12.21.2011

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

12.19.2011

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...

12.13.2011

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!

10.25.2011

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!

8.23.2011

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!

8.21.2011

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!



8.18.2011

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.

8.03.2011

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!

7.27.2011

I think I can I think I can

So less than a month is left of summer break, and I just can't believe it. It has gone by so fast and I'm dreading going back to school and studying until I go crazy. We still have a trip to Chicago so I'm hanging onto that! There are lots of things that I wanted to get done this summer so I have been trying to keep busy in getting them done.

I tried my hand at making an apron. I thought this would be easy and fun to make. Mmmm reading patterns is not my thing, and it was not always fun. I did finally finish though, and I'm pretty happy about it.

It's bigger than I wanted. I even tried making it smaller than it told me.
The sides where the neck/ back ties slide through are pesky lil things!
Believe it or not, I am still working on the trunk. I shamefully took a break from it for a few weeks because it's just so hot outside. The paint and stain stripper are taking a lot longer than I thought. The wheels are horrible and just will not let go of the bright red paint. I will finish this though! It has to get done before school starts. It will! It will!

This is with the paint remover gunk
Yes even the inside of the wheels are this fantastic red......Ugh!
 Kev and I went home a few weeks ago and look at this precious thing my grandmother gave me! This is a quilt that my great grandmother made. I think we said it had to at least be 40 or 50 years old.

My grandmother stitched "Great Grandmother Jewel Bevill Curlin"
Here is a small section of it. So cute!
Oh ya and from two posts ago, I found the perfect spot for my little shadow box!

There are a few more sewing things I want to do but I'm waiting for JoAnn's to open on Friday! I can't wait. You can call me strange...

7.14.2011

Little Mommy and Pops

I was debating on whether or not I was going to write about this because I just do not have a way with words. I'm not sure if I could ever get across what I feel, but I thought I would just try :)

As many know, my mom had a right brain stroke in March. It's still strange to even type that. I guess at times there is still some disbelief about the whole situation. My mom has been so strong through this all and has taught me a lot by dealing with the many many changes that have come her way over the past four months. I have learned how much my mom did for all of us and appreciate her even more. I will never ever forget the night Kev and I went to Memphis to see her in the hospital... (I am in Nursing School and I had clinicals every week at the hospital taking care of cardiac patients and meeting their familes, but never really connecting with them on a deep level. After leaving their room, most times I would never think twice about how each person's life in there was being affected and just how surreal health issues can be. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't mean to them nor did I neglect talking to them, getting to know them, or serving them but it was just different...)

In the hospital that night after walking down the longest hallway in the world and while being told what was actually going on, I peeked past the curtain in the ER. I look at my mom, and I was overwhelmed. I remember going into Kevin's arms and then wanting to sit on the floor and cry. I hate crying. I hate crying in public. I hate when I start the ugly cry in public. I hate when I start the ugly cry in public accompanied with sounds. All of which happened. My grandmothers came and hugged me, and my Mimi told me that I had to be strong for her and to go in and see her. So I gathered myself and walked in to talk to her. From then on was a whirl wind. Three or four more trips to the hospital due to another stroke and multiple seizures. Never did I think that I would walk into a hospital and someone in my family be the patient. Our family was just fine. We were healthy, two in school, one married, one engaged, working, and happy. Nothing bad or horrific happens to us. At least not now, not yet... But God had different plans and they certainly weren't what I expected. Every doctor says it is amazing how well she is doing and just how lucky she is to be alive. She always responds with how gracious God is and how much mercy He has. She is still faced with certain things, but she is taking it one day at a time and all I can say is that I'm so proud of my mom! She is truly a God fearing woman who loves the Lord. I love "My Little Mommy" as I always call her.




My dad has been the most gracious and selfless person through this. He has taught us so much even in mine and Kevin's own marriage. He is the hardest worker and the busiest person. If he's not at the church working, then he is fixing someone's air conditioner, taking necessities to families in Galloway, or off on a mission trip. I'm sure there are even more unmentioned things that no one even knows that he does. He has been so strong and keeps us laughing through it all! (Even when the cost is busting on the hardwood floors when he slides all the way across the kitchen).  I love my dad and couldn't be more proud to call him my pops!


I have learned so much through this all and I'm still learning so much. I'm learning to take this into my marriage, my friendships, and my clinicals. I'm thankful for the life I have been given. I'm not promised tomorrow but through God's mercy I am promised an eternity in heaven with my Savior.
These are two verses that I have really come to appreciate these past few weeks for many reasons:
Psalm 90:12 - "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:14 - "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."