I've been getting a bunch of snide comments on this site...I don't know if they're from people reading this or spammers, but either way, I'm discontinuing this site and starting a new one. If you want the address, email me and I'll give it to you.
Thanks for reading!

I think everyone who reads this knows by now...but just in case...
I'm officially an RN!! I took my boards on Wednesday and found out Thursday afternoon that I passed. I even got my official license in the mail today!
For the first time in 6 1/2 years, I come home from work and don't have any tests, papers, or projects hanging over my head. Love it!!

I'm watching the news coverage of Hurricane Gustav as it hits the Gulf Coast, and I feel horrible for all the people who are being displaced from their homes AGAIN. However, right now my heart aches for the people of Haiti, whose country was hit when the hurricane was at its strongest, and who do not have the advantage of free transportation out of danger, hoards of people rushing to their aid, and FEMA money to help them rebuild. Instead they watched their meager homes destroyed, what few crops they had washed away, their animals die, and their loved ones die. They must now depend on each other for support and the help of a few Christian (and other philanthropic) groups who are willing to reach out and help. I am sending money as a small way to help, but I'm praying for the Lord to open a door and send me! Here are a few pictures from Lifeline's website (www.lifeline.org). That is one of the Christian organizations that serves in Haiti, and the one with whom I did the medical missions trip in 2007.

Do you ever feel like you're wasting your life? I know that's kind of a deep thought for a Saturday night, but I'm sitting in my living room, watching the Olympics, and surfing the internet. Meanwhile, a friend of mine is serving as a medical missionary in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. He recently saved the life of a young man by correctly diagnosing a potentially fatal disease, if left untreated, and got him the medical assistance he needed. Right now, the people of Haiti are once again suffering from the effects of a tropical storm that ravaged their country, and the missionaries from places like Lifeline are there to help them as needed. Things like this are happening all over the world...but here I sit. I'm living the life you're supposed to live - career, house, family, etc. But what am I accomplishing for the Kingdom?

You can read all about Wes's work in Thailand at http://www.wkrobinson.com/. He has written some amazing journal posts.

I'm scheduled to take the NCLEX exam on Wednesday, Sept. 3rd at 8:00 am. Please pray for me between now & then that I study well and do well on the test (and not have a panic attack!!).

I presented my final research project this morning at 9am, and now I'M DONE WITH NURSING SCHOOL!! It's hard to believe that after 6 1/2 years of school, I'm actually finished! It's a great feeling. I'm doing a review class for the NCLEX test tomorrow through Friday, then I start orientation next Monday.
Many thanks to everyone who has prayed for me and encouraged me over the past few years when things have been so crazy!

I just got back last week from the Senior Trip with our youth group. We take the students who have just graduated from high school on an 11-day trip out west for fun, challenges, and life lessons. We went to the Badlands, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Colorado for white water rafting. We had tons of fun, and they learned a lot too (as did I). We went through the ministry of Jesus in the book of Matthew and talked about how we "Live Christ" as adults. Just an example of our teaching....For the first night's lesson, we talked about Jesus fasted and spent 40 days & nights in the wilderness alone before beginning His ministry. So that night, we all fasted for dinner, then everyone had to sleep by themselves under the stars in the Badlands. It was scary for some of the kids, but a good way to experience being alone in the dark, a little scared, and needing to depend solely on God. They all did great and learned a little more about themselves that night.
I love working with this age-group of students. It's a fun opportunity to work with them as they struggle with figuring out what they want out of life, where God is leading them, and how they need to get there. Each student has a different struggle, but they all just want love, guidance, and acceptance. It's fun to see them work through these things and come out the other side a little stronger.
I posted some pictures in my picture gallery. I took about 300 pictures...but don't worry...I didn't post them all! :)

PS - I got a job!! I'll start at the Cardio-Vascular Critical Care Unit (CVCC) at Methodist Hospital on August 4th.

I know it's been way too long since my last post! Here's what's been going on since then...

I've been finishing up my last semester of nursing school in the summer, which means that they've taken a 16-week semester & squeezed it into 5 weeks. So I've been in clinicals 3 days a week (9 hours each day), plus 2 online courses, plus a 9-page paper. I'm happy to report that I've finished all of the homework for the online courses, I submitted my paper this weekend, and I only have 2 days of clinicals this week...then I'm done with all that! In 2 weeks I'll do my capstone, which is when I will work 112 hours with a nurse. I'm doing my capstone in the Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit at Methodist. After that, I'm done completely!!

In May, I got to travel to beautiful Sevierville, TN for an equally beautiful wedding. My cousin, Ben, was married in a lovely outdoor ceremony alongside a lake in the mountains. It was a very enjoyable day. I have pictures...I'll post them when I have time!

Since I figured I didn't have enough to do in my life, I agreed to plan an "Amazing Race" for the youth group! They went out last Wednesday night to 7 different pre-set locations around the westside and picked up clues that I had planted that led them to the next spot. Some groups did better than others...:) But I think everyone had a good time. Except of course, whoever it was that got ticked off, then TP'd my house that night!! :)

We have baby birds!! I have a hanging flower on my front porch, and a bird came and laid her eggs in it. I named her "Lily." I have no idea what kind of bird she is...if anyone knows by the picture, let me know! Anyway, her eggs hatched last week, so we've been watching the babies grow up. It's been so much fun - I'm going to be pretty sad when they fly away!

Yesterday was my in-laws' 40th anniversary, so we had a surprise party for them at the church. We put together a video of pictures from the past 40 years, invited tons of family & friends, and had plenty of food. About 60 people came through, and we had a great time. They were even surprised! I'll post those pictures too when I have a minute...

Finally, we've started building our ark. The storms have been crazy! We were at Deer Creek a couple of weeks ago for the Eric Clapton concert when the tornados came through. Needless to say, we were soaked to the bone by the time we got to our car. I've been amazed by the pictures of the flooding south of here, so I'm heading out this afternoon to go down there & work in a Red Cross shelter to help with the victims. I'm excited to actually be able to help!

Here's a couple of pictures...

Our baby birds




The storm:

There's a public service ad on TV right now about the new law stating that you have to have picture ID to vote.  At the beginning of the ad, it shows a young lady saying "I heard there's a new law that says you need an ID to vote.  What does that mean for me?"

Ummmm....I'm not real sure.....but I think it means to BRING YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE!  I don't know...I could be misinterpreting the law....It's kind of obscure...

Earlier this week, a guy was in a subway station in Dallas & stopped to give money to a homeless man.  Moments later, that man fell to the ground with a seizure.  The same homeless then came over to him, and instead of helping him or calling for help, he took the opportunity to steal the guy's wallet!
First of all, this is a horrible story & a despicable act!
However, I had to chuckle just a little bit when I thought about the comparison of Mr. Homeless Man to Mr. Politician.  Isn't that what our politicians do?  Beg for money during a campaign, then pick our pockets once they're in office??

Well, we're moving up the responsibility ladder a little...We got a puppy!  Scott's been wanting a puppy for years, so I surprised him with one on Friday.  It's a 7-week-old black lab named Charlie.  We've had so much fun with him the past few days, and also a couple of sleepless nights as he learns to sleep at the same time as us and go outside to potty!  
He is soooo cute!!  I posted pictures in the picture gallery.  Check them out!

Is anyone else disturbed by the recent ad campaigns to try to convince kids to get outside & play for at least one hour per day?  When we were kids, mom had to flash the front porch light when it was time to come inside.  Of course, by the time she did that, it was past dark & we had been out running around since we got home from school - or since breakfast if it was summer!  And we all groaned & tried to figure out how much longer we could stay out & play before she got REAL mad!

We saw The Bucket List the other night.  Good movie - I def recommend it!  For those of you not familiar with the movie, the basis of it is that Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman are both dying of cancer and they create a list of things they want to do before they kick the bucket...thus the "bucket list."  I have a few things on my list.  Now, keep in mind that these are mainly my travel ideas.  In the movie, Morgan Freeman is the deeper of the two characters, and therefore has a more meaningful list.  I do actually have more meaningful goals in life, but this is my shallow wish list for things I want to see/do.  Also, some of these are the same as theirs in the movie, but what can I say?  I can't help it if they made a movie about my dreams!!
So here they are in no particular order...

1. Climb the pyramids in Egypt
2. Visit the Australian Outback
3. Take a romantic gondola ride in Venice
4. See the Eiffel Tower
5. See a Broadway musical on Broadway
6. Spend New Year's Eve in Times Square
7. Sing "The Hills are Alive" in the Swiss Alps
8. Visit all of the US National Parks
9. Do a dog sled ride in Alaska
10. Hike on a Hawaiian volcano
11. Skydive 
12. Walk along the Great Wall of China
13. Go whale watching
14. Tour the Holy Land
15. Go on an African safari
16. Have a margarita in Key West
17. Ride the entire Pacific Coast Highway from Washington to Southern California on our Harley
18. Ride the entire Route 66 on our Harley
19. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
20. Drive on the Autobahn
21. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
22. Kiss the Blarney Stone
23. See all 7 Wonders of the World
24. Visit the Sistine Chapel
25. Sleep under the stars in the desert
26. Visit all the American historical sites in Philadelphia & Boston
27. Spend one Christmas on the beach
28. Be in the audience to watch a president take the oath of office
29. Take a boat tour of all the Greek islands
30. Take a ride down the Amazon River

I'm sure there's lots more, but this was what I came up with off the top of my head!
I think I'm going to have to live to be 120 to get it all in...and hit the lottery in the meantime!! :)

There are few things I enjoy in life more than traveling, so for graduation (which is in 132 days for those counting), we're planning a 2-3 week vacation to the Southwest.  I've planned our route, found places to stay, and made an itenerary of everything we want to do/see.  Is September ever going to get here???

We saw "The Music Man" at Covenant High School on Saturday - which was an INCREDIBLE production!
I had forgotten this quote from the movie, but it's become my new favorite...

"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering."

This story was the talk of the hospital yesterday!

WICHITA, Kan.  —  Deputies say a woman in western Kansas became stuck on her boyfriend's toilet after sitting on it for two years.

Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple said it appeared the 35-year-old Ness City woman's skin had grown around the seat. She initially refused emergency medical services but was finally convinced by responders and her boyfriend that she needed to be checked out at a hospital.

"We pried the toilet seat off with a pry bar and the seat went with her to the hospital," Whipple said. "The hospital removed it."

He told investigators he brought his girlfriend food and water, and asked her every day to come out of the bathroom.

"And her reply would be, `Maybe tomorrow,"' Whipple said. "According to him, she did not want to leave the bathroom."

The boyfriend called police on Feb. 27 to report that "there was something wrong with his girlfriend," Whipple said, adding that he never explained why it took him two years to call.

Authorities said they did not know if she was mentally or physically disabled.

OK, so here's the discussion we had about this...
1) How do you NOT know whether or not she's mentally disabled?  I wasn't even there & I can help you with that one!
2) It was a one-bathroom trailer.  What did the boyfriend do?
3) According to the story, the couple "maintained normal relations."  What exactly does that entail???
4) How could the EMS workers handle that scene with a straight face?
5) When an ambulance is coming to our ER, the medics call us & tell us what is coming in so we know what to expect.  How would THAT conversation go??  "I'm sorry...I don't think I understood you correctly...You're bringing us WHAT??"
 

From my favorite website, www.despair.com

It was 65 degrees today & beautiful!  We got out on the bike, rode all through Hendricks County, then came home and put hamburgers on the grill.  I know it's going to get cold again, but days like today give me hope for the warm weather to come!  I almost felt myself thawing out in the sun!

Due to people in other semesters being held back, my graduating class is too big for the number of available clinical spots next fall, so they made it available for people to complete their final semeser this summer.  We had to apply for it, and they chose 30 people based on GPA's.
I found out this afternoon that I got in!!  That means that I'll graduate at the beginning of August instead of December!!  WOO HOO!!!
I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! :)

Who keeps leaving comments anonymously?
I love to hear from people, but I would love it more if you sign your name.