Thoughts!

1) No more than 6 hours of sleep yet since Friday night--eh, who needs it. [And to think I used to write posts     about sleeping too much, ohhh how the times (and physiology) change]
2) One of our dear family friends has a daughter who was diagnosed with Leukemia less than 2 weeks ago and tonight she is fighting for her life in the hospital. As I have prayed for her (please join me) and followed her Caringbridge site, I became inspired to research PAs in oncology. I am blown away all over again at the options I have in this awesome field! I may not end up in oncology but it's definitely something I will be considering. What an impact there is to be made, and I hope I can bless families that are fighting as Katie's is tonight!
3) Cooper River Bridge Run on Saturday morning--can I make it?? Here's hoping. . .
4) My 8 hour work shift for tomorrow got switched to an 11 hour shift at 5 pm today--no fun, especially since it gets me home at 7:15 at night instead of 2:00 in the afternoon.

Pray for Katie tonight! Y'all sleep well.

For the Beauty of the Earth!

Oh my--I just love this "summer" weather!! The azaleas are blooming and everything is green (including my poor, little white car). Today I ate lunch outside, read outside, played and explored in the botanical gardens and then watched the sunset over Lake Hartwell as the storm clouds formed. Ahhhh, it was heavenly. All I could think was that the Lord made this for his own glory AND He lets me take pleasure in it!!!

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies,

For the love from which our birth

Over and around us lies;

'Lord of all to Thee we raise

This, our sacrifice of praise.

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given.

Graces human and divine

Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n.

'Lord of all to Thee we raise

This, our sacrifice of praise. 

May all glory and power and honor be Thine!!

9 weeks!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) marks 9 weeks until I start PA school! I am so very nervous with the usual thoughts of "Can I handle this?" and "What if I fail utterly and completely?" that accompany any big transition like this but I am simply overwhelmed with excitement to begin learning my dream trade. There is lots to be done between now and then including moving and a little bit of studying anatomy and medical terminology. I am also trying to develop great daily habits to take care of myself physically and spiritually over the next two years-- from what I've read the key to all the craziness of PA school is taking care of yourself and some serious time management! There is much more going on in my life currently but PA school prep is more exciting than 12 hour workdays spent filling blood bags.

Life is sweet and flying by as usual! My best friend and college roommate is getting married!!! She is marrying an awesome guy this coming fall and I can't wait to put my PA time management skills to the test and not miss a single moment of all her wedding festivities!!

This is dorky...

...But I really love when I get blood on the first stick out of a tiny vein and the person says, "When I was in the hospital they couldn't get an IV line on me anywhere!!" I almost want to say, "Yeah and they have a smaller needle than I do" . . . But I don't. And then the next vein inevitably knocks my pride down a notch or two!!

An Oasis

This weekend was a once in a lifetime type of weekend. Lots of rest, a picnic, many hours spent soaking up the wisdom, faith, and prayer-life of Bonhoeffer, an indulgently long quiet time, 2 workouts in 2 days (one outdoors--finally!!), tacos, Japanese, a stocked pantry, clean scrubs, dinner with a cousin, and breakfast with a best friend!! I'm still not done with Bonhoeffer but I'm less than 100 pages away and I have a feeling that there is no lack of encouragement and conviction on running the race with excellence yet to come.

I feel as though this weekend has been a bubble and it will be rudely popped from around me when I have to leave worship early tomorrow to go to work (and wear my scrubs to church). I am praying for not only the strength but the joy to face another week, for donors who are sweet and inquisitive, for quality conversations with those I come into contact with, and for an uncharacteristic steadiness as I am tempted to allow my joy to be swayed to and fro by the level of my success, others' perceptions, and the things of this world.

I hope that all of you have your own oasis awaiting you tomorrow--soak it in!!

A Day Off

Work is all-consuming right now. . . Monday-Thursday this week I already had 45+ hours on the clock! BUT today I had the day off!! It was such a blessing! And though the day wasn't that beautiful I spent it outside anyway. I sat outside on a boardwalk by the lake and ate lunch and read Bonhoeffer (yes, I am still working on it!), walked the dike, and scored some major haul at Walmart. 

Life is good. And there will be more posts coming soon!