The Best Advice

Music of My Soul

"We certainly march to the beat of a drummer they don't hear- but it's not just a different drummer. It is The Drummer. Until they hear His music as we do, they won't understand why we move our feet." -The Continuous Atonemement-Brad Wilcox

The Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to be my strongest motivation and my greatest hope in life. I am amazed at the mercies of my God. I am weak and quick to forget all the ways the Lord has blessed me. I let Him fall to the back burner as other "more pressing" matters emerge in my life. I've become so caught up in the stresses of life and preparing to move to Charleston, that I have made a less than valiant effort to remember the Lord.

But I have found that despite my weaknesses, He still hears me and He still shows me His love. Those who may not have felt the blessings of the fully restored gospel of Jesus Christ may not understand why I live my life the way I do. Especially since I fall over and over again, some have suggested that maybe this religion just isn't for me. What they fail to see is that it is because I fall over and over again, that this gospel is exactly for me. It gives me the strength to pick myself up each time and the hope to believe that true change is possible through the enabling powers of the Atonement.

So while I dance through life, I may stumble, but the beautiful music continues. And as it continues to play, I find the strength to stand up and move my feet again. The words of my Savior is the music of my soul.

Less Than 2 Weeks!

I don't think it has fully hit me yet. I've never been more excited to start a new adventure, but as the day gets closer the fear of leaving behind those I love grows a little stronger. I have been so lucky in my time here to meet such wonderful friends who have helped me during my stay here in Valparaiso, IN. Saying goodbye is not going to be easy.

As a going away present Jason bought me an external hard drive that I so desperately needed, and since he is a computer GENIUS he took my laptop for the day while I was at work and transferred all my important files and wiped my computer, reinstalled programs, upgraded me to Windows 7 and even wiped down and cleaned my computer (it was filthy). Now my computer runs like a dream! My hero :)

I am also still stressed that I have not secured an apartment yet. That is a long story in itself, but it is very difficult to look for a place with somebody else than it is for just yourself. I am sooo excited to be moving with my best friend, but I just hope an apartment comes through soon. So much to do, so little time!

Holy Moly Where Does The Time Go?!

6 months?! I can't believe I haven't blogged in 6 months. I'm not even sure where to begin, but lets begin with the good stuff. I am leaving for Charleston, SC in less than 3 weeks. I have been accepted into MUSC's accelerated BSN program and couldn't be more thrilled. I am in the process of securing (hopefully) a cute 2 bedroom condo on James Island- a hot spot according to former Charleston dwellers. I will be embarking on this new exciting adventure with my best friend from Cincinnati and we are soooo ready for it. We have hit a few potholes and a couple of "road closed" signs, but somehow things have worked themselves out. God is good. :)
Besides, what is life without a little stress? I don't think I know any other way. I am trying to prepare myself for the sweltering weather that is to come, but with the beautiful Atlantic less than 10 minutes away, how can I complain? Sure I'm not going to have any furniture... (I'm only taking what will fit in my car) and yes I will be sleeping on a not so plush air mattress until I can afford to buy a bed, but this is the life! Who needs all that stuff anyways? Furniture shmurniture! I've got my textbooks (well I will soon), my beach towel and an "embrace life" attitude. Charleston, here I come!
Though I am very excited for this new adventure, it will be sad to leave my family and friends behind. But I feel like at this time in my life, this is where I need to be. Ken returned home in June from serving his 2 year mission for our church in Tempe, AZ. It's been so good to have him home. He will be leaving around the same time I am to head back out to AZ to start school there. Jay is in San Diego right now trying to finish out his last 6 months in the Navy and his wife is still in DC. Hopefully they will be able to reunite soon. Arthur is about halfway through his mission in the Oakland California Mission. Missing him dearly. Paul is starting his senior year this fall. Crazy how grown up we all are. Is it possible to slow time down?

My birthday surprise

What a lucky girl I am :) Today marks my day of birth 25 years ago. Just another ordinary day due to school and work. I wasn't going to have any time for fun since I have a Chemistry exam tomorrow. I was fine with that. I walked out of work and noticed some pastel colored candies on the ground near my car. As I got closer I noticed they were those candy hearts I used to eat as a kid. I figured a kid had dropped his/her box of hearts, but as I walked around to the drivers side I noticed a whole lot of hearts all around my car... this kid must have dropped several boxes! And then I actually looked at my car and noticed they were all over my car. This was not the work of a small child! haha. Then I saw the card on my windshield, and well needless to say I momentarily reverted back to being a 12 year old girl. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so I couldn't take a picture at the time, but I tried to drive carefully. I cringed each time I heard a candy heart roll off my car onto the ground. When I made it home only 2 remained caught in my windshield wiper. So I took a picture of that :) Better than nothing! Did I mention I'm a lucky girl?

Mom made me carrot cake- my favorite! My ordinary day has just become the best day ever :) Thank goodness for amazing mothers and fantastic boyfriends.

God Be With You Til We Meet Again

Have you ever been in a place so dark, you felt there was just no point continuing on anymore? I've had some dark moments in my life- even moments when I wished that I didn't have to face another day.

My dear friend Lianne passed away a couple of nights ago. Life had become too dark for her. I think of all the suffering I've endured in my life, the pain that I thought would end my life single handedly, and I realized that I'm still here. I can't fathom the pain Lianne must've dealt with, how completely empty and alone she must have felt to take her own life. She was the sweetest, kindest person I knew. She always saw the good in people. She judged no one. She befriended homeless people. She was an example to all of what the "pure in heart" looked like in action.

At this time, I am grateful for the gospel in my life. It has seen me through thick and thin. My Savior has been The One I could always rely on. I'm grateful for a merciful God who I know will take care of my good friend. Though my heart breaks to know our earthly experiences together are over, I know I will see her again. And more than anything- she is at peace. In a life that was too difficult to bear, I truly believe that a heavy burden has been lifted from her heart. I ache at the thought that I could've done more to help her, but all I can do is trust in my Heavenly Father and Savior to take care of her. I love you Lianne. God be with you til we meet again.

Tragedy Strikes

Is God testing my patience? Maybe my faith perhaps? Well whatever it is, I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry. Let me explain.

I've been receiving these different documents from Valparaiso University concerning the nursing program. All of them stated I would be entering Fall of 2010. I found this concerning because I know the accelerated program begins every May. I wasn't sure how this could possibly be an issue since I had applied for the accelerated program, and nothing else. But just for peace of mind I emailed the Dean to inquire about my status. Well good thing I did. I've been accepted to the regular BSN program. So in essence instead of finishing in 15 mos it will be a 2-3 year program. I'm not sure on exactly how long it takes. Let me further go on to say that VU's tuition is $30,000/year. I am not sure I want to get into possibly $90,000 in debt to have a BSN. Especially when I desire to go on to get my masters in anesthesia and that isn't going to be cheap either. It occurred to me that completing all of my goals as a nurse would take just as long as if I went pre med or pre dental, and at this rate it's going to cost me the same amount of money. So what do I do? I'm not sure.

Nursing appeals to me because I will have a job no matter where I go. There are opportunities all over the world. I would love to spend some time as an international travel nurse, even if just means volunteering for a month. I think the experience would be priceless.

I have little patience right now. I feel like I screwed around for so long. There are so many things I want to do, places I want to see, memories I want to make, and I feel like my schooling or lack thereof is interfering. Oh well, trust in God, and all will be well, right? Oh, I sure hope so. Not all hope is lost. If a slot opens up in the accelerated program I will be notified is what I've been told. A small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. :)