The girls...

The girls (AKA Amy, Heather and Chrissy) and I met at Heathers for lunch just to hang out a little before I left. I just LOVE these girls! They have been my best friends for years and years and are ALWAYS supportive for everything big and small! I always miss them but no matter how much time goes by, it's like I've never been gone!

Leia Mais…

1/2 way done!!!!!!!!

Last Wednesday, I finshed my last final for the quarter and also went tothe pinning ceremony for the 2nd year students. It was almost overwhelmingwhen I found out that I passed everything and was officially 1/2 way done with nursing school! I have never been so nervous and anxious in all mylife and the 6 or so days prior were the most stressfull ever!

When I was feeling really anxious about finals a friend and fellow 30-something student shared with me some wise words someone gave to her when she was anxious about school a while back: "if it is God's will, you will pass, He will make a way for you to pass.It might be by a hair, but you will still pass...if it's His will (or Iwouldn't pass, but that was according to His plan, do i trust Him? was the real question.) She also shared this verse with me; Job 42:2 Then Job replied to the Lord: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yourscan be thwarted..."It was exactly what I needed to hear! I said that verse over and over and over for the following 5 days and even though I still felt the stress ofstudying and looming exams, I could rest in it and just keep pluggingalong. I had also just gotten a CD the week before and a song that stood out to me that same day had these words: "You are able, mighty is our God.Anything that comes our way, come what may, You alone forever stay. You are able." I played that song over and over and over as well....fully believing those words!

Everytime I left a test, I knew that I had done my best and truly felt like I had been given greater understanding than I had while Iwas studying....it was totally amazing! So, when I got the news that I had passed, I was beyond relieved, super excited and overflowing with emotion! It meant that I was really on my wayto Ecuador, to Africa and through the toughest year of nursing school! Iwas officially a 2nd year nursing student! Woo hoo! I also realized justhow hard this past year has been! Phew!

Going to the pinning ceremony (Nursing graduation) was a great way to end the quarter! We spent quite a bit of time with the 2nd year students asthey spent time in the lab, coaching us through some of the skills tests. Iwas so proud and excited for them and they were equally excited forus.....which meant a lot since they know exactly what we went through! I loved the joy on all their faces! 3 more quarters to go and it will be our turn!! I cannot wait!!

Leia Mais…

Spring!

Spring was super busy and fun but I could never seem to get caught up with blogging everything!

Our womens retreat was over a weekend in May. Amy summed it up so nice in her blog that I must simply quote her. I really couldn't say it any better!
A couple of weeks ago, I was able to get some great girl time and inspiration in at our church women's retreat. It was a beautiful weekend in Gig Harbor, and although I have been having quite a few get-aways lately, this was special! I always come away from these spiritually strengthened and renewed, and I love spending time with my sisters in Christ. We had lots of free time on Saturday, and the highlight was the adventure of pedal boating in the sunshine, as we carefully maneuvered the four of us so the boat did not sink. And I mean that - the boat was super low in the water and every movement was scary! We managed to rotate around and sit in different spots and Amy Jo managed to take this picture of the four of us - it still makes me laugh to look at her up close like that.Who thought pedal boating could be so much fun? I loved hanging out with these girls, and all the others I was able to meet and catch up with over the weekend.

Memorial day weekend was a blast! It was packed full of parties and exploring with friends!

Saturday, Chrissy and I hung out at Coulon park to catch some rays...then we went to the cheesecake factory for lunch. It was a beautiful day and we were camped right next to a greek picnic complete with a pig roasting!

That night we went to a party at our friend Ben's, who is moving away. We saw a ton of people we hadn't' seen in a long time and had a blast!

Sunday was a boring but much needed study day.....until the evening when I met Holly and Deb for a movie. I stayed up at Holly's and Monday was our scheduled "exploration day". We were going to take a road trip somewhere but wanted to avoid the traffic so stayed in town. We took the longest "urban hike" ever which took us to and through several parks along Lake Washington Blvd. I literally had blisters when we were done but it was so much fun!

The next weekend was full of birthdays! We went with Kristen for her first pedicure and went to The Pink Door for Hollys. It's great to celebrate good friends!

Spring was very full of great friend and great weather!

Leia Mais…