a dear girl

this girl definitely tops the favorite people list. the morning that i got to spend with her was delightful, but as always, not long enough. however, i thoroughly enjoyed our list making, our hike through the forest, our long talk, our movie watching on a time budget (skip the sentiment), our pictures and of course, our hugs.

a little reassurance

"single life may be only a stage of a life's journey, but even a stage is a gift. God may replace it with another gift, but the receiver accepts His gifts with thanksgiving. this gift for this day. the life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived - not always looked forward to as though the 'real' living were around the next corner. it is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow."
-elisabeth elliot

thanksgiving

my thankful list-
(in no particular order)

.my staff!! (mw & company)
.music (hymns, living room dancing, etc.)
.team camo
.public worship (chapel & church)
.jordan, my lovely jeep
.pumpkin items
.God asking me to apply for a res. life position freshman year,
and changing my heart about it.
.laughter
.my preceptorship
.a renewed love of nursing
.dressing up
.my computer
.good stories (lately these include not only my favorite books,
but also robin hood and frog& toad)
.kitties
.the beauty of autumn
.friends (there are lots of these i am particularly thankful for.
my favorite list has grown significantly.)
.naps
.peace about my future
.group pictures
.my family
.jesus' love for me!

good-bye locks

after going to church with brittany and anika, brittany cut my hair! it was quite the adventure, as my hair is very thick.
"you have the thickest hair i've ever felt."
"i think its worth at least two people's hair."
"no-you have at least three."
but brittany did such a good job! it took a while, but we got three hours of each other's company, and i was even introduced to anastasia. =)

before

after

turkey time

turkey making, being chocolate indians, movie watching and stove top popcorn all helped to celebrate my completion of clinicals for this semester along with the start up of one-on-ones once more. these people are quite a delight.

my staff loves me

apparently its AAC appreciation week, and i certainly have felt loved this week. alyssa's package in the mail, becca's encouraging note and silly socks, beautiful flowers and itunes waiting in my apartment after clinicals, along with lots of hugs have made me feel quite loved. what a splendid staff i have.

last day!

last day of preceptorship!
i am just so overwhelmed with how good God was to me throughout the whole preceptorship process. he blessed me more than i thought possible. i can't even think of something that could have been better!

eighteen

happy birthday john!

its hard to believe that he can be turning eighteen today. but he is. how sad i am to miss spending the day celebrating one of my favorite friends' presence on this earth. what a special gift i was given in having this dear boy for a brother.

i love you john!!

hot tub meetings

yet, another delightful AND productive aac meeting occurred last night...
in the hot tub.

"we forgot to take a picture out there! would it be silly to go back to the hot tub just to take a picture?"

"but how do we get scotty to come back out?"

"can we call him? will he be able to hear us if we shout at the locker room door?"

"wait-he has the duty phone! call the duty phone!"

what a blessing the duty phone is. this picture is the result-

res. life bowling champions '08

i love my fellow AACs-abby, lisa, scotty and denae.
for our last staff meeting we went bowling, which was simply delightful.
i'm not sure what i loved more-

• making our iron-on champion t-shirts
• the drive to bowling, in jordan on the windy roads with scotty at the wheel
• the unveiling of the shirts -"hey lisa, is it hot in here?"
  
• "low score wins!"
• a little friendly competition between with the ACs
• silly pictures
• the feeling of my heart overflowing just a little
  

fifty

happy birthday Daddy!

i didn't realize how sad i would be to be missing so many birthdays. after all, this isn't the first year that i am unable to be home for them. maybe its because all the november birthdays are quite significant years...or maybe its just because i am SO looking forward to being home with my dear family. regardless, it was good to talk to my daddy today on his birthday.

i love you Daddy!

delights of the season

one of my favorite things about these autumn months is the availability of all things pumpkin. in the past few weeks, i have enjoyed the taste of pumpkin cookies (with white chocolate chips) and pumpkin milkshakes. i have also had the delightful experience of carving a pumpkin with martha for our one-on-one last week. we love apartments...and of course, pumpkins! and the pumpkin delights are not ending! i am very much looking forward to pumpkin pie on a certain upcoming thursday.

thirteen

happy birthday peter!

its hard to believe that the baby i remember being born when i was in third grade could possibly be a teenager already!! and not only that, but he is gleefully taller than me. =)

talking to the birthday boy!

i love you peter!

timing

sometimes God gives me exactly what i need before i even know i need it.
last night was a good example of that.
at staff meeting, we all shared one of our favorite verses.
yay for ben bringing a backpack FULL of bibles! =)
psalm 37 has always been my favorite, and it was just the reminder i needed.

"the LORD makes firm the steps of those who delight in him; though they stumble they will not fall, for the LORD upholds them with his hand." -v. 23&24

"trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. commit your way to the LORD; trust him and he wil do this; he will make our righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun." -v.3-6

preceptorship

i have been SO blessed! despite all my fears and difficulties surrounding the waiting period before my preceptorship, it has turned out to be my favorite clinical experience thus far. let me just start off by saying how much i LOVE my nurse. she's exceptionally encouraging, and makes me feel empowered to do things. yet, she is always nearby to consult with or ask questions of. i have felt so encouraged, and actually very excited to practice nursing!
i may not be in pediatrics, like i originally wanted, but i have had a great experience. it is a little sad to think i only have three times left! as i started off dreading it a little, i never expected to be remorseful for this experience to come to an end, but i truly am.

God blessed me so much!!

a prayer

1 Timothy 2:1-4:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

politics

a few thoughts about voting-

i think voting is hard. as much as it thrills me to lick two envelopes and sign my name as i submit my ballot (it really does actually thrill me), voting is difficult. it is rare that i agree with everything a candidate stands for on every issue or that i am even able to see what a candidate really thinks behind all the talk.

although voting is hard, i think it is important to consider a few issues. while it could be argued that every issue is important, i think one thing that is dear to the heart of God is caring for orphans and widows. this shows up in a few specific issues, which definitely has a huge impact on how i consider placing my vote. but sometimes one candidate wants to provide relief or end the war while another candidate opposes abortion. i wish there was a way to vote without choosing which orphan i want to save more.

lastly, regardless of tuesday's outcome, i think it is important to commit to pray for our nation's leaders. whether the candidate i voted for wins or loses shouldn't matter in how i support the leaders of our country with my prayers. while i may not feel like praying, come tuesday night, i want to be obedient in this.

fort building

i love my room-mate.
last night we made a fort in our living room.
we ate thai food and drank pumpkin shakes and watched movies.
we laughed at my inability to predict movies, even when i've already seen them.
we laughed at my similarities to ethel (from on golden pond.)
and then we slept in the fort.
and it was delightful.

sheepish grin

i feel like such a nerd.
but i loved high school musical 3.
i came home and danced around in my living room.
it was absolutely cheesy.
(i mean, there's a song called "high school musical." does it get cheesier?)
and i loved it.

a little proud

in anne of avonlea, there's a part where diana enters anne's story in a writing competition without her knowledge. when anne wins, diana refuses to take any of the prize money because she says that she is just happy to be the friend of the winner.
well, it may be a little silly, but that's how i felt sitting in the recital yesterday. becca, j and ben all sang solos, and i couldn't help but be happy to be friends with such talented people. they bring great delight to my life. and i love them.