smiling!

Today I slept in till 6pm!  It was very pleasant, but I was scheduled to work tonight.  Which means I did not take a shower before I came into work.  My phone battery died and I use my phone as an alarm.  So I woke up around 2-3 pm and thought I will try to sleep a little more.  Well I woke up and thought it's probably 4pm.  I went out to my chair, sat down, and looked at the clock while I plugged my phone in.  The long hand pointed at the 12 and the short hand at the 6.  Uh... I need to leave in 10  minutes!  Long story, short I made it to work in time (by 1 min and 15 sec). 

I didn't have much time to eat so, I threw together some leftovers--hash browns and chili soup and ate that on the way to work.  When I got to work I looked for a smoothie shake at the cafe in the ER lobby, but they were out.  Oh, well.  Then when I sat down at my desk, Chanda brought me a smoothie from Inta Juice!  And a huge one at that!  Made me smile. 

I talked to Rachael for awhile about churches and cultures...  stocked my rooms and helped out with one of the fast track (RME patients).  My rooms were still empty.  Overall it was so slow that one of the MDs said he might cut out early.  This happens about once a year.  Finally at 9:20 pm I suggested to the 10am-10pm nurse that she could leave early and I could take her one patient.  I really thought that the charge nurse had forgotten that I was there--since he hadn't given me any patients!  Not to mention that it was an overtime shift with unscheduled shift pay!  What a great way to make money. 

So now I am kicked back, watching the one patient.  Hopefully it continues like this!  At any rate I am only here until 3am instead of my usual 7am. 

The other thing I am smiling about is that Jon is coming home tomorrow!  He should be home only a few hours after I get home!  This makes me very happy!!! We also found out that our closing date on the house is August 31.  Originally they told us the middle of Sept.  The Lord has been good to us!

missing...

Right now I really missing my husband.  It doesn't help that he is a "home" with my family and I am in Colorado, by myself!  I have been picking up some overtime and will be doing almost an extra day every week for the next month.  It's a feeble attempt to help distract myself from missing him so much, as well as to help pay the bills--of course. 

I have been learning a lot.  Over the past week end my husband, Verda, and Nathan were at our small apt in Colorado.  We all went to a Graham Cooke conference along with two new friends (new for me anyway):  John Allan and Michelle.  Michelle slept on our leaky air mattress with Verda and Nathan slept on the carpeted floor with a sleeping bag to cushion it.  John Allan stayed at a hotel with a new Christian friend of his. 

Graham Cooke made a big deal about blessing the people around us.  I am trying to find how I can bless the people I work with.  Over the week end I learned that speaking negatively about people or situations can have extreme consequences.  I decided I would learn to bless both by praying, actions, and curbing my negative conversations.  It's a little hard, when I have made a habit of discussing openly--at work--about some of my co-workers who appear to have no work ethic.  So how do I learn to bless the people that God has put in my life to "chisel" me into something beautiful??? 

One of the other things that made a big impression was a story Graham Cooke told about a dream he had.  He saw Jesus walking towards him on the beach.  Jesus was walking very purposefully towards him.  When Jesus got there, He said, "Graham give me back my stuff!"  Graham said, "I don't know what you're talking about?"  "Graham!  I want you to give it back!  Give it back!"  Again, Graham says, "Jesus, I don't know what you're talking about."  Jesus continues, "Graham give me back my stuff!"  "I don't know what you mean!"  Finally Jesus said, "I want you to give Me back the anxiety, worry, and fear that you are holding onto!  I died for those. Now give them back, seriously!" 

Can you talk about a shock??  Jesus died so that I wouldn't have fear and anxiety or worry..??? I thought He just died for our sins.... Oh wait... those are sins!!!  Anybody else with me??  He also said that we choose to be anxious or stressed.  I'm slowly learning what it means to be at rest...*all* the time.  Slowly learning what it means to have God's perspective.  God's perspective always involves hope and peace.  Even though, as my mom says, He is giving us a compass--not a road map,  His plan *always* involves peace.  No matter what others are saying or doing around us!!  (Who knew??)  If they are a positive influence, they help draw us closer to God, if they cause negative or frustrating feelings--they are being used by God to chisel us into His image! 

to laugh

I stole this picture from my sister because I love it. When the picture was taken, Jon didn't know that I am about to lick his ear.  Of course, I didn't know the repercussions that would follow.

I miss my husband a lot.  Not that this would come as a surprise to anyone.  I was with him for about a wk and a half (wherein he throughly spoiled me) and now he's back in KS with my family, helping my dad.  He plans to come back for the closing on the house, which seems like a long time away.  I know that it will go quickly though because of everything that needs to happen between now and then.  It seems rather overwhelming sometimes.  I do know that everything that needs to happen will happen though...  because it always does.  God always works it out.  I will be relieved though after we are in the new house and wedding celebration is over.

learning things

I have been learning a lot of things while in Florida.  This is my first time meeting Jon's brother Eddie, wife Debbie, and kids: Logan and Mia.  It is also the first time that I got to see the Phillips' siblings all together.  What I learned is that there is a lot of "smack talking" and physical fighting.  It's funny because the Phillips siblings are a little ahead of my own siblings--age wise and maturity level.  But they still arm wrestle, pick on each other, and try to give each other advice.  Not that the other person necessarily follows it!  I also got to see how they view Jon as the younger brother since he's the youngest by eight years!  Which means that they try to give him even more advice! 

I have also learned about Princess Mia.   She has her own bedroom which is PINK.  She also refuses to wear anything except for dresses and loves pedicures.  I wonder if I will have a super girly girl just because I am more of a tom-boy?? 

Debbie is excited to set Jon and I up with  a dog after we get settled into our new house.  She has done a lot of work with rescuing animals.  She said she could get us as house trained, kid friendly dog and get it shipped out to us. 

It was also interesting to see family dynamics at work in someone else's family (well I guess it is mine too now).  I just sit and watch.  I think in some respects, families are the same everywhere.  Even if they are raised in different environments.

florida trip

pina colada at Flounders

Jon, Andie, & Ronnie.  The only Phillips sibling we are missing is Eddie

Pensacola beach

The ladies went for pedicures.

Princess Mia getting her feet done.

Ronnie and Debbie at the nail salon.

oh and here's me at the beach.