:)

The Way to Happiness Video- Try to Treat Others

bondye bon-- God is good

So bondye bon is creole, and why might I be posting something in Creole you ask? Well, it's because I've been trying to learn the language! ha. Ok so this might be too early to mention but I've really been thinking about moving to Haiti (where Creole is spoken) a lot lately and usually when that happens, I go. I've always thought about either going to Latin America, Haiti or Africa and have had a difficult time figuring out where...maybe before I die I can work in all of those places at least a little:) but look at that picture with all those little ones!!! how precious. haha..Anyway, throughout my life I have grown a passion to serve God in the mission field. One of the main things that has gotten me this far in nursing is the chance to use those skills in a place of need...a place that doesn't have the resources or a place that just needs some extra support and love. What I wanted to do so many times in the past was to just quit school and go, I felt like I had to wait sooooo long for everything. Although it's taken me a lot longer to finish than I had hoped, God has a specific plan for me and I am so grateful that I will be graduating in a few weeks with a degree in something I absolutely love. There ARE SO many people here that need help and while I live here I will work for those people. I can definitely see myself coming back here also but I really would regret not following what I have been called to do. I'm not 100% sure about any plans but a lot of things have been moving towards this and if it turns out that this doesn't happen, it's because I'm meant to do something else. (but can't think like that right now!) This is also not going to happen tomorrow. I am going to try and really plan, pray and prepare....to make sure this is really right for me.
I don't ever want to become satisfied with the way things are, I don't want to become so comfortable that I forget that there are people struggling. I'm tired of talk...there needs to be action to my beliefs. Luckily I have the most amazing Church that fuels my desire, the most amazing friends and family that always support me (and not to mention the coolest boyfriend that loves missions and is learning creole with me and might go as well...and whose pictures I used) and the most amazing God that NEVER leaves me and has given me what I have today. So for now, I'm going to learn some creole, go on a short term mission trip to Haiti and pray!

oh how I love some good quotes

There is no passion to be found playing small in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. - Nelson Mandela-

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."
- Eleanor Roosevelt-

If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.
-Marian Wright Edelman-

Poverty won't allow him to lift up his head; dignity won't allow him to bow it down."
- Madagasy Proverb-

I have only one request/ I do not ask for money/ Although I have need of it,/I do not ask for meat.../I have only one request,/ All I ask is/ That you remove/the roadblock/From my path.
- Song of An African Woman

When I despair, I remember that all through history, the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a long time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it---always"

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
MLK Jr


Go to the people:
live with them, learn from them
love them
start with what they know
build with what they have.

But of the best leaders,
when the job is done,
the task accomplished,
the people will say:
"We have done it ourselves"
- Lao Tzu-


"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31: 8-9

love never fails

“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.” Paulo Cohelo


A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mohandas Gandhi

sooooo....there's this guy :)

Ok, so I am not usually mushy gushy or anything and wouldn't normally post about something like this but since I wrote about being single and trusting in God about that issue in my life I thought I'd give a little update...plus, I think it's ok to be a little excited! haha.
Just when I thought there were no guys that fit me...that I was being too picky and all of the "good ones" were gone from KY, God put a really great one right in front of me. :) He is an intelligent man, that loves Jesus, missions, family, kids, sports. He makes me happy and it's so refreshing to be treated with genuine respect. So hopefully I don't screw this one up! haha.

All I Need Is You

Emergency!

I have less than 200 hours of clinicals left before I finally graduate! These hours will be spent in the emergency room and I've already been a few times. I'll probably write some more about it because there are so many stories everyday! It's super intense, fast, tons of things to remember, and has a wide variety of patients and conditions. I definitely NEVER thought I would try something like this, but part of life is about taking risks and challenging yourself right? ha. I don't know why I always feel like I have to sign up or try the things that scare me. It's funny because before I signed up for it a few months ago, I mayyyyybe thought about going there twice and laughed to myself for even having the thought. I felt so inadequate to work in a place like the ER especially one at a top trauma center, yet for some reason the day we had to choose my hand floated to the empty line next to ER...and here I am. Crazy how my life changes and goes in different directions. Delicious ambiguity:) I still feel inadequate in many ways and have SOOOO much to learn but I'm just happy that I get this awesome opportunity and hopefully by the end I will come away with really useful skills and more confidence to be a nurse on my own!!



The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
—Psalm 118:6-9

Thriller!

This weekend was so much fun! I had a chance to participate in Lexington's thriller dance. I, along with 300 or so people, got to pretend to be a zombie and dance!!:)Sounds crazy...and it kind of was, but it was awesome to see all those people and practices come together and make something. I definitely can't wait for next year! haha.

Please Pray for Haiti

One of my really good friends(shane) just left for Haiti this week on a mission trip. He is leading a small group to Port-de-Paix to work with the people of Haiti...orphans, prisoners, the sick, kids, and those just needing some love and encouragement. I wanted to ask anyone who reads this thing to pray for him and for Haiti. There is a hurricane threatening the country, there was just an outbreak of cholera, there are still thousands of people living in tents after the earthquake among many other things... Pray that Haiti can rise above all that has affected it, that its people are able to find strength, courage, trust, love in God. Pray that we never forget our brothers and sisters struggling and we fight for them. Pray that Shane...and other missionaries remain safe and continue to lean on Christ for their protection and strength.

If I fall down, what do I do?

Jesus in a different language.

One of the most beautiful things I've seen thus far is the worship of Jesus in another language. Even if you don't understand a single word they are saying, if you really grasp that they are praising the same God that you praise, I don't think you have to understand the words. It feels so powerful because at times that culture or language or people are so foreign and seem to be so different from me, but when it comes down to what really matters, we are all connected and a family in Jesus. :)

study break

I have this huge test tomorrow...and I'm on here! FAIL. My brain needs a break though so I think it's alright if I keep it short right? I'm just so excited for next month
- make Halloween costume
- get and carve pumpkins
- haunted houses
- apply for a JOB
- last Nursing class!!!!
- start working in Emergency Room
- football, Keeneland, Woolfest, concerts, Thriller Dance!
- start research project!
:)
now if I could only get this test out of the way...on to studying.
I'm out!

Walk With Me :)

FH -

--- I saw this on my preacher's blog and loved it!--- generosity is not about how much you give away, it's about how much you have left.


Proverbs 11:24-25
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

beautiful chaos

So I apologize for not updating this thing in awhile. I can't believe how fast time goes! Life has been very busy lately. Since the last time I wrote, a lot of things have happened...I am all moved into my new place (love it!), finished my internship at the Children's Hospital, went on a trip to Puerto Rico, and I FINALLY started my last semester of undergrad! (and I'll probably write about all those things later). I feel like all I do is run, run, run and I just found out the other day that I have to start applying for jobs in October!!! that's NEXT month!!! However, through all this chaos I'm at peace with how things are going in my life. I still have no clue where I'm going when I graduate but now more than ever, I know that wherever I end up, that's where I'm meant to be :) I love this beautiful life of mine and am trying to take advantage of each day I have.
~For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11~ :)

I got a letter...from myself!!!

I was looking through some of my old papers and just found a letter I had written to myself right after I had finished my summer in Puerto Rico working for YouthWorks. They wanted us to be reminded of what the summer did for us at a later time so they suggested we write whatever and they would send it to us in a few months. I thought it was silly at the time but after reading mine tonight I almost teared up a little!!
Youthworks was one of the most challenging, chaotic, and beautiful summers I've ever had. Just getting hired and actually deciding to go was ALL GOD. It still gives me cold chils to think of how it all happened. I'll spare the details but basically, I was scared to death and never in a million years would have imagined myself having enough guts to sign up for such a job... Anyway, I ended up getting the last position VERY last minute for a spanish speaking place doing the most AMAZING JOB EVER!!! I was the urban staff so I got to work with several volunteer organizations in the city. I worked with the homeless, drug addicts, orphans, elderly....oh I can't even begin to explain how happy I was:)
here's part of my letter!
don't sweat the small stuff, have faith in people, NEVER lose sight of GOD. Never stop getting closer to God. Don't get caught up in everyday life..the monotony. Try to be aware of how much you can grow, help and do. Love your community and have patience with people...I hope every experience I have had has changed me and I hope I'm living up to the advice I gave myself.

i'm moving!

This weekend I'm moving downtown and I'm SO excited!! There's been a few changes in my life so this can just top it off...oh how I love the feeling of starting fresh and new! All of you are welcome :) Now the only thing I need to do is decorate!

Singleness

In the past.. ohhh i'd say year or so I've been getting a lot of ...so you're still single?? kind of questions. Friends ask why, family asks when?. I love the ones that say something about expecting little ones from me by now or the ones that tell me to just settle for the guy that's not reallly for me...(insert face from picture to the left*) Thank goodness I have some awesome parents that defend me--> "she's focusing on studies right now". Haha. Now, although these comments can get a little annoying to answer all the time and not to mention embarrassing, I guesssss I don't blame them for wondering. ha. I mean I'm 23 and one of my side jobs is as a third wheel...just kiddin;) a lot of people my age here are getting married or are almost there, so it's normal to wonder.(NOT that I am talking about marriage in this blog...just a good guy)...It's not like I haven't thought of those ever daunting when and why questions and yes I do get upset about it sometimes but I am not in any rush. It'll happen when it happens. But yeah, there have been times when I feel like giving up or just settling...like there's something wrong with me and I'm expecting too much. AND then i laugh at myself for those silly thoughts.;) However, I have recently come to the conclusion and accepted that a big part of it is me. (not that they don't have any fault...ie. players,jerks,partiers,ill tempered,only want one thing kinda guys) I've been so afraid that whoever HE is will stop me from pursuing my dream. I can accept being single while doing something I love rather than being with someone that makes me regret, brings me down or that doesn't encourage me to live up to my full potential. I think that #1 God has this thing in his hands and to not worry AT ALL #2 that whoever it is will go together with my dream and what is meant for my life:) #3 that everyone has imperfections...including me...and to lighten up a little on the next one ;) and #4 even through all the duds/mister wrongs (and there have been way too many) I still believe in love and in mister right for me(not mister perfect) ha. Everything happens for a reason and this is no different. I would not be the person I am today without what I've gone through, whatever it may be...I also believe that nothing will work without God as the center so until I meet someone that believes that as well or is willing to work with that...with me. I will remain single and happy. me and my man...;)hehe
oh and I almost forgot!! I found the cutest letter some dude wrote to single ladies...it sums up what I want and how I think sometimes. http://datingadvicefromagirl.com/a-letter-for-every-single-christian-woman-who-just-wants-to-find-mr-right_1095/

Archive International

It's finally coming all together and I am incredibly excited, so there will be several more blogs about this I'm sure! Ok so I have this very talented, compassionate, and super smart friend named Mark. I met Mark while working with a youth missions organization...YouthWorks. Anyway, through YouthWorks he got a chance to help a community in Tijuana, Mexico. side note here---> Tijuana borders San Diego CA, and although only a fence seperates the two cities they look and feel very different. Tijuana has a high unemployment rate. It's a hot spot for drug traffickers and the cartel, which means it's known for crime and violence. I was talking to a friend there and he said that Tijuana is many times a place that people get stuck...people come from all over trying to cross the border and end up here. This means that every day the population of Tijuana grows...but since it's not built for such fast growth and the people either use all their money by this point or they move into underdeveloped areas, many communities that do exist lack ammenities, roads, sanitation, schools, medicine, etc. The government...well let's just say the situation has not changed dramatically.....OK so there is this cycle you find in areas like this.--> Education is not seen as super important...soooo a large group of people are illiterate and lack the knowledge that might better their lives. This alone limits so many to lives of hard labor and unemployment. There is stress, worry, a loss of hope... People start to turn towards crime and drugs, which leads to brokeness. This brokeness is seen in the person, the person's family, the community...and it continues and continues because there is no other knowledge of something better. And that's where God (through wonderful people like Mark) comes in!!!
---The cool thing about Mark was that after leaving Tijuana, Tijuana never left him. Cheesy sounding I know, but it's true. He began dreaming of starting some sort of.. something.. to help. So his dream lead to where we are now with the project. Last Christmas Mark and I went to Tijuana to discuss what the community needed and wanted...what THEY thought would help (because nothing is worse than someone coming in and TELLING people what they need). So after a week we found out the info I talked about earlier in my side note...and some more but I'm already rambling so yeeeah. Anyway,here's the plan...here is what Archive International is--> We are going to bring in libraries and soccer fields to impoverished areas (like Tijuana) Hoping to stop that cycle of brokenness...we want to teach people how to read, about God about the world about their amazing potential. The soccer fields are there to provide a safe place to play, to come together as a community (and bring them to the library..ha) aaaand I'm all about getting some little ones into shape so that's good for that too. ;) Did I mention Mark is crazy good at construction?? well he is, and he is going to build these libraries (with the help of locals and volunteers from the states). They will be "green", energy efficient, and eventually we hope to have the locals run them...something they can really have pride in and call their own. The first place is Tijuana but some day we'll get to some other communities around the world...like in Puerto Rico and Honduras!! Oh and I'm going to end (for now) with this experience we had on our visit. A church member was bringing us around the very poor area and knew a family living there so he brought us to their house. The house was sooo tiny and full of kids. They were beautiful but the whole time the mom kept apologizing for how ugly her house was and how embarrassed she was. Mark and I both felt awful for making her feel like she had to apologize...for making her feel ashamed of where she lived. We want to help people have pride in their community, confidence in themselves, and an opportunity to grow, learn, and impact the lives of others.

< (current soccer field)

dramatic cat

Franciscan Blessing

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless every single one of you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people so that you may work for justice and freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain and rejection and starvation and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you, yes you, can make a difference in this world so that you can do for Christ what others claim cannot be done. May God bless you with a heart that breaks for the things that breaks his heart. May God bless you with a divine tenderness. May God give you an ear that hears his voice. May God increase the anointing upon your life, for you have been filled with the same spirit that raised Christ from the grave. In Jesus' name we pray...Amen

my Dad

..
So I realized Father's Day has past and I never got to write about my wonderful Dad and that's just unacceptable. Here are the 5 things he's taught me:)
1. Be positive. This is the number one thing I think of. He is the most positive person I know and always is encouraging others. I'm pretty sure I would not have made it past my first year of college without him and that dang positive attitude ;) ha.
2. Patience. Now, I'm not saying I'm perfect at this yet but Dad sets a good example. He has to deal with all of our paperwork, bills, calls, etc, etc. and he does it without ever losing his cool.
3. Passion. I don't know if you learn this but he's helped me fuel my passion and dream big. I've traveled the world because of this and he's never stopped me or discouraged me. I also see how much he loves what he does and what his passion is...I think a person needs to find that thing that makes them come alive and do it!
4. Plan. He's always ready for whatever. Probably why he's the Emergency manager...but yeah I'm trying.
5. Learn as much as you can. Challenge yourself. Grow.
So grateful for my Dad...if it weren't for him I'm pretty sure I would have an awful perception of guys haha.

it's been awhile

So, I'm going to try and be a little more consistent..not like there's really anything grand going on in my life, but yeah. I've been so 'all over the place' with my new job. It's been interesting trying to get used to night shift. I have no problem staying up, but when I don't work all I do is sleep. I never know what day it is or when I should eat...is midnight lunch?? ha. Other than that, which really isn't so bad now, I love it. It is way better than I expected. A TON of stuff to remember and really pay attention to but I'm learning SOOOOO much this summer. At times I feel completely dumb and slow, like I'll never get this...Hopefully that'll get better by the end of this whole thing. ha. Despite that, I really know this is what I want to do with my life for now. I love the kids, the nurses, the families...
And I'm starting to realize that once you work in a place like the hospital it really makes it hard to complain about petty things in your own life. I'm blessed I have this opportunity to grow and especially blessed to meet all the amazing little ones there:)

Times - Tenth Avenue North

Love this song. Explains how I feel sometimes.

Sew excited ;)

So I just bought a sewing machine...SEE! I love crafts and making things so I thought I'd try this out for awhile. I was just planning on making little random things for me... like aprons, blankets...whatever(I have so many ideas). Well this has changed a little and I'm way more excited about this change because it really fits into my real passion which is helping others...now I still will make those things for me but thanks to some inspiration from my friend Christina (who by the way contributed to some of the designs) I have decided to make these little stuffed animals and give them away to places like clinics, hospitals, homeless shelters. Right now I'm just going to call them loquitos (which means little crazies in spanish, pronounced-- LOW-KEY-TOES)and I'm planning on putting some little quotes, bible verses, info on their bottom, hmm or the tag. Or maybe depending on the place that I bring them to I can put different information in their hands or attached to them...for example--if I'm going to teach on heart health then one of them could be holding some healthy living patterns. OR stress I could fill them with lavender and teach them a stress relieving breathing technique! ooooo I'm getting more ideas by the minute!!! haha They can be in English and Spanish too. Right now this idea is REALLY rough as you can see by some of the unfinished ones I've posted. I'm mostly in the idea phase and getting a good handle on what I really want to do without being to chaotic. I need to think of more animals so if you have any ideas tell me!! :) Hopefully I can get this thing really started by the end of the summer...and one reason I'm writing about it is for me to remind myself to stick with the idea!! ha anyway, here are some of them....remember these are the first ones and they are still rough!!

. ....

I'm moving to the coast....

well...I might not move right away, but at some point in my life (and soon) I'm going to live by the ocean. Maybe because I don't live near it I see its awesomeness even more amplified whenever I go. It takes my breath away, makes me so calm, and happy all at the same time; amazing feeling... it also really helps you realize just how GRAND our God is to be able to create that( Isaiah 40:12 "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand....) wow!.

I just came back from Tybee Island, Georgia with my friends and it was beautiful and so much fun!! I had the most amazing girls to travel with AND we saw sharks, dolphins, jellyfish oh my! . We mostly swam everyday, watched movies at night, celebrated birthdays, visited Savannah and different places on the Island, and met a lot of sketch people...ha. The best thing about the trip was there was no time!! We got to be beach bums and it was oh so lovely. ;) One night we took this hearse tour (since Savannah is the most haunted city in the U.S.) and heard all these scary ghost stories...oooOOOOoooo. and I'm pretty sure we saw something in one window if you squinted really hard...ha. You should ask me about it!! funny funny. . Definitely needed a vacation before this crazy summer of night shift work begins....sigh

dude sounds like a lady...funny

---oh my goodness, so I'm sure this is about something serious...the lady looks like she's crying and the guy is so serious. But man, I don't think I would have been able to hold back my laughter either...hahaha

Let's recycle!

Look what I found...adorable free labels for recycling. Who wouldn't want to use these?!


http://jinjerup.blogspot.com/search/label/freebies

Mama's day :)

.

YAY! A day of honoring my wonderful, most beautiful mother. One day is definitely not enough. This is seriously the most amazing woman I know. I hope I'm half the woman she is someday. I've learned millions of things from her but here are a few that I'll share

1. take a risk! be brave! trust--->

- can you imagine leaving everything you know (family,language,food..etc) for a totally different land?!...but it was all for LOVE!

2. serve others, think of yourself second
3. work hard-- unbelievably hard worker. Never-ending energy. She has to be a superhero, there's no other way anyone could do what she does.
4. give joyfully--- As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."( Luke 21: 1-4) Sometimes my mom doesn't leave a thing for herself whether that be time or money, but still gives her all to her kids, her mom, the church...etc

5. Love... I feel it when I'm with her, I see it when she interacts with anyone, I hear it when she talks. :)


- I thank my amazing God for such an amazing mami.-

pediatric nurse....it's a possibility!

So I just found out I'm going to be working at the Children's Hospital this summer! YAYAYA soooo excited! I LOVE kids so this should be an awesome experience and really help me to see if it's the area I want to focus on once I graduate. However, this also means that I will probably be staying in KY longer than I planned. Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine myself staying in this place any longer than I have to, especially since my dream is to work in a different country. I know there are so many opportunities to serve here and I am happy to be able to dedicate more of myself to those things...but I guess every once in awhile I have those "ready-to-move" days. honestly though, when I look back on my life it really has not gone according to my plan at all. Things have changed so much and I've done things I never thought I would do.
Last Sunday I taught my girls about prayer and how God answers every prayer! Sometimes the answer is WAIT or No, things that are hard to understand at the time or that can be frustrating, but I know God loves and knows what's best for me. So yeah, I really need to give all of MY plans to God and trust in what he is preparing me for. AND take in the moment, how awesome will it be to hang out with kids all day?!?!?!?...well night since I am going to be on night shift. ha.

LAUGH!!! it's good for ya ;)

Ok...I LOVE to laugh and be silly. I also like youtube so this kind of stuff will probably be on here a lot! haha. This commercial makes me laugh every time! " he found the answer and now I really like him" enjoy!

A study done at the University of Maryland Medical Center- When we laugh we lower our blood pressure, it increases the blood flow to the heart and pumps more oxygen into the blood. It also strengthens artery walls. A good laugh or a joke also helps remove stress and tension and leads to improved mental as well as physical health.

researchers recommend at least 15 minutes of laughter a day!!

First POST!

Hola!
So I have a million and one things to do right now and figured, what better time to start writing a blog?! ha. I'm pretty sure this will be very sporadic and random at times, I usually don't focus on one thing! However, I hope to stick to my title "living to love". I want to remind myself of that everyday...I exist to love God, love people, and love life! :)