PTL!

PTL for moderate motivation and good productivity!
: )



p.s. I agree . . . 23 days doesn't sound as long as six weeks!

p.p.s I don't know why the picture of a piano. I just liked it. Sweet memories of plunking away at Grandma's house. and wishing I had more time for photography right now. Hmph.

Say what?

Guess what??!



. . . 38 days left . . .

. . . 28 days of school . . .

. . . only 24 days of classes . . .

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

{Chorus}
You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are
Everybody wants to slap your back
wants to shake your handwhen you're up on top of that mountain
But let one of those rocks give way then you slide back down look up
and see who's around then

This ain't where the road comes to an end
This ain't where the bandwagon stops
This is just one of those times when
A lot of folks jump off

{Chorus}

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

{Chorus}

You find out who your friends are
(yeah, yeah)
You find out who your friends are
Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
(Well man, I've been there)
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
(Man, I've been there)

Man, I've been there
Oooh yeah.


Find Out Who Your Friends Are, Tracy Lawrence


This song seemed entirely appropriate and applicable in my life right now. During the last month and a half several friends continue to check in and reach out, even though they could have just returned to their normal routines. Thank you!

I Can Trust

Yes, I know that You have paved a path for me
Yes, I know that You see what I do and don't need
But when it comes to the deepest things
I have a hard time relinquishing control, letting go

God it hurts to give You what I must lay down
But when I let go freedom's found
God it hurts to give You what I've held so dear
Because of Your love it's clear

I can trust You with this
I can trust You with me
I can trust You

Lord I know that You are worthy of my trust
And You have shown me time and time again
You're faithful and yet
I'm so scared of letting go of this
Afraid of what You might do with it
How could I forget who you are like this?

Me forsaking, heart is breaking
I let go of what I've held so tight
Freedom's mine now, for the taking
I move in faith, and not by sight
Let Your will be done


~ Rebecca St. James

Blessings overflowing . . .

An extra day at home due to a big 'ol blizzard!

The snow is already melting---I can see the ground! (I'm tired of snow...ready for spring!)

unexpected, GOOD grades on all tests this semester!

worship music=lovely!

Only 10 days. . . till free ice at Ritas!

. . . oh, and only 10 days till another break! : )

home sweet home

home sweet home.




only such a thing could help at certain times in life.

Less than 24 hours till Break!!!

And so much to do before then . . .

- nursing group poster presentation
- workout
- laundry
- (humerous) birthday card for a friend's birthday dinner tonight (hahahaha)
- student org application
- case study write-up
- !PACK!
- hopefully get some sleep at some point...

1.5 hours outside

+

226 pictures

+

snowy winter

=

hands too cold to post any of the cool pictures!

: )

Until

Is it unfair to say that You are leading,
Then try and face this mountain on my own,
Why am I scared, I've never stopped believing,
And You never left me alone.
Well, I can get ahead of where you've led me to,
But I will trust Your heart enough to wait for You ...

Until this mountain moves, 
Until the path is clear, 
Until Your voice is the only one I can hear. 
Until I see Your hand, 
Until I know Your heart, 
Until I trust the grace that's carried me this far 
I will be still, until ... 

How could I have never seen this coming,
It's not like I've been running from Your will,
Tell me why each day's another mystery,
Waiting for Your truth to be revealed,
I try to tell my heart to trust what I believe,
And wait on You through all of my uncertainty ...

Until this mountain moves, 
Until the path is clear, 
Until Your voice is the only one I can hear. 
Until I see Your hand, 
Until I know Your heart, 
Until I trust the grace that's carried me this far 
I will be still, until ... 

Bridge:
Be still my heart of worry,
Be still my restless soul,
Be confident and certain,
Be still and know

Until this mountain moves, 
Until the path is clear, 
Until Your voice is the only one I can hear. 
Until I see Your hand, 
Until I know Your heart, 
Until I trust the grace that's carried me this far 
I will be still, until ... 
Oh, I will be still, until


Until, Mark Harris

He's Always Been Faithful

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of Gods hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

All I'm in need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

I can't remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can't remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand

All I'm in need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories Ive heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end

All I'm in need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful, Hes always been faithful
He's always been faithful to me


~ Sara Groves

His Overflowing Blessings

Just to name a few blessings . . .

~ An encouraging, fun and challenging professor who continually blesses me by her desire to help us. She is fair: she does not hand out "easy" grades, so we don't lose our motivation . . . but she doesn't give us a seemingly impossible task, so we seem overwhelmed. Rather, we are motivated, but not overwhelmed, we have fun but we also learn incredible things.

~ The love and care so many people have shown over the last week. Yes, this time has not been easy per se; but He is forever faithful, and that has become so much more evident to me. The little notes, prayers and emails mean so much to me!

~ A Sunday-school class that is challenging, but enjoyable, deep but understandable!

~ A work-load that is bearable . . . even with a few moments of free time! : )

Like Isaac she’s a gift to me
But like Abraham I don’t have the eyes to see
Cause I’ve doubted my heart
A thousand times or so

Has my shepherd ever let me down before
You’ve asked me for everything I’ve wanted to be
Surrenderin’ doesn’t come natural to me
But as I let her go
I feel freedom fill my soul
As I realize that you are still in control

Because what it really comes down to is this
She was never really mine
But always His
He has let me taste a love that could forever grow

Do I really love her enough to let her go?
Do I really love you enough to let you go?

I humble myself before you now
Surrenderin’ all the what’s, the why’s and how’s
Afraid of what you’ll do
As I give her up to you
Oh please hold her, fill her, my sweet Sue

To the altar I come on bended knee
Afraid of what lies ahead
Please let me see
Father, I’ve come to sacrifice my son
Not my will but yours be done

Because what it really comes down to is this
She was never really mine
But always His
He has let me taste a love that could forever grow

Do I really love her enough to let her go?
Do I really love you enough to let you go?

Surrender Susan, Jon Abel


Even in the midst of life's challenges, I continue to be amazed at God's faithfulness and how He shows that to me, even through the words of one musician who "happened" to be here this weekend . . . The story Jon shared and the song he played could not have been more applicable . . .

Before the breaking of the first dawn
I had numbered all of your days
Before naming all of the millions of stars
I searched and knew all of your ways

Who are you
to question the great I AM
Who are you
to doubt my perfect plan,

Be still… be still… And calm your anxious heart
Be still… be still… and know that I am your God

I know your soul
And I’m holding you in my hands
Will you trust me
That I won’t let you fall
Let go of your pain, your fear
Give it all to me
I promise you this
I’ll be your all in all

Who are you
To question the great I AM
Who are you
To doubt my perfect plan

Be still… be still… and calm your anxious heart
Be still… be still… and know that I am your God



Be Still, Alle Pennell


. . . the special music in chapel this morning . . . along with the speaker, so meaningful. If you get the chance, listen to it online (visit Cedarville's website).

A much needed smile-producer

from my Bible-study leader . . .

Hold Me Jesus

Well, sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees
And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

I'm singing hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace


Rich Mullins

He Meets Me Where I Am

Seemingly ironic, but surely a "God-thing" that today I read our Bible study chapter on doubting. The following is the prayer at the end of the chapter, from the book "Lord, Change My Attitude" by James MacDonald (I highly recommend it!!)

Lord, I thank you today that You are a good and a faithful God. Oh, God, increase my faith! Give me this day and this week a greater capacity to trust you, to rest in Your promises. Lord, help me to see You related to the very circumstances I face. Might I see how all that comes our way and how we handle it is directly related to our willingness to rest in Your promises and walk closely with You. Grant that kind of victory to me. May this day be different because of what I've prayed and acknowledged before you in this moment. And I promise to give You thanks and praise and glory for Your care and compassion for my life. In Jesus' name I ask these things. Amen.

P.S. I guess I won't go to Australia.... they probably have bad days too! : )

Is this the beginnings of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day???

. . . I wanted to stay in bed . . .

. . . My Mp3 player froze . . . completely . . .

. . . My mind is confused and whirling . . .

. . . I miss everything about home . . .

. . . it's a Monday . . .

I am absolutely loving my classes, especially since they are progessively more "nursing-y" : ) And, I am enjoying more free time (can you believe it?)!



But . . .

How can three weeks of classes go so fast, but three weeks of life go so slowly?

I miss so many people, so many conversations, so many things . . .

My New Baby : D

Today was like Christmas-in-January . . . I got my new pride and joy : )

1.5 years closer to being a nurse, and 1 step closer to looking like a nurse : )

Here it is:

And, a few more fun things . . .

Proverbs 30:8,9

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the Lord?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.