The end is in sight!

As I realized last night, I have not posted in my blog in over a month. This is due to my crazy schedule. I started my FINAL session of nursing school at the end of August. I am completing my med-surg (ICU/ER), leadership, and community health rotations and classes right now. I am realizing now that I am really beginning to run out of energy with this program. I am beginning to feel like I could only go so fast for so long, and I have reached my wall. This session is a "regular college semester" of 14 weeks so this is double as long as our past sessions of 6 weeks. I think everyone is struggling with the "slow" pace of this session. My sleep schedule and daily schedule are all over the place. Each night before bed Chip asks me what is going on for the next day because a lot of times he (and even me) can't even keep up with the daily schedule.


I am beginning to look for jobs which is exciting and extremely scary at the same time. I really want to work in Labor & Delivery or a Women's health area in a hospital. My second choice would be an operating room, and my third choice would be NICU (Neonatal ICU) or Pediatrics. Unfortunately these are the most popular areas to work in and most of them require experience. I am hoping that all my other work experience and work ethic will overshadow my lack of experience. I also stand by what I always said when looking for a PR job--"How am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me?" 


I have decided that this job search (and many other areas of my life that I worry about) must go into God's hands and I cannot control this so I am depending on Him and everyday try to give it all to Him. I find that I struggle to depend on God and allow Him to take over in my life. I was reading last night in a book ("Balance That Works When Life Doesn't" by Susie Larson) about finding balance in your life and found what the author had to say very interesting. She said that one time the Lord spoke to her and said: You are living in the 'next' moment and missing the present one. You are so focused on your destination that you are only thinking about getting there. Did you happen to notice everything else around you?...You are missing so much of the journey because your mind is on the destination. All I could say was "WOW!" That is me right now. I am so focused on just being done with school that I cannot enjoy (and I use enjoy very lightly because I am not sure how much you can enjoy tests, studying, and late nights) nursing school and the place that God has put me. I should be so thankful to even be in this program right now and the impact I am making in my patient's lives, but all I can focus on are the little things that I cannot control. 


My goal for the next 2 months (only 2 more months!!!!) is going to be to trust in God that He has control over Chip and my life and our future together. I am going to start by praying this prayer (also in the book) everyday when I get up and saying this scripture:

Dear Father, 

You have done so much for me (and my family), and I thank You with all my heart. I don't know why I sometimes choose the less-than-best path when I know there is a better way. Motivate me to start anew today. Help me to find my way to the peace You provide. I want to take what You have given and give You a return on Your investment. Create in me an excitement to live a healthier life. I love You. Amen. 

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30

I will try to be better about updates on my blog and ask everyone to hold me accountable. 

DC in July

I got a few days off between session at school, so Chip and I decided we needed to get away. We went to Washington, DC for four days. We were there over the Fourth of July. We decided to drive because it was cheaper than flying. It was a 14-hour drive that we broke up into two days on the way there. We pretty much drove until we couldn't drive anymore. Then, once we got there, we walked until we couldn't walk anymore. We stayed at a great hotel not too far from the White House and the Mall. It was about 10-15 blocks. The metro was great once we figured it out. The hotel was in the middle of Thomas Circle.

Driving into the city, Chip was like a child at Disneyworld. He was in heaven! We got to the hotel in the afternoon so we went to see all the monuments and memorials at the Mall.

 On day 2, we went to the American History Museum, Air & Space Museum, and Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust Museum was very crowded. It did not seem very crowded until you went into the museums, but all the people seemed to spread out once you got inside. It was very hard since I am so short to see some of the exhibits. There were a lot of screaming children by the end of the day that were tired and parents that looked very worn out. A great place for children who want to learn, but I guess they have their limits as well.

On the third day, we went to the Capitol building, Library of Congress, and Arlington Cemetery. Chip loved the Library of Congress. He was very upset that he couldn't go into the Library and look at the books. After all the walking we had already done, we decided to take the bus at Arlington. The bus took us to the Kennedy grave site, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Arlington House. It was a little warmer this day so it would have been exhausting to try and walk to all of these sites. If you haven't been to Arlington, it is a huge cemetery and could take all day to walk, we had only an afternoon. For both of us, it was a very serious experience to be at the Arlington Cemetery. We were both shocked at people who were taking their "fun family photo" just down from the Kennedy grave site. It was almost like people didn't really grasp what the Cemetery was all about. Maybe I am just more serious than most...

On the last day (the Fourth of July), I was able to talk Chip into laying by the pool in the morning, then we went to the American Art Museum and to the Mall for the fireworks. We sat next to the Washington Monument to watch the fireworks. It was very exciting to be in DC for the fireworks. There were a lot of people there. After the fireworks, we had to walk back to the hotel because the metro was so crowded that it was impossible to get on.

Then, we drove the 14 hours back home. We made 4 stops and both decided that 9 hours is the max that we will ever try to do again in one day!

Extreme Home Makeover (kinda)

We have now been in our house for a little over a year. Chip's summer project was to build shutters and install cypress columns. These were not originally intended as the first projects to take place in the house. The interior was supposed to get remodeled first. Because we had the very large, 70 year-old oak tree fall on our house in January, we decided to go ahead and do the outside first since we needed a new roof and gutters. Luckily, insurance covered the roof (except for some minor upgrades we made). In April, we cleaned out some old hedges, mulched the flower beds, and planted flowers in window boxes. Chip worked really hard to help save some money and build the shutters himself. Considering he has never really built anything before, he did a GREAT job! My brother helped him with the columns because they were solid cypress. I was shocked at how different it made our house look with new plants, paint, shutters, and columns. The next step will be to put a drive pad in so we don't have to do the constant "car shuffle" at night. Then, we will work on the backyard. Chip was so handy that he is going to work on building a deck next spring/summer. The backyard will have to wait until next year. Here are a few before and after pictures of the house. 

Before

Shutters

After (hedges are gone in front of door too)

After

First attempt at this

So I have been saying for months that I was going to start a blog. I have no idea when I will have time to post on it or what I will post, so this could be interesting. I never thought I would do this pre-kids because what exciting happens in a young, busy couple's life....from the past year- A LOT! If you know me I never have a camera on me (except for my phone). I don't even own a camera. The one we have is Chip's camera that he got for his birthday a few years ago when we were still dating, but I guess since I married him it is mine now too. Maybe if I start blogging now and get used to having to take pictures then our children (still a few years down the road) will have pictures of their childhood. I hope everyone can hang in with me throughout this as I get used to it and hopefully don't forget about it like I tend to these days. Worth a shot right?