enjoy each moment

Recently, I have been having to remind myself to live each day to the fullest of that moment and not to always be looking to the future. A few of the things I am looking forward to about the future... my first nursing job (I know I'm crazy), where Blake and I will live in Auburn after I graduate, going on a cruise for our 1 year anniversary (hopefully!), going overseas with Blake, having children... My list could go on and on, but I will spare you. For some reason, I seem to keep seeing babies everywhere. Now don't go telling someone Blake and I are wanting to have kids right now, because we truly are just loving being married and free of children right now. But, I have to admit that it is sooo fun to think about all the future will hold for us as far as kids go. I have a few friends who are pregnant and I love seeing their updated pictures of their nurseries, their bellies, and all the fun parts of being pregnant. However, I realize that mixed in there is morning sickness, stress, little sleep, the burden of raising a child, and so on. So for now... I am going to try to keep my eyes, mind, and heart on the here and now and not always just be looking forward to what is next. The Lord reminded me of Psalm 90:12 that says "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." I want to live each day like it could be my last.

Next on the agenda... Ecuador!! Some of you may know, I am going to Ecuador in just a few weeks with a group from nursing school. I am so so excited about this trip! For those of your who aren't up to date on your South America geography, here is a map.
Ecuador is the small blue country on the West coast. Quito, the capital, is where we will be serving. Monday through Friday we are doing a women's health clinic. There will be physicians who are doing examinations, and we will be doing lots of teaching to the women and their children. I am not sure specifically how it will all go, but we have a meeting this week so I will know more details then. I am just so excited to see what the Lord will do through us to minister to the women and children both physically and spiritually. Please be in prayer for me and the rest of our team going. Pray God will turn these women to himself. They desperately need the Lord to change their lives. Thank you so much!! If you notice on the map, Ecuador is exactly on the equator!! So... this only means we must have a "fun day at the equator"!! This would include watching water go STRAIGHT down in a sink or toilet instead of spinning around the bowl. If you have never noticed, go flush the toilet and notice that it spins one way down the bowl. So... the equator day should be a highlight of the trip for sure! Haha! Another fun day we will have in Ecuador is a zip line through the rainforest... seriously!! I am sooo pumped about it!

Last thing tonight-- I want to ask all of you to pray for my friend Carrie Chavers. She was diagnosed with adreno-cortical carcinoma last summer. She had surgery to remove all the doctor's saw, and she was cancer-free!! Praise the Lord!! Now, the cancer has returned. She and her husband, Jason, are in our Sunday school class. Please pray the Lord will give her doctors wisdom to know how to best treat her. Pray God will give his peace that passes all understanding to both Carrie and Jason... pray God will give them strength... please, just pray for them. Thank you so much! I know they will greatly appreciate your prayers.

Zumba, God, and Good Friends

So... you are probably thinking that these three things are completely unrelated. But that is what the last two days have consisted of for me. First of all-- ZUMBA!! Zumba is a latin-style cardio workout. My friend Marianne went with me to our first Zumba class at the Student Act. It was so much fun!! I wasn't really sure what to expect, but there were TONS of girls there, and it really was a workout. I was a bit surprised. Thank you again, Marianne, for going with me! If anyone ever wants to go, just let me know!

God is just amazing! I love seeing the Lord in small ways throughout my day... sometimes that is easier and more evident. I think so many times, I am just so busy and caught up in my day that I just won't slow down to see or hear the Lord. I don't want to be like that. I have had a lot of free time in the past week which has been wonderful for my mental health. I tend to get a little caught up with all the stress and worries of school... you can just ask Blake. I surprise myself with the self-discipline I have to study Nursing books and how un-disciplined I am when it comes to spending time with the Lord. I'm not too big on making new year's resolutions, but I want to strive to be much more self-disciplined to study the Word. I have recently started studying the fruits of the Spirit. I am going through "A Woman's Walk with God." Yesterday, the main thing that stuck with me was a story of a missionary that said "he simply tried to see the face of Christ in the faces of the people he ministered to- to love them for Christ's sake." To relate that to everyday life... we (talking to myself here too) should treat all those around us as though it was Christ himself. I know this may not be a new thought to you, but the Lord just used it to speak to me in a whole new way yesterday. He has also been showing me that "loving your enemies" is not just being cordial to them... but actually LOVING them (even the annoying people we just try to avoid or ignore). Today in class, my teacher was talking about caring. She asks how you feel when you have truly cared for someone or done something caring for someone. It makes you feel so much better about yourself... but it's not just about feeling good about ourselves. It's all about giving glory to the Lord through obedience to his Word- even in loving our enemies. In closing this section, remember what Jesus said were the two greatest commandments: 1. Love the Lord your God 2. Love your neighbor as yourself

Now, on to good friends!! I had my "nursing school friends" over for dinner. These girls are all so special to me, and I have truly learned so much from being with them the past 2 years of nursing school and before that. We are all so similar, but also so different with our unique personalities. We just have so much fun together!! One of the many memories that stands out to me is when we went to Emily's beach house at Seaside and we all wore polka dot bathing suits... yes, seriously. And we didn't even plan it. So, here is a picture for your enjoyment and laughter...


I get really sad every time I think of the reality that graduation (and even preceptorship before that) is going to bring... all these great girls going off and working all over the place, but away from Auburn. Auburn will definitely never be the same for me after these next few months. Please understand me, I am still sooo thrilled about staying in Auburn after graduation. God has already blessed us with so many "married couple friends" which is a HUGE blessing!! Instead of focusing on the so called "negative" things that will change with graduation, I am going to focus on the positive and all the things God is doing and will be doing through this change. And I really am looking forward to graduating college... only 106 days to go!!!

my first post

Hello, blogging world! I am new to all of this... but I thought it would be a good idea to just write down my thoughts on life and keep everyone updated on what's going on in my life! I'm not sure exactly sure all I will write or how regular I will be in keeping up with it... but I'm looking forward to it. To start off... I'll just tell you a little about my life right now.

this.is.life.

-I will graduate from Nursing school in May from Auburn University. Nursing School has been a huge part of my life so you will probably hear much more about it in the days ahead.
-I married my best friend on August 8, 2009... it truly is a dream come true. I am so amazed how the Lord uses the ones closest to you to shape you and refine you into exactly who he wants you to be. Blake and I have are loving life together as a married couple, and I am so excited about all the Lord has for our life together.
-I have the most amazing family and in-laws ever. Seriously. I love them so much! My brother (James Robert) and his wife (Leslie) live in Mobile along with my parents and extended family. My in-laws live in Huntsville and Auburn. Being married has made my family grow so much... I now have 3 more sister-in-laws, a brother-in-law, 2 new parents, and 2 new sets of grandparents. It is so great to have such a loving and supportive family.
-Last, and most importantly, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I am not perfect by any means, but I strive to know the Lord more each and every day. He is so good!! His love for me never ceases to amaze me. He provides for all our needs. He judges all our sins. And he is righteous, holy, and perfect in all he does... what a mighty God we serve!!

Well... I think that pretty well sums up my life! Stay tuned for more updates on my life! :)