Corrie ten Boom Quote

 

This precious quote by Corrie Ten Boom has been floating around on a sticky note in my bedroom for several years at this point, and it has never failed to minister to me at just the right times.  If you ever have the chance, definitely read any work by Corrie Ten Boom - it will truly change your perspective and your walk with the Lord. I have re-read "The Hiding Place" by her several times and it always moves me to tears.  To think that someone could go through something so awful, but still praise Jesus in the midst of it.  I hope this quote and her life inspires and encourages you as much as it does me!

Hats for Our Pregnancy Resource Center

 

It's no secret that I love making knitted baby hats.  I usually have a small stash of hats ready to be given away to the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit or nursery. Our local pregnancy resource center shared on Facebook that they were in need of newborn hats, so I was able to clear out my stash and make some additional hats to share with them. 

Most of the hats were knitted in the round on double-pointed needles, and a few were made on a knitting loom.  

I found some tissue paper and a bag before taking them to bless some sweet babies and mommas!

Greeting Cards

 

These are some new greeting cards I have made recently. Most of them are made with the Cricut Joy, and some are made with rubber stamps.  I always have a large stash of cards ready to send, but I never hesitate to make more to add to the collection :). 

Quilt Update

I have shared about this quilt in the past, and I am still slowly working on it!  I now have all of the blocks assembled, and the sashing sewed on.  Next up is piecing the quilt together, which I will start on in the next little bit! 

A Cricut Vinyl Project

I received this cup from a Baptist Nursing Fellowship conference I attended, and I knew I wanted to Cricut something onto it to make it into something special.  After a little creativity and time with the Cricut, this is what I came up with!  Fun!

Libby App by OverDrive

This app, "Libby" by OverDrive, has been a game-changer for me!  A friend at work told me about it and I have been hooked ever since. Using my library card, I can access thousands upon thousands of books, audiobooks, and Kindle books.  I have listened to "Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly, "Radical" by David Platt, "The Girl in His Shadow" by Audrey Blake, "Kind is the New Classy" by Candace Cameron Bure, and "Lilac Girls" by Martha Kelly Hall.  I have also been able to download to my Kindle and read "The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, "It Starts With Us" by Colleen Hoover, "Where the Crawdads Sing" By Delia Owens, and many more I cannot think of, all for FREE through this app!  It has been so neat!

Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nails

I had to share some of my favorite new finds for my nails!  These are the Ohora semi-cured gel nails that I have been loving recently.  They come in strips that are only semi-cured, so you shape and clip them down to your nail shape/size before curing them under a LED light that is free with the first purchase.  They last incredibly well for me, even working full-time hours as a nurse. They don't chip like polish does for me, and out of the countless sets I've worn now, I have only had one nail strip pop-off.  They stay on well for me, but I can remove them faster than any nail polish.  I can get 2-3 different uses out of each set, each of which last about 2 weeks.  

This is "N Pixie Dust" which is one of my favorites!  I wore it to Disney World this spring because the name was just so fitting :).  It is a sparkly gold with big glitter flakes in it. 

This is "N Felice" which is a stormy periwinkle blue with sparkly accents at the base of the nail.  

This is "N Cream Light" which is a solid pastel pink.  

This is "N Heimish" which is a multicolor set that has a dusky pink, brown, and glittery gold. 

I have also used "N Juliet," a dusky coral color that I always receive so many compliments on yet have no pictures of, and "N Tint Red" which is happy cherry red. 

If you want to try out these fun nails, use the link below for $5 off your first order!

https://i.refs.cc/YoLK6iww?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjoxMzgzNDg2NjExfQ%3D%3D

Nursing School Tips for Success

Hello again, Friends!  Below I have compiled some tips that have helped me out over four years of nursing school - I hope they do the same for you!

1. Use a planner.  It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive - just something to keep everything on track.  Write down all assignment dates, test dates, and clinical dates, and even schedule in time for homework/assignments if needed. 

2.  Form study groups.  Studying with others can bring to light concepts you may have not understood. It's easy to just chat and not get work done though, so make sure you set aside time for productive studying, and then time for chatting. 

3. Teach your materials to others.  Did you know that teaching your material to others actually helps you learn it better?  It makes you think through it and condense it into something you can then relate to another person. This process actually helps YOU!  My friends and I would teach each other the concepts and in turn, it helped us to understand them better.  Teach anyone - a parent, your roommate, your pet, or even a stuffed animal - you will be pleasantly surprised!  

4. Ask for help early.  If there is anything you are struggling with while learning, don't wait until you are drowning before asking for help.  Strong, smart people ask for help before everything is too overwhelming to recover from. 

5. Take time for yourself.  This is so hard but SO important!!  If you aren't taking care of yourself, you can't effectively care for others or be at your best for learning. 

6. Study the material you're not solid on.  Oftentimes our study time is very limited. Make the most out of it by spending the time on the material you feel you don't have a good grasp on, rather than re-studying things that you already understand well. 

7.  Write down questions that arise.  Anytime you come across a question you can't find the answer to, write it down. You may find the answer to your question the farther you study, or if not you already have the question in an easily accessible place so you can email your teacher or ask in class. 

8. Read efficiently.  There is often not enough time to read every page or even every paragraph that is assigned.  Read headers, titles, and topic sentences, and pay very special attention to any boxes, charts, or diagrams. 

9. Make concept maps.  This can help you to see how topics are related, as well as another great way to reinforce or learn the material. 

10. Remember that you are doing amazing!

Weeding the Garden

Y'all know I love my garden.  I plan meticulously what I'm going to plant, where I'm going to plant it, and then impatiently wait until it yields its produce.  My garden has always grown dutifully for us, but inevitably those pesky weeds make their presence known among my prized plants.  If left to their own devices, weeds will quickly infiltrate and overtake my little garden with their annoying presence.  Much like the "weeds" in our own lives, these pesky weeds can quickly ruin a beautiful garden.  These weeds take many forms in our hearts, and quickly yet strategically distract from the beauty of the garden.  

Did you know that weeds will rob the water, nutrient, and sunlight supply of the plants around them?  They grow quicker than their neighboring plants and overtake the largest of gardens in the blink of an eye. These weeds don't intend to go anywhere either - they require a mighty yank to pry away the roots that have them firmly attached to the ground below.  I could take a weed-eater to them and chop off the ugly weeds at ground level, but they will quickly grow back again, never gone in the first place but merely out of sight. They must be uprooted from the ground or they will always grow right back.  The "weeds" in our own lives do the same - distract from the purpose and calling of our lives while making us into miserable people. Our weeds may have deep roots that need to be uprooted too. 

If I as a human protect my physical backyard garden with such love and care, how much more does the Master Gardener care for His garden (your heart!)?   

Ask the Master Gardener to remove those pesky weeds from your heart - His loving hand will knowledgeably pluck those weeds that infiltrate your garden so that it can bloom fully and beautifully. 

"Kind is the New Classy" by Candace Cameron Bure

I have gone through a recent phase where I have been obsessed with listening to audiobooks.  As soon as I finished "Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly, I immediately started "Kind is the New Classy" by Candace Cameron Bure.  I have always admired Candace, and enjoyed every book I have read from her - this one being no exception.  I have also always loved the Hallmark movies she has been a part of.  Candace is the epitome of kind and classy in a world that often doesn't appreciate Christian principles and morals.  Candace encourages Christian women to be, above all, kind in an unkind world.  Drawing on real-life examples, this book takes readers on a journey through the importance of treating others in a kind, Christian way.  I especially loved that the book so adamantly encourages the practices of prayer and journaling. If you are looking for the motivation to spread some kindness, this book will inspire you to do so!

"Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly

Does anyone else out there love Biblical history but struggle to read through boring history books?  I admit to being one of those people who find dry history books to be a cure for insomnia. That's probably the main reason I put off reading "Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly for so long.  When we used to frequent a little library by our home which no longer exists, I remember seeing "Killing Jesus" on the shelf and making myself a mental note to read it later on.  I placed this book in the same category as Mr. O'Reilly's other historical books I saw on the shelf such as "Killing Lincoln," and "Killing Kennedy" - books I would probably enjoy if I could make myself sit down for a historical read.  More exciting books always pushed "Killing Jesus" to the back burner and I read different books instead.  Fast forward many other books, a college degree, and a job later, I re-found this book and decided it was time to give it a go.  

Let me just say - wow.  I was expecting a fact-heavy, put-you-to-sleep, force-yourself-to-finish-what-you-started book, and I couldn't have been farther from the truth.  This book reads more like a fast-paced murder mystery - one where you are a fly on the wall and you know an ending that some of the characters don't yet know.  Of course, I enjoyed the chapters best that centered around Jesus, as the book goes into depth about other people as well.  Of note, this book goes into great detail about some gruesome details and chronicles the lives of people who led less than upstanding moral lives.  This didn't bother me, working in the medical field, but could be difficult for those with a super sensitive stomach or those not yet mature enough for a read of this kind.  Despite the aforementioned, I found this book extremely hard to put down and finished it very quickly. I learned a lot from this book about the culture in Jesus' time, as well as a lot about the Jewish law and context from the scriptures.  

What I Am Up to These Days

Why, hello there!  It has been a little while!  Life has been bursting at the seams with busyness, but I have missed writing here and have decided I need to do something to change that.  A little update is in order first though.  In December of 2021, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  Praise the Lord! He carried me through the toughest 4.5-year program with such grace and mercy that I am still astounded at all He has done for me. After several job interviews and offers, I accepted a job at a hospital on a Mother/Baby floor where I care for postpartum mothers and infants.  Life has been very busy since then. I have worked at the hospital, as well as part-time as a camp nurse, and taught CPR classes all at the same time while keeping up with everyday life, church activities, and family.  Additionally, last fall I started a graduate program to become a nurse practitioner. It has been a wild ride but I have learned and grown so much.  I have missed this blog though and I hope to post more over the next few weeks!