws, lets just say that this pt had MULTIPLE complications and was morbidly obese. I'm surprised she didn't code on me. So, after doing my initial assessment, getting her settled, and doing some paperwork, I went in her room to give some meds. Earlier she had been given a turkey box b/c she requested a snack (sandwich, juice, crackers....and a plastic knife to spread the mayo) So I walk in, and remember how I said she had complications "down there"? Well, she has a knee propped up and is itching "down there" with her plastic knife...yes this is a true story. As I walk in she proceeds to talk to me and continues her scratching...on her back, under her breasts...all with the same knife. She apologizes that I caught her scratching "down there." I replied with a weak, "Well, if it itches you've got to scratch it!" I couldn't decide whether I needed to throw up or laugh.

Walking back to the nurses station I shared my lovely story and we all lost it...the laugh helped break the stress of getting 7 admits in one night. What do you say to the pt?? "Um, I'm sorry, may I have your knife? No, I don't want to touch your knife...uhhh....how about I get you two knives? One for above the waist and one for below. Or maybe just some lotion...and when can you have your next Benadryl..." Lesson learned? Just watch where you're itching...and what you are itching with...

Sorry for those of you who see this as too crude...just don't go into nursing :) Those kind of pts is what nursing school is all about.

It reminded me of some ER experiences. I miss the adrenaline of ER and there is still a part of me that wants to go back...adrenalin junkie, I know. But last night brought back memories of some of the not too fun ER shifts. Like the pt who had an infection on her abdomen that ate away at her skin and another infection in her vagina...the infections tunneled underneath and met. You could literally put your hand in her vagina and see it through her abdominal wound. And lets just say, urine did not come out where it was suppose to. The stench was nauseating and could be smelled over the entire Trauma section of ER. Peppermint oil and masks were used in abundance that night. Or the pt that got multiple enemas and that I stood by helping and removing compacted feces from her behind...eat your prunes. Or the pt that I scrubbed dried vomit off of her entire body. I much prefer heart attacks, head wounds, gunshot wounds, broken bones, cut off fingers and toes...the more "typical" ER pts.

Well, I'm sure by the end of this post you'll think I'm a crude, uncaring nurse....but believe me, there are so many times I have hurt for a pt, cried with them, ached for them. Let's just say that I've learned more and felt more than I ever thought possible...and I love what I do.

My next post will be better...promise :) My good nursing stories just didn't seem to go along with these above stories, so we'll save that for another post. Now for some sleep....I think that espresso is wearing off...

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Birthday

I'm so awful at updating this thing, and I think part of the reason is that I want it to be this great post with pictures and all. So then it becomes too difficult and never happens :) So that explains this short, little post.

Tonight we celebrated Mark's 25th birthday at his parents house. Both our families were there and we had lots of fun, hamburgers and bratwursts down by the pool, played games, he opened gifts, we had dessert. Good memories...

Tomorrow Mark works and I work tomorrow night, but with Michelle's Going Away party at our house this weekend, I have loads of things to do! And lots to clean! :) It'll be fun.

And that's all folks :) haha, I warned you!

At least I posted right?

Friday, May 23, 2008

Life


This is a rather odd post...bits and pieces of my life of late. :)

Mark and I went on a date. Picked up lunch at Chic-Fil-A then drove to a little park. Ate at a picnic table, played on the swings some, then waded in a little creek nearby. It was perfect.

I bought a green dress today...knee length, cute straps...reminds me of spring. It needs some adjustment, but it was on sale and I figured I needed a little sewing practice anyway. :)

Baby names are hard to decide on...I was just on a site to see which ones I might like. No, I'm not pregnant yet, but it doesn't hurt to look.

Mark is at work through tomorrow morning. I miss him. He is my rock.

Today I was one of the nurses at a natural birth. This was her third natural birth, and that woman was amazing. I'm ready for my turn. :)

I've often thought about having kids, but I know not everyone has an easy time getting pregnant or they may not even be able to get pregnant. I may be one of those people...there is no fear in this thought because I know God controls that area.

I love blue scrubs. Its amazing to finally be a nurse. And it still amazes me how much there is to learn...I'm constantly asking questions.

Last night Mark requested Chicken Parmesan on noodles with red sauce and chocolate mousse for dessert. I had the ingredients for dinner and then made a quick trip to the store for dessert. Other than whipping the cream for the topping too much that it curdled, the dessert turned out fabulous. We ate it and watched Jaws on TV :)

Mark and I are getting back into doing triathlons. I've gone swimming some recently and love it. My technique definitely needs improvement.

I often wonder how I will handle a house full of kids one day. I can barely seem to keep things clean and organized now..or rather, I can't. Maybe if I sleep less....

Have I mentioned kids too much in this post? Hmmmm...

I love life. I love my man.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Examine yourself...

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be NOT conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Roman's 12:1-2

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." II Corinthians 13:5

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve...." Joshua 24:15



Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Keep Praying

Late last night I received a text from a friend who I have prayer for for years now. She is struggling, hurting, hates life. I yearn for her to know Christ! I've talked to her, cried while sharing my heart and what Christ has done for me, I've prayed, I've hoped, but she is still lost and I hurt inside. So many times I have wondered if she will ever come to know Christ. I've felt hopeless and like there is nothing I can do. 
Someone sent me this video and this morning I watched it. The tears started to come. I saw my friend in this video, struggling, hurting, giving up. That was her. As I continued to watch, Christ seemed to say to me, "Keep praying Jess, don't give up. I'm here waiting for her. I'll never stop waiting for her. Don't stop praying for her. Don't give up on her because I'm never going to give up on her." Maybe there is someone that you hurt for, that you pray for. Don't give up. Christ never will.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

I've been blessed...

This week has been busy! I've definitely been "stretched" a little at work...some days are just tough and exhausting. I LOVE my job, but I'll be so happy when I feel like I actually know something and can take care of my patients without asking the other nurses a million questions. My preceptor is an angel though and I'm so blessed to have her to train me! I worked Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week, and had a Neonatal Resuscitation Course today, which was fun and interesting! Wednesday was by far one of my toughest days yet...I felt exhausted and like my brain was in a fog. I had prayed that morning as I walked into work that I would be a light and witness to the other nurses and my patients, but as the day worn on I was just praying that it would end and that I wouldn't make any stupid mistakes. I was just ready to go home!

Well, it was near end of shift and I was checking on my last patient to give her a med and tell her good-bye. As I began to leave the room I asked, "Is there anything you need before I go?" She looked at me and burst into tears. I was a little surprised to say the least! But I ran over to her, put my arms around her, just hugged her, and asked what was wrong. She said that she had two young children that she hadn't seen in two days and she had just finished talking on the phone to them and she missed them a lot. So we talked and I grabbed the roll of toilet paper out of the bathroom for her to blow her nose and I rubbed her back and told her what a sweet mom she was for missing her kids so much. She told me about them and cried some more, and I listened. After awhile she calmed down and I gave her another big hug. By the time I walked out of the room she had a little smile on her face. 

My whole day had been hard and exhausting, but that few minutes comforting that mom made it all worth it. That's one of the many things I love about my job. I have chances every day to be a little piece of Jesus to someone. The moms in antepartum are at a very difficult time in life. Some are there for two months or more...I love that I really get to develop a relationship with them. God sure has blessed me with a wonderful job. It's hard to believe that after all of my studies I am really an RN!

On a side note, this weather is gorgeous and makes me ready for spring! And, below are a few more wedding pictures...hope everyone is having a fabulous week!

My sweet, life long friend!
Michelle in the middle of getting her hair done, and me in the middle of getting my make-up done. Looks like Abby needs a nap! She was the cutest little flower girl!

Jennifer, Michelle, and Sarah



"Who me?? Am I really getting married today!!" My sweet sister Jennifer helping me get dressed. Her wedding is just a couple months away and I'll get to do the same thing! :)

Ta da!

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

Friday, March 7, 2008

Wedding day preparations

In the Bride's room getting ready...
To say I was happy would be an understatement...you'll understand in later pictures.
More make-up...

My sister is beautiful! And I love this one of Susanna peeking through the door!


Naps were definitely in order...as well as lots of pictures!

Tired mommy trying to nap without messing up her hair :)

Angela did my cake and I absolutely loved it!

Someone went out and picked up Starbucks for everyone. I didn't get any because I was too excited and happy to eat or drink much!

My shoes...

The details on my dress...

The pearls my grandpa gave me that I wore...

Our rings on my dress

Thursday, March 6, 2008

The best day of my life...

I'm going to begin to post my wedding pictures....a few at a time. I just love remembering this perfect day in my life when I married my best friend and the man of my dreams. So here is the beginning of my perfect day...
The make-up...Camile trying to hold very still!

I love Kelsie's face!

Melissa did a fabulous job on all the girl's make-up. She is very talented and is absolutely wonderful!

Laughing and having a good time...

I love this picture because it tells so much! This is me arriving at Gladney, wedding dress in one hand, veil in the other, purse over my arm, recently washed and windblown hair, and a happy, excited, "I can't believe I'm getting married!" look on my face. =)

More to come....

Monday, February 18, 2008

Six month anniversary...

The love of Christ is something that I've been able to understand immeasurably better because of how I see Mark display his love for me. Today is six months of being married and those who told me that it only gets better knew what they were talking about. My greatest fear in the first few months of being married was that something was going to take Mark from me. My thoughts were often, if this were our last day together how would I treat him. Although that fear has been replaced with trust in Christ's love and strength, I've never loved someone in the way that I love Mark. It's a love that I feel go so deeply down in my heart that I cannot begin to imagine how Christ must love me.

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all his house for love, it would be utterly contemned." Song of Solomon 8:7

Marriage is a beautiful picture of Christ and his love for us. In my journal ten days after our wedding I wrote, "He gave me the desire of my heart and above and beyond that." That is who my Jesus is. He delights in giving good gifts to his children and Mark is a gift that I never imagined I would receive. I don't deserve to experience such a wonderful, sacred, holy, beautiful thing as marriage. It's better than I ever thought...Christ gives the BEST to His children. May Jesus be praised in our marriage for many years to come!

"Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and they faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." Psalms 36:5