What?!

I have Nursing School orientation tomorrow.

The insanity begins. God go before me.

Summer time in the city...

It's been trying this summer. I feel slightly jaded. I'm drained and not myself. I hope to recover soon.

I start nursing school in August!

A dream that has been rooted in my soul, it seems. And it just won't go away. So after running from it for several years, I begin. It's really scary.

Maria, Dear

My friend Maria just graduated from Ministry School. I am so proud of her and so blessed by her effort. At her church on the day she graduated, she came up and asked if she could pray with ME! God gave her insight and anointing that could have only been from Him. Praise God for obedient, Godly friends.

Zumba?!

Burgess Falls State Park

On April 9th my sweet dad and brother took me hiking! The three of us love being outside and getting active. Here are some fun pictures of the day:

My nursing essay for Aquinas. The last step in admitance!

"Describe the best course you have ever completed in your academic history and explain your reasons for selecting this course."

            I remember the sunshine in J.O. McClurkan building, room 304; it was intense. The east side of this classroom was a wall of windows, and in the wintertime the sun’s rays had an enlivening and cozy effect on the weary religion students that wandered in and out every hour during the school week. A former philosophy and theology professor, Dr. Henry W. Spaulding, stood at the front of this luminous classroom, and took seriously the responsibility of instructing future pastors, educators, and students of all disciplines at Trevecca Nazarene University.

            I studied under Dr. Spaulding during his last year at Trevecca in the spring of 2007. I was a social work major with a minor in religion; this afforded me the selection of several upper division religion classes. I enrolled in Dr. Spaulding’s Theology of Holiness course as it appealed to my deep passion and respect for the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition from which the Nazarene denomination derives its doctrine.

            I walked the creaky, wooden stairs of that old building three times a week into room 304 and was made new as I listened fixedly to the transformational truth about holiness. That semester, holiness became more than subject matter to me, more than historical content and knowledge about influential figures, and even more than a defining doctrine. Instead, it became a call to live my life fully devoted in service to Jesus Christ.

            I was taught that we are called to holiness by God our Father (see 1 Peter 1:13-16); that means more than separateness and perfection, though those characteristics are significant. When we look to Jesus the God-Man and exemplar, we find Him ministering among the most unholy and wretched of people who were condemned and ostracized by the Religious of His day. This speaks to the way we must live out holiness in our world.

            Dr. Spaulding challenged my class to imitate Jesus’ holiness in whatever vocation in which we found ourselves and also among the people we encountered in our daily lives. He taught us that our role is not to separate ourselves from the lost, marginalized, or depraved, but to be among them, unthreatened by whatever unholy and desolate conditions we find in the world, we are to project holiness through the compassion of Christ. I found great purpose in this teaching, and I was encouraged by wonderful examples of people who embodied this calling like J.O. McClurkan, after whom our building was named and because of whom Trevecca was founded. He was motivated by love for Jesus and others and is quoted as saying “Religion is love…and without love any and all religion is but a name.” (See “Called Unto Holiness” by Timothy L. Smith).

            I can say without hesitation that this is the best course I have ever had the privilege of completing. Wherever I find myself, no matter the capacity, this teaching will guide my life. I understand fully my role as a Christian, and I will take my vocation and calling to love others seriously. Whether I am to be a registered nurse, a social worker, or a homemaker, with Christ’s grace and help, I will embody holiness and His calling.

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Heal the broken hearted

            On Saturday Feb 19, my dear friend Cassie heard the heart-wrenching news that her injured brother-in-law was taken off life support.  Andrew Carpenter gave his life while serving in Afghanistan.  I cannot express to you the sadness that has overcome all of those who are connected to Andrew and his wife Crissie.  Grief and consuming sorrow have become like an ever-present, looming cloud above our heads.  I grieve with my friend Cassie as she mourns her sister, Crissie's, loss.  Crissie is near the end of her pregnancy and she is carrying an already cherished little baby boy whom she will name Landon.

            It is so difficult to reconcile with this paradox: when a loved dies, how does life goes on?  You look around and wonder at how the world even keeps spinning.  Your consuming grief is almost paralyzing; and yet the sun still rises after you've cried yourself to sleep.  God, comfort us in the tragedies of this life.  Our only rest is in You.  We can only continue on with You.  Our grief would devour us without Your arms holding us up.

            I attended Blakemore Church of the Nazarene today for Fin Knowles' dedication.  Cassie was able to come today, too.  She sat in between Kat and me; we wanted to sandwich her with love, touch, & support.  We felt God's presence, and we shared tears.  God spoke to me in the words of the song Choose -

"For in the fullness of who You are, I can rest in this place. And giving over this, my journey, Lord, I see nothing but Your face."

            It dawned on me anew that we are on a journey. We walk a strange, narrow, beautiful, path. On this path we encounter joys, surprises, hardships & newness. Our only constant is the Lord. Our only hope is found in Him. Our journey in this world may wind; it may take us up to steep heights that let us touch the sky; it may take us through treacherous valleys that threaten our life and steal our joy. We never know what may happen on our journey. God has not promised to keep us from worldly harm. His Son actually tells us the world will be difficult for us - "In this world you will have trouble.." were Jesus' words. But our journey doesn't end there. Jesus continues by saying "but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Praise Him! He has taken our afflictions and made them His own. He is redeeming this world. He has overcome the enemy that threatens to kill and destroy us. Praise God!

            O great God, comfort our suffering. Hear our cries. Heal our wounds. We cling to Your promise that, "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning" Ps. 30:5 And we are thankful that God "...has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one, He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help" Ps. 22:24

            God, scoop up Crissie in your arms right now. Heal her broken heart. Cradle her and Andy's baby in Your loving, Fatherly arms. Wipe away her tears. Bring her peace about the future. Give help to her as she makes difficult decisions. Thank you for her. Thank you for the life Crissie shared with Andy. We love You.

On being a nanny...

I drive to work every day and see this little face smiling back at me. I love her. Greatest job on earth! :)

Pasta, Psych marathon, PJs, & LOVE. I can be cheesy...its okay, I promise.

Happy 23rd Birthday to my wonderful hubby!

Early Valentine's Day gift....

The Hunter Green Thompson Chain (2nd from the last in the picture) is my Valentine's Day gift from my sweet husband! This will be my first Bible with my "new" name on it. I am thrilled. I have not had a new Bible in about 4 years. And I have not had a new NIV since I was 10 years old. I memorized scripture in the NIV and did lots of intense study in that version all throughout high school and some of college. I have tried to make the switch to other more...how should I put in...academic versions, but I just cannot do it; I love the NIV too much. The Word of God; what a precious gift!

Apt. Deco

I had an itch to change something in our tiny & wonderful apartment. So we painted! What do you think? Please excuse the vertical picture lying horizontally in the frame. :P

Pretend this is JANUARY 2nd

This is a new year and I am happy about several things:

• I passed my nursing entrance exam! What does this mean, you ask? It means that I can apply to nursing school at Aquinas College in Nashville. The application deadline is March 1st, and I will find out in April if I made it in for the fall semester. This process has been a lifetime journey, let me tell you, and I am expectant of the outcome. If I make the cut and begin nursing school, wonderful! I will be fulfilling a dream & calling I have had since I was a little girl. If I do not get into nursing school, I will honestly be content. For me, this will be a "hang up your hat" type of sign. I have done my best to begin this journey. I have petitioned the LORD for guidance and to reveal Himself to me. And I know that He has a purpose for my life that is not dictated by a job title. I will trust Him no matter the outcome.

• Jeremy quit his job and is pursuing his own business! This is no small undertaking; especially in this economy. It has been very exciting to see him apply for his small business license, make a website, purchase a uniform, create business cards, make contacts, etc. etc. I admire his work ethic and the enthusiasm he has had going into this. He wakes up everyday excited about the day's duties and the contacts he will make. I see a new spirit in him; a revived spirit that is hopeful and expectant. I love watching my husband come to his best!

• We have the best friends in the whole world. God has truly blessed us with dear, true blue friends, how grateful we are! Friendships change when you are married. It is a good thing. It is also scary & new. We have met some insanely awesome couples that we will journey and grow together with for a long time. I have a specific group of ladies that I am closer to *post college, and I can't thank them enough for staying the course with me and helping me through difficult times. We need people in our lives that we can look to and say "Remember when...?" We need people who will point us to Christ and remind us of who we are - children of God.

So, as this New Year & new blog begins for me, I look forward to recording beautiful moments and daily glimpses of grace. My memory does not always serve me well, so I will be glad to have an account to look back on.

I am new at this.