Room Reveal!

I have been talking about redoing my room for a while. When our house was built about 7ish years ago, I was going through an all orange phase. So, I chose bright orange for my room color. Ive since then out grown an all orange Hawaiian themed room. I'd been talking and talking about wanting to redo my room non stop. While I was gone to Haiti in December, my mom decided she would redo my room for me. How sweeeet! :] I am now going through an all grey phase. But, I think my liking of grey is here to stay. So here are some before and after pictures! {Picture overload ahead}

ORANGE!

GREY!



AFTER!

 Pic-chaaasss.

Mr. Piggy. (He was pink before)

Love my yellow, black, and grey.

My elephant from Haiti...and an ancient picture of Kayla and I. haha.

My furniture was repainted. Lurvee. The globe and bell are from Haiti as well!

Repainted the H and the hooks.

CANDY!  My favorite, miniature M&Ms.

                              My Pinterest inspired  DIY candy holders.

Comfiest chair evaaa.

So, there ya have it. I'm still in love with my room. When I eventually move out, the grey, black, and yellow are going too!!

Cray Cray!

I realized I haven't blogged since the beginning of January..talk about busy! This is just a catch up on life and my every day rambles. (like all my other post :])

My CRAZY 8 weeks is over...over. Let me repeat, over. I made it. I survived. I'm still alive. Can you believe it?!  It was all by the grace of God and long hours studying. Although, this semester wasn't nearly as bad as others had made it out to be.

So whats been happening in my life for 8 weeks? Lets see...

• I spent too many miles on the road going back and forth to school and clinicals.

• Spent Valentine's Day with sweet Lydia!

• Went to see The Vow...Oh Channing Tatum ;]

• Got a tattoo on my foot!

• Went and hung out with my Chrysalis 49 buddies. Unashamed.

• Class, test, clinicals, repeat.

So, its sad when i look back at my planner for the last 8 weeks and those few things above are the only things I did that we rent related to school...and 2 out of the 5 were related to school. Shew. I'm so glad that I now have more free time to make lunch dates and hang out with my friends. I have missed them being in my life! Sorry if I've been MIA for a while.  ;) I'M BACK!

My life seems really boring looking back at that. Its alright, I love this life that I'm living and honestly wouldn't have it any other way!

It makes me so excited to be looking at apartments and imagining what a "grown up life" will be like. I probably wont be moving out for a while (since I'm a brokkkee college student) but its still fun to dream.

I've been noticing lately how much God is shaping me and working in every aspect of my life. He is continuing to place the perfect people into my paths at just the right time. It is crazy actually.  I am growing every day and I thank Him so much for loving me even when I mess up...which is a daily thing. He has been teaching me that there will be struggles. Its a guarantee. Trust. I'm working on that.

Just another day at clinical's.

Skit Day!

5 Weeks

We have 5 weeks left of our crazy front loaded 8 weeks of school. I almost don't want to say this because I don't want to jinx myself but, this semester hasn't been near as bad as I thought it would be. Ive actually really, really enjoyed it so far. I passed all my return demos and made a great grade on my first test (which will probably be making the fridge! :]) I have also had more "free" time then I thought I would have. Crazy right? I feel like I had heard so many horror stories so I was prepared for the worst..Its not bad at all.These first 8 weeks are very time consuming and I feel like I live at the School of Nursing but I really am enjoying every minute. It makes me sad to think that in 5 weeks I will no longer...

•  See my nursing buddies every waking moment of my day
•  Sit through 4 hour lectures
•  Have anymore clinicals with my buddies
• Car pool to clinical sites
• Watch my friends pass out while at clinical
• Have GREAT nursing instructors to basically hold my hand and help me through every clinical or class
• Get to ask 1983892 questions (I have a question for everything)
• Complain about paying $1.25 for a drink in the SON or Education building
• Have to get up at 4:30 am for a 6:15 am clinical
• Have my head crammed into a book ( I mean really, what else is there to do?)
• Get to give people 'the look' when they ask how school is going
• Do homework that is worth 3 points  (that may or may not be taken up)
• Spend time at everyone else's house but my own
• Have awesome study parties
• And say, "I think I'm going crazy!"

Shew, I could make a really long list but I really will miss nursing school. Yes, I'm not technically done until May but after the first 8 weeks we have our Preceptorship (120 hours at a hospital...so 10 days.) I plan on doing that within 4 weeks and then just having 4 weeks to study for state boards. Now boards, that FREAKS ME OUT! 75 questions to cover everything that Ive learned in 2 years. eeek.

In other news, life is life. Its hard, challenging, and not fun at times but I have to stop and remind myself how blessed I am. Jesus said that we would have hardships...living in a fantasy world just isn't possible. This was in my devotional book yesterday and I loved it. "Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. This is false hope! As I told My disciples, in the world you will have trouble."

I plan to live this next week as though I will have troubles but that God has my back. He will never fail me even when worldly things and people do.

Be Encouraged :]

Romans 12:12



PS. Baby K is engaged! :] Hello pretty Bridesmaid dress!



Heart for Haiti (Trip 2)

 I really don't even know where to begin. As I begin to type, my eyes instantly start to tear up. I feel so many emotions as I begin to write about this trip and the weeks leading up. A few weeks before the trip, I was sort of struggling with my emotions and feelings. I realized after a few days that I just needed to snap out of it. Being down doesn't help anything or anyone. As the trip was nearing, I was still not feeling like I was putting all my heart and soul into it but I knew that if I was going to go, I needed to get with the program.

 The night before we left it really became a reality for me that I was getting to go back to Haiti. What a blessing that God had set aside for me! I started to feel super excited about the trip and I was determined to make this trip a great one and do what God had called me to do. No more being down but back to being who God had called me to be, happy & loved by Him.

 Our flights to Haiti all went smoothly except our planes were uber small! But, we still made it! Our first night we just chilled at the guest house and had some amazing dinner. (The food was even better this time!) We had 4 straight days of clinics were all together we saw 2,125 people...in just 4 days!!! God was hard at work. We went to different sites this time for our clinics and I'm so glad that we did. The one that stands out to me the most was the one that was out in the middle of no where and about 2 hours away from our guest house. It was the poorest of poor. It reminded me of one of those "feed the children" commercials except this was real life. The majority of these people had no clothes, but when they would see our bus they would start jumping, smiling, shouting and clapping for us. They had nothing yet they were SO happy. As the bus would pass, you would see them run back and tell everyone they came in contact with. Heartbreaking. I think I can say that our whole group was crying before we even made it to the clinic. We knew that since those people lived so far out that there would be no way they could walk to our clinic and make it in time. We heard that this was probably the first clinic that these people had ever had and that it would probably be the last. Think about that, having medical care one time in your life...I cant imagine.

 This trip was also one that brought our group together as a whole. Our first few days were rocky and satan was definitely under attack but God was still there. We had some things go on with our clinics that taught us all forgiveness and showed us how great God's love is for all people. We also got to really see the need that Haiti has for medical and financial help. It really is crazy how much I have...almost embarrassing compared to them.

 One night I had the chance to go back to Ms. Dorothy's orphanage. I cant say it enough how sweet and loving those kids are despite everything they have been through. Most of them have full blown AIDS or HIV and still have the biggest, brightest smiles you will ever see. They want love. They want to be held. They want attention. They want to sit in your lap. They want hugs. They want you exactly as you are. I believe that I could hold them all day and be content. Some are true orphans and some are staying there until they get healthy enough to go back to their parents. I love, love, love these sweet kids. If I could, I would bring every single one home with me...and I'm not lying. I would love it.

All together, this trip was such a blessing and it came at the right time. God knows what I need. The Haitian people helped me way more than I helped them. They showed me the kind of person I'm supposed to be. The person that God called us all to be. Above all else, they showed me love.

 I am excited to see where God will call me to next. I would love for Africa to be on the agenda in the next year or so. I feel at this time like this was my last trip to Haiti for a while. I will go back one day (maybe to adopt some sweet babies! haha) but for now I'll just have a Heart for Haiti. :]





About to fly out!



This was the really poor community. Look at the boy on the left. Have we ever been that happy to get medical attention? We are so blessed.






Our awesome team!





This little guy was just hanging out at our 3rd clinic. He was adorable!




We had a photo shoot. My favorite picture :]



My precious Johnny. He has AIDS but is perfect in every way in my eyes. He was my buddy last time and the first one to run up and give me a big hug at the orphanage this time. Melts my heart.



Is there anything sweeter?

This is an orphan from a pastors orphanage. They loved the stickers!



Haiti is absolutely breathtaking!

 BIG thanks to everyone for the love and support!

Thoughts

There is SO much going through my mind right now that I don't believe I could even begin to write it all down. This is just a small look into my random brain...

• Christmas break is going by way too fast!

• I leave for Haiti in FOUR days...snikes!

• I already have all my books for next semester...I'm avoiding even looking at them.

• I just wrote down a "re-cap" of 2011. Wow..What a year! It was filled with a lot of joy, sadness, heartache, and triumph! The happy moments definitely outweighed the sad. :]

• I have SO much to be thankful for and I'm so blessed by every single person that I've met this past year. I look back and can see just how much God loves me by the people he sends to be in my life.

• I'm still not a big Christmas music fan. Some songs I can tolerate but others..no. Sorry to all of you that love Christmas music.

• God is still providing me the trust and reassurance I need to get through every day. He knows what I need in every moment.

• I'm excited for Christmas! But I have to work on Christmas Day :[ Not looking forward to that.

• As of Christmas, I will go PRN (as needed) at my job due to school next semester. Thankful to have a job that works with me and my crazy schedule!

• It will be weird not working for at least 8 weeks...I've never not had a job.

• I'm ready to see my friends open their gifts :]

• I'm sorry if you are still reading thoughts from my crazy mind. Haha. Thank you.

• I have GOT to pack. I keep procrastinating. See...



(Yes, I already opened the Pringles..shhh)

• Im ready to see my nursing buddies. I miss them already!

• I just started my Christmas shopping 2 days ago...I'm still not done. whoops.

I'm done rambling for the moment...I will come up with some more jib-jab later I'm sure.



Melts my heart. 4 days!!!!

Be Encouraged :]

Highs and Lows

Our Haiti trip is 7 days away! I couldn't be more excited or nervous. I feel like I've been waiting forever for this trip and now that it's so close...AHH! I cant wait to see what God has in store for me, my friends, and the haitian people. I really CAN NOT believe that I am getting the opportunity to go back. I don't want to think that this is just "another trip". I want to pour myself into this trip and take hold of every opportunity that I'm presented while in Haiti. I better start packing soon too ;]


Now, a little catching up on life. I PASSED my 3rd semester of Nursing School. I honestly cant tell you how happy yet extremely nervous I am to be graduating in May as an RN! This life is crazy. I thank God for sending me to CU and blessing me with awesome classmates and teachers. I believe I will honestly miss my buddies at school once we graduate...in roughly 4 1/2 months. Oh. My. Word!

So besides Haiti and school, I'm on Christmas break! NO STUDYING! Ive been sitting on the couch all day and its been wonderful to not have my school books staring at me and demanding I study. Sweet relief.

My mom, sister and aunt all graduated with their master's on Friday. They rock. Here's a picture of those perrttyy outfits.

I mentioned before on here that I sometimes feel like I'm going through a spiritual valley where you have highs and lows to every day. Well, this is one of those times. The only way I get through each day is God and God alone. He gives me reassurance at the right time that He is there. He tells me to trust him and cast ALL my worries, fears, and hurt on to him. It hasn't been an easy journey to get to the place where I am now, but all I can do is trust God and give Him full control of every situation. This picture was on someones Twitter today...God knows my heart and what  I needed in this day before I ever did. I cant thank him enough! 

Keep praying for our group as we board the plane in 7 days!!!!

-Be Encouraged

Twenty-two. AH!

When I started this blog, the main focus point was my Haiti mission trips. So, its only fitting to say... 22 days! I realized today that I am no where near prepared to go. Meaning, last time I already had bought all my supplies, clothes, and had everything ready to go at this point. That's about 3 weeks. 3 weeks. 3 weeks. I feel like this trip has came SO much faster than the last trip. 3 weeks, really?!? We have our last Haiti meeting tomorrow (December 5th) and our last payment is due as well. The great thing about a blog is being able to reflect back on certain things in your life. For me, its great to look back and see God's provision. I remember writing about how I needed all this money and the deadlines were quickly approaching. Now, I have more money then I need! Isn't it great how God provides? My church also collected 400 toothbrushes. They rock! I will try to update on here while in Haiti (if time allows) and share with you all what God is doing while we are there. And I'll post some really cute pictures of the precious Haitian children. :]


Since the last time I blogged we also had Thanksgiving! I spent it with  both sides of my family and we had a great time. I am so blessed to have so many great people in my life. Here are a few pics:

Aren't those some cute kids?!

How can I have a post and not talk about nursing school? Oh wait, I cant!
Here is a little picture to show that nursing school makes you silly...

Hope you all have a great week and Be Encouraged!