Be Better.

      Archery class is over, my finger is still a bit numb, and now it's time to start real classes. My paper chain has shrunk, but it doesn't take away from the fact that I have been worrying about my last semester of nursing school since I was let out for Christmas break. It's crazy how much pressure I can create for myself... I must do well on my quiz, I must pass this test with at least a B, I must get a certain grade on this final, I must pass this ATI test (because taking it a second time is just not an option.) It's exhausting, and might I say, ludicrous at times. I don't know why I do this to myself. It's not the end of the world, matter of fact it's not even why I was put in this world. I didn't want to believe it, but It's true when people on campus tell you that you will become dead to everyone when you start nursing school. I'm constantly reminding myself that there is so much more than nursing school, White hall is not the only building on campus, there are more than the same 40 students at union, studying for 6-7 hours a day is not the norm, and not all elderly people have heart troubles, and end up on A8 of Jackson General.

       I cannot believe that this is my last semester of college. Along with finishing up, my goal is to spend valuable time with dear friends at school and church. I'm not the world's best at dividing myself into different things, but I'm praying that God will help me with this. I want to be a better friend (including towards my husband... truth: I can get lost and buried in studying), a better servant, and a better steward of my time. I need to stop worrying, it gets me no where and only wastes my time. If those birds are being fed, I'm sure I'll be just fine. (Matt. 6:26)  So I'm saying goodbye to nail polish (can't wear it to clinicals) and hello to my last semester at Union University! 109 days left I think??

At the beginning of the summer.

Doesn't look so bad now!

Some things change, some don't

      I can't believe that it has been one year of marriage. It seems like only yesterday that Kev and I were planning like crazy for one of the most special days of our lives. I am so thankful that the Lord gave me such a great husband. I have learned so much and I can't even imagine the things that I will learn in the future.  I pray that the Lord will daily shape me and change me into the wife that Kevin needs, and that He will use me to be Kevin's helpmate and encourager. I thank God for this special gift of marriage, and in this new year, I pray that God will continue using our marriage to glorify Him more each day.

      Two weekends ago, Kev and I went to Louisville to check out Southern Seminary and get a feel of the city. So now that we have visited both places, our choices were between North Carolina and Kentucky, and our final answer issssssssssss.......... KENTUCKY! Lord willing, we will move to Louisville in June. We are so excited and we thank everyone for their prayers as we have been trying to decide where to go.
We definitely fell in love with Louisville:
1. The drive was so easy and not very far from our families.
2. We saw a hospital everywhere we went. (As frequent as a Walgreens on every corner.)
3. The city was so quaint and eclectic.
4. Everything was a close distance from each other.
5. The seminary was great.
6. We already know several people there!! (Oh and Alli and Gentry Hill were kind enough to have us over for dinner, and we had such a great time!)

   PS: Even though we are leaving TN and going to KY, we will not betray the Memphis Tigers. Kev already said we can't turn into Wildcat fans, so don't cha ya worry!

Kev's parents went by our apartment while we were still out of town and put this on our door! So cute!

                                                      

One Year!!

We just couldn't wait...

Christmas came a bit early for us this year. We are going home this friday to be with our families, so we decided to do our Christmas this week. Originally we planned for Thursday, but we were sitting around Tuesday night and just couldn't wait any longer. We had a great time, and really enjoyed surprising each other.

Before we got started. Yes Aladdin was on!

Loving all of my socks.

Got my scarf!

Unfortunately I got the wrong size.

Kev got an xbox game.

Well I was trying to show the wrapping before he ripped it open, but I was too late. I seriously enjoy wrapping too much; only to have it taken apart so quickly.

This shirt fits!

I was so excited to get a standing mixer!!!!! I've already made some cookies!

 My favorite thing is to open the stocking. It always has the perfect things.

He had these made for me. The smaller ones are for my nursing IDs. How sweet. I got a belt and some boot socks too.

He had a full stocking too. He got some golf balls, socks, and gum!

This year my family has decided to not exchange presents. We each were told to do something for someone else. My sister proposed this idea last year, and I think it makes a lot of sense. We celebrated our birthdays a bit bigger this year, and for Christmas we are celebrating the birth of Christ and what he has done for us, by doing/giving to others.  We are blessed, and so thankful for what we have. We can't thank God enough for how he has provided for us through our first year of marriage. I can't wait to be with both of our families for Christmas this weekend. It gets crazy going to 4 or 5 different places, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Christmas

Christmas has definitely come quick this time. I think as I get older, it comes faster and faster each year....
I finished all my shopping about a week and a half ago, and all the present are wrapped under our tree, for our first married Christmas together!

Out from our kitchen, there is a ledge that is currently serving as our makeshift mantle. Works just perfectly.

Since I have ample time over this break, my goal is for us to start eating a bit healthier, and to be a bit more savvy with when we are purchasing certain items at the grocery. I searched many hours online for websites and blogs to help me out with this. I came across one that allows you to choose which store you want to look at and it lets you know what items are best to buy at that specific time. I'm trying to make smart menus one week at a time, using leftovers or extra meat from the previous meal. I'm aiming to get into this routine to make it a bit easier when school starts back. I don't know about you guys, but it can seriously be one of the biggest pains sometimes when we are trying to figure out what to eat every night. I like variety, but Kev is totally cool with eating the same ole thing. I get frustrated when he doesn't have an opinion, but that's only because he could honestly eat whatever. For real, I need a solution... I've got to figure something out.

Here is are just a few websites that I'm trying out to help me get started:
I use this to give me ideas when I know the ingredients I want to use. Comes in handy when you are trying to use the extra meat from the night before.
This blogger is awesome. She is a christian women who aims to "equip, encourage, and empower good stewardship." She is the one who lists the grocery stores with information on them. She also posts weekly meal plans and coupons.
This blog is just another weekly planner.

A lot of the crazy blogging women have this down to a freaky science. I just hope I can figure out something that works...

It's been quite some time since I have been on here... I just finished my last Fall semester of college and couldn't be happier! I'm excited to get some down time over the entire month of January! Although I will be taking the hardest class (archery), it shouldn't be too strenuous right?

A couple of months ago, for fall break, Kev and I went to visit Southeastern Seminary and stayed with Shane and Alicia Shaddix. We had such a great time (thanks again ya'll). North Carolina is beautiful and the seminary was great. We stopped at an estate sale one day and we found a steal!  We got this chair, thinking to eventually reupholster it, but for now the green is not hurting anyone. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love the pop of color it adds to our little apartment. The best part about the chair is that it was only $10. We went back to the sale the next day to pay for it and pick it up, and everything was half off, so we ended up paying only $5 for this chair!

The arms and back are bordered with nailheads, which I love!

Kev and I are still praying about where the Lord wants us to be for the next few years. Within the next month or so we are hoping to go visit Southern in Kentucky. Kev has been there before, so I want to see the seminary and we want to get a feel of the city as well. It's a tough decision, but we aren't too worried about it. We are excited to see where we will end up more than anything.

I'm thankful for this break and the time to relax and be with friends and family before my last semester in nursing starts in full force!

Diary of a Nursing student

Obviously nursing school is crazy and I haven't been on here since this summer, but I thought I'd share a snapshot of my day today...
1. I was giving my elderly patient a bed bath and she began releasing a BM that she has not had for at least 4 days. Needless to say, she required a new diaper.
2. Saw a dead body thats foot was dangling off and the tibia and fibula were poking out of the bottom of his ankle. All from jumping off of a building. Crazy!

The End!

One of my first few posts was about making a chain for all the days left until I graduate. Today being my last  first day of class, here it is... 270 days!

I wish you could see how many coffee filters are stacked on top of each other... Ridiculous! Can't wait to be done! May 19 I long for you!

save your rolls....

....Save your paper towel and toilet paper rolls that is. I found this idea on a blog and I figured I would try it due to the cost being totally FREE FRee free! Over several weeks my little craft shelf in the closet was overflowing with carboard tubes. Eventually I got enough to make the wreath I was wanting to make. I first folded the tubes flat, then marked off one inch markings, cut accordingly along the marks, and finally glued it all together!

I also made some more pillows that are just in time for my favorite season, FALL! I took a stab at hand embroidering our initials on the bottom of one, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out I think!

Shane and Shane

Shane and Shane are one of my favorites by far! This is one of their new songs on their new album, which might I say is absolutely fantastic! I just had to share.....

Warning: Tears may sporadically fall.

Kev

About a month or so ago Kevin was interviewed for a magazine called Delivered. They asked him all about his tornado story in order to post it to their website as a feature piece. What we have heard though, is that they chose to actually put it the magazine with some picture. We hope to see it sometime if that's true, but for now here is the online piece... Kevin's story..... The article says we are going to Southern Seminary next year but we are currently deciding between that AND Southeastern in North Carolina. We are excited to see what the future holds for sure!

Needless to say I'm so thankful for my husband and very proud of him. I love my best friend!