In the Light of Eternity

I am not going anywhere

unless You lead the way.

I'm not living tomorrow

unless You plan my day.

I'm not really breathing

unless You breath through me.

I'm not living for anything,

if it's not for eternity.

Help me live everyday

fixed on eternity.

Help me keep pressing on

for the crown of victory.

~by Take No Glory

This song is a beautiful song by Take No Glory.  I downloaded some of their music for free during high school and fell in love with their songs.  They have rich lyrics.

Do I really depend on God this much....or focus on Him this much?  It seems like I tend to get so focused on myself, what I am doing, and my goals.  My heart's desire is to put the Lord first, seek Him first, and love Him first.  What is keeping me from following Him and loving Him with my whole heart?  Nothing should ever come between us. 

Keep pressing on...and on...and on....for the crown of victory.  In the light of eternity, nothing else matters.  When we get to heaven we won't be thinking about how many clothes we have, how beautiful we were, and how much money we had...we will be thinking about the lives we impacted.  Did we allow God to truly live through us?  Did we allow Him to love others through us?  Were we a light?  Or did we blend in with the world?  There is no compromising with God.  We are either for Him or against Him.  What will you choose?  For me...I am going to press on...and live for God.  No compromising.  No blending in.  I'm different.  And that's okay.  My desire is God...and no one and no thing can ever take that away from my heart.

Lord, I'm sorry for letting anything get between me and You.  Forgive me.  I want You...and nothing else.  Only You.  I love You.  In Jesus' name.

My Day...In Bullets

Now it is 12:34am on Saturday...I am still up haha.  Like I mentioned before, this blog is like a journal for me, so it may contain things that don't interest you.  Anyways, I wanted to jot down some details about my day:)

• To start my morning off, I woke up to loud banging!  I found out there were men (or a man?) on the roof putting in a gutter (or whatever it is called)...and they were fixing some things on the roof that needed to be fixed.
• I got ready and had some blueberry pancakes...yum:)
• My mama and I went to Shadeland Station to make sure I knew where to go for orientation for my job.
• We then went to Culver's to pick up a free pint of ice cream....after having a close call with another car!  God protects!  I had a coupon for a free pint of ice cream because I gave a pint of blood at a blood drive at school.   I should give blood more often:)
• Then, we stopped by a pizza place that we had never been to before and picked up a DELICIOUS pizza!
• At home, I pigged out on pizza and ice cream!
• I meant to go for a run later but ended up playing around on the computer, adding more songs to my iTunes, trying to edit a picture, and editing a video of my RA trust falling haha. 
• Later in the night...my friend, Kiersten, and I bombed Moriah's Facebook wall with videos and wall posts.  She recently texted me and said "YOU ARE EVIL WOMAN!"  Two other people posted on her wall too.  Success!

Now off to a 3-day weekend, and then my job starts! Yipeee!  Oh, and the pool opens tomorrow!  Or should I say today?!

Happy Weekend!

Average IWU Student

Who is this person on Twitter??  If you follow them, they follow you...and they try to find IWU students to follow.  If you tweet something funny about IWU, this person either retweets it or they tweet you back.  They act like they know you, but they are anonymous.  I do not know anyone who knows who this person is!  I enjoy reading the tweets but this person will not reveal their identity or whether they are male or female.  It is driving one of my friends CRAZY because she wants to know who this mysterious person is...but in the meantime, I just like reading their tweets.  Here are some of their funny tweets:

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

I was in the room of a member of the opposite sex when the power went off at #IWU... will I get in trouble for this?

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

Reports from Marion say that the power just went out on #IWU's campus, but don't worry- it's back on now, and John Wesley is ok.

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

Tuition: $21,000. Room and board: $7,000. Books and supplies: $1,200. A degree in Ceramics from #IWU: useless.

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

There haven't been any tweets from @WeCanKnow today... maybe they were the only ones who got raptured?

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

I think the rapture actually happened. I can't find Waldo anywhere.

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

#imallergicto all of the food in Baldwin. #IWU

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

Seriously considering not studying for my Mayterm exam since the rapture is happening tomorrow. #IWU

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

RT @shannon16lee there are no circle Ks where i live....what am i going to do all summer without polar pops? ....save 74 cents a day :p

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

Dear Facebookers, putting "pihgfdhj" as your status to express an emotion stopped being cool about the same time as Britany Spears. Stop it.

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

RT @evdoyle Commandment #1 of @Starbucks : Thou shalt not sit in the table by the outlet if thou art not using it. // Also applies to McConn

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

Just to make it clear: any guesses as to what my identity is will be met with neither a yes or a no. And trust this: you don't know me :)

 

AvgIWUStudent Average IWU Student

Wouldn't it be crazy if after all of this, it turned out to be an #IWU faculty member running this account? #justthrowingitoutthere

 

This funny, anonymous, fellow twitterer currently has 118 followers...but how many of these people know him/her?  Does anyone know who this is?  This question may never be answered...

Why I love summer...

1. I can sleep in (at least before my job starts).
2. Warm weather
3. Gentle thunderstorms
4. Rainy Days
5. Sunny hot days
6. I can get some rays:)
7. Ride my bike
8. Run
9. Basically get in shape haha
10. Eat yummy fruit in season
11. Have time to blog
12. Start my new job!
13. Go to the pool (opens this weekend!)
14. Watch TV finally! (I got caught up on Survivor!)
15. Go on a family vaca...this time we get to see my sissy:)
16. Spend time with family
17. Take a break from school and get everything organized
18. READ books I WANNA read!
19. Eat ice cream on hot summer days
20. Flowers, green grass, leaves on trees...ahhhhhh

Yes, I LOVE summer!!!!! Gotta be my favorite season!  The only thing I am missing are my friends...and IWU.  I started to miss homework...whaaaat?!  Haha...well maybe not.  It's nice to have a break from that.

My job starts on Tuesday...orientation that is.  I will have to let you know how that goes.  Until July, I can wear my lilac colored scrubs:)  Then CHN is moving to a dress code...which means I will have to wear tan scrubs.  Oh well.  At least I can get some wear out of my pretty purple ones.

Even though I miss IWU...I am still glad I have a little more than 3 months left of summer:) 

This will be an awesome summer...even though my sissy isn't here to enjoy it with me.  I miss her, but I will make the most out of my vaca.  Can't wait until she moves back in October! (Maybe even sooner!!)

Oh, and I will have to tell you about Average IWU Student....an anonymous twitterer...but I will save that for next time!

Adios!

Mother's Mistaken Shopping Spree

Crraaackkkk!

My mother has found something that has actually helped her migraines!  Yes, that's right...going to a chiropractor.  Ever since going to one, Mother's migraines have vanished!  She feels like she is finally getting the help she needs.

While at the chiropractor, Mother won two gifts cards, twenty-five dollars each, to Michael's.  She came home very excited, and her brain started reeling to figure out what to purchase.  Of course, her mind went to pretty fake flowers and elegant vases.  We both went to Michael's, and Mother picked out the kind of flowers and plants she wanted.  Then we went to the aisle with the glass vases.  She pulled vases of different shapes and sizes off of the shelf and set them gently on the floor.  After arranging her flowers in each of them, she stood back satisfied with her choices.  Mother and I walked up to the cashier, and while he checked out Mother's purchases, Mother handed him her two gift cards.  The man tried swiping the cards...but for some reason they were not working.  The man was so confused as to why the gift cards weren't going through, so he called over another worker.  This man looked at the gift card and said, "This is another Michael's."

"Whaaat?!" Mother responded.

The man got on the phone and found out that this gift card was for a Michael's restaurant close to our home.

Mother was shocked.  She had just picked out over one hundred dollars worth of vases and fake flowers....they were pretty and she wanted them for our home, so she purchased them anyway....and we went to Michael's Southshore restaurant on Sunday.

And you thought my one shoe story was bad? Hmm.

One shoe? And other adventures.

I received the official letter telling me that I am accepted into the nursing program at Indiana Wesleyan!!!  This is such a relief, especially after all the hard work I put into my freshman year...all the science classes and anatomy...whew!  In the back of my mind doubts would keep popping up their ugly heads saying, "What if you fail one of your classes?  What if you can't pass Chemistry and get into the nursing program next year?"  Ahhh what a relief it is that God gave me such success in college.  And seriously.  It is because of Him!  I was on a medication during the year that made me really tired during the day...at least I think it was that medication.  (Now I am off of it, thank goodness!!)  This made it really hard to concentrate during class.  One day I was sitting in Chemistry lecture, taking notes, when all of a sudden my head bobbed!  I looked down to see what I wrote, and I couldn't read it...it didn't make since!  Somehow God helped me through this year.  Going to bed late almost every night didn't help either...

Now that a load is taken off of my back and I am on summer vacation, I made a trip to Scrubs and Beyond to purchase items for school and for my job.  After finding the scrubs I needed, I moved over to the shoe area.  I found white, very comfy shoes that I decided to get.  Finding the right size, I tried on a shoe in the box and decided to purchase those.  When my mother came inside from mowing, I was very excited to show her all of the purchases.  When I opened the shoe box and moved the package paper...there was only ONE shoe!!  Ugh.  I felt stupid...so I called the store and explained my situation, and they said they would hold a pair for me.  Afterwards, my mother just laughed...oh dear.  Now I know to always check to make sure there are two shoes in the shoe box before I buy them. 

I think I have everything I need now for work and clinicals! Whew.

Today, my family and I were about to leave church when my mother walked by a room that was being decorated for a retirement party for the principal I used to have.  My nosey mother wanted to walk in the room and see what it looked like and see all the goodies sitting out.  Mother wanted some cake, but she knew she couldn't take some now...she would have to wait and go to the party if she wanted some.  She wasn't originally going to go to the party, but she decided to stop by on our way to the grocery store later...sometimes she will go out of her way for something free haha. 

Now, we are back from the store AND the party.  She enjoyed congratulating my (used to be) principal and bringing home yummy sweets. 

There are multiple funny family stories revolving around my mother...much more funny ones...but I will have to save those for another time.  Maybe I should title them "Mother Story 1", "Mother Story 2", "Mother Story 3"...etc.  Seriously.  This woman is funny. Plus she "makes friends" with random people on vacations and ends up getting free stuff.  So stayed tuned!

Happy Sunday!

Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone

Yes, I know I am very late, but I have been catching up on all the Survivor Redemption Island episodes I have missed.  The season is already over and I know who won-Boston Rob.  Even though I know this, my heart still beats faster and I become tense while watching the challenges.  I find myself rooting for certain people even though I know they are not going to win.  The main guy I am rooting for is Matt Elrod...or as Boston Rob says...Matty.  There is something different about Matt.  In the midst of all of the tension and strife, he holds on to his faith in God and stands strong in Him while desiring to bring Him glory.  Matt says he was put on Survivor for a reason.  Voted out twice and sent to Redemption Island two times, he still fights.  He won multiple challenges on Redemption Island bringing him back into the game of Survivor before getting blindsided and voted off for a second time.  One of the girls who was voted off and joined him on this island had the privilege to receive one of her luxury items- a Bible.  After Matt beat her in the challenge which determined who would stay in the game, she gave him her Bible.  Matt was thrilled to have the pink Bible in his hands.

Soon after, Matt won another challenge and was allowed back with the tribe into the real game.  While sitting at camp, one of his tribe members picked up the pink Bible and started reading it. 

"Whatcha reading over there?" Matt asked.

"Matthew...where Jesus escapes to Egypt." His tribe member responded.

Matt and his buddy started talking. Matt seemed so excited to have a Bible while on Survivor.  He was physically hungry, but God's Word provided him with strength and peace.  He not only reads it but desires to live by every word.  This is evident by how he tries to play the game with honesty.

What if I didn't have a Bible for a while?  What if you didn't?  Would I miss it?  Would you desire it?  It saddens my heart to think I have gone days and days in college without picking up the Word of God.  Reading the Bible sometimes seems like a chore and sometimes seems dry.  I may be too tired or just want to go have fun with my friends.  Wow.  I'm convicted.  TV shows, friends, computer, and even school many times come before God.  In the morning I may shrug off spending time with God and think...oh, I can just spend time with Him tonight.  Then boom...time is gone, and it is late.  Everyday I want to be like a (spiritually) hungry Survivor castaway that soaks up God's precious Words.  Everyday I want to be so grateful for God's forgiveness and grace that I can't cease praising Him. 

I feel like a spoiled brat sometimes...expecting God's forgiveness and love.  I don't want to take His grace for granted.  I want to serve and love the Lord with all of my heart, all of my soul, and ALL of my strength.  I don't want to serve Him with half of my heart and strength.  I want to give Him everything I have.  He has done SO much for me...too much.  The least I could do is love Him with my whole heart...not 25%...not 50%...but 100%.  One hundred percent surrendered.  Is that too much to ask from someone?  After a Man...Who is 100% God and 100% man...came to this earth, went through every single trial and temptation that is known to man, became a servant, stayed silent while He was spit upon, beaten, whipped, had his skin torn off, had thorns pushed into His head, had His beard ripped out, was stripped of His clothes, hung on a cross, suffocated while hanging there, and the worst of it....bore every sin of every person who ever has and ever will walk the face of this earth...bore every single one of my sins and every single one of yours...who lived His life for you...and died for you.  No.  He didn't have to...He wanted to.  My eyes are getting watery.  How much time I have wasted...when I could have been spending time with the One with His arms spread far apart...waiting...just waiting...that maybe one day He would get His child back.  He hasn't given up on me, and He definitely hasn't given up on you.  No one on the face of this earth can ever comprehend His unfathomable love.  If we only knew how much He loved us...if we only knew...we would be shocked. 

Do you desire a family some day? Some children?  Why?  Well, God wanted a family too. 
Would it break your heart to see your children decide they don't want you anymore...and to see them turn their backs and leave you...never to talk to you again?  God's heart is wrenched in two to see His children turn away from Him.  And by "His children" I mean everyone who was ever conceived.  Some decide they want Him, while others decide they don't want Him in their life.  Others decide life is too much fun...they don't want to deal with God yet.

It is not too late.  The One who gave everything away...for you...is standing right next to you with His arms open wide.

Lord, help me to hunger for You and Your Word like someone stranded on an island for days...help me to be desperate for You...let a fire burn intensely in my heart for You...give me a revelation of Your love...make me sold out for You.  Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayer.  I love you Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

God ALWAYS provides!

During Christmas vacation, I filled out a lot of applications hoping that I would get a job this summer.  I really desired a job at a hospital, preferably Community North Hospital.  This would be perfect since I am a nursing major, and this would be valuable experience.  Getting into a big hospital like this is not easy at all, so I talked to a lady at church who is a nurse at Community North about wanting a job there this summer.  She said she would try to help, and I walked away with some hope in my heart.

Months later....nothing.

Towards the end of second semester I started wondering if I was going to get a summer job.  I even thought that maybe God wanted me to go on a mission trip or work at a camp that I have worked at the past two summers.  I prayed some about my summer job, but not as much as my mother.  My mother is a prayer warrior, and I am so thankful for her!  She had faith that I would get a summer job, but she strongly believed the Lord told her that I would get a job at a hospital.

While at IWU, I found out about an internship program that offered internships related to students' majors.  I went to a meeting about internships related to nursing, and I filled out an application.  Later, I went in for an interview.  The man interviewing me told me that no matter how well I presented myself, people hiring for the internships usually hire upperclassmen, not freshmen.  My mother thought I would get this internship anyway...she stood strong in her faith.  Soon after this interview, I received an e-mail about recording an interview online.  After completing everything for the application process, I received an e-mail stating that I will not be hired this year but that I could try again next year.

Next year??? But I need a job THIS SUMMER!

I called my mother to let her know I did not get the internship, and this phone call shook her faith.  She thought the Lord had spoken to her, but now she wondered if it was really the Lord.  Was it her own thoughts? 

Somewhere in all of this mess Community North had called my home-not my cell.  My mother answered and found out that they wanted me the whole year.  My mother thought I needed to focus on school and not school and a job, so she told them I would not be accepting the position.  After my mother told me this on the phone, I was very upset! 

"You should have at least told me instead of turning them down right away! Now I definitely won't get a summer job at a hospital!"

After talking to my mother, I sat at my computer...fuming.  I was mad she did not tell me about this job opportunity.  She turned it down...without telling me 'til now! Ugh.  So, I started filling out one or two more applications for a hospital job.  I was not going to let mother take this job from me.  I even tried calling Community North, but I did not really know who to talk to.  I tried explaining my situation to someone there, but I did not know if they would help or not.

I decided the Lord will provide a job for me...somehow.  I surrendered my summer job to Him.

Sometime later, I was sitting in the student center with some friends when I received a phone call.  I did not know who was calling, but when I answered the phone...it was Community North!!!!!!!!  I stood up and walked a little distance from my friends and leaned on a column while the lady on the phone asked me if I could come in for an interview in a week.  I would be done with finals in a week so this worked out perfectly!  Estatic, I called my mother and told her about what just happened! 

"I am not going to turn this opportunity down!"  I told her.  "I can work once every other week!  I just can't let this go!" 

My mother decided I should give it a shot...and I did.  Now, I am hired!

Nothing stands in the way of God's will.  God told my mother that I would get a job at a hospital this summer.  He wasn't lying.  I thought my mother messed up an awesome opportunity...but God prevailed.  God knows what he is doing, and will not let anyone mess up what he has planned.  Thank you Father!  You are so good!  Too good!

Welcome to my World!!!

Okay.  I have to admit that I am HORRIBLE at sticking to goals!  Hopefully I will stick to this blog...I have had other blogs but ended up deleting them.  This blog is mainly for me...to look back on and remember all the memories, joys, trials, tears, and happiness in my life.  I don't want to forget all the funny stories, all the lessons I have learned, and all the ways God has impacted my life and those around me.  I love looking back on my writings and recalling all the experiences I have been through.  If you are reading, then I welcome you and hope you find this blog inspiring, humorous, and fun.  Thank you for reading.  Read, learn, comment, and laugh away! =)