My 22nd birthday was one for the books! What a fun past few days of celebration it has been. I have such lovely and sweet friends and family who have made me feel so special! Technically the celebrations started at the beginning of March when my in laws and parents came to visit, but my actual birthday (March 21) and the day to follow were also fabulous!
We went to the rodeo a few days before. I'd like to think it was part of my birthday celebration. :) My Houston friends had never been to a rodeo before moving to Texas, so it was fun to see their reactions to the different events. I have never been to a rodeo so big! I'm not sure that I like it; the crowds I mean. We did get to see Florida Georgia Line perform after the rodeo though, which I have mixed feelings about... Love the music, not so much the performance.
I worked on my actual birthday, but it really wasn't so bad. My sweet coworkers did a great job of making me feel special! They gave me balloons, flowers, and a fruit cake (because I'm the "healthy" one of the bunch). I also was able to leave early!
Daniel picked me up from work (we carpool) and took me to a delicious place called Berripop. It was a beautiful day outside so we sat outside and enjoyed the warm weather. He also took me out to eat for dinner and let me shop a little. :)
Daniel's gift to me this year was a shopping spree!! So me and a few of my friends went to the outlet malls near Galveston. We had SO much fun!! I bought my very first name brand purse (on SUPER sale)!
Jenny, myself, and Olivia
We had the whole gang over for Fry Day!! It was so so much fun! We fried any and everything you could imagine. Avocados, pickles, cookie dough, Oreo's, deer steak, chicken, bananas, mozzarella sticks and we would have done more, but everyone was full.
This morning I am feeling a little off. If you know me, you know I'm usually a pretty healthy eater and this goes against everything I stand for, BUT it was a fun experience and everyone enjoyed it. The guys hung out in the garage frying the whole time. We ended the night with a game of beginner Texas Hold'Em. I say beginner because a few of the people playing didn't know how to play (me). Haha!
I am so blessed by all the memories made in the past year and I pray for many new memories and adventures this year. Who knows what 22 will bring. I am excited to find out!
My parents came to visit! It was their Spring Break, although it probably didn't feel like a break. My dad, being the hoss that he is, tiled our entire kitchen and bathroom (I helped a little) and built a wall to close in a doorway. Daniel and I both had to work so my parents were stuck at the house all day.
We enjoyed their company, as always. The kitchen was pretty much out of commission, so we really didn't get to cook for them. Our good friends Ben, Jenny, and Loah were so sweet to cook dinner for all of us one night. I was also happy that my parents were able to meet some of our Houston friends and taste a little bit of what our life in Houston is like (which is awesome).
I always forget to take pictures when they are here, so, sorry Mom and Dad, I don't have any real proof that you were here except the tile progress.
This is a picture that was on the listing when the house was for sale from the previous owners.
Daniel and I prepped the floors before my parents came.
Boy was that hard work!
My advice to anyone who decides to remove laminate floors is this: Invest in a heavy duty floor scraper or two (electric if you have a lot to do) and use water to loosen the glue. I didn't realize water would remove glue until we were halfway finished.... One blister and two broken scrapers later, we were finished prepping!
This used to be a doorway. It really didn't serve any purpose and we were in need for extra counter and drawer space, so we made it into a prep/pass through counter. We are still in the process of getting new counter tops for the entire kitchen and are planning to paint the cabinets.
Ok Dad, maybe I do have proof that you were here! :) It's incredible how nicer tile makes our kitchen look. We love it! Thanks Dad for all your hard work!
For my Birthday, my parents also surprised me with a new Texas star for the front of our house and a new chandelier for our dining room. When I asked how she knew that I wanted both of those, my mom told me that she got the ideas from my blog. At least I know that someone reads them. ;)
So we now officially have one room completely finished in the house and a lot of work still to go!!
March has been an incredibly busy month, and I love it!
We started off the month with a fun visit from the Reynolds family. We enjoyed every minute of it. I miss living in the same town as them. We used to be able to have random last minute hang out nights throughout the week because they lived right down the street and we were all on the same work schedule, so we all knew when 8:30/9pm rolled round it was time to go. :)
We went to the zoo! I secretly have been waiting for so long to go to the Houston Zoo and finally had a valid excuse because my nephew was here.
We loved having them here and loved getting to spend time with our nephew. He is growing up so fast! He is already walking and talking(ish) and he understands so much!
I have been stuck on this simple four letter word 'love'.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
This passage is probably one of the most commonly used chapters from the Bible to describe love. Love possesses all of the qualities written in this passage. For God so loved the whole world including murderers, rapists, gossipers, thieves, homosexuals, heterosexuals, Caucasian, African American, homeless, imprisoned, ill, rich, poor, and all others. Why? Because He created them. He didn't 'mess up' on any one person and every person was created in His image and His love for us has no conditions. He loved me... ME... when I was covered in filth and not willing to seek Him. When I spat in His face by being intentionally disobedient. He sent His Son to die for ME knowing that I was a dirty sinner.
My heart was recently stirred by a conversation pertaining to love and it caused me to check myself. As a follower of Christ do I truly strive to love as Christ loves? Do I study scripture and ask God to show me how to love? When I think about my relationships and read through this passage I realize, I do not always love the way that Christ describes love. Love keeps no record of wrong, is slow to anger, is not self-seeking, is patient, and is not rude. God says, "Love your enemies." Do I really love my enemies?
With Easter approaching I cannot help but think about the ultimate love sacrifice. A day that has been obscured by cute little bunnies and colorful eggs. An event that was full of sadness but at the same time was the turning point for the entire world. It only happened because of the deep, unconditional love from the Father. He sacrificed His perfect and blameless Son, Jesus, so that I may have eternal life. And Jesus, knowing the excruciating pain He would feel, willingly went because of His love for me. What a beautiful picture of love.
I have been a nurse for almost 2 years now. My first year working primarily with adults and second with children. I love both for different reason and would not change my experiences for any others. My first year, I was exposed to many common injuries and disease and worked with incredible, experienced co-workers and physicians who took the time to teach me about each. I think God gave me that job to prepare me for my current job at TCH. Since working at TCH, I have been exposed to so many different, unusual, severe, and uncommon diseases. All devastating, severe or not.
I remember as a little girl seeing kids with severe disabilities and, as many kids do, staring; partially because I didn't understand and partially because I was sad for them. I would notice how every single person who walked past would stare, some disgusted by the characteristics that the disease gave the child; some confused as to why the child was the way he was; and some uncomfortable by the loud noises and motions the child would make. Many would hurry their children along or try to ignore it. Very rarely did I ever see a individual smile or try to talk to the child. I realize now that these parents, whether they meant to or not, taught their kids to treat these children different.
I have always had a compassionate heart. Often times, I try to put my feet in other people's shoes to try to understand what they are going through and think of what I would want if I were them. In this past year, I have seen and worked with many, many children who have diseases with severe physical/mental handicaps. Yes, some do look and act different than many other children, but I have learned that their hearts are so so sweet. The most kind, loving, and innocent hearts. I no longer see them as 'different'. I have seen the love between them and their families. I am honored to take what little role I have in caring for these kids. Some days, when I look at the schedule for the day, I get excited for who is coming in because I know that he/she will always greet me with a smile and I my day will be brightened.
Though these kids are blessing to me, unfortunately other people do not see it that way. I have heard stories of these kids- severe and not- being bullied and picked on. Other kids and adults putting these children down to build themselves up. It breaks my heart and honestly infuriates me. There were times in my life that I was picked on and I remember how it made me feel, and to this day I have insecurities of some of the things I was made fun of for 10 years ago, but what I went through is no where near some of the stories of these kids. How could someone be so cruel.
What do I do to help? Can I even do anything? On a large scale, maybe not, but where I am and the few times I see these children, I love them and try to make them feel special. I give them my time, even when I may not have much. I listen. I play. I do whatever it is that child and family need at that moment.
I encourage you, nurse or not, young or old, whatever your circumstance may be, to do the same.
I love hanging things on my fridge! Everything from pictures, to cards I get in the mail, to reminders and grocery lists, but I ALWAYS run out of magnets and end up playing the 'How-many-papers-can-one-magnet-hold' game. So I finally decided to get more magnets, but all the magnets I could find were either so not cute or kind of pricey, so I decided to make some of my own!
Literally all you need are circular magnets, super glue, and buttons!
I had all of the materials already so it didn't cost me anything. My grandmother had a collection of buttons that was passed down to my mother and later to me. I used brown and lime green to match the colors of my house which actually turn out to really POP on my black fridge.
If you send me a card I will add you to my fridge too!
Notice my moose magnet. If you don't know already, I absolutely LOVE moose!
