Basic Training

Well, this will be my last post for several months. We leave in four days for basic training. I am sure I will have lots of stories when I get back! I will miss everyone soooooooo much!!!!!

Freedom is not free

Hmmmm

This past week and a half has been pretty trying for me at work. To explain without going into too much detail, I got a couple negative evaluations when I went for a promotion at work and had to spend some time going through the ways I need to improve with my nurse manager. Don't get me wrong, I am acutely aware that I am clearly human and deeply flawed, and I am not going to get defensive and say I am not in need of improvement. I know I am! Somehow though, I still felt horribly picked on and somewhat attacked. I tried very hard to find the positives and to use the experience to help me grow as a person and as a nurse. By this past Friday however I was worn down and trying so hard to be "perfect" at work that I was going home with massive headaches every day. I was questioning why God had created me the way He did with my desire to deal with issues right away and to confront problems openly, because frankly, other women don't appreciate that quality.

And then yesterday, something happened. You may think this is crazy, but I was seriously starting to wonder about my personality and its usefulness in today's society. Jason and I were cleaning the deck and when I looked down, there was this really cool looking black and white bug. I mean, I really thought it looked cool. (See picture above). All of the sudden it hit me. There are probably not a lot of people who would find beauty in a black and white bug, but I did. I felt like God put that bug there just for me. Like it was a reminder. . . that I am unique, I may not be like others (none of us are) but He created me uniquely and individually and even when others don't understand me or misinterpret my intentions, He has created me for a purpose and my design is uniquely suited for certain tasks to bring Him glory.

Thank you Lord for speaking to me through Your creation!

Our Weekend Project

Before

&
After

Before

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After

Nikki

We brought Nikki into our house so she wouldn't walk on our

newly stained deck. She didn't waste any time getting comfortable!

Turtle

We think this is a snapping turtle. Does anybody know?

Saturday afternoon

Sarah, Dawn, & Jane

Humbling

I had a very humbling experience at work today, and I am grateful because it reminded me how weak I am and how deeply I need the Lord. It was also a very good reminder of how precious my friends and family are, and how amazing it is when people love and accept you even when they are well aware of your weaknesses!

Family Picture

Mom, Dad, & I visited Grandma this past week.

It was so great to have time together!

Atlantic City Trip

Beth & Dawn

Atlantic City, NJ

Ashley & Beth

Dawn & Ashley

Beth, Ashley, Mary, & Dawn

Holding a skunk

Alligator Airboat Tour in Florida

Sunrise, Sunset

The Carnival Pride

Getting on the cruise ship

Jason & Dawn

Andy & Danielle

Belated Valentine's Day post

So, to explain this picture, I made a futile attempt to be

romantic valentine's day by creating a snowman with a

red heart on his chest.

I failed to think through that the red food coloring would

simply melt into the snow man and end up looking

like a fatal chest wound.

This is what the snow man looked like when Jason saw it.

He thought it was hilarious that I "shot" a snowman for

him for Valentine's day. . .

Digging Out. . .

Upstairs bathroom closet

Before

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After

Downstairs bathroom closet

Before

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After

Weekend organizing- hallway closet

I spent the weekend re-organizing my closets and

here are the finished results

Above picture is the hallway closet before

Below picture is after

Beth Moore's Breaking Free

Well, I have just gotten back into Beth Moore's book "Breaking Free", now that I can read again. That is another story, and I will post about that later. I am really enjoying this book. Here is a quote from today's reading:

God's word often tells us not to fear, yet not all of our fears are unfounded. Think about it. Our present society poses many threats. . . If nothing frightening will happen to us, how could the assurance of God's constant presence still be the quieter of our fears? The point is not that we have nothing to fear but that His presence is the basis for our courage.

Old Pictures

I spent most of the day today backing up all my pictures and in the

process I have found some really fun pictures I didn't know I had.

The above picture is of Danielle and I and I honestly don't know

how long ago it was taken.

The picture below I don't remember when or where it was taken,

but I thought it was a good picture of Jason and I that I didn't know I had.

Visiting Grandma

The view from Grandma's porch