something new

i have been trying to cook at home more often, and with that also trying to get out of the rut of cooking the same things over and over...  so, i tried something new tonight.  i have tried a lot of recipes from food network, but never anything of emeril's.  his food seems a little intimidating.  tonight i made emeril's bayou chicken pasta, and you know what?  it was good!  i love spicy things, so it was just right.  so try something new, you may just surprise yourself.  oh, and throw up a prayer (see lauren's post).  it helps.  what are you cooking tonight?

tonight

tonight my hubby is in charlotte with his good friend stephen at an awesome concert.  matchbox 20, mutemath, and alanis morisette.  how cool is that?  i can't wait to hear about it.  unfortunately i have to go to class tomorrow, and i'm sitting here surrounded by books where i've been most of the evening doing homework...  

i think he's having the better time :)

broken

yesterday at crossroads, steve and rich took the time at the end of the service to talk about growing and giving.  they felt God calling crcc to a time of fasting.  they want us as a collective body of believers to use this time to ask God to search our hearts and reveal obstacles of growth, to help us be salt and light for the kingdom in our everyday lives, and lastly to birth in us a generous heart.  target verses...matthew 5:13-20 and joel 2. 

here is a photo taken from the end of the service.  we all broke our glow lights in unison, making a sound to symbolize our willingness to be broken before God so He can accomplish His purpose in our lives (original photo on rich's blog).  i don't know about anyone else, but God sure showed up in my heart sunday morning.  amazing.

sunday

today was a great morning at crcc.  brandon did an amazing job leading us in worship, and steve and rich really challenged the church to go deeper in 2008, the focus of the church this year, by being a light to the city of greenville.  they encouraged us to remember that missions start here, at home.  to close out the service, we sang two of my favorite worship songs, mighty to save and the stand.  amazing.  He showed up.

brandon and i took our dog maya for a walk to the park.  she needed to get some energy out and exercise.  i love being outside and enjoying nature.  such a beautiful day and great time spent together.

i baked some home-made heath bar cookies, and with my awesome kitchenaid stand mixer and a new oven, they actually turned out perfect.  i love it when that happens.

tonight we're heading over to brian and cathy's to celebrate a birthday.  it's always fun spending time over there.  i really couldn't ask for better in-laws.

i don't have to work tonight or go to class tomorrow.  enough said.

needless to say it's been a perfect sunday.  it's just one of those days so perfect you want to capture it and keep it forever.  a day you want to remember when you have a day that is, well, not so perfect.  don't let days like this pass you by.  i can't thank Him enough for days like this...:)

cozy

my parents came to hang out with us today.  it was great to see them since they live in nc.  on top of some good quality time, they brought me a late cristmas gift that had been back-ordered at the mast general.  old friend slippers.  real sheepskin and suede...sweet mercy.  they are seriously the best thing i have ever put on my feet.  as a girl that truly loves her heels, i have to say in this case i would take the slippers any day.  get some.  they are amazing.  thanks mom and dad!!

congrats

our good friends james and brittani just got engaged on a mission trip to ukraine!  we're so excited for them and can't wait to hear the whole story.  congrats james and brittani!!

tgif

i love fridays.  today is already a much better day than yesterday.  i've been very productive so far; clean house, do dishes, laundry, gym...  i hope to get some school work done as well.  i'm looking forward to spending the evening with brandon, although we don't really have any big plans.  my parents are coming to g-ville tomorrow to hang out with us, which makes me really happy :)  we love spending time with our families, and since my parents live in nc we especially look forward to seeing them.  i'm hoping andrew (my younger brother) and his girlfriend gini will come to.  today is brian, my father-in-law's, birthday.  he's been under the weather this week, so hopefully he'll been feeling better soon.  happy birthday brian!!

i guess we all have good and bad days; like mine yesterday.  it's all in the perspective you keep i think.  if you dwell on all the negative things in life...well life isn't going to be that enjoyable is it?  sometimes i find myself doing that, and frankly it's exhausting.  thinking about all the good things in life brings back a smile and sense of thankfulness to my heart.  when i start thinking about all the good things in life, days just don't seem as bad.  an all-knowing god who loves me more than i'll ever be able to understand, salvation, a wonderful caring and handsome ;) husband, a family i can't wait to spend time with, a house i own, a car that works, a great job doing what i love, living in a beautiful city in America, nature, pets, good food, coffee...well the list could go on and on.  i won't always be happy every day, that's fleeting, but i will experience joy every day because of God's goodness.  what brings joy to your life?

...he sees God's face and shouts for joy...job 33:26

thoughts

thoughts about today...

-woke up at 2 am not feeling well 

-woke up later than intended 

-didn't make it to the gym

-frustrating trip to wal-mart

-wonderful date to p.f. changs with my hubby (bright spot in the day)

-made a yummy cheesecake for b, but forgot the key ingredient = 9 pm trip to bi-lo

-feeling kind of worn out right about now

thankfully tomorrow is a new day  :)

never again

i cannot stand wal-mart.  i rarely go, but today i needed to and figured it wouldn't be so bad.  brandon wrote a post about wal-mart and target a little while ago, and now i agree with him.  i had such a bad experience, i will not go back unless absolutely necessary.  horrible customer service, messy store, unorganized and unhelpful.  i swear the wal-mart back home in waynesville was not like this.  from now on, target will be getting my business.  the few extra dollars i would save at wal-mart are not worth the headache and bad mood it leaves me in.  whew.  i needed to get that off my chest.

wnc mag

i got a great christmas gift this year.  my in-laws gave me a subscription to WNC magazine.  i got my first issue today.  i am in love with this magazine.  it's a magazine based in asheville devoted to western north carolina; my home.  there are things scattered all throughout it of places i would go all the time; places near my house.  it isn't "touristy".  it seems like it's made to target people native to the area.  it has beautiful photos of the great smokey mountains, nature shots, heritage, and history.  if you love the mountains like i do, go check it out.  thanks for a great gift brian and cathy!!

brandon

i'm so proud of my husband.  every day i can see God working in and through his life.  i'm so blessed to be his wife.

remember compassion?

sometimes things happen in life that make me wonder where compassion for others has gone.  i worked sunday and monday nights at the hospital.  i work on an inpatient cancer center unit.  our patients are extremely sick and are often getting high-dose chemotherapy; which makes them feel even worse.  one of my patients that i have had for the past two nights is a middle-aged woman with multiple myeloma.  to put this simply, her cancer cells are concentrated in her bones.  this is very painful.  she has had two bone marrow transplants, and now the cancer is back.  she is taking chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments, the last of which is causing a painful rash to develop on her skin.  even through all this, she is a pleasant woman and very sweet.  about 3 am or so i needed another nurse to help me reposition the patient in bed and change her linens.  the patient was so weak she couldn't get up out of bed to use the bathroom.  an older nurse who had been working on this unit for many years came to help me.  we made her comfortable and helped clean her up.  i brought her some pain medication, water, and another blanket.  i offered to help with some cream on her back that was itching from the radiation.  after we got out of the room, the other nurse looked at me and said, "she's taking advantage of you.  it's because you're young."  she proceeded to make a big deal about all the "little things" i had done for the patient.  i wasn't sure what exactly to say at first.  aren't nurses supposed to be there for our patient?  aren't we supposed to help them with anything they need, especially the "little things"?  often those are the things that end up being most important.  how can you be a nurse and not understand that?  this woman is very sick and in a lot of pain.  she didn't ask anything outrageous of me.  she wasn't rude or demanding.  if i can help someone with the most basic of tasks, tasks that i take for granted on a daily basis, you better believe i will do it.  i didn't feel taken advantage of.  i felt privileged to serve someone in the way Jesus has called me to do.  maybe she was taking advantage of me.  so what if she was?  she has cancer, and she is lying in a hospital bed, where she's been for weeks, alone and unable to sleep at 3 am.  God, please don't ever let me get to the point where i don't want to help someone.  don't let me loose compassion for others.  don't let me forget what you have called us to do in this life; what you continually did and taught your followers to do.  serve others.  serve with our whole hearts with nothing in return.  honestly give of ourselves.  service.  love. compassion.  help me be like You.

vote

if you live in sc, go out and vote tomorrow.  it's your privilege and responsibility as an american.  don't waste the opportunity to practice what many men and women have died fighting for.  it matters.

yummy

i love baking.  i like to cook as well, but baking is what i love.  i was looking through my real simple magazine (a great read by the way), and i saw a photo of a beautiful cupcake.  this got me thinking.  when was the last time i had a really good cupcake?  one homemade with buttercream frosting as thick as the actual cake...yum.  i do believe i will be making cupcakes tomorrow :)  what satisfies your sweet tooth?

yay!

i am blissfully happy.  it's been snowing in greenville sc for about 5 hours now.  that's awesome.  i've just come in from playing in the snow.  at midnight.  i couldn't pass up the opportunity to play in the snow like a little kid while the it was falling and already several inches.  it was just amazingly beautiful. peaceful, quiet, cold...:)  it has made me so happy i just cannot describe it.  it reminds me of the mountains.  of home.  of my family.  i love and miss you mom, dad, and andrew.  to think something so simple can bring so much joy and happiness.  wow, thank you God for the most perfect gift!!

disney princess

okay, so the other night at work i was a little bit nervous.  one of my patients had taken a turn for the worst.  breast cancer had metastasized to her liver and brain.  she was pretty much unresponsive, hooked up to all kinds of IV drips and also required a lot of suctioning.  long story short, she needed to be watched especially close.  all of my other patients were in pretty critical condition as well.  the day nurse passed on to me that this particular patient had lots of family and friends in the room that asked a lot of questions.  as a nurse you always want to be on top of your game while still showing how much you care about the patient, especially when 10 people are staring at you and asking loads of questions.  i walk in, introduce myself to the patient and family.  they were totally not what i expected.  yes, they did ask me a lot of questions and watch me work, but they just really cared about their family member.  they thanked me over and over for the care i provided and even called back to check on her and thank me again at midnight.  she had a granddaughter, a beautiful 4 year old.  as she was leaving she ran back down the hall and said, "i'm so glad a disney princess is taking care of my gran!  you look just like belle from beauty and the beast!".  i wasn't sure what to say, but she definately brought a much needed smile to my face that night.  what little girl doesn't dream of being a disney princess? :) 

an anniversary

today my husband brandon and i have been married for 6 months.  to a lot of you that seems like nothing special, but it is.  i fall more in love every day.  i've found the man who i'm spending my life with; all of my life.  he's wonderful, sweet, talented, and loving.  i feel so blessed to have found the one God designed for me.  i love this crazy/beautiful thing called marriage, and brandon, i love sharing my life with you. <*>

creation

creation.  while reading in genesis tonight, i was reminded of how much i am in love with God's creation.  people of all walks of life; unique and creative and special.  nature and all it's elements: plants, animals, mountains, earth, sky, sea.  i was in awe when i began thinking of all God has made.  such time, love, care, and attention to detail!  how can i not see God everywhere i turn?  His creation is utterly beautiful.  i need to be reminded of this every day.  it's refreshing, exhilarating even, to be in awe and wonder of something, of someone.  i just can't get over how beautiful He is.  

andrew

this is my baby brother.  he is almost 18 and about to graduate from high school...what?!  that is so hard to believe.  we have always been close and still are today.  i miss him a lot.  he's turned out to be such a great guy.

friendship

have you ever moved before?  not just across town, but really moved away from your family, your friends, your familiarity, your home.  i did this six months ago when my husband and i got married.  everything has finally settled down.  being married is wonderful, and i feel at home now that we live in a quiet neighborhood in our own home.  brandon's family has become like my own over the past 6 months, and i get to see my wonderful family pretty often since they live only one state away.  i feel like everything is falling into place except for one thing.  friendship.  all of my friends live over 100 miles away.  they are busy with their own lives, and with the exception of one, it seems like we talk when i'm the one calling.  that's tough.  i'm not talking about acquaintances, but honest, real, deep relationships rooted in community.  i miss that so much.  i ache for it.  this is my prayer focus right now.  i hope God will open my eyes for opportunities for community and real friendships.  brandon and i hung out with one of his friends stephen and his wife cindy tuesday, and another friend james and his girlfriend brittany tonight.  it was great to spend time with others with no agenda.  just hang out and have fun.  i've missed things like that.  i know friendships come with time.  i read a quote on another blog tonight.  it was great.  hopefully this will become my quote soon.  :)

friendship is born at that moment when one says to another

what!  you too?  i thought i was the only one!

-c.s. lewis

pain

pain.  the word brings many things to mind.  a headache, a heartbreak, a flu shot.  well my perception of pain was altered while at work a few nights ago.  as a nurse i see people in pain all the time, but until this i just don't think it had hit me.  think about being in so much pain that you haven't had a good night's rest in 3 months.  you can't sit up by yourself, because even the tiniest of movements are excruciating.  you vomit every day, because the pain is so terrible.  nothing helps.  you can't do anything by yourself.  this was what my patient was dealing with.  diagnosed with cancer more than 8 years ago (what a survivor!), the cancer has now spread to her bones.  bone mets are known to be extremely painful, and she had it in her spine, ribs, and hips.  as i sat there with her most of the night, administering painkillers and anti-emetics, holding a cold cloth on her forehead and helping her turn over , i realized what true pain is...and what true strength is.  this patient was amazing.  through this terrible thing called cancer, she was lying there in bed singing songs about God's love, strength, and faithfulness.  she never once complained, only asked for help.  can you imagine?  i can't, but God can.  He knows all our pain, physical and beyond, and it was so obvious He was there comforting her.  wow.

daddy's girl

our siberian husky, maya, is a daddy's girl.  if brandon is around, she pretty much ignores me.  it is cute though :)

politics

i love politics.  i grew up in a very political family; immediate and extended.  they debated, discussed, and researched political topics over the years, always encouraging me to think deeply and carefully about subjects before throwing out shallow opinions.  i remember when our country didn't know who won the presidency until around a month later...remember the term "hanging chads"?  last night as i was watching the candidates debate and defend themselves, several thoughts kept running through my mind.  was Jesus political?  what were the political dynamics like in His day?  did he defend himself like clinton and romney?  nope.  to most it seems logical to fight back when someone slanders one's faith/beliefs.  it's human instinct.  but Jesus was not only human but also God.  i came across a quote soon after watching the debates concerning this issue.  Jesus didn't work to defend or justify himself.  "he used the highest universal goal - the truth - and was confident that those who were seeking the truth would understand him.  such a strategy made him vulnerable, such a strategy made him invincible."  unfortunately many today choose to react as the religious leaders (and maybe some candidates?) did - defensive and striking back vehemently.  this same article also made another good point.  christians who choose to defend their religion rather than seek out and portray the whole truth loose the ability to see God outside their own tradition, the ability to influence people in any positive sense toward God, and the opportunity to grow in faith.  what i'm taking from all these jumbled thoughts is that i want to vote in a way that is not limiting myself to the single strategy of defending a religious tradition, but in a way that seeks out the truth.  bring on the politics baby.  there will be much to see in 2008.

hello blog world

since i read many blogs on a daily basis, i figured i would give it a try myself.  i am a newly-wed (7.14.07) to my husband brandon and am adjusting to life living in the big city of greenville (just moved here from the mountains of nc where i lived my entire life, c'mon, it's big to me).  i spend a lot of my time at the hospital working in an inpatient cancer center as an oncology nurse.  i love it, and i usually have many interesting experiences in the process.  brandon and i are new home and dog owners.  we have a siberian husky named maya.  she is bringing us lots of joy.  i'm just a young woman living life trying to please God in the process.  i like the idea of a blog.  let's see how it goes...:)